A person to be writing a tale, and to find that it shapes itself against
his intentions; that the characters act otherwise than he thought; that
unforeseen events occur; and a catastrophe comes which he strives in vain
to avert. It might shadow forth his own fate,--he having made himself
one of the personages.
It is a singular thing, that, at the distance, say, of five feet, the
work of the greatest dunce looks just as well as that of the greatest
genius,--that little space being all the distance between genius and
stupidity.
Mrs. Sigourney says, after Coleridge, that "poetry has been its own
exceeding great reward." For the writing, perhaps; but would it be so
for the reading?
Four precepts: To break off customs; to shake off spirits ill-disposed;
to meditate on youth; to do nothing against one's genius.
Salem, August 31st, 1836.--A walk, yesterday, down to the shore, near the
hospital. Standing on the old grassy battery, that forms a semicircle,
and looking seaward. The sun not a great way above the horizon, yet so
far as to give a very golden brightness, when it shone out.
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