275990 INTRODUCTION. دو 66 Of the life of Robert Southey some account has been given in the Introduction to the ninety-eighth volume of this Library, which contained Colloquies on Society." His "Curse of Kehama," written at Greta Hall, Keswick, was first published in 1810. While writing it Southey was busy also on his " History of Brazil; on his English version of "The Chronicle of the Cid; on Espriella's Letters "- -a suggestive description of England and the English, written in the assumed character of a Spaniard-he was also preparing to publish "Specimens of the Modern English Poets," which then only wanted a preface, and was planning an edition of the "Morte d'Arthur" and a book of Travels in Portugal." To his old schoolfellow and constant friend (Grosvenor Bedford) he wrote: "Do not bid me do one thing at a time—no, nor two neither; it is only by doing many things that I contrive to do so much; for I cannot work long together at anything without hurting myself, and so I do everything by heats: then by the time I am tired of one, my inclination for another is come round." Thus, by variety of occupation, he could make his work continuous and sustain freshness of interest in what he wrote. Southey was born on the 12th of August, 1774, his age, therefore, at the time of publishing "The Curse of Kehama was thirty-six. He had been for some years at Keswick, where the books in his library at Greta Hall were growing steadily, by gifts and by 126609 m2 |