Title
Author(s)
Citation
Issue Date
BYRON'S TRIANGLE : Byron's View of Wordsworth and
Coleridge
Higashinaka, Itsuyo
Osaka Literary Review. 10 P.94-P.104
1971-10-15
Text Version publisher
URL
http://doi.org/10.18910/25703
DOI
10.18910/25703
Rights
Osaka University
94
BYRON'S
Byron's
View
TRIANGLE
of Wordsworth
and Coleridge
ITSUYO
The
entry of November
triangle,
which
HIGASHINAKA
24, 1813 in Byron's
the poet calls 'a triangular
journal
contains
a
Gradus ad Parnassum'
:
W. Scott
Rogers
Moore —Campbell
Southey—Wordsworth
the
This
his
2
is the
grading
statement
triangle
more
decided
opinion
Byron,
on the
since
and
over
Scott,
romances
Campbell,
"I
what
whole,
and
very
the
intrigues
Moore
now
novels
few,
ranked
the
popular
what
or less
Rogers,
are
of his time . He qualifies
help
he called
same
kinds
us modern
and
Campbell
considered
names
opinion,
Yet one cannot
What
who
have
accepted
more
poets
I believe
of mine."
again.
Coleridge,
Scott's
and
upon
many
to the
saying,
he expressed
ranking
and
by
he gave
—Coleri dge
seen their
if any,
read
day.
them
my
than
any
suspecting
'popular
of
opinions
readers
above
that
opinion'
,
over
is Byron's
Wordsworth
to be the romantic
have
upon
poets .
As to Rogers
nowadays.
And
95
Moore now occupies
fellow poets.
critical
Though
judgement
Speaking,
a modest
place
Byron's
triangle
did undergo
way.
and Coleridge,
hence needs
a special
Throughout
poets,
Byron,
subsided,
unfounded
Wordsworth,
personal
ideas in their
but the political
And then,
least
but their
in the end.
Hence
worthy
thought
Besides,
wrote a savage,
he heard that Coleridge
his attack
Byron made the mistake
the
the lake
As is well-
youth,
renegades.
since the latter
rumor.
of Southey,
to
The reason
and literary.
too, just because he belonged
Goode says,
Byron
personal
had spread
on Coleridge,
and
to the same group.
of "allowing
of the three,
As
his impressions
to extend
to and
the others."
With regard
Lyrical Ballads
he regarded
to poetics,
on account
as the master
Byron
The field is universal,
was incensed
of their
denunciation
poet of England.
And for the fame you (lake
poets)
at the authors
of Pope,
of
whom
He says in Don Juan :
would engross
and allows
Scope to all such as feel the inherent
43
condemning
of the ruling class of his day,
with Southey,
on Byron.
attitude
and complex, and
and they became conservatives
who was critical
quarrelled
include
Byron's
attention.
is twofold,
they were nothing
the
to treat
which is ambivalent
they held revolutionary
enthusiasm
generally
on these poets in any
whom he called `lakers' or even `waterworms'.
known,
his
in 1813, and his
since then,
his career Byron never stopped
for this attitude
attack
his opinions
This paper attempts
Wordsworth
poet among
was drawn
some changes
he did not change
striking
as a lyrical
glow :
below,
96
Scott,
Rogers,
Gainst
Campbell,
Moore,
you the question
and Crabbe,
with posterity.
(Don Juan,
One of the main reasons
Crabbe
higher
why he ranked
than Wordsworth
Dedication,
Rogers,
and Coleridge
that these minor poets by today's
tradition,
will try
standard
Campbell
and
is due to the
fact
wrote in the Augustan
that is, they stuck to the heroic couplet.
as a literary
remarks
His weakness
critic lies in the fact that he makes bold and general
without
quite characterizing
All we hear about Roger's
harmony.
7)
poetry
We are told that
the object of his criticism.
is that it possesses
Campbell
is good,
elegance and
but
we do not
know why he is so good. Crabbe is drawn merely as 'nature's sternest
painter,
yet the best' (English
Moore is termed
6
or personal
his lyrics,
and Scotch Reviewers, 1, 858) .
as "the epitome of all that is exquisite
accomplishments.
"
Byron thinks
and calls him 'Anacreon
In the case of Scott,
7
Bards
however,
Scott's
novels voraciously.
novels
at least fifty
highly
I
104).
by a passage
of Scott
in Don Juan :
of my comparative
Scott,
who can paint your Christian
—
knight
or Saracen,
with such skill as none would share
had not been one Shakespeare
it, if
and Voltaire,
Of one of both of whom he seems the heir.
(Don Juan,
8
Elsewhere
he is called
of
He read
The reason for his liking
the superlative
There
(Don Juan,
Byron says the most.
Scott,
Serf-Lord-Man,
especially
He claims he has "read all W. Scott's
times."
may be best explained
Moore'
in poetical
'Scotch
Fielding'.
What
XY, 59)
can be deduced
97
from
these
through
and
Scott's
Scott
Scott's
Byron
satisfied
Scottish,
spent
his
characterize
they
his
either
favorite
in versifying,
or good
should
remember
all these
Pope
not
only
is elegant,9
Even
point
'the
of
case
are
and
of Scott,
that
'Imagination,
ineffable
perfect,
passion,
distance'
years.
fails
whole,
nature.
one
execuAnd
of Pope's
we
poetry.
his
versification
according
to Byron.
and
between
mother
were good
but
too,
Byron
on the
qualities
couplet,
even
his
his early
couplet,
that
him,
Scotland,
of human
the
fact
pleased
Yet,
painters
The
from
poets.
in the heroic
harmonious,
in
notices
writes
itself
wrote in the heroic
tioners
that
in
runs
is people,
of his.
childhood
in the
which
in literature
of Scotland
history
except
interest
inclination
history
but he liked
It is unfortunate,
can say that
the
human
interest
literary
with
only
the
Byron's
this
deal
he not
to quite
liked
works.
novels
because
being
is that
the
Invention'
little
Byron
Queen
Ann's
10
man,
and us of the Lower Empire'.
all poetry
better
which
is ethical
and wiser'.
must
opinions,
poetry,
poetry
be intelligiable.
earliest
must contain
Since
these
ethical
are Byron's
that Pope is his champion,
could not but find faults
Byron's
the highest
the object of which is `to make
Therefore,
it is no wonder
Furthermore,
with Wordsworth
criticism
of
men
truths,
literary
and that he
and Coleridge.
of Wordsworth
appears
as a review
12
of Wordsworth's
praised
for its
condemned
Poems of 1807.
'naive elegance,
for treating
trifling
While
Wordsworth's
natural
and unaffected',
subjects
poetry
in 'not simple,
is
it is
but puerile
13
language.
Wordsworth.
After
Byron's
this
review,
advocacy
Byron
of the
holds
heroic
negative
couplet
views
renders
of
him
98
unable
can
to accept
be,
any
metrical
Wordsworth's
essential
difference
composition."
choice of trifling
"Pedlars
precept
14
that
between
He is unable
the
language
Byron was what he thought
Brothers
the crown,
ruler
the unintelligiability
as `metaquizzicar,
fanatic
(1755-1824)
world.
Messiah.
He is very of ten
dyke/Between
la, 94, 95)
to perplex
personal
his opinion
factual.
He writes
some foundation
talent
a
poem',
criticism
ought
created
a 'new
Dedication
of Wordworth
principle
to be concrete ,
to John Murray :
and "builds
is
up a
intellect ." (Don Juan,
(Don Juan,
yet his critical
divinely
butt of attack
system
, 4).
involves
is always clear .
tangiable,
"There
and
In
even
should always be
of fact for the most airy fabric , and pure invention
17
is but the
was also
himself
Byron's
is said to have
that Byron's
poetry
urp
16
frowzy
the sages' in Excursion
resentment,
(1750-1814)
his own and others'
Wordsworth
It is unfortunate
or Sweden-
of David , and the 'revealed'
"considered
the scriptures ."
It is a 'drowsy,
formidable
orth.
who said he must us
Southcote
(1688-1772)
to interpret
Excursion.
the mind of
she was about to bring into the world a new
Swedenborg
appointed
s
11(, 100)
of Wordsw
or 'drivelling' .
was a fanatic
Joanna
who claimed
and
!" Oh ye shades
, what disturbed
since he was a descendant
of the
rose
thus :
compared to such mystic figures as Brothers , Southcote,
borg.
nor
are we come to this ? 15
these aspects of Wordsworth
He is termed
,
Wordsworth'
(Don Juan,
Besides
is
of p
the situation
and "Waggons
Of Pope and Dryden,
neither
to appreciate
subjectes . He laments
," and "Boats,"
"there
of a liar ."
Or in Don Juan
he says :
99
• • • my Muse by no means deals in fiction :
She gathers
Of course
a repertory
of facts,
with some reserve
But mostly
and slight restriction,
sings of human things and acts.
(Don Juan,
The world
of Don Juan is factual,
almost the world
these views,
raving',
of a typical
the concrete.
difference
also the difference
what
showed
tolerance
little
by
however,
Wordsworth.
creed,
remains
He owns
things in poetry.
A
him and
what
and
resentment.
Byron
and
not
he has
partly
partly
One
without
imitated
Byron
19
." Byron
because
because
should
some
he
he
was
remember,
literary
Wordsworth's
is
Keats says,
I imagine
Wordsworth,
literary
personal
that
towards
holding
as a 'mystic's
and Byron ;
I describe
It is
the tangiable
between
Wordsworth
he sees
a different
different
existed
that,
poetry
to do with the real,
between
"He describes
incited
Wordsworth's
thought
13)
human nature.
It is natural
They were seeking
as Keats
possessed
novel.
Byron considers
which has nothing
and paints
XL
debt
to
style
in a
treatment
of
19
poem
entitled
nature
in
"Churchill's
Childe
Harold's
been impossible,
had
Grave".
His
Pilgrimage
and
Don
some
influence
he not received
pantheistic
Juan
would
from
have
Words-
worth?) Byron met Wordsworthpersonallyat least once, and
according
to
Lady
Byron,
he
felt
nothing
but
reverence
for
21
Wordsworth's
Byron's
him
dignified
view
of Coleridge
personally.
Coleridge's
manners.
Remorse
They
is much
exchanged
to be performed
more
favourable.
correspondence.
at Drury
Lane,
He knew
Byron
helped
when
he was
100
on
the
won't
He
"
management.
have
2
owes
Childe
like
And
any one
the
motto
Harold's
so he quotes
all his
In an early
Shall
To
phrases
love
of "Christabel",
themes
him
who
Yet none
takes
in lofty
,
and
poem .
Just
,
Coleridge
.
dear ?
amuse
him
best,
guest .
refuse
for
numbers
Well"
criticize
here ,
stanza
a pixy
does
unnoticed
her aid
poem .2
of his vacaburary
says :
a welcome
should
"I
23
same
Byron
of innocence
obscurity's
If Inspiration
To
tumid
says,
wild
Thee
a part
Byron
pass
He
freely . 24
of Coleridge
and
"Fare
become
"Christabel"
Coleridge
ode
still
entitled
have
.
; it is a fine
III , 94 to the
from
turgid
Yet
a poem
lines
gentle
"Christable"
at `Christabel'
of
criticism
Though
loved
Pilgrimage,
Shakespearean
For
sneer
he
a muse ,
can
surpass
25
The bard who soars to elegise an ass .
(English Bards
The reason
for this attack
the subject is too puerile
back
this attack
applied
is pert,
that
Coleridge
he heard
however,
light.
his
His
Coleridge's
of
attack
great
the
for poetry . Later in life Byron did take
and
petulant
caused
is now
him
on
Byron
fact
intellect.
,
had spread
poetry.
Shakespeare,
man
anger
of
11. 255-262)
is the same as the one on Wordsworth:
in one of his letters
to you
6
and Scotch Reviewers,
which
Yet
to Coleridge : "The
and shallow
the rumour
to
see Coleridge
Biographia
had
Literaria
heard
shows
he
enough.2"
created
was
he
in
,
Coleridge
was
rather
rt
When
by Southey
,
a different
and
not
lecture
interested
sceptical
pa
on
on
in
this
about
the
101
lecturing
Coleridge
: "Coleridge
is lecturiag.
'Many
an old fool,'
27
said Hannibal
to some
lecturer,
'but
such as this,
are not told what Byron held against Coleridge's
speare, but he is specific
And Coleridge,
in criticizing
But like a hawk encumbered
Explaining
Metaphysics
with his hood,
—
—
his Explanation.
the quotation
is again the question
metaphysics
worth's
Excursion.
above,
and
Byron's
when he read Biographia
of criticism
Coleridge's
to grasp
as Words-
to Coleridge
Literaria,
2)
To Byron,
as difficult
attitude
Dedication,
his ground
of unintelligiability.
is 'muddling',
on Shake-
Literaria:
(Don Juan,
As is clear from
We
wing,
to the nation
I wish he would explain
lecturps
Biographia
too, has lately taken
never',"
was made harsh,
and perceived
"an attack upon
28
the then Committee
of D. L. Theatre
ridge offered
his drama
also,
the committee
because it "though
for acting
which
was,
Bertram."
however,
poetical,
Cole-
rejected
did not appear
by
at all
29
practicable,
and
Bertram
be Zapolya,
which
did."
was
The
turned
drama
down
in question
by the committee
seems
to
in March,
30
1816.
In the
man
same
of letters
Mr.
it.
find
Brothers
pages
may
religious
as he calls
will
console
Coleridge's
fervour"
himself
him
round
as
Joanna
his
with
of his and
If he means
and
or
he degrades
enthusiasm
as a
:
Coleridge
almost
I
breath
much
that
Southcote
fireside.
as
He is
"fervour,
Wordsworth's
as any
"fervour"
the
proof
in
ever
the
disciples,
of their
behalf
merits,
of
gathered
a shabby
—
Richard
over
fellow,
and
his
I
102
31
wash
my hands
of and
after
him.
is made
a fanatic
by
being
Coleridge
Southcote.
Again
coloring
For
of personal
all
opinion
attack,
have
used
favourably
come
out.
a sparkle
"I
his
resentment
and
when
or two
consider
says,
Crabbe
and
aware
'two
did
criticism
and
takes
volumes
most
asks
of
as
a very
th
Moore
poesy
he only
gloriously
Coleridge
possess
of his genius . Byron
and
"I do think
to explode
Byron's
Byron
severely,
his
to Brothers
a
.
was
Coleridge
He also
that
however,
of Coleridge,
critics
him
it is unfortunate
compared
and
wants
high
regrets
to review
Biography'
a pioneer
and
. "32 Or he comments,
e first
of
these
times,
in
33
point
of
power
remember
and
genius.
a comment
made
"
When
by
Hunt
:
all
is said,
"He
pretended
worse of them Ithe lake poets]
than he did . "
1
Letters
The Works of Lord Byron,
Prothero,
2
ibid.
3
ibid.,
6 vols.
IV, Appendix
Magazine",
4
(London,
to
should
think
34
and Journals,
1898-1901) ,
IX : "Reply
one
ed . R. E.
P . 344.
to Black wood's
Edinburgh
p. 482.
Clement
Tyson
Goode, Byron as Critic (New York,
1964) ,
p. 188.
5
The edition
used for quoting
from Byron's
ical Works of Lord Byron (Oxford
6
Letters
7
ibid.,
8
ibid.
and Journals,
y,
p.151.
Standard
pp. 77-78.
works
is The Poet-
Authors,
1904 , 1945) .
103
9
ibid. ,
1Y, Appendix
Magazine",
ibid. , IY, p.169.
11
ibid. , Y , Appendix
wles as to the Poetry
ibid. ,
I,
2 vols.
and Character
Appendix
Literary
13
ibid. , p. 342.
14
William
The
Recreations"
Baker
Edinburgh
Byron
article
and Bo-
p. 554.
of Wordsworth's
originally
Poems,
appeared
in
for July , 1807.
The Prelude,
(New
between
of Pope",
j : "Review
Wordsworth's,
ed. Carlos
York,
Selected Poems and Sonnets,
1948), "Preface
to Lyrical
Bal-
p. 11.
15 Wordsworth
16
to Blackwood's
jjj : "Controversy
1807", pp. 341-343.
"Monthly
lads",
"Reply
p. 489.
10
12
ix
sings of a boat in The Waggoner,
See Don Juan,
ed.
Leslie
Marchand
(Boston,
and Peter Bell.
1958) , Notes,
P. 459.
17
Letters
18
Keats's
Critical
19
The
poem.
20
and Journals,
letter
of 20 September,
Heritage,
debt
ed. Andrew
is acknowledged
See Goode,
on the
21
(Princeton,
in Byron:
(London,
manuscript
The
1970), p. 265.
sheet
of the
p. 190.
his debt : "Shelley,
used to dose me with
Jr.
quoted
Rutherford
Wordsworth
sea." See Medwin's Conversations
Lovell,
1819,
Byron as Critic,
Byron acknowledges
erland,
IY, p. 93.
when I was in Switzphysic
of Lord Byron,
even to naued.
Ernest
J.
1966) , P. 194.
His Very Self and Voice: Collected Conversations of Lord Byron,
ed. Ernest
22
Letters
J. Lovell,
and Journals,
Jr.
(New York,
IN, p. 369.
1954) , P. 129.
104
23
ibid.,
IV, P. 31. Furthermore,
bel' was the origin
small merit.
themselves
of all Scott's
now
lines
on his birthday
See
: "It is three minutes
Letters
and
from
clo
past twelve .
ck,'
Journals ,
quoted line is the first line of "Christabel",
in ibid.,
know how ; •••."
of Lord Byron , p. 177.
the middle of the night by the castle
thirty-three!"
-
tales , and that is no
of `Christaber
found
in 'The Siege of Corinth ,' I hardly
Byron writes
—"Tis
metrical
• • • Some eight or ten
See Medwin's Conversations
24
he says of the poem : "Christa
and I
p. 182.
and is quoted
p. 397. See also ibid ., p. 226, for another
am
The
again
quoted
line
"Christabel".
25
The reference,
of course,
26
Letters
27
ibid.,
If, pp. 75-76.
28
ibid.,
IV, PP. 171-172.
29
ibid.,
p. 172.
30
The Complete Poetical
and Journals,
Coleridge,
2 vols.
31
Letters
32
ibid.,
33
Byron casually
lish Bards
11, p.192.
D. L. stands for Drury Lane .
Works of S. T. Coleridge,
(London,
and Journals,
1,
is "To a Young Ass" .
1912),
1,
ed . E. H.
p . 883.
IV, p. 172.
p. 233.
met a copy of the
suppressed
and Scotch Reviewers in 1816,
and
edition
wrote
views on the poem on its fly-leaf . See Goode, Byron
of Eng -
his mature
as Critic,
PP. 75-76.
34
Lovell,
His
Lord Byron,
Very Self
p.333.
and
Voice:
Collected Conversations
of