APPENDIX III 



Mr. Herbert Spencer to Mr. Blunt 



[Reed. October 4, 1898] 



5, Percival Terrace, 



Brighton. 

 Dear Sir, 



For some years I have been casting about for a poet who might fitly 

 undertake a subject I very much want to see efficiently dealt with. At one 

 time I thought of proposing it to Mr. Robert Buchanan, who, in respect 

 of vigour of expression and strength of moral indignation seemed appro- 

 priate, but I concluded that the general feeling with regard to him would 

 prevent a favourable reception — would, in fact, tend very much to can- 

 cel the effect produced. Afterwards the name of Mr. William Watson 

 occurred to me as one who had shown feelings of the kind I wished to see 

 expressed. But admirable as much of his poetry is, the element of power 

 is not marked; he does not display a due amount of burning sarcasm. 

 Your recent letter in " The Times," and since then a review in " The 

 Academy," in which there were quotations from your poem, " The Wind 

 and the Whirlwind," lead me to hope that you may work out the idea 

 I refer to. 



This idea is suggested by the first part of Goethe's " Faust " — " The Pro- 

 logue in Heaven," I think it is called. In this, if I remember rightly (it is 

 now some fifty years since I read it), Mephistopheles obtains permission to 

 tempt Faust : the drama being thereupon initiated. Instead of this I sug- 

 gest an interview and dialogue in which Satan seeks authority to find some 

 being more wicked than himself, with the understanding that if he succeeds 

 this being shall take his place. The test of wickedness is to be the degree 

 of disloyalty — the degree of rebellion against divine government. 



Satan gives proof that his rebellion has been less flagitious than that of 

 men. 



He confesses to having been a rebel, but an avowed one. 



He has not, like men, professed to worship the Christian God while per- 

 petually worshipping the pagan gods ; he has not day by day sacrificed with 

 zeal to Thor and Odin, while nominally sacrificing to Jehova. 



He is not like men who, tepidly joining in praises of Christ as a model 

 on one day in the week, on the other six days bring up their sons in 

 glowing admiration of blood-stained Homeric heroes. 



He is not like men who, nominally admitting on Sunday that forgiveness 

 is a virtue, emphatically insist on and practice on all other days the duty of 

 blood-revenge. 



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