INTRODUCTION xlvii

putting that sum into the author’s pocket seems to have required a good deal of patience and diplomacy on the publisher’s part. Some extracts from Ruskin’s letters are of interest as illustrating the temper in which the notes of 1880 were written:-

BRANTWOOD, August 1, 1879.

MY DEAR ALLEN,-I am very glad you were able to send me this 7 Lamps, while I was in the humour to look at it.

I have quite seen what is to be done. The chapters being all paragraphed, I shall put all comments into an Appendix-referring to the paragraphs-and purchasable separately. People who have the book, may thus bind my last comments with it, the copies for separate purchase being printed on paper of the 7 Lamps size.

I am much pleased, as I glance at it-by the perfect harmony with Fors! and by the discipline of style-so different from my present manner. The extreme and quite unaffected modesty surprises me! I had no idea I was ever like that ! At present-if any man ventures to say a word in opposition to me, I merely punch his head, and speak no more to him!...

Ever affectionately yours,

J. R.

(August 3) ... I think the added notes will be interesting, if I could but get Time. I have strength enough for anything yet-if only I had days enough.

From another letter it appears that at this moment the re-arrangement was to include the omission of two plates which Ruskin did not like, and the abstraction of “the pretty frontispiece for another book on Giotto’s Tower.” A few days later, it seemed likely that the whole scheme would be abandoned. Ruskin’s abuse of his old work, whether in private letters or published footnotes, need not, it may be remarked in passing, be taken too seriously. He was fond of running down the books which the public liked best, by way of exalting those which were less popular:-

Aug. 15.-I’ve made myself quite sick and ill in trying to revise 7 L.-The utterly useless twaddle of it-the shallow piety and sonorous talk are very loathsome to me; and I can’t go on with it just now. The actual teaching of it is all right, and some bits are good-but it is all Fool’s Paradise. I can’t be plagued with it more just now. ... I’ve fifty things in my head (prosody,¹ etc.) and ever so many more half in type...

The book was accordingly returned to the publisher, who, however, bided his time, and in the autumn Ruskin was inclined to resume work on

¹ Elements of English Prosody for use in St. George’s Schools, issued in October 1880.

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