XXIX To John Taylor
[Hampstead,] Friday 23d [January 1818].
My dear Taylor—I have spoken to Haydon about the drawing. He would do it with all his Art and Heart too, if so I will it; however, he has written thus to me; but I must tell you, first, he intends painting a finished Picture from the Poem. Thus he writes—“When I do anything for your Poem it must be effectual—an honour to both of us: to hurry up a sketch for the season won’t do. I think an engraving from your head, from a Chalk drawing of mine, done with all my might, to which I would put my name, would answer Taylor’s idea better than the other. Indeed, I am sure of it. This I will do, and this will be effectual, and as I have not done it for any other human being, it will have an effect.”
What think you of this? Let me hear. I shall have my second Book in readiness forthwith.
Yours most sincerely
John Keats.
If Reynolds calls tell him three lines will be acceptable, for I am squat at Hampstead.