To Christopher North
To Christopher North - fact Summary
Addressed to Christopher North
A brief, playful address to William Blackwood, whom Tennyson calls Christopher North. The speaker responds to a recent review that mixed blame and praise, saying he forgave the criticism but could not forgive the praise. The poem shrinks the reviewer to a series of teasing epithets—crusty, rusty, musty, fusty—turning a literary quarrel into light mockery rather than sustained anger.
Read Complete AnalysesYou did late review my lays, Crusty Christopher; You did mingle blame and praise, Rusty Christopher. When I learnt from whom it came, I forgave you all the blame, Musty Christopher; I could not forgive the praise, Fusty Christopher.
Feel free to be first to leave comment.