The complete poetical works and letters of John Keats/Mrs. Cameron and Ben Nevis
Mrs. Cameron and Ben Nevis
In his letter to Tom Keats, August 3, 1818, which contains the sonnet written on Ben Nevis, Keats concludes a lively account of the ascent they made with this bit of nonsense:—
After all there was one Mrs. Cameron of 50 years of age and the fattest woman in all Inverness-shire who got up this Mountain some few years ago—true she had her servants—but then she had herself. She ought to have hired Sisyphus,—"Up the high hill he heaves a huge round—Mrs. Cameron." 'T is said a little conversation took place between the mountain and the Lady. After taking a glass of Whisky as she was tolerably seated at ease she thus began—
Mrs. C.
Upon my life Sir Nevis I am piqued
That I have so far panted tugg'd and reek'd
To do an honor to your old bald pate
And now am sitting on you just to bait,
Without your paying me one compliment.
Alas, 't is so with all, when our intent
Is plain, and in the eye of all Mankind
We fair ones show a preference, too blind!
You Gentle man immediately turn tail—
O let me then my hapless fate bewail!
Ungrateful Baldpate have I not disdain'd
The pleasant Valleys—have I not madbrain'd
Deserted all my Pickles and preserves
My China closet too—with wretched Nerves
To boot—say, wretched ingrate, have I not
Left my soft cushion chair and caudle pot?
'Tis true I had no corns—no! thank the fates
My Shoemaker was always Mr. Bates.
And if not Mr. Bates why I 'm not old!
Still dumb ungrateful Nevis—still so cold!
Ben Nevis.
What whining bit of tongue and Mouth thus dares
Disturb my slumber of a thousand years?
Even so long my sleep has been secure—
And to be so awak'd I 'll not endure.
Oh pain—for since the Eagle's earliest scream
I 've had a damn'd confounded ugly dream,
A Nightmare sure. What! Madam, was it you?
It cannot be! My old eyes are not true!
Red-Crag, my Spectacles! Now let me see!
Good Heavens! Lady, how the gemini
Did you get here? O, I shall split my sides!
I shall earthquake—
Mrs. C.
Sweet Nevis do not quake, for though I love
Your honest Countenance all things above,
Truly I should not like to be convey'd
So far into your Bosom—gentle Maid
Loves not too rough a treatment, gentle Sir—
Pray thee be calm and do not quake nor stir
No, not a Stone, or I shall go in fits—
Ben Nevis.
I must—I shall—I meet not such tit bits—
I meet not such sweet creatures every day—
By my old nightcap night and day
I must have one sweet Buss—I must and shall!
Red Crag!—What! Madam, can you then repent
Of all the toil and vigour you have spent
To see Ben Nevis and to touch his nose?
Red Crag I say! O I must have them close!
Red Crag, there lies beneath my farthest toe
A vein of Sulphur—go, dear Red Crag, go—
And rub your flinty back against it—budge!
Dear Madam, I must kiss you, faith I must!
I must embrace you with my dearest gust!
Block-head, d' ye hear!—Block-head, I 'll make her feel.
There lies beneath my east leg's northern heel
A cave of young earth dragons;—well my boy
Go thither quick and so complete my joy.
Take you a bundle of the largest pines,
And when the sun on fiercest Phosphor shines,
Fire them and ram them in the Dragon's nest,
Then will the dragons fry and fizz their best
Until ten thousand now no bigger than
Poor Alligators—poor things of one span—
Will each one swell to twice ten times the size
Of northern whale—then for the tender prize—
The moment then—for then will Red Crag rub
His flinty back—and I shall kiss and snub
And press my dainty morsel to my breast.
Block-head make haste!
O Muses, weep the rest—
The Lady fainted and he thought her dead;
So pulled the clouds again about his head
And went to sleep again; soon she was rous'd
By her affrighted servants—next day, hous'd
Safe on the lowly ground she bless'd her fate
That fainting fit was not delayed too late.
But what surprised me above all is how the lady got down again. I felt it horribly. 'T was the most vile descent—shook me all to pieces.