Спрут: Калифорнийская история

           Someeighteenmonthsbeforethistime,hehadbeenthreatenedwithconsumption,and,takingadvantageofastandinginvitationonthepartofMagnusDerrick,hadcometostayinthedry,evenclimateoftheSanJoaquinforanindefinitelengthoftime.Hewasthirtyyearsold,andhadgraduatedandpost-graduatedwithhighhonoursfromanEasterncollege,wherehehaddevotedhimselftoapassionatestudyofliterature,and,moreespecially,ofpoetry.

           Itwashisinsatiableambitiontowriteverse.Butuptothistime,hisworkhadbeenfugitive,ephemeral,anotehereandthere,heard,appreciated,andforgotten.Hewasinsearchofasubject;somethingmagnificent,hedidnotknowexactlywhat;somevast,tremendoustheme,heroic,terrible,tobeunrolledinallthethunderingprogressionofhexameters.

           Butwhateverhewrote,andinwhateverfashion,PresleywasdeterminedthathispoemshouldbeoftheWest,thatworld’sfrontierofRomance,whereanewrace,anewpeople—hardy,brave,andpassionate—werebuildinganempire;wherethetumultuousliferanlikefirefromdawntodark,andfromdarktodawnagain,primitive,brutal,honest,andwithoutfear.Something(tohisideanotmuch)hadbeendonetocatchatthatlifeinpassing,butitspoethadnotyetarisen.Thefewsporadicattempts,thushetoldhimself,hadonlytouchedthekeynote.