Amaryllis at the Fair · Chapter
XXVI explained
Amadis Iden and Alere Flamma arrive at Coombe Oaks, both pale and ill—Amadis from low fever, Alere from the effects of Fleet Street and the bottle.
What happens
Amadis Iden and Alere Flamma arrive at Coombe Oaks, both pale and ill—Amadis from low fever, Alere from the effects of Fleet Street and the bottle. They spend a month in the summerhouse Iden built, talking and healing in the pastoral setting. Amaryllis, now a woman, reconnects with Amadis, whom she last saw three years ago. The chapter celebrates Iden's genius for making things grow and the restorative power of nature and conversation.
Themes in this chapter
Nature and the Pastoral Ideal
Iden's garden and summerhouse are a healing paradise; nature restores Amadis and Alere Flamma.
Art, Ambition, and Failure
Alere Flamma's genius is undermined by drink and his refusal to conform to society; the contrast between artistic talent and commercial success.
The Passage of Time and Loss
Three years have passed since Amadis last visited; Amaryllis has grown from a girl into a woman, and Amadis is a shadow of his former self.
Characters to notice
- Amaryllis Iden
Now a woman, she listens to the conversations and reconnects with Amadis after three years.
- Amadis Iden
Arrives pale and convalescent from low fever; his vital energy has been sapped.
- Alere Flamma
Pale from drink and nervous strain; his hands shake but he can still draw delicate lines.
- Mr. Iden
Creator of the healing garden and summerhouse; his presence makes things grow.
Key passages
“There was a magic power of healing in the influences of this place which Iden had created.”
Iden's garden had a supernatural ability to restore health.
The pastoral setting is portrayed as actively curative.
“You could see at a glance what was wrong—the vital energy had been sapped; as a tree fades without a branch broken...”
Amadis's illness was obvious: his life force was drained, like a tree that withers from the inside.
Metaphor comparing Amadis's condition to a fading tree.
“Put on a black coat and go into society.”
Dress respectably and socialize with the upper classes to get commissions.
Chesterfield's advice is presented as the key to financial success for artists.