Puslapio vaizdai
PDF
„ePub“

mens of minerals or pieces of rock. Compare the grand effect of the Star-paved firmament—and imagine a boy capable of picking out those pretty twinklers one by one and playing at chuck farthing with them. Everything in heaven and earth, in man and in story, in books and in fancy, acts by Confederacy, by juxtaposition, by circumstance and place. Consider a fine family -if I were not writing to you I might instance your own-of sons and daughters, with a respectable father and a handsome mother at their head, all met in one house, and happy round one table. Earth cannot show a more lovely and venerable sight, such as the Angels in heaven might lament that in their country there is no marrying or giving in marriage. Take and split this Body into individuals-shew the separate caprices, vagaries, etc., of Charles, Rob. or Plum.—one a quaker, another a churchman. The eldest daughter seeking a husband out of the pale of parental faith-another working perhaps the father a prudent, circumspective, do-me-good sort of a man blest with children whom no ordinary rules can circumscribe-I have not room for all particulars-but just as this happy and venerable Body of a family loses by splitting and considering individuals too nicely, so it is when we pick out Best Bits out of a great writer. Tis the sum total of his C. L.

mind which affects us.

CHAPTER II

NEWSPAPERS, TOBACCO AND COMPANY
JANUARY 1802-DECEMBER 1803

XCIX.

TO THOMAS MANNING

Feb. 15th, 1802. Apropos, I think you wrong about my play. All the omissions are right. And the supplementary scene, in which Sandford narrates the manner in which his master is affected, is the best in the book. It stands where a hodge-podge of German puerilities used to stand. I insist upon it that you like that scene. Love me, love that scene. I will now transcribe the "Londoner" (No. 1), and wind up all with affection and humble servant at the end.*

"A

"What is all this about?" said Mrs Shandy. story of a cock and a bull," said Yorick and so it is; but Manning will take good-naturedly what God will send him across the water: only I hope he won't shut his eyes, and open his mouth, as the children say, for that is the way to gape, and not to read. Manning, continue your laudible purpose of making me your register. I will render you back all your remarks; and I, not you, shall have received usury by having read them. In the mean time, may the great Spirit have you in his keeping, and preserve our Englishmen from the inoculation of frivolity and sin upon French earth.

Allons-or what is it you say, instead of good-bye? Mary sends her kind remembrance, and covets the remarks equally with me. C. LAMB.

* Here was transcribed the essay called "The Londoner," which was published afterwards in the Reflector, and will be found in Vol. IV. of this Edition.-Ep

C.

TO MR RICKMAN

April 10th, 1802.

Dear Rickman,-The enclosed letter explains itself It will save me the danger of a corporal interview with the man-eater, who, if very sharp set, may take a fancy to me, if you will give me a short note, declaratory of probabilities. These from him who hopes to see you once or twice more before he goes hence, to be no more seen: for there is no tipple nor tobacco in the grave, whereunto he hasteneth.

16, Mitre Court Buildings,

Inner Temple.

C. LAMB.

How clearly the Goul writes, and like a gentleman!

CI.

TO SAMUEL TAYLOR COLERIDGE

Sept. 8th, 1802. Dear Coleridge,-I thought of not writing till we had performed some of our commissions; but we have been hindered from setting about them, which yet shall be done to a tittle. We got home very pleasantly on Sunday. Mary is a good deal fatigued, and finds the difference of going to a place, and coming from it. I feel that I shall remember your mountains to the last day I live. They haunt me perpetually. I am like a man who has been falling in love unknown to himself, which he finds out when he leaves the lady. I do not remember any very strong impression while they were present; but, being gone, their mementos are shelved in my brain. We passed a very pleasant little time with the Clarksons. The Wordsworths are at Montague's rooms, near neighbours to us. They dined with us yesterday, and I was their guide to Bartlemy Fair!

I shall put your Letter in the penny post, and shall always do so, if you have no objection, for I don't

want to see Stuart, our Dissolution was rather ambiguous and I am not sure he is not displeased. I was pleased to recognise your Blank verse Poem (the Picture) in the Morn Post of Monday. It reads very well and I feel some dignity in the notion of being able to understand it better than most Southern Readers.

I hope you got over the fatigue of Helvellin. I shall expect little notes now and then to accompany yours to Stuart, which will pay me for the pang I must feel! in defrauding the Company. Mind, if you think the Penny Post not safe or had otherwise rather I dropt 'em in myself, I will, but I hate to encounter that impudent clerk.

I yesterday hunted about at Lockington's, &c., for Milton's Prose Works, which if I could have got reasonably I should have beg'd your acceptance. The only one I met with, the best Quarto, was 6 guineas -But I don't despair.

Observe the Lambe (but don't mark it) on those letters I am not to open.

My next letter I hope will contain some account of your commissions.

I am hurrying this off at my office where I am got for the first time today, and very awkward I feel and strange at Business. I forget the names of Books and feel myself not half so great a man as when I [was a] scrambler among mountains. I feel debased. But shall soon break in my mountain spirit.

Particularly tell me about little Pipos (or flying Opossum) the only child (but one) I had ever an inclination to steal from its parents. That one was a Beggar's brat that I might have had cheap. I hope his little thrash has gone.

But don't be jealous. I have a very affectionate memory of you all veneres Pi-pos: but Pipos I especially love.

Remember me kindly to Hartley and Hartley's old

friends at Greta Hall and very kindly to Sara. I may venture to add Mary's love, I am sure, tho' she does not sit beside me. Public offices scare away familiar faces and make ugly faces too familiar. Have you seen Stoddart and Allen. We past S. on the road. God bless you all. C. L.

CII.

TO MRS GODWIN

[1802.]

Dear Mrs G.,-Having observed with some concern that Mr Godwin is a little fastidious in what he eats for supper, I herewith beg to present his palate with a piece of dried salmon. I am assured it is the best that swims in Trent. If you do not know how to dress it, allow me to add, that it should be cut in thin slices and boiled in paper previously prepared in butter. Wishing it exquisite, I remain,-Much as before, yours sincerely, C. LAMB.

Some add mashed potatoes.

CIII.

TO THOMAS MANNING

24th Sept. 1802, London.

My dear Manning,-Since the date of my last letter I have been a traveller. A strong desire seized me of visiting remote regions. My first impulse was to go and see Paris. It was a trivial

objection to my aspiring mind, that I did not understand a word of the language, since I certainly intend some time in my life to see Paris, and equally certainly intend never to learn the language; therefore that could be no objection. However, I am very glad I did not go, because you had left Paris (I see) before I could have set out. I believe, Stoddart promising to go with me another year, prevented that plan. My next scheme (for to my restless, ambitious mind London was become a bed of thorns) was to visit the

« AnkstesnisTęsti »