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LETTER 2(第3页)

Somuchforacknowledgedplagiarisms,theconfessionofwhichIknownotwhetherithasmoreofvanityormodestyinit.AstomyblankverseIamsodismallyslowandsterileofideas(Ispeakfrommyheart)thatImuchquestionifitwilleveretoanyissue.Ihavehithertoonlyhammeredoutafewindepen[den]tunconnectedsnatches,notinacapacitytobesent.Iamveryill,andwillresttillIhavereadyourpoems—forwhichIamverythankful.Ihaveonemorefavourtobegofyou,thatyounevermentionMr.Maysaffairinanysort,muchlessthinkofrepaying.Arewenotflocci-nauci-what-dye-call-em-ists?

Wehavejustlearnd,thatmypoorbrotherhashadasadaccident:alargestoneblowndownbyyesterdayshighwindhasbruisedhisleginamostshockingmanner—heisunderthecareofCruikshanks.Coleridge,thereare10,000objectionsagainstmypayingyouavisitatBristol—itcannotbe,else—butinthisworldtisbetternottothinktoomuchofpleasantpossibles,thatwemaynotbeoutofhumourwithpresentinsipids.ShouldanythingbringyoutoLondon,youwillrecollectNo.7,LittleQueenSt.Holborn.

IshallbetooilltocallonWordsworthmyselfbutwilltakecaretotransmithimhispoem,whenIhavereadit.IsawLeGricethedaybeforehisdeparture,andmentionedincidentallyhis"teachingtheyoungideahowtoshoot"—knowinghimandtheprobabilitythereisofpeoplehavingapropensitytopuninhispanyyouwillnotwonderthatwebothstumbledonthesamepunatonce,heeagerlyanticipatingme,—"hewouldteachhimtoshoot!"—PoorLeGrice!ifwitalonecouldentitleamantorespect,&c.Hehaswrittenaverywittylittlepamphletlately,satiricaluponcollegedeclamations;whenIsendWhitesbook,Iwilladdthat.

IamsorrythereshouldbeanydifferencebetweenyouandSouthey."Betweenyoutwothereshouldbepeace,"thoImustsayIhavebornehimnogoodwillsincehespiritedyouawayfromamongus.WhatisbeeofMoschus?Yousportedsomeofhissublimities,Isee,inyourWatchman.Verydecentthings.Somuchfortonightfromyourafflictedheadacheysorethroatey,humbleServantC.Lamb——Tuesdaynight——-.

OfyourWatchmen,theReviewofBurkewasthebestprose.Iaugurdgreatthingsfromthe1stnumber.Thereissomeexquisitepoetryinterspersed.Ihavere-readtheextractfromtheReligiousmusingsandretractwhateverinvidioustherewasinmycensureofitaselaborate.Therearetimeswhenoneisnotinadispositionthoroughlytorelishgoodwriting.Ihavere-readitinamorefavourablemomentandhesitatenottopronounceitsublime.Iftherebeanythinginitapproachstotumidity(whichImeantnottoinferinelaborate:Imeantsimplylabored)itistheGigantichyperbolebywhichyoudescribetheEvilsofexistingsociety.Snakes,Lions,hyenasandbehemoths,iscarryingyourresentmentbeyondbounds.ThepicturesoftheSimoom,offrenzyandruin,ofthewhoreofBabylonandthecryofthefoulspiritsdisheritedofEarthandthestrangebeatitudewhichthegoodmanshallrecogniseinheaven—aswellastheparticularizingofthechildrenofwretchedness—(Ihaveunconsciouslyincludedeverypartofit)formavarietyofuniformexcellence.Ihungerandthirsttoreadthepoemplete.Thatisacapitallineinyour6thno.:"thisdarkfreeze-coated,hoarse,teeth-chatteringMonth"—theyareexactlysuchepithetsasBurnswouldhavestumbledon,whosepoemontheploughdupdaisyyouseemtohavehadinmind.Yourplaintthat[of]yourreaderssomethoughttherewastoomuch,sometoolittle,originalmatterinyourNos.,remindsmeofpoordeadParsonsintheCritic—"toolittleincident!Givemeleavetotellyou,Sir,thereistoomuchincident."Ihadliketohaveforgotthankingyouforthatexquisitelittlemorselthe1stSclavonianSong.Theexpressioninthe2d"morehappytobeunhappyinhell"—isitnotveryquaint?AcceptmythanksinmonwiththoseofallwholovegoodpoetryfortheBraesofYarrow.Icongratulateyouontheenemiesyoumusthavemadebyyoursplendidinvectiveagainstthebarterersin"humanfleshandsinews."Coleridge,youwillrejoicetohearthatCowperisrecoveredfromhislunacy,andisemploydonhistranslationoftheItalian&c.poemsofMilton,foraneditionwhereFuselipresidesasdesigner.Coleridge,toanidlerlikemyselftowriteandreceivelettersarebothverypleasant,butIwishnottobreakinuponyourvaluabletimebyexpectingtohearveryfrequentlyfromyou.Reservethatobligationforyourmomentsoflassitude,whenyouhavenothingelsetodo;foryourloco-restiveandallyouridlepropensitiesofcoursehavegivenwaytothedutiesofprovidingforafamily.Themailiseinbutnoparcel,yetthisisTuesday.Farewellthentilltomorrow,foranichandanookImustleaveforcriticisms.BythewayIhopeyoudonotsendyourownonlycopyofJoanofArc;Iwillinthatcasereturnitimmediately.

Yourparcelise,youhavebeenlavishofyourpresents.

WordsworthspoemIhavehurriedthronotwithoutdelight.PoorLovell!myheartalmostaccusesmeforthelightmannerIspokeofhimabove,notdreamingofhisdeath.Myheartbleedsforyouraccumulatedtroubles,Godsendyouthroemwithpatience.IconjureyoudreamnotthatIwilleverthinkofbeingrepaid!theverywordisgallingtotheears.IhavereadallyourRel.Musingswithuninterruptedfeelingsofprofoundadmiration.Youmaysafelyrestyourfameonit.ThebestremaingthingsarewhatIhavebeforeread,andtheylosenothingbymyrecollectionofyourmannerofrecitingem,forItoobearinmind"thevoice,thelook"ofabsentfriends,andcanoccasionallymimictheirmannerfortheamusementofthosewhohaveseeneYourimpassionedmannerofrecitationIcanrecallatanytimetomineownheart,andtotheearsofthebystanders.IratherwishyouhadleftthemonodyonC.concludingasitdidabruptly.Ithadmoreofunity.—TheconclusionofyourRMusingsIfearwillentitleyoutothereproofofyourBelovedwoman,whowiselywillnotsufferyourfancytorunriot,butbidsyouwalkhumblywithyourGod.Theverylastwords"Iexercisemyyoungnoviciatethotinministeriesofheart-stirringsong,"thonotnownewtome,cannotbeenoughadmired.Tospeakpolitely,theyareawellturndplimenttoPoetry.IhastentoreadJoanofArc,&c.Ihavereadyourlinesatthebegingof2dbook,theyareworthyofMilton,butinmymindyieldtoyourRelMusgs.Ishallreadthewholecarefullyandinsomefuturelettertakethelibertytoparticularizemyopinionsofit.OfwhatisnewtomeamongyourpoemsnexttotheMusings,thatbeginning"MyPensiveSara"gavememostpleasure:thelinesinitIjustalludedtoaremostexquisite—theymademysisterandselfsmile,asconveyingapleasingpictureofMrs.C.chequingyourwildwandrings,whichweweresofondofhearingyouindulgewhenamongus.IthasendearedusmorethananythingtoyourgoodLady;andyourownself-reproofthatfollowsdelightedus.Tisacharmingpoemthroughout.(Youhavewellremarkedthat"charming,admirable,exquisite"arewordsexpressiveoffeelings,morethanconveyingofideas,elseImightpleadverywellwantofroominmypaperasexcuseforgeneralizing.)IwantroomtotellyouhowwearecharmedwithyourversesinthemannerofSpencer,&c.&c.&c.&c.&c.IamgladyouresumetheWatchman—changethename,leaveoutallarticlesofNews,andwhateverthingsarepeculiartoNewsPapers,andconfineyourselftoEthics,verse,criticism,or,ratherdonotconfineyourself.LetyourplanbeasdiffuseastheSpectator,andIllanswerforittheworkprospers.IfIamvainenoughtothinkIcanbeacontributor,relyonmyinclinations.Coleridge,inreadingyourR.MusingsIfeltatransientsuperiorityoveryou:IhaveseenPriestly.Ilovetoseehisnamerepeatedinyourwritings.Iloveandhonorhimalmostprofanely.Youwouldbecharmedwithhissermons,ifyouneverreade—Youhavedoubtlessreadhisbooks,illustrativeofthedoctrineofNecessity.Prefixedtoalateworkofhis,inanswertoPaine,thereisapreface,given[?giving]anaccountoftheManandhisservicestoMen,writtenbyLindsey,hisdearestfriend,—wellworthyourreading.

TuesdayEve.—Forgivemyprolixity,whichisyettoobriefforallIcouldwishtosay.—Godgiveyoufortandallthatareofyourhousehold.—OurlovesandbestgoodwishestoMrs.C.

C.LAMB.

[ThepostmarkofthisletterlookslikeJune1,butitmightbeJune7,Itwasoddtodateit"Tuesdaynight"halfwaythrough,and"Tuesdayeve"attheend.PossiblyLambbeganitonTuesday,May24,andfinisheditonTuesday,May31;possiblyhebeganitonTuesday,May31,andfinisheditandposteditonTuesday,June7.

TheHertfordshiresonnetwasprintedintheMonthlyMagazinefor

December,1797,andnotreprintedbyLamb.

Thesonnetthat"mockdmystepwithmanyalonelyglade"isthatbeginning—

WasitsomesweetdeviceofFa?ry,

whichhadbeenprintedinColeridgesPoems,1796.Thesecond,thirdandfourthofthesonnetsthatarecopiedinthisletterwereprintedinthesecondeditionofColeridgesPoems,1797.AnnaisgenerallysupposedtobeAnnSimmons,referredtointhepreviousnote.

Concerning"Flocci-nauci-what-dye-call-em-ists,"CanonAingerhasthefollowinginterestingnote:"Flocci,nauciisthebeginningofaruleintheoldLatingrammars,containingalistofwordssignifyingofnoaccount,floccusbeingalockofwool,andnaucusatrifle.LambwasrecallingasentenceinoneofShenstonesLetters:—Ilovedhimfornothingsomuchashisflocci-nauci-nihili-pili-ficationofmoney."But"Pantisocratists"was,ofcourse,thewordthatLambwasshadowing.Pantisocracy,however—theneworderofmonlivingandhighthinking,tobeestablishedonthebanksoftheSusquehannabyColeridge,Southey,Favell,Burnettandothers—wasalreadydead.

WilliamCumberlandCruikshank,theanatomist,whoattendedLambsbrother,hadattendedDr.Johnsoninhislastillness.

LeGricespamphletwasAGeneralTheoremforA*******Coll.

Declamation,byGronovius,1796.

SoutheyandColeridgehadbeenonsomewhatstrainedtermsforsometime;possibly,asIhavesaidinthepreviousnote,owingtoSoutheysabandonmentofPantisocraticfervour,whichanticipatedColeridgesbysomemonths.Also,tomarrysistersdoesnotalwaysleadtoserenity.ThespiritingawayofColeridgehadbeeneffectedbySoutheyinJanuary,1795,whenhefoundColeridgeattheAngelinButcherHallStreet(vicetheSalutationinNewgateStreet)andborehimbacktoBristolandtheforlornSaraFricker,andawayfromLamb,journalismandegg-hot.

Moschuswas,aswehaveseen,RobertLovell.No.V.ofTheWatchmancontainedsonnetsbyhi

ThereviewofBurkesLettertoaNobleLordwasinNo.I.ofTheWatchman.—Thepassagefrom"ReligiousMusings,"underthetitle"ThePresentStateofSociety,"wasinNo.II.—extendingfromline260to357.[Theselineswere279-3781sted.;264-3632nded.]ThecapitallineinNo.VI.isinthepoem,"LinesonObservingaBlossomontheFirstofFebruary,1796."—PoordeadParsonswouldbeWilliamParsons(1736-1795),theoriginalSirFretfulPlagiaryinSheridans"Critic."LambpraiseshiminhisessayontheArtificialComedy.—InNo.IX.ofTheWatchmanwereproseparaphrasesofthreeSclavoniansongs,thefirstbeing"SongofaFemaleOrphan,"andthesecond,"SongoftheHaymakers."—JohnLogans"BraesofYarrow"hadbeen"edinNo.III.as"themostexquisiteperformanceinourlanguage."—Theinvectiveagainst"thebarterers"referstothedenunciationoftheslavetradeinNo.IV.ofTheWatchman.

Cowpersrecoverywasonlypartial;andhewasneverrightlyhimselfafter1793.TheeditionofMiltonhadbeenbegunabout1790.Itwasneverfinishedasoriginallyintended;butFuselipletedfortypictures,whichwereexhibitedin1799.AneditionofCowperstranslations,withdesignsbyFlaxman,waspublishedin1808,andofCowperspleteMiltonin1810.

Wordsworthspoemwouldbe"GuiltandSorrow,"ofwhichaportionwasprintedinLyricalBallads,1798,andthewholepublishedin1842.

Coleridges"MonodyonChatterton,"thefirstpoeminhisPoemson

VariousSubjects,1796,hadbeenwrittenoriginallyatChrists

Hospital,1790:itcontinuedtobemuchalteredbeforethefinal

version.

Thetwolinesfrom"ReligiousMusings"arenotthelast,butthebeginningofthelastpassage.

ColeridgecontributedbetweenthreeandfourhundredlinestoBookII.ofSoutheysJoanofArc,asweshallseelater.Thepoembeginning"MyPensiveSara"wasEffusion35,afterwardscalled"The?olianHarp,"andthelinestowhichLambrefersarethese,followinguponColeridgesdescriptionofhowflittingphantasiestraversehisindolentandpassivebrain:—

Butthymoreseriouseyeamildreproof

Darts,ObelovedWoman!norsuchthoughts

Dimandunhallowddostthounotreject,

AndbiddestmewalkhumblywithmyGod.

TheplantoresumeTheWatchmandidnotetoanything.

JosephPriestley(1733-1804),thetheologian,atthistimetheobjectofLambsadoration,wasoneofthefathersofUnitarianism,acreedinwhichLambhadbeenbroughtupundertheinfluenceofhisAuntHetty.Coleridge,asasupporterofoneofPriestleysallies,WilliamFrendofCambridge,andasaconvincedUnitarian,wasalsoanadmirerofPriestley,concerningwhomandtheBirminghamriotsof1791isafinepassagein"ReligiousMusings,"whileoneofthesonnetsofthe1796volumewasaddressedtohim:circumstanceswhichLambhadinmindwhenmentioninghiminthisletter.LambhadprobablyseenPriestleyattheGravelPitChapel,Hackney,wherehebecamemorningpreacherinDecember,1791,remainingthereuntilMarch,1794.ThenceforwardhelivedinAmerica.HisInstitutesofNaturalandRevealedReligionappearedbetween1772and1774.TheotherworkreferredtoisLetterstothePhilosophersandPoliticiansofFrance,newlyeditedbyTheophilusLindsey,theUnitarian,asAnAnswertoMr.Paines"AgeofReason,"1795.]

我体内有仙府  祖一南音美  六皇子东方羽东方羽罗嫔妃  反派她扛起了收视率  爷,王妃她恃宠而骄!  重生雄豪万雄李子晴  道家天师  偏执总裁的罪妻  带着系统回大唐  豪门团宠:哥哥们又扒我马甲  离婚后我在豪门乘风破浪  你不努力,没人能给你想要的生活  狼狈离婚两年后霸气回归蓝思恩墨琰  我在末世捡美女  重生之完美时代  全能贵妃:娱乐圈团宠女神  异界大佬都市纵横  夜明笙歌  都市医武战神  快穿:干饭大佬在线虐渣  

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