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LETTER 289（第1页）

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“TheWorksofCharlesandMaryLamb—Volume6（.shg.tw）”

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LETTER289

CHARLESLAMBTOJOHNCLARE

IndiaHouse，31Aug.，1822.

DearClare—Ithankyouheartilyforyourpresent.IamaninveterateoldLondoner，butwhileIamamongyourchoicecollections，Iseemtobenativetothem，andfreeofthecountry.Thequantityofyourobservationhasastonishedme.WhathavemostpleasedmehavebeenRecollectionsafteraRamble，andthoseGrongarHillkindofpiecesineightsyllablelines，myfavouritemeasure，suchasCowperHillandSolitude.Insomeofyourstory-tellingBalladstheprovincialphrasessometimesstartleme.Ithinkyouaretooprofusewiththem.Inpoetryslangofeverykindistobeavoided.ThereisarustickCockneyism，aslittlepleasingasoursofLondon.TransplantArcadiatoHelpstone.Thetruerusticstyle，theArcadianEnglish，IthinkistobefoundinShenstone.WouldhisSchoolmistress，theprettiestofpoems，havebeenbetter，ifhehadusedquitetheGoodysownlanguage?Nowandthenahomerusticismisfreshandstartling，butwherenothingisgainedinexpression，itisoutoftenor.Itmaymakefolkssmileandstare，buttheungenialcoalitionofbarbarouswithrefinedphraseswillpreventyouintheendfrombeingsogenerallytasted，asyoudeservetobe.Excusemyfreedom，andtakethesamelibertywithmypuns.

Isendyoutwolittlevolumesofmysparehours.Theyareofallsorts，thereisamethodisthymnforSundays，andafarceforSaturdaynight.Praygivethemaplaceonyourshelf.Prayacceptalittlevolume，ofwhichIhave[a]duplicate，thatImayreturninequalnumbertoyourwelepresents.

IthinkIamindebtedtoyouforasonnetintheLondonforAugust.

SinceIsawyouIhavebeeninFrance，andhaveeatenfrogs.Thenicestlittlerabbitythingsyouevertasted.Dolookaboutforthem.MakeMrs.Clarepickoffthehindquarters，boilthemplain，withparsleyandbutter.Theforequartersarenotsogood.Shemayletthemhopoffbythemselves.

Yourssincerely，

CHAS.LAMB.

[JohnClare（1793-1864）wastheNorthamptonshirepoetwhomtheLondonMagazinehadintroducedtofame.OctaviusGilchristhadplayedtohimthesamepartthatCapellLoffthadtoBloomfield.Hisfirstvolume，PoemsDescriptiveofRuralLifeandScenery，waspublishedinJanuary，1820;hisnext，TheVillageMinstrel，inSeptemberofthenextyear.ThesehehadprobablysenttoLamb.HelpstonewasClaresbirthplace.LambstwolittlereturnvolumeswerehisWorks.ThesonnetintheAugustLondonMagazinewasnotsignedbyClare.Itrunsthus:—

TOELlA

ELIA，thyreveriesandvisiondthemes

ToCareslornheartalusciouspleasureprove;

Wildasthemysteryofdelightfuldreams，

Softastheanguishofrememberdlove:

Likerecordsofpastdaystheirmemorydances

MidthecoolfeelingsManhoodsreasonbrings，

Astheunearthlyvisionsofromances

Peopledwithsweetanduncreatedthings;—

Andyetthythemesthygentleworthenhances!

Thenwakeagainthywildharpstendereststrings，

Singon，sweetBard，letfairylovesagain

Smileinthydreams，withangelecstacies;

Brightoeroursoulswillbreaktheheavenlystrain

Throughthedullgloomofearthsrealities.

ClareaddressedtoLambasonnetonhisDramaticSpecimenswhichwasprintedinHonesYearBookin1831.

HereshouldealetterfromLambtoAyrtondatedSept.5，1822，referringtothewriters"

drunkencaput"

andlossofmemory.

HereshouldealetterfromLambtoMrs.JamesKenney，datedSept.11，1822，inwhichLambsaysthatMaryLambhadreachedhomesafelyfromFrance，andthatshefailedtosmuggleCrabbRobinsonswaistcoat.HeaddsthattheCustomHousepeoplecouldnotprehendhowawaistcoat，markedHenryRobinson，couldbeapartofMissLambswearingapparel.AttheendoftheletterisacharmingnotetoMrs.Kenneyslittlegirl，Sophy，whomLambcallshisdearwife.HeassuresherthatthefewshortdaysofconnubialfelicitywhichhepassedwithheramongthepearsandapricotsofVersaillesweresomeofthehappiestofhislife.]