The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 5 - The Letters of Charles and Mary Lamb by Charles Lamb;Mary Lamb
page 248 of 923 (26%)
page 248 of 923 (26%)
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Without their pains, when earth hath nought beside
To answer their small wants; To view the graceful deer come trooping by, Then pause, and gaze, then turn they know not why, Like bashful younkers in society; To mark the structure of a plant or tree; And all fair things of earth, how fair they be! &c. &c. I love to anticipate charges of unoriginality: the first line is almost Shakspere's:-- "To have my love to bed & to arise." _Midsummer Nights Dream_ [III., I, 174]. I think there is a sweetness in the versification not unlike some rhymes in that exquisite play, and the last line but three is yours: "An eye That met the gaze, or turn'd it knew not why." _Rosamund's Epistle_. I shall anticipate all my play, and have nothing to shew you. An idea for Leviathan:-- Commentators on Job have been puzzled to find out a meaning for Leviathan,--'tis a whale, say some; a crocodile, say others. In my simple conjecture, Leviathan is neither more nor less than the Lord Mayor of London for the time being. "Rosamund" sells well in London, maugre the non-reviewal of it. |
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