LETTER CCCLXXV. TO THE REV. MR. HURDIS. MY DEAR SIR, Weston, March 2, 1792. I HAVE this moment finished a comparison of your remarks with my text, and feel so sensibly my obligations to your great accuracy and kindness, that I cannot deny myself the pleasure of expressing them immediately. I only wish instead of revising the two first books of the Iliad, you could have found leisure to revise the whole two poems, sensible how much my work would have benefitted. I have not always adopted your lines, though often perhaps at least as good as my own; because there will and must be dissimilarity of manner between two so accustomed to the pen as we are. But I have let few passages go unamended, which you seemed to think exceptionable; and this not at all from complaisance; for in such a cause I would not sacrifice an iota on that principle, but on clear conviction. I have as yet heard nothing from Johnson, about the two MSS. you announce, but feel ashamed that I should want your letter to re mind me of your obliging offer to inscribe Sir Thomas More to me, should you resolve to publish him. Of my consent to such a measure you need not doubt. I am covetous of respect and honor from all such as you. Tame hare, at present, I have none. But to make amends, I have a beautiful little spaniel, called Beau, to whom I will give the kiss your Sister Sally intended for the former. Unless she should command me to bestow it elsewhere; it shall attend on her directions. On I am going to take a last dinner with a most agreeable family, who have been my old neighbours ever since I have lived at Weston. Monday they go to London, and in the summer to an estate in Oxfordshire, which is to be their home in future. The occasion is not at all a pleasant one to me, nor does it leave me spirits to add more, than that I am, dear Sir, Most truly yours, W. C. LETTER CCCLXXVI. TO JOHN JOHNSON, ESQ. Weston, March 11, 1792. MY DEAR JOHNNY, You talk of primroses that you pulled on Candlemas day; but what think you of me who heard a nightingale on New-year's day? Perhaps I am the only man in England who can boast of such good fortune; good indeed, for if it was at all an omen it could not be an unfavorable one. The winter however is now making himself amends, and seems the more peevish for having been encroached on at so undue a season. Nothing less than a large slice out of the spring will satisfy him. Lady Hesketh left us yesterday. She intended to have left us four days sooner; but in the evening before the day fixed for her depar-. ture, snow enough fell to occasion just so much delay of it. We have faint hopes, that in the month of May we shall see her again. I know that you have had a letter from her, and you will no doubt have the grace not to make her wait long for an answer. We expect Mr. Rose on Tuesday; but he stays with us only till the Saturday following. 'With him I shall have some conferences on the subject of Homer, respecting a new edition I mean, and some perhaps on the subject of Milton; on him I have not yet begun to comment, or even fix the time when I shall. Forget not your promised visit! W. C.* то THE NIGHTINGALE, WHICH THE AUTHOR HEARD SING ON NEW YEAR'S DAY, 1792. WHENCE is it, that amaz'd I hear This foremost morn of all the year, And why, since thousands would be proud Of such a favor shown, Am I selected from the crowd, To witness it alone? *Note by the Editor. I annex to this letter the stanzas, which Cowper composed on the wonder. ful incident here mentioned. Sing'st thou, sweet Philomel, to me, Have practis'd in the groves like thee, Or sing'st thou rather under force Thrice welcome then! for many a long But thee no wintry skies can harm, To make e'en January charm, LETTER CCCLXXVII. TO THE REV. MR. HURDIS. MY DEAR SIR, Weston, March 23, 1792. I HAVE read your play carefully, and with great pleasure; it seems now to be a performance, that cannot fail to do you much credit. Yet, unless my memory deceives me, |
