Here should come a note thanking Matilda Betham for some bridal verses written for the wedding of Edward Moxon and Emma Isola.  “In haste and headake.”]

LETTER 588

CHARLES LAMB TO H.F.  CARY

Sept. 9th, 1833.

Dear Sir,—­Your packet I have only just received, owing, I suppose, to the absence of Moxon, who is flaunting it about a la Parisienne with his new bride, our Emma, much to his satisfaction and not a little to our dulness.  We shall be quite well by the time you return from Worcestershire and most most (observe the repetition) glad to see you here or anywhere.

I will take my time with Darley’s act.  I wish poets would write a little plainer; he begins some of his words with a letter which is unknown to the English typography.

Yours, most truly,

C. LAMB.

P.S.—­Pray let me know when you return.  We are at Mr. Walden’s, Church-street, Edmonton; no longer at Enfield.  You will be amused to hear that my sister and I have, with the aid of Emma, scrambled through the “Inferno” by the blessed furtherance of your polar-star translation.  I think we scarce left anything unmadeout.  But our partner has left us, and we have not yet resumed.  Mary’s chief pride in it was that she should some day brag of it to you.  Your Dante and Sandys’ Ovid are the only helpmates of translations.  Neither of you shirk a word.

Fairfax’s Tasso is no translation at all.  It’s better in some places; but it merely observes the number of stanzas; as for images, similes, &c., he finds ’em himself, and never “troubles Peter for the matter.”

In haste, dear Gary, yours ever,

C. LAMB.

Has Moxon sent you “Elia,” second volume? if not, he shall.  Taylor and we are at law about it.

["Darley’s act.”  Not now identifiable, I think.

“Taylor and we.”  The case had apparently not been settled by Procter.  I have not found any report of a law-suit.]

LETTER 589

CHARLES AND MARY LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[P.M.  Sept. 26, 1833.]

Thursday.

We shall be most happy to see Emma, dear to every body.  Mary’s spirits are much better, and she longs to see again our twelve years’ friend.  You shall afternoon sip with me a bottle of superexcellent Port, after deducting a dinner-glass for them.  We rejoyce to have E. come, the first Visit, without Miss ——­, who, I trust, will yet behave well; but she might perplex Mary with questions.  Pindar sadly wants Preface and notes.  Pray, E., get to Snow Hill before 12, for we dine before 2.  We will make it 2.  By mistake I gave you Miss Betham’s letter, with the exquisite verses, which pray return to me, or if it be an improved copy, give me the other, and Albumize mine, keeping the signature.  It is too pretty a family portrait, for you not to cherish.