LETTER161

letter161

charleslambtowilliamgodwin

[nodate.?1806.]

irepent.canthatgodwhomthyvotariessaythatthouhastdemolishedexpectmore?ididinditeaspleneticletter,butdidtheblackhypocondrianevergripethyheart,tillthemhasttakenafriendforanenemy?thefoulfiendflibbertigibbetleadsmeoverfourinchedbridges,tocoursemyownshadowforatraitor.therearecertainpositionsofthemoon,underwhichicounseltheenottotakeanythingwrittenfromthisdomicileasserious.

iranktheewithalves,latinèhelvetius,oranyofhiscursedcrew?thouartmyfriend,andhenceforthmyphilosopher—thoushallteachdistinctiontothejuniorbranchesofmyhousehold,anddeceptiontothegreyhairedjanitressatmydoor.

what!aretheseatonements?canarcadiansbebroughtuponknees,creepingandcrouching?

come,asmacbeth'sdrunkenportersays,knock,knock,knock,knock,knock,knock,knock—seventimesinadayshallthoubatteratmypeace,andifishutaughtagainstthee,savethetempleofjanus,maybriareus,withhishundredhands,ineachabrassknocker,leadmesuchalife.

c.lamb.

[icannotaccountforthisletterintheabsenceofitspredecessorandthatfromgodwintowhichitreplies.]