The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb Volume VI Part 81

_On his Collection of Paintings by the old German Masters_

Friendliest of men, Aders, I never come Within the precincts of this sacred Room, But I am struck with a religious fear, Which says "Let no profane eye enter here."

With imagery from Heav'n the walls are clothed, Making the things of Time seem vile and loathed.

Spare Saints, whose bodies seem sustain'd by Love With Martyrs old in meek procession move.

Here kneels a weeping Magdalen, less bright To human sense for her blurr'd cheeks; in sight Of eyes, new-touch'd by Heaven, more winning fair Than when her beauty was her only care.

A Hermit here strange mysteries doth unlock In desart sole, his knees worn by the rock.

There Angel harps are sounding, while below Palm-bearing Virgins in white order go.

Madonnas, varied with so chaste design.

While all are different, each seems genuine, And hers the only Jesus: hard outline, And rigid form, by Durer's hand subdued To matchless grace, and sacro-sanct.i.tude; Durer, who makes thy slighted Germany Vie with the praise of paint-proud Italy.

Whoever enter'st here, no more presume To name a Parlour, or a Drawing Room; But, bending lowly to each, holy Story, Make this thy Chapel, and thine Oratory.]

LETTER 542

CHARLES LAMB TO S.T. COLERIDGE

April 14th, 1832.

My dear Coleridge,--Not an unkind thought has pa.s.sed in my brain about you. But I have been wofully neglectful of you, so that I do not deserve to announce to you, that if I do not hear from you before then, I will set out on Wednesday morning to take you by the hand. I would do it this moment, but an unexpected visit might flurry you. I shall take silence for acquiescence, and come. I am glad you could write so long a letter.

Old loves to, and hope of kind looks from, the Gilmans, when I come.

Yours _semper idem_ C.L.

If you ever thought an offence, much more wrote it, against me, it must have been in the times of Noah; and the great waters swept it away.

Mary's most kind love, and maybe a wrong prophet of your bodings!--here she is crying for mere love over your letter. I wring out less, but not sincerer, showers.

My direction is simply, Enfield.

[Mr. d.y.k.es Campbell's comment upon this note is that it was written to remove some mistaken sick-man's fancy.]

LETTER 543

CHARLES LAMB TO JAMES SHERIDAN KNOWLES

[No date. ? April, 1832.]

Dear Kn.--I will not see London again without seeing your pleasant Play.

In meanwhile, pray, send three or four orders to a Lady who can't afford to pay: Miss James, No. 1 Grove Road, Lisson Grove, Paddington, a day or two before--and come and see us some _Evening_ with my hitherto uncorrupted and honest bookseller

Moxon. C. LAMB.

[I have dated this April, 1832, because it may refer to Knowles' play "The Hunchback," produced April 5, 1832. It might also possibly refer to "The Wife" of a year later, but I think not.]

LETTER 544

CHARLES LAMB TO JOHN FORSTER

[? Late April, 1832.]

One day in my life Do come. C.L.

I have placed poor Mary at Edmonton--

I shall be very glad to see the Hunch Back and Straitback the 1st Even'g they can come. I am very poorly indeed. I have been cruelly thrown out.

Come and don't let me drink too much. I drank more yesterday than I ever did any one day in my life.

C.L.

Do come.

Cannot your Sister come and take a half bed--or a whole one? Which, alas, we have to spare.

[Mary Lamb would have been taken to Walden House, Edmonton, where mental patients were received. A year later the Lambs moved there altogether.

The Hunchback would be Knowles; the Straitback I do not recognise.

John Forster (1812-1876), whom we now meet for the first time, one of Lamb's last new friends, was the author, later, of _Lives of the Statesmen of the Commonwealth_ and the Lives also of Goldsmith and of Landor and d.i.c.kens, whose close friend he was. His _Life of Pym_, which was in Vol. II. of the _Statesman_, did not appear until 1837, but I a.s.sume that he had ridden the hobby for some years.]

LETTER 545

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON (?)

[P.M. June 1, 1832.]

I am a little more than half alive-- I was more than half dead-- the Ladies are very agreeable-- I flatter myself I am less than disagreeable-- Convey this to Mr. Forster-- Whom, with you, I shall just be able to see some 10 days hence and believe me ever yours C.L.

I take Forster's name to be John, But you know whom I mean, the Pym-praiser not pimp-raiser.

[This letter possibly is not to Moxon at all, as the wrapper (on which is the postmark) may belong to another letter.]

LETTER 546

CHARLES LAMB TO THOMAS ALLSOP