ed with his
Biography: a Gentleman, as well as a Scholar and 'Writer of Books,' who
will know what to leave unsaid as well as what to say.

Your account of 'The Cup' is what I should have expected from you: and,
if I may say so, from myself had I seen it.

And with this Letter comes my Sophocles, of which I have told you what I
expect you will think also, and therefore need not say--unless of a
different opinion. It came here I think the same Day on which I wrote to
tell you it had not come: but I would not send it until assured that all
was well with you. Such corrections as you will find are not meant as
Poetical--or rather Versifying--improvements, but either to clear up
obscurity, or to provide for some modifications of the two Plays when
made, as it were, into one. Especially concerning the Age of OEdipus:
whom I do not intend to be the _old_ man in Part II. as he appears in the
original. For which, and some other things, I will, if Eyes hold, send
you some printed reasons in an introductory Letter to Mr. Norton, at
whose desire I finished what had been lying in my desk these dozen years.

As I said of my own AEschylus Choruses, I say of old Potter's now: better
just to take a hint from them of what they are about--or imagine it for
yourself--and then imagine, or remember, some grand Organ piece--as of
Bach's Preludes--which will be far better Interlude than Potter--or I--or
even (as I dare think) than Sophocles' self!

And so I remain your ancient Heretic,

LITTLE G.

The newly printed Part II. would not bear Ink.

LXXXVIII.

[_Feb._, 1881.]

MY DEAR LADY,

Pray keep the Book: I always intended that you should do so if you liked
it: and, as I believe I said, I was sure that like it you would. I did
not anticipate how much: but am all the more glad: and (were I twenty
years younger) should be all the more proud; even making, as I do, a
little allowance for your old and constant regard to the Englisher. The
Drama is, however, very skilfully put together, and very well versified,
although that not as an original man--such as Dryden--would have
versified it: I will, by and by, send you a little introductory letter to
Mr. Norton, explaining to him, a Greek Scholar, why I have departed from
so much of the original: 'little' I call the Letter, but yet so long that
I did not wish him, or you, to have as much trouble in reading, as I,
with my bad Eyes, had in writing it: so, as I tell him--and you