o me of your poem. I wish I could see or
hear it. I neither could, nor would, do it or its author any harm.
I believe I told you of Larry and Jacquy. A friend of mine was
reading--at least a friend of his was reading--said Larry and
Jacquy in a Brighton coach. A passenger took up the book and
queried as to the author. The proprietor said 'there were
_two_'--to which the answer of the unknown was, 'Ay, ay--a joint
concern, I suppose, _summot_ like Sternhold and Hopkins.'

"Is not this excellent? I would not have missed the 'vile
comparison' to have 'scaped being one of the 'Arcades ambo et
cantare pares.' Good night. Again yours."

* * * * *

LETTER 201. TO MR. MOORE.

"Newstead Abbey, Sept. 20. 1814.

"Here's to her who long
Hath waked the poet's sigh!
The girl who gave to song
What gold could never buy.

--My dear Moore, I am going to be married--that is, I am
accepted[49], and one usually hopes the rest will follow. My
mother of the Gracchi (that _are_ to be) _you_ think too
strait-laced for me, although the paragon of only children, and
invested with 'golden opinions of all sorts of men,' and full of
'most blest conditions' as Desdemona herself. Miss Milbanke is the
lady, and I have her father's invitation to proceed there in my
elect capacity,--which, however, I cannot do till I have settled
some business in London and got a blue coat.

"She is said to be an heiress, but of that I really know nothing
certainly, and shall not enquire. But I do know, that she has
talents and excellent qualities; and you will not deny her
judgment, after having refused six suitors and taken me.

"Now, if you have any thing to say against this, pray do; my mind's
made up, positively fixed, determined, and therefore I will listen
to reason, because now it can do no harm. Things may occur to break
it off, but I will hope not. In the mean time, I tell you (a
_secret_, by the by,--at least, till I know she wishes it to be
public,) that I have proposed and am accepted. You need not be in a
hurry to wish me joy, for one mayn't be married for months. I am
going to town to-morrow; but expect to be here, on my way there,
within a fortnight.

"If this had not happened, I should have gone to Italy. In m