ntion, nor, I dare say, many
others. But, in course, you, as well as others, have 'damned
good-natured friends,' who do their duty in the usual way. One
thing will make you laugh. * * * *"

[Footnote 20: In asserting that he devoted but four days to the
composition of The Bride, he must be understood to refer only to the
first sketch of that poem,--the successive additions by which it was
increased to its present length having occupied, as we have seen, a much
longer period. The Corsair, on the contrary, was, from beginning to end,
struck off at a heat--there being but little alteration or addition
afterwards,--and the rapidity with which it was produced (being at the
rate of nearly two hundred lines a day) would be altogether incredible,
had we not his own, as well as his publisher's, testimony to the fact.
Such an achievement,--taking into account the surpassing beauty of the
work,--is, perhaps, wholly without a parallel in the history of Genius,
and shows that 'ecrire _par passion_,' as Rousseau expresses it, may be
sometimes a shorter road to perfection than any that Art has ever struck
out.]

* * * * *

LETTER 171. TO MR. MOORE.

"March 12. 1814.

"Guess darkly, and you will seldom err. At present, I shall say no
more, and, perhaps--but no matter. I hope we shall some day meet,
and whatever years may precede or succeed it, I shall mark it with
the 'white stone' in my calendar. I am not sure that I shall not
soon be in your neighbourhood again. If so, and I am alone (as will
probably be the case), I shall invade and carry you off, and
endeavour to atone for sorry fare by a sincere welcome. I don't
know the person absent (barring 'the sect') I should be so glad to
see again.

"I have nothing of the sort you mention but _the lines_ (the
Weepers), if you like to have them in the Bag. I wish to give them
all possible circulation. The _Vault_ reflection is downright
actionable, and to print it would be peril to the publisher; but I
think the Tears have a natural right to be bagged, and the editor
(whoever he may be) might supply a facetious note or not, as he
pleased.

"I cannot conceive how the _Vault_[21] has got about,--but so it
is. It is too _farouche_; but, truth to say, my satires are not
very playful. I have the plan of an epistle in my head, _at_ him
and