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Eartham
Monday Feb 11
1782

My dear Sister

Tho I have only a few moments to devote to you I cannot let one Post escape me without hastning [sic] to relieve the apprehensions you so kindly express for the Health of yr poetical Brother

Behold me still alive at yr Service I have indeed been seriously ill but I believe in no great danger of passing the Ferry to Elysium - at least I did not see old Charon before me - Indeed I have been so often on the Edge of the Grave without slipping in that I may perhaps die laughing at those who tell me I am in danger — The subject of death naturally leads to Epitaphs you will think me an obstinate profane sort of a materialistical Blockhead still to oppose my Frame to your Spirit But in truth I cannot acquiesce in the

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last line of yr Epitaph – . Tho you have a little softened the Hiss of it in substituting hovering for sacred it is still very unmusical to me & I think a sister Spirit^s Shade – is a little like the Shadow of a Shade this opinion perhaps is owing to the more substantial Shade of dullness that hovers over my Brain — Frame I believe is often taken for the whole Mass of Soul & Body but you may obviate yr objection to its personal Sense by retaining more of yr own Expression in the second line of the last Stanza thus

Are Truth & Knowledge Love & Pity thine
do Charity'^s soft Fires thy Heart inflame
Then rest thy wandring step beneath this Shrine
& bless these reliques of a kindred Frame

or if you like it better

& bless the dust of a congenial Frame

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or thus

are Truth & Knowledge Love & Pity thine
Have Charity^s soft Fires thy Soul refin'd
Then rest thy wandring Step beneath this Shrine
& bless these reliques of a kindred Mind

or if the you think the reliques of a Mind not an allowable Expression you may easily change it to

For once these reliques held a kindred Mind

But I beg you will always correct yr own Verses yrself for nobody can do it so well – & Heaven bless those good Souls say I who have the Patience to write an Epitaph for it is a Task enough to make one frantic — there is nothing so difficult -

I must now scold you for letting

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the virgin Squib fly abroad – Indeed you are wrong to trust it out of yr own Custody – remember how Virgins suffer in the World ! Fie upon you I will complain to Giovanni if you ever do so again —

If your Embryos as you call them are so lovely What must be the ripe & full grown & well delivered Offspring of yr Fancy – Longinus is absolutely the Man Midwife to all the Nine Muses & I wish He would accelerate the public appearance of yr new little dear Elegiac Bantling for I am quite wild to see it with its Face washed & its Cap on —

Well I must say God bless you as I have not another moment to spare - so with kindest Love to you & all who love you

Believe me ever yr affectionate
Brother H