您可以在百度里搜索“The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 6 艾草文学(www.321553.xyz)”查找最新章节！

　　LETTER 509

　　CHARLES LAMB TO MRS. WILLIAMS

　　Enfield, Good Friday [April 9, 1830].

　　P.S.—I am the worst folder-up of a letter in the world, except certain Hottentots, in the land of Caffre, who never fold up their letters at all, writing very badly upon skins, &c.

　　Dear Madam,—I do assure you that your verses gratified me very much, and my sister is quite proud of them. For the first time in my life I congratulated myself upon the shortness and meanness of my name. Had it been Schwartzenberg or Esterhazy, it would have put you to some puzzle. I am afraid I shall sicken you of acrostics; but this last was written to order. I beg you to have inserted in your county paper something like this advertisement. "To the nobility, gentry, and others, about Bury.—C. Lamb respectfully informs his friends and the public in general, that he is leaving off business in the acrostic line, as he is going into an entirely new line. Rebuses and charades done as usual, and upon the old terms. Also, Epitaphs to suit the memory of any person deceased." I thought I had adroitly escaped the rather unpliable name of "Williams," curtailing your poor daughters to their proper surnames; but it seems you would not let me off so easily. If these trifles amuse you, I am paid. Tho really 'tis an operation too much like—"A, apple-pye; B, bit it." To make amends, I request leave to lend you the "Excursion," and to recommend, in particular, the "Churchyard Stories," in the seventh book, I think. They will strengthen the tone of your mind after its weak diet on acrostics. Miss Isola is writing, and will tell you that we are going on very comfortably. Her sister is just come. She blames my last verses, as being more written on Mr. Williams than on yourself; but how should I have parted whom a Superior Power has brought together? I beg you will jointly accept of our best respects, and pardon your obsequious if not troublesome Correspondent, C.L.

　　[Mr. Cecil Turner, a grandson of Mrs. Williams, tells me that her acrostic on Lamb ran thus:—

　　TO CHARLES LAMB

　　Answer to Acrostics on the Names of Two Friends

　　Charmed with the lines thy hand has sent,

　　Honour I feel the compliment,

　　Amongst thy products that have won the ear,

　　Ranged in thy verse two friends most dear.

　　Lay not thy winning pen away,

　　Each line thou writest we bid thee stay,

　　Still ask to charm us with another lay.

　　Long liked, long lived by public Fame

　　A friend to misery, whate'er its claim.

　　Marvel I must if e'er we find

　　Bestowed by heaven a kindlier mind.

　　The two friends were probably Edward Hogg and Cecilia Catherine Lawton, on whose names Lamb wrote acrostics (see Vol. IV.).

　　This was Lamb's effort:—

　　Go little Poem, and present

　　Respectful terms of compliment;

　　A gentle lady bids thee speak!

　　Courteous is she, tho' thou be weak—

　　Evoke from Heaven as thick as manna

　　Joy after joy on Grace Joanna:

　　On Fornham's Glebe and Pasture land

　　A blessing pray. Long, long may stand,

　　Not touched by Time, the Rectory blithe;

　　No grudging churl dispute his Tithe;

　　At Easter be the offerings due

　　With cheerful spirit paid; each pew

　　In decent order filled; no noise

　　Loud intervene to drown the voice,

　　Learning, or wisdom of the Teacher;

　　Impressive be the Sacred Preacher,

　　And strict his notes on holy page;

　　May young and old from age to age

　　Salute, and still point out, "The good man's Parsonage!"] The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 6