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 333

　　CHARLES LAMB TO J.B. DIBDIN

　　[P.M. October 28, 1823.]

　　My dear Sir—Your Pig was a picture of a pig, and your Picture a pig of a picture. The former was delicious but evanescent, like a hearty fit of mirth, or the crackling of thorns under a pot; but the latter is an idea, and abideth. I never before saw swine upon sattin. And then that pretty strawy canopy about him! he seems to purr (rather than grunt) his satisfaction. Such a gentlemanlike porker too! Morland's are absolutely clowns to it. Who the deuce painted it?

　　I have ordered a little gilt shrine for it, and mean to wear it for a locket; a shirt-pig.

　　I admire the petty-toes shrouded in a veil of something, not mud, but that warm soft consistency with [? which] the dust takes in Elysium after a spring shower—it perfectly engloves them.

　　I cannot enough thank you and your country friend for the delicate double present—the Utile et Decorum—three times have I attempted to write this sentence and failed; which shows that I am not cut out for a pedant.

　　Sir (as I say to Southey) will you come and see us at our poor cottage of Colebrook to tea tomorrow evening, as early as six? I have some friends coming at that hour—

　　The panoply which covered your material pig shall be forthcoming— The pig pictorial, with its trappings, domesticate with me.

　　Your greatly obliged

　　ELIA.

　　Tuesday.

　　["Sir (as I say to Southey)." Elia's Letter to Southey in the London Magazine began thus.] The Works of Charles and Mary Lamb — Volume 6