till our return,--or, at any rate, before _May_,
1814,--that is, six months from hence: and before that time you
will be able to ascertain how far your offer may be a losing one;
if so, you can deduct proportionably; and if not, I shall not at
any rate allow you to go higher than your present proposal, which
is very handsome, and more than fair.[112]

"I have had--but this must be _entre nous_--a very kind note, on
the subject of 'The Bride,' from Sir James Mackintosh, and an
invitation to go there this evening, which it is now too late to
accept."

[Footnote 111: Penrose's Journal, a book published by Mr. Murray at this
time.]

[Footnote 112: Mr. Murray had offered him a thousand guineas for the two
poems.]

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"November 29. 1813. Sunday--Monday morning--three o'clock--in my
doublet and hose,--_swearing_.

"I send you in time an errata page, containing an omission of mine,
which must be thus added, as it is too late for insertion in the
text. The passage is an imitation altogether from Medea in Ovid,
and is incomplete without these two lines. Pray let this be done,
and directly; it is necessary, will add one page to your book
(_making_), and can do no harm, and is yet in time for the
_public_. Answer me, thou oracle, in the affirmative. You can send
the loose pages to those who have copies already, if they like; but
certainly to all the _critical_ copyholders.

"P.S. I have got out of my bed, (in which, however, I could not
sleep, whether I had amended this or not,) and so good morning. I
am trying whether De l'Allemagne will act as an opiate, but I doubt
it."

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

"November 29. 1813.

"_You have looked at it!_' to much purpose, to allow so stupid a
blunder to stand; it is _not_ '_courage_' but '_carnage_;' and if
you don't want me to cut my own throat, see it altered.

"I am very sorry to hear of the fall of Dresden."

* * * * *

LETTER 150. TO MR. MURRAY.

"Nov. 29. 1813. Monday.

"You will act as you please upon that point; but whether I go or
stay, I shall not say another word on the subject till May--nor
then, unless quite convenient to yourself. I have many things I
wish to leave to y