n) the Song is almost too loud.

I thought you would come back to Nightingale-land!

Donne is better: and Spedding has at last (I hear) got his load of Bacon
off his Shoulders, after carrying it for near Forty years! Forty years
long! A fortnight ago there was such a delicious bit of his in Notes and
Queries, {42} a Comment on some American Comment on a passage in Antony
and Cleopatra, that I recalled my old Sorrow that he had not edited
Shakespeare long ago instead of wasting Life in washing his Blackamoor.
Perhaps there is time for this yet: but is there the Will?

Pray, Madam, how do you emphasize the line--

'After Life's fitful Fever he sleeps well,'

which, by the by, one wonders never to have seen in some Churchyard? What
do you think of this for an Epitaph--from Crabbe?--

'Friend of the Poor--the Wretched--the Betray'd,
They cannot pay thee--but thou shalt be paid.' {43}

This is a poor Letter indeed to make you answer--as answer you will--I
really only intended to tell you of Donne; and remain ever yours

E. F.G.

Pollock is busy editing Macready's Papers.

XVIII.

LOWESTOFT: _June_ 2/74.

DEAR MRS. KEMBLE,

Many a time have I written to you from this place: which may be the
reason why I write again now--the very day your Letter reaches me--for I
don't know that I have much to say, nor anything worth forcing from you
the Answer that you will write. Let me look at your Letter again. Yes:
so I thought of '_he_ sleeps well,' and yet I do not remember to have
heard it so read. (I never heard you read the Play) I don't think
Macready read it so. I liked his Macbeth, I must say: only he would say
'Amen st-u-u-u-ck in his throat,' which was not only a blunder, but a
vulgar blunder, I think.

Spedding--I should think indeed it was too late for him to edit
Shakespeare, if he had not gone on doing so, as it were, all his Life.
Perhaps it is too late for him to remember half, or a quarter, of his own
Observations. Well then: I wish he would record what he does remember:
if not an Edition of Shakespeare yet so many Notes toward an Edition. I
am persuaded that no one is more competent. {45a}

You see your Americans will go too far. It was some American Professor's
Note {45b} on 'the Autumn of his Bounty' which occasioned Spedding's
delightful Comment some while ago, and made me remember my old wish that
he should do the thing. But he will not: especially if one asks him.

Don