bringing 'em ever out complete--till these are gone off. Everybody'd say
"O I'll wait then."

An't we to have a copy of the Sonnets--

Mind, I shall _insist_ upon having no more copies: only I shall take 3
or 4 more of you at trade price. I am resolute about this. Yours ever--

LETTER 564

CHARLES LAMB TO C.W. DILKE

[P.M. Feb., 1833.]

CHRISTIAN NAMES OF WOMEN

(TO EDITH S-----)

In Christian world MARY the garland wears!
REBECCA sweetens on a Hebrew's ear;
Quakers for pure PRISCILLA are more clear;
And the light Gaul by amorous NINON swears.
Among the lesser lights how LUCY shines!
What air of fragrance ROSAMUND throws round!
How like a hymn doth sweet CECILIA sound!
Of MARTHAS, and of ABIGAILS, few lines
Have bragg'd in verse. Of coarsest household stuff
Should homely JOAN be fashioned. But can
You BARBARA resist, or MARIAN?
And is not CLARE for love excuse enough?
Yet, by my faith in numbers, I profess,
These all, than Saxon EDITH, please me less.

Many thanks for the life you have given us--I am perfectly satisfied.
But if you advert to it again, I give you a delicate hint. Barbara S----
shadows under that name Miss Kelly's early life, and I had the Anecdote
beautifully from her.

[The sonnet, addressed to Edith Southey, was printed in _The Athenaeum_
for March 9, 1833.

For "Barbara S----" see Vol. II. of the present edition.]

LETTER 565

CHARLES LAMB TO EDWARD MOXON

[No date. Early 1833.]

No _writing_, and no _word_, ever passed between Taylor, or Hessey, and
me, respecting copy right. This I can swear. They made a volume at their
own will, and volunteerd me a third of profits, which came to L30, which
came to _Bilk_, and never came back to me. Proctor has acted a friendly
part--when did he otherwise? I am very sorry to hear Mrs. P---- _as I
suppose_ is not so well. I meditated a rallying epistle to him on his
Gemini--his two Sosias, accusing him of having acted a notable piece of
duplicity. But if his partner in the double dealing suffers--it would be
unseasonable. You cannot rememb'r me to him too kindly. Your chearful
letter has relieved us from the dumps; all may be well. I rejoice at
your letting your house so magnificently. Talfourd's letter may be
directed to him "On the Western Circuit."* That is the way, send it.
With Blackwood pray send Piozziana and a