ervagatur.' Which is to be read as
Monkish Latin, like 'Dies Irae,' etc., retaining the Italian value of the
Vowels, not the Classical. You will think me a perfectly Aristophanic
Old Man when I tell you how many of Omar I could not help running into
such bad Latin. I should not confide such follies but to you who won't
think them so, and who will be pleased at least with my still harping on
our old Studies. You would be sorry, too, to think that Omar breathes a
sort of Consolation to me! Poor Fellow; I think of him, and Oliver
Basselin, and Anacreon; lighter Shadows among the Shades, perhaps, over
which Lucretius presides so grimly. Thursday, June 11. Your letter of
April is come to hand, very welcome; and I am expecting the MS. Omar
which I have written about to London. And now with respect to your
proposed Fraser Paper on Omar. You see a few lines back I talk of some
lazy Latin Versions of his Tetrastichs, giving one clumsy example. Now I
shall rub up a few more of those I have sketched in the same manner, in
order to see if you approve, if not of the thing done, yet of

(_letter breaks off abruptly at the end of the page_.)

June 23. I begin another Letter because I am looking into the Omar MS.
you have sent me, and shall perhaps make some notes and enquiries as I go
on. I had not intended to do so till I had looked all over and tried to
make out what I could of it; since it is both pleasant to oneself to find
out for oneself if possible, and also saves trouble to one's friends. But
yet it will keep me talking with you as I go along: and if I find I say
silly things or clear up difficulties for myself before I close my Letter
(which has a month to be open in!) why, I can cancel or amend, so as you
will see the whole Process of Blunder. I think this MS. furnishes some
opportunities for one's critical faculties, and so is a good exercise for
them, if one wanted such! First however I must tell you how much ill
poor Crabbe has been: a sort of Paralysis, I suppose, in two little fits,
which made him think he was sure to die: but Dr. Beck at present says he
may live many years with care. Of this also I shall be able to tell you
more before I wind up. The brave old Fellow! he was quite content to
depart, and had his Daughter up to give her his Keys, and tell her where
the different wines were laid! I must also tell you that Borrow is
greatly delighted with your MS. of Omar which I showed him: delighted at