No More Learning

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* * * * *

In short, Sir, what with one and t' other,
I dare not venture on another. 40
I write in haste; excuse each blunder;
The Coaches through the street so thunder!
My room's so full--we've Gifford here
Reading MS. , with Hookham Frere,
Pronouncing on the nouns and particles,
Of some of our forthcoming Articles.

The _Quarterly_--Ah, Sir, if you
Had but the Genius to review! --
A smart Critique upon St. Helena,
Or if you only would but tell in a 50
Short compass what--but to resume;
As I was saying, Sir, the Room--
The Room's so full of wits and bards,
Crabbes, Campbells, Crokers, Freres, and Wards
And others, neither bards nor wits:
My humble tenement admits
All persons in the dress of Gent. ,
From Mr. Hammond to Dog Dent. [79]

A party dines with me to-day,
All clever men, who make their way: 60
Crabbe, Malcolm,[80] Hamilton,[81] and Chantrey,
Are all partakers of my pantry.
They're at this moment in discussion
On poor De Stael's late dissolution.
Her book,[82] they say, was in advance--
Pray Heaven, she tell the truth of France!
'T is said she certainly was married
To Rocca, and had twice miscarried,
No--not miscarried, I opine,--
But brought to bed at forty-nine. 70
Some say she died a Papist; some
Are of opinion that's a Hum;
I don't know that--the fellows Schlegel,[83]
Are very likely to inveigle
A dying person in compunction
To try th' extremity of Unction.
But peace be with her!
for a woman
Her talents surely were uncommon,
Her Publisher (and Public too)
The hour of her demise may rue-- 80
For never more within his shop he--
Pray--was not she interred at Coppet?
Thus run our time and tongues away;--
But, to return, Sir, to your play:
Sorry, Sir, but I cannot deal,
Unless 't were acted by O'Neill.
My hands are full--my head so busy,
I'm almost dead--and always dizzy;
And so, with endless truth and hurry,
Dear Doctor, I am yours, 90
JOHN MURRAY.

August 21, 1817.
[First published, _Letters and Journals_, 1830, ii. 139-141.
Lines 67-82 first published, _Letters_, 1900, iv. 161. ]

FOOTNOTES:

[75] ["By the way," writes Murray, Aug. 5, 1817 (_Memoir, etc. _, i.
386), "Polidori has sent me his tragedy! Do me the kindness to send by
return of post a _delicate_ declension of it, which I engage faithfully
to copy. "

"I never," said Byron, "was much more disgusted with any human
production than with the eternal nonsense, and _tracasseries_, and
emptiness, and ill-humour, and vanity of this young person; but he has
some talent, and is a man of honour, and has dispositions of amendment.
Therefore use your interest for him, for he is improved and improvable;"
and, in a letter to Murray, Aug. 21, 1817, "You want a 'civil and
delicate declension' for the medical tragedy?