—
TO FANNY KEATS
1820]
865
supernumerary cold in March. As for you, you must come. You must improve in your penmanship; your writing is like the speaking of a child of three years old, very understandable to its father but to no one else. The worst is it looks well no, that is not the worst the worst is, it is worse than Bailey's. Bailey's looks illegible and may perchance be read ; yours looks very legible and may perchance not be read. I would endeavour to give you a fac-simile of your word Thistlewood if I were not minded on the instant that Lord Chesterfield has done some such thing to his son. Now I would not bathe in the same River with Lord C. though I had the upper hand of the stream. I am grieved that in writing and speaking it is necessary to make use ot the same particles as he did. Cobbett is expected to come in. O that I had two double plumpers for him. The ministry are not so inimical to him but it would Casting my eye on like to put him out of Coventry. the other side I see a long word written in a most vile You must recollect I manner, unbecoming a Critic. If the only have served no apprenticeship to old plays. copies of the Greek and Latin authors had been made by you, Bailey and Haydon they were as good as lost. It has been said that the Character of a Man may be known by his handwriting if the Character of the age may be known by the average goodness of said, what a
—
—
slovenly age
we
live
in.
Look
at
Queen Elizabeth's
Look at Milton's hand. Latin exercises and blush. can't say a word for Shakspeare's. Yoiu: sincere friend
CXLL
My
—
I
John Keats. TO FANNY KEATS. [March 20, 1820.]
According to your desire I dear Fanny It must be but a few lines, for I have to-day. attack'd several times with a palpitation at the and the Doctor says I must not make the slightest
write
been heart exer-