181. Robert Southey to Charles Watkin Williams Wynn, [10 October 1796]*

The Duke of Northumberland¹ is a man of remarkable arrogance. & his pride & his folly are equally manifest by what you mentiond of his placing his pedigree among the tombs of his ancestors. he found himself very awkwardly situated at Lisbon thro this aristocratic spirit. the English merchants there associate with the first nobles of the country. but the Duke thought fit to draw a line of distinction between them, & always invite the tiers etat by themselves. they were of course offended & he found himself without society.

as for the MSS at Wynnstay you are my authority. I think you mentioned it in a letter from Elton. if I have only dreamt this the dream must have made a strange impression, for it is a circumstance which I have frequently mentioned, & laid some stress upon. at any rate Geoffrey of M.² xx xxxx wrote in Latin & Meirion there is wrong & I corrected his errors. the similarity of the Hebrew & Welsh is indeed very striking. the only tolerable thing of mine in the last magazine, is a short but compleat refutation of the fashionable philosophy of Helvetius.³ a parcel of blockheads there have been talking nonsense pro & con, & in my opinion what I have advanced fully decides the question.

the verdant copy puzzled you. know then that for the accommodation of such of my friends as are curious or are troubled with weak eyes, I <can> get the books died to any shade of green: to me infinitely more agreable than the dazzling reflection from white paper. my little volume of poems⁴ are just begun & you shall have them in six weeks. the Triumph of Woman the B Bay Eclogues & a Hymn to the Penates form the chief features. I must send you a little piece which is not to be inserted, tho among the happiest that I have written. you will like to see it inserted here & omitted in the Volume.

To a College Cat.⁵

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Toll on — toll on — old Bell! I’ll neither prayNor sleep away the hour. the fire burns bright,And — bless the maker of this great-armd chair!This is the throne of comfort! I will sitAnd study most devoutly: — not my Euclid⁶ —For God forbid that I should discomposeThat spider’s excellent geometry!I’ll study thee Puss: — not to make a picture — I hate your canvass cats & dogs & foolsThemes that pollute the pencil! let me seeThe patriots actions start again to lifeAnd I will bless the artist who awakesThe throb of emulation. thou shalt giveA better lesson Puss. come — look at me!Lift up thine emerald eyes! aye — purr away!For I am praising thee I tell thee Puss,And Cats as well as Kings love flattery.For three whole days I heard an old fur gownBepraisd, that made a Duke a Chancellor:⁷ Trust me, tho I can sing most pleasantlyUpon thy well streakd coat, to that said FurI was not guilty of a single rhyme.Twas an old turn-coat fur, that would sit easyAnd wrap round any man — so it were tiedWith a blue ribband. what a magic liesIn beauty! thou on this forbidden groundMayest range & when the Fellow looks at theeStraight he forgets the statute. swell thy tail —And stretch thy claws most democratic beast!I like thine independance. treat thee well —Thou art as playful as young Innocence!But use thee roughly God has given thee clawsAnd thou hast sense to use them. oh that ManWould copy this thy widsom — spaniel fool.He crouches down & licks his tyrants handAnd courts oppression. wiser animalI gaze on thee — familiar not enslaved —And thinking how Affections gentle handLeads by a hair the large limbd elephant,With mingled pity & contempt beholdHis drivers goad the patient biped beast.

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In return for your story I will send you a very good one. A Sportsman & a Poet were walking together when they heard a pack of hounds in full cry. hark — cried the Sportsman — what delightful music! — I cant hear it, replied his companion for those damned dogs. — farewell. I will bring the Guerras Civils &c⁸ to town with me.

yrs sincerelyRS.

Monday.