525. Robert Southey to Joseph Cottle, 9 May 1800*

Dear Cottle, d’ye see In writing to thee I do it in rhyme That I may save time; Determined to say Without any delay Whatever comes first Whether best or worst. Alack poor me! When I was at sea, For I lay like a log As sick as a dog. And whoever this readeth Must pity poor Edith Indeed it was shocking, The vessel was fast rocking, The timbers all creaking, And when we were speaking It was to deplore That we were not on shore And to swear we would never go voyaging more.

The fear of our fighting¹ Did put her a fright in, And I had alarms For my legs & my arms, When the matches were smoking I thought twas no joking, And tho honor & glory And fame were before me, Twas a great satisfaction That we had not an action, And I felt somewhat bolder When I knew that my head might remain on my shoulder.

But o twas a pleasure Exceeding all measure, On the deck to stand And look at the land! And when I got there I vow & declare The pleasure was even Like getting to xxx heaven. I could eat & drink As you may think I could sleep at ease. Except for the fleas. But still the sea feeling, The drunken reeling, Did not go away For more than a day Like a cradle the bed Seemed to rock my head, And the room & the town Went up & down.

My Edith here Thinks all things queer And some things she likes well But then the street She thinks not neat And does not like the smell. Nor do the fleas Her fancy please, Altho the fleas like her, They at first view Fell merrily to, For they made no demur. But oh the sight! The great delight From this my window west! This view so fine, This scene divine! The joy that I love best! The Tagus here So broad & clear Blue in the clear blue noon – And it lies light All silver white Under the silver moon!

Adieu adieu Farewell – to you – Farewell my friend so dear Write when you may I need not say How gladly we shall hear.

I leave off rhyme – And so next time Prose writing you shall see – Rhy But <in> rhyme or prose Dear Joseph knows – The xxxx <same old> friend in me.

So God bless you. & our love to your sisters & mother & father & Amos & Robert, with whom I would shake hands if I could reach so far. & how comes on Alfred?²

R.S.

Lisbon. May 9. 1800.