698. Robert Southey to Samuel Taylor Coleridge [fragment], 25 July 1802*

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Here I have meantime a comfortable home, and books enough to employ as much time as I can find for them; my table is covered with folios, and my History¹ advances steadily, and to my own mind well. No other employment pleases me half so much; nevertheless, to other employment I am compelled by the most cogent of all reasons. I have a job in hand for Longman and Rees, which will bring me in 60l., a possibility of 40l., and a chance of a farther 30l.; this is an abridgement of Amadis of Gaul into three duodecimos, with an essay, – anonymously and secretly:² if it sell, they will probably proceed through the whole library of romance.³            .            .            .            .            .            .            In poetry I have, of late, done very little, some fourscore lines the outside; still I feel myself strong enough to open a campaign, and this must probably be done to find beds, chairs, and tables for my house when I get one.