Coleridge  I  have  reason  to  think  is  confined  to  his  bed ;  his
mind  vigorous  as  ever.  Your  Sonnets  I  think  are  as  good  as
anything  you  have  done  in  verse.  We  like  the  2d  best ;  and  I
single  it  out  the  more  readily  as  it  allows  me  an  opportunity  of
reminding  you  of  what  I  have  so  often  insisted  upon,  the  ex-
treme care  which  is  necessary  in  the  composition  of  poetry.
'  The  ancient  image  shall  not  depart
From  my  soul's  temple,  the  refined  gold
Already  prov'd  remain'

Your  meaning  is  that  it  shall  remain,  but  according  to  the  con-
struction of  our  language,  you  have  said  *  it  shall  not.'


Letters  and  Extracts  from  Letters.  331

1  The  refined  gold,
Well  proved,  shall  then  remain,'

will  serve  to  explain  my  objection.
Could  not  you  take  us  in  your  way  coming  or  going  to  Cam-
bridge ?  If  Mrs.  H.  accompanies  you,  we  should  be  glad  to  see
her  also.
I  hope  that  in  the  meeting  about  to  take  place  in  Cambridge
there  will  be  less  of  mutual  flattery  among  the  men  of  science
than  appeared  in  that  of  the  last  year  at  Oxford.  Men  of  science
in  England  seem,  indeed,  to  copy  their  fellows  in  France,  by
stepping  too  much  out  of  their  way  for  titles,  and  baubles  of
that  kind,  and  for  offices  of  state  and  political  struggles,  which
they  would  do  better  to  keep  out  of.
With  kindest  regards  to  yourself  and  Mrs.  H.,  and  to  your
sisters,  believe  me  ever,

My  dear  Mr.  H.,

Faithfully  yours,


W.  W.
*


87.  Of'Elia:'  Miss  Wordsworth.
LETTER  TO  CHARLES  LAMB,  ESQ.
Rydal  Mount  [Friday,  May  17.  1833,  or  thereabouts].
