“I send you in time an errata page, containing an omission of mine, which must be thus added, as it is too late for insertion in the text.  The passage is an imitation altogether from Medea in Ovid, and is incomplete without these two lines.  Pray let this be done, and directly; it is necessary, will add one page to your book (making), and can do no harm, and is yet in time for the public.  Answer me, thou oracle, in the affirmative.  You can send the loose pages to those who have copies already, if they like; but certainly to all the critical copyholders.

“P.S.  I have got out of my bed, (in which, however, I could not sleep, whether I had amended this or not,) and so good morning.  I am trying whether De l’Allemagne will act as an opiate, but I doubt it.”

* * * * *

TO MR. MURRAY.

     “November 29. 1813.

     “You have looked at it!’ to much purpose, to allow so stupid a
     blunder to stand; it is not ‘courage’ but ‘carnage;’ and if
     you don’t want me to cut my own throat, see it altered.

     “I am very sorry to hear of the fall of Dresden.”

* * * * *

LETTER 150.  TO MR. MURRAY.

     “Nov. 29. 1813.  Monday.

“You will act as you please upon that point; but whether I go or stay, I shall not say another word on the subject till May—­nor then, unless quite convenient to yourself.  I have many things I wish to leave to your care, principally papers.  The vases need not be now sent, as Mr. Ward is gone to Scotland.  You are right about the errata page; place it at the beginning.  Mr. Perry is a little premature in his compliments:  these may do harm by exciting expectation, and I think we ought to be above it—­though I see the next paragraph is on the Journal[113], which makes me suspect you as the author of both.

“Would it not have been as well to have said ‘in two Cantos’ in the advertisement? they will else think of fragments, a species of composition very well for once, like one ruin in a view; but one would not build a town of them.  The Bride, such as it is, is my first entire composition of any length (except the Satire, and be d——­d to it), for The Giaour is but a string of passages, and Childe Harold is, and I rather think always will be, unconcluded.  I return Mr. Hay’s note, with thanks to him and you.

“There have been some epigrams on Mr. Ward:  one I see to-day.  The first I did not see, but heard yesterday.  The second seems very bad.  I only hope that Mr. Ward does not believe that I had any connection with either.  I like and value him too well to allow my politics to contract into spleen, or to admire any thing intended to annoy him or his.