THE LIFE AND POSTHUMOUS WRITINGS OF WILLIAM COWPER, ESQ. BY WILLIAM HAYLEY, ESQ. VOL. II. PHILADELPHIA: PRINTED FOR BENJAMIN JOHNSON, JACOB JOHNSON, AND ROBERT JOHNSON, ...... 1805. THE LIFE OF COWPER. LETTER LXVII. The Lodge, Jan. 8, 1787. I have been so much indisposed with the fever that I told you had seized me, my nights during the whole week may be said to have been almost sleepless. The consequence has been, that except the translation of about thirty lines at the conclusion of the 13th book, I have been forced to abandon Homer entirely. This was a sensible mortification to me, as you may suppose, and felt the more, because my spirits, of course, failing with my strength, I seemed to have peculiar need of my old amusement; it seemed hard, therefore, to be forced to resign it just when I wanted it most. But Homer's battles cannot be fought by a man who does not sleep well, and who has not some little degree of anima tion in the day-time. Last night, however, quite contrary to my expectations, the fever left me entirely, and I slept quietly, soundly, and long. If it please God that it return not, I shall soon find myself in a condition to proceed. I walk constantly, that is to say, Mrs. Unwin and I together; for at these times I keep her continually employed, and never suffer her to be absent from me many minutes. She gives me all her time and all her attention, and forgets that there is another object in the world. |