Old Friends [26]
may represent the exactness of modern philology; but more closely remind me of the formulae of algebra, a study in which I at no time excelled.
It is my purpose to visit Cambridge on June 3, to listen to a most valuable address by Professor Tosch, of Bonn, on Hittite and Aztec affinities. If you can meet me there and accept the hospitality of my college, the encounter may prove a turning point in Mythological and Philological Science.--Very faithfully yours,
J. CASAUBON.
P.S.--I open this note, written from my dictation by my wife, to enclose my congratulations on Mrs. Forth's scholarly attainments.
From Professor Forth to Rev. Mr. Casaubon. (Telegram.)
Will be with you at Cambridge on the third.
From Mrs. Forth, Bradmore-road, Oxford, to David Rivers, Esq., Milnthorpe, Yorkshire.
He goes on Saturday to Cambridge to hear some one talk about the Hittites and the Asiatics. Did you not say there was a good Sunday train? They sing "O Rest in the Lord" at Magdalen. I often wonder that Addison's Walk is so deserted on Sundays. He stays over Sunday at Cambridge. {11}
From David Rivers, Esq., to Mrs. Forth, Oxford.
Dear Mrs. Forth,--Saturday is a half-holiday at the Works, and I propose to come up and see whether our boat cannot bump Balliol. How extraordinary it is that people should neglect, on Sundays, the favourite promenade of the Short-faced Humourist. I shall be there: the old place.--Believe me, yours ever,
D. RIVERS.
From Mrs. Casaubon to William Ladislaw, Esq., Stratford-on-Avon.
Dear Friend,--Your kind letter from Stratford is indeed interesting. Ah, when shall I have an opportunity of seeing these, and so many other interesting places! But in a world where duty is SO MUCH, and so ALWAYS with us, why should we regret the voids in our experience which, after all, life is filling in the experience of others? The work is advancing, and Mr. Casaubon hopes that the first chapter of the "Key to All Mythologies" will be fairly copied and completed by the end of autumn. Mr. Casaubon is going to Cambridge on Saturday to hear Professor Tosch lecture on the Pittites and some other party, I really forget which; {12} but it is not often that he takes so much interest in mere MODERN history. How curious it sometimes is to think that the great spirit of humanity and of the world, as you say, keeps working its way--ah, to what wonderful goal--by means of these obscure difficult politics: almost unworthy instruments, one is tempted to think. That was a true line you quoted lately from the "Vita Nuova." We have no books of poetry here, except a Lithuanian translation of the Rig Veda. How delightful it must be to read Dante with a sympathetic fellow-student, one who has also loved--and RENOUNCED!- -Yours very sincerely,
DOROTHEA CASAUBON.
P.S.--I do not expect Mr. Casaubon back from Cambridge before Monday afternoon.
From William Ladislaw, Esq., to the Hon. Secretary of the Literary and Philosophical Mechanics' Institute, Middlemarch.
My Dear Sir,--I find that I can be in your neighbourhood on Saturday, and will gladly accept your invitation to lecture at your Institute on the Immutability of Morals.--Faithfully yours,
W. LADISLAW.
From William Ladislaw, Esq., to Mrs.
Casaubon.
Dear Mrs. Casaubon,--Only a line to say that I am to lecture at the Mechanics' Institute on Saturday. I can scarcely hope that, as Mr. Casaubon is away, you will be able to attend my poor performance, but on Sunday I may have, I hope, the pleasure of waiting on you in the afternoon?--Very sincerely yours,
W. LADISLAW.
P.S.--I shall bring the 'Vita Nuova'--it is not so difficult as the 'Paradiso'--and I shall be happy to help you with a few of the earlier sonnets.
From Mrs. Casaubon to Mrs. Forth.
June 5.
Dear Lady,--You will be surprised at receiving a letter from a stranger! How shall I address you--how shall I say what I ought to say? Our husbands are not unknown to each other, I may almost call them friends, but we have met only once. You
It is my purpose to visit Cambridge on June 3, to listen to a most valuable address by Professor Tosch, of Bonn, on Hittite and Aztec affinities. If you can meet me there and accept the hospitality of my college, the encounter may prove a turning point in Mythological and Philological Science.--Very faithfully yours,
J. CASAUBON.
P.S.--I open this note, written from my dictation by my wife, to enclose my congratulations on Mrs. Forth's scholarly attainments.
From Professor Forth to Rev. Mr. Casaubon. (Telegram.)
Will be with you at Cambridge on the third.
From Mrs. Forth, Bradmore-road, Oxford, to David Rivers, Esq., Milnthorpe, Yorkshire.
He goes on Saturday to Cambridge to hear some one talk about the Hittites and the Asiatics. Did you not say there was a good Sunday train? They sing "O Rest in the Lord" at Magdalen. I often wonder that Addison's Walk is so deserted on Sundays. He stays over Sunday at Cambridge. {11}
From David Rivers, Esq., to Mrs. Forth, Oxford.
Dear Mrs. Forth,--Saturday is a half-holiday at the Works, and I propose to come up and see whether our boat cannot bump Balliol. How extraordinary it is that people should neglect, on Sundays, the favourite promenade of the Short-faced Humourist. I shall be there: the old place.--Believe me, yours ever,
D. RIVERS.
From Mrs. Casaubon to William Ladislaw, Esq., Stratford-on-Avon.
Dear Friend,--Your kind letter from Stratford is indeed interesting. Ah, when shall I have an opportunity of seeing these, and so many other interesting places! But in a world where duty is SO MUCH, and so ALWAYS with us, why should we regret the voids in our experience which, after all, life is filling in the experience of others? The work is advancing, and Mr. Casaubon hopes that the first chapter of the "Key to All Mythologies" will be fairly copied and completed by the end of autumn. Mr. Casaubon is going to Cambridge on Saturday to hear Professor Tosch lecture on the Pittites and some other party, I really forget which; {12} but it is not often that he takes so much interest in mere MODERN history. How curious it sometimes is to think that the great spirit of humanity and of the world, as you say, keeps working its way--ah, to what wonderful goal--by means of these obscure difficult politics: almost unworthy instruments, one is tempted to think. That was a true line you quoted lately from the "Vita Nuova." We have no books of poetry here, except a Lithuanian translation of the Rig Veda. How delightful it must be to read Dante with a sympathetic fellow-student, one who has also loved--and RENOUNCED!- -Yours very sincerely,
DOROTHEA CASAUBON.
P.S.--I do not expect Mr. Casaubon back from Cambridge before Monday afternoon.
From William Ladislaw, Esq., to the Hon. Secretary of the Literary and Philosophical Mechanics' Institute, Middlemarch.
My Dear Sir,--I find that I can be in your neighbourhood on Saturday, and will gladly accept your invitation to lecture at your Institute on the Immutability of Morals.--Faithfully yours,
W. LADISLAW.
From William Ladislaw, Esq., to Mrs.
Casaubon.
Dear Mrs. Casaubon,--Only a line to say that I am to lecture at the Mechanics' Institute on Saturday. I can scarcely hope that, as Mr. Casaubon is away, you will be able to attend my poor performance, but on Sunday I may have, I hope, the pleasure of waiting on you in the afternoon?--Very sincerely yours,
W. LADISLAW.
P.S.--I shall bring the 'Vita Nuova'--it is not so difficult as the 'Paradiso'--and I shall be happy to help you with a few of the earlier sonnets.
From Mrs. Casaubon to Mrs. Forth.
June 5.
Dear Lady,--You will be surprised at receiving a letter from a stranger! How shall I address you--how shall I say what I ought to say? Our husbands are not unknown to each other, I may almost call them friends, but we have met only once. You