323. Robert Southey to John May, 6 June 1798 ⁠* 

Norwich. June 6. 98

My dear friend

Eager as I am to return home, it will not be without regret that I shall leave this place. the pleasure I have felt in William Taylors society is such as we rarely meet with. I find in him great genius & still more uncommon acquirements unsullied with one tincture of vanity. & his attentions to a blind mother are such as immediately & irresistibly to compel every one to love him.

He has made me acquainted with the odes of Klopstock [1]  by translating them to me; & till I heard these I knew nothing of lyric poetry. all that I had previously seen were the efforts of imagination. these are the burst of feeling from one who has fed upon the scriptures till he feel thinks & feels & writes with the holy enthusiasm of Isaiah. I will show you the finest when we meet in a literal version. it is the poem alluded to in Werter when Charlotte during the thunder storm pronounces the name of Klopstock. [2] 

The society of Norwich is almost proverbially excellent. I have met with many inte persons who interest me, & received many attentions. Harry is a great favourite here, & I am glad to see that he has many such companions as I could have chosen for him. he has also learnt to be silent in company. William Taylor x has an excellent mode of noticing his faults by some good humoured allusion at an after time. he is much improved – in every thing – even in health.

I have been chiefly sedentary since we came here. Burnett is still confined with his sciatica & this was a motive & indeed an excuse, for I have books & pen & paper; & employment always enough. I shall depart on Friday, & hope to see you on Saturday morning, as you will hardly leave town before that night. If it be possible to keep the term on Saturday, I will proceed that night to Bath – but I am apprehensive that this cannot be done before Monday. you know not how anxious I am to be at home.

Your brother [3]  would have been delighted had he been with me on Sunday to have seen a picture by Carlo Dolce. [4]  it is S^t Cecilia when the heads of her parents are presented to her. I am no judge of paintings & speak only as to the effect they produce upon me – but I never saw any picture that so fettered the attention. her countenance is raised towards heaven – & expresses every thing that is resigned & holy, mingled with the anguish of human feelings.

You enquire concerning Lloyd. I hope that his affairs are going on well. he has seen Sophia, & her brother [5]  whose advice influenced her to break off all intercourse, now is convinced that her happiness depends on the renewal of the connection. they appear together arm in arm. I am very anxious for his happiness. what you say of him is strictly just. he wants stability, but I do not believe that there exists a purer heart. Lambe has been with him.

Edith in none of her letters mentions her own health. & I know that as far as it depends upon her spirits, my return will be the best medecine. I am very very anxious to be with her. my mother by her last account is greatly better. She has been compelled to exercise in search of a house & it has benefitted her, tho the search has hitherto been fruitless.

Tom is still at Taunton with his uncle – & I hope this visit will produce very good effects. John Southey is rich. very rich – & so it come to one of us it matters not which. [6] 

God bless you. remember me to your brother. [7] 

yrs affectionately

Robert Southey.