674. Robert Southey to Richard Heber,
7 May [1802]
*
My dear Sir
The Corpus Poetarum Lusitanorum [1] is in all
probability by this time arrived & lodged in the Custom
House. There was an error in the direction committed by the
man who packed them – Hebers Brewery – instead of Greens –
which would prevent their delivery till enquired for.
Will you trust me with your Amadis de
Gaul [2] till I can procure one – or till I can
abridge it – that is till the end of autumn? – Longman &
Rees had
thoughts of translating Tressans Romances. [3] I advised
them not to do it – because tho he was an able man, his
books are too modern, & what is worse – too French. I
have engaged to abridge Amadis myself – from the English
translation, [4] & as
nearly as possible into the language of that translation –
omitting as little of importance as possible, & adding
nothing. this is a mere trial – if it succeeds the whole
Army of Romances will be proceeded upon in order. [5] To the Amadis I
prefix a Dissertation on the Romances in general. my name is
not to appear – & I trust it to you, to explain my
reason for asking so long a loan of a Book which the
Booksellers have vainly tried to procure. The book shall not
be injured. I use books too much ever to abuse them. – but
if you either want the work or fear to send it travelling –
say so as freely as I have asked it.
yrs truly
R Southey.
May 7.
35.
Strand.
Notes* Address: To/
Richard Heber Esqr/ Mrs Hebers/ Green’s Brewery/ Buckingham
Gate
Stamped: Two-Penny/ Post/ 46
Strand
Postmark: [partial] 7 o’Clock/ 7 MY/ 1802 LT
Endorsement: Southey
MS:
Bodleian Library, MS Eng. Lett. d. 215
Previously
published: R. H. Cholmondeley (ed.), The Heber
Letters 1783-1832 (London, 1950), pp.
183-184. BACK [1] Antonio dos Reys
(1690-1738), Corpus Illustrium Poetarum
Lusitanorum (1745-1748), no. 3280 in the
sale catalogue of Southey’s library. BACK [2]
Amadis of Gaul, a Spanish romance,
first published in four books by Rodriguez de Montalvo
(d. 1504). BACK [3] Louis Elizabeth de la Vergne
de Broussin, Comte de Tressan (1705-1783), whose
adaptations and translations of Spanish and Old French
chivalric romances included Traduction Libre
d’Amadis de Gaule (1780). BACK [4] Anthony Munday (1560-1633; DNB),
The Ancient, Famous and Honourable History of
Amadis of Gaul (1589-1619). BACK [5] Southey’s four-volume
translation of Amadis of Gaul appeared in
1803. It sold well enough for Longman and Rees to
commission a four-volume version of Palmerin of
England (1807) and the Chronicles of
the Cid (1808). BACK |
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