753. Robert Southey to John Rickman, 19 January 1803 ⁠* 

Dear Rickman

I have hardly askd for one cargo of books before I want another – & this is the reason. Longman & Rees have sent me certain Spanish Elegant Extracts to execute for their Annual Review, [1]  they want a long article – & I am paid by the yard. now will you ship me off these xxxxxxxx raw materials.

Poems.

Quevedo. [2]  three small 4tos. there is another edition in 6 – but this has my land-marks thro it. Vicente Espinel. [3]  one small parchment, black-lettered on the back. the Austriada. [4]  one thick parchment 12.mo with red leaves. Gongora. [5]  Francisco de Borja Principe de Esquilache, [6]  each one 4to & bound much alike, the one an admirably printed book by Foppens of Brussels – the other from the Plantain Press. Viaje de Parnasso, a very thin little parchment volume by Cervantes. [7]  A Fenis Renascida [8]  – 5 small volumes bound in ugly Portugueze. Garcilaso de la Vega, [9]  a little volume in marbled-paper. Iglesias, [10]  two volumes in marbled paper. Alonso de Ledesma [11]  a very small volume, bound & old, a small 4to, of Priory-Garden-Wall Spanish Ballads. [12] 

O Feliz Independente. [13]  3 vol decently bound. a prose book. fill up the box with any others as may suit best. these gentlemen will pay their own carriage. – a little prose bound volume of ‘Cartas Varias.’ [14]  a bound 4to of Pellicers Commentary on Gongora. [15]  Luis de Leons poems [16]  – one decently bound volume Castle-Rackrent-size. [17]  Arte Poetica. [18]  4to parchment – & black-lettered on the back. if these leave any room put in Spaniards & Portugueze to fill it. I shall make about a five-guinea-job of this which will be a good one, for all the materials will be woven in elsewhere hereafter. – If the next appendix to the Critical lie in your way look for the ‘Count de Noroñas Poems.’ [19]  you will see some oceans of inanity. & something good as well. some good mock-heroic satire. Mischief goes to a Palace to look for Care, xxxxx but he finds it is the home of Indolence.

From the Poets I have collected a good deal to paint manners, & character the common feeling of their country. for instance – what I found this morning. the daughter of the Emperor Alonso [20]  was murdered by her husband in a fit of groundless jealousy. the story is exactly like that of Genevra in Ariosto, [21]  & told with some affecting circumstances by Count Pedro [22]  the oldest Portugueze historian. Well, Sir – a poet [23]  of Philip 3^rd time [24]  represents this husband as looking at his wifes wounds in heaven, & jesting with her upon his jealousy. I read very oeconomically. these gentlemen serve me while breakfast is preparing – & after supper – & always lie at hand for the five & ten minute xxxxx <fractions> of time that would else be waste. x xxxxxxxxx I have another class of books – popish books of Elizabeths [25]  reign – & the little ugly stall-keepers – what I call my ducks – dirty but good – these are for "necessary reading" my "studies at ease."  [26] 

My eyes have suffered sadly from the frost. I am about my first chapter on monachism – a favourite subject. Xxxx it came not exactly like the house of Hanover [27]  – but due east. & xxx xxxxx <was grafted on> the radical Manicheism of Xtianity. at the period when my history begins, it had ripened into a good comfortable college sort of system. S. Bernard [28]  (oh well remembered put him in the box, a huge folio without a title.) he was a great man & not over honest – but xx I like him for the Crusades. S Bernard gave a sort of Jesuitical unity to the monks, & taught wise men to renounce the world if they chose to govern it. of course this called out new fanaticism & the same process of decay went on a second time. till the spread of heresy alarmed & indeed shook the Romish hierarchy. then begins a third period with Francisco & Domingo [29]  – the formers life I have written, & a most curious & important life it is. the fourth period is that of Loyola & Luther. [30]  the Catholics have no fifth – but we shall have from John Wesley, [31]  mark you that Posterity! & put me down for a prophet.

Longman & Rees have blabbed my name [32]  after an anonymous bargain – very inconsiderately. I am trying to make the best of a bad matter & get what I can for poor “Robert Southey.” Did you xx ever <see> the picture in Quarles Emblems [33]  of a soul with wings trying to fly & chained by the leg? – Zounds – tis to flutter flutter & never rise! Often I am a good journeyman – but by God I go about such work as you may have <seen> a turnspit when the cook maid calls him at noon. Paciencia! [34]  – tis better than Law & Physic – but I sometimes wish the old Ministry had had my conscience divided among them – & I had a good living.

God bless you. if London were but half the distance I would come sometimes & eat x sheeps hearts with you.

RS.

12. S^t James’s Place. Kingsdown.

Still houseless – but with a house in view.