Page:Life of Edmond Malone.djvu/73

Rh there is but one poem with the title you mention, viz., The Tragedy of David Beton, late Cardinal and Archbishop of Santandrons, so written for St. Andrews.

I received by Dick Marlay the King John in two parts, and return you many thanks for your goodness to me. In order to render my old edition of Spenser complete, I wish you could procure the first quartos of the following pieces:—Two Cantos of Mutability; Amoretti, or Sonnets; Prothalamion and Epithalamion; Four Hymns; Daphnaida, an Elegy on Douglas Howard; Britain’s Ida (this not by Spenser, yet bound with his works); A View of the State of Ireland; Some Letters between the Author and Mr. Harvey.

Did Upton ever publish his third volume of Spenser’s works in quarto? I wish also that you could procure for me the collection of Lord Essex’s letters.

You see what it is to encourage a troublesome correspondent. But relying on your goodness, and on the resemblance of our pursuits, I doubt not but that you will pardon Your very affectionate and obedient humble servant,

Don’t forget to send me a copy of your “Shakspeare” (for such I love to call it) as soon as it shall be published. Remember me to all friends; and if your friend Mr. Steevens should recollect a person who had once the pleasure of dining in his company at poor Goldsmith’s entertainment, please to present my compliments to him. Has Percy published his new edition of Surrey’s poems? Don’t let Sunning Hill seclude you too much from the world. Retirement is a good thing, but certainly too large a dose of it is not suited to your constitution. It is very possible that I may be able to see you in spring. I should like it much, but it depends on many circumstances. Adieu.

The allusion of his lordship to Steevens arose from the intimacy now prevailing between that gentleman