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LETTER 283（第1页）

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“TheWorksofCharlesandMaryLamb—Volume6（.shg.tw）”

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LETTER283

CHARLESLAMBTOS.T.COLERIDGE

March9th，1822.

DearC.，—Itgivesmegreatsatisfactiontohearthatthepigturnedoutsowell—theyareinterestingcreaturesatacertainage—whatapitysuchbudsshouldblowoutintothematurityofrankbacon!Youhadallsomeofthecrackling—andbrainsauce—didyouremembertorubitwithbutter，andgentlydredgeitalittle，justbeforethecrisis?DidtheeyeseawaykindlywithnoOedipeanavulsion?Wasthecracklingthecolouroftheripepomegranate?Hadyounoplementofboiledneckofmuttonbeforeit，toblunttheedgeofdelicatedesire?Didyoufleshmaidenteethinit?NotthatIsentthepig，orcanformtheremotestguesswhatpartOwencouldplayinthebusiness.Ineverknewhimgiveanythingawayinmylife.Hewouldnotbeginwithstrangers.Isuspectthepig，afterall，wasmeantforme;butattheunluckyjunctureoftimebeingabsent，thepresentsomehowwentroundtoHighgate.Toconfessanhonesttruth，apigisoneofthosethingsIcouldneverthinkofsendingaway.Teals，wigeons，snipes，barn-doorfowl，ducks，geese—yourtamevillaticthings—Welshmutton，collarsofbrawn，sturgeon，freshorpickled，yourpottedchar，Swisscheeses，Frenchpies，earlygrapes，muscadines，Iimpartasfreelyuntomyfriendsastomyself.Theyarebutself-extended;butpardonmeifIstopsomewhere—wherethefinefeelingofbenevolencegivethahighersmackthanthesensualrarity—theremyfriends（oranygoodman）maymandme;butpigsarepigs，andImyselfthereinamnearesttomyself.Nay，Ishouldthinkitanaffront，anundervaluingdonetoNaturewhobestowedsuchaboonuponme，ifinachurlishmoodIpartedwiththepreciousgift.OneofthebitterestpangsofremorseIeverfeltwaswhenachild—whenmykindoldaunthadstrainedherpocketstringstobestowasixpennywholeplum-cakeuponme.InmywayhomethroughtheBorough，Imetavenerableoldman，notamendicant，butthereabouts—alook-beggar，notaverbalpetitionist;andinthecoxbryoftaught-charityIgaveawaythecaketohim.IwalkedonalittleinalltheprideofanEvangelicalpeacock，whenofasuddenmyoldauntskindnesscrossedme—thesumitwastoher—thepleasureshehadarighttoexpectthatI—nottheoldimpostor—shouldtakeineatinghercake—thecursedingratitudebywhich，underthecolourofaChristianvirtue，Ihadfrustratedhercherishedpurpose.Isobbed，wept，andtookittoheartsogrievously，thatIthinkIneversufferedthelike—andIwasright.Itwasapieceofunfeelinghypocrisy，andprovedalessontomeeverafter.Thecakehaslongbeenmasticated，consignedtodunghillwiththeashesofthatunseasonablepauper.

ButwhenProvidence，whoisbettertousallthanouraunts，givesmeapig，rememberingmytemptationandmyfall，Ishallendeavourtoacttowardsitmoreinthespiritofthedonorspurpose.

Yours（shortofpig）tomandineverything.C.L.

[ThisletterprobablyledtotheimmediatepositionoftheEliaessay"

ADissertationonRoastPig"

（seeVol.II.ofthepresentedition），whichwasprintedintheLondonMagazineforSeptember，1822.Seealso"

ThoughtsonPresentsofGame，"

Vol.I.ofthisedition.

"

Owen."

LambslandlordinRussellStreet.

"

Mykindoldaunt…theBorough."

Thisisratherperplexing.Lamb，tothebestofourknowledge，neverasachildlivedanywherebutintheTemple.HisonlyauntofwhomweknowanythinglivedwiththefamilyalsointheTemple.ButJohnLambswillprovesLambtohavehadtwoaunts.ThereferencetotheBoroughsuggeststhereforethattheauntinquestionwasnotSarahLamb（AuntHetty）buthersister.]