书城公版Letters to His Son
20013100000343

第343章 LETTER CCXXX

BLACKHEATH,September 8,1758.

MY DEAR FRIEND:This letter shall be short,being only an explanatory note upon my last;for I am not learned enough,nor yet dull enough,to make my comment much longer than my text.I told you then,in my former letter,that,with your leave (which I will suppose granted),I would add fifty pounds to your draught for that sum;now,lest you should misunderstand this,and wait for the remittance of that additional fifty from hence,know then my meaning was,that you should likewise draw upon me for it when you please;which I presume,will be more convenient to you.

Let the pedants,whose business it is to believe lies,or the poets,whose trade it is to invent them,match the King of Prussia With a hero in ancient or modern story,if they can.He disgraces history,and makes one give some credit to romances.Calprenede's Juba does not now seem so absurd as formerly.

I have been extremely ill this whole summer;but am now something better.

However,I perceive,'que l'esprit et le corps baissent';the former is the last thing that anybody will tell me;or own when I tell it them;but I know it is true.Adieu.