The works of Charles and Mary Lamb . bequite hurt if it stands, because tho you and yours have too goodsense to object to it, I would not have a sentence of mine seen, thatto any foolish ear might sound unrespectful to thee. Let it end atappalling ; the joke is coarse and useless, and hurts the tone ofthe rest. Take your best ivory-handled and scrape it forth. Your specimen of what you might have written is hardly it been a present to me, I should have taken a more senti-mental tone ; but of a trifle from me it was my cue to speak in anunderish tone of commendation. Prudent givers (wh
The works of Charles and Mary Lamb . bequite hurt if it stands, because tho you and yours have too goodsense to object to it, I would not have a sentence of mine seen, thatto any foolish ear might sound unrespectful to thee. Let it end atappalling ; the joke is coarse and useless, and hurts the tone ofthe rest. Take your best ivory-handled and scrape it forth. Your specimen of what you might have written is hardly it been a present to me, I should have taken a more senti-mental tone ; but of a trifle from me it was my cue to speak in anunderish tone of commendation. Prudent givers (what a word forsuch a nothing) disparage their gifts ; tis an art we have. So yousee you wouldnt have been so wrong, taking a higher tone. Butenough of nothino-. By the bye, I suspected M. of being the disparager of the frame ;hence a certain line. For the frame, tis as the room is, where it hangs. It hung upfronting my old cobwebby folios and batterd furniture (the fruitpiece has resumd its place) and was much better than a spick and. b PC 1^ o H (^<i1 fin 1827 BELSHAZZAR IN ART 731 span one. But if your room be very neat and your other picturesbright with gilt, it should be so too. I cant judge, not havingseen : but my dingy study it suited. Martins Belshazzar (the picture) I have seen. Its architecturaleffect is stupendous ; but the human figures, the squalling contortedUttle antics that are playing at being frightend, like children at asham ghost who half know it to be a mask, are detestable. Thenthe letters are nothing more than a transparency lighted up, suchas a Lord might order to be lit up on a sudden at a XmasGambol, to scare the ladies. The type is as plain as Baskervils—they should have been dim, full of mystery, letters to the mindrather than the eye.—Rembrandt has painted only Belshazzar anda courtier or two (taking a part of the banquet for the whole) notfribbled out a mob of fine folks. Then every thing is so distinct, tothe very necklaces, and that foolish
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