Scripto | Revision Difference | Transcription

[page 3]

not suffer this Circumstance to damp in any degree your Poetical Enthusiasm, which I consider as a sacred Vestal Fire, that I would guard most religiously from Extinction.— it is the true Source of your Immortality; for which you will be more indebted to your own Genius than to that of any Friend Whatever.

as to my own Poetry, I am vain enough to wish that it may live as long as a free Spirit & an affectionate Heart may be found upon the Earth - but with all this Vanity, I most solemnly believe, & hope that yours will last full as long. – I am sure it ought to do so, & I am very anxious to see you still Enlarge your claims, (fair as they already are) to the remembrance & the Love of future Times.—

You are very unjust to yr pathetic Muse, when you declare that her sable Mantle is worn-out – We cannot allow an Eastern Prince, who has never been plundered, to plead his Poverty – You have now in the storehouse of yr \rich/ Imagination aromatic Treasures, sufficient to embalm a little Host of Heroes; & I am sure you will