“My last letter was addressed to you from Dereham, the scene of the death and burial of Cowper. I was there on Thursday, taking shelter from the intense heat of the mid-day sun. I have suffered indeed (I wish we had another word less solemn than suffered to express these petty misfortunes) more than you can imagine, from the warmth of the season. The skin of the greater part of my face is completely peeled off, and my nose and nether lip are adorned with small protuberances, as a sort of fungus which Phoebus has raised from the richness of the soil.
“In the evening of Thursday I proceeded once more to
Bradenham, where I felt no temptation to stay, and of consequence set off the
next morning for Thetford. My brother conveyed me twelve miles out of the
twenty, which separates his habitation from that town, and I walked the rest,
having arrived there at three o’clock on Friday. I had written from
Dereham to Mr Lofft, but was uncertain
when my letter would reach him, and therefore only said I should sleep on
Friday at Thetford, leaving to his mercy when he would appear there to release
me. I might
| 172 | WILLIAM GODWIN |
“Mr Lofft put into my hands your letter of Friday, the perusal of which quite revived my soul: it is so considerate, so provident, so encouraging! The bill of the Br. had begun to spread its raven wings over my head. I hope you will not have failed to write again on Monday, as you seem to promise. I will then remain at peace. . . . I shall be very happy to receive the children’s letters. Give my love to them all, and a kiss to William, whom you do not mention. I will endeavour, as you say, to keep up my spirits. I can bear prosperity, and I know I can bear adversity. The dreadful thing to endure is those uncertain moments, which seem to be the fall from one to the other, which call for exertions, and exhibit faint gleams of hope amidst the terrible tempest that gathers round.”
