the letters-2-第8节
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pot…boiler； and suddenly it moved； David and Alan stepped out from
the canvas； and I found I was in another world。 But there was the
cursed beginning； and a cursed end must be appended； and our old
friend Byles the butcher was plainly audible tapping at the back
door。 So it had to go into the world； one part （as it does seem to
me） alive； one part merely galvanised： no work； only an essay。
For a man of tentative method； and weak health； and a scarcity of
private means； and not too much of that frugality which is the
artist's proper virtue； the days of sinecures and patrons look very
golden： the days of professional literature very hard。 Yet I do
not so far deceive myself as to think I should change my character
by changing my epoch； the sum of virtue in our books is in a
relation of equality to the sum of virtues in ourselves； and my
KIDNAPPED was doomed； while still in the womb and while I was yet
in the cradle； to be the thing it is。
And now to the more genial business of defence。 You attack my
fight on board the COVENANT： I think it literal。 David and Alan
had every advantage on their side … position； arms； training； a
good conscience； a handful of merchant sailors； not well led in the
first attack； not led at all in the second； could only by an
accident have taken the round…house by attack； and since the
defenders had firearms and food； it is even doubtful if they could
have been starved out。 The only doubtful point with me is whether
the seamen would have ever ventured on the second onslaught； I half
believe they would not； still the illusion of numbers and the
authority of Hoseason would perhaps stretch far enough to justify
the extremity。 … I am； dear Mr。 Watts； your very sincere admirer；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO FREDERICK LOCKER…LAMPSON
SKERRYVORE； SEPTEMBER 4； 1886。
NOT roses to the rose； I trow；
The thistle sends； nor to the bee
Do wasps bring honey。 Wherefore now
Should Locker ask a verse from me？
Martial； perchance； … but he is dead；
And Herrick now must rhyme no more；
Still burning with the muse； they tread
（And arm in arm） the shadowy shore。
They； if they lived； with dainty hand；
To music as of mountain brooks；
Might bring you worthy words to stand
Unshamed； dear Locker； in your books。
But tho' these fathers of your race
Be gone before； yourself a sire；
To…day you see before your face
Your stalwart youngsters touch the lyre …
On these … on Lang； or Dobson … call；
Long leaders of the songful feast。
They lend a verse your laughing fall …
A verse they owe you at the least。
Letter： TO FREDERICK LOCKER…LAMPSON
＇SKERRYVORE＇； BOURNEMOUTH； SEPTEMBER 1886。
DEAR LOCKER； … You take my verses too kindly； but you will admit；
for such a bluebottle of a versifier to enter the house of
Gertrude； where her necklace hangs； was not a little brave。 Your
kind invitation； I fear； must remain unaccented； and yet … if I am
very well … perhaps next spring … （for I mean to be very well） … my
wife might。。。。 But all that is in the clouds with my better
health。 And now look here： you are a rich man and know many
people； therefore perhaps some of the Governors of Christ's
Hospital。 If you do； I know a most deserving case； in which I
would （if I could） do anything。 To approach you； in this way； is
not decent； and you may therefore judge by my doing it； how near
this matter lies to my heart。 I enclose you a list of the
Governors； which I beg you to return； whether or not you shall be
able to do anything to help me。
The boy's name is …； he and his mother are very poor。 It may
interest you in her cause if I tell you this： that when I was
dangerously ill at Hyeres； this brave lady； who had then a sick
husband of her own （since dead） and a house to keep and a family of
four to cook for； all with her own hands； for they could afford no
servant； yet took watch…about with my wife； and contributed not
only to my comfort； but to my recovery in a degree that I am not
able to limit。 You can conceive how much I suffer from my
impotence to help her； and indeed I have already shown myself a
thankless friend。 Let not my cry go up before you in vain！ … Yours
in hope；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO FREDERICK LOCKER…LAMPSON
SKERRYVORE； BOURNEMOUTH； SEPTEMBER 1886。
MY DEAR LOCKER； … That I should call myself a man of letters； and
land myself in such unfathomable ambiguities！ No； my dear Locker；
I did not want a cheque； and in my ignorance of business； which is
greater even than my ignorance of literature； I have taken the
liberty of drawing a pen through the document and returning it；
should this be against the laws of God or man； forgive me。 All
that I meant by my excessively disgusting reference to your
material well…being was the vague notion that a man who is well off
was sure to know a Governor of Christ's Hospital； though how I
quite arrived at this conclusion I do not see。 A man with a cold
in the head does not necessarily know a ratcatcher； and the
connection is equally close … as it now appears to my awakened and
somewhat humbled spirit。 For all that； let me thank you in the
warmest manner for your friendly readiness to contribute。 You say
you have hopes of becoming a miser： I wish I had； but indeed I
believe you deceive yourself； and are as far from it as ever。 I
wish I had any excuse to keep your cheque； for it is much more
elegant to receive than to return； but I have my way of making it
up to you； and I do sincerely beg you to write to the two
Governors。 This extraordinary outpouring of correspondence would
（if you knew my habits） convince you of my great eagerness in this
matter。 I would promise gratitude； but I have made a promise to
myself to make no more promises to anybody else； having broken such
a host already； and come near breaking my heart in consequence； and
as for gratitude； I am by nature a thankless dog； and was spoiled
from a child up。 But if you can help this lady in the matter of
the Hospital； you will have helped the worthy。 Let me continue to
hope that I shall make out my visit in the spring； and believe me；
yours very truly；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
It may amuse you to know that a very long while ago； I broke my
heart to try to imitate your verses； and failed hopelessly。 I saw
some of the evidences the other day among my papers； and blushed to
the heels。
R。 L。 S。
I give up finding out your name in the meantime； and keep to that
by which you will be known … Frederick Locker。
Letter： TO FREDERICK LOCKER…LAMPSON
＇SKERRYVORE； BOURNEMOUTH＇； 24TH SEPTEMBER 1886。
MY DEAR LOCKER； … You are simply an angel of light； and your two
letters have gone to the post； I trust they will reach the hearts
of the recipients … at least； that could not be more handsomely
expressed。 About the cheque： well now； I am going to keep it； but
I assure you Mrs。 … has never asked me for money； and I would not
dare to offer any till she did。 For all that I shall stick to the
cheque now； and act to that amount as your almoner。 In this way I
reward myself for the ambiguity of my epistolary style。
I suppose； if you please； you may say your verses are thin （would
you so describe an arrow； by the way； and one that struck the gold？
It scarce strikes me as exhaustively descriptive）； and； thin or
not； they are （and I have found them） inimitably elegant。 I thank
you again very sincerely for the generous trouble you have taken in
this matter which was so near my heart； and you may be very certain
it will be the fault of my health and not my inclination； if I do
not see you before very long； for all that has past has made me in
more than the official sense sincerely yours；
ROBERT LOUIS STEVENSON。
Letter： TO SIDNEY COLVIN
SKERRYVORE； DEC。 14； 1886。
MY DEAR COLVIN； … This is first…rate of you； the Lord love you for
it！ I am truly much obliged。 He … my father … is very changeable；
at times； he seems only a slow quiet edition of himself； again； he
will be very heavy and blank； but never so violent as last spring；
and therefore； to my mind； better on the whole。
Fanny is pretty peepy； I am splendid。 I have been writing much
verse … quite the bard； in fact； and also a dam tale to order；
which will be what it will be： I don't love it； but some of it is
passable in its mouldy way； THE MISADVENTURES OF JOHN NICHOLSON。
All my bardly exercises are in Scotch； I have struck my somewhat
ponderous guitar in that tongue to no small extent： with what
success； I know not； but I think it's better than my English verse；
more marrow and fatness； and more ruggedness。
How goes KEATS？ Pray rema
