Dr Milles It Is Not Worth Asking You to Accept Or to Take the Trouble Of

To MASON 25 SEPTEMBER 1771 25 Dr Milles it is not worth asking you to accept or to take the trouble of bringing me, and, therefore, you may fling it aside where you please.8 The epitaph*5 is very unworthy of the subject. I had rather anybody should correct my works than take the pains myself. I thank you very sincerely for criticizing it, but indeed I believe you would with much less trouble write a new one than mend that. I abandon it cheerfully to the fire, for surely bad verses on a great poet are the worst of pane gyrics. The sensation of the moment dictated the epitaph, but though I was concerned, I was not inspired; your corrections of my play I remember with the greatest gratitude, because I confess I liked it enough to wish it corrected, and for that friendly act, Sir, I am obliged to you. For writing, I am quitting all thoughts of it—and for several reasons—the best is because it is time to remember that I must quit the world. Mr Gray was but a year older and he had much more the ap pearance of a man to whom several years were promised. A con temporary's death is the Ucalegon10 of all sermons: in the next place his death has taught me another truth. Authors are said to labour for posterity; for my part I find I did not write even for the rising genera tion. Experience tells me it was all for those of my own, or near my own, time. The friends I have lost were I find more than half the public to me. It is as difficult to write for young people, as to talk to them; I never, I perceive, meant anything about them in what I have written, and cannot commence an acquaintance with them in print. Mr Gray was far from an agreeable confidant to self-love, yet I had always more satisfaction in communicating anything to him, though sure to be mortified, than in being flattered by people whose judg ment I do not respect. We had besides known each other's ideas from almost infancy, and I was certain he would understand precisely what ever I said, whether it was well or ill expressed. This is a kind of feel ing that every hour of age increases. Mr Gray's death, I am persuaded, Sir, has already given you this sensation, and I make no excuse for talking seemingly so much of myself, but though I am the instance of these reflections, they are only part of the conversation, which that sad event occasions, and which I trust we shall renew. I shall sincerely 8. The present whereabouts of this copy Deiphobus and was burned with it (Troxi- is not known. mus ardet Ucalegon': ALneid ii. 311-2). 9. On Gray (ante 9 Sept. 1771). HW uses the same allusion in his letter to 10. Ucalegon was one of the elders of Mann 22 June 1768 and to Mary Berry Troy, whose house stood next to that of 29 Jan. 1791 (BERRY i. 183). .

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