Author(s): Charles Lamb

Literary Studies

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1903 edition. Excerpt: ...Go, get you gone, and let the papers lie; you would be fingering them to anger me." Julia then began to piece together as well as she could the torn fragments. She first made out these words: "Love-wounded Protheus;" and lamenting over these and such like loving words, which she made out though they were all torn asunder, or, she said, wounded (the expression " Love-wounded Protheus," giving her that idea), she talked to these kind words, telling them she would lodge them in her bosom as in a bed, till their wounds were healed, and that she would kiss each several piece, to make amends. In this manner she went on talking with a pretty lady-like childishness, till finding herself unable to make out the whole, and vexed at her own ingratitude in destroying such sweet and loving words, as she called them, she wrote a much kinder letter to Protheus than she had ever done before. Protheus was greatly delighted at receiving this favourable answer to his letter, and while lie was reading it he exclaimed: "Sweet love, sweet lines, sweet life!" In the midst of his raptures he was interrupted by his father. "How now!" said the old gentleman; "what letter are you reading there?" "My lord," replied Protheus, "it is a letter from my friend Valentine, at Milan." "Lend me the letter," said his father; " let me see what news." "There is no news, my lord," said Protheus, greatly alarmed, "but that he writes how well-beloved he is of the Duke of Milan, who daily graces him with favours, and how he wishes me with him, the partner of his fortune." "And how stand you affected to his wish?" asked the father. "As one relying on your lordship's will, and not depending on his friendly wish," said Protheus. Now it had happened that Protheus' father had just been talking...