Into Haggard’s descriptions
An’ the plagues o’ the Egyptians
？？？Ye sprang！
4。
The folk ye’re now in wi’
Are ill to begin wi’
Or to risk a hale skin wi’
？？？In breeks —
They’re blacker and hetter —
（Just ask your begetter）
And far frae bein’ better
？？？Than Greeks。
5。
Ther’s your Meriamun：
She’ll mebbe can gammon
That auld…furrand salmon
？？？Yoursel’；
An’ Moses and Aaron
Will gie ye your fairin’
Wi’ fire an’ het airn
？？？In Hell。
I refuse to continue longer。 I had an excellent half…verse there； but couldn’t get the necessary pendant； and anyway there’s no end to such truck。
Yours；
R。 L。 S。
Now I will turn to my modern novel； “Beatrice。” Oddly enough； Lang liked it； although he says somewhere that he “infinitely prefers” Umslopogaas and Skallagrim。
I have read your chapters of “Beatrice。” Sursum corda： it moves； it has go and plenty of it。 。 。 。 I fear it is a deal more popular line than “The World’s Desire。”
May 8th。
I have read “Beatrice；” and if she interests the public as much as she does me； she’ll do。 But I have marked it a good deal； and would be glad to go through it with you； looking over the scribbled suggestions。 It is too late； but what a good character some male Elizabeth would have been： nosing for dirt； scandal； spite and lies。 He might easily have been worked in； I think。 。 。 。 They ＇i。e。 the hero and heroine＇ are a good deal more in love than Odysseus； Laertes’ son； and Mrs。 Menelaus！ It is odd： usually you “reflect” too much； and yet in this tale； I think； a few extra reflections might have been in place。 I feel a Thackerayan desire to moralise。
Here is another