Meantime, my
serious thanks for all these treasures go to you,--steadily good
to my youth and my age.
Your letter was most welcome, and most in that I thought I read,
in what you say of not making the long-promised visit hither, a
little willingness to come. Think again, I pray you, of that
Ocean Voyage, which is probably the best medicine and restorative
which remains to us at your age and mine. Nine or ten days will
bring you (and commonly with unexpected comfort and easements on
the way) to Boston. Every reading person in America holds you in
exceptional regard, and will rejoice in your arrival. They have
forgotten your scarlet sins before or during the war. I have
long ceased to apologize for or explain your savage sayings about
American or other republics or publics, and am willing that
anointed men bearing with them authentic charters shall be laws
to themselves as Plato willed. Genius is but a large infusion of
Deity, and so brings a prerogative all its own. It has a right
and duty to affront and amaze men by carrying out its perceptions
defiantly, knowing well that time and fate will verify and
explain what time and fate have through them said.
Pages:
385
386
387
388
389
390
391
392
393
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409