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Affectionately,
R.W. Emerson
CXCI. Carlyle to Emerson
5 Cheyne Row, Chelsea, 2 April, 1872
Dear Emerson,--I am covered with confusion, astonishment, and
shame to think of my long silence. You wrote me two beautiful
letters; none friendlier, brighter, wiser could come to me from
any quarter of the world; and I have not answered even by a
sign. Promptly and punctually my poor heart did answer; but to
do it outwardly,--as if there had lain some enchantment on me,--
was beyond my power. The one thing I can say in excuse or
explanation is, that ever since Summer last, I have been in an
unusually dyspeptic, peaking, pining, and dispirited condition;
and have no right hand of my own for writing, nor, for several
months, had any other that was altogether agreeable to me. But
in fine I don't believe you lay any blame or anger on me at all;
and I will say no more about it, but only try to repent and do
better next time.
Your letter from the Far West was charmingly vivid and free; one
seemed to attend you personally, and see with one's own eyes the
_notabilia,_ human and other, of those huge regions, in your
swift flight through them to and from.
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