Rottingdean <1>
March 7th 1811.
My Dear Mamma,
I suppose your maxim <2> means Do not retain continual anger, being a mortal. Out of what author did you take it? I can think of nothing in the laminæ of my brain for your theme, but I will try as well as I can. Miror quomodo possis ex tuo capite tantum Latini trahere. Tibi dabo hoc thema, à Latinâ Anglicæ linguæ quam transducas.<3>
Citò à cælo pluvia cadit; arida terra recipit optatam aquam: Sol lucidam [faciem?] in nubibus celat: in domo se tenant omnes: statim sol per latebras venit: avÚlat humor: Ludunt pueri: circulus per hortos agrosque se sequitur: pila per æther cæruleum volat, dirigitque cursum celerem nunc huc, nunc illuc: hi simulant urbem vincÇre: et per muros horti (pro m œnia urbis) saltant: illi, sperneus tales ludos amant scribere seu libros legere: <4>
Le maître à ècrire est venu. Bonjour.<5>
Φιλεω – Φιλησω – <6> [πεφιλησα?] ce que veut dire en Latin<7>
amo – amabo – amavi <8> τος υιος φιλικως ειμο – <9>
W. H. F. Talbot.
Notes:
1. Rottingdean, East Sussex, 4 mi SE of Brighton: WHFT attended school there from 1808–1811.
2. See Doc. No: 00528. ‘Nurse not immortal anger, mortal man’ or ‘do not retain continual anger, being a mortal’. Quoted in Aristotle’s Rhetoric. Lady Elizabeth translates this as ‘(Sentiment) Within Thee cherish not immortal ire (reason for it) When Thou thyself art mortal’ in Doc. No: 00530.
3. I wonder how you can drag so much Latin from your head. I give you this theme to translate from Latin into the English language.
4. Quickly the rain falls from the sky, the parched land receives the longed-for water: the Sun hides his light in the clouds: everyone stays indoors: all at once the sun comes out of hiding: dampness flies away; The children play: the hoop chases through the gardens and fields; the ball flies through the azure air, directing its swift course now hither: some of them pretend to conquer a city: and (for the city battlements) jump through the garden walls: others, spurning such games, enjoy writing or reading books.
5. The writing master has arrived. Good day.
6. I am kissing – I will kiss. WHFT provides the wrong translation of the Greek in Latin.
7. which means in Latin
8. I love – I shall love –I have loved you
9. I am your afffectionate son.