DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.25988#0079
1803.
Assye.
57
side. Horace says, “ Be gay ancl happy ” (or something like
that), for “ Nihil est ab omni parte beatum.” Then, “ Why
should we be melancholy boys, whose business ’tis to die ? ” and
“ Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die.” But
after all, such arguments as those are better than our system
of philosophy, which is contrived to put everything in the
worst light. It has nothing to recommend it but its truth, if
it has that. I intend, “ vela dare atque iterare cursus relictos.”
I shall set about believing that all is for the best; and now
I think of it, as Yincent used to say, all is for the best. I
shall sing a Te Deum on the defeat and death of Ahinnan.
Why should one increase one’s misfortunes by thinking that
“ in nature’s common course ” they are to grow worse. How
often have you and I got out of gloom and misery into gaiety
and sunshine ? Why should not we again ? “ Non si male
nunc et olim sic erit.” You will not always be a secretary, nor
I an invalid, but you cannot always be happy by your nature.
“ Expect not pleasures unalloyed with pain,” which is a very
good line indeed. By the way, I have learned much of my
insane philosophy from the Persians, and particularly from
Khyoom and Mirza Naseer. We have nothing of the sort in
English except the song of “ Let us all be unhappy together.”
Now for my good views. The intolerable heat of the winds,
and particularly the strong hot wind, shows that the rains are
over, and that we shall now have the most delightful season of
the year. The pain in my side, that confines me to my chair,
prevents my exposing myself as I might otherwise have done.
It is, besides, a sign that the inflammation is superficial.
(Yours ever,
‘ M. Elphinstone.’
' Camp, September 7, 1803.
‘ Dear Strachey,—We marched twelve miles yesterday
easterly, and are now, I am told, two or three miles from the
Godavery. I finished Spenser’s “ Shepherd’s Calendar ” yester-
day. Much as I like Spenser, I think his Pastorals have been
immoderately praised, and that making the crown of eclogue
Assye.
57
side. Horace says, “ Be gay ancl happy ” (or something like
that), for “ Nihil est ab omni parte beatum.” Then, “ Why
should we be melancholy boys, whose business ’tis to die ? ” and
“ Let us eat, drink, and be merry, for to-morrow we die.” But
after all, such arguments as those are better than our system
of philosophy, which is contrived to put everything in the
worst light. It has nothing to recommend it but its truth, if
it has that. I intend, “ vela dare atque iterare cursus relictos.”
I shall set about believing that all is for the best; and now
I think of it, as Yincent used to say, all is for the best. I
shall sing a Te Deum on the defeat and death of Ahinnan.
Why should one increase one’s misfortunes by thinking that
“ in nature’s common course ” they are to grow worse. How
often have you and I got out of gloom and misery into gaiety
and sunshine ? Why should not we again ? “ Non si male
nunc et olim sic erit.” You will not always be a secretary, nor
I an invalid, but you cannot always be happy by your nature.
“ Expect not pleasures unalloyed with pain,” which is a very
good line indeed. By the way, I have learned much of my
insane philosophy from the Persians, and particularly from
Khyoom and Mirza Naseer. We have nothing of the sort in
English except the song of “ Let us all be unhappy together.”
Now for my good views. The intolerable heat of the winds,
and particularly the strong hot wind, shows that the rains are
over, and that we shall now have the most delightful season of
the year. The pain in my side, that confines me to my chair,
prevents my exposing myself as I might otherwise have done.
It is, besides, a sign that the inflammation is superficial.
(Yours ever,
‘ M. Elphinstone.’
' Camp, September 7, 1803.
‘ Dear Strachey,—We marched twelve miles yesterday
easterly, and are now, I am told, two or three miles from the
Godavery. I finished Spenser’s “ Shepherd’s Calendar ” yester-
day. Much as I like Spenser, I think his Pastorals have been
immoderately praised, and that making the crown of eclogue