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To Maria Cosway Paris, July 1, 1787
You conclude, Madam, from my long silence that I am gone to the
other world. Nothing else would have prevented my writing to you so
long. I have not thought of you the less, but I took a peep only
into Elysium. I entered it at one door, & came out at another,
having seen, as I past, only Turin, Milan, & Genoa. I calculated the
hours it would have taken to carry me on to Rome, but they were
exactly so many more than I had to spare. Was not this provoking?
In thirty hours from Milan I could have been at the espousals of the
Doge
and the Adriatic, but I am born to lose every thing I love. Why
were you not with me? So many enchanting scenes which only wanted
your pencil to consecrate them to fame. Whenever you go to Italy you
must pass at the Col de Tende. You may go in your chariot in full
trot from Nice to Turin, as if there were no mountain. But have your
pallet & pencil ready: for you will be sure to stop in the passage,
at the chateau de Saorgio. Imagine to yourself, madam, a castle &
village hanging to a cloud in front, on one hand a mountain cloven
through to let pass a gurgling stream; on the other a river, over
which is thrown a magnificent bridge; the whole formed into a bason,
it's sides shagged with rocks, olive trees, vines, herds, &c. I
insist on your painting it. How do you do? How have you done? and
when are you coming here? If not at all, what did you ever come for?
Only to make people miserable at losing you. Consider that you are
but a day from Paris. If you come by the way of St. Omers, which is
but two posts further, you will see a new & beautiful country. Come
then, my dear Madam, and we will breakfast every day a Angloise,
hie away to the Desert, dine under the bowers of Marly, and forget
that we are ever to part again. I received, in the moment of my
departure your favor of Feb. 15. and long to receive another: but
lengthy, warm, & flowing from the heart, as do the sentiments of
friendship & esteem with which I have the honor to be, dear Madam,
your affectionate friend and servant.
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