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Read Ebook: Dead letters by Baring Maurice
Font size: Background color: Text color: Add to tbrJar First Page Next PageEbook has 505 lines and 57756 words, and 11 pagesPAGE FROM THE MYCENAE PAPERS 1 WITH THE CARTHAGINIAN FLEET, 216 B.C. 21 LESBIA ILLA 29 CLEOPATRA AT ROME 39 OVID'S BANISHMENT 50 THE CAPRAE REGATTA, A.D. 27 60 MESSALINA 68 NERO INTERVIEWED, ROME, A.D. 64 81 MARCUS AURELIUS AT LANUVIUM 91 THE CAMELOT JOUSTS 103 KING LEAR'S DAUGHTER 113 LADY MACBETH'S TROUBLE 121 AT THE COURT OF KING CLAUDIUS 130 ROMEO AND ROSALINE 138 A FIRST NIGHT 147 THE POET, THE PLAYER, AND THE LITERARY AGENT 156 BATH, 1663 168 PETER THE GREAT 176 "HAMLET" AND DR. DODD 188 HERR M?LLER 197 HEINE IN PARIS 207 SMITH MAJOR 217 FROM SATURDAY TO MONDAY 224 A RUSSIAN SAILOR 236 DEAD LETTERS FROM THE MYCENAE PAPERS MYCENAE. Honoured Sir, I am sorry I was out when you came yesterday. I never thought that you seriously meant to come. I shall be very busy all next week, as Helen and Menelaus are arriving and I must get everything ready. Orestes was quite delighted with the cup and ball. You spoil him. Yours sincerely, CLYTAEMNESTRA. Most honoured Aegisthus, Yours very sincerely, CLYTAEMNESTRA. Most honoured Aegisthus, The flowers are beautiful, and it was kind of you to remember my birthday. But your letter is really too naughty.... MYCENAE. Most honoured Sir, This is to say that since you persist in misunderstanding me and refuse to listen to what I say, our correspondence must end. It is extraordinary to me that you should wish to debase what might have been so great and so wonderful. Yours truly, CLYTAEMNESTRA. MYCENAE. Most honoured Aegisthus, I was much touched by your letter and I will give you the one more trial you ask for so humbly and so touchingly. Paris has arrived. I don't know if you know him. He is the second son of the King of Troy. He made an unfortunate marriage with a girl called OEnone, the daughter of a rather disreputable river-person. They were miserable about it. He is very good-looking--if one admires those kind of looks, which I don't. He dresses in an absurd way and he looks theatrical. Besides, I hate men with curly hair. He has a few accomplishments. He shoots well and plays on the double flute quite remarkably well for a man who is not a professional; but he is totally uninteresting, and, what is more, impossible. But Helen likes him. Isn't it extraordinary that she always has liked impossible men? They sit for hours together saying nothing at all. I don't in the least mind his paying no attention to me--in fact, I am too thankful not to have to talk to him; but I do think it's bad manners, as I am his hostess. Helen is certainly looking better this year than she has ever looked; but she still dresses in that affectedly over-simple way, which is a pity. I don't know how long he is going to stay. I don't mind his being here, but Helen and he are really most inconsiderate. They use my sitting-room as though it were theirs, and they never seem to think that I may have things to do of my own, and they expect me to go out with them, which ends in their walking on ahead and my being left with Menelaus, whom I am very fond of indeed, but who bores me. He talks of nothing but horses and quoits. It is a great lesson to Queen Hecuba for having brought up her son so badly. Paris was educated entirely by a shepherd, you know, on Mount Ida. The result is his manners are shocking. Helen doesn't see it. Isn't it odd? I must say he's nice with children, and Orestes likes him. I am your sincere friend, CLYTAEMNESTRA. MYCENAE. Most honoured Aegisthus, We are in great trouble. I told you Helen was attracted by Paris. We of course thought nothing of it, because Helen always has flirted with rather vulgar men, and her flirtations were, we thought, the harmless distractions of a woman who has remained, and always will remain, a sentimental girl. Imagine our surprise and dismay! Paris and Helen have run away together, and they have gone to Troy! Helen left a note behind for Menelaus saying she realized that she had made a mistake, that she hated hypocrisy, and thought it more honest to leave him. She said she would always think of him with affection. Poor Menelaus is distracted, but he is behaving beautifully. Agamemnon is furious. He is overcome by the disgrace to his family, and he is so cross. We are all very miserable. Agamemnon says that the family honour must be redeemed at all costs, and that they will have to make an expedition against Troy to fetch Helen back. I think this is quite ridiculous. No amount of expeditions and wars can undo what has been done. I am sure you will sympathize with us in our trouble. I must say it is most unfair on my children. I shouldn't have minded so much if Iphigenia wasn't grown up. Electra has got whooping-cough, but she is going on as well as can be expected. I have no patience with Helen. She always was utterly thoughtless. Your sincere friend, CLYTAEMNESTRA. Add to tbrJar First Page Next Page |
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