"Her … sweet little poem." Sara Coleridge's verses no longer exist.
See Lamb's next letter for his poetical reply.
Coleridge's poem on the Prince and Princess, "On a Late Connubial Rupture in High Life," was not accepted by Perry, of the Morning Chronicle. It appeared in the Monthly Magazine, September, 1796. The "Verses addressed to J. Horne Tooke and the company who met on June 28, 1796, to celebrate his poll at the Westminster Election" were not printed in the Morning Chronicle. Tooke had opposed Charles James Fox, who polled 5,160 votes, and Sir Alan Gardner, who polled 4,814, against his own 2,819.
Dyer was George Dyer (1755-1841), an old Christ's Hospitaller (but before Lamb and Coleridge's time), of whom we shall see much—Lamb's famous "G.D."
William Richardson was Accountant-General of the East India House at that time; Charles Cartwright, his Deputy.]
LETTER 6
CHARLES LAMB TO S.T. COLERIDGE
The 5th July, 1796. [P.M. Same date.]
TO SARA AND HER SAMUEL
Was it so hard a thing? I did but ask
A fleeting holy day. One little week,
Or haply two, had bounded my request.
What if the jaded Steer, who all day long
Had borne the heat and labour of the plough,
When Evening came and her sweet cooling hour,
Should seek to trespass on a neighbour copse,
Where greener herbage waved, or clearer streams
Invited him to slake his burning thirst?
That Man were crabbed, who should say him Nay:
That Man were churlish, who should drive him thence!