... I wanted such a letter as your's--: for I am very unwell. On Wednesday night I was seized with an intolerable pain from my right temple to the tip of my right shoulder, including my right eye, cheek, jaw, & that side of the throat----I was nearly frantic--and ran about the House naked, endeavouring by every means to excite sensations in different parts of my body, & so to weaken the enemy by creating division. It continued from one in the morning till half past 5, & left me pale & fainty.--It came on fitfully but not so violently, several times on Thursday--and began severer threats towards night, but I took between 60 & 70 drops of Laudanum, and sopped the Cerberus just as his mouth began to open. On Friday it only niggled; as if the Chief had departed from a conquered place, and merely left a small garrison behind, or as if he evaculated the Corsica, & a few straggling pains only remained; but this morning he returned in full force, & his name is Legion!--Giant-fiend of an hundred hands! with a shower of arrowy Death-pangs he transpierced me, & then he became a Wolf & lay gnawing my bones.----I am not mad, most noble Festus!--but in sober sadness I have suffered this day more bodily pain than I had before a conception of--. My right cheek has certainly been placed with admirable exactness under the focus of some invisible Burning-Glass, which concentrated all the Rays of a Tartarean Sun.--My medical attendant decides it to be altogether nervous, and that it originates either in severe application, or excessive anxiety.--My beloved Poole! in excessive anxiety, I believe, it might originate!----I have a blister under my right-ear, and I take 25 drops of Laudanum every five hours: the ease & spirits gained by which have enabled me to write you this flighty ,but not exaggerating, account----. ...

God bless & protect you, Friend! Brother! Beloved!

S. T. Coleridge.

Monday night, November 7, 1796

I wrote you on Saturday night under the immediate inspiration of Laudanum, & wrote you a flighty letter, but yet one most accurately descriptive both of facts and feelings. Since then my pains have been lessening, and the greater part of this day I have enjoyed perfect ease, only I am totally inappetent of food, & languid, even to an inward perishing. ...

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