Thomas Gray to Horace Walpole, [19 September 1763]

Positively I can make nothing of St Islee, & thought myself sure, it was Chantilly; & even believe so still, not having the book before me.

To be sure I look'd in Grotius' Epistles the first thing I did: he writes to no body with a name at all similar. but in the little book of this Ld Herberts Verses, publish'd by the Divine Herbert after his death, is a thing addressed, to Tilenus after the fatal defluxion upon my arm. Now Daniel Tilenus was a great theological Writer of that time: he wrote about Antichrist, & Animadversions on the Synod of Dort, &c: & some of his works were publish'd (I see) at Paris. he was however a Silesian, & his true name might well be Tieleners; & as Grotius was also a deep Divine, he might well be acquainted with him, as well as Ld Herbert.

Do not lay your learning upon me, for I no more desire the title of Clarissimus & Celeberrimus, than you do. a Collecter of Antiquities, whose work (yet unpublish'd) I have before me, cites you under the name of the lively Editor of the Cat: of Noble Authors. will that satisfy you better?

I give you many thanks for your political riddles: before I print them, I shall send you a List of my doubts & difficulties, for I don't understand a word of the matter. I wonder, you should think folly less entertaining than wisdom. you, who live next door to the Theatre, may be as fastidious as you please, & disdain to cast an eye on Garrick above once in a year. I, who live in the country, am excusable, if I go every night to see a troop of Strollers in a barn, as long as they stay.