Ser,

J Hear this moment of your sad adventure. That water you fell in, was not Hippocrene's water, otherwise it would have respected you. Jndeed j am concerned beyond expression for the danger you have been in, and more for your wonds. Is it possible that those fingers which have written the rape of the lock and the Criticism, which have dressed Homer so becomingly in an english coat, should have been so barbarously treated? Let the hand of Dennis, or of your poetasters be cut off. Your is sacred. J hope ser you are now perfectly recovered. Rely your accident concers me as much as all the disasters of a master ought to affect his scholar. J am sincerely ser with the admiration which you deserve

Your most humble servant

Voltaire

in my lord Bolingbroke's house Friday [September/October 1726] at noon