I.

BRANTWOOD, CONISTON, LANCASHIRE.

MY DEAR FURNIVALL: Of course, in any great writer's word, the question is far less what the word came from, than where it has come to. _Fret_ means all manner of things in that place; primarily, the rippling of clouds--as sea by wind; secondarily, the breaking it asunder for light to come through. It implies a certain degree of vexation--some dissolution--much _order_, and extreme beauty. I have myself used this word substantively, to express the rippled edge of a wing-feather. In architecture and jewellery it means simply roughening in a decorative manner.[162]

Ever affectionately yours, J. RUSKIN.

FOOTNOTES:

[161] This and the next letter were written in answer to Mr. Furnivall, who, upon being questioned what appearance in the clouds was intended by the word "fret" in the above passage, referred the point to Mr. Ruskin, whose answers were subsequently read at the forty-fifth meeting of the Society, Oct. 11, 1878.

[162] In modern English "chasing" has got confused with it, but it should be separated again.

_NOTES ON A WORD IN SHAKESPEARE._