29 JUNE 1991, Page 25

Much chided

Sir: Jeffrey Bernard amiably chides me for having omitted (Books, 8 June) Auden's description of himself as a `wedding cake left out in the rain'. Had I been unwell, perhaps? No, the quotation was there end of the first paragraph.

Julian Symons chides me for misquoting Auden's poem 'Spain'. Assuming him cor- rect, I am sorry. My point was that that poem, or part of it, should be in one of the two quotation books I was reviewing. If it had been I should not have fallen into error.

Colin Welch

4 Goddard's Lane, Aldbourne, Wiltshire