character-第89章
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that is most thoroughly satisfying； and the least accompanied by
regret and disappointment。 In the words of George Herbert； the
consciousness of duty performed 〃gives us music at midnight。〃
And when we have done our work on earthof necessity； of labour；
of love； or of duty；like the silkworm that spins its little
cocoon and dies； we too depart。 But； short though our stay in
life may be； it is the appointed sphere in which each has to work
out the great aim and end of his being to the best of his power；
and when that is done； the accidents of the flesh will affect but
little the immortality we shall at last put on：
〃Therefore we can go die as sleep； and trust
Half that we have
Unto an honest faithful grave；
Making our pillows either down or dust！〃
NOTES
（1） 'Calcutta Review；' article on 'Romance and Reality of Indian Life。'
（2） Joseph Lancaster was only twenty years of age when （in 1798）
he opened his first school in a spare room in his father's house；
which was soon filled with the destitute children of the
neighbourhood。 The room was shortly found too small for the
numbers seeking admission； and one place after another was hired；
until at length Lancaster had a special building erected； capable
of accommodating a thousand pupils； outside of which was placed
the following notice：〃All that will； may send their children
here； and have them educated freely； and those that do not wish to
have education for nothing； may pay for it if they please。〃 Thus
Joseph Lancaster was the precursor of our present system of
National Education。
（3） A great musician once said of a promising but passionless
cantatrice〃She sings well； but she wants something； and in that
something everything。 If I were single； I would court her； I
would marry her； I would maltreat her； I would break her heart；
and in six months she would be the greatest singer in Europe！〃
BLACKWOOD'S MAGAZINE；
（4） Prescot's 'Essays；' art。 Cervantes。
（5） A cavalier； named Ruy de Camera； having called upon Camoens to
furnish a poetical version of the seven penitential psalms； the
poet； raising his head from his miserable pallet； and pointing to
his faithful slave； exclaimed： 〃Alas！ when I was a poet； I was
young； and happy； and blest with the love of ladies； but now； I am
a forlorn deserted wretch！ Seethere stands my poor Antonio；
vainly supplicating FOURPENCE to purchase a little coals。 I have
not them to give him！〃 The cavalier； Sousa quaintly relates； in
his 'Life of Camoens；' closed his heart and his purse； and quitted
the room。 Such were the grandees of Portugal！Lord Strangford's
REMARKS ON THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF CAMOENS； 1824。
（6） See chapter v。 p。 125。
（7） A Quaker called on Bunyan one day with 〃a message from the Lord；〃
saying he had been to half the gaols of England； and was glad at
last to have found him。 To which Bunyan replied： 〃If the Lord
sent thee； you would not have needed to take so much trouble to
find me out； for He knew that I have been in Bedford Gaol these
seven years past。〃
（8） Prynne； besides standing in the pillory and having his ears cut
off； was imprisoned by turns in the Tower； Mont Orgueil （Jersey）；
Dunster Castle； Taunton Castle； and Pendennis Castle。 He after…
wards pleaded zealously for the Restoration； and was made Keeper
of the Records by Charles II。 It has been computed that Prynne
wrote； compiled； and printed about eight quarto pages for every
working…day of his life； from his reaching man's estate to the day
of his death。 Though his books were for the most part
appropriated by the trunkmakers； they now command almost fabulous
prices； chiefly because of their rarity。
（9） He also projected his 'Review' in prisonthe first periodical of
the kind； which pointed the way to the host of 'Tatlers；'
'Guardians；' and 'Spectators；' which followed it。 The 'Review'
consisted of 102 numbers； forming nine quarto volumes； all of
which were written by De Foe himself； while engaged in other and
various labours。
（10） A passage in the Earl of Carlisles Lecture on Pope'Heaven was
made for those who have failed in this world'struck me very
forcibly several years ago when I read it in a newspaper； and
became a rich vein of thought； in which I often quarried；
especially when the sentence was interpreted by the Cross； which
was failure apparently。〃LIFE AND LETTERS OF ROBERTSON （of
Brighton）； ii。 94。
（11） 〃Not all who seem to fail； have failed indeed；
Not all who fail have therefore worked in vain：
For all our acts to many issues lead；
And out of earnest purpose； pure and plain；
Enforced by honest toil of hand or brain；
The Lord will fashion； in His own good time；
（Be this the labourer's proudly…humble creed；）
Such ends as； to His wisdom； fitliest chime
With His vast love's eternal harmonies。
There is no failure for the good and wise：
What though thy seed should fall by the wayside
And the birds snatch it；yet the birds are fed；
Or they may bear it far across the tide；
To give rich harvests after thou art dead。〃
POLITICS FOR THE PEOPLE； 1848。
（12） 〃What is it；〃 says Mr。 Helps； 〃that promotes the most and the
deepest thought in the human race？ It is not learning； it is not
the conduct of business； it is not even the impulse of the
affections。 It is suffering； and that； perhaps； is the reason why
there is so much suffering in the world。 The angel who went down
to trouble the waters and to make them healing； was not； perhaps；
entrusted with so great a boon as the angel who benevolently
inflicted upon the sufferers the disease from which they
suffered。〃BREVIA。
（13） These lines were written by Deckar； in a spirit of boldness
equal to its piety。 Hazlitt has or said of them； that they
〃ought to embalm his memory to every one who has a sense either
of religion； or philosophy； or humanity； or true genius。〃
（14） Reboul； originally a baker of Nismes； was the author of many
beautiful poemsamongst others； of the exquisite piece known in
this country by its English translation； entitled 'The Angel and
the Child。'
（15） 'Cornhill Magazine；' vol。 xvi。 p。 322。
（16） 'Holy Living and Dying；' ch。 ii。 sect。 6。
（17） Ibid。； ch。 iii。 sect。 6。
（18） Gibbon's 'Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire；' vol。 x。 p。 40。
End
