Book iii
. Chap. iii._
The greatest of faults, I should say, is to be conscious of none.[579-3]
_Heroes and Hero-Worship. The Hero as a Prophet._
In books lies the soul of the whole Past Time: the articulate audible voice of the Past, when the body and material substance of it has altogether vanished like a dream.
_Heroes and Hero-Worship. The Hero as a Man of Letters._
The true University of these days is a Collection of Books.
_Heroes and Hero-Worship. The Hero as a Man of Letters._
One life,--a little gleam of time between two Eternities.
_Heroes and Hero-Worship. The Hero as a Man of Letters._
Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity there are a hundred that will stand adversity.
_Heroes and Hero-Worship. The Hero as a Man of Letters._
FOOTNOTES:
[578-1] How comes it to pass, then, that we appear such cowards in reasoning, and are so afraid to stand the test of ridicule?--SHAFTESBURY: _Characteristics. A Letter concerning Enthusiasm, sect. 2._
Truth, 't is supposed, may bear all lights; and one of those principal lights or natural mediums by which things are to be viewed in order to a thorough recognition is ridicule itself.--SHAFTESBURY: _Essay on the Freedom of Wit and Humour, sect. 1._
'T was the saying of an ancient sage (Gorgias Leontinus, _apud_ Aristotle's "Rhetoric," lib. iii. c. 18), that humour was the only test of gravity, and gravity of humour. For a subject which would not bear raillery was suspicious; and a jest which would not bear a serious examination was certainly false wit.--_Ibid. sect. 5._
[579-1] Carlyle in his essay on Mirabeau, 1837, quotes this from a "New England book."
[579-2] MONTESQUIEU: _Aphorism._
[579-3] His only fault is that he has none.--PLINY THE YOUNGER: _Book ix. Letter xxvi._
THOMAS C. HALIBURTON. 1796-1865.
I want you to see Peel, Stanley, Graham, Sheil, Russell, Macaulay, Old Joe, and so on. They are all upper-crust here.[580-1]
_Sam Slick In England._[580-2] _Chap. xxiv._
Circumstances alter cases.
_The Old Judge. Chap. xv._
FOOTNOTES:
[580-1] Those families, you know, are our upper-crust,--not upper ten thousand.--COOPER: _The Ways of the Hour, chap. vi._ (1850.)
At present there is no distinction among the upper ten thousand of the city.--N. P. WILLIS: _Necessity for a Promenade Drive._
[580-2] "Sam Slick" first appeared in a weekly paper of Nova Scotia, 1835.
WILLIAM MOTHERWELL. 1797-1835.
I 've wandered east, I 've wandered west, Through many a weary way; But never, never can forget The love of life's young day.
_Jeannie Morrison._
And we, with Nature's heart in tune, Concerted harmonies.
_Jeannie Morrison._
THOMAS HAYNES BAYLY. 1797-1839.
I 'd be a butterfly born in a bower, Where roses and lilies and violets meet.
_I 'd be a Butterfly._
Oh no! we never mention her,-- Her name is never heard; My lips are now forbid to speak That once familiar word.
_Oh no! we never mention her._
We met,--'t was in a crowd.
_We met._
Gayly the troubadour Touched his guitar.
_Welcome me Home._
Why don't the men propose, Mamma? Why don't the men propose?
_Why don't the Men propose?_
She wore a wreath of roses The night that first we met.
_She wore a Wreath._
Friends depart, and memory takes them To her caverns, pure and deep.
_Teach me to forget._
Tell me the tales that to me were so dear, Long, long ago, long, long ago.
_Long, long ago._
The rose that all are praising Is not the rose for me.
_The Rose that all are praising._
Oh pilot, 't is a fearful night! There 's danger on the deep.
_The Pilot._
Fear not, but trust in Providence, Wherever thou may'st be.
_The Pilot._
Absence makes the heart grow fonder:[581-1] Isle of Beauty, fare thee well!
_Isle of Beauty._
The mistletoe hung in the castle hall, The holly-branch shone on the old oak wall.
_The Mistletoe Bough._
Oh, I have roamed o'er many lands, And many friends I 've met; Not one fair scene or kindly smile Can this fond heart forget.
_Oh, steer my Bark to Erin's Isle._
FOOTNOTES:
[581-1] I find that absence still increases love.--CHARLES HOPKINS: _To C. C._
Distance sometimes endears friendship, and absence sweeteneth it.--HOWELL: _Familiar Letters,