Anautobiographymaybetruesofarasitgoes；butincommunicatingonlypartofthetruth，itmayconveyanimpressionthatisreallyfalse。Itmaybeadisguise——sometimesitisanapology——exhibitingnotsomuchwhatamanreallywas，aswhathewouldhavelikedtobe。Aportraitinprofilemaybecorrect，butwhoknowswhethersomescarontheoff-cheek，orsomesquintintheeyethatisnotseen，mightnothaveentirelyalteredtheexpressionofthefaceifbroughtintosight？Scott，Moore，Southey，allbeganautobiographies，butthetaskofcontinuingthemwasdoubtlessfelttobetoodifficultaswellasdelicate，andtheywereabandoned。
Frenchliteratureisespeciallyrichinaclassofbiographicmemoirs，ofwhichwehavefewcounterpartsinEnglish。WerefertotheirMEMOIRESPOURSERVIR，suchasthoseofSully，DeComines，Lauzun，DeRetz，DeThou，Rochefoucalt，&c。，inwhichwehaverecordedanimmensemassofminuteandcircumstantialinformationrelativetomanygreatpersonagesofhistory。Theyarefullofanecdotesillustrativeoflifeandcharacter，andofdetailswhichmightbecalledfrivolous，butthattheythrowafloodoflightonthesocialhabitsandgeneralcivilisationoftheperiodstowhichtheyrelate。TheMEMOIRESofSaint-Simonaresomethingmore:theyaremarvellousdissectionsofcharacter，andconstitutethemostextraordinarycollectionofanatomicalbiographythathaseverbeenbroughttogether。
Saint-Simonmightalmostberegardedinthelightofaposthumouscourt-spyofLouistheFourteenth。Hewaspossessedbyapassionforreadingcharacter，andendeavouringtodeciphermotivesandintentionsinthefaces，expressions，conversation，andbyplayofthoseabouthim。”Iexamineallmypersonagesclosely，”saidhe——”watchtheirmouth，eyes，andearsconstantly。”Andwhatheheardandsawhenoteddownwithextraordinaryvividnessanddash。
Acute，keen，andobservant，hepiercedthemasksofthecourtiers，anddetectedtheirsecrets。Theardourwithwhichheprosecutedhisfavouritestudyofcharacterseemedinsatiable，andevencruel。”Theeageranatomist，”saysSainte-Beuve，”wasnotmorereadytoplungethescalpelintothestill-palpitatingbosominsearchofthediseasethathadbaffledhim。”
LaBruyerepossessedthesamegiftofaccurateandpenetratingobservationofcharacter。Hewatchedandstudiedeverybodyabouthim。Hesoughttoreadtheirsecrets；and，retiringtohischamber，hedeliberatelypaintedtheirportraits，returningtothemfromtimetotimetocorrectsomeprominentfeature——hangingoverthemasfondlyasanartistoversomefavouritestudy——
addingtraittotrait，andtouchtotouch，untilatlengththepicturewascompleteandthelikenessperfect。
Itmaybesaidthatmuchoftheinterestofbiography，especiallyofthemorefamiliarsort，isofthenatureofgossip；asthatoftheMEMOIRESPOURSERVIRisofthenatureofscandal，whichisnodoubttrue。Butbothgossipandscandalillustratethestrengthoftheinterestwhichmenandwomentakeineachother’spersonality；andwhich，exhibitedintheformofbiography，iscapableofcommunicatingthehighestpleasure，andyieldingthebestinstruction。Indeedbiography，becauseitisinstinctofhumanity，isthebranchofliteraturewhich——whetherintheformoffiction，ofanecdotalrecollection，orofpersonalnarrative——
istheonethatinvariablycommendsitselftobyfarthelargestclassofreaders。
Thereisnoroomfordoubtthatthesurpassinginterestwhichfiction，whetherinpoetryorprose，possessesformostminds，arisesmainlyfromthebiographicelementwhichitcontains。
Homer’s’Iliad’owesitsmarvellouspopularitytothegeniuswhichitsauthordisplayedintheportrayalofheroiccharacter。Yethedoesnotsomuchdescribehispersonagesindetailasmakethemdevelopethemselvesbytheiractions。”ThereareinHomer，”saidDr。Johnson，”suchcharactersofheroesandcombinationofqualitiesofheroes，thattheunitedpowersofmankindeversincehavenotproducedanybutwhataretobefoundthere。”
ThegeniusofShakspearealsowasdisplayedinthepowerfuldelineationofcharacter，andthedramaticevolutionofhumanpassions。Hispersonagesseemtobereal——livingandbreathingbeforeus。SotoowithCervantes，whoseSanchoPanza，thoughhomelyandvulgar，isintenselyhuman。ThecharactersinLeSage’s’GilBlas，’inGoldsmith’s’VicarofWakefield，’andinScott’smarvellousmuster-roll，seemtousalmostasrealaspersonswhomwehaveactuallyknown；andDeFoe’sgreatestworksarebutsomanybiographies，paintedinminutedetail，withrealitysoapparentlystampeduponeverypage，thatitisdifficulttobelievehisRobinsonCrusoeandColonelJacktohavebeenfictitiousinsteadofrealpersons。
Thoughtherichestromanceliesenclosedinactualhumanlife，andthoughbiography，becauseitdescribesbeingswhohaveactuallyfeltthejoysandsorrows，andexperiencedthedifficultiesandtriumphs，ofreallife，iscapableofbeingmademoreattractive，thanthemostperfectfictionseverwoven，itisremarkablethatsofewmenofgeniushavebeenattractedtothecompositionofworksofthiskind。Greatworksoffictionabound，butgreatbiographiesmaybecountedonthefingers。Itmaybeforthesamereasonthatagreatpainterofportraits，thelateJohnPhilip，R。A。，explainedhispreferenceforsubject-painting，because，saidhe，”Portrait-paintingdoesnotpay。”Biographicportraitureinvolveslaboriousinvestigationandcarefulcollectionoffacts，judiciousrejectionandskilfulcondensation，aswellastheartofpresentingthecharacterportrayedinthemostattractiveandlifelikeform；whereas，intheworkoffiction，thewriter’simaginationisfreetocreateandtoportraycharacter，withoutbeingtrammelledbyreferences，orhelddownbytheactualdetailsofreallife。
Thereis，indeed，nowantamongusofponderousbutlifelessmemoirs，manyofthemlittlebetterthaninventories，puttogetherwiththehelpofthescissorsasmuchasofthepen。WhatConstablesaidoftheportraitsofaninferiorartist——”Hetakesallthebonesandbrainsoutofhisheads”——appliestoalargeclassofportraiture，writtenaswellaspainted。Theyhavenomorelifeinthemthanapieceofwaxwork，oraclothes-dummyatatailor’sdoor。Whatwewantisapictureofamanashelived，andlo！wehaveanexhibitionofthebiographerhimself。Weexpectanembalmedheart，andwefindonlyclothes。
Thereisdoubtlessashighartdisplayedinpaintingaportraitinwords，asthereisinpaintingoneincolours。Todoeitherwellrequirestheseeingeyeandtheskilfulpenorbrush。Acommonartistseesonlythefeaturesofaface，andcopiesthem；butthegreatartistseesthelivingsoulshiningthroughthefeatures，andplacesitonthecanvas。Johnsonwasonceaskedtoassistthechaplainofadeceasedbishopinwritingamemoirofhislordship；
butwhenheproceededtoinquireforinformation，thechaplaincouldscarcelytellhimanything。HenceJohnsonwasledtoobservethat”fewpeoplewhohavelivedwithamanknowwhattoremarkabouthim。”
InthecaseofJohnson’sownlife，itwastheseeingeyeofBoswellthatenabledhimtonoteandtreasureupthoseminutedetailsofhabitandconversationinwhichsomuchoftheinterestofbiographyconsists。Boswell，becauseofhissimpleloveandadmirationofhishero，succeededwhereprobablygreatermenwouldhavefailed。Hedescendedtoapparentlyinsignificant，butyetmostcharacteristic，particulars。ThusheapologizesforinformingthereaderthatJohnson，whenjourneying，”carriedinhishandalargeEnglishoak-stick:”adding，”IrememberDr。AdamSmith，inhisrhetoricallecturesatGlasgow，toldushewasgladtoknowthatMiltonworelatchetsinhisshoesinsteadofbuckles。”BoswellletsusknowhowJohnsonlooked，whatdresshewore，whatwashistalk，whatwerehisprejudices。Hepaintedhimwithallhisscars，andawonderfulportraititis——perhapsthemostcompletepictureofagreatmaneverlimnedinwords。
ButfortheaccidentoftheScotchadvocate’sintimacywithJohnson，andhisdevotedadmirationofhim，thelatterwouldnotprobablyhavestoodnearlysohighinliteratureashenowdoes。
ItisinthepagesofBoswellthatJohnsonreallylives；andbutforBoswell，hemighthaveremainedlittlemorethananame。
Otherstherearewhohavebequeathedgreatworkstoposterity，butofwhoselivesnexttonothingisknown。WhatwouldwenotgivetohaveaBoswell’saccountofShakspeare？WepositivelyknowmoreofthepersonalhistoryofSocrates，ofHorace，ofCicero，ofAugustine，thanwedoofthatofShakspeare。Wedonotknowwhatwashisreligion，whatwerehispolitics，whatwerehisexperiences，whatwerehisrelationstohiscontemporaries。Themenofhisowntimedonotseemtohaverecognisedhisgreatness；
andBenJonson，thecourtpoet，whoseblank-verseShakspearewascontenttocommittomemoryandreciteasanactor，stoodhigherinpopularestimation。Weonlyknowthathewasasuccessfultheatricalmanager，andthatintheprimeoflifeheretiredtohisnativeplace，wherehedied，andhadthehonoursofavillagefuneral。Thegreaterpartofthebiographywhichhasbeenconstructedrespectinghimhasbeentheresult，notofcontemporaryobservationorofrecord，butofinference。Thebestinnerbiographyofthemanistobefoundinhissonnets。
Mendonotalwaystakeanaccuratemeasureoftheircontemporaries。Thestatesman，thegeneral，themonarchofto-dayfillsalleyesandears，thoughtothenextgenerationhemaybeasifhehadneverbeen。”Andwhoiskingto-day？”thepainterGreuzewouldaskofhisdaughter，duringthethroesofthefirstFrenchRevolution，whenmen，greatforthetime，weresuddenlythrowntothesurface，andassuddenlydroptoutofsightagain，nevertoreappear。”Andwhoiskingto-day？Afterall，”Greuzewouldadd，”CitizenHomerandCitizenRaphaelwilloutlivethosegreatcitizensofours，whosenamesIhaveneverbeforeheardof。”
YetofthepersonalhistoryofHomernothingisknown，andofRaphaelcomparativelylittle。EvenPlutarch，whowrotethelivesofothers:sowell，hasnobiography，noneoftheeminentRomanwriterswhowerehiscontemporarieshavingsomuchasmentionedhisname。AndsoofCorreggio，whodelineatedthefeaturesofotherssowell，thereisnotknowntoexistanauthenticportrait。
Therehavebeenmenwhogreatlyinfluencedthelifeoftheirtime，whosereputationhasbeenmuchgreaterwithposteritythanitwaswiththeircontemporaries。OfWickliffe，thepatriarchoftheReformation，ourknowledgeisextremelysmall。
Hewasbutasavoicecryinginthewilderness。Wedonotreallyknowwhowastheauthorof’TheImitationofChrist’——
abookthathashadanimmensecirculation，andexercisedavastreligiousinfluenceinallChristiancountries。ItisusuallyattributedtoThomasaKempisbutthereisreasontobelievethathewasmerelyitstranslator，andthebookthatisreallyknowntobehis，(10)isinallrespectssoinferior，thatitisdifficulttobelievethat’TheImitation’proceededfromthesamepen。ItisconsideredmoreprobablethattherealauthorwasJohnGerson，ChancelloroftheUniversityofParis，amostlearnedanddevoutman，whodiedin1429。
Someofthegreatestmenofgeniushavehadtheshortestbiographies。OfPlato，oneofthegreatfathersofmoralphilosophy，wehavenopersonalaccount。Ifhehadwifeandchildren，wehearnothingofthem。AboutthelifeofAristotlethereisthegreatestdiversityofopinion。OnesayshewasaJew；another，thatheonlygothisinformationfromaJew:onesayshekeptanapothecary’sshop；another，thathewasonlythesonofaphysician:oneallegesthathewasanatheist；another，thathewasaTrinitarian，andsoforth。Butweknowalmostaslittlewithrespecttomanymenofcomparativelymoderntimes。
Thus，howlittledoweknowofthelivesofSpenser，authorof’TheFaerieQueen，’andofButler，theauthorof’Hudibras，’
beyondthefactthattheylivedincomparativeobscurity，anddiedinextremepoverty！Howlittle，comparatively，doweknowofthelifeofJeremyTaylor，thegoldenpreacher，ofwhomweshouldliketohaveknownsomuch！
Theauthorof’PhilipVanArtevelde’hassaidthat”theworldknowsnothingofitsgreatestmen。”Anddoubtlessoblivionhasenwraptinitsfoldsmanygreatmenwhohavedonegreatdeeds，andbeenforgotten。AugustinespeaksofRomanianusasthegreatestgeniusthateverlived，andyetweknownothingofhimbuthisname；heisasmuchforgottenasthebuildersofthePyramids。
Gordiani’sepitaphwaswritteninfivelanguages，yetitsufficednottorescuehimfromoblivion。
Many，indeed，arethelivesworthyofrecordthathaveremainedunwritten。Menwhohavewrittenbookshavebeenthemostfortunateinthisrespect，becausetheypossessanattractionforliterarymenwhichthosewhoseliveshavebeenembodiedindeedsdonotpossess。ThustherehavebeenliveswrittenofPoetsLaureatewhoweremeremenoftheirtime，andoftheirtimeonly。
Dr。Johnsonincludessomeoftheminhis’LivesofthePoets，’
suchasEdmundSmithandothers，whosepoemsarenownolongerknown。Thelivesofsomemenofletters——suchasGoldsmith，Swift，Sterne，andSteele——havebeenwrittenagainandagain，whilstgreatmenofaction，menofscience，andmenofindustry，areleftwithoutarecord。(11)
Wehavesaidthatamanmaybeknownbythecompanyhekeepsinhisbooks。Letusmentionafewofthefavouritesofthebest-
knownmen。Plutarch’sadmirershavealreadybeenreferredto。
Montaignealsohasbeenthecompanionofmostmeditativemen。
AlthoughShakspearemusthavestudiedPlutarchcarefully，inasmuchashecopiedfromhimfreely，eventohisverywords，itisremarkablethatMontaigneistheonlybookwhichwecertainlyknowtohavebeeninthepoet’slibrary；oneofShakspeare’sexistingautographshavingbeenfoundinacopyofFlorio’stranslationof’TheEssays，’whichalsocontains，ontheflyleaf，theautographofBenJonson。
Milton’sfavouritebookswereHomer，Ovid，andEuripides。ThelatterbookwasalsothefavouriteofCharlesJamesFox，whoregardedthestudyofitasespeciallyusefultoapublicspeaker。
Ontheotherhand，PitttookespecialdelightinMilton——whomFoxdidnotappreciate——takingpleasureinreciting，from’ParadiseLost，’thegrandspeechofBelialbeforetheassembledpowersofPandemonium。AnotherofPitt’s，favouritebookswasNewton’s’Principia。’Again，theEarlofChatham’sfavouritebookwas’Barrow’sSermons，’whichhereadsooftenastobeabletorepeatthemfrommemory；whileBurke’scompanionswereDemosthenes，Milton，Bolingbroke，andYoung’s’NightThoughts。’
Curran’sfavouritewasHomer，whichhereadthroughonceayear。
Virgilwasanotherofhisfavourites；hisbiographer，Phillips，sayingthatheoncesawhimreadingthe’Aeneid’inthecabinofaHolyheadpacket，whileeveryoneabouthimwasprostratebyseasickness。
Ofthepoets，Dante’sfavouritewasVirgil；Corneille’swasLucan；
Schiller’swasShakspeare；Gray’swasSpenser；whilstColeridgeadmiredCollinsandBowles。Dantehimselfwasafavouritewithmostgreatpoets，fromChaucertoByronandTennyson。LordBrougham，Macaulay，andCarlylehavealikeadmiredandeulogizedthegreatItalian。TheformeradvisedthestudentsatGlasgowthat，nexttoDemosthenes，thestudyofDantewasthebestpreparativefortheeloquenceofthepulpitorthebar。RobertHallsoughtreliefinDantefromtherackingpainsofspinaldisease；andSydneySmithtooktothesamepoetforcomfortandsolaceinhisoldage。ItwascharacteristicofGoethethathisfavouritebookshouldhavebeenSpinoza’s’Ethics，’inwhichhesaidhehadfoundapeaceandconsolationsuchashehadbeenabletofindinnootherwork。(12)
Barrow’sfavouritewasSt。Chrysostom；Bossuet’swasHomer。
Bunyan’swastheoldlegendofSirBevisofSouthampton，whichinallprobabilitygavehimthefirstideaofhis’Pilgrim’sProgress。’OneofthebestprelatesthateversatontheEnglishbench，Dr。JohnSharp，said——”ShakspeareandtheBiblehavemademeArchbishopofYork。”ThetwobookswhichmostimpressedJohnWesleywhenayoungman，were’TheImitationofChrist’andJeremyTaylor’s’HolyLivingandDying。’YetWesleywasaccustomedtocautionhisyoungfriendsagainstovermuchreading。”Bewareyoubenotswallowedupinbooks，”hewouldsaytothem；”anounceofloveisworthapoundofknowledge。”
Wesley’sownLifehasbeenagreatfavouritewithmanythoughtfulreaders。Coleridgesays，inhisprefacetoSouthey’s’LifeofWesley，’thatitwasmoreofteninhishandsthananyotherinhisraggedbook-regiment。”Tothiswork，andtotheLifeofRichardBaxter，”hesays，”IwasusedtoresortwheneversicknessandlanguormademefeelthewantofanoldfriendofwhosecompanyI
couldneverbetired。Howmanyandmanyanhourofself-obliviondoIowetothisLifeofWesley；andhowoftenhaveIarguedwithit，questioned，remonstrated，beenpeevish，andaskedpardon；thenagainlistened，andcried，’Right！Excellent！’andinyetheavierhoursentreatedit，asitwere，tocontinuetalkingtome；forthatIheardandlistened，andwassoothed，thoughIcouldmakenoreply！”(13)
Soumethadonlyaveryfewhooksinhislibrary，buttheywereofthebest——Homer，Virgil，Dante，Camoens，Tasso，andMilton。DeQuincey’sfavouritefewwereDonne，Chillingworth，JeremyTaylor，Milton，South，Barrow，andSirThomasBrowne。Hedescribedthesewritersas”apleiadorconstellationofsevengoldenstars，suchasintheirclassnoliteraturecanmatch，”andfromwhoseworkshewouldundertake”tobuildupanentirebodyofphilosophy。”
FredericktheGreatofPrussiamanifestedhisstrongFrenchleaningsinhischoiceofbooks；hisprincipalfavouritesbeingBayle，Rousseau，Voltaire，Rollin，Fleury，Malebranche，andoneEnglishauthor——Locke。HisespecialfavouritewasBayle’sDictionary，whichwasthefirstbookthatlaidholdofhismind；
andhethoughtsohighlyofit，thathehimselfmadeanabridgmentandtranslationofitintoGerman，whichwaspublished。ItwasasayingofFrederick’s，that”booksmakeupnosmallpartoftruehappiness。”Inhisoldagehesaid，”Mylatestpassionwillbeforliterature。”
ItseemsoddthatMarshalBlucher’sfavouritebookshouldhavebeenKlopstock’s’Messiah，’andNapoleonBuonaparte’sfavourites，Ossian’s’Poems’andthe’SorrowsofWerther。’ButNapoleon’srangeofreadingwasveryextensive。ItincludedHomer，Virgil，Tasso；novelsofallcountries；historiesofalltimes；
mathematics，legislation，andtheology。Hedetestedwhathecalled”thebombastandtinsel”ofVoltaire。ThepraisesofHomerandOssianhewasneverweariedofsounding。”Readagain，”hesaidtoanofficeronboardtheBELLEROPHO——”readagainthepoetofAchilles；devourOssian。Thosearethepoetswholiftupthesoul，andgivetomanacolossalgreatness。”(14)
TheDukeofWellingtonwasanextensivereader；hisprincipalfavouriteswereClarendon，BishopButler，Smith’s’WealthofNations，’Hume，theArchdukeCharles，Leslie，andtheBible。HewasalsoparticularlyinterestedbyFrenchandEnglishmemoirs——
moreespeciallytheFrenchMEMOIRESPOURSERVIRofallkinds。
WhenatWalmer，Mr。Gleigsays，theBible，thePrayerBook，Taylor’s’HolyLivingandDying，’andCaesar’s’Commentaries，’laywithintheDuke’sreach；and，judgingbythemarksofuseonthem，theymusthavebeenmuchreadandoftenconsulted。
Whilebooksareamongthebestcompanionsofoldage，theyareoftenthebestinspirersofyouth。Thefirstbookthatmakesadeepimpressiononayoungman’smind，oftenconstitutesanepochinhislife。Itmayfiretheheart，stimulatetheenthusiasm，andbydirectinghiseffortsintounexpectedchannels，permanentlyinfluencehischaracter。Thenewbook，inwhichweformanintimacywithanewfriend，whosemindiswiserandriperthanourown，maythusformanimportantstarting-pointinthehistoryofalife。Itmaysometimesalmostberegardedinthelightofanewbirth。
FromthedaywhenJamesEdwardSmithwaspresentedwithhisfirstbotanicallesson-book，andSirJosephBanksfellinwithGerard’s’Herbal’——fromthetimewhenAlfierifirstreadPlutarch，andSchillermadehisfirstacquaintancewithShakspeare，andGibbondevouredthefirstvolumeof’TheUniversalHistory’——eachdatedaninspirationsoexalted，thattheyfeltasiftheirrealliveshadonlythenbegun。
Intheearlierpartofhisyouth，LaFontainewasdistinguishedforhisidleness，buthearinganodebyMalherberead，heissaidtohaveexclaimed，”Itooamapoet，”andhisgeniuswasawakened。
CharlesBossuet’smindwasfirstfiredtostudybyreading，atanearlyage，Fontenelle’s’Eloges’ofmenofscience。AnotherworkofFontenelle’s——’OnthePluralityofWorlds’——influencedthemindofLalandeinmakingchoiceofaprofession。”Itiswithpleasure，”saysLalandehimselfinaprefacetothebook，whichbeafterwardsedited，”thatIacknowledgemyobligationtoitforthatdevouringactivitywhichitsperusalfirstexcitedinmeattheageofsixteen，andwhichIhavesinceretained。”
Inlikemanner，LacepedewasdirectedtothestudyofnaturalhistorybytheperusalofBuffon’s’HistoireNaturelle，’whichhefoundinhisfather’slibrary，andreadoverandoveragainuntilhealmostknewitbyheart。GoethewasgreatlyinfluencedbythereadingofGoldsmith’s’VicarofWakefield，’justatthecriticalmomentofhismentaldevelopment；andheattributedtoitmuchofhisbesteducation。Thereadingofaprose’LifeofGotzvouBerlichingen’afterwardsstimulatedhimtodelineatehischaracterinapoeticform。”Thefigureofarude，well-meaningself-helper，”hesaid，”inawildanarchictime，excitedmydeepestsympathy。”
Keatswasaninsatiablereaderwhenaboy；butitwastheperusalofthe’FaerieQueen，’attheageofseventeen，thatfirstlitthefireofhisgenius。ThesamepoemisalsosaidtohavebeentheinspirerofCowley，whofoundacopyofitaccidentallylyingonthewindowofhismother’sapartment；andreadingandadmiringit，hebecame，asherelates，irrecoverablyapoet。
ColeridgespeaksofthegreatinfluencewhichthepoemsofBowleshadinforminghisownmind。Theworksofapastage，sayshe，seemtoayoungmantobethingsofanotherrace；butthewritingsofacontemporary”possessarealityforhim，andinspireanactualfriendshipasofamanforaman。Hisveryadmirationisthewindwhichfansandfeedshishope。Thepoemsthemselvesassumethepropertiesoffleshandblood。”(15)
Butmenhavenotmerelybeenstimulatedtoundertakespecialliterarypursuitsbytheperusalofparticularbooks；theyhavebeenalsostimulatedbythemtoenteruponparticularlinesofactionintheseriousbusinessoflife。ThusHenryMartynwaspowerfullyinfluencedtoenteruponhisheroiccareerasamissionarybyperusingtheLivesofHenryBrainerdandDr。Carey，whohadopenedupthefurrowsinwhichhewentforthtosowtheseed。
Benthamhasdescribedtheextraordinaryinfluencewhichtheperusalof’Telemachus’exerciseduponhismindinboyhood。”Anotherbook，”saidhe，”andoffarhighercharacter(thanacollectionofFairyTales，towhichherefers)，wasplacedinmyhands。Itwas’Telemachus。’Inmyownimagination，andattheageofsixorseven，Iidentifiedmyownpersonalitywiththatofthehero，whoseemedtomeamodelofperfectvirtue；andinmywalkoflife，whateveritmaycometobe，why(saidItomyselfeverynowandthen)——whyshouldnotIbeaTelemachus？……ThatromancemayberegardedasTHEFOUNDATION-STONEOFMYWHOLE
CHARACTER——thestarting-postfromwhencemycareeroflifecommenced。Thefirstdawninginmymindofthe’PrinciplesofUtility’may，Ithink，betracedtoit。”(16)
Cobbett’sfirstfavourite，becausehisonlybook，whichheboughtforthreepence，wasSwift’s’TaleofaTub，’therepeatedperusalofwhichhad，doubtless，muchtodowiththeformationofhispithy，straightforward，andhard-hittingstyleofwriting。ThedelightwithwhichPope，whenaschoolboy，readOgilvy’s’Homer’
was，mostprobably，theoriginoftheEnglish’Iliad；’asthe’PercyReliques’firedthejuvenilemindofScott，andstimulatedhimtoenteruponthecollectionandcompositionofhis’BorderBallads。’Keightley’sfirstreadingof’ParadiseLost，’whenaboy，ledtohisafterwardsundertakinghisLifeofthepoet。”Thereading，”hesays，”of’ParadiseLost’forthefirsttimeforms，orshouldform，anerainthelifeofeveryonepossessedoftasteandpoeticfeeling。Tomymind，thattimeiseverpresent……Eversince，thepoetryofMiltonhasformedmyconstantstudy——asourceofdelightinprosperity，ofstrengthandconsolationinadversity。”
Goodbooksarethusamongthebestofcompanions；and，byelevatingthethoughtsandaspirations，theyactaspreservativesagainstlowassociations。”Anaturalturnforreadingandintellectualpursuits，”saysThomasHood，”probablypreservedmefromthemoralshipwrecksoapttobefalthosewhoaredeprivedinearlylifeoftheirparentalpilotage。Mybookskeptmefromthering，thedogpit，thetavern，thesaloon。TheclosetassociateofPopeandAddison，themindaccustomedtothenoblethoughsilentdiscourseofShakspeareandMilton，willhardlyseekorputupwithlowcompanyandslaves。”
Ithasbeentrulysaid，thatthebestbooksarethosewhichmostresemblegoodactions。Theyarepurifying，elevating，andsustaining；theyenlargeandliberalizethemind；theypreserveitagainstvulgarworldliness；theytendtoproducehighmindedcheerfulnessandequanimityofcharacter；theyfashion，andshape，andhumanizethemind。IntheNorthernuniversities，theschoolsinwhichtheancientclassicsarestudied，areappropriatelystyled”TheHumanityClasses。”(17)
Erasmus，thegreatscholar，wasevenofopinionthatbookswerethenecessariesoflife，andclothestheluxuries；andhefrequentlypostponedbuyingthelatteruntilhehadsuppliedhimselfwiththeformer。HisgreatestfavouritesweretheworksofCicero，whichhesayshealwaysfelthimselfthebetterforreading。”Icannever，”hesays，”readtheworksofCiceroon’OldAge，’or’Friendship，’orhis’TusculanDisputations，’
withoutferventlypressingthemtomylips，withoutbeingpenetratedwithvenerationforamindlittleshortofinspiredbyGodhimself。”ItwastheaccidentalperusalofCicero’s’Hortensius’whichfirstdetachedSt。Augustine——untilthenaprofligateandabandonedsensualist——fromhisimmorallife，andstartedhimuponthecourseofinquiryandstudywhichledtohisbecomingthegreatestamongtheFathersoftheEarlyChurch。SirWilliamJonesmadeitapracticetoreadthrough，onceayear，thewritingsofCicero，”whoselifeindeed，”sayshisbiographer，wasthegreatexemplarofhisown。”
WhenthegoodoldPuritanBaxtercametoenumeratethevaluableanddelightfulthingsofwhichdeathwoulddeprivehim，hismindrevertedtothepleasureshehadderivedfrombooksandstudy。”WhenIdie，”hesaid，”Imustdepart，notonlyfromsensualdelights，butfromthemoremanlypleasuresofmystudies，knowledge，andconversewithmanywiseandgodlymen，andfromallmypleasureinreading，hearing，publicandprivateexercisesofreligion，andsuchlike。Imustleavemylibrary，andturnoverthosepleasantbooksnomore。Imustnomorecomeamongtheliving，norseethefacesofmyfaithfulfriends，norbeseenofman；houses，andcities，andfields，andcountries，gardens，andwalks，willbeasnothingtome。Ishallnomorehearoftheaffairsoftheworld，ofman，orwars，orothernews；norseewhatbecomesofthatbelovedinterestofwisdom，piety，andpeace，whichIdesiremayprosper。”
Itisunnecessarytospeakoftheenormousmoralinfluencewhichbookshaveexerciseduponthegeneralcivilizationofmankind，fromtheBibledownwards。Theycontainthetreasuredknowledgeofthehumanrace。Theyaretherecordofalllabours，achievements，speculations，successes，andfailures，inscience，philosophy，religion，andmorals。Theyhavebeenthegreatestmotivepowersinalltimes。”FromtheGospeltotheContratSocial，”saysDeBonald，”itisbooksthathavemaderevolutions。”Indeed，agreatbookisoftenagreaterthingthanagreatbattle。Evenworksoffictionhaveoccasionallyexercisedimmensepoweronsociety。
ThusRabelaisinFrance，andCervantesinSpain，overturnedatthesametimethedominionofmonkeryandchivalry，employingnootherweaponsbutridicule，thenaturalcontrastofhumanterror。Thepeoplelaughed，andfeltreassured。So’Telemachus’appeared，andrecalledmenbacktotheharmoniesofnature。”Poets，”saysHazlitt，”arealonger-livedracethanheroes:theybreathemoreoftheairofimmortality。Theysurvivemoreentireintheirthoughtsandacts。WehaveallthatVirgilorHomerdid，asmuchasifwehadlivedatthesametimewiththem。Wecanholdtheirworksinourhands，orlaythemonourpillows，orputthemtoourlips。Scarcelyatraceofwhattheothersdidisleftupontheearth，soastobevisibletocommoneyes。Theone，thedeadauthors，arelivingmen，stillbreathingandmovingintheirwritings；theothers，theconquerorsoftheworld，arebuttheashesinanurn。Thesympathy(sotospeak)betweenthoughtandthoughtismoreintimateandvitalthanthatbetweenthoughtandaction。Thoughtislinkedtothoughtasflamekindlesintoflame；
thetributeofadmirationtotheMANESofdepartedheroismislikeburningincenseinamarblemonument。Words，ideas，feelings，withtheprogressoftimehardenintosubstances:things，bodies，actions，moulderaway，ormeltintoasound——intothinair……
Notonlyaman’sactionsareeffacedandvanishwithhim；hisvirtuesandgenerousqualitiesdiewithhimalso。Hisintellectonlyisimmortal，andbequeathedunimpairedtoposterity。Wordsaretheonlythingsthatlastforever。”(18)
NOTES
(1)’Kaye’s’LivesofIndianOfficers。’
(2)Emerson，inhis’SocietyandSolitude，’says”Incontemporaries，itisnotsoeasytodistinguishbetweennotorietyandfame。Besure，then，toreadnomeanbooks。Shunthespawnofthepressorthegossipofthehour……ThethreepracticalrulesIhavetoofferarethese:-1。Neverreadabookthatisnotayearold；
2。Neverreadanybutfamedbooks；3。Neverreadanybutwhatyoulike。”LordLytton’smaximis:”Inscience，readbypreferencethenewestbooks；inliterature，theoldest。”
(3)AfriendofSirWalterScott，whohadthesamehabit，andpridedhimselfonhispowersofconversation，onedaytriedto”drawout”
afellow-passengerwhosatbesidehimontheoutsideofacoach，butwithindifferentsuccess。Atlengththeconversationalistdescendedtoexpostulation。”Ihavetalkedtoyou，myfriend，”
saidhe，”onalltheordinarysubjects——literature，farming，merchandise，gaming，game-laws，horse-races，suitsatlaw，politics，andswindling，andblasphemy，andphilosophy:isthereanyonesubjectthatyouwillfavourmebyopeningupon？”Thewightwrithedhiscountenanceintoagrin:”Sir，”saidhe，”canyousayanythingcleveraboutBEND-LEATHER？”Asmightbeexpected，theconversationalistwascompletelynonplussed。
(4)Coleridge，inhis’LaySermon，’pointsout，asafactofhistory，howlargeapartofourpresentknowledgeandcivilizationisowing，directlyorindirectly，totheBible；thattheBiblehasbeenthemainleverbywhichthemoralandintellectualcharacterofEuropehasbeenraisedtoitspresentcomparativeheight；andhespecifiesthemarkedandprominentdifferenceofthisbookfromtheworkswhichitisthefashiontoquoteasguidesandauthoritiesinmorals，politics，andhistory。”IntheBible，”hesays，”everyagentappearsandactsasaself-substitutingindividual:eachhasalifeofitsown，andyetallareinlife。
TheelementsofnecessityandfreewillarereconciledinthehigherpowerofanomnipresentProvidence，thatpredestinatesthewholeinthemoralfreedomoftheintegralparts。OfthistheBibleneversuffersustolosesight。Therootisneverdetachedfromtheground，itisGodeverywhere；andallcreaturesconformtoHisdecrees——therighteousbyperformanceofthelaw，thedisobedientbythesufferanceofthepenalty。”
(5)Montaigne’sEssay(BookI。chap。xxv。)——’OftheEducationofChildren。’
(6)”Tantilestvrai，”saysVoltaire，”queleshommes，quisontaudessusdesautresparlestalents，s’enRAPPROCHENTPRESQUE
TOUJOURSPARLESFAIBLESSES；carpourquoilestalentsnousmettraient-ilsaudessousdel’humanite。”——VIEDEMOLIERE。
(7)’Life，’8voEd。，p。102。
(8)’AutobiographyofSirEgertonBrydges，Bart。，’vol。i。p。91。
(9)ItwaswantinginPlutarch，inSouthey(’LifeofNelson’)，andinForster(’LifeofGoldsmith’)；yetitmustbeacknowledgedthatpersonalknowledgegivestheprincipalcharmtoTacitus’s’Agricola，’Roper’s’LifeofMore，’Johnson’s’LivesofSavageandPope，’Boswell’s’Johnson，’Lockhart’s’Scott，’Carlyle’s’Sterling，’andMoore’s’Byron，’
(10)The’DialogusNovitiorumdeContemptuMundi。’
(11)TheLifeofSirCharlesBell，oneofourgreatestphysiologists，waslefttobewrittenbyAmedeePichot，aFrenchman；andthoughSirCharlesBell’sletterstohisbrotherhavesincebeenpublished，hisLifestillremainstobewritten。ItmayalsobeaddedthatthebestLifeofGoethehasbeenwrittenbyanEnglishman，andthebestLifeofFredericktheGreatbyaScotchman。
(12)ItisnotalittleremarkablethatthepiousSchleiermachershouldhaveconcurredinopinionwithGoetheastothemeritsofSpinoza，thoughhewasamanexcommunicatedbytheJews，towhomhebelonged，anddenouncedbytheChristiansasamanlittlebetterthananatheist。”TheGreatSpiritoftheworld，”saysSchleiermacher，inhisREDEUBERDIERELIGION，”penetratedtheholybutrepudiatedSpinoza；theInfinitewashisbeginningandhisend；theuniversehisonlyandeternallove。Hewasfilledwithreligionandreligiousfeeling:andthereforeisitthathestandsaloneunapproachable，themasterinhisart，butelevatedabovetheprofaneworld，withoutadherents，andwithoutevencitizenship。”
CousinalsosaysofSpinoza:-”Theauthorwhomthispretendedatheistmostresemblesistheunknownauthorof’TheImitationofJesusChrist。’”
(13)PrefacetoSoutheys’LifeofWesley’(1864)。
(14)NapoleonalsoreadMiltoncarefully，andithasbeenrelatedofhimbySirColinCampbell，whoresidedwithNapoleonatElba，thatwhenspeakingoftheBattleofAusterlitz，hesaidthataparticulardispositionofhisartillery，which，initsresults，hadadecisiveeffectinwinningthebattle，wassuggestedtohismindbytherecollectionoffourlinesinMilton。Thelinesoccurinthesixthbook，andaredescriptiveofSatan’sartificeduringthewarwithHeaven”InhollowcubeTraininghisdevilishengin’ry，impal’dOneverysideWITHSHADOWINGSQUADRONSDEEP
TOHIDETHEFRAUD。””Theindubitablefact，”saysMr。Edwards，inhisbook’OnLibraries，’”thattheselineshaveacertainappositenesstoanimportantmanoeuvreatAusterlitz，givesanindependentinteresttothestory；butitishighlyimaginativetoascribethevictorytothatmanoeuvre。Andfortheotherpreliminariesofthetale，itisunfortunatethatNapoleonhadlearnedagooddealaboutwarlongbeforehehadlearnedanythingaboutMilton。”
(15)’BiographiaLiteraria，’chap。i。
(16)SirJohnBowring’s’MemoirsofBentham，’p。10。
(17)Notwithstandingrecentcensuresofclassicalstudiesasauselesswasteoftime，therecanbenodoubtthattheygivethehighestfinishtointellectualculture。Theancientclassicscontainthemostconsummatemodelsofliteraryart；andthegreatestwritershavebeentheirmostdiligentstudents。ClassicalculturewastheinstrumentwithwhichErasmusandtheReformerspurifiedEurope。
Itdistinguishedthegreatpatriotsoftheseventeenthcentury；
andithaseversincecharacterisedourgreateststatesmen。”I
knownothowitis，”saysanEnglishwriter，”buttheircommercewiththeancientsappearstometoproduce，inthosewhoconstantlypractiseit，asteadyingandcomposingeffectupontheirjudgment，notofliteraryworksonly，butofmenandeventsingeneral。Theyarelikepersonswhohavehadaweightyandimpressiveexperience；theyaremoretrulythanothersundertheempireoffacts，andmoreindependentofthelanguagecurrentamongthosewithwhomtheylive。”
(18)Hazlitt’sTABLETALK:’OnThoughtandAction。’
CHAPTERXI——COMPANIONSHIPINMARRIAGE。”Kindnessinwomen，nottheirbeauteouslooks，Shallwinmylove。”——SHAKSPEARE。”InthehusbandWisdom，InthewifeGentleness。”——GEORGEHERBERT。”IfGodhaddesignedwomanasman’smaster，Hewouldhavetakenherfromhishead；Ifashisslave，Hewouldhavetakenherfromhisfeet；butasHedesignedherforhiscompanionandequal，Hetookherfromhisside。”——SAINTAUGUSTINE——’DECIVITATEDEI。’”Whocanfindavirtuouswoman？forherpriceisfaraboverubies……Herhusbandisknowninthegates，andhesittethamongtheeldersoftheland……Strengthandhonourareherclothing，andsheshallrejoiceintimetocome。Sheopenethhermouthwithwisdom，andinhertongueisthelawofkindness。Shelookethwelltothewaysofherhusband，andeatethnotthebreadofidleness。Herchildrenariseupandcallherblessed；herhusbandalso，andhepraisethher。”——PROVERBSOFSOLOMON。
THEcharacterofmen，asofwomen，ispowerfullyinfluencedbytheircompanionshipinallthestagesoflife。Wehavealreadyspokenoftheinfluenceofthemotherinformingthecharacterofherchildren。Shemakesthemoralatmosphereinwhichtheylive，andbywhichtheirmindsandsoulsarenourished，astheirbodiesarebythephysicalatmospheretheybreathe。Andwhilewomanisthenaturalcherisherofinfancyandtheinstructorofchildhood，sheisalsotheguideandcounsellorofyouth，andtheconfidantandcompanionofmanhood，inhervariousrelationsofmother，sister，lover，andwife。Inshort，theinfluenceofwomanmoreorlessaffects，forgoodorforevil，theentiredestiniesofman。
Therespectivesocialfunctionsanddutiesofmenandwomenareclearlydefinedbynature。GodcreatedmanANDwoman，eachtodotheirproperwork，eachtofilltheirpropersphere。Neithercanoccupytheposition，norperformthefunctions，oftheother。
Theirseveralvocationsareperfectlydistinct。Womanexistsonherownaccount，asmandoesonhis，atthesametimethateachhasintimaterelationswiththeother。Humanityneedsbothforthepurposesoftherace，andineveryconsiderationofsocialprogressbothmustnecessarilybeincluded。
Thoughcompanionsandequals，yet，asregardsthemeasureoftheirpowers，theyareunequal。Manisstronger，moremuscular，andofrougherfibre；womanismoredelicate，sensitive，andnervous。
Theoneexcelsinpowerofbrain，theotherinqualitiesofheart；
andthoughtheheadmayrule，itistheheartthatinfluences。
Botharealikeadaptedfortherespectivefunctionstheyhavetoperforminlife；andtoattempttoimposewoman’sworkuponmanwouldbequiteasabsurdastoattempttoimposeman’sworkuponwoman。Menaresometimeswomanlike，andwomenaresometimesmanlike；buttheseareonlyexceptionswhichprovetherule。
Althoughman’squalitiesbelongmoretothehead，andwoman’smoretotheheart——yetitisnotlessnecessarythatman’sheartshouldbecultivatedaswellashishead，andwoman’sheadcultivatedaswellasherheart。Aheartlessmanisasmuchout-
of-keepingincivilizedsocietyasastupidandunintelligentwoman。Thecultivationofallpartsofthemoralandintellectualnatureisrequisitetoformthemanorwomanofhealthyandwell-
balancedcharacter。Withoutsympathyorconsiderationforothers，manwereapoor，stunted，sordid，selfishbeing；andwithoutcultivatedintelligence，themostbeautifulwomanwerelittlebetterthanawell-dresseddoll。
Itusedtobeafavouritenotionaboutwoman，thatherweaknessanddependencyuponothersconstitutedherprincipalclaimtoadmiration。”Ifweweretoformanimageofdignityinaman，”
saidSirRichardSteele，”weshouldgivehimwisdomandvalour，asbeingessentialtothecharacterofmanhood。Inlikemanner，ifyoudescribearightwomaninalaudablesense，sheshouldhavegentlesoftness，tenderfear，andallthosepartsoflifewhichdistinguishherfromtheothersex，withsomesubordinationtoit，butaninferioritywhichmakesherlovely。”Thus，herweaknesswastobecultivated，ratherthanherstrength；herfolly，ratherthanherwisdom。Shewastobeaweak，fearful，tearful，characterless，inferiorcreature，withjustsenseenoughtounderstandthesoftnothingsaddressedtoherbythe”superior”
sex。Shewastobeeducatedasanornamentalappanageofman，ratherasanindependentintelligence——orasawife，mother，companion，orfriend。
Pope，inoneofhis’MoralEssays，’assertsthat”mostwomenhavenocharactersatall；”andagainhesays:-”Ladies，likevariegatedtulips，show:
’Tistotheirchangeshalftheircharmsweowe，Finebydefectanddelicatelyweak。”
Thissatirecharacteristicallyoccursinthepoet’s’EpistletoMarthaBlount，’thehousekeeperwhosotyrannicallyruledhim；andinthesameverseshespitefullygirdsatLadyMaryWortleyMontague，atwhosefeethehadthrownhimselfasalover，andbeencontemptuouslyrejected。ButPopewasnojudgeofwomen，norwasheevenaverywiseortolerantjudgeofmen。
Itisstilltoomuchthepracticetocultivatetheweaknessofwomanratherthanherstrength，andtorenderherattractiveratherthanself-reliant。Hersensibilitiesaredevelopedattheexpenseofherhealthofbodyaswellasofmind。Shelives，moves，andhasherbeinginthesympathyofothers。Shedressesthatshemayattract，andisburdenedwithaccomplishmentsthatshemaybechosen。Weak，trembling，anddependent，sheincurstheriskofbecomingalivingembodimentoftheItalianproverb——”sogoodthatsheisgoodfornothing。”
Ontheotherhand，theeducationofyoungmentoooftenerrsonthesideofselfishness。Whiletheboyisincitedtotrustmainlytohisowneffortsinpushinghiswayintheworld，thegirlisencouragedtorelyalmostentirelyuponothers。Heiseducatedwithtooexclusivereferencetohimselfandsheiseducatedwithtooexclusivereferencetohim。Heistaughttobeself-reliantandself-dependent，whilesheistaughttobedistrustfulofherself，dependent，andself-sacrificinginallthings。Thus，theintellectoftheoneiscultivatedattheexpenseoftheaffections，andtheaffectionsoftheotherattheexpenseoftheintellect。
Itisunquestionablethatthehighestqualitiesofwomanaredisplayedinherrelationshiptoothers，throughthemediumofheraffections。Sheisthenursewhomnaturehasgiventoallhumankind。Shetakeschargeofthehelpless，andnourishesandcherishesthosewelove。Sheisthepresidinggeniusofthefireside，whereshecreatesanatmosphereofserenityandcontentmentsuitableforthenurtureandgrowthofcharacterinitsbestforms。Sheisbyherveryconstitutioncompassionate，gentle，patient，andself-denying。Loving，hopeful，trustful，hereyeshedsbrightnesseverywhere。Itshinesuponcoldnessandwarmsit，uponsufferingandrelievesit，uponsorrowandcheersit:——”HersilverflowOfsubtle-pacedcounselindistress，Righttotheheartandbrain，thoughundescried，WinningitswaywithextremegentlenessThroughalltheoutworksofsuspicion’spride。”
Womanhasbeenstyled”theangeloftheunfortunate。”Sheisreadytohelptheweak，toraisethefallen，tocomfortthesuffering。Itwascharacteristicofwoman，thatsheshouldhavebeenthefirsttobuildandendowanhospital。Ithasbeensaidthatwhereverahumanbeingisinsuffering，hissighscallawomantohisside。WhenMungoPark，lonely，friendless，andfamished，afterbeingdrivenforthfromanAfricanvillagebythemen，waspreparingtospendthenightunderatree，exposedtotherainandthewildbeastswhichthereabounded，apoornegrowoman，returningfromthelaboursofthefield，tookcompassionuponhim，conductedhimintoherhut，andtheregavehimfood，succour，andshelter。(1)
Butwhilethemostcharacteristicqualitiesofwomanaredisplayedthroughhersympathiesandaffections，itisalsonecessaryforherownhappiness，asaself-dependentbeing，todevelopeandstrengthenhercharacter，bydueself-culture，self-reliance，andself-control。Itisnotdesirable，evenwereitpossible，toclosethebeautifulavenuesoftheheart。Self-relianceofthebestkinddoesnotinvolveanylimitationintherangeofhumansympathy。Butthehappinessofwoman，asofman，dependsinagreatmeasureuponherindividualcompletenessofcharacter。Andthatself-dependencewhichspringsfromtheduecultivationoftheintellectualpowers，conjoinedwithaproperdisciplineoftheheartandconscience，willenablehertobemoreusefulinlifeaswellashappy；todispenseblessingsintelligentlyaswellastoenjoythem；andmostofallthosewhichspringfrommutualdependenceandsocialsympathy。
Tomaintainahighstandardofpurityinsociety，thecultureofbothsexesmustbeinharmony，andkeepequalpace。Apurewomanhoodmustbeaccompaniedbyapuremanhood。Thesamemorallawappliesaliketoboth。Itwouldbelooseningthefoundationsofvirtue，tocountenancethenotionthatbecauseofadifferenceinsex，manwereatlibertytosetmoralityatdefiance，andtodothatwithimpunity，which，ifdonebyawoman，wouldstainhercharacterforlife。Tomaintainapureandvirtuousconditionofsociety，therefore，manaswellaswomanmustbepureandvirtuous；bothalikeshunningallactsimpingingontheheart，character，andconscience——shunningthemaspoison，which，onceimbibed，canneverbeentirelythrownoutagain，butmentallyembitters，toagreaterorlessextent，thehappinessofafter-life。
Andherewewouldventuretotouchuponadelicatetopic。Thoughitisoneofuniversalandengrossinghumaninterest，themoralistavoidsit，theeducatorshunsit，andparentstabooit。ItisalmostconsideredindelicatetorefertoLoveasbetweenthesexes；andyoungpersonsarelefttogathertheironlynotionsofitfromtheimpossiblelove-storiesthatfilltheshelvesofcirculatinglibraries。Thisstrongandabsorbingfeeling，thisBESOIND’AIMER——whichnaturehasforwisepurposesmadesostronginwomanthatitcoloursherwholelifeandhistory，thoughitmayformbutanepisodeinthelifeofman——isusuallylefttofollowitsowninclinations，andtogrowupforthemostpartunchecked，withoutanyguidanceordirectionwhatever。
Althoughnaturespurnsallformalrulesanddirectionsinaffairsoflove，itmightatalleventsbepossibletoimplantinyoungmindssuchviewsofCharacterasshouldenablethemtodiscriminatebetweenthetrueandthefalse，andtoaccustomthemtoholdinesteemthosequalitiesofmoralpurityandintegrity，withoutwhichlifeisbutasceneoffollyandmisery。Itmaynotbepossibletoteachyoungpeopletolovewisely，buttheymayatleastbeguardedbyparentaladviceagainstthefrivolousanddespicablepassionswhichsooftenusurpitsname。”Love，”ithasbeensaid，”inthecommonacceptationoftheterm，isfolly；butlove，initspurity，itsloftiness，itsunselfishness，isnotonlyaconsequence，butaproof，ofourmoralexcellence。Thesensibilitytomoralbeauty，theforgetfulnessofselfintheadmirationengenderedbyit，allproveitsclaimtoahighmoralinfluence。Itisthetriumphoftheunselfishovertheselfishpartofournature。”
Itisbymeansofthisdivinepassionthattheworldiskepteverfreshandyoung。Itistheperpetualmelodyofhumanity。Itshedsaneffulgenceuponyouth，andthrowsahaloroundage。Itglorifiesthepresentbythelightitcastsbackward，anditlightensthefuturebythebeamsitcastsforward。Thelovewhichistheoutcomeofesteemandadmiration，hasanelevatingandpurifyingeffectonthecharacter。Ittendstoemancipateonefromtheslaveryofself。Itisaltogetherunsordid；itselfisitsonlyprice。Itinspiresgentleness，sympathy，mutualfaith，andconfidence。Truelovealsoinameasureelevatestheintellect。”Allloverenderswiseinadegree，”saysthepoetBrowning，andthemostgiftedmindshavebeenthesincerestlovers。Greatsoulsmakeallaffectionsgreat；theyelevateandconsecratealltruedelights。Thesentimentevenbringstolightqualitiesbeforelyingdormantandunsuspected。Itelevatestheaspirations，expandsthesoul，andstimulatesthementalpowers。
OneofthefinestcomplimentseverpaidtoawomanwasthatofSteele，whenhesaidofLadyElizabethHastings，”thattohavelovedherwasaliberaleducation。”Viewedinthislight，womanisaneducatorinthehighestsense，because，aboveallothereducators，sheeducateshumanlyandlovingly。
Ithasbeensaidthatnomanandnowomancanberegardedascompleteintheirexperienceoflife，untiltheyhavebeensubduedintounionwiththeworldthroughtheiraffections。Aswomanisnotwomanuntilshehasknownlove，neitherismanman。Botharerequisitetoeachother’scompleteness。Platoentertainedtheideathatloverseachsoughtalikenessintheother，andthatlovewasonlythedivorcedhalfoftheoriginalhumanbeingenteringintounionwithitscounterpart。Butphilosophywouldhereseemtobeatfault，foraffectionquiteasoftenspringsfromunlikenessasfromlikenessinitsobject。
Thetrueunionmustneedsbeoneofmindaswellasofheart，andbasedonmutualesteemaswellasmutualaffection。”Notrueandenduringlove，”saysFichte，”canexistwithoutesteem；everyotherdrawsregretafterit，andisunworthyofanynoblehumansoul。”Onecannotreallylovethebad，butalwayssomethingthatweesteemandrespectaswellasadmire。Inshort，trueunionmustrestonqualitiesofcharacter，whichruleindomesticasinpubliclife。
Butthereissomethingfarmorethanmererespectandesteemintheunionbetweenmanandwife。Thefeelingonwhichitrestsisfardeeperandtenderer——such，indeed，asneverexistsbetweenmenorbetweenwomen。”Inmattersofaffection，”saysNathanielHawthorne，”thereisalwaysanimpassablegulfbetweenmanandman。Theycanneverquitegraspeachother’shands，andthereforemanneverderivesanyintimatehelp，anyheart-sustenance，fromhisbrotherman，butfromwoman——hismother，hissister，orhiswife。”(2)
Manentersanewworldofjoy，andsympathy，andhumaninterest，throughtheporchoflove。Heentersanewworldinhishome——
thehomeofhisownmaking——altogetherdifferentfromthehomeofhisboyhood，whereeachdaybringswithitasuccessionofnewjoysandexperiences。Heentersalso，itmaybe，anewworldoftrialsandsorrows，inwhichheoftengathershisbestcultureanddiscipline。”Familylife，”saysSainte-Beuve，”maybefullofthornsandcares；buttheyarefruitful:allothersaredrythorns。”Andagain:”Ifaman’shome，atacertainperiodoflife，doesnotcontainchildren，itwillprobablybefoundfilledwithfolliesorwithvices。”(3)
Alifeexclusivelyoccupiedinaffairsofbusinessinsensiblytendstonarrowandhardenthecharacter。Itismainlyoccupiedwithself-watchingforadvantages，andguardingagainstsharppracticeonthepartofothers。Thusthecharacterunconsciouslytendstogrowsuspiciousandungenerous。Thebestcorrectiveofsuchinfluencesisalwaysthedomestic；bywithdrawingthemindfromthoughtsthatarewhollygainful，bytakingitoutofitsdailyrut，andbringingitbacktothesanctuaryofhomeforrefreshmentandrest:”Thattruest，rarestlightofsocialjoy，Whichgleamsuponthemanofmanycares。””Business，”saysSirHenryTaylor，”doesbutlaywastetheapproachestotheheart，whilstmarriagegarrisonsthefortress。”
Andhowevertheheadmaybeoccupied，bylaboursofambitionorofbusiness——iftheheartbenotoccupiedbyaffectionforothersandsympathywiththem——life，thoughitmayappeartotheouterworldtobeasuccess，willprobablybenosuccessatall，butafailure。(4)
Aman’srealcharacterwillalwaysbemorevisibleinhishouseholdthananywhereelse；andhispracticalwisdomwillbebetterexhibitedbythemannerinwhichhebearsrulethere，thaneveninthelargeraffairsofbusinessorpubliclife。Hiswholemindmaybeinhisbusiness；but，ifhewouldbehappy，hiswholeheartmustbeinhishome。Itistherethathisgenuinequalitiesmostsurelydisplaythemselves——therethatheshowshistruthfulness，hislove，hissympathy，hisconsiderationforothers，hisuprightness，hismanliness——inaword，hischaracter。
Ifaffectionbenotthegoverningprincipleinahousehold，domesticlifemaybethemostintolerableofdespotisms。Withoutjustice，also，therecanbeneitherlove，confidence，norrespect，onwhichalltruedomesticruleisfounded。
ErasmusspeaksofSirThomasMore’shomeas”aschoolandexerciseoftheChristianreligion。””Nowrangling，noangrywordwasheardinit；noonewasidle；everyonedidhisdutywithalacrity，andnotwithoutatemperatecheerfulness。”SirThomaswonallheartstoobediencebyhisgentleness。Hewasamanclothedinhouseholdgoodness；andheruledsogentlyandwisely，thathishomewaspervadedbyanatmosphereofloveandduty。Hehimselfspokeofthehourlyinterchangeofthesmalleractsofkindnesswiththeseveralmembersofhisfamily，ashavingaclaimuponhistimeasstrongasthoseotherpublicoccupationsofhislifewhichseemedtootherssomuchmoreseriousandimportant。
Butthemanwhoseaffectionsarequickenedbyhome-life，doesnotconfinehissympathieswithinthatcomparativelynarrowsphere。
Hisloveenlargesinthefamily，andthroughthefamilyitexpandsintotheworld。”Love，”saysEmerson，”isafirethat，kindlingitsfirstembersinthenarrownookofaprivatebosom，caughtfromawanderingsparkoutofanotherprivateheart，glowsandenlargesuntilitwarmsandbeamsuponmultitudesofmenandwomen，upontheuniversalheartofall，andsolightsupthewholeworldandnaturewithitsgenerousflames。”
Itisbytheregimenofdomesticaffectionthattheheartofmanisbestcomposedandregulated。Thehomeisthewoman’skingdom，herstate，herworld——whereshegovernsbyaffection，bykindness，bythepowerofgentleness。Thereisnothingwhichsosettlestheturbulenceofaman’snatureashisunioninlifewithahighmindedwoman。Therehefindsrest，contentment，andhappiness——restofbrainandpeaceofspirit。Hewillalsooftenfindinherhisbestcounsellor，forherinstinctivetactwillusuallyleadhimrightwhenhisownunaidedreasonmightbeapttogowrong。Thetruewifeisastafftoleanuponintimesoftrialanddifficulty；andsheisneverwantinginsympathyandsolacewhendistressoccursorfortunefrowns。Inthetimeofyouth，sheisacomfortandanornamentofman’slife；andsheremainsafaithfulhelpmateinmatureryears，whenlifehasceasedtobeananticipation，andweliveinitsrealities。
WhatahappymanmustEdmundBurkehavebeen，whenhecouldsayofhishome，”EverycarevanishesthemomentIenterundermyownroof！”AndLuther，amanfullofhumanaffection，speakingofhiswife，said，”IwouldnotexchangemypovertywithherforalltherichesofCroesuswithouther。”Ofmarriageheobserved:”TheutmostblessingthatGodcanconferonamanisthepossessionofagoodandpiouswife，withwhomhemayliveinpeaceandtranquillity——towhomhemayconfidehiswholepossessions，evenhislifeandwelfare。”Andagainhesaid，”Torisebetimes，andtomarryyoung，arewhatnomaneverrepentsofdoing。”
Foramantoenjoytruereposeandhappinessinmarriage，hemusthaveinhiswifeasoul-mateaswellasahelpmate。Butitisnotrequisitethatsheshouldbemerelyapalecopyofhimself。Amannomoredesiresinhiswifeamanlywoman，thanthewomandesiresinherhusbandafeminineman。Awoman’sbestqualitiesdonotresideinherintellect，butinheraffections。Shegivesrefreshmentbyhersympathies，ratherthanbyherknowledge。”Thebrain-women，”saysOliverWendellHolmes，”neverinterestusliketheheart-women。”(5)Menareoftensoweariedwiththemselves，thattheyareratherpredisposedtoadmirequalitiesandtastesinothersdifferentfromtheirown。”IfIweresuddenlyasked，”saysMr。Helps，”togiveaproofofthegoodnessofGodtous，IthinkIshouldsaythatitismostmanifestintheexquisitedifferenceHehasmadebetweenthesoulsofmenandwomen，soastocreatethepossibilityofthemostcomfortingandcharmingcompanionshipthatthemindofmancanimagine。”(6)Butthoughnomanmayloveawomanforherunderstanding，itisnotthelessnecessaryforhertocultivateitonthataccount。(7)Theremaybedifferenceincharacter，buttheremustbeharmonyofmindandsentiment——
twointelligentsoulsaswellastwolovinghearts:”Twoheadsincouncil，twobesidethehearth，Twointhetangledbusinessoftheworld，Twointheliberalofficesoflife。”
TherearefewmenwhohavewrittensowiselyonthesubjectofmarriageasSirHenryTaylor。Whathesaysabouttheinfluenceofahappyunioninitsrelationtosuccessfulstatesmanship，appliestoallconditionsoflife。Thetruewife，hesays，shouldpossesssuchqualitiesaswilltendtomakehomeasmuchasmaybeaplaceofrepose。Tothisend，sheshouldhavesenseenoughorworthenoughtoexemptherhusbandasmuchaspossiblefromthetroublesoffamilymanagement，andmoreespeciallyfromallpossibilityofdebt。”Sheshouldbepleasingtohiseyesandtohistaste:thetastegoesdeepintothenatureofallmen——loveishardlyapartfromit；andinalifeofcareandexcitement，thathomewhichisnottheseatoflovecannotbeaplaceofrepose；restforthebrain，andpeaceforthespirit，beingonlytobehadthroughthesofteningoftheaffections。Heshouldlookforaclearunderstanding，cheerfulness，andalacrityofmind，ratherthangaietyandbrilliancy，andforagentletendernessofdispositioninpreferencetoanimpassionednature。Livelytalentsaretoostimulatinginatiredman’shouse——passionistoodisturbing……”HerloveshouldbeAlovethatclingsnot，norisexigent，Encumbersnottheactivepurposes，Nordrainstheirsource；butproferswithfreegracePleasureatpleasuretouched，atpleasurewaived，Awashingofthewearytraveller’sfeet，Aquenchingofhisthirst，asweetrepose，Alternateandpreparative；ingrovesWhere，lovingmuchtheflowerthatlovestheshade，Andlovingmuchtheshadethatthatflowerloves，Heyetisunbewildered，unenslaved，Thencestartinglight，andpleasantlyletgoWhenseriousservicecalls。(8)
Somepersonsaredisappointedinmarriage，becausetheyexpecttoomuchfromit；butmanymore，becausetheydonotbringintotheco-partnershiptheirfairshareofcheerfulness，kindliness，forbearance，andcommonsense。TheirimaginationhasperhapspicturedaconditionneverexperiencedonthissideHeaven；andwhenreallifecomes，withitstroublesandcares，thereisasuddenwaking-upasfromadream。Ortheylookforsomethingapproachingperfectionintheirchosencompanion，anddiscoverbyexperiencethatthefairestofcharactershavetheirweaknesses。
Yetitisoftentheveryimperfectionofhumannature，ratherthanitsperfection，thatmakesthestrongestclaimsontheforbearanceandsympathyofothers，and，inaffectionateandsensiblenatures，tendstoproducetheclosestunions。
Thegoldenruleofmarriedlifeis，”Bearandforbear。”Marriage，likegovernment，isaseriesofcompromises。Onemustgiveandtake，refrainandrestrain，endureandbepatient。Onemaynotbeblindtoanother’sfailings，buttheymaybebornewithgood-
naturedforbearance。Ofallqualities，goodtemperistheonethatwearsandworksthebestinmarriedlife。Conjoinedwithself-control，itgivespatience——thepatiencetobearandforbear，tolistenwithoutretort，torefrainuntiltheangryflashhaspassed。Howtrueitisinmarriage，that”thesoftanswerturnethawaywrath！”
Burnsthepoet，inspeakingofthequalitiesofagoodwife，dividedthemintotenparts。Fourofthesehegavetogoodtemper，twotogoodsense，onetowit，onetobeauty——suchasasweetface，eloquenteyes，afineperson，agracefulcarriage；andtheothertwopartshedividedamongsttheotherqualitiesbelongingtoorattendingonawife——suchasfortune，connections，education(thatis，ofahigherstandardthanordinary)，familyblood，&c。；buthesaid:”Dividethosetwodegreesasyouplease，onlyrememberthatalltheseminorproportionsmustbeexpressedbyfractions，forthereisnotanyoneofthemthatisentitledtothedignityofaninteger。”
Ithasbeensaidthatgirlsareverygoodatmakingnets，butthatitwouldbebetterstilliftheywouldlearntomakecages。
Menareoftenaseasilycaughtasbirds，butasdifficulttokeep。
Ifthewifecannotmakeherhomebrightandhappy，sothatitshallbethecleanest，sweetest，cheerfulestplacethatherhusbandcanfindrefugein——aretreatfromthetoilsandtroublesoftheouterworld——thenGodhelpthepoorman，forheisvirtuallyhomeless！
Nowisepersonwillmarryforbeautymainly。Itmayexerciseapowerfulattractioninthefirstplace，butitisfoundtobeofcomparativelylittleconsequenceafterwards。Notthatbeautyofpersonistobeunderestimated，for，otherthingsbeingequal，handsomenessofformandbeautyoffeaturesaretheoutwardmanifestationsofhealth。Buttomarryahandsomefigurewithoutcharacter，finefeaturesunbeautifiedbysentimentorgood-nature，isthemostdeplorableofmistakes。Aseventhefinestlandscape，seendaily，becomesmonotonous，sodoesthemostbeautifulface，unlessabeautifulnatureshinesthroughit。Thebeautyofto-daybecomescommonplaceto-morrow；whereasgoodness，displayedthroughthemostordinaryfeatures，isperenniallylovely。Moreover，thiskindofbeautyimproveswithage，andtimeripensratherthandestroysit。Afterthefirstyear，marriedpeoplerarelythinkofeachother’sfeatures，andwhethertheybeclassicallybeautifulorotherwise。Buttheyneverfailtobecognisantofeachother’stemper。”WhenIseeaman，”saysAddison，”withasourrivelledface，Icannotforbearpityinghiswife；andwhenImeetwithanopeningenuouscountenance，Ithinkofthehappinessofhisfriends，hisfamily，andhisrelations。”
WehavegiventheviewsofthepoetBurnsastothequalitiesnecessaryinagoodwife。LetusaddtheadvicegivenbyLordBurleightohisson，embodyingtheexperienceofawisestatesmanandpractisedmanoftheworld。”WhenitshallpleaseGod，”saidhe，”tobringtheetoman’sestate，usegreatprovidenceandcircumspectioninchoosingthywife；forfromthencewillspringallthyfuturegoodorevil。Anditisanactionofthylife，likeuntoastratagemofwar，whereinamancanerrbutonce……
Enquirediligentlyofherdisposition，andhowherparentshavebeeninclinedintheiryouth。(9)Lethernotbepoor，howgenerous(well-born)soever；foramancanbuynothinginthemarketwithgentility。Norchooseabaseanduncomelycreaturealtogetherforwealth；foritwillcausecontemptinothers，andloathinginthee。Neithermakechoiceofadwarf，orafool；forbytheonethoushaltbegetaraceofpigmies，whiletheotherwillbethycontinualdisgrace，anditwillyirke(irk)theetohearhertalk。Forthoushaltfindittothygreatgrief，thatthereisnothingmorefulsome(disgusting)thanashe-fool。”
Aman’smoralcharacteris，necessarily，powerfullyinfluencedbyhiswife。Alowernaturewilldraghimdown，asahigherwilllifthimup。Theformerwilldeadenhissympathies，dissipatehisenergies，anddistorthislife；whilethelatter，bysatisfyinghisaffections，willstrengthenhismoralnature，andbygivinghimrepose，tendtoenergisehisintellect。Notonlyso，butawomanofhighprincipleswillinsensiblyelevatetheaimsandpurposesofherhusband，asoneoflowprincipleswillunconsciouslydegradethem。DeTocquevillewasprofoundlyimpressedbythistruth。Heentertainedtheopinionthatmancouldhavenosuchmainstayinlifeasthecompanionshipofawifeofgoodtemperandhighprinciple。Hesaysthatinthecourseofhislife，hehadseenevenweakmendisplayrealpublicvirtue，becausetheyhadbytheirsideawomanofnoblecharacter，whosustainedthemintheircareer，andexercisedafortifyinginfluenceontheirviewsofpublicduty；whilst，onthecontrary，hehadstilloftenerseenmenofgreatandgenerousinstinctstransformedintovulgarself-seekers，bycontactwithwomenofnarrownatures，devotedtoanimbecileloveofpleasure，andfromwhosemindsthegrandmotiveofDutywasaltogetherabsent。
DeTocquevillehimselfhadthegoodfortunetobeblessedwithanadmirablewife:(10)andinhisletterstohisintimatefriends，hespokemostgratefullyofthecomfortandsupporthederivedfromhersustainingcourage，herequanimityoftemper，andhernobilityofcharacter。Themore，indeed，thatDeTocquevillesawoftheworldandofpracticallife，themoreconvincedhebecameofthenecessityofhealthydomesticconditionsforaman’sgrowthinvirtueandgoodness。(11)Especiallydidheregardmarriageasofinestimableimportanceinregardtoaman’struehappiness；andhewasaccustomedtospeakofhisownasthewisestactionofhislife。”Manyexternalcircumstancesofhappiness，”hesaid，”havebeengrantedtome。Butmorethanall，IhavetothankHeavenforhavingbestowedonmetruedomestichappiness，thefirstofhumanblessings。AsIgrowolder，theportionofmylifewhichinmyyouthIusedtolookdownupon，everydaybecomesmoreimportantinmyeyes，andwouldnoweasilyconsolemeforthelossofalltherest。”Andagain，writingtohisbosom-friend，DeKergorlay，hesaid:”OfalltheblessingswhichGodhasgiventome，thegreatestofallinmyeyesistohavelightedonMarie。Youcannotimaginewhatsheisingreattrials。Usuallysogentle，shethenbecomesstrongandenergetic。Shewatchesmewithoutmyknowingit；shesoftens，calms，andstrengthensmeindifficultieswhichdisturbME，butleaveherserene。”(12)Inanotherletterhesays:”Icannotdescribetoyouthehappinessyieldedinthelongrunbythehabitualsocietyofawomaninwhosesoulallthatisgoodinyourownisreflectednaturally，andevenimproved。WhenIsayordoathingwhichseemstometobeperfectlyright，I
readimmediatelyinMarie’scountenanceanexpressionofproudsatisfactionwhichelevatesme。Andso，whenmyconsciencereproachesme，herfaceinstantlycloudsover。AlthoughIhavegreatpoweroverhermind，Iseewithpleasurethatsheawesme；
andsolongasIloveherasIdonow，IamsurethatIshallneverallowmyselftobedrawnintoanythingthatiswrong。”
IntheretiredlifewhichDeTocquevilleledasaliteraryman——
politicallifebeingclosedagainsthimbytheinflexibleindependenceofhischaracter——hishealthfailed，andhebecameill，irritable，andquerulous。Whileproceedingwithhislastwork，’L’AncienRegimeetlaRevolution，’hewrote:”Aftersittingatmydeskforfiveorsixhours，Icanwritenolonger；themachinerefusestoact。Iamingreatwantofrest，andofalongrest。Ifyouaddalltheperplexitiesthatbesiegeanauthortowardstheendofhiswork，youwillbeabletoimagineaverywretchedlife。IcouldnotgoonwithmytaskifitwerenotfortherefreshingcalmofMarie’scompanionship。Itwouldbeimpossibletofindadispositionformingahappiercontrasttomyown。Inmyperpetualirritabilityofbodyandmind，sheisaprovidentialresourcethatneverfailsme。”(13)
M。Guizotwas，inlikemanner，sustainedandencouraged，amidsthismanyvicissitudesanddisappointments，byhisnoblewife。Ifhewastreatedwithharshnessbyhispoliticalenemies，hisconsolationwasinthetenderaffectionwhichfilledhishomewithsunshine。Thoughhispubliclifewasbracingandstimulating，hefelt，nevertheless，thatitwascoldandcalculating，andneitherfilledthesoulnorelevatedthecharacter。”Manlongsforahappiness，”hesaysinhis’Memoires，’morecompleteandmoretenderthanthatwhichallthelaboursandtriumphsofactiveexertionandpublicimportancecanbestow。WhatIknowto-day，attheendofmyrace，Ihavefeltwhenitbegan，andduringitscontinuance。Eveninthemidstofgreatundertakings，domesticaffectionsformthebasisoflife；andthemostbrilliantcareerhasonlysuperficialandincompleteenjoyments，ifastrangertothehappytiesoffamilyandfriendship。”
ThecircumstancesconnectedwithM。Guizot’scourtshipandmarriagearecuriousandinteresting。WhileayoungmanlivingbyhispeninParis，writingbooks，reviews，andtranslations，heformedacasualacquaintancewithMademoisellePaulinedeMeulan，aladyofgreatability，theneditorofthePUBLICISTE。Aseveredomesticcalamityhavingbefallenher，shefellill，andwasunableforatimetocarryontheheavyliteraryworkconnectedwithherjournal。Atthisjuncturealetterwithoutanysignaturereachedheroneday，offeringasupplyofarticles，whichthewriterhopedwouldbeworthyofthereputationofthePUBLICISTE。
Thearticlesdulyarrived，wereaccepted，andpublished。Theydealtwithagreatvarietyofsubjects——art，literature，theatricals，andgeneralcriticism。Whentheeditoratlengthrecoveredfromherillness，thewriterofthearticlesdisclosedhimself:itwasM。Guizot。Anintimacysprangupbetweenthem，whichripenedintomutualaffection，andbeforelongMademoiselledeMeulanbecamehiswife。
Fromthattimeforward，shesharedinallherhusband’sjoysandsorrows，aswellasinmanyofhislabours。Beforetheybecameunited，heaskedherifshethoughtsheshouldeverbecomedismayedatthevicissitudesofhisdestiny，whichhethensawloomingbeforehim。Sherepliedthathemightassurehimselfthatshewouldalwayspassionatelyenjoyhistriumphs，butneverheaveasighoverhisdefeats。WhenM。GuizotbecamefirstministerofLouisPhilippe，shewrotetoafriend:”InowseemyhusbandmuchlessthanIdesire，butstillIseehim……IfGodsparesustoeachother，Ishallalwaysbe，inthemidstofeverytrialandapprehension，thehappiestofbeings。”Littlemorethansixmonthsafterthesewordswerewritten，thedevotedwifewaslaidinhergrave；andhersorrowinghusbandwasleftthenceforthtotreadthejourneyoflifealone。
BurkewasespeciallyhappyinhisunionwithMissNugent，abeautiful，affectionate，andhighmindedwoman。Theagitationandanxietyofhispubliclifewasmorethancompensatedbyhisdomestichappiness，whichseemstohavebeencomplete。
ItwasasayingofBurke，thoroughlyillustrativeofhischaracter，that”tolovethelittleplatoonwebelongtoinsocietyisthegermofallpublicaffections。”Hisdescriptionofhiswife，inheryouth，isprobablyoneofthefinestword-portraitsinthelanguage:——”Sheishandsome；butitisabeautynotarisingfromfeatures，fromcomplexion，orfromshape。Shehasallthreeinahighdegree，butitisnotbytheseshetouchestheheart；itisallthatsweetnessoftemper，benevolence，innocence，andsensibility，whichafacecanexpress，thatformsherbeauty。Shehasafacethatjustraisesyourattentionatfirstsight；itgrowsonyoueverymoment，andyouwonderitdidnomorethanraiseyourattentionatfirst。”Hereyeshaveamildlight，buttheyawewhenshepleases；
theycommand，likeagoodmanoutofoffice，notbyauthority，butbyvirtue。”Herstatureisnottall；sheisnotmadetobetheadmirationofeverybody，butthehappinessofone。”Shehasallthefirmnessthatdoesnotexcludedelicacy；
shehasallthesoftnessthatdoesnotimplyweakness。”Hervoiceisasoftlowmusic——notformedtoruleinpublicassemblies，buttocharmthosewhocandistinguishacompanyfromacrowd；ithasthisadvantage——YOUMUSTCOMECLOSETO
HERTOHEARIT。”Todescribeherbodydescribeshermind——oneisthetranscriptoftheother；herunderstandingisnotshowninthevarietyofmattersitexertsitselfon，butinthegoodnessofthechoiceshemakes。”Shedoesnotdisplayitsomuchinsayingordoingstrikingthings，asinavoidingsuchassheoughtnottosayordo。”Nopersonofsofewyearscanknowtheworldbetter；nopersonwaseverlesscorruptedbytheknowledgeofit。”Herpolitenessflowsratherfromanaturaldispositiontooblige，thanfromanyrulesonthatsubject，andthereforeneverfailstostrikethosewhounderstandgoodbreedingandthosewhodonot。”Shehasasteadyandfirmmind，whichtakesnomorefromthesolidityofthefemalecharacterthanthesolidityofmarbledoesfromitspolishandlustre。Shehassuchvirtuesasmakeusvaluethetrulygreatofourownsex。Shehasallthewinninggracesthatmakeusloveeventhefaultsweseeintheweakandbeautiful，inhers。”
Letusgive，asacompanionpicture，thenotlessbeautifuldelineationofahusband，thatofColonelHutchinson，theCommonwealthman，byhiswidow。Shortlybeforehisdeath，heenjoinedher”nottogrieveatthecommonrateofdesolatewomen。”And，faithfultohisinjunction，insteadoflamentinghisloss，sheindulgedhernoblesorrowindepictingherhusbandashehadlived。”Theywhodoteonmortalexcellences，”shesays，inherIntroductiontothe’Life，’”when，bytheinevitablefateofallthingsfrail，theiradoredidolsaretakenfromthem，mayletloosethewindsofpassiontobringinafloodofsorrow，whoseebbingtidescarryawaythedearmemoryofwhattheyhavelost；
andwhencomfortisessayedtosuchmourners，commonlyallobjectsareremovedoutoftheirviewwhichmaywiththeirremembrancerenewthegrief；andintimetheseremediessucceed，andoblivion’scurtainisbydegreesdrawnoverthedeadface；andthingslesslovelyareliked，whiletheyarenotviewedtogetherwiththatwhichwasmostexcellent。ButI，thatamunderacommandnottogrieveatthecommonrateofdesolatewomen，(14)
whileIamstudyingwhichwaytomoderatemywoe，andifitwerepossibletoaugmentmylove，Icanforthepresentfindoutnonemorejusttoyourdearfather，norconsolatorytomyself，thanthepreservationofhismemory，whichIneednotgildwithsuchflatteringcommendationsashiredpreachersdoequallygivetothetrulyandtitularlyhonourable。Anakedundressednarrative，speakingthesimpletruthofhim，willdeckhimwithmoresubstantialglory，thanallthepanegyricsthebestpenscouldeverconsecratetothevirtuesofthebestmen。”
Thefollowingisthewife’sportraitofColonelHutchinsonasahusband:——”Forconjugalaffectiontohiswife，itwassuchinhimaswhosoeverwoulddrawoutaruleofhonour，kindness，andreligion，tobepractisedinthatestate，neednomorebutexactlydrawouthisexample。Nevermanhadagreaterpassionforawoman，noramorehonourableesteemofawife:yethewasnotuxorious，norremittedhethatjustrulewhichitwasherhonourtoobey，butmanagedthereinsofgovernmentwithsuchprudenceandaffection，thatshewhocouldnotdelightinsuchanhonourableandadvantageablesubjection，musthavewantedareasonablesoul。”Hegovernedbypersuasion，whichheneveremployedbuttothingshonourableandprofitabletoherself；helovedhersoulandherhonourmorethanheroutside，andyethehadeverforherpersonaconstantindulgence，exceedingthecommontemporarypassionofthemostuxoriousfools。Ifheesteemedheratahigherratethansheinherselfcouldhavedeserved，hewastheauthorofthatvirtuehedoatedon，whilesheonlyreflectedhisowngloriesuponhim。
Allthatshewas，wasHIM，whilehewashere，andallthatsheisnow，atbest，isbuthispaleshade。”Soliberalwashetoher，andofsogenerousatemper，thathehatedthementionofseveredpurses，hisestatebeingsomuchatherdisposalthatheneverwouldreceiveanaccountofanythingsheexpended。Soconstantwasheinhislove，thatwhensheceasedtobeyoungandlovelyhebegantoshowmostfondness。Helovedheratsuchakindandgenerousrateaswordscannotexpress。Yeteventhis，whichwasthehighestloveheoranymancouldhave，wasboundedbyasuperior:helovedherintheLordashisfellow-creature，nothisidol；butinsuchamannerasshowedthatanaffection，foundedonthejustrulesofduty，farexceedseverywayalltheirregularpassionsintheworld。HelovedGodaboveher，andalltheotherdearpledgesofhisheart，andforhisglorycheerfullyresignedthem。”(15)
LadyRachelRussellisanotherofthewomenofhistorycelebratedforherdevotionandfaithfulnessasawife。Shelabouredandpleadedforherhusband’sreleasesolongasshecoulddosowithhonour；butwhenshesawthatallwasinvain，shecollectedhercourage，andstrovebyherexampletostrengthentheresolutionofherdearlord。Andwhenhislasthourhadnearlycome，andhiswifeandchildrenwaitedtoreceivehispartingembrace，she，bravetotheend，thatshemightnotaddtohisdistress，concealedtheagonyofhergriefunderaseemingcomposure；
andtheyparted，afteratenderadieu，insilence。Aftershehadgone，LordWilliamsaid，”Nowthebitternessofdeathispassed！”(16)
Wehavespokenoftheinfluenceofawifeuponaman’scharacter。
Therearefewmenstrongenoughtoresisttheinfluenceofalowercharacterinawife。Ifshedonotsustainandelevatewhatishighestinhisnature，shewillspeedilyreducehimtoherownlevel。Thusawifemaybethemakingortheunmakingofthebestofmen。AnillustrationofthispowerisfurnishedinthelifeofBunyan。Theprofligatetinkerhadthegoodfortunetomarry，inearlylife，aworthyyoungwomanofgoodparentage。”Mymercy，”
hehimselfsays，”wastolightuponawifewhosefatherandmotherwereaccountedgodly。ThiswomanandI，thoughwecametogetheraspooraspoormightbe(nothavingsomuchhouseholdstuffasadishoraspoonbetwixtusboth)，yetshehadforherpart，’ThePlainMan’sPathwaytoHeaven，’and’ThePracticeofPiety，’whichherfatherhadleftherwhenhedied。”Andbyreadingtheseandothergoodbooks；helpedbythekindlyinfluenceofhiswife，Bunyanwasgraduallyreclaimedfromhisevilways，andledgentlyintothepathsofpeace。
RichardBaxter，theNonconformistdivine，wasfaradvancedinlifebeforehemettheexcellentwomanwhoeventuallybecamehiswife。
Hewastoolaboriouslyoccupiedinhisvocationofministertohaveanytimetospareforcourtship；andhismarriagewas，asinthecaseofCalvin，asmuchamatterofconvenienceasoflove。
