MissCharlton，theladyofhischoice，wastheownerofpropertyinherownright；butlestitshouldbethoughtthatBaxtermarriedherfor”covetousness，”herequested，first，thatsheshouldgiveovertoherrelativestheprincipalpartofherfortune，andthat”heshouldhavenothingthatbeforehermarriagewashers；”secondly，thatsheshouldsoarrangeheraffairs”asthathemightbeentangledinnolawsuits；”and，thirdly，”thatsheshouldexpectnoneofthetimethathisministerialworkmightrequire。”Theseseveralconditionsthebridehavingcompliedwith，themarriagetookplace，andprovedahappyone。”Welived，”saidBaxter，”ininviolatedloveandmutualcomplacency，sensibleofthebenefitofmutualhelp，nearlynineteenyears。”
YetthelifeofBaxterwasoneofgreattrialsandtroubles，arisingfromtheunsettledstateofthetimesinwhichhelived。
Hewashuntedaboutfromonepartofthecountrytoanother，andforseveralyearshehadnosettleddwelling-place。”Thewomen，hegentlyremarksinhis’Life，’”havemostofthatsortoftrouble，butmywifeeasilyboreitall。”InthesixthyearofhismarriageBaxterwasbroughtbeforethemagistratesatBrentford，forholdingaconventicleatActon，andwassentencedbythemtobeimprisonedinClerkenwellGaol。Therehewasjoinedbyhiswife，whoaffectionatelynursedhimduringhisconfinement。”Shewasneversocheerfulacompaniontome，”hesays，”asinprison，andwasverymuchagainstmeseekingtobereleased。”AtlengthhewassetatlibertybythejudgesoftheCourtofCommonPleas，towhomhehadappealedagainstthesentenceofthemagistrates。AtthedeathofMrs。Baxter，afteraverytroubledyethappyandcheerfullife，herhusbandleftatouchingportraitofthegraces，virtues，andChristiancharacterofthisexcellentwoman——oneofthemostcharmingthingstobefoundinhisworks。
ThenobleCountZinzendorfwasunitedtoanequallynoblewoman，whoborehimupthroughlifebyhergreatspirit，andsustainedhiminallhislaboursbyherunfailingcourage。”Twenty-fouryears’experiencehasshownme，”hesaid，”thatjustthehelpmatewhomIhaveistheonlyonethatcouldsuitmyvocation。Whoelsecouldhavesocarriedthroughmyfamilyaffairs？——wholivedsospotlesslybeforetheworld？Whosowiselyaidedmeinmyrejectionofadrymorality？……Whowould，likeshe，withoutamurmur，haveseenherhusbandencountersuchdangersbylandandsea？——whoundertakenwithhim，andsustained，suchastonishingpilgrimages？Who，amidsuchdifficulties，couldhaveheldupherheadandsupportedme？……Andfinally，who，ofallhumanbeings，couldsowellunderstandandinterprettoothersmyinnerandouterbeingasthisone，ofsuchnoblenessinherwayofthinking，suchgreatintellectualcapacity，andfreefromthetheologicalperplexitiesthatsooftenenvelopedme？
OneofthebraveDr。Livingstone’sgreatesttrialsduringhistravelsinSouthAfricawasthedeathofhisaffectionatewife，whohadsharedhisdangers，andaccompaniedhiminsomanyofhiswanderings。IncommunicatingtheintelligenceofherdeceaseatShupanga，ontheRiverZambesi，tohisfriendSirRoderickMurchison，Dr。Livingstonesaid:”Imustconfessthatthisheavystrokequitetakestheheartoutofme。Everythingelsethathashappenedonlymadememoredeterminedtoovercomealldifficulties；butafterthissadstrokeIfeelcrushedandvoidofstrength。Onlythreeshortmonthsofhersociety，afterfouryearsseparation！Imarriedherforlove，andthelongerIlivedwithherIlovedherthemore。Agoodwife，andagood，brave，kindheartedmotherwasshe，deservingallthepraisesyoubestoweduponheratourpartingdinner，forteachingherownandthenativechildren，too，atKolobeng。ItrytobowtotheblowasfromourHeavenlyFather，whoordersallthingsforus……Ishalldomydutystill，butitiswithadarkenedhorizonthatIagainsetaboutit。”
SirSamuelRomillyleftbehindhim，inhisAutobiography，atouchingpictureofhiswife，towhomheattributednosmallmeasureofthesuccessandhappinessthataccompaniedhimthroughlife。”Forthelastfifteenyears，”hesaid，”myhappinesshasbeentheconstantstudyofthemostexcellentofwives:awomaninwhomastrongunderstanding，thenoblestandmostelevatedsentiments，andthemostcourageousvirtue，areunitedtothewarmestaffection，andtotheutmostdelicacyofmindandheart；
andalltheseintellectualperfectionsaregracedbythemostsplendidbeautythathumaneyeseverbeheld。”(17)Romilly’saffectionandadmirationforthisnoblewomanenduredtotheend；
andwhenshedied，theshockprovedgreaterthanhissensitivenaturecouldbear。Sleeplefthiseyelids，hismindbecameunhinged，andthreedaysafterherdeaththesadeventoccurredwhichbroughthisownvaluedlifetoaclose。(18)
SirFrancisBurdett，towhomRomillyhadbeenoftenpoliticallyopposed，fellintosuchastateofprofoundmelancholyonthedeathofhiswife，thathepersistentlyrefusednourishmentofanykind，anddiedbeforetheremovalofherremainsfromthehouse；
andhusbandandwifewerelaidsidebysideinthesamegrave。
ItwasgriefforthelossofhiswifethatsentSirThomasGrahamintothearmyattheageofforty-three。Everyoneknowsthepictureofthenewly-weddedpairbyGainsborough——oneofthemostexquisiteofthatpainter’sworks。Theylivedhappilytogetherforeighteenyears，andthenshedied，leavinghiminconsolable。
Toforgethissorrow——and，assomethought，togetridofthewearinessofhislifewithouther——GrahamjoinedLordHoodasavolunteer，anddistinguishedhimselfbytherecklessnessofhisbraveryatthesiegeofToulon。HeservedallthroughthePeninsularWar，firstunderSirJohnMoore，andafterwardsunderWellington；risingthroughthevariousgradesoftheservice，untilherosetobesecondincommand。Hewascommonlyknownasthe”heroofBarossa，”becauseofhisfamousvictoryatthatplace；andhewaseventuallyraisedtothepeerageasLordLynedoch，endinghisdayspeacefullyataveryadvancedage。Buttothelasthetenderlycherishedthememoryofhisdeadwife，totheloveofwhomhemaybesaidtohaveowedallhisglory。”Never，”saidSheridanofhim，whenpronouncinghiseulogyintheHouseofCommons——”neverwasthereseatedaloftierspiritinabraverheart。”
Andsohavenoblewivescherishedthememoryoftheirhusbands。
ThereisacelebratedmonumentinVienna，erectedtothememoryofoneofthebestgeneralsoftheAustrianarmy，onwhichthereisaninscription，settingforthhisgreatservicesduringtheSevenYears’War，concludingwiththewords，”NONPATRIA，NECIMPERATOR，SEDCONJUXPOSUIT。”WhenSirAlbertMortondied，hiswife’sgriefwassuchthatsheshortlyfollowedhim，andwaslaidbyhisside。
Wotton’stwolinesontheeventhavebeencelebratedascontainingavolumeinseventeenwords:”Hefirstdeceased；sheforalittletriedTolivewithouthim，likeditnot，anddied。”
So，whenWashington’swifewasinformedthatherdearlordhadsufferedhislastagony——haddrawnhislastbreath，anddeparted——shesaid:”’Tiswell；allisnowover。Ishallsoonfollowhim；
Ihavenomoretrialstopassthrough。”
Notonlyhavewomenbeenthebestcompanions，friends，andconsolers，buttheyhaveinmanycasesbeenthemosteffectivehelpersoftheirhusbandsintheirspeciallinesofwork。Galvaniwasespeciallyhappyinhiswife。ShewasthedaughterofProfessorGaleazzi；anditissaidtohavebeenthroughherquickobservationofthecircumstanceofthelegofafrog，placednearanelectricalmachine，becomingconvulsedwhentouchedbyaknife，thatherhusbandwasfirstledtoinvestigatethesciencewhichhassincebecomeidentifiedwithhisname。Lavoisier’swifealsowasawomanofrealscientificability，whonotonlysharedinherhusband’spursuits，butevenundertookthetaskofengravingtheplatesthataccompaniedhis’Elements。’
ThelateDr。Bucklandhadanothertruehelperinhiswife，whoassistedhimwithherpen，preparedandmendedhisfossils，andfurnishedmanyofthedrawingsandillustrationsofhispublishedworks。”Notwithstandingherdevotiontoherhusband’spursuits，”
saysherson，FrankBuckland，intheprefacetooneofhisfather’sworks，”shedidnotneglecttheeducationofherchildren，butoccupiedhermorningsinsuperintendingtheirinstructioninsoundandusefulknowledge。Thesterlingvalueofherlabourstheynow，inafter-life，fullyappreciate，andfeelmostthankfulthattheywereblessedwithsogoodamother。”(19)
AstillmoreremarkableinstanceofhelpfulnessinawifeispresentedinthecaseofHuber，theGenevanaturalist。Huberwasblindfromhisseventeenthyear，andyethefoundmeanstostudyandmasterabranchofnaturalhistorydemandingtheclosestobservationandthekeenesteyesight。Itwasthroughtheeyesofhiswifethathismindworkedasiftheyhadbeenhisown。Sheencouragedherhusband’sstudiesasameansofalleviatinghisprivation，whichatlengthhecametoforget；andhislifewasasprolongedandhappyasisusualwithmostnaturalists。Heevenwentsofarastodeclarethatheshouldbemiserablewerehetoregainhiseyesight。”Ishouldnotknow，”hesaid，”towhatextentapersoninmysituationcouldbebeloved；besides，tomemywifeisalwaysyoung，fresh，andpretty，whichisnolightmatter。”Huber’sgreatworkon’Bees’isstillregardedasamasterpiece，embodyingavastamountoforiginalobservationontheirhabitsandnaturalhistory。Indeed，whilereadinghisdescriptions，onewouldsupposethattheyweretheworkofasingularlykeensightedman，ratherthanofonewhohadbeenentirelyblindfortwenty-fiveyearsatthetimeatwhichhewrotethem。
NotlesstouchingwasthedevotionofLadyHamiltontotheserviceofherhusband，thelateSirWilliamHamilton，ProfessorofLogicandMetaphysicsintheUniversityofEdinburgh。Afterhehadbeenstrickenbyparalysisthroughoverworkattheageoffifty-six，shebecamehands，eyes，mind，andeverythingtohim。Sheidentifiedherselfwithhiswork，readandconsultedbooksforhim，copiedoutandcorrectedhislectures，andrelievedhimofallbusinesswhichshefeltherselfcompetenttoundertake。
Indeed，herconductasawifewasnothingshortofheroic；anditisprobablethatbutforherdevotedandmorethanwifelyhelp，andherrarepracticalability，thegreatestofherhusband’sworkswouldneverhaveseenthelight。Hewasbynatureunmethodicalanddisorderly，andshesuppliedhimwithmethodandorderliness。Histemperamentwasstudiousbutindolent，whileshewasactiveandenergetic。Sheaboundedinthequalitieswhichhemostlacked。Hehadthegenius，towhichhervigorousnaturegavetheforceandimpulse。
WhenSirWilliamHamiltonwaselectedtohisProfessorship，afterasevereandevenbittercontest，hisopponents，professingtoregardhimasavisionary，predictedthathecouldneverteachaclassofstudents，andthathisappointmentwouldproveatotalfailure。Hedetermined，withthehelpofhiswife，tojustifythechoiceofhissupporters，andtoprovethathisenemieswerefalseprophets。Havingnostockoflecturesonhand，eachlectureofthefirstcoursewaswrittenoutdaybyday，asitwastobedeliveredonthefollowingmorning。Hiswifesatupwithhimnightafternight，towriteoutafaircopyofthelecturesfromtheroughsheets，whichhedraftedintheadjoiningroom。”Onsomeoccasions，”sayshisbiographer，”thesubjectofthelectureswouldprovelesseasilymanagedthanonothers；andthenSirWilliamwouldbefoundwritingaslateasnineo’clockinthemorning，whilehisfaithfulbutweariedamanuensishadfallenasleeponasofa。”(20)
Sometimesthefinishingtouchestothelecturewerelefttobegivenjustbeforetheclass-hour。Thushelped，SirWilliamcompletedhiscourse；hisreputationasalecturerwasestablished；andheeventuallybecamerecognisedthroughoutEuropeasoneoftheleadingintellectsofhistime。(21)
Thewomanwhosoothesanxietybyherpresence，whocharmsandallaysirritabilitybyhersweetnessoftemper，isaconsoleraswellasatruehelper。Niebuhralwaysspokeofhiswifeasafellow-workerwithhiminthissense。Withoutthepeaceandconsolationwhichbefoundinhersociety，hisnaturewouldhavefrettedincomparativeuselessness。”Hersweetnessoftemperandherlove，”saidhe，”raisemeabovetheearth，andinamannerseparatemefromthislife。”Butshewasahelperinanotherandmoredirectway。Niebuhrwasaccustomedtodiscusswithhiswifeeveryhistoricaldiscovery，everypoliticalevent，everynoveltyinliterature；anditwasmainlyforherpleasureandapprobation，inthefirstinstance，thathelabouredwhilepreparinghimselffortheinstructionoftheworldatlarge。
ThewifeofJohnStuartMillwasanotherworthyhelperofherhusband，thoughinamoreabstrusedepartmentofstudy，aswelearnfromhistouchingdedicationofthetreatise’OnLiberty’:——”Tothebelovedanddeploredmemoryofherwhowastheinspirer，andinparttheauthor，ofallthatisbestinmywritings——thefriendandwife，whoseexaltedsenseoftruthandrightwasmystrongestincitement，andwhoseapprobationwasmychiefreward，I
dedicatethisvolume。”Notlesstouchingisthetestimonybornebyanothergreatlivingwritertothecharacterofhiswife，intheinscriptionuponthetombstoneofMrs。CarlyleinHaddingtonChurchyard，whereareinscribedthesewords:-”Inherbrightexistence，shehadmoresorrowsthanarecommon，butalsoasoftamiability，acapacityofdiscernment，andanobleloyaltyofheart，whicharerare。Forfortyyearsshewasthetrueandlovinghelpmateofherhusband，andbyactandwordunweariedlyforwardedhimasnoneelsecould，inallofworthythathedidorattempted”
ThemarriedlifeofFaradaywaseminentlyhappy。Inhiswifehefound，atthesametime，atruehelpmateandsoul-mate。Shesupported，cheered，andstrengthenedhimonhiswaythroughlife，givinghim”theclearcontentmentofaheartatease。”Inhisdiaryhespeaksofhismarriageas”asourceofhonourandhappinessfarexceedingalltherest。”Aftertwentyeightyears’
experience，hespokeofitas”aneventwhich，morethananyother，hadcontributedtohisearthlyhappinessandhealthystateofmind……Theunion(saidhe)hasinnowisechanged，exceptonlyinthedepthandstrengthofitscharacter。”Andforsix-
and-fortyyearsdidtheunioncontinueunbroken；theloveoftheoldmanremainingasfresh，asearnest，asheart-whole，asinthedaysofhisimpetuousyouth。Inthiscase，marriagewasas——”Agoldenchainletdownfromheaven，Whoselinksarebrightandeven；
Thatfallslikesleeponlovers，andcombinesThesoftandsweetestmindsInequalknots。”
Besidesbeingahelper，womanisemphaticallyaconsoler。Hersympathyisunfailing。Shesoothes，cheers，andcomforts。NeverwasthismoretruethaninthecaseofthewifeofTomHood，whosetenderdevotiontohim，duringalifethatwasaprolongedillness，isoneofthemostaffectingthingsinbiography。A
womanofexcellentgoodsense，sheappreciatedherhusband’sgenius，and，byencouragementandsympathy，cheeredandheartenedhimtorenewedeffortinmanyawearystruggleforlife。Shecreatedabouthimanatmosphereofhopeandcheerfulness，andnowheredidthesunshineofherloveseemsobrightaswhenlightingupthecouchofherinvalidhusband。
Norwasheunconsciousofherworth。Inoneofhisletterstoher，whenabsentfromhisside，Hoodsaid:”Ineverwasanything，Dearest，tillIknewyou；andIhavebeenabetter，happier，andmoreprosperousmaneversince。Laybythattruthinlavender，Sweetest，andremindmeofitwhenIfail。Iamwritingwarmlyandfondly，butnotwithoutgoodcause。First，yourownaffectionateletter，latelyreceived；next，theremembranceofourdearchildren，pledges——whatdarlingones！——ofouroldfamiliarlove；then，adeliciousimpulsetopourouttheoverflowingsofmyheartintoyours；andlast，notleast，theknowledgethatyourdeareyeswillreadwhatmyhandisnowwriting。Perhapsthereisanafterthoughtthat，whatevermaybefallme，thewifeofmybosomwillhavetheacknowledgmentofhertenderness，worth，excellence——allthatiswifelyorwomanly，frommypen。”Inanotherletter，alsowrittentohiswifeduringabriefabsence，thereisanaturaltouch，showinghisdeepaffectionforher:”Iwentandretracedourwalkinthepark，andsatdownonthesameseat，andfelthappierandbetter。”
ButnotonlywasMrs。Hoodaconsoler，shewasalsoahelperofherhusbandinhisspecialwork。Hehadsuchconfidenceinherjudgment，thatheread，andre-read，andcorrectedwithherassistanceallthathewrote。Manyofhispieceswerefirstdedicatedtoher；andherreadymemoryoftensuppliedhimwiththenecessaryreferencesandquotations。Thus，intherollofnoblewivesofmenofgenius，Mrs。Hoodwillalwaysbeentitledtotakeaforemostplace。
NotlesseffectiveasaliteraryhelperwasLadyNapier，thewifeofSirWilliamNapier，historianofthePeninsularWar。Sheencouragedhimtoundertakethework，andwithoutherhelphewouldhaveexperiencedgreatdifficultyincompletingit。Shetranslatedandepitomizedtheimmensemassoforiginaldocuments，manyofthemincipher，onwhichitwasinagreatmeasurefounded。WhentheDukeofWellingtonwastoldoftheartandindustryshehaddisplayedindecipheringKingJoseph’sportfolio，andtheimmensemassofcorrespondencetakenatVittoria，heatfirstwouldhardlybelieveit，adding——”Iwouldhavegiven20，000L。toanypersonwhocouldhavedonethisformeinthePeninsula。”SirWilliamNapier’shandwritingbeingalmostillegible，LadyNapiermadeouthisroughinterlinedmanuscript，whichhehimselfcouldscarcelyread，andwroteoutafullfaircopyfortheprinter；andallthisvastlaboursheundertookandaccomplished，accordingtothetestimonyofherhusband，withouthavingforamomentneglectedthecareandeducationofalargefamily。WhenSirWilliamlayonhisdeathbed，LadyNapierwasatthesametimedangerouslyill；butshewaswheeledintohisroomonasofa，andthetwotooktheirsilentfarewellofeachother。
Thehusbanddiedfirst；inafewweeksthewifefollowedhim，andtheysleepsidebysideinthesamegrave。
Manyothersimilartrueheartedwivesriseupinthememory，torecitewhosepraiseswouldmorethanfillupourremainingspace——
suchasFlaxman’swife，AnnDenham，whocheeredandencouragedherhusbandthroughlifeintheprosecutionofhisart，accompanyinghimtoRome，sharinginhislaboursandanxieties，andfinallyinhistriumphs，andtowhomFlaxman，inthefortiethyearoftheirmarriedlife，dedicatedhisbeautifuldesignsillustrativeofFaith，Hope，andCharity，intokenofhisdeepandundimmedaffection；——suchasKatherineBoutcher，”dark-eyedKate，”thewifeofWilliamBlake，whobelievedherhusbandtobethefirstgeniusonearth，workedofftheimpressionsofhisplatesandcolouredthembeautifullywithherownhand，borewithhiminallhiserraticways，sympathisedwithhiminhissorrowsandjoysforforty-fiveyears，andcomfortedhimuntilhisdyinghour——hislastsketch，madeinhisseventy-firstyear，beingalikenessofhimself，beforemakingwhich，seeinghiswifecryingbyhisside，hesaid，”Stay，Kate！justkeepasyouare；Iwilldrawyourportrait，foryouhaveeverbeenanangeltome；”——suchagainasLadyFranklin，thetrueandnoblewoman，whoneverrestedinherendeavourstopenetratethesecretofthePolarSeaandprosecutethesearchforherlong-losthusband——undauntedbyfailure，andperseveringinherdeterminationwithadevotionandsinglenessofpurposealtogetherunparalleled；——orsuchagainasthewifeofZimmermann，whoseintensemelancholyshestroveinvaintoassuage，sympathizingwithhim，listeningtohim，andendeavouringtounderstandhim——andtowhom，whenonherdeathbed，abouttoleavehimforever，sheaddressedthetouchingwords，”MypoorZimmermann！whowillnowunderstandthee？”
Wiveshaveactivelyhelpedtheirhusbandsinotherways。BeforeWeinsbergsurrenderedtoitsbesiegers，thewomenoftheplaceaskedpermissionofthecaptorstoremovetheirvaluables。Thepermissionwasgranted，andshortlyafter，thewomenwereseenissuingfromthegatescarryingtheirhusbandsontheirshoulders。
LordNithsdaleowedhisescapefromprisontotheaddressofhiswife，whochangedgarmentswithhim，sendinghimforthinherstead，andherselfremainingprisoner，——anexamplewhichwassuccessfullyrepeatedbyMadamedeLavalette。
Butthemostremarkableinstanceofthereleaseofahusbandthroughthedevotionofawife，wasthatofthecelebratedGrotius。HehadlainfornearlytwentymonthsinthestrongfortressofLoevestein，nearGorcum，havingbeencondemnedbythegovernmentoftheUnitedProvincestoperpetualimprisonment。Hiswife，havingbeenallowedtosharehiscell，greatlyrelievedhissolitude。Shewaspermittedtogointothetowntwiceaweek，andbringherhusbandbooks，ofwhichherequiredalargenumbertoenablehimtoprosecutehisstudies。Atlengthalargechestwasrequiredtoholdthem。Thisthesentriesatfirstexaminedwithgreatstrictness，but，findingthatitonlycontainedbooks(amongstothersArminianbooks)andlinen，theyatlengthgaveupthesearch，anditwasallowedtopassoutandinasamatterofcourse。ThisledGrotius’wifetoconceivetheideaofreleasinghim；andshepersuadedhimonedaytodeposithimselfinthechestinsteadoftheoutgoingbooks。Whenthetwosoldiersappointedtoremoveittookitup，theyfeltittobeconsiderablyheavierthanusual，andoneofthemasked，jestingly，”HavewegottheArminianhimselfhere？”towhichtheready-wittedwifereplied，”Yes，perhapssomeArminianbooks。”ThechestreachedGorcuminsafety；
thecaptivewasreleased；andGrotiusescapedacrossthefrontierintoBrabant，andafterwardsintoFrance，wherehewasrejoinedbyhiswife。
Trialandsufferingarethetestsofmarriedlife。Theybringouttherealcharacter，andoftentendtoproducetheclosestunion。
Theymayevenbethespringofthepuresthappiness。
Uninterruptedjoy，likeuninterruptedsuccess，isnotgoodforeithermanorwoman。WhenHeine’swifedied，hebegantoreflectuponthelosshehadsustained。Theyhadbothknownpoverty，andstruggledthroughithand-in-hand；anditwashisgreatestsorrowthatshewastakenfromhimatthemomentwhenfortunewasbeginningtosmileuponhim，buttoolateforhertoshareinhisprosperity。”AlasI”saidhe，”amongstmygriefsmustIreckonevenherlove——thestrongest，truest，thateverinspiredtheheartofwoman——whichmademethehappiestofmortals，andyetwastomeafountainofathousanddistresses，inquietudes，andcares？Toentirecheerfulness，perhaps，sheneverattained；butforwhatunspeakablesweetness，whatexalted，enrapturingjoys，isnotloveindebtedtosorrow！Amidstgrowinganxieties，withthetortureofanguishinmyheart，Ihavebeenmade，evenbythelosswhichcausedmethisanguishandtheseanxieties，inexpressiblyhappy！Whentearsflowedoverourcheeks，didnotanameless，seldom-feltdelightstreamthroughmybreast，oppressedequallybyjoyandsorrow！”
ThereisadegreeofsentimentinGermanlovewhichseemsstrangetoEnglishreaders，——suchaswefinddepictedinthelivesofNovalis，JungStilling，Fichte，JeanPaul，andothersthatmightbenamed。TheGermanbetrothalisaceremonyofalmostequalimportancetothemarriageitself；andinthatstatethesentimentsareallowedfreeplay，whilstEnglishloversarerestrained，shy，andasifashamedoftheirfeelings。Take，forinstance，thecaseofHerder，whomhisfuturewifefirstsawinthepulpit。”Iheard，”shesays，”thevoiceofanangel，andsoul’swordssuchasIhadneverheardbefore。IntheafternoonI
sawhim，andstammeredoutmythankstohim；fromthistimeforthoursoulswereone。”Theywerebetrothedlongbeforetheirmeanswouldpermitthemtomarry；butatlengththeywereunited。”Weweremarried，”saysCaroline，thewife，”bytherose-lightofabeautifulevening。Wewereoneheart，onesoul。”Herderwasequallyecstaticinhislanguage。”Ihaveawife，”hewrotetoJacobi，”thatisthetree，theconsolation，andthehappinessofmylife。Eveninflyingtransientthoughts(whichoftensurpriseus)，weareone！”
Take，again，thecaseofFichte，inwhosehistoryhiscourtshipandmarriageformabeautifulepisode。HewasapoorGermanstudent，livingwithafamilyatZurichinthecapacityoftutor，whenhefirstmadetheacquaintanceofJohannaMariaHahn，anieceofKlopstock。HerpositioninlifewashigherthanthatofFichte；nevertheless，sheregardedhimwithsincereadmiration。
WhenFichtewasabouttoleaveZurich，histrothplightedtoher，she，knowinghimtobeverypoor，offeredhimagiftofmoneybeforesettingout。Hewasinexpressiblyhurtbytheoffer，and，atfirst，evendoubtedwhethershecouldreallylovehim；but，onsecondthoughts，hewrotetoher，expressinghisdeepthanks，but，atthesametime，theimpossibilityofhisacceptingsuchagiftfromher。Hesucceededinreachinghisdestination，thoughentirelydestituteofmeans。Afteralongandhardstrugglewiththeworld，extendingovermanyyears，Fichtewasatlengthearningmoneyenoughtoenablehimtomarry。Inoneofhischarmingletterstohisbetrothedhesaid:——”Andso，dearest，Isolemnlydevotemyselftothee，andthanktheethatthouhastthoughtmenotunworthytobethycompaniononthejourneyoflife……Thereisnolandofhappinessherebelow——Iknowitnow——butalandoftoil，whereeveryjoybutstrengthensusforgreaterlabour。
Hand-in-handweshalltraverseit，andencourageandstrengtheneachother，untilourspirits——oh，mayitbetogether！——shallrisetotheeternalfountainofallpeace。”
ThemarriedlifeofFichtewasveryhappy。Hiswifeprovedatrueandhighmindedhelpmate。DuringtheWarofLiberationshewasassiduousinherattentiontothewoundedinthehospitals，whereshecaughtamalignantfever，whichnearlycarriedheroff。
Fichtehimselfcaughtthesamedisease，andwasforatimecompletelyprostrated；buthelivedforafewmoreyearsanddiedattheearlyageoffifty-two，consumedbyhisownfire。
WhatacontrastdoesthecourtshipandmarriedlifeofthebluntandpracticalWilliamCobbettpresenttotheaestheticalandsentimentalloveofthesehighlyrefinedGermans！Notlesshonest，notlesstrue，but，assomewouldthink，comparativelycoarseandvulgar。Whenhefirstseteyesuponthegirlthatwasafterwardstobecomehiswife，shewasonlythirteenyearsold，andhewastwenty-one——asergeant-majorinafootregimentstationedatSt。John’sinNewBrunswick。Hewaspassingthedoorofherfather’shouseonedayinwinter，andsawthegirloutinthesnow，scrubbingawashing-tub。Hesaidatoncetohimself，”That’sthegirlforme。”Hemadeheracquaintance，andresolvedthatsheshouldbehiswifesosoonashecouldgetdischargedfromthearmy。
Ontheeveofthegirl’sreturntoWoolwichwithherfather，whowasasergeant-majorintheartillery，Cobbettsentherahundredandfiftyguineaswhichhehadsaved，inorderthatshemightbeabletolivewithouthardworkuntilhisreturntoEngland。Thegirldeparted，takingwithherthemoney；andfiveyearslaterCobbettobtainedhisdischarge。OnreachingLondon，hemadehastetocalluponthesergeant-major’sdaughter。”Ifound，”hesays，”mylittlegirlaservant-of-all-work(andhardworkitwas)，atfivepoundsayear，inthehouseofaCaptainBrisac；and，withouthardlysayingawordaboutthematter，sheputintomyhandsthewholeofmyhundredandfiftyguineas，unbroken。”Admirationofherconductwasnowaddedtoloveofherperson，andCobbettshortlyaftermarriedthegirl，whoprovedanexcellentwife。Hewas，indeed，nevertiredofspeakingherpraises，anditwashispridetoattributetoherallthecomfortandmuchofthesuccessofhisafter-life。
ThoughCobbettwasregardedbymanyinhislifetimeasacoarse，hard，practicalman，fullofprejudices，therewasyetastrongundercurrentofpoetryinhisnature；and，whilehedeclaimedagainstsentiment，therewerefewmenmorethoroughlyimbuedwithsentimentofthebestkind。Hehadthetenderestregardforthecharacterofwoman。Herespectedherpurityandhervirtue，andinhis’AdvicetoYoungMen，’hehaspaintedthetruewomanlywoman——thehelpful，cheerful，affectionatewife——withavividnessandbrightness，and，atthesametime，aforceofgoodsense，thathasneverbeensurpassedbyanyEnglishwriter。
Cobbettwasanythingbutrefined，intheconventionalsenseoftheword；buthewaspure，temperate，self-denying，industrious，vigorous，andenergetic，inaneminentdegree。Manyofhisviewswere，nodoubt，wrong，buttheywerehisown，forheinsistedonthinkingforhimselfineverything。Thoughfewmentookafirmergraspoftherealthanhedid，perhapsstillfewerweremoreswayedbytheideal。Inword-picturesofhisownemotions，heisunsurpassed。Indeed，CobbettmightalmostberegardedasoneofthegreatestprosepoetsofEnglishreallife。
NOTES
(1)MungoParkdeclaredthathewasmoreaffectedbythisincidentthanbyanyotherthatbefelhiminthecourseofhistravels。Ashelaydowntosleeponthematspreadforhimonthefloorofthehut，hisbenefactresscalledtothefemalepartofthefamilytoresumetheirtaskofspinningcotton，inwhichtheycontinuedemployedfarintothenight。”Theylightenedtheirlabourwithsongs，”saysthetraveller，”oneofwhichwascomposedextempore，forIwasmyselfthesubjectofit；itwassungbyoneoftheyoungwomen，therestjoininginachorus。Theairwassweetandplaintive，andthewords，literallytranslated，werethese:’Thewindsroared，andtherainsfell。Thepoorwhiteman，faintandweary，cameandsatunderourtree。Hehasnomothertobringhimmilk，nowifetogrindhiscorn。’Chorus——’Letuspitythewhiteman，nomotherhashe！’Triflingasthisrecitalmayappear，toapersoninmysituationthecircumstancewasaffectinginthehighestdegree。Iwassooppressedbysuchunexpectedkindness，thatsleepfledbeforemyeyes。”
(2)’Transformation，orMonteBeni。’
(3)’PortraitsContemporains，’iii。519。
(4)Mr。ArthurHelps，inoneofhisEssays，haswiselysaid:”Youobserveamanbecomingdaybydayricher，oradvancinginstation，orincreasinginprofessionalreputation，andyousethimdownasasuccessfulmaninlife。Butifhishomeisanill-regulatedone，wherenolinksofaffectionextendthroughoutthefamily——
whoseformerdomestics(andhehashadmoreofthemthanhecanwellremember)lookbackupontheirsojournwithhimasoneunblessedbykindwordsordeeds——Icontendthatthatmanhasnotbeensuccessful。Whatevergoodfortunehemayhaveintheworld，itistoberememberedthathehasalwaysleftoneimportantfortressuntakenbehindhim。Thatman’slifedoesnotsurelyreadwellwhosebenevolencehasfoundnocentralhome。Itmayhavesentforthraysinvariousdirections，butthereshouldhavebeenawarmfocusoflove——thathome-nestwhichisformedroundagoodmansheart。”——CLAIMSOFLABOUR。
(5)”Theredheartsendsallitsinstinctsuptothewhitebrain，tobeanalysed，chilled，blanched，andsobecomepurereason——whichisjustexactlywhatwedoNOTwantofwomenaswomen。Thecurrentshouldruntheotherway。Thenice，calm，coldthought，which，inwomen，shapesitselfsorapidlythattheyhardlyknowitasthought，shouldalwaystraveltothelipsVIAtheheart。
Itdoessointhosewomenwhomallloveandadmire……
Thebrain-womenneverinterestusliketheheart-women；
whiterosespleaselessthanred。”——THEPROFESSORATTHE
BREAKFASTTABLE，byOliverWendellHolmes。
(6)’TheWarandGeneralCulture，’1871。
(7)”Dependuponit，mensetmorevalueonthecultivatedmindsthanontheaccomplishmentsofwomen，whichtheyarerarelyabletoappreciate。Itisacommonerror，butitisanerror，thatliteratureunfitswomenfortheeverydaybusinessoflife。Itisnotsowithmen。Youseethoseofthemostcultivatedmindsconstantlydevotingtheirtimeandattentiontothemosthomelyobjects。Literaturegiveswomenarealandproperweightinsociety，butthentheymustuseitwithdiscretion。”——
THEREV。SYDNEYSMITH。
(8)’TheStatesman，’pp。73-75。
(9)Fuller，theChurchhistorian，withhisusualhomelymother-wit，speakingofthechoiceofawife，saidbriefly，”Takethedaughterofagoodmother。”
(10)ShewasanEnglishwoman——aMissMotley。ItmaybementionedthatamongstotherdistinguishedFrenchmenwhohavemarriedEnglishwives，wereSismondi，AlfreddeVigny，andLamartine。
(11)”Plusjerouledanscemonde，etplusjesuisameneapenserqu’iln’yaquelebonheurdomestiquequisignifiequelquechose。”——
OEUVRESETCORRESPONDENCE。
(12)DeTocqueville’s’MemoirandRemains，’vol。i。p。408。
(13)DeTocqueville’s’MemoirandRemains，’vol。ii。p。48。
(14)ColonelHutchinsonwasanuncompromisingrepublican，thoroughlybrave，highminded，andpious。AttheRestoration，hewasdischargedfromParliament，andfromallofficesofstateforever。HeretiredtohisestateatOwthorp，nearNottingham，butwasshortlyafterarrestedandimprisonedintheTower。FromthencehewasremovedtoSandownCastle，nearDeal，wherehelayforelevenmonths，anddiedonSeptember11th，1664。Thewifepetitionedforleavetosharehisprison，butwasrefused。Whenhefelthimselfdying，knowingthedeepsorrowwhichhisdeathwouldoccasiontohiswife，heleftthismessage，whichwasconveyedtoher:”Lether，assheisaboveotherwomen，showherselfonthisoccasionagoodChristian，andabovethepitchofordinarywomen。”Hencethewife’sallusiontoherhusband’s”command”intheabovepassage。
(15)Mrs。LucyHutchinsontoherchildrenconcerningtheirfather:
’MemoirsoftheLifeofCol。Hutchinson’(Bohn’sEd。)，pp。29-30。
(16)OntheDeclarationofAmericanIndependence，thefirstJohnAdams，afterwardsPresidentoftheUnitedStates，boughtacopyofthe’LifeandLettersofLadyRussell，’andpresentedittohiswife，”withanexpressintentanddesire”(asstatedbyhimself)，”thatsheshouldconsideritamirrorinwhichtocontemplateherself；
for，atthattime，Ithoughtitextremelyprobable，fromthedaringanddangerouscareerIwasdeterminedtorun，thatshewouldonedayfindherselfinthesituationofLadyRussell，herhusbandwithoutahead:”Speakingofhiswifeinconnectionwiththefact，Mr。Adamsadded:”LikeLadyRussell，shenever，bywordorlook，discouragedmefromrunningallhazardsforthesalvationofmycountry’sliberties。Shewaswillingtosharewithme，andthatherchildrenshouldsharewithusboth，inallthedangerousconsequenceswehadtohazard。”
(17)’MemoirsoftheLifeofSirSamuelRomily，’vol。i。p。41。
(18)ItisasingularcircumstancethatintheparishchurchofSt。Bride，FleetStreet，thereisatabletonthewallwithaninscriptiontothememoryofIsaacRomilly，F。R。S。，whodiedin1759，ofabrokenheart，sevendaysafterthedeceaseofabelovedwife——CHAMBERS’BOOKOFDAYS，vol。ii。p。539。
(19)Mr。FrankBucklandsays”DuringthelongperiodthatDr。
BucklandwasengagedinwritingthebookwhichInowhavethehonourofediting，mymothersatupnightafternight，forweeksandmonthsconsecutively，writingtomyfather’sdictation；andthisoftentillthesun’srays，shiningthroughtheshuttersatearlymorn，warnedthehusbandtoceasefromthinking，andthewifetorestherwearyhand。Notonlywithherpendidsherendermaterialassistance，buthernaturaltalentintheuseofherpencilenabledhertogiveaccurateillustrationsandfinisheddrawings，manyofwhichareperpetuatedinDr。Buckland’sworks。Shewasalsoparticularlycleverandneatinmendingbrokenfossils；andtherearemanyspecimensintheOxfordMuseum，nowexhibitingtheirnaturalformsandbeauty，whichwererestoredbyherperseverancetoshapefromamassofbrokenandalmostcomminutedfragments。”
(20)Veitch’s’MemoirsofSirWilliamHamilton。’
(21)ThefollowingextractfromMr。Veitch’sbiographywillgiveoneanideaoftheextraordinarylaboursofLadyHamilton，towhoseunfailingdevotiontotheserviceofherhusbandtheworldofintellecthasbeensomuchindebted:”Thenumberofpagesinherhandwriting，”saysMr。Veitch，——”filledwithabstrusemetaphysicalmatter，originalandquoted，bristlingwithproportionalandsyllogisticformulae——thatarestillpreserved，isperfectlymarvellous。Everythingthatwassenttothepress，andallthecoursesoflectures，werewrittenbyher，eithertodictation，orfromacopy。Thisworkshedidinthetruestspiritofloveanddevotion。Shehadapower，moreover，ofkeepingherhusbanduptowhathehadtodo。Shecontendedwiselyagainstasortofenergeticindolencewhichcharacterisedhim，andwhich，whilehewasalwayslabouring，madehimapttoputasidethetaskactuallybeforehim——sometimesdivertedbysubjectsofinquirysuggestedinthecourseofstudyonthematterinhand，sometimesdiscouragedbythedifficultyofreducingtoordertheimmensemassofmaterialshehadaccumulatedinconnectionwithit。Thenherresolutionandcheerfuldispositionsustainedandrefreshedhim，andnevermoresothanwhen，duringthelasttwelveyearsofhislife，hisbodilystrengthwasbroken，andhisspirit，thoughlanguid，yetceasednotfrommentaltoil。Thetruthis，thatSirWilliam’smarriage，hiscomparativelylimitedcircumstances，andthecharacterofhiswife，suppliedtoanaturethatwouldhavebeencontentedtospenditsmightyenergiesinworkthatbroughtnorewardbutinthedoingofit，andthatmightneverhavebeenmadepubliclyknownoravailable，thepracticalforceandimpulsewhichenabledhimtoaccomplishwhatheactuallydidinliteratureandphilosophy。Itwasthisinfluence，withoutdoubt，whichsavedhimfromutterabsorptioninhisworldofrare，noble，andelevated，butever-increasinglyunattainableideas。Butforit，thesereneseaofabstractthoughtmighthaveheldhimbecalmedforlife；andintheabsenceofallutteranceofdefiniteknowledgeofhisconclusions，theworldmighthavebeenlefttoanignorantandmysteriouswonderabouttheunprofitablescholar。”
CHAPTERXII——THEDISCIPLINEOFEXPERIENCE。”Iwouldthegreatwouldgrowlikethee。
WhogrewestnotaloneinpowerAndknowledge，butbyyearandhourInreverenceandincharity。”——TENNYSON。”Nottobeunhappyisunhappynesse，Andmiserynott’haveknownmiserie；
ForthebestwayuntodiscretionisThewaythatleadesusbyadversitie；
Andmenarebettershew’dwhatisamisse，Byth’expertfingerofcalamitie，Thantheycanbewithallthatfortunebrings，Whonevershewesthemthetruefaceofthings。”——DANIEL。”Alumpofwoafflictionis，YetthenceIborrowlumpsofbliss；
Thoughfewcanseeablessingin’t，Itismyfurnaceandmymint。”——
ERSKINE’SGOSPELSONNETS。”Crossesgrowanchors，bearasthoushouldstsoThycross，andthatcrossgrowsananchortoo。”——DONNE。”Bethedayweary，orbethedaylong，AtlengthitringethtoEvensong。”——ANCIENTCOUPLET。
Practicalwisdomisonlytobelearntintheschoolofexperience。
Preceptsandinstructionsareusefulsofarastheygo，but，withoutthedisciplineofreallife，theyremainofthenatureoftheoryonly。Thehardfactsofexistencehavetobefaced，togivethattouchoftruthtocharacterwhichcanneverbeimpartedbyreadingortuition，butonlybycontactwiththebroadinstinctsofcommonmenandwomen。
Tobeworthanything，charactermustbecapableofstandingfirmuponitsfeetintheworldofdailywork，temptation，andtrial；
andabletobearthewear-and-tearofactuallife。Cloisteredvirtuesdonotcountformuch。Thelifethatrejoicesinsolitudemaybeonlyrejoicinginselfishness。Seclusionmayindicatecontemptforothers；thoughmoreusuallyitmeansindolence，cowardice，orself-indulgence。Toeveryhumanbeingbelongshisfairshareofmanfultoilandhumanduty；anditcannotbeshirkedwithoutlosstotheindividualhimself，aswellastothecommunitytowhichhebelongs。Itisonlybymixinginthedailylifeoftheworld，andtakingpartinitsaffairs，thatpracticalknowledgecanbeacquired，andwisdomlearnt。Itistherethatwefindourchiefsphereofduty，thatwelearnthedisciplineofwork，andthatweeducateourselvesinthatpatience，diligence，andendurancewhichshapeandconsolidatethecharacter。Thereweencounterthedifficulties，trials，andtemptationswhich，accordingaswedealwiththem，giveacolourtoourentireafter-
life；andthere，too，webecomesubjecttothegreatdisciplineofsuffering，fromwhichwelearnfarmorethanfromthesafeseclusionofthestudyorthecloister。
Contactwithothersisalsorequisitetoenableamantoknowhimself。Itisonlybymixingfreelyintheworldthatonecanformaproperestimateofhisowncapacity。Withoutsuchexperience，oneisapttobecomeconceited，puffed-up，andarrogant；atallevents，hewillremainignorantofhimself，thoughhemayheretoforehaveenjoyednoothercompany。
Swiftoncesaid:”Itisanuncontrovertedtruth，thatnomanevermadeanill-figurewhounderstoodhisowntalents，noragoodonewhomistookthem。”Manypersons，however，arereadiertotakemeasureofthecapacityofothersthanofthemselves。”Bringhimtome，”saidacertainDr。Tronchin，ofGeneva，speakingofRousseau——”Bringhimtome，thatImayseewhetherhehasgotanythinginhim！”——theprobabilitybeingthatRousseau，whoknewhimselfbetter，wasmuchmorelikelytotakemeasureofTronchinthanTronchinwastotakemeasureofhim。
Adueamountofself-knowledgeis，therefore，necessaryforthosewhowouldBEanythingorDOanythingintheworld。Itisalsooneofthefirstessentialstotheformationofdistinctpersonalconvictions。FredericPerthesoncesaidtoayoungfriend:”YouknowonlytoowellwhatyouCANdo；buttillyouhavelearnedwhatyouCANNOTdo，youwillneitheraccomplishanythingofmoment，norknowinwardpeace。”
Anyonewhowouldprofitbyexperiencewillneverbeaboveaskingforhelp。Hewhothinkshimselfalreadytoowisetolearnofothers，willneversucceedindoinganythingeithergoodorgreat。
Wehavetokeepourmindsandheartsopen，andneverbeashamedtolearn，withtheassistanceofthosewhoarewiserandmoreexperiencedthanourselves。
Themanmadewisebyexperienceendeavourstojudgecorrectlyofthethugswhichcomeunderhisobservation，andformthesubjectofhisdailylife。Whatwecallcommonsenseis，forthemostpart，buttheresultofcommonexperiencewiselyimproved。Norisgreatabilitynecessarytoacquireit，somuchaspatience，accuracy，andwatchfulness。Hazlittthoughtthemostsensiblepeopletobemetwithareintelligentmenofbusinessandoftheworld，whoarguefromwhattheyseeandknow，insteadofspinningcobwebdistinctionsofwhatthingsoughttobe。
Forthesamereason，womenoftendisplaymoregoodsensethanmen，havingfewerpretensions，andjudgingofthingsnaturally，bytheinvoluntaryimpressiontheymakeonthemind。Theirintuitivepowersarequicker，theirperceptionsmoreacute，theirsympathiesmorelively，andtheirmannersmoreadaptivetoparticularends。
Hencetheirgreatertactasdisplayedinthemanagementofothers，womenofapparentlyslenderintellectualpowersoftencontrivingtocontrolandregulatetheconductofmenofeventhemostimpracticablenature。PopepaidahighcomplimenttothetactandgoodsenseofMary，QueenofWilliamIII。，whenhedescribedheraspossessing，notascience，but(whatwasworthallelse)prudence。
Thewholeoflifemayberegardedasagreatschoolofexperience，inwhichmenandwomenarethepupils。Asinaschool，manyofthelessonslearnttheremustneedsbetakenontrust。Wemaynotunderstandthem，andmaypossiblythinkithardthatwehavetolearnthem，especiallywheretheteachersaretrials，sorrows，temptations，anddifficulties；andyetwemustnotonlyaccepttheirlessons，butrecognisethemasbeingdivinelyappointed。
Towhatextenthavethepupilsprofitedbytheirexperienceintheschooloflife？Whatadvantagehavetheytakenoftheiropportunitiesforlearning？Whathavetheygainedindisciplineofheartandmind？——howmuchingrowthofwisdom，courage，self-
control？Havetheypreservedtheirintegrityamidstprosperity，andenjoyedlifeintemperanceandmoderation？Or，haslifebeenwiththemamerefeastofselfishness，withoutcareorthoughtforothers？Whathavetheylearntfromtrialandadversity？Havetheylearntpatience，submission，andtrustinGod？——orhavetheylearntnothingbutimpatience，querulousness，anddiscontent？
Theresultsofexperienceare，ofcourse，onlytobeachievedbyliving；andlivingisaquestionoftime。ThemanofexperiencelearnstorelyuponTimeashishelper。”TimeandIagainstanytwo，”wasamaximofCardinalMazarin。Timehasbeendescribedasabeautifierandasaconsoler；butitisalsoateacher。Itisthefoodofexperience，thesoilofwisdom。Itmaybethefriendortheenemyofyouth；andTimewillsitbesidetheoldasaconsolerorasatormentor，accordingasithasbeenusedormisused，andthepastlifehasbeenwellorillspent。
Time，”saysGeorgeHerbert，”istheriderthatbreaksyouth。”Totheyoung，howbrightthenewworldlooks！——howfullofnovelty，ofenjoyment，ofpleasure！Butasyearspass，wefindtheworldtobeaplaceofsorrowaswellasofjoy。Asweproceedthroughlife，manydarkvistasopenuponus——oftoil，suffering，difficulty，perhapsmisfortuneandfailure。Happytheywhocanpassthroughandamidstsuchtrialswithafirmmindandpureheart，encounteringtrialswithcheerfulness，andstandingerectbeneatheventheheaviestburden！
Alittleyouthfulardourisagreathelpinlife，andisusefulasanenergeticmotivepower。ItisgraduallycooleddownbyTime，nomatterhowglowingithasbeen，whileitistrainedandsubduedbyexperience。Butitisahealthyandhopefulindicationofcharacter，——tobeencouragedinarightdirection，andnottobesneereddownandrepressed。Itisasignofavigorousunselfishnature，asegotismisofanarrowandselfishone；andtobeginlifewithegotismandself-sufficiencyisfataltoallbreadthandvigourofcharacter。Life，insuchacase，wouldbelikeayearinwhichtherewasnospring。Withoutagenerousseedtime，therewillbeanunfloweringsummerandanunproductiveharvest。Andyouthisthespringtimeoflife，inwhich，iftherebenotafairshareofenthusiasm，littlewillbeattempted，andstilllessdone。Italsoconsiderablyhelpstheworkingquality，inspiringconfidenceandhope，andcarryingonethroughthedrydetailsofbusinessanddutywithcheerfulnessandjoy。”Itisthedueadmixtureofromanceandreality，”saidSirHenryLawrence，”thatbestcarriesamanthroughlife……Thequalityofromanceorenthusiasmistobevaluedasanenergyimpartedtothehumanmindtopromptandsustainitsnoblestefforts。”SirHenryalwaysurgeduponyoungmen，notthattheyshouldrepressenthusiasm，butsedulouslycultivateanddirectthefeeling，asoneimplantedforwiseandnoblepurposes。”Whenthetwofacultiesofromanceandreality，”hesaid，”aredulyblended，realitypursuesastraightroughpathtoadesirableandpracticableresult；whileromancebeguilestheroadbypointingoutitsbeauties——bybestowingadeepandpracticalconvictionthat，eveninthisdarkandmaterialexistence，theremaybefoundajoywithwhichastrangerintermeddlethnot——alightthatshinethmoreandmoreuntotheperfectday。”(1)
ItwascharacteristicofJosephLancaster，whenaboyofonlyfourteenyearsofage，afterreading’ClarksonontheSlaveTrade，’toformtheresolutionofleavinghishomeandgoingouttotheWestIndiestoteachthepoorblackstoreadtheBible。
AndheactuallysetoutwithaBibleand’Pilgrim’sProgress’inhisbundle，andonlyafewshillingsinhispurse。HeevensucceededinreachingtheWestIndies，doubtlessverymuchatalosshowtosetabouthisproposedwork；butinthemeantimehisdistressedparents，havingdiscoveredwhitherhehadgone，hadhimspeedilybroughtback，yetwithhisenthusiasmunabated；andfromthattimeforwardheunceasinglydevotedhimselftothetrulyphilanthropicworkofeducatingthedestitutepoor。(2)
Thereneedsalltheforcethatenthusiasmcangivetoenableamantosucceedinanygreatenterpriseoflife。Withoutit，theobstructionanddifficultyhehastoencounteroneverysidemightcompelhimtosuccumb；butwithcourageandperseverance，inspiredbyenthusiasm，amanfeelsstrongenoughtofaceanydanger，tograpplewithanydifficulty。WhatanenthusiasmwasthatofColumbus，who，believingintheexistenceofanewworld，bravedthedangersofunknownseas；andwhenthoseabouthimdespairedandroseupagainsthim，threateningtocasthimintothesea，stillstoodfirmuponhishopeandcourageuntilthegreatnewworldatlengthroseuponthehorizon！
Thebravemanwillnotbebaffled，buttriesandtriesagainuntilhesucceeds。Thetreedoesnotfallatthefirststroke，butonlybyrepeatedstrokesandaftergreatlabour。Wemayseethevisiblesuccessatwhichamanhasarrived，butforgetthetoilandsufferingandperilthroughwhichithasbeenachieved。WhenafriendofMarshalLefevrewascomplimentinghimonhispossessionsandgoodfortune，theMarshalsaid:”Youenvyme，doyou？Well，youshallhavethesethingsatabetterbargainthanI
had。Comeintothecourt:I’llfireatyouwithaguntwentytimesatthirtypaces，andifIdon’tkillyou，allshallbeyourown。What！youwon’t！Verywell；recollect，then，thatIhavebeenshotatmorethanathousandtimes，andmuchnearer，beforeI
arrivedatthestateinwhichyounowfindme！”
Theapprenticeshipofdifficultyisonewhichthegreatestofmenhavehadtoserve。Itisusuallythebeststimulusanddisciplineofcharacter。Itoftenevokespowersofactionthat，butforit，wouldhaveremaineddormant。Ascometsaresometimesrevealedbyeclipses，soheroesarebroughttolightbysuddencalamity。Itseemsasif，incertaincases，genius，likeironstruckbytheflint，neededthesharpandsuddenblowofadversitytobringoutthedivinespark。Therearenatureswhichblossomandripenamidsttrials，whichwouldonlywitheranddecayinanatmosphereofeaseandcomfort。
Thusitisgoodformentoberousedintoactionandstiffenedintoself-reliancebydifficulty，ratherthantoslumberawaytheirlivesinuselessapathyandindolence。(3)Itisthestrugglethatistheconditionofvictory。Iftherewerenodifficulties，therewouldbenoneedofefforts；iftherewerenotemptations，therewouldbenotraininginself-control，andbutlittlemeritinvirtue；iftherewerenotrialandsuffering，therewouldbenoeducationinpatienceandresignation。Thusdifficulty，adversity，andsufferingarenotallevil，butoftenthebestsourceofstrength，discipline，andvirtue。
Forthesamereason，itisoftenofadvantageforamantobeunderthenecessityofhavingtostrugglewithpovertyandconquerit。”Hewhohasbattled，”saysCarlyle，”wereitonlywithpovertyandhardtoil，willbefoundstrongerandmoreexpertthanhewhocouldstayathomefromthebattle，concealedamongtheprovisionwaggons，orevenrestunwatchfully’abidingbythestuff。’”
Scholarshavefoundpovertytolerablecomparedwiththeprivationofintellectualfood。Richesweighmuchmoreheavilyuponthemind。”IcannotbutchoosesaytoPoverty，”saidRichter，”Bewelcome！sothatthoucomenottoolateinlife。”Poverty，Horacetellsus，drovehimtopoetry，andpoetryintroducedhimtoVarusandVirgilandMaecenas。”Obstacles，”saysMichelet，”aregreatincentives。IlivedforwholeyearsuponaVirgil，andfoundmyselfwelloff。AnoddvolumeofRacine，purchasedbychanceatastallonthequay，createdthepoetofToulon。”
TheSpaniardsareevensaidtohavemeanlyrejoicedthepovertyofCervantes，butforwhichtheysupposedtheproductionofhisgreatworksmighthavebeenprevented。WhentheArchbishopofToledovisitedtheFrenchambassadoratMadrid，thegentlemeninthesuiteofthelatterexpressedtheirhighadmirationofthewritingsoftheauthorof’DonQuixote，’andintimatedtheirdesireofbecomingacquaintedwithonewhohadgiventhemsomuchpleasure。Theanswertheyreceivedwas，thatCervanteshadbornearmsintheserviceofhiscountry，andwasnowoldandpoor。
’What！”exclaimedoneoftheFrenchmen，”isnotSenorCervantesingoodcircumstances？Whyishenotmaintained，then，outofthepublictreasury？””Heavenforbid！”wasthereply，”thathisnecessitiesshouldbeeverrelieved，ifitisthosewhichmakehimwrite；sinceitishispovertythatmakestheworldrich！”(4)
Itisnotprosperitysomuchasadversity，notwealthsomuchaspoverty，thatstimulatestheperseveranceofstrongandhealthynatures，rousestheirenergyanddevelopestheircharacter。Burkesaidofhimself:”Iwasnotrocked，andswaddled，anddandledintoalegislator。’NITORINADVERSUM’isthemottoforamanlikeyou。”Somemenonlyrequireagreatdifficultysetintheirwaytoexhibittheforceoftheircharacterandgenius；andthatdifficultyonceconqueredbecomesoneofthegreatestincentivestotheirfurtherprogress。
Itisamistaketosupposethatmensucceedthroughsuccess；theymuchoftenersucceedthroughfailure。Byfarthebestexperienceofmenismadeupoftheirrememberedfailuresindealingwithothersintheaffairsoflife。Suchfailures，insensiblemen，incitetobetterself-management，andgreatertactandself-
control，asameansofavoidingtheminthefuture。Askthediplomatist，andhewilltellyouthathehaslearnedhisartthroughbeingbaffled，defeated，thwarted，andcircumvented，farmorethanfromhavingsucceeded。Precept，study，advice，andexamplecouldneverhavetaughtthemsowellasfailurehasdone。Ithasdisciplinedthemexperimentally，andtaughtthemwhattodoaswellaswhatNOTtodo——whichisoftenstillmoreimportantindiplomacy。
Manyhavetomakeuptheirmindstoencounterfailureagainandagainbeforetheysucceed；butiftheyhavepluck，thefailurewillonlyservetorousetheircourage，andstimulatethemtorenewedefforts。Talma，thegreatestofactors，washissedoffthestagewhenhefirstappearedonit。Lacordaire，oneofthegreatestpreachersofmoderntimes，onlyacquiredcelebrityafterrepeatedfailures。MontalembertsaidofhisfirstpublicappearanceintheChurchofSt。Roch:”Hefailedcompletely，andoncomingouteveryonesaid，’Thoughhemaybeamanoftalent，hewillneverbeapreacher。’”Againandagainhetrieduntilhesucceeded；andonlytwoyearsafterhisDEBUT，LacordairewaspreachinginNotreDametoaudiencessuchasfewFrenchoratorshaveaddressedsincethetimeofBossuetandMassillon。
WhenMr。Cobdenfirstappearedasaspeaker，atapublicmeetinginManchester，hecompletelybrokedown，andthechairmanapologizedforhisfailure。SirJamesGrahamandMr。Disraelifailedandwerederidedatfirst，andonlysucceededbydintofgreatlabourandapplication。AtonetimeSirJamesGrahamhadalmostgivenuppublicspeakingindespair。HesaidtohisfriendSirFrancisBaring:”Ihavetriediteveryway——extempore，fromnotes，andcommittingalltomemory——andIcan’tdoit。Idon’tknowwhyitis，butIamafraidIshallneversucceed。”Yet，bydintofperseverance，Graham，likeDisraeli，livedtobecomeoneofthemosteffectiveandimpressiveofparliamentaryspeakers。
Failuresinonedirectionhavesometimeshadtheeffectofforcingthefarseeingstudenttoapplyhimselfinanother。ThusPrideaux’sfailureasacandidateforthepostofparish-clerkofUgboro，inDevon，ledtohisapplyinghimselftolearning，andtohiseventualelevationtothebishopricofWorcester。WhenBoileau，educatedforthebar，pleadedhisfirstcause，hebrokedownamidstshoutsoflaughter。Henexttriedthepulpit，andfailedtheretoo。Andthenhetriedpoetry，andsucceeded。
FontenelleandVoltairebothfailedatthebar。SoCowper，throughhisdiffidenceandshyness，brokedownwhenpleadinghisfirstcause，thoughhelivedtorevivethepoeticartinEngland。
MontesquieuandBenthambothfailedaslawyers，andforsookthebarformorecongenialpursuits——thelatterleavingbehindhimatreasuryoflegislativeprocedureforalltime。Goldsmithfailedinpassingasasurgeon；buthewrotethe’DesertedVillage’andthe’VicarofWakefield；’whilstAddisonfailedasaspeaker，butsucceededinwriting’SirRogerdeCoverley，’andhismanyfamouspapersinthe’Spectator。’
Eventheprivationofsomeimportantbodilysense，suchassightorhearing，hasnotbeensufficienttodetercourageousmenfromzealouslypursuingthestruggleoflife。Milton，whenstruckbyblindness，”stillboreupandsteeredrightonward。”Hisgreatestworkswereproducedduringthatperiodofhislifeinwhichbesufferedmost——whenhewaspoor，sick，old，blind，slandered，andpersecuted。
Thelivesofsomeofthegreatestmenhavebeenacontinuousstrugglewithdifficultyandapparentdefeat。Danteproducedhisgreatestworkinpenuryandexile。Banishedfromhisnativecitybythelocalfactiontowhichhewasopposed，hishousewasgivenuptoplunder，andhewassentencedinhisabsencetobeburntalive。WheninformedbyafriendthathemightreturntoFlorence，ifhewouldconsenttoaskforpardonandabsolution，hereplied:”No！Thisisnotthewaythatshallleadmebacktomycountry。Iwillreturnwithhastystepsifyou，oranyother，canopentomeawaythatshallnotderogatefromthefameorthehonourofDante；butifbynosuchwayFlorencecanbeentered，thentoFlorenceIshallneverreturn。”Hisenemiesremainingimplacable，Dante，afterabanishmentoftwentyyears，diedinexile。Theyevenpursuedhimafterdeath，whenhisbook，’DeMonarchia，’waspubliclyburntatBolognabyorderofthePapalLegate。
Camoensalsowrotehisgreatpoemsmostlyinbanishment。TiredofsolitudeatSantarem，hejoinedanexpeditionagainsttheMoors，inwhichhedistinguishedhimselfbyhisbravery。Helostaneyewhenboardinganenemy’sshipinasea-fight。AtGoa，intheEastIndies，hewitnessedwithindignationthecrueltypractisedbythePortugueseonthenatives，andexpostulatedwiththegovernoragainstit。Hewasinconsequencebanishedfromthesettlement，andsenttoChina。Inthecourseofhissubsequentadventuresandmisfortunes，Camoenssufferedshipwreck，escapingonlywithhislifeandthemanuscriptofhis’Lusiad。’Persecutionandhardshipseemedeverywheretopursuehim。AtMacaohewasthrownintoprison。Escapingfromit，hesetsailforLisbon，wherehearrived，aftersixteenyears’absence，poorandfriendless。His’Lusiad，’whichwasshortlyafterpublished，broughthimmuchfame，butnomoney。ButforhisoldIndianslaveAntonio，whobeggedforhismasterinthestreets，Camoensmusthaveperished。
(5)Asitwas，hediedinapublicalmshouse，wornoutbydiseaseandhardship。Aninscriptionwasplacedoverhisgrave:——”HereliesLuisdeCamoens:heexcelledallthepoetsofhistime:helivedpoorandmiserable；andhediedso，MDLXXIX。”Thisrecord，disgracefulbuttruthful，hassincebeenremoved；andalyingandpompousepitaph，inhonourofthegreatnationalpoetofPortugal，hasbeensubstitutedinitsstead。
EvenMichaelAngelowasexposed，duringthegreaterpartofhislife，tothepersecutionsoftheenvious——vulgarnobles，vulgarpriests，andsordidmenofeverydegree，whocouldneithersympathisewithhim，norcomprehendhisgenius。WhenPaulIV。
condemnedsomeofhisworkin’TheLastJudgment，’theartistobservedthat”ThePopewoulddobettertooccupyhimselfwithcorrectingthedisordersandindecencieswhichdisgracetheworld，thanwithanysuchhypercriticismsuponhisart。”
Tassoalsowasthevictimofalmostcontinualpersecutionandcalumny。Afterlyinginamadhouseforsevenyears，hebecameawandereroverItaly；andwhenonhisdeathbed，hewrote:”Iwillnotcomplainofthemalignityoffortune，becauseIdonotchoosetospeakoftheingratitudeofmenwhohavesucceededindraggingmetothetombofamendicant”
ButTimebringsaboutstrangerevenges。Thepersecutorsandthepersecutedoftenchangeplaces；itisthelatterwhoaregreat——
theformerwhoareinfamous。Eventhenamesofthepersecutorswouldprobablylongagohavebeenforgotten，butfortheirconnectionwiththehistoryofthemenwhomtheyhavepersecuted。
Thus，whowouldnowhaveknownofDukeAlfonsoofFerrara，butforhisimprisonmentofTasso？Or，whowouldhaveheardoftheexistenceoftheGrandDukeofWurtemburgofsomeninetyyearsback，butforhispettypersecutionofSchiller？
Sciencealsohashaditsmartyrs，whohavefoughttheirwaytolightthroughdifficulty，persecution，andsuffering。WeneednotreferagaintothecasesofBruno，Galileo，andothers，(6)
persecutedbecauseofthesupposedheterodoxyoftheirviews。Buttherehavebeenotherunfortunatesamongstmenofscience，whosegeniushasbeenunabletosavethemfromthefuryoftheirenemies。ThusBailly，thecelebratedFrenchastronomer(whohadbeenmayorofParis)，andLavoisier，thegreatchemist，werebothguillotinedinthefirstFrenchRevolution。Whenthelatter，afterbeingsentencedtodeathbytheCommune，askedforafewdays’respite，toenablehimtoascertaintheresultofsomeexperimentshehadmadeduringhisconfinement，thetribunalrefusedhisappeal，andorderedhimforimmediateexecution——oneofthejudgessaying，that”theRepublichadnoneedofphilosophers。”InEnglandalso，aboutthesametime，Dr。
Priestley，thefatherofmodernchemistry，hadhishouseburntoverhishead，andhislibrarydestroyed，amidstshoutsof”Nophilosophers！”andhefledfromhisnativecountrytolayhisbonesinaforeignland。
Theworkofsomeofthegreatestdiscoverershasbeendoneinthemidstofpersecution，difficulty，andsuffering。Columbus，whodiscoveredtheNewWorldandgaveitasaheritagetotheOld，wasinhislifetimepersecuted，maligned，andplunderedbythosewhomhehadenriched。MungoPark’sdrowningagonyintheAfricanriverhehaddiscovered，butwhichhewasnottolivetodescribe；
Clapperton’sperishingoffeveronthebanksofthegreatlake，intheheartofthesamecontinent，whichwasafterwardstoberediscoveredanddescribedbyotherexplorers；Franklin’sperishinginthesnow——itmightbeafterhehadsolvedthelong-
soughtproblemoftheNorth-westPassage——areamongthemostmelancholyeventsinthehistoryofenterpriseandgenius。
ThecaseofFlindersthenavigator，whosufferedasixyears’
imprisonmentintheIsleofFrance，wasoneofpeculiarhardship。
In1801，hesetsailfromEnglandintheINVESTIGATOR，onavoyageofdiscoveryandsurvey，providedwithaFrenchpass，requiringallFrenchgovernors(notwithstandingthatEnglandandFrancewereatwar)togivehimprotectionandsuccourinthesacrednameofscience。InthecourseofhisvoyagehesurveyedgreatpartofAustralia，VanDiemen’sLand，andtheneighbouringislands。TheINVESTIGATOR，beingfoundleakyandrotten，wascondemned，andthenavigatorembarkedaspassengerinthePORPOISEforEngland，tolaytheresultsofhisthreeyears’laboursbeforetheAdmiralty。
OnthevoyagehomethePORPOISEwaswreckedonareefintheSouthSeas，andFlinders，withpartofthecrew，inanopenboat，madeforPortJackson，whichtheysafelyreached，thoughdistantfromthesceneofthewrecknotlessthan750miles。Thereheprocuredasmallschooner，theCUMBERLAND，nolargerthanaGravesendsailing-boat，andreturnedfortheremainderofthecrew，whohadbeenleftonthereef。Havingrescuedthem，hesetsailforEngland，makingfortheIsleofFrance，whichtheCUMBERLAND
reachedinasinkingcondition，beingawretchedlittlecraftbadlyfound。Tohissurprise，hewasmadeaprisonerwithallhiscrew，andthrownintoprison，wherehewastreatedwithbrutalharshness，hisFrenchpassprovingnoprotectiontohim。WhataggravatedthehorrorsofFlinders’confinementwas，thatheknewthatBaudin，theFrenchnavigator，whomhehadencounteredwhilemakinghissurveyoftheAustraliancoasts，wouldreachEuropefirst，andclaimthemeritofallthediscoverieshehadmade。Itturnedoutashehadexpected；andwhileFlinderswasstillimprisonedintheIsleofFrance，theFrenchAtlasofthenewdiscoverieswaspublished，allthepointsnamedbyFlindersandhisprecursorsbeingnamedafresh。Flinderswasatlengthliberated，aftersixyears’imprisonment，hishealthcompletelybroken；buthecontinuedcorrectinghismaps，andwritingouthisdescriptionstothelast。Heonlylivedlongenoughtocorrecthisfinalsheetforthepress，anddiedontheverydaythathisworkwaspublished！
Courageousmenhaveoftenturnedenforcedsolitudetoaccountinexecutingworksofgreatpithandmoment。Itisinsolitudethatthepassionforspiritualperfectionbestnursesitself。Thesoulcommuneswithitselfinlonelinessuntilitsenergyoftenbecomesintense。Butwhetheramanprofitsbysolitudeornotwillmainlydependuponhisowntemperament，training，andcharacter。While，inalarge-naturedman，solitudewillmakethepureheartpurer，inthesmall-naturedmanitwillonlyservetomakethehardheartstillharder:forthoughsolitudemaybethenurseofgreatspirits，itisthetormentofsmallones。
ItwasinprisonthatBoetiuswrotehis’ConsolationsofPhilosophy，’andGrotiushis’CommentaryonSt。Matthew，’regardedashismasterworkinBiblicalCriticism。Buchanancomposedhisbeautiful’ParaphrasesonthePsalms’whileimprisonedinthecellofaPortuguesemonastery。Campanella，theItalianpatriotmonk，suspectedoftreason，wasimmuredfortwenty-sevenyearsinaNeapolitandungeon，duringwhich，deprivedofthesun’slight，hesoughthigherlight，andtherecreatedhis’CivitasSolis，’whichhasbeensooftenreprintedandreproducedintranslationsinmostEuropeanlanguages。Duringhisthirteenyears’imprisonmentintheTower，Raleighwrotehis’HistoryoftheWorld，’aprojectofvastextent，ofwhichhewasonlyabletofinishthefirstfivebooks。LutheroccupiedhisprisonhoursintheCastleofWartburgintranslatingtheBible，andinwritingthefamoustractsandtreatiseswithwhichheinundatedallGermany。
ItwastothecircumstanceofJohnBunyanhavingbeencastintogaolthatweprobablyowethe’Pilgrim’sProgress。’Hewasthusdriveninuponhimself；havingnoopportunityforaction，hisactivemindfoundventinearnestthinkingandmeditation；andindeed，afterhisenlargement，hislifeasanauthorvirtuallyceased。His’GraceAbounding’andthe’HolyWar’werealsowritteninprison。BunyanlayinBedfordGaol，withafewintervalsofprecariousliberty，duringnotlessthantwelveyears；(7)anditwasmostprobablytohisprolongedimprisonmentthatweowewhatMacaulayhascharacterisedasthefinestallegoryintheworld。
AllthepoliticalpartiesofthetimesinwhichBunyanlived，imprisonedtheiropponentswhentheyhadtheopportunityandthepower。Bunyan’sprisonexperienceswereprincipallyinthetimeofCharlesII。ButintheprecedingreignofCharlesI。，aswellasduringtheCommonwealth，illustriousprisonerswereverynumerous。TheprisonersoftheformerincludedSirJohnEliot，Hampden，Selden，Prynne(8)(amostvoluminousprison-writer)，andmanymore。ItwaswhileunderstrictconfinementintheTower，thatEliotcomposedhisnobletreatise，’TheMonarchyofMan。’
GeorgeWither，thepoet，wasanotherprisonerofCharlestheFirst，anditwaswhileconfinedintheMarshalseathathewrotehisfamous’SatiretotheKing。’AttheRestorationhewasagainimprisonedinNewgate，fromwhichhewastransferredtotheTower，andheissupposedbysometohavediedthere。
TheCommonwealthalsohaditsprisoners。SirWilliamDavenant，becauseofhisloyalty，wasforsometimeconfinedaprisonerinCowesCastle，wherehewrotethegreaterpartofhispoemof’Gondibert’:anditissaidthathislifewassavedprincipallythroughthegenerousintercessionofMilton。Helivedtorepaythedebt，andtosaveMilton’slifewhen”Charlesenjoyedhisownagain。”Lovelace，thepoetandcavalier，wasalsoimprisonedbytheRoundheads，andwasonlyliberatedfromtheGatehouseongivinganenormousbail。ThoughhesufferedandlostallfortheStuarts，hewasforgottenbythemattheRestoration，anddiedinextremepoverty。
BesidesWitherandBunyan，CharlesII。imprisonedBaxter，Harrington(theauthorof’Oceana’)，Penn，andmanymore。Allthesemensolacedtheirprisonhourswithwriting。Baxterwrotesomeofthemostremarkablepassagesofhis’LifeandTimes’whilelyingintheKing’sBenchPrison；andPennwrotehis’NoCrossnoCrown’whileimprisonedintheTower。InthereignofQueenAnne，MatthewPriorwasinconfinementonavamped-upchargeoftreasonfortwoyears，duringwhichhewrotehis’Alma，orProgressoftheSoul。’
Sincethen，politicalprisonersofeminenceinEnglandhavebeencomparativelyfewinnumber。AmongthemostillustriouswereDeFoe，who，besidesstandingthreetimesinthepillory，spentmuchofhistimeinprison，writing’RobinsonCrusoe’there，andmanyofhisbestpoliticalpamphlets。Therealsohewrotehis’HymntothePillory，’andcorrectedforthepressacollectionofhisvoluminouswritings。(9)Smollettwrotehis’SirLancelotGreaves’inprison，whileundergoingconfinementforlibel。
Ofrecentprison-writersinEngland，thebestknownareJamesMontgomery，whowrotehisfirstvolumeofpoemswhileaprisonerinYorkCastle；andThomasCooper，theChartist，whowrotehis’PurgatoryofSuicide’inStaffordGaol。
SilvioPellicowasoneofthelatestandmostillustriousoftheprisonwritersofItaly。HelayconfinedinAustriangaolsfortenyears，eightofwhichhepassedintheCastleofSpielberginMoravia。Itwastherethathecomposedhischarming’Memoirs，’
theonlymaterialsforwhichwerefurnishedbyhisfreshlivinghabitofobservation；andoutofeventhetransientvisitsofhisgaoler’sdaughter，andthecolourlesseventsofhismonotonousdailylife，hecontrivedtomakeforhimselfalittleworldofthoughtandhealthyhumaninterest。
Kazinsky，thegreatreviverofHungarianliterature，spentsevenyearsofhislifeinthedungeonsofBuda，Brunne，Kufstein，andMunkacs，duringwhichhewrotea’DiaryofhisImprisonment，’andamongstotherthingstranslatedSterno’s’SentimentalJourney；’whilstKossuthbeguiledhistwoyears’
imprisonmentatBudainstudyingEnglish，soastobeabletoreadShakspeareintheoriginal。
Menwho，likethese，sufferthepenaltyoflaw，andseemtofail，atleastforatime，donotreallyfail。Many，whohaveseemedtofailutterly，haveoftenexercisedamorepotentandenduringinfluenceupontheirrace，thanthosewhosecareerhasbeenacourseofuninteruptedsuccess。Thecharacterofamandoesnotdependonwhetherhiseffortsareimmediatelyfollowedbyfailureorbysuccess。Themartyrisnotafailureifthetruthforwhichhesufferedacquiresafreshlustrethroughhissacrifice。(10)
Thepatriotwholaysdownhislifeforhiscause，maytherebyhastenitstriumph；andthosewhoseemtothrowtheirlivesawayinthevanofagreatmovement，oftenopenawayforthosewhofollowthem，andpassovertheirdeadbodiestovictory。Thetriumphofajustcausemaycomelate；butwhenitdoescome，itisdueasmuchtothosewhofailedintheirfirstefforts，astothosewhosucceededintheirlast。
Theexampleofagreatdeathmaybeaninspirationtoothers，aswellastheexampleofagoodlife。Agreatactdoesnotperishwiththelifeofhimwhoperformsit，butlivesandgrowsupintolikeactsinthosewhosurvivethedoerthereofandcherishhismemory。Ofsomegreatmen，itmightalmostbesaidthattheyhavenotbeguntoliveuntiltheyhavedied。
Thenamesofthemenwhohavesufferedinthecauseofreligion，ofscience，andoftruth，arethemenofallotherswhosememoriesareheldinthegreatestesteemandreverencebymankind。Theyperished，buttheirtruthsurvived。Theyseemedtofail，andyettheyeventuallysucceeded。(11)Prisonsmayhaveheldthem，buttheirthoughtswerenottobeconfinedbyprison-walls。Theyhaveburstthrough，anddefiedthepoweroftheirpersecutors。ItwasLovelace，aprisoner，whowrote:”Stonewallsdonotaprisonmake，Norironbarsacage；
MindsinnocentandquiettakeThatforahermitage。”
ItwasasayingofMiltonthat，”whobestcansufferbestcando。”
Theworkofmanyofthegreatestmen，inspiredbyduty，hasbeendoneamidstsufferingandtrialanddifficulty。Theyhavestruggledagainstthetide，andreachedtheshoreexhausted，onlytograspthesandandexpire。Theyhavedonetheirduty，andbeencontenttodie。Butdeathhathnopoweroversuchmen；theirhallowedmemoriesstillsurvive，tosootheandpurifyandblessus。”Life，”saidGoethe，”tousallissuffering。WhosaveGodaloneshallcallustoourreckoning？Letnotreproachesfallonthedeparted。Notwhattheyhavefailedin，norwhattheyhavesuffered，butwhattheyhavedone，oughttooccupythesurvivors。”
Thus，itisnoteaseandfacilitythattriesmen，andbringsoutthegoodthatisinthem，somuchastrialanddifficulty。
Adversityisthetouchstoneofcharacter。Assomeherbsneedtobecrushedtogiveforththeirsweetestodour，sosomenaturesneedtobetriedbysufferingtoevoketheexcellencethatisinthem。Hencetrialsoftenunmaskvirtues，andbringtolighthiddengraces。Menapparentlyuselessandpurposeless，whenplacedinpositionsofdifficultyandresponsibility，haveexhibitedpowersofcharacterbeforeunsuspected；andwherewebeforesawonlypliancyandself-indulgence，wenowseestrength，valour，andself-denial。
Astherearenoblessingswhichmaynothepervertedintoevils，sotherearenotrialswhichmaynotbeconvertedintoblessings。
Alldependsonthemannerinwhichweprofitbythemorotherwise。
Perfecthappinessisnottobelookedforinthisworld。Ifitcouldbesecured，itwouldbefoundprofitless。Thehollowestofallgospelsisthegospelofeaseandcomfort。Difficulty，andevenfailure，arefarbetterteachers。SirHumphryDavysaid:”Eveninprivatelife，toomuchprosperityeitherinjuresthemoralman，andoccasionsconductwhichendsinsuffering；
oritisaccompaniedbytheworkingsofenvy，calumny，andmalevolenceofothers。”
Failureimprovestempersandstrengthensthenature。Evensorrowisinsomemysteriouswaylinkedwithjoyandassociatedwithtenderness。JohnBunyanoncesaidhow，”ifitwerelawful，hecouldevenprayforgreatertrouble，forthegreatercomfort’ssake。”WhensurprisewasexpressedatthepatienceofapoorArabianwomanunderheavyaffliction，shesaid，”WhenwelookonGod’sfacewedonotfeelHishand。”
Sufferingisdoubtlessasdivinelyappointedasjoy，whileitismuchmoreinfluentialasadisciplineofcharacter。Itchastensandsweetensthenature，teachespatienceandresignation，andpromotesthedeepestaswellasthemostexaltedthought。(12)”ThebestofmenThate’erworeearthaboutHimwasasufferer；
Asoft，meek，patient，humble，tranquilspiritThefirsttruegentlemanthateverbreathed。”(13)
Sufferingmaybetheappointedmeansbywhichthehighestnatureofmanistobedisciplinedanddeveloped。Assuminghappinesstobetheendofbeing，sorrowmaybetheindispensableconditionthroughwhichitistobereached。HenceSt。Paul’snobleparadoxdescriptiveoftheChristianlife，——”aschastened，andnotkilled；assorrowful，yetalwaysrejoicing；aspoor，yetmakingmanyrich；ashavingnothing，andyetpossessingallthings。”
Evenpainisnotallpainful。Ononesideitisrelatedtosuffering，andontheothertohappiness。Forpainisremedialaswellassorrowful。Sufferingisamisfortuneasviewedfromtheoneside，andadisciplineasviewedfromtheother。Butforsuffering，thebestpartofmanymen’snaturewouldsleepadeepsleep。Indeed，itmightalmostbesaidthatpainandsorrowweretheindispensableconditionsofsomemen’ssuccess，andthenecessarymeanstoevokethehighestdevelopmentoftheirgenius。
Shelleyhassaidofpoets:”Mostwretchedmenarecradledintopoetrybywrong，Theylearninsufferingwhattheyteachinsong。”
DoesanyonesupposethatBurnswouldhavesungashedid，hadhebeenrich，respectable，and”keptagig；”orByron，ifhehadbeenaprosperous，happily-marriedLordPrivySealorPostmaster-General？
Sometimesaheartbreakrousesanimpassivenaturetolife。”Whatdoesheknow，”saidasage，”whohasnotsuffered？”
WhenDumasaskedReboul，”Whatmadeyouapoet？”hisanswerwas，”Suffering！”Itwasthedeath，firstofhiswife，andthenofhischild，thatdrovehimintosolitudefortheindulgenceofhisgrief，andeventuallyledhimtoseekandfindreliefinverse。(14)ItwasalsotoadomesticafflictionthatweowethebeautifulwritingsofMrs。Gaskell。”Itwasasarecreation，inthehighestsenseoftheword，”saysarecentwriter，speakingfrompersonalknowledge，”asanescapefromthegreatvoidofalifefromwhichacherishedpresencehadbeentaken，thatshebeganthatseriesofexquisitecreationswhichhasservedtomultiplythenumberofouracquaintances，andtoenlargeeventhecircleofourfriendships。”(15)
Muchofthebestandmostusefulworkdonebymenandwomenhasbeendoneamidstaffliction——sometimesasarelieffromit，sometimesfromasenseofdutyoverpoweringpersonalsorrow。”IfIhadnotbeensogreataninvalid，”saidDr。Darwintoafriend，”IshouldnothavedonenearlysomuchworkasIhavebeenabletoaccomplish。”SoDr。Donne，speakingofhisillnesses，oncesaid:”Thisadvantageyouandmyotherfriendshavebymyfrequentfeversis，thatIamsomuchtheofteneratthegatesofHeaven；
andbythesolitudeandcloseimprisonmenttheyreducemeto，Iamsomuchtheofteneratmyprayers，inwhichyouandmyotherdearfriendsarenotforgotten。”
Schillerproducedhisgreatesttragediesinthemidstofphysicalsufferingalmostamountingtotorture。Handelwasnevergreaterthanwhen，warnedbypalsyoftheapproachofdeath，andstrugglingwithdistressandsuffering，hesatdowntocomposethegreatworkswhichhavemadehisnameimmortalinmusic。Mozartcomposedhisgreatoperas，andlastofallhis’Requiem，’whenoppressedbydebt，andstrugglingwithafataldisease。Beethovenproducedhisgreatestworksamidstgloomysorrow，whenoppressedbyalmosttotaldeafness。AndpoorSchubert，afterhisshortbutbrilliantlife，laiditdownattheearlyageofthirty-two；
hissolepropertyathisdeathconsistingofhismanuscripts，theclotheshewore，andsixty-threeflorinsinmoney。SomeofLamb’sfinestwritingswereproducedamidstdeepsorrow，andHood’sapparentgaietyoftensprangfromasufferingheart。
Ashehimselfwrote，”There’snotastringattunedtomirth，Buthasitschordinmelancholy。”
Again，inscience，wehavethenobleinstanceofthesufferingWollaston，eveninthelaststagesofthemortaldiseasewhichafflictedhim，devotinghisnumberedhourstoputtingonrecord，bydictation，thevariousdiscoveriesandimprovementshehadmade，sothatanyknowledgehehadacquired，calculatedtobenefithisfellow-creatures，mightnotbelost。
Afflictionsoftenprovebutblessingsindisguise。”Fearnotthedarkness，”saidthePersiansage；it”concealsperhapsthespringsofthewatersoflife。”Experienceisoftenbitter，butwholesome；onlybyitsteachingcanwelearntosufferandbestrong。Character，initshighestforms，isdisciplinedbytrial，and”madeperfectthroughsuffering。”Evenfromthedeepestsorrow，thepatientandthoughtfulmindwillgatherricherwisdomthanpleasureeveryielded。”Thesoul’sdarkcottage，batter’danddecayed，LetsinnewlightthroughchinksthatTimehasmade。””Consider，”saidJeremyTaylor，”thatsadaccidents，andastateofafflictions，isaschoolofvirtue。Itreducesourspiritstosoberness，andourcounselstomoderation；itcorrectslevity，andinterruptstheconfidenceofsinning……God，whoinmercyandwisdomgovernstheworld，wouldneverhavesufferedsomanysadnesses，andhavesentthem，especially，tothemostvirtuousandthewisestmen，butthatHeintendstheyshouldbetheseminaryofcomfort，thenurseryofvirtue，theexerciseofwisdom，thetrialofpatience，theventuringforacrown，andthegateofglory。”(16)
Andagain:——”Nomanismoremiserablethanhethathathnoadversity。Thatmanisnottried，whetherhebegoodorbad；
andGodnevercrownsthosevirtueswhichareonlyFACULTIES
andDISPOSITIONS；buteveryactofvirtueisaningredientuntoreward。”(17)
Prosperityandsuccessofthemselvesdonotconferhappiness；
indeed，itnotunfrequentlyhappensthattheleastsuccessfulinlifehavethegreatestshareoftruejoyinit。NomancouldhavebeenmoresuccessfulthanGoethe——possessedofsplendidhealth，honour，power，andsufficiencyofthisworld’sgoods——andyetheconfessedthathehadnot，inthecourseofhislife，enjoyedfiveweeksofgenuinepleasure。SotheCaliphAbdalrahman，insurveyinghissuccessfulreignoffiftyyears，foundthathehadenjoyedonlyfourteendaysofpureandgenuinehappiness。(18)
Afterthis，mightitnotbesaidthatthepursuitofmerehappinessisanillusion？
Life，allsunshinewithoutshade，allhappinesswithoutsorrow，allpleasurewithoutpain，werenotlifeatall——atleastnothumanlife。Takethelotofthehappiest——itisatangledyarn。
Itismadeupofsorrowsandjoys；andthejoysareallthesweeterbecauseofthesorrows；bereavementsandblessings，onefollowinganother，makingussadandblessedbyturns。Evendeathitselfmakeslifemoreloving；itbindsusmorecloselytogetherwhilehere。Dr。ThomasBrownehasarguedthatdeathisoneofthenecessaryconditionsofhumanhappiness；andhesupportshisargumentwithgreatforceandeloquence。Butwhendeathcomesintoahousehold，wedonotphilosophise——weonlyfeel。Theeyesthatarefulloftearsdonotsee；thoughincourseoftimetheycometoseemoreclearlyandbrightlythanthosethathaveneverknownsorrow。
Thewisepersongraduallylearnsnottoexpecttoomuchfromlife。
Whilehestrivesforsuccessbyworthymethods，hewillbepreparedforfailures，hewillkeephismindopentoenjoyment，butsubmitpatientlytosuffering。Wailingsandcomplainingsoflifeareneverofanyuse；onlycheerfulandcontinuousworkinginrightpathsareofrealavail。
Norwillthewisemanexpecttoomuchfromthoseabouthim。Ifhewouldliveatpeacewithothers，hewillbearandforbear。Andeventhebesthaveoftenfoiblesofcharacterwhichhavetobeendured，sympathisedwith，andperhapspitied。Whoisperfect？
Whodoesnotsufferfromsomethornintheflesh？Whodoesnotstandinneedoftoleration，offorbearance，offorgiveness？WhatthepoorimprisonedQueenCarolineMatildaofDenmarkwroteonherchapel-windowoughttobetheprayerofall，——”Oh！keepmeinnocent！makeothersgreat。”
Then，howmuchdoesthedispositionofeveryhumanbeingdependupontheirinnateconstitutionandtheirearlysurroundings；
thecomfortordiscomfortofthehomesinwhichtheyhavebeenbroughtup；theirinheritedcharacteristics；andtheexamples，goodorbad，towhichtheyhavebeenexposedthroughlife！
Regardforsuchconsiderationsshouldteachcharityandforbearancetoallmen。
Atthesametime，lifewillalwaysbetoalargeextentwhatweourselvesmakeit。Eachmindmakesitsownlittleworld。Thecheerfulmindmakesitpleasant，andthediscontentedmindmakesitmiserable。”Mymindtomeakingdomis，”appliesaliketothepeasantastothemonarch。Theonemaybeinhisheartaking，astheothermaybeaslave。Lifeisforthemostpartbutthemirrorofourownindividualselves。Ourmindgivestoallsituations，toallfortunes，highorlow，theirrealcharacters。
Tothegood，theworldisgood；tothebad，itisbad。Ifourviewsoflifebeelevated——ifweregarditasasphereofusefuleffort，ofhighlivingandhighthinking，ofworkingforothers’
goodaswellasourown——itwillbejoyful，hopeful，andblessed。
If，onthecontrary，weregarditmerelyasaffordingopportunitiesforself-seeking，pleasure，andaggrandisement，itwillbefulloftoil，anxiety，anddisappointment。
Thereismuchinlifethat，whileinthisstate，wecannevercomprehend。Thereis，indeed，agreatdealofmysteryinlife——
muchthatwesee”asinaglassdarkly。”Butthoughwemaynotapprehendthefullmeaningofthedisciplineoftrialthroughwhichthebesthavetopass，wemusthavefaithinthecompletenessofthedesignofwhichourlittleindividuallivesformapart。
Wehaveeachtodoourdutyinthatsphereoflifeinwhichwehavebeenplaced。Dutyaloneistrue；thereisnotrueactionbutinitsaccomplishment。Dutyistheendandaimofthehighestlife；thetruestpleasureofallisthatderivedfromtheconsciousnessofitsfulfilment。Ofallothers，itistheonethatismostthoroughlysatisfying，andtheleastaccompaniedbyregretanddisappointment。InthewordsofGeorgeHerbert，theconsciousnessofdutyperformed”givesusmusicatmidnight。”
Andwhenwehavedoneourworkonearth——ofnecessity，oflabour，oflove，orofduty，——likethesilkwormthatspinsitslittlecocoonanddies，wetoodepart。But，shortthoughourstayinlifemaybe，itistheappointedsphereinwhicheachhastoworkoutthegreataimandendofhisbeingtothebestofhispower；
andwhenthatisdone，theaccidentsofthefleshwillaffectbutlittletheimmortalityweshallatlastputon:”Thereforewecangodieassleep，andtrustHalfthatwehaveUntoanhonestfaithfulgrave；
Makingourpillowseitherdownordust！”
NOTES
(1)’CalcuttaReview，’articleon’RomanceandRealityofIndianLife。’
(2)JosephLancasterwasonlytwentyyearsofagewhen(in1798)
heopenedhisfirstschoolinaspareroominhisfather’shouse，whichwassoonfilledwiththedestitutechildrenoftheneighbourhood。Theroomwasshortlyfoundtoosmallforthenumbersseekingadmission，andoneplaceafteranotherwashired，untilatlengthLancasterhadaspecialbuildingerected，capableofaccommodatingathousandpupils；outsideofwhichwasplacedthefollowingnotice:——”Allthatwill，maysendtheirchildrenhere，andhavethemeducatedfreely；andthosethatdonotwishtohaveeducationfornothing，maypayforitiftheyplease。”ThusJosephLancasterwastheprecursorofourpresentsystemofNationalEducation。
(3)Agreatmusicianoncesaidofapromisingbutpassionlesscantatrice——”Shesingswell，butshewantssomething，andinthatsomethingeverything。IfIweresingle，Iwouldcourther；I
wouldmarryher；Iwouldmaltreather；Iwouldbreakherheart；
andinsixmonthsshewouldbethegreatestsingerinEurope！”——
BLACKWOOD’SMAGAZINE，(4)Prescot’s’Essays，’art。Cervantes。
(5)Acavalier，namedRuydeCamera，havingcalleduponCamoenstofurnishapoeticalversionofthesevenpenitentialpsalms，thepoet，raisinghisheadfromhismiserablepallet，andpointingtohisfaithfulslave，exclaimed:”Alas！whenIwasapoet，Iwasyoung，andhappy，andblestwiththeloveofladies；butnow，Iamaforlorndesertedwretch！See——therestandsmypoorAntonio，vainlysupplicatingFOURPENCEtopurchasealittlecoals。Ihavenotthemtogivehim！”Thecavalier，Sousaquaintlyrelates，inhis’LifeofCamoens，’closedhisheartandhispurse，andquittedtheroom。SuchwerethegrandeesofPortugal！——LordStrangford’sREMARKSONTHELIFEANDWRITINGSOFCAMOENS，1824。
(6)Seechapterv。p。125。
(7)AQuakercalledonBunyanonedaywith”amessagefromtheLord，”
sayinghehadbeentohalfthegaolsofEngland，andwasgladatlasttohavefoundhim。TowhichBunyanreplied:”IftheLordsentthee，youwouldnothaveneededtotakesomuchtroubletofindmeout，forHeknewthatIhavebeeninBedfordGaolthesesevenyearspast。”
(8)Prynne，besidesstandinginthepilloryandhavinghisearscutoff，wasimprisonedbyturnsintheTower，MontOrgueil(Jersey)，DunsterCastle，TauntonCastle，andPendennisCastle。Heafter-
wardspleadedzealouslyfortheRestoration，andwasmadeKeeperoftheRecordsbyCharlesII。IthasbeencomputedthatPrynnewrote，compiled，andprintedabouteightquartopagesforeveryworking-dayofhislife，fromhisreachingman’sestatetothedayofhisdeath。Thoughhisbookswereforthemostpartappropriatedbythetrunkmakers，theynowcommandalmostfabulousprices，chieflybecauseoftheirrarity。
(9)Healsoprojectedhis’Review’inprison——thefirstperiodicalofthekind，whichpointedthewaytothehostof’Tatlers，’
’Guardians，’and’Spectators，’whichfollowedit。The’Review’
consistedof102numbers，formingninequartovolumes，allofwhichwerewrittenbyDeFoehimself，whileengagedinotherandvariouslabours。
(10)ApassageintheEarlofCarlislesLectureonPope——’Heavenwasmadeforthosewhohavefailedinthisworld’——struckmeveryforciblyseveralyearsagowhenIreaditinanewspaper，andbecamearichveinofthought，inwhichIoftenquarried，especiallywhenthesentencewasinterpretedbytheCross，whichwasfailureapparently。”——LIFEANDLETTERSOFROBERTSON(ofBrighton)，ii。94。
(11)”Notallwhoseemtofail，havefailedindeed；
Notallwhofailhavethereforeworkedinvain:
Forallouractstomanyissueslead；
Andoutofearnestpurpose，pureandplain，Enforcedbyhonesttoilofhandorbrain，TheLordwillfashion，inHisowngoodtime，(Bethisthelabourer’sproudly-humblecreed，)
Suchendsas，toHiswisdom，fitliestchimeWithHisvastlove’seternalharmonies。
Thereisnofailureforthegoodandwise:
WhatthoughthyseedshouldfallbythewaysideAndthebirdssnatchit；——yetthebirdsarefed；
Ortheymaybearitfaracrossthetide，Togiverichharvestsafterthouartdead。”
POLITICSFORTHEPEOPLE，1848。
(12)”Whatisit，”saysMr。Helps，”thatpromotesthemostandthedeepestthoughtinthehumanrace？Itisnotlearning；itisnottheconductofbusiness；itisnoteventheimpulseoftheaffections。Itissuffering；andthat，perhaps，isthereasonwhythereissomuchsufferingintheworld。Theangelwhowentdowntotroublethewatersandtomakethemhealing，wasnot，perhaps，entrustedwithsogreataboonastheangelwhobenevolentlyinflicteduponthesufferersthediseasefromwhichtheysuffered。”——BREVIA。
(13)TheselineswerewrittenbyDeckar，inaspiritofboldnessequaltoitspiety。Hazlitthasorsaidofthem，thatthey”oughttoembalmhismemorytoeveryonewhohasasenseeitherofreligion，orphilosophy，orhumanity，ortruegenius。”
(14)Reboul，originallyabakerofNismes，wastheauthorofmanybeautifulpoems——amongstothers，oftheexquisitepieceknowninthiscountrybyitsEnglishtranslation，entitled’TheAngelandtheChild。’
(15)’CornhillMagazine，’vol。xvi。p。322。
(16)’HolyLivingandDying，’ch。ii。sect。6。
(17)Ibid。，ch。iii。sect。6。
(18)Gibbon’s’DeclineandFalloftheRomanEmpire，’vol。x。p。40。
