第3章

"Thoughlame，hewasnimble，andallroughandalivewithpower；

hadyoumethimanywhereelse，youwouldsayhewasaLiddesdalestorefarmer，comeofgentleblood——\'astout，bluntcarle，\'ashesaysofhimself，withtheswingandstrideandtheeyeofamanofthehills——alarge，sunny，out-of-doorairallabouthim。Onhisbroadandstoopingshoulderswassetthatheadwhich，withShakespeare\'sandBonaparte\'s，isthebestknowninalltheworld。"

Scottwasthenlivingin39CastleStreet。Idonotknowwhetherthemanypilgrims，whomonemeetsmovingconstantlyinthedirectionofMelroseandAbbotsford，havethoughtofmakingpilgrimagetoCastleStreet，andtothegrave，there，ofScott\'s"dearoldfriend，"——hisdogCamp。OfDr。Brown\'sschoolboydays，oneknowslittle——dayswhen"BobAinslieandIwerecomingupInfirmaryStreetfromtheHighSchool，ourheadstogether，andourarmsintertwisted，asonlyloversandboysknowhoworwhy。"

Concerningthedoctor\'scharacter，hehasleftitonrecordthathelikedadog-fight。"\'Adog-fight，\'shoutedBob，andwasoff，andsowasI，bothofusallhot，prayingthatitmightnotbeoverbeforewewereup……Dogslikefighting；oldIsaac(Watts，notWalton)saysthey\'delight\'init，andforthebestofallreasons；

andboysarenotcruelbecausetheyliketoseethefight。Thisisaverydifferentthingfromaloveofmakingdogsfight。"Andthiswasthemostfamousofalldog-fights——sincetheoldIrishBrehonssettledthelawsofthatsport，andgravelydecidedwhatwastobedoneifachildinterfered，oranidiot，orawoman，oraone-eyedman——forthiswasthedog-fightinwhichRabfirstwasintroducedtohishistorian。

Sixyearspassedafterthisbattle，andDr。BrownwasamedicalstudentandaclerkatMintoHospital。Howherenewedhisacquaintancethere，andinwhatsadcircumstances，withRabandhisfriends，itissuperfluoustotell，foreveryonewhoreadsatallhasreadthatstory，andmostreadersnotwithouttears。AsamedicalstudentinEdinburgh，Dr。BrownmadethefriendshipofMr。

Syme，thefamoussurgeon——afriendshiponlyclosedbydeath。I

onlysawthemoncetogether，averylongtimeago，andthenfromthepointofviewofapatient。Theseoccasionsarenotagreeable，andpatients，liketheoldcockwhichdidnotcrowwhenplucked，areapttobe"verymuchabsorbed"；butDr。Brown\'sattitudetowardthemanwhomheregardedwiththereverenceofadisciple，aswellaswiththeaffectionofafriend，wasveryremarkable。

Whenhisstudieswereover，Dr。BrownpractisedforayearasassistanttoasurgeoninChatham。ItmusthavebeenwhenhewasatChathamthatacuriouseventoccurred。Manyyearslater，CharlesDickenswasinEdinburgh，readinghisstoriesinpublic，andwasdiningwithsomeEdinburghpeople。DickensbegantospeakaboutthepanicwhichthecholerahadcausedinEngland:howillsomepeoplehadbehaved。Asacontrast，hementionedthat，atChatham，onepoorwomanhaddied，desertedbyeveryoneexceptayoungphysician。Someone，however，venturedtoopenthedoor，andfoundthewomandead，andtheyoungdoctorasleep，overcomewiththefatiguethatmasteredhimonhispatient\'sdeath，butquiteuntouchedbythegeneralpanic。"Why，thatwasDr。JohnBrown，"

oneoftheguestsobserved；anditseemsthat，thusearlyinhiscareer，thedoctorhadbeensettinganexampleofthecourageandcharityofhisprofession。AfterayearspentinChatham，hereturnedtoEdinburgh，wherehespenttherestofhislife，busypartlywithhisartofhealing，partlywithliterature。HelivedinRutlandStreet，neartherailwaystation，bywhichEdinburghisapproachedfromthewest，andclosetoPrincesStreet，thechiefstreetofthetown，separatedbyagreenvalley，oncealoch，fromthehighCastleRock。ItwastheroominwhichhisfriendswereaccustomedtoseeDr。Brown，andaroomfullofinterestitwas。

Inhislonglife，thedoctorhadgatheredroundhimmanycuriousrelicsofartistsandmenofletters；adrawingofadogbyTurnerIrememberparticularly，andacopyof"DonJuan，"inthefirstedition，withByron\'smanuscriptnotes。Dr。Brownhadagreatloveandknowledgeofartandofartists，fromTurnertoLeech；andhehadverymanyfriendsamongmenofletters，suchasMr。RuskinandMr。Thackeray。Dr。Brownhimselfwasacleverdesignerofrapidlittlegrotesques，roughsketchesofdogsandmen。Oneortwoofthemareengravedinthelittlepaper-coveredbookletsinwhichsomeofhisessayswereseparatelypublished——bookletswhichhewasusedtopresenttopeoplewhocametoseehimandwhowereinterestedinallthathedid。Iremembersomevivaciousgrotesqueswhichhedrewforoneofmybrotherswhenwewereschoolboys。TheselittlethingswerecarefullytreasuredbyboyswhoknewDr。Brown，andfoundhimfriendly，andcapableofsustainingaconversationonthepointsofaDandyDinmontterrierandothermysteriesimportanttoyouth。Hewasabibliophile——atastewhichheinheritedfromhisfather，who"begancollectingbookswhenhewastwelve，andwascollectingtohislasthours。"

ThelasttimeIeversawDr。Brown，ayearbeforehisdeath，hewaskindenoughtolendmeoneoftherarestofhistreasures，"Poems，"

byMr。Ruskin。ProbablyMr。Ruskinhadpresentedthebooktohisoldfriend；innootherwaywereiteasytoprocurewritingswhichtheauthorwithdrewfrompublication，if，indeed，theyeverwere，properlyspeaking，published。ThusDr。Brownwasallthingstoallmen，andtoallboys。He"hadawordforeveryone，"aspoorpeoplesay，andawordtothepoint，forhewasasmuchathomewiththeshepherdonthehills，orwiththeanglerbetweenHollyleaandClovenfords，aswiththedustybook-hunter，orthedoggyyoungBorderyeoman，orthechildwhoaskedhimto"drawherapicture，"

orthefriendofgeniusfamousthroughalltheworld，Thackeray，whenhe"spoke，asheseldomdid，ofdivinethings。"

ThreevolumesofessaysareallthatDr。Brownhasleftinthewayofcompositions:alight，butimperishableliterarybaggage。Hisstudiesareusuallyderivedfrompersonalexperience，whichhereproducedwithsingulargenialityandsimplicity，ortheyaredrawnfromthetraditionoftheelders，thereminiscencesoflong-

livedScotchpeople，who，themselves，hadlistenedattentivelytothosewhowentbeforethem。SinceScott，theseancientladieswithwonderfulmemorieshavehadnosuchattentivelistenerorappreciativereporterasDr。Brown。Hispapercalled"Mystifications，"anarrativeofthepranksofMissStirlingGraham，isabrief，vividrecordofthecleverandquaintsocietyofScotlandsixtyyearsago。Scotland，oratleastScottishsociety，isnowonlyEnglishsociety——alittlenarrower，alittleprouder，sometimesevenalittleduller。ButoldpeopleofpositionspoketheoldScotchtonguesixtyyearsago，andwerefullofwonderfulgenealogies，fullofreminiscencesofthe"\'45，"andtheadventuresoftheJacobites。Theverylastechoesofthatancientworldaredyingnowfrommemory，likethewidereverberationsofthatgunwhichMissNellyMacWilliamheardonthedaywhenPrinceCharleslanded，andwhichresoundedstrangelyallthroughScotland。

Thechildrenofthisgeneration，onefears，willhardlyhearoftheseoldraidsandduels，risingsandrebellions，byoraltraditionhandeddown，unbroken，throughauntsandgrandmothers。

Scottreapedafull，lateharvestofthememoriesofclannishandfeudalScotland；Dr。Browncameasalatergleaner，andgatheredthesestirringtalesof"AJacobiteFamily"whicharepublishedinthelastvolumeofhisessays。Whenhewasanobserver，notaheareronly，Dr。Brownchieflystudiedandbestwroteofthefollowingtopics:passagesandcharactersofhumourandpathoswhichheencounteredinhislifeandprofession；children，dogs，Borderscenery，andfellow-workersinlifeandscience。Underoneorotherofthesecategoriesallhisbestcompositionsmightbearranged。Themostfamousandmostexquisiteofallhisworksinthefirstclassistheunrivalled"RabandhisFriends"——astudyofthestoicismandtendernessoftheLowlandcharacterworthyofScott。Inaminorwaythelittlepaperon"Jeems，"thedoor-keeperinaDissentinghouseoftheLord，isinterestingtoScotchpeople，thoughitmustseemarathercuriousrevelationtoallothers。

"HerlastHalf-crown"isanotherstudyofthehonestythatsurvivedinastarvingandoutcastScotchgirl，whenallothervirtues，aswecommonlyreckonvirtue，hadgonebeforehercharactertosomeplacewhere，letushope，theymayrejoinher；forifwearetosufferfortheviceswhichhaveabandonedus，maywenotgetsomecreditforthevirtuesthatwehaveabandoned，butthatoncewereours，insomeheavenpavedwithbadresolutionsunfulfilled？"TheBlackDwarf\'sBones"isasketchofthemisshapencreaturefromwhomScottborrowedthecharacterthatgivesanametooneofhisminorBorderstories。TherealBlackDwarf(DavidRitchiehewascalledamongmen)wasfondofpoetry，buthatedBurns。Hewaspolitetothefair，butclassedmankindatlargewithhisfavouriteaversions:ghosts，fairies，androbbers。TherewasthisofhumanabouttheBlackDwarf，that"hehatedfolkthatareayegauntodee，andneverdo\'t。"ThevillagebeautieswerewonttocometohimforaJudgmentofParisontheircharms，andhepresentedeachwithaflower，whichwasofafixedvalueinhisstandardofthingsbeautiful。Onekindofrose，theprizeofthemostfair，heonlygavethrice。Pariscouldnothavedonehisdoomsmorecourteously，and，ifhehadbutmadejudicioususeofrose，lily，andlotus，asprizes，hemighthavepleasedallthethreeGoddesses；Troystillmightbestanding，andtheloftyhouseofKingPriam。

AmongDr。Brown\'spapersonchildren，thatcalled"PetMarjorie"

holdsthehighestplace。Perhapscertainpassagesare"wrotetoosentimentally，"asMarjorieFlemingherselfremarkedaboutthepracticeofmanyauthors。Butitwasdifficulttobeperfectlycomposedwhenspeakingofthiswonderfulfairy-likelittlegirl，whoseaffectionwasaswarmasherhumourandgeniuswereprecocious。"Infantphenomena"areseldomagreeable，butMarjoriewassohumorous，soquick-tempered，sokind，thatweceasetoregardherasanintellectual"phenomenon。"Hermemoryremainssweetandblossominginitsdust，likethatoflittlePenelopeBoothby，thechildinthemobcapwhomSirJoshuapainted，andwhodiedverysoonaftershewasthusmadeImmortal。

ItissuperfluoustoquotefromtheessayonMarjorieFleming；

everyoneknowsaboutherandherstudies:"Isabellaisteachingmetomakesimmecolings，notsofinterrigations，peorids，commoes，&c。"HereisaShakespeariancriticism，ofwhichfewwilldenythecorrectness:"\'Macbeth\'isaprettycomposition，butawfulone。"

Again，"Ineverreadsermonsofanykind，butIreadnovelettesandmyBible。""\'TomJones\'andGray\'s\'ElegyinaCountryChurchyard\'

arebothexcellent，andmuchspokeofbybothsex，particularlybythemen。"HerCalvinisticbeliefin"UNQUESTIONABLEfireandbrimston"isunhesitating，buttheyoungtheologianappearstohavesubstituted"unquestionable"for"unquenchable。"Thereissomethinghumorousinthealteration，asifMarjorierefusedtobeputoffwithan"excellentfamilysubstitute"forfireandbrimstone，anddemandedthe"unquestionable"article，nootherbeinggenuine，pleaseobservetrademark。

AmongDr。Brown\'scontributionstothehumorousstudyofdogs，"Rab，"ofcourse，holdsthesameplaceasMarjorieamonghissketchesofchildren。Butifhis"QueenMary\'sChildGarden，"thedescriptionofthelittlegardeninwhichMaryStuartdidNOTplaywhenachild，issecondto"Marjorie，"so"OurDogs"isagoodsecondto"Rab。"PerhapsDr。BrownneverwroteanythingmoremirthfulthanhisdescriptionofthesuddenbirthofthevirtueofcourageinToby，acomicbutcowardlymongrel，acuroflowdegree。

"Tobywasinthewayofhidinghisculinarybonesinthesmallgardensbeforehisownandtheneighbouringdoors。Mr。Scrymgeour，twodoorsoff，abulky，choleric，red-facedman——torvovultu——was，bylawofcontrast，agreatcultivatorofflowers，andhehadoftenscowledTobyintoallbutnon-existencebyastampofhisfootandaglareofhiseye。Oneday，hisgatebeingopen，inwalksTobywithahugebone，andmakingaholewhereScrymgeourhadtwominutesbeforebeenplantingsomepreciousslip，thenameofwhichonpaperandonastickTobymadeverylightof，substitutedhisbone，andwasengagedcoveringit，orthinkinghewascoveringitupwithhisshovellingnose，whenS。spiedhimthroughtheinnerglassdoor，andwasoutuponhim，liketheAssyrian，withaterrificGOWL。Iwatchedthem。InstantlyTobymadeathimwitharoartoo，andaneyemoretorvethanScrymgeour\'s，who，retreatingwithoutreserve，fellprostrate，thereisreasontobelieve，inhisownlobby。Tobycontentedhimselfwithproclaiminghisvictoryatthedoor，and，returning，finishedhisbone-plantingathisleisure；theenemy，whohadscuttledbehindtheglassdoor，glaredathim。FromthismomentTobywasanaltereddog。Pluckatfirstsightwaslordofall……ThatveryeveninghepaidavisittoLeo，nextdoor\'sdog，abigtyrannicalbullyandcoward……TohimTobypaidavisitthatveryevening，downintohisden，andwalkedabout，asmuchastosay，\'Comeon，Macduff\'；butMacduffdidnotcomeon。"

Thisstoryisoneofthemostamazingexamplesofinstantchangeofcharacteronrecord，anddisprovesthescepticalremarkthat"noonewaseverconverted，exceptprize-fighters，andcolonelsinthearmy。"IamsorrytosaythatDr。Brownwastoofondofdogstobeverymuchattachedtocats。Ineverheardhimsayanythingagainstcats，or，indeed，againstanybody；buttherearepassagesinhiswritingswhichtendtoshowthat，whenyoungandthoughtless，hewasnotfarfromregardingcatsas"thehighervermin。"HetellsastoryofaGhazipuss，sotospeak，avictoriouscat，which，entrenchedinadrain，defeatedthreedogswithsevereloss，andfinallyescapedunharmedfromherenemies。Dr。Brown\'sfamilygloriedinthepossessionofaDandyDinmontnamedJohnPym，whosecousin(AuldPepper)belongedtooneofmybrothers。Dr。BrownwasmuchinterestedinPepper，adogwhosefamilypridewasonlymatchedbythatofthemotherofCandide，and，atonetime，threatenedtoresultintheextinctionofthisbranchoftheHouseofPepper。Dr。Brownhadremarked，andmyownobservationsconfirmit，thatwhenaDandyisnotgame，hisapparentlackofcouragearises"fromkindnessofheart。"

AmongDr。Brown\'slandscapes，asonemaycallhisdescriptionsofscenery，andoftheancienthistoricalassociationswithScotchscenery，"Minchmoor"isthemostimportant。HehadalwaysbeenagreatloveroftheTweed。Thewalkwhichhecommemoratesin"Minchmoor"wastaken，ifIamnotmistaken，incompanywithPrincipalShairp，ProfessorofPoetryintheUniversityofOxford，andauthorofoneofthemostbeautifulofTweedsidesongs，amodern"BushaboonTraquair:"-

"Andwhatsawyethere，AtthebushaboonTraquair；

Orwhatdidyehearthatwasworthyourheed？

IheardthecushiecroonThro\'thegowdenafternoon，AndtheQuairburnsingingdoontothevaleo\'Tweed。"

ThereisinthecountryofScottnopleasanterwalkthanthatwhichDr。Browntookinthesummerafternoon。Withinafewmiles，manyplacesfamousinhistoryandballadmaybevisited:theroadbywhichMontrose\'smenfledfromPhiliphaughfight；TraquairHouse，withthebearsonitsgates，asontheportalsoftheBaronofBradwardine；Williamhope，whereScottandMungoPark，theAfricanexplorer，partedandwenttheirseveralways。FromthecrestoftheroadyouseealltheBorderhills，theMaidenPaps，theEildonscloveninthree，theDunion，theWindburg，andsotothedistantCheviots，andSmailholmTower，whereScottlaywhenachild，andclappedhishandsattheflashesofthelightning，haudsineDisanimosusinfans，likeHorace。

FromthecrestofthehillyoufollowDr。BrownintothevalleyofYarrow，andthedeepblackpools，nowcalledthe"dowiedens，"andso，"throughthepompofcultivatednature，"asWordsworthsays，totherailwayatSelkirk，passingtheplainwhereJanetwonbackTamlanefromthequeenofthefairies。AllthiscountrywasfamiliartoDr。Brown，andononeofthelastoccasionswhenImethim，hewaslivingatHollylea，ontheTweed，justaboveAshestiel，Scott\'shomewhilehewashappyandprosperous，beforehehadtheunhappythoughtofbuildingAbbotsford。AtthetimeIspeakof，Dr。Brownhadlongceasedtowrite，andhishealthsufferedfromattacksofmelancholy，inwhichtheworldseemedverydarktohim。

Ihavebeenallowedtoreadsomeletterswhichhewroteinoneoftheseintervalsofdepression。Withhishabitualunselfishness，hekepthismelancholytohimself，and，thoughhedidnotcareforsocietyatsuchtimes，hesaidnothingofhisownconditionthatcoulddistresshiscorrespondent。Inthelastyearofhislife，everythingaroundhimseemedtobrighten:hewasunusuallywell，heevenreturnedtohisliterarywork，andsawhislastvolumeofcollectedessaysthroughthepress。Theyweremostfavourablyreceived，andthelastletterswhichIhadfromhimspokeofthepleasurewhichthissuccessgavehim。Threeeditionsofhisbook("JohnLeech，andOtherEssays")werepublishedinsomesixweeks。

Allseemedtogowell，andonemightevenhavehopedthat，withrenewedstrength，hewouldtakeuphispenagain。Buthisstrengthwaslessthanwehadhoped。Acoldsettledonhislungs，and，inspiteofthemostaffectionatenursing，hegrewrapidlyweaker。Hehadlittlesufferingattheend，andhismindremainedunclouded。

Nomanofletterscouldbemorewidelyregretted，forhewasthefriendofallwhoreadhisbooks，as，eventopeoplewhoonlymethimonceortwiceinlife，heseemedtobecomedearandfamiliar。

Inoneofhisverylatestwritings，"OnThackeray\'sDeath，"Dr。

Browntoldpeople(whatsomeofthemneeded，andstillneedtobetold)howgood，kind，andthoughtfulforotherswasourgreatwriter——ourgreatestmasteroffiction，Iventuretothink，sinceScott。SomeofthelinesDr。BrownwroteofThackerarymightbeappliedtohimself:"Helookedalwaysfresh，withthataboundingsilveryhair，andhisyoung，almostinfantileface"——afaceverypale，andyetradiant，inhislastyears，andmildlylitupwitheyesfullofkindness，andsoftenedbysorrow。Inhislastyear，Mr。SwinburnewrotetoDr。Brownthissonnet，inwhichthereseemssomethingofthepoet\'spropheticgift，andavoicesoundsasofawelcomehome:-

"Beyondthenorthwindlaythelandofold，Wheremendweltblitheandblameless，clothedandfedWithjoy\'sbrightraiment，andwithlove\'ssweetbread，-

Thewhitestflockofearth\'smaternalfold，NonetheremightwearabouthisbrowsenrolledAlightoflovelierfamethanringsyourhead，WhoselovesomeloveofchildrenandthedeadAllmengivethanksfor；I，faroff，beholdAdeardeadhandthatlinksus，andalightTheblithestandbenignestofthenight，-

Thenightofdeath\'ssweetsleep，whereinmaybeAstartoshowyourspiritinpresentsightSomehappierisleintheElysianseaWhereRabmaylickthehandofMarjorie。"

CHAPTERIV:OLIVERWENDELLHOLMES

NeverbutoncedidIenjoytheprivilegeofmeetingtheauthorof"ElsieVenner"——OliverWendellHolmes。ItwasatadinnergivenbyMr。Lowell，andofconversationwithDr。HolmesIhadverylittle。

Hestruckmeasbeingwonderfullyerect，active，andvivaciousforhisgreatage。Hespoke(perhapsIshouldnotchroniclethisimpression)——hespokemuch，andfreely，butratherasifhewerewounduptospeak，sotosay——woundup，Imean，byasenseofdutytohimselfandkindnesstostrangers，whowerenaturallycuriousaboutsowell-knownaman。Inhisaspecttherewasacertaindryness，and，altogether，hisvivacity，hisceaselessness，andakindofequabilityoftoneinhisvoice，remindedmeofwhatHomersaysconcerningtheoldmenaroundPriam，abovethegateofTroy，howthey"chirpedlikecicalasonasummerday。"AboutthematterofhistalkIremembernothing，onlythemannerremainswithme，andminemayhavebeenafalseimpression，orthemannermayhavebeenaccidental，andofthemoment:or，again，amannerappropriateforconversationwithstrangers，eachcominguponeaftertheother，toviewrespectfullysogreatalion。Amonghisfriendsandintimateshewasprobablyadifferentman，withatoneotherandmorereposeful。

Hehadalong，wearytaskbeforehim，then，totalkhisway，evercourteous，alert，attentive，throughpartofaLondonseason。Yet，whenitwasallover，heseemstohaveenjoyedit，beingamanwhotookpleasureinmostsortsofexperience。Hedidnotaffectme，forthatonetime，withsuchasenseofpleasureasMr。Lowelldid——

Mr。Lowell，whomIknewsomuchbetter，andwhowassobig，strong，humorous，kind，learned，friendly，anddelightfullynatural。

Dr。Holmes，too，wasadelightfulcompanion，andIhavemerelytriedtomakeasortofphotographic"snap-shot"athim，inasinglecasualmoment，oneofmyriadsofsuchmoments。TurningtoDr。Holmes\'spopular，asdistinctfromhisprofessionalwritings，oneisreminded，asoneoftenis，ofthechangewhichseemstocomeoversomebooksasthereadergrowsolder。Manybooksaretoonenowwhattheyalwayswere；some，liketheWaverleynovelsandShakespeare，growbetteroneveryfreshreading。Therearebookswhichfilledme，inboyhoodorinyouth，withasortofadmiringrapture，andadelightedwonderattheirnovelty，theirstrangeness，freshness，greatness。ThusHomer，andthebestnovelsofThackeray，andofFielding，theplaysofMoliereandShakespeare，thepoemsof——well，ofalltherealpoets，movedthisastonishmentofadmiration，andbeingreadagain，theymoveitstill。Onadifferentlevel，onemaysayasmuchaboutbookssounlikeeachother，asthoseofPoeandofSirThomasBrowne，ofSwiftandofCharlesLamb。

Thereare，again，otherbookswhichcausedthishappyemotionofwonder，whenfirstperused，longsince，butwhichdosonolonger。

IamnotmuchsurprisedtofindCharlesKingsley\'snovelsamongthem。

InthecaseofDr。Holmes\'sbooks，Iamverysensibleofthisdisenchantingeffectoftimeandexperience。"TheProfessorattheBreakfastTable"andthenovelscameintomyhandswhenIwasveryyoung，in"green，unknowingyouth。"Theyseemedextraordinary，new，fantasiesofwisdomandwit；thereflectionsweresuchassurprisedmebytheirdepth，theillustrationsdazzledbytheirnoveltyandbrilliance。Probablytheywillstillbeasfortunatewithyoungreaders，andIamtobepitied，Ihope，ratherthanblamed，ifIcannot，likethewisethrush-

"RecaptureThefirstfinecarelessrapture。"

Bythistime，ofcourse，oneunderstandsmanyoftheconstituentsofDr。Holmes\'sgenius，thesocial，historical，ancestral，andprofessionalelementsthereof。Now，itisthebusinessofcriticismtosearchoutandillustratetheseantecedents，anditseemsaveryoddandunluckything，thattheresultsofthisknowledgewhenacquired，shouldsometimesbeapartialdisenchantment。Butwearenotdisenchantedatallbythiskindofscience，whentheauthorwhomweareexaminingisagreatnaturalgenius，likeShakespeareorShelley，KeatsorScott。Suchnaturesbringtotheworldfarmorethantheyreceive，asfarasourmeansofknowingwhattheyreceiveareconcerned。Thewindofthespiritthatisnotofthisearth，norlimitedbytimeandspace，breathesthroughtheirwords，andthoughts，anddeeds。Theyarenotmerecombinations，howeverdeftandsubtle，ofKNOWNatoms。Theymustcontinuallydelight，andcontinuallysurprise；customcannotstalethem；liketheheaven-bornLawsinSophocles，agecanneverlullthemtosleep。Theirworks，whentheyareauthors，neverloseholdonourfancyandourinterest。

Asfarasmyownfeelingsandadmirationcaninformme，Dr。Holmes，thoughamostinterestingandamiableandkindlymanandwriter，wasnotofthisclass。Asanessayist，adelineatorofmenandmorals，anunassumingphilosopher，withalight，friendlywit，hecertainlydoesnotholdoneas，forexample，Addisondoes。TheoldSpectatormakesmesmile，pleases，tickles，divertsmenow，evenmorethanwhenIlayonthegrassandreaditbyTweedside，asaboy，whenthetroutweresluggish，intheearlyafternoon。ItisonlyapersonalfactthatDr。Holmes，readinthesameoldseasons，withsomuchpleasureandadmirationandsurprise，nolongeraffectsmeintheoldway。Carlyle，ontheotherhand，inhis"Frederick，"whichusedtoseemratherlong，nowentertainsmefarmorethanever。ButIamwellawarethatthisisameresubjectiveestimate；thatDr。HolmesmayreallybeasgreatageniusasIwaswonttothinkhim，forcriticismisonlyapartofourimpressions。

Theopinionofmatureexperience，asarule，oughttobesounderthanthatofyouth；inthiscaseIcannotbutthinkthatitissounder。

Dr。HolmeswasaNewEnglander，andborninwhathecalls"theBrahmincaste，"theclasswhich，inEngland，beforethesailingoftheMayFlower，andeversince，hadalwaysbeenliteraryandhighlyeducated。"Ilikebooks；Iwasbornandbredamongthem，"hesays，"andhavetheeasyfeeling，whenIgetintotheirpresence，thatastable-boyhasamonghorses。"Heisfondofbooks，and，aboveall，ofoldbooks——strange，oldmedicalworks，forexample——fullofportentsandprodigies，suchasthoseofWierus。

NewEngland，owingtoitsfamouscollege，Harvard，anditssteadymaintenanceoftheliteraryandlearnedtraditionamongtheclergy，was，naturally，thehomeoftheearliestgreatAmericanschoolofwriters。Thesemen——Longfellow，Lowell，Ticknor，Prescott，Hawthorne，andsomanyothers——hadallreceivedthesamesortofeducationasEuropeansoflettersusedtoreceive。Theyhadnotstartedasprinters\'devils，ornewspaperreporters，orplaywrightsforthestage，butwereacademic。Itdoesnotmattermuchhowageniusbegins——asaruralbutcher，oranapothecary，oraclerkofaWritertotheSignet。Still，theNewEnglanderswereacademicandclassical。NewEnglandhas，bythistime，establishedatraditionofitsliteraryoriginandcharacter。HerchildrenaresonsofthePuritans，withtheirindependence，theirnarrowness，theirappreciationofcomfort，theirhardinessindoingwithoutit，theirsingularscruplesofconscience，theirsenseoftheawfulnessofsin，theiraccessibilitytosuperstition。WecanreadofthelaterNewEnglandersinthemaking，amongtheworksofCottonMather，hisfatherIncreaseMather，andthewitch-burning，periwig-

hating，doctrinalJudgeSewall，whosomanfullyconfessedandatonedforhismistakeabouttheSalemwitches。Thesemen，ormanyofthem，weredeeply-learnedCalvinists，accordingtothestandardoftheirday，adaylastingfrom，say，theRestorationto1730。

CottonMather，inparticular，iserudite，literary——nay，fullofliteraryvanity——mystical，visionary，creduloustoanamusingdegree。

ButheisreallyasBritishasBaxter，orhisScottishcorrespondentandcounterpart，Wodrow。ThesonsorgrandsonsofthesemengainedtheWarofIndependence。Ofthistheyarenaturallyproud，andthecircumstanceisnotinfrequentlymentionedinDr。Holmes\'sworks。Theirdemocracyisnotroaringmoderndemocracy，butthatofthecultivatedmiddleclasses。TheirsternCalvinismslackenedintomany"isms，"butleftakindofreligiositybehindit。OneofDr。Holmes\'smouthpiecessumsuphiswholecreedinthetwowordsPaterNoster。AllthesehereditaryinfluencesareconsciouslymadeconspicuousinDr。Holmes\'swritings，asinHawthorne\'s。InHawthorneyouseetheoldhorrorofsin，theoldterrorofconscience，theolddreadofwitchcraft，theoldconcernaboutconduct，convertedintoaestheticsourcesofliterarypleasure，ofliteraryeffects。

Asaphysicianandamanofscience，Dr。Holmesaddedabundantknowledgeofthenewsort；andapt，unexpectedbitsofsciencemadepopular，analogiesandillustrationsaffordedbysciencearefrequentinhisworks。Thus，in"ElsieVenner，"andin"TheGuardianAngel，""heredity"ishistheme。Heisalwaysbroodingoverthethoughtthateachofusissomuchmadeupofearlierpeople，ourancestors，whobequeathtoussomanydisagreeablethings——vice，madness，disease，emotions，tricksofgesture。Nodoubtthesethingsarebequeathed，butallinsuchnewproportionsandrelations，thateachofusishimselfandnobodyelse，andthereforehadbettermakeuphismindtoBEhimself，andforhimselfresponsible。

Allthisdoctrineofheredity，stillsodimlyunderstood，Dr。

Holmesderivesfromscience。But，inpassingthroughhismind，thatofaNewEnglanderconsciousofNewEngland\'spast，sciencetakesastainofromanceandsuperstition。ElsieVenner，throughanexperienceofhermother\'s，inheritsthenatureoftheserpent，sothenovelisasfarfromcommonlifeasthetaleof"Melusine，"

oranyotherechidna。ThefantasyhasitssettinginacommonplaceNewEnglandenvironment，andthusrecallsaHawthornelesssubtleandconcentrated，butmuchmorehumorous。Theheroineofthe"GuardianAngel，"again，exposesacharacterinlayers，asitwere，eachstratumofconsciousnessbeinginheritedfromadifferentancestor——amongothers，aredIndian。Shehasmanypersonalities，likethequeerwomenwereadaboutinFrenchtreatisesonhystericsandnervousdiseases。Thesestoriesare"fairytalesofscience，"

byamanofscience，whoisalsoahumourist，andhasatouchofthepoet，andoftheoldfatherswhowereafraidofwitches。The"blend"issingularenough，andnotwithoutitsoriginalityoffascination。

ThoughamanofscienceDr。Holmesapparentlytookanimaginativepleasureinallshapesofsuperstitionthathecouldmuster。I

mustquoteapassagefrom"TheProfessorattheBreakfastTable，"

aspeculiarlyillustrativeofhismethod，andhiswaysofhalfacceptingtheabnormallyromantic——acceptingjustenoughforpleasure，likeSirWalterScott。Connectedwiththeextractisacuriousanecdote。

"IthinkIamalittlesuperstitious。Thereweretwothings，whenIwasaboy，thatdiabolisedmyimagination，——Imean，thatgavemeadistinctapprehensionofaformidablebodilyshapewhichprowledroundtheneighbourhoodwhereIwasbornandbred。Thefirstwasaseriesofmarkscalledthe\'Devil\'sfootsteps。\'Thesewerepatchesofsandinthepastures，wherenograssgrew，whereeventhelow-

bushblackberry，the"dewberry，"asourSouthernneighbourscallit，inprettierandmoreShakespearianlanguage，didnotspreaditsclingingcreepers，whereeventhepale，dry，sadly-sweet\'everlasting\'couldnotgrow，butallwasbareandblasted。Thesecondwasamarkinoneofthepublicbuildingsnearmyhome，——thecollegedormitorynamedafteraColonialGovernor。Idonotthinkmanypersonsareawareoftheexistenceofthismark，——littlehavingbeensaidaboutthestoryinprint，asitwasconsideredverydesirable，forthesakeoftheInstitution，tohushitup。Inthenorth-westcorner，andonthelevelofthethirdorfourthstorey，therearesignsofabreachinthewalls，mendedprettywell，butnottobemistaken。Aconsiderableportionofthatcornermusthavebeencarriedaway，fromwithinoutward。Itwasanunpleasantaffair，andIdonotcaretorepeattheparticulars；butsomeyoungmenhadbeenusingsacredthingsinaprofaneandunlawfulway，whentheoccurrence，whichwasvariouslyexplained，tookplace。ThestoryoftheAppearanceinthechamberwas，I

suppose，inventedafterwards；butoftheinjurytothebuildingtherecouldbenoquestion；andthezigzagline，wherethemortarisalittlethickerthanbefore，isstilldistinctlyvisible。

"Thequeerburntspots，calledthe\'Devil\'sfootsteps，\'hadneverattractedattentionbeforethistime，thoughthereisnoevidencethattheyhadnotexistedpreviously，exceptthatofthelateMissM。，a\'Goody，\'socalled，whowaspositiveonthesubject，buthadastrangehorrorofreferringtoanaffairofwhichshewasthoughttoknowsomething……Itellyouitwasnotsopleasantforalittleboyofimpressiblenaturetogouptobedinanoldgambrel-

roofedhouse，withuntenantedlockedupperchambers，andamostghostlygarret，——with\'Devil\'sfootsteps\'inthefieldsbehindthehouse，andinfrontofitthepatcheddormitory，wheretheunexplainedoccurrencehadtakenplacewhichstartledthosegodlessyouthsattheirmockdevotions，sothatoneofthemwasepilepticfromthatdayforward，andanother，afteradreadfulseasonofmentalconflict，tooktoreligion，andbecamerenownedforhisasceticsanctity。"

ItisapitythatDr。Holmesdoesnotgivethewholestory，insteadofhintingatit，forasimilartaleistoldatBrazenoseCollege，andelsewhere。Nowtake，alongwithDr。Holmes\'sconfessiontoagrainofsuperstition，thisremarkon，andexplanationof，thecuriouscoincidenceswhichthrustthemselvesonthenoticeofmostpeople。

"Excuseme，——IreturntomystoryoftheCommonstable。Youngfellowsbeingalwayshungry，andteaanddrytoastbeingthemeagrefareoftheeveningmeal，itwasatrickofsomeoftheboystoimpaleasliceofmeatuponafork，atdinner-time，andstickthefork，holdingit，beneaththetable，sothattheycouldgetitattea-time。ThedragonsthatguardedthistableoftheHesperidesfoundoutthetrickatlast，andkeptasharplook-outformissingforks；——theyknewwheretofindone，ifitwasnotinitsplace。

Nowtheoddthingwas，that，afterwaitingsomanyyearstohearofthisCollegetrick，IshouldhearitmentionedaSECONDTIMEwithinthesametwenty-fourhoursbyaCollegeyouthofthepresentgeneration。Strange，buttrue。Andsoithashappenedtomeandtoeveryperson，oftenandoften，tobehitinrapidsuccessionbythesetwinnedfactsorthoughts，asiftheywerelinkedlikechain-

shot。

"Iwasgoingtoleavethesimplereadertowonderoverthis，takingitasanunexplainedmarvel。Ithink，however，Iwillturnoverafurrowofsubsoilinit。Theexplanationis，ofcourse，thatinagreatmanythoughtstheremustbeafewcoincidences，andtheseinstantlyarrestourattention。Nowweshallprobablyneverhavetheleastideaoftheenormousnumberofimpressionswhichpassthroughourconsciousness，untilinsomefuturelifeweseethephotographicrecordofourthoughtsandthestereoscopicpictureofouractions。

"Now，mydearfriends，whoareputtingyourhandstoyourforeheads，andsayingtoyourselvesthatyoufeelalittleconfused，asifyouhadbeenwaltzinguntilthingsbegantowhirlslightlyroundyou，isitpossiblethatyoudonotclearlyapprehendtheexactconnectionofallIhavebeensaying，anditsbearingonwhatisnowtocome？Listen，then。Thenumberoftheselivingelementsinourbodiesillustratestheincalculablemultitudeofourthoughts；thenumberofourthoughtsaccountsforthosefrequentcoincidencesspokenof；thesecoincidencesintheworldofthoughtillustratethosewhichweconstantlyobserveintheworldofoutwardevents。"

Nowfortheanecdote——oneofMarkTwain\'s。

Someyearsago，MarkTwainpublishedinHarper\'sMagazineanarticleon"MentalTelegraphy。"Heillustratedhismeaningbyastoryofhowheoncewrotealongletteronacomplicatedsubject，whichhadpoppedintohisheadbetweenasleepandawake，toafriendontheothersideofAmerica。Hedidnotsendtheletter，but，byreturnofpost，receivedonefromhisfriend。"Now，I\'lltellyouwhatheisgoingtosay，"saidMarkTwain，readhisownunsentepistlealoud，andthen，openinghisfriend\'sdespatch，provedthattheywereessentiallyidentical。Thisiswhathecalls"MentalTelegraphy"；otherscallit"Telepathy，"andthetermismerelydescriptive。

Now，onhisownshowing，inoursecondextract，Dr。Holmesshouldhaveexplainedcoincidenceslikethisaspurelytheworkofchance，andIratherinclinetothinkthathewouldhavebeenright。ButMarkTwain，inhisarticleon"MentalTelegraphy，"citesDr。Holmesforastoryofhowheonce，afterdinner，ashisletterscamein，feltconstrainedtotell，aproposdesbottes，thestoryofthelastchallengetojudicialcombatinEngland(1817)。HethenopenedanewspaperdirectedtohimfromEngland，theSportingTimes，andthereinhiseyeslightedonanaccountofthisveryaffair——AbrahamThornton\'schallengetobattlewhenhewasaccusedofmurder，in1817。AccordingtoMarkTwain，Dr。Holmeswasdisposedtoaccept"MentalTelegraphy"ratherthanmerechanceasthecauseofthiscoincidence。Yettheanecdoteofthechallengeseemstohavebeenafavouriteofhis。Itoccursin，"TheProfessor，"inthefifthsection。Perhapshetolditprettyfrequently；probablythatiswhytheprintedversionwassenttohim；still，hewasalittlestaggeredbythecoincidence。TherewasenoughofCottonMatherinthemanofsciencetogivehimpause。

TheformofDr。Holmes\'sbestknownbooks，thesetconcernedwiththebreakfast-tableand"OvertheTeacups，"isnotveryfortunate。

Muchconversationatbreakfastisawearinessoftheflesh。Wewanttoeatwhatisnecessary，andthentogoaboutourworkorplay。IfAmericancitizensinaboarding-housecouldenduretheselongpalavers，theymusthavebeenveryunlikethehastyfeederscaricaturedin"MartinChuzzlewit。"MacaulaymayhavemonologuisedthusathisbreakfastpartiesintheAlbany；butbreakfastpartiesareobsolete——anunregrettableparcelofthingslost。Themonologues，ordialogues，werepublishedseriallyintheAtlanticMonthly，buttheyhavehadavitalityandavoguefarbeyondthoseofthemagazinecauserie。Someoftheirpopularitytheymayowetothedescriptionoftheotherboarders，andtothekindofnovelwhichconnectsthefortunesofthesepersonages。ButitisimpossibleforanEnglishmantoknowwhethertheseAmericantypesareexactlydrawnornot。Theirfortunesdonotstronglyinterestone，thoughthe"Sculpin"——thepatriotic，deformedBostonian，withhisgreat-great-grandmother\'sring(shewashangedforawitch)——isaveryoriginalandsingularcreation。Therealinterestliesinthewit，wisdom，andlearning。Thewit，nowandthen，seemsto-dayratherinthenatureofa"goak。"Onemightgiveexamples，buttodososeemsill-naturedandungrateful。

Therearesomeveryperishablepuns。ThelearningisnotsorechercheasitappearedwhenweknewnothingofCottonMatherandRobertCalef，theauthorofabookagainstthepersecutionofwitches。Calef，ofcourse，wasintheright，butIcannotforgivehimforrefusingtoseealady，knowntoMr。Mather，whofloatedaboutintheair。Thatshedidsowasnogoodreasonforhangingorburninganumberofparishioners；but，didshefloat，and，ifso，how？Mr。Calefsaiditwouldbeamiracle，sohedeclinedtoviewtheperformance。Hislogicwasthin，thoughofafamiliardescription。Ofalloldthings，atallevents，Dr。Holmeswasfond。HefoundAmericascarcelyaired，newandraw，devoidofhistoryandofassociations。"TheTiberhasavoiceforme，asitwhisperstothepiersofthePonsAElius，evenmorefullofmeaningthanmywell-belovedCharles，eddyingroundthepilesofWestBostonBridge。"NodoubtthisisacommonsentimentamongAmericans。

Occasionally，likeHawthorne，theysighforanhistoricalatmosphere，andthen，whentheycometoEuropeandgetit，theydonotlikeit，andthinkSchenectady，NewYork，"abetterplace。"ItisnoteasytounderstandwhatailedHawthornewithEurope；hewasextremelycausticinhiswritingsaboutthatcontinent，anddiscontented。Ourmatronsweresostoutandplacidthattheyirritatedhim。Indeed，theyarealittleheavyinhand，stillthereareexamplesofagreeableslimness，eveninthispooroldcountry。Fondashewasofthehistoricalpast，Mr。Holmesremainedloyaltothehistoricalpresent。HewasnotoneofthoseAmericanswhoarealwayscensuringEngland，andalwayshankeringafterher。Hehadnoneofthatirritablefeeling，whichmadeagreatcontemporaryofhisangrilydeclarethatHEcouldenduretohear"YeMarinersofEngland"sung，becauseofhisowncountry\'ssuccesses，sometimeago。TheyweregallantandconspicuousvictoriesoftheAmericanfrigates；wedonotgrudgethem。Afairfightshouldleavenorancour，aboveallinthevictors，andDr。

Holmes\'switherswouldhavebeenunwrungbyCampbell\'sditty。

HevisitedEnglandinyouth，andfiftyyearslater。OntheanniversaryoftheAmericandefeatatBunker\'sHill(June17)，Dr。

HolmesgothisdegreeintheOLDCambridge。HereceiveddegreesatEdinburghandatOxford，inhis"HundredDaysinEurope"hesaysverylittleaboutthesehistoriccities。ThemenatOxfordasked，"Didhecomeinthe\'OneHossShay\'？"thenameofhismostfamiliarpoeminthelightervein。ThewholevisittoEnglandpleasedandweariedhim。HelikenedittotheshasscaffyofMr。HenryFoker——

thefillipattheendofthelongbanquetoflife。HewenttoseetheDerby，forhewasfondofhorses，ofracing，and，inasportsmanlikeway，ofboxing。Hehadthegreatboldnessonce，audaxjuventa，towriteasonginpraiseofthatcomfortablecreature——wine。ThepruderyofmanyAmericansaboutthejuiceofthegrapeisathingveryastonishingtoatemperateBriton。Anadmirableauthor，whowroteanaccountoftheoldconvivialdaysofanAmericancity，foundthatreputablemagazinescouldnotacceptsuchadegradinghistoricalrecord。TherewasnononsenseaboutDr。Holmes。Hispoemsweremainly"occasional"versesforfriendlymeetings；orhumorous，likethecelebrated"OneHorseShay。"Ofhisseriousverses，the"Nautilus"isprobablytoofamiliartoneedquotation；anoblefancyisnoblyandtunefully"moralised。"

Pleasing，cultivated，andsoforth，areadjectivesnotdeartopoets。Tosay"sublime，"or"magical，"or"strenuous，"ofDr。

Holmes\'smuse，wouldbetoexaggerate。Howfarhemaintainedhisscholarship，Iamnotcertain；butitisoddthat，inhisprefaceto"TheGuardianAngel，"heshouldquotefrom"JonathanEdwardstheyounger，"astoryforwhichhemighthavecitedAristotle。

WereItochooseonecharacteroutofDr。Holmes\'screationsasmyfavourite，itwouldbe"afrequentcorrespondentofhis，"andofmine——theimmortalGiftedHopkins。Neverwasminorpoetmorekindlyandgeniallyportrayed。Andifonehadtopickoutthreeofhisbooks，asthebestworthreading，theywouldbe"TheProfessor，""ElsieVenner，"and"TheGuardianAngel。"Theyhavenottheimpeccableartanddistinctionof"TheHouseoftheSevenGables"and"TheScarletLetter，"buttheycombinefantasywithlivinghumaninterest，andwithhumour。WithSirThomasBrowne，andDr。JohnBrown，and——maywenotaddDr。WeirMitchell？——Dr。

Holmesexcellentlyrepresentsthephysicianinhumaneletters。Hehasleftablamelessandmostamiablememory，unspottedbytheworld。Hisworksarefullofthesavourofhisnativesoil，naturally，withoutstrainingafter"Americanism；"andtheyarenational，notlocalorprovincial。Hecrossedthegreatgulfofyears，betweenthecentralageofAmericanliteraryproduction——thetimeofHawthorneandPoe——toourowntime，and，likeNestor，hereignedamongthethirdgeneration。Asfarastheworldknows，theshadowofaliteraryquarrelneverfellonhim；hewaswithoutenvyorjealousy，incuriousofhisownplace，nevervain，petulant，orsevere。Hewaseventoogood-humoured，andtheworstthingIhaveheardofhimisthathecouldneversay"no"toanautographhunter。

CHAPTERV:MR。MORRIS\'SPOEMS

"Enough，"saidthepupilofthewiseImlac，"youhaveconvincedmethatnomancanbeapoet。"ThestudyofMr。WilliamMorris\'spoems，inthenewcollectededition，{5}hasconvincedmethatnoman，or，atleast，nomiddle-agedman，canbeacritic。IreadMr。

Morris\'spoems(thankstotheknightlyhonoursconferredontheBardofPenrhyn，thereisnownoambiguityasto\'Mr。Morris\')，butitisnotthebookonlythatIread。Thescrollofmyyouthisunfolded。IseethedearplacewherefirstIperused"TheBlueCloset"；theoldfacesofoldfriendsflockaroundme；oldchaff，oldlaughter，oldhappinessre-echoandrevive。St。Andrews，Oxford，comebeforethemind\'seye，with"ManyaplaceThat\'sinsadcaseWherejoywaswontafore，oh!"

asMinstrelBurnesings。Thesevoices，faces，landscapesminglewiththemusicandblurthepicturesofthepoetwhoenchantedforuscertainhourspassedintheparadiseofyouth。AreviewerwhofindshimselfinthiscasemayaswellfranklyconfessthathecannomorecriticiseMr。Morrisdispassionatelythanhecouldcriticisehisoldselfandthefriendswhomheshallneverseeagain，tillhemeetsthem"Beyondthesphereoftime，Andsin，andgrief\'scontrol，SereneinchangelessprimeOfbodyandofsoul。"

Towriteofone\'sown"adventuresamongbooks"maybetoprovideanecdotagemoreorlesstrivial，moreorlessfutile，but，atleast，itistowritehistorically。Weknowhowbookshaveaffected，anddoaffectourselves，ourbundleofprejudicesandtastes，ofoldimpressionsandrevivedsensations。Tojudgebooksdispassionatelyandimpersonally，ismuchmoredifficult——indeed，itispracticallyimpossible，forourowntastesandexperiencesmust，moreorless，modifyourverdicts，dowhatwewill。However，theeffortmustbemade，fortosaythat，atacertainage，incertaincircumstances，anindividualtookmuchpleasurein"TheLifeandDeathofJason，"thepresentofacollegefriend，iscertainlynottocriticise"TheLifeandDeathofJason。"

TherehavebeenthreeblossomingtimesintheEnglishpoetryofthenineteenthcentury。ThefirstdatesfromWordsworth，Coleridge，Scott，and，later，fromShelley，Byron，Keats。By1822theblossomingtimewasover，andthesecondblossomingtimebeganin1830-1833，withyoungMr。TennysonandMr。Browning。Itbrokeforthagain，in1842anddidnotpracticallyceasetillEngland\'sgreatestlaureatesangofthe"CrossingoftheBar。"ButwhileTennysonputouthisfullstrengthin1842，andMr。Browningratherlater，in"BellsandPomegranates"("MenandWomen")，thethirdspringcamein1858，withMr。Morris\'s"DefenceofGuenevere，"andfloweredtillMr。Swinburne\'s"AtalantainCalydon"appearedin1865，followedbyhispoemsof1866。Mr。Rossetti\'sbookof1870

belonged，indateofcomposition，mainlytothisperiod。

In1858，when"TheDefenceofGuenevere"cameout，Mr。Morrismusthavebeenbutayearortwofromhisundergraduateship。Everyonehasheardenoughabouthiscompanions，Mr。BurneJones，Mr。

Rossetti，CanonDixon，andtheothersoftheoldOxfordandCambridgeMagazine，whereMr。Morris\'swonderfulprosefantasiesareburied。Whyshouldtheynotberevived，thesestrangelycolouredandmagicaldreams？Asliterature，IpreferthemvastlyaboveMr。Morris\'slaterromancesinprose——"TheHollowLand"above"NewsfromNowhere!"Mr。Morrisandhisfriendswereactiveinthefreshdawnofanewromanticism，amediaevalandCatholicrevival，withverylittleCatholicisminitforthemostpart。Thisrevivalismore"innerly，"astheScotchsay，moreintimate，more"earnest"

thanthelargerandmoregenial，ifmoresuperficial，restorationbyScott。Thepainfuldoubt，thescepticismoftheAgesofFaith，thedarkhoursofthatepoch，itsfantasy，cruelty，luxury，nolessthanitscolourandpassion，informMr。Morris\'sfirstpoems。Thefourteenthandtheearlyfifteenthcenturyishis"period。"In"TheDefenceofGuenevere"heisnotundertheinfluenceofChaucer，whosenarrativemanner，withoutonegrainofhishumour，inspires"TheLifeandDeathofJason"and"TheEarthlyParadise。"

IntheearlybooktheruggedstyleofMr。Browninghasleftamark。

Therearecockneyrhymes，too，suchas"short"rhymingto"thought。"But，onthewhole，Mr。Morris\'searlymannerwasallhisown，norhasheeverreturnedtoit。Inthefirstpoem，"TheQueen\'sApology，"isthispassage:-

"Listen:supposeyourtimewerecometodie，Andyouwerequitealoneandveryweak；

Yea，laida-dying，whileverymightily"ThewindwasrufflingupthenarrowstreakOfriverthroughyourbroadlandsrunningwell:

Supposeahushshouldcome，thensomeonespeak:

"\'Oneoftheseclothsisheaven，andoneishell，Nowchooseoneclothforever，whichtheybe，Iwillnottellyou，youmustsomehowtell"\'Ofyourownstrengthandmightiness；here，see!\'

Yea，yea，mylord，andyoutoopeyoureyes，Atfootofyourfamiliarbedtosee"AgreatGod\'sangelstanding，withsuchdyes，Notknownonearth，onhisgreatwings，andhands，Heldouttwoways，lightfromtheinnerskies"Showinghimwell，andmakinghiscommandsSeemtobeGod\'scommands，moreover，too，Holdingwithinhishandstheclothsonwands；

"Andoneofthesestrangechoosing-clothswasblue，Wavyandlong，andonecutshortandred；

Nomancouldtellthebetterofthetwo。

"Afterashiveringhalf-houryousaid，\'Godhelp!heaven\'scolour，theblue；\'andhesaid，\'Hell。\'

Perhapsyouthenwouldrolluponyourbed，"Andcrytoallgoodmenthatlovedyouwell，\'Ah，Christ!ifonlyIhadknown，known，known。\'"

TherewasnothinglikethatbeforeinEnglishpoetry；ithasthebizarrerieofanewthinginbeauty。HowfaritisreallybeautifulhowcanItell？HowcanIdiscountthe"personalbias"？

OnlyIknowthatitisunforgettable。Again(Galahadspeaks):-

"IsawOnesittingonthealtarasathrone，Whosefacenomancouldsayhedidnotknow，And，thoughthebellstillrang，hesatalone，Withraimenthalfblood-red，halfwhiteassnow。"

Suchthingsmadetheirownspecialineffaceableimpact。

LeavingtheArthuriancycle，Mr。Morrisenteredonhisespeciallysympatheticperiod——thegloomandsadsunsetgloryofthelatefourteenthcentury，theageofFroissartandwicked，wastefulwars。

ToFroissartitallseemedonemagnificentpageantofknightlyandkinglyfortunes；heonlymurmursa"greatpity"forthedeathofaknightorthemassacreofatown。ItisratherthepityofitthatMr。Morrissees:theheartsbrokeninacorner，asin"SirPeterHarpedon\'sEnd，"orbeside"TheHaystackintheFloods。"Hereisapicturelikelifeofwhatbefellahundredtimes。LadyAlicedelaBardehearsofthedeathofherknight:-

"ALICE

"Canyoutalkfaster，sir？

Getoverallthisquicker？fixyoureyesOnmine，Iprayyou，andwhate\'eryouseeStillgoontalkingfast，unlessIfall，Orbidyoustop。

"SQUIRE

"Iprayyourpardonthen，Andlookinginyoureyes，fairlady，sayIamunhappythatyourknightisdead。

Takeheart，andlisten!letmetellyouall。

Wewerefivethousandgoodlymen-at-arms，Andscantfivehundredhadheinthathold；

Hisrottensandstonewallswerewetwithrain，Andfellinlumpswhereverastonehit；

YetforthreedaysaboutthebarriersthereThedeadlyglaivesweregather\'d，laidacross，Andpush\'dandpull\'d；thefourthourenginescame；

Butstillamidthecrashoffallingwalls，Androarofbombards，rattleofhardbolts，Thesteadybow-stringsflash\'d，andstillstream\'doutSt。George\'sbanner，andthesevenswords，Andstilltheycried，\'St。GeorgeGuienne，\'untilTheirwallswereflatasJericho\'sofold，Andourrushcame，andcutthemfromthekeep。"

Theastonishingvividness，again，ofthetragedytoldin"GeffrayTesteNoire"islikethatofavisioninamagicmirrororacrystalball，ratherthanlikeapicturesuggestedbyprintedwords。"ShamefulDeath"hasthesameenchantedkindofpresentment。Welookthrougha"magiccasementopeningonthefoam"oftheoldwavesofwar。Poemsofapurefantasy，unequalledoutofColeridgeandPoe，are"TheWind"and"TheBlueCloset。"

Eachonlylivesinfantasy。Motives，andfacts，and"story"areunimportantandoutofview。Thepicturesarisedistinct，unsummoned，spontaneous，likethefacesandplaceswhichareflashedonoureyesbetweensleepingandwaking。Fantastic，too，butwithmoreofarecognisablehumansetting，is"GoldenWings，"

whichtoaslightdegreeremindsoneofTheophileGautier\'sChateaudeSouvenir。

"TheapplesnowgrowgreenandsourUponthemoulderingcastlewall，Beforetheyripentheretheyfall:

Therearenobannersonthetower，ThedraggledswansmosteagerlyeatThegreenweedstrailinginthemoat；

InsidetherottingleakyboatYouseeaslainman\'sstiffen\'dfeet。"

These，with"TheSailingoftheSword，"aremyownoldfavourites。

Therewasnothinglikethembefore，norwillbeagain，forMr。

Morris，afterseveralyearsofsilence，abandonedhisearlymanner。

Nodoubtitwasnotamannertoperseverein，buthappily，inamoodandamomentnevertobere-bornorreturn，Mr。MorrisdidfillafreshpageinEnglishpoetrywiththeseimperishablefantasies。Theywereabsolutelyneglectedby"thereadingpublic，"

buttheyfoundafewstaunchfriends。Indeed，Ithinkof"Guenevere"asFitzGeralddidofTennyson\'spoemsbefore1842。Butthis，ofcourse，isapurelypersonal，probablyapurelycapricious，estimate。CriticismmayaverthattheinfluenceofMr。

RossettiwasstrongonMr。Morrisbefore1858。Perhapsso，butwereadMr。Morrisfirst(astheworldreadthe"Lay"before"Christabel")，andmyownpreferenceisforMr。Morris。

ItwasaftereightornineyearsofsilencethatMr。Morrisproduced，in1866or1867，"TheLifeandDeathofJason。"Youngmenwhohadread"Guenevere"hastenedtopurchaseit，and，ofcourse，foundthemselvesincontactwithsomethingveryunliketheiroldfavourite。Mr。MorrishadtoldaclassicaltaleindecasyllabiccoupletsoftheChauceriansort，andheregardedtheheroicagefromamediaevalpointofview；atallevents，notfromanhistoricalandarchaeologicalpointofview。ItwasnaturalinMr。Morristo"envisage"theGreekheroicageinthisway，butitwouldnotbenaturalinmostotherwriters。Thepoemisnotmuchshorterthanthe"Odyssey，"andlongnarrativepoemshadbeenoutoffashionsince"TheLordoftheIsles"(1814)。

Allthiswasalittledisconcerting。Weread"Jason，"andreaditwithpleasure，butwithoutmuchofthemoreessentialpleasurewhichcomesfrommagicanddistinctionofstyle。ThepeculiarqualitiesofKeats，andTennyson，andVirgilarenotamongthegiftsofMr。Morris。AspeoplesayofScottinhislongpoems，soitmaybesaidofMr。Morris——thathedoesnotfurnishmanyquotations，doesnotglitterin"jewelsfivewordslong。"

In"Jason"heenteredonhislongcareerasanarrator；apoetretellingtheimmortalprimevalstoriesofthehumanrace。InoneguiseoranotherthelegendofJasonisthemostwidelydistributedofromances；theNorthAmericanIndianshaveit，andtheSamoansandtheSamoyeds，aswellasallIndo-Europeanpeoples。Thistale，toldbrieflybyPindar，andatgreaterlengthbyApolloniusRhodius，andinthe"Orphica，"Mr。Morristookupandhandledinasingleandobjectiveway。Hisartwasalwayspictorial，but，in"Jason"andlater，hedescribedmore，andwaslessapt，asitwere，toflashapictureonthereader，insomeincommunicableway。