\"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。
