第1章

PrefaceAdventuresAmongBooksRecollectionsofRobertLouisStevensonRab"sFriendOliverWendellHolmesMr。Morris"sPoemsMrs。Radcliffe"sNovelsAScottishRomanticistof1830

TheConfessionsofSaintAugustineSmollettNathanielHawthorneTheParadiseofPoetsParisandHelenEnchantedCigarettesStoriesandStory-tellingTheSupernaturalinFictionAnOldScottishPsychicalResearcherTheBoyPREFACE

OftheEssaysinthisvolume"AdventuresamongBooks，"and"Rab"sFriend，"appearedinScribner"sMagazine；and"RecollectionsofRobertLouisStevenson"(tothebestoftheauthor"smemory)inTheNorthAmericanReview。TheEssayon"Smollett"wasintheAnglo-

Saxon，whichhasceasedtoappear；andtheshorterpapers，suchas"TheConfessionsofSaintAugustine，"inaperiodicalstyledWitandWisdom。For"ThePoemsofWilliamMorris"theauthorhastothanktheEditorofLongman"sMagazine；for"TheBoy，"and"Mrs。

Radcliffe"sNovels，"theProprietorsofTheCornhillMagazine；for"EnchantedCigarettes，"andpossiblyfor"TheSupernaturalinFiction，"theProprietorsofTheIdler。Theportrait，afterSirWilliamRichmond，R。A。，wasdoneaboutthetimewhenmostoftheEssayswerewritten——andthatwasnotyesterday。

CHAPTERI:ADVENTURESAMONGBOOKS

Inanageofreminiscences，isthereroomfortheconfessionsofaveteran，whoremembersagreatdealaboutbooksandverylittleaboutpeople？IhaveoftenwonderedthataBiographiaLiterariahassoseldombeenattempted——abiographyorautobiographyofamaninhisrelationswithotherminds。Coleridge，tobesure，gavethisnametoaworkofhis，buthewanderedfromhisapparentpurposeintoaworldofaliendisquisitions。Thefollowingpagesarefranklybookish，andtothebookishonlydotheyappeal。Thehabitofreadinghasbeenpraisedasavirtue，andhasbeendenouncedasavice。Innocase，ifweexcepttheperpetualstudyofnewspapers(whichcannotfairlybecalledreading)，isthevice，orthevirtue，common。Itismoreinnocentthanopium-eating，though，likeopium-eating，itunlockstousartificialparadises。

ItrytosaywhatIhavefoundinbooks，whatdistractionsfromtheworld，whatteaching(notmuch)，andwhatconsolations。

Inbeginninganautobiographialiteraria，anaccountofhow，andinwhatorder，bookshaveappealedtoamind，whichbookshaveeveraboveallthingsdelighted，theauthormustpraytobepardonedforthesinofegotism。Thereisnoothermind，naturally，ofwhichtheauthorknowssomuchasofhisown。Onn"aquesoi，asthepoorgirlsaysinoneofM。PaulBourget"snovels。Inliterature，asinlove，onecanonlyspeakforhimself。Thisauthordidnot，likeFulkeGreville，retireintotheconventofliteraturefromthestrifeoftheworld，ratherhewasborntobe，fromthefirst，adwellerinthecloisterofalibrary。AmongthepoemswhichI

rememberbestoutofearlyboyhoodisLucyAshton"ssong，inthe"BrideofLammermoor":-

"Looknotthouonbeauty"scharming，Sitthoustillwhenkingsarearming，Tastenotwhenthewine-cupglistens，Speaknotwhenthepeoplelistens，Stopthineearagainstthesinger，Fromtheredgoldkeepthyfinger，Vacantheart，andhand，andeye，Easyliveandquietdie。"

Therhymes，unlearned，clungtomymemory；theywouldsingthemselvestomeonthewaytoschool，orcricket-field，and，abouttheageoften，probablywithoutquiteunderstandingthem，Ihadchosenthemforakindofmottoinlife，atunetomurmuralongthefallentissemitavitae。Thisseemsaqueerideaforasmallboy，butitmustbeconfessed。

"Ittakesallsortstomakeaworld，"somearesoldiersfromthecradle，somemerchants，someorators；nothingbutaloveofbookswasthegiftgiventomebythefairies。Itwasprobablyderivedfromforebearsonbothsidesofmyfamily，oneagreatreader，theotheraconsiderablecollectorofbookswhichremainedwithusandwerealltried，perseveredwith，orabandonedinturn，byastudentwhohasnotblanchedbeforetheEpigoniad。

AbouttheageoffourIlearnedtoreadbyasimpleprocess。IhadheardtheelegyofCockRobintillIknewitbyrote，andIpickedoutthelettersandwordswhichcomposethatclassictillIcouldreaditformyself。Earlierthanthat，"RobinsonCrusoe"hadbeenreadaloudtome，inanabbreviatedform，nodoubt。IrememberthepicturesofRobinsonfindingthefootstepinthesand，andadanceofcannibals，andtheparrot。But，somehow，Ihaveneverread"Robinson"since:itisapleasuretocome。

Thefirstbookswhichvividlyimpressedmewere，naturally，fairytales，andchap-booksaboutRobertBruce，WilliamWallace，andRobRoy。Atthattimetheselittletractscouldbeboughtforapennyapiece。IcanstillseeBruceinfullarmour，andWallaceinakilt，discoursingacrossaburn，andRobRoyslippingfromthesoldier"shorseintothestream。Theydidnotthenawakenaprecociouspatriotism；aboyoffiveismoreathomeinFairylandthaninhisowncountry。ThesuddenappearanceoftheWhiteCatasaqueenafterherheadwascutoff，thefiendishmaliceoftheYellowDwarf，thestrangecakeofcrocodileeggsandmilletseedwhichthemotherofthePrincessFrutillamadefortheFairyoftheDesert——thesethings，allfreshandastonishing，butcertainlytobecredited，aremyfirstmemoriesofromance。OnestoryofaWhiteSerpent，withawoodcutofthatmysteriousreptile，I

neglectedtosecure，probablyforwantofapenny，andIhaveregrettediteversince。Oneneverseesthosechapbooksnow。

"TheWhiteSerpent，"inspiteofallresearch，remainsintrouvable。

Itwasalostchance，andFortunedoesnotforgive。Nobodyeverinterferedwiththese，orindeedwithanyotherstudiesofoursatthattime，aslongastheywerenotprosecutedonSundays。"ThefightingestpartsoftheBible，"andtheApocrypha，andstorieslikethatoftheWitchofEndor，weresabbaticalliterature，readinahugeoldillustratedBible。HowIadvancedfromthefairytalestoShakespeare，whatstagestherewereontheway——fortheremusthavebeenstages——isathingthatmemorycannotrecover。A

nurserylegendtellsthatIwaswonttoarrangesixopenbooksonsixchairs，andgofromonetotheothers，perusingthembyturns。

Nodoubtthiswaswhatpeoplecall"desultoryreading，"butIdidnothearthecriticismtilllater，andthentoooftenformycomfort。Memoryholdsapicture，morevividthanmost，ofasmallboyreadingthe"MidsummerNight"sDream"byfirelight，inaroomwherecandleswerelit，andsomeonetouchedthepiano，andayoungmanandagirlwereplayingchess。TheShakespearewasavolumeofKennyMeadows"edition；therearefairiesinit，andthefairiesseemedtocomeoutofShakespeare"sdreamintothemusicandthefirelight。AtthatmomentIthinkthatIwashappy；itseemedanenchantedglimpseofeternityinParadise；nothingresemblingitremainswithme，outofalltheyears。

WewentfromthebordertothesouthofEngland，whenthenumberofmyyearswassix，andinEnglandwefoundanotherparadise，acirculatinglibrarywithbrown，greasy，ill-printed，oddvolumesofShakespeareandofthe"ArabianNights。"Howtheirstainedpagescomebeforetheeyesagain——thepleasureandthepuzzleofthem!

WhatdidtheladyintheGeni"sglassboxwantwiththeMerchants？

whatmeantalltheseconversationsbetweentheFatKnightandFord，inthe"MerryWives"？Itwasdelightful，butinpartsitwasdifficult。Fragmentsof"TheTempest，"andofotherplays，remainstrandedinmymemoryfromthesereadings:FerdinandandMirandaatchess，Cleopatracuffingthemessenger，theaspinthebasketoffigs，theFriarandtheApothecary，TroilusontheIlianwalls，avisionofCassandrainwhitemuslinwithherhairdown。Peopleforbidchildrentoreadthisorthat。Iamsuretheyneednot，andthateveninourinfancythemagician，Shakespeare，bringsusnothingworsethanaworldofbeautifulvisions，halfrealised。IntheEgyptianwizard"slittlepoolofink，onlythepurecanseethevisions，andinShakespeare"smagicmirrorchildrenseeonlywhatispure。AmongotherbooksofthattimeIonlyrecallakindofSundaynovel，"Naomi；or，TheLastDaysofJerusalem。"

Who，indeed，couldforgetthebattering-rams，andthemanwhocriedonthebattlements，"Woe，woetomyselfandtoJerusalem!"IseemtohearhimagainwhenboysbreakthehumofLondonwithyellsofthelatest"disaster。"

WeleftEnglandinayear，wentbacktoScotland，andawoke，asitwere，toknowthegloriesofourbirth。WelivedinScott"scountry，withinfourmilesofAbbotsford，and，sofar，wehadheardnothingofit。Iremembergoingwithoneofthemaidsintothecottageofakinsmanofhers，acarpenter；adelightfulplace，wheretherewassawdust，whereourfirstfishing-rodswerefashioned。Rummagingamongthebooks，ofcourse，Ifoundsomecheapperiodicalwithversesinit。Thelinesbegan-

"TheBaronofSmaylhomerosewithday，Hespurredhiscourseron，Withoutstoporstay，downtherockywayThatleadstoBrotherstone。"

Arustictea-tablewasspreadforus，withsconesandhoney，nottobeneglected。ButtheyWEREneglectedtillwehadlearnedhow-

"ThesablescoreoffingersfourRemainsonthatboardimpressed，AndforevermorethatladyworeAcoveringonherwrist。"

Wedidnotknownoraskthepoet"sname。Children，probably，sayverylittleaboutwhatisintheirminds；butthatunhappyknight，SirRichardofColdinghame，andthePriest，withhischamberintheeast，andthemoodyBaron，andtheLady，havedweltinourmindeversince，andhardlyneedtoberevivedbylookingat"TheEveofSt。John。"

SoonafterthatweweretoldaboutSirWalter，howgreathewas，howgood，how，likeNapoleon，hisevildestinyfoundhimatlast，andheworehisheartawayforhonour"ssake。Andweweregiventhe"Lay，"and"TheLadyoftheLake。"Itwasmyfatherwhofirstread"Tamo"Shanter"tome，forwhichIconfessIdidnotcareatthattime，preferringtotakewitchesandbogieswithgreatseriousness。ItseemedasifBurnsweretriflingwithanoblesubject。Butitwasinasummersunset，besideawindowlookingoutonEttrickandthehilloftheThreeBrethren"sCairn，thatI

firstread，withthedearestofallfriends，how-

"ThestagatevehaddrunkhisfillWheredancedthemoononMonan"srill，AnddeephismidnightlairhadmadeInloneGlenartney"shazelshade。"

Thenopenedthegatesofromance，andwithFitz-Jameswedrovethechase，till-

"Fewwerethestragglers，followingfar，ThatreachedthelakeofVennachar，AndwhentheBrigofTurkwaswon，Theforemosthorsemanrodealone。"

Fromthattime，formonths，therewasusuallyalittlevolumeofScottinone"spocket，incompanywiththemiscellaneouscollectionofaboy"streasures。Scottcertainlytookhisfairyfolkseriously，andtheMauthDogwasratheradisagreeablecompaniontoasmallboyinwakefulhours。{1}AfterthiskindofintroductiontoSirWalter，afterlearningone"sfirstlessonsinhistoryfromthe"TalesofaGrandfather，"nobody，onehopes，cancriticisehimincoldblood，orafterthemannerofMr。LeslieStephen，whoisnotsentimental。Scottisnotanauthorlikeanother，butourearliestknownfriendinletters；for，ofcourse，wedidnotaskwhoShakespearewas，norinquireabouttheprivatehistoryofMadamed"Aulnoy。Scottpeopledforustheriversandburnsideswithhisreivers；theFairyQueencameoutofEildonHillandhauntedCarterhaugh；atNewarkTowerwesaw"theembattledportalarch"-

"WhoseponderousgrateandmassybarHadoftrolledbackthetideofwar，"-

justas，atFoulshiels，onYarrow，webeheldtheveryrooflesscottagewhenceMungoParkwentforthtotracethewatersoftheNiger，andatOakwoodthetoweroftheWizardMichaelScott。

ProbablythefirstnovelIeverreadwasreadatElgin，andthestorywas"JaneEyre。"Thistalewasacreepyoneforaboyofnine，andRochesterwasamystery，St。Johnabore。Butthelonelylittlegirlinherdespair，whensomethingcameintotheroom，andherdaysofstarvationatschool，andtheterriblefirstMrs。

Rochester，werenottobeforgotten。Theyabideinone"srecollectionwithaRedIndian"sghost，whocarriedarustyruinedgun，andwhoseacquaintancewasmadeatthesametime。

IfancyIwasratheranindustriouslittleboy，andthatIhadmindedmylessons，andsatisfiedmyteachers——IknowIwasreadingPinnock"s"HistoryofRome"forpleasure——till"thewickeddayofdestiny"came，andIfelta"call，"andunderwentaprocesswhichmaybedescribedastheoppositeof"conversion。"The"call"camefromDickens。"Pickwick"wasbroughtintothehouse。Fromthathouritwasallover，forfiveorsixyears，withanythinglikeindustryandlesson-books。Iread"Pickwick"inconvulsionsofmirth。IdroppedPinnock"s"Rome"forgood。IneglectedeverythingprintedinLatin，infacteverythingthatonewasunderstoodtoprepareforone"sclassesintheschoolwhitherIwasnowsent，inEdinburgh。Forthere，livingaratherlonelysmallboyinthehouseofanagedrelation，IfoundtheWaverleyNovels。

Therestistransport。AconscientioustutordraggedmethroughtheLatingrammar，andaconstitutionaldisliketobeingbeatenonthehandswithaleatherstrapurgedmetoacquireacertainamountofelementaryerudition。But，forayear，Iwasayounghermit，livingwithScottinthe"Waverleys"andthe"BorderMinstrelsy，"

withPope，andPrior，andatranslationofAriosto，withLeverandDickens，DavidCopperfieldandCharlesO"Malley，LongfellowandMayneReid，Dumas，andinbrief，witheverykindoflightliteraturethatIcouldlaymyhandsupon。Carlyledidnotescapeme；IvividlyrememberthehelplessragewithwhichIreadoftheFlighttoVarennes。InhisworkonFrenchnovelists，Mr。

Saintsburyspeaksofadisagreeablelittleboy，inaFrenchromance，whofoundScottassommant，stunninglystupid。Thiswasaveryodiouslittleboy，itseems(Ihavenotreadhisadventures)，andhecame，ashedeserved，toabadend。Otherandbetterboys，Ilearn，findScott"slow。"Extraordinaryboys!Perhaps"Ivanhoe"

wasfirstfavouriteofyore；youcannotbeatFrontdeBoeuf，theassaultonhiscastle，thetournament。Noothertournamentneedapply。SirArthurConanDoyle，greatlydaring，hasattemptedtoenterthelists，butheisamereRalphtheHospitaller。Next，I

think，inorderofdelight，came"QuentinDurward，"especiallytheheroofthescar，whosenameThackeraycouldnotremember，Quentin"suncle。Then"TheBlackDwarf，"andDugald，ourdearRittmeister。Icouldnotread"RobRoy"then，norlater；nay，nottillIwasforty。NowDiVernonistheladyforme；thequeenoffiction，thepeerless，thebrave，thetender，andtrue。

ThewisdomoftheauthoritiesdecidedthatIwastoreadnomorenovels，but，asanobserverremarked，"Idon"tseewhatistheuseofpreventingtheboyfromreadingnovels，forhe"sjustreading"DonJuan"instead。"Thiswassomanifestlynoimprovement，thatthebanonnovelswastacitlywithdrawn，orwaspermittedtobecomeadeadletter。TheywerefarmoreenjoyablethanByron。Theworstthatcameofthiswasthesuggestionofayoungfriend，whoselifehadbeenadventurous——indeedhehadservedintheCrimeawiththeBashiBazouks——thatIshouldmasterthewritingsofEdgarPoe。I

donotthinkthatthe"BlackCat，"andthe"FalloftheHouseofUsher，"andthe"MurdersintheRueMorgue，"areverygoodreadingforaboywhoisnotpeculiarlyintrepid。Manyabadhourtheygaveme，hauntingme，especially，withafearofbeingprematurelyburied，andofwakingupbeforebreakfasttofindmyselfinacoffin。OfallthebooksIdevouredinthatyear，PoeistheonlyauthorwhomIwishIhadreservedforlaterconsideration，andwhomIcannotconscientiouslyrecommendtochildren。

IhadalreadyenjoyedasipofThackeray，readingataventure，in"VanityFair，"abouttheBattleofWaterloo。ItwasnotlikeLever"saccountsofbattles，butitwasenchanting。However，"VanityFair"wasunderataboo。Itisnoteasytosaywhy；butMr。Thackerayhimselfinformedasmallboy，whomhefoundreading"VanityFair"underthetable，thathehadbetterreadsomethingelse。Whatharmcanthestorydotoachild？HereadsaboutWaterloo，aboutfatJos，aboutlittleGeorgeandthepony，aboutlittleRawdonandtherat-hunt，andishappyandunharmed。

Leavingmyhermitage，andgoingintotheverydifferentandverydisagreeableworldofamaster"shouse，Iwasluckyenoughtofindacharminglibrarythere。MostofThackeraywasontheshelves，andThackeraybecamethechiefenchanter。AsHenryKingsleysays，aboyreadshimandthinksheknowsallaboutlife。Idonotthinkthatthemundaneparts，aboutLadyKewandherwiles，aboutEthelandtheMarquisofFarintosh，appealedtooneorenlightenedone。

Ethelwasamystery，andnotaninterestingmystery，thoughoneusedtocopyDoyle"spicturesofher，withthestraightnose，theimpossibleeyes，theimpossiblewaist。ItwasnotEthelwhocaptivatedus；itwasClive"syouthandart，itwasJ。J。，thepainter，itwasjollyF。B。andhisaddresstothemaidaboutthelobster。"Afinerfish，Mary，mydear，Ihaveneverseen。Doesnotthissolvethevexedquestionwhetherlobstersarefish，intheFrenchsense？"Then"TheRoseandtheRing"cameout。Itwasworthwhiletobetwelveyearsold，whentheChristmasbookswerewrittenbyDickensandThackeray。Igotholdof"TheRoseandtheRing，"Iknow，andofthe"ChristmasCarol，"whentheyweredampfromthepress。KingValoroso，andBulbo，andAngelicawereevenmoredelightfulthanScrooge，andTinyTim，andTrottyVeck。Oneremembersthefairymonarchmorevividly，andthewondrousarrayofegg-cupsfromwhichhesippedbrandy——orwasitrightNantes？——

still"goingonsipping，Iamsorrytosay，"evenafter"Valorosowashimselfagain。"

But，ofallThackeray"sbooks，Isuppose"Pendennis"wasthefavourite。ThedelightfulMarryathadentertaineduswithPeterSimpleandO"Brien(howgoodtheirflightthroughFranceis!)withMestyandMr。MidshipmanEasy，withJacobFaithful(Mr。Thackeray"sfavourite)，andwithSnarleyyow；butMarryatnevermadeuswishtorunawaytosea。Thatdidnotseemtobeone"svocation。ButthestoryofPenmadeonewishtorunawaytoliterature，totheTemple，tostreetswhereBrown，thefamousreviewer，mightbeseenwalkingwithhiswifeandumbrella。Thewritingofpoems"upto"

pictures，thebeerwithWarringtoninthemornings，thesuppersintheback-kitchen，thesewerethealluringthings，notsociety，andLadyRockminster，andLordSteyne。Well，onehasrunawaytoliteraturesince，butwhereisthematutinalbeer？Whereistheback-kitchen？WhereareWarrington，andFoker，andF。B。？Ihavenevermettheminthislivingworld，thoughBrown，thecelebratedreviewer，isfamiliartome，andalsoMr。SydneyScraper，oftheOxfordandCambridgeClub。Perhapsback-kitchensexist，perhapstherearecakesandaleinthelifeliterary，andF。B。maytakehiswalksbytheRoundPond。Butoneneverencounterstheserarities，andBungayandBaconarenolongertheinnocentandignorantrivalswhomThackeraydrew。Theydonotgivethosewonderfulparties；MissBunnionhasbecomequiteconventional

PercyPopjoyhasabandonedletters；Mr。Wenhamdoesnottoady；Mr。

Waggdoesnotjokeanymore。Theliterarylifeisverylikeanyother，inLondon，orisitthatwedonotseeitaright，nothavingtheeyesofgenius？Well，alifeontheoceanwave，too，maynotbesodesirableasitseemsinMarryat"snovels:somanyaladwhomhetemptedintothenavyhasdiscovered。ThebestpartoftheexistenceofamanoflettersishislookingforwardtoitthroughthespectaclesofTitmarsh。

Onecanneversayhowmuchoneowestoaschool-masterwhowasafriendofliterature，whokeptahousefulofbooks，andwhowashimselfagracefulscholar，andanauthor，whilehechosetowrite，ofpoeticandhumorousgenius。Suchwasthemasterwhowrotethe"DayDreamsofaSchoolmaster，"Mr。D"ArcyWentworthThompson，towhom，inthisplace，Iamgladtoconfessmygratitudeafterallthesemanyyears。WhileweweredeepinthehistoryofPendenniswewerealsobeingdraggedthroughtheCommentariesofCaiusJuliusCaesar，throughtheLatinandGreekgrammars，throughXenophon，andtheEcloguesofVirgil，andadepressingplayofEuripides，the"Phoenissae。"IcanneversayhowmuchIdetestedtheseauthors，who，takeninsmalldoses，arefar，indeed，frombeingattractive。

Horace，toalazyboy，appearsinhisOdestohavenothingtosay，andtosayitinthemostfrivolousandvexatiousmanner。ThenCowper"s"Task，"or"ParadiseLost，"asschool-books，withnotes，seemsaridenoughtoaschool-boy。Irememberreadingahead，inCowper，insteadofattendingtothelessonandtheclass-work。Hisobservationsonpublicschoolswerenotuninteresting，butthewholeEnglishschool-workofthosedayswasrepugnant。One"sEnglisheducationwasallgotoutofschool。

AstoGreek，foryearsitseemedamerevacuousterror；oneinventedforone"sselfallthecurrentargumentsagainst"compulsoryGreek。"Whatwastheuseofit，whoeverspokeinit，whocouldfindanysenseinit，oranyinterest？Alanguagewithsuchcruelsuperfluitiesasamiddlevoiceandadual；alanguagewhoseverbsweresofantasticallyirregular，lookedlikeabarbaricsurvival，amereplagueandtorment。SoonethoughttillHomerwasopenedbeforeus。ElsewhereIhavetriedtodescribethevividdelightoffirstreadingHomer，delight，bytheway，whichSt。

Augustinefailedtoappreciate。Mostboysnotwhollyimmersedindulnessfeltit，Ithink；tomyself，forone，Homerwastherealbeginningofstudy。Onehadtriedhim，whenonewasveryyoung，inPope，andhadbeenbaffledbyPope，andhisartificialmanner，his"fairs，"and"swains。"Homerseemedbetterreadingintheabsurd"crib"whichMr。BuckleywroteforBohn"sseries。HectorandAjax，inthatdisguise，wereasgreatfavouritesasHoratiusontheBridge，ortheyoungerTarquin。Scott，bytheway，musthavemadeoneafuriousandconsistentLegitimist。Inreadingthe"LaysofAncientRome，"mysympathieswerewiththeexpelledkings，atleastwithhimwhofoughtsowellatLakeRegillus:-

"Titus，theyoungestTarquin，Toogoodforsuchabreed。"

Where-

"ValeriusstruckatTitus，Andloppedoffhalfhiscrest；

ButTitusstabbedValeriusAspandeepinthebreast，"-

Ifind，onthemarginofmyoldcopy，inaschoolboy"shand，thewords"Welldone，theJacobites!"Perhapsmypoliticshavenevergonemuchbeyondthissentiment。ButthisisadigressionfromHomer。Theverysoundofthehexameter，thatlong，inimitablerollofthemostvariousmusic，wasenoughtowintheheart，evenifthewordswerenotunderstood。Butthewordsprovedunexpectedlyeasytounderstand，fullastheyareofallnobility，alltenderness，allcourage，courtesy，andromance。The"Morted"Arthur"itself，whichaboutthistimefellintoourhands，wasnotsodearasthe"Odyssey，"thoughforaboytoreadSirThomasMaloryistorideatadventureinenchantedforests，toenterhauntedchapelswherealightshinesfromtheGraal，tofindbylonelymountainmeresthemagicboatofSirGalahad。

AfteroncebeinginitiatedintothemysteriesofGreecebyHomer，theworkatGreekwasnolongertedious。Herodotuswasacharmingandhumorousstory-teller，and，asforThucydides，hisaccountoftheSicilianExpeditionanditsendingwasoneoftheveryrarethingsinliteraturewhichalmost，ifnotquite，broughttearsintoone"seyes。Fewpassages，indeed，havedonethat，andtheyarecuriouslydiscrepant。Thefirstbookthatevermademecry，ofwhichfeatIwashorriblyashamed，was"UncleTom"sCabin，"withthedeathofEva，Topsy"sfriend。ThenitwastryingwhenColonelNewcomesaidAdsum，andtheendofSocratesinthePhaedomovedonemorethanseemedbecoming——these，andapassageinthehistoryofSkalagrimLamb"sTail，and，asIsaid，theruinoftheAtheniansintheSyracusanBay。IhavereadthesechaptersinanoldFrenchversionderivedthroughtheItalianfromaLatintranslationofThucydides。Eveninthisfar-descendedform，thetalekeepsitspathos；thecalm，gravestampofthattragictellingcannotbewornawaybymuchhandling，bylongtime，bythemanychangesofhumanspeech。"Otherstoo，"saysNicias，inthatfatalspeech，when-

"Allwasdonethatmenmaydo，Andallwasdoneinvain，"-

"havingachievedwhatmenmay，havebornewhatmenmust。"Thisistheveryburdenoflife，andthelastwordoftragedy。Fornowallisvain:courage，wisdom，piety，thebraveryofLamachus，thegoodnessofNicias，thebrillianceofAlcibiades，allareexpended，allwasted，nothingofthatbraveventureabides，excepttorture，defeat，anddeath。Noplaynotpoemofindividualfortunesissomovingasthisruinofapeople；nomodernstorycanstirus，withallitseloquence，likethebriefgravityofthisancienthistory。

Norcanwefind，atthelast，anywisdommorewisethanthatwhichbidsusdowhatmenmay，andbearwhatmenmust。SucharethelessonsoftheGreek，ofthepeoplewhotriedallthings，inthemorningoftheworld，andwhostillspeaktousofwhattheytriedinwordswhicharethesumofhumangaietyandgloom，ofgriefandtriumph，hopeanddespair。Theworld，sincetheirday，hasbutfollowedinthesameround，whichonlyseemsnew:hasonlymadethesameexperiments，andfailedwiththesamefailure，butlessgallantlyandlessgloriously。

One"sschool-boyadventuresamongbooksendednotlongafterwinningthefriendshipofHomerandThucydides，ofLucretiusandCatullus。One"sapplicationwasfartoodesultorytomakeaseriousandaccuratescholar。

Iconfesstohavinglearnedtheclassicallanguages，asitwerebyaccident，forthesakeofwhatisinthem，andwithaprovokinglyimperfectaccuracy。Cricketandtroutoccupiedfartoomuchofmymindandmytime:ChristopherNorth，andWalton，andThomasTodStoddart，and"TheMoorandtheLoch，"weremyholidayreading，andIdonotregretit。PhilologistsandIrelandscholarsarenotmadeso，butyoucan，innoway，fashionascholaroutofacasualandinaccurateintelligence。ThetruescholarisonewhomIenvy，almostasmuchasIrespecthim；butthereisakindofmentalshort-sightedness，whereaccentsandverbalnicetiesareconcerned，whichcannotbesharpenedintotruescholarship。Yet，evenforthoseafflictedinthisway，andwiththemaladyofbeing"idle，carelesslittleboys，"theancientclassicshaveavalueforwhichthereisnosubstitute。Thereisacharminfindingourselves——ourcommonhumanity，ourpuzzles，ourcares，ourjoys，inthewritingsofmenseveredfromusbyrace，religion，speech，andhalfthegulfofhistoricaltime——whichnootherliterarypleasurecanequal。

Thenthereistobeadded，astheuniversitypreacherobserved，"thepleasureofdespisingourfellow-creatureswhodonotknowGreek。"Doubtlessinthatthereisgreatconsolation。

Itwouldbeinteresting，wereitpossible，toknowwhatproportionofpeoplereallycareforpoetry，andhowtheloveofpoetrycametothem，andgrewinthem，andwhereandwhenitstopped。Modernpoetswhomonemeetsareapttosaythatpoetryisnotreadatall。

Byron"sMurrayceasedtopublishpoetryin1830，justwhenTennysonandBrowningwerestrikingtheirpreludes。ProbablyMr。Murraywaswiseinhisgeneration。Butitisalsolikelythatmanypersons，evennow，areattachedtopoetry，thoughtheycertainlydonotbuycontemporaryverse。Howdidthepassioncometothem？Howlongdiditstay？WhendidtheMusesaygood-bye？Tomyself，asIhaveremarked，poetrycamewithSirWalterScott，foronereadShakespeareasachild，ratherinakindofdreamoffairylandandenchantedisles，thanwithanydistinctconsciousnessthatonewasoccupiedwithpoetry。NexttoScott，withme，cameLongfellow，whopleasedoneasmorereflectiveandtenderlysentimental，whilethereflectionswerenotsodeepastobepuzzling。Irememberhow"Hiawatha"cameout，whenonewasaboy，andhowdelightfulwasthefreeforestlife，andMinnehaha，andPaupukkeewis，andNokomis。

Onedidnotthenknowthatthesamecharm，withayetfresherdewuponit，wastomeetonelater，inthe"Kalewala。"But，atthattime，onehadnoconsciouspleasureinpoeticstyle，exceptinsuchringingverseasScott"s，andCampbell"sinhispatrioticpieces。

Thepleasureandenchantmentofstylefirstappealedtome，atabouttheageoffifteen，whenonereadforthefirsttime-

"SoalldaylongthenoiseofbattlerolledAmongthemountainsbythewintersea；

UntilKingArthur"sTable，manbyman，HadfalleninLyonnesseabouttheirLord。"

PreviouslyonehadonlyheardofMr。Tennysonasaname。WhenachildIwastoldthatapoetwascomingtoahouseintheHighlandswherewechancedtobe，apoetnamedTennyson。"IsheapoetlikeSirWalterScott？"Irememberasking，andwastold，"No，hewasnotlikeSirWalterScott。"Hearingnomoreofhim，Iwasprowlingamongthebooksinanancienthouse，aramblingoldplacewithaghost-room，whereIfoundTupper，andcouldnotgetonwith"ProverbialPhilosophy。"NextItriedTennyson，andinstantlyanewlightofpoetrydawned，anewmusicwasaudible，anewgodcameintomymedleyofaPantheon，agodnevertobedethroned。"Menscarcelyknowhowbeautifulfireis，"Shelleysays。IamconvincedthatwescarcelyknowhowgreatapoetLordTennysonis；usehasmadehimtoofamiliar。Thesamehandhas"raisedtheTableRoundagain，"thathaswrittenthesacredbookoffriendship，thathaslulleduswiththemagicofthe"LotusEaters，"andthemelodyof"Tithonus。"Hehasmadeusmove，likehisownPrince-

"Amongaworldofghosts，Andfeelourselvestheshadowsofadream。"

Hehasenrichedourworldwithconquestsofromance；hehasrecutandresetathousandancientgemsofGreeceandRome；hehasrousedourpatriotism；hehasstirredourpity；thereishardlyahumanpassionbuthehaspurgeditandennobledit，including"thisoflove。"Truly，theLaureateremainsthemostvarious，thesweetest，themostexquisite，themostlearned，themostVirgilianofallEnglishpoets，andwemaypitytheloversofpoetrywhodiedbeforeTennysoncame。

Heremayendthedesultorytaleofadesultorybookishboyhood。Itwasnotinnaturethatoneshouldnotbegintorhymeforone"sself。Butthoseexerciseswereseldomevenwrittendown；theylivedalittlewhileinamemorywhichhaslostthemlongago。I

doremembermethatItriedsomeofmyattemptsonmydearmother，whosaidmuchwhatDrydensaidto"CousinSwift，""Youwillneverbeapoet，"adecisioninwhichIstraightwayacquiesced。Fortorhymeisonething，tobeapoetquiteanother。Agooddealofmortificationwouldbeavoidedifyoungmenandmaidensonlykeptthisobviousfactwellposedinfrontoftheirvanityandtheirambition。

InthesebookishmemoriesIhavesaidnothingaboutreligionandreligiousbooks，forvariousreasons。But，unlikeotherScotsofthepen，Igotnoharmfrom"TheShorterCatechism，"ofwhichI

rememberlittle，andneitherthennornowwasoramabletounderstandasinglesentence。Someprecociousmetaphysicianscomprehendedandstoodaghastatjustification，sanctification，adoption，andeffectualcalling。These，apparently，werenecessaryprocessesintheScottishspirituallife。Butwewerenottoldwhattheymeant，norwerewedistressedbyasensethatwehadnotpassedthroughthem。Frommostchildren，onetrusts，Calvinismranlikewateroffaduck"sback；unluckyweretheywhofirstabsorbed，andlaterwerecompelledtogetridof，"TheShorterCatechism!"

Onegoodthing，ifnomore，thesememoriesmayaccomplish。Youngmen，especiallyinAmerica，writetomeandaskmetorecommend"acourseofreading。"Distrustacourseofreading!PeoplewhoreallycareforbooksREADALLOFTHEM。Thereisnoothercourse。

Letthisbeareply。Nootheranswershalltheygetfromme，theinquiringyoungmen。

II

Peopletalk，innovels，aboutthedelightsofafirstlove。Onemayventuretodoubtwhethereverybodyexactlyknowswhichwashis，orher，firstlove，ofmenorwomen，butaboutourfirstlovesinbookstherecanbenomistake。Theywere，andremain，thedearestofall；afterboyhoodthebloomisofftheliteraryrye。Thefirstparcelofthesegarrulitiesendedwhentheauthorleftschool，atabouttheageofseventeen。One"sliteraryequipmentseemstohavebeenthenalmostascompleteasiteverwillbe，one"stastesdefinitelyformed，one"sfavouritesalreadychosen。Aslongaswelivewehopetoread，butwenevercan"recapturethefirstfinecarelessrapture。"Besides，onebeginstowrite，andthatisfatal。Myownfirstessayswerecomposedatschool——forotherboys。NotlongagothegentlemanwhowasthenourEnglishmasterwrotetome，informingmehewasmyearliestpublic，andthathehadnevercreditedmyyoungerbrotherwiththeessayswhichthatunscrupulouslad("Ispeakofhimbutbrotherly")wasaccustomedtopresentforhisconsideration。

OnleavingschoolatseventeenIwenttoSt。Leonard"sHall，intheUniversityofSt。Andrews。ThatistheoldestofScotchuniversities，andwasfoundedbyapapalbull。St。Leonard"sHall，afterhavingbeenahospitiumforpilgrims，ahomeforoldladies(about1500)，andacollegeintheUniversity，wasnowakindofcrossbetweenamaster"shouseatschool，and，asbefore1750，acollege。Wehadmorelibertythanschoolboys，lessthanEnglishundergraduates。IntheScotchuniversitiesthemenlivescattered，inlodgings，andonlyrecently，atSt。Andrews，havetheybeguntodinetogetherinhall。Wehadacommonroof，commondinners，worescarletgowns，possessedfootballandcricketclubs，andstarted，ofcourse，akindofweeklymagazine。Itwasonlyamanuscriptaffair，andwasprofuselyillustrated。Fortheonlytimeinmylife，Iwasnowaneditor，underasub-editor，whokeptmeuptomywork，andcutoutmyfinepassages。Theeditor"sdutywastowritemostofthemagazine——towriteessays，reviews(ofbooksbytheprofessors，verysevere)，novels，shortstories，poems，translations，alsotoillustratethese，andto"fag"hisfriendsfor"copy"anddrawings。Adeplorableflippancyseems，asfarasoneremembers，tohavebeenthechiefcharacteristicoftheperiodical——flippancyandanabundantuseofthesupernatural。

ThesewerethedaysofLord"Lytton"s"StrangeStory，"whichI

continuetothinkamostsatisfactoryromance。InspiredbyLordLytton，andaidedbytheUniversitylibrary，IreadCorneliusAgrippa，Trithemius，PetrusdeAbano，MichaelScott，andstruggledwithIamblichusandPlotinus。

Thesearereallybutdisappointingwriters。Itsoonbecameevidentenoughthatthedevilwasnottoberaisedbytheirprescriptions，thatthephilosopher"sstonewasbeyondthereachoftheamateur。

Iamblichusisparticularlyobscureandtedious。ToanyyoungbeginnerIwouldrecommendPetrusdeAbano，asthemostadequateandgruesomeoftheschool，for"realdeevilryandpleesure，"whileinthewildernessofPlotinustherearemanybeautifulpassagesandloftyspeculations。TwowintersintheNorthernUniversity，withtheseamysideofschoollifeleftbehind，amongthekindestofprofessors——Mr。Sellar，Mr。Ferrier，Mr。Shairp——inthesocietyofthewarden，Mr。Rhoades，andofmanydearoldfriends，arethehappiesttimeinmylife。Thiswastrueliteraryleisure，evenifitwasnottoowellemployed，andthereligiolocishouldbealiberaleducationinitself。Wehaddebatingsocieties——IhopeI

amnowforgivenforanattackonthecharacterofSirWilliamWallace，latroquidam，asthechroniclercallshim，"acertainbrigand。"ButIamforeverwritingaboutSt。Andrews——writinginaccurately，too，theScotchcriticsdeclare。"Farewell，"wecried，"dearcityofyouthanddream，"eternallydearandsacred。

HerewefirstmadeacquaintancewithMr。Browning，guidedtohisworksbyaparodywhichaladywroteinourlittlemagazine。Mr。

Browningwasnotapopularpoetin1861。Hisadmirerswerefew，alittlepeople，buttheywerenottheninthelatermoodofreverence，theydidnotawfullyquestiontheoracles，asinafteryears。Theyread，theyadmired，theyapplauded，onoccasiontheymocked，good-humouredly。ThebookbywhichMr。Browningwasbestknownwasthetwogreenvolumesof"MenandWomen。"Inthese，I

stillthink，istheheartofhisgeniusbeatingmoststrenuouslyandwithanimmortalvitality。Perhapsthis，foritscompass，isthecollectionofpoetrythemostvariousandrichofmodernEnglishtimes，almostofanyEnglishtimes。ButjustasMr。

FitzgeraldcaredlittleforwhatLordTennysonwroteafter1842，soIhaveneverbeenabletofeelquitethesameenthusiasmforMr。

Browning"sworkafter"MenandWomen。"Heseemstohavemoreinfluence，thoughthatinfluenceisvague，onpersonswhochieflycareforthought，thanonthosewhochieflycareforpoetry。I

havemetaladywhohadread"TheRingandtheBook"often，the"LotusEaters"notonce。AmongsuchstudentsareMr。Browning"sdisciplesoftheInnerCourt:IdwellbutintheCourtoftheGentiles。Whileweall——allwhoattemptrhyme——havemoreorlessconsciouslyimitatedthemannerofLordTennyson，Mr。Swinburne，Mr。Rossetti，suchimitationsofMr。Browningareuncommonlyscarce。Heisluckyenoughnottohavehadtheseedofhisflowerstolenandsowneverywheretill-

"OnceagainthepeopleCalleditbutaweed。"

TheothernewpoetofthesedayswasMr。Clough，whohasmanyundergraduatequalities。Buthispeculiarwistfulscepticisminreligionhadthennoinfluenceonsuchofusaswerestillhappilyintheagesoffaith。Anythinglikedoubtcomeslessofreading，perhaps，thanofthesuddennecessitywhich，inalmosteverylife，putsbeliefonhertrial，andcriesforanexaminationofthecreedshithertohelduponauthority，andbydintofuseandwont。

InadifferentwayonecanhardlycareforMr。MatthewArnold，asaboy，tillonehascomeundertheinfluenceofOxford。SoMr。

BrowningwastheonlypoetaddedtomypantheonatSt。Andrews，thoughMacaulaythenwasadmittedandappearedtobemorethetruemodelofaprosewriterthanheseemsinthelightoflaterreflection。ProbablyweallhaveaperiodofadmiringCarlylealmostexclusively。Collegeessays，whentheessayistcaresforhiswork，aregenerallybasedononeortheother。Thentheyrecedeintothebackground。Asfortheirthought，wecannotforeverremaindisciples。Webegintoseehowmuchthatlookslikethoughtisreallytheexpressionoftemperament，andhowindividualathingtemperamentis，howeachofusmustconstructhisworldforhimself，orbecontenttowaitforananswerandasynthesis"inthatfar-offdivineeventtowhichthewholecreationmoves。"So，forone，inthesehighmatters，Imustbecontentasa"masterlessman"swearingbynophilosopher，unlesshebetheimperialStoicofthehardyheart，MarcusAureliusAntoninus。

Perhapsnothingineducationencouragesthisincredulityabout"masters"ofthoughtlikethehistoryofphilosophy。Theprofessorofmoralphilosophy，Mr。Ferrier，wasafamousmetaphysicianandscholar。Hislectureson"TheHistoryofGreekPhilosophy"wereanadmirableintroductiontothesubject，afterwardspursued，intheoriginalauthorities，atOxford。Mr。Ferrierwasanexponentofothermen"sideassofairandpersuasivethat，ineachnewschool，wethoughtwehaddiscoveredthesecret。WewerephysicistswithThalesandthatpre-Socratic"companyofgallantgentlemen"forwhomSydneySmithconfessedhislackofadmiration。WewerenowEmpedocleans，nowbelieversinHeraclitus，nowinSocrates，nowinPlato，nowinAristotle。Ineachlectureourprofessorsetupanewmasterandgentlydisintegratedhiminthenext。"AmurathtoAmurathsucceeds，"asMr。T。H。GreenusedtosayatOxford。HehimselfbecameanAmurath，asultanofthought，evenbeforehisapotheosisastheguideofthatbewilderedclergyman，Mr。RobertElsmere。AtOxford，whenonewentthere，onefoundMr。Greenalreadyinthepositionofaleaderofthought，andofyoungmen。

HewasatutorofBalliol，andlecturedonAristotle，andofhimeageryouthsaid，inthewordsofOmarKhayyam，"HEKNOWS!HE

KNOWS!"WhatwasitthatMr。Greenknew？Wherewasthesecret？

Toamindalreadyscepticalaboutmasters，itseemedthatthesecret(apartfromthetutor"snoblesimplicityandrareelevationofcharacter)wasaknackoftranslatingSt。JohnandAristotlealikeintoaterminologywhichwethenbelievedtobeHegelian。

Hegelweknew，notintheoriginalGerman，butinlecturesandintranslations。Reasoningfromtheseinadequatepremises，itseemedtomethatHegelhadinventedevolutionbeforeMr。Darwin，thathissystemshowed，sotospeak，thespiritatworkinevolution，thesomethingwithinthewheels。ButthiswasonlyapersonalimpressionmadeonamindwhichknewDarwin，andphysicalspeculationsingeneral，merelyinthevaguepopularway。Mr。