Where some the paths of Wealth and Power pursue, Of Pleasure some, of Happiness a few; And, as the sun goes round-a sun not ours— While from her lap another Nature showers Gifts of her own, some from the crowd retire, All that their world reveals of good and fair; And, as they wander, picturing things, like me, Trace out the Journey through their little Day, And fondly dream an idle hour away. NOTE S. NOTE a. Page 13, line 3. Our pathway leads but to a precipice; See BOSSUET, Sermon sur la Résurrection. NOTE b. Page 15, line 4. Through the dim curtains of Futurity. Fancy can hardly forbear to conjecture with what temper Milton surveyed the silent progress of his work, and marked his reputation stealing its way in a kind of subterraneous current through fear and silence. I cannot but conceive him calm and confident, little disappointed, not at all dejected, relying on his own merit with steady consciousness, and waiting, without impatience, the vicissitudes of opinion, and the impartiality of a future generation. JOHNSON. NOTE C. Page 17, line 11. like the stone That sheds awhile a lustre all its own. See Observations on a Diamond that shines in the dark.' BOYLE'S Works, I. 789. NOTE d. Page 19, line 1. Schooled and trained up to Wisdom from his birth; Cicero, in his Essay De Senectute, has drawn his images from the better walks of life; and Shakspeare, in his Seven Ages, has done so too. But Shakspeare treats his subject satirically; Cicero as a Philosopher. In the dignified portrait of Cato we discover no traces of" the lean and slippered Pantaloon." Every object has a bright and a dark side; and I have endeavoured to look at things as Cicero has done. By some however I may be thought to have followed too much my own dream of happiness; and in such a dream indeed I have often passed a solitary hour. It was Castle-building once; now it is no longer so. But whoever would try to realize it, would not perhaps repent of his endeavour. |