Page 73, line 18. And MILTON's self, I began thus far to assent to an inward promptng which now grew daily upon me, that by labour and tent study, (which I take to be my portion in this life) Dined with the strong propensity of nature, I might erhaps leave something so written to aftertimes, as hey should not willingly let it die.-MILTON. Page 75, line 15. 'twas at matin-time. Love and devotion are said to be nearly allied. Boccaccio fell in love at Naples in the church of St. Lorenzo; as Petrarch had done at Avignon in the church of St. Clair. Page 76, line 15. Lovely before, oh, say how lovely now! Is it not true, that the young not only appear to be, but really are most beautiful in the presence of those they love? It calls forth all their beauty. Page 78, line 9. And feeling hearts-touch them but rightly-pour Xenophon has left us a delightful instance of conjugal affection. The King of Armenia not fulfilling his promise, Cyrus entered the country, and, having taken him and NOTES. Page 64, line 16. "Stand still to gaze. See the Iliad, 1. xviii. v. 496. Page 66, line 22. Our pathway leads but to a precipice; See Bossuet, Sermon sur la Résurrection. Page 67, line 8. We fly; no resting for the foot we find ; "I have considered,” says Solomon, “all the work that are under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and vexation of spirit." But who believes it, till Deat tells it us? It is Death alone that can suddenly mak man to know himself. He tells the proud and insolent that they are but abjects, and humbles them at the instant. He takes the account of the rich man, an proves him a beggar, a naked beggar. He holds glass before the eyes of the most beautiful, and make them see therein their deformity; and they acknow ledge it. O eloquent, just, and mighty Death! whom non could advise, thou hast persuaded; what none hav dared, thou hast done; and whom all the world hav flattered, thou only hast cast out and despised: thou hast drawn together all the far-stretched greatness, all the pride, cruelty and ambition of man, and covered it all over with these two narrow words, Hic jacet.— RALEIGH. Page 67, line 17. Now, seraph-winged, among the stars we soar; Inconceivable are the limits to our progress in Science. A point, that yesterday was invisible, is our goal to-day, and will be our starting-post to-morrow.' Page 67, line 23. 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. After line 23, in the MS. O'er place and time we triumph; on we go, Page 68, line 1. Behold him now unbar the prison-door, An allusion to John Howard. "Wherever he came, in whatever country, the prisons and hospitals were thrown open to him as to the general Censor. Such is the force of pure and exalted virtue !" Page 68, line 9. Long with his friend in generous enmity, 66 Aristotle's definition of Friendship, "one soul in two bodies," is well exemplified by some ancient Author in a dialogue between Ajax and Achilles. "Of all the wounds you ever received in battle," says Ajax, “ which was the most painful to you?"" That which I received from Hector," replies Achilles.- "But Hector never gave you a wound?"-"Yes, and a mortal one; when he slew my friend, Patroclus." Page 68, line 11. Do what he will, &c. These ideas, whence are they derived; or, as Plato would have expressed himself, where were they acquired? There could not be a better argument for his doctrine of a præ-existent state. L'homme ne sait a quel rang se mettre. Il est visiblement égaré, et sent en lui des restes d'un état heureux, dont il est déchu, et qu'il ne peut retrouver. Il le cherche partout avec inquiétude et sans succés dans des ténèbres impénétrables.—Sa misere se conclut de sa grandeur, et sa grandeur se conclut de sa misere. -PASCAL. Page 69, line 3. But soon 'tis past— This light, which is so heavenly in its lustre, and which is every where and on every thing when we look round us on our arrival here; which, while it lasts, never leaves us, rejoicing us by night as well as by day and lighting up our very dreams; yet, when it fades, fades so fast, and, when it goes, goes out for ever-we may address it in the words of the Poet, words which we might apply so often in this transitory life: Too soon your value from your loss we learn! Epistles in Verse, ii. Page 69, line 5. 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. Page 69, line 20. 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; in his Seven Ages, has done so too. and Shakspeare, But Shakspeare treats his subject satirically; Cicero as a Philosopher. the venerable portrait of Cato we discover no traces of "the lean and slippered Pantaloon." |