PrefaceAdventuresAmongBooksRecollectionsofRobertLouisStevensonRab'sFriendOliverWendellHolmesMr。Morris'sPoemsMrs。Radcliffe'sNovelsAScottishRomanticistof1830
TheConfessionsofSaintAugustineSmollettNathanielHawthorneTheParadiseofPoetsParisandHelenEnchantedCigarettesStoriesandStory-tellingTheSupernaturalinFictionAnOldScottishPsychicalResearcherTheBoyPREFACE
OftheEssaysinthisvolume"AdventuresamongBooks，"and"Rab'sFriend，"appearedinScribner'sMagazine；and"RecollectionsofRobertLouisStevenson"tothebestoftheauthor'smemoryinTheNorthAmericanReview。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，ifweexcepttheperpetualstudyofnewspaperswhichcannotfairlybecalledreading，isthevice，orthevirtue，common。Itismoreinnocentthanopium-eating，though，likeopium-eating，itunlockstousartificialparadises。
ItrytosaywhatIhavefoundinbooks，whatdistractionsfromtheworld，whatteachingnotmuch，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，itseemsIhavenotreadhisadventures，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'BrienhowgoodtheirflightthroughFranceis!withMestyandMr。MidshipmanEasy，withJacobFaithfulMr。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，ahomeforoldladiesabout1500，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，reviewsofbooksbytheprofessors，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，itseemedthatthesecretapartfromthetutor'snoblesimplicityandrareelevationofcharacterwasaknackoftranslatingSt。JohnandAristotlealikeintoaterminologywhichwethenbelievedtobeHegelian。
Hegelweknew，notintheoriginalGerman，butinlecturesandintranslations。Reasoningfromtheseinadequatepremises，itseemedtomethatHegelhadinventedevolutionbeforeMr。Darwin，thathissystemshowed，sotospeak，thespiritatworkinevolution，thesomethingwithinthewheels。ButthiswasonlyapersonalimpressionmadeonamindwhichknewDarwin，andphysicalspeculationsingeneral，merelyinthevaguepopularway。Mr。