BeingthewhollyliteraryspiritIwaswhenIwenttomakemyhomeinCambridge，IdonotseehowIcouldwellhavebeenmorecontentifIhadfoundmyselfintheElysianFieldswithanagreeableeternitybeforeme。
Attwenty—nine，indeed，oneispracticallyimmortal，andatthatage，timehadformetheeffectofaneternityinwhichIhadnothingtodobuttoreadbooksanddreamofwritingthem，intheoverflowofendlesshoursfrommyworkwiththemanuscripts，criticalnotices，andproofsoftheAtlanticMonthly。AsforthesocialenvironmentIshouldhavebeenpuzzledifgivenmychoiceamongtheelectofalltheages，tofindpoetsandscholarsmoretomymindthanthosestillinthefleshatCambridgeintheearlyafternoonofthenineteenthcentury。Theyarenownearlyalldead，andIcanspeakoftheminthefreedomwhichisdeath’sdoubtfulfavortothesurvivor；butiftheywerestillaliveIcouldsaylittletotheiroffence，unlesstheirmodestywashurtwithmypraise。
I。
OneofthefirstandtruestofourCambridgefriendswasthatexquisiteintelligence，who，inaworldwheresomanypeoplearegrotesquelymiscalled，wasmostfitlynamed；fornomaneverkeptheremoreperfectlyandpurelytheheartofsuchasthekingdomofheavenisofthanFrancisJ。Child。Hewastheninhisprime，andIliketorecalltheoutwardimagewhichexpressedtheinnermanashappilyashisname。Hewasoflowstatureandofaninclinationwhichneverbecamestoutness；butwhatyoumostsawwhenyousawhimwashisfaceofconsummaterefinement：veryregular，witheyesalwaysglassedbygold—rimmedspectacles，astraight，short，mostsensitivenose，andabeautifulmouthwiththesweetestsmilemoutheverwore，andthatwasaswiseandshrewdasitwassweet。Inatimewheneveryothermanwasmoreorlessbeardedhewascleanshaven，andofadelightfulfreshnessofcoloringwhichhisthicksunnyhair，clusteringuponhisheadincloserings，admirablysetoff。Ibelieveheneverbecamegray，andthelasttimeIsawhim，thoughhewasbrokenthenwithyearsandpain，hisfacehadstillthebrightnessofhisinextinguishableyouth。
ItiswellknownhowgreatwasProfessorChild’sscholarshipinthebranchesofhisHarvardwork；andhowespecially，howuniquely，effectiveitwasinthestudyofEnglishandScottishballadrytowhichhegavesomanyyearsofhislife。Hewasapoetinhisnature，andhewroughtwithpassionaswellasknowledgeintheachievementofasmonumentalataskasanyAmericanhasperformed。Buthemighthavebeenindefinitelylessthanhewasinanyintellectualwise，andyetbeenprecioustothosewhoknewhimforthegentlenessandthegoodnesswhichinhimwereprotectedfrommisconceptionbyafinaldignityasdelicateandasinviolableasthatofLongfellowhimself。
WewerestillmuchlessthanayearfromourlifeinVenice，whenhecametoseeusinCambridge，andintheItalianinterestwhichthencommendedustosomanyfinespiritsamongourneighborswefoundourselvesatthebeginningofalife—longfriendshipwithhim。IwasknowntohimonlybymylettersfromVenice，whichafterwardsbecameVenetianLife，andbyabitofdevotionalversewhichhehadaskedtoincludeinacollectionhewasmaking，butheimmediatelygaveusthefreedomofhisheart，whichafterwardswasneverwithdrawn。Induetimeheimaginedahome—school，towhichourlittleonewasasked，andshehadherfirstlessonswithhisowndaughterunderhisroof。Thesethingsdrewusclosertogether，andhewaswillingtobestillnearertomeinanytimeoftrouble。Atonesuchtimewhentheshadowwhichmustsometimedarkeneverydoor，hoveredatours，hehadthestrengthtomakemefaceitandtrytorealize，whileitwasstillthere，thatitwasnotcruelandnotevil。Itpassed，forthattime，butthesenseofhishelpremained；andinmyowncaseIcantestifyofthepotenttendernesswhichallwhoknewhimmusthaveknowninhim。ButinbearingmywitnessIfeelaccused，almostasifhewerepresent；byhisfastidiousreluctancefromanyrecognitionofhishelpfulness。Whenthiscameintheformofgratitudetakingcredittoitselfinaposewhichreflectedhonoruponhimasthearchitectofgreatness，hewasdelightfullyimpatientofit，andhewasmostamusinglydramaticinreproducingtheconsciousnessofcertainineffectualalumniwhousedtooverwhelmhimatCommencementsolemnitieswithsomesuchpompousacknowledgmentas，"ProfessorChild，allthatIhavebecome，sir，Iowetoyourinfluenceinmycollegecareer。"Hedid，withdeliciousmockery，theold—fashionedintellectualposeursamongthestudents，whousedtowalkthegrovesofHarvardwithbenthead，andtheleftarmcrossingtheback，whiletheotherlodgeditshandinthebreastofthehighbuttonedfrock—coat；andIcouldfancythathisclassesincollegedidnotformthesunniestexposureforyoung。follyandvanity。Iknowthathewasintolerantofanymannerofinsincerity，andnoflatterycouldtakehimoffhisguard。Ihaveseenhimmeetthiswithacuttingphraseofrejection，andnomanwasmoreaptatsnubbingthepatronagethatoffersitselfattimestoallmen。Butmostlyhewishedtodopeoplepleasure，andheseemedalwaystobestudyinghowtodoit；asforneed，Iamsurethatworthyandunworthywanthadalikethewaytohisheart。
Childrenwerealwayshisfriends，andtheyrepaidwithadorationtheaffectionwhichhedividedwiththemandwithhisflowers。Irecallhiminnomomentssocharacteristicasthosehespentinmakingthelittleoneslaughoutoftheirheartsathisdrolling，somefestiveeveninginhishouse，andthosehegavetosharingwithyouhisjoyinhisgardening。This，Ibelieve，beganwithviolets，anditwentontoroses，whichhegrewinasplendorandprofusionimpossibletoanybutatrueloverwithagenuinegiftforthem。LikeLowell，hespenthissummersinCambridge，andintheafternoon，youcouldfindhimdiggingorpruningamonghisroseswithanardorwhichfewcapricesoftheweathercouldinterrupt。Hewouldlifthimselffromtheirranks，whichhescarcelyovertopped，asyoucameupthefootwaytohisdoor，andpeerpurblindlyacrossatyou。Ifheknewyouatonce，hetraversedthenoddingandswayingbushes，togiveyouthehandfreeofthetrowelorknife；orifyougotindoorsunseenbyhimhewouldcomeinholdingtowardsyousomeexquisiteblossomthatweigheddownthetipofitslongstemwithasuccessionofhospitableobeisances。
Hegracedwithunaffectedpoetryalifeofashardstudy，ofashardwork，andasvariedachievementasanyIhaveknownorreadof；andheplayedwithgiftsandacquirementssuchasinnogreatmeasurehavemadereputations。HehadarareandlovelyhumorwhichcouldamuseitselfbothinEnglishandItalianwithsuchanairyburlettaas"IlPesceballo"
（hewroteitinMetastasianItalian，andLowellputitinlibrettoEnglish）；hehadacriticalsenseassoundasitwassubtleinallliterature；andwhateverhewroteheimbuedwiththecharmofastylefinelypersonaltohimself。HislearninginthelineofhisHarvardteachingincludedanearlyEnglishscholarshipunrivalledinhistime，andhisresearchesinballadliteratureleftnocornerofituntouched。
Ifancythispartofhisstudywaspeculiarlypleasanttohim；forhelovedsimpleandnaturalthings，andthebeautywhichhefoundnearestlife。Atleasthescornedthepedanticaffectationsofliterarysuperiority；andheusedtoquotewithjoyouslaughtertheswellingexclamationofanItaliancriticwhoproposedtoleavethesummitsofpolitelearningforamoment，withthecry，"Scendiamofrailpopolo！"
（Letusgodownamongthepeople。）
II。
Ofcourseitwasonlysohardworkedamanwhocouldtakethoughtandtroubleforanother。Heoncetookthoughtformeatatimewhenitwasveryimportanttome，andwhenhetookthetroubletosecureformeanengagementtodeliverthatcourseofLowelllecturesinBoston，whichI
havesaidLowellhadthecouragetogointowntohear。IdonotrememberwhetherProfessorChildwasequaltosomuch，buthewouldhavebeenifitwerenecessary；andIratherrejoicenowinthebeliefthathedidnotseekquitethatmartyrdom。
Hehaddonemorethanenoughforme，buthehaddoneonlywhathewasalwayswillingtodoforothers。IntheformofafavortohimselfhebroughtintomyfifethegreathappinessofintimatelyknowingHjalmarHjorthBoyesen，whomhehadfoundonesummerdayamongtheshelvesintheHarvardlibrary，andfoundtobeapoetandanintendingnovelist。Idonotremembernowjusthowthisfactimparteditselftotheprofessor，butliteratureisofeasilycultivatedconfidenceinyouth，andpossiblytherevelationwasspontaneous。Atanyrate，asasusceptibleyoungeditor，Iwasaskedtomeetmypotentialcontributorattheprofessor’stwoo’clockdinner，andwhenwecametocoffeeinthestudy，Boyesentookfromthepocketnearesthisheartachapterof’Gunnar’，andreadittous。
Perhapsthegoodprofessorwhobroughtustogetherhadplottedtohavebothnovelandnovelistmaketheirimpressionatonceupontheyouthfulsub—editor；butatanyratetheydidnotfailofaneffect。IbelieveitwasthatchapterwhereGunnarandRagnhilddanceandsinga’stev’
together，forIassociatewiththatfarhappytimetherichmellowtonesofthepoet’svoiceinthepoet’sverse。Theseweremostcharacteristicofhim，anditisasifImightputmyearagainsttheetherealwallbeyondwhichheisraptandhearthemyet。
Ourmeetingwasonalovelyafternoonofsummer，andtheodoroftheprofessor’srosesstoleinattheopenwindows，andbecamepartofthegentleevent。Boyesenwalkedhomewithme，andforafortnightafterI
thinkwepartedonlytodreamoftheliteraturewhichwepouredoutuponeachotherineverywakingmoment。IhadjustlearnedtoknowBjornson’sstories，andBoyesentoldmeofhispoetryandofhisdrama，whichinevenmeasureembodiedthegreatNorseliterarymovement，andfilledmewiththewonderanddelightofthatnoblerevoltagainstconvention，thatbravereturntonatureandthespringsofpoetryintheheartandthespeechofthecommonpeople。LiteraturewasBoyesen’sreligionmorethantheSwedenborgianphilosophyinwhichwehadbothbeenspirituallynurtured，andateverystepofourmountingfriendshipwefoundourselvesoncommongroundinourworshipofit。Iwasadecadehissenior，butatthirty—fiveIwasnotyetsostrickeninyearsasnottobeablefullytorejoiceintheardorwhichfusedhiswholebeinginanincandescentpoeticmass。Ihaveknownnomanwholovedpoetrymoregenerouslyandpassionately；andIthinkhewasaboveallthingsapoet。Hisworktooktheshapeofscholarship，fiction，criticism，butpoetrygaveitallatouchofgraceandbeauty。SomeyearsafterthisfirstmeetingofoursI
rememberapatheticmomentwithhim，whenIaskedhimwhyhehadnotwrittenanyverseoflate，andheanswered，asifstillinsadastonishmentatthefact，thathehadfoundlifewasnotallpoetry。InthoseearlierdaysIbelievehereallythoughtitwas！
Perhapsitreallyis，andcertainlyinthecourseofalifethatstretchedalmosttohalfacenturyBoyesenlearnedmoreandmoretoseethepoetryoftheeverydayworldatleastasthematerialofart。Hedidbattlevaliantlyforthatbeliefinmanypolemics，whichIsupposegavepeopleasufficientlyfalsenotionofhim；andheshowedhisfaithbyworksinfictionwhichbetterillustratedhismotive。Gunnarstandsatthebeginningoftheseworks，andatthefarthestremovefromitinmatterandmethodstands’TheMammonofUnrighteousness’。Thelovelyidylwonhimfameandfriendship，andthegreatnoveladdedneithertohim，thoughhehadputtheexperienceandtheobservationofhisripenedlifeintoit。WhetheritistoolateortooearlyforittowintheplaceinliteraturewhichitmeritsIdonotknow；butitalwaysseemedtometheveryspiteoffatethatitshouldhavefailedofpopulareffect。YetImustownthatithassofailed，andIownthiswithoutbitternesstowardsGunnar，whichembalmedthespiritofhisyouthas’TheMammonofUnrighteousness’embodiedthethoughtofhismanhood。
III。
Itwasmypleasure，myprivilege，tobringGunnarbeforethepublicaseditoroftheAtlanticMonthly，andtosecondtheauthorinmanyastrugglewiththestrangeidiomhehadcastthestoryin。Theproofswentbackandforthbetweenustilltheauthorhadprofitedbyeveryhintandsuggestionoftheeditor。Hewasquicktoprofitbyanyhint，andhenevermadethesamemistaketwice。HelivedhisEnglishasfastashelearnedit；therightwordbecamepartofhim；andheputawaythewrongwordwithinstantandfinalrejection。HehadnotlearnedAmericanEnglishwithoutlearningnewspaperEnglish，butifonetouchedaphraseofitinhiswork，hefeltinhisnerves，whicharetheultimatearbitersinsuchmatters，itsdifferencefromtrueAmericanandtrueEnglish。
Itwaswonderfulhowaptandhowelecthisdictionwasinthosedays；
itseemedasifhisthoughtclotheditselfinthefittestphrasewithouthischoosing。Inhispoetryhehadextraordinarygoodfortunefromthefirst；hismindhadanapparentaffinitywithwhatwasmostnative，mostracyinourspeech；andIhavejustbeenlookingoverGunnarandmarvellinganewatthefelicityandthebeautyofhisphrasing。
Idonotknowwhetherthosewhoreadhisbooksstopmuchtoconsiderhowrarehisachievementwasinthemeremeansofexpression。Ourspeechisrathermorehospitablethanmost，andyetIcanrememberbutfiveotherwritersborntodifferentlanguageswhohavehandledEnglishwithanythinglikehismastery。TwoItalians，Ruffini，thenovelist，andGallenga，thejournalist；twoGermans，CarlSchurzandCarlHillebrand，andtheDutchnovelistMaartenMaartens，havesomeofthemequalledbutnoneofthemsurpassedhim。YethewasamangrownwhenhebegantospeakandtowriteEnglish，thoughIbelievehestudieditsomewhatinNorwaybeforehecametoAmerica。WhatEnglishheknewhelearnedtheuseofhere，andinthemeasureofitsidiomaticvigorwemaybeproudofitasAmericans。
Hehadleastofhisnativegrace，Ithink，inhiscriticism；andyetasacritichehadqualitiesofraretemperance，acuteness，andknowledge。
Hehadverydecidedconvictionsinliteraryart；onekindofthinghebelievedwasgoodandallotherkindslessgooddowntowhatwasbad；buthewasnotabigot，andhemadeallowancesforart—in—error。Hishandfellheavyonlyuponthosehereticswhonotmerelydeniedthefaithbutpretendedthatartificewasbetterthannature，thatdecorationwasmorethanstructure，thatmake—believewassomethingyoucouldlivebyasyoulivebytruth。Hewasnotstrongest，however，indamnatorycriticism。
Hisspiritwastoolarge，toogeneroustodwellinthat，anditroserathertoitsfullheightinhisappreciationsofthegreatauthorswhomheloved，andwhomhecommentedfromtheplenitudeofhisscholarshipaswellasfromhisdelightedsenseoftheirgrandeur。Herehewasalmostasfineasinhispoetry，andonlylessfinethaninhismorefortunateessaysinfiction。
AfterGunnarhewasalongwhileinstrikinganothernotesotrue。Hedidnotstrikeitagaintillhewrote’TheMammonofUnrighteousness’，andafterthathewassometimesofawanderinganduncertaintouch。
TherearecertainstoriesofhiswhichIcannotreadwithoutapainfulsenseoftheirinequalitynotonlytohistalent，buttohisknowledgeofhumannature，andofAmericancharacter。Heunderstoodourcharacterquiteaswellasheunderstoodourlanguage，butattimesheseemednottodoso。Ithinkthesewerethetimeswhenhewasoverworked，andoughttohavebeenrestinginsteadofwriting。Insuchfatigueonelosescommandofalienwords，aliensituations；andinestimatingBoyesen’sachievementswemustneverforgetthathewasbornstrangetoourlanguageandtoourlife。In’Gunnar’hehandledtheonewithgraceandcharm；inhisgreatnovelhehandledbothwithmasterlystrength。Icall’TheMammonofUnrighteousness’agreatnovel，andIamquitewillingtosaythatIknowfewnovelsbybornAmericansthatsurpassitindealingwithAmericantypesandconditions。Ithasthevasthorizonofthemasterpiecesoffictions；itsmeaningsarenotforitscharactersalone，butforeveryreaderofit；whenyouclosethebookthestoryisnotatanend。
Ihaveapanginpraisingit，forIrememberthatmypraisecannotpleasehimanymore。Butitwasabookworthythepowerswhichcouldhavegivenusyetgreaterthingsiftheyhadnotbeenspentonlesserthings。
Boyesencould"toilterribly，"butforhisfamehedidnotalwaystoilwisely，thoughhegavehimselfasutterlyinhisunwiseworkasinhisbest；itwasalwaysthebesthecoulddo。SeveralyearsafterourfirstmeetinginCambridge，hewenttoliveinNewYork，acitywheremoneycountsformoreandgoesforlessthaninanyothercityoftheworld，andhecouldnotresistthetemptationtowritemoreandmorewhenheshouldhavewrittenlessandless。Heneverwroteanythingthatwasnotworthreading，buthewrotetoomuchforonewhowasgivinghimselfwithallhisconsciencetohisacademicworkintheuniversityhonoredbyhisgiftsandhisattainments，andwaslecturingfarandnearinthevacationswhichshouldhavebeendaysandweeksandmonthsofleisure。
Thewonderisthatevensuchastockofhealthashiscouldstandthestrainsolong，buthehadnovices，andhisonlyexcesseswereinthedirectionoftheworkwhichhelovedsowell。Whenamanaddstohisachievementseveryyear，weareapttoforgetthethingshehasalreadydone；andIthinkitwelltoremindthereaderthatBoyesen，whodiedatforty—eight，hadwritten，besidesarticles，reviews，andlecturesunnumbered，fourvolumesofscholarlycriticismonGermanandScandinavianliterature，avolumeofliteraryandsocialessays，apopularhistoryofNorway，avolumeofpoems，twelvevolumesoffiction，andfourbooksforboys。
Boyesen’senergieswereinexhaustible。Hewasnotcontenttobemerelyascholar，merelyanauthor；hewishedtobeanactivecitizen，totakehispartinhonestpolitics，andtoliveforhisdayinthingsthatmostmenoflettersshun。HisexperienceinthemhelpedhimtoknowAmericanlifebetterandtoappreciateitmorejustly，bothinitsgoodanditsevil；
andasamatteroffactheknewusverywell。Hisacquaintancewithushadbeenwideandvariedbeyondthatofmostofourliterarymen，andtouchedmanyaspectsofourcivilizationwhichremainunknowntomostAmericans。WhenbediedhehadbeenajournalistinChicago，andateacherinOhio；hehadbeenaprofessorinCornellUniversityandaliteraryfreelanceinNewYork；andeverywherehiseyesandearshadkeptthemselvesopen。Asateacherhelearnedtoknowthemorefortunateorthemoreambitiousofouryouth，andasalecturerhisknowledgewascontinuallyextendingitselfamongallagesandclassesofAmericans。
HewasthroughandthroughaNorseman，buthewasnonethelessaveryAmerican。BetweenNorskandYankeethereisanaffinityofspiritmoreintimatethanthetiesofrace。Bothhavethecommon—senseviewoflife；
bothareunsentimental。WhenBoyesentoldmethatamongtheNorwegiansmenneverkissedeachother，astheGermans，andtheFrenchmen，andtheItaliansdo，Iperceivedthatwestooduponcommonground。WhenheexplainedthedemocraticcharacterofsocietyinNorway，Icouldwellunderstandhowheshouldfindusalittlebehindhisowncountrymeninthepractice，ifnotthetheoryofequality，thoughtheylivedunderakingandweunderapresident。ButhewasproudofhisAmericancitizenship；heknewallthatitmeant，atitsbest，forhumanity。HedivinedthatthetrueexpressionofAmericawasnotcivic，notsocial，butdomesticalmost，andthatthepeopleinthesimplesthomes，orthosewhoremainedinthetraditionofasimplehomelife，werethetrueAmericansasyet，whateverthefutureAmericansmightbe。
WhenIfirstknewhimhewaschafingwiththeimpatienceofyouthandambitionatwhathethoughthisexileintheWest。Therewas，tobesure，adifferencebetweenUrbana，Ohio，andCambridge，Massachusetts，andherealizedthedifferenceintheextremeandperhapsbeyondit。
Itriedtomakehimbelievethatifamanhadoneortwofriendsanywherewholovedlettersandsympathizedwithhiminhisliteraryattempts，itwasincentiveenough；butofcoursehewishedtobeinthecentresofliterature，aswealldo；andheneverwascontentuntilhehadsethisfaceandhisfootEastward。ItwasagreatstepforhimfromtheSwedenborgianschoolatUrbanatotheyounguniversityatIthaca；andI
rememberhisexultationinmakingit。Buthecouldnotrestthere，andinafewyearsheresignedhisprofessorship，andcametoNewYork，whereheenteredhigh—heartedlyuponthestrugglewithfortunewhichendedinhisappointmentinColumbia。
NewYorkisamartandnotacapital，inliteratureaswellasinotherthings，anddoubtlessheincreasinglyfeltthis。IknowthattherecameatimewhenhenolongerthoughttheWestmustbeexileforaliteraryman；andhislatestvisitstoitssummerschoolsasalecturerimpressedhimwiththegenuinenessoftheinterestfeltthereincultureofallkinds。Hespokeofthis，withaduesenseofwhatwaspatheticaswellaswhatwasgrotesqueinsomeofitsmanifestations；andIthinkthatinreconcilinghimselftoourpopularcrudenessforthesakeofourpopularearnestness，hecompletedhisnaturalization，intheonlysenseinwhichourcitizenshipisworthhaving。
Idonotwishtoimplythatheforgothisnativeland，orceasedtoloveitproudlyandtenderly。HekeptforNorwaythefondnesswhichthemansittingathisownhearthfeelsforthehomeofhisboyhood。Hewasofgoodfamily；hispeoplewerepeopleofsubstanceandcondition，andhecouldhavehadaneasierlifetherethanhere。Hecouldhavewonevenwiderfame，anddoubtlessifhehadremainedinNorway，hewouldhavebeenoneofthatgroupofgreatNorwegianswhohavegiventheirlittlelandrenownsurpassedbythatofnootherinthemodernrepublicofletters。ThenameofBoyesenwouldhavebeensetwiththenamesofBjornson，ofIbsen，ofKielland，andofLie。ButwhenoncehehadseenAmerica（atthewishofhisfather，whohadvisitedtheUnitedStatesbeforehim），hethoughtonlyofbecominganAmerican。WhenIfirstknewhimhewasfullofthepoetryofhismother—land；histalkwasoffjordsandglaciers，offirsandbirches，ofhuldersandnixies，ofhousemenandgaardsmen；buthewasgladtobehere，andIthinkheneverregrettedthathehadcasthislotwithus。Always，ofcourse，hehadthedeepestinterestinhiscountryandcountrymen。HestoodthefriendofeveryNorwegianwhocametohiminwantortrouble，andthey，cametohimfreelyandfrequently。HesympathizedstronglywithNorwayinherquarrelwithSweden，andherwishforequalityaswellasautonomy；andthoughhedidnotgoalllengthswiththenationalparty，hewasdecidedinhisfeelingthatSwedenwasunjusttohersisterkingdom，andstrenuousfortheprinciplesoftheNorwegianleaders。
But，asIhavesaid，poetry，waswhathisardentspiritmainlymeditatedinthathourwhenIfirstknewhiminCambridge，beforewehadeitherofusgrownoldandsad，ifnotwise。Heoverflowedwithit，andhetalkedaslittleashedreamedofanythingelseinthevasthalf—summerwespenttogether。Hewasconstantlyatmyhouse，whereinanabsenceofmyfamilyIwaslivingbachelor，andwherewesatindoorsandtalked，orsaunteredoutdoorsandtalked，withourheadsinacloudoffancies，notunmixedwiththemosquitoesofCambridge：ifIcouldhavebackthefancies，Iwouldbewillingtohavethemosquitoeswiththem。Helookedthepoetryhelived：hiseyesweretheblueofsunlitfjords；hisbrownsilkenhairwasthickonthecrownwhichitlaterabandonedtoascholarlybaldness；hissoft，redlipshalfhidaboyishpoutintheyouthfulbeardandmustache。Hewasshortofstature，butofastalwartbreadthofframe，andhisvoicewasofapeculiarandendearingquality，indescribablymellowandtenderwhenhereadhisverse。
Ihavehardlytherighttodwellsolonguponhimhere，forhewasonlyasojournerinCambridge，butthememoryofthatearlyintimacyistoomuchformysenseofproportion。AsIhavehinted，ourintimacywasrenewedafterwards，whenItoocametoliveinNewYork，whereaslongashewasinthis’dolcelome’，hehardlyletaweekgobywithoutpassingalongeveningwithme。Ourtalkwasstillofliteratureandlife，butmoreoflifethanofliterature，andweseldomspokeofthoseoldtimes。Istillfoundhimtruetotheidealswhichhadclarifiedthemselvestobothofusasthedutyofunswervingfealtytotherealthinginwhateverwedid。
Thiswefelt，aswehadfeltitlongbefore，tobethesolesourceofbeautyandofart，andwewarmedourselvesateachother’sheartsinourdevotiontoit，amidstamisunderstandingenvironmentwhichwedidnotcharacterizebysomildanepithet。Boyesen，indeed，out—realistedme，inthepolemicsofouraesthetics，andsometimeswhenanunbelieverwasby，Iwillinglylefttomyfriendtheaffirmationofourfaith，notwithoutsomequakingathisunsparingstrenuousnessindiscipliningtheheretic。ButnowthatardentandactivesoulisElsewhere，andIhaveceasedeventoexpectthering，which，makingitselfheardatthelatehourofhiscoming，Iknewalwaystobehisandnotanother’s。Thatmechanicalexpectationofthosewhowillcomenomoreissomethingterrible，butwheneventhatceases，weknowtheirreparabilityofourloss，andbegintorealizehowmuchofourselvestheyhavetakenwiththem。
IV。
ItwassomeyearsbeforetheBoyesensummer，whichwasthefourthorfifthofourlifeinCambridge，thatImadetheacquaintanceofaman，verymuchmysenior，whoremainsoneofthevividestpersonalitiesinmyrecollection。IspeakofhiminthisorderperhapsbecauseofanobscureassociationwithBoyesenthroughtheirreligiousfaith，whichwasalsomine。ButHenryJameswasincommensurablymoreSwedenborgianthaneitherofus：helivedandthoughtandfeltSwedenborgwithanentiretyandintensityfarbeyondthemereassentofothermen。Hedidnotdothisinanystupidlyexclusiveway，butinthemostluminouslyinclusiveway，withaconstantreferenceofthesevainmundaneshadowstothespiritualrealitiesfromwhichtheyproject。Hispiety，whichsometimesexpresseditselfintermsofalarmingoriginalityandfreedom，wastoolargeforanyecclesiasticallimits，andonemaylearnfromthebookswhichrecordit，howabsolutelyindividualhisinterpretationsofSwedenborgwere。
Clarificationstheycannotbecalled，andinthatotherworldwhosesubstantialveritywastheinspirationofhislifehere，thetwosagesmaybythistimehavemetandagreedtodifferastosomepointsinthedoctrineoftheSeer。Insuchacase，Icannotimaginetheapostlegivingway；andIdonotsayhewouldbewrongtoinsist，butIthinkhemightnowbewillingtoallowthattheexegeticpageswhichsentencebysentenceweresobrilliantlysuggestive，hadsometimesacollectiveopacitywhichthemostresolutevisioncouldnotpenetrate。Heputintothisdarkwisdomthemostbrilliantintelligenceeverbroughttotheserviceofhismysticalfaith；helighteditupwithflashesofthekeenestwitandbatheditintheglowofalambenthumor，sothatitistrulywonderfultomehowitshouldremainsounintelligible。ButIhaveonlytriedtoreadcertainofhisbooks，andperhapsifIhadpersistedintheeffortImighthavefoundthemallasclearatlastastheonewhichseemstometheclearest，andiscertainlymostencouraginglysuggestive：Imeantheonecalled’SocietytheRedeemedFormofMan。’
Hehadhiswholebeinginhisbelief；ithadnotonlyliberatedhimfromthebondsoftheCalvinistictheologyinwhichhisyouthwastrammelled，butithadsecuredhimagainsttheconsciousethicismoftheprevailingUnitariandoctrinewhichsupremelyworshippedConduct；andithadcoloredhisvocabularytosuchstrangeeffectsthathespokeofmoralmenwithabhorrence；asmorehopelesslylostthansinners。Anyonewhosespheretemptedhimtorecognitionofthefoiblesofothers，hecalledtheDevil；
butinspiteofhisperceptionofsuchdiabolism，hewasratherfondofyieldingtoit，forhehadamosttrenchanttongue。ImyselfoncefellunderhiscondemnationastheDevil，byhavingtooplainlysharedhisjoyinhischaracterizationofcertainfellow—men；perhapsagroupofBostoniansfromwhomhehadjustpartedandwhosereciprocalpleasureofthemselveshepresentedintheimageof"simmeringintheirownfatandputtinganicebrownoneachother。"
Swedenborghimselfhedidnotspareasaman。Hethoughtthatverylikelyhislifehadthoselapsesinitwhichsomeofhisfollowersdeny；
andheregardedhimontheaestheticalsideasessentiallycommonplace，andasprobablychosenforhispropheticfunctionjustbecauseofhisimaginativenullity：histremendousrevelationscouldbethemoredistinctlyandunmistakablyinscribeduponanintelligenceofthatsort，whichalonecouldrenderagainastrictlyliteralreportofthem。
Astosomeothersortsofbelieverswhothoughttheyhadaspecialapprehensionofthetruth，he，hadnomercyuponthemiftheybetrayed，howeverinnocently，anyself—complacencyintheirpossession。IwentoneeveningtocalluponhimwithadearoldShakerelder，whohadthemisfortunetosaythathispeoplebelievedthemselvestobelivingtheangeliclife。JamesfasteneduponhimwiththesuggestionthataccordingtoSwedenborgthemostcelestialangelswereunconsciousoftheirownperfection，andthatiftheShakersfelttheywereofangelicconditiontheywereprobablythesportofthehells。Iwasverygladtogetmypooroldfriendoffalive，andtofindthathewasnotevenawareofbeingcutasunder：Ididnotinvitehimtoshakehimself。
WithspiritualistsJameshadlittleornosympathy；hewasnotsoimpatientofthemastheSwedenborgianscommonlyare，andheprobablyacknowledgedameasureofverityinthespiritisticphenomena；butheseemedratherincuriousconcerningthem，andhemusthaveregardedthemassuperfluitiesofnaughtiness，mostly；asemanationsfromthehells。
Hispowerfulandpenetratingintellectinteresteditselfwithallsocialandcivilfactsthroughhisreligion。Hewasessentiallyreligious，buthewasveryconsciouslyacitizen，withmostdecidedopinionsuponpoliticalquestions。MyowndarknessastoanythinglikesocialreformwasthensodensethatIcannotnowbeclearastohisfeelinginsuchmatters，butIhavetheimpressionthatitwasfarmoreradicalthanI
couldunderstand。Hewasofaverymercifulmindregardingthingsoftenheldinpitilesscondemnation，butofcharity，asitiscommonlyunderstood，hehadmisgivings。Hewouldneverhaveturnedawayfromhimthatasketh；buthespokewithregretofsomeofhisbenefactionsinthepast，largegiftsofmoneytoindividuals，whichhenowthoughthaddonemoreharmthangood。
Ineverknewhimtojudgemenbythesocietyscale。Hewasmosthumaninhisrelationswithothers，andwasincorrespondencewithallsortsofpeopleseekinglightandhelp；heansweredtheirlettersandtriedtoinstructthem，andnoonewassoloworweakbutheorshecouldreachhimonhisorherownlevel，thoughhehadhishumorousperceptionoftheirfoiblesanddisabilities；andhehadthatkeensenseofthegrotesquewhichoftengoeswiththekindliestnature。Hetoldofhisdining，earlyinlife，nextafellow—manfromCapeCodattheAstorHouse，wheresuchamancouldseldomhavefoundhimself。WhentheywereservedwithmeatthisneighboraskedifhewouldmindhisputtinghisfatonJames’splate：hedislikedfat。Jamessaidthatheconsideredtherequest，andseeingnogoodreasonagainstit，consented。