THEeldestson!Theregardandaffectionwhichmyfatherentertainedforhisfirst-bornwerenaturalenough，andappearedtononemoresothanmyself，whocherishedthesamefeelingstowardshim。Whathewasasaboythereaderalreadyknows，forthereaderhasseenhimasaboy；fainwouldIdescribehimatthetimeofwhichIamnowspeaking，whenhehadattainedthevergeofmanhood，butthepenfailsme，andIattemptnotthetask；andyetitoughttobeaneasyone，forhowfrequentlydoeshisformvisitmymind’seyeinslumberandinwakefulness，inthelightofdayandinthenightwatches；butlastnightIsawhiminhisbeautyandhisstrength；hewasabouttospeak，andmyearwasonthestretch，whenatonceIawoke，andtherewasIalone，andthenightstormwashowlingamidstthebranchesofthepineswhichsurroundmylonelydwelling：’Listentothemoaningofthepine，atwhoserootthyhutisfastened，’-asayingthat，ofwildFinland，inwhichthereiswisdom；Ilistenedandthoughtoflifeanddeath……OfallhumanbeingsthatIhaveeverknown，thatelderbrotherwasthemostfrankandgenerous，ay，andthequickestandreadiest，andthebestadaptedtodoagreatthingneedfulatthecriticaltime，whenthedelayofamomentwouldbefatal。Ihaveknownhimdashfromasteepbankintoastreaminhisfulldress，andpulloutamanwhowasdrowning；yetthereweretwentyothersbathinginthewater，whomighthavesavedhimbyputtingoutahand，withoutinconveniencetothemselves，which，however，theydidnotdo，butstaredwithstupidsurpriseatthedrowningone’sstruggles。Yes，whilstsomeshoutedfromthebanktothoseinthewatertosavethedrowningone，andthoseinthewaterdidnothing，mybrotherneithershoutednorstoodstill，butdashedfromthebankanddidtheonethingneedful，which，undersuchcircumstances，notonemaninamillionwouldhavedone。Now，whocanwonderthatabraveoldmanshouldloveasonlikethis，andpreferhimtoanyother？
　　’Myboy，myownboy，youaretheveryimageofmyself，thedayI
　　tookoffmycoatintheparktofightBigBen，’saidmyfather，onmeetinghissonwetanddripping，immediatelyafterhisboldfeat。
　　Andwhocannotexcusethehonestprideoftheoldman-thestoutoldman？
　　Ay，oldman，thatsonwasworthyofthee，andthouwastworthyofsuchason；anoblespecimenwastthouofthosestrongsingle-
　　mindedEnglishmen，who，withoutmakingaparadeeitherofreligionorloyalty，fearedGodandhonouredtheirking，andwerenotparticularlyfriendlytotheFrench，whosevauntingpollstheyoccasionallybroke，asatMindenandatMalplaquet，totheconfusionvastoftheeternalfoesoftheEnglishland。I，whowassolittleliketheethatthouunderstoodstmenot，andinwhomwithjusticethoudidstfeelsolittlepride，hadyetperceptionenoughtoseeallthyworth，andtofeelitanhonourtobeabletocallmyselfthyson；andifatsomenodistanttime，whentheforeignenemyventurestoinsultourshore，Ibepermittedtobreaksomevauntingpoll，itwillbeatriumphtometothinkthat，ifthouhadstlived，thouwouldsthavehailedthedeed，andmightestyetdiscoversomedistantresemblancetothyself，thedaywhenthoudidstallbutvanquishthemightyBrain。
　　Ihavealreadyspokenofmybrother’stasteforpainting，andtheprogresshehadmadeinthatbeautifulart。Itisprobablethat，ifcircumstanceshadnoteventuallydivertedhismindfromthepursuit，hewouldhaveattainedexcellence，andleftbehindhimsomeenduringmonumentofhispowers，forhehadanimaginationtoconceive，andthatyetrarerendowment，ahandcapableofgivinglife，body，andrealitytotheconceptionsofhismind；perhapshewantedonething，thewantofwhichisbuttoooftenfataltothesonsofgenius，andwithoutwhichgeniusislittlemorethanasplendidtoyinthehandsofthepossessor-perseverance，doggedperseverance，inhispropercalling；otherwise，thoughthegravehadclosedoverhim，hemightstillbelivingintheadmirationofhisfellow-creatures。Oyegiftedones，followyourcalling，for，howevervariousyourtalentsmaybe，yecanhavebutonecallingcapableofleadingyetoeminenceandrenown；followresolutelytheonestraightpathbeforeyou，itisthatofyourgoodangel，letneitherobstaclesnortemptationsinduceyetoleaveit；boundalongifyoucan；ifnot，onhandsandkneesfollowit，perishinit，ifneedful；butyeneednotfearthat；nooneeveryetdiedinthetruepathofhiscallingbeforehehadattainedthepinnacle。
　　Turnintootherpaths，andforamomentaryadvantageorgratificationyehavesoldyourinheritance，yourimmortality。Yewillneverbeheardofafterdeath。
　　’Myfatherhasgivenmeahundredandfiftypounds，’saidmybrothertomeonemorning，’andsomethingwhichisbetter-hisblessing。Iamgoingtoleaveyou。’
　　’Andwhereareyougoing？’
　　’Where？tothegreatcity；toLondon，tobesure。’
　　’Ishouldliketogowithyou。’
　　’Pooh，’saidmybrother，’whatshouldyoudothere？Butdon’tbediscouraged，IdaresayatimewillcomewhenyoutoowillgotoLondon。’
　　And，sureenough，soitdid，andallbuttoosoon。
　　’Andwhatdoyoupurposedoingthere？’Idemanded。
　　’Oh，Igotoimprovemyselfinart，toplacemyselfundersomemasterofhighname，atleastIhopetodosoeventually。Ihave，however，aplaninmyhead，whichIshouldwishfirsttoexecute；
　　indeed，IdonotthinkIcanresttillIhavedoneso；everyonetalkssomuchaboutItaly，andthewondrousartistswhichithasproduced，andthewondrouspictureswhicharetobefoundthere；
　　nowIwishtoseeItaly，orratherRome，thegreatcity，forIamtoldthatinacertainroomthereiscontainedthegrandmiracleofart。’
　　’Andwhatdoyoucallit？’
　　’TheTransfiguration，paintedbyoneRafael，anditissaidtobethegreatestworkofthegreatestpainterwhomtheworldhaseverknown。Isupposeitisbecauseeverybodysaysso，thatIhavesuchastrangedesiretoseeit。Ihavealreadymademyselfwellacquaintedwithitslocality，andthinkthatIcouldalmostfindmywaytoitblindfold。WhenIhavecrossedtheTiber，which，asyouareaware，runsthroughRome，Imustpresentlyturntotheright，uparathershabbystreet，whichcommunicateswithalargesquare，thefartherendofwhichisentirelyoccupiedbythefrontofanimmensechurch，withadomewhichascendsalmosttotheclouds，andthischurchtheycallSt。Peter’s。’
　　’Ay，ay，’saidI，’IhavereadaboutthatinKeysler’sTravels。’
　　’Beforethechurch，inthesquare，aretwofountains，oneoneitherside，castingupwaterinshowers；betweenthem，inthemidst，isanobelisk，broughtfromEgypt，andcoveredwithmysteriouswriting；onyourrightrisesanedifice，notbeautifulnorgrand，buthugeandbulky，wherelivesastrangekindofpriestwhommencallthePope，averyhorribleoldindividual，whowouldfainkeepChristinleadingstrings，callstheVirginMarytheQueenofHeaven，andhimselfGod’sLieutenant-Generaluponearth。’
　　’Ay，ay，’saidI，’IhavereadofhiminFoxe’sBOOKOFMARTYRS。’
　　’Well，Idonotgostraightforwarduptheflightofstepsconductingintothechurch，butIturntotheright，and，passingunderthepiazza，findmyselfinacourtofthehugebulkyhouse；
　　andthenascendvariousstaircases，andpassalongvariouscorridorsandgalleries，allofwhichIcoulddescribetoyou，thoughIhaveneverseenthem；atlastadoorisunlocked，andweenteraroomratherhigh，butnotparticularlylarge，communicatingwithanotherroom，intowhich，however，Idonotgo，thoughtherearenoblethingsinthatsecondroom-immortalthings，byimmortalartists；amongstothers，agrandpieceofCorreggio；Idonotenterit，forthegrandpictureoftheworldisnotthere；butIstandstillimmediatelyonenteringthefirstroom，andIlookstraightbeforeme，neithertotherightnorleft，thoughtherearenoblethingsbothontherightandleft，forimmediatelybeforemeatthefartherend，hangingagainstthewall，isapicturewhicharrestsme，andIcanseenothingelse，forthatpictureatthefartherendhangingagainstthewallisthepictureoftheworld……’
　　Yes，gothyway，youngenthusiast，and，whethertoLondontownortooldRome，maysuccessattendthee；yetstrangefearsassailmeandmisgivingsonthyaccount。Thoucanstnotrest，thousay’st，tillthouhastseenthepictureinthechamberatoldRomehangingoveragainstthewall；ay，andthusthoudustexemplifythyweakness-thystrengthtoo，itmaybe-fortheoneidea，fantasticyetlovely，whichnowpossessesthee，couldonlyhaveoriginatedinagenialandferventbrain。Well，go，ifthoumustgo；yetitperhapswerebetterfortheetobideinthynativeland，andthere，withfearandtrembling，withgroanings，withstrainingeyeballs，toil，drudge，slave，tillthouhastmadeexcellencethineown；thouwiltscarcelyacquireitbystaringatthepictureoveragainstthedoorinthehighchamberofoldRome。Seekestthouinspiration？thouneedestitnot，thouhastitalready；anditwasneveryetfoundbycrossingthesea。WhathastthoutodowitholdRome，andthouanEnglishman？’Didthybloodneverglowatthementionofthynativeland？’asanartistmerely？Yes，Itrow，andwithreason，forthynativelandneednotgrudgeoldRomeher’picturesoftheworld’；shehaspicturesofherown，’picturesofEngland’；andisitanewthingtotossupcapsandshout-Englandagainsttheworld？Yes，againsttheworldinall，inall；inscienceandinarms，inminstrelstrain，andnotlessintheart’whichenablesthehandtodeceivetheintoxicatedsoulbymeansofpictures。’Seek’stmodels？toGainsboroughandHogarthturn，notnamesoftheworld，maybe，butEnglishnames-andEnglandagainsttheworld!Alivingmaster？why，therehecomes!thouhasthadhimlong，hehaslongguidedthyyounghandtowardstheexcellencewhichisyetfarfromthee，butwhichthoucanstattainifthoushouldstpersistandwrestle，evenashehasdone，’midstgloomanddespondency-ay，andevencontempt；hewhonowcomesupthecreakingstairtothylittlestudiointhesecondfloortoinspectthylasteffortbeforethoudepartest，thelittlestoutmanwhosefaceisverydark，andwhoseeyeisvivacious；thatmanhasattainedexcellence，destinedsomedaytobeacknowledged，thoughnottillheiscold，andhismortalpartreturnedtoitskindredclay。Hehaspainted，notpicturesoftheworld，butEnglishpictures，suchasGainsboroughhimselfmighthavedone；beautifulruralpieces，withtreeswhichmightwelltemptthewildbirdstoperchuponthem，thouneedestnotruntoRome，brother，wherelivestheoldMariolater，afterpicturesoftheworld，whilstathometherearepicturesofEngland；norneedestthouevengotoLondon，thebigcity，insearchofamaster，forthouhastoneathomeintheoldEastAngliantownwhocaninstructtheewhilstthouneedestinstruction：betterstayathome，brother，atleastforaseason，andtoilandstrive’midstgroaningsanddespondencytillthouhastattainedexcellenceevenashehasdone-thelittledarkmanwiththebrowncoatandthetop-boots，whosenamewillonedaybeconsideredthechiefornamentoftheoldtown，andwhoseworkswillatnodistantperiodrankamongsttheproudestpicturesofEngland-andEnglandagainsttheworld!-thymaster，mybrother，thy，atpresent，alltoolittleconsideredmaster-Crome。