created to do--not languidly occupied upon trifles, not enervated by sensual gratification, but exercised in that toil which is so congenial to their nature, and so worthy of their strength. A life of knowledge is not often a life of injury and crime. Whom does such a man oppress? with whose happiness does he interfere? whom does his ambition destroy? and whom does his fraud deceive? In the pursuit of science he injures no man, and in the acquisition he does good to all. A man who dedicates his life to knowledge, becomes habituated to pleasure which, carries with it no reproach: and there is one security that he will never love that pleasure which is paid for by anguish of heart-his pleasures are all cheap, all dignified, and all innocent; and, as far as any human being can expect permanence in this changing scene, he has secured a happiness which no malignity of fortune can ever take away, but which must cleave to him while he lives, ameliorating every good, and diminishing every evil of his existence. I solemnly declare, that, but for the love of knowledge, I should consider the life of the meanest hedger and ditcher as preferable to that of the greatest and richest of men; for the fire of our minds is like the fire which the Persians burn in the mountains-it flames night and day, and is immortal, and not to be quenched! Upon something it must act and feed-upon the pure spirit of knowledge, or upon the foul dregs of polluting passions. Therefore, when I say, in conducting your understanding, love knowledge with a great love, with a vehement love, with a love coëval with life, what do I say but love innocence; love virtue; love purity of conduct; love that which, if you are rich and great, will sanctify the blind fortune which has made you so, and make men call it justice; love that which, if you are poor, will render your poverty respectable, and make the proudest feel it unjust to laugh at the meanness of your fortunes; love that which will comfort you, adorn you, and never quit you-which will open to you the kingdom of thought, and all the boundless regions of conception, as an asylum against the cruelty, the injustice, and the pain that may be your lot in the outer world-that which will make your motives habitually great and honourable, and light up in an instant a thousand noble disdains at the very thought of meanness and of fraud. Therefore, if any young man here have embarked his life in the pursuit of Knowledge, let him go on without doubting or fearing the event: let him not be intimidated by the cheerless beginnings of Knowledge, by the darkness from which she springs, by the difficulties which hover around her, by the wretched habitations in which she dwells, by the want and sorrow which sometimes journey in her train; but let him ever follow her as the Angel that guards him, and as the Genius of his life. She will bring him out at last into the light of day, and exhibit him to the world comprehensive in acquirements, fertile in resources, rich in imagination, strong in reasoning, prudent and powerful above his fellows in all the relations and in all the offices of life. SYDNEY SMITH. chem-ist (kem-) la-bór-i-ous un-change-a-ble pòv-er-ty af-flict-ing làn-guid-ly rig-or-ous-ly a-sýl-um ex-er-cis-ing dě-mo-cra-cies, self-governing peoples. Democracy is a form of government in which the sovereignty of the State is vested in the people themselves. Grk. demokratia, from demos, "the people," and kratos, "strength, power." e-nerv-at-ed, deprived of nerve, strength, courage; weakened, debilitated. Lat. e, and nervus, "a nerve." sèns-u-al (-yu-), connected with, affecting, or arising from the senses (as opposed to the intellect). out," in-de-struc-ti-ble pré-fer-a-ble balance. Try the (very inferior) effect of a substitute for "a life" (second use). Compare "the fire " (below). the fire of our minds, &c. Note the recurrence of "the fire." Substitute the usual pronoun, and compare the two modes of expression. See a life" (above). habituated (ha- bìt-yu-ăt-ed), trained in or given to a habit, accustomed. a-mél-ior-at-ing (-yor-), making better, improving. French, ameliorer, from Lat. ad, “ to,” and melior, "better." 66 By his evening fire the artist Pondered o'er his secret shame; Baffled, weary, and disheartened, Still he mused, and dreamed of fame. 'Twas an image of the Virgin That had tasked his utmost skill! But alas! his fair ideal Vanished and escaped him still. From a distant Eastern island Had the precious wood been brought; Day and night the anxious master At his toil untiring wrought; Till, discouraged and desponding, Then a voice cried, "Rise, O master! Woke, and from the burning embers O thou sculptor, painter, poet! LONGFELLOW. |