guards of terminology. For later times, here is Lewes, with his History of Philosophy. But some are present who speak for themselves-Seneca, and Epictetus, Antoninus, and, that almost-Christian, Boetius; neighbourhood gives Behmen, with mysticism and christian verities. But lights like these-also, the Angels of the Churches-I leave, as I have previously said, for Hours Sabbatical, and turn-yes, our goal is our starting point, I turn to Plutarch, for all Philosophy of Life. The oldworld philosophy is that of our own day; care, love, hatred, ambition, disappointment, were the elemental passions then as now, "Even from the tomb, the voice of Nature cries: We have no rarer apprehension than touched the ancient poets; our capacities are no greater than of the throngs who listened to Demosthenes at Athens, or those who walked up the Sphinx avenue to the temple at Luxor. ARCANGELO. And everlasting be our thanks to Books! Formerly, certain men were the embodiment of wisdom, and were sought for in the remotest corners of the earth. Now, Books are men; crypts from which we can evoke the souls of the greatest and best of earth's sons; the inky bands of letters bind the subtile spirits to the most narrow room, and bring them closer to us than if they were in the flesh. I once uttered a sigh in regard to Books; it came from a frequent hollow thought,-one which has been melodiously expressed ;-Regret for what has been lost; strong desire for possession,--a longing to seize "Some Theban fragment, or unroll One precious, tender-hearted scroll Let us be just, though we should be in the moment of rapture. Regret should not shed its vain tears on the white, unprolific dust of oblivion, it should be directed to our inability to grasp what has been bequeathed to us, it should move the heart, should produce endeavour and veneration. Chiefly, let us respect our known fore-elders in literature: God has wrought great glory through them; in the ancients there is wisdom,-without that, they would not have been treasured by one generation after another. And now, that very endurance places our minds above the wild, headstrong tumult which rules the day; as each wave of Opinion passes by, these reverenced ancestors crowned with amaranth, still abide with us; they give us confidence in the eternal substance of Beauty and Truth. The heat comes from the body, not the weeds; So man's true fame must strike from his own deeds." -MIDDLETON. No more of talk where Books as angel guests beguile the evening hours. I now must court another Muse. Life has a double aspect; I have spoken of that which comprises a hermit-like sequestration; on the other hand, there is a Home Life, and a Life outside of Home, which stir with personal and social incidents. I have already referred to Business, ONOCROTALOS.-Yes, as seen from the loop-hole of retreat. But you have left something unsaid. What of the rigour, the spirit, the heat of the battle? When you have gone forth and mixed with your fellows, let us know how your vaunted armour will stand you. Practical Trinculo, thereon, with cheerful energetic voice, requires a particular delineation of the mental needs of Business in its daily conduct,—the intellectual activities; their determinate, their momentary operations -also, their reserve. ARCANGELO, as the genius of conciliation and fair play, admits the reasonableness of what his companions say, but adds:-Although we breathe the world's sharp air, Books are with us still. Apart, Business may lie from certain literary reflexions, and processes of thought, -how little apart from Books is readily to be learnt. They hold an inward parley which is not to be silenced by the noisiest crowds. I would speak at large, continues this our silvervoiced enthusiast; but brevity will not prevent my confirming to the letter every member of my assertions. -Thus, as a central state amidst Business affairs, we find constant, all-pervading Calmness. Perturbation, and hurry and clangour may prevail in outer concerns, but in the inner ruling chamber, office, or cabinet, resides sovereign Calmness. This is the very diamond of Business; at once a gem and a pure fixed brightness; it shines on the forehead of the angels, and its efficacy amongst mortals was thus stated by Epicurus :-The man who permits himself to be influenced by it, even though he may not descend to a study of details, will have a great superiority of character over other men. Hereto, is allied Control, which holds the scales with steadiest hand; which must exist in foul or shine. Of it, the Hindu declares in rememberable words, for all men's warning:-Self-Control will place a mortal among the gods, the want of it will drive him into the dark abyss. The highest manifestation of Calmness and Control takes to itself a special name-Fortitude. The gains of Business, no less than the Paradise of Mahomet, will be found in the shadow of the crossing of swords. Here, for our admiration, recall what Atcas wrote to Philip :You reign over the Macedonians, men that have learned fighting; I over the Scythians that can fight with hunger and thirst. This quality often assumes an impetuous, eager, dauntless aspect, and then it is called Couragea condition of mind fitted for those periods when, as stated in the Persian tongue,-The times are so dangerous, that from terror, a male lion would become a female. Courage, in such seasons of peril imperiously cries "Ask any fiery proof which may demand The fatal service of this loyal hand." And, now, if I should speak of Concentration, I have illustrations from Cæsar, Hernandez Cortes, Goethe, and the battle of Thrasymene. For Patience, I commend you to the Persian's exhortation :—It is a rule of reason that the archer should have Patience; for when the arrow has left the bow it will not return. Flowing from Patience is the qualification of Delay: as to this, be you content with Talleyrand's answer amidst the heat and furious hurry of the French Revolution, to the question, What will you do?-I will do nothing, he replied, I wait. I have words and examples, also, for Directness which all dealings require: and for needful Brevity in speech, and action, and in writing: and for Ambition, too "The desire of active souls That pushes them beyond the bounds of nature, Verily, I can hedge round with a score of authorities, the argument that Business is the very Divine Necessity, on which essayists dilate; that it is allied to a Love of the Beautiful and the Good; that in its ample exertion of the Intellect it is nought less than a similitude of Deity, with the Bard, the Business Man may say to his work, "I am Thy God, and bid thee live as my God me; Then as to its virtuousness,-Business precludes many great vices; yea, its diligence elicits the highest disposition of energy, chases languor, inspires health through body and mind: "Men may well come hither when they're sick, To draw in easier breath from larger air." |