[1] See 'Pall Mall Gazette,' Dec. 5th, 1871.
[2] Letter IV. p. 21. Compare Letter V. p. 5; and observe, in future
references of this kind I shall merely say, IV. 21; V. 5, etc.
[3] J. A. Froude, 'Short Studies on Great Subjects.' Longmans,
1867. Page 297.
[4] "You did not shoot him"? No; my expression was hasty; you only
stood by, in a social manner, to see him shot;--how many of you?--and
so finely organized as you say you are!
[5] I quote from the 'Pall Mall Gazette' of January 16th. In the more
elaborate review given in the 'Fortnightly,' I am glad to see that
Professor Caird is beginning to perceive the necessity of defining
the word "useful;" and, though greatly puzzled, is making way towards
a definition: but would it not be wiser to abstain from exhibiting
himself in his state of puzzlement to the public?
[6] Every man as good as his neighbour! you extremely sagacious English
persons; and forthwith you establish competitive examination, which
drives your boys into idiotcy, before you will give them a bit of bread
to make their young muscles of! Every man as good as his neighbour! and
when I told you, seven years ago, that at least you should give every
man his penny of wages, whether he was good or not, so only that he
gave you the best that was in him, what did you answer to me?
[7] Cornutus, quoted by Ducange under the word 'Baro.'
[8] I am told in the north such pleasant fiction still holds in the
Teesdale district; the wife calling her husband 'my masterman.'
[9] 'The Book of a Hundred Ballads.' You shall hear more of them, soon.
[10] This singular use of the word 'free' in baronial times,
corresponding to our present singular use of it respecting trade,
we will examine in due time. A soldier who fights only for his own
hand, and a merchant who sells only for his own hand, are of course,
in reality, equally the slaves of the persons who employ them. Only
the soldier is truly free, and only the merchants, who fight and sell
as their country needs, and bids them.
[11] I always give Mr. Rawdon Brown's translation from his work,
'The English in Italy,' already quoted.
[12] Remember, briefly always, till I can tell you more about it, that
the first Fors is Courage, the second, Patience, the third, Fortune.
[13] Between May and October, any letters meant for me should be
addressed to Brantwood, Coniston; between October and May, to Corpus
Christi College, Oxford. They must be very short, and very plainly
written, or they will not be read; and they need never ask me to do
anything, because I won't do it. And, in general, I cannot answer
letters; but for any that come to help me, the writers may be sure
that I am grateful. I get a great many from people who "know that
I must be good-natured," from my books. I was good-natured once;
but I beg to state, in the most positive terms, that I am now old,
tired, and very ill-natured.
[14] "Type," the actual word in the Greek.
[15] "Davantage, ilz se nommoyent Forestiers, non que leur charge et
gouvernement fust seulement sur la terre, qui estoit lors occupee et
empeschee de la forest Charbonniere, mais la garde de la mer leur
estoit aussi commise. Convient ici entendre, que ce terme, forest,
en vieil bas Aleman, convenoit aussi bien aux eaux comme aux boys,
ainsi qu'il est narré es memoires de Jean du Tillet."--'Les Genealogies
des Forestiers et Comtes de Flandres' AntP. 1598.
[16] I accept the blame of vanity in printing the end of this letter,
for the sake of showing more perfectly the temper of its writer,
whom I have answered privately; in case my letter may not reach him,
I should be grateful if he would send me again his address.
[17] Sismondi: 'History of Italian Republics,' Vol. III., Chap. ii.
[18] "Saccone of Pietra-mala."
[19] Second Edition, Milan, 1870. (Fratelli Rechiadei), p. 86.
[20] "And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a
fig-tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is shaken of a mighty
wind."--Rev. vi. 13; compare Jerem. xxiv. 8, and Amos viii. 1 and 2.
[21] More accurately a rod cloven into three at the top, and so holding
the wool. The fruit is a branch of apples; she has golden sandals,
and a wreath of myrtle round her hair.
[22] The "Mount" is the heap of money in store for lending without
interest. You shall have a picture of it in next number, as drawn by a
brave landscape painter four hundred years ago; and it will ultimately
be one of the crags of our own Mont Rose; and well should be, for
it was first raised among the rocks of Italy by a Franciscan monk,
for refuge to the poor against the usury of the Lombard merchants
who gave name to our Lombard Street, and perished by their usury, as
their successors are like enough to do also. But the story goes back
to Friedrich II. of Germany again, and is too long for this letter.
[23] [If that be so, booksellers are of no use in the world, and
ought to be abolished. Am I to give my buyers unnecessary trouble
that booksellers may live?]
[24] Or of their native towns or villages,--these being recognized
as masters, also.
[25] Or the use of it, Mr. Emerson should have added.
[26] 'English Traits,' (Routledge, 1856), p. 95.
[27] Provost, Henrietta Street, Covent Garden.
[28] The 'Telegraph' has always seemed to me to play fairer than the
rest. The words "daily newspaper press" are, of course, too general.
[29] Compare 'Munera Pulveris,' § 140.
[30] Compare also Mr. Maurice's sermon for the fourth Sunday after
Trinity in Vol. II. of third series. (Smith, Elder & Co., no date.)
[31] In calling a man pre-eminently unfortunate, I do not mean that,
as compared with others, he is absolutely less prosperous; but that
he is one who has met with the least help or the greatest hostility,
from the Third Fors, in proportion to the wisdom of his purposes,
and virtue of his character.
[32] Italian 'fregata,' I believe 'polished-sided' ship, for swiftness,
'fricata;' but the derivation is uncertain.
[33] Chaucer's real word means "warrest with all my folk;" but it was
so closely connected with "weary" and "worry" in association of sound,
in his days, that I take the last as nearest the sense.
[34] The deepening orders of sin, in the nine circles, are briefly
these,--1. Unredeemed nature; 2. Lust; 3. Gluttony; 4. Avarice;
5. Discontent; 6. Heresy; 7. Open violence; 8. Fraudful
violence; 9. Treachery. But they are curiously dove-tailed
together,--serpent-tailed, I should say,--by closer coil, not expanding
plume. You shall understand the joiner's work next month.
[35] Went then in measure of a carol dance.
[36] Was called.
[37] Skilful.
[38] Fond.
[39] There were foreign trees besides. I insert bits here and there,
without putting stars to interrupt the pieces given.
[40] Quinces.
[41] Fond.
[42] Let me, however, beg you to observe, my dear Sir, that the cursing
is the fault of modern society, not of Trades' Unions, which were an
extreme blessing to ancient society, and will be so to all wholesome
societies, for ever.