Мхи старої садиби

           Buthistoryaffordsmanyanexamplewherethemostpreciousspirit,atanyparticularepochmanifestedinhumanshape,hasgonehenceuntimely,withoutspaceallowedhim,sofarasmortaljudgmentcoulddiscern,toperformhismissionontheearth.Theprophetdies,andthemanoftorpidheartandsluggishbrainliveson.Thepoetleaveshissonghalfsung,orfinishesit,beyondthescopeofmortalears,inacelestialchoir.Thepainter—asAllstondid—leaveshalfhisconceptiononthecanvastosaddenuswithitsimperfectbeauty,andgoestopictureforththewhole,ifitbenoirreverencetosayso,inthehuesofheaven.Butrathersuchincompletedesignsofthislifewillbeperfectednowhere.Thissofrequentabortionofman’sdearestprojectsmustbetakenasaproofthatthedeedsofearth,howeveretherealizedbypietyorgenius,arewithoutvalue,exceptasexercisesandmanifestationsofthespirit.Inheaven,allordinarythoughtishigherandmoremelodiousthanMilton’ssong.Then,wouldheaddanotherversetoanystrainthathehadleftunfinishedhere?

           ButtoreturntoOwenWarland.Itwashisfortune,goodorill,toachievethepurposeofhislife.Passweoveralongspaceofintensethought,yearningeffort,minutetoil,andwastinganxiety,succeededbyaninstantofsolitarytriumph:letallthisbeimagined;andthenbeholdtheartist,onawinterevening,seekingadmittancetoRobertDanforth’sfiresidecircle.Therehefoundthemanofiron,withhismassivesubstancethoroughlywarmedandattemperedbydomesticinfluences.