tis so my experience teacheth me.

Hitherto my ragged shirt, my rough leathern jerkin and open-kneed
sailor's breeches had been a constant reminder of the poor, desperate
rogue I had become, my wild hair and shaggy beard evidences of
slavedom. Thus I had been indeed what I had seemed in looks, a rude,
ungentle creature expectant of scorns and ill-usage and therefore very
prone to fight and quarrel, harsh-tongued, bitter of speech, and in all
circumstances sullen, ungoverned and very desperate.

But now, seeing myself thus gently dight, my wild hair tamed by comb
and scissors, there grew within me a new respect for my manhood, so
that, little by little, those evils that slavery had wrought slipped
from me. Thus, though I still laboured at my carpentry and such
business as was to do, yet the fine linen rolled high above my scarred
and knotted arm put me to the thought that I was no longer the poor,
wild wretch full of despairing rage against Fate her cruel dealings,
but rather a man gently born and therefore one who must endure all
things as uncomplainingly as might be, and one moreover who, to greater
or less degree, was master of his own fate.

And now came Hope, that most blessed and beneficent spirit that lifteth
the fallen from the slough, that bindeth up the broken heart, that
cheereth the sad and downcast and maketh the oft-defeated bold and
courageous to attempt Fortune yet again.

O thou that we call Hope, thou sweet, bright angel of God! Without thee
life were an evil unendurable, with thee for companion gloomy Doubt,
sullen Fear and dark Despair flee utterly away, and we, bold-hearted,
patient and undismayed by any dangers or difficulties, may realise our
dreams at last. O sweet, strong angel of God, with thee to companion
us all things are possible!

Thus every morning came Hope to greet me on my waking, and I,
forgetting the futile past, began to look forward to a future more
glorious than I had ever dreamed; so I, from a sullen rogue full of
black humours, grew to know again the joy of laughter and put off my
ungracious speech and ways with my rough attire. Though how much the
change thus wrought in me was the work of my sweet comrade these pages,
I do think, will show.

As for my lady she, very quick to mark this change, grew ever the more
kind and trusting, sharing with me all her doubts and perplexities;
thus, did some problem vex her, she must come to me, biting her pretty
lips and her slender