en he was excited by some point of
particular interest. It is impossible to imagine an expression of more
entire mildness, I may almost call it of benignity and kindliness, than
that which played over his features during the whole interview. If,
therefore, he was at this time out of health and in low spirits, his
power of self-command must have been even more extraordinary than is
generally supposed; for his whole deportment, his conversation, and the
expression of his face, indicated a frame in perfect health, and a mind
at ease."

These favourable reports from seemingly impartial witnesses, lent new
wings to the tale of Sir Hudson Lowe's oppression; and perhaps the exile
of St. Helena continued to fill a larger space in the eye of the world
at large, than had ever before fallen to the lot of one removed for
ever, to all appearance, from the great theatre of human passions. It
was then that Lord Byron thus apostrophised him:

"Conqueror and Captive of the Earth art thou!
She trembles at thee still--and thy wild name
Was ne'er more bruited in men's minds than now
That thou art nothing, save the jest of Fame,
Who woo'd thee once, thy vassal and became
The flatterer of thy fierceness, till thou wert
A god unto thyself--nor less the same
To the astounded kingdoms all inert,
Who deemed thee for a time whate'er thou didst assert."

And it was then that an English nobleman of high rank, who throughout
manifested especial interest in the fortunes of Napoleon, inscribed his
statue (in the gardens of Holland House) with the lines of Homer:

[Greek: Ou gar po tethneken epi chthoni dios Odysseus,
All' eti po zoos kateryketai eurei ponto
Neso en amphiryte; chalepoi de min andres echousin.][74]

In ordinary times, the course of Napoleon's life at Longwood appears to
have been as follows. He rose early, and, as soon as he was out of bed,
either mounted on horseback, or began to dictate some part of the
history of his life to Montholon or Gourgaud. He breakfasted _a la
fourchette_, sometimes alone, sometimes with his suite, between 10 and
11 o'clock; read or dictated until between 2 and 3, when he received
such visitors as he chose to admit. He then rode out, either on
horseback or in his carriage, for a couple of hours, attended generally
by all his suite; then read or dictated again until near eight, at which
hour dinner was served. He preferred plain food, and ate plentifully.