nd against the world? Yes, against the world in
all, in all; in science and in arms, in minstrel strain, and not less in
the art 'which enables the hand to deceive the intoxicated soul by means
of pictures.' {153} Seek'st models? to Gainsborough and Hogarth turn,
not names of the world, maybe, but English names--and England against the
world! A living master? why, there he comes! thou hast had him long, he
has long guided thy young hand towards the excellence which is yet far
from thee, but which thou canst attain if thou shouldst persist and
wrestle, even as he has done, 'midst gloom and despondency--ay, and even
contempt; he who now comes up the creaking stair to thy little studio in
the second floor to inspect thy last effort before thou departest, the
little stout man whose face is very dark, and whose eye is vivacious;
that man has attained excellence, destined some day to be acknowledged,
though not till he is cold, and his mortal part returned to its kindred
clay. He has painted, not pictures of the world, but English pictures,
such as Gainsborough himself might have done; beautiful rural pieces,
with trees which might well tempt the wild birds to perch upon them: thou
needest not run to Rome, brother, where lives the old Mariolater, after
pictures of the world, whilst at home there are pictures of England; nor
needest thou even go to London, the big city, in search of a master, for
thou hast one at home in the old East Anglian town who can instruct thee
whilst thou needest instruction: better stay at home, brother, at least
for a season, and toil and strive 'midst groanings and despondency till
thou hast attained excellence even as he has done--the little dark man
with the brown coat and the top-boots, whose name will one day be
considered the chief ornament of the old town, and whose works will at no
distant period rank amongst the proudest pictures of England--and England
against the world!--thy master, my brother, thy, at present, all too
little considered master--Crome.

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

DESIRE FOR NOVELTY--LIVES OF THE LAWLESS--COUNTENANCES--OLD YEOMAN AND
DAME--WE LIVE NEAR THE SEA--UNCOUTH-LOOKING VOLUME--THE OTHER
CONDITION--DRAOITHEAC--A DILEMMA--THE ANTINOMIAN--LODOWICK
MUGGLETON--ANDERS VEDEL

But to proceed with my own story: I now ceased all at once to take much
pleasure in the pursuits which formerly interested me, I yawned over Ab
Gwilym, even as I now in my mind's eye perceive th