the
world, it would still be abundantly worth while to continue to enjoy it
by oneself. But it never will lose currency with the world, in spite
of monetary appearances; it never will lose supremacy. Currency and
supremacy are insured to it, not indeed by the world's deliberate and
conscious choice, but by something far deeper,--by the instinct of
self-preservation in humanity.

[1] Published in 1880 as the General Introduction to 'The English
Poets' edited by T. H. Ward.

[2] 'Then began he to call many things to remembrance,--all the lands
which his valour conquered, and pleasant France, and the men of his
lineage, and Charlemagne his liege lord who nourished him.'--'Chanson
de Roland,' iii. 939-942.

[3] 'So said she; they long since in Earth's soft arms were reposing,
There, in their own dear land, their fatherland, Lacedaemon.'
--'Iliad,' iii. 243, 244 (translated by Dr. Hawtrey).

[4] 'Ah, unhappy pair, why gave we you to King Peleus, to a mortal? but
ye are without old age, and immortal. Was it that with men born to
misery ye might have sorrow?'--'Iliad,' xvii. 443-445.

[5] 'Nay, and thou too, old man, in former days wast, as we hear,
happy.--'Iliad,' xxiv. 543.

[6] 'I wailed not, so of stone grew I within;--_they_
wailed.'--'Inferno, xxxiii. 39, 40.

[7] 'Of such sort hath God, thanked be His mercy, made me, that your
misery toucheth me not, neither doth the flame of this fire strike
me.--'Inferno,' ii. 91-93.

[8] 'In His will is our peace.'--'Paradiso,' iii. 85.

[9] The French _soude_; soldered, fixed fast.

[10] The name _Heaulmiere_ is said to be derived from a head-dress
(helm) worn as a mark by courtesans. In Villon's ballad, a poor old
creature of this class laments her days of youth and beauty. The last
stanza of the ballad runs thus--

'Ainsi le bon temps regretons
Entre nous, pauvres vieilles sottes,
Assises has, a croppetons,
Tout en ung tas comme pelottes;
A petit feu de chenevottes
Tost allumees, tost estainctes.
Et jadis fusmes si mignottes!
Ainsi en prend a maintz et maintes.'

'Thus amongst ourselves we regret the good time, poor silly old things
low-seated on our heels, all in a heap like so many balls; by a little
fire of hemp-stalks, soon lighted, soon spent. And once we were such
darlings! So fares it with many and many a one.'

SESAME AND LILIES

BY

JOHN RUSKIN

_INTRODUCTORY NOTE_

_John Ruskin (1819-1900),