ses fortunes qui tuent un
homme, qui le rendent lourd, fier et insolent: il avait juste de
quoi vivre, six cents francs de rentes, une fortune pour lui, qui
vivait avec cinq francs par mois. Il a continue a travailler; mais
ses eaux-fortes n'etaient plus supportables; tandis qu'avant, il
vivait avec un morceau de pain et des legumes; alors il avait du
talent. Cela, Thomas, doit te prouver que ni les mauvais
enseignements, ni les influences, ni la misere, ni la faim, ni la
maladie, ne peuvent corrompre une nature bien douee. Elle souffre;
mais trouve moi un grand artiste qui n'ait pas souffert. Il n'y a
pas un seul homme de denie heureux depuis que l'humanite existe."

"J'ai envie," dit Thomas, "de te faire cadeau d'une jolie cravate."

"Pourquoi?" dit Gerard.

"Parce que tu as bien parle."

[75] See _ante_, p. 343, Sec. 73.--ED.

[76] Chapter VI., which is here omitted, having been already reprinted
in _The Queen of the Air_ (Sec.Sec. 142-159), together with the last paragraph
(somewhat altered) of the present chapter. After the publication of
Chapter VI. the essays were discontinued until January 1866.--ED.

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|Transcriber's note: |
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|Chapter VI is missing from the original.|
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CHAPTER VII.[77]

85. In recommencing this series of papers, I may perhaps take permission
briefly to remind the reader of the special purpose which my desultory
way of writing, (of so vast a subject I find it impossible to write
otherwise than desultorily), may cause him sometimes to lose sight of;
the ascertainment, namely, of some laws for present practice of Art in
our schools, which may be admitted, if not with absolute, at least with
a sufficient consent, by leading artists.

There are indeed many principles on which different men must ever be at
variance; others, respecting which it may be impossible to obtain any
practical consent in certain phases of particular schools. But there are
a few, which, I think, in all times of meritorious Art, the leading
painters would admit; and others which, by discussion, might be arrived
at, as, at all events, the best discoverable for the time.

86. One of those which I suppose great workmen would always admit, is,
that, whatever material we use, the virtues of that material are to be
e