ick of that arcadian period. For as the race of man, after centuries
of civilisation, still keeps some traits of their barbarian fathers, so
man the individual is not altogether quit of youth, when he is already
old and honoured, and Lord Chancellor of England. We advance in years
somewhat in the manner of an invading army in a barren land; the age
that we have reached, as the phrase goes, we but hold with an outpost,
and still keep open our communications with the extreme rear and first
beginnings of the march. There is our true base; that is not only the
beginning, but the perennial spring of our faculties; and grandfather
William can retire upon occasion into the green enchanted forest of his
boyhood.

The unfading boyishness of hope and its vigorous irrationality are
nowhere better displayed than in questions of conduct. There is a
character in the "Pilgrim's Progress," one Mr. "Linger-after-Lust," with
whom I fancy we are all on speaking terms; one famous among the famous
for ingenuity of hope up to and beyond the moment of defeat; one who,
after eighty years of contrary experience, will believe it possible to
continue in the business of piracy and yet avoid the guilt of theft.
Every sin is our last; every 1st of January a remarkable turning-point
in our career. Any overt act, above all, is felt to be alchemic in its
power to change. A drunkard takes the pledge; it will be strange if that
does not help him. For how many years did Mr. Pepys continue to make and
break his little vows? And yet I have not heard that he was discouraged
in the end. By such steps we think to fix a momentary resolution; as a
timid fellow hies him to the dentist's while the tooth is stinging.

But, alas, by planting a stake at the top of flood, you can neither
prevent nor delay the inevitable ebb. There is no hocus-pocus in
morality; and even the "sanctimonious ceremony" of marriage leaves the
man unchanged. This is a hard saying, and has an air of paradox. For
there is something in marriage so natural and inviting, that the step
has an air of great simplicity and ease; it offers to bury for ever many
aching preoccupations; it is to afford us unfailing and familiar company
through life; it opens up a smiling prospect of the blest and passive
kind of love, rather than the blessing and active; it is approached not
only through the delights of courtship, but by a public performance and
repeated legal signatures. A man naturally thinks it will