tely did endure. It is this watchful
faculty (perfectly prosaic and commonplace in its nature), which
never deserts me while I am uttering all that exquisite passionate
poetry in Juliet's balcony scene, while I feel as if my own soul
was on my lips, and my color comes and goes with the intensity of
the sentiment I am expressing; which prevents me from falling over
my train, from setting fire to myself with the lamps placed close
to me, from leaning upon my canvas balcony when I seem to throw
myself all but over it. In short, while the whole person appears to
be merely following the mind in producing the desired effect and
illusion upon the spectator, both the intellect and the senses are
constantly engrossed in guarding against the smallest accidents
that might militate against it; and while representing things
absolutely imaginary, they are taking accurate cognizance of every
real surrounding object that can either assist or mar the result
they seek to produce. This seems to me by far the most singular
part of the process, which is altogether a very curious and
complicated one. I am glad you got my print safe; it is a very
beautiful thing (I mean the drawing), and I am glad to think that
it is like me, though much flattered. I suppose it is like what
those who love me have sometimes seen me, but to the majority of my
acquaintance it must appear unwarrantably good-looking. The effect
of it is much too large for me, but when my mother ventured to
suggest this to Lawrence, he said that that was a peculiarity of
his drawings, and that he thought persons familiar with his style
would understand it.

My dearest H----, you express something of regret at my necessity
(I can hardly call it choice) of a profession. There are many times
when I myself cannot help wishing it might have been otherwise; but
then come other thoughts: the talent which I possess for it was, I
suppose, given to me for some good purpose, and to be used.
Nevertheless, when I reflect that although hitherto my profession
has not appeared to me attractive enough to engross my mind, yet
that admiration and applause, and the excitement springing
therefrom, may become necessary to me, I resolve not only to watch
but to pray against such a result. I have no desire to sell my soul
for an