第2部分(第3/7 頁)

yet　the　〃perchance〃　had　more　and　more　of　emphasis　as　life　went　on；　and　at　the　moment　when　fate　was　secretly　smiling　on　me；　I　had　all　but　abandoned　hope。　I　have　my　home　at　last。　When　I　place　a　new　volume　on　my　shelves；　I　say：　Stand　there　whilst　I　have　eyes　to　see　you；　and　a　joyous　tremor　thrills　me。　This　house　is　mine　on　a　lease　of　a　score　of　years。　So　long　I　certainly　shall　not　live；　but；　if　I　did；　even　so　long　should　I　have　the　wherewithal　to　pay　my　rent　and　buy　my　food。

I　think　with　passion　of　the　unhappy　mortals　for　whom　no　such　sun　will　ever　rise。　I　should　like　to　add　to　the　Litany　a　new　petition：　〃For　all　inhabitants　of　great　towns；　and　especially　for　all　such　as　dwell　in　lodgings；　boarding…houses；　flats；　or　any　other　sordid　substitute　for　Home　which　need　or　foolishness　may　have　contrived。〃

In　vain　I　have　pondered　the　Stoic　virtues。　I　know　that　it　is　folly　to　fret　about　the　spot　of　one's　abode　on　this　little　earth。

All　places　that　the　eye　of　heaven　visits　Are　to　the　wise　man　ports　and　happy　havens。

But　I　have　always　worshipped　wisdom　afar　off。　In　the　sonorous　period　of　the　philosopher；　in　the　golden　measure　of　the　poet；　I　find　it　of　all　things　lovely。　To　its　possession　I　shall　never　attain。　What　will　it　serve　me　to　pretend　a　virtue　of　which　I　am　incapable？　To　me　the　place　and　manner　of　my　abode　is　of　supreme　import；　let　it　be　confessed；　and　there　an　end　of　it。　I　am　no　cosmopolite。　Were　I　to　think　that　I　should　die　away　from　England；　the　thought　would　be　dreadful　to　me。　And　in　England；　this　is　the　dwelling　of　my　choice；　this　is　my　home。

III

I　am　no　botanist；　but　I　have　long　found　pleasure　in　herb…gathering。　I　love　to　e　upon　a　plant　which　is　unknown　to　me；　to　identify　it　with　the　help　of　my　book；　to　greet　it　by　name　when　next