36 THE FAREWELL. 



She left the insatiate mind to seek supply- 

 In the deep stores of sister, Tragedy ! 

 And had she more the mighty bard to grant 

 Than I — before I left his mind in want ? 

 Ah, no ! — but since, to speak it, she is loth — 

 I'll speak it for her — he exhausted both ; 

 * And to the end of time he still shall be. 



In mirth or woe, supreme amid supremacy. 



G. W. 



THE FAREWELL. 

 A SHANDEAN FRAGMENT. 



When I consider, how much of the comfort and 

 joy, which we experience in this world, is derived 

 from our habiHty to inconvenience and misery — that 

 some of the purest dehghts we can possibly know 

 are ehcited in adversity — that Love has never been 

 so extatic as when nursed by misfortune — that Pity 

 could not sigh without a cause — nor Charity exist 

 without distress — nor Gratitude without obligation ; 

 — when I consider all these, I am almost prompted 

 to exclaim, ^ Tell me not that Heaven itself is free 

 from sorrow ! ' 



If any one maintain that I consider wrongly, let 

 him explain, why a man pays three shillings and six 

 pence at the pit door of a theatre, to be cheated into 

 melancholy, by the representation of fictitious tragedy. 

 There is sufficient cause for tears in the accidents of 

 real life, without seeking additional motive in the 

 acting of Mr. Macready — we seek it nevertheless. 



It is incompatible with our present nature to sup- 

 pose a state of mere ease, — at least, to enjoy one — 

 for we cannot truly enjoy without appreciating, and 

 we cannot appreciate the sweets without an occasi- 

 onal taste of the bitters of life. In the soil of uncer- 

 tainty we sow the seeds of speculation — There is 

 mental excitement to preclude despondency, and to 



