136 LIFE OF GEORGE WILSON. CHAP. VI. 



with me a mere source of idle amusement, to which I could 

 turn for relaxation, and listlessly smile over, lying on a sofa ; 

 but, on the other hand, a field for as tough intellectual 

 gymnastics as any scientific problem, and the pleasure 

 arose from the new thoughts struck out by the conflict 

 between the author and his reader. Now, however, in 

 relaxed seasons the battle is too hard work, and the idlest 

 book on the foolishest subject is the most agreeable. I am 

 sure you can understand the feeling which I lamely strive 

 to portray. I think the great poets too worthy fellows" to be 

 handled with my worn-down emaciated thoughts. I think 

 the same of the musicians, and listen to none of them. I 

 have felt the same towards the greater scientifics ; but they 

 are my ' daily bread/ and habit, and a sort of shop instinct, 

 make me keep munching at them, though often out of a 

 goodly loaf I digest but a few crumbs." . . . 



" June 30, 1842. 



" MY DEAR DANIEL, A few words with you on whatever 

 comes uppermost. It's but a poor one-sided apology for 

 conversation this epistolizing, but pleasant too in its way, 

 doing one's heart good. As I lay on the sofa this morning, 

 ' fast anchored ' as usual, I recalled in thought a most 

 beautiful poem, written by a young Edinburgh advocate, 

 called Aytoun, and which you will find in Blackwood for 

 last year. The title is ' Harmotimus,' or some similar name, 

 and should you stumble on it, read it ; besides other points 

 of interest, it will make you acquainted with a beautiful but 

 difficult measure, borrowed from the German, a language 

 which infinitely transcends ours in its capabilities of modu- 

 lation, and can, in fact, imitate the measures of every 

 nation under heaven. The poem is 'founded on an old 

 Greek story of a philosopher who possessed the power of 



