LAST VERSES. 345 



that lie had studied the most. " The more I know," he 

 said, "the more I feel my ignorance. Knowledge 

 seems to retreat before me." He often quoted the 

 words of Athena's wisest son " The most I know is, 

 nothing can be known." And yet he said, " There is a 

 satisfaction in getting on in knowledge, which those 

 only can imagine who have risen early in searching for 

 it." 



He still continued to write verses, probably as a 

 relief from business troubles. Mr. Peach says that he 

 wrote verses down to the end of his life. The following 

 are extracted from some verses written in 1863, when 

 in the midst of his sorrow and poverty. The verses 

 commence, " waft me, o'er the deep Hue sea I " and pro- 

 ceed to the seventh stanza, which thus begins : 



" O waft me o'er, and let me roam 



Her untilled plains, her fertile soil, 

 Where weary wanderers find a home, 



And live by honest, manly toil! 

 By manly toil they rear a home 



Nor curst with want, nor crushed by care; 

 Nor grasping greed, nor grinding down, 



Nor sad and weary struggle there. 



" waft me o'er ! waft me o'er ! 



In yon fair land there's peace and rest, 

 And toiling-room for thousands more, 



With blissful Hope to soothe the breast. 

 With grief, with care, by sorrows prest, 



Of fruitless toil, my heart is sick. 

 O endless dreams, in horrors drest, 



Of cruel want, when old and weak! 



