266 TRAVEL, ADVENTUKE, AND SPORT. 



that when we expect to find the guerdon and break 

 out into sudden blaze, then comes Fate with the 

 abhorred shears ; but to this Phoebus answers reprov- 

 ingly that fame is not of mortal growth, and only 

 lives and spreads above. This suggests a double life 

 even now, and identifies fame with our own better 

 existence. There is no subject, however, on which 

 men are so apt to deceive themselves as when appeal- 

 ing to a higher and unseen judgment : probably few 

 criminals go to execution without a deceiving belief 

 that Heaven will be more merciful to them than man 

 has been, because they can shelter themselves under 

 the truth that Heaven alone knows what their diffi- 

 culties and temptations have been, forgetting that it 

 alone also knows their opportunities and the full 

 wickedness of their life. Every man should mistrust 

 himself when he looks forward to that higher fame 

 with any other feeling than one of having been an 

 unprofitable servant ; and even this feeling should be 

 mistrusted when it goes into words rather than to the 

 springs of action. It is in the general idea, and as 

 regards others rather than ourselves, that the consol- 

 ation of Milton's noble lines may be found. The 

 dread severance of the abhorred shears extends not 

 merely to the lives of the young and promising, but 

 to all in human life which is beautiful and good. 

 What avails the closest companionship, the fondest 

 love, before the presence of Death the separator? 

 In even an ordinary life how many bright promises 



