TO THE POOE. 281 



But for the satisfaction of the above-named objectors, 

 who think that talent should not be rewarded, there are 

 surely cases sufficient where Nature herself has made 

 the kind of compensation required cases of her giving 

 ability of the highest kind and of the greatest importance 

 to men, without giving anything more in the shape of 

 money reward, cases of talent and genius and energy, 

 which hardly brought to their possessors even bread. 

 Here, if Nature has erred in making men unequal, she 

 has redressed her error, and made compensation ; though 

 we can scarcely think she has always acted justly even 

 here, in letting the scales incline so heavily in the other 

 direction, against her own favourites, whom she selected 

 in the first instance. 



On the whole, if not absolutely conformable to the 

 principles of the highest conceivable justice, it seems the 

 fairest principle that can be applied on the earth, for a 

 considerable time yet to come, that men should get the 

 highest price they can by all fair and honourable means 

 for the commodity produced or the service rendered, in 

 the open market of the world. And what is desirable, 

 if it were possible, would be that the price should bear 

 some fair proportion to the ability and energy of the 

 producer, joined to the utility of the product or service. 

 It is true that on these principles the great poet or 

 philosopher, a Spinoza, or a Milton, whose commodity, 

 truth or beauty, may not be much in demand at the 

 time in the market, may starve. But the spiritual pro- 

 ducer usually knows beforehand the somewhat severe 

 conditions imposed by Nature in this respect, and if he 

 is wise, like the two above named, he makes his calcula- 

 tions and acts accordingly. Besides the chief payment 

 of the man of genius is made in other coin than money 

 in fame, in spiritual influence, in the pleasure flowing 



