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adds. It was the one place wherein he 

 was absolute lord, and over which he ruled 

 exclusively. Neither wife nor children 

 dared enter without his permission. 



Miserable, to my mind, is he who has no place 

 of his own, where he may be solitary, where he may 

 court himself or hide. 



He declared that books afforded him 

 recreation, pastime, sport. 



If any person says to me that it is abasing the 

 Muses to use them only for play and pastime, he 

 does not know, as do I, how much pleasure, play, 

 and pastime are worth ; I had well-nigh said all 

 other aims are ridiculous. I live from one day to 

 another, and, speaking reverently, I live but for my- 

 self ; my purposes end there. When young I stud- 

 ied for show; then to cultivate myself; now to 

 amuse myself; never for acquirement. I had a 

 vain and unbridled taste for that sort of goods, 

 not only to serve my turn, but, somewhat beyond 

 that, to adorn and polish myself ; I have, to a de- 

 gree, given it up. Books have many pleasing quali- 

 ties to those who know how to choose them ; but 

 there is no sweet without its bitter. It is a pleasure 

 no more pure and perfect than others ; it has its 

 drawbacks — very strong ones. The mind is exer- 

 cised, but the body, of which I have not forgotten 

 the care, rests meanwhile inactive, shrinks, and 

 262 



