CONCLUSION. 
347 
ing things, and hush and who, wliicli Bright can under¬ 
stand, were the best English. As if there were safety 
in stupidity alone. I fear chiefly lest my expression may 
not be extra - vagant enough, may not wander far enough 
beyond the narrow limits of my daily experience, so as to 
be adequate to the truth of which I have been convinced. 
Extra vagance! it depends on how you are yarded. 
The migrating buffalo, which seeks new pastures in 
another latitude, is not extravagant like the cow which 
kicks over the pail, leaps the cow-yard fence, and 
runs after her calf, in milking time. I desire to speak 
somewhere without bounds; like a man in a waking 
moment, to men in their waking moments; for I am 
convinced that I cannot exaggerate enough even to lay 
the foundation of a true expression. Who that has 
heard a strain of music feared then lest he should 
speak extravagantly any more forever ? In view of the 
future or possible, we should live quite laxly and unde¬ 
fined in front, our outlines dim and misty on that side; 
as our shadows reveal an insensible perspiration toward 
the sun. The volatile truth of our words should con¬ 
tinually betray the inadequacy of the residual statement. 
Their truth is instantly translated ; its literal monument 
alone remains. The words which express our faith and 
piety are not definite; yet they are significant and fra¬ 
grant like frankincense to superior natures. 
Why level downward to our dullest perception al¬ 
ways, and praise that as common sense ? The com¬ 
monest sense is the sense of men asleep, which they ex¬ 
press by snoring. Sometimes we are inclined to class 
those who are once-and-a-half witted with the half¬ 
witted, because we appreciate only a third part of their 
wit. Some would find fault with the morning-red, if 
