146 EARLY SPRING IN MASSACHUSETTS. 
by tne shot if approached on that side. When 
preparing to fly they swim about with their 
heads erect and then gliding along a few feet 
with their bodies just touching the surface, rise 
heavily with much splashing, and fly low at 
first, if not suddenly aroused, but otherwise rise 
directly to survey the danger. The cunning 
sportsman is not in haste to desert his position, 
but waits to ascertain if, having got themselves 
into flying trim, they will not return over the 
ground in their course to a new resting-place. 
March 16, 1842. Ealeigh’s maxims are not 
true and impartial, but yet are expressed with 
a certain magnanimity which was natural to 
the man, as if this selfish policy could easily af¬ 
ford to give place in him to a more human and 
generous one. He gives such advice that we 
have more faith in his conduct than his princi¬ 
ples. He seems to have carried the courtier’s 
life to the highest pitch of magnanimity and 
grace it was capable of. He is liberal and gra¬ 
cious as a prince, that is, within bounds; brave, 
chivalrous, heroic, as the knight in armor, and 
not as a defenseless man. His was not the 
heroism of Luther, but of Bayard. There was 
more of grace than of truth in it. He had 
more taste than character. There may be 
something petty in a refined taste ; it easily 
degenerates into effeminacy. It does not con- 
