12 Loves Garland. 
consequences, bequeathed the vexed ques- 
tion to an “Odd Volume” to unravel. That 
a weighty task was before me you will all 
admit. 
I found myself launched as it were on an 
unknown sea, and I appeal to you all not to 
crush me by your criticism on these few 
remarks I am about to make, but rather to 
deal charitably with me; for, after all my 
labours, the surprise to myself is, that 
“Vet I live and bear 
The aspect and the form of breathing man.” 
Often as I have sat in my sanctum, cru- 
cible before me, boiling and coagulating, 
watching and waiting, hoping against hope, 
till my very senses seemed to depart from 
me, have I exclaimed with Manfred,— 
‘¢ The lamp must be replenished, but even then 
It will not last so long as I must watch !— 
My slumbers, if I slumber, are not sleep, 
But a continuance of enduring thought 
Which then I can resist not.” 
