Be
the praise and the heroic song of all posterity. Merit this, but
seek only virtue, not the extension of your limits. For what needs
to win a fading triumphal laurel out of the tears of wretched men,
but to settle the true worship of God and justice in the
commonwealth. Then shall the hardest difficulties smooth themselves
out before you, envy shall sink to hell, and craft and malice shall
be confounded, whether it be homebred mischief or outlandish cunning.
Yea, other nations will then covet to serve you; for lordship and
victory are but the pages of justice and virtue. Commit securely to
true wisdom the vanquishing and uncaging of craft and subtlety, which
are but her two runagates. Join your invincible might to do worthy
and godlike deeds, and then he that seeks to break your union, a
cleaving curse be his inheritance throughout all generations."
Mr. Barham then proceeds to express his conviction, that the
specific character, which the literature of these countries should
aim at, is the Alistic or Divine. It is only by an aim so high, that
an author can reach any excellence.
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