第41部分(第3/7 页)

outh　which　should　speak　much　and　smile　often；　and　have　human　affection　for　its　interlocutor。　That　feature　too　is　propitious。

“I　see　no　enemy　to　a　fortunate　issue　but　in　the　brow；　and　that　brow　professes　to　say；—‘I　can　live　alone；　if　self…respect；　and　circumstances　require　me　so　to　do。　I　need　not　sell　my　soul　to　buy　bliss。　I　have　an　inward　treasure　born　with　me；　which　can　keep　me　alive　if　all　extraneous　delights　should　be　withheld；　or　offered　only　at　a　price　I　cannot　afford　to　give。’　The　forehead　declares；　‘Reason　sits　firm　and　holds　the　reins；　and　she　will　not　let　the　feelings　burst　away　and　hurry　her　to　wild　chasms。　The　passions　may　rage　furiously；　like　true　heathens；　as　they　are；　and　the　desires　may　imagine　all　sorts　of　vain　things：　but　judgment　shall　still　have　the　last　word　in　every　argument；　and　the　casting　vote　in　every　decision。　Strong　wind；　earthquake…shock；　and　fire　may　pass　by：　but　I　shall　follow　the　guiding　of　that　still　small　voice　which　interprets　the　dictates　of　conscience。’

“Well　said；　forehead；　your　declaration　shall　be　respected。　I　have　formed　my　plans—right　plans　I　deem　them—and　in　them　I　have　attended　to　the　claims　of　conscience；　the　counsels　of　reason。　I　know　how　soon　youth　would　fade　and　bloom　perish；　if；　in　the　cup　of　bliss　offered；　but　one　dreg　of　shame；　or　one　flavour　of　remorse　were　detected；　and　I　do　not　want　sacrifice；　sorrow；　dissolution—such　is　not　my　taste。　I　wish　to　foster；　not　to　blight—to　earn　gratitude；　not　to　wring　tears　of　blood—no；　nor　of　brine：　my　harvest　must　be　in　smiles；　in　endearments；　in　sweet—　That　will　do。　I　think　I　rave　in　a　kind　of　exquisite　delirium。　I　should　wish　now　to　protract　this　moment　ad　infinitum；　but　I　dare　not。　So　far　I　have　governed　myself　thoroughly。　I　have　acted　as　I　inwardly　swore　I　would　act；　b