XXVI
Of late； I have been wishing for music。 An odd chance gratified my desire。
I had to go into Exeter yesterday。 I got there about sunset； transacted my business； and turned to walk home again through the warm twilight。 In Southernhay； as I was passing a house of which the ground…floor windows stood open； there sounded the notes of a piano……chords touched by a skilful hand。 I checked my step； hoping； and in a minute or two the musician began to play that nocturne of Chopin which I love best……I don't know how to name it。 My heart leapt。 There I stood in the thickening dusk； the glorious sounds floating about me； and I trembled with very ecstasy of enjoyment。 When silence came； I waited in the hope of another piece； but nothing followed； and so I went my way。
It is well for me that I cannot hear music when I will； assuredly I should not have such intense pleasure as es to me now and then by haphazard。 As I walked on； forgetting all about the distance； and reaching home before I knew I was half way there； I felt gratitude to my unknown benefactor……a state of mind I have often experienced in the days long gone by。 It happened at times……not in my barest days； but in those of decent poverty……that some one in the house where I lodged played the piano……and how it rejoiced me when this came to pass！ I say 〃played the piano〃……a phrase that covers much。 For my own part； I was very tolerant； anything that could by the largest interpretation be called music； I weled and was thankful； for even 〃five…finger exercises〃 I found； at moments； better than nothing。 For it was when I was labouring at my desk that the notes of the instrument were grateful and helpful to me。 Some men； I believe； would have been driven frantic under the circumstances； to me； anything like a musical sound always came as a godsend； it tuned my thoughts； it made the words flow。 Even the street organs put me in a happy mood； I owe many a page to them……written when I should else have been sunk in bilious gloom。
More than once； too； when I was walking London streets by night； penniless and miserable； music from an open window has stayed my step； even as yesterday。 Very well can I remember such a moment in Eaton Square； one night when I was going back to Chelsea； tired； hungry； racked by frustrate passions。 I had tramped miles and miles； in the hope of wearying myself so that I could sleep and forget。 Then came the piano notes……I saw that there was festival in the house……and for an hour or so I revelled as none of the bidden guests could possibly be doing。 And when I reached my poor lodgings； I was no longer envious nor mad with desires； but as I fell asleep I thanked the unknown mortal who had played for me； and given me peace。
XXVII
To…day I have read The Tempest。 It is perhaps the play that I love best； and； because I seem to myself to know it so well； I monly pass it over in opening the book。 Yet； as always in regard to Shakespeare； having read it once more； I find that my knowledge was less plete than I supposed。 So it would be； live as long as one might； so it would ever be； whilst one had strength to turn the pages and a mind left to read them。
I like to believe that this was the poet's last work； that he wrote it in his home at Stratford； walking day by day in the fields which had taught his boyhood to love rural England。 It is ripe fruit of the supreme imagination； perfect craft of the master hand。 For a man whose life's business it has been to study the English tongue； arking the happy ease wherewith Shakespeare surpasses； in mere mand of words； every achievement of those even who； apart from him； are great？ I could fancy that； in The Tempest； he wrought with a peculiar consciousness of this power； smiling as the word of inimitable felicity； the phrase of inparable cadence； was whispered to him by the Ariel that was his genius。 He seems to sport with language； to amuse himself with new discovery of its resources。 From king to beggar； men of every rank and every order of mind have spoken with his lips； he has uttered the lore of fairyland； now it pleases him to create a being neither man nor fairy； a something between brute and human nature； and to endow its purposes with words。 These words； how they smack of the moist and spawning earth； of the life of creatures that cannot rise above the soil！ We do not think of it enough； we stint our wonder because we fall short in appreciation。 A miracle is worked before us； and we scarce give heed； it has bee familiar to our minds as any other of nature's marvels； which we rarely pause to reflect upon。
The Tempest contains the noblest meditative passage in all the plays； that which embodies Shakespeare's final view of life； and is the inevitable quotation of all who would sum the teachings of philosophy。 It contains his most exquisite lyrics； his tenderest love passages； and one glimpse of fairyland which……I cannot but think……outshines the utmost beauty of A Midsummer Night's Dream： Prospero's farewell to the 〃elves of hills； brooks； standing lakes； and groves。〃 Again a miracle； these are things which cannot be staled by repetition。 e to them often as you will； they are ever fresh as though new minted from the brain of the poet。 Being perfect； they can never droop under that satiety which arises from the perception of fault； their virtue can never be so entirely savoured as to leave no pungency of gusto for the next approach。
Among the many reasons which make me glad to have been born in England； one of the first is that I read Shakespeare in my mother tongue。 If I try to imagine myself as one who cannot know him face to face； who hears him only speaking from afar； and that in accents which only through the labouring intelligence can touch the living soul； there es upon me a sense of chill discouragement； of dreary deprivation。 I am wont to think that I can read Homer； and； assuredly； if any man enjoys him； it is I； but can I for a moment dream that Homer yields me all his music； that his word is to me as to him who walked by the Hellenic shore when Hellas lived？ I know that there reaches me across the vast of time no more than a faint and broken echo； I know that it would be fainter still； but for its blending with those memories of youth which are as a glimmer of the world's primeval glory。 Let every land have joy of its poet； for the poet is the land itself； all its greatness and its sweetness； all that inmunicable heritage for which men live and die。 As I close the book； love and reverence possess me。 Whether does my full heart turn to the great Enchanter； or to the Island upon which he has laid his spell？ I know not。 I cannot think of them apart。 In the love and reverence awakened by that voice of voices； Shakespeare and England are but one。
AUTUMN
I
This has been a year of long sunshine。 Month has followed upon month with little unkindness of the sky； I scarcely marked when July passed into August； August into September。 I should think it summer still； but that I see the lanes yellow…purfled with flowers of autumn。
I am busy with the hawkweeds； that is to say； I am learning to distinguish and to name as many as I can。 For scientific classification I have little mind； it does not happen to fall in with my habits of thought； but I like to be able to give its name （the 〃trivial〃 by choice） to every flower I meet in my walks。 Why should I be content to say； 〃Oh； it's a hawkweed〃？ That is but one degree less ungracious than if I dismissed all the yellow…rayed as 〃dandelions。〃 I feel as if the flower were pleased by my recognition of its personality。 Seeing how much I owe them； one and all； the least I can do is to greet them severally。 For the same reason I had rather say 〃hawkweed〃 than 〃hieracium〃； the homelier word has more of kindly friendship。
II
How the mood for a book sometimes rushes upon one； either one knows not why； or in consequence； perhaps； of some most trifling suggestion。 Yesterday I was walking at dusk。 I came to an old farmhouse； at the garden gate a vehicle stood waiting； and I saw it was our doctor's gig。 Having passed； I turned to look back。 There was a faint afterglow in the sky beyond the chimneys； a light twinkled at one of the upper windows。 I said to myself； 〃Tristram Shandy；〃 and hurried home to plunge into a book which I have not opened for I dare say twenty years。
Not long ago； I awoke one morning and suddenly thought of the Correspondence between Goethe and Schiller； and so impatient did I bee to open the book that I got up an hour earlier than usual。 A book worth rising for； much better worth than old Burton； who pulled Johnson out of bed。 A book which helps one to forget the idle or venomous chatter going on everywhere about us； and bids us cherish hope for a world 〃which has such people in't。〃
These volumes I had at hand； I could reach them down from my shelves at the moment when I hungered for them。 But it often happens that the book which es into my mind could only be procured with trouble and delay； I breathe regretfully and put aside the thought。 Ah！ the books that one will never read again。 They gave delight； perchance something more； they left a perfume in the memory； but life has passed them by for ever。 I have but to muse； and one after another they rise before me。 Books g