butwhatshallhehaveenjoyedmorefullythanamorningofsuccessfulwork？Supposeitillpaid:thewonderisitshouldbepaidatall。Othermenpay，andpaydearly，forpleasureslessdesirable。
　　Norwillthepracticeofartaffordyoupleasureonly；itaffordsbesidesanadmirabletraining。Fortheartistworksentirelyuponhonour。Thepublicknowslittleornothingofthosemeritsinthequestofwhichyouarecondemnedtospendthebulkofyourendeavours。Meritsofdesign，themeritoffirst-handenergy，themeritofacertaincheapaccomplishmentwhichamanoftheartistictempereasilyacquires-thesetheycanrecognise，andthesetheyvalue。Buttothosemoreexquisiterefinementsofproficiencyandfinish，whichtheartistsoardentlydesiresandsokeenlyfeels，forwhichinthevigorouswordsofBalzachemusttoil"likeaminerburiedinalandslip，"forwhich，dayafterday，herecastsandrevisesandrejects-thegrossmassofthepublicmustbeeverblind。
　　Tothoselostpains，supposeyouattainthehighestpitchofmerit，posteritymaypossiblydojustice；suppose，asissoprobable，youfallbyevenahair'sbreadthofthehighest，restcertaintheyshallneverbeobserved。Undertheshadowofthiscoldthought，aloneinhisstudio，theartistmustpreservefromdaytodayhisconstancytotheideal。Itisthiswhichmakeshislifenoble；itisbythisthatthepracticeofhiscraftstrengthensandmatureshischaracter；itisforthisthateventheseriouscountenanceofthegreatemperorwasturnedapprovinglyifonlyforamomentonthefollowersofApollo，andthatsternlygentlevoicebadetheartistcherishhisart。
　　Andheretherefalltwowarningstobemade。First，ifyouaretocontinuetobealawtoyourself，youmustbewareofthefirstsignsoflaziness。Thisidealisminhonestycanonlybesupportedbyperpetualeffort；thestandardiseasilylowered，theartistwhosays"ITWILLDO，"isonthedownwardpath；threeorfourpot-
　　boilersareenoughattimesaboveallatwrongtimestofalsifyatalent，andbythepracticeofjournalismamanrunstheriskofbecomingweddedtocheapfinish。Thisisthedangerontheoneside；thereisnotlessupontheother。Theconsciousnessofhowmuchtheartistisandmustbealawtohimself，debauchesthesmallheads。Perceivingreconditemeritsveryhardtoattain，makingorswallowingartisticformulae，orperhapsfallinginlovewithsomeparticularproficiencyofhisown，manyartistsforgettheendofallart:toplease。Itisdoubtlesstemptingtoexclaimagainsttheignorantbourgeois；yetitshouldnotbeforgotten，itishewhoistopayus，andthatsurelyonthefaceofitforservicesthatheshalldesiretohaveperformed。Herealso，ifproperlyconsidered，thereisaquestionoftranscendentalhonesty。Togivethepublicwhattheydonotwant，andyetexpecttobesupported:wehavethereastrangepretension，andyetnotuncommon，aboveallwithpainters。Thefirstdutyinthisworldisforamantopayhisway；whenthatisquiteaccomplished，hemayplungeintowhateccentricityhelikes；butemphaticallynottillthen。Tillthen，hemustpayassiduouscourttothebourgeoiswhocarriesthepurse。Andifinthecourseofthesecapitulationsheshallfalsifyhistalent，itcanneverhavebeenastrongone，andhewillhavepreservedabetterthingthantalent-character。Orifhebeofamindsoindependentthathecannotstooptothisnecessity，onecourseisyetopen:hecandesistfromart，andfollowsomemoremanlywayoflife。
　　Ispeakofamoremanlywayoflife，itisapointonwhichImustbefrank。Tolivebyapleasureisnotahighcalling；itinvolvespatronage，howeverveiled；itnumberstheartist，howeverambitious，alongwithdancinggirlsandbilliardmarkers。TheFrenchhavearomanticevasionforoneemployment，andcallitspractitionerstheDaughtersofJoy。Theartistisofthesamefamily，heisoftheSonsofJoy，chosehistradetopleasehimself，gainshislivelihoodbypleasingothers，andhaspartedwithsomethingofthesternerdignityofman。JournalsbutalittlewhileagodeclaimedagainsttheTennysonpeerage；andthisSonofJoywasblamedforcondescensionwhenhefollowedtheexampleofLordLawrenceandLordCairnsandLordClyde。Thepoetwasmorehappilyinspired；withabettermodestyheacceptedthehonour；andanonymousjournalistshavenotyetifIamtobelievethemrecoveredthevicariousdisgracetotheirprofession。Whenitcomestotheirturn，thesegentlemencandothemselvesmorejustice；andIshallbegladtothinkofit；fortomybarbarianeyesight，evenLordTennysonlookssomewhatoutofplaceinthatassembly。Thereshouldbenohonoursfortheartist；hehasalready，inthepracticeofhisart，morethanhisshareoftherewardsoflife；thehonoursarepre-emptedforothertrades，lessagreeableandperhapsmoreuseful。
　　Butthedevilinthesetradesofpleasingistofailtoplease。Inordinaryoccupations，amanofferstodoacertainthingortoproduceacertainarticlewithamerelyconventionalaccomplishment，adesigninwhichwemayalmostsayitisdifficulttofail。Buttheartiststepsforthoutofthecrowdandproposestodelight:animpudentdesign，inwhichitisimpossibletofailwithoutodiouscircumstances。ThepoorDaughterofJoy，carryinghersmilesandfineryquiteunregardedthroughthecrowd，makesafigurewhichitisimpossibletorecallwithoutawoundingpity。Sheisthetypeoftheunsuccessfulartist。Theactor，thedancer，andthesingermustappearlikeherinperson，anddrainpubliclythecupoffailure。Butthoughtherestofusescapethiscrowningbitternessofthepillory，weallcourtinessencethesamehumiliation。Weallprofesstobeabletodelight。Andhowfewofusare!Weallpledgeourselvestobeabletocontinuetodelight。Andthedaywillcometoeach，andeventothemostadmired，whentheardourshallhavedeclinedandthecunningshallbelost，andheshallsitbyhisdesertedboothashamed。Thenshallheseehimselfcondemnedtodoworkforwhichheblushestotakepayment。Thenasifhislotwerenotalreadycruelhemustlieexposedtothegibesofthewreckersofthepress，whoearnalittlebitterbreadbythecondemnationoftrashwhichtheyhavenotread，andthepraiseofexcellencewhichtheycannotunderstand。
　　Andobservethatthisseemsalmostthenecessaryendatleastofwriters。LESBLANCSETLESBLEUSforinstanceisofanorderofmeritverydifferentfromLEVICOMTEDEBRAGLONNE；andifanygentlemancanbeartospyuponthenakednessofCASTLEDANGEROUS，hisnameIthinkisHam:letitbeenoughfortherestofustoreadofitnotwithouttearsinthepagesofLockhart。Thusinoldage，whenoccupationandcomfortaremostneedful，thewritermustlayasideatoncehispastimeandhisbreadwinner。Thepainterindeed，ifhesucceedatallinengagingtheattentionofthepublic，gainsgreatsumsandcanstandtohiseaseluntilagreatagewithoutdishonourablefailure。Thewriterhasthedoublemisfortunetobeill-paidwhilehecanwork，andtobeincapableofworkingwhenheisold。Itisthusawayoflifewhichconductsdirectlytoafalseposition。
　　Forthewriterinspiteofnotoriousexamplestothecontrary
　　mustlooktobeill-paid。TennysonandMontepinmakehandsomelivelihoods；butwecannotallhopetobeTennyson，andwedonotallperhapsdesiretobeMontepin。Ifyouadoptanarttobeyourtrade，weedyourmindattheoutsetofalldesireofmoney。Whatyoumaydecentlyexpect，ifyouhavesometalentandmuchindustry，issuchanincomeasaclerkwillearnwithatenthorperhapsatwentiethofyournervousoutput。Norhaveyoutherighttolookformore；inthewagesofthelife，notinthewagesofthetrade，liesyourreward；theworkisherethewages。ItwillbeseenI
　　havelittlesympathywiththecommonlamentationsoftheartistclass。Perhapstheydonotrememberthehireofthefieldlabourer；ordotheythinknoparallelwilllie？Perhapstheyhaveneverobservedwhatistheretiringallowanceofafieldofficer；
　　ordotheysupposetheircontributionstotheartsofpleasingmoreimportantthantheservicesofacolonel？PerhapstheyforgetonhowlittleMilletwascontenttolive；ordotheythink，becausetheyhavelessgenius，theystandexcusedfromthedisplayofequalvirtues？Butupononepointthereshouldbenodubiety:ifamanbenotfrugal，hehasnobusinessinthearts。Ifhebenotfrugal，hesteersdirectlyforthatlasttragicsceneofLEVIEUX
　　SALTIMBANQUE；ifhebenotfrugal，hewillfindithardtocontinuetobehonest。Someday，whenthebutcherisknockingatthedoor，hemaybetempted，hemaybeobliged，toturnoutandsellaslovenlypieceofwork。Iftheobligationshallhavearisenthroughnowantonnessofhisown，heiseventobecommanded；forwordscannotdescribehowfarmorenecessaryitisthatamanshouldsupporthisfamily，thanthatheshouldattainto-orpreserve-distinctioninthearts。Butifthepressurecomes，throughhisownfault，hehasstolen，andstolenundertrust，andstolenwhichistheworstofallinsuchawaythatnolawcanreachhim。
　　Andnowyoumayperhapsaskme，ifthedebutantartististohavenothoughtofmoney，andifasisimpliedheistoexpectnohonoursfromtheState，hemaynotatleastlookforwardtothedelightsofpopularity？Praise，youwilltellme，isasavourydish。Andinsofarasyoumaymeanthecountenanceofotherartistsyouwouldputyourfingerononeofthemostessentialandenduringpleasuresofthecareerofart。Butinsofarasyoushouldhaveaneyetothecommendationsofthepublicorthenoticeofthenewspapers，besureyouwouldbutbecherishingadream。Itistruethatincertainesotericjournalstheauthorforinstance
　　isdulycriticised，andthatheisoftenpraisedagreatdealmorethanhedeserves，sometimesforqualitieswhichhepridedhimselfoneschewing，andsometimesbyladiesandgentlemenwhohavedeniedthemselvestheprivilegeofreadinghiswork。Butifamanbesensitivetothiswildpraise，wemustsupposehimequallyalivetothatwhichoftenaccompaniesandalwaysfollowsit-wildridicule。
　　Amanmayhavedonewellforyears，andthenhemayfail；hewillhearofhisfailure。Orhemayhavedonewellforyears，andstilldowell，butthecriticsmayhavetiredofpraisinghim，ortheremayhavesprungupsomenewidoloftheinstant，some"dustalittlegilt，"towhomtheynowprefertooffersacrifice。Hereistheobverseandthereverseofthatemptyanduglythingcalledpopularity。Willanymansupposeitworththegaining？
　　CHAPTERXI-PULVISETUMBRA
　　Welookforsomerewardofourendeavoursandaredisappointed；notsuccess，nothappiness，notevenpeaceofconscience，crownsourineffectualeffortstodowell。Ourfrailtiesareinvincible，ourvirtuesbarren；thebattlegoessoreagainstustothegoingdownofthesun。Thecantingmoralisttellsusofrightandwrong；andwelookabroad，evenonthefaceofoursmallearth，andfindthemchangewitheveryclimate，andnocountrywheresomeactionisnothonouredforavirtueandnonewhereitisnotbrandedforavice；
　　andwelookinourexperience，andfindnovitalcongruityinthewisestrules，butatthebestamunicipalfitness。Itisnotstrangeifwearetemptedtodespairofgood。Weasktoomuch。
　　Ourreligionsandmoralitieshavebeentrimmedtoflatterus，tilltheyareallemasculateandsentimentalised，andonlypleaseandweaken。Truthisofarougherstrain。Intheharshfaceoflife，faithcanreadabracinggospel。Thehumanraceisathingmoreancientthanthetencommandments；andthebonesandrevolutionsoftheKosmos，inwhosejointswearebutmossandfungus，moreancientstill。
　　I
　　OftheKosmosinthelastresort，sciencereportsmanydoubtfulthingsandallofthemappalling。Thereseemsnosubstancetothissolidglobeonwhichwestamp:nothingbutsymbolsandratios。
　　Symbolsandratioscarryusandbringusforthandbeatusdown；
　　gravitythatswingstheincommensurablesunsandworldsthroughspace，isbutafigmentvaryinginverselyasthesquaresofdistances；andthesunsandworldsthemselves，imponderablefiguresofabstraction，NH3，andH2O。Considerationdaresnotdwelluponthisview；thatwaymadnesslies；sciencecarriesusintozonesofspeculation，wherethereisnohabitablecityforthemindofman。
　　ButtaketheKosmoswithagrosserfaith，asoursensesgiveitus。
　　Webeholdspacesownwithrotatoryislands，sunsandworldsandtheshardsandwrecksofsystems:some，likethesun，stillblazing；
　　somerotting，liketheearth；others，likethemoon，stableindesolation。Allofthesewetaketobemadeofsomethingwecallmatter:athingwhichnoanalysiscanhelpustoconceive；towhoseincrediblepropertiesnofamiliaritycanreconcileourminds。
　　Thisstuff，whennotpurifiedbythelustrationoffire，rotsuncleanlyintosomethingwecalllife；seizedthroughallitsatomswithapediculousmalady；swellingintumoursthatbecomeindependent，sometimesevenbyanabhorrentprodigylocomotory；
　　onesplittingintomillions，millionscoheringintoone，asthemaladyproceedsthroughvaryingstages。Thisvitalputrescenceofthedust，usedaswearetoit，yetstrikesuswithoccasionaldisgust，andtheprofusionofwormsinapieceofancientturf，ortheairofamarshdarkenedwithinsects，willsometimescheckourbreathingsothatweaspireforcleanerplaces。Butnoneisclean:
　　themovingsandisinfectedwithlice；thepurespring，whereitburstsoutofthemountain，isamereissueofworms；eveninthehardrockthecrystalisforming。
　　Intwomainshapesthiseruptioncoversthecountenanceoftheearth:theanimalandthevegetable:oneinsomedegreetheinversionoftheother:thesecondrootedtothespot；thefirstcomingdetachedoutofitsnatalmud，andscurryingabroadwiththemyriadfeetofinsectsortoweringintotheheavensonthewingsofbirds:athingsoinconceivablethat，ifitbewellconsidered，theheartstops。Towhatpasseswiththeanchoredvermin，wehavelittleclue，doubtlesstheyhavetheirjoysandsorrows，theirdelightsandkillingagonies:itappearsnothow。Butofthelocomotory，towhichweourselvesbelong，wecantellmore。Thesesharewithusathousandmiracles:themiraclesofsight，ofhearing，oftheprojectionofsound，thingsthatbridgespace；themiraclesofmemoryandreason，bywhichthepresentisconceived，andwhenitisgone，itsimagekeptlivinginthebrainsofmanandbrute；themiracleofreproduction，withitsimperiousdesiresandstaggeringconsequences。Andtoputthelasttouchuponthismountainmassoftherevoltingandtheinconceivable，allthesepreyuponeachother，livestearingotherlivesinpieces，crammingtheminsidethemselves，andbythatsummaryprocess，growingfat:
　　thevegetarian，thewhale，perhapsthetree，notlessthanthelionofthedesert；forthevegetarianisonlytheeaterofthedumb。
　　Meanwhileourrotatoryislandloadedwithpredatorylife，andmoredrenchedwithblood，bothanimalandvegetable，thanevermutiniedship，scudsthroughspacewithunimaginablespeed，andturnsalternatecheekstothereverberationofablazingworld，ninetymillionmilesaway。
　　II
　　Whatamonstrousspectreisthisman，thediseaseoftheagglutinateddust，liftingalternatefeetorlyingdruggedwithslumber；killing，feeding，growing，bringingforthsmallcopiesofhimself；grownuponwithhairlikegrass，fittedwitheyesthatmoveandglitterinhisface；athingtosetchildrenscreaming；-
　　andyetlookedatnearlier，knownashisfellowsknowhim，howsurprisingarehisattributes!Poorsoul，hereforsolittle，castamongsomanyhardships，filledwithdesiressoincommensurateandsoinconsistent，savagelysurrounded，savagelydescended，irremediablycondemnedtopreyuponhisfellowlives:whoshouldhaveblamedhimhadhebeenofapiecewithhisdestinyandabeingmerelybarbarous？Andwelookandbeholdhiminsteadfilledwithimperfectvirtues:infinitelychildish，oftenadmirablyvaliant，oftentouchinglykind；sittingdown，amidsthismomentarylife，todebateofrightandwrongandtheattributesofthedeity；risinguptodobattleforaneggordieforanidea；singlingouthisfriendsandhismatewithcordialaffection；bringingforthinpain，rearingwithlong-sufferingsolicitude，hisyoung。Totouchtheheartofhismystery，wefind，inhimonethought，strangetothepointoflunacy:thethoughtofduty；thethoughtofsomethingowingtohimself，tohisneighbour，tohisGod:anidealofdecency，towhichhewouldriseifitwerepossible；alimitofshame，belowwhich，ifitbepossible，hewillnotstoop。Thedesigninmostmenisoneofconformity；hereandthere，inpickednatures，ittranscendsitselfandsoarsontheotherside，armingmartyrswithindependence；butinall，intheirdegrees，itisabosomthought:-Notinmanalone，forwetraceitindogsandcatswhomweknowfairlywell，anddoubtlesssomesimilarpointofhonourswaystheelephant，theoyster，andthelouse，ofwhomweknowsolittle:-Butinman，atleast，itswayswithsocompleteanempirethatmerelyselfishthingscomesecond，evenwiththeselfish:thatappetitesarestarved，fearsareconquered，painssupported；thatalmostthedullestshrinksfromthereproofofaglance，althoughitwereachild's；andallbutthemostcowardlystandamidtherisksofwar；andthemorenoble，havingstronglyconceivedanactasduetotheirideal，affrontandembracedeath。
　　Strangeenoughif，withtheirsingularoriginandpervertedpractice，theythinktheyaretoberewardedinsomefuturelife:
　　strangerstill，iftheyarepersuadedofthecontrary，andthinkthisblow，whichtheysolicit，willstrikethemsenselessforeternity。Ishallberemindedwhatatragedyofmisconceptionandmisconductmanatlargepresents:oforganisedinjustice，cowardlyviolenceandtreacherouscrime；andofthedamningimperfectionsofthebest。Theycannotbetoodarklydrawn。Manisindeedmarkedforfailureinhiseffortstodoright。Butwherethebestconsistentlymiscarry，howtenfoldmoreremarkablethatallshouldcontinuetostrive；andsurelyweshouldfinditbothtouchingandinspiriting，thatinafieldfromwhichsuccessisbanished，ourraceshouldnotceasetolabour。
　　Ifthefirstviewofthiscreature，stalkinginhisrotatoryisle，beathingtoshakethecourageofthestoutest，onthisnearersight，hestartlesuswithanadmiringwonder。Itmattersnotwherewelook，underwhatclimateweobservehim，inwhatstageofsociety，inwhatdepthofignorance，burthenedwithwhaterroneousmorality；bycamp-firesinAssiniboia，thesnowpowderinghisshoulders，thewindpluckinghisblanket，ashesits，passingtheceremonialcalumetandutteringhisgraveopinionslikeaRomansenator；inshipsatsea，amaninuredtohardshipandvilepleasures，hisbrightesthopeafiddleinatavernandabedizenedtrullwhosellsherselftorobhim，andheforallthatsimple，innocent，cheerful，kindlylikeachild，constanttotoil，bravetodrown，forothers；intheslumsofcities，movingamongindifferentmillionstomechanicalemployments，withouthopeofchangeinthefuture，withscarceapleasureinthepresent，andyettruetohisvirtues，honestuptohislights，kindtohisneighbours，temptedperhapsinvainbythebrightgin-palace，perhapslong-sufferingwiththedrunkenwifethatruinshim；inIndiaawomanthistime
　　kneelingwithbrokencriesandstreamingtears，asshedrownsherchildinthesacredriver；inthebrothel，thediscardofsociety，livingmainlyonstrongdrink，fedwithaffronts，afool，athief，thecomradeofthieves，andevenherekeepingthepointofhonourandthetouchofpity，oftenrepayingtheworld'sscornwithservice，oftenstandingfirmuponascruple，andatacertaincost，rejectingriches:-everywheresomevirtuecherishedoraffected，everywheresomedecencyofthoughtandcarriage，everywheretheensignofman'sineffectualgoodness:-ah!ifIcouldshowyouthis!ifIcouldshowyouthesemenandwomen，alltheworldover，ineverystageofhistory，undereveryabuseoferror，undereverycircumstanceoffailure，withouthope，withouthelp，withoutthanks，stillobscurelyfightingthelostfightofvirtue，stillclinging，inthebrotheloronthescaffold，tosomeragofhonour，thepoorjeweloftheirsouls!Theymayseektoescape，andyettheycannot；itisnotalonetheirprivilegeandglory，buttheirdoom；theyarecondemnedtosomenobility；alltheirliveslong，thedesireofgoodisattheirheels，theimplacablehunter。
　　Ofallearth'smeteors，hereatleastisthemoststrangeandconsoling:thatthisennobledlemur，thishair-crownedbubbleofthedust，thisinheritorofafewyearsandsorrows，shouldyetdenyhimselfhisraredelights，andaddtohisfrequentpains，andliveforanideal，howevermisconceived。Norcanwestopwithman。