What should a man desire to leave A flawless work a noble life Some music harmonized from strife, Some finishd thing, ere the slack hands at eve Drop, should be his to leave. Or in lifes homeliest, meanest spot, To striie the circle of his years A perfect curve through joys and tears, Leaving a pure name to be known, or not,-This is a trhe mans lot. Ah, tis but little that the best, Frail children of a fleeting hour, Can leave of perfect fmit or flowa Ah, let all else be graciously supprest When man lies down to rest I beautiful, that tenderness and chivalry, that humblemindedness which never allowed him to recognise his own singularly varied gifts, that perfect truthfulness, and above all that simplicity and transparency of nature which made him incapable of inconsistency - of ever saying anything that was not strictly true to his innermost thoughts or feelings And the work must not only be true, But intense with the passion of truth, The hatred of coldness and lie, To the nobler nature must cry, That shall merit eternal youth. February 18gg. CONTENTS CHAPTER PACE I. BOYHOOD AND COLLEGE DAYS, 1824-1848 . . . I 11. KNELLER HALL, AND THE EDUCATION OFFICE, 1849-1862 . . . . . . . . . . . 40 111. MARRIAGE AND HOME LIFE, 1862-1870. . . 74 V. THE VISIONS OF ENGLAND-RESIGNATION OF EDU CATION OFFICE WORK, 1881-1885 . . . . . 158 VI. POETRY PROFESSORSHIP. ITALIAN JOURNEYS, 1885-VI1. LAST YEARS, 1 8 9 - 1 8 9 7 . . . . . . . 220 APPENDIX . . . . . . . . 269 ILLUSTRATIONS Frm a photograph I y EZZiott Fq. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.