I； has taken to heart that sentence of the Imitatio……〃In omnibus requiem quaesivi； et nusquam inveni nisi in angulo cum libro〃？
I had in me the making of a scholar。 ind； I should have amassed learning。 Within the walls of a college； I should have lived so happily； so harmlessly； my imagination ever busy with the old world。 In the introduction to his History of France； Michelet says： 〃J'ai passe e cote du monde； et j'ai pris l'histoire pour la vie。〃 That； as I can see now； was my true ideal； through all my battlings and miseries I have always lived more in the past than in the present。 At the time when I was literally starving in London； when it seemed impossible that I should ever gain a living by my pen； how many days have I spent at the British Museum； reading as disinterestedly as if I had been without a care！ It astounds me to remember that； having breakfasted on dry bread； and carrying in my pocket another piece of bread to serve for dinner； I settled myself at a desk in the great Reading… Room with books before me which by no possibility could be a source of immediate profit。 At such a time； I worked through German tomes on Ancient Philosophy。 At such a time； I read Appuleius and Lucian； Petronius and the Greek Anthology； Diogenes Laertius and……heaven knows what！ My hunger was forgotten； the garret to which I must return to pass the night never perturbed my thoughts。 On the whole； it seems to me something to be rather proud of； I smile approvingly at that thin； white…faced youth。 Me？ My very self？ No； no！ He has been dead these thirty years。
Scholarship in the high sense was denied me； and now it is too late。 Yet here am I gloating over Pausanias； and promising myself to read every word of him。 Who that has any tincture of old letters would not like