Chapter XIII: Epilogue: Here we must pause

On the hither side of the period, represented by the early politician, and between that and the present, the space of time is much too narrow, to contain any distinct development: those who superseded the primitive oracles, are yet in possession of the temple. We could not, therefore, pursue our plan further, without hazarding the charge of drawing from the life.

It is remarkable, that anything like a fair or candid estimate of--for example--a public man's character, while he is yet favored with the people's suffrages, is very certain to be pronounced a caricature; and it is not less singular, that, while the complaints of popular critics, in effect, affirm that there is fidelity enough in the picture to enable even obtuse minds to fit the copy to the original, they at the same time vehemently assert that the whole portrait is a libel. A just admeasurement of a demagogue's ability is thus always abated by the imputation of partisan falsehood or prejudice; and whosoever declines to join in the adulation of a temporary idol, may consider himself fortunate, if he escape with only the reproach of envy. Sketches of contemporaneous character--if they seek recognition among the masses, must, therefore, not reduce the altitude which blind admiration has assigned, nor cut away the foreign lace, nor tear the ornaments, with which excited parties have bedaubed their images of clay. And, yet, so prone are men to overrate their leaders, that no estimate of a prominent man can be just, without impugning popular opinion.

There is probably no other ground quite so perilous as politics, unless it be literature: and, as yet, the west is comparatively barren of those "sensitive plants," literary men. But any attempt to delineate society, by portraiture of living characters, even though the pictures were purely ideal, would, upon the present plan, involve the suspicion (and perhaps the temptation to deserve it), indicated above. Before venturing upon such uncertain paths, therefore, we must display a little generalship, and call a halt, if not a council of war. Whether we are to march forward, will be determined by the "General _Orders_."

THE END.

J. S. REDFIELD,

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=Life under an Italian Despotism!=

LORENZO BENONI,

OR

PASSAGES IN THE LIFE OF AN ITALIAN.

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"SHAKESPEARE AS HE WROTE IT."

THE WORKS OF SHAKESPEARE,

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=Twenty Thousand Manuscript Corrections=,

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BY J. PAYNE COLLIER, F.S.A.

_To which are added, Glossarial and other Notes, the Readings of Former Editions, a_ PORTRAIT _after that by Martin Droeshout, a_ VIGNETTE TITLE _on Steel, and a_ FACSIMILE OF THE OLD FOLIO, _with the Manuscript Corrections_. 1 vol., Imperial 8vo. Cloth $4.00.

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These are _American Copyright Editions_, the Notes being expressly prepared for the work. The English edition contains simply the text, without a single note or indication of the changes made in the text. In the present, the variations from old copies are noted by reference of all changes to former editions (abbreviated f.e.), and every indication and explanation is given essential to a clear understanding of the author. The prefatory matter, Life, &c., will be fuller than in any American edition now published.

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