tense and presumption be not all too rife, as well now as among the old Hellenic sages, why is it that the appellation of a wise man should be loaded with contempt that he should become a mere mock wise man (which is the foolishest of all)-a mere 'SOPHIST,' and all his instructions mere 'SOPHISTRIES?' And in our own times we may discern the same principle at work -so that the very exercise of reason we are fain to stigmatize as 'RATIONALISM.' It would seem impossible for one to hold an opinion without converting it into a 'DOGMA,' or assert one without becoming 'DOGMATICAL;' to be habile or business-like without its merging into the 'PRAGMATICAL;' and I know not as it is possible to advance without being 'FORWARD!' The original signification of 'OFFICIOUS' we know to have been merely dutiful, attentive full of offices. Thus I find in Dr. Johnson's poem on his servant, Levett: "Well tried through many a varying year, But how different its present application! Why is it that we convert a feeling over again into a 'RESENTMENT;' that we cannot turn the mind to (animadverto) a person or thing, without 'ANIMADVERTING' thereon, or have a conception without getting into 'CONCEIT' with it? while even the sacred and the holy will degenerate into the merely 'SANCTIMONIOUS!' What a tale of strength abused does 'robustious' tell us; and what a history of pettifogging do 'CUNNING' and 'CRAFTY' tell!-'CRAFTY' which is properly just skillful, powerful, 'artful' (only that that also has gone the same way); and 'CUNNING' which, at first was simply-connan-kenning--knowing: but, indeed, I despair of defining the word, since almost every analogue that can be enumerated has been equally debased: for what does a 'knowing' fellow mean but an artful, 'designing * fellow? A similar and even sadder debasement is observable in the word 'SENSUAL,' which as we have before seen, strictly signifies simply that which pertains to the senses-sensualis-but which has so completely taken possession of and fortified itself within the corrupt acceptation that we are fain to invent 'SENSUOUS' to supply its place. Surely, surely, Dan Chaucer spake rightly "To don sinne is mannish!"t * Certain it is that his 'designs' will be bad. † Take in addition, such examples as 'MENIAL,' 'NIGGARD, 'PIETIST,' 'TAX,' 'TRAITOR,' 'TREASON,' 'SEMBLANT,' 'PERJURE,' etc. Verbal Ethics. UNIVERSITY OF We find at once our compensation and our lation in scrutinizing to the bottom the abyss, black and bottomless though it may seem. For soon light begins to blend with the shade, aurora-streaks of hope become visible and the white butterflies of Love flutter gaily in the ruddy sunlight. For if it be in reality that there is nothing totally bad-if our Lifetree bear on its boughs at once the blossoms of Good and Evil; so, while we find in language, traces of baseness and corruption if words appear subservient to everything that is mean and contemptible, they also lend themselves graciously, and, as it were, with a greater good will, to keep or carry sentiments of Love, of Peace, of Hope, of Benevolence, of Nobility; and the same breath that festers into a curse can beautifully mould itself into a heaven-born aspiration and become the swift-footed and winged messenger of truth and benignity! What is 'DUTY?' Is it not evidently what a man owes (devoir, du)-all that is due from him to himself and to others. High, clear above us sounds the voice of the dread eternal Nemesis-unflinching, exacting, with trumpet-tones demanding "What thou owest!" "Stern Lawgiver! yet thou dost wear The Godhead's most benignant grace; Nor know we anything so fair As is the smile upon thy face: Thou dost preserve the stars from wrong; And the most ancient heavens, through Thee, are fresh and strong."* How severe and stately is 'MANLY,' which is just man-like: how noble, how compensating! It strengthens our faith in human nature! And so, like to a fair lily, springing up amid carnage and corruption comes such a word as 'CREDIT' - which is just the-credit-um -the belief, or 'trust' we have in the honor and good faith of our fellows. So that even all the truckling and prevarication of commerce and politics cannot conceal from us that there is still among men a great 'credit' or trust system; that we have not yet lost all faith in each other, in spite of all failures! If there are those that are ‘MALEVOLENT'or illwilled, have we not, also, the 'BENEVOLENT,' or those that wish us well; and, if there be man-haters' MISANTHROPISTS,' be there not also, man-lovers-‘PHILANTHROPISTS?'--the good making up for the evil; the bad pole of existence balanced by the opposite good pole. In fine what could be more beautiful than those two words-'COMPASSION' and 'SYMPATHY'both of which imply a fellow-suffering a fellowfeeling-and which sound forth here with the soft, wailing melody of an infinite, world-embracing pity? Thus teach they us that, while from our lone Valley of the Shadow of Death ascendeth ever to heaven the tear-steeped tones of mankind's miserere like to the "infinite inarticulate grief and weeping of forsaken children:" yet are we not utterly orphaned and alone; but still in unison with our sorrows tremble ever the sympathizing tones of * Wordsworth: Ode to Duty. |