Last words of Thomas Carlyle - Warburg Institute

;WOTTON KEINFRED 27that by degrees he had won his friendship, andWotton had now no secret, economical or spiritual,which he did not share in. To both parties theirintercourse had from the first been peculiarly attractive.There was that contrast, and at the same timesimilarity, in their natures which gives its highestcharm to social converse. Bernard was the elder byseveral years, a man of talent, education, and restlessvigorous activity ; by profession belonging to thelaw; already profitably engaged in the public businessof his county, and cherishing perhaps, halfconsciously, hopes of yet rising to some far higherdepartment. For he was a man of a large, if not apeculiarly fine spirit ; strong, conscious of his strengthfor ever full of practicable and impracticable schemesand though he flattered himself that the promotionof public good in any sphere was his best or only aim,to all third parties it was clear enough that Bernardhad a deep ambition. Nay in his frank and sanguinemanner there often appeared the most indubitableoutbreakings of vanity ; but at the same time of vanityso kindly, social, and true-hearted, that you wereforced to pardon it. The truth is, he was of a happynature ; existence of itself was sweet and joyous tohim : he lived for ever in the element of hope ; lovinghimself, and loving through himself all nature and allmen. Earely could you find a person so superiorto others, yet so beloved by them, so calculated toplease at once the many and the few.To Wotton in