Last words of Thomas Carlyle - Warburg Institute

86 WOTTON EEINFKEDnot but amuse our hero, however little it might satisfyhim.To be spoken to with such attention, and so confidentiallytreated by a man of influence and talentwas in itself gratifying, and still more so by its rarityin Wotton's previous experience; for it was seldomthat his hap had led in the way of such people,and much seldomer that he had found them sodivested of vanity as to give their minds free playand forget in his presence that he bemg little andthey being great, it behoved them to trample on him,or at least to astonish and overawe him. WiUiamswas none of those painful persons ; he cared too littleabout anything on earth to vex himself or others forit ; the basis of his philosophy was : Live and let live.With a gay kind guUeless heart, and the clearest andsprightliest perceptions, he was the most attractive ofall unbelievers. Intelligence and courteous pleasantrysparkled in his eyes ; he was of quick sensation, yetnot irritable, never deliberately vindictive ; for naturehad so blandly tempered him, that he could wishno injury to any living thing. Without effort, hehabitually forgot self and the little concerns of self,and mingled with trustful entireness in the feelingsof the place and hour, even while his judgmentdespised them. Nothing could be kindlier than hiscontempt, which indeed extended far and wide, embracingwith a few momentary exceptions the wholeactions and character of man, his own not excluded.