CHAP. ILJ MAKING SHIFT TO EXIST.

risen high enough to see the glimmering of light beyond; 1758.
—even lower, therefore, than the school-room at Doctor
Milner's, from which he had been taken to his literary toil,
he thought himself now descended; and in a sudden sense
of misery more intolerable, might have cried with Edgar,

O gods I who is't can say " I am at the worst" ?

/ am- wone than e'er I was,

He returned to Doctor Milner's;—if ever, from thence, again
to return to literature, to embrace it for choice and with
a braver heart endure Its worst necessities.

There came that time; and when, eighteen months after
the present date, he was writing the Bee, he thus turned into
pleasant fiction the incidents now described. " I was once
" induced to show my Indignation against the public, by
" discontinuing my endeavours to please; and was bravely
" resolved, like Ealeigh, to vex them by burning my manu-
" scripts in a passion. Upon recollection, however, I
" considered what set or body of people would be displeased
" at my rashness. The sun, after so sad an accident, might
" shine next morning as bright as usual; men might laugh
" and sing the next day, and transact business as before,
" and not a single creature feel any regret but myself.
" I reflected upon the story of a minister, who, in the reign
" of Charles II, upon a certain occasion resigned all his
" posts, and retired into the country in a fit of resentment.
" But, as he had not given the world entirely up with his
" ambition, he sent a messenger to town, to see how the
" courtiers would bear his resignation. Upon the messenger's
" return he was asked, whether there appeared any com-
" motion at court ? To which he replied, there were very
" great ones. e Ay,' says the minister, ' I knew my friends
fi£ * would make a bustle; all petitioning the king for myobstructions which the world is glad to interpose between