far more importance, he has an aim before him that he can never
quite attain. He has gone upon a pilgrimage that will last him his
life long, because there is no end to it short of perfection. He
will better upon himself a little day by day; or even if he has
given up the attempt, he will always remember that once upon a time
he had conceived this high ideal, that once upon a time he had
fallen in love with a star. ''Tis better to have loved and lost.'
Although the moon should have nothing to say to Endymion, although
he should settle down with Audrey and feed pigs, do you not think
he would move with a better grace, and cherish higher thoughts to
the end? The louts he meets at church never had a fancy above
Audrey's snood; but there is a reminiscence in Endymion's heart
that, like a spice, keeps it fresh and haughty.
To be even one of the outskirters of art, leaves a fine stamp on a
man's countenance. I remember once dining with a party in the inn
at Chateau Landon. Most of them were unmistakable bagmen; others
well-to-do peasantry; but there was one young fellow in a blouse,
whose face stood out from among the rest surprisingly. It looked
more finished; more of the spirit looked out through it; it had a
living, expressive air, and you could see that his eyes took things
in. My companion and I wondered greatly who and what he could be.
It was fair-time in Chateau Landon, and when we went along to the
booths, we had our question answered; for there was our friend
busily fiddling for the peasants to caper to. He was a wandering
violinist.
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