Page:Poems May.djvu/20

vi appointed, 'who vindictively dispute the claim and discourage the hesitating footsteps of the new comer; and, for these ills—tracking genius as they do to the grave—neither the viewless lips which give words to what no other mortal could have uttered, nor the "second sight" which reveals what no other mortal could have seen, nor the consciousness of a higher nature when alone, nor the whispers of spirits and angels which are never found not to have been human thoughts till envy and malice have poisoned all else, seem to be a sufficient compensation. One looks upon youthful genius, thus double-laden with gifts and ills, as one sees the victim prepared with bright flowers for the knife.

It is not one of the least of the conventional disregards of genius, that the recognition and welcome at the threshold of fame's temple are chance-given, if at all; and that, in place of a responsible and respectful warden at this gate, where enters what the world should most honour, there is likelier to be found only the base crowd of hinderers and detractors, by whom the timid knock of the young pilgrim is treated as a crime. It is by his chance vicinity to the place where should stand a higher and better autho-