ortunae lusus habemur?
Singula praeteriens det rapiatve dies?
En nemus exaninum, qua se modo germina, verno
Tempore, purpureis explicuere comis.
Respice pacatum Neptuni numine pontum:
Territa mox tumido verberat astra salo.
Sed brevior brevibus, quas unda supervenit, undis
Sed gelida, quam mox dissipat aura, nive:
Sed foliis sylvarum, et amici veris odore,
Quisquis honos placeat, quisquis alatur amor.
Jamne joci lususque sonant? viget alma
Juventus? Funereae forsan eras cecinere tubae.
Nec pietas, nec casta Fides, nec libera Virtus,
Nigrantes vetuit mortis inire domos.
Certa tamen lex ipsa manet, labentibus annis,
Quae jubet assiduas quaeque subire vices.

(1830) Gladstone. _An malum a seipso possit sanari?
Affirmatur._

Cernis ut argutas effuderit Anna querelas?
Lumen ut insolita triste tumescat aqua?
Quicquid in ardenti flammarum corde rotatur,
Et fronte et rubris pingitur omne genis.
Dum ruit huc illuc, speculum simulacra ruentis,
Ora Mimalloneo plena furore, refert.
Pectora vesano cum turgida conspicit aestu,
Quae fuit (haud qualis debeat esse) videt.
Ac veluti ventis intra sua claustra coactis,
Quum piget AEolium fraena dedisse ducem;
Concita non aliter subsidit pectoris unda,
Et propria rursum sede potitur Amor,
Jurasses torvam perculso astare Medusam
Jurares Paphiae lumen adesse deae.

[49] _Excursion_, Book iv. p. 1.

[50] It is curious, we may note in passing, that Thomas Gladstone, his
eldest brother, was then member for Queenborough, and he, after voting
in the majority of one, a few weeks later changed his mind and supported
the amendment that destroyed the first bill. At the election he lost his
seat.

[51] It is given in Robbins, _Early Life_, pp. 104-5.

[52] Oxford, Feb. 5, 1890.

[53] See Appendix.

Book II

_1882-1846_

CHAPTER I

ENTERS PARLIAMENT

(_1832-1834_)

I may speak of the House of Commons as a school of discipline for
those who enter it. In my opinion it is a school of extraordinary
power and efficacy. It is a great and noble school for the creation
of all the qualities of force, suppleness, and versatility of
intellect. And it is also a great moral scho