Fair,' the 'Eve of the
Conquest.'

"Comnenus.--Not much the doubt
Comnenus would stand well with times to come,
Were there the hand to write his threnody,
Yet is he in sad truth a faulty man.

* * * * *

But be it said he had this honesty,
That, undesirous of a false renown,
He ever wished to pass for what he was,
One that swerved much, and oft, but being still
Deliberately bent upon the right,
Had kept it in the main; one that much loved
Whate'er in man is worthy high respect,
And in his soul devoutly did aspire
To be it all: yet felt from time to time
The littleness that clings to what is human,
And suffered from the shame of having felt it."

"Humph! This is advanced," I thought. "I wonder does he feel like
Comnenus? It is a noble portrait, and well worthy imitation."

Just then he came in. After the usual greetings he exclaimed, in a tone
of high delight:--

"Look here, Father, here's a delicious tit-bit. Confess you never read
such a piece of sublime self-conceit before."

He took up a review that was lying open on the desk, and read this:--

"As for claims, these are my opinions. If Lord Liverpool takes
simply the claims of the scholar, Copleston's are fully equal to
mine. So, too, in general knowledge the world would give it in
favor of him. If Lord Liverpool looks to professional merits, mine
are to Copleston's as _the Andes to a molehill_. There is no
comparison between us; Copleston is no theologue; I am. If, again,
Lord Liverpool looks to weight and influence in the University, I
will give Copleston a month's start and beat him easily in any
question that comes before us. As to popularity in the appointment,
mine will be popular through the whole profession; Copleston's the
contrary.... I thought, as I tell you, honestly, I should be able
to make myself a bishop in due time.... I will conclude by telling
you my own real wishes about myself. My anxious desire is to make
myself a great divine, and to be accounted the best in England. My
second wish is to become the founder of a school of theology at
Oxford. Now, no bishopric will enable me to do this but the See of
Oxford. I have now told you my most secret thoughts. What I desire
is, after a few years, to be sure of a retirement, with good
provisio