the strong, intelligent, and conscious commit errors,
faults, and crimes which are almost inevitable; wherein the wise and
upright struggle with all-powerful calamity, with forces destructive to
wisdom and virtue: for it is worthy of note that the spectator, however
feeble, dishonest even, he may be in real life, still enrols himself
always among the virtuous, just, and strong; and when he reflects on
the misfortunes of the weak, or even witnesses them, he resolutely
declines to imagine himself in the place of the victims.

18

Here we attain the limit of the human will, the gloomy boundary-line of
the influence that the most just and enlightened of men is able to
exert on events that decide his future happiness or sorrow. No great
drama exists, or poem of lofty aim, but one of its heroes shall stray
to this frontier where his destiny waits for the seal. Why has this
wise, this virtuous man committed this fault or this crime? Why has
that woman, who knows so well the meaning of all that she does,
hazarded the gesture which must so inevitably summon everlasting
sorrow? By whom have the links been forged of the chain of disaster
whose fetters have crushed this innocent family? Why do all things
crumble around one, and fall into ruins, while the other, his
neighbour, less active and strong, less skilful and wise, finds ever
material by him to build up his life anew? Why do tenderness, beauty,
and love flock to the path of some, where others meet hatred only, and
malice, and treachery? Why persistent happiness here, and yonder,
though merits be equal, nought but unceasing disaster? Why is this
house for ever beset with the storm, while over that other there shines
the peace of unvarying stars? Why genius, and riches, and health on
this side, and yonder disease, imbecility, poverty? Whence has the
passion been sent that has wrought such terrible grief, and whence the
passion that proved the source of such wonderful joy? Why does the
youth whom yesterday I met go on his tranquil road to profoundest
happiness, while his friend, with the same methodical, peaceful,
ignorant step, proceeds on his way to death?

19

Life will often place such problems before us; but how rarely are we
compelled to refer their solution to the supernatural, mysterious,
superhuman, or preordained! It is only the fervent believer who will
still be content to see there the finger of divine intervention. Such
of us, however, as hav