4–10 April 1831

Pleasure taken in Ravenswood's grand feudal character great. And why? because the contem- plation of somebody that we could depend upon, and should without risk admire and love if we should converse with him, is pleasing. The soul believes in its own immortality and whilst this character floats before it, is already anticipating intercourse with such in other states of being. Is it not too, that by the law of sympathy the soul sees in every great character only a mirror in which its own pinched features are expanded to true dimensions, "the shows of things to the de- sires of the mind." And does it not find a lesson herein, the suggestion that a mind raised above circumstances may fight this heroic battle day by day ; that Sir William Ashton is only another name for a vulgar temptation ; that Ravenswood castle is only another name for proud poverty and the " foreign mission of state," only a Bun- yan disguise for honest industry ; that we may all shoot a wild bull that would toss the good and beautiful, by fighting down the unjust and sen- sual ; that Lucy is another word for fidelity, which is always beautiful and always liable to great suf- fering in the world, but which is true to itself, and trusts God for success in the abysses of his designs.