Have You Read This?

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 583, 8 February 1929, Page 14

Have You Read This?

Sir Arthur Quiller-Coucb. Professor of English Literature at Cambridge, recently chose tor "The Daily Mail’’ a series of short passages, the “purple patches" of English prose. It is hoped that the series, reprinted here, will pleasantly refresh the memories of some and stir the fresh interest of others. THE GEMS OF NOBLE MINDS ~ j SIR THOMAS BROWNE. —“Christian Morals.’* j Sir Thomas Browne (1605-82), j physician, antiquary, and superb sty- j list, settled in Norwich and lived there nndistracted throughout the din of the Civil War. His “Religio Mediciappeared in 1643, the musings of a. man of simple faith but subtle mind; but his magnificent style built him his richest memorial in the “ Hydriotaphia, or Urn Burial /' in which arc recorded the sombre meditations prompted by the discovery of some funeral urns in a field. There it no other English writer whose eloquence has the same deep music. THE HBROICAX. vein of Mankind runs nauch in the soldiery and courageous part of the World; and in that form we oftenest. find men above men. History is full of the gallantry of that Tribe; and when we read their notable acts, we easily find •what a difference there is between a life in Plutarch and in Laertius. Where true Fortitude dwells, Loyalty, Bounty, Friendship and Fidelity may be found. IA. man may confide in persons constituted for noble ends, who dare do and suffer, and who have a hand to burn for their Country and their Friend. Small and creeping things are the product of petty Souls. He is like to be mistaken, who makes a choice of a covetous Man for a Friend, or relieth upon th© reed of narrow and poltroon Friendship. Pitiful things are only to be found in the cottages of suoh Breasts; but bright Thoughts, Hear Deeds, Constancy, Fidelity, Bounty and generous Honesty ar© the Gems of noble Minds; wherein, to derogate from none, the true Heroick English Gentleman hath no Peer,