Virgil’s notions of heaven and virtue, and his gracefully-described gods and goddesses, have led me to alter my opinions; and I suspect, from reminiscences of my own mental history, that if all governors do not think the same ‘t is from want of that intimate knowledge of their pupils’ minds which I naturally possess. I really find it difficult to keep their morale steady, and am inclined to think many of my own sceptical sufferings are traceable to this source. I well remember what reflections arose in my childish mind from a comparison of the Hebrew history, where every moral obliquity is shown out with such naïveté, and the Greek history, full of sparkling deeds and brilliant sayings, and their gods and goddesses, the types of beauty and power, with the dazzling veil of flowery language and poetical imagery cast over their vices and failings.’
‘My own favorite project, since I began seriously to
entertain any of that sort, is six historical tragedies; of
which I have the plans of three quite perfect.
However, the attempts I have made on them have served to
show me the vast difference between conception and
execution. Yet I am, though abashed, not altogether
discouraged. My next favorite plan is a series of tales
illustrative of Hebrew history. The proper junctures
have occurred to me during my late studies on the
historical books of the Old Testament. This task,
however, requires a thorough and imbuing knowledge of
the Hebrew manners and spirit, with a chastened energy
of imagination, which I am as yet far from possessing.
But if I should be permitted peace and time to follow
out my ideas, I have hopes. Perhaps it is a weakness
