On the day of the birth of his second daughter, Mr. Emerson wrote in his journal:—
Nov. 22, 1841. "There came into the house a young maiden, but she seemed to be more than a thousand years old. She came into the house naked and helpless, but she had for her defence more than the strength of millions. She brought into the day the manners of the Night."
Page 317, note 2. This is a version of lines quoted, but not credited, by Mr. Emerson in "The Over-Soul," of which I have in vain sought for the author. It is said that Spirit
"Can crowd eternity into an hourOr stretch an hour into eternity."
Page 318, note 1. In his notes upon himself Mr. Emerson wrote, "My only secret was that all men were my masters. I thought each who talked with me older than I."
Page 319, note 1. "I find it a great and fatal difference whether I court the Muse, or the Muse courts me. That is the ugly disparity between age and youth."—Manuscript of "Old Age."
Page 320, note 1. In Tennyson's "Tithonus," the old and weary man says to Aurora, his divine mistress,—
"I ask'd thee, 'Give me immortality.'Then didst thou grant mine asking with a smile,Like wealthy men who care not how they give.But thy strong Hours indignant work'd their wills,And beat me down and marr'd and wasted me,And tho' they could not end me, left me maimedTo dwell in presence of immortal youth,Immortal age beside immortal youth,And all I was, in ashes."
