These vain pretenders are ignorant of him
they seek after; for of him that knew him we never heard
again: - O thou! who towerest above the flights of conjecture,
opinion, and comprehension; whatever has been reported of thee
we have heard and read; the congregation is dismissed, and life
drawn to a close; and we still rest at our first encomium of
thee!'" - _Sadi_.
By noon we were let down into the Merrimack through the locks at
Middlesex, just above Pawtucket Falls, by a serene and
liberal-minded man, who came quietly from his book, though his
duties, we supposed, did not require him to open the locks on
Sundays. With him we had a just and equal encounter of the eyes,
as between two honest men.
The movements of the eyes express the perpetual and unconscious
courtesy of the parties. It is said, that a rogue does not look
you in the face, neither does an honest man look at you as if he
had his reputation to establish. I have seen some who did not
know when to turn aside their eyes in meeting yours. A truly
confident and magnanimous spirit is wiser than to contend for the
mastery in such encounters. Serpents alone conquer by the
steadiness of their gaze. My friend looks me in the face and
sees me, that is all.
