--T. Carlyle
CLIV. Emerson to Carlyle
Concord, 11 March, 1854
My Dear Carlyle,--The sight of Mr. Samuel Laurence, the day
before yesterday, in New York, and of your head among his
sketches, set me on thinking which had some pain where should be
only cheer. For Mr. Laurence I hailed his arrival, on every
account. I wish to see a good man whom you prize; and I like to
have good Englishmen come to America, which, of all countries,
after their own, has the best claim to them. He promises to come
and see me, and has begun most propitiously in New York. For
you,--I have too much constitutional regard and ---, not to feel
remorse for my short-comings and slow-comings, and I remember the
maxim which the French stole from our Indians,--and it was worth
stealing,--"Let not the grass grow on the path of friendship."
Ah! my brave giant, you can never understand the silence and
forbearances of such as are not giants. To those to whom we owe
affection, let us be dumb until we are strong, though we should
never be strong.
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