He came to the university with the design of making himself complete master of the oriental languages, and thus he should open a field for the plan of life he had marked out for himself.

Resolved to pursue no inglorious career, he turned his eyes toward the East, as affording scope for his spirit of enterprise.

The Persian, Arabic, and Sanskrit languages engaged his attention, and I was easily induced to enter on the same studies.

Idleness had ever been irksome to me, and now that I wished to fly from reflection, and hated my former studies, I felt great relief in being the fellow-pupil with my friend, and found not only instruction but consolation in the works of the orientalists.

I did not, like him, attempt a critical knowledge of their dialects, for I did not contemplate making any other use of them than temporary amusement.