Nature had made him what he was, and all beside was her business, and not his.

I don't deny that I laughed at him, and made him wroth by telling him that his doctrine was 'the apotheosis of loafing.' But my heart went with him, and the jolly oyster too.

It is very beautiful after all, that careless nymph and shepherd life of the old Greeks, and that Marquesas romance of Herman Melville's--to enjoy the simple fact of living, like a Neapolitan lazzaroni, or a fly upon a wall." "But the old Greek heroes fought and laboured to till the land, and rid it of giants and monsters," said Frank.

"And as for the Marquesas, Mr.
Melville found out, did he not--as you did once--that they were only petting and fattening him for the purpose of eating him?
There is a dark side to that pretty picture, Mr.Mellot." "_Tant pis pour eux_! But that is an unnecessary appendage to the idea, purely.

It must be possible to realise such a simple, rich, healthy life, without wickedness, if not without human sorrow.