Eugene Aram — Volume 04 by Baron Edward Bulwer Lytton Lytton
page 57 of 124 (45%)
page 57 of 124 (45%)
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much care."
The Earl broke off for a moment; and then turning the subject, inquired after the Lesters, and making some general and vague observations about that family, came purposely to a pause. Aram broke it:--"My Lord," said he, with a slight, but not ungraceful, embarrassment, "I fear that, in the course of your political life, you must have made one observation, that he who promises to-day, will be called upon to perform to-morrow. No man who has any thing to bestow, can ever promise with impunity. Some time since, you tendered me offers that would have dazzled more ardent natures than mine; and which I might have advanced some claim to philosophy in refusing. I do not now come to ask a renewal of those offers. Public life, and the haunts of men, are as hateful as ever to my pursuits: but I come, frankly and candidly, to throw myself on that generosity, which proffered to me then so large a bounty. Certain circumstances have taken from me the small pittance which supplied my wants;--I require only the power to pursue my quiet and obscure career of study--your Lordship can afford me that power: it is not against custom for the Government to grant some small annuity to men of letters--your Lordship's interest could obtain for me this favour. Let me add, however, that I can offer nothing in return! Party politics-- Sectarian interests--are for ever dead to me: even my common studies are of small general utility to mankind--I am conscious of this--would it were otherwise!--Once I hoped it would be--but--" Aram here turned deadly pale, gasped for breath, mastered his emotion, and proceeded--"I have no great claim, then, to this bounty, beyond that which all poor cultivators of the abstruse sciences can advance. It is well for a country that those sciences should be cultivated; they are not of a nature which is ever lucrative to the possessor--not of a nature that can often be left, like |
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