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the debt； and to save Milton's life when 〃Charles enjoyed his own
again。〃 Lovelace； the poet and cavalier； was also imprisoned by
the Roundheads； and was only liberated from the Gatehouse on
giving an enormous bail。 Though he suffered and lost all for the
Stuarts； he was forgotten by them at the Restoration； and died
in extreme poverty。
Besides Wither and Bunyan； Charles II。 imprisoned Baxter；
Harrington （the author of 'Oceana'）； Penn； and many more。 All
these men solaced their prison hours with writing。 Baxter wrote
some of the most remarkable passages of his 'Life and Times' while
lying in the King's Bench Prison； and Penn wrote his 'No Cross no
Crown' while imprisoned in the Tower。 In the reign of Queen Anne；
Matthew Prior was in confinement on a vamped…up charge of treason
for two years； during which he wrote his 'Alma； or Progress
of the Soul。'
Since then； political prisoners of eminence in England have been
comparatively few in number。 Among the most illustrious were De
Foe； who； besides standing three times in the pillory； spent much
of his time in prison； writing 'Robinson Crusoe' there； and many
of his best political pamphlets。 There also he wrote his 'Hymn to
the Pillory；' and corrected for the press a collection of his
voluminous writings。 （9） Smollett wrote his 'Sir Lancelot
Greaves' in prison； while undergoing confinement for libel。
Of recent prison…writers in England； the best known are James
Montgomery； who wrote his first volume of poems while a prisoner
in York Castle； and Thomas Cooper； the Chartist； who wrote his
'Purgatory of Suicide' in Stafford Gaol。
Silvio Pellico was one of the latest and most illustrious of the
prison writers of Italy。 He lay confined in Austrian gaols for
ten years； eight of which he passed in the Castle of Spielberg in
Moravia。 It was there that he composed his charming 'Memoirs；'
the only materials for which were furnished by his fresh living
habit of observation； and out of even the transient visits of his
gaoler's daughter； and the colourless events of his monotonous
daily life； he contrived to make for himself a little world of
thought and healthy human interest。
Kazinsky； the great reviver of Hungarian literature； spent
seven years of his life in the dungeons of Buda； Brunne；
Kufstein； and Munkacs； during which he wrote a 'Diary of his
Imprisonment；' and amongst other things translated Sterno's
'Sentimental Journey；' whilst Kossuth beguiled his two years'
imprisonment at Buda in studying English； so as to be able to
read Shakspeare in the original。
Men who； like these； suffer the penalty of law； and seem to fail；
at least for a time； do not really fail。 Many； who have seemed to
fail utterly； have often exercised a more potent and enduring
influence upon their race； than those whose career has been a
course of uninterupted success。 The character of a man does not
depend on whether his efforts are immediately followed by failure
or by success。 The martyr is not a failure if the truth for which
he suffered acquires a fresh lustre through his sacrifice。 （10）
The patriot who lays down his life for his cause； may thereby
hasten its triumph； and those who seem to throw their lives away
in the van of a great movement； often open a way for those who
follow them； and pass over their dead bodies to victory。 The
triumph of a just cause may come late； but when it does come； it
is due as much to those who failed in their first efforts； as to
those who succeeded in their last。
The example of a great death may be an inspiration to others； as
well as the example of a good life。 A great act does not perish
with the life of him who performs it； but lives and grows up into
like acts in those who survive the doer thereof and cherish his
memory。 Of some great men； it might almost be said that they have
not begun to live until they have died。
The names of the men who have suffered in the cause of religion；
of science； and of truth； are the men of all others whose memories
are held in the greatest esteem and reverence by mankind。 They
perished； but their truth survived。 They seemed to fail； and yet
they eventually succeeded。 （11） Prisons may have held them； but
their thoughts were not to be confined by prison…walls。 They have
burst through； and defied the power of their persecutors。 It was
Lovelace； a prisoner； who wrote：
〃Stone walls do not a prison make；
Nor iron bars a cage；
Minds innocent and quiet take
That for a hermitage。〃
It was a saying of Milton that； 〃who best can suffer best can do。〃
The work of many of the greatest men； inspired by duty； has been
done amidst suffering and trial and difficulty。 They have
struggled against the tide； and reached the shore exhausted； only
to grasp the sand and expire。 They have done their duty； and been
content to die。 But death hath no power over such men； their
hallowed memories still survive； to soothe and purify and bless
us。 〃Life；〃 said Goethe； 〃to us all is suffering。 Who save God
alone shall call us to our reckoning？ Let not reproaches fall on
the departed。 Not what they have failed in； nor what they have
suffered； but what they have done； ought to occupy the survivors。〃
Thus； it is not ease and facility that tries men； and brings out
the good that is in them； so much as trial and difficulty。
Adversity is the touchstone of character。 As some herbs need to
be crushed to give forth their sweetest odour； so some natures
need to be tried by suffering to evoke the excellence that is in
them。 Hence trials often unmask virtues； and bring to light
hidden graces。 Men apparently useless and purposeless； when
placed in positions of difficulty and responsibility； have
exhibited powers of character before unsuspected； and where we
before saw only pliancy and self…indulgence； we now see strength；
valour； and self…denial。
As there are no blessings which may not he perverted into evils；
so there are no trials which may not be converted into blessings。
All depends on the manner in which we profit by them or otherwise。
Perfect happiness is not to be looked for in this world。 If it
could be secured； it would be found profitless。 The hollowest of
all gospels is the gospel of ease and comfort。 Difficulty； and
even failure； are far better teachers。 Sir Humphry Davy said：
〃Even in private life； too much prosperity either injures
the moral man； and occasions conduct which ends in suffering；
or it is accompanied by the workings of envy； calumny； and
malevolence of others。〃
Failure improves tempers and strengthens the nature。 Even sorrow
is in some mysterious way linked with joy and associated with
tenderness。 John Bunyan once said how； 〃if it were lawful； he
could even pray for greater trouble； for the greater comfort's
sake。〃 When surprise was expressed at the patience of a poor
Arabian woman under heavy affliction；