[From "New Year's Address," etc. (as above), 1878.]
A PAGAN MESSAGE.
Herne Hill, London, S.E.
19 Dec. 1877.

My dear Sir: I am sure you know as well as I that the best message for any of your young men who really are trying to read their Bibles is whatever they first chance to read on whatever morning.

But here's a Pagan message for them, which will be a grandly harmonized bass for whatever words they get on the New Year.

Inter spem curamque, timores et inter iras,
 Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum.[138]

("Amid hope and sorrow, amid fear and wrath, believe every day that has dawned on thee to be thy last.")

Ever faithfully yours,
John Ruskin.

FOOTNOTES:

[138] Horace, Epistles, i. 4. 12.