原文：
a young fellow recently finished the works of thomas carlyle, winding up, if we remember aright, with the ten note-books upon frederick the great. "what!" cried the young fellow, in consternation, "is there no more carlyle? am i left to the daily papers?" a more celebrated instance is that of alexander, who wept bitterly because he had no more worlds to subdue. and when gibbon had finished the decline and fall, he had only a few moments of joy; and it was with a "sober melancholy" that he parted from his labours.
译文：
最近，一位年轻人读完了托马斯*卡莱尔的著作。如果我没记错的话，关于腓特列大帝的笔记他记了整整十本。“什么?”这个年轻人惊恐地叫道：“没有卡莱尔的书可读了?那我只能看看日报了?” 最有名的例子是亚历山大，他因为已没有国家供他征服而号啕大哭。 当吉本完成《罗马帝国衰亡史》，也只不过高兴了一时，然后带着清醒而又抑郁的心情，他向往日的劳动成果挥手作别。