But，come！Thesunishasteningwestward，whilethemarchofhumanlife，thatneverpausedbefore，isdelayedbyourattempttorearrangeitsorder。Itisdesirabletofindsomecomprehensiveprinciple，thatshallrenderourtaskeasierbybringingthousandsintotherankswherehithertowehavebroughtone。Thereforeletthetrumpet，ifpossible，splititsbrazenthroatwithaloudernotethanever，andtheheraldsummonallmortals，who，fromwhatevercause，havelost，orneverfound，theirproperplacesinthewold。
Obedienttothiscall，agreatmultitudecometogether，mostofthemwithalistlessgait，betokeningwearinessofsoul，yetwithagleamofsatisfactionintheirfaces，ataprospectofatlengthreachingthosepositionswhich，hitherto，theyhavevainlysought。Butherewillbeanotherdisappointment；forwecanattemptnomorethanmerelytoassociateinonefraternityallwhoareafflictedwiththesamevaguetrouble。Somegreatmistakeinlifeisthechiefconditionofadmittanceintothisclass。
Herearemembersofthelearnedprofessions，whomProvidenceendowedwithspecialgiftsfortheplough，theforge，andthewheelbarrow，orfortheroutineofunintellectualbusiness。Wewillassigntothem，aspartnersinthemarch，thoselowlylaborersandhandicraftsmen，whohavepined，aswithadyingthirst，aftertheunattainablefountainsofknowledge。Thelatterhavelostlessthantheircompanions；yetmore，becausetheydeemitinfinite。Perchancethetwospeciesofunfortunatesmaycomfortoneanother。HereareQuakerswiththeinstinctofbattleinthem；andmenofwarwhoshouldhavewornthebroadbrim。
AuthorsshallberankedherewhomsomefreakofNature，makinggameofherpoorchildren，hadimbuedwiththeconfidenceofgeniusandstrongdesireoffame，buthasfavoredwithnocorrespondingpower；andothers，whoseloftygiftswereunaccompaniedwiththefacultyofexpression，oranyofthatearthlymachinerybywhichetherealendowmentsmustbemanifestedtomankind。Allthese，therefore，aremelancholylaughing-stocks。
Next，herearehonestandwellintentionedpersons，whobyawantoftact——byinaccurateperceptions——byadistortingimagination——havebeenkeptcontinuallyatcrosspurposeswiththeworldandbewildereduponthepathoflife。Letusseeiftheycanconfinethemselveswithinthelineofourprocession。Inthisclass，likewise，wemustassignplacestothosewhohaveencounteredthatworstofillsuccess，ahigherfortunethantheirabilitiescouldvindicate；writers，actors，painters，thepetsofaday，butwhoselaurelswitherunrenewedamidtheirhoaryhair；politicians，whomsomemaliciouscontingencyofaffairshasthrustintoconspicuousstation，where，whiletheworldstandsgazingatthem，thedrearyconsciousnessofimbecilitymakesthemcursetheirbirthhour。Tosuchmen，wegiveforacompanionhimwhoseraretalents，whichperhapsrequireaRevolutionfortheirexercise，areburiedinthetombofsluggishcircumstances。