Wolsey's taste for building was first displayed in the erection of Magdalen Tower. He could now dwell upon great and ambitious thoughts, but not without connecting them with many pleasant reminiscences. As he had taken holy orders, the future was closed against him for every hope of domestic comfort. He was forbidden, by his vows, to think of woman, as the sharer of his cares or the promoter of his comforts. He had once thought of one whose mental qualifications bade fair to give a zest to his whole life; but William Latimer had supplanted him, and Ellen De Freston was happy. Well, was he to be dissatisfied? was he to pine away his existence? were there to be no joys unconnected with this fancy of his youth? Alas! the very struggle of his proud heart and susceptible nature told him how difficult a thing it was to control the early impressions of that pure attachment to which the God of nature and of grace had made him subject. At this period of Wolsey's life, there could not have occured a more congenial occupation than this project of the tower. It accorded well with the thoughts of his heart, at that time ready for any enterprize. The peculiar pleasure he found in raising the structure of Magdalen Tower was known only to himself. Ostensibly, it was done for the honor of his college, but more prominently in his mind existed the thought of out-doing the work of his successful rival. He had various plans presented to him, but the one that pleased him best was that which reserved its ornaments for the highest stories. 'Man,' he used to say, 'is like a building; his life should begin upon a firm, plain, solid foundation, and improve as he advances, until he reaches maturity; then, if worth anything, he may crown his years with the ornaments of existence, and show forth all his beauty and strength; but if he begins with ornaments, he will end in dulness.' His tower was an inimitable illustration of this doctrine: plain, solid, firm, and unadorned, it ascended from its basement to its superstructure. Its architectural decorations were reserved for the fifth and upward story. Alas! poor Wolsey. Like his celebrated tower, his splendor was reserved for the highest pinnacles which, compared with his basement, were sure to provoke envy. The future Cardinal had then before him the vision of fame, as connected only with Magdalen Tower. He scraped together all the funds which could be collected, he made half the University subscribe to his project, obtained all the fines he could, made the tenants of Magdalen endowments pay a certain bonus for the renewal of their tenures, and for his pains drew a hornet's nest around his head, even among the fellows of his own college, who condemned his extravagance and extortion, even whilst they openly admired his project. Great men have always to contend with little difficulties, which plague them very often much more than obstacles of greater magnitude.