Tomakeamentalimageofallthingsthatarenamedtotheear,orconceivedinthemind,beinganindustriouscustomofchildrenandchildishpeoplewhichlapsesintheageofmuchidlereading,themakingofamaterialimageisthestillmorediligentandmoresedulousact,wherebytheprimitivemancontrolsandcaresseshisownfancy。Hemaytakearmsanon,disappointed,againsthisownwork;butdidheeverdothatworkinmalicefromtheoutset?
Fromthestatuetothedoll,imagesarealloutragedinthepersonoftheguy。Ifitwerebutanantithesistothecitizen’sideaofsomethingadmirablewhichhemightcarryinprocessiononsomeotherday,thecarryingoftheguywouldbelessgloomy;buthewouldhootatasuspicionthathemightadmireanythingsomuchastomakeagood-lookingdollinitspraise。Thereisabsolutelynoimage-
makingartinthepracticeofourpeople,exceptonlythisartofragsandcontumely。Or,again,iftherevengetakenuponaguywerethatofangerforacertaincause,thedestructionwouldnotbetheworkofsothinanannualmaliceandofsoheartlessarancour。
Butthesinglemotiveisthatpopularironywhichbecomesdaily——orsoitseems——moreandmoretheholidaytemperofthemajority。
Mockeryistheonlyanimatingimpulse,andaloudincredulityistheonlyintelligence。Theymakeanimageofsomeoneinwhomtheydonotbelieve,toderideit。Saythattheguyistheeffigyofanagitatorinthecauseofsomethingtobedesired;thestreetmanandboyhavethentwomotivesofmocking:theythinkthereformtobenotworthdoing,andtheyarewillingtosuspectthereformerofsomekindofhypocrisy。PerhapstheguyofthisoccasionismostcharacteristicofallguysinLondon。Thepeople,havinghimorhertoderide,donotevenwaitfortheopportunityoftheirannualprocession。Theyanticipatetime,andmakeanimagewhenitisnotNovember,andsellitatthemarketofthekerb。
Hear,moreover,thesongswhichsomenamelessonemakesforthecitizens,perhapsinthoughtfulrenunciationofthemakingoftheirlaws。These,too,seemtohavefortheirinspirationtheuniversaltaunt。Theyare,indeed,mostinvoguewhentheyhavenomeaningatall——thisitisthatmakesthesuccesfou(andhereParisisofonemindwithLondon)ofthestreet;butshortofsuchatriumph,andwhenameaningisdiscernible,itisanirony。
BankHolidaycourtship(iftheinappropriatewordcanbepardoned)
seemstobedone,inreallife,entirelybybanter。Anditisthestrangestthingtofindthatthebanterofwomenbymenisthemostmockingintheexchange。Iftheburlesqueofthemaid’stongueisprovocative,thatoftheman’sisderisive。Somewhatoftheorderofthingsastheystoodbeforetheywereinvertedseemstoremain,nevertheless,asamemory;nay,togivetheinversionakindoflagginginterest。Ironyismademorecompletebytheremembrance,andbyanimplicitallusiontothestateofcourtshipinotherclasses,countries,ortimes。Suchanallusionnodoubtgivesallitspeculiartwangtotheburlesqueoflove。
WiththemoststrangesubmissiontheseEnglishwomenintheirmillionsundergoalldegreesofderisionfromthetonguesofmenwhoaretheirmates,equals,contemporaries,perhapsinsomeobscuresensetheirsuitors,andinastrollingmanner,withoneknowsnotwhatungainlymotiveofreserve,eventheiradmirers。Norfromtheirtonguesonly;for,topassthetime,theholidayswainannoysthegirl;andifhewearsherhat,itistentoonethathehaspluckeditoffwithahumorousdisregardofherdreadfulpins。
Wehavetobelievethatunmockedlovehasexistenceinthestreets,becauseoftheproofthatispublishedwhenamanshootsawomanwhohasrejectedhim;andfromthisalsodowelearntobelievethatawomanoftheburlesqueclassesisabletoreject。Butforthatsignweshouldfindlittleornothingintelligibleinwhatweseeoroverhearofthedramaofloveinpopularlife。
Initseasymoments,initsleisure,atholidaytime,itbafflesalltradition,andshowsusthespiritofcomedyclowningafterafashionthatisinsularandnotmerelycivic。Youhearthesametwangincountryplaces;andwhethertheEnglishmaid,having,liketheantique,thrownherappleathershepherd,runintothethicketsofHampsteadHeathoramongsylvantrees,itseemsthatthemosthumorousthingtobedonebytheswainwouldbe,intheopinioninvogue,tostrollanotherway。InsularIhavesaid,becauseIhavenotseenthelikeofthisfashionwhetherinAmericaorelsewhereinEurope。
Butthechiefinversionofall,provedsummarilybytheannualinversionoftheworshipofimagesonthefifthofNovember,isthatofasentenceofWordsworth’s——\"Welivebyadmiration。\"
HAVEPATIENCE,LITTLESAINT
Someconsiderabletimemusthavegonebysinceanykindofcourtesyceased,inEngland,tobeheldnecessaryinthecourseofcommunicationwithabeggar。Feelingmaybehumane,andtheinterioractmostgentle;theremaybeatacitapology,andaprofoundmisgivingunexpressed;areluctancenotonlytorefusebuttobearbiter;adislikeoftheoffice;aregret,whetherfortheunequaldistributionofsocialluckorforapurseleftathome,equallysincere;howbeitcustomexactsnowordorsign,nothingwhateverofintercourse。Ifadogoracataccostsyou,oracalfinafieldcomesclosetoyouwithacandidinfantfaceandbreathingnostrilsofinvestigation,orifanykindofanimalcomestoyouonsomeobscureimpulseoffriendlyapproach,youacknowledgeit。Butthebeggartowhomyougivenothingexpectsnoanswertoaquestion,norecognitionofhispresence,notsomuchastheturnofyoureyelidinhisdirection,andneverawordtoexcuseyou。
Nordoesthisblankbehaviourseemsavagetothosewhoareusedtonothingelse。Yetitissomewhatmoreinhumantorefuseananswertothebeggar’sremarkthantoleaveashopwithout\"Goodmorning。\"
Whencomplaintismadeofthemodernsocialmanner——thatithasnomeritbutwhatisnegative,andthatitisapteventoabstainfromcourtesywithmorelackofgracethantheabstinenceabsolutelyrequires——thehabitofmannertowardsbeggarsisprobablynotsomuchasthoughtof。Tothesimplyhumaneye,however,theprevalentmannertowardsbeggarsisastrikingthing;itissignificantofsomuch。
Obviouslyitisnoteasytoreplytobeggingexceptbytheintelligibleactofgiving。WehavenottheingenuoussimplicitythatmarksthecasteansweringmoreorlesstothatofVeredeVere,inItaly,forexample。AnelderlyItalianladyonherslowwayfromherownancientancestralpalazzotothevillage,andaccustomedtomeet,empty-handed,acertainnumberofbeggars,answersthembyaretortwhichwouldbe,literallytranslated,\"Excuseme,dear;I,too,amapoordevil,\"andthelastwordshenaturallyputsintothefeminine。
Moreover,thesentenceisspokeninallthefamiliarityofthelocaldialect——adialectthatputsanytwopeopleatonceuponequaltermsasnothingelsecandoit。WoulditwerepossibletopresentthephrasetoEnglishreadersinallitsownhelplessgood-humour。Theexcellentwomanwhousesitispractisingnoeccentricitythereby,andraisesnosmile。Itisonlyinanotherclimate,andamidothermanners,thatonecannotrecallitwithoutasmile。ToamindhavingalivelysenseofcontrastitisnotalittlepleasanttoimagineanelderlyladyofcorrespondingstationinEnglandreplyingsotoimportunitiesforalms;albeitwehavenothingansweringtothegoodfellowshipofabroadpatoisusedcurrentlybyrichandpoor,andyetslightlygrotesqueinthecaseofallspeakers——adialectinwhich,forexample,nosermoniseverpreached,andinwhichnobookiseverprinted,exceptforfun;adialect\"familiar,butbynomeansvulgar。\"Besides,evenifourEnglishwomancouldbyanypossibilitybringherselftosaytoamendicant,\"Excuseme,dear;I,too,amapoordevil,\"shewouldstillnothavetheopportunityofputtingthelastwordpunctuallyintothefeminine,whichdoessocompletethecharacterofthesentence。
ThephraseattheheadofthispaperisthefarmoregracefulphraseofexcusecustomaryinthecourteousmannersofPortugal。AndeverywhereintheSouth,whereanalmostwell-dressedoldwoman,whosuddenlybeginstobegfromyouwhenyouleastexpectedit,callsyou\"mydaughter,\"youcanhardlyreplywithoutkindness。Wherethetourististhoroughlywellknown,doubtlessthecompanyofbeggarsareusedtosavagemannersintherich;butaboutthebywaysandremoterplacestheremuststillbesomedismayattheanger,thesilence,theindignation,andtheinexpensivehaughtinesswherewiththeopportunityofalms-givingisreceivedbytravellers。
InnothingdoweshowhowfartheWestisfromtheEastsoemphaticallyasweshowitbyourloftywaystowardsthosewhosomanifestlyputthemselvesatourfeet。Itiscertainlynotpleasanttoseethemthere;butsilenceorastormofimpersonalprotest——aprotestthatappealsvaguelylesstothebeggarsthantosomenotimpossiblepolice——doesnotseemthemostappropriatemannerofrebukingthem。Wehave,itmaybe,ascrupleonthepointofhumandignity,compromisedbytheentreatyandthethanksofthemendicant;butwehaveastrangewayofvindicatingthatdignitywhenwerefusetoman,woman,orchildtherecognitionofasimplyhumanword。Nay,ouroffenceismuchthegreaterofthetwo。Itisnotmerelyaroughandcontemptuousintercourse,itistherefusalofintercourse——thelastoutrage。Howdoweproposetoredressthoseconditionsoflifethatannoyuswhenabrotherwhines,ifwedenythepresence,thevoice,andthebeingofthisbrother,andif,becausefortunehasrefusedhimmoney,werefusehimexistence?
Wetakethemattertooseriously,ornotseriouslyenough,toholditintheindifferenceofthewise。\"Havepatience,littlesaint,\"
isaphrasethatmightteachusthecheerfulwaytoendureourownunintelligiblefortunesinthemidst,say,ofthepopulationofahill-villageamongthemostbarrenoftheMaritimeAlps,wherehutsofstonestandamongthestonesofanunclothedearth,andthereisnosignofdailybread。Thepeople,albeitunusedtotravellers,yetknowbyinstinctwhattodo,andbegwithoutthedelayofamomentassoonastheyseeyourunwontedfigure。Letitbetakenforgrantedthatyougiveallyoucan;someformofrefusalbecomesnecessaryatlast,andthegentlest——itisworthwhiletoremember——
isthemosteffectual。Anindignanttourist,onewhototheportentofapuggareewhich,perhaps,hewearsonagreyday,addsthatofungovernablerage,issowildavisitorthatnoattemptatallismadetounderstandhim;andthebeggarsbegdismayedbutunalarmed,uninterruptedly,withoutapauseoraconjecture。Theybegbyrote,thinkingofsomethingelse,asoccasionarises,andallindifferenttotheviolenceoftherich。
Itisthemerrybeggarwhohassolamentablydisappeared。Ifabeggarisstillmerryanywhere,hehidesawaywhatitwouldsocheerandcomfortustosee;hepractisesnotmerelytheconventionalseeming,whichishardlyintendedtoconvince,butamoresubtleanddramatickindofsemblance,ofnogoodinfluenceuponthemoralsoftheroad。Henolongertruststheworldwithasightofhisgaiety。
Heisnotawholeheartedmendicant,andnolongerkeepsthatlibertyofunstablebalancewherebyanunattachedcreaturecangoinanewdirectionwithanewwind。Themerrybeggarwastheonlyadventurerfreetoyieldtothelightertouchesofchance,thetouchesthatahabitofresistancehasmadeimperceptibletotheseatedandstablesocialworld。
Thevisibleflittingfigureoftheunfetteredmadmansprinkledourliteraturewithmadsongs,andevenoneortwopoetsofto-dayhave,bytradition,writtenthem;butthatwildsourceofinspirationhasbeenstopped;ithasbeenbuiltover,lappedandlocked,imprisoned,ledunderground。Thelightmelancholyandthewind-blownjoysofthesongofthedistraught,whichthepoetswereonceingenioustocapture,haveceasedtosoundonenoteoflibertyintheworld’sears。ButitseemsthatthegrosserandsanerfreedomofthehappybeggarisstillthesubjectofaSpanishsong。
Thatsongisgay,notdefiantitisnotanoutlaw’sorarobber’s,itisnotasongofviolenceorfear。Itistherandomtrollingnoteofamanwhooweshislibertytonodisorder,failure,orill-
fortune,buttakesitbychoicefromthevoluntaryworld,enjoysitatthehandofunreluctantcharity;whotwitstheworldwithitsownchoiceofbonds,buthasnotbrokenhisownbyforce。Itseems,therefore,thesongofanindomitablelibertyofmovement,lightenoughforthepuffsofazephyrchance。
ATMONASTERYGATES
Nowomanhasevercrossedtheinnerthreshold,orshallevercrossit,unlessaqueen,Englishorforeign,shouldclaimherprivilege。
Therefore,ifawomanrecordsheretheslighterthingsvisibleofthemonasticlife,itisonlybecauseshewasnotadmittedtoseemorethanbeautifulcourtesyandfriendlinesswereabletoshowheringuest-houseandgarden。
TheMonasteryisoffresh-lookingGothic,byPugin——thefirstofthedynasty:itisreachedbythewhiteroadsofalimestonecountry,andbackedbyayoungplantation,anditgathersitsgroupofbuildingsinaclefthighupamongthehillsofWales。Thebrownhabitisthis,andthesearethesandals,thatcomeandgobyhillsoffiner,sharper,andloftierline,edgingtheduskanddawnofanUmbriansky。JustsuchaViaCrucisclimbstheheightaboveOrta,andfromthefootofitsfinalcrucifixyoucanseethesunrisetouchthetopofMonteRosa,whiletheencircledlakebelowiscoolwiththelastofthenight。Thesameorderoffriarskeepthatsub-
AlpineMonteSacro,andthesamehavesettheKreuzbergbeyondBonnwiththesamesteeppathbythesamefourteenchapels,facingtheSevenMountainsandtheRhine。
Here,inNorthWales,remoteasthecountryis,withthewheatgreenovertheblunthill-tops,andtheskyvibratingwithlarks,alongwingofsmokeliesroundthehorizon。Thecountry,ratherthinlyandlanguidlycultivatedabove,hasavaluablesub-soil,andisburrowedwithmines;thebreathofpitandfactory,outofsight,thickensthelowersky,andliesheavilyoverthesandsofDee。ItleavestheupperblueclearandtheheadofOrion,butdimstheflickerofSiriusandshortensthesteadyrayoftheeveningstar。
Thepeoplescatteredaboutarenotminingpeople,buthalf-heartedagriculturists,andverypoor。Theircottagesarerathercabins;
notatiledroofisinthecountry,buttheslateshavetakensomebeautywithtime,havingdipsanddimples,andgrassupontheiredges。Thewallsareallthicklywhitewashed,whichisapleasuretosee。Howwillinglywouldoneswishtheharmlesswhitewashovermorethanhalfthecolour——overallthechocolateandalltheblue——
withwhichthebuildingsoftheworldarestained!Youcouldnotwishforabetter,simpler,orfresherharmonythanwhitewashmakeswiththeslightsunshineandthebrightgreyofanEnglishsky。
Thegrey-stone,grey-roofedmonasterylooksyounginonesense——itismodern;andthefriarslookyounginanother——theyareliketheirbrothersofanearliertime。Noone,exceptthejournalistsofyesterday,wouldspenduponthemthosetediouswords,\"quaint,\"or\"oldworld。\"Nosuchwearyadjectivesarespokenhere,unlessitbebytheexcursionists。
Withlargeapronstiedovertheirbrownhabits,theLayBrothersworkupontheirland,plantingparsnipsinrows,ortendingaprosperousbee-farm。Ayoungfriar,whosangtheHighMassyesterday,isgailyhangingthewashedlineninthesun。Aprintingpress,andamachinewhichslicesturnips,areatworkinanouthouse,andtheyardtherebyisguardedbyaStBernard,whosesingleevildeedwasthatunderoneoftheobscureimpulsesofadog’sheart-atonedforbylongandself-consciousremorse——hebitthepoet;andtried,saysoneofthefriars,tomakedoggerelofhim。Thepoet,too,livesatthemonasterygates,andonmonasteryground,inaseclusionwhichthetidingsofthesequenceofhiseditionshardlyreaches。ThereisnodisturbingrenowntobegotamongthecabinsoftheFlintshirehills。Homeward,overtheverge,fromothervalleys,hislightfigureflitsatnightfall,likeamoth。
Tothecomingandgoingofthefriars,too,thevillagepeoplehavebecomewellused,andtheinfrequentexcursionists,forlackofintelligenceandofanyknowledgethatwouldrefertohistory,lookatthemwithoutobtrusivecuriosity。ItwasonlyfromaSalvationArmygirlthatyouheardthebrutalwordofcontempt。Shehadcometotheplacewithsomecompanions,andwiththemwastrespassing,asshewaswelcometodo,withinthemonasterygrounds。Shestood,afigureforBournemouthpier,inhergrotesquebonnet,andwatchedthesonoftheUmbriansaint——thefriarwhowalksamongtheGiottofrescoesatAssisiandbetweenthecypressesofBelloSguardo,andhaspacedthecenturiescontinuallysincethecomingofthefriars。
Onemighthaveaskedofherthekindnessofafellow-feeling。Sheandhealikeweresohabitedastoshowtheworldthattheirlifewasalooffromits\"idlebusiness。\"Bysomesuchphrase,atleast,thefriarwouldassuredlyhaveattemptedtoincludeherinanyspiritualhonoursascribedtohim。Oronemighthaveaskedofherthecondescensionofforbearance。\"Onlyfancy,\"saidtheSalvationArmygirl,watchingthefriaroutofsight,\"onlyfancymakingsuchafoolofone’sself!\"
Thegreathoodofthefriars,whichisdrawnovertheheadinZurbaran’secstaticpicture,isturnedtousewhenthefriarsarebusy。Asapocketitrelievestheover-burdenedhands。AbottleofthelocalwhitewinemadebythebrotherhoodatGenoa,andsenttothishousebytheWest,iscarriedinthecowlasapresenttothestrangeratthegates。Thefriarstellhowabrotherresolved,atShrovetide,tomakepancakes,andnotonlytomake,butalsototossthem。Thosewhochancedtobeintheroomstoodprudentlyaside,andthebrothertossedboldly。Butthatwasthelastthatwasseenofhishandiwork。VictorHugosingsinLaLegendedesSieclesofdisappearanceasthethingwhichnocreatureisabletoachieve:
heretheimpossibilityseemedtobeaccomplishedbyquiteanordinaryandasimplepancake。Itwascleangone,andtherewasanendofit。Norcouldanyexplanationofthisceasingofapancakefromthemidstofthevisibleworldbesomuchasdivinedbythespectators。Itwasonlywhenthebrother,inchurch,kneltdowntomeditateanddrewhiscowlabouthisheadthattheaccidentwasexplained。
Everymidnightthesweetcontraltobellscallthecommunity,whogetupgailytothisdifficultservice。Ofalldutiesthisonenevergrowseasyorfamiliar,andthereforeneverhabitual。Itissomethingtohavefoundbutoneactalooffromhabit。Itisnotmerelythatthefriarsovercomethehabitofsleep。Thesubtlerpointisthattheycanneveracquirethehabitofsacrificingsleep。
Whatart,whatliterature,orwhatlifebutwouldgainasecretsecuritybysuchapointofperpetualfreshnessandperpetualinitiative?Itisnotpossibletogetupatmidnightwithoutawillthatisnewnightbynight。Soshouldthewriter’sworkbedone,and,withanintentionperpetuallyunique,thepoet’s。
ThecontraltobellshavetaughttheseWesternhillsthe\"Angelus\"oftheFrenchfields,andthehourofnight——l’oradinotte——whichringswithsomelancholyanotefromthevillagebelfriesontheAdriaticlittoral,whenthelatestlightispassing。Itistheprayerforthedead:\"OutofthedepthshaveIcrieduntoThee,O
Lord。\"
Thelittleflocksofnovices,onpaschalevenings,arefoldedtothesoundofthateveningprayer。Thecareofthemisthecentralworkofthemonastery,whichisplacedinsoremoteacountrybecauseitisprincipallyaplaceofstudies。Somuchelectintellectandstrengthofheartwithdrawnfromthetrafficoftheworld!True,thefriarsarenotdoingthetaskwhichCarlylesetmankindasarefugefromdespair。These\"beardedcounsellorsofGod\"keeptheircells,read,study,suffer,sing,holdsilence;whereastheymightbe\"operating\"——beautifulword!——upontheStockExchange,orpaintingAcademypictures,ormakingspeeches,orreluctantlyjostlingothermenforplaces。Theymightbeamongtheinvoluntarybusybodieswhoarelivingbyfutiletaskstheneedwhereofisadiscouragedfiction。Thereisabsolutelynolimittothesuperfluousactivities,totheart,totheliterature,implicitlyrenouncedbythedwellerswithinsuchwallsasthese。Theoutput——
againabeautifulword——oftheageislessenedbythisabstention。
Nonethelesshopesthestrangerandpilgrimtopauseandknockonceagainuponthosemonasterygates。
THESEAWALL
Asingularloveofwallsismine。Perhapsbecauseofchildishassociationwithmountain-climbingroadsnarrowinthebrightshadowsofgreystone,hidingolivetreeswhereofthetopmostleavesprickaboveintotheblue;orperhapsbecauseofsubsequentlivinginLondon,withitstoomanywindowsandtoofewwalls,thecitywhichofallcapitalstakesleastvisibleholdupontheground;orforthesakeofsomeotherattractionoraversion,walls,blankandstrong,reachingoutwardatthebase,areasatisfactiontotheeyesteasedbytheinexpressivepeeringofwindows,bythatweaklapseandshufflingwhichistheLondon\"area,\"andbythehelplesshollowsofshop-fronts。
Iwouldratherhaveawallthananyrailbutaverygoodoneofwrought-iron。Awallisthesafeguardofsimplicity。Itlaysalonglevellineamongtheindefinitechancesofthelandscape。Butnevermoremajesticthaninfaceofthewildsea,thewall,steadyingitsslantingfootupontherock,buildsintheserriedilex-woodandbuildsoutthewave。Thesea-wallisthewallatitsbest。Andfineasitisonthestrongcoast,itisbeautifulontheweaklittoralandtheimperilledlevelsofanorthernbeach。
Thatseawallislowandlong;sea-pinksgrowonthesaltgrassthatpassesawayintoshingleatitsfoot。Itisatclosequarterswiththewintersea,when,fromthelowcoastwithitslowhorizon,thesky-lineofseaisjagged。Neverfromanyheightdoestheocean-
horizonshowthusbrokenandbatteredatitsveryverge,butfromtheflatcoastandthenarrowworldyoucanseethewaveasfarasyoucanseethewater;andthestormylightofaclearhorizonisseentobemobileandshiftingwiththebuoyanthillocksandtheirrestlessline。
NowhereinHollanddoesthereseemtobesuchalowsea-wallassecuresmanyamileofgentleEnglishcoasttotheeast。TheDutchdykehasnotthataspectofalowlyparapetagainstatide;itspringswithalookofhasteandofheight;andwhenyoufirstrunupstairsfromtheencumberedDutchfieldstolookatthesea,thereisnothingintheleastlikeEngland;andeventheEnglishmanofto-
dayisapttosharesomethingoftheoldperversitythatwasmindedtocastderisionupontheDutchintheirencounterswiththetides。
TherehasbeensomefaultintheDutch,makingthemsubjecttotheslightderisionofthenationswhoholdthemselvestobemoreromantic,and,asitwere,moreslender。WeEnglish,onceuponatime,didespeciallyfloutthelittlenationthenactingahistorythatprovedworththewriting。ItmaybenomorethanabriefperversitythathassetanumberofourwriterstocheerthememoryofCharlesII。Perhaps,even,itisnomorethananotherrehearsalofthatuntiringsuccessattheexpenseofthebourgeois。Thebourgeoiswouldbemoresimplethan,infact,heiswerehetostandupeverytimetobeshocked;but,perhaps,theimageofhisdismayisenoughtorewardthefancyofthosewhopractisethewantonart。
And,whenallisdone,whoperformsforanybutanimaginaryaudience?Surelythosecompaniesofspectatorsandofauditorsarenottheleastofthemakingsofanauthor。Afewmenandwomenheachieveswithinhisbooks;butothersdoeshecreatewithout,andtothosefiguresofallillusionmakestheappealofhisart。Morecandidistheauthorwhohasnoworld,butturnsthatappealinwardstohisownheart。Hehasatleastalivinghearer。
Thisisbytheway。CharlesIIhasbeencheered;thefeatisdone,thedismayisimaginedwithjoy。AndyettheMerryMonarch’swasadismaltime。Plague,fire,thearrearsofpensionfromtheFrenchKingrememberedandclaimedbytherestoredthroneofEngland,andtheDutchintheMedway——allthiswasdisaster。Nonetheless,havingthevanityofnewclothesandaprettyfigure,didwe——
especiallybythemouthofAndrewMarvell——derideourvictors,makingsportofthePhilistineswithapropernationalsenseofenjoymentofsuchphysicaldisabilities,orsuchnaturaldifficulties,orsuchmisfavouroffortune,asmaybesetthealien。
Especiallywerethedenialsoffortunematterformerriment。Theyaresostill;ortheyweresocertainlyinthedaywhenagreatnovelistfoundthesmallnessofsomeSouthGermanStatestobethesubjectofunsatingbanter。TheGermanscenesattheendof\"VanityFair,\"forexample,mayprovehowmuchtheridiculeofmeresmallness,fewness,poverty(andnotevenrealpoverty,privation,butthepovertythatshowsincomparisonwiththegoldofgreatStates,andisproperlyinproportion)rejoicedthesenseofhumourinawriterandmoralistwhointendedtoteachmankindtobelessworldly。InAndrewMarvell’sdaytheywereevenmorecandid。Thepovertyofprivationitselfwasprovocativeofthesincerelaughteroftheinmostman,thetrue,infrequentlaughteroftheheart。
Marvell,thePuritan,laughedthatverylaughter——atleanness,athunger,cold,andsolitude——inthefaceoftheworld,andinthenameofliterature,inonememorablesatire。Ispeakof\"Flecno,anEnglishPriestinRome,\"whereinnothingisspared——notthesmallnessofthelodging,northelackofabed,northescantinessofclothing,northefast。
\"Thisbasso-rilievoofaman——\"
personalmeagrenessisthefirstjokeandthelast。
ItisnottobewonderedatthatheshouldfindinthesmallnessofthecountryofHollandmatterforacordialjest。But,besidesthesmallness,therewasthataccidentalandnaturaldisadvantageinregardtothesea。IntheVenetians,commercewiththesea,conflictwiththesea,avictoryoverthesea,andtheensuingpeace——albeitalessinstantbattleandamorelanguidvictory——wereconfessedtobenoble;intheDutchtheyweregrotesque。\"Withmadlabour,\"saysAndrewMarvell,withthespiritedconsciousnessofthecitizenofacountrywellabovegroundandfreetowatchthelabouratleisure,\"withmadlabour\"didtheDutch\"fishthelandtoshore。\"
Howdidtheyrivetwithgiganticpiles,Thoroughthecentre,theirnew-catchedmiles,Andtothestakeastrugglingcountrybound,Wherebarkingwavesstillbaittheforcedground;
BuildingtheirwateryBabelfarmorehighToreachtheseathanthosetoscalethesky!
Itisdonewithajollywit,andinwhatadmirablecouplets!
Thefishoft-timestheburgherdispossessed,Andsat,notasameat,butasaguest。
Anditisevenbettersportthattheastonishedtritonsandsea-
nymphsshouldfindthemselvesprovidedwithacapitalcabillauofshoalsofpickledDutchmen(heerenforherring,saysMarvell);anditmustbeallowedthatherhymeswiththeenjoymentofirony。
Thereisnotasmileforusin\"Flecno,\"butitismorethanpossibletosmileoverthis\"CharacterofHolland\";attheexcludedoceanreturningtoplayatleap-frogoverthesteeples;attheriseofgovernmentandauthorityinHolland,whichbelongedofrighttothemanwhocouldbestinventashovelorapump,thecountrybeingsoleaky:-
Notwhofirstseestherisingsuncommands,Butwhocouldfirstdiscerntherisinglands。
WehavelostsomethingmorethanthedelightedlaughterofMarvell,morethanhispracticaljoke,andmorethantheheartthatwaslightinsoburlyaframe——wehavelostwiththesethewildhumourthatworesowellthebondsoftwoequallines,andwaswildwithsomuchorder,invention,malice,gaiety,polish,equilibrium,andvitality——
inaword,theCouplet,thecoupletofthepast。Wewhocannotstandfirmwithintwolines,butmustslipbeyondandbetweentheboundaries,whotoleratethecoupletsofKeatsandimitatethem,shouldpraisethedayofCharlesIIbecauseofMarvell’sart,andnotforloveofthesorryreign。Wehadplague,fire,andtheDutchintheMedway,butwehadthecouplet;andtherewerealsothemeasuresofthosemorepoeticpoets,hithertocalledsomewhatslightinglytheCavalierpoets,whomatchedthewitofthePuritanwithaspiritsimplerandlessmocking。
ItwasagainstanEnglishfortress,profoundlywalled,thatsomerememberedwinterstormslatelyturnedtheirgreatartillery。Itwasatimeofresoundingnights;theskywassoclamorousandsoclose,upinthetowersoftheseasidestronghold,thatoneseemedtobeindeedadmittedtotheperturbedcounselsofthewinds。Thegalecamewithanindescribablehaste,hootingasitflew;itseemedtobreakitselfupontheheights,yetpassedunbrokenouttosea;inthevoiceoftheseatherewerepauses,butnoneinthatoftheurgentgalewithitshoo-hoo-hooallnight,thatclamoureddownthecallingofthewaves。Thatlackofpauseswasthestrangestthinginthetempest,becausetheincreaseofsoundseemedtoimplyalullbefore。Thelullwasneverperceptible,buttheliftwasalwaysanalarm。Theonslaughtwasinstant,wherewoulditstop?Whatwasthesecretextremetowhichthishurryandforceweretending?Youaskedlesswhatthingwasdrivingtheflocksofthestormthanwhatwasdrawingthem。Theattractionseemedthegreaterviolence,themoreirresistible,andthemoreunknown。Andthereweremomentswhentheendseemedabouttobeattained。
Thewindstruckushastyblows,andunawaresweborrowed,todescribeit,wordsfitforthesharpstrokesofmaterialthings;butthefiercegaleissoft。Alongtheshortgrass,tremblingandcoweringflatonthescarpedhill-side,againstthestaggeringhorse,againsttheflintwalls,onewiththerocktheygrasp,thebatteryofthetempestisaquickandenormoussoftness。Whatdown,whatsand,whatdeepmoss,whatelasticwavecouldmatchthebedandcushionofthegale?
Thisstormtossedthewaveandthestonesofthesea-walluptogether。Thenextdayitleftthewaterswhitewiththethrillingwhitenessoffoaminsunshine。ItwasonlytheChannel;andinsuchnarrowwatersyoudonotseethedistances,thewidelevelsoffleetingandfloatingfoam,thatlielightbetweenlongwaveandlongwaveonaMediterraneancoast,regionsofdelicateandtransitorybrightnesssofaroutthatallthewaves,nearandfar,seemtobebreakingatthesamemoment,onebeyondtheother,andleaguebeyondleague,intofoam。ButtheChannelhasitsownstrong,shortcurlthatcatchestherushingshingleupwiththefreshestofallnoisesandrunsupwithsuddencurves,whiteuponthewhitesea-wall,undertherandomshadowofsea-gullsandthelightofashiningcloud。
TITHONUS
\"Itwasresolved,\"saidthemorningpaper,\"tocolourthebordersofthepanelsandotherspacesofPortlandstonewitharabesquesandotherpatterns,butthatnopaintshouldbeused,aspaintwouldneedrenewingfromtimetotime。Thecolours,therefore,\"——andhereisthepassagetobenoted——\"areallmixedwithwaxliquefiedwithpetroleum;andthewaxsurfacesetsashardasmarble……Thewaxislefttimetoformanimperishablesurfaceofornament,whichwouldhavetobecutoutofthestonewithachiselifitwasdesiredtoremoveit。\"Not,apparently,thatanewsurfaceisformedwhich,bymuchviolenceandperseverance,could,yearshence,bechippedoffagain;butthatthe\"ornament\"isdriveninandincorporate,burntinandabsorbed,sothatthereisnothingpossibletocutawaybyanyindustry。InthishumorousformofornamentwearebeforehandwithPosterity。Posterityisbaffled。
Willthisvictoryoveroursons’sonsbethelastresolutetyrannypreparedbyoneageforthecoercion,constraint,anddefeatofthefuture?Toimposethatcompulsionhasbeenhithertooneofthestrongestofhumandesires。Itisone,doubtless,tobeoutgrownbythehumanrace;buthowslowlythatgrowthcreepsonwards,letthissuccessinthestencillingofStPaul’steachus,toourconfusion。
Thereisevidentlyaman——agroupofmen——happyatthismomentbecauseithasbeenpossible,bygreatingenuity,toforceourposteritytohavetheircupolaofStPaul’swiththestonemouldingsstencilledand\"pickedout\"withnigglingcolours,whetherthatundefendedposteritylikeitornot。Andthisisasurvivalofoneoftheobscurepleasuresofman,attestedbyhistory。
ItisimpossibletoreadtheThirty-nineArticles,forexample,andnottorecognizeinthoseactsoffinal,all-resolute,eager,eternallegislationoneofthestrongestofallrecordedproofsofthisformerhumanwish。IfGalileo’sInquisitorsputacheckupontheearth,whichyetmoved,afarbolderenterprisewastheReformers’whoarrestedthemovingman,andinhibitedthemovingGod。Thesixteenthcenturyandacertainpartoftheageimmediatelyfollowingseemtobetimeswhenthedesirehadconspicuouslybecomeapassion。SaythemiddleofthesixteenthcenturyinItalyandthebeginningoftheseventeenthinEngland——
forinthosedaysweweresomewhatintherear。THEREistheobstinate,confident,unreluctant,undoubting,andresolvedseizureuponpower。THENwasRomerebuilt,re-faced,markedwithasinglesignandstyle。Thenwasmanyahumanhandstretchedforthtograspthefateoftheunborn。Thefortunesandthethoughtsofthedaytocomeweretobeasthedaythenpresentwouldhavethem,ifthedeadhand——thelivinghandthatwasthentodie,andwastokeepitsholdindeath——couldbyanymeansmakethemfast。
Obviously,tobuildatallistoimposesomethinguponanagethatmaybemorethanwillingtobuildforitself。Thedaymaysooncomewhennomanwilldoevensomuchwithoutsomeimpulseofapology。
Posterityisnotcompelledtokeepourpicturesorourbooksinexistence,nortoreadnortolookatthem;butitismoreorlessobligedtohaveastonebuildinginviewforanageortwo。Wecanhardlyavoidsomeoftheformsoftyrannyoverthefuture,butfew,fewarethelivingmenwhowouldconsenttoshareinthishorribleingenuityatStPaul’s——thispetroleumandthiswax。
In1842theywerediscussingthedecorationoftheHousesofParliament,andtheeffortsofallincouncilweredirecteduponthefuture。Howthefrescoesthentobeachievedbytheartistsofthedayshouldbemadesecureagainstallmischances——smoke,damp,\"theriskofbulging,\"evenaccidentsattendingthewashingofupperfloors——allwasdiscussedinconfidencewiththepublic。Itwasimpossibleforanyonewhoreadthepapersthentoescapefromsomeatleastoftheresponsibilitiesoftechnicalknowledge。FromGenoa,fromRome,fromMunichespecially,allkindsofexpertandmostdeliberateschemesweregatheredinordertodefeatthenaturalandnotsuperfluousoperationofefficientandeffacingtime。
TheacademiclittlecapitalofBavariahad,ataboutthesamedate,decoratedavastquantityofwallspaceofmorethanoneorderofarchitecture。Artrevivedandwasencouragedatthattimeandplacewithunparalleledobstinacy。TheyhadnotthemaliceofthepetroleumthatdoesviolencetoStPaul’s;buttheyhadinsteadanindomitablepatience。UnderthecommandsofthemasterCornelius,theybaffledtimeandallhiswork——refusedhispardons,hisabsolutions,hiscancellingindulgences——byaperseverancethatnothingcoulddiscourage。Whohasnotknownsomewhatindifferentpaintersmightybusyabouttheircoloursandvarnishes?Corneliuscausedapittobedugforthepreparationofthelime,andinthecaseoftheLudwigKirchethislimeremainedthereforeightyears,withfrequentstirrings。Thiswasinorderthatthewholefresco,whenatlastitwasentrustedtoitsbed,shouldbesetthereforimmortality。Nordidthemasterfailtothwarttimebythosemechanicalmeansthatshouldaverttheriskofbulgingalreadymentioned。Heneglectednodetail。Hewasprovident,andhelayinwaitformorethanoneofthelawsofnature,tofrustratethem。
Gravitationfoundhimprepared,andsodidthelessmajesticbutnotvaindispensationofaccidents。Againstbulginghehadanunderplotoftilessetonend;againstpossibletricklingfromanupperfloorhehadasphalt;itwasallpartofthehumanconspiracy。Ineffect,thedullpicturesatMunichseemtostandwell。Itwouldhavebeenmorejust——sothepresentagethinksofthesepreservedwalls——ifthedaythatadmiredthemhadhadthemexclusively,andourdayhadbeenexempt。ThepaintedcathedralsoftheMiddleAgeshaveundergonethenaturalcorrection;whynottheLudwigKirche?
In1842,then,thenationswerestanding,asitwere,shouldertoshoulderagainstthewalkoftimeandagainsthisgentleactandart。Theyhadjustcalledironintotheircabal。CorneliuscamefromMunichtoLondon,lookedatthewallsatWestminster,andputaheartofconfidenceintothebreastoftheCommission。Thesituation,heaverred,neednotbetoodampforimmortality,withduecare。WhathehaddoneintheGlyptothekandinthePinacothekmightbedonewiththebestresultsinEngland,indefianceoftheweather,oftheriver,ofthemeredays,ofthedivineorderofalteration,and,inaword,ofheavenandearth。
Meanwhile,therewasthatgoodservantofthelawofchange,limethathadnotbeenkeptquitelongenough,readytofulfilitsmission;theywouldhavenoneofit。Theyevadedit,studieditsways,andputittotherout。\"Manyfailuresthatmighthavebeenhastilyattributedtodampwerereallyowingtotheuseoflimeintoofreshastate。OftheexperimentalworkspaintedatMunich,thoseonlyhavefadedwhichareknowntohavebeendonewithoutdueattentiontothematerials。THUS,AFIGUREOFBAVARIA,PAINTEDBY
KAULBACH,WHICHHASFADEDCONSIDERABLY,ISKNOWNTOHAVEBEEN
EXECUTEDWITHLIMETHATWASTOOFRESH。\"Onecannotrefrainfromitalics:thewaywassoeasy;itwasonlytotakealittlelessofthisimportantcareaboutthelime,tohaveabetterconfidence,tobemoreimpatientandeager,andallhadbeenwell:NOTtodo——avirtueofomission。
Thisisnotamatterofart-criticism。Itisanethicalquestionhithertounstudied。Themakersoflawshavenotalwaysbeenobligedtofaceit,inasmuchastheirlawsaremadeinpartforthepresent,andinpartforthatfuturewhereofthepresentneedstobeassured——
thatis,thefutureisboundasaguarantyforpresentsecurityofpersonorproperty。Somesuchholduponthetimetocomeweareobligedtoclaim,andtoclaimitforourownsakes——becauseofthereflexeffectuponourownaffairs,andnotforthepleasureoffetteringthetimetocome。Everymakerofawilldoesatleastthis。
Werethemenofthesixteenthcenturysomoderate?Notthey。Theyfoundthepresentalltoonarrowfortheimpositionoftheirwill。
Itdidnotsatisfythemtodisinterandscatterthebonesofthedead,nortoeffacetherecordsofapastthatoffendedthem。Itdidnotsatisfythemtobindthepresenttoobediencebyimperativemenaceandinstantcompulsion。Whentheyhadburntlibrariesandthrowndownmonumentsandpursuedtherebelsofthepastintotheotherworld,andhadseentoitthatnonelivingshouldevadethem,thentheyoutragedthefuture。
Whatevermisgivingsmayhavevisitedthosedominantmindsastotheeffectualandfinalsuccessoftheirmeasures——wouldtheirwritrunintimeaswellasplace,andwerethenamelesspopulationsindeedtheirsubjects?——whateverquestionsmayhavepeeredinuponthoserigidcounselsanduponthosebusyvigilsofthekeepersoftheworld,theysilencedbylegislationandyetmorelegislation。Theywroteinstatutebooks;theywouldhavewrittentheirwillacrosstheskies。Theirheartswouldhaveburntforlackofrecordsmoreinveterate,andoftestimonialsthatmankindshouldlackcouragetoquestion,ifintruththeydideverdoubtlestposteritymighttrytheirlock。Perhapstheydidneversomuchasforeseetheraceoftheunnumberedandemancipatedforwhomtheirprohibitionsandpenaltiesarenomorethandocumentsofhistory。
Ifthetyrannousdayofourfathershadbutpossessedthemeansoftheseourmorediffidenttimes!They,whowouldhavewrittentheirpresentandactualwillupontheskies,mightcertainlyhavewrittenitinpetroleumandwaxuponthestone。Fatedidthemwronginwithholdingfromtheirhandsthismeansoffinalityandviolence。
Intoourhandsithasbeengivenatatimewhenthestudentoftheracethought,perhaps,thatwehadbeenprovedintheschoolofforbearance。Something,indeed,wemayhavelearnttherein,butnotenough,aswenowfind。
Wehavenotyetthenaturalrespectforthecertainknowledgeandtheprobablewisdomofoursuccessors。Acertainreverendofficialdocument,notguiltlessofsomeconfusionofthought,latelyrecommendedtothevenerationofthepresenttimes\"thosepastageswiththeirstoreofexperience。\"Doubtless,astheposterityoftheirpredecessorsourpredecessorshadexperience,but,asourancestors,none——none。Therefore,iftheywerealittlereverendourownposterityisrightreverend。Itisaflippantandnovelty-
lovinghumourthatsoflatterstheunprovedpastandrefusesthedeferenceduetotheburdenofyearswhichisours,which——grownstillgraver——willbeourchildren’s。
SYMMETRYANDINCIDENT
TheartofJapanhasnonebutanexteriorpartinthehistoryoftheartofnations。Beinginitsownmethodsandattitudetheartofaccident,ithas,appropriately,anaccidentalvalue。Itisofaccidentalvalue,andnotofintegralnecessity。ThevirtualdiscoveryofJapaneseart,duringthelateryearsofthesecondFrenchEmpire,causedEuropetorelearnhowexpedient,howdelicate,andhowlovelyIncidentmaylookwhenSymmetryhasgrownvulgar。
Thelessonwasmostwelcome。Japanhashadherfullinfluence。
Europeanarthaslearntthevalueofpositionandthetactoftheunique。ButJapanisunlessoned,and(inallhercharacteristicart)contentwithherownconventions;sheislocal,provincial,alien,remote,incapableofequalcompanionshipwithaworldthathasGreekartinitsownhistory——Pericles\"toitsfather。\"
Norisitpictorialart,ordecorativeartonly,thathasbeentouchedbyJapaneseexampleofIncidentandtheUnique。Musichadattainedthenoblestformofsymmetryintheeighteenthcentury,butinmusic,too,symmetryhadsincegrowndull;andmomentarymusic,themusicofphaseandoffragment,succeeded。Thesenseofsymmetryisstronginacompletemelody——ofsymmetryinitsmostdelicateandlivelyandleaststationaryform——balance;whereastheleit-motifisisolated。IndomesticarchitectureSymmetryandIncidentmakeafamiliarantithesis——theverycommonplaceofrivalmethodsofart。Butthesameantithesisexistsinlessobviousforms。Thepoetshavesought\"irregular\"metres。Incidenthovers,intheveryactofchoosingitsrightplace,inthemostmodernofmodernportraits。Inthesewehave,ifnottheJapanesesuppressionofminoremphasis,certainlytheJapaneseexaggerationofmajoremphasis;andwiththisaquicknessandbuoyancy。Thesmile,thefigure,thedrapery——notyetsettledfromthearrangingtouchofahand,andshowingitsmark——therestlessandunstationaryfoot,andtheunityofimpulsethathaspassedeverywherelikeasinglebreeze,allthesehavealifethatgreatlytranscendsthelifeofJapaneseart,yethasthenimbletouchofJapaneseincident。Inpassing,acharmingcomparisonmaybemadebetweensuchportraitureandtheaspectofanaspenorothertreeoflightandliberalleaf;
whetherstillorinmotiontheaspenandthefree-leafedpoplarhavethealertnessandexpectancyofflightinalltheirflocksofleaves,whiletheoaksandelmsaregatheredintheirstation。AllthisisnotJapanese,butfromsuchaccidentisJapaneseartinspired,withitsgoodluckofperceptiveness。
Whatsymmetryistoform,thatisrepetitionintheartofornament。
GreekartandGothicalikehaveseries,withrepetitionorcounter-
changefortheirrulingmotive。ItishardlynecessarytodrawthedistinctionbetweenthismotiveandthatoftheJapanese。TheJapanesemotivesmaybedefinedasuniquenessandposition。AndthesewerenotknownasmotivesofdecorationbeforethestudyofJapanesedecoration。Repetitionandcounter-change,ofcourse,havetheirplaceinJapaneseornament,asinthediaperpatternsforwhichthesepeoplehavesosingularaninvention,buthere,too,uniquenessandpositionaretheprincipalinspiration。Anditisquiteworthwhile,andmuchtothepresentpurpose,tocallattentiontothechiefpeculiarityoftheJapanesediaperpatterns,whichisINTERRUPTION。Repetitiontheremustnecessarilybeinthese,butsymmetryisavoidedbyaninterruptionwhichis,totheWesterneye,atleast,perpetuallyandfreshlyunexpected。Theplaceoftheinterruptionsoflines,thevariationoftheplace,andtheavoidanceofcorrespondence,arepreciselywhatmakesJapanesedesignofthisclassinimitable。Thus,eveninarepeatingpattern,youhaveacuriouslysuccessfuleffectofimpulse。Itisasthoughaseparateintentionhadbeenformedbythedesignerateveryangle。
Suchrenewedconsciousnessdoesnotmakeforgreatness。GreatnessindesignhasmorepeacethanisfoundinthegentleabruptnessofJapaneselines,intheircuriousbrevity。Itisscarcelynecessarytosaythataline,inallotherschoolsofart,islongorshortaccordingtoitsplaceandpurpose;butonlytheJapanesedesignersocontriveshispatternsthatthelineisalwaysshort;andmanyrepeatingdesignsareentirelycomposedofthisvariousandvariously-occurringbrevity,thisprankishavoidanceofthegoal。