Contents:
IntroductionQuisDesiderio?
RamblingsinCheapsideTheAunt,TheNieces,andtheDogHowtomakethebestoflifeTheSanctuaryofMontrigoneAMedievalGirlSchoolArtintheValleyofSaasThoughtandLanguageTheDeadlockinDarwinismINTRODUCTION
Itishardlynecessarytoapologiseforthemiscellaneouscharacterofthefollowingcollectionofessays。SamuelButlerwasamanofsuchunusualversatility,andhisinterestsweresomanyandsovariousthathisliteraryremainswereboundtocoverawidefield。
Neverthelessitwillbefoundthatseveralofthesubjectstowhichhedevotedmuchtimeandlabourarenotrepresentedinthesepages。
IhavenotthoughtitnecessarytoreprintanyofthenumerouspamphletsandarticleswhichhewroteupontheIliadandOdyssey,sincethesewereallmergedin\"TheAuthoressoftheOdyssey,\"whichgiveshismaturedviewsuponeverythingrelatingtotheHomericpoems。ForasimilarreasonIhavenotincludedanessayontheevidencefortheResurrectionofJesusChrist,whichheprintedin1865forprivatecirculation,sincehesubsequentlymadeextensiveuseofitin\"TheFairHaven。\"
Twooftheessaysinthiscollectionwereoriginallydeliveredaslectures;theremainderwerepublishedinTheUniversalReviewduring1888,1889,and1890。
Ishouldperhapsexplainwhytwootheressaysofhis,whichalsoappearedinTheUniversalReview,havebeenomitted。
Thefirstofthese,entitled\"L’AffaireHolbein-Rippel,\"relatestoadrawingofHolbein’s\"DansedesPaysans,\"intheBasleMuseum,whichisusuallydescribedasacopy,butwhichButlerbelievedtobetheworkofHolbeinhimself。Thisessayrequirestobeillustratedinsoelaborateamannerthatitwasimpossibletoincludeitinabookofthissize。
Thesecondessay,whichisasketchofthecareerofthesculptorTabachetti,waspublishedasthefirstsectionofanarticleentitled\"ASculptorandaShrine,\"ofwhichthesecondsectionisheregivenunderthetitle,\"TheSanctuaryofMontrigone。\"ThesectiondevotedtothesculptorrepresentsallthatButlerthenknewaboutTabachetti,butsinceitwaswrittenvariousdocumentshavecometolight,principallyowingtotheinvestigationsofCavaliereFrancescoNegri,ofCasaleMonferrato,whichnegativesomeofButler’smostcherishedconclusions。HadButlerlivedhewouldeitherhaverewrittenhisessayinaccordancewithCavaliereNegri’sdiscoveries,ofwhichhefullyrecognisedthevalue,orincorporatedthemintotherevisededitionof\"ExVoto,\"whichheintendedtopublish。Asitstands,theessayrequiressomuchrevisionthatI
havedecidedtoomititaltogether,andtopostponegivingEnglishreadersafullaccountofTabachetti’scareeruntilasecondeditionof\"ExVoto\"isrequired。MeanwhileIhavegivenabriefsummaryofthemainfactsofTabachetti’slifeinanote(page154)totheessayon\"ArtintheValleyofSaas。\"AnyonewhowishesforfurtherdetailsofthesculptorandhisworkwillfindtheminCavaliereNegri’spamphlet,\"IlSantuariodiCrea\"(Alessandria,1902)。
Thethreeessaysgroupedtogetherunderthetitleof\"TheDeadlockinDarwinism\"mayberegardedasapostscripttoButler’sfourbooksonevolution,viz。,\"LifeandHabit,\"\"Evolution,OldandNew,\"
\"UnconsciousMemory\"and\"LuckorCunning。\"Anoccasionforthepublicationoftheseessaysseemedtobeaffordedbytheappearancein1889ofMr。AlfredRusselWallace’s\"Darwinism\";andalthoughnearlyfourteenyearshaveelapsedsincetheywerepublishedintheUniversalReview,Ihavenofearthattheywillbefoundtobeoutofdate。Howfar,indeed,theproblemembodiedinthedeadlockofwhichButlerspeaksisfromsolutionwasconclusivelyshownbythecorrespondencewhichappearedintheTimesinMay1903,occasionedbysomeremarksmadeatUniversityCollegebyLordKelvininmovingavoteofthankstoProfessorHenslowafterhislectureon\"PresentDayRationalism。\"LordKelvin’sclaimforarecognitionofthefactthatinorganicnaturescientificthoughtiscompelledtoaccepttheideaofsomekindofdirectivepower,andhisstatementthatbiologistsarecomingoncemoretoafirmacceptanceofavitalprinciple,drewfromseveraldistinguishedmenofscienceretortsheatedenoughtoprovebeyondadoubtthatthegulfbetweenthetwomaindivisionsofevolutionistsisaswideto-dayasitwaswhenButlerwrote。Itwillbewell,perhaps,forthebenefitofreaderswhohavenotfollowedthehistoryofthetheoryofevolutionduringitslaterdevelopments,tostateinafewwordswhatthesetwomaindivisionsare。Allevolutionistsagreethatthedifferencesbetweenspeciesarecausedbytheaccumulationandtransmissionofvariations,buttheydonotagreeastothecausestowhichthevariationsaredue。Theviewheldbytheolderevolutionists,Buffon,ErasmusDarwinandLamarck,whohavebeenfollowedbymanymodernthinkers,includingHerbertSpencerandButler,isthatthevariationsoccurmainlyastheresultofeffortanddesign;theoppositeview,whichisthatadvocatedbyMr。Wallacein\"Darwinism,\"isthatthevariationsoccurmerelyastheresultofchance。Theformerissometimescalledthetheologicalview,becauseitrecognisesthepresenceinorganicnatureofdesign,whetheritbecalledcreativepower,directiveforce,directivity,orvitalprinciple;thelatterview,inwhichtheexistenceofdesignisabsolutelynegatived,isnowusuallydescribedasWeismannism,fromthenameofthewriterwhohasbeenitsprincipaladvocateinrecentyears。
Inconclusion,ImustthankmyfriendMr。HenryFestingJonesmostwarmlyfortheinvaluableassistancewhichhehasgivenmeinpreparingtheseessaysforpublication,incorrectingtheproofs,andincompilingtheintroductionandnotes。
R。A。STREATFEILD。
QUISDESIDERIO……?{1}
LikeMr。WilkieCollins,I,too,havebeenaskedtolaysomeofmyliteraryexperiencesbeforethereadersoftheUniversalReview。ItoccurredtomethattheReviewmustbeindeeduniversalbeforeitcouldopenitspagestoonesoobscureasmyself;but,nothingdauntedbythedistinguishedcompanyamongwhichIwasforthefirsttimeaskedtomove,IresolvedtodoasIwastold,andwenttotheBritishMuseumtoseewhatbooksIhadwritten。Havingrefreshedmymemorybyaglanceatthecatalogue,Iwasabouttotryanddiminishthelargeandever-increasingcircleofmynon-readerswhenIbecameawareofacalamitythatbroughtmetoastandstill,andindeedbidsfair,sofarasIcanseeatpresent,toputanendtomyliteraryexistencealtogether。
IshouldexplainthatIcannotwriteunlessIhaveaslopingdesk,andthereading-roomoftheBritishMuseum,wherealoneIcancomposefreely,isunprovidedwithslopingdesks。Likeeveryotherorganism,ifIcannotgetexactlywhatIwantImakeshiftwiththenextthingtoit;true,therearenodesksinthereading-room,but,asIonceheardavisitorfromthecountrysay,\"itcontainsalargenumberofveryinterestingworks。\"Iknowitwasnotright,andhopetheMuseumauthoritieswillnotbesevereuponmeifanyofthemreadsthisconfession;butIwantedadesk,andsetmyselftoconsiderwhichofthemanyveryinterestingworkswhichagratefulnationplacesatthedisposalofitswould-beauthorswasbestsuitedformypurpose。
FormerereadingIsupposeonebookisprettymuchasgoodasanother;butthechoiceofadesk-bookisamoreseriousmatter。Itmustbeneithertoothicknortoothin;itmustbelargeenoughtomakeasubstantialsupport;itmustbestronglyboundsoasnottoyieldorgive;itmustnotbetootroublesometocarrybackwardsandforwards;anditmustliveonshelfC,D,orE,sothatthereneedbenostoopingorreachingtoohigh。Thesearetheconditionswhichareallygoodbookmustfulfil;simple,however,astheyare,itissurprisinghowfewvolumescomplywiththemsatisfactorily;
moreover,beingperhapstoosensitivelyconscientious,Iallowedanotherconsiderationtoinfluenceme,andwassincerelyanxiousnottotakeabookwhichwouldbeinconstantuseforreferencebyreaders,moreespeciallyas,ifIdidthis,Imightfindmyselfdisturbedbytheofficials。
ForweeksImadeexperimentsuponsundrypoeticalandphilosophicalworks,whosenamesIhaveforgotten,butcouldnotsucceedinfindingmyidealdesk,untilatlength,morebyluckthancunning,I
happenedtolightuponFrost’s\"LivesofEminentChristians,\"whichIhadnosoonertriedthanIdiscoveredittobetheveryperfectionandneplusultraofeverythingthatabookshouldbe。ItlivedinCaseNo。2008,andIaccordinglytookatoncetosittinginRowB,whereforthelastdozenyearsorsoIhavesateversince。
ThefirstthingIhavedonewheneverIwenttotheMuseumhasbeentotakedownFrost’s\"LivesofEminentChristians\"andcarryittomyseat。Itisnotthecustomofmodernwriterstorefertotheworkstowhichtheyaremostdeeplyindebted,andIhavenever,thatIremember,mentioneditbynamebefore;butitistothisbookalonethatIhavelookedforsupportduringmanyyearsofliterarylabour,anditisroundthistomeinvaluablevolumethatallmyownhavepagebypagegrownup。ThereisnoneintheMuseumtowhichI
havebeenunderanythinglikesuchconstantobligation,nonewhichI
cansoillspare,andnonewhichIwouldchoosesoreadilyifIwereallowedtoselectonesinglevolumeandkeepitformyown。
OnfindingmyselfaskedforacontributiontotheUniversalReview,Iwent,asIhaveexplained,totheMuseum,andpresentlyrepairedtobookcaseNo。2008togetmyfavouritevolume。Alas!itwasintheroomnolonger。Itwasnotinuse,foritsplacewasfilledupalready;besides,nooneeveruseditbutmyself。WhethertheghostofthelateMr。Frosthasbeensoeminentlyunchristianastointerfere,orwhethertheauthoritieshaveremovedthebookinignoranceofthesteadydemandwhichtherehasbeenforitonthepartofatleastonereader,arepointsIcannotdetermine。AllI
knowisthatthebookisgone,andIfeelasWordsworthisgenerallysupposedtohavefeltwhenhebecameawarethatLucywasinhergrave,andexclaimedsoemphaticallythatthiswouldmakeaconsiderabledifferencetohim,orwordstothateffect。
NowIthinkofit,Frost’s\"LivesofEminentChristians\"wasverylikeLucy。TheoneresidedatDovedaleinDerbyshire,theotherinGreatRussellStreet,Bloomsbury。IadmitthatIdonotseetheresemblancehereatthismoment,butifItrytodevelopmyperceptionIshalldoubtlesserelongfindamarvellouslystrikingone。Inotherrespects,however,thanmerelocalhabitatthelikenessisobvious。Lucywasnotparticularlyattractiveeitherinsideorout——nomorewasFrost’s\"LivesofEminentChristians\";
therewerefewtopraiseher,andofthosefewstillfewercouldbringthemselvestolikeher;indeed,Wordsworthhimselfseemstohavebeentheonlypersonwhothoughtmuchaboutheronewayortheother。Inlikemanner,IbelieveIwastheonlyreaderwhothoughtmuchonewayortheotheraboutFrost’s\"LivesofEminentChristians,\"butthisinitselfwasoneoftheattractionsofthebook;andasforthegriefwerespectivelyfeltandfeel,IbelievemyowntobeasdeepasWordsworth’s,ifnotmoreso。
Isaidabove,\"asWordsworthisgenerallysupposedtohavefelt\";
foranyoneimbuedwiththespiritofmodernsciencewillreadWordsworth’spoemwithdifferenteyesfromthoseofamereliterarycritic。HewillnotethatWordsworthismostcarefulnottoexplainthenatureofthedifferencewhichthedeathofLucywilloccasiontohim。Hetellsusthattherewillbeadifference;buttherethematterends。Thesuperficialreadertakesitthathewasverysorryshewasdead;itis,ofcourse,possiblethathemayhaveactuallybeenso,buthehasnotsaidthis。Onthecontrary,hehashintedplainlythatshewasugly,andgenerallydisliked;shewasonlylikeavioletwhenshewashalf-hiddenfromtheview,andonlyfairasastarwhenthereweresofewstarsoutthatitwaspracticallyimpossibletomakeaninvidiouscomparison。Iftherewereasmanyaseventwostarsthelikenesswasfelttobeatanend。IfWordsworthhadimprudentlypromisedtomarrythisyoungpersonduringatimewhenhehadbeenunusuallylonginkeepingtogoodresolutions,andhadafterwardsseensomeonewhomhelikedbetter,thenLucy’sdeathwouldundoubtedlyhavemadeaconsiderabledifferencetohim,andthisisallthathehaseversaidthatitwoulddo。Whatrighthavewetoputglossesuponthemasterlyreticenceofapoet,andcredithimwithfeelingspossiblytheveryreverseofthoseheactuallyentertained?
Sometimes,indeed,Ihavebeeninclinedtothinkthatamysteryisbeinghintedatmoredarkthananycritichassuspected。Idonothappentopossessacopyofthepoem,butthewriter,ifIamnotmistaken,saysthat\"fewcouldknowwhenLucyceasedtobe。\"
\"Ceasedtobe\"isasuspiciouslyeuphemisticexpression,andthewords\"fewcouldknow\"arenotapplicabletotheordinarypeacefuldeathofadomesticservantsuchasLucyappearstohavebeen。Nomatterhowobscurethedeceased,anynumberofpeoplecommonlycanknowthedayandhourofhisorherdemise,whereasinthiscaseweareexpresslytolditwouldbeimpossibleforthemtodoso。
Wordsworthwasnothingifnotaccurate,andwouldnothavesaidthatfewcouldknow,butthatfewactuallydidknow,unlesshewasawareofcircumstancesthatprecludedallbutthoseimplicatedinthecrimeofherdeathfromknowingtheprecisemomentofitsoccurrence。IfLucywasthekindofpersonnotobscurelypourtrayedinthepoem;ifWordsworthhadmurderedher,eitherbycuttingherthroatorsmotheringher,inconcert,perhaps,withhisfriendsSoutheyandColeridge;andifhehadthusfoundhimselfreleasedfromanengagementwhichhadbecomeirksometohim,orpossiblyfromthethreatofanactionforbreachofpromise,thenthereisnotasyllableinthepoemwithwhichhecrownshiscrimethatisnotalivewithmeaning。Onanyothersuppositiontothegeneralreaderitisunintelligible。
Wecannotbetooguardedintheinterpretationsweputuponthewordsofgreatpoets。Taketheyoungladywhoneverlovedthedeargazelle——andIdon’tbelieveshedid;weareapttothinkthatMooreintendedustoseeinthiscreationofhisfancyasweet,amiable,butmostunfortunateyoungwoman,whereasallhehastoldusaboutherpointstoanexactlyoppositeconclusion。Inreality,hewishedustoseeayoungladywhohadbeenanhabitualcomplainerfromherearliestchildhood;whoseplantshadalwaysdiedassoonassheboughtthem,whilethosebelongingtoherneighbourshadflourished。
Theinferenceisobvious,norcanwereasonablydoubtthatMooreintendedustodrawit;ifherplantsweretheveryfirsttofadeaway,shewasevidentlytheveryfirsttoneglectorotherwisemaltreatthem。Shedidnotgivethemenoughwater,orleftthedoorofherfern-easeopenwhenshewascookingherdinneratthegasstove,orkeptthemtooneartheparaffinoil,orotherlikefolly;
andasforhertemper,seewhatthegazellesdid;aslongastheydidnotknowher\"well,\"theycouldjustmanagetoexist,butwhentheygottounderstandherrealcharacter,oneafteranotherfeltthatdeathwastheonlycourseopentoit,andaccordinglydiedratherthanlivewithsuchamistress。True,theyoungladyherselfsaidthegazelleslovedher;butdisagreeablepeopleareapttothinkthemselvesamiable,andinviewofthecourseinvariablytakenbythegazellesthemselvesanyoneaccustomedtoweighevidencewillholdthatshewasprobablymistaken。
Imust,however,returntoFrost’s\"LivesofEminentChristians。\"I
willleavenoneoftheambiguityaboutmywordsinwhichMooreandWordsworthseemtohavedelighted。Iamverysorrythebookisgone,andknownotwheretoturnforitssuccessor。TillIhavefoundasubstituteIcanwritenomore,andIdonotknowhowtofindevenatolerableone。IshouldtryavolumeofMigne’s\"CompleteCourseofPatrology,\"butIdonotlikebooksinmorethanonevolume,forthevolumesvaryinthickness,andonenevercanrememberwhichonetook;thefourvolumes,however,ofBedeinGiles’s\"AnglicanFathers\"arenotopentothisobjection,andI
havereservedthemforfavourableconsideration。Mather’s\"Magnalia\"mightdo,butthebindingdoesnotpleaseme;Cureton’s\"CorpusIgnatianum\"mightalsodoifitwerenottoothin。IdonotliketakingNorton’s\"GenuinenessoftheGospels,\"asitisjustpossiblesomeonemaybewantingtoknowwhethertheGospelsaregenuineornot,andbeunabletofindoutbecauseIhavegotMr。
Norton’sbook。Baxter’s\"ChurchHistoryofEngland,\"Lingard’s\"Anglo-SaxonChurch,\"andCardwell’s\"DocumentaryAnnals,\"thoughnoneofthemasgoodasFrost,areworksofconsiderablemerit;butonthewholeIthinkArvine’s\"CyclopediaofMoralandReligiousAnecdote\"isperhapstheonebookintheroomwhichcomeswithinmeasurabledistanceofFrost。Ishouldprobablytrythisbookfirst,butithasafatalobjectioninitstooseductivetitle。\"I
amnotcurious,\"asMissLottieVennesaysinoneofherparts,\"butIliketoknow,\"andImightbetemptedtopervertthebookfromitsnaturalusesandopenit,soastofindoutwhatkindofathingamoralandreligiousanecdoteis。Iknow,ofcourse,thatthereareagreatmanyanecdotesintheBible,butnoonethinksofcallingthemeithermoralorreligious,thoughsomeofthemcertainlyseemasiftheymightfairlyfindaplaceinMr。Arvine’swork。Therearesomethings,however,whichitisbetternottoknow,andtakeitallroundIdonotthinkIshouldbewiseinputtingmyselfinthewayoftemptation,andadoptingArvineasthesuccessortomybelovedandlamentedFrost。
SomesuccessorImustfind,orImustgiveupwritingaltogether,andthisIshouldbesorrytodo。Ihaveonlyasyetwrittenaboutathird,orfromthat——countingworkswrittenbutnotpublished——toahalf,ofthebookswhichIhavesetmyselftowrite。Itwouldnotsomuchmatterifoldagewasnotstaringmeintheface。Dr。Parrsaiditwas\"abeastlyshameforanoldmannottohavelaiddownagoodcellarofportinhisyouth\";I,likethegreaternumber,I
suppose,ofthosewhowritebooksatall,writeinorderthatImayhavesomethingtoreadinmyoldagewhenIcanwritenolonger。I
knowwhatIshalllikebetterthananyonecantellme,andwriteaccordingly;ifmycareerisnippedinthebud,asseemsonlytoolikely,IreallydonotknowwhereelseIcanturnforpresentagreeableoccupation,noryethowtomakesuitableprovisionformylateryears。Otherwriterscan,ofcourse,makeexcellentprovisionfortheirownoldages,buttheycannotdosoformine,anymorethanIshouldsucceedifIweretotrytocaterfortheirs。Itisoneofthosecasesinwhichnomancanmakeagreementforhisbrother。
Ihavenoheartforcontinuingthisarticle,andifIhad,Ihavenothingofinteresttosay。Noone’sliterarycareercanhavebeensmootherormoreunchequeredthanmine。Ihavepublishedallmybooksatmyownexpense,andpaidfortheminduecourse。Whatcanbeconceivablymoreunromantic?ForsomeyearsIhadalittleliterarygrievanceagainsttheauthoritiesoftheBritishMuseumbecausetheywouldinsistonsayingintheircataloguethatIhadpublishedthreesermonsonInfidelityintheyear1820。IthoughtI
hadnot,andgotthemouttosee。Theywereratherfunny,buttheywerenotmine。Now,however,thisgrievancehasbeenremoved。I
hadanotherlittlequarrelwiththembecausetheywoulddescribemeas\"ofSt。John’sCollege,Cambridge,\"anestablishmentforwhichI
havethemostprofoundveneration,butwithwhichIhavenothadthehonourtobeconnectedforsomequarterofacentury。AtlasttheysaidtheywouldchangethisdescriptionifIwouldonlytellthemwhatIwas,for,thoughtheyhaddonetheirbesttofindout,theyhadthemselvesfailed。IrepliedwithmodestpridethatIwasaBachelorofArts。Ikeepallmyotherlettersinsidemyname,notoutside。TheymusedandsaiditwasunfortunatethatIwasnotaMasterofArts。CouldInotgetmyselfmadeaMaster?IsaidI
understoodthataMastershipwasanarticletheUniversitycouldnotdounderaboutfivepounds,andthatIwasnotdisposedtogosixpencehigherthanthreeten。Theyagainsaiditwasapity,foritwouldbeveryinconvenienttothemifIdidnotkeeptosomethingbetweenabishopandapoet。ImightbeanythingIlikedinreason,providedIshowedproperrespectforthealphabet;buttheyhadgotmebetween\"SamuelButler,bishop,\"and\"SamuelButler,poet。\"Itwouldbeverytroublesometoshiftme,andbachelorcamebeforebishop。Thiswasreasonable,soIrepliedthat,underthosecircumstances,iftheypleased,IthoughtIwouldliketobeaphilosophicalwriter。Theyembracedthesolution,and,nomatterwhatIwritenow,ImustremainaphilosophicalwriteraslongasI
live,forthealphabetwillhardlybealteredinmytime,andImustbesomethingbetween\"Bis\"and\"Poe。\"IfIcouldgetavolumeofmyexcellentnamesake’s\"Hudibras\"outofthelistofmyworks,I
shouldberobbedofmylastshredofliterarygrievance,soIsaynothingaboutthis,butkeepitsecret,lestsomeworsethingshouldhappentome。Besides,Ihaveagreatrespectformynamesake,andalwayssaythatif\"Erewhon\"hadbeenaracehorseitwouldhavebeengotby\"Hudibras\"outof\"Analogy。\"Someonesaidthistomemanyyearsago,andIfeltsomuchflatteredthatIhavebeenrepeatingtheremarkasmyowneversince。
Buthowsmallarethesegrievancesascomparedwiththoseenduredwithoutamurmurbyhundredsofwritersfarmoredeservingthanmyself。WhenIseethescoresandhundredsofworkersinthereading-roomwhohavedonesomuchmorethanIhave,butwhoseworkisabsolutelyfruitlesstothemselves,andwhenIthinkofthepromptrecognitionobtainedbymyownwork,IaskmyselfwhatIhavedonetobethusrewarded。Ontheotherhand,thefeelingthatI
havesucceededfarbeyondmydesertshitherto,makesitalltheharderformetoacquiescewithoutcomplaintintheextinctionofacareerwhichIhonestlybelievetobeapromisingone;andoncemoreIrepeatthat,unlesstheMuseumauthoritiesgivemebackmyFrost,orputalockedclasponArvine,mycareermustbeextinguished。
GivemebackFrost,and,iflifeandhealtharespared,IwillwriteanotherdozenofvolumesyetbeforeIhangupmyfiddle——ifsoseriousaconfusionofmetaphorsmaybepardoned。Iknowfromlongexperiencehowkindandconsiderateboththelateandpresentsuperintendentsofthereading-roomwereandare,butIdoubthowfareitherofthemwouldbedisposedtohelpmeonthisoccasion;
continue,however,torobmeofmyFrost,and,whateverelseImaydo,Iwillwritenomorebooks。
NotebyDr。Garnett,BritishMuseum。——Thefrosthasbrokenup。Mr。
Butlerisrestoredtoliterature。Mr。Mudiemaymakehimselfeasy。
Englandwillstillboastahumourist;andthelateMr。Darwin(towhoseposthumousmachinationstheremovalofthebookwasowing)
willcontinuetobeconfounded。——R。GANNETT。
RAMBLINGSINCHEAPSIDE{2}
WalkingtheotherdayinCheapsideIsawsometurtlesinMr。
Sweeting’swindow,andwastemptedtostayandlookatthem。AsI
didsoIwasstrucknotmorebythedefenceswithwhichtheywerehedgedabout,thanbythefatuousnessoftryingtohedgethatinatallwhich,ifhedgedthoroughly,mustdieofitsowndefencefulness。
Theholesfortheheadandfeetthroughwhichtheturtleleaksout,asitwere,ontotheexteriorworld,andthroughwhichitagainabsorbstheexteriorworldintoitself——\"catchingon\"throughthemtothingsthatarethusbothturtleandnotturtleatoneandthesametime——theseholesstultifythearmour,andshowittohavebeendesignedbyacreaturewithmoreoffaithfulnesstoafixedidea,andhenceone-sidedness,thanofthatquicksenseofrelativeimportancesandtheirchanges,whichisthemainfactorofgoodliving。
Theturtleobviouslyhadnosenseofproportion;itdifferedsowidelyfrommyselfthatIcouldnotcomprehendit;andasthiswordoccurredtome,itoccurredalsothatuntilmybodycomprehendeditsbodyinaphysicalmaterialsense,neitherwouldmymindbeabletocomprehenditsmindwithanythoroughness。Forunityofmindcanonlybeconsummatedbyunityofbody;everything,therefore,mustbeinsomerespectsbothknaveandfooltoallthatwhichhasnoteatenit,orbywhichithasnotbeeneaten。AslongastheturtlewasinthewindowandIinthestreetoutside,therewasnochanceofourcomprehendingoneanother。
NeverthelessIknewthatIcouldgetittoagreewithmeifIcouldsoeffectuallybutton-holeandfastenontoitastoeatit。Mostmenhaveaneasymethodwithturtlesoup,andIhadnomisgivingbutthatifIcouldbringmyfirstpremisetobearIshouldprovethebetterreasoner。Mydifficultylayinthisinitialprocess,forI
hadnotwithmetheargumentthatwouldalonecompelMr。SweetingthinkthatIoughttobeallowedtoconverttheturtles——ImeanI
hadnomoneyinmypocket。Nomissionaryenterprisecanbecarriedonwithoutanymoneyatall,butevensosmallasumashalf-a-crownwould,Isuppose,haveenabledmetobringtheturtlepartlyround,andwithmanyhalf-crownsIcouldintimenodoubtconvertthelot,fortheturtleneedsmustgowherethemoneydrives。If,asisalleged,theworldstandsonaturtle,theturtlestandsonmoney。
Nomoneynoturtle。Asformoney,thatstandsonopinion,credit,trust,faith——thingsthat,thoughhighlymaterialinconnectionwithmoney,arestillofimmaterialessence。
Thestepsareperfectlyplain。Themenwhocaughttheturtlesbroughtafairlystronganddefiniteopiniontobearuponthem,thatpassedintoaction,andlateronintomoney。Theythoughttheturtleswouldcomethatway,andverifiedtheiropinion;onthis,willandactionweregenerated,withtheresultthatthementurnedtheturtlesontheirbacksandcarriedthemoff。Mr。Sweetingtouchedthesemenwithmoney,whichistheoutwardandvisiblesignofverifiedopinion。ThecustomertouchesMr。Sweetingwithmoney,Mr。Sweetingtouchesthewaiterandthecookwithmoney。Theytouchtheturtlewithskillandverifiedopinion。Finally,thecustomerappliestheclinchingargumentthatbrushesallsophismsaside,andbidstheturtlestandprotoplasmtoprotoplasmwithhimself,toknowevenasitisknown。
Butitmustbealltouch,touch,touch;skill,opinion,power,andmoney,passinginandoutwithoneanotherinanyorderwelike,butstilllinktolinkandtouchtotouch。Ifthereisfailureanywhereinrespectofopinion,skill,power,ormoney,eitherasregardsquantityorquality,thechaincanbenostrongerthanitsweakestlink,andtheturtleandtheclinchingargumentwillflyasunder。
Ofcourse,ifthereisaninitialfailureinconnection,throughdefectinanymemberofthechain,orofconnectionbetweenthelinks,itwillnomorebeattemptedtobringtheturtleandtheclinchingargumenttogether,thanitwilltochainupadogwithtwopiecesofbrokenchainthataredisconnected。Thecontactthroughoutmustbeconceivedasabsolute;andyetperfectcontactisinconceivablebyus,foronbecomingperfectitceasestobecontact,andbecomesessential,onceforallinseverable,identity。
Themostabsolutecontactshortofthisisstillcontactbycourtesyonly。Sohere,aseverywhereelse,Eurydiceglidesoffasweareabouttograspher。Wecanseenothingfacetoface;ourutmostseeingisbutafumblingofblindfinger-endsinanovercrowdedpocket。
Presentlymyownblindfinger-endsfisheduptheconclusion,thatasIhadneithertimenormoneytospendonperfectingthechainthatwouldputmeinfullspiritualcontactwithMr。Sweeting’sturtles,Ihadbetterleavethemtocompletetheireducationatsomeoneelse’sexpenseratherthanmine,soIwalkedontowardstheBank。
AsIdidsoitstruckmehowcontinuallywearemetbythismeltingofoneexistenceintoanother。Thelimitsofthebodyseemwelldefinedenoughasdefinitionsgo,butdefinitionsseldomgofar。
What,forexample,canseemmoredistinctfromamanthanhisbankerorhissolicitor?Yetthesearecommonlysomuchpartsofhimthathecannomorecutthemoffandgrownewones,thanhecangrownewlegsorarms;neithermusthewoundhissolicitor;awoundinthesolicitorisaveryseriousthing。Asforhisbank——failureofhisbank’sactionmaybeasfataltoamanasfailureofhisheart。I
havesaidnothingaboutthemedicalorspiritualadviser,butmostmengrowintothesocietythatsurroundsthembythehelpofthesefourmaintap-roots,andnotonlyintotheworldofhumanity,butintotheuniverseatlarge。Wecan,indeed,growbutchers,bakers,andgreengrocers,almostadlibitum,butthesearelowdevelopments,andcorrespondtoskin,hair,orfinger-nails。Thoseofusagainwhoarenothighlyenoughorganisedtohavegrownasolicitororbankercangenerallyrepairthelossofwhateversocialorganisationtheymaypossessasfreelyaslizardsaresaidtogrownewtails;
butthiswiththehighersocial,aswellasorganic,developmentsisonlypossibletoaverylimitedextent。
Thedoctrineofmetempsychosis,ortransmigrationofsouls——adoctrinetowhichtheforegoingconsiderationsareforthemostparteasycorollaries——cropsupnomatterinwhatdirectionweallowourthoughtstowander。Andwemeetinstancesoftransmigrationofbodyaswellasofsoul。Idonotmeanthatbothbodyandsoulhavetransmigratedtogether,farfromit;butthat,aswecanoftenrecogniseatransmigratedmindinanalienbody,sowenotlessoftenseeabodythatisclearlyonlyatransmigration,linkedontosomeoneelse’snewandaliensoul。Wemeetpeopleeverydaywhosebodiesareevidentlythoseofmenandwomenlongdead,butwhoseappearanceweknowthroughtheirportraits。Weseethemgoingaboutinomnibuses,railwaycarriages,andinallpublicplaces。Thecardshavebeenshuffled,andtheyhavedrawnfreshlotsinlifeandnationalities,butanyonefairlywellupinmediaevalandlastcenturyportraitureknowsthemataglance。
GoingdownoncetowardsItalyIsawayoungmaninthetrainwhomI
recognised,onlyheseemedtohavegotyounger。Hewaswithafriend,andhisfacewasincontinualplay,butforsomelittletimeIpuzzledinvaintorecollectwhereitwasthatIhadseenhimbefore。AllofasuddenIrememberedhewasKingFrancisI。ofFrance。Ihadhithertothoughtthefaceofthiskingimpossible,butwhenIsawitinplayIunderstoodit。HisgreatcontemporaryHenryVIII。keepsarestaurantinOxfordStreet。FalstaffdroveoneoftheSt。Gotharddiligencesformanyyears,andonlyretiredwhentherailwaywasopened。TitianoncemademeapairofbootsatVicenza,andnotverygoodones。AtModenaIhadmyhaircutbyayoungmanwhomIperceivedtobeRaffaelle。ThemodelwhosattohimforhiscelebratedMadonnasisfirstladyinaconfectioneryestablishmentatMontreal。Shehasalittlemotherlypimpleontheleftsideofhernosethatismisleadingatfirst,butonexaminationsheisreadilyrecognised;probablyRaffaelle’smodelhadthepimpletoo,butRaffaelleleftitout——ashewould。
Handel,ofcourse,isMadamePatey。GiveMadamePateyHandel’swigandclothes,andtherewouldbenotellingherfromHandel。Itisnotonlythatthefeaturesandtheshapeoftheheadarethesame,butthereisacertainimperiousnessofexpressionandattitudeaboutHandelwhichhehardlyattemptstoconcealinMadamePatey。
Itisacuriouscoincidencethatheshouldcontinuetobesuchanincomparablerendererofhisownmusic。PopeJuliusII。wasthelateMr。Darwin。RamesesII。isablindwomannow,andstandsinHolborn,holdingatinmug。InevercouldunderstandwhyIalwaysfoundmyselfhumming\"Theyoppressedthemwithburthens\"whenI
passedher,tillonedayIwaslookinginMr。Spooner’swindowintheStrand,andsawaphotographofRamesesII。MaryQueenofScotswearssurgicalbootsandissubjecttofits,neartheHorseShoeinTottenhamCourtRoad。
MichaelAngeloisacommissionaire;IsawhimonboardtheGlenRosa,whichusedtoruneverydayfromLondontoClacton-on-Seaandback。ItgavemequiteaturnwhenIsawhimcomingdownthestairsfromtheupperdeck,withhisbronzedface,flattenednose,andwiththefamiliarbaruponhisforehead。IneverlikedMichaelAngelo,andnevershall,butIamafraidofhim,andwasneartryingtohidewhenIsawhimcomingtowardsme。Hehadnotgothiscommissionaire’suniformon,andIdidnotknowhewasonetillI
methimamonthorsolaterintheStrand。WhenwegottoBlackwallthemusicstruckupandpeoplebegantodance。Ineversawamandancesomuchinmylife。HedidnotmissadanceallthewaytoClacton,norallthewaybackagain,andwhennotdancinghewasflirtingandcrackingjokes。IcouldhardlybelievemyeyeswhenI
reflectedthatthismanhadpaintedthefamous\"LastJudgment,\"andhadmadeallthosestatues。
Danteis,orwasayearortwoago,awaiteratBrissagoontheLagoMaggiore,onlyheisbetter-tempered-looking,andhasamoreintellectualexpression。Hegavemehisideasuponbeauty:\"Tuttoch’everoebello,\"heexclaimed,withallhisoldself-confidence。
IamnotafraidofDante。Iknowpeoplebytheirfriends,andhewentaboutwithVirgil,soIsaidwithsomeseverity,\"No,Dante,ilnasodellaSignoraRobinsonevero,manonebello\";andheadmittedIwasright。Beatrice’snameisTowler;sheiswaitressatasmallinninGermanSwitzerland。Iusedtositatmywindowandhearpeoplecall\"Towler,Towler,Towler,\"fiftytimesinaforenoon。
ShewastheexactantithesistoAbra;Abra,ifIremember,usedtocomebeforetheycalledhername,butnomatterhowoftentheycalledTowler,everyonecamebeforeshedid。IsupposetheyspelthernameTaula,buttomeitsoundedTowler;Inever,however,metanyoneelsewiththisname。Shewasasweet,artlesslittlehussy,whomademeplaythepianotoher,andshesaiditwaslovely。OfcourseIonlyplayedmyowncompositions;soIbelievedher,anditallwentoffverynicely。IthoughtitmightsavetroubleifIdidnottellherwhoshereallywas,soIsaidnothingaboutit。
ImetSocratesonce。HewasmymuleteeronanexcursionwhichI
willnotname,forfearitshouldidentifytheman。ThemomentI
sawmyguideIknewhewassomebody,butforthelifeofmeIcouldnotrememberwho。AllofasuddenitflashedacrossmethathewasSocrates。Hetalkedenoughforsix,butitwasallindialetto,soIcouldnotunderstandhim,nor,whenIhaddiscoveredwhohewas,didImuchtrytodoso。Hewasagoodcreature,atriflegiventostealingfruitandvegetables,butanamiablemanenough。Hehadhadalongdaywithhismuleandme,andheonlyaskedmefivefrancs。Igavehimten,forIpitiedhispooroldpatchedboots,andtherewasameeknessabouthimthattouchedme。\"Andnow,Socrates,\"saidIatparting,\"wegoonourseveralways,youtostealtomatoes,Itofilchideasfromotherpeople;fortherest——
whichofthesetworoadswillbethebettergoing,ourfatherwhichisinheavenknows,butweknownot。\"
IhaveneverseenMendelssohn,butthereisafrescoofhimontheterrace,oropen-airdining-room,ofaninnatChiavenna。HeisnotcalledMendelssohn,butIknewhimbyhislegs。Heisinthecostumeofadandyofsomefive-and-fortyyearsago,issmokingacigar,andappearstobemakinganofferofmarriagetohiscook。
BeethovenbothmyfriendMr。H。FestingJonesandIhavehadthegoodfortunetomeet;heisanengineernow,anddoesnotknowonenotefromanother;hehasquitelosthisdeafness,ismarried,andis,ofcourse,alittlesquatmanwiththesamerefractoryhairthathealwayshad。Itwasveryinterestingtowatchhim,andJonesremarkedthatbeforetheendofdinnerhehadbecomepositivelyposthumous。OnemorningIwastoldtheBeethovensweregoingaway,andbeforelongImettheirtwoheavyboxesbeingcarrieddownthestairs。Theboxesweresosquabandliketheirowners,thatIhalfthoughtforamomentthattheywereinside,andshouldhardlyhavebeensurprisedtoseethemspringuplikeacoupleofJacks-in-the-
box。\"Sonoindentro?\"saidI,withafrownofwonder,pointingtotheboxes。TheportersknewwhatImeant,andlaughed。ButthereisnoendtothelistofpeoplewhomIhavebeenabletorecognise,andbeforeIhadgotthroughitmyself,IfoundIhadwalkedsomedistance,andhadinvoluntarilypausedinfrontofasecond-handbookstall。
Idonotlikebooks。IbelieveIhavethesmallestlibraryofanyliterarymaninLondon,andIhavenowishtoincreaseit。IkeepmybooksattheBritishMuseumandatMudie’s,anditmakesmeveryangryifanyonegivesmeoneformyprivatelibrary。Ionceheardtwoladiesdisputinginarailwaycarriageastowhetheroneofthemhadorhadnotbeenwastingmoney。\"Ispentitinbooks,\"saidtheaccused,\"andit’snotwastingmoneytobuybooks。\"\"Indeed,mydear,Ithinkitis,\"wastherejoinder,andinpracticeIagreewithit。Webster’sDictionary,Whitaker’sAlmanack,andBradshaw’sRailwayGuideshouldbesufficientforanyordinarylibrary;itwillbetimeenoughtogobeyondthesewhenthemassofusefulandentertainingmatterwhichtheyprovidehasbeenmastered。
Nevertheless,Iadmitthatsometimes,ifnotparticularlybusy,I
stopatasecond-handbookstallandturnoverabookortwofrommereforceofhabit。
IknownotwhatmademepickupacopyofAEschylus——ofcourseinanEnglishversion——orratherIknownotwhatmadeAEschylustakeupwithme,forhetookmeratherthanIhim;butnosoonerhadhegotmethanhebeganpuzzlingme,ashehasdoneanytimethisfortyyears,toknowwhereinhistranscendentmeritcanbesupposedtolie。Tomeheis,likethegreaternumberofclassicsinallagesandcountries,aliteraryStruldbrug,ratherthanatrueambrosia-
fedimmortal。Therearetrueimmortals,buttheyarefewandfarbetween;mostclassicsareasgreatimpostorsdeadastheywerewhenliving,andwhileposingasgodsare,five-seventhsofthem,onlyStruldbrugs。ItcomfortsmetorememberthatAristophaneslikedAEschylusnobetterthanIdo。True,hepraiseshimbycomparisonwithSophoclesandEuripides,butheonlydoessothathemayrundowntheselastmoreeffectively。Aristophanesisasafemantofollow,nordoIseewhyitshouldnotbeascorrecttolaughwithhimastopullalongfacewiththeGreekProfessors;butthisisneitherherenorthere,fornoonereallycaresaboutAEschylus;themoreinterestingquestionishowhecontrivedtomakesomanypeopleforsomanyyearspretendtocareabouthim。
Perhapshemarriedsomebody’sdaughter。Ifamanwouldgetholdofthepublicear,hemustpay,marry,orfight。IhaveneverunderstoodthatAEschyluswasamanofmeans,andthefightersdonotwritepoetry,soIsupposehemusthavemarriedatheatricalmanager’sdaughter,andgothisplaysbroughtoutthatway。Theearofanyageorcountryislikeitsland,air,andwater;itseemslimitlessbutisreallylimited,andisalreadyinthekeepingofthosewhonaturallyenoughwillhavenosquattingonsuchvaluableproperty。Itiswrittenandtalkeduptoascloselyasthemeansofsubsistencearebreduptobyateemingpopulation。Thereisnotasquareinchofitbutisinprivatehands,andhewhowouldfreeholdanypartofitmustdosobypurchase,marriage,orfighting,intheusualway——andfightinggivesthelongest,safesttenure。Thepublicitselfhashardlymorevoiceinthequestionwhoshallhaveitsear,thanthelandhasinchoosingitsowners。Itisfarmedasthosewhoownitthinkmostprofitabletothemselves,andsmallblametothem;nevertheless,ithasaresiduumofmulishnesswhichthelandhasnot,anddoessometimesdispossessitstenants。Itisinthisresiduumthatthosewhofightplacetheirhopeandtrust。
OrperhapsAEschylussquaredtheleadingcriticsofhistime。Whenonecomestothinkofit,hemusthavedoneso,forhowisitconceivablethatsuchplaysshouldhavehadsuchrunsifhehadnot?
ImetaladyoneyearinSwitzerlandwhohadsomeparrotsthatalwaystravelledwithherandweretheidolsofherlife。Theseparrotswouldnotletanyonereadaloudintheirpresence,unlesstheyheardtheirownnamesintroducedfromtimetotime。Ifthesewerefreelyinterpolatedintothetexttheywouldremainasstillasstones,fortheythoughtthereadingwasaboutthemselves。Ifitwasnotaboutthemitcouldnotbeallowed。Theleadersofliteratureareliketheseparrots;theydonotlookatwhatamanwrites,noriftheydidwouldtheyunderstanditmuchbetterthantheparrotsdo;buttheylikethesoundoftheirownnames,andifthesearefreelyinterpolatedinatonetheytakeasfriendly,theymayevengiveeartoanoutsider。Otherwisetheywillscreamhimoffiftheycan。
Ishouldnotadviseanyonewithordinaryindependenceofmindtoattemptthepublicearunlessheisconfidentthathecanout-lungandout-lasthisowngeneration;forifhehasanyforce,peoplewillandoughttobeontheirguardagainsthim,inasmuchasthereisnoknowingwherehemaynottakethem。Besides,theyhavestakedtheirmoneyonthewrongmensooftenwithoutsuspectingit,thatwhentherecomesonewhomtheydosuspectitwouldbemadnessnottobetagainsthim。True,hemaydiebeforehehasout-screamedhisopponents,butthathasnothingtodowithit。Ifhisscreamwaswellpitcheditwillsoundclearerwhenheisdead。Wedonotknowwhatdeathis。Ifweknowsolittleaboutlifewhichwehaveexperienced,howshallweknowaboutdeathwhichwehavenot——andinthenatureofthingsnevercan?Everyone,asIsaidyearsagoin\"AlpsandSanctuaries,\"isanimmortaltohimself,forhecannotknowthatheisdeaduntilheisdead,andwhendeadhowcanheknowanythingaboutanything?Allweknowis,thateventhehumblestdeadmaylivelongafteralltraceofthebodyhasdisappeared;weseethemdoingitinthebodiesandmemoriesofthosethatcomeafterthem;andnotafewlivesomuchlongerandmoreeffectuallythanisdesirable,thatithasbeennecessarytogetridofthembyActofParliament。Itislovethatalonegiveslife,andthetruestlifeisthatwhichwelivenotinourselvesbutvicariouslyinothers,andwithwhichwehavenoconcern。Ourconcernissotoorderourselvesthatwemaybeofthenumberofthemthatenterintolife——althoughweknowitnot。
AEschylusdidsoorderhimself;buthislifeisnotofthatinspiritingkindthatcanbewonthroughfightingthegoodfightonly——orbeingbelievedtohavefoughtit。Hisvoiceistheechoofadrone,drone-begottenanddrone-sustained。Itisnotatonethatamanmustutterordie——nay,eventhoughhedie;andlikelyenoughhalftheallusionsandhardpassagesinAEschylusofwhichwecanmakeneitherheadnortailareinrealityonlypuffsofsomeoftheliteraryleadersofhistime。
Theladyabovereferredtotoldmemoreaboutherparrots。ShewaslikeaNasmyth’shammergoingslow——verygentle,butirresistible。
Shealwaysreadthenewspapertothem。Whatwastheuseofhavinganewspaperifonedidnotreadittoone’sparrots?
\"Andhaveyoudivined,\"Iasked,\"towhichsidetheyinclineinpolitics?\"
\"TheydonotlikeMr。Gladstone,\"wasthesomewhatfreezinganswer;
\"thisistheonlypointonwhichwedisagree,forIadorehim。
Don’taskmoreaboutthis,itisagreatgrieftome。Itellthemeverything,\"shecontinued,\"andhidenosecretfromthem。\"
\"Butcananyparrotbetrustedtokeepasecret?\"
\"Minecan。\"
\"AndonSundaysdoyougivethemthesamecourseofreadingasonaweek-day,ordoyoumakeadifference?\"
\"OnSundaysIalwaysreadthemagenealogicalchapterfromtheOldorNewTestament,forIcanthusintroducetheirnameswithoutprofanity。Ialwayskeepteabymeincasetheyshouldaskforitinthenight,andIhaveanEtnatowarmitforthem;theytakemilkandsugar。Theoldwhite-headedclergymancametoseethemlastnight;itwasverypainful,forJockoremindedhimsostronglyofhislate……\"
Ithoughtshewasgoingtosay\"wife,\"butitprovedtohavebeenonlyofaparrotthathehadonceknownandloved。
Oneeveningshewasindifficultiesaboutthequarantine,whichwasenforcedthatyearontheItalianfrontier。ThelocaldoctorhadgonedownthatmorningtoseetheItaliandoctorandarrangesomedetails。\"Then,perhaps,mydear,\"shesaidtoherhusband,\"heisthequarantine。\"\"No,mylove,\"repliedherhusband。\"Thequarantineisnotaperson,itisaplacewheretheyputpeople\";
butshewouldnotbecomforted,andsuspectedthequarantineasanenemythatmightatanymomentpounceoutuponherandherparrots。