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。

THELADIESOFTHEIDYLL

LittlePrimrosedamesoftheEnglishclassic，thewifeanddaughtersoftheVicarofWakefieldhavenoclaimwhatevertothisnameoflady。ItisgiventotheminthispagebecauseGoldsmithhimselfgaveittothemintheyetundepreciatedstateoftheword，andforthebetterreasonthatheobviouslyintendedthemtobetheequalsofthementowhomhemarriesthem，thosemenbeing，withalltheirfaults，gentlemen。Goldsmith，inaword，meantthemtobeladies，ofcountrybreeding，butcertainlyfitformembershipofthatlargeclassofvariousfortunewithinwhichthenamemakesasufficientequality。

He，theirauthor，thoughtthemsufficient。Havingamusedhimselfingeniouslythroughoutthestorywiththeirnamelessvulgarities，hefinallyhurriesthemintosomuchsentimentasmayexcusetheconventionofheroesinlove。Heplayswiththeircoarsenesslikeaperfectlypleasedandclevershowman，andthenpiouslyandhappilyshutsuphiscouples——thegentleDr。PrimrosewithhisabominableDeborah；theexcellentMr。BurchellwiththepaltrySophia；Olivia——

butno，Oliviaisnotsocertainlyhappyeverafter；shehasacapturedhusbandreadyforherinastateofignominy，butshehasalsoaforgottenfarmersomewhereinthebackground——theunhappymanwhom，withherfather’spermission，thissorryheroinehadpromisedtomarryinorderthathiswooingmightpluckforwardthelaggingsuitofthesquire。

Olivia，then，playshercommontrickupontheharmlessWilliams，herfatherconniving，withaprovisionthatheurgeswithsomedemonstrationofvirtue：sheshallconsenttomakethefarmerhappyiftheproposalofthesquirebenotafterallforthcoming。Butitissoevidentherauthorknewnobetter，thatthismattermaypass。

Itinvolvesapointofhonour，ofwhichnoone——neitherthemakerofthebooknoranyonehemade——isaware。WhatisbetterworthconsideringisthefactthatGoldsmithwascompletelyawareoftheunredeemedvulgarityoftheladiesoftheIdyll，andcheerfullytookitforgrantedasthethingtobeexpectedfromthemother-in-lawofacountrygentlemanandthedaughtersofascholar。Theeducationofwomenhadsunkintoadegradationneverreachedbefore，inasmuchasitwasdegradedinrelationtothatofmen。ItwouldmatterlittleindeedthatMrs。Primrose"couldreadanyEnglishbookwithoutmuchspelling"ifherhusbandandsonwereasdefinitelylimitedtojourneyman’sfield-labourasshewastothepicklingandthegooseberrywine。Anyofthoseindustriesisabetterandmoreliberalbusinessthanunselectreading，forinstance，orthanunselectwriting。Thereforeletmenotbemisunderstoodtocomplaintooindiscriminatelyofthatcenturyorofanunletteredstate。

Whatisreallyunhandsomeisthenew，slovenly，andcorruptinequalitywhereintothecenturyhadfallen。

Thatthemotherofdaughtersandsonsshouldbefatuous，avillageworldling，suspicious，ambitious，ill-bred，ignorant，gross，insolent，foul-mouthed，pushing，importunate，andafool，seemsnatural，almostinnocentlynatural，inGoldsmith’sstory；thesqualidMrs。Primroseisallthis。Heisstillable，throughhisVicar，inthemostcharminglyhumorouspassageinthebook，topraiseherforher"prudence，economy，andobedience。"Herother，moredisgusting，characteristicsgiveherhusbandanoccasionforrebukingheras"Woman！"Thisisdone，forexample，when，despiteherobedience，sherefusestoreceivethatunluckyschemer，herowndaughter，returnedinruins，withoutinsultingherbythesalliesofakitchensarcasm。

Sheplotswithherdaughtersthemostdisastrousfortunehunt。ShehasgiventhemateachingsoeffectualthattheVicarhasnofearlestthepaltrySophiashouldloseherhearttothegood，thesensibleBurchell，whohadsavedherlife；forhehasnofortune。

Mrs。Primrosebeginsgrotesquely，withhertedioushistoriesofthedishesatdinner，andsheendsuponthelastpage，anxious，amidthegeneralhappiness，inregardtosecuringtheheadofthetable。

UponthesefemininehumourstheauthorshedshisVicar’sindulgentsmile。Whatasmileforaself-respectinghusbandtobeprickedtosmile！Ahouseholderwouldwince，onewouldthink，athavingopportunitytobestowitstoleranceuponhiscook。

Betweenthesetwohousewifelyappearances，Mrs。Primrosepottersthroughthebook；plots——alwayssqualidly；talkstheworstkindsoffolly；takesthelead，withaloudlaugh，ininsultingaformerfriend；crushesherrepentantdaughterwithreproachesthatshowenvyratherthanindignation，andkissesthatdaughterwithcongratulationuponhearingthatshehad，unconsciouslyandunintentionally，contractedavalidmarriage（witharogue）；spoilsandmakescommonanduncleaneverythingshetouches；hasbuttworeallygentleandtendermomentsallthroughthestory；andsets，onceforall，theexampleinliteratureofthewomanwefindthenceforth，inThackeray，inDouglasJerrold，inDickens，andunpeupartout。

Hardlylessunspiritual，inspiteoftheirconventionalromanceofyouthandbeauty，arethedaughtersofthesqualidone。Theauthor，inmakingthemsimple，hasnotabstainedfrommakingthemcunning。

Theirvanitiesarewellenough，butthesewomenarenotonlyvain，theyaresoenviousastorefuseadmirationtoasister-in-law——onewhoistheirrivalinnowayexceptinsomuchassheisacontemporarybeauty。"MissArabellaWilmot，"saysthepiousfatherandvicar，"wasallowedbyall（exceptmytwodaughters）tobecompletelypretty。"

Theyhavebeenleftbytheirfatherinsuchbrutalignoranceastobeinstantlydeceivedintolaughingatbadmannersinerrorforhumour。Theyhavenoprettyorsensitiveinstincts。"Thejestsoftherich，"saystheVicar，referringtohisownyoungdaughtersasaudience，"areeversuccessful。"Olivia，whenthesquireplayedoffadullishjoke，"mistookitforhumour。Shethoughthim，therefore，averyfinegentleman。"Thepowdersandpatchesforthecountrychurch，theridethitheronBlackberry，insostrangeaprocession，theface-wash，thedreamsandomens，areallgoodgentlecomedy；wearecompletelyconvincedofthetediumofMrs。Primrose’sdreams，whichshetoldeverymorning。Butthereareotherpointsofcomedythatoughtnottoprecedeanauthor’sappealtothekindofsentimentabouttobetouchedbythetragicscenesofTheVicarofWakefield。

InoddsidlingwaysGoldsmithbethinkshimselftogivehisprincipalheroineashadowofthevirtueshehasnotbestoweduponher。WhentheunhappyWilliams，above-mentioned，hasbeenusedinvainbyOlivia，andthesquirehasnotdeclaredhimself，andsheisonthepointofkeepingherwordtoWilliamsbymarryinghim，theVicarcreatesasituationoutofitallthattakesthereaderroundlybysurprise："Ifrequentlyapplaudedherresolutioninpreferringhappinesstoostentation。"ThegoodGoldsmith！HereisOliviaperfectlyfrankwithherfatherastoherexceedinglysincerepreferenceforostentation，andastoherstratagemtotrytoobtainitattheexpenseofhonourandofneighbourWilliams；hermindisaswellknowntoherfatherasherfather’smindisknowntoOliverGoldsmith，andasOliverGoldsmith’s，Dr。Primrose’s，andOlivia’smindsareknowntothereader。Andinspiteofall，yourGoldsmithandyourVicarturnyouthisphrasetoyourveryface。Youhardlyknowwhichwaytolook；itissodisconcerting。

SeeingthatOlivia（withherchance-recoveredvirtue）andSophiamaybothbeexpectedtogrowintothekindofmatronhoodrepresentedbytheirmother，itneedsalltheconditionsoffictiontosurroundthecloseoftheirlove-affairswiththeleastsemblanceofdignity。

Nor，infact，canitbesaidthatthefinalwinningofSophiaisanincidentthaterrsbytoomuchdignity。ThesceneisthatinwhichBurchell，revealedasSirWilliamThornhill，feignstoofferherinmarriagetothegood-naturedrogue，Jenkinson，fellowprisonerwithherfather，inorderthat，onherindignantanddistressedrefusal，hemaysurpriseheragreeablybycrying，"What？Nothavehim？Ifthatbethecase，IthinkImusthaveyoumyself。"Evenforanavowedlyeccentricmasterofwhims，thisisplayingwithforbiddenironies。True，hecatcheshertohisbreastwithardour，andcallsher"sensible。""Suchsenseandsuchheavenlybeauty，"finallyexclaimsthehappyman。Letusmakehimapresentoftheheavenlybeauty。Itistheonlythingnotdisproved，notdispraised，notdisgraced，byacandidstudyoftheLadiesoftheIdyll。

ADERIVATION

Bywhatobscurecause，throughwhatill-directedindustry，andundertheconstraintofwhatdisablinghands，hadthelanguageofEnglishpoetrygrown，foranage，sorigidthatanaturalwriterattheendoftheeighteenthcenturyhadmuchadototellasimplestoryinsufficientverse？Allthevitalexerciseoftheseventeenthcenturyhadleftthelanguagebuoyant；itwasaselasticasdeepandmobilewaters；thenfollowedthegripofthatincapacitatinglaterstyle。

Muchlater，Englishhasbeensousedastobecomeflaccid——ithasbeenstretched，asitwere，beyonditspowerofrebound，orcertainlybeyonditspowerofreboundincommonuse（forwhenamasterwriteshealwaysusesatonguethathassufferednothing）。

ItisinourowndaythatEnglishhasbeensoover-strained。InCrabbe’sdayithadbeeneffectuallycurbed，hindered，andhampered，anditcannotbesaidofCrabbethathewasamasterwhotakesnaturalpossessionofalanguagethathassufferednothing。Hewasevidentlyamanoftalentwhohadtotakehispartwiththetimes，subjecttohistory。Tocallhimapoetwasamereconvention。

Thereseemstobenotasinglemomentofpoetryinhiswork，andassuredlyifhehadknowntheearliersignificationofthewordhewouldhavebeenthelastmantoclaimtheincongruoustitleofpoet。

ButitisimpossibletostatethequestionasitwouldhavepresenteditselftoCrabbeortoanyotherwriterofhisqualityenteringintothesameinheritanceofEnglish。

ItistruethatCrabbereadandquotedMilton；sodidallhiscontemporaries；andtousnowitseemsthatpoetrycannothavebeenforgottenbyanyagepossessingLycidas。YetthatagecanscarcelybesaidtohaveinanytruesensepossessedLycidas。Thereareotherthings，besidespoetry，inMilton’spoems。Wedonotentirelyknow，perhaps，butwecanconjecturehowareaderinCrabbe’slateeighteenthcentury，lookinginMiltonforauthorityforallthatheunluckilyandvainlyadmired，wouldwellfindit。HewouldfindtheapprovalofYoung’s"NightThoughts"didhesearchforit，aswewhodonotsearchforitmaynotreadilyunderstand。Asteporsodownwards，fromafewpassagesin"ParadiseLost"and"ParadiseRegained，"aninevitabledropinthederivation，adepressionsuchasishuman，andeverything，fromDrydento"TheVanityofHumanWishes，"follows，withoutviolenceandperhapswithoutwilfulmisappreciation。ThepoetMiltonfathered，legitimatelyenough，anunpoeticposterity。Milton，therefore，whomighthavekeptanage，andmanyasucceedingage，ontheheightsofpoetrybylineslikethese-

Whosingandsingingintheirglorymove-

bythis，andbymanyandmanyanothersodivine——Miltonjustifiedalsothecoldexcessesofhisposteritybytheexampleofmorethanonegroupofblankverselinesinhisgreatestpoem。Manifestlythesanctionisamatterofchoice，anddependsupontheage：theageofCrabbefoundinMiltonsuchancestryasitwasfitfor。

Crabbe，then，wasnotapoetofpoetry。Buthecameintopossessionofametricalformchargedbysecondarypoetswithacontentedsecond-classdignitythatbearsconstantreference，inthewayofrespectratherthanofimitation，tothestateandnobilityofPopeathisbest——thecouplet。Theweakyetrigid"poetry"thatfelltohislotowedallthedecorumitpossessedtothemechanicaldefencesandprops——theexclusionsespecially——ofthismannerofversification。Thegrievousthingwasthat，beingmovedtowritesimplyofsimplethings，hehadnomoresuppleEnglishforhispurpose。Hisefforttodisengagethephrase——longcommittedtoconventionandtoanexposedartifice——didbutprovehowsurelytheancientvitalitywasgone。

Hisprefaceto"TheBorough，aPoem，"shouldbedulyreadbeforethe"poem"itself，fortheprosehasaproprietyallitsown。

Everythingisconceivedwiththemostperfectmoderation，andthenpresentedinaformofreasoningthatleavesyounopossiblegroundofremonstrance。InproposinghissubjectCrabbeseemstomakeanunanswerableapologywithacomposurethatisalmostsweet。Forinstance，atsomelengthandwithsomenobilityheanticipatesaprobableconjecturethathisworkwasdone"withoutdueexaminationandrevisal，"andhemeetstheconjecturedcriticismthus："Now，readersare，Ibelieve，disposedtotreatwithmorethancommonseveritythosewriterswhohavebeenledintopresumptionbytheapprobationbestowedupontheirdiffidence，andintoidlenessandunconcernbythepraisesgiventotheirattention。"Itwouldnotbepossibletosayasmallerthingwithgreaterdignityandgentleness。

Itisworthwhiletoquotethisproseofa"poet"wholivedbetweenthecenturies，ifonlyinordertosuggestthechasteningthought，"Itisapitythatnoone，howeverlittlehemayhavetosay，saysitnowinthisform！"Thelittle，solongasitisreasonable，issowellsuitedinthisantithesisandlogic。Istherenohopethatjournalismwillevertakeagainthesegracesofunanswerableargument？No：theywouldnolongerwearthepeculiaraspectofadultinnocencethatwasCrabbe’s。

ACOUNTERCHANGE

"Ils’esttrompededefunte。"ThewriterofthisphrasehadhissenseofthatportlymannerofFrench，andhisburlesqueisfine；

but——theparadoxmustberisked——becausehewasFrenchhewasnotabletopossessallitsgrotesquemediocritytothefull；thatisreservedfortheEnglishreader。Thewordsareinthemouthofawidowerwho，approachinghiswife’stomb，perceivesthereanother"monsieur。""Monsieur，"again；theFrenchreaderisdeprivedofthevalueofthisword，too，initsplace；itsayslittleornothingtohim，whereastheEnglishman，whohasnowordoftheprecisebourgeoissignificancethatitsometimesbears，butwhomustuseoneoftwoEnglishwordsofdifferentallusion——manorIgentleman——

knowstheexactvalueofitscommonplace。TheseriousParisian，then，sees"unautremonsieur；"asitprovesanon，therehadbeenadivorceinthehistoryofthelady，butthelaterwidowerisnotyetawareofthis，andexplainstohimselfthepresenceof"unmonsieur"

inhisownplacebythatweightyphrase，"Ils’esttrompededefunte。"

ThestrangeeffectofathingsochargedwithallusionandwithnationalcharacteristocauseanEnglishreadertopitythemockingauthorwhowasdebarredbyhisownlanguagefrompossessingthewholeofhisowncomedy。Itis，infact，bycontrastwithhisEnglishthatanEnglishmandoespossessit。Yourofficial，yourprofessionalParisianhasavocabularyofenormous，unrivalledmediocrity。Whenthenovelistperceivesthishedoesnotperceiveitall，becausesomeofthewordsaretheonlywordsinuse。Takeanauthorathisseriousmoments，whenheisnotatalloccupiedwiththecomedyofphrases，andhenowandthentouchesawordthathasitsburlesquebymerecontrastwithEnglish。"L’Histoired’unCrime，"ofVictorHugo，hassomanyofthesetouchesastobe，byakindofreflexaction，averyschoolofEnglish。Thewholeincidentoftheomnibusinthatgraveworkhasunconsciousinternationalcomedy。TheDeputiesseatedintheinterioroftheomnibushadbeen，itwillberemembered，shutoutoftheirChamberbytheperpetratoroftheCoupd’Etat，buteachhadhisofficialscarf。

Scarf——pish！——"l’echarpe！""Ceindrel’echarpe"——thereisnorealEnglishequivalent。Civicresponsibilityneverwasotherwiseadequatelyexpressed。Anindignantdeputypassedhisscarfthroughthewindowoftheomnibus，asanappealtothepublic，"etl’agita。"

ItisapitythattheFrenchreader，havingnosimplerword，isnotinapositiontounderstandtheslightburlesque。Nay，themereword"public，"spokenwiththispeculiarFrenchgoodfaith，hasforusIknownotwhatuntransferablegravity。

Thereis，inshort，ageneralinternationalcounterchange。Itisaltogetherinaccordancewithouractualstateofcivilization，withitsextremely"specialized"mannerofindustry，thatonepeopleshouldmakeaphrase，andanothershouldhaveandenjoyit。And，infact，therearecertainFrenchauthorstowhomshouldbesecuredtheuseoftheliteraryGermanwhereofGermans，andGermanwomeninparticular，oughtwithallseveritytobedeprived。ForGermansoftentellyouofwordsintheirowntonguethatareuntranslatable；

andaccordinglytheyshouldnotbetranslated，butgivenoverintheirownconditions，unaltered，intosaferhands。TherewouldbeaclearingoftheoutlinesofGermanideas，abetterorderinthephrase；thepossessorsofanalienword，withthethoughtitsecures，wouldfindalsotheiradvantage。

SowithFrenchhumour。ItisexpresslyandsignallyforEnglishears。Itissoeveninthecommonestfarce。Theunfortunatehouseholder，forexample，whoispersuadedtokeepwalkingintheconservatory"pourretablirlacirculation，"andtheotherwhodescribeshimself"sous-chefdebureaudansl’enregistrement，"andhewhoproposesto"fairehommage"ofadoubtfulturbottotheneighbouring"employedel’octroi"——theseandalltheirlikespeakcommonplacessousualastoloseintheirowncountrytheperfectionoftheirdulness。Weonly，whohavethealternativeofplainerandfresherwords，understandit。ItisnottheleastoftheadvantagesofourowndualEnglishthatwebecomesensibleofthemockeryofcertainphrasesthatinFrancehavelosthalftheirridicule，uncontrasted。

TakeagainthecommonrhetoricthathasfixeditselfinconversationinallLatinlanguages——rhetoricthathasceasedtohaveallusions，eithermajesticorcomic。TotheearsomewhatunusedtoFrenchthisproffersafrequentcomedythatthewell-accustomedear，evenofanEnglishman，nolongerdetects。AguardonaFrenchrailway，whoadvisedtwotravellerstotakeacertaintrainforfeartheyshouldbeobligedto"vegeter"forawholehourinthewaiting-roomofsuchorsuchastationseemedtothelesspractisedtouristtobeafreshkindofunexpectedhumourist。

OneofthephrasesalwaysusedinthebusinessofcharitiesandsubscriptionsinFrancehasmorethantheintentionalcomedyofthefarce-writer；oneofthemostabsurdofhispersonages，wearyinghisvisitorsinthecountrywithaperpetualgameofbowls，saystothem："Nousjouonscinquantecentimes——lesbeneficesserontversesintegralementelasouscriptionquiestouverteelacommunepourlaconstructiondenotremaisond’ecole。"

"Fletrir，"again。Nothingcouldbemorerhetoricalthanthisperfectlycommonwordofcontroversy。Thecomicdramatistiswellawareofthespentviolenceofthisphrase，withwhicheveryseriousFrenchmanwillreplytoopponents，especiallyinpublicmatters。

Butnoteventhecomicdramatistisawareofthelaststateofrefusecommonplacethatawordofthiskindrepresents。Refuserhetoric，bytheway，ratherthanEmerson’s"fossilpoetry，"wouldseemtobetherightnameforhumanlanguageassomeoftheprocessesoftheseveralrecentcenturieshaveleftit。

TheFrenchcomedy，then，isfairlystuffedwiththin-SforanEnglishman。Theyarenotall，itistrue，sofinelycomicas"Ils’esttrompededefunte。"Inthereportofthatdull，incomparablesentencethereisenoughhumour，andsubtleenough，forboththemakerandthereader；fortheauthorwhoperceivesthecomedyaswellascustomwillpermit，andforthereaderwhotakesitwiththefreshnessofastranger。Butifnotsokeenasthis，thecurrentwordofFrenchcomedyisofthesamequalityoflanguage。Whenofthefourteencouplestobemarriedbythemayor，forinstance，thedeafclerkhasshuffledtwo，alooker-onpronounces："Ils’estempetredanslesfuturs。"ButforareaderwhohasafullsenseoftheseverallanguagesthatexistinEnglishattheserviceoftheseveralwaysofhumanlife，thereis，fromthemereterminologyofofficialFrance，highorlow——dailyFrance——agratuitousanduncovenantedsmiletobehad。WiththisthewitofthereportofFrenchliteraturehasnotlittletodo。Norisitinitself，perhaps，reasonablycomic，buttheslightestironyofcircumstancemakesitso。Averylittleofthemockeryofconditionsbringsoutallthelatentabsurdityofthe"sixiemeetseptiemearron-

dissements，"inthetwinklingofaneye。Soisitwiththemere"domicile；"withtheaidofbutalittleoftheburlesqueoflife，thesuitatlawto"reintegrerledomicileconjugal"becomesasgrotesqueasaphrasecanmakeit。Even"edomicile"merely——thewordofeveryshopman——is，intheunconsciousmouthsofthespeakers，alwaysawaitingthelightesttouchoffarce，ifonlyanEnglishmanhearsit；soistheadviceofthepolicethatyoushall"circuler"inthestreet；soistherequest，postedup，thatyoushallnot，inthechurches。

Soaretheseriousandordinaryphrases，"maisonnuptiale，""maisonmortuaire，"andthestillmoreserious"reposdominical，""oraisondominicale。"Thereisnomajestyinsuchwords。Theunsuspiciousgravitywithwhichtheyarespokenbroadcastisnottobewonderedat，thelanguageofferingnoreliefofcontrast；andwhatismuchtothecreditofthecomicsensibilityofliteratureisthefactthat，throughthisgeneralunconsciousness，theridiculeofathousandauthorsofcomedyperceivesthefun，andsinglesoutthefamiliarthing，andcompelsthatmostelaboratedulnesstoamuseus。US，aboveall，byvirtueofthecustomofcounter-changeheresetforth。

Whoshallsaywhether，byoperationofthesameexchange，theEnglishpoetsthatsopersistinFrancemaynotrevealsomethingwithintheEnglishlanguage——onewouldbesomewhatlothtothinkso——

reservedtotheFrenchreaderpeculiarly？Byrontothemultitude，EdgarPoetotheselect？ThenwouldsomeofthemysteriesofFrenchreadingofEnglishbeexplainedotherwisethanbytheplainerexplanationthathashithertosatisfiedourhaughtycuriosity。ThetasteforrhetoricseemedtoaccountforByron，andthedesireoftherhetoriciantoclaimatasteforpoetryseemedtoaccountforPoe。But，afterall，PATATRAS！Whocansay？

RAIN

Notexceptingthefallingstars——fortheyarefarlesssudden——thereisnothinginnaturethatsooutstripsourunreadyeyesasthefamiliarrain。Therodsthatthinlystripeourlandscape，longshaftsfromtheclouds，ifwehadbutagilitytomakethearrowydownwardjourneywiththembytheglancingofoureyes，wouldbeinfinitelyseparate，units，aninnumerableflightofsinglethings，andthesimplemovementofintricatepoints。

Thelongstrokeoftheraindrop，whichisthedropanditspathatonce，beingourimpressionofashower，showsushowcertainlyourimpressionistheeffectofthelagging，andnotofthehaste，ofoursenses。Whatweareapttocallourquickimpressionisratheroursensiblytardy，unprepared，surprised，outrun，lightlybewilderedsenseofthingsthatflashandfall，wink，andareoverpastandrenewed，whilethegentleeyesofmanhesitateandminglethebeginningwiththeclose。Theseinexperteyes，delicatelybaffled，detainforaninstanttheimagethatpuzzlesthem，andsodallywiththebrightprogressofameteor，andpartslowlyfromtheslendercourseofthealreadyfallenraindrop，whosemomentsarenottheirs。Thereseemstobesuchadifferenceofinstantsasinvestsallswiftmovementwithmysteryinman’seyes，andcausesthepast，amomentold，tobewritten，vanishing，upontheskies。

Thevisibleworldisetchedandengravedwiththesignsandrecordsofourhaltingapprehension；andthepausebetweenthedistantwoodman’sstrokewiththeaxeanditssounduponourearsisrepeatedintheimpressionsofourclingingsight。Theroundwheeldazzlesit，andthestrokeofthebird’swingshakesitofflikeacaptivityevaded。Everywherethenaturalhasteisimpatientofthesetimidsenses；andtheirperception，outrunbytheshower，shakenbythelight，deniedbytheshadow，eludedbythedistance，makesthelingeringpicturethatisallourart。Oneofthemostconstantcausesofallthemysteryandbeautyofthatartissurelynotthatweseebyflashes，butthatnatureflashesonourmeditativeeyes。Thereisnoneedfortheimpressionisttomakehaste，norwouldhasteavailhim，formobilenaturedoublesuponhim，andplayswithhisdelaystheexquisitegameofvisibility。

Momentlyvisibleinashower，invisiblewithintheearth，theministrationofwaterissomanifestinthecomingrain-cloudthatthehusbandmanisallowedtoseetherainofhisownland，yetunclaimedinthearmsoftherainywind。Itisaneagerlienthathebindstheshowerwithal，andthegraspofhisanxietyisonthecomingcloud。Hissenseofpropertytakesaimandreckonsdistanceandspeed，andevenasheshootsalittleaheadoftheequallyuncertainground-game，heknowsapproximatelyhowtohitthecloudofhispossession。Somuchistherainboundtotheearththat，unabletocompelit，manhasyetfoundaway，bylyinginwait，toputhispriceuponit。Theexhaustiblecloud"outweepsitsrain，"

andonlytheinexhaustiblesunseemstorepeatandtoenforcehiscumulativefiresuponeveryspanofground，innumerable。Therainiswasteduponthesea，butonlybyafantasycanthesun’swastebemadeareproachtotheocean，thedesert，orthesealed-upstreet。

Rossetti’s"vainvirtues"arethevirtuesoftherain，fallingunfruitfully。

Babyofthecloud，rainiscarriedlongenoughwithinthattroubledbreasttomakeallthemultitudeofdaysunlikeeachother。Rain，astheendofthecloud，divideslightandwithholdsit；initsflightwarningawaythesun，andinitsfinalfalldismissingshadow。Itisathreatandareconciliation；itremovesmountainscomparedwithwhichtheAlpsarehillocks，andmakesachildlikepeacebetweenopposedheightsandbattlementsofheaven。

THELETTERSOFMARCELINEVALMORE

"Prendsgardeemoi，mafille，etcouvremoibien！"MarcelineDesbordes-Valmore，writingfromFrancetoherdaughterOndine，whowasdelicateandchillyinLondonin1841，hasthesamesolicitous，journeyingfancyaswasexpressedbytwootherwomen，bothalsoFrenchwomen，andbotharticulateintenderness。EugeniedeGuerin，thatqueenofsisters，hadprecededherwithherowncomplaint，"I

haveapaininmybrother’sside"；andinanotherageMme。deSevignehadsuffered，inthecourseoflongpostsandthroughinfrequentletters——aprotractionofconjecturedpain——withintheframeofherabsentdaughter。Shephrasedherplightinmuchthesamewords，confessingtheuncancelledunionwithherchildthathadeffacedforhertheboundariesofherpersonallife。

Isnotwhatwecallalife——thepersonallife——aseparationfromtheuniversallife，aseclusion，adivision，acleft，awound？Forthesewomen，suchaseverancewasinparthealed，madewhole，closedup，andcured。Lifewasrestoredbetweentwoatatimeofhuman-

kind。Didthesethreewomenguessthattheirsufferingsofsympathywiththeirchildrenwereindeedthesignsofanewanduniversalhealth——theprophecyofhumanunity？

Thesignmighthavebeenamoremanifestandahappierprophecyhadthisunionoftendernesstakenthegayoccasionasoftenasthesad。

Exceptattimes，inthesinglecaseofMme。deSevigne，allthree——

farmoresensitivethantherestoftheworld——wereyetnotsensitiveenoughtofeelequallythelesssharpcommunicationofjoy。Theyclaimed，owned，andfeltsensiblythepangsandnotthepleasuresoftheabsent。Orifnotonlythepangs，atleasttheywereapprehensivechieflyinthatsensewhichhumananxietyandforebodinghavelenttotheword；theywereapprehensiveofwhattheyfeared。"Areyouwarm？"writesMarcelineValmoretoherchild。

"Youhavesolittletowear——areyoureallywarm？Oh，takecareofme——covermewell。"Elsewhereshesays，"Youareaninsolentchildtothinkofwork。Nurseyourhealth，andmine。Letuslivelikefools"；wherebyshemeantthatsheshouldworkwithherownferventbrainforboth，andtakethewhileherrestinOndine。Ifthislivingandunshortenedlovewassad，itmustbeownedthatso，too，wasthestory。EugenieandMauricedeGuerinwerebothtodiesoon，andMarcelinewastolosethisdaughterandanother。

Butsetfreefromtheconditionandoccasionofpainandsorrow，thislifewithoutboundarieswhichmothershaveundergoneseemstosuggestandtoportendwhattheprogressivecharityofgenerationsmaybe——andis，infact，thoughthecontinuitydoesnotalwaysappear——inthecourseoftheworld。Ifaloveandlifewithoutboundariesgodownfromamotherintoherchild，andfromthatchildintoherchildrenagain，thenincalculable，intricate，universal，andeternalaretheunionsthatseem——andonlyseem——sototranscendtheusualexperience。Theloveofsuchamotherpassesunchangedoutofherownsight。Itdropsdownages，butwhyshoulditalter？

Whatinherdaughtershouldshemakesomuchherownasthatdaughter’sloveforherdaughterinturn？Therearenolapses。

MarcelineValmore，marriedtoanactorwhoseemstohave"createdtheclassicgenre"invain，foundthesonsanddaughtersofotherwomeninwant。Someofherrichfriends，sheavers，seemtothinkthatthesadnessofherpoemsisahabit——amatterofmetreandrhyme，or，atmost，thatitis"temperament。"Butotherstakeupthecauseofthosewhosewoes，asshesays，turnedherlonghairwhitetoosoon。Sainte-Beuvegaveherhistimeandinfluence，succouredtwentypoliticaloffendersatherinstance，andgaveperpetuallytoherpoor。"Heneverhasanysocks，"saidhismother；

"hegivesthemallaway，likeBeranger。""Hegivesthemwithadifferentaccent，"addedtheliteraryMarceline。

Evenwhenthestroller’slifetookhertotownsshedidnothate，butloved——herownDouai，wherethenamesofthestreetsmadeherheartleap，andwhereherstatuestands，andBordeaux，whichwas，inhereyes，"rosywiththereflectedcolourofitsanimatingwine"——

shewastakenawayfromthecountryofherverse。Thefieldandthevillagehadbeendeartoher，andherpoemsnolongertrailanddroop，buttakewing，whentheycomeamongwinds，birds，bells，andwaves。Theyflywiththewholevolleyofasummermorning。Shelovedthesunandherliberty，andthelibertyofothers。ItwasapparentlyahorrorofprisonsthatchieflyinspiredherpubliceffortsaftercertainriotsatLyonshadbeenreducedtopeace。Thedeadwerefree，butfortheprisonerssheworked，wrote，andpetitioned。ShelookedatthesentinelsatthegatesoftheLyonsgaolswithsucheyesasmighthaveprovokedashot，shethinks。

Duringherlifetimesheverymodestlytookcorrectionfromhercontemporaries，forherstudyhadhardlybeenenoughforthewholeartofFrenchverse。ButSainte-Beuve，Baudelaire，andVerlainehavepraisedherasoneofthepoetsofFrance。Thelatercritics——

fromVerlaineonwards——willholdthatsheneedsnopardonforcertainslightirregularitiesinthegroupingofmasculineandfemininerhymes，foruponthislibertytheythemselveshavelargelyimproved。Theoldrulesintheircompletenessseemedtoomuchlikeaprisontoher。Shewassetaboutwithimportunateconditions——acaesura，arhyme，narrowlodgingsinstrangetowns，bankruptcies，salariesastray——andshetookonlyalittlegentleliberty。

THEHOURSOFSLEEP

TherearehoursclaimedbySleep，butrefusedtohim。Nonethelessaretheyhisbysomestatewithinthemind，whichanswersrhythmicallyandpunctuallytothatclaim。Awakeandatwork，withoutdrowsiness，withoutlanguor，andwithoutgloom，thenightmindofmanisyetnothisdaymind；hehasnight-powersoffeelingwhichareattheirhighestindreams，butarenight’saswellassleep’s。Thepowersofthemindindreams，whichareinexplicable，arenotaltogetherbaffledbecausethemindisawake；itisthehouroftheirreturnasitisthehourofatide’s，andtheydoreturn。

Insleeptheyhavetheirfreeway。Nightthenhasnothingtohamperherinfluence，andshedrawstheemotion，thesenses，andthenervesofthesleeper。Sheurgeshimuponthoseextremitiesofangerandlove，contemptandterrortowhichnotonlycannoeventoftherealdaypersuadehim，butforwhich，awake，hehasperhapsnoteventhecapacity。Thisincreaseofcapacity，whichisthedream’s，ispunctualtothenight，eventhoughsleepandthedreambekeptatarm’slength。

Thechild，notasleep，butpassingthroughthehoursofsleepandtheirdominions，knowsthatthemoodofnightwillhaveitshour；heputsoffhistroubledheart，andwillansweritanothertime，intheotherstate，byday。"IshallbeabletobearthiswhenIamgrownup"isnotoftenerinayoungchild’smindthan"Ishallenduretothinkofitintheday-time。"Bythisheconfessesthedoublehabitanddoubleexperience，nottobeinterchanged，andcommunicatingtogetheronlybymemoryandhope。

Perhapsitwillbefoundthattoworkallbydayorallbynightistomisssomethingofthepowersofacomplexmind。Onemightimaginetherhythmicexperienceofapoet，subject，likeachild，tothetime，andtemperingtheextremitiesofeitherstatebymessagesofremembranceandexpectancy。

Nevertohavehadabrilliantdream，andnevertohavehadanydelirium，wouldbetolivetoomuchintheday；andhardlylesswouldbethelossofhimwhohadnotexercisedhiswakingthoughtundertheinfluenceofthehoursclaimedbydreams。Andastochoosingbetweendayandnight，orguessingwhetherthestateofdayordarkisthetruerandthemorenatural，hewouldberashwhoshouldmaketoosure。

Inordertolivethelifeofnight，awatchermustnotwaketoomuch。Thatis，heshouldnotaltersogreatlythecharacterofnightastolosethesolitude，thevisibledarkness，orthequietude。Thehoursofsleeparetoomuchalteredwhentheyarefilledbylightsandcrowds；andNatureischeatedso，andevaded，andherrhythmbroken，aswhenthelarkscagedinpopulousstreetsmakeineffectualspringsandsingdaybreaksongswhentheLondongasislighted。Natureiseasilydeceived；andthemuse，likethelark，maybesetallastrayastothehour。Youmayspendthepeculiarhoursofsleepamidsomuchnoiseandamongsomanypeoplethatyoushallnotbeawareofthem；youmaythusmerelyforceandprolongtheday。Buttodosoisnottolivewellbothlives；itisnottoyieldtothedailyandnightlyriseandfallandtobecradledintheswingofchange。

Theresurelyneverwasapoetbutwasnowandthenrockedinsuchacradleofalternatehours。"Itcannotbe，"saysHerbert，"thatIamheonwhomThytempestsfellallnight。"

Itisinthehoursofsleepthatthemind，bysomedivineparadox，hastheextremestsenseoflight。AlmostthemostshininglinesinEnglishpoetry——linesthatcastsunriseshadows——arethoseofBlake，writtenconfessedlyfromthesideofnight，thesideofsorrowanddreams，andthosedreamsthedreamsoflittlechimney-sweepers；allisasdarkashecanmakeitwiththe"bagsofsoot"；buttheboy’sdreamofthegreenplainandtheriveristoobrightforday。So，indeed，isanotherbrightnessofBlake’s，whichisalso，inhispoem，achild’sdream，andwascertainlyconceivedbyhiminthehoursofsleep，inwhichhewoketowritetheSongsofInnocence：-

Owhatlandisthelandofdreams？

Whatareitsmountains，andwhatareitsstreams？

Ofather，Isawmymotherthere，Amongtheliliesbywatersfair。

Amongthelambsclothedinwhite，Shewalk’dwithherThomasinsweetdelight。

Tononebutthehoursclaimedandinspiredbysleep，heldawakebysufferanceofsleep，belongssuchavision。

Corotalsotookthebrilliantopportunityofthehoursofsleep。Insomelandscapesofhisearlymannerhehastheverylightofdreams，anditwassurelybecausehewentabroadatthetimewhensleepanddreamsclaimedhiseyesthathewasabletoseesospiritualanillumination。Summerispreciousforapainter，chieflybecauseinsummersomanyofthehoursofsleeparealsohoursoflight。Hecarriesthemoodofman’snightoutintothesunshine——Corotdidso——

andlivesthelifeofnight，inallitsgenius，inthepresenceofarisensun。Intheonlytimewhentheheartcandreamoflight，inthenightofvisions，withtherhythmicpowerofnightatitsdarknooninhismind，hiseyesseethesoaringoftheactualsun。

Hehimselfhasnotyetpassedatthathourintothelifeofday。Tothatlifebelongsmanyanotherkindofwork，andasenseofotherkindsofbeauty；butthesummerdaybreakwasseenbyCorotwiththeextremeperceptionofthelifeofnight。Here，atlast，istheexplanationofallthememoriesofdreamsrecalledbythesevisionarypaintings，doneinearlieryearsthanwerethose，betterknown，thataretheCorotsofalltheworld。EverymanwhoknowswhatitistodreamoflandscapemeetswithoneoftheseworksofCorot’sfirstmannerwithacry，notofwelcomeonly，butofrecognition。Hereismorningperceivedbythespiritofthehoursofsleep。

THEHORIZON

Tomountahillistoliftwithyousomethinglighterandbrighterthanyourselforthananymeanerburden。Youlifttheworld，youraisethehorizon；yougiveasignalforthedistancetostandup。

ItislikethesceneintheVaticanwhenaCardinal，withhisdramaticItalianhands，bidsthekneelinggroupstoarise。Hedoesmorethanbidthem。Heliftsthem，hegathersthemup，farandnear，withtheupwardgestureofbotharms；hetakesthemtotheirfeetwiththecompulsionofhisexpressiveforce。Oritisaswhenaconductortakeshisplayerstosuccessiveheightsofmusic。Yousummonthesea，youbringthemountains，thedistancesunfoldunlooked-forwingsandtakeanevenflight。Youarebutamanliftinghisweightupontheupwardroad，butasyouclimbthecircleoftheworldgoesuptofaceyou。

Nothereorthere，butwithadefinitecontinuity，theunseenunfolds。Thisdistanthilloutsoarsthatlessdistant，butallareonthewing，andtheplainraisesitsverge。Allthingsfollowandwaituponyoureyes。Youlifttheseup，notbytheraisingofyoureyelids，butbythepilgrimageofyourbody。"Liftthineeyestothemountains。"Itisthenthatothermountainsliftthemselvestoyourhumaneyes。

Itisthelawwherebytheeyeandthehorizonansweroneanotherthatmakesthewayupahillsofullofuniversalmovement。Allthelandscapeisonpilgrimage。Thetowngathersitselfcloser，anditsinnerharboursliterallycometolight；theheadlandsrepeatthemselves；littlecupswithinthetreelesshillsopenandshowtheirfarms。Intheseaaremanyregions。Abreezeisatplayforamileortwo，andthesurfaceisturned。Thereareroadsandcurvesintheblueandinthewhite。Notastepofyourjourneyuptheheightthathasnotitsrepliesinthesteadymotionoflandandsea。Thingsrisetogetherlikeaflockofmany-featheredbirds。

Butitisthehorizon，morethanallelse，youhavecomeinsearchof。Thatisyourchiefcompaniononyourway。Itistoupliftthehorizontotheequalityofyoursightthatyougohigh。Yougiveitadistanceworthyoftheskies。Thereisnodistance，exceptthedistanceinthesky，tobeseenfromthelevelearth；butfromtheheightistobeseenthedistanceofthisworld。Thelineissentbackintotheremotenessoflight，thevergeisremovedbeyondverge，intoadistancethatisenormousandminute。

SodelicateandsoslenderisthedistanthorizonthatnothinglessnearthanQueenMabandherchariotcanequalitsfineness。Hereontheedgesoftheeyelids，orthereontheedgesoftheworld——weknownootherplaceforthingssoexquisitelymade，sothin，sosmallandtender。Thetouchesofherpassing，ascloseasdreams，ortheutmostvanishingoftheforestortheoceaninthewhitelightbetweentheearthandtheair；nothingelseisquitesointimateandfine。Theextremitiesofamountainviewhavejustsuchtinytouchesastheclosenessofclosedeyesshutsin。

Onthehorizonisthesweetestlight。Elsewherecolourmarsthesimplicityoflight；buttherecolouriseffaced，notasmeneffaceit，byablurordarkness，butbymerelight。Thebluestskydisappearsonthatshiningedge；thereisnotsubstanceenoughforcolour。Therimofthehill，ofthewoodland，ofthemeadow-land，ofthesea——letitonlybefarenough——hasthesameabsorptionofcolour；andeventhedarkthingsdrawnuponthebrightedgesoftheskyarelucid，thelightisamongthem，andtheyaremingledwithit。Thehorizonhasitsownwayofmakingbrightthepencilledfiguresofforests，whichareblackbutluminous。

Onthehorizon，moreover，closesthelongperspectiveofthesky。

Thereyouperceivethatanordinaryskyofclouds——notathundersky——isnotawallbuttheundersideofafloor。Youseethecloudsthatrepeateachothergrowsmallerbydistance；andyoufindanewunityintheskyandearththatgatheralikethegreatlinesoftheirdesignstothesamedistantclose。Thereisnolongeranaliensky，tossedupinunintelligibleheightsaboveaworldthatissubjecttointelligibleperspective。

OfallthethingsthatLondonhasforegone，themosttoberegrettedisthehorizon。Notthebarkofthetreesinitsrightcolour；notthespiritofthegrowinggrass，whichhasinsomewayescapedfromtheparks；notthesmelloftheearthunmingledwiththeodourofsoot；butratherthemerehorizon。NodoubtthesunmakesabeautifulthingoftheLondonsmokeattimes，andinsomeplacesofthesky；butnotthere，notwherethesoftsharpdistanceoughttoshine。Tobedullthereistoputallrelationsandcomparisonsinthewrong，andtomaketheskylawless。

Ahorizondarkwithstormisanotherthing。Theweatherdarkensthelineanddefinesit，orminglesitwiththerainingcloud；orsoftlydimsit，orblackensitagainstagleamofnarrowsunshineinthesky。Thestormyhorizonwilltakewing，andthesunny。Gohighenough，andyoucanraisethelightfrombeyondtheshower，andtheshadowfrombehindtheray。Onlytheshapelessandlifelesssmokedisobeysanddefeatsthesummeroftheeyes。

Upatthetopoftheseawardhillyourfirstthoughtisoneofsomecompassionforsailors，inasmuchastheyseebutlittleoftheirsea。AchildonamereChannelclifflooksuponspacesandsizesthattheycannotseeinthePacific，ontheoceansideoftheworld。

Neverinthesolitudeofthebluewater，neverbetweentheCapeofGoodHopeandCapeHorn，neverbetweentheIslandsandtheWest，hastheseamanseenanythingbutalittlecircleofsea。TheAncientMariner，whenhewasalone，didbutdriftthroughathousandnarrowsolitudes。Thesailorhasnothingbuthismast，indeed。Andbutforhismasthewouldbeisolatedinassmallaworldasthatofatravellerthroughtheplains。

Roundtheplainsthehorizonlieswithfoldedwings。Itkeepsthemsoperpetuallyforman，andopensthemonlyforthebird，replyingtoflightwithflight。

Aclosecircletofwavesisthesailor’sfamousoffing。Hisoffinghardlydeservesthenameofhorizon。Tohearhimyoumightthinksomethingofhisoffing，butyoudonotsowhenyousitdowninthecentreofit。

Astheupspringingofallthingsatyourgoinguptheheights，sosteady，soswift，isthesubsidenceatyourdescent。Thefurthersealiesaway，hillfoldsdownbehindhill。Thewholeupstandingworld，withitslookssereneandalert，itsdistantreplies，itssignalsofmanymiles，itssignsandcommunicationsoflight，gathersdownandpauses。Thisflockofbirdswhichisthemobilelandscapewheelsandgoestoearth。TheCardinalweighsdowntheaudiencewithhisdownwardhands。Farewelltothemostdelicatehorizon。

HABITSANDCONSCIOUSNESS

Educationmightdosomewhattocontrolthepersonalhabitsforwhichungenerousobservantmenareinclinedtodislikeoneanother。Ithasdonelittle。Astoliterature，thishashadthemostcuriouslydiverseinfluenceuponthehumansensitivenesstohabit。Tolstoi’sperceptionofhabitsiskeenerthanachild’s，andhetakesthemuneasily，asachilddoesnot。Heholdsthemtobetheoccasion，ifnotthecause，ofhatred。AnnaKarenina，asshedrankhercoffee，knewthathersometimeloverwasdreadingtohearherswallowit，andwashatingthecrookingofherlittlefingerassheheldhercup。Itisimpossibletoliveinaworldofhabitswithsuchanapprehensionofhabitsasthis。

ItisnowonderthatTolstoideniestoothermenunconsciousness，andevenpreoccupation。Withhimperceptionneverlapses，andhewillnotdescribeamurdererasraptawaybypassionfromthedetailsoftheroomandtheobservationofhimself；norwillherepresentatheologianasfailing——evenwhilehethinksoutanddecidesthequestionofhisfaith——tonotethethingsthatarresthispresentanduncloudedeyes。Nohabitswoulddaretoliveunderthoseglances。Theymustdieofdismay。

Tolstoiseeseverythingthatiswithinsight。Thatheseesthismultitudeofthingswithinvinciblesimplicityiswhatproveshimanartist；nevertheless，forsuchperceptionashisthereisnopeace。

Forwhenitisnotthetrivialitiesofothermen’shabitsbuttheactualitiesofhisownmindthathefollowswithoutrest，forhimthereisnopossiblepeacebutsleep。Tohim，morethantoallothers，ithasbeensaid，"Watch！"Thereisnorelapse，thereisnorespitebutsleepordeath。

Tosuchamindeverynightmustcomewithanoverwhelmingchange，areleasetoogreatforgratitude。Whatafallingtosleep！Whatamanumission，whatanabsolution！Consciousnessandconsciencesetfreefromtheexactedinstantrepliesoftheunrelapsingday。Andattheawakeningallisreadyyetoncemore，andapprehensionbeginsagain：aperpetualpresenceofmind。

Dr。Johnsonwas"absent。"Nomanof"absent"mindiswithoutsomehourlydeliverance。Itisonthepresentmindthatpressestheburdenofthepresentworld。

SHADOWS

Anothergoodreasonthatweoughttoleaveblank，unvexed，andunencumberedwithpaperpatternstheceilingandwallsofasimplehouseisthattheplainsurfacemaybevisitedbytheuniquedesignsofshadows。Theopportunityissofineathingthatitoughtoftenertobeofferedtothelightandtoyonderhandfuloflongsedgesandrushesinavase。Theirslendergreydesignofshadowsuponwhitewallsisbetterthanatedious，trivial，oranxiousdevicefromtheshop。

Theshadowhasallintricaciesofperspectivesimplytranslatedintolineandintersectingcurve，andpictoriallypresentedtotheeyes，nottothemind。Theshadowknowsnothingexceptitsflatdesigns。

Itissingle；itdrawsadecorationthatwasneverseenbefore，andwillneverbeseenagain，andthat，untouched，varieswiththejourneyofthesun，shiftstheinterrelationofascoreofdelicatelinesatthemerepassingoftime，thoughalltheroombemotionless。Whywilldesigninsistuponitsimportunateimmortality？Wiseristhedrama，andwiserthedance，thatdonotpauseuponanattitude。Butthesewalkwithpassionorpleasure，whiletheshadowwalkswiththeearth。Italtersasthehourswheel。

Moreover，whilethehabitofyoursunwardthoughtsisstillflowingsouthward，afterthewinterandthespring，itsurprisesyouinthesuddengleamofanorth-westeringsun。Itdecksanewwall；itisshedbyalatesunsetthroughawindowunvisitedforayearpast；itbetraystheflittingofthesunintounwontedskies——asunthattakesthemidsummerworldintherear，andshowshisheadatasally-porte，andisabouttoalightonanunusedhorizon。Sodoesthegreydrawing，withwhichyouhaveallowedthesunandyourpotofrushestoadornyourroom，playthestealthygameoftheyear。

Youneednotstintyourselfofshadows，foranoccasion。ItneedsbutfourcandlestomakeahangingOrientalbellplaythemostbuoyantjuggleryoverhead。Twolampsmakeofonepalm-branchasymmetricalcounterchargeofshadows，andheretwopalm-branchesclosewithoneanotherinshadow，theirarchesflowingtogether，andtheirpalergreysdarkening。Itishardtobelievethattherearemanytoprefera"repeatingpattern。"

Itmustbegrantedtothemthatagreydayrobsoftheirdecorationthewallsthatshouldbesprinkledwithshadows。Let，then，aplaqueorapicturebekeptforhangingonshadowlessclays。Todressaroomonceforall，andtogiveitnomoreheed，istoneglecttheunitsofthedays。

Shadowswithindoorsareyetonlymessagesfromthatworldofshadowswhichisthelandscapeofsunshine。FacingaMaysunyouseelittleexceptaninfinitenumberofshadows。Atomsofshadow——

bethedaybrightenough——composetheveryairthroughwhichyouseethelight。Thetreesshowyouashadowforeveryleaf，andthepoplarsaresprinkledupontheshiningskywithlittleshadowsthatlooktranslucent。Thelivelinessofeveryshadowisthatsomelightisreflectedintoit；shadeandshinehavebeenentangledasthoughbysomewildwindthroughtheirmillionmolecules。

Thecoolnessandthedarkofnightareinterlockedwiththeuncloudedsun。Turnsunwardfromthenorth，andshadowscometolife，andarethemselvesthelife，theaction，andthetransparenceoftheirday。

Toeyestiredandretiredalldaywithinloweredblinds，thelightlooksstillandchangeless。Somanysquaresofsunshineabideforsomanyhours，andwhenthesunhascircledawaytheypassandareextinguished。Himwholiesalonetheretheouterworldtoucheslessbythislongsunshinethanbythehasteandpassageofashadow。

Althoughtheremaybenotreetostandbetweenhiswindowandthesouth，andalthoughnonoondaywindmayblowabranchofrosesacrosstheblind，shadowsandtheirlifewillbecarriedacrossbyabrilliantbird。

Tothesickmanacloud-shadowisnothingbutaneclipse；hecannotseeitsshape，itscolor，itsapproach，oritsflight。Itdoesbutdarkenhiswindowasitdarkenstheday，andisgoneagain；hedoesnotseeitpluckandsnatchthesun。Buttheflyingbirdshowshimwings。Whatflashoflightcouldbemorebrightforhimthansuchaflashofdarkness？

Itisthepulseoflife，whereallchangehadseemedtobecharmed。

Ifhehadseenthebirditselfhewouldhaveseenless——thebird’sshadowwasamessagefromthesun。

Therearetwoseparatedflightsforthefancytofollow，theflightofthebirdintheair，andtheflightofitsshadowonearth。Thisgoesacrossthewindowblind，acrossthewood，whereitisastrayforawhileintheshades；itdipsintothevalley，growingvaguerandlarger，runs，quickerthanthewind，uphill，smalleranddarkeronthesoftanddrygrass，andrushestomeetitsbirdwhenthebirdswoopstoabranchandclings。

Inthegreatbirdcountryofthenorth-easternlittoralofEngland，aboutHolyIslandandthebasalticrocks，theshadowsofthehighbirdsarethemovementandthepulseofthesolitude。Wheretherearenowoodstomakeashade，thesunsuffersthebrillianteclipseofflocksofpearl-whiteseabirds，orofthesolitarycreaturedrivingonthewind。Theirsisalwaysasurpriseofflight。Thecloudsgooneway，butthebirdsgoallways：infromtheseaorout，acrossthesands，inlandtohighnorthernfields，wherethecropsarelatebyamonth。Theyflysohighthatthoughtheyhavetheshadowofthesunundertheirwings，theyhavethelightoftheearththerealso。Thewavesandthecoastshineuptothem，andtheyflybetweenlights。

Blackflocksandwhitetheygathertheirdelicateshadowsup，"swiftasdreams，"attheendoftheirflightintotheclefts，platforms，andledgesofharbourlessrocksdominatingtheNorthSea。Theysubsidebydegrees，withlesseningandshorteningvolleysofwingsandcriesuntiltherecomesthegeneralshadowofnightwherewiththelittleshadowsclose，complete。

Theeveningistheshadowofanotherflight。Allthebirdshavetracedwildandinnumerablepathsacrossthemid-Mayearth；theirshadowshavefledalldayfasterthanherstreams，andhaveovertakenallthemovementofherwinglesscreatures。Butnowitistheflightoftheveryearththatcarriesherclaspedshadowfromthesun。

Footnotes：

{1}Ifounditafterwards：itwasRebecca。

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