Childishisthattrick，andsweet。Forchildren，whoalwayslaughbecausetheymust，andneverbywayofprooforsign，laughonlyhalftheirlaughsoutoftheirsenseofhumour；theylaughtherestunderamerestimulation：becauseofaboundingbreathandblood；

becausesomeonerunsbehindthem，forexample，andmovementdoessojogtheirspiritsthattheirlegsfailthem，forlaughter，withoutajest。

Ifeverthedayshouldcomewhenmenandwomenshallbecontenttosignaltheirperceptionofhumourbythenaturalsmile，andshallkeepthelaughforitsownunpremeditatedact，shalllaughseldom，andsimply，andnotthriceatthesamething——onceforfoolishsurprise，andtwicefortardyintelligence，andthricetoletitbeknownthattheyareamused——thenitmaybetimetopersuadethislaughingnationnottolaughsoloudasitiswontinpublic。Thetheatreaudiencesoflouder-speakingnationslaughlowerthanours。

Thelaughthatischieflyasignalofthelaugher’ssenseoftheridiculousisnecessarilyloud；andithasthedisadvantageofcoveringwhatwemayperhapswishtohearfromtheactors。Itisapubliclaugh，andnoordinarycitizeniscalleduponforapubliclaugh。Hemaylaughinpublic，butletitbewithprivatelaughterthere。

Letus，ifanythinglikeageneralreformbepossibleinthesetimesofdispersionandofscattering，keephenceforthoursenseofhumourinaplacebetterguarded，assomethingworthameasureofseclusion。Itshouldnotloiterinwaitforthealmsofajokeinadventurousplaces。Forthesenseofhumourhasotherthingstodothantomakeitselfconspicuousintheactoflaughter。Ithasnegativetasksofvalidvirtue；forexample，thestandingandwaitingwithincalloftragedyitself，where，excluded，itmaykeepguard。

NoreasonablemanwillaverthattheOrientalmannersarebest。

ThiswouldbetodenyShakespeareashiscomradesknewhim，wherethewit"out-didthemeat，out-didthefrolicwine，"andtodenyBenJonson’s"tartAristophanes，neatTerence，wittyPlautus，"andtherest。DoubtlessGreecedeterminedthecustomforallourOccident；

butnonethelessmightthemodernworldgrowmoresensibleofthevalueofcomposure。

Tononeotheroftheseveralpowersofoursoulsdowesogivereinastothisofhumour，andnoneotherdoweindulgewithsolittlefastidiousness。Itisasthoughtherewerehonouringoverningtheothersenses，andhonourinrefusingtogovernthis。Itisasthoughwewereashamedofreasonhere，andshyofdignity，andsuspiciousoftemperance，anddiffidentofmoderation，andtooeagertothrustforwardthatwhichlosesnothingbyseclusion。

THERHYTHMOFLIFE

Iflifeisnotalwayspoetical，itisatleastmetrical。

Periodicityrulesoverthementalexperienceofman，accordingtothepathoftheorbitofhisthoughts。Distancesarenotgauged，ellipsesnotmeasured，velocitiesnotascertained，timesnotknown。

Nevertheless，therecurrenceissure。Whatthemindsufferedlastweek，orlastyear，itdoesnotsuffernow；butitwillsufferagainnextweekornextyear。Happinessisnotamatterofevents；itdependsuponthetidesofthemind。Diseaseismetrical，closinginatshorterandshorterperiodstowardsdeath，sweepingabroadatlongerandlongerintervalstowardsrecovery。Sorrowforonecausewasintolerableyesterday，andwillbeintolerableto-morrow；to-dayitiseasytobear，butthecausehasnotpassed。Eventheburdenofaspiritualdistressunsolvedisboundtoleavethehearttoatemporarypeace；andremorseitselfdoesnotremain——itreturns。

Gaietytakesusbyadearsurprise。Ifwehadmadeacourseofnotesofitsvisits，wemighthavebeenonthewatch，andwouldhavehadanexpectationinsteadofadiscovery。Noonemakessuchobservations；inallthediariesofstudentsoftheinteriorworld，therehavenevercometolighttherecordsoftheKeplerofsuchcycles。ButThomaseKempisknewoftherecurrences，ifhedidnotmeasurethem。Inhiscellalonewiththeelements——"Whatwouldstthoumorethanthese？foroutofthesewereallthingsmade"——helearntthestaytobefoundinthedepthofthehourofbitterness，andtheremembrancethatrestrainsthesoulatthecomingofthemomentofdelight，givingitamoreconsciouswelcome，butpresagingforitaninexorableflight。And"rarely，rarelycomestthou，"

sighedShelley，nottoDelightmerely，buttotheSpiritofDelight。

Delightcanbecompelledbeforehand，called，andconstrainedtoourservice——Arielcanbeboundtoadailytask；butsuchartificialviolencethrowslifeoutofmetre，anditisnotthespiritthatisthuscompelled。THATflitsuponanorbitellipticallyorparabolicallyorhyperbolicallycurved，keepingnomanknowswhattrystswithTime。

ItseemsfitthatShelleyandtheauthorofthe"Imitation"shouldbothhavebeenkeenandsimpleenoughtoperceivetheseflights，andtoguessattheorderofthisperiodicity。Bothsoulswereinclosetouchwiththespiritsoftheirseveralworlds，andnodeliberatehumanrules，noinfractionsofthelibertyandlawoftheuniversalmovement，keptfromthemtheknowledgeofrecurrences。Eppursimuove。Theyknewthatpresencedoesnotexistwithoutabsence；theyknewthatwhatisjustuponitsflightoffarewellisalreadyonitslongpathofreturn。Theyknewthatwhatisapproachingtotheverytouchishasteningtowardsdeparture。"Owind，"criedShelley，inautumn，Owind，Ifwintercomescanspringbefarbehind？

Theyknewthatthefluxisequaltothereflux；thattointerruptwithunlawfulrecurrences，outoftime，istoweakentheimpulseofonsetandretreat；thesweepandimpetusofmovement。Toliveinconstanteffortsafteranequallife，whethertheequalitybesoughtinmentalproduction，orinspiritualsweetness，orinthejoyofthesenses，istolivewithouteitherrestorfullactivity。Thesoulsofcertainofthesaints，beingsingularlysimpleandsingle，havebeeninthemostcompletesubjectiontothelawofperiodicity。

Ecstasyanddesolationvisitedthembyseasons。Theyendured，duringspacesofvacanttime，theinteriorlossofallforwhichtheyhadsacrificedtheworld。Theyrejoicedintheuncovenantedbeatitudeofsweetnessalightingintheirhearts。Likethemarethepoetswhom，threetimesortentimesinthecourseofalonglife，theMusehasapproached，touched，andforsaken。Andyethardlylikethem；notalwayssodocile，norsowhollypreparedforthedeparture，thebrevity，ofthegoldenandirrevocablehour。Fewpoetshavefullyrecognizedthemetricalabsenceoftheirmuse。Forfullrecognitionisexpressedinoneonlyway——silence。

IthasbeenfoundthatseveraltribesinAfricaandinAmericaworshipthemoon，andnotthesun；agreatnumberworshipboth；butnotribesareknowntoadorethesun，andnotthemoon。Onherdependthetides；andsheisSelene，motherofHerse，bringerofthedewsthatrecurrentlyirrigatelandswhererainisrare。MorethananyothercompanionofearthisshetheMeasurer。EarlyIndo-

Germaniclanguagesknewherbythatname。Hermetricalphasesarethesymboloftheorderofrecurrence。Constancyinapproachandindepartureisthereasonofherinconstancies。Julietwillnotreceiveavowspokenininvocationofthemoon；butJulietdidnotlivetoknowthatloveitselfhastidaltimes——lapsesandebbswhichareduetothemetricalruleoftheinteriorheart，butwhichthelovervainlyandunkindlyattributestosomeoutwardalterationinthebeloved。Forman——exceptthoseelectalreadynamed——ishardlyawareofperiodicity。Theindividualmaneitherneverlearnsitfully，orlearnsitlate。Andhelearnsitsolate，becauseitisamatterofcumulativeexperienceuponwhichcumulativeevidenceislonglacking。Itisintheafter-partofeachlifethatthelawislearntsodefinitelyastodoawaywiththehopeorfearofcontinuance。Thatyoungsorrowcomessoneartodespairisaresultofthisyoungignorance。Soistheearlyhopeofgreatachievement。

Lifeseemssolong，anditscapacitysogreat，toonewhoknowsnothingofalltheintervalsitneedsmusthold——intervalsbetweenaspirations，betweenactions，pausesasinevitableasthepausesofsleep。Andlifelooksimpossibletotheyoungunfortunate，unawareoftheinevitableandunfailingrefreshment。Itwouldbefortheirpeacetolearnthatthereisatideintheaffairsofmen，inasensemoresubtle——ifitisnottooaudacioustoaddameaningtoShakespeare——thanthephrasewasmeanttocontain。Theirjoyisflyingawayfromthemonitswayhome；theirlifewillwaxandwane；

andiftheywouldbewise，theymustwakeandrestinitsphases，knowingthattheyareruledbythelawthatcommandsallthings——asun’srevolutionsandtherhythmicpangsofmaternity。

DOMUSANGUSTA

Thenarrowhouseisasmallhumannaturecompelledtoalargehumandestiny，chargedwithafatetoogreat，ahistorytoovarious，foritsslightcapacities。Menhavecommonlycomplainedoffate；buttheircomplaintshavebeenofthesmallness，notofthegreatness，ofthehumanlot。Adisproportion——allinfavourofman——betweenmanandhisdestinyisoneofthethingstobetakenforgrantedinliterature：sofrequentandsoeasyistheutteranceofthehabituallamentationastothetroubleofa"vaincapacity，"sowellexplainedhasiteverbeen。

ThouhastnothalfthepowertodomeharmThatIhavetobehurt，discontentedmanseemstocrytoHeaven，takingthewordsofthebraveEmilia。Butinarticulatehasbeenthevoicewithinthenarrowhouse。Obviouslyitneverhaditspoet。Littleelocutionisthere，littleargumentordefinition，littleexplicitness。Andyetforeveryvaincapacitywemayassuredlycountathousandvaindestinies，foreveryliberalnatureathousandliberalfates。Itisthetroubleofthewidehousewehearof，clamorousofitsdisappointmentsanddesires。Thenarrowhousehasnoechoes；yetitspatheticshortcomingmightwellmovepity。Onthatstraitstageisactedageneroustragedy；tothatinadequatesoulisintrustedanenormoussorrow；atempestofmovementmakesitshomewithinthatslendernature；andheroichappinessseeksthattimorousheart。

Wemay，indeed，inpartknowthenarrowhousebyitsinarticulateness——not，certainly，itsfewnessofwords，butitsinadequacyandimprecisionofspeech。For，doubtless，rightlanguageenlargesthesoulasnootherpowerorinfluencemaydo。

Who，forinstance，buttrustsmorenoblyforknowingthefullwordofhisconfidence？Whobutlovesmorepenetratinglyforpossessingtheultimatesyllableofhistenderness？Thereisa"pledgingoftheword，"inanothersensethantheordinarysenseoftrothandpromise。Thepoetpledgeshisword，hissentence，hisverse，andfindsthereinapeculiarsanction。AndIsupposethatevenphysicalpaintakesonanedgewhenitnotonlyenforcesapangbutwhispersaphrase。Consciousnessandthewordarealmostascloselyunitedasthoughtandtheword。Almost——notquite；inspiteofitsinexpressivespeech，thenarrowhouseisawareandsensitivebeyond，asitwere，itspoorpower。

Butastothewholedisparitybetweenthedestinyandthenature，weknowittobegeneral。Lifeisgreatthatistriviallytransmitted；

loveisgreatthatisvulgarlyexperienced。Death，too，isaheroicvirtue；andtothekeepingofusallisdeathcommitted：death，submissiveintheindocile，modestinthefatuous，severalinthevulgar，secretinthefamiliar。Itisdestructive，becauseitnotonlyclosesbutcontradictslife。Unlikelypeopledie。Theonecertainthing，itisalsotheoneimprobable。Adreadfulparadoxisperhapswroughtuponalittlenaturethatisincapableofdeathandyetisconstrainedtodie。Thatisatruedestruction，andthethoughtofitisobscure。

Happyliteraturecorrectsallthisdisproportionbyitsimmortalpause。Itdoesnotbidusfollowmanorwomantoanillogicalconclusion。Mrs。MicawberneverdoesdesertMr。Micawber。

Consideringhermentalpowers，bytheway，anillogicalconclusionforherwouldbemanifestlyinappropriate。Shakespeare，indeed，havingseenalifewhole，seesittoanend：seesitout，andFalstaffdies。MorethanPrometheanwastheaudacitythat，havingkindled，quenchedthatspark。Butotherwisethegrotesquemaninliteratureisimmortal，andwithsomethingmoresignificantthantheimmortalityawardedtohiminthesayingsofrhetoric；heisperdurablebecauseheisnotcompleted。Hishumoursarestrangelymatchedwithperpetuity。But，indeed，heisnotworthytodie；forthereissomethinggraverthantobeimmortal，andthatistobemortal。IprotestIdonotlaughatmanorwomanintheworld。I

thankmyfellowmortalsfortheirwit，andalsoforthekindofjokethattheFrenchsopleasantlycallunejoyeusete；thesearetosmileat。Butthegayinjusticeoflaughterisbetweenmeandthemanorwomaninabook，infiction，oronthestageinaplay。

Thatnarrowhouse——thereissometimesamessagefromitslivingwindows。Itsbewilderment，itsreluctance，itsdefect，showbymomentsfromeyesthatareapttoexpressnonebutcommonthings。

Thereareallusionsunawares，involuntaryappeals，inthosebriefglances。Farfrommeandfrommyfriendsbethemisfortuneofmeetingsuchlooksinreplytopainofourinflicting。Tobecleverandsensitiveandtohurtthefoolishandthestolid——"wouldstthoudosuchadeedforalltheworld？"

INNOCENCEANDEXPERIENCE

IshallnotaskthecommentatorswhetherBlakeusedthesetwowordsinunionorinantithesis。Theyassuredlyhaveaninseverableunionintheartofliterature。ThesongsofInnocenceandExperienceareforeachpoetthesongsofhisownseparateheartandlife；buttotakethecumulativeexperiencesofothermen，andtousetheseinplaceofthevirginalfruitofthought——whereasonewouldhardlyconsenttotakethemfororderingeventhemosthabitualofdailyaffairs——istoforgoInnocenceandExperienceatonceandtogether。

Obviously，Experiencecanbenothingexceptpersonalandseparate；

andInnocenceofasingularlysolitaryqualityishiswhodoesnotdiphishandsintoothermen’shistories，anddoesnotgivetohisownwordthecommonsanctionofothermen’ssummariesandconclusions。ThereforeIbindInnocenceandExperienceinone，andtakethemasasignofthenecessaryandnobleisolationofmanfromman——ofhisuniqueness。ButifIhadamindtoforgothatmannerofpersonalseparateness，andtousethethingsofothers，IthinkI

wouldratherappropriatetheirfuturethantheirpast。Letmeputontheirhopes，andthecoloursoftheirconfidence，ifImustborrow。NotthatIwouldburdenmypropheticsoulwithunjustifiedambitions；buteventhiswouldbemoretolerablethantoloadmymemorywithanunjustifiablehistory。

Andyethowdifferentlydothewritersofacertainkindoflove-

poetryconsiderthismatter。Thesearethelove-poetswhohavenoreluctanceinadoptingthepastofamultitudeofpeopletowhomtheyhavenotevenbeenintroduced。Theirverseisfullofready-

madememories，various，numerous，andcruel。Nosinglelife——

supposingittobealiberallifeconcernedwithsomethingbesidessex——couldquitesufficeforsomuchexperience，somuchdisillusion，somuchdeception。Toachievethattoneinitsfullnessitisnecessarytotakeforone’sownthepraeterita（say）

ofAlfreddeMussetandofthemenwhohelpedhim——nottolivebut——

tohavelived；itisnecessarytohavelivedmuchmorethananymanlives，andtomakeacommonhoardoferoticremembranceswithallkindsofpoets。

AstheFranciscansweareachother’soldhabits，andonefriargoesaboutdarnedbecauseofanother’srending，sothepoetofacertainordergrowscynicalforthesakeofmanypoets’oldloves。Nototherwisewilltheresultantversesucceedinimplyingsomuch——orrathersomany，inthefeminineplural。Themanofverysensitiveindividualitymighthesitateattheadoption。TheFranciscanisunderstoodtohaveafastidiousnessandtoovercomeit。Andyet，ifchoicewere，onemightwishrathertomakeuseofone’sfellowmen’soldshoesthanputtheiroldsecretstouse，anddressone’sartinamotleyofpastpassions。Moreover，toutilizethementalexperienceofmanyisinevitablytousetheirverseandphrase。Fortherest，allthetraitsofthislove-poetryarefamiliarenough。

Oneofthemistheabsenceofthewordofpromiseandpledge，thelossoftheearliestandsimplestoftheimpulsesoflove：whichisthevow。"Tilldeath！""Forever！"arecriestoosimpleandtoonaturaltobecommonplace，andintheirdenialthereistheleasttolerableofbanalities——thatofothermen’sdisillusions。

PerfectpersonaldistinctnessofExperiencewouldbeinliteratureadelicateInnocence。Notapassageofcheapness，ofgreed，ofassumption，ofsloth，orofanysuchsinsintheworkofhimwhoselove-poetrywerethustrue，andwhosepudeurofpersonalitythussimpleandinviolate。Thisistheprivateman，inotherwordsthegentleman，whowillneitherlovenorrememberincommon。

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。

SOLITUDE

Thewildmanisaloneatwill，andsoisthemanforwhomcivilizationhasbeenkind。Buttherearethemultitudestowhomcivilizationhasgivenlittlebutitsreaction，itsrebound，itschips，itsrefuse，itsshavings，sawdustandwaste，itsfailures；tothemsolitudeisarightforegoneoraluxuryunattained；arightforegone，wemaynameit，inthecaseofthenearlysavage，andaluxuryunattainedinthecaseofthenearlyrefined。Thesehasthemovementoftheworldthrongedtogetherintosomeblindby-way。

Theirshareintheenormoussolitudewhichisthecommon，unbounded，andvirtuallyillimitablepossessionofallmankindhaslapsed，unclaimed。Theydonotknowitistheirs。Ofmanyoftheirkingdomstheyareignorant，butofthismostignorant。Theyhavenotguessedthattheyownforeverymanaspaceinviolate，aplaceofunhiddenlibertyandofnoobscureenfranchisement。Theydonotclaimeventhesolitudeofclosedcorners，thenarrowprivacyofthelockandkey；norcouldtheycommandsomuch。Forthesolitudethathasaskyandahorizontheyknownothowtowish。

Itliesinaperpetualdistance。Englandhasleaguesthereof，landscapes，vergebeyondverge，athousandthousandplacesinthewoods，andonupliftedhills。Orrather，solitudesarenottobemeasuredbymiles；theyaretobenumberedbydays。Theyarefreshlyandfreelythedominionofeverymanforthedayofhispossession。Thereislonelinessforinnumerablesolitaries。Asmanydaysasthereareinalltheages，somanysolitudesarethereformen。Thisistheopenhouseoftheearth；nooneisrefused。

Noristhespaceshortenedorthesilencemarredbecause，onebyone，meninmultitudeshavebeenalonetherebefore。Solitudeisseparateexperience。Nay，solitudesarenottobenumberedbydays，butbymenthemselves。Everymanofthelivingandeverymanofthedeadmighthavehadhis"privacyoflight。"

Itneedsnopark。Itistobefoundinthemerestworkingcountry；

andathicketmaybeassecretasaforest。Itisnotsodifficulttogetforatimeoutofsightandearshot。Evenifyoursolitudebeenclosed，itisstillanopensolitude，sotherebe"nocloisterfortheeyes，"andaspaceoffarcountryoracloudintheskybeprivytoyourhiding-place。Butthebestsolitudedoesnothideatall。

Thisthepeoplewhohavedriftedtogetherintothestreetslivewholelivesandneverknow。Dotheysufferfromtheirdeprivationofeventhesolitudeofthehiding-place？Therearemanywhoneverhaveawholehouralone。Theyliveinreluctantorindifferentcompanionship，aspeoplemayinaboarding-house，byparadoxicalchoice，familiarwithoneanotherandnotintimate。Theyliveundercarelessobservationandsubjecttoavagabondcuriosity。Theirsistheinvoluntaryandperhapstheunconsciouslosswhichisfutileandbarren。

Oneknowsthemen，andthemanywomen，whohavesacrificedalltheirsolitudetotheperpetualsocietyoftheschool，thecloister，orthehospitalward。Theywalkwithoutsecrecy，candid，simple，visible，withoutmoods，unchangeable，inaconstantcommunicationandpracticeofactionandspeech。Theirsassuredlyisnobarrenorfutileloss，andtheyhaveaconviction，andtheybestowtheconviction，ofsolitudedeferred。

Whohaspaintedsolitudesothatthesolitaryseemedtostandaloneandinaccessible？ThereisthelonelinessoftheshepherdessinmanyadrawingofJ。F。Millet。Thelittlefigureisaway，aloof。

Thegirlstandssowhenthepainterisgone。Shewaitssoonthesunfortheclosingofthehoursofpasture。Millethasherasshelooks，outofsight。

Now，althoughsolitudeisaprepared，secured，defended，elaboratepossessionoftherich，theytoodenythemselvesthenaturalsolitudeofawomanwithachild。Anewly-bornchildissonursedandtalkedabout，handledandjoltedandcarriedaboutbyaliens，andthereissomuchimportunateservicegoingforward，thatawomanishardlyalonelongenoughtobecomeaware，inrecollection，howherownbloodmovesseparately，besideher，withanotherrhythmanddifferentpulses。Alliscommonplaceuntilthedoorsarecloseduponthetwo。Thisuniqueintimacyisaprofoundretreat，anabsoluteseclusion。Itismorethansinglesolitude；itisaredoubledisolationmoreremotethanmountains，saferthanvalleys，deeperthanforests，andfurtherthanmid-sea。

Thatsolitudepartaken——theonlypartakensolitudeintheworld——isthePointofHonourofethics。Treacherytothatobligationandabetrayalofthatconfidencemightwellbeheldtobetheleastpardonableofallcrimes。Thereisnoinnocentsleepsoinnocentassleepsharedbetweenawomanandachild，thelittlebreathhurryingbesidethelonger，asachild’sfootruns。Butthefavouritecrimeofthesentimentalististhatofawomanagainstherchild。Herpower，herintimacy，heropportunity，thatshouldbeheraccusers，areheldtoexcuseher。Shegainsthemostslovenlyofindulgencesandthegrossestcompassion，onthevulgargroundsthathercrimewaseasy。

Lawlessandvainartofacertainkindisapttoclaimto-day，bytheway，somesuchfondlingasaheroineofthedockreceivesfromcommonopinion。Thevainartisthadalltheopportunitiesofthesituation。Hewasmasterofhisownpurpose，suchasitwas；itwashissecret，andthepublicwasnotprivytohisartisticconscience。

Hedoesviolencetotheobligationsofwhichheisaware，andwhichtheworlddoesnotknowveryexplicitly。Nothingiseasier。Orheislawlessinamoreliteralsense，butonlyhopestheworldwillbelievethathehasawholecodeofhisownmaking。Itwould，nevertheless，belessunworthytobreakobviousrulesobviouslyintheobviousfaceofthepublic，andtoabidethecommonrebuke。

Ithasjustbeensaidthataparkisbynomeansnecessaryforthepreparationofacountrysolitude。Indeed，tomakethosefarandwideandlongapproachesandavenuestopeaceseemstobeadenialoftheaccessibilityofwhatshouldbesosimple。Astep，apaceorsoaside，isenoughtoleadthither。

Aparkinsiststoomuch，and，besides，doesnotinsistverysincerely。Inordertofulfiltheapparentprofessionsandtokeepthepublishedpromiseofapark，theownerthereofshouldbealoveroflongseclusionorofaverylifeofloneliness。Heshouldhavegainedthestateofsolitarinesswhichisaconditionoflifequiteunlikeanyother。Thetravellerwhomayhavegoneastrayincountrieswhereanalmostlife-longsolitudeispossibleknowshowinvinciblyapartarethelonelyfigureshehasseenindesertplacesthere。Theirlonelinessisbrokenbyhispassage，itistrue，buthardlysotothem。Theylookathim，buttheyarenotawarethathelooksatthem。Nay，theylookathimasthoughtheywereinvisible。

Theirun-self-consciousnessisabsolute；itisinthewilddegree。

Theyaresolitaries，bodyandsoul；evenwhentheyarecurious，andturntowatchthepasser-by，theyareessentiallyalone。Now，nooneeverfoundthatattitudeinasquire’sfigure，orthatlookinanycountrygentleman’seyes。Thesquireisnotalife-longsolitary。Heneverborehimselfasthoughhewereinvisible。HeneverhadtheimpersonalwaysofaherdsmanintheremoterApennines，withablind，blankhutintherocksforhisdwelling。

MilletwouldnotevenhavetakenhimasamodelforasolitaryinthebrieferandmildersylvansolitudesofFrance。Andyetnothingbutalife-long，habitual，andwildsolitarinesswouldbequiteproportionatetoaparkofanymagnitude。

Ifthereisalookofhumaneyesthattellsofperpetualloneliness，sothereisalsothefamiliarlookthatisthesignofperpetualcrowds。ItistheLondonexpression，and，initsway，theParisexpression。Itisthequicklycaught，thoughnotinterested，look，thedullbutreadyglanceofthosewhodonotknowoftheirforfeitedplaceapart；whohaveneithertheopensecretnortheclose；noreserve，noneedofrefuge，noflightnorimpulseofflight；nomoodsbutwhattheymaybraveoutinthestreet，nohopeofnewsfromsolitarycounsels。

DECIVILIZED

Thedifficultyofdealing——inthecourseofanycriticalduty——withdecivilizedmanliesinthis：whenyouaccusehimofvulgarity——

sparinghimnodoubttheword——hedefendshimselfagainstthechargeofbarbarism。Especiallyfromnewsoil——remote，colonial——hefacesyou，bronzed，withahalfconvictionofsavagery，partlypersuadedofhisownyouthfulnessofrace。Hewrites，andrecites，poemsaboutranchesandcanyons；theyaredesignedtobetraytherecklessnessofhisnatureandtorevealthegoodthatlurksinthelawlesswaysofayoungsociety。Heistheretoexplainhimself，voluble，withaglossaryforhisownartlessslang。Buthiscolonialismisonlyprovincialismveryarticulate。Thenewairdoesbutmakeolddecadencesseemmorestale；theyoungsoildoesbutsetintofreshconditionstheready-made，theuncostly，therefusefeelingofaracedecivilizing。Hewhoplayedlongthispatteringpartofyouth，hastenedtoassureyouwithsoself-denyingafacehedidnotwearwar-paintandfeathers，thatitbecamedoublydifficulttocommunicatetohimthatyouhadsuspectedhimofnothingwilderthanasecond-hand（figurative）dresscoat。Andwhenitwasaquestionnotofrebuke，butofpraise，eventheAmericanwasill-

contentwiththewordofthejudiciouswholaudedhimforsomedelicatesuccessesincontinuingsomethingoftheliteratureofEngland，somethingoftheartofFrance；hewasmoreeagerfortheapplausethatstimulatedhimtowritepoemsinproseformandtopaintpanoramiclandscape，afterbrieftraininginacademiesofnativeinspiration。EvennowEnglishvoicesareconstantlycallinguponAmericatobegin——tobegin，fortheworldisexpectant。

Whereasthereisnobeginningforher，butinsteadafineandadmirablecontinuitywhichonlyaconstantcarecanguideintosustainedadvance。

Butdecivilizedmanisnotpeculiartonewsoil。TheEnglishtown，too，knowshiminallhisdailiness。InEngland，too，hehasaliterature，anart，amusic，allhisown——derivedfrommanyandvariousthingsofprice。Trash，inthefullnessofitsinsimplicityandcheapness，isimpossiblewithoutabeautifulpast。Itschiefcharacteristic——whichisfutility，notfailure——couldnotbeachievedbutbythelongabuse，therotatoryreproduction，thequotidiandisgrace，oftheutterancesofArt，especiallytheutterancebywords。Gaiety，vigour，vitality，theorganicquality，purity，simplicity，precision——alltheseareamongtheantecedentsoftrash。Itisafterthem；itisalso，alas，becauseofthem。Andnothingcanbemuchsadderthatsuchaproofofwhatmaypossiblybethefailureofderivation。

Evidentlywecannotchooseourposterity。Reversingthestepsoftime，wemay，indeedchoosebackwards。Wemaygiveourthoughtsnobleforefathers。Wellbegotten，wellbornourfanciesmustbe；

theyshallbealsowellderived。Wehaveavoiceindecreeingourinheritance，andnotourinheritanceonly，butourheredity。Ourmindsmaytraceupwardsandfollowtheirwaystothebestwell-headsofthearts。Theveryhabitofourthoughtsmaybepersuadedonewayunawaresbytheirantenatalhistory。Theircompanionsmustbelovely，butneedbenolovelierthantheirancestors；andbeingsofatheredandsohusbanded，ourthoughtsmaybeintrustedtokeepthecounselsofliterature。

Suchisourconfidenceinadescentweknow。But，ofasequelwhichofusissure？Whichofusissecuredagainstthedangersofsubsequentdepreciation？And，moreover，whichofusshalltracethecontemporarytendencies，theonetowardshonour，theothertowardsdishonour？Orwhoshalldiscoverwhyderivationbecomesdegeneration，andwhereandwhenandhowthebastardybefalls？Thedecivilizedhaveeverygraceastheantecedentoftheirvulgarities，everydistinctionastheprecedentoftheirmediocrities。Noballad-concertsong，feignitsigh，frolic，orlaugh，buthastheexcusethatthefeintwassuggested，wasmadeeasy，bysomelivingsweetnessonce。Norarethedecivilizedtoblameashavingintheirownpersonspossessedcivilizationandmarredit。Theydidnotpossessit；theywerebornintosometendencytoderogation，intoaninclinationforthingsmentallyinexpensive。Andthetendencycanhardlydootherthancontinue。

Nothingcanlookdullerthanthefutureofthissecond-handandmultiplyingworld。Menneednotbecommonmerelybecausetheyaremany；buttheinfectionofcommonnessoncebeguninthemany，whatdullnessintheirfuture！Totheeyethathasreluctantlydiscoveredthistruth——thatthevulgarizedarenotun-civilized，andthatthereisnogrowthforthem——itdoesnotlooklikeafutureatall。Moreballad-concerts，morequaintEnglish，morerobustiousbarytonesongs，morepiecemealpictures，morecolonialpoetry，moreyoungnationswithwitheredtraditions。Yetitisbeforethisprospectthattheprovincialoverseasliftsuphisvoiceinaboastorapromisecommonenoughamongtheincapableyoung，butpardonableonlyinsenility。Hepromisestheworldaliterature，anart，thatshallbenewbecausehisforestisuntrackedandhistownjustbuilt。Butwhatthenewnessistobehecannottell。Certainwordsweredreadfulonceinthemouthofdesperateoldage。Dreadfulandpitiableasthethreatofanimpotentking，whatshallwenamethemwhentheyarethepromiseofanimpotentpeople？"Iwilldosuchthings：whattheyareyetIknownot。"

THESPIRITOFPLACE

Withmimicry，withpraises，withechoes，orwithanswers，thepoetshaveallbutoutsungthebells。Theinarticulatebellhasfoundtoomuchinterpretation，toomanyrhymesprofessingtoclosewithherinaccessibleutterance，andtoagreewithherremotetongue。Thebell，likethebird，isamusicianpesteredwithliterature。

Tothebell，moreover，mendoactualviolence。Youcannotshaketogetheranightingale’snotes，orstrikeordrivethemintohaste，norcanyoumakealarktollforyouwithintervalstosuityourturn，whereaswedding-bellsarecompelledtoseemgaybymeremovementandhustling。Ihaveknownsomegrimbells，withnotasinglejoyousnoteinthewholepeal，soforcedtohurryforahumanfestival，withtheirharshnessmadelightof，asthoughtheBishopofHerefordhadagainbeenforcedtodanceinhisbootsbyamerryhighwayman。

Theclockisaninexorablebutlessarbitraryplayerthanthebellringer，andthechimesawaittheirappointedtimetofly——wildprisoners——bytwosorthrees，oringreatercompanies。Fugitives——

oneortwelvetakingwing——theyaresudden，theyarebrief，theyaregone；theyaredeliveredfromtheclosehandsofthisactualpresent。Notinvainisthesuddenupperdooropenedagainstthesky；theyareaway，hoursofthepast。

Ofallunfamiliarbells，thosewhichseemtoholdthememorymostsurelyafterbutonehearingarebellsofanunseencathedralofFrancewhenonehasarrivedbynight；theyarenomoretobeforgottenthanthebellsin"Parsifal。"Theyminglewiththesoundoffeetinunknownstreets，theyarethevoicesofanunknowntower；

theyareloudintheirownlanguage。Thespiritofplace，whichistobeseenintheshapesofthefieldsandthemannerofthecrops，tobefeltinaprevalentwind，breathedinthebreathoftheearth，overheardinafarstreet-cryorinthetinkleofsomeblack-smith，callsoutandpealsinthecathedralbells。Itspeaksitslocaltongueremotely，steadfastly，largely，clamorously，loudly，andgreatlybythesevoices；youhearthesoundinitsdignity，andyouknowhowfamiliar，howchildlike，howlifelongitisintheearsofthepeople。Thebellsarestrange，andyouknowhowhomelytheymustbe。Theirutterancesare，asitwere，theclassicsofadialect。

Spiritofplace！Itisforthiswetravel，tosurpriseitssubtlety；andwhereitisastronganddominantangel，thatplace，seenonce，abidesentireinthememorywithallitsownaccidents，itshabits，itsbreath，itsname。Itisrecalledallalifetime，havingbeenperceivedaweek，andisnotscatteredbutabides，onelivingbodyofremembrance。Theuntravelledspiritofplace——nottobepursued，foritneverflies，butalwaystobediscovered，neverabsent，withoutvariation——lurksintheby-waysandrulesoverthetowers，indestructible，anindescribableunity。Itawaitsusalwaysinitsancientandeagerfreshness。Itissweetandnimblewithinitsimmemorialboundaries，butitnevercrossesthem。Longwhiteroadsoutsidehavemeresuggestionsofitandprophecies；theygivepromisenotofitscoming，foritabides，butofanewandsingularandunforeseengoalforourpresentpilgrimage，andofanintimacytobemade。Waseverjourneytoohardortoolongthathadtopaysuchavisit？Andifbygoodfortuneitisachildwhoisthepilgrim，thespiritofplacegiveshimapeculiarwelcome，forantiquityandtheconceiverofantiquity（whoisonlyachild）knowoneanother；noristhereamoredelicateperceiveroflocalitythanachild。Heiswellusedtowordsandvoicesthathedoesnotunderstand，andthisisaconditionofhissimplicity；andwhenthoseunknownwordsarebells，loudinthenight，theyaretohimashomelyandasoldaslullabies。

If，especiallyinEngland，wemakeroughandreluctantbellsgoingaymeasures，whenwewhipthemtorundownthescaletoringinawedding——bellsthatwouldsteptoquiteanotherandalessagilemarchwithabettergrace——therearebelfriesthatholdfarsweetercompanies。IfthereisnomusicwithinItalianchurches，thereisamostcuriouslocalimmemorialmusicinmanyacampanileontheheights。Theirwayisfortheringerstoplayatuneonthefestivals，andthetunesarenothymntunesorpopularmelodies，butproperbell-tunes，madeforbells。Doubtlesstheyweremadeintimesbetterversedthanoursinthesub-divisionsofthearts，andbetterabletounderstandthestrengththatliesreadyinthemerelittlesubmissiontothemeansofalittleart，andtothelimits——

nay，theveryembarrassments——ofthosemeans。Ifitwerebutpossibletogiveherearealbell-tune——whichcannotbe，forthosemelodiesareratherlong——thereaderwouldunderstandhowsomevillagemusicianofthepastusedhisnarrowmeansasacomposerforthebells，withwhatfreshness，completeness，significance，fancy，andwhateffectofliberty。

Thesehamlet-bellsarethesweetest，astotheirownvoices，intheworld。ThenIspeakoftheirantiquityIusethewordrelatively。

Thebelfriesarenoolderthanthesixteenthorseventeenthcentury，thetimewhenItalyseemstohavebeengenerallyrebuilt。But，needlesstosay，thisisantiquityformusic，especiallyinItaly。

Atthattimetheymusthavehadfoundriesforbellsoftendervoices，andpure，warm，light，andgoldenthroats，preciselytuned。

ThehoundsofTheseushadnotamorejustscale，tunedinapeal，thanaNorthItalianbelfryholdsinleash。Butitdoesnotsendthemoutinamerescale，ittouchesthemintheorderofthegameofacharmingmelody。Ofallcheerfulsoundsmadebymanthisisbyfarthemostlight-hearted。Youdonothearitfromthegreatchurches。Giotto’scolouredtowerinFlorence，thatcarriesthebellsforSantaMariadelFioreandBrunelleschi’ssilentdome，doesnotringmorethanfourcontraltonotes，tunedwithsweetness，depth，anddignity，andswingingonemusicalphrasewhichsoftlyfillsthecountry。

Thevillagebelfryitisthatgrowssofantasticandhassuchnimblebells。Obviouslyitstandsalonewithitsownvillage，andcanthereforehearitsowntunefrombeginningtoend。Therearenootherbellsinearshot。Othersuchdovecote-doorsaresuddenlysetopentothecloud，onafestamorning，toletflythosesoft-voicedflocks，butthenearestisbehindoneofmanymountains，andourlocaltuneisuninterrupted。Doubtlessthisiswhythelittle，secluded，sequesteredartofcomposingmelodiesforbells——charmingdivisionofanart，havingitsownendsandmeans，andkeepingitsownwingsforunfoldingbylaw——dwellsinthesesolitaryplaces。Notunesinatownwouldgetthishearing，orwouldbemadecleartotheendoftheirfrolicamidsuchawideandloftysilence。

NordoeseveryinnervillageofItalyholdabell-tuneofitsown；

thecustomisLigurian。NowheresomuchasinGenoadoesthenervoustouristcomplainofchurchbellsinthemorning，andinfactheismadetohearanhonestroutofthembetimes。Butthenervoustouristhasnot，perhaps，thesenseofplace，andthegeniusofplacedoesnotsignaltohimtogoandfinditamonginnumerablehills，whereonebyone，onebyone，thebelfriesstandandplaytheirtunes。Variablearethoselonelymelodies，havingadifferinggaietyforthefestivals；andapitifulairisplayedfortheburialofavillager。

Asforthepoets，thereisbutoneamongsomanyoftheirbellsthatseemstotollwithaspiritualmusicsoloudastobeunforgottenwhenthemindgoesupalittlehigherthantheearth，tolisteninthoughttoearth’suntetheredsounds。ThisisMilton’scurfew，thatswaysacrossoneofthegreatestofalltheseashoresofpoetry——

"thewide-watered。"

POPULARBURLESQUE

ThemoreIconsiderthatstrangeinversionofidolatrywhichisthemotiveofGuyFawkesDayandwhichannuallyanimatestheby-streetswiththesoundofprocessionalsandofrecessionals——acertainpopularversionof"Lestweforget"theirunvariedtheme；themoreI

hearthecriesofderisionraisedbythemakersofthislikenessofsomethingunworshipfulontheearthbeneath，somuchthemoreamI

convincedthatthenationalhumouristhatofbanter，andthatnootherkindofmirthsogainsasdoesthisuponthepublictaste。

Here，forexample，isthepopularideaofastreetfestival；thatdayisasthepeoplewillactuallyhaveit，withtheirowninvention，theirownmaterial，theirownmeans，andtheirownspirit。Theyowenothingonthisoccasiontothepromptingsorthesubscriptionsoftheclassesthatareapttotakeuponthemselvesthedirectionandtutelageofthepeopleinrelationtoanyformofart。HereoneveryfifthofNovemberthepeoplehavetheirownwaywiththeirownart；andtheirwayistooffertheserviceoftheimage-maker，reversedinhissingandirony，tosomecreatureoftheirhands。

Itisawantonfancy；andperhapsnoreallybarbarouspeopleiscapableofsooverturningtheinnocentplanoforiginalportraiture。

【推荐阅读】幽幽深宫，醒来一梦似千年，重生于下堂妃身躯中的她，将如何手刃仇人? 点击阅读