Perhapsyoumaybesurprisedatmytalkingoflabourandtheworkman.Youhaveheardofme,Ifear,throughthemediumofyoursomewhatimaginativenewspapersas,ifnota’Japaneseyoungman,’
atleastayoungmantowhomtherushandclamourandrealityofthemodernworldweredistasteful,andwhosegreatestdifficultyinlifewasthedifficultyoflivinguptothelevelofhisbluechina—aparadoxfromwhichEnglandhasnotyetrecovered.
Well,letmetellyouhowitfirstcametomeatalltocreateanartisticmovementinEngland,amovementtoshowtherichwhatbeautifulthingstheymightenjoyandthepoorwhatbeautifulthingstheymightcreate.
OnesummerafternooninOxford—’thatsweetcitywithherdreamingspires,’lovelyasVeniceinitssplendour,nobleinitslearningasRome,downthelongHighStreetthatwindsfromtowertotower,pastsilentcloisterandstatelygateway,tillitreachesthatlong,greyseven—archedbridgewhichSaintMaryusedtoguard(usedto,Isay,becausetheyarenowpullingitdowntobuildatramwayandalightcast—ironbridgeinitsplace,desecratingtheloveliestcityinEngland)—well,wewerecomingdownthestreet—
atroopofyoungmen,someofthemlikemyselfonlynineteen,goingtoriverortennis—courtorcricket—field—whenRuskingoinguptolectureincapandgownmetus.Heseemedtroubledandprayedustogobackwithhimtohislecture,whichafewofusdid,andtherehespoketousnotonartthistimebutonlife,sayingthatitseemedtohimtobewrongthatallthebestphysiqueandstrengthoftheyoungmeninEnglandshouldbespentaimlesslyoncricketgroundorriver,withoutanyresultatallexceptthatifonerowedwellonegotapewter—pot,andifonemadeagoodscore,acane—handledbat.Hethought,hesaid,thatweshouldbeworkingatsomethingthatwoulddogoodtootherpeople,atsomethingbywhichwemightshowthatinalllabourtherewassomethingnoble.
Well,wewereagooddealmoved,andsaidwewoulddoanythinghewished.SohewentoutroundOxfordandfoundtwovillages,UpperandLowerHinksey,andbetweenthemtherelayagreatswamp,sothatthevillagerscouldnotpassfromonetotheotherwithoutmanymilesofaround.Andwhenwecamebackinwinterheaskedustohelphimtomakearoadacrossthismorassforthesevillagepeopletouse.Sooutwewent,dayafterday,andlearnedhowtolaylevelsandtobreakstones,andtowheelbarrowsalongaplank—averydifficultthingtodo.AndRuskinworkedwithusinthemistandrainandmudofanOxfordwinter,andourfriendsandourenemiescameoutandmockedusfromthebank.Wedidnotminditmuchthen,andwedidnotminditafterwardsatall,butworkedawayfortwomonthsatourroad.Andwhatbecameoftheroad?
Well,likeabadlectureitendedabruptly—inthemiddleoftheswamp.RuskingoingawaytoVenice,whenwecamebackforthenexttermtherewasnoleader,andthe’diggers,’astheycalledus,fellasunder.AndIfeltthatiftherewasenoughspiritamongsttheyoungmentogoouttosuchworkasroad—makingforthesakeofanobleidealoflife,Icouldfromthemcreateanartisticmovementthatmightchange,asithaschanged,thefaceofEngland.
SoIsoughtthemout—leadertheywouldcallme—buttherewasnoleader:wewereallsearchersonlyandwewereboundtoeachotherbynoblefriendshipandbynobleart.Therewasnoneofusidle:
poetsmostofus,soambitiouswerewe:painterssomeofus,orworkersinmetalormodellers,determinedthatwewouldtryandcreateforourselvesbeautifulwork:forthehandicraftsmanbeautifulwork,forthosewholoveuspoemsandpictures,forthosewholoveusnotepigramsandparadoxesandscorn.
Well,wehavedonesomethinginEnglandandwewilldosomethingmore.Now,Idonotwantyou,believeme,toaskyourbrilliantyoungmen,yourbeautifulyounggirls,togooutandmakearoadonaswampforanyvillageinAmerica,butIthinkyoumighteachofyouhavesomearttopractise.
Wemusthave,asEmersonsaid,amechanicalcraftforourculture,abasisforourhigheraccomplishmentsintheworkofourhands—
theuselessnessofmostpeople’shandsseemstomeoneofthemostunpracticalthings.’Noseparationfromlabourcanbewithoutsomelossofpowerortruthtotheseer,’saysEmersonagain.TheheroismwhichwouldmakeonustheimpressionofEpaminondasmustbethatofadomesticconqueror.TheheroofthefutureishewhoshallbravelyandgracefullysubduethisGorgonoffashionandofconvention.
Whenyouhavechosenyourownpart,abidebyit,anddonotweaklytryandreconcileyourselfwiththeworld.Theheroiccannotbethecommonnorthecommontheheroic.Congratulateyourselfifyouhavedonesomethingstrangeandextravagantandbrokenthemonotonyofadecorousage.
Andlastly,letusrememberthatartistheonethingwhichDeathcannotharm.ThelittlehouseatConcordmaybedesolate,butthewisdomofNewEngland’sPlatoisnotsilencednorthebrilliancyofthatAtticgeniusdimmed:thelipsofLongfellowarestillmusicalforusthoughhisdustbeturningintotheflowerswhichheloved:
andasitiswiththegreaterartists,poetandphilosopherandsong—bird,soletitbewithyou.
LECTURETOARTSTUDENTS
INthelecturewhichitismyprivilegetodeliverbeforeyouto—
nightIdonotdesiretogiveyouanyabstractdefinitionofbeautyatall.Forwewhoareworkinginartcannotacceptanytheoryofbeautyinexchangeforbeautyitself,and,sofarfromdesiringtoisolateitinaformulaappealingtotheintellect,we,onthecontrary,seektomaterialiseitinaformthatgivesjoytothesoulthroughthesenses.Wewanttocreateit,nottodefineit.
Thedefinitionshouldfollowthework:theworkshouldnotadaptitselftothedefinition.
Nothing,indeed,ismoredangeroustotheyoungartistthananyconceptionofidealbeauty:heisconstantlyledbyiteitherintoweakprettinessorlifelessabstraction:whereastotouchtheidealatallyoumustnotstripitofvitality.Youmustfinditinlifeandre—createitinart.
While,then,ontheonehandIdonotdesiretogiveyouanyphilosophyofbeauty—for,whatIwantto—nightistoinvestigatehowwecancreateart,nothowwecantalkofit—ontheotherhand,IdonotwishtodealwithanythinglikeahistoryofEnglishart.
Tobeginwith,suchanexpressionasEnglishartisameaninglessexpression.OnemightjustaswelltalkofEnglishmathematics.
Artisthescienceofbeauty,andMathematicsthescienceoftruth:
thereisnonationalschoolofeither.Indeed,anationalschoolisaprovincialschool,merely.Noristhereanysuchthingasaschoolofarteven.Therearemerelyartists,thatisall.
Andasregardshistoriesofart,theyarequitevaluelesstoyouunlessyouareseekingtheostentatiousoblivionofanartprofessorship.ItisofnousetoyoutoknowthedateofPeruginoorthebirthplaceofSalvatorRosa:allthatyoushouldlearnaboutartistoknowagoodpicturewhenyouseeit,andabadpicturewhenyouseeit.Asregardsthedateoftheartist,allgoodworklooksperfectlymodern:apieceofGreeksculpture,aportraitofVelasquez—theyarealwaysmodern,alwaysofourtime.Andasregardsthenationalityoftheartist,artisnotnationalbutuniversal.Asregardsarchaeology,then,avoiditaltogether:archaeologyismerelythescienceofmakingexcusesforbadart;itistherockonwhichmanyayoungartistfoundersandshipwrecks;itistheabyssfromwhichnoartist,oldoryoung,everreturns.Or,ifhedoesreturn,heissocoveredwiththedustofagesandthemildewoftime,thatheisquiteunrecognisableasanartist,andhastoconcealhimselffortherestofhisdaysunderthecapofaprofessor,orasamereillustratorofancienthistory.Howworthlessarchaeologyisinartyoucanestimatebythefactofitsbeingsopopular.
Popularityisthecrownoflaurelwhichtheworldputsonbadart.
Whateverispopulariswrong.
AsIamnotgoingtotalktoyou,then,aboutthephilosophyofthebeautiful,orthehistoryofart,youwillaskmewhatIamgoingtotalkabout.Thesubjectofmylectureto—nightiswhatmakesanartistandwhatdoestheartistmake;whataretherelationsoftheartisttohissurroundings,whatistheeducationtheartistshouldget,andwhatisthequalityofagoodworkofart.
Now,asregardstherelationsoftheartisttohissurroundings,bywhichImeantheageandcountryinwhichheisborn.Allgoodart,asIsaidbefore,hasnothingtodowithanyparticularcentury;butthisuniversalityisthequalityoftheworkofart;
theconditionsthatproducethatqualityaredifferent.Andwhat,Ithink,youshoulddoistorealisecompletelyyourageinordercompletelytoabstractyourselffromit;rememberingthatifyouareanartistatall,youwillbenotthemouthpieceofacentury,butthemasterofeternity,thatallartrestsonaprinciple,andthatmeretemporalconsiderationsarenoprincipleatall;andthatthosewhoadviseyoutomakeyourartrepresentativeofthenineteenthcenturyareadvisingyoutoproduceanartwhichyourchildren,whenyouhavethem,willthinkold—fashioned.Butyouwilltellmethisisaninartisticage,andweareaninartisticpeople,andtheartistsuffersmuchinthisnineteenthcenturyofours.
Ofcoursehedoes.I,ofallmen,amnotgoingtodenythat.Butrememberthatthereneverhasbeenanartisticage,oranartisticpeople,sincethebeginningoftheworld.Theartisthasalwaysbeen,andwillalwaysbe,anexquisiteexception.Thereisnogoldenageofart;onlyartistswhohaveproducedwhatismoregoldenthangold.
WHAT,youwillsaytome,theGreeks?werenottheyanartisticpeople?
Well,theGreekscertainlynot,but,perhaps,youmeantheAthenians,thecitizensofoneoutofathousandcities.
Doyouthinkthattheywereanartisticpeople?Takethemevenatthetimeoftheirhighestartisticdevelopment,thelatterpartofthefifthcenturybeforeChrist,whentheyhadthegreatestpoetsandthegreatestartistsoftheantiqueworld,whentheParthenonroseinlovelinessatthebiddingofaPhidias,andthephilosopherspakeofwisdomintheshadowofthepaintedportico,andtragedysweptintheperfectionofpageantandpathosacrossthemarbleofthestage.Weretheyanartisticpeoplethen?Notabitofit.
Whatisanartisticpeoplebutapeoplewholovetheirartistsandunderstandtheirart?TheAthenianscoulddoneither.
HowdidtheytreatPhidias?ToPhidiasweowethegreatera,notmerelyinGreek,butinallart—Imeanoftheintroductionoftheuseofthelivingmodel.
AndwhatwouldyousayifalltheEnglishbishops,backedbytheEnglishpeople,camedownfromExeterHalltotheRoyalAcademyonedayandtookoffSirFrederickLeightoninaprisonvantoNewgateonthechargeofhavingallowedyoutomakeuseofthelivingmodelinyourdesignsforsacredpictures?
WouldyounotcryoutagainstthebarbarismandthePuritanismofsuchanidea?WouldyounotexplaintothemthattheworstwaytohonourGodistodishonourmanwhoismadeinHisimage,andistheworkofHishands;and,thatifonewantstopaintChristonemusttakethemostChristlikepersononecanfind,andifonewantstopainttheMadonna,thepurestgirloneknows?
WouldyounotrushoffandburndownNewgate,ifnecessary,andsaythatsuchathingwaswithoutparallelinhistory?
Withoutparallel?Well,thatisexactlywhattheAtheniansdid.
IntheroomoftheParthenonmarbles,intheBritishMuseum,youwillseeamarbleshieldonthewall.Onittherearetwofigures;
oneofamanwhosefaceishalfhidden,theotherofamanwiththegodlikelineamentsofPericles.Forhavingdonethis,forhavingintroducedintoabasrelief,takenfromGreeksacredhistory,theimageofthegreatstatesmanwhowasrulingAthensatthetime,Phidiaswasflungintoprisonandthere,inthecommongaolofAthens,died,thesupremeartistoftheoldworld.
Anddoyouthinkthatthiswasanexceptionalcase?ThesignofaPhilistineageisthecryofimmoralityagainstart,andthiscrywasraisedbytheAthenianpeopleagainsteverygreatpoetandthinkeroftheirday—AEschylus,Euripides,Socrates.ItwasthesamewithFlorenceinthethirteenthcentury.Goodhandicraftsareduetoguilds,nottothepeople.Themomenttheguildslosttheirpowerandthepeoplerushedin,beautyandhonestyofworkdied.
Andso,nevertalkofanartisticpeople;thereneverhasbeensuchathing.
But,perhaps,youwilltellmethattheexternalbeautyoftheworldhasalmostentirelypassedawayfromus,thattheartistdwellsnolongerinthemidstofthelovelysurroundingswhich,inagespast,werethenaturalinheritanceofeveryone,andthatartisverydifficultinthisunlovelytownofours,where,asyougotoyourworkinthemorning,orreturnfromitateventide,youhavetopassthroughstreetafterstreetofthemostfoolishandstupidarchitecturethattheworldhaseverseen;architecture,whereeverylovelyGreekformisdesecratedanddefiled,andeverylovelyGothicformdefiledanddesecrated,reducingthree—fourthsoftheLondonhousestobeing,merely,likesquareboxesofthevilestproportions,asgauntastheyaregrimy,andaspoorastheyarepretentious—thehalldooralwaysofthewrongcolour,andthewindowsofthewrongsize,andwhere,evenwhenweariedofthehousesyouturntocontemplatethestreetitself,youhavenothingtolookatbutchimney—pothats,menwithsandwichboards,vermilionletter—boxes,anddothatevenattheriskofbeingrunoverbyanemerald—greenomnibus.
Isnotartdifficult,youwillsaytome,insuchsurroundingsasthese?Ofcourseitisdifficult,butthenartwasnevereasy;youyourselveswouldnotwishittobeeasy;and,besides,nothingisworthdoingexceptwhattheworldsaysisimpossible.
Still,youdonotcaretobeansweredmerelybyaparadox.Whataretherelationsoftheartisttotheexternalworld,andwhatistheresultofthelossofbeautifulsurroundingstoyou,isoneofthemostimportantquestionsofmodernart;andthereisnopointonwhichMr.Ruskinsoinsistsasthatthedecadenceofarthascomefromthedecadenceofbeautifulthings;andthatwhentheartistcannotfeedhiseyeonbeauty,beautygoesfromhiswork.
Irememberinoneofhislectures,afterdescribingthesordidaspectofagreatEnglishcity,hedrawsforusapictureofwhatweretheartisticsurroundingslongago.
Think,hesays,inwordsofperfectandpicturesqueimagery,whosebeautyIcanbutfeeblyecho,thinkofwhatwasthescenewhichpresenteditself,inhisafternoonwalk,toadesigneroftheGothicschoolofPisa—NinoPisanooranyofhismen(22):
Oneachsideofabrightriverhesawrisealineofbrighterpalaces,archedandpillared,andinlaidwithdeepredporphyry,andwithserpentine;alongthequaysbeforetheirgateswereridingtroopsofknights,nobleinfaceandform,dazzlingincrestandshield;horseandmanonelabyrinthofquaintcolourandgleaminglight—thepurple,andsilver,andscarletfringesflowingoverthestronglimbsandclashingmall,likesea—wavesoverrocksatsunset.Openingoneachsidefromtheriverweregardens,courts,andcloisters;longsuccessionsofwhitepillarsamongwreathsofvine;leapingoffountainsthroughbudsofpomegranateandorange:
andstillalongthegarden—paths,andunderandthroughthecrimsonofthepomegranateshadows,movingslowly,groupsofthefairestwomenthatItalyeversaw—fairest,becausepurestandthoughtfullest;trainedinallhighknowledge,asinallcourteousart—indance,insong,insweetwit,inloftylearning,inloftiercourage,inloftiestlove—ablealiketocheer,toenchant,orsave,thesoulsofmen.Aboveallthissceneryofperfecthumanlife,rosedomeandbell—tower,burningwithwhitealabasterandgold:beyonddomeandbell—towertheslopesofmightyhillshoarywitholive;farinthenorth,aboveapurpleseaofpeaksofsolemnApennine,theclear,sharp—clovenCarraramountainssentuptheirsteadfastflamesofmarblesummitintoambersky;thegreatseaitself,scorchingwithexpanseoflight,stretchingfromtheirfeettotheGorgonianisles;andoverallthese,everpresent,nearorfar—seenthroughtheleavesofvine,orimagedwithallitsmarchofcloudsintheArno’sstream,orsetwithitsdepthofbluecloseagainstthegoldenhairandburningcheekofladyandknight,—thatuntroubledandsacredsky,whichwastoallmen,inthosedaysofinnocentfaith,indeedtheunquestionedabodeofspirits,astheearthwasofmen;andwhichopenedstraightthroughitsgatesofcloudandveilsofdewintotheawfulnessoftheeternalworld;—aheaveninwhicheverycloudthatpassedwasliterallythechariotofanangel,andeveryrayofitsEveningandMorningstreamedfromthethroneofGod.
Whatthinkyouofthatforaschoolofdesign?
Andthenlookatthedepressing,monotonousappearanceofanymoderncity,thesombredressofmenandwomen,themeaninglessandbarrenarchitecture,thecolourlessanddreadfulsurroundings.
Withoutabeautifulnationallife,notsculpturemerely,butalltheartswilldie.
Well,asregardsthereligiousfeelingofthecloseofthepassage,IdonotthinkIneedspeakaboutthat.Religionspringsfromreligiousfeeling,artfromartisticfeeling:younevergetonefromtheother;unlessyouhavetherightrootyouwillnotgettherightflower;and,ifamanseesinacloudthechariotofanangel,hewillprobablypaintitveryunlikeacloud.
But,asregardsthegeneralideaoftheearlypartofthatlovelybitofprose,isitreallytruethatbeautifulsurroundingsarenecessaryfortheartist?Ithinknot;Iamsurenot.Indeed,tomethemostinartisticthinginthisageofoursisnottheindifferenceofthepublictobeautifulthings,buttheindifferenceoftheartisttothethingsthatarecalledugly.
For,totherealartist,nothingisbeautifuloruglyinitselfatall.Withthefactsoftheobjecthehasnothingtodo,butwithitsappearanceonly,andappearanceisamatteroflightandshade,ofmasses,ofposition,andofvalue.
Appearanceis,infact,amatterofeffectmerely,anditiswiththeeffectsofnaturethatyouhavetodeal,notwiththerealconditionoftheobject.Whatyou,aspainters,havetopaintisnotthingsastheyarebutthingsastheyseemtobe,notthingsastheyarebutthingsastheyarenot.
Noobjectissouglythat,undercertainconditionsoflightandshade,orproximitytootherthings,itwillnotlookbeautiful;noobjectissobeautifulthat,undercertainconditions,itwillnotlookugly.Ibelievethatineverytwenty—fourhourswhatisbeautifullooksugly,andwhatisuglylooksbeautiful,once.
And,thecommonplacecharacterofsomuchofourEnglishpaintingseemstomeduetothefactthatsomanyofouryoungartistslookmerelyatwhatwemaycall’ready—madebeauty,’whereasyouexistasartistsnottocopybeautybuttocreateitinyourart,towaitandwatchforitinnature.
Whatwouldyousayofadramatistwhowouldtakenobodybutvirtuouspeopleascharactersinhisplay?Wouldyounotsayhewasmissinghalfoflife?Well,oftheyoungartistwhopaintsnothingbutbeautifulthings,Isayhemissesonehalfoftheworld.
Donotwaitforlifetobepicturesque,buttryandseelifeunderpicturesqueconditions.Theseconditionsyoucancreateforyourselfinyourstudio,fortheyaremerelyconditionsoflight.
Innature,youmustwaitforthem,watchforthem,choosethem;
and,ifyouwaitandwatch,cometheywill.
InGowerStreetatnightyoumayseealetter—boxthatispicturesque:ontheThamesEmbankmentyoumayseepicturesquepolicemen.EvenVeniceisnotalwaysbeautiful,norFrance.
Topaintwhatyouseeisagoodruleinart,buttoseewhatisworthpaintingisbetter.Seelifeunderpictorialconditions.Itisbettertoliveinacityofchangeableweatherthaninacityoflovelysurroundings.
Now,havingseenwhatmakestheartist,andwhattheartistmakes,whoistheartist?Thereisamanlivingamongstuswhounitesinhimselfallthequalitiesofthenoblestart,whoseworkisajoyforalltime,whois,himself,amasterofalltime.ThatmanisMr.Whistler.
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But,youwillsay,moderndress,thatisbad.Ifyoucannotpaintblackclothyoucouldnothavepaintedsilkendoublet.Uglydressisbetterforart—factsofvision,notoftheobject.
Whatisapicture?Primarily,apictureisabeautifullycolouredsurface,merely,withnomorespiritualmessageormeaningforyouthananexquisitefragmentofVenetianglassorabluetilefromthewallofDamascus.Itis,primarily,apurelydecorativething,adelighttolookat.
Allarchaeologicalpicturesthatmakeyousay’Howcurious!’allsentimentalpicturesthatmakeyousay,’Howsad!’allhistoricalpicturesthatmakeyousay’Howinteresting!’allpicturesthatdonotimmediatelygiveyousuchartisticjoyastomakeyousay’Howbeautiful!’arebadpictures.
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Weneverknowwhatanartistisgoingtodo.Ofcoursenot.Theartistisnotaspecialist.Allsuchdivisionsasanimalpainters,landscapepainters,paintersofScotchcattleinanEnglishmist,paintersofEnglishcattleinaScotchmist,racehorsepainters,bull—terrierpainters,allareshallow.Ifamanisanartisthecanpainteverything.
Theobjectofartistostirthemostdivineandremoteofthechordswhichmakemusicinoursoul;andcolourisindeed,ofitselfamysticalpresenceonthings,andtoneakindofsentinel.
AmIpleading,then,formeretechnique?No.Aslongasthereareanysignsoftechniqueatall,thepictureisunfinished.Whatisfinish?Apictureisfinishedwhenalltracesofwork,andofthemeansemployedtobringabouttheresult,havedisappeared.
Inthecaseofhandicraftsmen—theweaver,thepotter,thesmith—
ontheirworkarethetracesoftheirhand.Butitisnotsowiththepainter;itisnotsowiththeartist.
Artshouldhavenosentimentaboutitbutitsbeauty,notechniqueexceptwhatyoucannotobserve.Oneshouldbeabletosayofapicturenotthatitis’wellpainted,’butthatitis’notpainted.’
Whatisthedifferencebetweenabsolutelydecorativeartandapainting?Decorativeartemphasisesitsmaterial:imaginativeartannihilatesit.Tapestryshowsitsthreadsaspartofitsbeauty:
apictureannihilatesitscanvas:itshowsnothingofit.
Porcelainemphasisesitsglaze:water—coloursrejectthepaper.
Apicturehasnomeaningbutitsbeauty,nomessagebutitsjoy.
Thatisthefirsttruthaboutartthatyoumustneverlosesightof.Apictureisapurelydecorativething.
LONDONMODELS
PROFESSIONALmodelsareapurelymoderninvention.TotheGreeks,forinstance,theywerequiteunknown.Mr.Mahaffy,itistrue,tellsusthatPericlesusedtopresentpeacockstothegreatladiesofAtheniansocietyinordertoinducethemtosittohisfriendPhidias,andweknowthatPolygnotusintroducedintohispictureoftheTrojanwomenthefaceofElpinice,thecelebratedsisterofthegreatConservativeleaderoftheday,buttheseGRANDESDAMES
clearlydonotcomeunderourcategory.Asfortheoldmasters,theyundoubtedlymadeconstantstudiesfromtheirpupilsandapprentices,andeventheirreligiouspicturesarefulloftheportraitsoftheirfriendsandrelations,buttheydonotseemtohavehadtheinestimableadvantageoftheexistenceofaclassofpeoplewhosesoleprofessionistopose.Infactthemodel,inoursenseoftheword,isthedirectcreationofAcademicSchools.
Everycountrynowhasitsownmodels,exceptAmerica.InNewYork,andeveninBoston,agoodmodelissogreatararitythatmostoftheartistsarereducedtopaintingNiagaraandmillionaires.InEurope,however,itisdifferent.Herewehaveplentyofmodels,andofeverynationality.TheItalianmodelsarethebest.Thenaturalgraceoftheirattitudes,aswellasthewonderfulpicturesquenessoftheircolouring,makesthemfacile—oftentoofacile—subjectsforthepainter’sbrush.TheFrenchmodels,thoughnotsobeautifulastheItalian,possessaquicknessofintellectualsympathy,acapacity,infact,ofunderstandingtheartist,whichisquiteremarkable.Theyhavealsoagreatcommandoverthevarietiesoffacialexpression,arepeculiarlydramatic,andcanchattertheARGOToftheATELIERascleverlyasthecriticoftheGILBLAS.TheEnglishmodelsformaclassentirelybythemselves.TheyarenotsopicturesqueastheItalian,norsocleverastheFrench,andtheyhaveabsolutelynotradition,sotospeak,oftheirorder.Nowandthensomeoldveteranknocksatthestudiodoor,andproposestositasAjaxdefyingthelightning,orasKingLearupontheblastedheath.Oneofthemsometimeagocalledonapopularpainterwho,happeningatthemomenttorequirehisservices,engagedhim,andtoldhimtobeginbykneelingdownintheattitudeofprayer.’ShallIbeBiblicalorShakespearean,sir?’askedtheveteran.’Well—Shakespearean,’answeredtheartist,wonderingbywhatsubtlenuanceofexpressionthemodelwouldconveythedifference.’Allright,sir,’saidtheprofessorofposing,andhesolemnlykneltdownandbegantowinkwithhislefteye!Thisclass,however,isdyingout.Asarulethemodel,nowadays,isaprettygirl,fromabouttwelvetotwenty—fiveyearsofage,whoknowsnothingaboutart,caresless,andismerelyanxioustoearnsevenoreightshillingsadaywithoutmuchtrouble.Englishmodelsrarelylookatapicture,andneverventureonanyaesthetictheories.Infact,theyrealiseverycompletelyMr.Whistler’sideaofthefunctionofanartcritic,fortheypassnocriticismsatall.Theyacceptallschoolsofartwiththegrandcatholicityoftheauctioneer,andsittoafantasticyoungimpressionistasreadilyastoalearnedandlaboriousacademician.TheyareneitherfortheWhistleritesnoragainstthem;thequarrelbetweentheschooloffactsandtheschoolofeffectstouchesthemnot;idealisticandnaturalisticarewordsthatconveynomeaningtotheirears;theymerelydesirethatthestudioshallbewarm,andthelunchhot,forallcharmingartistsgivetheirmodelslunch.
Astowhattheyareaskedtodotheyareequallyindifferent.OnMondaytheywilldontheragsofabeggar—girlforMr.Pumper,whosepatheticpicturesofmodernlifedrawsuchtearsfromthepublic,andonTuesdaytheywillposeinapeplumforMr.Phoebus,whothinksthatallreallyartisticsubjectsarenecessarilyB.C.
Theycareergailythroughallcenturiesandthroughallcostumes,and,likeactors,areinterestingonlywhentheyarenotthemselves.Theyareextremelygood—natured,andveryaccommodating.’Whatdoyousitfor?’saidayoungartisttoamodelwhohadsenthiminhercard(allmodels,bytheway,havecardsandasmallblackbag).’Oh,foranythingyoulike,sir,’
saidthegirl,’landscapeifnecessary!’
Intellectually,itmustbeacknowledged,theyarePhilistines,butphysicallytheyareperfect—atleastsomeare.ThoughnoneofthemcantalkGreek,manycanlookGreek,whichtoanineteenth—
centurypainterisnaturallyofgreatimportance.Iftheyareallowed,theychatteragreatdeal,buttheyneversayanything.
TheirobservationsaretheonlyBANALITESheardinBohemia.
However,thoughtheycannotappreciatetheartistasartist,theyarequitereadytoappreciatetheartistasaman.Theyareverysensitivetokindness,respectandgenerosity.AbeautifulmodelwhohadsatfortwoyearstooneofourmostdistinguishedEnglishpainters,gotengagedtoastreetvendorofpennyices.
Onhermarriagethepaintersentheraprettyweddingpresent,andreceivedinreturnaniceletterofthankswiththefollowingremarkablepostscript:’Nevereatthegreenices!’
Whentheyaretiredawiseartistgivesthemarest.Thentheysitinachairandreadpennydreadfuls,tilltheyarerousedfromthetragedyofliteraturetotaketheirplaceagaininthetragedyofart.Afewofthemsmokecigarettes.This,however,isregardedbytheothermodelsasshowingawantofseriousness,andisnotgenerallyapprovedof.Theyareengagedbythedayandbythehalf—day.Thetariffisashillinganhour,towhichgreatartistsusuallyaddanomnibusfare.Thetwobestthingsaboutthemaretheirextraordinaryprettiness,andtheirextremerespectability.
Asaclasstheyareverywellbehaved,particularlythosewhositforthefigure,afactwhichiscuriousornaturalaccordingtotheviewonetakesofhumannature.Theyusuallymarrywell,andsometimestheymarrytheartist.ForanartisttomarryhismodelisasfatalasforaGOURMETtomarryhiscook:theonegetsnosittings,andtheothergetsnodinners.
OnthewholetheEnglishfemalemodelsareverynaive,verynatural,andverygood—humoured.Thevirtueswhichtheartistvaluesmostinthemareprettinessandpunctuality.Everysensiblemodelconsequentlykeepsadiaryofherengagements,anddressesneatly.Thebadseasonis,ofcourse,thesummer,whentheartistsareoutoftown.However,oflateyearssomeartistshaveengagedtheirmodelstofollowthem,andthewifeofoneofourmostcharmingpaintershasoftenhadthreeorfourmodelsunderherchargeinthecountry,sothattheworkofherhusbandandhisfriendsshouldnotbeinterrupted.InFrancethemodelsmigrateEN
MASSEtothelittleseaportvillagesorforesthamletswherethepainterscongregate.TheEnglishmodels,however,waitpatientlyinLondon,asarule,tilltheartistscomeback.Nearlyallofthemlivewiththeirparents,andhelptosupportthehouse.Theyhaveeveryqualificationforbeingimmortalisedinartexceptthatofbeautifulhands.ThehandsoftheEnglishmodelarenearlyalwayscoarseandred.
Asforthemalemodels,thereistheveteranwhomwehavementionedabove.Hehasallthetraditionsofthegrandstyle,andisrapidlydisappearingwiththeschoolherepresents.AnoldmanwhotalksaboutFuseliis,ofcourse,unendurable,and,besides,patriarchshaveceasedtobefashionablesubjects.ThenthereisthetrueAcademymodel.Heisusuallyamanofthirty,rarelygood—looking,butaperfectmiracleofmuscles.Infactheistheapotheosisofanatomy,andissoconsciousofhisownsplendourthathetellsyouofhistibiaandhisthorax,asifnooneelsehadanythingofthekind.ThencometheOrientalmodels.Thesupplyoftheseislimited,buttherearealwaysaboutadozeninLondon.Theyareverymuchsoughtafterastheycanremainimmobileforhours,andgenerallypossesslovelycostumes.
However,theyhaveaverypooropinionofEnglishart,whichtheyregardassomethingbetweenavulgarpersonalityandacommonplacephotograph.NextwehavetheItalianyouthwhohascomeoverspeciallytobeamodel,ortakestoitwhenhisorganisoutofrepair.Heisoftenquitecharmingwithhislargemelancholyeyes,hiscrisphair,andhisslimbrownfigure.Itistrueheeatsgarlic,butthenhecanstandlikeafaunandcouchlikealeopard,soheisforgiven.Heisalwaysfullofprettycompliments,andhasbeenknowntohavekindwordsofencouragementforevenourgreatestartists.AsfortheEnglishladofthesameage,heneversitsatall.Apparentlyhedoesnotregardthecareerofamodelasaseriousprofession.Inanycaseheisrarely,ifever,tobegotholdof.Englishboys,too,aredifficulttofind.Sometimesanex—modelwhohasasonwillcurlhishair,andwashhisface,andbringhimtheroundofthestudios,allsoapandshininess.
Theyoungschooldon’tlikehim,buttheolderschooldo,andwhenheappearsonthewallsoftheRoyalAcademyheiscalledTHE
INFANTSAMUEL.OccasionallyalsoanartistcatchesacoupleofGAMINSinthegutterandasksthemtocometohisstudio.Thefirsttimetheyalwaysappear,butafterthattheydon’tkeeptheirappointments.Theydislikesittingstill,andhaveastrongandperhapsnaturalobjectiontolookingpathetic.Besides,theyarealwaysundertheimpressionthattheartistislaughingatthem.
Itisasadfact,butthereisnodoubtthatthepoorarecompletelyunconsciousoftheirownpicturesqueness.Thoseofthemwhocanbeinducedtositdosowiththeideathattheartistismerelyabenevolentphilanthropistwhohaschosenaneccentricmethodofdistributingalmstotheundeserving.PerhapstheSchoolBoardwillteachtheLondonGAMINhisownartisticvalue,andthentheywillbebettermodelsthantheyarenow.OneremarkableprivilegebelongstotheAcademymodel,thatofextortingasovereignfromanynewlyelectedAssociateorR.A.TheywaitatBurlingtonHousetilltheannouncementismade,andthenracetothehaplessartist’shouse.Theonewhoarrivesfirstreceivesthemoney.Theyhaveoflatebeenmuchtroubledatthelongdistancestheyhavehadtorun,andtheylookwithdisfavourontheelectionofartistswholiveatHampsteadoratBedfordPark,foritisconsideredapointofhonournottoemploytheundergroundrailway,omnibuses,oranyartificialmeansoflocomotion.Theraceistotheswift.
BesidestheprofessionalposersofthestudiothereareposersoftheRow,theposersatafternoonteas,theposersinpoliticsandthecircusposers.Allfourclassesaredelightful,butonlythelastclassiseverreallydecorative.Acrobatsandgymnastscangivetheyoungpainterinfinitesuggestions,fortheybringintotheirartanelementofswiftnessofmotionandofconstantchangethatthestudiomodelnecessarilylacks.Whatisinterestinginthese’slavesofthering’isthatwiththemBeautyisanunconsciousresultnotaconsciousaim,theresultinfactofthemathematicalcalculationofcurvesanddistances,ofabsoluteprecisionofeye,ofthescientificknowledgeoftheequilibriumofforces,andofperfectphysicaltraining.Agoodacrobatisalwaysgraceful,thoughgraceisneverhisobject;heisgracefulbecausehedoeswhathehastodointhebestwayinwhichitcanbedone—
gracefulbecauseheisnatural.IfanancientGreekweretocometolifenow,whichconsideringtheprobableseverityofhiscriticismswouldberathertryingtoourconceit,hewouldbefoundfarofteneratthecircusthanatthetheatre.AgoodcircusisanoasisofHellenisminaworldthatreadstoomuchtobewise,andthinkstoomuchtobebeautiful.Ifitwerenotfortherunning—
groundatEton,thetowing—pathatOxford,theThamesswimming—
baths,andtheyearlycircuses,humanitywouldforgettheplasticperfectionofitsownform,anddegenerateintoaraceofshort—
sightedprofessorsandspectacledPRECIEUSES.Notthatthecircusproprietorsare,asarule,consciousoftheirhighmission.DotheynotboreuswiththeHAUTEECOLE,andwearyuswithShakespeareanclowns?Still,atleast,theygiveusacrobats,andtheacrobatisanartist.Themerefactthatheneverspeakstotheaudienceshowshowwellheappreciatesthegreattruththattheaimofartisnottorevealpersonalitybuttoplease.Theclownmaybeblatant,buttheacrobatisalwaysbeautiful.HeisaninterestingcombinationofthespiritofGreeksculpturewiththespanglesofthemoderncostumier.Hehasevenhadhisnicheinthenovelsofourage,andifMANETTESALOMONbetheunmaskingofthemodel,LESFRERESZEMGANNOistheapotheosisoftheacrobat.
AsregardstheinfluenceoftheordinarymodelonourEnglishschoolofpainting,itcannotbesaidthatitisaltogethergood.
Itis,ofcourse,anadvantagefortheyoungartistsittinginhisstudiotobeabletoisolate’alittlecorneroflife,’astheFrenchsay,fromdisturbingsurroundings,andtostudyitundercertaineffectsoflightandshade.Butthisveryisolationleadsoftentomeremannerisminthepainter,androbshimofthatbroadacceptanceofthegeneralfactsoflifewhichistheveryessenceofart.Model—painting,inaword,whileitmaybetheconditionofart,isnotbyanymeansitsaim.
Itissimplypractice,notperfection.Itsusetrainstheeyeandthehandofthepainter,itsabuseproducesinhisworkaneffectofmereposingandprettiness.Itisthesecretofmuchoftheartificialityofmodernart,thisconstantposingofprettypeople,andwhenartbecomesartificialitbecomesmonotonous.Outsidethelittleworldofthestudio,withitsdraperiesanditsBRIC—E—BRAC,liestheworldoflifewithitsinfinite,itsShakespeareanvariety.Wemust,however,distinguishbetweenthetwokindsofmodels,thosewhositforthefigureandthosewhositforthecostume.Thestudyofthefirstisalwaysexcellent,butthecostume—modelisbecomingratherwearisomeinmodernpictures.ItisreallyofverylittleusetodressupaLondongirlinGreekdraperiesandtopaintherasagoddess.TherobemaybetherobeofAthens,butthefaceisusuallythefaceofBrompton.Nowandthen,itistrue,onecomesacrossamodelwhosefaceisanexquisiteanachronism,andwholookslovelyandnaturalinthedressofanycenturybutherown.This,however,isratherrare.
AsarulemodelsareabsolutelyDENOTRESIECLE,andshouldbepaintedassuch.Unfortunatelytheyarenot,and,asaconsequence,weareshowneveryyearaseriesofscenesfromfancydressballswhicharecalledhistoricalpictures,butarelittlemorethanmediocrerepresentationsofmodernpeoplemasquerading.
InFrancetheyarewiser.TheFrenchpainterusesthemodelsimplyforstudy;forthefinishedpicturehegoesdirecttolife.
However,wemustnotblamethesittersfortheshortcomingsoftheartists.TheEnglishmodelsareawell—behavedandhard—workingclass,andiftheyaremoreinterestedinartiststhaninart,alargesectionofthepublicisinthesamecondition,andmostofourmodernexhibitionsseemtojustifyitschoice.
POEMSINPROSE
THEARTIST
ONEeveningtherecameintohissoulthedesiretofashionanimageofTHEPLEASURETHATABIDETHFORAMOMENT.Andhewentforthintotheworldtolookforbronze.Forhecouldthinkonlyinbronze.
Butallthebronzeofthewholeworldhaddisappeared,noranywhereinthewholeworldwasthereanybronzetobefound,saveonlythebronzeoftheimageofTHESORROWTHATENDURETHFOREVER.
Nowthisimagehehadhimself,andwithhisownhands,fashioned,andhadsetitonthetomboftheonethinghehadlovedinlife.
Onthetombofthedeadthinghehadmostlovedhadhesetthisimageofhisownfashioning,thatitmightserveasasignoftheloveofmanthatdiethnot,andasymbolofthesorrowofmanthatendurethforever.Andinthewholeworldtherewasnootherbronzesavethebronzeofthisimage.
Andhetooktheimagehehadfashioned,andsetitinagreatfurnace,andgaveittothefire.
AndoutofthebronzeoftheimageofTHESORROWTHATENDURETHFOR
EVERhefashionedanimageofTHEPLEASURETHATABIDETHFORA
MOMENT.
THEDOEROFGOOD
Itwasnight—timeandHewasalone.
AndHesawafar—offthewallsofaroundcityandwenttowardsthecity.
AndwhenHecamenearHeheardwithinthecitythetreadofthefeetofjoy,andthelaughterofthemouthofgladnessandtheloudnoiseofmanylutes.AndHeknockedatthegateandcertainofthegate—keepersopenedtoHim.
AndHebeheldahousethatwasofmarbleandhadfairpillarsofmarblebeforeit.Thepillarswerehungwithgarlands,andwithinandwithoutthereweretorchesofcedar.AndHeenteredthehouse.
AndwhenHehadpassedthroughthehallofchalcedonyandthehallofjasper,andreachedthelonghalloffeasting,Hesawlyingonacouchofsea—purpleonewhosehairwascrownedwithredrosesandwhoselipswereredwithwine.
AndHewentbehindhimandtouchedhimontheshoulderandsaidtohim,’Whydoyoulivelikethis?’
AndtheyoungmanturnedroundandrecognisedHim,andmadeanswerandsaid,’ButIwasaleperonce,andyouhealedme.HowelseshouldIlive?’
AndHepassedoutofthehouseandwentagainintothestreet.
AndafteralittlewhileHesawonewhosefaceandraimentwerepaintedandwhosefeetwereshodwithpearls.Andbehindhercame,slowlyasahunter,ayoungmanwhoworeacloakoftwocolours.
Nowthefaceofthewomanwasasthefairfaceofanidol,andtheeyesoftheyoungmanwerebrightwithlust.
AndHefollowedswiftlyandtouchedthehandoftheyoungmanandsaidtohim,’Whydoyoulookatthiswomanandinsuchwise?’
AndtheyoungmanturnedroundandrecognisedHimandsaid,’ButI
wasblindonce,andyougavemesight.AtwhatelseshouldI
look?’
AndHeranforwardandtouchedthepaintedraimentofthewomanandsaidtoher,’Istherenootherwayinwhichtowalksavethewayofsin?’
AndthewomanturnedroundandrecognisedHim,andlaughedandsaid,’Butyouforgavememysins,andthewayisapleasantway.’
AndHepassedoutofthecity.
AndwhenHehadpassedoutofthecityHesawseatedbytheroadsideayoungmanwhowasweeping.
AndHewenttowardshimandtouchedthelonglocksofhishairandsaidtohim,’Whyareyouweeping?’
AndtheyoungmanlookedupandrecognisedHimandmadeanswer,’ButIwasdeadonce,andyouraisedmefromthedead.WhatelseshouldIdobutweep?’
THEDISCIPLE
WhenNarcissusdiedthepoolofhispleasurechangedfromacupofsweetwatersintoacupofsalttears,andtheOreadscameweepingthroughthewoodlandthattheymightsingtothepoolandgiveitcomfort.
Andwhentheysawthatthepoolhadchangedfromacupofsweetwatersintoacupofsalttears,theyloosenedthegreentressesoftheirhairandcriedtothepoolandsaid,’WedonotwonderthatyoushouldmourninthismannerforNarcissus,sobeautifulwashe.’
’ButwasNarcissusbeautiful?’saidthepool.
’Whoshouldknowthatbetterthanyou?’answeredtheOreads.’Usdidheeverpassby,butyouhesoughtfor,andwouldlieonyourbanksandlookdownatyou,andinthemirrorofyourwatershewouldmirrorhisownbeauty.’
Andthepoolanswered,’ButIlovedNarcissusbecause,ashelayonmybanksandlookeddownatme,inthemirrorofhiseyesIsawevermyownbeautymirrored.’
THEMASTER
NowwhenthedarknesscameovertheearthJosephofArimathea,havinglightedatorchofpinewood,passeddownfromthehillintothevalley.Forhehadbusinessinhisownhome.
AndkneelingontheflintstonesoftheValleyofDesolationhesawayoungmanwhowasnakedandweeping.Hishairwasthecolourofhoney,andhisbodywasasawhiteflower,buthehadwoundedhisbodywiththornsandonhishairhadhesetashesasacrown.
Andhewhohadgreatpossessionssaidtotheyoungmanwhowasnakedandweeping,’Idonotwonderthatyoursorrowissogreat,forsurelyHewasajustman.’
Andtheyoungmananswered,’ItisnotforHimthatIamweeping,butformyself.Itoohavechangedwaterintowine,andIhavehealedtheleperandgivensighttotheblind.Ihavewalkeduponthewaters,andfromthedwellersinthetombsIhavecastoutdevils.Ihavefedthehungryinthedesertwheretherewasnofood,andIhaveraisedthedeadfromtheirnarrowhouses,andatmybidding,andbeforeagreatmultitude,ofpeople,abarrenfig—
treewitheredaway.AllthingsthatthismanhasdoneIhavedonealso.Andyettheyhavenotcrucifiedme.’
THEHOUSEOFJUDGMENT
AndtherewassilenceintheHouseofJudgment,andtheMancamenakedbeforeGod.
AndGodopenedtheBookoftheLifeoftheMan.
AndGodsaidtotheMan,’Thylifehathbeenevil,andthouhastshowncrueltytothosewhowereinneedofsuccour,andtothosewholackedhelpthouhastbeenbitterandhardofheart.Thepoorcalledtotheeandthoudidstnothearken,andthineearswereclosedtothecryofMyafflicted.Theinheritanceofthefatherlessthoudidsttakeuntothyself,andthoudidstsendthefoxesintothevineyardofthyneighbour’sfield.Thoudidsttakethebreadofthechildrenandgiveittothedogstoeat,andMyleperswholivedinthemarshes,andwereatpeaceandpraisedMe,thoudidstdriveforthontothehighways,andonMineearthoutofwhichImadetheethoudidstspillinnocentblood.’
AndtheManmadeanswerandsaid,’EvensodidI.’
AndagainGodopenedtheBookoftheLifeoftheMan.
AndGodsaidtotheMan,’Thylifehathbeenevil,andtheBeautyI
haveshownthouhastsoughtfor,andtheGoodIhavehiddenthoudidstpassby.Thewallsofthychamberwerepaintedwithimages,andfromthebedofthineabominationsthoudidstriseuptothesoundofflutes.ThoudidstbuildsevenaltarstothesinsIhavesuffered,anddidsteatofthethingthatmaynotbeeaten,andthepurpleofthyraimentwasbroideredwiththethreesignsofshame.
Thineidolswereneitherofgoldnorofsilverthatendure,butoffleshthatdieth.Thoudidststaintheirhairwithperfumesandputpomegranatesintheirhands.Thoudidststaintheirfeetwithsaffronandspreadcarpetsbeforethem.Withantimonythoudidststaintheireyelidsandtheirbodiesthoudidstsmearwithmyrrh.
Thoudidstbowthyselftothegroundbeforethem,andthethronesofthineidolsweresetinthesun.Thoudidstshowtothesunthyshameandtothemoonthymadness.’
AndtheManmadeanswerandsaid,’EvensodidI.’
AndathirdtimeGodopenedtheBookoftheLifeoftheMan.
AndGodsaidtotheMan,’Evilhathbeenthylife,andwithevildidstthourequitegood,andwithwrongdoingkindness.Thehandsthatfedtheethoudidstwound,andthebreaststhatgavetheesuckthoudidstdespise.Hewhocametotheewithwaterwentawaythirsting,andtheoutlawedmenwhohidtheeintheirtentsatnightthoudidstbetraybeforedawn.Thineenemywhosparedtheethoudidstsnareinanambush,andthefriendwhowalkedwiththeethoudidstsellforaprice,andtothosewhobroughttheeLovethoudidstevergiveLustinthyturn.’
AndtheManmadeanswerandsaid,’EvensodidI.’
AndGodclosedtheBookoftheLifeoftheMan,andsaid,’SurelyI
willsendtheeintoHell.EvenintoHellwillIsendthee.’
AndtheMancriedout,’Thoucanstnot.’
AndGodsaidtotheMan,’WhereforecanInotsendtheetoHell,andforwhatreason?’
’BecauseinHellhaveIalwayslived,’answeredtheMan.
AndtherewassilenceintheHouseofJudgment.
AndafteraspaceGodspake,andsaidtotheMan,’SeeingthatI
maynotsendtheeintoHell,surelyIwillsendtheeuntoHeaven.
EvenuntoHeavenwillIsendthee.’
AndtheMancriedout,’Thoucanstnot.’
AndGodsaidtotheMan,’WhereforecanInotsendtheeuntoHeaven,andforwhatreason?’
’Becausenever,andinnoplace,haveIbeenabletoimagineit,’
answeredtheMan.
AndtherewassilenceintheHouseofJudgment.
THETEACHEROFWISDOM
FromhischildhoodhehadbeenasonefilledwiththeperfectknowledgeofGod,andevenwhilehewasyetbutaladmanyofthesaints,aswellascertainholywomenwhodweltinthefreecityofhisbirth,hadbeenstirredtomuchwonderbythegravewisdomofhisanswers.
Andwhenhisparentshadgivenhimtherobeandtheringofmanhoodhekissedthem,andleftthemandwentoutintotheworld,thathemightspeaktotheworldaboutGod.FortherewereatthattimemanyintheworldwhoeitherknewnotGodatall,orhadbutanincompleteknowledgeofHim,orworshippedthefalsegodswhodwellingrovesandhavenocareoftheirworshippers.
Andhesethisfacetothesunandjourneyed,walkingwithoutsandals,ashehadseenthesaintswalk,andcarryingathisgirdlealeathernwalletandalittlewater—bottleofburntclay.
AndashewalkedalongthehighwayhewasfullofthejoythatcomesfromtheperfectknowledgeofGod,andhesangpraisesuntoGodwithoutceasing;andafteratimehereachedastrangelandinwhichthereweremanycities.
Andhepassedthroughelevencities.Andsomeofthesecitieswereinvalleys,andotherswerebythebanksofgreatrivers,andothersweresetonhills.Andineachcityhefoundadisciplewholovedhimandfollowedhim,andagreatmultitudealsoofpeoplefollowedhimfromeachcity,andtheknowledgeofGodspreadinthewholeland,andmanyoftherulerswereconverted,andthepriestsofthetemplesinwhichtherewereidolsfoundthathalfoftheirgainwasgone,andwhentheybeatupontheirdrumsatnoonnone,orbutafew,camewithpeacocksandwithofferingsoffleshashadbeenthecustomofthelandbeforehiscoming.
Yetthemorethepeoplefollowedhim,andthegreaterthenumberofhisdisciples,thegreaterbecamehissorrow.Andheknewnotwhyhissorrowwassogreat.ForhespakeeveraboutGod,andoutofthefulnessofthatperfectknowledgeofGodwhichGodhadHimselfgiventohim.
Andoneeveninghepassedoutoftheeleventhcity,whichwasacityofArmenia,andhisdisciplesandagreatcrowdofpeoplefollowedafterhim;andhewentupontoamountainandsatdownonarockthatwasonthemountain,andhisdisciplesstoodroundhim,andthemultitudekneltinthevalley.
Andhebowedhisheadonhishandsandwept,andsaidtohisSoul,’WhyisitthatIamfullofsorrowandfear,andthateachofmydisciplesisanenemythatwalksinthenoonday?’AndhisSoulansweredhimandsaid,’GodfilledtheewiththeperfectknowledgeofHimself,andthouhastgiventhisknowledgeawaytoothers.Thepearlofgreatpricethouhastdivided,andthevesturewithoutseamthouhastpartedasunder.Hewhogivethawaywisdomrobbethhimself.Heisasonewhogivethhistreasuretoarobber.IsnotGodwiserthanthouart?WhoartthoutogiveawaythesecretthatGodhathtoldthee?Iwasrichonce,andthouhastmademepoor.
OnceIsawGod,andnowthouhasthiddenHimfromme.’
Andheweptagain,forheknewthathisSoulspaketruthtohim,andthathehadgiventootherstheperfectknowledgeofGod,andthathewasasoneclingingtotheskirtsofGod,andthathisfaithwasleavinghimbyreasonofthenumberofthosewhobelievedinhim.
Andhesaidtohimself,’IwilltalknomoreaboutGod.Hewhogivethawaywisdomrobbethhimself.’
Andafterthespaceofsomehourshisdisciplescamenearhimandbowedthemselvestothegroundandsaid,’Master,talktousaboutGod,forthouhasttheperfectknowledgeofGod,andnomansavetheehaththisknowledge.’
Andheansweredthemandsaid,’Iwilltalktoyouaboutallotherthingsthatareinheavenandonearth,butaboutGodIwillnottalktoyou.Neithernow,noratanytime,willItalktoyouaboutGod.’
Andtheywerewrothwithhimandsaidtohim,’Thouhastledusintothedesertthatwemighthearkentothee.Wiltthousendusawayhungry,andthegreatmultitudethatthouhastmadetofollowthee?’
Andheansweredthemandsaid,’IwillnottalktoyouaboutGod.’
Andthemultitudemurmuredagainsthimandsaidtohim,’Thouhastledusintothedesert,andhastgivenusnofoodtoeat.TalktousaboutGodanditwillsufficeus.’
Butheansweredthemnotaword.ForheknewthatifhespaketothemaboutGodhewouldgiveawayhistreasure.
Andhisdiscipleswentawaysadly,andthemultitudeofpeoplereturnedtotheirownhomes.Andmanydiedontheway.
Andwhenhewasaloneheroseupandsethisfacetothemoon,andjourneyedforsevenmoons,speakingtonomannormakinganyanswer.AndwhentheseventhmoonhadwanedhereachedthatdesertwhichisthedesertoftheGreatRiver.AndhavingfoundacaverninwhichaCentaurhadoncedwelt,hetookitforhisplaceofdwelling,andmadehimselfamatofreedsonwhichtolie,andbecameahermit.AndeveryhourtheHermitpraisedGodthatHehadsufferedhimtokeepsomeknowledgeofHimandofHiswonderfulgreatness.
Now,oneevening,astheHermitwasseatedbeforethecaverninwhichhehadmadehisplaceofdwelling,hebeheldayoungmanofevilandbeautifulfacewhopassedbyinmeanapparelandwithemptyhands.Everyeveningwithemptyhandstheyoungmanpassedby,andeverymorninghereturnedwithhishandsfullofpurpleandpearls.ForhewasaRobberandrobbedthecaravansofthemerchants.
AndtheHermitlookedathimandpitiedhim.Buthespakenotaword.Forheknewthathewhospeaksawordloseshisfaith.
Andonemorning,astheyoungmanreturnedwithhishandsfullofpurpleandpearls,hestoppedandfrownedandstampedhisfootuponthesand,andsaidtotheHermit:’WhydoyoulookatmeeverinthismannerasIpassby?WhatisitthatIseeinyoureyes?Fornomanhaslookedatmebeforeinthismanner.Andthethingisathornandatroubletome.’
AndtheHermitansweredhimandsaid,’Whatyouseeinmyeyesispity.Pityiswhatlooksoutatyoufrommyeyes.’
Andtheyoungmanlaughedwithscorn,andcriedtotheHermitinabittervoice,andsaidtohim,’Ihavepurpleandpearlsinmyhands,andyouhavebutamatofreedsonwhichtolie.Whatpityshouldyouhaveforme?Andforwhatreasonhaveyouthispity?’
’Ihavepityforyou,’saidtheHermit,’becauseyouhavenoknowledgeofGod.’
’IsthisknowledgeofGodapreciousthing?’askedtheyoungman,andhecameclosetothemouthofthecavern.
’Itismorepreciousthanallthepurpleandthepearlsoftheworld,’answeredtheHermit.
’Andhaveyougotit?’saidtheyoungRobber,andhecamecloserstill.
’Once,indeed,’answeredtheHermit,’IpossessedtheperfectknowledgeofGod.ButinmyfoolishnessIpartedwithit,anddivideditamongstothers.Yetevennowissuchknowledgeasremainstomemorepreciousthanpurpleorpearls.’
AndwhentheyoungRobberheardthishethrewawaythepurpleandthepearlsthathewasbearinginhishands,anddrawingasharpswordofcurvedsteelhesaidtotheHermit,’Giveme,forthwiththisknowledgeofGodthatyoupossess,orIwillsurelyslayyou.
WhereforeshouldInotslayhimwhohasatreasuregreaterthanmytreasure?’
AndtheHermitspreadouthisarmsandsaid,’WereitnotbetterformetogountotheuttermostcourtsofGodandpraiseHim,thantoliveintheworldandhavenoknowledgeofHim?Slaymeifthatbeyourdesire.ButIwillnotgiveawaymyknowledgeofGod.’
AndtheyoungRobberkneltdownandbesoughthim,buttheHermitwouldnottalktohimaboutGod,norgivehimhisTreasure,andtheyoungRobberroseupandsaidtotheHermit,’Beitasyouwill.
Asformyself,IwillgototheCityoftheSevenSins,thatisbutthreedays’journeyfromthisplace,andformypurpletheywillgivemepleasure,andformypearlstheywillsellmejoy.’Andhetookupthepurpleandthepearlsandwentswiftlyaway.
AndtheHermitcriedoutandfollowedhimandbesoughthim.ForthespaceofthreedayshefollowedtheyoungRobberontheroadandentreatedhimtoreturn,nortoenterintotheCityoftheSevenSins.
AndeverandanontheyoungRobberlookedbackattheHermitandcalledtohim,andsaid,’WillyougivemethisknowledgeofGodwhichismorepreciousthanpurpleandpearls?Ifyouwillgivemethat,Iwillnotenterthecity.’
AndeverdidtheHermitanswer,’AllthingsthatIhaveIwillgivethee,savethatonethingonly.Forthatthingitisnotlawfulformetogiveaway.’
AndinthetwilightofthethirddaytheycamenightothegreatscarletgatesoftheCityoftheSevenSins.Andfromthecitytherecamethesoundofmuchlaughter.
AndtheyoungRobberlaughedinanswer,andsoughttoknockatthegate.AndashedidsotheHermitranforwardandcaughthimbytheskirtsofhisraiment,andsaidtohim:’Stretchforthyourhands,andsetyourarmsaroundmyneck,andputyourearclosetomylips,andIwillgiveyouwhatremainstomeoftheknowledgeofGod.’AndtheyoungRobberstopped.
AndwhentheHermithadgivenawayhisknowledgeofGod,hefelluponthegroundandwept,andagreatdarknesshidfromhimthecityandtheyoungRobber,sothathesawthemnomore.
AndashelaythereweepinghewaswareofOnewhowasstandingbesidehim;andHewhowasstandingbesidehimhadfeetofbrassandhairlikefinewool.AndHeraisedtheHermitup,andsaidtohim:’BeforethistimethouhadsttheperfectknowledgeofGod.
NowthoushalthavetheperfectloveofGod.Whereforeartthouweeping?’Andhekissedhim.
Footnotes:
(1)Plato’sLAWS;AEschylus’PROMETHEUSBOUND.
(2)SomewhatinthesamespiritPlato,inhisLAWS,appealstothelocalpositionofIlionamongtheriversoftheplain,asaproofthatitwasnotbuilttilllongaftertheDeluge.
(3)PlutarchremarksthattheONLYevidenceGreecepossessesofthetruththatthelegendarypowerofAthensisno’romanceoridlestory,’isthepublicandsacredbuildings.ThisisaninstanceoftheexaggeratedimportancegiventoruinsagainstwhichThucydidesiswarningus.
(4)ThefictitioussaleintheRomanmarriagePERCOEMPTIONEMwasoriginally,ofcourse,arealsale.
(5)Notably,ofcourse,inthecaseofheatanditslaws.
(6)Cousinerrsagooddealinthisrespect.Tosay,ashedid,’Givemethelatitudeandthelongitudeofacountry,itsriversanditsmountains,andIwilldeducetherace,’issurelyaglaringexaggeration.
(7)Themonarchical,aristocratical,anddemocraticelementsoftheRomanconstitutionarereferredto.
(8)Polybius,vi.9.[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]
(9)[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]
(10)Thevariousstagesare[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced],[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced].
(11)Polybius,xii.24.
(12)Polybius,i.4,viii.4,specially;andreallyPASSIM.
(13)Hemakesoneexception.
(14)Polybius,viii.4.
(15)Polybius,xvi.12.
(16)Polybius,viii.4:[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]
(17)PolybiusresembledGibboninmanyrespects.Likehimheheldthatallreligionsweretothephilosopherequallyfalse,tothevulgarequallytrue,tothestatesmanequallyuseful.
(18)Cf.Polybius,xii.25,[Greektextwhichcannotbereproduced]
(19)Polybius,xxii.8.
(20)ImeanparticularlyasregardshissweepingdenunciationofthecompletemoraldecadenceofGreeksocietyduringthePeloponnesainWar,which,fromwhatremainstousofAthenianliterature,weknowmusthavebeencompletelyexaggerated.Or,rather,heislookingatmenmerelyintheirpoliticaldealings:
andinpoliticsthemanwhoispersonallyhonourableandrefinedwillnotscrupletodoanythingforhisparty.
(21)Polybius,xii.25.
(22)THETWOPATHS,Lect.iii.p.123(1859ed.).