Contents:
Ceres’RunawayAVanquishedManANorthernFancyLaughterHarlequinMercutioTheLittleLanguageAnimaPellegrina!
TheSeaWallTheDaffodilAddressesTheAudienceTithonusTheTowPathTheTetheredConstellationsPopularBurlesqueDryAutumnThePlaidTwoBurdensTheUnreadyTheChildofTumultTheChildofSubsidingTumultCERES’RUNAWAY
OnecanhardlybedullpossessingthepleasantimaginarypictureofaMunicipalityhotinchaseofawildcrop——atleastwhilethecharmingquarryescapes,asitdoesinRome。TheMunicipalitydoesnotexistthatwouldbenimbleenoughtoovertaketheRomangrowthofgreeninthehighplacesofthecity。Itistruethattherehavebeenthefamouscaptures——thoseintheColosseum,andintheBathsofCaracalla;moreoveralessconspicuousrunningtoearthtakesplaceontheAppianWay,insomemilesofthesolitudeoftheCampagna,wheremenareemployedinweedingtheroadside。Theyslowlyuprootthegrassandlayitontheancientstones——rowsoflittlecorpses——forsweepingup,asatUpperTooting;onewonderswhy。ThegovernorsofthecitywillnotsucceedinmakingtheViaAppialookbusy,oritsstrippedstonessuggestiveofathrivingcommerce。Again,atthecemeterywithinthenowtornandshatteredAurelianwallbythePortaSanPaolo,theyareoftenmowingofbuttercups。\"Alightoflaughingflowersalongthegrassisspread,\"saysShelley,whosechildliesbetweenKeatsandthepyramid。Butacoupleofactivescythesarekeptatworktheresummerandspring——notthatthegrassislong,foritismuchovertoppedbythebee—orchis,butbecauseflowersarenottolaughwithinreachofthecivicvigilance。
Yet,exceptthatitisovertakenandputtodeathintheseaccessibleplaces,thewildsummergrowthofRomehasaprevailingsuccessandvictory。Itbreaksallbounds,fliestothesummits,lodgesinthesun,swingsinthewind,takeswingtofindtheremotestledges,andbloomsaloft。Itmakeslightofthesixteenthcentury,oftheseventeenth,andoftheeighteenth。Asthehistoricagesgrowcolditbantersthemalike。Theflagrantflourishingstatue,thehaughtyfacade,thebrokenpediment(andRomeischieflythecityofthebrokenpediment)aretheopportunitiesofthisvagrantgardenintheair。Onecertainchurch,thatisfullofattitude,canhardlybeawarethatacrimsonsnapdragonofgreatstatureandmanystalksandblossomsisstandingonitsfurthestsummittiptoeagainstitssky。ThecorniceofanotherchurchinthefairmiddleofRomeliftsoutoftheshadowsofthestreetsarowofaccidentalmarigolds。Impartialtotheantique,themediaeval,theRenaissanceearlyandlate,thenewermodern,thiswildsummerfindsitsaccountintravertineandtufa,reticulatedwork,brick,stuccoandstone。\"Abirdoftheaircarriesthematter,\"orthelastsea—
wind,sombreandsoft,orthelatesttramontana,goldandblue,haslodgedinalittlefertiledustthewildgrass,wildwheat,wildoats!
IfVenushadherrunaway,afterwhomtheElizabethansraisedhueandcry,thisisCeres’。Themunicipalauthorities,hot—foot,cannotcatchit。And,worsethanall,iftheypause,dismayed,tomarktheflightoftheagilefugitivesafeonthearcofaflyingbuttress,ortakingtheplaceofthefallenmosaicsandcolouredtilesofatwelfth—centurytower,andinanycaseinaccessible,thegrassgrowsundertheirdiscomfitedfeet。Itactuallycastsaflushofgreenovertheircitypiazza——thewidelight—greypavementssovastthattokeepthemweededwouldneedanarmyofworkers。Thatarmyhasnotbeenemployed;andgrassgrowsinasmallway,butstillbeautifully,inthewidespacearoundwhichthetramwaycircles。
PerhapsahatredofitsdelightfulpresenceiswhatchieflypromptsthecivicgovernmentinRometotheefforttoturnthepiazzaintoasquare。Theshrubistotaketheplacenotsomuchofthepavementasoftheimportunategrass。Foritishardtobebeaten——andtheweeddoessoprevail,issosmall,andsodominant!Thesuntakesitspart,andonemightalmostimagineasensitiveMunicipalityintears,toseegrassrunning,overheadandunderfoot,throughthe\"third\"(whichisintruththefourth)Rome。
WhenIsaygrassIusethewordwidely。Italiangrassisnotturf;
itisfullofthings,andtheyarechieflyaromatic。Noricherscentsthrongeachother,closeandwarm,thanthesefromalittlehand—spaceofthegrassonerestson,withinthewallsorontheplain,orintheSabineortheAlbanhills。Moreover,underthenameIwilltakeleavetoincludelettuceasitgrowswithamostwelcomesurpriseoncertainledgesoftheVatican。Thatgreatandbeautifulpalaceispiled,atvariousangles,asitwerehouseuponhouse,heremagnificent,herecareless,butwithnothingpretentiousandnothingfurtive。Andoutsideonelateralwindowonaledgetothesun,prospersthislittlegardenofrandomsalad。BuckinghamPalacehasnothingwhateveroftheVaticandignity,butonecannotwellthinkoflittlecheerfulcabbagessunningthemselvesonanyparapetitmayhaveroundacorner。
Moreover,inItalythevegetables——thetableones——haveawildness,asuggestionofthegrass,fromlandsatlibertyforallthetilling。Wildishpeas,wilderasparagus——thefieldasparaguswhichseemstohavedisappearedfromEngland,butofwhichHerrickboastsinhismanifestationsoffrugality——andstrawberriesmuchlessthanhalf—wayfromthesmallanddarklingonesofthewoodstothepaleandcorpulentofthegardens,andwithnothingofthewildfragrancelost——theseareallItalianthingsofsavagesavourandsimplicity。
Themostcultivatedofallcountries,theItalyoftillage,isyetnotagarden,butsomethingbetter,ashercityisyetnotatownbutsomethingbetter,andherwildernesssomethingbetterthanadesert。Inallthethreethereisatraceofthelittleflyingheelsoftherunaway。
AVANQUISHEDMAN
Haydondiedbyhisownactin1846,anditwasnot,intheevent,until1853thathisjournalwasedited,notbyElizabethBarrettBrowning,ashewished,butbyTomTaylor。Turningoverthesefamiliarandfamousvolumes,oftenread,Iwonderoncemorehowanyeditorwasboldto\"takeuponhimselfthemysteryofthings\"inthecaseofHaydon,andtoassigntothatvenialmoralfaultorthistheill—fortuneanddefeatthatbesethim,withhardlyapausefortherenewaloftheresistanceofhisadmirablecourage。
Thathemadeamereintellectualmistake,gavethankswithalowlyandloftyheartforageniusdeniedhim,thathepreparedhimselftoanswertoHeavenandearthforthegifthehadnot,tosufferitsreproach,tobearitsburden,andthathelookedforitsreward,isallhishistory。Therewasnofaultoftheintellectinhisapprehensionofthethinghethoughttostandpossessedof。Heconceiveditaright,andhewasjustinhisrebukeofaworldsodullandtrivialbeforetheartforwhichhedied。Heesteemeditaright,exceptwhenhedeemedithis。
Hiseditor,thinkinghimselftobesummonedtojustifythechastisement,thedestruction,thewholeretributionofsuchacareer,lookshereandthereforthesinsofHaydon;thesearchisrewardedwiththediscoveryoffaultssuchaseverymanandwomanentruststothecommongenerosity,thegeneralconsciousness。Itisapitytoseeanymanconningsuchoffencesbyheart,andsettingthemclearinaneditorialjudgementbecausehethinkshimselftoholdatrust,byvirtueofhisbiographicaloffice,toexplainthesufferingsandthefailureofaconqueredman。
What,intheend,arethesinswhicharetoleadthereader,sadbutsatisfied,toconcludewith\"Seetheresultof——\",or\"Soitevermustbewithhimwhoyieldsto——,\"orwhateverelsemaybethemannerofratifyingthesentenceonthecondemnedanddead?Haydon,wehear,omittedtoaskadvice,or,ifheaskedit,didnotshapehiscoursetherebyunlessitpleasedhim。Haydonwasself—willed;
hehadawildvanity,andhehopedhecouldpersuadeallthepowersthatincludethepowersofmantoprospertheworkofwhichhehimselfwassure。Hedidnotwaituponthejudgementoftheworld,butthoughttocompelit。
Shouldhe,then,havewaiteduponthejudgementofsuchaworld?Hewasforemostinthetaskofinstructing,nay,ofcompellingitwhentherewasaquestionofthevalueoftheElginMarbles,andwhenthepossession——whichwasthepreservation——ofthesewasatstake。
Therehewasnotwrong;hisjudgement,thatdealthim,inhisowncause,thefirst,thefatal,thefinalinjury——theinitialsubtleblowthatsenthimonhiscareersowronged,socleftthroughandthrough,thatthemerecourseandactionoflifemustruinhim——thisjudgement,inart,directedhiminthedecisionofthemostmomentousofallpublicquestions。Haydonadmired,wrote,protested,declaimed,andfought;andingreatpart,itseems,weoweourperpetualinstructionbythosejudgesoftheArtswhicharethefragmentsoftheElginsculptures,tothefactthatHaydontrustedhimselfwiththetrustthatworkedhisowndestruction。
Intothepresenceespeciallyofthoseseatedfigures,commonlycalledtheFates,wehabituallybringourartsforsentence。Helentaneffectualhandtothesetting—upofthatTribunalofheadlessstones。
Thethingweshouldlamentisratherthattheworldwhichrefused,neglected,forgothim——andbychance—medleywasright,wasright!——
hadnopossibleauthorityforanythingthatitdidagainsthim,andthathemighthavesentittoschool,forallhisdefectofgenius;
moreover,thathewasmortallywoundedinthelastofhisfortyyearsofbattlebythisironicwound:amongthebadpainterschosentoadorntheHousesofParliamentwithfresco,hewasnotone。Thisaffronthetookatthehandsofmenwhohadnorealdistinctionsintheirgift。Hemightwellhavehad,bymerechance,somegreatcompanionwithwhomtosharethatrejection。Theunfortunatemanhadnosuchfortuitousfellowshipathand。Howstrange,thesolitudeofthebadpainteroutcastbytheworst,andcapableofmakingcommoncauseindomitablywiththegood,hadtherebeenanysuchtotakeheartfromhishighcourage!
Therewasnone。Therewererangedtheunjustjudgeswiththeirblundersallingoodorder,andtheirignorancenewdressed,andtherewasnoartisttodestroyexceptonlythisone,somewhatbetterthantheirfavoured,theirappointedpaintersinfresco;oneuncompanioned,andamanbesidesthroughwhoseheartthepublicreproachwasabletocutkeenly。
IsthissensibilitytobemadeareproachtoHaydon?Ithasalwaysseemedtomethathewasnotwithoutgreatness——yethewasalwayswithoutdignity——inthosemostcruelpassagesofhislife,suchasthatofhisdefeat,towardsthecloseofhiswar,bytheshowofadwarf,towhichallLondonthronged,ledbyRoyalexample,whiletheexhibitionofhispicturewasdeserted。Hewasnotbetrayedbyangeratthisendofhopesandlaboursinwhichallthatamanlivesforhadbeenpledged。Nay,hesucceededinbearingwhatamoreinwardmanwouldhavetakenmorehardly。Hewasabletosayinhisloudvoice,inreproachtotheworld,whatanotherwouldhavebarredwithin:oneofhisgreatpictureswasinacellar,anotherinanattic,anotheratthepawnbroker’s,anotherinagrocer’sshop,anotherunfinishedinhisstudio;thebillsforframesandcoloursandtherentwereunpaid。Somesolaceheevenfoundinstatingafewofthesefacts,inFrench,toaFrenchofficialordiplomaticvisitortoLondon,interestedintheconditionofthearts。Well,whoshalllivewithoutsupport?Amanfindsitwherehecan。
Aftertheseoffencesofself—willandvanityTomTaylorfindsussomeotherlittlething——Ithinkitisinaccuracy。PoorHaydonsaysinonephrasethathepaidallhisfriendsonsuchaday,andinanothersoonfollowingthatthemoneygivenorlenttohimhadbeeninsufficienttopaythemcompletely;andassuredlytherearemanyrevisions,after—thoughts,orotheraccidentstoaccountforsuchaslip。Hiseditorsaysthediscrepancyis\"characteristic,\"butI
protestIcannotfindanotherlikeitamongthosemelancholypages。
Ifsomethinggravercouldbutbesiftedoutfromallthesejournalsandlettersoffrankconfession,bytheexplainer!Here,then,isthelastandleast:Haydonwasservileinhisaddressto\"menofrank。\"Buthisservilityseemstobeverymuchinthefashionofhisday——nothinggrosser;andthemenwhosetthefashionhadnottoshapetheirstyletoHaydon’sperpetualpurpose,whichwastoaskforcommissionsorformoney。
Nottheforsakenmanonlybutalsothefallencityevokesthisexerciseofhistoricalmorality,untilamaninflourishingLondonisnotafraidtoassignthecausesofthedecayofVenice;andthereisnotawateringplaceuponourcoastsbutissecurelyawareofmeritedmisfortuneontheAdriatic。
Haydonwasgrateful,andhehelpedmenintrouble;hehadpupils,andneverashillinginpayforteachingthem。Hepaintedagoodthing——theheadofhisLazarus。Hehadnofaultoftheory:whatfaultoftheorycanamancommitwhostands,ashedid,by\"NatureandtheGreeks\"?IntheoryhesoonoutgrewtheItaliansthenmostadmired;hehadanhonestmind。
Butnothingwasabletogainforhimthepardonthatisnevertobegained,theimpossiblepardon——pardonforthatfirstandlastmistake——themistakeastohisownpowers。Iftopardonmeanstodispensefromconsequence,howshouldthisbepardoned?Artwouldceasetobeitself,bysuchanamnesty。
ANORTHERNFANCY
\"Iremember,\"saidDryden,writingtoDennis,\"IrememberpoorNatLee,whowasthenuponthevergeofmadness,yetmadeasoberandwittyanswertoabadpoetwhotoldhim,’Itwasaneasythingtowritelikeamadman。’’No,’saidhe,’’tisaverydifficultthingtowritelikeamadman,but’tisaveryeasythingtowritelikeafool。’\"Nevertheless,thedifficultsongofdistractionistobeheard,alighthighnote,inEnglishpoetrythroughouttwocenturiesatleast,andoneEnglishpoetlatelysetthatuntetheredlyric,themadmaid’ssong,flyingagain。
Arevoltagainsttheoppressionofthelatesixteenthandearlyseventeenthcenturies——theageofthere—discoveryofdeath;againstthecrimeoftragedies;againstthetyrannyofItalianexamplethathadmadethepoetswalkinonewayoflove,scorn,constancy,inconstancy——mayhavecausedthistrollingofunconsciousness,thistuneofinnocence,andthiscarolofliberty,tobeheldsodear。
\"IheardamaidinBedlam,\"runstheoldsong。Highandlowthepoetstriedforthatnote,andthesingerwasnearlyalwaystobeamaidandcrazedforlove。ExceptforthetemporaryinsanitysoindifferentlywornbythesopranoofthenowdeceasedkindofItalianopera,andexceptthatarecentFrenchstoryplayswiththeflittingfigureofavillagegirlrobbedofherwitsbywoe(andthis,too,isaRussianvillager,andtheSouthernauthormayhavefoundhisstoryonthespot,asheseemstoaver)IhavenotmetelsewherethaninEnglandthissolitaryanddetachedpoetryofthetreblenoteastray。
Atleast,itisprincipallyanorthernfancy。WouldthesteadfastCordelia,ifshehadnotdied,haveliftedthelowvoicetothathighnote,sodelicatelyuntuned?Shewhowouldnotbeprodigalofwordsmightyet,indeed,havesunginthecage,andtoldoldtales,andlaughedatgildedbutterfliesofthecourtofcrimes,andlivedsolonginthestrangehealthofanemancipatedbrainastowearoutPacksandsectsofgreatonesThatebbandflowbythemoon。
She,ifKingLearhadhadhislastdesire,mighthavesungthemerryandstrangetuneofBedlam,liketheslighterOpheliaandthemaidcalledBarbara。
Itwassurelythenameofthemaidwhodiedsinging,asDesdemonaremembers,thatlingeredintheearofWordsworth。Ofallthesongsofthedistracted,writteninthesanityofhighimagination,thereisnothingmorepassionatethanthatbeginning\"’Tissaidthatsomehavediedforlove。\"ToonewhohasalwaysrecognizedthegreatnessofthispoemandwhopossiblyhadknownandforgottenhowmuchRuskinprizedit,itwasapleasuretofindthejudgementafreshinModernPainters,wherethisgravelyriciscitedforanexampleofgreatimagination。Itisthemourningandrestlesssongofthelover(\"theprettyBarbaradied\")whohasnotyetbrokenfreefrommemoryintothealienworldoftheinsane。
Barbara’sloverdweltinthesceneofhislove,asDryden’sAdamentreatstheexpellingangelthathemightdo,protestingthathecouldenduretolose\"thebliss,butnottheplace。\"(Andalthoughthisdramatic\"ParadiseLost\"ofDryden’sishardlynamedbycriticsexcepttobescorned,thisisassuredlyafineandimaginativethought。)ItisneverthelessasawandererthatthecrazedcreaturevisitsthefancyofEnglishpoetswithsuchawildrecurrence。TheEnglishmanofthefarpast,barredbyclimate,badroads,ill—
lightedwinters,andtheintricatelifeandcustomsofthelittletown,musthavebeengenerallyahome—keeper。Noadventure,nosettingforth,andsmallliberty,forhim。ButTom—a—Bedlam,thewildmaninpatchesorinribbons,withhiswalletandhishornforalmsoffoodordrink,cameandwentasfitfullyasthestorm,freetosufferallthecold——anunshelteredcreature;andthechillfancyofthevillagerfollowedhimouttotheheathonajourneythathadnolaw。Wasitheinperson,orapoetforhim,thatmadetheswingingsong:\"Fromthehagandthehungrygoblin\"?Ifapoet,itwasonewhowrotelikeamadmanandnotlikeafool。
Notatown,notavillage,notasolitarycottageduringtheEnglishMiddleAgeswasunvisitedbyhimwhofrightenedthechildren;theyhadanameforhimasforthewildbirds——RobinRedbreast,DickySwallow,PhilipSparrow,TomTit,Tom—a—Bedlam。Andafterhimcamethe\"Abrammen,\"whoweresaneparodiesofthecrazed,andwenttothefairsandwakesinmotley。Evelynsaysofafop:\"Allhisbodywasdressedlikeamaypole,oraTom—a—Bedlam’scap。\"ButaftertheCivilWarstheyvanished,andnomanknewhow。Intimeoldmenrememberedthemonlytorememberthattheyhadnotseenanysuchcompaniesorsolitarywanderersoflateyears。
Themadmaidofthepoetsisavagranttoo,whensheisfree,andnotsingingwithinBedlamearlyinthemorning,\"inthespring。\"
Wordsworth,whodealtwiththelegendaryfancyinhis\"Ruth,\"makesthecrazedoneawandererinthehillswhomatravellermightseebychance,rareasanOread,andnearlyaswildasEchoherself:—
ItoohavepassedherinthehillsSettingherlittlewater—mills。
Hisheartmisgiveshimtothinkoftherheumatismthatmustbefallinsuchawayofliving;andhisgravesenseofcivilization,bourgeoisinthehumaneandnoblewaythatishisown,restoresherafterdeathtothecompanyofman,tothe\"holybell,\"whichShakespeare’sDukerememberedinbanishment,andtothecongregationandtheir\"Christianpsalm。\"
Theolderpoetswerelessresponsible,lessseriousandmoresad,thanWordsworth,whentheyinturnweretouchedbythefancyofthemaidcrazedbylove。Theylefthertoherlightimmortality;andshemightbedrenchedindews;theywouldnotdesiretoreconcilenorburyher。Shemighthaveherhairtornbythebramble,butherheartwaslightaftertrouble。\"Manylightheartsandwings\"——shehadatleastthebird’sheart,andthepoetlenttohervoicethewingsofhisverses。
Thereisnothinginourpoetrylessmodernthanshe。ThevagrantwomanoflaterfeelingwasratherthesanecreatureofEbenezerElliott’sfinelinesin\"TheExcursion\"—
Bone—weary,many—childed,trouble—tried!
Wifeofmybosom,weddedtomysoul!
Troubledidnot\"try\"theElizabethanwildone,itundidher。Shehadnochild,oriftherehadeverbeenachildofhers,shehadlongforgottenhowitdied。Shehailedthewayfarer,whowasmorewearythanshe,withasong;shehauntedthecheerfuldawn;her\"good—morrow\"ringsfromHerrick’spoem,freshascock—crow。Sheknowsthatherloveisdead,andherperplexityhasregardrathertothemanykindsofflowersthantotheoldstoryofhisdeath;theydistractherinthesplendidmeadows。
Allthetragicworldpausedtohearthatlightestofsongs,asthetragedyofHamletpausesforthefitfulvoiceofOphelia。Strangewasthecharmofthisperpetualalien,andunknowntousnow。Theworldhasbecomeonceagainasitwasinthemadmaid’sheyday,lessseriousandmoresadthanWordsworth;butithasnotrecovered,andperhapswillneverrecover,thatsweetness。Blake’swasamorestarrymadness。Crabbe,writingofvillagesorrows,thoughthimselfboundtorecurtothelegendofthemadmaid,buthis\"crazedmaiden\"issaneenough,sorrowfulbutdull,andsingsofherown\"burningbrow,\"asHerrick’swildoneneversang;noristhereanysmileinherstory,thoughshetalksofflowers,or,rather,\"theherbsIlovedtorear\";andperhapssheisthesurestofallsignsthatthestrangeinspirationofthepastcenturieswaslost,vanishedlikeTom—a—Bedlamhimself。IthadbeenwhollyEnglish,whereastheEnglisheighteenthcenturywasnotwhollyEnglish。
ItisnottobeimaginedthatanyhardSouthernmindcouldeverhaveplayedinpoetrywithsuchafancy;orthatPetrarch,forexample,couldsohaveforegonethemanifestationofintelligenceandintelligiblesentiment。AndastoDante,whoputthetwoeternitiesintothemomentarybalanceofthehumanwill,coldwouldbehisdisregardofthisnortherndreamofinnocence。Ifthemadmaidwasanalienuponearth,whatweresheintheInferno?Whatwordcanexpressherstrangenessthere,hervagrancythere?AndwithwhateyeswouldtheyseethisdewyfaceglancinginatthewindowsofthatCity?
LAUGHTER
Timeshavebeen,itissaid,merrierthanthese;butitiscertainneverthelessthatlaughterneverwassohonouredasnow;wereitnotfortheparadoxonemightsay,itneverwassograve。Everywherethejoke\"emerges\"——asan\"elegant\"writermighthaveit——emergestocatchtheattentionofthesenseofhumour;andeverywherethesenseofhumourwanders,watches,andwaitstohonourtheappeal。
Itloiters,vaguelybutperpetuallywilling。Itwears(lettheviolentpersonificationbepardoned)ahanginglip,andawrinkleinabeyance,andaneyeinsuspense。Itismuchattheserviceofthevagrantencounterer,andmaybeaccostedbyanychancedaughtersofthegame。Itstandsinuntowardplaces,orplacesthatwereonceinappropriate,andisearlyatsomeindefiniteappointment,someubiquitoustryst,withthecompliantjest。
Allliteraturebecomesafieldofeasyassignations;thereisaconstantsignalling,anendlessrecognition。Formsofapproachareremitted。Andthejokeandthesenseofhumour,withnosurpriseofmeeting,ornogaietyofstrangeness,socustomaryhasthepromiscuitybecome,goupanddownthepagesofthepaperandthebook。See,again,thetheatre。Asomewhateasysortofcomicactingisbysomuchthebestthinguponourpresentstagethatlittleelsecanclaim——paradoxagainapart——tobetakenseriously。
Thereis,inaword,adetermination,anincreasingtendencyawayfromtheOrientalestimateoflaughterasathingfitterforwomen,fittestforchildren,andunfittedforthebeard。Laughteriseverywhereandateverymomentproclaimedtobethehonourableoccupationofmen,andinsomedegreedistinctiveofmen,andnomeanpartoftheirprerogativeandprivilege。Thesenseofhumourischieflytheirs,andthosewhoarenotmenaretobeadmittedtothejestupontheirexplanation。Theywillnotrefuseexplanation。
Andthereislittleuponwhichamanwillsovaluehimselfasuponthatsense,\"inEngland,now。\"
Meanwhile,itwouldbeapityiflaughtershouldeverbecome,likerhetoricandthearts,ahabit。Anditisinsomesortahabitwhenitisnotinevitable。Ifweaskourselveswhywelaugh,wemustconfessthatwelaughoftenestbecause——beingamused——weintendtoshowthatweareamused。Wearerighttomakethesign,butasmilewouldbeassureasignalasalaugh,andmoresincere;itwouldbutbechangingtheconvention;andthechangewouldrestorelaughteritselftoitsownplace。Wehavefallenintothewayofusingittoprovesomething——oursenseofthegoodnessofthejest,towit;butlaughtershouldnotthusbeused,itshouldgofree。Itisnotademonstration,whetherinlogic,or——astheworddemonstrationisnowgenerallyused——inemotion;andwedoilltochargeitwiththatoffice。
SomethingoftheOrientalideaofdignitymightnotbeamissamongsuchapeopleasourselvescontainingwideandnumerousclasseswholaughwithoutcause:audiences;crowds;agreatmanyclergymen,whoperhapsfirstfellintothehabitintheintentionofprovingthattheywerenotgloomy;butavastnumberoflaymenalsowhohadnotthatexcuse;andmanywomenwholaughintheiruncertaintyastowhatishumorousandwhatisnot。Thislastisthemostharmlessofallkindsofsuperfluouslaughter。Whenitcarriesanapology,aconfessionofnaturalandgenialignorance,andwhenagentlecreaturelaughsalaughofhazardandexperiment,sheistobemorethanforgiven。Whatshemustnotdoistolaughalaughofinstruction,andasitwereretrievethejestthatwasneverworththetaking。
Thereare,besides,afewwomenwhodonotdisturbthemselvesastoasenseofhumour,butwholaughfromasenseofhappiness。
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。
HARLEQUINMERCUTIO
ThefirsttimethatMercutiofellupontheEnglishstage,therefellwithhimagayandhardlyhumanfigure;itfell,perhapsfinally,forEnglishdrama。Thatmannerofman——Arlecchino,orHarlequin——
hadoutlivedhisplaymates,Pantaleone,Brighella,Colombina,andtheClown。AlittleofPantaleonesurvivesinoldCapulet,alittleinthefatheroftheShrew,butthelifeofMercutiointheoneplay,andofthesubordinateTraniointheother,islessquicklyspent,lesseasilyputout,thanthesmoulderingoftheoldman。
ArlecchinofrolicsinandoutofthetragedyandcomedyofShakespeare,untilhethusdiesinhislightest,hisbrightest,hismostvitalshape。
Arlecchino,thetricksyandshiftyspirit,thecontriver,thebusybody,thetrustyrogue,thewonder—worker,themanindisguise,themercurialone,livesonbuoyantlyinFrancetotheageofMoliere。HeisofficiousandefficaciousintheskinofMascarilleandErgasteandScapin;buthetendstobealacquey,withareferencerathertoAntiquityandtheLatincomedythantotheMiddleAges,asontheEnglishstagehismerememorysurvivesdifferentlytoalaterageinthepersonof\"Charles,hisfriend。\"
WhatconvincesmethathevirtuallydiedwithMercutioischieflythis——thatthiscomradeofRomeo’slivessokeenlyastobefullycapableofthedeaththathetakesatTybalt’ssword—point;helivedindeed,hediesindeed。Anotherthingthatmarksthecloseofacareerofagesishislossofhislongcustomarygoodluck。WhoeverheardofArlecchinounfortunatebefore,atfaultwithhissword—play,overtakenbytragedy?Histimehadsurelycome。Thegaycompanionwastobleed;Tybalt’sswordhadmadeaway。’Twasnotsodeepasawellnorsowideasachurch—door,butitserved。
SomeconfusioncomestopassamongthetypicalfiguresoftheprimitiveItalianplay,becauseHarlequin,onthatconventionallittlestageofthepast,hasahero’splace,whereaswhenheinterferesinhumanaffairsheisonlytheauxiliary。Hemightbeloverandbridegroomontheprimitivestage,inthecomedyofthesefewandunalteredtypes;butwhenPantaloon,Clown,andHarlequinplaywithreallyhumanbeings,thenHarlequincanbenomorethanafriendofthehero,thefriendofthebridegroom。Thefivefiguresoftheoldstagedanceattendance;theyplayaroundthebusinessofthosewhohavethedignityofmortality;they,poorimmortals——aclownwhodoesnotdie,apantaloonneverfarfromdeath,whoyetdoesnotdie,aColumbinewhoneverattainsDesdemona’sdeathofinnocenceorJuliet’sdeathofrectitudeandpassion——flitinthebackwardplacesofthestage。
Arielfulfilshisoffice,andisnotofonekindwiththoseheserves。IsthereamemoryofHarlequininthatdelicatefigure?
Somethingofthesubservientimmortality,ofthelightindignity,propertoPantaleone,Brighella,Arlecchino,Colombina,andtheClown,hoversawayfromthestagewhenArielisreleasedfromthetroubleofhumanthings。
Immortality,didIsay?ItwasimmortalityuntilMercutiofell。
AndifsomeclaimbemadetoitstillbecauseHarlequinhastransformedsomanyscenesforthepleasureofsomanythousandchildren,sinceMercutiodied,ImustreplythatourmodernHarlequinisnomorethanamarionnette;hehasreturnedwhencehecame。Amanmayplayhim,butheis——ashewasfirstofall——adoll。Fromdoll—hoodArlecchinotooklife,and,sopromoted,flittedthroughathousandcomedies,onlytobeagainwhathefirstwas;savethat,asonceadollplayedtheman,sonowamanplaysthedoll。ItisbutamemoryofArlecchinothatourchildrensee,apoorstatueorimageendowedwithmobilityratherthanwithlife。
WithMercutio,vanishedthelightheartthathadgiventotheseriousagesoftheworldanhour’srefugefromtheunforgottenburdenofresponsibleconscience;thelightheartassumed,borrowed,madedramaticallythespectator’sown。Wearenotseriousnow,andnoheartnowisquitelight,evenforanhour。
THELITTLELANGUAGE
Dialectistheelfratherthanthegeniusofplace,andadwarfishmasterofthemagicoflocalthings。
InEnglandwehardlyknowwhataconcentratedhomelinessitnourishes;inasmuchas,withus,thecastesandclassesforwhomGoldoniandGallinaandSignorFogazzarohavewritteninthepatoisoftheVeneto,usenodialectatall。
NeitherGoldoninorGallinahaschargedtheVenetianlanguagewithsomuchliteratureastotakefromthepeopletheshelteroftheiralmostunwrittentongue。SignorFogazzaro,bringingtragedyintothehomesofdialect,doesbutshowushowthelanguagestaggersundersuchastress,howitbreaksdown,andresignsthatoffice。
Oneofthefinestofthecharactersintheranksofhisadmirablefictionisthatoldmanageressofthenarrowthingsofthehousewhosedaughterisdyinginsane。Ihavecalledthedialectashelter。Thisitis;butthepoorladydoesnotcowerwithin;herresignedheaderect,sheisshutoutfromthathomelyrefuge,sufferingandinarticulate。Thetwodramatistsintheirseveralcenturiesalsorecognizedtheinabilityofthedialect。Theylaidnonebutlightloadsuponit。Theycausedittocarrynomoreintheirhomelyplaysthanitcarriesinhomelylife。Theirworkleavesitwhatitwas——thetalkofapeopletalkingmuchaboutfewthings;apeoplelikeourownandanyotherintheirlackofliterature,butlocalandallItalianintheirlackofsilence。
Commonspeechissurelyagreaterpartoflifetosuchapeoplethantoonelesspleasedwithchatterormorepleasedwithbooks。Iamwritingofmen,women,andchildren(andchildrenarenotforgotten,sinceweshareapatoiswithchildrenontermsofmorethancommonequality)whopossess,foralloccasionsofceremonyandopportunitiesofdignity,ageneral,national,liberal,able,andillustrioustongue,chargedwithallitshistoryandallitsachievements;forthespeakersofdialect,ofacertainrank,speakItalian,too。Buttotamperwiththeirdialect,ortotakeitfromthem,wouldbetoleavethemhouselessandexposedintheirdailybusiness。Somuchdoestheirpatoisseemtobetheirrefugefromtheheavyandmultitudinousexperiencesofaliterarytongue,thatthestoppingofafox’searthmightbetakenastheimageofanyactthatshouldspoilorstopthetalkoftheassociatedseclusionoftheirtown,andleavetheminthebleaknessofalargerpatriotism。
TheVenetianpeople,theGenoese,andtheotherspeakersoflanguagesthatmightallhaveprovedright\"Italian\"hadnotDante,PetrarchandBoccacciowritteninTuscan,canneitherwritenorbetaughthardthingsintheirdialect,althoughtheycanlive,whethereasylivesorhard,andevidentlycandie,therein。Thehandsandfeetthathaveservedthevillagerandthecitizenathomelytaskshaveallthelowlinessofhispatois,tohismind;andwhenhemustperforceyielduptheiremployment,wemaybelievethatitisasimplethingtodieinsosimpleandsonarrowalanguage,onesocomfortable,neighbourly,tolerant,andcompassionate;soconfidential;soincapable,ignorant,unappalling,inapttowinganyweariedthoughtupondifficultflightortospurituponhardtravelling。
Notwithoutwordsismentalpain,orevenphysicalpain,tobeundergone;butthewordsthathavedonenomorethanorderthethingsofthenarrowstreetarenotwordstoputafineedgeorapiercingpointtoanyhumanpang。ItmayevenwellbethattodieindialectiseasierthantodieintheeloquenceofManfred,thoughthatdeclaimedlanguage,too,isdoubtlessadefence,ifoneofadifferentmanner。
ThesewritersinVenetian——theyarenamedbecauseinnootherItaliandialecthasworksopopularasGoldoni’sbeendone,norsoexcellentasSignorFogazzaro’s——havelefttheunletteredlocallanguageinwhichtheylovedtodeal,toitsproperlimitations。
Theyhavenotgivenweightythingsintoitscharge,normadeitheavilyresponsible。Theyhaveaddednothingtoit;nay,bywritingittheymightevenbesaidtohavemadeitduller,haditnotbeenforthereaderandtheactor。Insomuchastheintenseexpressivenessofadialect——ofasmallvocabularyinthemouthofadramaticpeople——liesinthevariousaccentwherewithasoutherncitizenknowshowtoenrichhistalk,itremainsfortheactortorestoreitslifetothewrittenphrase。Indialecttheauthorisforbiddentosearchfortheword,forthereisnonelurkingforhischoice;butoftones,allusions,andofreferencesandinferencesofthevoice,thespeakerofdialectisamaster。Norangeofphrasescanbehis,buthehasthemoreorthelessconfidentialinflection,untilattimestheclosecommunicationofthenarrowstreetbecomesaveryconspiracy。
Letitbeborneinmindthatdialectproperlysocalledissomethingallunlike,forinstance,themerejargonofLondonstreets。ThedifferencemaybemeasuredbythefactthatItaliandialectshaveahighlyorganizedandorderlygrammar。TheLondonercannotkeepthesmallandlooseorderofthegrammarofgoodEnglish;theGenoeseconjugateshispatoisverbs,withsubjunctivesandallthingsofthathandsomekind,lackedbytheEnglishofUniversities。
Themiddleclass——thepiccolomondo——thatsharesItaliandialectwiththepooraremorestrictlylocalintheirmannersthaneithertheopulentortheindigentofthesamecity。Theyhavemoreoverthebusyintelligence(whichistheintellectofpatois)atitskeenest。TheirspeechkeepsthemasequesteredplacewhichisItalian,Italianbeyondthekenofthetraveller,andbeyondthereachofalteration。And——whatisprettytoobserve——thespeakersarewellconsciousofthecharactersofthisintimatelanguage。AnItaliancountrymanwhohasknownnootherclimatewillvaunt,inferventplatitudes,hisItaliansun;inlikemannerheisconsciousofthelocalcharacterofhislanguage,andtuckshimselfwithinitathome,whateverTuscanhemayspeakabroad。Aproperlyspeltletter,Swiftsaid,wouldseemtoexposehimandMrsDingleyandStellatotheeyesoftheworld;buttheirlittlelanguage,ill—
written,was\"snug。\"
Lovershavemadealittlelanguageinalltimes;findingthenoblerlanguageinsufficient,dotheyensconcethemselvesinthesmaller?
discardnobleandliteraryspeechasnotnobleenough,andindespairthusprattleandgibberandstammer?RatherperhapsthisdeparturefromEnglishisbutanexcursionaftergaiety。Theideallovers,nodoubt,wouldbesosimpleastobegrave。Thatisatenableopinion。Nevertheless,agebyagetheyhavebeengay;andagebyagetheyhaveexchangedlanguageimitatedfromthechildrentheydoubtlessneverstudied,andperhapsneverloved。Whyso?
TheymighthavechosenbrokenEnglishofothersorts——that,forexample,whichwasoncethoughtamusinginfarce,asspokenbytheFrenchmanconceivedbytheEnglishman——acomplicationofhumourfictitiousenough,onemightthink,topleaseanyone;orelseafragmentofnegrodialect;orthestyleoftelegrams;orthemasterlyadaptationofthesimplesavage’sEnglishdevisedbyMrsPlornishinherintercoursewiththeItalian。Butnoneofthesefoundfavour。Thechoicehasalwaysbeenofthelanguageofchildren。LetussupposethattheflockofwingedLovesworshippingVenusintheTitianpicture,andthenoblechildthatrideshislionerectwithabackgroundofVenetiangloomydusk,maybetheinspirersofthoseprattlings。\"Seethenthyselfelikewiseartlyttlemade,\"saysSpenser’sVenustoherchild。
Swiftwasthebestprattler。Hehadcaughtthelanguage,surpriseditinStellawhenshewasveritablyachild。Hedidnotpushherclumsilybackintoachildhoodhehadnotknown;hesimplyprolongedinherachildhoodhehadloved。Heis\"seepy。\"\"Nite,dealestdea,nitedealestlogue。\"Itisarealgood—night。Itbreathestendernessfromthatmoodyanduneasybedofprojects。
ANIMAPELLEGRINA!
Everylanguageintheworldhasitsownphrase,freshforthestranger’sfreshandaliensenseofitssignalsignificance;aphrasethatisitsownessentialpossession,andyetisdearertothespeakerofothertongues。Easily——shallIsaycheaply?——
spiritual,forexample,wasthenationthatdevisedthenameanimapellegrina,wherewithtocrownacreatureadmired。\"Pilgrimsoul\"
isaphraseforanylanguage,but\"pilgrimsoul!\"addressed,singlyandsweetlytoonewhocannotbeover—praised,\"pilgrim—soul!\"isaphraseoffondness,thehighhomageofalover,ofonewatching,ofonewhohasnomoreneedofcommonflatteries,buthasadmiredandgazedwhiletheobjectofhispraisesvisiblysurpassedthem——thisisthefacileItalianecstasy,anditrisesintoanItalianheaven。
Itwasbychance,andinanoldplay,thatIcameuponthisimpetuous,sudden,andsinglesentenceofadmiration,asitwereasentenceoflifepassedupononechargedwithinestimabledeeds;andthemoderneditorhadthoughtitnecessarytoexplaintheexclamationbyanote。Itwas,hesaid,poetical。
AnimapellegrinaseemstobeItalianofnolaterdatethanPergolese’sairs,andsuitsthetimeasthefamiliarphraseofthemoremodernlove—songsuitedthedayofBellini。ButitisonlyItalian,bygoneItalian,andnotapartofthesweetpastofanyotherEuropeannation,butonlyofthis。
Tothesamelocalboundariesandenclosedskiesbelongsthecharmofthosebuoyantwords:—
Felicechivimira,Mapiufelicechipervoisospira!
Anditisnotonlyacharmofelasticsoundorofgrace;thatwouldbebutapropertyoftheturnofspeech。Itisrathertheprofounderadvantagewherebytherhymesarefreightedwithsuchfeelingastheverylanguagekeepsinstore。Inanothertongueyoumaysing,\"happywholooks,happierwhosighs\";butinwhatothertongueshallthelittlemeaningbesosufficient,andinwhatothershallyougetfromsoweakanantithesistheillusionofalovelyintellectualepigram?YetitisnotworthyofanEnglishreadertocallitanillusion;heshouldratherbegladtotravelintotheplaceofalanguagewherethephraseisintellectual,impassioned,andanepigram;andshouldthankfullyfortheoccasiontranslatehimself,andnotthepoetry。
IhavebeendelightedtouseapresentcurrentphrasewhereofthecharmmaystillbeunknowntoEnglishmen——\"piuttostobruttini。\"Seewhatanall—Italianspiritishere,andwhatcontempt,notreluctant,buttolerantandfamiliar。Youmayhearitsaidofpictures,orworksofartofseveralkinds,andyouconfessatoncethatnototherwiseshouldtheybecondemned。Brutto——ugly——isthewordofjustice,thewordforanylanguage,everywheretranslatable,acircularnote,tobeexchangedinternationallywithageneralmeaning,wholesale,inthecourseoftheEuropeanconcert。Butbruttinoisasoothingdiminutive,adiminutivethatforbearstoexpresscontempt,adiminutivethatimpliesinnocence,andis,moreover,guardedbyahesitatingadverb,shruggingintherear——