第14章

butwhatshallhehaveenjoyedmorefullythanamorningofsuccessfulwork？Supposeitillpaid:thewonderisitshouldbepaidatall。Othermenpay，andpaydearly，forpleasureslessdesirable。 Norwillthepracticeofartaffordyoupleasureonly；itaffordsbesidesanadmirabletraining。Fortheartistworksentirelyuponhonour。Thepublicknowslittleornothingofthosemeritsinthequestofwhichyouarecondemnedtospendthebulkofyourendeavours。Meritsofdesign，themeritoffirst-handenergy，themeritofacertaincheapaccomplishmentwhichamanoftheartistictempereasilyacquires-thesetheycanrecognise，andthesetheyvalue。Buttothosemoreexquisiterefinementsofproficiencyandfinish，whichtheartistsoardentlydesiresandsokeenlyfeels，forwhich(inthevigorouswordsofBalzac)hemusttoil\"likeaminerburiedinalandslip，\"forwhich，dayafterday，herecastsandrevisesandrejects-thegrossmassofthepublicmustbeeverblind。 Tothoselostpains，supposeyouattainthehighestpitchofmerit，posteritymaypossiblydojustice；suppose，asissoprobable，youfallbyevenahair\'sbreadthofthehighest，restcertaintheyshallneverbeobserved。Undertheshadowofthiscoldthought，aloneinhisstudio，theartistmustpreservefromdaytodayhisconstancytotheideal。Itisthiswhichmakeshislifenoble；itisbythisthatthepracticeofhiscraftstrengthensandmatureshischaracter；itisforthisthateventheseriouscountenanceofthegreatemperorwasturnedapprovingly(ifonlyforamoment)onthefollowersofApollo，andthatsternlygentlevoicebadetheartistcherishhisart。 Andheretherefalltwowarningstobemade。First，ifyouaretocontinuetobealawtoyourself，youmustbewareofthefirstsignsoflaziness。Thisidealisminhonestycanonlybesupportedbyperpetualeffort；thestandardiseasilylowered，theartistwhosays\"ITWILLDO，\"isonthedownwardpath；threeorfourpot- boilersareenoughattimes(aboveallatwrongtimes)tofalsifyatalent，andbythepracticeofjournalismamanrunstheriskofbecomingweddedtocheapfinish。Thisisthedangerontheoneside；thereisnotlessupontheother。Theconsciousnessofhowmuchtheartistis(andmustbe)alawtohimself，debauchesthesmallheads。Perceivingreconditemeritsveryhardtoattain，makingorswallowingartisticformulae，orperhapsfallinginlovewithsomeparticularproficiencyofhisown，manyartistsforgettheendofallart:toplease。Itisdoubtlesstemptingtoexclaimagainsttheignorantbourgeois；yetitshouldnotbeforgotten，itishewhoistopayus，andthat(surelyonthefaceofit)forservicesthatheshalldesiretohaveperformed。Herealso，ifproperlyconsidered，thereisaquestionoftranscendentalhonesty。Togivethepublicwhattheydonotwant，andyetexpecttobesupported:wehavethereastrangepretension，andyetnotuncommon，aboveallwithpainters。Thefirstdutyinthisworldisforamantopayhisway；whenthatisquiteaccomplished，hemayplungeintowhateccentricityhelikes；butemphaticallynottillthen。Tillthen，hemustpayassiduouscourttothebourgeoiswhocarriesthepurse。Andifinthecourseofthesecapitulationsheshallfalsifyhistalent，itcanneverhavebeenastrongone，andhewillhavepreservedabetterthingthantalent-character。Orifhebeofamindsoindependentthathecannotstooptothisnecessity，onecourseisyetopen:hecandesistfromart，andfollowsomemoremanlywayoflife。 Ispeakofamoremanlywayoflife，itisapointonwhichImustbefrank。Tolivebyapleasureisnotahighcalling；itinvolvespatronage，howeverveiled；itnumberstheartist，howeverambitious，alongwithdancinggirlsandbilliardmarkers。TheFrenchhavearomanticevasionforoneemployment，andcallitspractitionerstheDaughtersofJoy。Theartistisofthesamefamily，heisoftheSonsofJoy，chosehistradetopleasehimself，gainshislivelihoodbypleasingothers，andhaspartedwithsomethingofthesternerdignityofman。JournalsbutalittlewhileagodeclaimedagainsttheTennysonpeerage；andthisSonofJoywasblamedforcondescensionwhenhefollowedtheexampleofLordLawrenceandLordCairnsandLordClyde。Thepoetwasmorehappilyinspired；withabettermodestyheacceptedthehonour；andanonymousjournalistshavenotyet(ifIamtobelievethem)recoveredthevicariousdisgracetotheirprofession。Whenitcomestotheirturn，thesegentlemencandothemselvesmorejustice；andIshallbegladtothinkofit；fortomybarbarianeyesight，evenLordTennysonlookssomewhatoutofplaceinthatassembly。Thereshouldbenohonoursfortheartist；hehasalready，inthepracticeofhisart，morethanhisshareoftherewardsoflife；thehonoursarepre-emptedforothertrades，lessagreeableandperhapsmoreuseful。 Butthedevilinthesetradesofpleasingistofailtoplease。Inordinaryoccupations，amanofferstodoacertainthingortoproduceacertainarticlewithamerelyconventionalaccomplishment，adesigninwhich(wemayalmostsay)itisdifficulttofail。Buttheartiststepsforthoutofthecrowdandproposestodelight:animpudentdesign，inwhichitisimpossibletofailwithoutodiouscircumstances。ThepoorDaughterofJoy，carryinghersmilesandfineryquiteunregardedthroughthecrowd，makesafigurewhichitisimpossibletorecallwithoutawoundingpity。Sheisthetypeoftheunsuccessfulartist。Theactor，thedancer，andthesingermustappearlikeherinperson，anddrainpubliclythecupoffailure。Butthoughtherestofusescapethiscrowningbitternessofthepillory，weallcourtinessencethesamehumiliation。Weallprofesstobeabletodelight。Andhowfewofusare!Weallpledgeourselvestobeabletocontinuetodelight。Andthedaywillcometoeach，andeventothemostadmired，whentheardourshallhavedeclinedandthecunningshallbelost，andheshallsitbyhisdesertedboothashamed。Thenshallheseehimselfcondemnedtodoworkforwhichheblushestotakepayment。Then(asifhislotwerenotalreadycruel)hemustlieexposedtothegibesofthewreckersofthepress，whoearnalittlebitterbreadbythecondemnationoftrashwhichtheyhavenotread，andthepraiseofexcellencewhichtheycannotunderstand。 Andobservethatthisseemsalmostthenecessaryendatleastofwriters。LESBLANCSETLESBLEUS(forinstance)isofanorderofmeritverydifferentfromLEVICOMTEDEBRAGLONNE；andifanygentlemancanbeartospyuponthenakednessofCASTLEDANGEROUS，hisnameIthinkisHam:letitbeenoughfortherestofustoreadofit(notwithouttears)inthepagesofLockhart。Thusinoldage，whenoccupationandcomfortaremostneedful，thewritermustlayasideatoncehispastimeandhisbreadwinner。Thepainterindeed，ifhesucceedatallinengagingtheattentionofthepublic，gainsgreatsumsandcanstandtohiseaseluntilagreatagewithoutdishonourablefailure。Thewriterhasthedoublemisfortunetobeill-paidwhilehecanwork，andtobeincapableofworkingwhenheisold。Itisthusawayoflifewhichconductsdirectlytoafalseposition。 Forthewriter(inspiteofnotoriousexamplestothecontrary) mustlooktobeill-paid。TennysonandMontepinmakehandsomelivelihoods；butwecannotallhopetobeTennyson，andwedonotallperhapsdesiretobeMontepin。Ifyouadoptanarttobeyourtrade，weedyourmindattheoutsetofalldesireofmoney。Whatyoumaydecentlyexpect，ifyouhavesometalentandmuchindustry，issuchanincomeasaclerkwillearnwithatenthorperhapsatwentiethofyournervousoutput。Norhaveyoutherighttolookformore；inthewagesofthelife，notinthewagesofthetrade，liesyourreward；theworkisherethewages。ItwillbeseenI havelittlesympathywiththecommonlamentationsoftheartistclass。Perhapstheydonotrememberthehireofthefieldlabourer；ordotheythinknoparallelwilllie？Perhapstheyhaveneverobservedwhatistheretiringallowanceofafieldofficer； ordotheysupposetheircontributionstotheartsofpleasingmoreimportantthantheservicesofacolonel？PerhapstheyforgetonhowlittleMilletwascontenttolive；ordotheythink，becausetheyhavelessgenius，theystandexcusedfromthedisplayofequalvirtues？Butupononepointthereshouldbenodubiety:ifamanbenotfrugal，hehasnobusinessinthearts。Ifhebenotfrugal，hesteersdirectlyforthatlasttragicsceneofLEVIEUX SALTIMBANQUE；ifhebenotfrugal，hewillfindithardtocontinuetobehonest。Someday，whenthebutcherisknockingatthedoor，hemaybetempted，hemaybeobliged，toturnoutandsellaslovenlypieceofwork。Iftheobligationshallhavearisenthroughnowantonnessofhisown，heiseventobecommanded；forwordscannotdescribehowfarmorenecessaryitisthatamanshouldsupporthisfamily，thanthatheshouldattainto-orpreserve-distinctioninthearts。Butifthepressurecomes，throughhisownfault，hehasstolen，andstolenundertrust，andstolen(whichistheworstofall)insuchawaythatnolawcanreachhim。 Andnowyoumayperhapsaskme，ifthedebutantartististohavenothoughtofmoney，andif(asisimplied)heistoexpectnohonoursfromtheState，hemaynotatleastlookforwardtothedelightsofpopularity？Praise，youwilltellme，isasavourydish。Andinsofarasyoumaymeanthecountenanceofotherartistsyouwouldputyourfingerononeofthemostessentialandenduringpleasuresofthecareerofart。Butinsofarasyoushouldhaveaneyetothecommendationsofthepublicorthenoticeofthenewspapers，besureyouwouldbutbecherishingadream。Itistruethatincertainesotericjournalstheauthor(forinstance) isdulycriticised，andthatheisoftenpraisedagreatdealmorethanhedeserves，sometimesforqualitieswhichhepridedhimselfoneschewing，andsometimesbyladiesandgentlemenwhohavedeniedthemselvestheprivilegeofreadinghiswork。Butifamanbesensitivetothiswildpraise，wemustsupposehimequallyalivetothatwhichoftenaccompaniesandalwaysfollowsit-wildridicule。 Amanmayhavedonewellforyears，andthenhemayfail；hewillhearofhisfailure。Orhemayhavedonewellforyears，andstilldowell，butthecriticsmayhavetiredofpraisinghim，ortheremayhavesprungupsomenewidoloftheinstant，some\"dustalittlegilt，\"towhomtheynowprefertooffersacrifice。Hereistheobverseandthereverseofthatemptyanduglythingcalledpopularity。Willanymansupposeitworththegaining？ CHAPTERXI-PULVISETUMBRA Welookforsomerewardofourendeavoursandaredisappointed；notsuccess，nothappiness，notevenpeaceofconscience，crownsourineffectualeffortstodowell。Ourfrailtiesareinvincible，ourvirtuesbarren；thebattlegoessoreagainstustothegoingdownofthesun。Thecantingmoralisttellsusofrightandwrong；andwelookabroad，evenonthefaceofoursmallearth，andfindthemchangewitheveryclimate，andnocountrywheresomeactionisnothonouredforavirtueandnonewhereitisnotbrandedforavice； andwelookinourexperience，andfindnovitalcongruityinthewisestrules，butatthebestamunicipalfitness。Itisnotstrangeifwearetemptedtodespairofgood。Weasktoomuch。 Ourreligionsandmoralitieshavebeentrimmedtoflatterus，tilltheyareallemasculateandsentimentalised，andonlypleaseandweaken。Truthisofarougherstrain。Intheharshfaceoflife，faithcanreadabracinggospel。Thehumanraceisathingmoreancientthanthetencommandments；andthebonesandrevolutionsoftheKosmos，inwhosejointswearebutmossandfungus，moreancientstill。 I OftheKosmosinthelastresort，sciencereportsmanydoubtfulthingsandallofthemappalling。Thereseemsnosubstancetothissolidglobeonwhichwestamp:nothingbutsymbolsandratios。 Symbolsandratioscarryusandbringusforthandbeatusdown； gravitythatswingstheincommensurablesunsandworldsthroughspace，isbutafigmentvaryinginverselyasthesquaresofdistances；andthesunsandworldsthemselves，imponderablefiguresofabstraction，NH3，andH2O。Considerationdaresnotdwelluponthisview；thatwaymadnesslies；sciencecarriesusintozonesofspeculation，wherethereisnohabitablecityforthemindofman。 ButtaketheKosmoswithagrosserfaith，asoursensesgiveitus。 Webeholdspacesownwithrotatoryislands，sunsandworldsandtheshardsandwrecksofsystems:some，likethesun，stillblazing； somerotting，liketheearth；others，likethemoon，stableindesolation。Allofthesewetaketobemadeofsomethingwecallmatter:athingwhichnoanalysiscanhelpustoconceive；towhoseincrediblepropertiesnofamiliaritycanreconcileourminds。 Thisstuff，whennotpurifiedbythelustrationoffire，rotsuncleanlyintosomethingwecalllife；seizedthroughallitsatomswithapediculousmalady；swellingintumoursthatbecomeindependent，sometimeseven(byanabhorrentprodigy)locomotory； onesplittingintomillions，millionscoheringintoone，asthemaladyproceedsthroughvaryingstages。Thisvitalputrescenceofthedust，usedaswearetoit，yetstrikesuswithoccasionaldisgust，andtheprofusionofwormsinapieceofancientturf，ortheairofamarshdarkenedwithinsects，willsometimescheckourbreathingsothatweaspireforcleanerplaces。Butnoneisclean: themovingsandisinfectedwithlice；thepurespring，whereitburstsoutofthemountain，isamereissueofworms；eveninthehardrockthecrystalisforming。 Intwomainshapesthiseruptioncoversthecountenanceoftheearth:theanimalandthevegetable:oneinsomedegreetheinversionoftheother:thesecondrootedtothespot；thefirstcomingdetachedoutofitsnatalmud，andscurryingabroadwiththemyriadfeetofinsectsortoweringintotheheavensonthewingsofbirds:athingsoinconceivablethat，ifitbewellconsidered，theheartstops。Towhatpasseswiththeanchoredvermin，wehavelittleclue，doubtlesstheyhavetheirjoysandsorrows，theirdelightsandkillingagonies:itappearsnothow。Butofthelocomotory，towhichweourselvesbelong，wecantellmore。Thesesharewithusathousandmiracles:themiraclesofsight，ofhearing，oftheprojectionofsound，thingsthatbridgespace；themiraclesofmemoryandreason，bywhichthepresentisconceived，andwhenitisgone，itsimagekeptlivinginthebrainsofmanandbrute；themiracleofreproduction，withitsimperiousdesiresandstaggeringconsequences。Andtoputthelasttouchuponthismountainmassoftherevoltingandtheinconceivable，allthesepreyuponeachother，livestearingotherlivesinpieces，crammingtheminsidethemselves，andbythatsummaryprocess，growingfat: thevegetarian，thewhale，perhapsthetree，notlessthanthelionofthedesert；forthevegetarianisonlytheeaterofthedumb。 Meanwhileourrotatoryislandloadedwithpredatorylife，andmoredrenchedwithblood，bothanimalandvegetable，thanevermutiniedship，scudsthroughspacewithunimaginablespeed，andturnsalternatecheekstothereverberationofablazingworld，ninetymillionmilesaway。 II Whatamonstrousspectreisthisman，thediseaseoftheagglutinateddust，liftingalternatefeetorlyingdruggedwithslumber；killing，feeding，growing，bringingforthsmallcopiesofhimself；grownuponwithhairlikegrass，fittedwitheyesthatmoveandglitterinhisface；athingtosetchildrenscreaming；- andyetlookedatnearlier，knownashisfellowsknowhim，howsurprisingarehisattributes!Poorsoul，hereforsolittle，castamongsomanyhardships，filledwithdesiressoincommensurateandsoinconsistent，savagelysurrounded，savagelydescended，irremediablycondemnedtopreyuponhisfellowlives:whoshouldhaveblamedhimhadhebeenofapiecewithhisdestinyandabeingmerelybarbarous？Andwelookandbeholdhiminsteadfilledwithimperfectvirtues:infinitelychildish，oftenadmirablyvaliant，oftentouchinglykind；sittingdown，amidsthismomentarylife，todebateofrightandwrongandtheattributesofthedeity；risinguptodobattleforaneggordieforanidea；singlingouthisfriendsandhismatewithcordialaffection；bringingforthinpain，rearingwithlong-sufferingsolicitude，hisyoung。Totouchtheheartofhismystery，wefind，inhimonethought，strangetothepointoflunacy:thethoughtofduty；thethoughtofsomethingowingtohimself，tohisneighbour，tohisGod:anidealofdecency，towhichhewouldriseifitwerepossible；alimitofshame，belowwhich，ifitbepossible，hewillnotstoop。Thedesigninmostmenisoneofconformity；hereandthere，inpickednatures，ittranscendsitselfandsoarsontheotherside，armingmartyrswithindependence；butinall，intheirdegrees，itisabosomthought:-Notinmanalone，forwetraceitindogsandcatswhomweknowfairlywell，anddoubtlesssomesimilarpointofhonourswaystheelephant，theoyster，andthelouse，ofwhomweknowsolittle:-Butinman，atleast，itswayswithsocompleteanempirethatmerelyselfishthingscomesecond，evenwiththeselfish:thatappetitesarestarved，fearsareconquered，painssupported；thatalmostthedullestshrinksfromthereproofofaglance，althoughitwereachild\'s；andallbutthemostcowardlystandamidtherisksofwar；andthemorenoble，havingstronglyconceivedanactasduetotheirideal，affrontandembracedeath。 Strangeenoughif，withtheirsingularoriginandpervertedpractice，theythinktheyaretoberewardedinsomefuturelife: strangerstill，iftheyarepersuadedofthecontrary，andthinkthisblow，whichtheysolicit，willstrikethemsenselessforeternity。Ishallberemindedwhatatragedyofmisconceptionandmisconductmanatlargepresents:oforganisedinjustice，cowardlyviolenceandtreacherouscrime；andofthedamningimperfectionsofthebest。Theycannotbetoodarklydrawn。Manisindeedmarkedforfailureinhiseffortstodoright。Butwherethebestconsistentlymiscarry，howtenfoldmoreremarkablethatallshouldcontinuetostrive；andsurelyweshouldfinditbothtouchingandinspiriting，thatinafieldfromwhichsuccessisbanished，ourraceshouldnotceasetolabour。 Ifthefirstviewofthiscreature，stalkinginhisrotatoryisle，beathingtoshakethecourageofthestoutest，onthisnearersight，hestartlesuswithanadmiringwonder。Itmattersnotwherewelook，underwhatclimateweobservehim，inwhatstageofsociety，inwhatdepthofignorance，burthenedwithwhaterroneousmorality；bycamp-firesinAssiniboia，thesnowpowderinghisshoulders，thewindpluckinghisblanket，ashesits，passingtheceremonialcalumetandutteringhisgraveopinionslikeaRomansenator；inshipsatsea，amaninuredtohardshipandvilepleasures，hisbrightesthopeafiddleinatavernandabedizenedtrullwhosellsherselftorobhim，andheforallthatsimple，innocent，cheerful，kindlylikeachild，constanttotoil，bravetodrown，forothers；intheslumsofcities，movingamongindifferentmillionstomechanicalemployments，withouthopeofchangeinthefuture，withscarceapleasureinthepresent，andyettruetohisvirtues，honestuptohislights，kindtohisneighbours，temptedperhapsinvainbythebrightgin-palace，perhapslong-sufferingwiththedrunkenwifethatruinshim；inIndia(awomanthistime) kneelingwithbrokencriesandstreamingtears，asshedrownsherchildinthesacredriver；inthebrothel，thediscardofsociety，livingmainlyonstrongdrink，fedwithaffronts，afool，athief，thecomradeofthieves，andevenherekeepingthepointofhonourandthetouchofpity，oftenrepayingtheworld\'sscornwithservice，oftenstandingfirmuponascruple，andatacertaincost，rejectingriches:-everywheresomevirtuecherishedoraffected，everywheresomedecencyofthoughtandcarriage，everywheretheensignofman\'sineffectualgoodness:-ah!ifIcouldshowyouthis!ifIcouldshowyouthesemenandwomen，alltheworldover，ineverystageofhistory，undereveryabuseoferror，undereverycircumstanceoffailure，withouthope，withouthelp，withoutthanks，stillobscurelyfightingthelostfightofvirtue，stillclinging，inthebrotheloronthescaffold，tosomeragofhonour，thepoorjeweloftheirsouls!Theymayseektoescape，andyettheycannot；itisnotalonetheirprivilegeandglory，buttheirdoom；theyarecondemnedtosomenobility；alltheirliveslong，thedesireofgoodisattheirheels，theimplacablehunter。 Ofallearth\'smeteors，hereatleastisthemoststrangeandconsoling:thatthisennobledlemur，thishair-crownedbubbleofthedust，thisinheritorofafewyearsandsorrows，shouldyetdenyhimselfhisraredelights，andaddtohisfrequentpains，andliveforanideal，howevermisconceived。Norcanwestopwithman。