Scarcelyever，tillthatlateepoch，didanyworshipperofNaturebecomeentirelyawarethathewasworshipping，muchtohisowncredit;andthinkofsayingtohimself:Come，letusmakeadescription！Intolerableenough:wheneverypunywhipsterplucksouthispencil，andinsistsonpaintingyouascene;sothattheinstantyoudiscernsuchathingas\'wavyoutline，\'\'mirrorofthelake，\'
\'sternheadland，\'orthelike，inanyBook，youtremulouslyhastenon;andscarcelytheAuthorofWaverleyhimselfcantemptyounottoskip。
Nay，isnotthediseasedself—consciousstateofLiteraturedisclosedinthisonefact，whichliessonearushere，theprevalenceofReviewing！Sterne\'swishforareader\'thatwouldgive—upthereinsofhisimaginationintohisauthor\'shands，andbepleasedheknewnotwhy，andcarednotwherefore，\'mightleadhimalongjourneynow。Indeed，forourbestclassofreaders，thechiefpleasure，averystintedone，isthissameknowingoftheWhy;whichmanyaKamesandBossuhasbeen，ineffectuallyenough，endeavouringtoteachus:
tillatlastthesealsohavelaiddowntheirtrade;andnowyourReviewerisameretaster;whotastes，andsays，bytheevidenceofsuchpalate，suchtongue，ashehasgot，Itisgood，Itisbad。WasitthusthattheFrenchcarriedoutcertaininferiorcreaturesontheirAlgerineExpedition，totastethewellsforthem，andtrywhethertheywerepoisoned？Farbeitfromustodisparageourowncraft，wherebywehaveourliving！Onlywemustnotethesethings:
thatReviewingspreadswithstrangevigour;thatsuchamanasByronreckonstheReviewerandthePoetequal;thatatthelastLeipzigFair，therewasadvertisedaReviewofReviews。ByandbyitwillbefoundthatallLiteraturehasbecomeoneboundlessself—devouringReview;and，asinLondonrouts，wehavetodonothing，butonlytoseeothersdonothing。—ThusdoesLiteraturealso，likeasickthing，superabundantly\'listentoitself。\'
Nolessisthisunhealthysymptommanifest，ifwecastaglanceonourPhilosophy，onthecharacterofourspeculativeThinking。Nay，already，asabovehinted，themereexistenceandnecessityofaPhilosophyisanevil。Manissenthithernottoquestion，buttowork:\'theendofman，\'itwaslongagowritten，\'isanAction，notaThought。\'Intheperfectstate，allThoughtwerebutthepictureandinspiringsymbolofAction;Philosophy，exceptasPoetryandReligion，wouldhavenobeing。Andyethow，inthisimperfectstate，canitbeavoided，canitbedispensedwith？ManstandsasinthecentreofNature;
hisfractionofTimeencircledbyEternity，hishandbreadthofSpaceencircledbyInfinitude:howshallheforbearaskinghimself，WhatamI;andWhence;
andWhither？Howtoo，exceptinslightpartialhints，inkindasseverationsandassurances，suchasamotherquietsherfretfullyinquisitivechildwith，shallhegetanswertosuchinquiries？
ThediseaseofMetaphysics，accordingly，isaperennialone。Inallages，thosequestionsofDeathandImmortality，OriginofEvil，FreedomandNecessity，must，undernewforms，anewmaketheirappearance;ever，fromtimetotime，musttheattempttoshapeforourselvessomeTheoremoftheUniverseberepeated。Andeverunsuccessfully:forwhatTheoremoftheInfinitecantheFiniterendercomplete？We，thewholespeciesofMankind，andourwholeexistenceandhistory，arebutafloatingspeckintheillimitableoceanoftheAll;yetinthatocean;indissolubleportionthereof;partakingofitsinfinitetendencies:bornethiswayandthatbyitsdeep—swellingtides，andgrandoceancurrents;—ofwhichwhatfaintestchanceistherethatweshouldeverexhaustthesignificance，ascertainthegoingsandcomings？AregionofDoubt，therefore，hoversforeverinthebackground;inActionalonecanwehavecertainty。Nay，properlyDoubtistheindispensable，inexhaustiblematerialwhereonActionworks，whichActionhastofashionintoCertaintyandReality;onlyonacanvasofDarkness，suchisman\'swayofbeing，couldthemany—colouredpictureofourLifepaintitselfandshine。
ThusifoureldestsystemofMetaphysicsisasoldastheBookofGenesis，ourlatestisthatofMr。ThomasHope，publishedonlywithinthecurrentyear。
ItisachronicmaladythatofMetaphysics，aswesaid，andperpetuallyrecursonus。Attheutmost，thereisabetterandaworseinit;astageofconvalescence，andastageofrelapsewithnewsickness:theseforeversucceedeachother，asisthenatureofallLife—movementherebelow。
Thefirst，orconvalescentstage，wemightalsonamethatofDogmaticalorConstructiveMetaphysics;whenthemindconstructivelyendeavourstoschemeoutandassertforitselfanactualTheoremoftheUniverse，andtherewithforatimerestssatisfied。ThesecondorsickstagemightbecalledthatofScepticalorInquisitoryMetaphysics;whenthemindhavingwideneditssphereofvision，theexistingTheoremoftheUniversenolongeranswersthephenomena，nolongeryieldscontentment;butmustbetorninpieces，andcertaintyanewsoughtforintheendlessrealmsofdenial。AllTheologiesandsacredCosmogoniesbelong，insomemeasure，tothefirstclass;inallPyrrhonism，fromPyrrhodowntoHumeandtheinnumerabledisciplesofHume，wehaveinstancesenoughofthesecond。Intheformer，sofarasitaffordssatisfaction，atemporaryanodynetodoubt，anarenaforwholesomeaction，theremaybemuchgood;indeedinthiscase，itholdsratherofPoetrythanofMetaphysics，mightbecalledInspirationratherthanSpeculation。
ThelatterisMetaphysicsproper;apure，unmixed，thoughfromtimetotimeanecessaryevil。
Fortruly，ifwelookintoit，thereisnomorefruitlessendeavourthanthissame，whichtheMetaphysicianpropertoilsin:toeduceConvictionoutofNegation。How，bymerelytestingandrejectingwhatisnot，shallweeverattainknowledgeofwhatis？MetaphysicalSpeculation，asitbeginsinNoorNothingness，soitmustneedsendinNothingness;circulatesandmustcirculateinendlessvortices;creating，swallowing—itself。OurbeingismadeupofLightandDarkness，theLightrestingontheDarkness，andbalancingit;
everywherethereisDualism，Equipoise;aperpetualContradictiondwellsinus:\'whereshallIplacemyselftoescapefrommyownshadow？\'Consideritwell，Metaphysicsistheattemptofthemindtoriseabovethemind;
toenvironandshutin，oraswesay，comprehendthemind。Hopelessstruggle，forthewisest，asforthefoolishest！Whatstrengthofsinew，orathleticskill，willenablethestoutestathletetofoldhisownbodyinhisarms，and，bylifting，liftuphimself？TheIrishSaintswamtheChannel，\'carryinghisheadinhisteeth\';
butthefeathasneverbeenimitated。
ThatthisistheageofMetaphysics，intheproper，orscepticalInquisitorysense;thattherewasanecessityforitsbeingsuchanage，weregardasourindubitablemisfortune。Frommanycauses，thearenaoffreeActivityhaslongbeennarrowing，thatofscepticalInquirybecomingmoreandmoreuniversal，moreandmoreperplexing。TheThoughtconductsnottotheDeed;butinboundlesschaos，self—devouring，engendersmonstrosities，phantasms，fire—breathingchimeras。ProfitableSpeculationwerethis:Whatistobedone;
andHowisittobedone？ButwithusnotsomuchastheWhatcanbegotsightof。Forsomegenerations，allPhilosophyhasbeenapainful，captious，hostilequestiontowardseverythingintheHeavenabove，andintheEarthbeneath:Whyartthouthere？Tillatlengthithascometopassthattheworthandauthenticityofallthingsseemdubitableordeniable:ourbesteffortmustbeunproductivelyspentnotinworking，butinascertainingourmereWhereabout，andsomuchaswhetherwearetoworkatall。Doubt，which，aswassaid，everhangsinthebackgroundofourworld，hasnowbecomeourmiddlegroundandforeground;whereon，forthetime，nofairLife—picturecanbepainted，butonlythedarkair—canvasitselfflowroundus，bewilderingandbenighting。
Nevertheless，doubtaswewill，manisactuallyHere;nottoaskquestions，buttodowork:inthistime，asinalltimes，itmustbetheheaviestevilforhim，ifhisfacultyofActionliedormant，andonlythatofscepticalInquiryexertitself。
Accordinglywhoeverlooksabroadupontheworld，comparingthePastwiththePresent，mayfindthatthepracticalconditionofmaninthesedaysisoneofthesaddest;burdenedwithmiserieswhichareinaconsiderabledegreepeculiar。Innotimewasman\'slifewhathecallsahappyone;innotimecanitbeso。AperpetualdreamtherehasbeenofParadises，andsomeluxuriousLubberland，wherethebrooksshouldrunwine，andthetreesbendwithready—bakedviands;butitwasadreammerely;animpossibledream。
Suffering，contradiction，error，havetheirquiteperennial，andevenindispensableabodeinthisEarth。Isnotlabourtheinheritanceofman？Andwhatlabourforthepresentisjoyous，andnotgrievous？Labour，effort，istheveryinterruptionofthatease，whichmanfoolishlyenoughfanciestobehishappiness;andyetwithoutlabourtherewerenoease，norest，somuchasconceivable。ThusEvil，whatwecallEvil，musteverexistwhilemanexists:
Evil，inthewidestsensewecangiveit，ispreciselythedark，disorderedmaterialoutofwhichman\'sFreewillhastocreateanedificeoforderandGood。EvermustPainurgeustoLabour;andonlyinfreeEffortcananyblessednessbeimaginedforus。
Butifmanhas，inallages，hadenoughtoencounter，therehas，inmostcivilisedages，beenaninwardforcevouchsafedhim，wherebythepressureofthingsoutwardmightbewithstood。Obstructionabounded;butFaithalsowasnotwanting。ItisbyFaiththatmanremovesmountains:whilehehadFaith，hislimbsmightbeweariedwithtoiling，hisbackgalledwithbearing;
buttheheartwithinhimwaspeaceableandresolved。Inthethickestgloomthereburntalamptoguidehim。Ifhestruggledandsuffered，hefeltthatitevenshouldbeso;knewforwhathewassufferingandstruggling。FaithgavehimaninwardWillingness;aworldofStrengthwherewithtofrontaworldofDifficulty。
Thetruewretchednesslieshere:thattheDifficultyremainandtheStrengthbelost;
thatPaincannotrelieveitselfinfreeEffort;thatwehavetheLabour，andwanttheWillingness。Faithstrengthensus，enlightensus，forallendeavoursandendurances;withFaithwecandoall，anddareall，andlifeitselfhasathousandtimesbeenjoyfullygivenaway。Butthesumofman\'smiseryiseventhis，thathefeelhimselfcrushedundertheJuggernautwheels，andknowthatJuggernautisnodivinity，butadeadmechanicalidol。
NowthisisspeciallythemiserywhichhasfallenonmaninourEra。
Belief，Faithhaswell—nighvanishedfromtheworld。TheyouthonawakeninginthiswondrousUniversenolongerfindsacompetenttheoryofitswonders。
Timewas，whenifheaskedhimself，Whatisman，Whatarethedutiesofman？theanswerstoodreadywrittenforhim。Butnowtheancient\'ground—planoftheAll\'beliesitselfwhenbroughtintocontactwithreality;MotherChurchhas，tothemost，becomeasuperannuatedStep—mother，whoselessonsgodisregarded;orarespurnedat，andscornfullygainsaid。ForyoungValourandthirstofActionnoidealChivalryinvitestoheroism，prescribeswhatisheroic:
theoldidealofManhoodhasgrownobsolete，andthenewisstillinvisibletous，andwegropeafteritindarkness，oneclutchingthisphantom，anotherthat;
Werterism，Byronism，evenBrummelism，eachhasitsday。ForContemplationandloveofWisdom，noCloisternowopensitsreligiousshades;theThinkermust，inallsenses，wanderhomeless，toooftenaimless，lookinguptoaHeavenwhichisdeadforhim，roundtoanEarthwhichisdeaf。Action，inthoseolddays，waseasy，wasvoluntary，forthedivineworthofhumanthingslayacknowledged;Speculationwaswholesome，foritrangeditselfasthehandmaidofAction;whatcouldnotsorangeitselfdiedoutbyitsnaturaldeath，byneglect。Loyaltystillhallowedobedience，andmaderulenoble;
therewasstillsomethingtobeloyalto:theGodlikestoodembodiedundermanyasymbolinmen\'sinterestsandbusiness;theFiniteshadowedforththeInfinite;EternitylookedthroughTime。TheLifeofmanwasencompassedandovercanopiedbyagloryofHeaven，evenashisdwelling—placebytheazurevault。
Howchangedinthesenewdays！Trulymayitbesaid，theDivinityhaswithdrawnfromtheEarth;orveilshimselfinthatwide—wastingWhirlwindofadepartingEra，whereinthefewestcandiscernhisgoings。NotGodhead，butaniron，ignoblecircleofNecessityembracesallthings;bindstheyouthofthesetimesintoasluggishthrall，orelseexasperateshimintoarebel。HeroicActionisparalysed;forwhatworthnowremainsunquestionablewithhim？
AyethefervidperiodwhenhiswholenaturecriesaloudforAction，thereisnothingsacredunderwhosebannerhecanact;thecourseandkindandconditionsoffreeActionareallbutundiscoverable。Doubtstorms—inonhimthrougheveryavenue;inquiriesofthedeepest，painfulestsortmustbeengagedwith;andtheinvincibleenergyofyoungyearswasteitselfinsceptical，suicidalcavillings;inpassionate\'questioningsofDestiny，\'
wheretonoanswerwillbereturned。
Formen，inwhomtheoldperennialprincipleofHunger（beitHungerofthepoorDay—drudgewhostillsitwitheighteenpencea—day，oroftheambitiousPlacehunterwhocannowisestillitwithsolittle）sufficestofill—upexistence，thecaseisbad;butnottheworst。Thesemenhaveanaim，suchasitis;andcansteertowardsit，withchagrinenoughtruly;yet，astheirhandsarekeptfull，withoutdesperation。Unhappieraretheytowhomahigherinstincthasbeengiven;whostruggletobepersons，notmachines;towhomtheUniverseisnotawarehouse，oratbestafancy—bazaar，butamystictempleandhallofdoom。Forsuchmentherelieproperlytwocoursesopen。Thelower，yetstillanestimableclass，takeupwithworn—outSymbolsoftheGodlike;keeptrimmingandtruckingbetweentheseandHypocrisy，purblindlyenough，miserablyenough。AnumerousintermediateclassendinDenial;andformatheorythatthereisnotheory;thatnothingiscertainintheworld，exceptthisfactofPleasurebeingpleasant;sotheytrytorealisewhattriflingmodicumofPleasuretheycancomeat，andtolivecontentedtherewith，winkinghard。Ofthosewespeaknothere;butonlyofthesecondnoblerclass，whoalsohavedaredtosayNo，andcannotyetsayYea;butfeelthatintheNotheydwellasinaGolgotha，wherelifeentersnot，wherepeaceisnotappointedthem。
Hard，formostpart，isthefateofsuchmen;theharderthenoblertheyare。Indimforecastings，wrestleswithinthemthe\'DivineIdeaoftheWorld，\'
yetwillnowherevisiblyrevealitself。TheyhavetorealiseaWorshipforthemselves，orliveunworshipping。TheGod—likehasvanishedfromtheworld;andthey，bythestrongcryoftheirsoul\'sagony，liketruewonder—workers，mustagainevokeitspresence。Thismiracleistheirappointedtask;whichtheymustaccomplish，ordiewretchedly:thismiraclehasbeenaccomplishedbysuch;
butnotinourland;ourlandyetknowsnotofit。BeholdaByron，inmelodioustones，\'cursinghisday\':hemistakesearthbornpassionatedesireforheaven—inspiredFreewill;withoutheavenlyloadstar，rushesmadlyintothedanceofmeteoriclightsthathoveronthemadMahlstrom;andgoesdownamongitseddies。HearaShelleyfillingtheearthwithinarticulatewail;liketheinfinite，inarticulategriefandweepingofforsakeninfants。AnobleFriedrichSchlegel，stupefiedinthatfearfulloneliness，asofasilencedbattlefield，fliesbacktoCatholicism;asachildmighttoitsslainmother\'sbosom，andclingthere。Inlowerregions，howmanyapoorHazlittmustwanderonGod\'sverdantearth，liketheUnblestonburningdeserts;passionatelydigwells，anddrawuponlythedryquicksand;believethatheisseekingTruth，yetonlywrestleamongendlessSophisms，doingdesperatebattleaswithspectre—hosts;anddieandmakenosign！
TothebetterorderofsuchmindsanymadjoyofDenialhaslongsinceceased:theproblemisnotnowtodeny，buttoascertainandperform。
OnceindestroyingtheFalse，therewasacertaininspiration;butnowthegeniusofDestructionhasdoneitswork，thereisnownothingmoretodestroy。
ThedoomoftheOldhaslongbeenpronounced，andirrevocable;theOldhaspassedaway:but，alas，theNewappearsnotinitsstead;theTimeisstillinpangsoftravailwiththeNew。Manhaswalkedbythelightofconflagrations，andamidthesoundoffallingcities;andnowthereisdarkness，andlongwatchingtillitbemorning。Thevoiceevenofthefaithfulcanbutexclaim:\'AsyetstrugglesthetwelfthhouroftheNight:birdsofdarknessareonthewing，spectresuproar，thedeadwalk，thelivingdream。—Thou，EternalProvidence，wiltcausethedaytodawn！\'
Suchbeingthecondition，temporalandspiritual，oftheworldatourEpoch，canwewonderthattheworld\'listenstoitself，\'andstrugglesandwrithes，everywhereexternallyandinternally，likeathinginpain？Nay，isnoteventhisunhealthyactionoftheworld\'sOrganisation，ifthesymptomofuniversaldisease，yetalsothesymptomandsolemeansofrestorationandcure？
TheeffortofNature，exertinghermedicativeforcetocast—outforeignimpediments，andoncemorebecomeOne，becomewhole？InPractice，stillmoreinOpinion，whichistheprecursorandprototypeofPractice，theremustneedsbecollision，convulsion;muchhastobegroundaway。ThoughtmustneedsbeDoubtandInquiry，beforeitcanagainbeAffirmationandSacredPrecept。Innumerable\'PhilosophiesofMan，\'contendinginboundlesshubbub，mustannihilateeachother，beforeaninspiredPoesyandFaithforMancanfashionitselftogether。
PartIII
Fromthisstunninghubbub，atrueBabel—likeconfusionoftongues，wehavehereselectedtwoVoices;lessasobjectsofpraiseorcondemnation，thanassignshowfartheconfusionhasreached，whatprospectthereisofitsabating。
FriedrichSchlegel\'sLecturesdeliveredatDresden，andMr。Hope\'sEssaypublishedinLondon，arethelatestutterancesofEuropeanSpeculation:
farasunderinexternalplace，theystandatastillwiderdistanceininwardpurport;are，indeed，sooppositeandyetsocognatethattheymay，inmanysenses，representthetwoExtremesofourwholemodernsystemofThought;
andbesaidtoincludebetweenthemalltheMetaphysicalPhilosophies，sooftenalludedtohere，which，oflatetimes，fromFrance，Germany，England，haveagitatedandalmostoverwhelmedus。Bothinregardtomatterandtoform，therelationofthesetwoWorksissignificantenough。
