按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
tical conditions； one who looks at villages of the new type； at the working…class quarters of towns； at the rising of 〃flats〃 among the dwellings of the wealthy； has little choice but to think so。 There may soon e a day when； though the word 〃fort〃 continues to be used in many languages； the thing it signifies will be discoverable nowhere at all。
XIV
If the ingenious foreigner found himself in some village of manufacturing Lancashire； he would be otherwise impressed。 Here something of the power of England might be revealed to him； but of England's worth； little enough。 Hard ugliness would everywhere assail his eyes； the visages and voices of the people would seem to him thoroughly akin to their surroundings。 Scarcely could one find； in any civilized nation； a more notable contrast than that between these two English villages and their inhabitants。
Yet Lancashire is English； and there among the mill chimneys； in the hideous little street； folk are living whose domestic thoughts claim undeniable kindred with those of the villagers of the kinder south。 But to understand how 〃fort；〃 and the virtues it implies； can exist amid such conditions； one must perate to the hearthside； the door must be shut； the curtain drawn； here 〃home〃 does not extend beyond the threshold。 After all； this grimy row of houses； ugliest that man ever conceived； is more representative of England to…day than the lovely village among the trees and meadows。 More than a hundred years ago； power passed from the south of England to the north。 The vigorous race on the other side of Trent only found its opportunity when the age of machinery began； its civilization； long delayed； differs in obvious respects from that of older England。 In Sussex or in Somerset； however dull and clownish the typical inhabitant； he plainly belongs to an ancient order of things； represents an immemorial subordination。 The rude man of the north is……by parison……but just emerged from barbarism； and under any circumstances would show less smooth a front。 By great misfortune； he has fallen under the harshest lordship the modern world has known……that of scientific industrialism； and all his vigorous qualities are subdued to a scheme of life based upon the harsh； the ugly； the sordid。 His racial heritage； of course； marks him to the eye； even as ploughman or shepherd； he differs notably from him of the same calling in the weald or on the downs。 But the frank brutality of the man in all externals has been encouraged； rather than mitigated； by the course his civilization has taken； and hence it is that； unless one knows him well enough to respect him； he seems even yet stamped with the half…savagery of his folk as they were a century and a half ago。 His fierce shyness； his arrogant self…regard； are notes of a primitive state。 Naturally； he never learnt to house himself as did the Southerner； for climate； as well as social circumstance； was unfavourable to all the graces of life。 And now one can only watch the encroachment of his rule upon that old； that true England whose strength and virtue were so differently manifested。 This fair broad land of the lovely villages signifies little save to the antiquary； the poet； the painter。 Vainly； indeed； should I show its beauty and its peace to the observant foreigner； he would but smile； and； with a glance at the traction… engine just ing along the road； indicate the direction of his thoughts。
XV
Nothing in all Homer pleases me more than the bedstead of Odysseus。 I have tried to turn the passage describing it into English verse； thus：…
Here in my garth a goodly olive grew； Thick was the noble leafage of its prime； And like a carven column rose the trunk。 This tree about I built my chamber walls； Laying great stone on stone； and roofed them well； And in the portal set a ely door； Stout…hinged and tightly closing。 Then with axe I lopped the leafy olive's branching head； And hewed the bole to four…square shapeliness； And smoothed it； craftsmanlike； and grooved and pierced； Making the rooted timber； where it grew； A corner of my couch。 Labouring on； I fashioned all the bed…frame； which plete； The wood I overlaid with shining gear Of gold； of silver； and of ivory。 And last； between the endlong beams I stretched Stout thongs of ox…hide； dipped in purple dye。
Odyssey； xxiii。 190…201。
Did anyone ever imitate the admirable precedent？ Were I a young man； and an owner of land； assuredly I would do so。 Choose some goodly tree； straight…soaring； cut away head and branches； leave just the clean trunk and build your house about it in such manner that the top of the rooted timber rises a couple of feet above your bedroom floor。 The trunk need not be manifest in the lower part of the house； but I should prefer to have it so； I am a tree… worshipper； it should be as the visible presence of a household god。 And how could one more nobly symbolize the sacredness of Home？ There can be no home without the sense of permanence； and without home there is no civilization……as England will discover when the greater part of her population have bee flat…inhabiting nomads。 In some ideal monwealth； one can imagine the Odyssean bed a normal institution； every head of a household； cottager or lord （for the monwealth must have its lords； go to！）； lying down to rest； as did his fathers； in the Chamber of the Tree。 This； one fancies； were a somewhat more fitting nuptial chamber than the chance bedroom of a hotel。 Odysseus building his home is man performing a supreme act of piety； through all the ages that picture must retain its profound significance。 Note the tree he chose； the olive； sacred to Athena； emblem of peace。 When he and the wise goddess meet together to scheme destruction of the princes； they sit ＇Greek text＇。 Their talk is of bloodshed； true； but in punishment of those who have outraged the sanctity of the hearth； and to re…establish； after purification； domestic calm and security。 It is one of the dreary aspects of modern life that natural symbolism has all but perished。 We have no consecrated tree。 The oak once held a place in English hearts； but who now reveres it？……our trust is in gods of iron。 Money is made at Christmas out of holly and mistletoe； but who save the vendors would greatly care if no green branch were procurable？ One symbol； indeed； has obscured all others……the minted round of metal。 And one may safely say that； of all the ages since a coin first became the symbol of power； ours is that in which it yields to the majority of its possessors the poorest return in heart's contentment。
XVI
I have been dull to…day； haunted by the thought of how much there is that I would fain know； and how little I can hope to learn。 The scope of knowledge has bee so vast。 I put aside nearly all physical investigation； to me it is naught； or only； at moments； a matter of idle curiosity。 This would seem to be a considerable clearing of the field； but it leaves what is practically the infinite。 To run over a list of only my favourite subjects； those to which； all my life long； I have more or less applied myself； studies which hold in my mind the place of hobbies； is to open vistas of intellectual despair。 In an old note…book I jotted down such a list……〃things I hope to know； and to know well。〃 I was then four and twenty。 Reading it with the eyes of fifty…four； I must needs laugh。 There appear such modest items as 〃The history of the Christian Church up to the Reformation〃……〃all Greek poetry〃……〃The field of Mediaeval Romance〃……〃German literature from Lessing to Heine〃……〃Dante！〃 Not one of these shall I ever 〃know； and know well〃； not any one of them。 Yet here I am buying books which lead me into endless paths of new temptation。 What have I to do with Egypt？ Yet I have been beguiled by Flinders Petrie and by Maspero。 How can I pretend to meddle with the ancient geography of Asia Minor？ Yet here have I bought Prof。 Ramsay's astonishing book； and have even read with a sort of troubled enjoyment a good many pages of it； troubled； because I have but to reflect a moment； and I see that all this kind of thing is mere futile effort of the intellect when the time for serious intellectual effort is over。
It all means； of course； that； owing to defective opportunity； owing； still more perhaps；