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！
simple secret of the few。
30
… Page 31…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
COMPOSURE
Tribulation； Immortality； the Multitude： what remedy of composure
do these words bring for their own great disquiet！ Without the
remoteness of the Latinity the thought would come too close and shake too
cruelly。 In order to the sane endurance of the intimate trouble of the soul
an aloofness of language is needful。 Johnson feared death。 Did his
noble English control and postpone the terror？ Did it keep the fear at
some courteous； deferent distance from the centre of that human heart； in
the very act of the leap and lapse of mortality？ Doubtless there is in
language such an educative power。 Speech is a school。 Every language
is a persuasion； an induced habit； an instrument which receives the note
indeed but gives the tone。 Every language imposes a quality； teaches a
temper； proposes a way； bestows a tradition： this is the tonethe voice
of the instrument。 Every language； by counter… change； replies to the
writer's touch or breath his own intention； articulate： this is his note。
Much has always been said； many things to the purpose have been thought；
of the power and the responsibility of the note。 Of the legislation and
influence of the tone I have been led to think by comparing the tranquillity
of Johnson and the composure of Canning with the stimulated and close
emotion； the interior trouble； of those writers who have entered as
disciples in the school of the more Teutonic English。
For if every language be a school； more significantly and more
educatively is a part of a language a school to him who chooses that part。
Few languages offer the choice。 The fact that a choice is made implies
the results and fruits of a decision。 The French author is without these。
They are of all the heritages of the English writer the most important。 He
receives a language of dual derivation。 He may submit himself to either
University； whither he will take his impulse and his character； where he
will leave their influence； and whence he will accept their education。
The Frenchman has certainly a style to develop within definite limits； but
he does not subject himself to suggestions tending mainly hitherwards or
thitherwards； to currents of various race within one literature。 Such a
31
… Page 32…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
choice of subjection is the singular opportunity of the Englishman。 I do
not mean to ignore the necessary mingling。 Happily that mingling has
been done once for all for us all。 Nay； one of the most charming things
that a master of English can achieve is the repayment of the united
teaching by linking their results so exquisitely in his own practice； that
words of the two schools are made to meet each other with a surprise and
delight that shall prove them at once gayer strangers； and sweeter
companions； than the world knew they were。 Nevertheless there remains
the liberty of choice as to which school of words shall have the place of
honour in the great and sensitive moments of an author's style： which
school shall be used for conspicuousness； and which for multitudinous
service。 And the choice being open； the perturbation of the pulses and
impulses of so many hearts quickened in thought and feeling in this day
suggests to me a deliberate return to the recollectedness of the more
tranquil language。 'Doubtless there is a place of peace。'
A place of peace； not of indifference。 It is impossible not to charge
some of the moralists of the last century with an indifference into which
they educated their platitudes and into which their platitudes educated
them。 Addison thus gave and took； until he was almost incapable of
coming within arm's…length of a real or spiritual emotion。 There is no
knowing to what distance the removal of the 'appropriate sentiment' from
the central soul might have attained but for the change and renewal in
language； which came when it was needed。 Addison had assuredly
removed eternity far from the apprehension of the soul when his Cato
hailed the 'pleasing hope；' the 'fond desire；' and the touch of war was
distant from him who conceived his 'repulsed battalions' and his 'doubtful
battle。' What came afterwards； when simplicity and nearness were restored
once more； was doubtless journeyman's work at times。 Men were too
eager to go into the workshop of language。 There were unreasonable
raptures over the mere making of common words。 'A hand…shoe！ a
finger…hat！ a foreword！ Beautiful！' they cried； and for the love of
German the youngest daughter of Chrysale herself might have consented
to be kissed by a grammarian。 It seemed to be forgotten that a language
with all its construction visible is a language little fitted for the more
32
… Page 33…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
advanced mental processes； that its images are material； and that； on the
other hand； a certain spiritualising and subtilising effect of alien
derivations is a privilege and an advantage incalculablethat to possess
that half of the language within which Latin heredities lurk and
Romanesque allusions are at play is to possess the state and security of a
dead tongue； without the death。
But now I spoke of words encountering as gay strangers； various in
origin； divided in race； within a master's phrase。 The most beautiful and
the most sudden of such meetings are of course in Shakespeare。
'Superfluous kings；' 'A lass unparalleled；' 'Multitudinous seas：' we needed
not to wait for the eighteen