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！
distinction to desire no differences； no remembrance； but loss among the
innumerable forgotten。 And when he suffered； it was with so quick a
9
… Page 10…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
nerve and yet so wide an apprehension that the race seemed to suffer in
him。 He pitied not himself so tenderly as mankind； of whose capacity for
pain he was then feelingly persuaded。 His darkening eyes said in the
extreme hour： 'I have compassion on the multitude。'
10
… Page 11…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
THE SUN
Nowhere else does the greater light so rule the day； so measure； so
divide； so reign； make so imperial laws； so visibly kindle； so immediately
quicken； so suddenly efface； so banish； so restore； as in a plain like this of
Suffolk with its enormous sky。 The curious have an insufficient motive
for going to the mountains if they do it to see the sunrise。 The sun that
leaps from a mountain peak is a sun past the dew of his birth； he has
walked some way towards the common fires of noon。 But on the flat
country the uprising is early and fresh； the arc is wide； the career is long。
The most distant clouds； converging in the beautiful and little…studied
order of cloud…perspective （for most painters treat clouds as though they
formed perpendicular and not horizontal scenery）； are those that gather at
the central point of sunrise。 On the plain； and there only； can the
constructionbut that is too little vital a word； I should rather say the
organismthe unity； the design； of a sky be understood。 The light wind
that has been moving all night is seen to have not worked at random。 It
has shepherded some small flocks of cloud afield and folded others。
There's husbandry in Heaven。 And the order has； or seems to have； the sun
for its midst。 Not a line； not a curve； but confesses its membership in a
design declared from horizon to horizon。
To see the system of a sky in fragments is to miss what I learn to look
for in all achieved works of Nature and art： the organism that is unity
and life。 It is the unity and life of painting。 The Early Victorian picture…
…（the school is still in full career； but essentially it belongs to that
triumphal period）is but a dull sum of things put together； in concourse；
not in relation； but the true picture is ONE； however multitudinous it may
be； for it is composed of relations gathered together in the unity of
perception； of intention； and of light。 It is organic。 Moreover； how truly
relation is the condition of life may be understood from the extinct state of
the English stage； which resembles nothing so much as a Royal Academy
picture。 Even though the actors may be added together with something
like vivacity （though that is rare）； they have no vitality in common。 They
11
… Page 12…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
are not members one of another。 If the Church and Stage Guild be still in
existence； it would do much for the art by teaching that Scriptural maxim。
I think； furthermore； that the life of our bodies has never been defined so
suggestively as by one who named it a living relation of lifeless atoms。
Could the value of relation be more curiously set forth？ And one might
penetrate some way towards a consideration of the vascular organism of a
true literary style in which there is a vital relation of otherwise lifeless
word with word。 And wherein lies the progress of architecture from the
stupidity of the pyramid and the dead weight of the Cyclopean wall to the
spring and the flight of the ogival arch； but in a quasi…organic relation？
But the way of such thoughts might be intricate； and the sun rules me to
simplicity。
He reigns as centrally in the blue sky as in the clouds。 One October
of late had days absolutely cloudless。 I should not have certainly known
it had there been a hill in sight。 The gradations of the blue are
incalculable； infinite； and they deepen from the central fire。 As to the
earthly scenery； there are but two 'views' on the plain； for the aspect of the
light is the whole landscape。 To look with the sun or against the sunthis
is the alternative splendour。 To look with the sun is to face a golden
country； shadowless； serene； noble and strong in light； with a certain lack
of relief that suggeststo those who dream of landscapethe country of a
dream。 The serried pines； and the lighted fields； and the golden ricks of
the farms are dyed with the sun as one might paint with a colour。 Bright
as it is； the glow is rather the dye of sunlight than its luminosity。 For by a
kind of paradox the luminous landscape is that which is full of shadows
the landscape before you when you turn and face the sun。 Not only every
reed and rush of the salt marshes； every uncertain aspen…leaf of the few
trees； but every particle of the October air shows a shadow and makes a
mystery of the light。 There is nothing but shadow and sun； colour is
absorbed and the landscape is reduced to a shining simplicity。 Thus is
the dominant sun sufficient for his day。 His passage kindles to
unconsuming fires and quenches into living ashes。 No incidents save of
his causing； no delight save of his giving： from the sunrise； when the
larks； not for pairing； but for play； sing the only virginal song of the year
12
… Page 13…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays
a heart younger than Spring's in the season of declineeven to the sunset；
when the herons scream together in the shallows。 And the sun dominates
by his absence； compelling the low country to sadness in the melancholy
night。
13
… Page 14…
The Rhythm of Life and Other Essays