the spirit of place and other essays(地方的精神等)-第13章
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dreading to hear her swallow it； and was hating the crooking of her little
finger as she held her cup。 It is impossible to live in a world of habits
with such an apprehension of habits as this。
It is no wonder that Tolstoi denies to other men unconsciousness； and
even preoccupation。 With him perception never lapses； and he will not
describe a murderer as rapt away by passion from the details of the room
and the observation of himself； nor will he represent a theologian as
failingeven while he thinks out and decides the question of his faithto
note the things that arrest his present and unclouded eyes。 No habits
would dare to live under those glances。 They must die of dismay。
Tolstoi sees everything that is within sight。 That he sees this
multitude of things with invincible simplicity is what proves him an artist；
nevertheless； for such perception as his there is no peace。 For when it is
not the trivialities of other men's habits but the actualities of his own mind
that he follows without rest； for him there is no possible peace but sleep。
To him； more than to all others； it has been said； 〃Watch！〃 There is no
relapse； there is no respite but sleep or death。
To such a mind every night must come with an overwhelming change；
a release too great for gratitude。 What a falling to sleep！ What a
manumission； what an absolution！ Consciousness and conscience set
free from the exacted instant replies of the unrelapsing day。 And at the
awakening all is ready yet once more； and apprehension begins again： a
perpetual presence of mind。
Dr。 Johnson was 〃absent。〃 No man of 〃absent〃 mind is without some
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hourly deliverance。 It is on the present mind that presses the burden of
the present world。
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SHADOWS
Another good reason that we ought to leave blank； unvexed； and
unencumbered with paper patterns the ceiling and walls of a simple house
is that the plain surface may be visited by the unique designs of shadows。
The opportunity is so fine a thing that it ought oftener to be offered to the
light and to yonder handful of long sedges and rushes in a vase。 Their
slender grey design of shadows upon white walls is better than a tedious；
trivial； or anxious device from the shop。
The shadow has all intricacies of perspective simply translated into
line and intersecting curve； and pictorially presented to the eyes； not to the
mind。 The shadow knows nothing except its flat designs。 It is single； it
draws a decoration that was never seen before； and will never be seen
again； and that； untouched； varies with the journey of the sun； shifts the
interrelation of a score of delicate lines at the mere passing of time； though
all the room be motionless。 Why will design insist upon its importunate
immortality？ Wiser is the drama； and wiser the dance； that do not pause
upon an attitude。 But these walk with passion or pleasure； while the
shadow walks with the earth。 It alters as the hours wheel。
Moreover； while the habit of your sunward thoughts is still flowing
southward； after the winter and the spring； it surprises you in the sudden
gleam of a north…westering sun。 It decks a new wall； it is shed by a late
sunset through a window unvisited for a year past； it betrays the flitting of
the sun into unwonted skiesa sun that takes the midsummer world in the
rear； and shows his head at a sally…porte； and is about to alight on an
unused horizon。 So does the grey drawing； with which you have allowed
the sun and your pot of rushes to adorn your room； play the stealthy game
of the year。
You need not stint yourself of shadows； for an occasion。 It needs but
four candles to make a hanging Oriental bell play the most buoyant
jugglery overhead。 Two lamps make of one palm…branch a symmetrical
countercharge of shadows； and here two palm…branches close with one
another in shadow； their arches flowing together； and their paler greys
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darkening。 It is hard to believe that there are many to prefer a 〃repeating
pattern。〃
It must be granted to them that a grey day robs of their decoration the
walls that should be sprinkled with shadows。 Let； then； a plaque or a
picture be kept for hanging on shadowless clays。 To dress a room once
for all； and to give it no more heed； is to neglect the units of the days。
Shadows within doors are yet only messages from that world of
shadows which is the landscape of sunshine。 Facing a May sun you see
little except an infinite number of shadows。 Atoms of shadow be the
day bright enoughcompose the very air through which you see the light。
The trees show you a shadow for every leaf； and the poplars are sprinkled
upon the shining sky with little shadows that look translucent。 The
liveliness of every shadow is that some light is reflected into it； shade and
shine have been entangled as though by some wild wind through their
million molecules。
The coolness and the dark of night are interlocked with the unclouded
sun。 Turn sunward from the north； and shadows come to life； and are
themselves the life； the action； and the transparence of their day。
To eyes tired and retired all day within lowered blinds； the light looks
still and changeless。 So many squares of sunshine abide for so many
hours； and when the sun has circled away they pass and are extinguished。
Him who lies alone there the outer world touches less by this long
sunshine than by the haste and passage of a shadow。 Although there may
be no tree to stand between his window and the south； and although no
noonday wind may blow a branch of roses across the blind； shadows and
their life will be carried across by a brilliant bird。
To the sick man a cloud…shadow is nothing but an eclipse； he cannot
see its shape； its color； its approach； or its flight。 It does but darken his
window as it darkens the day； and is gone again； he does not see it pluck
and snatch the sun。 But the flying bird shows him wings。 What flash of
light could be more bright for him than such a flash of darkness？
It is the pulse of life； where all change had seemed to be charmed。 If
he had seen the bird itself he would have seen lessthe bird's shadow was
a message from the sun。
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There are two separated flights for the fancy to follow； the flight of the
bird in the air； and the flight of its shadow on earth。 This goes across the
window blind； across the wood； where it is astray for a while in the shades；
it dips into the valley； growing vaguer and larger； runs； quicker than the
wind； uphill； smaller and darker on the soft and dry grass； and rushes to
meet its bird when the bird swoops to a branch and clings。
In the great bird country of the north…eastern littoral of England； about
Holy Island and the basaltic rocks； the shadows of the high birds are the
movement and the pulse of the solitude。 Where there are no woods to
make a shade； the sun suffers the brilliant eclipse of flocks of pearl…white
sea birds； or of the solitary creature driving on the wind。 Theirs is always
a surprise of flight。 The clouds go one way； but the birds go all ways：
in from the sea or out； across the sands； inland to high northern fields；
where the crops are late by a month。 They fly so high that though they
have the shadow of the sun under their wings； they have the light of the
earth there also。 The waves and the coast shine up to them； and they fly
between lights。
Black flocks and white they gather their delicate shadows up； 〃swift as
dreams；〃 at the end of their flight into the clefts； platforms； and ledges of
harbourless rocks dominating the North Sea。 They subside by degrees；
with lessening and shortening volleys of wings and cries until there comes
the general shadow of night wherewith the little shadows close； complete。
The evening is the shadow of another flight。 All the birds have traced
wild and innumerable paths across the mid…May earth； their shadows have
fled all day faster than her streams； and have overtaken all the movement
of her wingless creatures。 But now it is the flight of the very earth that
carries her clasped shadow from the sun。
Footnotes：
｛1｝ I found it afterwards： it was Rebecca。
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