the critic as artist-第2章

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t　of　his　persons。　　There；　creeps　Fra　Lippo　Lippi　with　his　cheeks　still　burning　from　some　girl's　hot　kiss。　　There；　stands　dread　Saul　with　the　lordly　male…sapphires　gleaming　in　his　turban。　Mildred　Tresham　is　there；　and　the　Spanish　monk；　yellow　with　hatred；　and　Blougram；　and　Ben　Ezra；　and　the　Bishop　of　St。　Praxed's。　　The　spawn　of　Setebos　gibbers　in　the　corner；　and　Sebald；　hearing　Pippa　pass　by；　looks　on　Ottima's　haggard　face；　and　loathes　her　and　his　own　sin；　and　himself。　　Pale　as　the　white　satin　of　his　doublet；　the　melancholy　king　watches　with　dreamy　treacherous　eyes　too　loyal　Strafford　pass　forth　to　his　doom；　and　Andrea　shudders　as　he　hears　the　cousins　whistle　in　the　garden；　and　bids　his　perfect　wife　go　down。　　Yes；　Browning　was　great。　　And　as　what　will　he　be　remembered？　As　a　poet？　　Ah；　not　as　a　poet！　　He　will　be　remembered　as　a　writer　of　fiction；　as　the　most　supreme　writer　of　fiction；　it　may　be；　that　we　have　ever　had。　　His　sense　of　dramatic　situation　was　unrivalled；　and；　if　he　could　not　answer　his　own　problems；　he　could　at　least　put　problems　forth；　and　what　more　should　an　artist　do？　　Considered　from　the　point　of　view　of　a　creator　of　character　he　ranks　next　to　him　who　made　Hamlet。　　Had　he　been　articulate；　he　might　have　sat　beside　him。　　The　only　man　who　can　touch　the　hem　of　his　garment　is　George　Meredith。　　Meredith　is　a　prose　Browning；　and　so　is　Browning。　He　used　poetry　as　a　medium　for　writing　in　prose。

ERNEST。　　There　is　something　in　what　you　say；　but　there　is　not　everything　in　what　you　say。　　In　many　points　you　are　unjust。

GILBERT。　　It　is　difficult　not　to　be　unjust　to　what　one　loves。　　But　let　us　return　to　the　particular　point　at　issue。　　What　was　it　that　you　said？

ERNEST。　　Simply　this：　　that　in　the　best　days　of　art　there　were　no　art…critics。

GILBERT。　　I　seem　to　have　heard　that　observation　before；　Ernest。　　It　has　all　the　vitality　of　error　and　all　the　tediousness　of　an　old　friend。

ERNEST。　　It　is　true。　　Yes：　　there　is　no　use　your　tossing　your　head　in　that　petulant　manner。　　It　is　quite　true。　　In　the　best　days　of　art　there　were　no　art…critics。　　The　sculptor　hewed　from　the　marble　block　the　great　white…limbed　Hermes　that　slept　within　it。　　The　waxers　and　gilders　of　images　gave　tone　and　texture　to　the　statue；　and　the　world；　when　it　saw　it；　worshipped　and　was　dumb。　　He　poured　the　glowing　bronze　into　the　mould　of　sand；　and　the　river　of　red　metal　cooled　into　noble　curves　and　took　the　impress　of　the　body　of　a　god。　　With　enamel　or　polished　jewels　he　gave　sight　to　the　sightless　eyes。　　The　hyacinth…like　curls　grew　crisp　beneath　his　graver。　　And　when；　in　some　dim　frescoed　fane；　or　pillared　sunlit　portico；　the　child　of　Leto　stood　upon　his　pedestal；　those　who　passed　by；　＇Greek　text　which　cannot　be　reproduced＇；　became　conscious　of　a　new　influence　that　had　come　across　their　lives；　and　dreamily；　or　with　a　sense　of　strange　and　quickening　joy；　went　to　their　homes　or　daily　labour；　or　wandered；　it　may　be；　through　the　city　gates　to　that　nymph…haunted　meadow　where　young　Phaedrus　bathed　his　feet；　and；　lying　there　on　the　soft　grass；　beneath　the　tall　wind　…　whispering　planes　and　flowering　AGNUS　CASTUS；　began　to　think　of　the　wonder　of　beauty；　and　grew　silent　with　unaccustomed　awe。　　In　those　days　the　artist　was　free。　　From　the　river　valley　he　took　the　fine　clay　in　his　fingers；　and　with　a　little　tool　of　wood　or　bone；　fashioned　it　into　forms　so　exquisite　that　the　people　gave　them　to　the　dead　as　their　playthings；　and　we　find　them　still　in　the　dusty　tombs　on　the　yellow　hillside　by　Tanagra；　with　the　faint　gold　and　the　fading　crimson　still　lingering　about　hair　and　lips　and　raiment。　On　a　wall　of　fresh　plaster；　stained　with　bright　sandyx　or　mixed　with　milk　and　saffron；　he　pictured　one　who　trod　with　tired　feet　the　purple　white…starred　fields　of　asphodel；　one　'in　whose　eyelids　lay　the　whole　of　the　Trojan　War；'　Polyxena；　the　daughter　of　Priam；　or　figured　Odysseus；　the　wise　and　cunning；　bound　by　tight　cords　to　the　mast…step；　that　he　might　listen　without　hurt　to　the　singing　of　the　Sirens；　or　wandering　by　the　clear　river　of　Acheron；　where　the　ghosts　of　fishes　flitted　over　the　pebbly　bed；　or　showed　the　Persian　in　trews　and　mitre　flying　before　the　Greek　at　Marathon；　or　the　galleys　clashing　their　beaks　of　brass　in　the　little　Salaminian　bay。　He　drew　with　silver…point　and　charcoal　upon　parchment　and　prepared　cedar。　　Upon　ivory　and　rose…coloured　terracotta　he　painted　with　wax；　making　the　wax　fluid　with　juice　of　olives；　and　with　heated　irons　making　it　firm。　　Panel　and　marble　and　linen　canvas　became　wonderful　as　his　brush　swept　across　them；　and　life　seeing　her　own　image；　was　still；　and　dared　not　speak。　　All　life；　indeed；　was　his；　from　the　merchants　seated　in　the　market…place　to　the　cloaked　shepherd　lying　on　the　hill；　from　the　nymph　hidden　in　the　laurels　and　the　faun　that　pipes　at　noon；　to　the　king　whom；　in　long　green…　curtained　litter；　slaves　bore　upon　oil…bright　shoulders；　and　fanned　with　peacock　fans。　　Men　and　women；　with　pleasure　or　sorrow　in　their　faces；　passed　before　him。　　He　watched　them；　and　their　secret　became　his。　　Through　form　and　colour　he　re…created　a　world。

All　subtle　arts　belonged　to　him　also。　　He　held　the　gem　against　the　revolving　disk；　and　the　amethyst　became　the　purple　couch　for　Adonis；　and　across　the　veined　sardonyx　sped　Artemis　with　her　hounds。　　He　beat　out　the　gold　into　roses；　and　strung　them　together　for　necklace　or　armlet。　　He　beat　out　the　gold　into　wreaths　for　the　conqueror's　helmet；　or　into　palmates　for　the　Tyrian　robe；　or　into　masks　for　the　royal　dead。　　On　the　back　of　the　silver　mirror　he　graved　Thetis　borne　by　her　Nereids；　or　love…sick　Phaedra　with　her　nurse；　or　Persephone；　weary　of　memory；　putting　poppies　in　her　hair。　The　potter　sat　in　his　shed；　and；　flower…like　from　the　silent　wheel；　the　vase　rose　up　beneath　his　hands。　　He　decorated　the　base　and　stem　and　ears　with　pattern　of　dainty　olive…leaf；　or　foliated　acanthus；　or　curved　and　crested　wave。　　Then　in　black　or　red　he　painted　lads　wrestling；　or　in　the　race：　　knights　in　full　armour；　with　strange　heraldic　shields　and　curious　visors；　leaning　from　shell…shaped　chariot　over　rearing　steeds：　　the　gods　seated　at　the　feast　or　working　their　miracles：　　the　heroes　in　their　victory　or　in　their　pain。　　Sometimes　he　would　etch　in　thin　vermilion　lines　upon　a　ground　of　white　the　languid　bridegroom　and　his　bride；　with　Eros　hovering　round　them　…　an　Eros　like　one　of　Donatello's　angels；　a　little　laughing　thing　with　gilded　or　with　azure　wings。　　On　the　curved　side　he　would　write　the　name　of　his　friend。　　＇Greek　text　which　cannot　be　reproduced＇　tells　us　the　story　of　his　days。　　Again；　on　the　rim　of　the　wide　flat　cup　he　would　draw　the　stag　browsing；　or　the　lion　at　rest；　as　his　fancy　willed　it。　　From　the　tiny　perfume…　bottle　laughed　Aphrodite　at　her　toilet；　and；　with　bare…limbed　Maenads　in　his　train；　Dionysus　danced　round　the　wine…jar　on　naked　must…stained　feet；　while；　satyr…like；　the　old　Silenus　sprawled　upon　the　bloated　skins；　or　shook　that　magic　spear　which　was　tipped　with　a　fretted　fir…cone；　and　wreathed　with　dark　ivy。　　And　no　one　came　to　trouble　the　artist　at　his　work。　　No　irresponsible　chatter　disturbed　him。　　He　was　not　worried　by　opinions。　　By　the　Ilyssus；　says　Arnold　somewhere；　there　was　no　Higginbotham。　　By　the　Ilyssus；　my　dear　Gilbert；　there　were　no　silly　art　congresses　bringing　provincialism　to　the　provinces　and　teaching　the　mediocrity　how　to　mouth。　　By　the　Ilyssus　there　were　no　tedious　magazines　about　art；　in　which　the　industrious　prattle　of　what　they　do　not　understand。　　On　the　reed…　grown　banks　of　that　little　stream　strutted　no　ridiculous　journalism　monopolising　the　seat　of　judgment　when　it　should　be　apologising　in　the　dock。　　The　Greeks　had　no　art…critics。

GILBERT。　　Ernest；　you　are　quite　delightful；　but　your　views　are　terribly　unsound。　　I　am　afraid　that　you　have　been　listening　to　the　conversation　of　some　one　older　than　yourself。　　That　is　always　a　dangerous　thing　to　do；　and　if　you　allow　it　to　degenerate　into　a　habit　you　will　find　it　absolutely　fatal　to　any　intellectual　development。　　As　for　modern　journalism；　it　is　not　my　business　to　defend　it。　　It　justifies　its　own　existence　by　the　great　Darwinian　principle　of　the　survival　of　the　vulgarest。　　I　have　merely　to　do　with　literature。

ERNEST。　　But　what　is　the　difference　between　literature　and　journalism？

GILBERT。　　Oh！　journalism　is　unreadable；　and　literature　is　not　read。　That　is　all。　　But　with　regard　to　your　statement　that　the　Greeks　had　no　art…critics；　I　assure　you　that　is　quite　absurd。　　It　would　be　more　just　to　say　that　the　Greeks　were　a　nation　of　art…critics。

ERNEST。　　Really？

GILBERT。　　Yes；　a　nation　of　art…critics。　　But　I　don't　wish　to　destroy　the　delightfully　unreal　picture　that　you　have　drawn　of　the　relation　of　the　Hellenic　artist　to　the　intellectual　spirit　of　his　age。　　To　give　an　accurate　description　of　what　has　never　occurred　is　not　merely　the　proper　occupation　of　the　historian；　but　the　inalienable　privilege　of　any　man　of　parts　and　culture。　　Still　less　do　I　desire　to　talk　learnedly。　　Learned　conversation　is　either　the　affectation　of　the　ignorant　or　the　profession　of　the　mentally　unemployed。　　And；　as　for　what　is　called　improving　conversation；　that　is　merely　the　foolish　method　by　which　the　still　more　foolish　philanthropist　feebly　tries　to　disarm　the　just　rancour　of　the　criminal　classes。　　No：　　let　me　play　to　you　some　mad　scarlet　thing　by　Dvorek。　　The　pallid　figures　on　the　tapestry　are　smiling　at　us；　and　the　heavy　eyelids　of　my　bronze　Narcissus　are　folded　in　sleep。　Don't　let　us　discuss　anything　solemnly。　　I　am　but　too　conscious　of　the　fact　that　we　are　born　in　an　age　when　only　the　dull　are　treated　seriously；　and　I　live　in　terror　of　not　being　misunderstood。　　Don't　degrade　me　into　the　position　of　giving　you　useful　information。　Education　is　an　admirable　thing；　but　it　is　well　to　remember　from　time　to　time　that　nothing　that　is　worth　knowing　can　be　taught。　Through　the　parted　curtains　of　the　window　I　see　the　moon　like　a　clipped　piece　of　silver。　　Like　gilded　bees　the　stars　cluster　round　her。　　The　sky　is　a　hard　hollow　sapphire。　　Let　us　go　out　into　the　night。　　Thought　is　wonderful；　but　adventure　is　more　wonderful　still。　　Who　knows　but　we　may　meet　Prince　Florizel　of　Bohemia；　and　hear　the　fair　Cuban　tell　us　that　she　is　not　what　she　seems？

ERNEST。　　You　are　horribly　wilful。　　I　insist　on　your　discussing　this　matter　with　me。　　You　have　said　that　the　Greeks　were　a　nation　of　art…critics。　　What　art…criticism　have　they　left　us？

GILBERT。　　My　dear　Ernest；　even　if　not　a　single　fragment　of　art…　criticism　had　come　down　to　us　from　Hellenic　or　Hellenistic　days；　it　would　be　none　the　less　true　that　the　Greeks　were　a　nation　of　art…　critics；　and　that　they　invented　the　criticism　of　art　just　as　they　invented　the　criticism　of　everything　else。　　For；　after　all；　what　is　our　primary　debt　to　the　Greeks？　　Simply　the　critical　spirit。　　And；　this　spirit；　which　they　exercised　on　questions　of　religion　and　science；　of　ethics　and　metaphysics；　of　politics　and　education；　they　exercised　on　questions　of　art　also；　and；　indeed；　of　the　two　supreme　and　highest　arts；　they　have　left　us　the　most　flawless　system　of　criticism　that　the　world　has　ever　seen。

ERNEST。　　But　what　are　the　two　supreme　and　highest　arts？

GILBERT。　　Life　and　Literature；　life　and　the　perfect　expression　of　life。　　The　principles　of　the　former；　as　l