sartor resartus-第15章
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！
； the Man may indeed stand pictured in the Boy （at least all the pigments are there）； yet only some half of the Man stands in the Child； or young Boy； namely； his Passive endowment； not his Active。 The more impatient are we to discover what figure he cuts in this latter capacity； how； when； to use his own words； 〃he understands the tools a little； and can handle this or that；〃 he will proceed to handle it。
Here； however； may be the place to state that； in much of our Philosopher's history； there is something of an almost Hindoo character： nay perhaps in that so well…fostered and every way excellent 〃Passivity〃 of his； which； with no free development of the antagonist Activity； distinguished his childhood； we may detect the rudiments of much that； in after days； and still in these present days； astonishes the world。 For the shallow…sighted； Teufelsdrockh is oftenest a man without Activity of any kind； a No…man； for the deep…sighted； again； a man with Activity almost superabundant； yet so spiritual； close…hidden； enigmatic； that no mortal can foresee its explosions； or even when it has exploded； so much as ascertain its significance。 A dangerous； difficult temper for the modern European； above all； disadvantageous in the hero of a Biography！ Now as heretofore it will behoove the Editor of these pages； were it never so unsuccessfully； to do his endeavor。
Among the earliest tools of any complicacy which a man； especially a man of letters； gets to handle； are his Class…books。 On this portion of his History； Teufelsdrockh looks down professedly as indifferent。 Reading he 〃cannot remember ever to have learned；〃 so perhaps had it by nature。 He says generally： 〃Of the insignificant portion of my Education； which depended on Schools； there need almost no notice be taken。 I learned what others learn； and kept it stored by in a corner of my head； seeing as yet no manner of use in it。 My Schoolmaster； a down…bent； broken…hearted； underfoot martyr； as others of that guild are； did little for me； except discover that he could do little： he； good soul； pronounced me a genius； fit for the learned professions； and that I must be sent to the Gymnasium； and one day to the University。 Meanwhile； what printed thing soever I could meet with I read。 My very copper pocket…money I laid out on stall…literature； which； as it accumulated； I with my own hands sewed into volumes。 By this means was the young head furnished with a considerable miscellany of things and shadows of things： History in authentic fragments lay mingled with Fabulous chimeras； wherein also was reality； and the whole not as dead stuff； but as living pabulum； tolerably nutritive for a mind as yet so peptic。〃
That the Entepfuhl Schoolmaster judged well； we now know。 Indeed； already in the youthful Gneschen； with all his outward stillness； there may have been manifest an inward vivacity that promised much； symptoms of a spirit singularly open； thoughtful； almost poetical。 Thus； to say nothing of his Suppers on the Orchard…wall； and other phenomena of that earlier period； have many readers of these pages stumbled； in their twelfth year； on such reflections as the following？ 〃It struck me much； as I sat by the Kuhbach； one silent noontide； and watched it flowing； gurgling； to think how this same streamlet had flowed and gurgled； through all changes of weather and of fortune； from beyond the earliest date of History。 Yes； probably on the morning when Joshua forded Jordan； even as at the mid…day when Caesar； doubtless with difficulty； swam the Nile； yet kept his _Commentaries_ dry；this little Kuhbach； assiduous as Tiber； Eurotas or Siloa； was murmuring on across the wilderness； as yet unnamed； unseen： here； too； as in the Euphrates and the Ganges； is a vein or veinlet of the grand World…circulation of Waters； which； with its atmospheric arteries； has lasted and lasts simply with the World。 Thou fool！ Nature alone is antique； and the oldest art a mushroom； that idle crag thou sittest on is six thousand years of age。〃 In which little thought； as in a little fountain； may there not lie the beginning of those well…nigh unutterable meditations on the grandeur and mystery of TIME； and its relation to ETERNITY； which play such a part in this Philosophy of Clothes？
Over his Gymnasic and Academic years the Professor by no means lingers so lyrical and joyful as over his childhood。 Green sunny tracts there are still； but intersected by bitter rivulets of tears； here and there stagnating into sour marshes of discontent。 〃With my first view of the Hinterschlag Gymnasium；〃 writes he； 〃my evil days began。 Well do I still remember the red sunny Whitsuntide morning； when； trotting full of hope by the side of Father Andreas； I entered the main street of the place； and saw its steeple…clock （then striking Eight） and _Schuldthurm_ （Jail）； and the aproned or disaproned Burghers moving in to breakfast： a little dog； in mad terror； was rushing past； for some human imps had tied a tin kettle to its tail； thus did the agonized creature； loud…jingling； career through the whole length of the Borough； and become notable enough。 Fit emblem of many a Conquering Hero； to whom Fate （wedding Fantasy to Sense； as it often elsewhere does） has malignantly appended a tin kettle of Ambition； to chase him on； which the faster he runs； urges him the faster； the more loudly and more foolishly！ Fit emblem also of much that awaited myself； in that mischievous Den； as in the World； whereof it was a portion and epitome！
〃Alas； the kind beech…rows of Entepfuhl were hidden in the distance： I was among strangers； harshly； at best indifferently； disposed towards me； the young heart felt； for the first time； quite orphaned and alone。〃 His school…fellows； as is usual； persecuted him： 〃They were Boys；〃 he says； 〃mostly rude Boys； and obeyed the impulse of rude Nature； which bids the deer…herd fall upon any stricken hart； the duck…flock put to death any broken…winged brother or sister； and on all hands the strong tyrannize over the weak。〃 He admits that though 〃perhaps in an unusual degree morally courageous；〃 he succeeded ill in battle； and would fain have avoided it； a result； as would appear； owing less to his small personal stature （for in passionate seasons he was 〃incredibly nimble〃）； than to his 〃virtuous principles：〃 〃if it was disgraceful to be beaten；〃 says he； 〃it was only a shade less disgraceful to have so much as fought； thus was I drawn two ways at once； and in this important element of school…history； the war…element； had little but sorrow。〃 On the whole； that same excellent 〃Passivity；〃 so notable in Teufelsdrockh's childhood； is here visibly enough again getting nourishment。 〃He wept often； indeed to such a degree that he was nicknamed _Der Weinende_ （the Tearful）； which epithet； till towards his thirteenth year； was indeed not quite unmerited。 Only at rare intervals did the young soul burst forth into fire…eyed rage； and； with a stormfulness （_Ungestum_） under which the boldest quailed； assert that he too had Rights of Man； or at least of Mankin。〃 In all which； who does not discern a fine flower…tree and cinnamon…tree （of genius） nigh choked among pumpkins； reed…grass and ignoble shrubs； and forced if it would live； to struggle upwards only； and not outwards； into a _height_ quite sickly； and disproportioned to its _breadth_？
We find； moreover； that his Greek and Latin were 〃mechanically〃 taught； Hebrew scarce even mechanically； much else which they called History； Cosmography； Philosophy； and so forth； no better than not at all。 So that； except inasmuch as Nature was still busy； and he himself 〃went about； as was of old his wont； among the Craftsmen's workshops； there learning many things；〃 and farther lighted on some small store of curious reading； in Hans Wachtel the Cooper's house； where he lodged；his time； it would appear； was utterly wasted。 Which facts the Professor has not yet learned to look upon with any contentment。 Indeed； throughout the whole of this Bag _Scorpio_； where we now are； and often in the following Bag； he shows himself unusually animated on the matter of Education； and not without some touch of what we might presume to be anger。
〃My Teachers；〃 says he； 〃were hide…bound Pedants； without knowledge of man's nature； or of boy's； or of aught save their lexicons and quarterly account…books。 Innumerable dead Vocables （no dead Language； for they themselves knew no Language） they crammed into us； and called it fostering the growth of mind。 How can an inanimate； mechanical Gerund…grinder； the like of whom will； in a subsequent century； be manufactured at Nurnberg out of wood and leather； foster the growth of anything； much more of Mind； which grows； not like a vegetable （by having its roots littered with etymological compost）； but like a spirit； by mysterious contact of Spirit； Thought kindling itself at the fire of living Thought？ How shall _he_ give kindling； in whose own inward man there is no live coal； but all is burnt out to a dead grammatical cinder？ The Hinterschlag Professors knew syntax enough； and of the human soul thus much： that it had a faculty called Memory； and could be acted on through the muscular integument by appliance of birch…rods。
〃Alas； so is it everywhere； so will it ever be； till the Hod…man is discharged； or reduced to hod…bearing； and an Architect is hired； and on all hands fitly encouraged： till communities and individuals discover； not without surprise； that fashioning the souls of a generation by Knowledge can rank on a level with blowing their bodies to pieces by Gunpowder； that with Generals and Field…marshals for killing； there should be world…honored Dignitaries； and were it possible； true God…ordained Priests； for teaching。 But as yet； though the Soldier wears openly； and even parades； his butchering…tool； nowhere； far as I have travelled； did the Schoolmaster make show of his instructing…tool： nay； were he to walk abroad with birch girt on thigh； as if he therefrom expected honor； would there not； among the idler class； perhaps a certain levity be excited？〃
In the third year of this Gymnasic period； Father Andreas seems to have died： the young Scholar； otherwise so maltreated； saw himself for the first time clad outwardly in sables； and inwardly in quite inexpressible melancholy。 〃The dark bottomless Abyss； that lies under our feet； had yawned open； the pale kingdoms of Death； with all their innumerable silent nations and generations； stood before him； the inexorable word； NEVER！ now first showed its meaning。 My Mother wept； and her sorrow got vent； but in my heart there lay a whole lake of tears； pent up in silent desolation。 Nevertheless the unworn Spirit is strong； Life is so healthful that it even finds nourishment in Death： these stern experiences； planted down by Memory in my Imagination； rose there to a whole cypress…forest； sad but beautiful； waving； with not unmelodious sighs； in dark luxuriance； in the hottest sunshine； through long years of youth：as in manhood also it does； and will do； for I have now pitched my tent under a Cypress…tree； the Tomb is now my inexpugnable Fortress； ever close by the gate of which I look upon the hostile armaments； and pains and penalties of tyrannous Life placidly enough； a
