sartor resartus-第3章

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ars　was　a　thing　of　more　than　usual　delicacy：　　besides；　in　his　sly　way；　he　had　ever　some　quaint　turn；　not　without　its　satirical　edge；　wherewith　to　divert　such　intrusions；　and　deter　you　from　the　like。　　Wits　spoke　of　him　secretly　as　if　he　were　a　kind　of　Melchizedek；　without　father　or　mother　of　any　kind；　sometimes；　with　reference　to　his　great　historic　and　statistic　knowledge；　and　the　vivid　way　he　had　of　expressing　himself　like　an　eye…witness　of　distant　transactions　and　scenes；　they　called　him　the　_Ewige　Jude_；　Everlasting；　or　as　we　say；　Wandering　Jew。

To　the　most；　indeed；　he　had　become　not　so　much　a　Man　as　a　Thing；　which　Thing　doubtless　they　were　accustomed　to　see；　and　with　satisfaction；　but　no　more　thought　of　accounting　for　than　for　the　fabrication　of　their　daily　_Allgemeine　Zeitung_；　or　the　domestic　habits　of　the　Sun。　　Both　were　there　and　welcome；　the　world　enjoyed　what　good　was　in　them；　and　thought　no　more　of　the　matter。　　The　man　Teufelsdrockh　passed　and　repassed；　in　his　little　circle；　as　one　of　those　originals　and　nondescripts；　more　frequent　in　German　Universities　than　elsewhere；　of　whom；　though　you　see　them　alive；　and　feel　certain　enough　that　they　must　have　a　History；　no　History　seems　to　be　discoverable；　or　only　such　as　men　give　of　mountain　rocks　and　antediluvian　ruins：　　That　they　have　been　created　by　unknown　agencies；　are　in　a　state　of　gradual　decay；　and　for　the　present　reflect　light　and　resist　pressure；　that　is；　are　visible　and　tangible　objects　in　this　phantasm　world；　where　so　much　other　mystery　is。

It　was　to　be　remarked　that　though；　by　title　and　diploma；　_Professor　der　Allerley…Wissenschaft_；　or　as　we　should　say　in　English；　〃Professor　of　Things　in　General；〃　he　had　never　delivered　any　Course；　perhaps　never　been　incited　thereto　by　any　public　furtherance　or　requisition。　　To　all　appearance；　the　enlightened　Government　of　Weissnichtwo；　in　founding　their　New　University；　imagined　they　had　done　enough；　if　〃in　times　like　ours；〃　as　the　half…official　Program　expressed　it；　〃when　all　things　are；　rapidly　or　slowly；　resolving　themselves　into　Chaos；　a　Professorship　of　this　kind　had　been　established；　whereby；　as　occasion　called；　the　task　of　bodying　somewhat　forth　again　from　such　Chaos　might　be；　even　slightly；　facilitated。〃　　That　actual　Lectures　should　be　held；　and　Public　Classes　for　the　〃Science　of　Things　in　General；〃　they　doubtless　considered　premature；　on　which　ground　too　they　had　only　established　the　Professorship；　nowise　endowed　it；　so　that　Teufelsdrockh；　〃recommended　by　the　highest　Names；〃　had　been　promoted　thereby　to　a　Name　merely。

Great；　among　the　more　enlightened　classes；　was　the　admiration　of　this　new　Professorship：　　how　an　enlightened　Government　had　seen　into　the　Want　of　the　Age　（_Zeitbedurfniss_）；　how　at　length；　instead　of　Denial　and　Destruction；　we　were　to　have　a　science　of　Affirmation　and　Reconstruction；　and　Germany　and　Weissnichtwo　were　where　they　should　be；　in　the　vanguard　of　the　world。　Considerable　also　was　the　wonder　at　the　new　Professor；　dropt　opportunely　enough　into　the　nascent　University；　so　able　to　lecture；　should　occasion　call；　so　ready　to　hold　his　peace　for　indefinite　periods；　should　an　enlightened　Government　consider　that　occasion　did　not　call。　　But　such　admiration　and　such　wonder；　being　followed　by　no　act　to　keep　them　living；　could　last　only　nine　days；　and；　long　before　our　visit　to　that　scene；　had　quite　died　away。　　The　more　cunning　heads　thought　it　was　all　an　expiring　clutch　at　popularity；　on　the　part　of　a　Minister；　whom　domestic　embarrassments；　court　intrigues；　old　age；　and　dropsy　soon　afterwards　finally　drove　from　the　helm。

As　for　Teufelsdrockh；　except　by　his　nightly　appearances　at　the　_Grune　Gans_；　Weissnichtwo　saw　little　of　him；　felt　little　of　him。　　Here；　over　his　tumbler　of　Gukguk；　he　sat　reading　Journals；　sometimes　contemplatively　looking　into　the　clouds　of　his　tobacco…pipe；　without　other　visible　employment：　　always；　from　his　mild　ways；　an　agreeable　phenomenon　there；　more　especially　when　he　opened　his　lips　for　speech；　on　which　occasions　the　whole　Coffee…house　would　hush　itself　into　silence；　as　if　sure　to　hear　something　noteworthy。　　Nay；　perhaps　to　hear　a　whole　series　and　river　of　the　most　memorable　utterances；　such　as；　when　once　thawed；　he　would　for　hours　indulge　in；　with　fit　audience：　　and　the　more　memorable；　as　issuing　from　a　head　apparently　not　more　interested　in　them；　not　more　conscious　of　them；　than　is　the　sculptured　stone　head　of　some　public　fountain；　which　through　its　brass　mouth…tube　emits　water　to　the　worthy　and　the　unworthy；　careless　whether　it　be　for　cooking　victuals　or　quenching　conflagrations；　indeed；　maintains　the　same　earnest　assiduous　look；　whether　any　water　be　flowing　or　not。

To　the　Editor　of　these　sheets；　as　to　a　young　enthusiastic　Englishman；　however　unworthy；　Teufelsdrockh　opened　himself　perhaps　more　than　to　the　most。　Pity　only　that　we　could　not　then　half　guess　his　importance；　and　scrutinize　him　with　due　power　of　vision！　　We　enjoyed；　what　not　three　men　Weissnichtwo　could　boast　of；　a　certain　degree　of　access　to　the　Professor's　private　domicile。　　It　was　the　attic　floor　of　the　highest　house　in　the　Wahngasse；　and　might　truly　be　called　the　pinnacle　of　Weissnichtwo；　for　it　rose　sheer　up　above　the　contiguous　roofs；　themselves　rising　from　elevated　ground。　　Moreover；　with　its　windows　it　looked　towards　all　the　four　_Orte_　or　as　the　Scotch　say；　and　we　ought　to　say；　_Airts_：　　the　sitting　room　itself　commanded　three；　another　came　to　view　in　the　_Schlafgemach_　（bedroom）　at　the　opposite　end；　to　say　nothing　of　the　kitchen；　which　offered　two；　as　it　were；　_duplicates_；　showing　nothing　new。　　So　that　it　was　in　fact　the　speculum　or　watch…tower　of　Teufelsdrockh；　wherefrom；　sitting　at　ease　he　might　see　the　whole　life…circulation　of　that　considerable　City；　the　streets　and　lanes　of　which；　with　all　their　doing　and　driving　（_Thun　und　Treiben_）；　were　for　the　most　part　visible　there。

〃I　look　down　into　all　that　wasp…nest　or　bee…hive；〃　we　have　heard　him　say；　〃and　witness　their　wax…laying　and　honey…making；　and　poison…brewing；　and　choking　by　sulphur。　　From　the　Palace　esplanade；　where　music　plays　while　Serene　Highness　is　pleased　to　eat　his　victuals；　down　to　the　low　lane；　where　in　her　door…sill　the　aged　widow；　knitting　for　a　thin　livelihood　sits　to　feel　the　afternoon　sun；　I　see　it　all；　for；　except　Schlosskirche　weather…cock；　no　biped　stands　so　high。　　Couriers　arrive　bestrapped　and　bebooted；　bearing　Joy　and　Sorrow　bagged　up　in　pouches　of　leather：　　there；　top…laden；　and　with　four　swift　horses；　rolls　in　the　country　Baron　and　his　household；　here；　on　timber…leg；　the　lamed　Soldier　hops　painfully　along；　begging　alms：　　a　thousand　carriages；　and　wains；　cars；　come　tumbling　in　with　Food；　with　young　Rusticity；　and　other　Raw　Produce；　inanimate　or　animate；　and　go　tumbling　out　again　with　produce　manufactured。　　That　living　flood；　pouring　through　these　streets；　of　all　qualities　and　ages；　knowest　thou　whence　it　is　coming；　whither　it　is　going？　　_Aus　der　Ewigkeit；　zu　der　Ewigkeit　hin_：　　From　Eternity；　onwards　to　Eternity！　　These　are　Apparitions：　what　else？　　Are　they　not　Souls　rendered　visible：　　in　Bodies；　that　took　shape　and　will　lose　it；　melting　into　air？　　Their　solid　Pavement　is　a　Picture　of　the　Sense；　they　walk　on　the　bosom　of　Nothing；　blank　Time　is　behind　them　and　before　them。　　Or　fanciest　thou；　the　red　and　yellow　Clothes…screen　yonder；　with　spurs　on　its　heels　and　feather　in　its　crown；　is　but　of　To…day；　without　a　Yesterday　or　a　To…morrow；　and　had　not　rather　its　Ancestor　alive　when　Hengst　and　Horsa　overran　thy　Island？　　Friend；　thou　seest　here　a　living　link　in　that　Tissue　of　History；　which　inweaves　all　Being：　　watch　well；　or　it　will　be　past　thee；　and　seen　no　more。〃

〃_Ach；　mein　Lieber_！〃　said　he　once；　at　midnight；　when　we　had　returned　from　the　Coffee…house　in　rather　earnest　talk；　〃it　is　a　true　sublimity　to　dwell　here。　　These　fringes　of　lamplight；　struggling　up　through　smoke　and　thousand…fold　exhalation；　some　fathoms　into　the　ancient　reign　of　Night；　what　thinks　Bootes　of　them；　as　he　leads　his　Hunting…Dogs　over　the　Zenith　in　their　leash　of　sidereal　fire？　　That　stifled　hum　of　Midnight；　when　Traffic　has　lain　down　to　rest；　and　the　chariot…wheels　of　Vanity；　still　rolling　here　and　there　through　distant　streets；　are　bearing　her　to　Halls　roofed　in；　and　lighted　to　the　due　pitch　for　her；　and　only　Vice　and　Misery；　to　prowl　or　to　moan　like　nightbirds；　are　abroad：　　that　hum；　I　say；　like　the　stertorous；　unquiet　slumber　of　sick　Life；　is　heard　in　Heaven！　　Oh；　under　that　hideous　coverlet　of　vapors；　and　putrefactions；　and　unimaginable　gases；　what　a　Fermenting…vat　lies　simmering　and　hid！　　The　joyful　and　the　sorrowful　are　there；　men　are　dying　there；　men　are　being　born；　men　are　praying；on　the　other　side　of　a　brick　partition；　men　are　cursing；　and　around　them　all　is　the　vast；　void　Night。　　The　proud　Grandee　still　lingers　in　his　perfumed　saloons；　or　reposes　within　damask　curtains；　Wretchedness　cowers　into　buckle…beds；　or　shivers　hunger…stricken　into　its　lair　of　straw：　　in　obscure　cellars；　_Rouge…et…Noir_　languidly　emits　its　voice…of…destiny　to　haggard　hungry　Villains；　while　Councillors　of　State　sit　plotting；　and　playing　their　high　chess…game；　whereof　the　pawns　are　Men。　　The　Lover　whispers　his　mistress　that　the　coach　is　ready；　and　she；　full　of　hope　and　fear；　glides　down；　to　fly　with　him　over　the　borders：　　the　Thief；　still　more　silently；　sets　to　his　picklocks　and　crowbars；　or　lurks　in　wait　till　the　watchmen　first　snore　in　their　boxes。　　Gay　mansions；　with　supper…rooms　and　dancing…rooms；　are　full　of　light　and　music　and　high…swelling　hearts；　but；　in　the　Condemned　Cells；　the　pulse　of　life　beats　tremulous　and　faint；　and　bloodshot　eyes　look　out　through　the　darkness；　which　is　around　and　within；　for　the　light　of　a　stern　last　morning。　　Six　men　are　to　be　hanged　on　the　morrow：　　comes　no　hammering　from　the　_Rabenstein_？their　gallows　must　even　now　be　o'　building。　　Upwards　of　five　hundred　thousand　two…legged　animals　without　feathers　lie　round　us；　in　horizontal　position；　their　heads　all　in　nightcaps；　and　full　of　the　foolishest　dreams。　　Riot　cries　aloud；　and　staggers　and　swaggers　in　his　rank　dens　of　shame；　and　the　Mother；　with　streaming　hair；　kneels　over　her　pallid　dying　infant；　whose　cracked　lips　only　her　tears　now　moisten。　All　these　heaped　and　huddled　together；　with　nothing　but　a　little　carpentry　and　masonry　between　them；crammed　in；　like　salted　fish　in　their　barrel；or　weltering；　shall　I　say；　like　an　Egyptian　pitcher　of　tamed　vipers；　each　struggling　to　get　its　_head　above_　the　others：　　_such_　work　goes　on　under　that　smoke…counterpane！But　I；　_mein　Werther_；　sit　above　it　all；　I　am　alone　with　the　stars。〃

We　looked　in　his　face　to　see　whether；　in　the　utterance　of　such　extraordinary　Night…thoughts；　no　feeling　might　be　traced　there；　but　with　the　light　we　had；　which　indeed　was　only　a　single　tallow…light；　and　far　enough　from　the　window；　nothing　save　that　old　calmness　and　fixedness　was　visible。

These　were　the　Professor's　talking　seasons：　　most　commonly　he　spoke　in　mere　monosyllables；　or　sat　altogether　silent　and　smoked；　while　the　visitor　had　liberty　either　to　say　what　he　listed；　receiving　for　answer　an　occasional　grunt；　or　to　look　round　for　a　space；　and　then　take　himself　away。　　It　was　a　strange　apartment；　full　of　books　and　tattered　papers；　and　miscellaneous　shreds　of　all　conceivable　subst