sartor resartus-第39章
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shore； some towards that。 To these also a helping hand should be held out； at least some word of encouragement be said。
Or； to speak without metaphor； with which mode of utterance Teufelsdrockh unhappily has somewhat infected us； can it be hidden from the Editor that many a British Reader sits reading quite bewildered in head； and afflicted rather than instructed by the present Work？ Yes； long ago has many a British Reader been； as now； demanding with something like a snarl： Whereto does all this lead； or what use is in it？
In the way of replenishing thy purse； or otherwise aiding thy digestive faculty； O British Reader； it leads to nothing； and there is no use in it； but rather the reverse； for it costs thee somewhat。 Nevertheless； if through this unpromising Horn…gate； Teufelsdrockh； and we by means of him； have led thee into the true Land of Dreams； and through the Clothes…Screen； as through a magical _Pierre…Pertuis_； thou lookest； even for moments； into the region of the Wonderful； and seest and feelest that thy daily life is girt with Wonder； and based on Wonder； and thy very blankets and breeches are Miracles； then art thou profited beyond money's worth； and hast a thankfulness towards our Professor； nay； perhaps in many a literary Tea…circle wilt open thy kind lips； and audibly express that same。
Nay farther； art not thou too perhaps by this time made aware that all Symbols are properly Clothes； that all Forms whereby Spirit manifests itself to sense； whether outwardly or in the imagination； are Clothes； and thus not only the parchment Magna Charta； which a Tailor was nigh cutting into measures； but the Pomp and Authority of Law； the sacredness of Majesty； and all inferior Worships （Worth…ships） are properly a Vesture and Raiment； and the Thirty…nine Articles themselves are articles of wearing…apparel （for the Religious Idea）？ In which case； must it not also be admitted that this Science of Clothes is a high one； and may with infinitely deeper study on thy part yield richer fruit： that it takes scientific rank beside Codification； and Political Economy； and the Theory of the British Constitution； nay rather； from its prophetic height looks down on all these； as on so many weaving…shops and spinning…mills； where the Vestures which _it_ has to fashion； and consecrate； and distribute； are； too often by haggard hungry operatives who see no farther than their nose； mechanically woven and spun？
But omitting all this； much more all that concerns Natural Supernaturalism； and indeed whatever has reference to the Ulterior or Transcendental portion of the Science； or bears never so remotely on that promised Volume of the _Palingenesie der menschlichen Gesellschaft_ （Newbirth of Society）；we humbly suggest that no province of Clothes…Philosophy； even the lowest； is without its direct value； but that innumerable inferences of a practical nature may be drawn therefrom。 To say nothing of those pregnant considerations； ethical； political； symbolical； which crowd on the Clothes…Philosopher from the very threshold of his Science； nothing even of those 〃architectural ideas；〃 which； as we have seen； lurk at the bottom of all Modes； and will one day； better unfolding themselves； lead to important revolutions；let us glance for a moment； and with the faintest light of Clothes…Philosophy； on what may be called the Habilatory Class of our fellow…men。 Here too overlooking； where so much were to be looked on； the million spinners； weavers； fullers； dyers； washers； and wringers； that puddle and muddle in their dark recesses； to make us Clothes； and die that we may live；let us but turn the reader's attention upon two small divisions of mankind； who； like moths； may be regarded as Cloth…animals； creatures that live； move and have their being in Cloth： we mean； Dandies and Tailors。
In regard to both which small divisions it may be asserted without scruple； that the public feeling； unenlightened by Philosophy； is at fault； and even that the dictates of humanity are violated。 As will perhaps abundantly appear to readers of the two following Chapters。
CHAPTER X。 THE DANDIACAL BODY。
First； touching Dandies； let us consider； with some scientific strictness； what a Dandy specially is。 A Dandy is a Clothes…wearing Man； a Man whose trade； office and existence consists in the wearing of Clothes。 Every faculty of his soul； spirit； purse and person is heroically consecrated to this one object； the wearing of Clothes wisely and well： so that as others dress to live； he lives to dress。 The all…importance of Clothes； which a German Professor； of unequalled learning and acumen； writes his enormous Volume to demonstrate； has sprung up in the intellect of the Dandy without effort； like an instinct of genius； he is inspired with Cloth； a Poet of Cloth。 What Teufelsdrockh would call a 〃Divine Idea of Cloth〃 is born with him； and this； like other such Ideas； will express itself outwardly； or wring his heart asunder with unutterable throes。
But； like a generous； creative enthusiast； he fearlessly makes his Idea an Action； shows himself in peculiar guise to mankind； walks forth； a witness and living Martyr to the eternal worth of Clothes。 We called him a Poet： is not his body the （stuffed） parchment…skin whereon he writes； with cunning Huddersfield dyes； a Sonnet to his mistress' eyebrow？ Say； rather； an Epos； and _Clotha Virumque cano_； to the whole world； in Macaronic verses； which he that runs may read。 Nay； if you grant； what seems to be admissible； that the Dandy has a Thinking…principle in him； and some notions of Time and Space； is there not in this life…devotedness to Cloth； in this so willing sacrifice of the Immortal to the Perishable； something （though in reverse order） of that blending and identification of Eternity with Time； which； as we have seen； constitutes the Prophetic character？
And now； for all this perennial Martyrdom； and Poesy； and even Prophecy； what is it that the Dandy asks in return？ Solely； we may say； that you would recognize his existence； would admit him to be a living object； or even failing this； a visual object； or thing that will reflect rays of light。 Your silver or your gold （beyond what the niggardly Law has already secured him） he solicits not； simply the glance of your eyes。 Understand his mystic significance； or altogether miss and misinterpret it； do but look at him； and he is contented。 May we not well cry shame on an ungrateful world； which refuses even this poor boon； which will waste its optic faculty on dried Crocodiles； and Siamese Twins； and over the domestic wonderful wonder of wonders； a live Dandy； glance with hasty indifference； and a scarcely concealed contempt！ Him no Zoologist classes among the Mammalia； no Anatomist dissects with care： when did we see any injected Preparation of the Dandy in our Museums； any specimen of him preserved in spirits！ Lord Herringbone may dress himself in a snuff…brown suit； with snuff…brown shirt and shoes： it skills not； the undiscerning public； occupied with grosser wants； passes by regardless on the other side。
The age of Curiosity； like that of Chivalry； is indeed； properly speaking； gone。 Yet perhaps only gone to sleep： for here arises the Clothes…Philosophy to resuscitate； strangely enough； both the one and the other！ Should sound views of this Science come to prevail； the essential nature of the British Dandy； and the mystic significance that lies in him； cannot always remain hidden under laughable and lamentable hallucination。 The following long Extract from Professor Teufelsdrockh may set the matter； if not in its true light； yet in the way towards such。 It is to be regretted； however； that here； as so often elsewhere； the Professor's keen philosophic perspicacity is somewhat marred by a certain mixture of almost owlish purblindness； or else of some perverse； ineffectual； ironic tendency； our readers shall judge which：
〃In these distracted times；〃 writes he； 〃when the Religious Principle； driven out of most Churches； either lies unseen in the hearts of good men； looking and longing and silently working there towards some new Revelation； or else wanders homeless over the world； like a disembodied soul seeking its terrestrial organization；into how many strange shapes； of Superstition and Fanaticism； does it not tentatively and errantly cast itself！ The higher Enthusiasm of man's nature is for the while without Exponent； yet does it continue indestructible； unweariedly active； and work blindly in the great chaotic deep： thus Sect after Sect； and Church after Church； bodies itself forth； and melts again into new metamorphosis。
〃Chiefly is this observable in England； which； as the wealthiest and worst…instructed of European nations； offers precisely the elements （of Heat； namely； and of Darkness）； in which such moon…calves and monstrosities are best generated。 Among the newer Sects of that country； one of the most notable； and closely connected with our present subject； is that of the _Dandies_； concerning which； what little information I have been able to procure may fitly stand here。
〃It is true； certain of the English Journalists； men generally without sense for the Religious Principle； or judgment for its manifestations； speak； in their brief enigmatic notices； as if this were perhaps rather a Secular Sect； and not a Religious one； nevertheless； to the psychologic eye its devotional and even sacrificial character plainly enough reveals itself。 Whether it belongs to the class of Fetish…worships； or of Hero…worships or Polytheisms； or to what other class； may in the present state of our intelligence remain undecided （_schweben_）。 A certain touch of Manicheism； not indeed in the Gnostic shape； is discernible enough； also （for human Error walks in a cycle； and reappears at intervals） a not…inconsiderable resemblance to that Superstition of the Athos Monks； who by fasting from all nourishment； and looking intensely for a length of time into their own navels； came to discern therein the true Apocalypse of Nature； and Heaven Unveiled。 To my own surmise； it appears as if this Dandiacal Sect were but a new modification； adapted to the new time； of that primeval Superstition； _Self…worship_； which Zerdusht； Quangfoutchee； Mahomet； and others； strove rather to subordinate and restrain than to eradicate； and which only in the purer forms of Religion has been altogether rejected。 Wherefore； if any one chooses to name it revived Ahrimanism； or a new figure of Demon…Worship； I have； so far as is yet visible； no objection。
〃For the rest； these people； animated with the zeal of a new Sect； display courage and perseverance； and what force there is in man's nature； though never so enslaved。 They affect great purity and separatism； distinguish themselves by a particular costume （whereof some notices were given in the earlier part of this Volume）； likewise； so far as possible； by a particular speech （apparently some broken _Lingua…franca_； or English…French）； and； on the whole； strive to maintain a true Nazarene deportment； and keep themselves unspotted from the world。
〃They have their Temples； whereof the chief； as the Jewish Temple did； stands in their metropolis； and is named _Almack's_； a word of uncertain etymology。 They worship
