the works of edgar allan poe-1-第4章
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Enthusiasm cannot cling to what itself is unenthusiastic； nor will he
ever have disciples who has not himself impulsive zeal enough to be a
disciple。 Great wits are allied to madness only inasmuch as they are
possessed and carried away by their demon； While talent keeps him； as
Paracelsus did； securely prisoned in the pommel of his sword。 To the
eye of genius； the veil of the spiritual world is ever rent asunder
that it may perceive the ministers of good and evil who throng
continually around it。 No man of mere talent ever flung his inkstand
at the devil。
When we say that Mr。 Poe had genius； we do not mean to say that he
has produced evidence of the highest。 But to say that he possesses it
at all is to say that he needs only zeal； industry； and a reverence
for the trust reposed in him； to achieve the proudest triumphs and
the greenest laurels。 If we may believe the Longinuses； and
Aristotles of our newspapers； we have quite too many geniuses of the
loftiest order to render a place among them at all desirable； whether
for its hardness of attainment or its seclusion。 The highest peak of
our Parnassus is； according to these gentlemen； by far the most
thickly settled portion of the country； a circumstance which must
make it an uncomfortable residence for individuals of a poetical
temperament； if love of solitude be； as immemorial tradition asserts；
a necessary part of their idiosyncrasy。
Mr。 Poe has two of the prime qualities of genius； a faculty of
vigorous yet minute analysis； and a wonderful fecundity of
imagination。 The first of these faculties is as needful to the artist
in words； as a knowledge of anatomy is to the artist in colors or in
stone。 This enables him to conceive truly； to maintain a proper
relation of parts； and to draw a correct outline； while the second
groups； fills up and colors。 Both of these Mr。 Poe has displayed with
singular distinctness in his prose works； the last predominating in
his earlier tales； and the first in his later ones。 In judging of the
merit of an author； and assigning him his niche among our household
gods； we have a right to regard him from our own point of view； and
to measure him by our own standard。 But； in estimating the amount of
power displayed in his works； we must be governed by his own design；
and placing them by the side of his own ideal； find how much is
wanting。 We differ from Mr。 Poe in his opinions of the objects of
art。 He esteems that object to be the creation of Beauty； and perhaps
it is only in the definition of that word that we disagree with him。
But in what we shall say of his writings； we shall take his own
standard as our guide。 The temple of the god of song is equally。
accessible from every side； and there is room enough in it for all
who bring offerings； or seek in oracle。
In his tales； Mr。 Poe has chosen to exhibit his power chiefly in that
dim region which stretches from the very utmost limits of the
probable into the weird confines of superstition and unreality。 He
combines in a very remarkable manner two faculties which are seldom
found united； a power of influencing the mind of the reader by the
impalpable shadows of mystery； and a minuteness of detail which does
not leave a pin or a button unnoticed。 Both are； in truth； the
natural results of the predominating quality of his mind； to which we
have before alluded； analysis。 It is this which distinguishes the
artist。 His mind at once reaches forward to the effect to be
produced。 Having resolved to bring about certain emotions in the
reader； he makes all subordinate parts tend strictly to the common
centre。 Even his mystery is mathematical to his own mind。 To him X is
a known quantity all along。 In any picture that he paints he
understands the chemical properties of all his colors。 However vague
some of his figures may seem； however formless the shadows； to him
the outline is as clear and distinct as that of a geometrical
diagram。 For this reason Mr。 Poe has no sympathy with Mysticism。 The
Mystic dwells in the mystery； is enveloped with it； it colors all his
thoughts； it affects his optic nerve especially； and the commonest
things get a rainbow edging from it。 Mr。 Poe； on the other hand； is a
spectator _ab extra。 _He analyzes； he dissects； he watches
〃with an eye serene；
The very pulse of the machine；〃
for such it practically is to him； with wheels and cogs and
piston…rods； all working to produce a certain end。
This analyzing tendency of his mind balances the poetical； and by
giving him the patience to be minute； enables him to throw a
wonderful reality into his most unreal fancies。 A monomania he paints
with great power。 He loves to dissect one of these cancers of the
mind； and to trace all the subtle ramifications of its roots。 In
raising images of horror； also； he has strange success； conveying to
us sometimes by a dusky hint some terrible _doubt _which is the
secret of all horror。 He leaves to imagination the task of finishing
the picture； a task to which only she is competent。
〃For much imaginary work was there；
Conceit deceitful； so compact； so kind；
That for Achilles' image stood his spear
Grasped in an armed hand； himself behind
Was left unseen； save to the eye of mind。〃
Besides the merit of conception； Mr。 Poe's writings have also that of
form。
His style is highly finished； graceful and truly classical。 It would
be hard to find a living author who had displayed such varied powers。
As an example of his style we would refer to one of his tales； 〃The
House of Usher；〃 in the first volume of his 〃Tales of the Grotesque
and Arabesque。〃 It has a singular charm for us； and we think that no
one could read it without being strongly moved by its serene and
sombre beauty。 Had its author written nothing else； it would alone
have been enough to stamp him as a man of genius； and the master of a
classic style。 In this tale occurs； perhaps； the most beautiful of
his poems。
The great masters of imagination have seldom resorted to the vague
and the unreal as sources of effect。 They have not used dread and
horror alone； but only in combination with other qualities； as means
of subjugating the fancies of their readers。 The loftiest muse has
ever a household and fireside charm about her。 Mr。 Poe's secret lies
mainly in the skill with which lie has employed the strange
fascination of mystery and terror。 In this his success is so great
and striking as to deserve the name of art； not artifice。 We cannot
call his materials the noblest or purest； but we must concede to him
the highest merit of construction。
As a critic； Mr。 Poe was aesthetically deficient。 Unerring in his
analysis of dictions； metres and plots； he seemed wanting in the
faculty of perceiving the profounder ethics of art。 His criticisms
are； however； distinguished for scientific precision and coherence of
logic。 They have the exactness； and at the same time； the coldness of
mathematical demonstrations。 Yet they stand in strikingly refreshing
contrast with the vague generalisms and sharp personalities of the
day。 If deficient in warmth； they are also without the heat of
partisanship。 They are especially valuable as illustrating the great
truth； too generally overlooked； that analytic power is a subordinate
quality of the critic。
On the whole； it may be considered certain that Mr。 Poe has attained
an individual eminence in our literature which he will keep。 He has
given proof of power and originality。 He has done that which could
only be done once with success or safety； and the imitation or
repetition of which would produce weariness。
~~~~~~ End of Text ~~~~~~
DEATH OF EDGAR A。 POE
BY N。 P。 WILLIS
THE ancient fable of two antagonistic spirits imprisoned in one body；
equally powerful and having the complete mastery by turns…of one man；
that is to say； inhabited by both a devil and an angel seems to have
been realized； if all we hear is true； in the character of the
extraordinary man whose name we have written above。 Our own
impression of the nature of Edgar A。 Poe； differs
