robert louis stevenson-第25章
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and if there the problem is persistent； the woman is real。 Here also he was on the right road … the advance road。 The sex…question was coming forward as inevitably a part of life； and could not be left out in any broad and true picture。 This element was effectively revived in WEIR OF HERMISTON； and 〃Weir〃 has been well said to be sadder； if it does not go deeper than DENIS DUVAL or EDWIN DROOD。 We know what Dickens and Thackeray could do there； we can but guess now what Stevenson would have done。 〃Weir〃 is but a fragment； but； to a wisely critical and unprejudiced mind； it suffices to show not only what the complete work would have been； but what would have inevitably followed it。 It shows the turning…point； and the way that was to be followed at the cross…roads … the way into a bigger； realer； grander world； where realism； freed from the dream； and fancy； and prejudice of youth； would glory in achieving the more enduring romance of manhood； maturity and humanity。
Yes； there was growth … undoubted growth。 The questioning and severely moral element mainly due to the Shorter Catechism … the tendency to casuistry； and to problems； and wistful introspection … which had so coloured Stevenson's art up to the date of THE MASTER OF BALLANTRAE； and made him a great essayist； was passing in the satisfaction of assured insight into life itself。 The art would gradually have been transformed also。 The problem； pure and simple； would have been subdued in face of the great facts of life； if not lost； swallowed up in the grandeur； pathos； and awe of the tragedy clearly realised and presented。
CHAPTER XVIII … EARLIER DETERMINATIONS AND RESULTS
STEVENSON'S earlier determination was so distinctly to the symbolic； the parabolic； allegoric； dreamy and mystical … to treatment of the world as an array of weird or half…fanciful existences； witnessing only to certain dim spiritual facts or abstract moralities； occasionally inverted moralities … 〃tail foremost moralities〃 as later he himself named them … that a strong Celtic strain in him had been detected and dwelt on by acute critics long before any attention had been given to his genealogy on both sides of the house。 The strong Celtic strain is now amply attested by many researches。 Such phantasies as THE HOUSE OF ELD； THE TOUCHSTONE； THE POOR THING； and THE SONG OF THE MORROW； published along with some fables at the end of an edition of DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE； by Longman's； I think； in 1896； tell to the initiated as forcibly as anything could tell of the presence of this element； as though moonshine； disguising and transfiguring； was laid over all real things and the secret of the world and life was in its glamour： the shimmering and soft shading rendering all outlines indeterminate； though a great idea is felt to be present in the mind of the author； for which he works。 The man who would say there is no feeling for symbol … no phantasy or Celtic glamour in these weird； puzzling； and yet on all sides suggestive tales would thereby be declared inept； inefficient … blind to certain qualities that lie near to grandeur in fanciful literature； or the literature of phantasy； more properly。
This power in weird and playful phantasy is accompanied with the gift of impersonating or embodying mere abstract qualities or tendencies in characters。 The little early sketch written in June 1875； titled GOOD CONTENT； well illustrates this：
〃Pleasure goes by piping： Hope unfurls his purple flag； and meek Content follows them on a snow…white ass。 Here； the broad sunlight falls on open ways and goodly countries； here； stage by stage； pleasant old towns and hamlets border the road； now with high sign… poles； now with high minster spires； the lanes go burrowing under blossomed banks； green meadows； and deep woods encompass them about； from wood to wood flock the glad birds； the vane turns in the variable wind； and as I journey with Hope and Pleasure； and quite a company of jolly personifications； who but the lady I love is by my side； and walks with her slim hand upon my arm？
〃Suddenly； at a corner； something beckons； a phantom finger…post； a will o' the wisp； a foolish challenge writ in big letters on a brand。 And twisting his red moustaches； braggadocio Virtue takes the perilous way where dim rain falls ever； and sad winds sigh。 And after him； on his white ass； follows simpering Content。
〃Ever since I walk behind these two in the rain。 Virtue is all a… cold； limp are his curling feather and fierce moustache。 Sore besmirched； on his jackass； follows Content。〃
The record； entitled SUNDAY THOUGHTS； which is dated some five days earlier is naive and most characteristic； touched with the phantastic moralities and suggestions already indicated in every sentence； and rises to the fine climax in this respect at the close。
〃A plague o' these Sundays！ How the church bells ring up the sleeping past！ I cannot go in to sermon： memories ache too hard； and so I hide out under the blue heavens； beside the small kirk whelmed in leaves。 Tittering country girls see me as I go past from where they sit in the pews； and through the open door comes the loud psalm and the fervent solitary voice of the preacher。 To and fro I wander among the graves； and now look over one side of the platform and see the sunlit meadow where the grown lambs go bleating and the ewes lie in the shadow under their heaped fleeces； and now over the other； where the rhododendrons flower fair among the chestnut boles； and far overhead the chestnut lifts its thick leaves and spiry blossom into the dark…blue air。 Oh； the height and depth and thickness of the chestnut foliage！ Oh； to have wings like a dove； and dwell in the tree's green heart！
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〃A plague o' these Sundays！ How the Church bells ring up the sleeping past！ Here has a maddening memory broken into my brain。 To the door； to the door； with the naked lunatic thought！ Once it is forth we may talk of what we dare not entertain； once the intriguing thought has been put to the door I can watch it out of the loophole where； with its fellows； it raves and threatens in dumb show。 Years ago when that thought was young； it was dearer to me than all others； and I would speak with it always when I had an hour alone。 These rags that so dismally trick forth its madness were once the splendid livery my favour wrought for it on my bed at night。 Can you see the device on the badge？ I dare not read it there myself； yet have a guess … 'BAD WARE NICHT' … is not that the humour of it？
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〃A plague o' these Sundays！ How the Church bells ring up the sleeping past！ If I were a dove and dwelt in the monstrous chestnuts； where the bees murmur all day about the flowers； if I were a sheep and lay on the field there under my comely fleece； if I were one of the quiet dead in the kirkyard … some homespun farmer dead for a long age； some dull hind who followed the plough and handled the sickle for threescore years and ten in the distant past； if I were anything but what I am out here； under the sultry noon； between the deep chestnuts； among the graves； where the fervent voice of the preacher comes to me； thin and solitary； through the open windows； IF I WERE WHAT I WAS YESTERDAY； AND WHAT； BEFORE GOD； I SHALL BE AGAIN TO…MORROW； HOW SHOULD I OUTFACE THESE BRAZEN MEMORIES； HOW LIVE DOWN THIS UNCLEAN RESURRECTION OF DEAD HOPES！〃
Close associated with this always is the moralising faculty； which is assertive。 Take here the cunning sentences on SELFISHNESS AND EGOTISM； very Hawthornian yet quite original：
〃An unconscious； easy； selfish person shocks less； and is more easily loved； than one who is laboriously and egotistically unselfish。 There is at least no fuss about the first； but the other parades his sacrifices； and so sells his favours too dear。 Selfishness is calm； a force of nature； you might say the trees were selfish。 But egotism is a piece of vanity； it must always take you into its confidence； it is uneasy； troublesome； seeking； it can do good； but not handsomely； it is uglier； because less dignified；
