lucile-第29章
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eed A man does； but the way that he does it； should plead For the man's compensation in doing it。 〃Here； My next neighbor's a man with twelve thousand a year； Who deems that life has not a pastime more pleasant Than to follow a fox； or to slaughter a pheasant。 Yet this fellow goes through a contested election； Lives in London； and sits； like the soul of dejection； All the day through upon a committee； and late To the last； every night； through the dreary debate； As though he were getting each speaker by heart； Though amongst them he never presumes to take part。 One asks himself why； without murmur or question； He foregoes all his tastes； and destroys his digestion； For a labor of which the result seems so small。 'The man is ambitious；' you say。 Not at all。 He has just sense enough to be fully aware That he never can hope to be Premier； or share The renown of a Tully；or even to hold A subordinate office。 He is not so bold As to fancy the House for ten minutes would bear With patience his modest opinions to hear。 'But he wants something！' 〃What！ with twelve thousand a year？ What could Government give him would be half so dear To his heart as a walk with a dog and a gun Through his own pheasant woods； or a capital run？ 'No； but vanity fills out the emptiest brain； The man would be more than his neighbor； 'tis plain； And the drudgery drearily gone through in town Is more than repaid by provincial renown。 Enough if some Marchioness； lively and loose； Shall have eyed him with passing complaisance； the goose； If the Fashion to him open one of its doors； As proud as a sultan returns to his boors。' Wrong again！ if you think so； 〃For； primo； my friend Is the head of a family known from one end Of his shire to the other as the oldest； and therefore He despises fine lords and fine ladies。 HE care for A peerage？ no truly！ Secondo； he rarely Or never goes out： dines at Bellamy's sparely； And abhors what you call the gay world。 〃Then； I ask； What inspires； and consoles； such a self…imposed task As the life of this man；but the sense of its duty？ And I swear that the eyes of the haughtiest beauty Have never inspired in my soul that intense； Reverential； and loving； and absolute sense Of heart…felt admiration I feel for this man； As I see him beside me；there； wearing the wan London daylight away； on his humdrum committee； So unconscious of all that awakens my pity； And wonderand worship； I might say？ 〃To me There seems something nobler than genius to be In that dull patient labor no genius relieves； That absence of all joy which yet never grieves； The humility of it！ the grandeur withal！ The sublimity of it！ And yet； should you call The man's own very slow apprehension to this； He would ask； with a stare； what sublimity is！ His work is the duty to which he was born； He accepts it； without ostentation or scorn： And this man is no uncommon type （I thank Heaven！） Of this land's common men。 In all other lands； even The type's self is wanting。 Perchance； 'tis the reason That Government oscillates ever 'twixt treason And tyranny elsewhere。 〃I wander away Too far； though； from what I was wishing to say。 You； for instance； read Plato。 You know that the soul Is immortal； and put this in rhyme； on the whole； Very well； with sublime illustration。 Man's heart Is a mystery； doubtless。 You trace it in art： The Greek Psyche；that's beauty；the perfect ideal。 But then comes the imperfect； perfectible real； With its pain'd aspiration and strife。 In those pale Ill…drawn virgins of Giotto you see it prevail。 You have studied all this。 Then； the universe； too； Is not a mere house to be lived in； for you。 Geology opens the mind。 So you know Something also of strata and fossils； these show The bases of cosmical structure： some mention Of the nebulous theory demands your attention； And so on。 〃In short； it is clear the interior Of your brain； my dear Alfred； is vastly superior In fibre； and fulness； and function； and fire； To that of my poor parliamentary squire； But your life leaves upon me （forgive me this heat Due to friendship） the sense of a thing incomplete。 You fly high。 But what is it； in truth； you fly at？ My mind is not satisfied quite as to that。 An old illustration's as good as a new； Provided the old illustration be true。 We are children。 Mere kites are the fancies we fly； Though we marvel to see them ascending so high； Things slight in themselves；long…tail'd toys； and no more： What is it that makes the kite steadily soar Through the realms where the cloud and the whirlwind have birth But the tie that attaches the kite to the earth？ I remember the lessons of childhood； you see； And the hornbook I learn'd on my poor mother's knee。 In truth； I suspect little else do we learn From this great book of life； which so shrewdly we turn； Saving how to apply； with a good or bad grace； What we learn'd in the hornbook of childhood。 〃Your case Is exactly in point。 〃Fly your kite； if you please； Out of sight： let it go where it will； on the breeze； But cut not the one thread by which it is bound； Be it never so high； to this poor human ground。 No man is the absolute lord of his life。 You； my friend； have a home； and a sweet and dear wife。 If I often have sigh'd by my own silent fire； With the sense of a sometimes recurring desire For a voice sweet and low； or a face fond and fair； Some dull winter evening to solace and share With the love which the world its good children allows To shake hands with；in short； a legitimate spouse； This thought has consoled me： 'At least I have given For my own good behavior no hostage to heaven。' You have； though。 Forget it not！ faith； if you do； I would rather break stones on a road than be you。 If any man wilfully injured； or led That little girl wrong； I would sit on his head； Even though you yourself were the sinner！ 〃And this Leads me back （do not take it； dear cousin； amiss！） To the matter I meant to have mention'd at once； But these thoughts put it out of my head for the nonce。 Of all the preposterous humbugs and shams； Of all the old wolves ever taken for lambs； The wolf best received by the flock he devours Is that uncle…in…law； my dear Alfred； of yours。 At least； this has long been my unsettled conviction； And I almost would venture at once the prediction That before very longbut no matter！ I trust； For his sake and our own； that I may be unjust。 But Heaven forgive me； if cautious I am on The score of such men as with both God and Mammon Seem so shrewdly familiar。 〃Neglect not this warning。 There were rumors afloat in the City this morning Which I scarce like the sound of。 Who knows？ would he fleece At a pinch； the old hypocrite； even his own niece？ For the sake of Matilda I cannot importune Your attention too early。 If all your wife's fortune Is yet in the hands of that specious old sinner； Who would dice with the devil； and yet rise up winner； I say； lose no time！ get it out of the grab Of her trustee and uncle； Sir Ridley McNab。 I trust those deposits； at least； are drawn out； And safe at this moment from danger or doubt。 A wink is as good as a nod to the wise。 Verbum sap。 I admit nothing yet justifies My mistrust； but I have in my own mind a notion That old Ridley's white waistcoat； and airs of devotion； Have long been the only ostensible capital On which he does business。 If so； time must sap it all； Sooner or later。 Look sharp。 Do not wait； Draw at once。 In a fortnight it may be too late。 I admit I know nothing。 I can but suspect； I give you my notions。 Form yours and reflect。 My love to Matilda。 Her mother looks well。 I saw her last week。 I have nothing to tell Worth your hearing。 We think that the Government here Will not last our next session。 Fitz Funk is a peer； You will see by the Times。 There are symptoms which show That the ministers now are preparing to go； And finish their feast of the loaves and the fishes。 It is evident that they are clearing
