the colour of life(生命之色)-第12章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
alertness was joined to such perfect composure as no flutter of a moment
disturbed。 There was the steadiness of sleep； and a vigilance more than
that of an ordinary waking。
At the same time； the woman was doing what nothing in her youth
could well have prepared her for。 She must have passed a childhood
unlike the ordinary girl's childhood； if her steadiness or her alertness had
ever been educated； if she had been rebuked for cowardice； for the egoistic
distrust of general rules； or for claims of exceptional chances。 Yet here
she was； trusting not only herself but a multitude of other people； taking
her equal risk； giving a watchful confidence to averages … that last； perhaps；
her strangest and greatest success。
No exceptions were hers； no appeals； and no forewarnings。 She
evidently had not in her mind a single phrase； familiar to women； made to
express no confidence except in accidents； and to proclaim a prudent
37
… Page 38…
THE COLOUR OF LIFE
foresight of the less probable event。 No woman could ride a bicycle
along Oxford Street with any such baggage as that about her。
The woman in grey had a watchful confidence not only in a multitude
of men but in a multitude of things。 And it is very hard for any untrained
human being to practise confidence in things in motion … things full of
force； and； what is worse； of forces。 Moreover； there is a supreme
difficulty for a mind accustomed to search timorously for some little place
of insignificant rest on any accessible point of stable equilibrium； and that
is the difficulty of holding itself nimbly secure in an equilibrium that is
unstable。 Who can deny that women are generally used to look about for
the little stationary repose just described？ Whether in intellectual or in
spiritual things； they do not often live without it。
She； none the less； fled upon unstable equilibrium； escaped upon it；
depended upon it； trusted it； was ‘ware of it； was on guard against it； as
she sped amid her crowd her own unstable equilibrium； her machine's； that
of the judgment； the temper； the skill； the perception； the strength of men
and horses。
She had learnt the difficult peace of suspense。 She had learnt also the
lowly and self…denying faith in common chances。 She had learnt to be
content with her share … no more … in common security； and to be pleased
with her part in common hope。 For all this； it may be repeated； she could
have had but small preparation。 Yet no anxiety was hers； no uneasy
distrust and disbelief of that human thing … an average of life and death。
To this courage the woman in grey had attained with a spring； and she
had seated herself suddenly upon a place of detachment between earth and
air； freed from the principal detentions； weights； and embarrassments of
the usual life of fear。 She had made herself； as it were； light； so as not to
dwell either in security or danger； but to pass between them。 She
confessed difficulty and peril by her delicate evasions； and consented to
rest in neither。 She would not owe safety to the mere motionlessness of a
seat on the solid earth； but she used gravitation to balance the slight
burdens of her wariness and her confidence。 She put aside all the pride
and vanity of terror； and leapt into an unsure condition of liberty and
content。
38
… Page 39…
THE COLOUR OF LIFE
She leapt； too； into a life of moments。 No pause was possible to her
as she went； except the vibrating pause of a perpetual change and of an
unflagging flight。 A woman； long educated to sit still； does not suddenly
learn to live a momentary life without strong momentary resolution。 She
has no light achievement in limiting not only her foresight； which must
become brief； but her memory； which must do more； for it must rather
cease than become brief。 Idle memory wastes time and other things。
The moments of the woman in grey as they dropped by must needs
disappear； and be simply forgotten； as a child forgets。 Idle memory； by
the way； shortens life； or shortens the sense of time； by linking the
immediate past clingingly to the present。 Here may possibly be found
one of the reasons for the length of a child's time； and for the brevity of the
time that succeeds。 The child lets his moments pass by and quickly
become remote through a thousand little successive oblivions。 He has
not yet the languid habit of recall。
〃Thou art my warrior；〃 said Volumnia。 〃I holp to frame thee。〃 Shall
a man inherit his mother's trick of speaking； or her habit and attitude； and
not suffer something； against his will； from her bequest of weakness； and
something； against his heart； from her bequest of folly？ From the
legacies of an unlessoned mind； a woman's heirs…male are not cut off in
the Common Law of the generations of mankind。 Brutus knew that the
valour of Portia was settled upon his sons。
39
… Page 40…
THE COLOUR OF LIFE
SYMMETRY AND INCIDENT
The art of Japan has none but an exterior part in the history of the art
of nations。 Being in its own methods and attitude the art of accident； it
has； appropriately； an accidental value。 It is of accidental value； and not
of integral necessity。 The virtual discovery of Japanese art； during the
later years of the second French Empire； caused Europe to relearn how
expedient； how delicate； and how lovely Incident may look when
Symmetry has grown vulgar。 The lesson was most welcome。 Japan has
had her full influence。 European art has learnt the value of position and the
tact of the unique。 But Japan is unlessoned； and （in all her characteristic
art） content with her own conventions； she is local； provincial； alien；
remote； incapable of equal companionship with a world that has Greek art
in its own history … Pericles 〃to its father。〃
Nor is it pictorial art； or decorative art only； that has been touched by
Japanese example of Incident and the Unique。 Music had attained the
noblest form of symmetry in the eighteenth century； but in music； too；
symmetry had since grown dull； and momentary music； the music of phase
and of fragment； succeeded。 The sense of symmetry is strong in a
complete melody … of symmetry in its most delicate and lively and least
stationary form … balance； whereas the leit…motif is isolated。 In domestic
architecture Symmetry and Incident make a familiar antithesis … the very
commonplace of rival methods of art。 But the same antithesis exists in
less obvious forms。 The poets have sought 〃irregular〃 metres。 Incident
hovers； in the very act of choosing its right place； in the most modern of
modern portraits。
