letters on literature(¹ØÓÚÎÄѧ)-µÚ14ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
often¡¡reminds¡¡me¡¡of¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Johnson£»¡¡especially¡¡as¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Johnson¡¡is¡¡described¡¡by¡¡
Mr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Carlyle¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Just¡¡¡¡¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡doctor¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡sound¡¡¡¡¡¡Churchman¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡age¡¡of¡¡new¡¡ideas£»¡¡so¡¡Plotinus¡¡was¡¡a¡¡sound¡¡pagan¡¡in¡¡the¡¡
beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡triumph¡¡of¡¡Christianity¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Like¡¡Johnson£»¡¡Plotinus¡¡was¡¡lazy¡¡and¡¡energetic¡¡and¡¡short¡sighted¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡
wrote¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡very¡¡¡¡large¡¡¡¡¡¡number¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡treatises£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡never¡¡¡¡¡¡took¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡trouble¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡
read¡¡¡¡¡¡through¡¡¡¡¡¡them¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡once¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡¡¡¡¡written£»¡¡¡¡¡¡because¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡were¡¡
weak¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡superstitious£»¡¡like¡¡Dr¡£¡¡Johnson£»¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡had¡¡lucid¡¡intervals¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡common¡¡¡¡¡¡sense£»¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡laughed¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡superstitions¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡disciples¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡43¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡44¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Letters¡¡on¡¡Literature¡¡
Like¡¡¡¡¡¡Dr¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Johnson£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡always¡¡¡¡¡¡begirt¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡disciples£»¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡women£»¡¡
Bozzys¡¡and¡¡Thrales¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡so¡¡full¡¡of¡¡honour¡¡and¡¡charity£»¡¡that¡¡his¡¡house¡¡
was¡¡crowded¡¡with¡¡persons¡¡in¡¡need¡¡of¡¡help¡¡and¡¡friendly¡¡care¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Though¡¡he¡¡
lived¡¡so¡¡much¡¡in¡¡the¡¡clouds¡¡and¡¡among¡¡philosophical¡¡abstractions£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡
an¡¡excellent¡¡man¡¡of¡¡business¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Though¡¡a¡¡philosopher¡¡he¡¡was¡¡pious£»¡¡and¡¡
was¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡courageous£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡dreading¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡plague¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡¡¡¡¡more¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡than¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡good¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡doctor¡¡
dreaded¡¡the¡¡tempest¡¡that¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡him¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡voyaging¡¡to¡¡Coll¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡You¡¡will¡¡admit¡¡that¡¡the¡¡parallel¡¡is¡¡pretty¡¡close¡¡for¡¡an¡¡historical¡¡parallel£»¡¡
despite¡¡the¡¡differences¡¡between¡¡the¡¡ascetic¡¡of¡¡Wolf¡town¡¡and¡¡the¡¡sage¡¡of¡¡
Bolt¡¡Court£»¡¡hard¡¡by¡¡Fleet¡¡Street£¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡To¡¡return¡¡to¡¡the¡¡education¡¡of¡¡Plotinus¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡twenty¡eight¡¡when¡¡he¡¡
went¡¡up¡¡to¡¡the¡¡University¡¡of¡¡Alexandria¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡eleven¡¡years¡¡he¡¡diligently¡¡
attended¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡lectures¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡Ammonius¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Then¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡went¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡on¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡Emperor¡¡
Gordian's¡¡¡¡¡¡expedition¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡East£»¡¡¡¡¡¡hoping¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡learn¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡philosophy¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
Hindus¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡Upanishads¡¡would¡¡have¡¡puzzled¡¡¡¡¡¡Plotinus£»¡¡had¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡reached¡¡
India£»¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡never¡¡did¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Gordian's¡¡¡¡¡¡army¡¡¡¡was¡¡defeated¡¡in¡¡Mesopotamia£»¡¡
no¡¡¡¨blessed¡¡word¡¨¡¡to¡¡Gordian£»¡¡and¡¡Plotinus¡¡hardly¡¡escaped¡¡with¡¡his¡¡life¡£¡¡
He¡¡must¡¡have¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡Stendhal¡¡on¡¡the¡¡retreat¡¡from¡¡Moscow¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡From¡¡Syria¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡and¡¡disciple¡¡Amelius¡¡led¡¡him¡¡to¡¡Rome£»¡¡and¡¡here£»¡¡
as¡¡¡¡¡¡novelists¡¡¡¡¡¡say£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨a¡¡¡¡¡¡curious¡¡¡¡¡¡thing¡¡¡¡¡¡happened¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡There¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡Rome¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡
Egyptian¡¡priest£»¡¡who¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡raise¡¡up¡¡the¡¡Demon£»¡¡or¡¡Guardian¡¡Angel£»¡¡of¡¡
Plotinus¡¡in¡¡visible¡¡form¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡there¡¡was¡¡only¡¡one¡¡pure¡¡spot¡¡in¡¡all¡¡Rome£»¡¡
so¡¡said¡¡the¡¡priest£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡spot¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Temple¡¡of¡¡Isis¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Here¡¡the¡¡seance¡¡
was¡¡held£»¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡no¡¡demon¡¡appeared£»¡¡¡¡but¡¡a¡¡regular¡¡¡¡God¡¡of¡¡one¡¡¡¡of¡¡the¡¡¡¡first¡¡
circles¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡So¡¡terrified¡¡was¡¡an¡¡onlooker¡¡that¡¡he¡¡crushed¡¡to¡¡death¡¡the¡¡living¡¡
birds¡¡which¡¡he¡¡held¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡for¡¡some¡¡ritual¡¡or¡¡magical¡¡purpose¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡curious¡¡scene£»¡¡a¡¡cosmopolitan¡¡confusion¡¡of¡¡Egypt£»¡¡Rome£»¡¡Isis£»¡¡
table¡turning£»¡¡the¡¡late¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Home£»¡¡religion£»¡¡and¡¡mummery£»¡¡while¡¡Christian¡¡
hymns¡¡of¡¡the¡¡early¡¡Church¡¡were¡¡being¡¡sung£»¡¡perhaps¡¡in¡¡the¡¡garrets¡¡around£»¡¡
outside¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡Temple¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Isis¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡discovery¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡had¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡god¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡
guardian¡¡¡¡¡¡angel¡¡¡¡¡¡gave¡¡¡¡¡¡Plotinus¡¡¡¡¡¡plenty¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡confidence¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡dealing¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡rival¡¡
philosophers¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡For¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡example£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Alexandrinus¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Olympius£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡another¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡mystic£»¡¡
tried¡¡magical¡¡arts¡¡against¡¡Plotinus¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡But¡¡Alexandrinus£»¡¡suddenly¡¡doubling¡¡
up¡¡during¡¡lecture¡¡with¡¡unaffected¡¡agony£»¡¡cried£»¡¡¡¨Great¡¡virtue¡¡hath¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡44¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡45¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Letters¡¡on¡¡Literature¡¡
of¡¡Plotinus£»¡¡for¡¡my¡¡spells¡¡have¡¡returned¡¡against¡¡myself¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Plotinus£»¡¡
he¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡remarked¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡among¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡disciples£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨Now¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡body¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Alexandrinus¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡
collapsing¡¡like¡¡an¡¡empty¡¡purse¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡How¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡diverting¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡be£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Lady¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Violet£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡our¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡modern¡¡
controversialists¡¡had¡¡those¡¡accomplishments£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Max¡¡Muller¡¡could£»¡¡
literally£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨double¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡up¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Professor¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Whitney£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡if¡¡¡¡any¡¡¡¡¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡could¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡cause¡¡
Peppmuller¡¡to¡¡collapse¡¡with¡¡his¡¡queer¡¡Homeric¡¡theory£¡¡¡Plotinus¡¡had¡¡many¡¡
such¡¡arts¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡piece¡¡of¡¡jewellery¡¡was¡¡stolen¡¡from¡¡one¡¡of¡¡his¡¡protegees£»¡¡a¡¡
lady£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡detected¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡thief£»¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡servant£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡glance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡After¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡being¡¡
flogged¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡within¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡an¡¡¡¡inch¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡life£»¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡servant¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡£¨perhaps¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡save¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡
remaining¡¡inch£©¡¡confessed¡¡all¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Once¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡¡¡¡¡Porphyry¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡at¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡distance£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡meditating¡¡¡¡¡¡suicide£»¡¡
Plotinus¡¡appeared¡¡at¡¡his¡¡side£»¡¡saying£»¡¡¡¨This¡¡that¡¡thou¡¡schemest¡¡cometh¡¡not¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡pure¡¡¡¡¡¡intellect£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡black¡¡¡¡¡¡humours£»¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡sent¡¡¡¡¡¡Porphyry¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡
change¡¡of¡¡air¡¡to¡¡Sicily¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡This¡¡was¡¡thoroughly¡¡good¡¡advice£»¡¡but¡¡during¡¡the¡¡
absence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡disciple¡¡the¡¡master¡¡died¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Porphyry¡¡¡¡¡¡did¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡see¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡snake¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡glided¡¡¡¡¡¡into¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡wall¡¡¡¡¡¡when¡¡
Plotinus¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡expired£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡only¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡heard¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡circumstance¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Plotinus's¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡last¡¡
words¡¡were£º¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨I¡¡am¡¡striving¡¡to¡¡release¡¡that¡¡which¡¡is¡¡divine¡¡within¡¡us£»¡¡and¡¡
to¡¡¡¡¡¡merge¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡it¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡universally¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡divine¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡It¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡strange¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡mixture¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
philosophy¡¡and¡¡savage¡¡survival¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡Zulus¡¡still¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡the¡¡souls¡¡of¡¡
the¡¡dead¡¡reappear£»¡¡like¡¡the¡¡soul¡¡of¡¡Plotinus£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡form¡¡of¡¡serpents¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Plotinus¡¡¡¡¡¡wrote¡¡¡¡¡¡against¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡paganizing¡¡¡¡¡¡Christians£»¡¡¡¡¡¡or¡¡¡¡¡¡Gnostics¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Like¡¡
all¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡men£»¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡accused¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡plagiarism¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡A¡¡¡¡defence¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡great¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡
accused¡¡of¡¡literary¡¡theft¡¡would¡¡be¡¡as¡¡valuable¡¡as¡¡Naude's¡¡work¡¡of¡¡a¡¡like¡¡
name¡¡about¡¡magic¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡On¡¡his¡¡death¡¡the¡¡Delphic¡¡Oracle£»¡¡in¡¡very¡¡second¡rate¡¡
hexameters£»¡¡declared¡¡that¡¡Plotinus¡¡had¡¡become¡¡a¡¡demon¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Such¡¡was¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡Plotinus£»¡¡a¡¡man¡¡of¡¡sense¡¡and¡¡virtue£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡modest¡¡
that¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡¡¡would¡¡¡¡¡¡not¡¡¡¡¡¡allow¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡portrait¡¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡¡¡¡¡be¡¡¡¡¡¡painted¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡¡¡¡¡character¡¡¡¡¡¡drew¡¡
good¡¡¡¡¡¡men¡¡¡¡¡¡round¡¡¡¡¡¡him£»¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡repute¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡supernatural¡¡¡¡¡¡virtues¡¡¡¡¡¡brought¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨fools¡¡
into¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡circle¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡meant¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡belief¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡four¡¡¡¡¡¡times¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡he¡¡¡¡had£»¡¡
¡¨whether¡¡in¡¡the¡¡body¡¡or¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡body£»¡¨¡¡been¡¡united¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Spirit¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
world£»¡¡who¡¡knows£¿¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡What¡¡does¡¡Tennyson¡¡mean¡¡when¡¡he¡¡writes£º¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨So¡¡word¡¡by¡¡word£»¡¡and¡¡line¡¡by¡¡line£»¡¡The¡¡dead¡¡man¡¡touch'd¡¡me¡¡from¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡45¡¡
¡¡¡Page¡¡46¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Letters¡¡on¡¡Literature¡¡
the¡¡past£»¡¡And¡¡all¡¡at¡¡once¡¡it¡¡seem'd¡¡at¡¡last¡¡His¡¡living¡¡soul¡¡was¡¡flashed¡¡on¡¡
mine¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡And¡¡¡¡¡¡mine¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡his¡¡¡¡¡¡was¡¡¡¡¡¡wound¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡whirl'd¡¡About¡¡¡¡¡¡empyreal¡¡¡¡¡¡heights¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡
thought£»¡¡And¡¡came¡¡on¡¡that¡¡which¡¡is£»¡¡and¡¡caught¡¡The¡¡deep¡¡pulsations¡¡of¡¡the¡¡
world¡£¡¨¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Mystery£¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡We¡¡cannot¡¡fathom¡¡it£»¡¡we¡¡know¡¡not¡¡the¡¡paths¡¡of¡¡the¡¡souls¡¡
of¡¡¡¡¡¡Pascal¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡Gordon£»¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡Plotinus¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡St¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡Paul¡£¡¡¡¡¡¡They¡¡¡¡¡¡are¡¡¡¡¡¡wise¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡
wisdom¡¡not¡¡of¡¡this¡¡world£»¡¡or¡¡with¡¡a¡¡foolishness¡¡yet¡¡more¡¡wise¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡his¡¡practical¡¡philosophy¡¡Plotinus¡¡was¡¡an¡¡optimist£»¡¡or¡¡at¡¡least¡¡he¡¡was¡¡
at¡¡war¡¡with¡¡pessimism¡£¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨They¡¡that¡¡love¡¡God¡¡bear¡¡lightly¡¡the¡¡ways¡¡of¡¡the¡¡worldbear¡¡¡¡¡¡lightly¡¡
whatsoever¡¡befalls¡¡them¡¡of¡¡necessity¡¡in¡¡the¡¡general¡¡movement¡¡of¡¡things¡£¡¨¡¡
He¡¡¡¡¡¡believed¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡¡¡¡¡rest¡¡¡¡¡¡that¡¡¡¡¡¡remains¡¡¡¡¡¡for¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡people¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡God£»¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¨where¡¡¡¡¡¡they¡¡
speak¡¡not¡¡one¡¡¡¡¡¡with¡¡the¡¡other£»¡¡¡¡¡¡but£»¡¡as¡¡¡¡¡¡we¡¡understand¡¡many¡¡¡¡things¡¡by¡¡¡¡the¡¡
eyes¡¡¡¡¡¡only£»¡¡¡¡¡¡so¡¡¡¡¡¡does¡¡¡¡¡¡soul¡¡¡¡¡¡read¡¡¡¡¡¡soul¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡¡¡¡¡heaven£»¡¡¡¡where¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡spiritual¡¡¡¡¡¡body¡¡¡¡is¡¡
pure£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡is¡¡¡¡¡¡hidden£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡nothing¡¡¡¡¡¡feigned¡£¡¨¡¡¡¡¡¡The¡¡¡¡¡¡arguments¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡by¡¡
which¡¡these¡¡opinions¡¡are¡¡buttressed¡¡may¡¡be¡¡called¡¡metaphysical£»¡¡and¡¡may¡¡
be¡¡¡¡¡¡called¡¡¡¡¡¡worthless£»¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡conviction£»¡¡¡¡¡¡and¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡beauty¡¡¡¡¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡¡¡¡¡language¡¡¡¡¡¡in¡¡
which¡¡it¡¡is¡¡stated£»¡¡remain¡¡immortal¡¡possessio