style-第15章
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raight through the maze； to the goal of his desires？ To think so is to build a childish dream out of facts imperfectly observed； and worthy of a closer observation。 Sometimes the cry for simplicity is the reverse of what it seems； and is uttered by those who had rather hear words used in their habitual vague acceptations than submit to the cutting directness of a good writer。 Habit makes obscurity grateful； and the simple style； in this view； is the style that allows thought to run automatically into its old grooves and burrows。 The original writers who have combined real literary power with the heresy of ease and nature are of another kind。 A brutal personality； excellently muscular； snatching at words as the handiest weapons wherewith to inflict itself； and the whole body of its thoughts and preferences； on suffering humanity； is likely enough to deride the daintiness of conscious art。 Such a writer is William Cobbett； who has often been praised for the manly simplicity of his style； which he raised into a kind of creed。 His power is undeniable； his diction； though he knew it not； both choice and chaste； yet page after page of his writing suggests only the reflection that here is a prodigal waste of good English。 He bludgeons all he touches； and spends the same monotonous emphasis on his dislike of tea and on his hatred of the Government。 His is the simplicity of a crude and violent mind； concerned only with giving forcible expression to its unquestioned prejudices。 Irrelevance； the besetting sin of the ill…educated； he glories in； so that his very weakness puts on the semblance of strength； and helps to wield the hammer。
It is not to be denied that there is a native force of temperament which can make itself felt even through illiterate carelessness。 〃Literary gentlemen； editors； and critics；〃 says Thoreau； himself by no means a careless writer； 〃think that they know how to write； because they have studied grammar and rhetoric； but they are egregiously mistaken。 The ART of composition is as simple as the discharge of a bullet from a rifle； and its masterpieces imply an infinitely greater force behind them。〃 This true saying introduces us to the hardest problem of criticism； the paradox of literature； the stumbling…block of rhetoricians。 To analyse the precise method whereby a great personality can make itself felt in words； even while it neglects and contemns the study of words； would be to lay bare the secrets of religion and life … it is beyond human competence。 Nevertheless a brief and diffident consideration of the matter may bring thus much comfort； that the seeming contradiction is no discredit cast on letters； but takes its origin rather from too narrow and pedantic a view of the scope of letters。
Words are things： it is useless to try to set them in a world apart。 They exist in books only by accident； and for one written there are a thousand； infinitely more powerful； spoken。 They are deeds： the man who brings word of a lost battle can work no comparable effect with the muscles of his arm； Iago's breath is as truly laden with poison and murder as the fangs of the cobra and the drugs of the assassin。 Hence the sternest education in the use of words is least of all to be gained in the schools； which cultivate verbiage in a highly artificial state of seclusion。 A soldier cares little for poetry； because it is the exercise of power that he loves； and he is accustomed to do more with his words than give pleasure。 To keep language in immediate touch with reality； to lade it with action and passion； to utter it hot from the heart of determination； is to exhibit it in the plenitude of power。 All this may be achieved without the smallest study of literary models； and is consistent with a perfect neglect of literary canons。 It is not the logical content of the word； but the whole mesh of its conditions； including the character； circumstances； and attitude of the speaker； that is its true strength。 〃Damn〃 is often the feeblest of expletives； and 〃as you please〃 may be the dirge of an empire。 Hence it is useless to look to the grammarian； or the critic； for a lesson in strength of style； the laws that he has framed； good enough in themselves； are current only in his own abstract world。 A breath of hesitancy will sometimes make trash of a powerful piece of eloquence； and even in writing； a thing three times said； and each time said badly； may be of more effect than that terse； full； and final expression which the doctors rightly commend。 The art of language； regarded as a question of pattern and cadence； or even as a question of logic and thought…sequence； is a highly abstract study； for although； as has been said； you can do almost anything with words； with words alone you can do next to nothing。 The realm where speech holds sway is a narrow shoal or reef； shaken； contorted； and upheaved by volcanic action； beaten upon； bounded； and invaded by the ocean of silence： whoso would be lord of the earth must first tame the fire and the sea。 Dramatic and narrative writing are happy in this； that action and silence are a part of their material； the story…teller or the playwright can make of words a background and definition for deeds； a framework for those silences that are more telling than any speech。 Here lies an escape from the poverty of content and method to which self…portraiture and self…expression are liable； and therefore are epic and drama rated above all other kinds of poetry。 The greater force of the objective treatment is witnessed by many essayists and lyrical poets； whose ambition has led them； sooner or later； to attempt the novel or the play。 There are weaknesses inherent in all direct self…revelation； the thing； perhaps； is greatly said； yet there is no great occasion for the saying of it； a fine reticence is observed； but it is； after all； an easy reticence； with none of the dramatic splendours of reticence on the rack。 In the midst of his pleasant confidences the essayist is brought up short by the question； 〃Why must you still be talking？〃 Even the passionate lyric feels the need of external authorisation； and some of the finest of lyrical poems； like the Willow Song of Desdemona； or Wordsworth's SOLITARY REAPER； are cast in a dramatic mould； that beauty of diction may be vitalised by an imagined situation。 More than others the dramatic art is an enemy to the desultory and the superfluous； sooner than others it will cast away all formal grace of expression that it may come home more directly to the business and bosoms of men。 Its great power and scope are shown well in this； that it can find high uses for the commonest stuff of daily speech and the emptiest phrases of daily intercourse。
Simplicity and strength； then； the vigorous realistic quality of impromptu utterance； and an immediate relation with the elementary facts of life； are literary excellences best known in the drama； and in its modern fellow and rival； the novel。 The dramatist and novelist create their own characters； set their own scenes； lay their own plots； and when all has been thus prepared； the right word is born in the purple； an inheritor of great opportunities； all its virtues magnified by the glamour of its high estate。 Writers on philosophy； morals； or aesthetics； critics； essayists； and dealers in soliloquy generally； cannot hope； with their slighter means； to attain to comparable effects。 They work at two removes from life； the terms that they handle are surrounded by the vapours of discussion； and are rewarded by no instinctive response。 Simplicity； in its most regarded sense； is often beyond their reach； the matter of their discourse is intricate； and the most they can do is to employ patience； care； and economy of labour； the meaning of their words is not obvious； and they must go aside to define it。 The strength of their writing has limits set for it by the nature of the chosen task； and any transgression of these limits is punished by a fall into sheer violence。 All writing partakes of the quality of the drama； there is always a situation involved； the relation； namely； between the speaker and the hearer。 A gentleman in black； expounding his views； or narrating his autobiography to the first come
