the rhythm of life and other essays(生命的旋律)-第14章
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We are constrained to such a vigilance as will not let even a master's work
pass unfanned and unpurged。 Even among his phrases one shall be taken
and the other left。 For he may unawares have allowed the habitualness
that besets this multitudinous life to take the pen from his hand and to
write for him a page or a word； and habitualness compels our refusals。
Or he may have allowed the easy impulse of exaggeration to force a
sentence which the mere truth； sensitively and powerfully pausing； would
well have become。 Exaggeration has played a part of its own in human
history。 By depreciating our language it has stimulated change； and has
kept the circulating word in exercise。 Our rejection must be alert and
expert to overtake exaggeration and arrest it。 It makes us shrewder than
we wish to be。 And； indeed； the whole endless action of refusal shortens
the life we could desire to live。 Much of our resolution is used up in the
repeated mental gesture of adverse decision。 Our tacit and implicit
distaste is made explicit； who shall say with what loss to our treasury of
quietness？ We are defrauded of our interior ignorance； which should be a
place of peace。 We are forced to confess more articulately than befits our
convention with ourselves。 We are hurried out of our reluctances。 We
are made too much aware。 Nay； more： we are tempted to the outward
activity of destruction； reviewing becomes almost inevitable。 As for the
spiritual lifeO weary； weary act of refusal！ O waste but necessary
hours； vigil and wakefulness of fear！ 'We live by admiration' only a
shortened life who live so much in the iteration of rejection and repulse。
And in the very touch of joy there hides I know not what ultimate denial；
if not on one side； on the other。 If joy is given to us without reserve； not
so do we give ourselves to joy。 We withhold； we close。 Having denied
many things that have approached us； we deny ourselves to many things。
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Thus does il gran rifiuto divide and rule our world。
Simplicity is worth the sacrifice； but all is not sacrifice。 Rejection has
its pleasures； the more secret the more unmeasured。 When we garnish a
house we refuse more furniture； and furniture more various； than might
haunt the dreams of decorators。 There is no limit to our rejections。 And
the unconsciousness of the decorators is in itself a cause of pleasure to a
mind generous； forbearing； and delicate。 When we dress； no fancy may
count the things we will none of。 When we write； what hinders that we
should refrain from Style past reckoning？ When we marry。 Moreover；
if simplicity is no longer set in a world having the great and beautiful
quality of fewness； we can provide an equally fair setting in the quality of
refinement。 And refinement is not to be achieved but by rejection。 One
who suggests to me that refinement is apt to be a mere negative has
offered up a singular blunder in honour of robustiousness。 Refinement is
not negative； because it must be compassed by many negations。 It is a
thing of price as well as of value； it demands immolations； it exacts
experience。 No slight or easy charge； then； is committed to such of us as；
having apprehension of these things； fulfil the office of exclusion。 Never
before was a time when derogation was always so near； a daily danger； or
when the reward of resisting it was so great。 The simplicity of literature；
more sensitive； more threatened； and more important than other
simplicities； needs a guard of honour； who shall never relax the good will
nor lose the good heart of their intolerance。
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THE LESSON OF LANDSCAPE
The landscape； like our literature； is apt to grow and to get itself
formed under too luxurious ideals。 This is the evil work of that LITTLE
MORE which makes its insensible but persistent additions to styles； to the
arts； to the ornaments of lifeto nature； when unluckily man becomes too
explicitly conscious of her beauty； and too deliberate in his arrangement of
it。 The landscape has need of moderation； of that fast…disappearing grace
of unconsciousness； and； in short； of a return towards the ascetic temper。
The English way of landowning； above all； has made for luxury。
Naturally the country is fat。 The trees are thick and rounda world of
leaves； the hills are round； the forms are all blunt； and the grass is so deep
as to have almost the effect of snow in smoothing off all points and
curving away all abruptness。 England is almost as blunt as a machine…
made moulding or a piece of Early…Victorian cast…iron work。 And on all
this we have； of set purpose； improved by our invention of the country
park。 There all is curves and masses。 A little more is added to the
greenness and the softness of the forest glade； and for increase of
ornament the fat land is devoted to idleness。 Not a tree that is not
impenetrable； inarticulate。 Thick soil below and thick growth above
cover up all the bones of the land； which in more delicate countries show
brows and hollows resembling those of a fine face after mental experience。
By a very intelligible paradox； it is only in a landscape made up for beauty
that beauty is so ill achieved。 Much beauty there must needs be where
there are vegetation and the seasons。 But even the seasons； in park
scenery； are marred by the LITTLE TOO MUCH； too complete a winter；
too emphatic a spring； an ostentatious summer； an autumn too
demonstrative。
'Seek to have less rather than more。' It is a counsel of perfection in
The Imitation of Christ。 And here； undoubtedly； is the secret of all that is
virile and classic in the art of man； and of all in nature that is most
harmonious with that art。 Moreover； this is the secret of Italy。 How
little do the tourists and the poets grasp this latter truth； by the wayand
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the artists！ The legend of Italy is to be gorgeous； and they have her
legend by rote。 But Italy is slim and all articulate； her most characteristic
trees are those that are distinct and distinguished； with lines that suggest
the etching…point rather than a brush loaded with paint。 Cypresses
shaped like flames； tall pines with the abrupt flatness of their tops； thin
canes in the brakes； sharp aloes by the road…side； and olives with the
delicate acuteness of the leafthese make keen lines of slender vegetation。
And they own the seasons by a gentle confession。 Rather than
