sartor resartus-第13章
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； is the more cunningly gifted of the two。 Whence； then； their so unspeakable difference？ From Clothes。〃 Much also we shall omit about confusion of Ranks； and Joan and My Lady； and how it would be everywhere 〃Hail fellow well met；〃 and Chaos were come again： all which to any one that has once fairly pictured out the grand mother…idea； _Society in a state of Nakedness_； will spontaneously suggest itself。 Should some sceptical individual still entertain doubts whether in a world without Clothes； the smallest Politeness； Polity； or even Police； could exist； let him turn to the original Volume； and view there the boundless Serbonian Bog of Sansculottism； stretching sour and pestilential： over which we have lightly flown； where not only whole armies but whole nations might sink！ If indeed the following argument； in its brief riveting emphasis； be not of itself incontrovertible and final：
〃Are we Opossums； have we natural Pouches； like the Kangaroo？ Or how； without Clothes； could we possess the master…organ； soul's seat； and true pineal gland of the Body Social： I mean； a PURSE？〃
Nevertheless it is impossible to hate Professor Teufelsdrockh； at worst； one knows not whether to hate or to love him。 For though； in looking at the fair tapestry of human Life； with its royal and even sacred figures； he dwells not on the obverse alone； but here chiefly on the reverse； and indeed turns out the rough seams； tatters； and manifold thrums of that unsightly wrong…side； with an almost diabolic patience and indifference； which must have sunk him in the estimation of most readers； there is that within which unspeakably distinguishes him from all other past and present Sansculottists。 The grand unparalleled peculiarity of Teufelsdrockh is； that with all this Descendentalism； he combines a Transcendentalism； no less superlative； whereby if on the one hand he degrade man below most animals； except those jacketed Gouda Cows； he； on the other； exalts him beyond the visible Heavens； almost to an equality with the Gods。
〃To the eye of vulgar Logic；〃 says he； 〃what is man？ An omnivorous Biped that wears Breeches。 To the eye of Pure Reason what is he？ A Soul； a Spirit； and divine Apparition。 Round his mysterious ME； there lies； under all those wool…rags； a Garment of Flesh （or of Senses）； contextured in the Loom of Heaven； whereby he is revealed to his like； and dwells with them in UNION and DIVISION； and sees and fashions for himself a Universe； with azure Starry Spaces； and long Thousands of Years。 Deep…hidden is he under that strange Garment； amid Sounds and Colors and Forms； as it were； swathed in； and inextricably over…shrouded： yet it is sky…woven； and worthy of a God。 Stands he not thereby in the centre of Immensities； in the conflux of Eternities？ He feels； power has been given him to know； to believe； nay does not the spirit of Love； free in its celestial primeval brightness； even here； though but for moments； look through？ Well said Saint Chrysostom； with his lips of gold； 'the true SHEKINAH is Man：' where else is the GOD'S…PRESENCE manifested not to our eyes only； but to our hearts； as in our fellow…man？〃
In such passages； unhappily too rare； the high Platonic Mysticism of our Author； which is perhaps the fundamental element of his nature； bursts forth； as it were； in full flood： and； through all the vapor and tarnish of what is often so perverse； so mean in his exterior and environment； we seem to look into a whole inward Sea of Light and Love；though； alas； the grim coppery clouds soon roll together again； and hide it from view。
Such tendency to Mysticism is everywhere traceable in this man； and indeed； to attentive readers； must have been long ago apparent。 Nothing that he sees but has more than a common meaning； but has two meanings： thus； if in the highest Imperial Sceptre and Charlemagne…Mantle； as well as in the poorest Ox…goad and Gypsy…Blanket； he finds Prose； Decay； Contemptibility； there is in each sort Poetry also； and a reverend Worth。 For Matter； were it never so despicable； is Spirit； the manifestation of Spirit： were it never so honorable； can it be more？ The thing Visible； nay the thing Imagined； the thing in any way conceived as Visible； what is it but a Garment； a Clothing of the higher； celestial Invisible； 〃unimaginable formless； dark with excess of bright〃？ Under which point of view the following passage； so strange in purport； so strange in phrase； seems characteristic enough：
〃The beginning of all Wisdom is to look fixedly on Clothes； or even with armed eyesight； till they become _transparent_。 'The Philosopher；' says the wisest of this age； 'must station himself in the middle：' how true！ The Philosopher is he to whom the Highest has descended； and the Lowest has mounted up； who is the equal and kindly brother of all。
〃Shall we tremble before clothwebs and cobwebs； whether woven in Arkwright looms； or by the silent Arachnes that weave unrestingly in our Imagination？ Or； on the other hand； what is there that we cannot love； since all was created by God？
〃Happy he who can look through the Clothes of a Man （the woollen； and fleshly； and official Bank…paper and State…paper Clothes） into the Man himself； and discern； it may be； in this or the other Dread Potentate； a more or less incompetent Digestive…apparatus； yet also an inscrutable venerable Mystery； in the meanest Tinker that sees with eyes！〃
For the rest； as is natural to a man of this kind； he deals much in the feeling of Wonder； insists on the necessity and high worth of universal Wonder； which he holds to be the only reasonable temper for the denizen of so singular a Planet as ours。 〃Wonder；〃 says he； 〃is the basis of Worship： the reign of wonder is perennial； indestructible in Man； only at certain stages （as the present）； it is； for some short season； a reign _in partibus infidelium_。〃 That progress of Science； which is to destroy Wonder； and in its stead substitute Mensuration and Numeration； finds small favor with Teufelsdrockh； much as he otherwise venerates these two latter processes。
〃Shall your Science；〃 exclaims he； 〃proceed in the small chink…lighted； or even oil…lighted； underground workshop of Logic alone； and man's mind become an Arithmetical Mill； whereof Memory is the Hopper； and mere Tables of Sines and Tangents； Codification； and Treatises of what you call Political Economy； are the Meal？ And what is that Science； which the scientific head alone； were it screwed off； and （like the Doctor's in the Arabian Tale） set in a basin to keep it alive； could prosecute without shadow of a heart；but one other of the mechanical and menial handicrafts； for which the Scientific Head （having a Soul in it） is too noble an organ？ I mean that Thought without Reverence is barren； perhaps poisonous； at best； dies like cookery with the day that called it forth； does not live； like sowing； in successive tilths and wider…spreading harvests； bringing food and plenteous increase to all Time。〃
In such wise does Teufelsdrockh deal hits； harder or softer； according to ability； yet ever； as we would fain persuade ourselves； with charitable intent。 Above all； that class of 〃Logic…choppers； and treble…pipe Scoffers； and professed Enemies to Wonder； who； in these days； so numerously patrol as night…constables about the Mechanics' Institute of Science； and cackle； like true Old…Roman geese and goslings round their Capitol； on any alarm； or on none； nay who often； as illuminated Sceptics； walk abroad into peaceable society； in full daylight； with rattle and lantern； and insist on guiding you and guarding you therewith； though the Sun is shining； and the street populous with mere justice…loving men：〃 that whole class is inexpressibly wearisome to him。 Hear with what uncommon animation he perorates：
〃The man who cannot wonder； who does not habitually wonder （and worship）； were he President of innumerable Royal Societies； and carried the whole _Mecanique Celeste_ and _Hegel's Philosophy_； and the epitome of all Laboratories and Observatories with their results； in his single head；is but a Pair of Spectacles behind which there is no Eye。 Let those who have Eyes look through him； then he may be useful。
〃Thou wilt have no Mystery
