sartor resartus-第25章
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gh nor for the deep； nor for aught human or divine； save only for the faintest scent of coming Preferment。〃 In which words； indicating a total estrangement on the part of Teufelsdrockh may there not also lurk traces of a bitterness as from wounded vanity？ Doubtless these prosaic Auscultators may have sniffed at him； with his strange ways； and tried to hate； and what was much more impossible； to despise him。 Friendly communion； in any case； there could not be： already has the young Teufelsdrockh left the other young geese； and swims apart； though as yet uncertain whether he himself is cygnet or gosling。
Perhaps； too； what little employment he had was performed ill； at best unpleasantly。 〃Great practical method and expertness〃 he may brag of； but is there not also great practical pride； though deep…hidden； only the deeper…seated？ So shy a man can never have been popular。 We figure to ourselves； how in those days he may have played strange freaks with his independence； and so forth： do not his own words betoken as much？ 〃Like a very young person； I imagined it was with Work alone； and not also with Folly and Sin； in myself and others； that I had been appointed to struggle。〃 Be this as it may； his progress from the passive Auscultatorship； towards any active Assessorship； is evidently of the slowest。 By degrees； those same established men； once partially inclined to patronize him； seem to withdraw their countenance； and give him up as 〃a man of genius〃 against which procedure he； in these Papers； loudly protests。 〃As if；〃 says he； 〃the higher did not presuppose the lower； as if he who can fly into heaven； could not also walk post if he resolved on it！ But the world is an old woman； and mistakes any gilt farthing for a gold coin； whereby being often cheated； she will thenceforth trust nothing but the common copper。〃
How our winged sky…messenger； unaccepted as a terrestrial runner； contrived； in the mean while； to keep himself from flying skyward without return； is not too clear from these Documents。 Good old Gretchen seems to have vanished from the scene； perhaps from the Earth； other Horn of Plenty； or even of Parsimony； nowhere flows for him； so that 〃the prompt nature of Hunger being well known；〃 we are not without our anxiety。 From private Tuition； in never so many languages and sciences； the aid derivable is small； neither； to use his own words； 〃does the young Adventurer hitherto suspect in himself any literary gift； but at best earns bread…and…water wages； by his wide faculty of Translation。 Nevertheless；〃 continues he； 〃that I subsisted is clear； for you find me even now alive。〃 Which fact； however； except upon the principle of our true…hearted； kind old Proverb； that 〃there is always life for a living one；〃 we must profess ourselves unable to explain。
Certain Landlords' Bills； and other economic Documents； bearing the mark of Settlement； indicate that he was not without money； but； like an independent Hearth…holder； if not House…holder； paid his way。 Here also occur； among many others； two little mutilated Notes； which perhaps throw light on his condition。 The first has now no date； or writer's name； but a huge Blot； and runs to this effect： 〃The （_Inkblot_）； tied down by previous promise； cannot； except by best wishes； forward the Herr Teufelsdrockh's views on the Assessorship in question； and sees himself under the cruel necessity of forbearing； for the present； what were otherwise his duty and joy； to assist in opening the career for a man of genius； on whom far higher triumphs are yet waiting。〃 The other is on gilt paper； and interests us like a sort of epistolary mummy now dead； yet which once lived and beneficently worked。 We give it in the original： 〃_Herr Teufelsdrockh wird von der Frau Grafinn； auf Donnerstag； zum AESTHETISCHEN THEE schonstens eingeladen_。〃
Thus； in answer to a cry for solid pudding； whereof there is the most urgent need； comes； epigrammatically enough； the invitation to a wash of quite fluid _AEsthetic Tea_！ How Teufelsdrockh； now at actual hand…grips with Destiny herself； may have comported himself among these Musical and Literary dilettanti of both sexes； like a hungry lion invited to a feast of chickenweed； we can only conjecture。 Perhaps in expressive silence； and abstinence： otherwise if the lion； in such case； is to feast at all； it cannot be on the chickenweed； but only on the chickens。 For the rest； as this Frau Grafinn dates from the _Zahdarm House_； she can be no other than the Countess and mistress of the same； whose intellectual tendencies； and good…will to Teufelsdrockh； whether on the footing of Herr Towgood； or on his own footing； are hereby manifest。 That some sort of relation； indeed； continued； for a time； to connect our Autobiographer； though perhaps feebly enough； with this noble House； we have elsewhere express evidence。 Doubtless； if he expected patronage； it was in vain； enough for him if he here obtained occasional glimpses of the great world； from which we at one time fancied him to have been always excluded。 〃The Zahdarms；〃 says he； 〃lived in the soft； sumptuous garniture of Aristocracy； whereto Literature and Art； attracted and attached from without； were to serve as the handsomest fringing。 It was to the _Gnadigen Frau_ （her Ladyship） that this latter improvement was due： assiduously she gathered； dexterously she fitted on； what fringing was to be had； lace or cobweb； as the place yielded。〃 Was Teufelsdrockh also a fringe； of lace or cobweb； or promising to be such？ 〃With his _Excellenz_ （the Count）；〃 continues he； 〃I have more than once had the honor to converse； chiefly on general affairs； and the aspect of the world； which he； though now past middle life； viewed in no unfavorable light； finding indeed； except the Outrooting of Journalism （_die auszurottende Journalistik_）； little to desiderate therein。 On some points； as his _Excellenz_ was not uncholeric； I found it more pleasant to keep silence。 Besides； his occupation being that of Owning Land； there might be faculties enough； which； as superfluous for such use； were little developed in him。〃
That to Teufelsdrockh the aspect of the world was nowise so faultless； and many things besides 〃the Outrooting of Journalism〃 might have seemed improvements； we can readily conjecture。 With nothing but a barren Auscultatorship from without； and so many mutinous thoughts and wishes from within； his position was no easy one。 〃The Universe；〃 he says； 〃was as a mighty Sphinx…riddle； which I knew so little of； yet must rede； or be devoured。 In red streaks of unspeakable grandeur； yet also in the blackness of darkness； was Life； to my too…unfurnished Thought； unfolding itself。 A strange contradiction lay in me； and I as yet knew not the solution of it； knew not that spiritual music can spring only from discords set in harmony； that but for Evil there were no Good； as victory is only possible by battle。〃
〃I have heard affirmed （surely in jest）；〃 observes he elsewhere； 〃by not unphilanthropic persons； that it were a real increase of human happiness； could all young men from the age of nineteen be covered under barrels； or rendered otherwise invisible； and there left to follow their lawful studies and callings； till they emerged； sadder and wiser； at the age of twenty…five。 With which suggestion； at least as considered in the light of a practical scheme； I need scarcely say that I nowise coincide。 Nevertheless it is plausibly urged that； as young ladies （_Madchen_） are； to mankind； precisely the most delightful in those years； so young gentlemen （_Bubchen_） do then attain their maximum of detestability。 Such gawks （_Gecken_） are they； and foolish peacocks； and yet with such a vulturous hunger for self…indulgence； so obstinate； obstreperous； vain…glorious； in all senses； so froward and so forward。 No mortal's endeavor or attainment will； in the smallest； content the as yet unendeavoring； unattaining young gentleman； but he could make it all infinitely better； were it worthy of him。 Life everywhere is the most manageable matter； simple as a question in the Rule…of…Three： multiply your second and third term together； divide the product by the first； and your quotient will be the answe
