sartor resartus-第3章
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down； were no despicable pile； or floodgate； in the logical wear。
For the rest； be it nowise apprehended； that any personal connection of ours with Teufelsdrockh； Heuschrecke or this Philosophy of Clothes； can pervert our judgment； or sway us to extenuate or exaggerate。 Powerless； we venture to promise； are those private Compliments themselves。 Grateful they may well be； as generous illusions of friendship； as fair mementos of bygone unions； of those nights and suppers of the gods； when； lapped in the symphonies and harmonies of Philosophic Eloquence； though with baser accompaniments； the present Editor revelled in that feast of reason； never since vouchsafed him in so full measure！ But what then？ _Amicus Plato； magis amica veritas_； Teufelsdrockh is our friend； Truth is our divinity。 In our historical and critical capacity； we hope we are strangers to all the world； have feud or favor with no one；save indeed the Devil； with whom； as with the Prince of Lies and Darkness； we do at all times wage internecine war。 This assurance； at an epoch when puffery and quackery have reached a height unexampled in the annals of mankind； and even English Editors； like Chinese Shopkeepers； must write on their door…lintels _No cheating here_；we thought it good to premise。
CHAPTER III。 REMINISCENCES。
To the Author's private circle the appearance of this singular Work on Clothes must have occasioned little less surprise than it has to the rest of the world。 For ourselves； at least； few things have been more unexpected。 Professor Teufelsdrockh； at the period of our acquaintance with him； seemed to lead a quite still and self…contained life： a man devoted to the higher Philosophies； indeed； yet more likely； if he published at all； to publish a refutation of Hegel and Bardili； both of whom； strangely enough； he included under a common ban； than to descend； as he has here done； into the angry noisy Forum； with an Argument that cannot but exasperate and divide。 Not； that we can remember； was the Philosophy of Clothes once touched upon between us。 If through the high； silent； meditative Transcendentalism of our Friend we detected any practical tendency whatever； it was at most Political； and towards a certain prospective； and for the present quite speculative； Radicalism； as indeed some correspondence； on his part； with Herr Oken of Jena was now and then suspected； though his special contributions to the _Isis_ could never be more than surmised at。 But； at all events； nothing Moral； still less anything Didactico…Religious； was looked for from him。
Well do we recollect the last words he spoke in our hearing； which indeed； with the Night they were uttered in； are to be forever remembered。 Lifting his huge tumbler of _Gukguk_；* and for a moment lowering his tobacco…pipe； he stood up in full Coffee…house （it was _Zur Grunen Gans_； the largest in Weissnichtwo； where all the Virtuosity； and nearly all the Intellect of the place assembled of an evening）； and there； with low； soul…stirring tone； and the look truly of an angel； though whether of a white or of a black one might be dubious； proposed this toast： _Die Sache der Armen in Gottes und Teufels Namen_ （The Cause of the Poor； in Heaven's name and 's）！ One full shout； breaking the leaden silence； then a gurgle of innumerable emptying bumpers； again followed by universal cheering； returned him loud acclaim。 It was the finale of the night： resuming their pipes； in the highest enthusiasm； amid volumes of tobacco…smoke； triumphant； cloud…capt without and within； the assembly broke up； each to his thoughtful pillow。 _Bleibt doch ein echter Spass_… _und Galgen…vogel_； said several； meaning thereby that； one day； he would probably be hanged for his democratic sentiments。 _Wo steckt doch der Schalk_？ added they； looking round： but Teufelsdrockh had retired by private alleys； and the Compiler of these pages beheld him no more。
*Gukguk is unhappily only an academical…beer。
In such scenes has it been our lot to live with this Philosopher； such estimate to form of his purposes and powers。 And yet； thou brave Teufelsdrockh； who could tell what lurked in thee？ Under those thick locks of thine； so long and lank； overlapping roof…wise the gravest face we ever in this world saw； there dwelt a most busy brain。 In thy eyes too； deep under their shaggy brows； and looking out so still and dreamy； have we not noticed gleams of an ethereal or else a diabolic fire； and half fancied that their stillness was but the rest of infinite motion； the _sleep_ of a spinning…top？ Thy little figure； there as； in loose ill…brushed threadbare habiliments； thou sattest； amid litter and lumber； whole days； to 〃think and smoke tobacco；〃 held in it a mighty heart。 The secrets of man's Life were laid open to thee； thou sawest into the mystery of the Universe； farther than another； thou hadst _in petto_ thy remarkable Volume on Clothes。 Nay； was there not in that clear logically founded Transcendentalism of thine； still more； in thy meek； silent； deep…seated Sansculottism； combined with a true princely Courtesy of inward nature； the visible rudiments of such speculation？ But great men are too often unknown； or what is worse； misknown。 Already； when we dreamed not of it； the warp of thy remarkable Volume lay on the loom； and silently； mysterious shuttles were putting in the woof。
How the Hofrath Heuschrecke is to furnish biographical data； in this case； may be a curious question； the answer of which； however； is happily not our concern； but his。 To us it appeared； after repeated trial； that in Weissnichtwo； from the archives or memories of the best…informed classes； no Biography of Teufelsdrockh was to be gathered； not so much as a false one。 He was a stranger there； wafted thither by what is called the course of circumstances； concerning whose parentage； birthplace； prospects； or pursuits； curiosity had indeed made inquiries； but satisfied herself with the most indistinct replies。 For himself； he was a man so still and altogether unparticipating； that to question him even afar off on such particulars was a thing of more than usual delicacy： besides； in his sly way； he had ever some quaint turn； not without its satirical edge； wherewith to divert such intrusions； and deter you from the like。 Wits spoke of him secretly as if he were a kind of Melchizedek； without father or mother of any kind； sometimes； with reference to his great historic and statistic knowledge； and the vivid way he had of expressing himself like an eye…witness of distant transactions and scenes； they called him the _Ewige Jude_； Everlasting； or as we say； Wandering Jew。
To the most； indeed； he had become not so much a Man as a Thing； which Thing doubtless they were accustomed to see； and with satisfaction； but no more thought of accounting for than for the fabrication of their daily _Allgemeine Zeitung_； or the domestic habits of the Sun。 Both were there and welcome； the world enjoyed what good was in them； and thought no more of the matter。 The man Teufelsdrockh passed and repassed； in his little circle； as one of those originals and nondescripts； more frequent in German Universities than elsewhere； of whom； though you see them alive； and feel certain enough that they must have a History； no History seems to be discoverable； or only such as men give of mountain rocks and antediluvian ruins： That they have been created by unknown agencies； are in a state of gradual decay； and for the present reflect light and resist pressure； that is； are visible and tangible objects in this phantasm world； where so much other mystery is。
It was to be remarked that though； by title and diploma； _Professor der Allerley…Wissenschaft_； or as we should say in English； 〃Professor of Things in General；〃 he had never delivered any Course； perhaps never been incited thereto by any public furtherance or requisition。 To all appearance； the enlightened Government of Weissnichtwo； in founding their New University； imagined they had done enough； if 〃in times like ours；〃 as the half…official Program expressed it； 〃when all things are； rapidly or slowly； resolving themselves into Chaos； a Professorship of this kind had been established； whereby； as occasi
