sartor resartus-第4章
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solving themselves into Chaos； a Professorship of this kind had been established； whereby； as occasion called； the task of bodying somewhat forth again from such Chaos might be； even slightly； facilitated。〃 That actual Lectures should be held； and Public Classes for the 〃Science of Things in General；〃 they doubtless considered premature； on which ground too they had only established the Professorship； nowise endowed it； so that Teufelsdrockh； 〃recommended by the highest Names；〃 had been promoted thereby to a Name merely。
Great； among the more enlightened classes； was the admiration of this new Professorship： how an enlightened Government had seen into the Want of the Age （_Zeitbedurfniss_）； how at length； instead of Denial and Destruction； we were to have a science of Affirmation and Reconstruction； and Germany and Weissnichtwo were where they should be； in the vanguard of the world。 Considerable also was the wonder at the new Professor； dropt opportunely enough into the nascent University； so able to lecture； should occasion call； so ready to hold his peace for indefinite periods； should an enlightened Government consider that occasion did not call。 But such admiration and such wonder； being followed by no act to keep them living； could last only nine days； and； long before our visit to that scene； had quite died away。 The more cunning heads thought it was all an expiring clutch at popularity； on the part of a Minister； whom domestic embarrassments； court intrigues； old age； and dropsy soon afterwards finally drove from the helm。
As for Teufelsdrockh； except by his nightly appearances at the _Grune Gans_； Weissnichtwo saw little of him； felt little of him。 Here； over his tumbler of Gukguk； he sat reading Journals； sometimes contemplatively looking into the clouds of his tobacco…pipe； without other visible employment： always； from his mild ways； an agreeable phenomenon there； more especially when he opened his lips for speech； on which occasions the whole Coffee…house would hush itself into silence； as if sure to hear something noteworthy。 Nay； perhaps to hear a whole series and river of the most memorable utterances； such as； when once thawed； he would for hours indulge in； with fit audience： and the more memorable； as issuing from a head apparently not more interested in them； not more conscious of them； than is the sculptured stone head of some public fountain； which through its brass mouth…tube emits water to the worthy and the unworthy； careless whether it be for cooking victuals or quenching conflagrations； indeed； maintains the same earnest assiduous look； whether any water be flowing or not。
To the Editor of these sheets； as to a young enthusiastic Englishman； however unworthy； Teufelsdrockh opened himself perhaps more than to the most。 Pity only that we could not then half guess his importance； and scrutinize him with due power of vision！ We enjoyed； what not three men Weissnichtwo could boast of； a certain degree of access to the Professor's private domicile。 It was the attic floor of the highest house in the Wahngasse； and might truly be called the pinnacle of Weissnichtwo； for it rose sheer up above the contiguous roofs； themselves rising from elevated ground。 Moreover； with its windows it looked towards all the four _Orte_ or as the Scotch say； and we ought to say； _Airts_： the sitting room itself commanded three； another came to view in the _Schlafgemach_ （bedroom） at the opposite end； to say nothing of the kitchen； which offered two； as it were； _duplicates_； showing nothing new。 So that it was in fact the speculum or watch…tower of Teufelsdrockh； wherefrom； sitting at ease he might see the whole life…circulation of that considerable City； the streets and lanes of which； with all their doing and driving （_Thun und Treiben_）； were for the most part visible there。
〃I look down into all that wasp…nest or bee…hive；〃 we have heard him say； 〃and witness their wax…laying and honey…making； and poison…brewing； and choking by sulphur。 From the Palace esplanade； where music plays while Serene Highness is pleased to eat his victuals； down to the low lane； where in her door…sill the aged widow； knitting for a thin livelihood sits to feel the afternoon sun； I see it all； for； except Schlosskirche weather…cock； no biped stands so high。 Couriers arrive bestrapped and bebooted； bearing Joy and Sorrow bagged up in pouches of leather： there； top…laden； and with four swift horses； rolls in the country Baron and his household； here； on timber…leg； the lamed Soldier hops painfully along； begging alms： a thousand carriages； and wains； cars； come tumbling in with Food； with young Rusticity； and other Raw Produce； inanimate or animate； and go tumbling out again with produce manufactured。 That living flood； pouring through these streets； of all qualities and ages； knowest thou whence it is coming； whither it is going？ _Aus der Ewigkeit； zu der Ewigkeit hin_： From Eternity； onwards to Eternity！ These are Apparitions： what else？ Are they not Souls rendered visible： in Bodies； that took shape and will lose it； melting into air？ Their solid Pavement is a Picture of the Sense； they walk on the bosom of Nothing； blank Time is behind them and before them。 Or fanciest thou； the red and yellow Clothes…screen yonder； with spurs on its heels and feather in its crown； is but of To…day； without a Yesterday or a To…morrow； and had not rather its Ancestor alive when Hengst and Horsa overran thy Island？ Friend； thou seest here a living link in that Tissue of History； which inweaves all Being： watch well； or it will be past thee； and seen no more。〃
〃_Ach； mein Lieber_！〃 said he once； at midnight； when we had returned from the Coffee…house in rather earnest talk； 〃it is a true sublimity to dwell here。 These fringes of lamplight； struggling up through smoke and thousand…fold exhalation； some fathoms into the ancient reign of Night； what thinks Bootes of them； as he leads his Hunting…Dogs over the Zenith in their leash of sidereal fire？ That stifled hum of Midnight； when Traffic has lain down to rest； and the chariot…wheels of Vanity； still rolling here and there through distant streets； are bearing her to Halls roofed in； and lighted to the due pitch for her； and only Vice and Misery； to prowl or to moan like nightbirds； are abroad： that hum； I say； like the stertorous； unquiet slumber of sick Life； is heard in Heaven！ Oh； under that hideous coverlet of vapors； and putrefactions； and unimaginable gases； what a Fermenting…vat lies simmering and hid！ The joyful and the sorrowful are there； men are dying there； men are being born； men are praying；on the other side of a brick partition； men are cursing； and around them all is the vast； void Night。 The proud Grandee still lingers in his perfumed saloons； or reposes within damask curtains； Wretchedness cowers into buckle…beds； or shivers hunger…stricken into its lair of straw： in obscure cellars； _Rouge…et…Noir_ languidly emits its voice…of…destiny to haggard hungry Villains； while Councillors of State sit plotting； and playing their high chess…game； whereof the pawns are Men。 The Lover whispers his mistress that the coach is ready； and she； full of hope and fear； glides down； to fly with him over the borders： the Thief； still more silently； sets to his picklocks and crowbars； or lurks in wait till the watchmen first snore in their boxes。 Gay mansions； with supper…rooms and dancing…rooms； are full of light and music and high…swelling hearts； but； in the Condemned Cells； the pulse of life beats tremulous and faint； and bloodshot eyes look out through the darkness； which is around and within； for the light of a stern last morning。 Six men are to be hanged on the morrow： comes no hammering from the _Rabenstein_？their gallows must even now be o' building。 Upwards of five hundred thousand two…legged animals without feathers lie round us； in horizontal position； their heads all in nightcaps； and full of the foolishest dreams。 Riot cries aloud； and staggers and swaggers in his rank dens of shame； and the Mother； with streaming hair； kneels over her pallid dying infant； whose cracked lips only her tears now moisten。 All these heaped and huddled together； with nothing but a
