sartor resartus-第41章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
ever a…weaving in the 〃Loom of Time； 〃 is not here； indeed； the outline of a whole _Clothes…Philosophy_； at least the arena it is to work in？ Remark； too； that the Character of the Man； nowise without meaning in such a matter； becomes less enigmatic： amid so much tumultuous obscurity； almost like diluted madness； do not a certain indomitable Defiance and yet a boundless Reverence seem to loom forth； as the two mountain…summits； on whose rock…strata all the rest were based and built？
Nay further； may we not say that Teufelsdrockh's Biography； allowing it even； as suspected； only a hieroglyphical truth； exhibits a man； as it were preappointed for Clothes…Philosophy？ To look through the Shows of things into Things themselves he is led and compelled。 The 〃Passivity〃 given him by birth is fostered by all turns of his fortune。 Everywhere cast out； like oil out of water； from mingling in any Employment； in any public Communion； he has no portion but Solitude； and a life of Meditation。 The whole energy of his existence is directed； through long years； on one task： that of enduring pain； if he cannot cure it。 Thus everywhere do the Shows of things oppress him； withstand him； threaten him with fearfullest destruction： only by victoriously penetrating into Things themselves can he find peace and a stronghold。 But is not this same looking through the Shows； or Vestures； into the Things； even the first preliminary to a _Philosophy of Clothes_？ Do we not； in all this； discern some beckonings towards the true higher purport of such a Philosophy； and what shape it must assume with such a man； in such an era？
Perhaps in entering on Book Third； the courteous Reader is not utterly without guess whither he is bound： nor； let us hope； for all the fantastic Dream…Grottos through which； as is our lot with Teufelsdrockh； he must wander； will there be wanting between whiles some twinkling of a steady Polar Star。
BOOK III。
CHAPTER I。 INCIDENT IN MODERN HISTORY。
As a wonder…loving and wonder…seeking man； Teufelsdrockh； from an early part of this Clothes…Volume； has more and more exhibited himself。 Striking it was； amid all his perverse cloudiness； with what force of vision and of heart he pierced into the mystery of the World； recognizing in the highest sensible phenomena； so far as Sense went； only fresh or faded Raiment； yet ever； under this； a celestial Essence thereby rendered visible： and while； on the one hand； he trod the old rags of Matter； with their tinsels； into the mire； he on the other everywhere exalted Spirit above all earthly principalities and powers； and worshipped it； though under the meanest shapes； with a true Platonic mysticism。 What the man ultimately purposed by thus casting his Greek…fire into the general Wardrobe of the Universe； what such； more or less complete； rending and burning of Garments throughout the whole compass of Civilized Life and Speculation； should lead to； the rather as he was no Adamite； in any sense； and could not； like Rousseau； recommend either bodily or intellectual Nudity； and a return to the savage state： all this our readers are now bent to discover； this is； in fact； properly the gist and purport of Professor Teufelsdrockh's Philosophy of Clothes。
Be it remembered； however； that such purport is here not so much evolved； as detected to lie ready for evolving。 We are to guide our British Friends into the new Gold…country； and show them the mines； nowise to dig out and exhaust its wealth； which indeed remains for all time inexhaustible。 Once there； let each dig for his own behoof； and enrich himself。
Neither； in so capricious inexpressible a Work as this of the Professor's； can our course now more than formerly be straightforward； step by step； but at best leap by leap。 Significant Indications stand out here and there； which for the critical eye； that looks both widely and narrowly； shape themselves into some ground…scheme of a Whole： to select these with judgment； so that a leap from one to the other be possible； and （in our old figure） by chaining them together； a passable Bridge be effected： this； as heretofore； continues our only method。 Among such light…spots； the following； floating in much wild matter about _Perfectibility_； has seemed worth clutching at：
〃Perhaps the most remarkable incident in Modern History；〃 says Teufelsdrockh； 〃is not the Diet of Worms； still less the Battle of Austerlitz； Waterloo； Peterloo； or any other Battle； but an incident passed carelessly over by most Historians； and treated with some degree of ridicule by others： namely； George Fox's making to himself a suit of Leather。 This man； the first of the Quakers； and by trade a Shoemaker； was one of those； to whom； under ruder or purer form； the Divine Idea of the Universe is pleased to manifest itself； and； across all the hulls of Ignorance and earthly Degradation； shine through； in unspeakable Awfulness； unspeakable Beauty； on their souls： who therefore are rightly accounted Prophets； God…possessed； or even Gods； as in some periods it has chanced。 Sitting in his stall； working on tanned hides； amid pincers； paste…horns； rosin； swine…bristles； and a nameless flood of rubbish； this youth had； nevertheless； a Living Spirit belonging to him； also an antique Inspired Volume； through which； as through a window； it could look upwards； and discern its celestial Home。 The task of a daily pair of shoes； coupled even with some prospect of victuals； and an honorable Mastership in Cordwainery； and perhaps the post of Thirdborough in his hundred； as the crown of long faithful sewing；was nowise satisfaction enough to such a mind： but ever amid the boring and hammering came tones from that far country； came Splendors and Terrors； for this poor Cordwainer； as we said； was a Man； and the Temple of Immensity； wherein as Man he had been sent to minister； was full of holy mystery to him。
〃The Clergy of the neighborhood； the ordained Watchers and Interpreters of that same holy mystery； listened with un…affected tedium to his consultations； and advised him； as the solution of such doubts； to 'drink beer； and dance with the girls。' Blind leaders of the blind！ For what end were their tithes levied and eaten； for what were their shovel…hats scooped out； and their surplices and cassock…aprons girt on； and such a church…repairing； and chaffering； and organing； and other racketing； held over that spot of God's Earth；if Man were but a Patent Digester； and the Belly with its adjuncts the grand Reality？ Fox turned from them； with tears and a sacred scorn； back to his Leather…parings and his Bible。 Mountains of encumbrance； higher than AEtna； had been heaped over that Spirit： but it was a Spirit； and would not lie buried there。 Through long days and nights of silent agony； it struggled and wrestled； with a man's force； to be free： how its prison…mountains heaved and swayed tumultuously； as the giant spirit shook them to this hand and that； and emerged into the light of Heaven！ That Leicester shoe…shop； had men known it； was a holier place than any Vatican or Loretto…shrine。'So bandaged； and hampered； and hemmed in；' groaned he； 'with thousand requisitions； obligations； straps； tatters； and tagrags； I can neither see nor move： not my own am I； but the World's； and Time flies fast； and Heaven is high； and Hell is deep： Man！ bethink thee； if thou hast power of Thought！ Why not； what binds me here？ Want； want！Ha； of what？ Will all the shoe…wages under the Moon ferry me across into that far Land of Light？ Only Meditation can； and devout Prayer to God。 I will to the woods： the hollow of a tree will lodge me； wild berries feed me； and for Clothes； cannot I stitch myself one perennial suit of Leather！'
〃Historical Oil…painting；〃 continues Teufelsdrockh； 〃is one of the Arts I never practiced； therefore shall I not decide whether this subject were easy of execution on the canvas。 Yet often has it seemed to me as if such first outflashing of man's Freewill； to lighten； more and more into Day； the Chaotic Night that threatened to engulf him in its hindrances and its horrors； were properly the only grandeur there is in History。 Let some living Angelo or Rosa； with seeing eye and understanding heart； pic
