sartor resartus-第57章
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delirious condition of Society； equivalent to defying his perpetual fellest enmity？ The epithet _schneidermassig_ （tailor…like） betokens an otherwise unapproachable degree of pusillanimity； we introduce a _Tailor's…Melancholy_； more opprobrious than any Leprosy； into our Books of Medicine； and fable I know not what of his generating it by living on Cabbage。 Why should I speak of Hans Sachs （himself a Shoemaker； or kind of Leather…Tailor）； with his _Schneider mit dem Panier_？ Why of Shakspeare； in his _Taming of the Shrew_； and elsewhere？ Does it not stand on record that the English Queen Elizabeth； receiving a deputation of Eighteen Tailors； addressed them with a 'Good morning； gentlemen both！' Did not the same virago boast that she had a Cavalry Regiment； whereof neither horse nor man could be injured； her Regiment； namely； of Tailors on Mares？ Thus everywhere is the falsehood taken for granted； and acted on as an indisputable fact。
〃Nevertheless； need I put the question to any Physiologist； whether it is disputable or not？ Seems it not at least presumable； that； under his Clothes； the Tailor has bones and viscera； and other muscles than the sartorius？ Which function of manhood is the Tailor not conjectured to perform？ Can he not arrest for debt？ Is he not in most countries a taxpaying animal？
〃To no reader of this Volume can it be doubtful which conviction is mine。 Nay if the fruit of these long vigils； and almost preternatural Inquiries； is not to perish utterly； the world will have approximated towards a higher Truth； and the doctrine； which Swift； with the keen forecast of genius； dimly anticipated； will stand revealed in clear light： that the Tailor is not only a Man； but something of a Creator or Divinity。 Of Franklin it was said； that 'he snatched the Thunder from Heaven and the Sceptre from Kings：' but which is greater； I would ask； he that lends； or he that snatches？ For； looking away from individual cases； and how a Man is by the Tailor new…created into a Nobleman； and clothed not only with Wool but with Dignity and a Mystic Dominion；is not the fair fabric of Society itself； with all its royal mantles and pontifical stoles； whereby； from nakedness and dismemberment； we are organized into Polities； into nations； and a whole co…operating Mankind； the creation； as has here been often irrefragably evinced； of the Tailor alone？What too are all Poets and moral Teachers； but a species of Metaphorical Tailors？ Touching which high Guild the greatest living Guild…brother has triumphantly asked us： 'Nay if thou wilt have it； who but the Poet first made Gods for men； brought them down to us； and raised us up to them？'
〃And this is he； whom sitting downcast； on the hard basis of his Shopboard； the world treats with contumely； as the ninth part of a man！ Look up； thou much…injured one； look up with the kindling eye of hope； and prophetic bodings of a noble better time。 Too long hast thou sat there； on crossed legs； wearing thy ankle…joints to horn； like some sacred Anchorite； or Catholic Fakir； doing penance； drawing down Heaven's richest blessings； for a world that scoffed at thee。 Be of hope！ Already streaks of blue peer through our clouds； the thick gloom of Ignorance is rolling asunder； and it will be Day。 Mankind will repay with interest their long…accumulated debt： the Anchorite that was scoffed at will be worshipped； the Fraction will become not an Integer only； but a Square and Cube。 With astonishment the world will recognize that the Tailor is its Hierophant and Hierarch； or even its God。
〃As I stood in the Mosque of St。 Sophia； and looked upon these Four…and…Twenty Tailors； sewing and embroidering that rich Cloth； which the Sultan sends yearly for the Caaba of Mecca； I thought within myself： How many other Unholies has your covering Art made holy； besides this Arabian Whinstone！
〃Still more touching was it when； turning the corner of a lane； in the Scottish Town of Edinburgh； I came upon a Signpost； whereon stood written that such and such a one was 'Breeches…Maker to his Majesty；' and stood painted the Effigies of a Pair of Leather Breeches； and between the knees these memorable words； SIC ITUR AD ASTRA。 Was not this the martyr prison…speech of a Tailor sighing indeed in bonds； yet sighing towards deliverance； and prophetically appealing to a better day？ A day of justice； when the worth of Breeches would be revealed to man； and the Scissors become forever venerable。
〃Neither； perhaps； may I now say； has his appeal been altogether in vain。 It was in this high moment； when the soul； rent； as it were； and shed asunder； is open to inspiring influence； that I first conceived this Work on Clothes： the greatest I can ever hope to do； which has already； after long retardations； occupied； and will yet occupy； so large a section of my Life； and of which the Primary and simpler Portion may here find its conclusion。〃
CHAPTER XII。 FAREWELL。
So have we endeavored； from the enormous； amorphous Plum…pudding； more like a Scottish Haggis； which Herr Teufelsdrockh had kneaded for his fellow…mortals； to pick out the choicest Plums； and present them separately on a cover of our own。 A laborious； perhaps a thankless enterprise； in which； however； something of hope has occasionally cheered us； and of which we can now wash our hands not altogether without satisfaction。 If hereby； though in barbaric wise； some morsel of spiritual nourishment have been added to the scanty ration of our beloved British world； what nobler recompense could the Editor desire？ If it prove otherwise； why should he murmur？ Was not this a Task which Destiny； in any case； had appointed him； which having now done with； he sees his general Day's…work so much the lighter； so much the shorter？
Of Professor Teufelsdrockh； it seems impossible to take leave without a mingled feeling of astonishment； gratitude； and disapproval。 Who will not regret that talents； which might have profited in the higher walks of Philosophy； or in Art itself； have been so much devoted to a rummaging among lumber…rooms； nay too often to a scraping in kennels； where lost rings and diamond…necklaces are nowise the sole conquests？ Regret is unavoidable； yet censure were loss of time。 To cure him of his mad humors British Criticism would essay in vain： enough for her if she can； by vigilance； prevent the spreading of such among ourselves。 What a result； should this piebald； entangled； hyper…metaphorical style of writing； not to say of thinking； become general among our Literary men！ As it might so easily do。 Thus has not the Editor himself； working over Teufelsdrockh's German； lost much of his own English purity？ Even as the smaller whirlpool is sucked into the larger； and made to whirl along with it； so has the lesser mind； in this instance； been forced to become portion of the greater； and； like it； see all things figuratively： which habit time and assiduous effort will be needed to eradicate。
Nevertheless； wayward as our Professor shows himself； is there any reader that can part with him in declared enmity？ Let us confess； there is that in the wild； much…suffering； much…inflicting man； which almost attaches us。 His attitude； we will hope and believe； is that of a man who had said to Cant； Begone； and to Dilettantism； Here thou canst not be； and to Truth； Be thou in place of all to me： a man who had manfully defied the 〃Time…Prince；〃 or Devil； to his face； nay perhaps； Hannibal…like； was mysteriously consecrated from birth to that warfare； and now stood minded to wage the same； by all weapons； in all places； at all times。 In such a cause； any soldier； were he but a Polack Scythe…man； shall be welcome。
Still the question returns on us： How could a man occasionally of keen insight； not without keen sense of propriety； who had real Thoughts to communicate； resolve to emit them in a shape bordering so closely on the absurd？ Which question he were wiser than the present Editor who should satisfactorily answer。 Our conjecture has sometimes been； that perhaps Necessity as well as Choice was concerned in it。 Seems it not conceivable that； in a Life like our Professor's； where so much bountifully given by Nature had in Practice failed a
