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！
istory cannot do。 It can tell us what man thought before he learned how to write。 You have asked me about the influence of Criticism。 I think I have answered that question already； but there is this also to be said。 It is Criticism that makes us cosmopolitan。 The Manchester school tried to make men realise the brotherhood of humanity； by pointing out the commercial advantages of peace。 It sought to degrade the wonderful world into a common market…place for the buyer and the seller。 It addressed itself to the lowest instincts； and it failed。 War followed upon war； and the tradesman's creed did not prevent France and Germany from clashing together in blood…stained battle。 There are others of our own day who seek to appeal to mere emotional sympathies； or to the shallow dogmas of some vague system of abstract ethics。 They have their Peace Societies； so dear to the sentimentalists； and their proposals for unarmed International Arbitration； so popular among those who have never read history。 But mere emotional sympathy will not do。 It is too variable； and too closely connected with the passions； and a board of arbitrators who； for the general welfare of the race； are to be deprived of the power of putting their decisions into execution； will not be of much avail。 There is only one thing worse than Injustice； and that is Justice without her sword in her hand。 When Right is not Might； it is Evil。
No： the emotions will not make us cosmopolitan； any more than the greed for gain could do so。 It is only by the cultivation of the habit of intellectual criticism that we shall be able to rise superior to race…prejudices。 Goethe … you will not misunderstand what I say … was a German of the Germans。 He loved his country … no man more so。 Its people were dear to him； and he led them。 Yet； when the iron hoof of Napoleon trampled upon vineyard and cornfield； his lips were silent。 'How can one write songs of hatred without hating？' he said to Eckermann； 'and how could I； to whom culture and barbarism are alone of importance； hate a nation which is among the most cultivated of the earth and to which I owe so great a part of my own cultivation？' This note； sounded in the modern world by Goethe first； will become； I think； the starting point for the cosmopolitanism of the future。 Criticism will annihilate race…prejudices； by insisting upon the unity of the human mind in the variety of its forms。 If we are tempted to make war upon another nation； we shall remember that we are seeking to destroy an element of our own culture； and possibly its most important element。 As long as war is regarded as wicked； it will always have its fascination。 When it is looked upon as vulgar； it will cease to be popular。 The change will of course be slow； and people will not be conscious of it。 They will not say 'We will not war against France because her prose is perfect；' but because the prose of France is perfect； they will not hate the land。 Intellectual criticism will bind Europe together in bonds far closer than those that can be forged by shopman or sentimentalist。 It will give us the peace that springs from understanding。
Nor is this all。 It is Criticism that； recognising no position as final； and refusing to bind itself by the shallow shibboleths of any sect or school； creates that serene philosophic temper which loves truth for its own sake； and loves it not the less because it knows it to be unattainable。 How little we have of this temper in England； and how much we need it！ The English mind is always in a rage。 The intellect of the race is wasted in the sordid and stupid quarrels of second…rate politicians or third…rate theologians。 It was reserved for a man of science to show us the supreme example of that 'sweet reasonableness' of which Arnold spoke so wisely； and； alas！ to so little effect。 The author of the ORIGIN OF SPECIES had； at any rate； the philosophic temper。 If one contemplates the ordinary pulpits and platforms of England； one can but feel the contempt of Julian； or the indifference of Montaigne。 We are dominated by the fanatic； whose worst vice is his sincerity。 Anything approaching to the free play of the mind is practically unknown amongst us。 People cry out against the sinner； yet it is not the sinful； but the stupid； who are our shame。 There is no sin except stupidity。
ERNEST。 Ah！ what an antinomian you are！
GILBERT。 The artistic critic； like the mystic； is an antinomian always。 To be good； according to the vulgar standard of goodness； is obviously quite easy。 It merely requires a certain amount of sordid terror； a certain lack of imaginative thought； and a certain low passion for middle…class respectability。 Aesthetics are higher than ethics。 They belong to a more spiritual sphere。 To discern the beauty of a thing is the finest point to which we can arrive。 Even a colour…sense is more important； in the development of the individual； than a sense of right and wrong。 Aesthetics； in fact； are to Ethics in the sphere of conscious civilisation； what； in the sphere of the external world； sexual is to natural selection。 Ethics； like natural selection； make existence possible。 Aesthetics； like sexual selection； make life lovely and wonderful； fill it with new forms； and give it progress； and variety and change。 And when we reach the true culture that is our aim； we attain to that perfection of which the saints have dreamed； the perfection of those to whom sin is impossible； not because they make the renunciations of the ascetic； but because they can do everything they wish without hurt to the soul； and can wish for nothing that can do the soul harm； the soul being an entity so divine that it is able to transform into elements of a richer experience； or a finer susceptibility； or a newer mode of thought； acts or passions that with the common would be commonplace； or with the uneducated ignoble； or with the shameful vile。 Is this dangerous？ Yes； it is dangerous … all ideas； as I told you； are so。 But the night wearies； and the light flickers in the lamp。 One more thing I cannot help saying to you。 You have spoken against Criticism as being a sterile thing。 The nineteenth century is a turning point in history； simply on account of the work of two men； Darwin and Renan； the one the critic of the Book of Nature； the other the critic of the books of God。 Not to recognise this is to miss the meaning of one of the most important eras in the progress of the world。 Creation is always behind the age。 It is Criticism that leads us。 The Critical Spirit and the World…Spirit are one。
ERNEST。 And he who is in possession of this spirit； or whom this spirit possesses； will； I suppose； do nothing？
GILBERT。 Like the Persephone of whom Landor tells us； the sweet pensive Persephone around whose white feet the asphodel and amaranth are blooming； he will sit contented 'in that deep； motionless quiet which mortals pity； and which the gods enjoy。' He will look out upon the world and know its secret。 By contact with divine things he will become divine。 His will be the perfect life； and his only。
ERNEST。 You have told me many strange things to…night； Gilbert。 You have told me that it is more difficul