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！
The walls of the principal rooms were embellished with pictures
of extraordinary merit； and in that high school of art which is
so little understood out of Italy。 I was surprised to learn that
they were all from the hand of the owner。 My evident admiration
pleased my new friend； and led to talk upon his part； which
showed him no less elevated in his theories of art than an adept
in the practice。 Without fatiguing the reader with irrelevant
criticism； it is necessary； perhaps； as elucidating much of the
design and character of the work which these prefatory pages
introduce； that I should briefly observe； that he insisted as
much upon the connection of the arts； as a distinguished author
has upon that of the sciences； that he held that in all works of
imagination； whether expressed by words or by colours； the artist
of the higher schools must make the broadest distinction between
the real and the true；in other words； between the imitation of
actual life； and the exaltation of Nature into the Ideal。
〃The one；〃 said he； 〃is the Dutch School； the other is the
Greek。〃
〃Sir；〃 said I； 〃the Dutch is the most in fashion。〃
〃Yes； in painting； perhaps；〃 answered my host； 〃but in
literature〃
〃It was of literature I spoke。 Our growing poets are all for
simplicity and Betty Foy； and our critics hold it the highest
praise of a work of imagination； to say that its characters are
exact to common life； even in sculpture〃
〃In sculpture！ No； no！ THERE the high ideal must at least be
essential！〃
〃Pardon me； I fear you have not seen Souter Johnny and Tam
O'Shanter。〃
〃Ah！〃 said the old gentleman； shaking his head； 〃I live very much
out of the world； I see。 I suppose Shakespeare has ceased to be
admired？〃
〃On the contrary； people make the adoration of Shakespeare the
excuse for attacking everybody else。 But then our critics have
discovered that Shakespeare is so REAL！〃
〃Real！ The poet who has never once drawn a character to be met
with in actual life；who has never once descended to a passion
that is false； or a personage who is real！〃
I was about to reply very severely to this paradox； when I
perceived that my companion was growing a little out of temper。
And he who wishes to catch a Rosicrucian； must take care not to
disturb the waters。 I thought it better； therefore； to turn the
conversation。
〃Revenons a nos moutons；〃 said I； 〃you promised to enlighten my
ignorance as to the Rosicrucians。〃
〃Well！〃 quoth he； rather sternly； 〃but for what purpose？ Perhaps
you desire only to enter the temple in order to ridicule the
rites？〃
〃What do you take me for！ Surely； were I so inclined； the fate
of the Abbe de Villars is a sufficient warning to all men not to
treat idly of the realms of the Salamander and the Sylph。
Everybody knows how mysteriously that ingenious personage was
deprived of his life； in revenge for the witty mockeries of his
'Comte de Gabalis。'〃
〃Salamander and Sylph！ I see that you fall into the vulgar
error； and translate literally the allegorical language of the
mystics。〃
With that the old gentleman condescended to enter into a very
interesting； and； as it seemed to me； a very erudite relation； of
the tenets of the Rosicrucians； some of whom； he asserted； still
existed； and still prosecuted； in august secrecy； their profound
researches into natural science and occult philosophy。
〃But this fraternity；〃 said he； 〃however respectable and
virtuous；virtuous I say； for no monastic order is more severe
in the practice of moral precepts； or more ardent in Christian
faith；this fraternity is but a branch of others yet more
transcendent in the powers they have obtained； and yet more
illustrious in their origin。 Are you acquainted with the
Platonists？〃
〃I have occasionally lost my way in their labyrinth；〃 said I。
〃Faith； they are rather difficult gentlemen to understand。〃
〃Yet their knottiest problems have never yet been published。
Their sublimest works are in manuscript； and constitute the
initiatory learning； not only of the Rosicrucians； but of the
nobler brotherhoods I have referred to。 More solemn and sublime
still is the knowledge to be gleaned from the elder Pythagoreans；
and the immortal masterpieces of Apollonius。〃
〃Apollonius； the imposter of Tyanea！ are his writings extant？〃
〃Imposter！〃 cried my host； 〃Apollonius an imposter！〃
〃I beg your pardon； I did not know he was a friend of yours； and
if you vouch for his character； I will believe him to have been a
very respectable man； who only spoke the truth when he boasted of
his power to be in two places at the same time。〃
〃Is that so difficult？〃 said the old gentleman； 〃if so； you have
never dreamed！〃
Here ended our conversation； but from that time an acquaintance
was formed between us which lasted till my venerable friend
departed this life。 Peace to his ashes！ He was a person of
singular habits and eccentric opinions； but the chief part of his
time was occupied in acts of quiet and unostentatious goodness。
He was an enthusiast in the duties of the Samaritan； and as his
virtues were softened by the gentlest charity； so his hopes were
based upon the devoutest belief。 He never conversed upon his own
origin and history； nor have I ever been able to penetrate the
darkness in which they were concealed。 He seemed to have seen
much of the world； and to have been an eye…witness of the first
French Revolution； a subject upon which he was equally eloquent
and instructive。 At the same time he did not regard the crimes
of that stormy period with the philosophical leniency with which
enlightened writers （their heads safe upon their shoulders） are；
in the present day； inclined to treat the massacres of the past：
he spoke not as a student who had read and reasoned； but as a man
who had seen and suffered。 The old gentleman seemed alone in the
world； nor did I know that he had one relation； till his
executor； a distant cousin； residing abroad； informed me of the
very handsome legacy which my poor friend had bequeathed me。
This consisted； first； of a sum about which I think it best to be
guarded； foreseeing the possibility of a new tax upon real and
funded property； and； secondly； of certain precious manuscripts；
to which the following volumes owe their existence。
I imagine I trace this latter bequest to a visit I paid the Sage；
if so I may be permitted to call him； a few weeks before his
death。
Although he read little of our modern literature； my friend； with
the affable good…nature which belonged to him； graciously
permitted me to consult him upon various literary undertakings
meditated by the desultory ambition of a young and inexperienced
student。 And at that time I sought his advice upon a work of
imagination； intended to depict the effects of enthusiasm upon
different modifications of character。 He listened to my
conception； which was s