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attributes and essence of the All…Good； and the arguments for and against
a future state； but now we all recognise two facts； that there IS a Divine
Being； and there IS a future state； and we all equally agree that if we wrote
our fingers to the bone； we could not throw any light upon the nature and
conditions of that future state； or quicken our apprehensions of the
attributes and essence of that Divine 85Being。 Thus another part of
literature has become also extinct； happily for our race； for in the time
when so much was written on subjects which no one could determine；
people seemed to live in a perpetual state of quarrel and contention。 So；
too； a vast part of our ancient literature consists of historical records of
wars an revolutions during the times when the Ana lived in large and
turbulent societies； each seeking aggrandisement at the expense of the
other。 You see our serene mode of life now； such it has been for ages。
We have no events to chronicle。 What more of us can be said than that；
'they were born； they were happy； they died？' Coming next to that part of
literature which is more under the control of the imagination； such as what
we call Glaubsila； or colloquially 'Glaubs；' and you call poetry； the reasons
for its decline amongst us are abundantly obvious。
〃We find； by referring to the great masterpieces in that department of
literature which we all still read with pleasure； but of which none would
tolerate imitations； that they consist in the portraiture of passions which
we no longer experience… ambition； vengeance； unhallowed love； the thirst
for warlike renown； and suchlike。 The old poets lived in an atmosphere
impregnated with these passions； and felt vividly what they expressed
glowingly。 No one can express such passions now； for no one can feel
them； or meet with any sympathy in his readers if he did。 Again； the old
poetry has a main element in its dissection of those complex mysteries of
human character which conduce to abnormal vices and crimes； or lead to
signal and extraordinary virtues。 But our society； having got rid of
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The Coming Race
temptations to any prominent vices and crimes； has necessarily rendered
the moral average so equal； that there are no very salient virtues。
Without its ancient food of strong passions； vast crimes； heroic
excellences； poetry therefore is； if not actually starved to death； reduced to
a very meagre diet。 There is still the poetry of description… description of
rocks； and trees； and waters； and common household life； and our young
Gy…ei weave much of this insipid kind of composition into their love
verses。〃 86 〃Such poetry；〃 said I； 〃might surely be made very charming；
and we have critics amongst us who consider it a higher kind than that
which depicts the crimes； or analyses the passions； of man。 At all events；
poetry of the inspired kind you mention is a poetry that nowadays
commands more readers than any other among the people I have left
above ground。〃
〃Possibly； but then I suppose the writers take great pains with the
language they employ； and devote themselves to the culture and polish of
words and rhythms of an art？〃
〃Certainly they do： all great poets do that。 Though the gift of poetry
may be inborn； the gift requires as much care to make it available as a
block of metal does to be made into one of your engines。〃
〃And doubtless your poets have some incentive to bestow all those
pains upon such verbal prettinesses？〃
〃Well； I presume their instinct of song would make them sing as the
bird does； but to cultivate the song into verbal or artificial prettiness；
probably does need an inducement from without； and our poets find it in
the love of fame… perhaps； now and then； in the want of money。〃
〃Precisely so。 But in our society we attach fame to nothing which
man； in that moment of his duration which is called 'life；' can perform。
We should soon lose that equality which constitutes the felicitous essence
of our commonwealth if we selected any individual for pre…eminent praise：
pre…eminent praise would confer pre…eminent power； and the moment it
were given； evil passions； now dormant； would awake： other men would
immediately covet praise； then would arise envy； and with envy hate； and
with hate calumny and persecution。 Our history tells us that most of the
poets and most of the writers who； in the old time； were favoured with the
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greatest praise； were also assailed by the greatest vituperation； and even；
on the whole； 87rendered very unhappy； partly by the attacks of jealous
rivals； partly by the diseased mental constitution which an acquired
sensitiveness to praise and to blame tends to engender。 As for the
stimulus of want； in the first place； no man in our community knows the
goad of poverty； and； secondly； if he did； almost every occupation would
be more lucrative than writing。
〃Our public libraries contain all the books of the past which time has
preserved； those books； for the reasons above stated； are infinitely better
than any can write nowadays； and they are open to all to read without cost。
We are not such fools as to pay for reading inferior books； when we can
read superior books for nothing。〃
〃With us； novelty has an attraction； and a new book； if bad； is read
when an old book； though good； is neglected。〃
〃Novelty； to barbarous states of society struggling in despair for
something better； has no doubt an attraction； denied to us； who see nothing
to gain in novelties； but after all； it is observed by one of our great authors
four thousand years ago； that 'he who studies old books will always find in
them something new； and he who reads new books will always find in
them something old。' But to return to the question you have raised； there
being then amongst us no stimulus to painstaking labour； whether in desire
of fame or in pressure