letters on literature(关于文学)-第14节
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us the semblances of the dead lying at endless feasts； or receiving
sacrifices of food and wine （as in Egypt） from their descendants； or；
perhaps； welcoming the later dead； their friends who have just rejoined
them。 But it is only in the descriptions by Pausanias and others of certain
old wall…paintings that we hear of the torments of the wicked； of the
demons that torture them and； above all； of the great chief fiend； coloured
like a carrion fly。 To judge from Lucretius； although so little remains to us
of this creed； yet it had a very strong hold of the minds of people； in the
century before Christ。 Perhaps the belief was reinforced by the teaching
of Socrates； who； in the vision of Er； in the 〃Republic；〃 brings back； in a
myth； the old popular faith in a Purgatorio； if not in an Inferno。
In the 〃Phaedo；〃 for certain； we come to the very definite account of a
Hell； a place of eternal punishment； as well as of a Purgatory； whence
souls are freed when their sins are expiated。 〃The spirits beyond
redemption； for the multitude of their murders or sacrileges； Fate hurls
into Tartarus； whence they never any more come forth。〃 But souls of
lighter guilt abide a year in Tartarus； and then drift out down the streams
Cocytus and Pyriphlegethon。 Thence they reach the marsh of Acheron；
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Letters on Literature
but are not released until they have received the pardon of the souls whom
in life they had injured。
All this； and much more to the same purpose in other dialogues of
Plato's； appears to have been derived by Socrates from the popular
unphilosophic traditions； from Folk…lore in short； and to have been raised
by him to the rank of 〃pious opinion；〃 if not of dogma。 Now； Lucretius
represents nothing but the reaction against all this dread of future doom；
whether that dread was inculcated by Platonic philosophy or by popular
belief。 The latter must have been much the more powerful and widely
diffused。 It follows that the Romans； at least； must have been haunted by
a constant dread of judgment to come； from which； but for the testimony
of Lucretius and his manifest sincerity； we might have believed them free。
Perhaps we may regret the existence of this Roman religion； for it did
its best to ruin a great poet。 The sublimity of the language of Lucretius；
when he can leave his attempts at scientific proof； the closeness of his
observation； his enjoyment of life； of Nature； and his power of painting
them； a certain largeness of touch； and noble amplitude of mannerthese；
with a burning sincerity； mark him above all others that smote the Latin
lyre。 Yet these great qualities are half…crushed by his task； by his attempt
to turn the atomic theory into verse； by his unsympathetic effort to destroy
all faith and hope； because these were united； in his mind； with dread of
Styx and Acheron。
It is an almost intolerable philosophy； the philosophy of eternal sleep；
without dreams and without awakening。 This belief is wholly divorced
from joy； which inspires all the best art。 This negation of hope has
〃close…lipped Patience for its only friend。〃
In vain does Lucretius paint pictures of life and Nature so large； so
glowing； so majestic that they remind us of nothing but the 〃Fete
Champetre〃 of Giorgione； in the Louvre。 All that life is a thing we must
leave soon； and forever； and must be hopelessly lapped in an eternity of
blind silence。 〃I shall let men see the certain end of all；〃 he cries； 〃then
will they resist religion； and the threats of priests and prophets。〃 But this
〃certain end〃 is exactly what mortals do not desire to see。 To this sleep
they prefer even tenebras Orci； vastasque lacunas。
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They will not be deprived of gods； 〃the friends of man； merciful gods；
compassionate。〃 They will not turn from even a faint hope in those to the
Lucretian deities in their endless and indifferent repose and divine 〃delight
in immortal and peaceful life； far； far away from us and ourslife painless
and fearless； needing nothing we can give； replete with its own wealth；
unmoved by prayer and promise； untouched by anger。〃
Do you remember that hymn； as one may call it； of Lucretius to Death；
to Death which does not harm us。 〃For as we knew no hurt of old； in
ages when the Carthaginian thronged against us in war； and the world was
shaken with the shock of fight； and dubious hung the empire over all
things mortal by sea and land； even so careless； so unmoved； shall we
remain； in days when we shall no more exist； when the bond of body and
soul that makes our life is broken。 Then naught shall move us； nor wake
a single sense； not though earth with sea be mingled； and sea with sky。〃
There is no hell； he cries； or； like Omar； he says； 〃Hell is the vision of a
soul on fire。〃
Your true Tityus； gnawed by the vulture； is only the slave of passion
and of love； your true Sisyphus （like Lord Salisbury in Punch） is only the
politician； striving always； never attaining； the stone rolls down again
from the hill…crest； and thunders far along the plain。
Thus his philosophy； which gives him such a delightful sense of
freedom； is rejected after all these years of trial by men。 They feel that
since those remotest days
〃Quum Venus in silvis jungebat corpora amantum；〃
they have travelled the long； the weary way Lucretius describes to
little avail； if they may not keep their hopes and fears。 Robbed of these
we are robbed of all； it serves us nothing to have conquered the soil and
fought the winds and waves； to have built cities； and tamed fire； if the
world is to be 〃dispeopled of its dreams。〃 Better were the old life we
started from； and dreams therewith； better the free days …
〃Novitas tum florida mundi Pabula dia tulit； miseris mortablibus
ampla；〃
than wealth or power； and neither hope nor fear； but one certain end
of all before the eyes of all。
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Thus the heart of man has answered； and will answer Lucretius； the
noblest Roman poet； and the least beloved； who sought； at last； by his own
hand； they say； the doom that Virgil waited for in the season appointed。
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Letters on Literature
TO A YOUNG AMERICAN
BOOK…HUNTER
To Philip Dodsworth； Esq。； New York。
Dear Dodsworth；Let me congratulate you on having joined the army
of book…hunters。 〃Everywhere have I sought peace and found it
nowhere；〃 says the blessed Thomas e Kempis； 〃save in a corner with a
book。〃 Whether that good monk wrote the 〃De Imitatione Christi〃 or not；
one always likes him for his love of books。 Perhaps he was the only
book…hunter that ever wrought a miracle。 〃Other signs and miracles
which he was wont to tell as having happened at the prayer of an unnamed
person； are believed to have been granted to his own； such as the sudden
reappearance of a lost book in his cell。〃 Ah； if Faith； that moveth
mountains； could only bring back the books we have lost； the books that
have been borrowed from us！ But we are a faithless generation。
From a collector so much older and better experienced in misfortune
than yourself； you ask for some advice on the sport of book…hunting。 Well；
I will give it； but you will not take it。 No； you will hunt wild； like young
pointers before they are properly broken。
Let me suppose that you are 〃to middle fortune born；〃 and that you
cannot st
