下载辰思小说免费APP
TomeheseemsveryunworthytobeHester\'slover,forsheisabeautifulwomanoffleshandblood。Mr。Dimmesdalewasnotonlyimmoral;hewasunsportsmanlike。Hehadnomorepluckthanachurch-mouse。Hismiserablepassionwasdegradedbyitsbrevity;
howcouldheseethiswoman\'sdisgraceforsevenlongyears,andneverpluckuphearteithertosharehershameorpeccareforliter?
Heisalayfigure,verycleverly,butsomewhatconventionallymadeandpainted。ThevengefulhusbandofHester,RogerChillingworth,isaMr。Casaubonstungintojealousanger。Buthisattitude,watchingeverbyDimmesdale,tormentinghim,andyetinhisconfidence,andeverunsuspected,remindsoneofaconceptiondeartoDickens。Heusesitin"DavidCopperfield,"whereMr。Micawber(ofallpeople!)playsthistrickonUriahHeep;heusesitin"HuntedDown";hewasaboutusingitin"EdwinDrood";heusedit(oldMartinandPecksniff)in"MartinChuzzlewit。"ThepersonofRogerChillingworthandhisconductarealittletoomelodramaticforHawthorne\'sgenius。
InDickens\'smanner,too,isHawthorne\'slongsarcasticaddresstoJudgePyncheon(in"TheHouseoftheSevenGables"),asthejudgesitsdeadinhischair,withhiswatchtickinginhishand。
OccasionallyachanceremarkremindsoneofDickens;thisforexample:Heistalkingoflarge,blackoldbooksofdivinity,andoftheirsuccessors,tinybooks,Elzevirsperhaps。"Theselittleoldvolumesimpressedmeasiftheyhadbeenintendedforverylargeones,buthadbeenunfortunatelyblightedatanearlystageoftheirgrowth。"ThismightalmostdeceivetheelectasapieceofthetrueBoz。Theirwidelydifferenttalentsdidreallyintersecteachotherwheretheperverse,thegrotesque,andtheterribledwell。
Tomyself"TheHouseoftheSevenGables"hasalwaysappearedthemostbeautifulandattractiveofHawthorne\'snovels。Heactuallygivesusalovestory,andcondescendstoaprettyheroine。Thecurseof"Maule\'sBlood"isagoodoldromanticidea,terriblyhandled。Thereismoreoflightness,andofacobwebbydustyhumourinHepzibahPyncheon,thedecayedladyshopkeeper,thanHawthornecommonlycarestodisplay。Doyoucareforthe"firstlover,"thePhotographer\'sYoungMan?Itmaybeconventionalprejudice,butIseemtoseehimgoingaboutonatricycle,andI
don\'tthinkhimtherightpersonforPhoebe。Perhapsitisreallythebeautiful,gentle,oppressedCliffordwhohauntsone\'smemorymost,akindoftragicandthwartedHaroldSkimpole。"Howpleasant,howdelightful,"hemurmured,butnotasifaddressinganyone。
"Willitlast?Howbalmytheatmospherethroughthatopenwindow!
Anopenwindow!Howbeautifulthatplayofsunshine。Thoseflowers,howveryfragrant!Thatyounggirl\'sface,howcheerful,howblooming。Aflowerwiththedewonit,andsunbeamsinthedewdrops……"ThiscomparisonwithSkimpolemaysoundlikeanunkindcriticismofClifford\'scharacterandplaceinthestory——itisonlyachancenoteofachanceresemblance。
Indeed,itmaybethatHawthornehimselfwasawareoftheresemblance。"AnindividualofClifford\'scharacter,"heremarks,"canalwaysbeprickedmoreacutelythroughhissenseofthebeautifulandharmoniousthanthroughhisheart。"Andhesuggeststhat,ifCliffordhadnotbeensolonginprison,hisaestheticzeal"mighthaveeatenoutorfiledawayhisaffections。"ThiswaswhatbefellHaroldSkimpole——himself"inprisonsoften"——atCoavinses!TheJudgePyncheonofthetaleisalsoamasterlystudyofswaggeringblack-heartedrespectability,andthen,inadditiontoallthepoetryofhisstyle,andthecharmofhishauntedair,Hawthornefavoursuswithabraveconclusionofthegoodsort,theoldsort。Theycomeintomoney,theymarry,theyarehappyeverafter。Thisisdoingthingshandsomely,thoughsomeofourmodernnoveliststhinkitcoarseanddegrading。Hawthornedidnotthinkso,andtheyarenotexactlybetterartiststhanHawthorne。
Yethe,too,hadhiseconomies,whichweresent。IdonotmeanhisnottellinguswhatitwasthatRogerChillingworthsawonArthurDimmesdale\'sbarebreast。Toleavethatvagueisquitelegitimate。
ButwhathadMiriamandthespectreoftheCatacombsdone?Whowasthespectre?Whatdidhewant?TohavetoldallthiswouldhavebeenbetterthantofillthenovelwithpaddingaboutRome,sculpture,andtheEthicsofArt。Asthesillysayingruns:"thepeoplehasarighttoknow"aboutMiriamandherghostlyacquaintance。{10}Butthe"MarbleFaun"isnotofHawthorne\'sbestperiod,beautifulasareahundredpassagesinthetale。
Beautifulpassagesareascommoninhisproseasgoldintherichestquartz。HowexcellentarehiswordsonthefirstfaintbutcertainbreathofAutumnintheair,felt,perhaps,earlyinJuly。
"AndthencameAutumn,withhisimmenseburthenofapples,droppingthemcontinuallyfromhisoverladenshouldersashetrudgedalong。"
KeatsmighthavewrittensoofAutumnintheorchards——ifKeatshadbeenwritingprose。
Therearegeniusesmoresunny,large,andgladthanHawthorne\'s,nonemoreoriginal,moresurefooted,inhisownrealmofmoonlightandtwilight。
CHAPTERXI:THEPARADISEOFPOETS
WeweretalkingofLove,Constancy,theIdeal。"Whoeverlovedlikethepoets?"criedLadyVioletLebas,herpure,palecheekflushing。"Ah,ifeverIamtolove,heshallbeasinger!"
"Tenorsarepopular,very,"saidLordWalter。
"Imeanapoet,"sheansweredwitheringly。
NearthemstoodMr。Witham,theauthorof"Heart\'sChordsTangled。"
"Ah,"saidhe,"thatremindsme。Ihavebeentryingtocatchitallthemorning。Thatremindsmeofmydream。"
"Tellusyourdream,"murmuredLadyVioletLebas,andhetoldit。
"Itwasthroughanunfortunatebutpardonableblunder,"saidMr。
Witham,"thatIdied,andreachedtheParadiseofPoets。Ihad,indeed,publishedvolumesofverse,butwiththemostblamelessmotives。Otherpoetswerecontinuallysendingmetheirs,and,asI
couldnotadmirethem,anddidnotliketoreplybycriticalremarks,Isimplyprintedsomerhymesforthepurposeofsendingthemtothegentlemenwhofavouredmewiththeirs。Ialwayswroteonthefly-leafaquotationfromthe"Iliad,"aboutgivingcopperinexchangeforgold;andthefewpoetswhocouldreadGreekweregratified,whiletheothers,probably,thoughtacomplimentwasintended。Nothingcouldbelessculpableorpretentious,but,throughsomemistakeonthepartofCharon,IwasdraftedofftotheParadiseofPoets。
"OutsidetheGoldenGateanumberofShadowswerewaiting,indifferentattitudesofdepressionandlanguor。BaviusandMaeviuswerethere,stillcomplainingof\'cliques,\'railingatHoraceforamererhymerofsociety,andatVirgilasaplagiarist,\'TakeawayhiscribsfromHomerandApolloniusRhodius,\'quothhonestMaevius,\'andwhatisthereleftofhim?\'Ialsometasocietyofgentlemen,inGreekcostume,ofvariousages,fromahalf-nakedminstrelwithatortoiseshelllyreinhishandtoanelegantoftheageofPericles。Theyallconsortedtogether,talkingvariousdialectsofAeolic,Ionian,AtticGreek,andsoforth,whichwereplainlynotintelligibletoeachother。Iventuredtoaskoneofthecompanywhohewas,buthe,withasweepofhishand,said,\'WeareHomer!\'WhenIexpressedmyregretandsurprisethattheGoldenGatehadnotyetopenedforsodistinguished,thoughcollective,anartist,myfriendansweredthat,accordingtoFick,Peppmuller,andmanyotherlearnedmen,theywereHomer。\'ButanimpostorfromChioshasgotinsomehow,\'hesaid;\'theydon\'tpaytheleastattentiontotheGermansintheParadiseofPoets。\'
"AtthismomenttheGoldenGateswerethrownapart,andafairlady,inanearlyItaliancostume,carryingalaurelinherhand,appearedattheentrance。AlltheShadowslookedupwithanairofwearyexpectation,likepeoplewaitingfortheirturninadoctor\'sconsulting-room。Shebeckonedtome,however,andImadehastetofollowher。Thewords\'Charlatan!\'\'Youapoet!\'inavarietyoflanguages,greetedmebywayoffarewellfromtheShadows。
"\'TherenownedLaura,ifIamnotmistaken,\'Iventuredtoremark,recognisingher,indeed,fromtheminiatureintheLaurentianlibraryatFlorence。
"Shebowed,andIbegantoaskforheradorer,Petrarch。
"\'Excuseme,\'saidLaura,asweglideddownamossypath,undertheshadeoftreesparticularlydeartopoets,\'excuseme,butthesonneteerofwhomyouspeakisonewhosenameIcannotbeartomention。HisconductwithBurns\'sClarinda,hisheartlessinfatuationforStella——\'
"\'Youastonishme,\'Isaid。\'IntheParadiseofPoets——\'
"\'Theyarepoetsstill——incorrigible!\'answeredthelady;thenslightlyraisinghervoiceofsilver,asabeautifulappearanceinatogadrewnear,shecried\'Catullomio!\'
"Thegreetingbetweentheseaccomplishedghostswastookindlytoleaveroomfordoubtastotheardouroftheiraffections。
"\'Willyou,myCatullus,\'murmuredLaura,\'explaintothispoetfromthelandoffogs,anymatterswhich,tohim,mayseempuzzlingandunfamiliarinourParadise?\'
"TheVeronese,withacharmingsmile,tookmyhand,andledmetoashadowyarbour,whenceweenjoyedaprospectofmanyriversandmountainsinthepoets\'heaven。AmongtheseIrecognisedthetriplecrestoftheEildons,GrongarHill,CithaeronandEtna;
whilethereed-fringedwatersoftheMinciusflowedmusicallybetweenthebanksandbraeso\'bonnyDoontojointheTweed。
Blitheghostswerewanderingby,inallvarietiesofapparel,andI
distinctlyobservedDante\'sBeatrice,leaninglovingonthearmofSirPhilipSidney,whileDantewascloselyengagedinconversationwiththelostLenore,celebratedbyMr。EdgarAllanPoe。
"\'InwhatcanmyknowledgeoftheParadiseofPoetsbeserviceabletoyou,sir?\'saidCatullus,asheflunghimselfatthefeetofLaura,onthevelvetgrass。
"\'Iamdisinclinedtoseemimpertinentlycurious,\'Ianswered,\'buttheladiesinthisfair,smilingcountry——havethegodsmadethempoetical?\'
"\'Notgenerally,\'repliedCatullus。\'Indeed,ifyouwouldbewellwiththem,Imaywarnyounevertomentionpoetryintheirhearing。
Theynevercaredforitwhileonearth,andinthisplaceitisatopicwhichtheprudentcarefullyavoidamongladies。Totellthetruth,theyhavehadtolistentofartoomuchpoetry,andtoomanydiscussionsonthecaesura。Thereare,indeed,afewladypoets——
veryfew。Sappho,forexample;indeedIcannotrecallanyotheratthismoment。TheresultisthatPhaon,ofalltheshadowshere,isthemostdistinguishedbythefair。Hewasnotapoet,youknow;
hegotinonaccountofSappho,whoadoredhim。Theyareestrangednow,ofcourse。\'
"\'Youinterestmedeeply,\'Ianswered。\'Andnow,willyoukindlytellmewhytheseladiesarehere,iftheywerenotpoets?\'
"\'Thewomenthatwereouridealswhilewedweltonearth,thewomenwelovedbutneverwon,or,atallevents,neverwedded,theyforwhomwesighedwhileinthearmsofarecognisedandlegitimateaffection,havebeenchosenbytheOlympianstokeepuscompanyinParadise!\'
"\'Thenwherefore,\'Iinterrupted,\'doIseeRobertBurnsloiteringwiththatladyinaruff,——Cassandra,Imakenodoubt——Ronsard\'sCassandra?AndwhyistheincomparableClarindainseparablefromPetrarch;andMissPattyBlount,Pope\'sflame,fromtheSyrianMeleager,whileHISHeliodoreismanifestlydevotedtoMr。Emerson,whom,bytheway,Iamdelighted,ifrathersurprised,toseehere?\'
"\'Ah,\'saidCatullus,\'youareanew-comeramongus。Poetswillbepoets,andnosoonerhavetheyattainedtheirdesire,anddweltinthecompanyoftheirearthlyIdeals,thantheyfeelstrangely,yetirresistiblydrawntoAnother。Soitwasinlife,soitwilleverbe。NoIdealcansurviveadailycompanionship,andfortunateisthepoetwhodidnotmarryhisfirstlove!\'
"\'Asfarasthatgoes,\'Ianswered,\'mostofyouwerehighlyfavoured;indeed,IdonotrememberanypoetwhoseIdealwashiswife,orwhosefirstloveledhimtothealtar。\'
"\'Iwasnotamarryingmanmyself,\'answeredtheVeronese;\'fewofuswere。Myself,Horace,Virgil——wewereallbachelors。\'
"\'AndLesbia!\'
"Isaidthisinalowvoice,forLaurawasweavingbayintoachaplet,andinattentivetoourconversation。
"\'PoorLesbia!\'saidCatullus,withasuppressedsigh。\'HowI
misjudgedthatgirl!Howcruel,howcauselessweremyreproaches,\'
andwildlyrendinghiscurledlocksandlaurelcrown,hefledintoathicket,whencetheresoonarosethemelancholynotesoftheAusonianlyre。\'
"\'Heisincorrigible,\'saidLaura,verycoldly;andshedeliberatelybegantotearandtossawaythefragmentsofthechapletshehadbeenweaving。\'Ishallneverbreakhimofthathabitofversifying。Buttheyareallalike。\'
"\'Istherenobodyhere,\'saidI,\'whoishappywithhisIdeal——
nobodybuthasexchangedIdealswithsomeotherpoet?\'
"\'Thereisone,\'shesaid。\'Hecomesofanortherntribe;andinhislife-timeheneverrhymeduponhisunattainablelady,orifrhymehedid,theaccentsnevercarriedhernametotheearsofthevulgar。Lookthere。\'
"Shepointedtotheriveratourfeet,andIknewthemountedfigurethatwasridingtheford,withagreen-mantledladybesidehimliketheFairyQueen。
"SurelyIhadreadofher,andknewher-
"\'Shewhoseblueeyestheirsecrettold,Thoughshadedbyherlocksofgold。\'
"\'Theyaredifferent;Iknownotwhy。Theyareconstant,\'saidLaura,andrisingwithanairofchagrin,shedisappearedamongtheboughsofthetreesthatbearhername。
"\'Unhappyheartsofpoets,\'Imused。\'Lightthingsandsacredtheyare,butevenintheirParadise,andamongtheirchosen,witheverywishfulfilled,andunitedtotheirbeloved,theycannotbeatrest!\'
"Thusmoralising,Iwendedmywaytoacrag,whencetherewasawideprospect。Certainpoetswerestandingthere,lookingdownintoanabyss,andtothemIjoinedmyself。
"\'Ah,Icannotbearit!\'saidavoice,and,asheturnedaway,hisbrowalreadyclearing,hispainalreadyforgotten,IbeheldtheaugustformofShakespeare。
"Markingmycuriositybeforeitwasexpressed,heansweredtheunutteredquestion。
"\'ThatisasightforPagans,\'hesaid,\'andmaygivethempleasure。ButmyParadisewereembitteredifIhadtowatchthesorrowsofothers,andtheirtorments,howeverwelldeserved。Theothersaregazingonthepurgatoryofcriticsandcommentators。\'
"Hepassedfromme,andIjoinedthe\'Ionianfatheroftherest\'——
Homer,who,withacountenanceofunspeakablemajesty,wasseatedonathroneofrock,betweentheMantuanVirgilofthelaurelcrown,Hugo,Sophocles,Milton,Lovelace,Tennyson,andShelley。
"AttheirfeetIbeheld,inavastandgloomyhall,manyanhonestcritic,manyaneruditecommentator,anarmyofreviewers。Somewerecondemnedtorolllogsupinsuperableheights,whencetheydescendedthunderingtotheplain。Othersweresettoimpositions,andIparticularlyobservedthattheHomericcommentatorswereobligedtowriteoutthe"Iliad"and"Odyssey"intheircompleteshape,andwerealwaysdrivenbyfiendstothetaskwhentheyprayedforthebarecharityofbeingpermittedtoleaveoutthe\'interpolations。\'Others,fearfultonarrate,weretornintoasmanyfragmentsastheyhadmadeoftheseimmortalepics。Others,suchasAristarchus,werespittedontheirowncriticalsignsofdisapproval。Manyreviewerswerecompelledtoreadthebookswhichtheyhadcriticisedwithoutperusal,anditwasterribletowatchtheagoniesoftheworthypressmenwhoweresettothisunwontedtask。\'Maywenotbeletoffwiththepreface?\'theycriedinpiteousaccents。\'Maywenotglanceatthetableofcontentsandbedonewithit?\'Butthepresidingdemons(whohadbeenExaminersinthebodilylife)drovethemremorselesstotheirtoils。
"AmongthecondemnedIcouldnotbutwitness,withsympathy,thepunishmentreservedfortranslators。ThetranslatorsofVirgil,inparticular,wereavastandmotleyassemblageofmostrespectablemen。Bishopswerethere,fromGawainDouglasdownwards;Judges,intheirermine;professors,clergymen,civilservants,writhinginallthetorturesthattheblankverse,theanapaesticmeasure,themetreofthe"LayoftheLastMinstrel,"theheroiccoupletandsimilardevicescaninflict。ForallthesemenhadlovedVirgil,thoughnotwisely:andnowtheirpenancewastoheareachotherreadtheirowntranslations。"
"Thatmusthavebeenmorethantheycouldbear,"saidLadyViolet"Yes,"saidMr。Witham;"Ishouldknow,fordownIfellintoTartaruswithacrash,andwrithedamongtheTranslators。"
"Why?"askedLadyViolet。
"BecauseIhavetranslatedTheocritus!"
"Mr。Witham,"saidLadyViolet,"didyoumeetyouridealwomanwhenyouwereintheParadiseofPoets?"
"Sheyetwalksthisearth,"saidthebard,withatoosignificantbow。
LadyVioletturnedcoldlyaway。
***
Mr。WithamwasneverinvitedtotheBluesagain——thenameofLordAzure\'splaceinKent。
ThePoetisshutoutofParadise。
CHAPTERXII:PARISANDHELEN
Thefirstnameinromance,themostancientandthemostenduring,isthatofArgiveHelen。Duringthreethousandyearsfairwomenhavebeenborn,havelived,andbeenloved,"thattheremightbeasongintheearsofmenoflatertime,"but,comparedtotherenownofHelen,theirgloryisdim。Cleopatra,whoheldtheworld\'sfateinherhands,andlayinthearmsofCaesar;MaryStuart(MariaVerticordia),forwhosesake,asanorthernnovelisttells,peasantshavelainawake,sorrowingthatsheisdead;AgnesSorel,FairRosamond,labelleStuart,"thePompadourandtheParabere,"
canstillenchantusfromthepageofhistoryandchronicle。"Zeusgavethembeauty,whichnaturallyrulesevenstrengthitself,"toquotetheGreekoratoronthemistressofthemall,onherwho,havingneverlived,canneverdie,theDaughteroftheSwan。
WhileHelenenjoysthisimmortality,andistheidealofbeautyuponearth,itiscurioustoreflectonthemoderniteofherstory,theoldestofthelovestoriesoftheworld。InHomerwefirstmeether,thefairestofwomeninthesongofthegreatestofpoets。ItmightalmostseemasifHomermeanttojustify,byhisdealingwithHelen,someofthemostrecenttheoriesofliteraryart。Inthe"Iliad"and"Odyssey"thetaleofHeleniswithoutabeginningandwithoutanend,likeafriezeonaGreektemple。Shecrossesthestageasafigurefamiliartoall,thepoet\'saudienceclearlydidnotneedtobetoldwhoHelenwas,noranythingaboutheryouth。
ThefamousjudgmentofParis,thebeginningofeviltoAchaeansandIlianmen,isonlymentionedoncebyHomer,late,andinapassageofdoubtfulauthenticity。Ofherreconciliationtoherweddedlord,Menelaus,notawordissaid;ofherendwearetoldnomorethanthatforherandhimamansioninElysiumisprepared-
"Wherefallsnothail,orrain,oranysnow。"
WeleaveherhappyinArgos,asmileonherlips,agiftinherhands,aswemetherinTroy,beautiful,adoreddespiteherguilt,assweetinherrepentanceasinherunvexedArgivehome。Womenseldommentionher,intheepic,butwithhorrorandanger;menneveraddressherbutingentlecourtesy。Whatishersecret?HowdidsheleaveherhomewithParis——beguiledbylove,bymagic,ordrivenbytheimplacableAphrodite?Homerissilentonallofthesethings;thesethings,doubtless,wereknownbyhisaudience。
InhispoemHelenmovesasathingofsimplegrace,courtesy,andkindness,savewhensherebelsagainstherdoom,afterseeingherloverflyfromherhusband\'sspear。HadweonlyHomer,byfarourearliestliterarysource,weshouldknowlittleoftheromanceofHelen;shouldonlyknowthatalawlesslovebroughtruinonTroyandsorrowontheAchaeans;andthisisthrownout,withnomoralcomment,withoutpraiseorblame。Theend,welearn,waspeace,andbeautywasreconciledtolife。Thereisnoexplanation,nodenouement;andweknowhowmuchdenouementandexplanationshamperedScottandShakespeare。FromthesetrammelsHomerisfree,asagodisfreefrommortallimitations。
Allthismanneroftellingatale——amannersoancient,sooriginal——isakin,inpractice,torecenttheoriesofwhatartshouldbe,andwhatartseldomis,perhapsneveris,inmodernhands。
Modernenough,again,isthechoiceofamarriedwomanfortheheroineoftheearliestlovetale。ApolloniusRhodiussings(andnomanhaseversungsowell)ofamaiden\'slove;Virgil,ofawidow\'s;Homer,oflovethathasdefiedlaw,blindlyobedienttodestiny,whichdominatesevenZeus。Onceagain,Helenisnotaveryyounggirl;ungallantchronologistshaveattributedtoherI
knownotwhatage。WethinkofherasabouttheageoftheVenusofMilo;intruth,shewas"agelessandimmortal。"Homerneverdescribesherbeauty;weonlyseeitreflectedintheeyesoftheoldmen,whiteandweak,thin-voicedascicalas:buthersisaloveliness"toturnanoldmanyoung。""Itisnomarvel,"theysay,"thatforhersakeTrojansandAchaeansslayeachother。"
Shewasembroideringatavastweb,workingingoldandscarletthesorrowsthatforhersakebefellmankind,whentheycalledhertothewallstoseeParisfightMenelaus,inthelastyearofthewar。
Thereshestands,inraimentofsilverywhite,herheartyearningforheroldloveandherowncity。AlreadyherthoughtisfarfromParis。WasherhearteverwithParis?Thatishersecret。Averyoldlegend,mentionedbytheBishopofThessalonica,Eustathius,tellsusthatParismagicallybeguiledher,disguisedintheformofMenelaus,herlord,asUtherbeguiledYgerne。SheseesthesonofPriamplaythedastardinthefight;sheturnsinwrathonAphrodite,whowouldlureherbacktohisarms;buttohisarmsshemustgo,"forthedaughterofZeuswasafraid。"Violenceisputuponbeauty;itissoiled,orseemssoiled,initswaythroughtheworld。HelenurgesParisagainintothewar。Hehasaheartinvinciblylightandgay;shamedoesnotweighonhim。"Noteverymanisvalianteveryday,"hesays;yetonceengagedinbattle,hebearshimbravely,andhisarrowsraindeathamongthemail-cladAchaeans。
WhatHomerthinksofPariswecanonlyguess。HisbeautyisthebaneofIlios;butHomerforgivessomuchtobeauty。Intheendofthe"Iliad,"HelensingstheimmortaldirgeoverHector,thestainlessknight,"withthylovingkindnessandthygentlespeech。"
Inthe"Odyssey,"sheisathomeagain,playingthegraciouspartofhostesstoOdysseus\'swanderingson,pouringintothebowlthemagicherbofEgypt,"whichbringsforgetfulnessofsorrow。"ThewanderingsonofOdysseusdepartswithagiftforhisbride,"towearuponthedayofherdesire,amemorialofthehandsofHelen,"
thebeautifulhands,thatinTroyorArgoswereneveridle。
OfHelen,fromHomer,weknownomore。Grace,penitenceinexile,peaceathome,thesearetheportionofherwhosetEastandWestatwarandruinedthecityofPriamoftheashenspear。AsinthestrangelegendpreservedbyServius,thecommentatoronVirgil,whotellsusthatHelenworeared"star-stone,"whencefellgoutsofbloodthatvanishederetheytouchedherswan\'s
Theseuscarriedheroff;herbrothersrescuedher。AlltheprincesofAchaeacompetedforherhand,havingfirsttakenanoathtoavengewhomsoevershemightchooseforherhusband。Thechoicefellonthecorrectandhonourable,butratherinconspicuous,Menelaus,andtheydweltinSparta,besidetheEurotas,"inahollowoftheriftedhills。"Then,fromacrossthesea,camethebeautifulandfatalParis,sonofPriam,KingofTroy。Asachild,Parishadbeenexposedonthemountains,becausehismotherdreamedthatshebroughtforthafirebrand。Hewasrescuedandfosteredbyashepherd;hetendedtheflocks;helovedthedaughterofarivergod,OEnone。ThencamethenakedGoddesses,toseekatthehandofthemostbeautifulofmortalstheprizeofbeauty。Aphroditewonthegoldenapplefromthequeenofheaven,Hera,andfromtheGoddessofwarandwisdom,Athena,bribingthejudgebythepromiseofthefairestwifeintheworld。Noincidentismorefrequentlycelebratedinpoetryandart,towhichitlendssuchgraciousopportunities。PariswaslaterrecognisedasoftheroyalbloodofTroy。HecametoLacedaemononanembassy,hesawHelen,anddestinyhaditsway。
Concerningthedetailsinthismostancientlove-story,welearnnothingfromHomer,whomerelymakesParisremindHelenoftheirbridalnightintheisleofCranae。ButfromHomerwelearnthatPariscarriedoffnotonlythewifeofMenelaus,butmanyofhistreasures。Tothepoetofthe"Iliad,"thepsychologyofthewooingwouldhaveseemedasimplematter。Likethelatervase-
painters,hewouldhaveshownusParisbesideHelen,Aphroditestandingnear,accompaniedbythefigureofPeitho——Persuasion。
HomeralwaysescapesourpsychologicalproblemsbythrowingtheweightofourdeedsandmisdeedsonaGodoraGoddess,orondestiny。Tohavefledfromherlordandheronechild,Hermione,wasnotinkeepingwiththecharacterofHelenasHomerdrawsit。
HerrepentanceisalmostChristianinitsexpression,andrepentanceindicatesaconsciousnessofsinandofshame,whichHelenfrequentlyprofesses。Thusshe,atleast,doesnot,likeHomer,inhischivalrousway,throwalltheblameontheImmortalsandondestiny。ThecheerfulacquiescenceofHelenindestinymakespartofthecomicelementinLaBelleHelene,butthemirthonlyarisesoutoftheincongruitybetweenParisianideasandthoseofancientGreece。
Helenisfreelyandbitterlyblamedinthe"Odyssey"byPenelope,chieflybecauseoftheruinousconsequenceswhichfollowedherflight。Still,thereisonepassage,whenPenelopeprudentlyhesitatesaboutrecognisingherreturnedlord,whichmakesitjustpossiblethatalegendchronicledbyEustathiuswasknowntoHomer,——namely,thetalealreadymentioned,thatParisbeguiledherintheshapeofMenelaus。Theincidentisveryold,asinthestoryofZeusandAmphitryon,andmightbeusedwheneveralady\'scharacterneededtobesaved。Butthisanecdote,onthewhole,isinconsistentwiththerepentanceofHelen,andisnotinHomer\'smanner。
Theearlylyricpoet,Stesichorus,issaidtohavewrittenharshlyagainstHelen。Shepunishedhimbyblindness,andheinditedapalinode,explainingthatitwasnotshewhowenttoTroy,butawomanfashionedinherlikeness,byZeus,outofmistandlight。
TherealHelenremainedsafelyandwithhonourinEgypt。Euripideshasmadethisidea,whichwascalculatedtopleasehim,thegroundworkofhis"Helena,"butitneverhadastrongholdontheGreekimagination。Modernfancyispleasedbythepictureofthecloud-brideinTroy,GreeksandTrojansdyingforaphantasm。
"Shadowsweare,andshadowswepursue。"
Concerningthelaterfeats,andthedeathofParis,Homersaysverylittle。HeslewAchillesbyanarrow-shotintheScaeangate,andprophecywasfulfilled。Hehimselffellbyanothershaft,perhapsthepoisonedshaftofPhiloctetes。Inthefourthorfifthcenturyofoureraalatepoet,QuintusSmyrnaeus,describedParis\'sjourney,inquestofahealingspell,totheforsakenOEnone,andherrefusaltoaidhim;herdeathonhisfuneralpyre。Quintusisapoetofextraordinarymeritforhisage,andscarcelydeservesthereproachoflazinessaffixedonhimbyLordTennyson。
Onthewhole,Homerseemstohaveakindofhalf-contemptuouslikingforthebeautifulParis。Laterartrepresentshimasabowmanofgirlishcharms,wearingaPhrygiancap。Thereisalatelegendthathehadason,Corythus,byOEnone,andthathekilledtheladinamomentofjealousy,findinghimwithHelenandfailingtorecognisehim。OnthedeathofParis,perhapsbyvirtueofthecustomoftheLevirate,Helenbecamethewifeofhisbrother,Deiphobus。
HowherreconciliationwithMenelauswasbroughtaboutwedonotlearnfromHomer,who,inthe"Odyssey,"acceptsitasafact。Theearliesttraditionalhintonthesubjectisgivenbythefamous"CofferofCypselus,"aworkoftheseventhcentury,B。C。,whichPausaniassawatOlympia,inA。D。174。Here,onabandofivory,wasrepresented,amongotherscenesfromthetaleofTroy,Menelausrushing,swordinhand,toslayHelen。AccordingtoStesichorus,thearmywasabouttostoneherafterthefallofIlios,butrelented,amazedbyherbeauty。
OfherlaterlifeinLacedaemon,nothingisknownonreallyancientauthority,andlatertraditionsvary。TheSpartansshowedhersepulchreandhershrineatTherapnae,whereshewasworshipped。
HerodotustellsushowHelen,asaGoddess,appearedinhertempleandhealedadeformedchild,makingherthefairestwomaninSparta,inthereignofAriston。Itmay,perhaps,beconjecturedthatinSparta,HelenoccupiedtheplaceofalocalAphrodite。InanotherlatestoryshedwellsintheisleofLeuke,ashadowybrideoftheshadowyAchilles。ThemockingLucian,inhisVeraHistoria,meetsHelenintheFortunateIslands,whencesheelopeswithoneofhiscompanions。Again,thesonsofMenelaus,byaconcubine,weresaidtohavedrivenHelenfromSpartaonthedeathofherlord,andshewasmurderedinRhodes,bythevengeanceofPolyxo,whosehusbandfellatTroy。But,amongalltheseinventions,thatofHomerstandsoutpre-eminent。HelenandMenelausdonotdie,theyaretoonearakintoZeus;theydwellimmortal,notamongtheshadowsofheroesandoffamousladiesdeadandgone,butinElysium,theparadiseattheworld\'send,unvisitedbystorms。
"Beyondthesevoicesthereispeace。"
Itisplainthat,asalove-story,thetaleofParisandHelenmusttomodernreadersseemmeagre。ToGreece,ineveryage,themaininterestlaynotinthepassionofthebeautifulpair,butinitsworld-wideconsequences:theclashofEuropeandAsia,thedeathsofkings,theruinwroughtintheirhomes,theconsequentfallofthegreatandancientAchaeancivilisation。TotheGreeks,theTrojanwarwaswhattheCrusadesareinlaterhistory。AsintheCrusades,theWestassailedtheEastforanideal,nottorecovertheHolySepulchreofourreligion,buttowinbackthelivingtypeofbeautyandofcharm。Perhaps,erethesungrowscold,menwillnomorebelieveintheCrusades,asanhistoricalfact,thanwedointhesiegeofTroy。Inasense,averyobvioussense,themythofHelenisaparableofHellenichistory。Theysoughtbeauty,andtheyfoundit;theyboreithome,and,withbeauty,theirbane。
WhereverHelenwent"shebroughtcalamity,"inthisatypeofallthefamousandpeerlessladiesofolddays,ofCleopatraandofMaryStuart。RomanceandpoetryhavenothinglessplausiblethanthepartwhichCleopatraactuallyplayedinthehistoryoftheworld,aworldwelllostbyMarkAntonyforhersake。TheflightfromActiummightseemasmuchamerepoet\'sdreamasthegatheringoftheAchaeansatAulis,ifwewerenotcertainthatitistrulychronicled。
Fromtheearliesttimes,evenfromtimesbeforeHomer(whoseaudienceissupposedtoknowallaboutHelen),theimaginationofGreece,andlater,theimaginationofthecivilisedworld,hasplayedaroundHelen,devisingaboutherallthatpossiblycouldbedevised。ShewasthedaughterofZeusbyNemesis,orbyLeda;orthedaughteroftheswan,orachildofthechangefulmoon,broodingon"theformlessandmulti-formwaters。"Shecouldspeakinthevoicesofallwomen,henceshewasnamed"Echo,"andwemightfancythat,likethewitchoftheBrocken,shecouldappeartoeverymaninthelikenessofhisownfirstlove。TheancientEgyptianseitherknewher,orinventedlegendsofhertoamusetheinquiringGreeks。ShehadtouchedatSidon,andperhapsAstarothisonlyherSidonianname。Whatevercouldbetoldofbeauty,initscharm,itsperils,thedangerswithwhichitsurroundsitslovers,thepuritywhichitretains,unsmirchedbyallthesinsthataredoneforbeauty\'ssake,couldbetoldofHelen。
Likeagoldencup,asM。PauldeSt。Victorsays,shewascarriedfromlipstolipsofheroes,butthegoldremainsunsulliedandunalloyed。Toheavenshereturnsagain,toheavenwhichisherown,andlooksdownserenelyonmenslain,andwomenwidowed,andsinkingships,andburningtowns。Yetwithdeathshegivesimmortalitybyherkiss,andParisandMenelauslive,becausetheyhavetouchedthelipsofHelen。ThroughthegraceofHelen,forwhomhefell,Sarpedon\'smemoryendures,andAchillesandMemnon,thesonoftheMorning,andTroyismoreimperishablethanCarthage,orRome,orCorinth,thoughHelen"BurntthetoplesstowersofIlium。"
Inonebriefpassage,MarlowedidmorethanallpoetssinceStesichorus,or,atleastsincetheepithalamiumofTheocritus,forthegloryofHelen。Romanpoetsknewherbestasanenemyoftheirfabulousancestors,andinthe"AEneid,"Virgil\'sherodrawshisswordtoslayher。ThroughtheMiddleAges,intheromancesofTroy,shewandersasashiningshadowoftheideallyfair,likeGuinevere,whosooftenrecallsherintheArthurianromances。ThechivalrousmediaevalpoetsandtheCeltscouldunderstandbetterthantheRomansthephilosophyof"theworldwelllost"forlove。
Modernpoetry,eveninGoethe\'s"SecondpartofFaust,"hasnotbeenveryfortunatelyinspiredbyHelen,exceptinthefewlineswhichshespeaksin"TheDreamofFairWomen。"
"Ihadgreatbeauty;askthounotmyname。"
Mr。WilliamMorris\'sHelen,inthe"EarthlyParadise,"charmsatthetimeofreading,but,perhaps,leaveslittleabidingmemory。
TheHelenof"TroilusandCressida"isnotoneofShakespeare\'simmortalwomen,andMr。Rossetti\'sballadisfantasticandsomewhatfalseintone——aromanticpastiche。WhereEuripidestwicefailed,inthe"Troades"andthe"Helena,"itcanbegiventofewtosucceed。Helenisbestlefttoherearliestknownminstrel,forwhocanrecapturethegrace,thetenderness,themelancholy,andthecharmofthedaughterofZeusinthe"Odyssey"and"Iliad"?
ThesightlesseyesofHomersawherclearest,andHelenwasbestunderstoodbythewisdomofhisunquestioningsimplicity。
Asiftoprovehowentirely,thoughsomanyhandspalteredwithherlegend,HelenisHomer\'salone,thereremainsnogreatortypicalworkofGreekartwhichrepresentsherbeauty,andthebreastsfromwhichweremodelledcupsofgoldfortheserviceofthegods。Wehaveonlypaintingsonvases,orworkongems,which,thoughgraceful,isconventionalandmightrepresentanyotherheroine,Polyxena,orEriphyle。NoHelenfromthehandsofPhidiasorScopashassurvivedtoourtime,andthegrassmaybegrowinginTherapnaeovertheshatteredremainsofheronlystatue。
AsStesichorusfabledthatonlyaneidolonofHelenwenttoTroy,so,exceptinthe"Iliad"and"Odyssey,"wemeetbutshadowsofherloveliness,phantasmswovenoutofclouds,andthelightofsettingsuns。
CHAPTERXIII:ENCHANTEDCIGARETTES
Todreamoverliteraryprojects,Balzacsays,islike"smokingenchantedcigarettes,"butwhenwetrytotackleourprojects,tomakethemreal,theenchantmentdisappears。Wehavetotillthesoil,tosowtheseed,togathertheleaves,andthenthecigarettesmustbemanufactured,whiletheremaybenomarketforthemafterall。Probablymostpeoplehaveenjoyedthefragranceoftheseenchantedcigarettes,andhavebroodedovermuchwhichtheywillneverputonpaper。Herearesomeof"theashesoftheweedsofmydelight"——memoriesofromanceswhereofnosinglelineiswritten,orislikelytobewritten。
OfmyearliestnovelIrememberbutlittle。Iknowtherehadbeenawreck,andthatthevillain,whowasbelievedtobedrowned,camehomeandmadehimselfdisagreeable。Iknowthattheheroine\'smouthwasNOT"toolargeforregularbeauty。"Inthatrespectshewasoriginal。Allheroinesare"muckle-mou\'d,"Iknownotwhy。Itisexpectedofthem。Iknowshewasmelancholyandmerry;itwouldnotsurprisemetolearnthatshedrownedherselffromacanoe。
Butthevillainneverdescendedtocrime,thefirstloverwouldnotfallinlove,theheroine\'sownaffectionswereprovokinglydisengaged,andthewholeaffaircametoadeadstopforwantofaplot。Perhaps,consideringmoderncanonsoffiction,thismighthavebeenaverysuccessfulnovel。Itwasentirelydevoidofincidentorinterest,and,consequently,wasagooddeallikereallife,asreallifeappearstomanycultivatedauthors。Ontheotherhand,allthecharacterswereflippant。Thiswouldneverhavedone,andIdonotregretnovelNo。I。,whichhadnotevenaname。
Thesecondstoryhadaplot,quantitiesofplot,nothingbutplot。
Itwastohavebeenwrittenincollaborationwithaverygreatnovelist,who,asfaraswewent,confinedhimselftomakingobjections。Thisnovelwasstopped(notthatmyfriendwouldeverhavegoneon)by"CalledBack,"whichanticipatedpartoftheidea。
Thestorywasentitled"WhereisRose?"andthemottowas-
"RosaquolocorumSeramoratur。"
Thecharacterswere——(1)Rose,ayoungladyofquality。(2)TheRussianPrincess,herfriend(needIaddthat,tomeetapublicdemand,HERnamewasVera?)。(3)YoungmanengagedtoRose。(4)
Charles,hisfriend。(5)Anenterprisingpersonnamed"TheWhiteleyofCrime,"theuniversalProviderofIniquity。Infact,heanticipatedSirArthurDoyle\'sProfessorMoriarty。Therestweredetectives,oldladies,mob,andawealthyyoungColoniallarrikin。NeithermyfriendnorIwasfondofdescribinglovescenes,sowemadetheheroinedisappearinthesecondchapter,andsheneverturnedupagaintillchapterthelast。Afterplayinginacomedyatthehouseofanearl,RosaandVeraenteredherbrougham。Soonafterwardsthebroughamdrewup,EMPTY,atRose\'sowndoor。WhereWASRose?Tracesofherwerefound,ofallplaces,intheHauntedHouseinBerkeleySquare,whichisnothauntedanylonger。AfterthatRosewaslongsoughtinvain。
This,briefly,iswhathadoccurred。ARussiandetective"wanted"
Vera,who,tobesure,wasaNihilist。TocatchVerahemadeanalliancewith"TheWhiteleyofCrime。"Hewasamanwhowoulddestroyaparishregister,orforgeawill,orcrackacrib,orbreakupaPro-Boermeeting,orburnahouse,orkidnaparightfulheir,ormanageapersonation,orissueamateurbank-notes,orwhatyouplease。Thinkingtokilltwobirdswithonestone,hecarriedoffRoseforherdiamondsandVeraforhisfriend,theMuscovitepoliceofficial,lodgingthembothintheHauntedHouse。ButthereheandtheRussiancametoblows,and,intheconfusion,Veramadeherescape,whileRosewasconveyed,ASVERA,toSiberia。Notknowinghowtodisposeofher,theRussianpoliceconsignedhertoanunneryatthemouthoftheObi。Herlover,inayacht,foundherhiding-place,andgotafriendlynuntogivehersomenarcoticknowntotheSamoyeds。ItwastheoldtrucoftheFriarin"RomeoandJuliet。"AtthemouthoftheObitheydonotburythedead,butlaythemdownonplatformsintheopenair。Rosewaspickeduptherebyherlover(accompaniedbyachaperon,ofcourse),wasgotonboardthesteamyacht,andallwentwell。Iforgetwhathappenedto"TheWhiteleyofCrime。"AfterhimIstillratherhanker——hewasahumorousruffian。Somethingcouldbemadeof"TheWhiteleyofCrime。"SomethingHASbeenmade,bytheauthorof"SherlockHolmes。"
Inyetanotherromance,agentlemantakeshisfriend,inacountryplace,toseehisbetrothed。Thefriend,whohadonlycomeintotheneighbourhoodthatday,isfounddead,nextmorning,hangingtoatree。Gipsiesandothersaresuspected。Buttheloverwasthemurderer。Hehadbeenapriest,inSouthAmerica,andtheladywasaCatholic(whoknewnotofhisOrders)。Nowthefriendfellinlovewiththeladyatfirstsight,onbeingintroducedtoherbythelover。Asthetwomenwalkedhome,thefriendthreatenedtorevealthelover\'ssecret——histonsure——whichwouldbefataltohishopes。Theyquarrelled,parted,andtheex-priestlassoedhisfriend。Themotive,Ithink,isanoriginalone,andnotlikelytooccurtothefirstcomer。Theinventorisopentooffers。
Thenextnovel,basedonadream,wascalled"InSearchofQrart。"
WhatisQrart?IdeclinetodivulgethissecretbeyondsayingthatQrartwasaproductofthecivilisationwhichnowsleepsunderthesnowsofthepole。Itwasanarticleoftheutmostvaluetohumanity。FartherIdonotintendtocommitmyself。TheBrideofaGodwasoneofthecharacters。
Thenextnovelis,atpresent,myfavouritecigarette。ThesceneispartlyinGreece,partlyattheParthianCourt,about80-60B。C。
Crassusisthevillain。TheheroinewasanactressinoneofthewanderingGreekcompanies,splendidstrollers,whoplayedattheIndianandAsiaticCourts。Thestoryendswiththerepresentationofthe"Bacchae,"inParthia。TheheadofPentheusiscarriedbyoneoftheBacchaeinthatdrama。Behold,itisnotamask,butTHEHEADOFCRASSUS,andthusconveysthefirstnewsoftheRomandefeat。Obviously,thisisanovelthatneedsagreatdealofpreliminarystudy,asmuch,indeed,as"Salammbo。"
AnotherstorywilldealwiththeIcelandicdiscoverersofAmerica。
Mr。Kipling,however,hastakenthewindoutofitssailswithhissketch,"TheFinestStoryintheWorld。"ThereareallthemarvelsandportentsoftheEyrbyggjaSagatodrawupon,thereareSkraelingstofight,andwhyshouldnotKarlsefni\'ssonkillthelastmastodon,and,asQuetzalcoatl,bethewhite-beardedgodoftheAztecs?AfterthataromanceontheintriguestomakeCharlesEdwardKingofPolandsoundscommonplace。Butmuchmightbemadeofthat,too,iftherightmantookitinhand。Believeme,thereareplentyofstoriesleft,waitingforthemanwhocantellthem。
Ihavesaiditbefore,butIsayitagain,ifIwerekingIwouldkeepcourtofficials,Mr。StanleyWeyman,Mr。Mason,Mr。Kipling,andothers,totellmemyownstories。IknowthekindofthingwhichIlike,fromthediscoveryofQrarttothatoftheFrenchgoldintheburnatLochArkaig,orin"thewoodbythelochside"
thatMurrayofBroughtonmentions。
AnothercigaretteIhave,theadventuresofaPoet,aPoetborninaPuritanvillageofMassachusettsabout1670。Hawthornecouldhavetoldmemystory,andhowmyfriendwasdrivenintothewildernessandlivedamongtheRedMen。IthinkhewaskilledinanattempttowarnhiscountrymenofanIndianraid;IthinkhisMS。poemshaveabullet-holethroughthem,andbloodontheleaves。
TheywereinCarew\'sbestmanner,thesepoems。
AnothertaleHawthornemighthavetoldme,thetaleofanexcellentman,whoseveryvirtues,bysomebanefulmoralchemistry,corruptandruinthepeoplewithwhomhecomesincontact。Idonotmeanbygoadingthemintotheoppositeextremes,butrathersomethinglikeamoraljettatura。Thisneedsagreatdealofsubtlety,andwhatistobecomeofthehero?Ishetoplungeintovicetilleverybodyisvirtuousagain?Itwantsworkingout。Ihaveomitted,afterall,aschoolboyhistoricalromance,explainingWHY
QUEENELIZABETHWASNEVERMARRIED。AScottishpaperofferedaprizeforastoryofQueenMaryStuart\'sreign。Ididnotgettheprize——perhapsdidnotdeserveit,butmystoryranthus:YoumustknowthatQueenElizabethwassingularlylikeDarnleyinpersonalappearance。Whatsonaturalasthat,disguisedasapage,herMajestyshouldcomespyingabouttheCourtofHolyrood?DarnleyseesherwalkingoutofQueenMary\'sroom,hethinksheranhallucination,discoversthatsheisreal,challengesher,andtheyfightatFaldonside,bytheTweed,ShakespeareholdingElizabeth\'shorse。Elizabethiswounded,andiscarriedtotheKirkofField,andlaidinDarnley\'schamber,whileDarnleygoesoutandmakeslovetomyruralheroine,theladyofFernilee,aKerr。ThatnightBothwellblowsuptheKirkofField,Elizabethandall。Darnleyhasonlyoneresource。Borrowingtheridinghabitoftheruralheroine,theladyofFernilee,hefleesacrosstheBorder,and,fortherestofhislife,personatesQueenElizabeth。ThatiswhyElizabeth,whowasDarnley,hatedMarysobitterly(onaccountoftheKirkofFieldaffair),andTHATISWHYQUEENELIZABETHWAS
NEVERMARRIED。Side-lightsonShakespeare\'sSonnetswereobviouslycast。TheyoungmanwhomShakespeareadmiredso,andurgedtomarry,was——Darnley。Thisromancedidnotgettheprize(theanachronismaboutShakespeareisworthyofScott),butIamconceitedenoughtothinkitdeservedanhonourablemention。
Enoughofmyowncigarettes。Butthereareothersofamorefragrantweed。WhowillendformethenovelofwhichByrononlywroteachapter;who,asBulwerLyttonisdead?Afineropening,onemoremysteriouslystirring,youcannowhereread。Andthenovelinletters,whichScottbeganin1819,whoshallfinishit,ortelluswhathedidwithhisfairVenetiancourtezan,acharactersomuchoutofSirWalter\'sway?Hetosseditaside——itwasbutanenchantedcigarette——andgaveus"TheFortunesofNigel"
initsplace。Iwantboth。Wecannotcallupthosewho"lefthalftold"thesestories。Inahappierworldweshalllistentotheirendings,andallourdreamsshallbecoherentandconcluded。
Meanwhile,withouttrouble,andexpense,anddisappointment,andreviews,wecanallsmokeourcigarettesoffairyland。Wouldthatmanypeoplewerecontenttosmokethempeacefully,anddidnotrushonpen,paper,andink!
CHAPTERXIV:STORIESANDSTORY-TELLING
(FromSTRATHNAVER)
Wehavehadadroughtforthreeweeks。DuringawholeweekthisnorthernstrathhasbeenassunnyastheRivieraisexpectedtobe。