第7章

ItwasnotaltogetherahappytimethatLeverpassedathome.Notonlydidhisnativecriticsbelabourhimmostungrudginglyfor"TomBurke，"thatvividandchivalrousromance，buthemadeenemiesofauthors.Heeditedamagazine！Isnotthatenough？Heweariedofwadingthroughwaggon—loadsofthatpureunmitigatedrubbishwhichpeoplearepermittedto"shoot"ateditorialdoors.Howmuchdustthereisinittohowfewpearls！HedidnotreturnMSS.punctuallyandpolitely.Theofficecatcouldeditthevolunteeredcontributionsofmanyamagazine，butLeverwasevenmorecasualandcarelessthananexperiencedofficecat.Hegrewcrabbed，andtriedtoquarrelwithMr.Thackerayforthatdelightfulparody"PhilFogarty，"nearlyasgoodasagenuinestorybyLever.

Besetbycritics，burlesquedbyhisfriend，hechangedhisstyle（Mr.Fitzpatricktellsus）andbecamemoresober——andnotsoentertaining.HeactuallypublishedacriticismofBeyle，ofStendhal，thatpsychologicalprig，thedarlingofcultureandofM.

PaulBourget.HarryLorrequeronStendhal！——itbeggarsbelief.HenearlyfoughtaduelwiththegentlemanwhoissaidtohavesuggestedMr.PecksnifftoDickens！Yettheycallhisearlynovelsimprobable.NothingcouldbelessplausiblethanacombatbetweenHarryLorrequerandagentlemanwho，evenremotely，resembledthefatherofCherryandMerry.

Leverwentabroadagain，andinFlorenceortheBathsofLucca，inTriesteorSpezia，hepassedtherestofhislife.HesawtheItalianrevolutionof1848，anditaddedtohismelancholy.Thisisplainfromoneofhisnovelswithacurioushistory——"ConCregan."

Hewroteitatthesametimeas"TheDaltons，"andhedidnotsignit.Thereviewerspraised"ConCregan"attheexpenseofthesignedwork，rejoicingthatLever，as"TheDaltons"proved，wasexhausted，andthatanewIrishauthor，theauthorof"ConCregan，"wascomingtoeclipsehim.Inshort，heeclipsedhimself，andhedidnotlikeit.Hisrighthandwasjealousofwhathislefthanddid.Itseemsoddthatanyhumanbeing，howeverdullandenvious，failedtodetectLeverintherapidandvivaciousadventuresofhisIrish"GilBlas，"

heroofoneoftheverybestamonghisbooks，apiecenotunworthyofDumas."Con"waswrittenaftermidnight，"TheDaltons"inthemorning;andtherecanbenodoubtwhichsetofhourswasmorefavourabletoLever’sgenius.Ofcourseheliked"TheDaltons"

best;ofallpeople，authorsappeartobetheirownworstcritics.

ItisnotpossibleeventocatalogueLever’slaterbookshere.

Againhedroveapairofnovelsabreast——"TheDodds"and"SirJasperCarew"——whichcontainsomeofhismostpowerfulsituations.Whenalmostanoldman，sad，outworninbody，straitenedincircumstances，hestillproducedexcellenttalesinthislatermanner——"LordKilgobbin，""ThatBoyofNorcott’s，""ADay’sRide，"

andmanymore.Thesearethethoughtsofatiredmanoftheworld，whohasdoneandseeneverythingthatsuchmenseeanddo.Hesaysthathegrewfat，andbald，andgrave;hewroteforthegraveandthebald，notforthehappierworldwhichisyoung，andcurly，andmerry.Hediedatlast，itissaid，inhissleep;anditisaddedthathedidwhatHarryLorrequerwouldnothavedone——helefthisaffairsinperfectorder.

Leverlivedinanagesofullofgreatnoveliststhat，perhaps，heisnotprizedasheshouldbe.Dickens，Bulwer，Thackeray，Trollope，GeorgeEliot，werehiscontemporaries.Butwhenweturnbackandreadhimoncemore，weseethatLever，too，wasaworthymemberofthatfamouscompany——aromancerforboysandmen.

THEPOEMSOFSIRWALTERSCOTT

Yesterday，asthesunwasverybright，andtherewasnowind，Itookafishing—rodonchanceandScott’spoems，androwedintothemiddleofSt.Mary’sLoch.Everyhill，everytuftofheatherwasreflectedinthelake，asinasilvermirror.Therewasnosoundbutthelappingofthewateragainsttheboat，thecryoftheblackcockfromthehill，andthepleasantplashofatroutrisinghereandthere.

SoIread"TheLayoftheLastMinstrel"overagain，here，inthemiddleofthesceneswherethestoryislaidandwherethefightswerefought.ForwhentheBaronwentonpilgrimage，"AndtookwithhimthiselvishpageToMary’sChapeloftheLowes，"

itwastotheruinedchapelHEREthathecame，"Forthere，besideourLadye’slake，Anofferinghehadsworntomake，Andhewouldpayhisvows."

Buthisenemy，theLadyofBranksome，gatheredaband，"Ofthebestthatwouldrideathercommand，"

andtheyallcamefromthecountryround.Branksome，wheretheladylived，istwentymilesoff，towardsthesouth，acrosstherangesoflonelygreenhills.Harden，whereherally，WatofHarden，abode，iswithintwelvemiles;andDeloraine，whereWilliamdwelt，isnearerstill;andJohnofThirlestanehadhissquaretowerintheheather，"wherevictualnevergrew，"onEttrickWater，withintenmiles.Thesegentlemen，andtheirkinsfolkandretainers，beingatfeudwiththeKers，triedtoslaytheBaron，intheChapelof"LoneSt.MaryoftheWaves."

"Theywerethreehundredspearsandthree.

ThroughDouglasburn，upYarrowstream，Theirhorsesprance，theirlancesgleam.

TheycametoSt.Mary’sLakeereday;

Butthechapelwasvoid，andtheBaronaway.

Theyburnedthechapelforveryrage，AndcursedLordCranstoun’sgoblin—page."

TheScottswerearoughclanenoughtoburnaholychapelbecausetheyfailedtokilltheirenemywithinthesacredwalls.But，asI

readagain，forthetwentiethtime，SirWalter’spoem，floatingonthelonelybreastofthelake，intheheartofthehillswhereYarrowflows，amongthelittlegreenmoundsthatcovertheruinsofchapelandcastleandlady’sbower，IaskedmyselfwhetherSirWalterwasindeedagreatanddelightfulpoet，orwhetherhepleasesmesomuchbecauseIwasborninhisowncountry，andhaveonedropofthebloodofhisBorderrobbersinmyownveins？

Itisnotalwayspleasanttogobacktoplaces，ortomeetpeople，whomwehavelovedwell，longago.Iftheyhavechangedlittle，wehavechangedmuch.Thelittleboy，whosefirstbookofpoetrywas"TheLadyoftheLake，"andwhonaturallybelievedthattherewasnopoetlikeSirWalter，issadlychangedintothemanwhohasreadmostoftheworld’spoets，andwhohears，onmanysides，thatScottisoutwornanddoomedtodeservedoblivion.Aretheyrightorwrong，thecriticswhotellus，occasionally，thatScott’sgoodnovelsmakeupforhisbadverse，orthatverseandprose，allmustgo？Procaptulectoris，bythereader’staste，theystandorfall;

yetevenpessimismcanscarcelybelievethattheWaverleyNovelsaremortal.Theywereoncethejoyofeveryclassofminds;theycannotceasetobethejoyofthosewhoclingtothepermanentlygood，andcanunderstandandforgivelapses，carelessnesses，andtheleisurelyliteraryfashionofaformerage.But，astothepoems，manygivethemupwhoclingtothenovels.Itdoesnotfollowthatthepoemsarebad.Inthefirstplace，theyareoftwokinds——lyricandnarrative.Now，thefashionofnarrativeinpoetryhaspassedawayforthepresent.ThetrueGreekepicsarereadbyafewinGreek;

byperhapsfewerstillintranslations.Butsodeterminedarewenottoreadtalesinverse，thatproserenderings，evenoftheepics，nay，evenoftheAtticdramas，havecomemoreorlessintovogue.ThisaccountsforthecomparativeneglectofSirWalter’slays.TheyarespokenofasWaverleyNovelsspoiled.Thismustalwaysbetheopinionofreaderswhowillnotsubmittostoriesinverse;itbynomeansfollowsthattheverseisbad.Ifwemakeanexception，whichwemust，infavourofChaucer，whereistherebetterverseinstorytellinginthewholeofEnglishliterature？

Thereaderswhodespise"Marmion，"or"TheLadyoftheLake，"dosobecausetheydislikestoriestoldinpoetry.Frompoetrytheyexpectotherthings，especiallyalingeringcharmandmagicofstyle，areflectiveturn，"criticismoflife."Thesethings，exceptsofaraslifecanbecriticisedinaction，arealientotheMuseofnarrative.Storiesandpicturesareallsheoffers：Scott’spictures，certainly，arefreshenough，histalesareexcellentenough，hismannerissufficientlydirect.Totakeexamples：everyonewhowantstoreadScott’spoetryshouldbeginwiththe"Lay."

Fromopeningtocloseitneverfalters：—

"NineandtwentyknightsoffameHungtheirshieldsinBranksomeHall;

NineandtwentysquiresofnameBroughttheirsteedstobowerfromstall，NineandtwentyyeomentallWaited，duteous，onthemall

Tenofthemweresheathedinsteel，Withbeltedsword，andspuronheel;

TheyquittednottheirharnessbrightNeitherbydaynoryetbynight：

TheylaydowntorestWithcorsletlaced，Pillowedonbucklercoldandhard;

TheycarvedatthemealWithglovesofsteel，Andtheydranktheredwinethroughthehelmetbarred."

Now，isnotthatabravebeginning？Doesnottheverseclankandchimelikeswordsheathonspur，likethebitsofchampinghorses？

Then，whenWilliamofDeloraineissentonhislonelymidnightrideacrossthehauntedmoorsandwolds，doestheversenotgallopliketheheavyarmouredhorse？

"Unchallenged，thencepassedDeloraine，ToancientRiddell’sfairdomain，WhereAill，frommountainsfreed，Downfromthelakesdidravingcome;

Eachwavewascrestedwithtawnyfoam，Likethemaneofachestnutsteed，Invain！notorrent，deeporbroad，Mightbartheboldmoss—trooper’sroad;

Atthefirstplungethehorsesunklow，Andthewaterbrokeo’erthesaddle—bow."

Theselasttwolineshavetheverymovementandnote，thedeepheavyplunge，thestillswirlofthewater.WellIknowthelochswhenceAillcomesredinflood;manyatrouthaveItakeninAill，longago.This，ofcourse，causesafavourableprejudice，apersonalbiastowardsadmiration.ButIthinkthepoetryitselfisgood，andstirsthespirit，evenofthosewhoknownotAilmoor，themotherofAill，thatliesdarkamongthemelancholyhills.

ThespiritisstirredthroughoutbythechivalryandthecourageofScott’smenandofhiswomen.ThustheLadyofBranksomeaddressestheEnglishinvaderswhohavetakenherboyprisoner：—

"FortheyoungheirofBranksome’sline，Godbehisaid，andGodbemine;

Throughmenofriendshallmeethisdoom;

Here，whileIlive，nofoefindsroom.

ThenifthyLordstheirpurposeurge，Takeourdefianceloudandhigh;

Oursloganistheirlyke—wakedirge，Ourmoat，thegravewheretheyshalllie."

Ay，andthoughtheminstrelsaysheisnolovepoet，andthough，indeed，heshinesmoreinwarthaninlady’sbower，isnotthisanoblestanzaontruelove，andworthyofwhatoldMalorywritesinhis"Mortd’Arthur"？BecausehereScottspeaksforhimself，andofhisownunhappyandimmortalaffection：—

"Truelove’sthegiftwhichGodhasgivenTomanalonebeneaththeHeaven.

ItisnotFantasy’shotfire，Whosewishes，soonasgranted，fly;

Itlivethnotinfiercedesire，Withdeaddesireitdocknotdie：

Itisthesecretsympathy，Thesilverlink，thesilkentie，Whichhearttoheartandmindtomind，Inbodyandinsoulcanbind."

Truthandfaith，courageandchivalry，afreelifeinthehillsandbythestreams，ashrewdbrain，anopenheart，akindwordforfriendorfoeman，thesearewhatyoulearnfromthe"Lay，"ifyouwanttolearnlessonsfrompoetry.Itisarudelegend，perhaps，asthecriticssaidatonce，whencriticsweredisdainfulofwizardpriestsandladiesmagical.Butitisadeathlesslegend，Ihope;

itappealstoeveryyoungheartthatisnotearlyspoiledbylowcunning，andcynicism，andloveofgain.Theminstrel’sownprophecyistrue，andstill，andalways，"Yarrow，asherollsalong，Bearsburdentotheminstrel’ssong."

Afterthe"Lay"came"Marmion，aTaleofFloddenField."Itisfarmoreambitiousandcomplicatedthanthe"Lay，"andisnotmuchworsewritten.SirWalterwaseverarapidandcarelesspoet，andashetookmorepainswithhisplot，hetooklesswithhisverse.Hisfriendsreprovedhim，butheansweredtooneofthem—

"SinceoftthyjudgmentcouldrefineMyflattenedthoughtandcumbrousline，Stillkind，asisthywont，attend，Andintheminstrelsparethefriend：

Thoughwildascloud，asstream，asgale，Flowforth，flowunrestrained，mytale！"

AnyonewhoknowsScott’scountryknowshowcloudandstreamandgaleallsweepatoncedownthevalleyofEttrickorofTweed.Westwind，wildcloud，redriver，theypourforthasbyoneimpulse——

forthfromthefar—offhills.Helethisversesweepoutinthesamestormysort，andmanya"cumbrousline，"manya"flattenedthought，"youmaynote，ifyouwill，in"Marmion."Forexample—

"Andthinkwhathemustnexthavefelt，Atbucklingofthefalchionbelt."

The"Lay"isatalethatonlyversecouldtell;muchof"Marmion"

mighthavebeentoldinprose，andmostof"Rokeby."ButprosecouldnevergivethepictureofEdinburgh，nortellthetaleofFloddenFightin"Marmion，"whichIverilybelieveisthebestbattle—pieceinallthepoetryofalltime，bettereventhanthestandofAiasbytheshipsintheIliad，betterthantheslayingoftheWooersintheOdyssey.Norcouldprosegiveusthehuntingofthedeerandthelonggallopoverhillsideanddownvalley，withwhichthe"LadyoftheLake"begins，openingtherebytheenchantedgatesoftheHighlandstotheworld."TheLadyoftheLake，"exceptinthebattle—piece，istoldinalessrapidmetrethanthatofthe"Lay，"lessvariedthanthatof"Marmion.""Rokeby"livesonlybyitssongs;the"LordoftheIsles"byBannockburn，the"FieldofWaterloo"bytherepulseoftheCuirassiers.Butallthepoemsareinterspersedwithsongsandballads，asthebeautifulballadof"AliceBrand";andScott’sfamerestsonTHESEfarmorethanonhislaterversifiedromances.Comingimmediatelyaftertheverytamestpoetswhoeverlived，likeHayley，Scottwrotesongsandballadsaswildandfree，asmelancholyorgay，asevershepherdsang，orgipsycarolled，orwitch—wifemoaned，oroldforgottenminstrellefttotheworld，musicwithnomaker’sname.Forexample，taketheOutlaw’srhyme—

"Withburnishedbrandandmusketoon，Sogallantlyyoucome，IreadyouforabolddragoonThatliststhetuckofdrum.

Ilistnomorethetuckofdrum，Nomorethetrumpethear;

Butwhenthebeetlesoundshishum，Mycomradestakethespear.

And，oh，thoughBrignalbanksbefair，AndGretawoodsbegay，Yetmicklemustthemaidendare，WouldreignmyQueenofMay！"

Howmusical，again，isthis！—

"ThismornismerryJune，Itrow，Theroseisbuddingfain;

Butsheshallbloominwintersnow，Erewetwomeetagain.

Heturnedhischargerashespake，Upontherivershore，Hegavehisbridle—reinsashake，Said，’Adieuforevermore，Mylove！

Adieuforevermore！’"

Turningfromthelegendsinverse，letitnotbeforgottenthatScottwasagreatlyricalpoet.Mr.Palgraveisnottoolenientajudge，andhis"GoldenTreasury"isatouchstone，aswellasatreasure，ofpoeticgold.InthisvolumeWordsworthcontributesmorelyricsthananyotherpoet：ShelleyandShakespearecomenext;

thenSirWalter.FormypartIwouldgladlysacrificeafewofWordsworth’sforafewmoreofScott’s.Butthismaybeprejudice.

Mr.Palgraveisnotprejudiced，andweseehowhighishisvalueforSirWalter.

Therearescoresofsongsinhisworks，touchingandsad，orgayasahunter’swaking，thattelloflovelythingslostbytradition，andfoundbyhimonthemoors：allthese——notprizedbySirWalterhimself——areinhisgift，andinthatofnootherman.Forexample，his"EveofSt.John"issimplyamasterpiece，aballadamongballads.Nothingbutanoldsongmovesuslike—

"Arethesethelinkso’Forth，shesaid，Arethesethebendso’Dee！"

Hemighthavedonemoreofthebest，hadheverygreatlycared.

Aloneamongpoets，hehadneithervanitynorjealousy;hethoughtlittleofhisownverseandhisownfame：wouldthathehadthoughtmore！wouldthathehadbeenmorecarefulofwhatwassoprecious！

Butheturnedtoprose;badepoetryfarewell.

"Yet，onceagain，farewell，thouMinstrelHarp，Yet，onceagain，forgivemyfeeblesway.

AndlittlereckIofthecensuresharpMayidlycavilatanidlelay."

Peoplestillcavilidly，complainingthatScottdidnotfinish，ordidnotpolishhispieces;thathewasnotKeats，orwasnotWordsworth.Hewashimself;hewastheLastMinstrel，thelatest，thegreatest，thenoblestofnaturalpoetsconcernedwithnaturalthings.Hesangoffree，fierce，andwarlikelife，ofstreamsyetrichinsalmon，andmoorsnotyetoccupiedbybrewers;oflonelyplaceshauntedinthelonggreytwilightsoftheNorth;ofcrumblingtowerswhereoncedwelttheLadyofBranksomeortheFlowerofYarrow.Naturesummedupinhimmanyapastageaworldofancientfaiths;andbeforethegreattimeofBritainwhollydied，toBritain，astoGreece，shegaveherHomer.Whenhewasold，andtired，andnearhisdeath——sowornwithtroubleandlabourthatheactuallysignedhisownnamewrong——hewrotehislatestverse，foralady.Itends—

"Mycountry，bethougloriousstill！"

andsohedied，withinthesoundofthewhisperofTweed，foreseeingtheyearswhenhiscountrywouldnomorebeglorious，thinkingofhiscountryonly，forgettingquitetheprivatesorrowofhisownlaterdays.

PeoplewilltellyouthatScottwasnotagreatpoet;thathisboltisshot，hisfameperishing.Littlehecaredforhisfame！ButformypartIthinkandhopethatScottcanneverdie，tillmengrowupintomanhoodwithouteverhavingbeenboys——tilltheyforgetthat"OneglorioushourofcrowdedlifeIsworthanagewithoutaname！"

Thus，thechargesagainstSirWalter’spoetryare，onthewhole，littlemorethantheoldcriticalfallacyofblamingathingfornotbeingsomethingelse."Ittakesallsortstomakeaworld，"inpoetryasinlife.SirWalter’ssortisaverygoodsort，andinEnglishliteratureitsplacewasempty，andwaitingforhim.Thinkofwhathedid.Englishpoetryhadlongbeenverytameandcommonplace，writtenincoupletslikePope’s，veryartificialandsmart，orsensibleandslow.Hecamewithpoemsofwhichthemusicseemedtogallop，likethunderinghoofsandringingbridlesofarushingbordertroop.Hereweregoblin，ghost，andfairy，fightandforay，fairladiesandtruelovers，gallantknightsandhardblows，blazingbeaconsoneveryhillcrestandonthebartisanofeverytower.Herewasaworldmadealiveagainthathadbeendeadforthreehundredyears——aworldofmenandwomen.

Theysaythatthearchaeologyisnotgood.Archaeologyisascience;initsapplicationtopoetry，Scottwasitsdiscoverer.

Otherscannametheplatesofacoatofarmourmorelearnedlythanhe，buthemademenwearthem.TheycallhisGothicartfalse，hisarmourpasteboard;butheputlivingmenunderhiscastledroofs，livingmenintohisbreastplatesandtaslets.Scienceadvances，oldknowledgebecomesignorance;itispoetrythatdoesnotdie，andthatwillnotdie，while—

"ThetripleprideOfEildonlooksoverStrathclyde."

JOHNBUNYAN

Dr.JohnsononcetookBishopPercy’slittledaughteronhisknee，andaskedherwhatshethoughtofthe"Pilgrim’sProgress."Thechildansweredthatshehadnotreadit."No？"repliedtheDoctor;

"thenIwouldnotgiveonefarthingforyou，"andhesetherdownandtooknofurthernoticeofher.

Thisstory，iftrue，provesthattheDoctorwasratherintolerant.

Wemustnotexcommunicatepeoplebecausetheyhavenotourtasteinbooks.Themajorityofpeopledonotcareforbooksatall.

ThereisadescendantofJohnBunyan’salivenow，ortherewaslately，whoneverreadthe"Pilgrim’sProgress."Booksarenotinhisline.Nay，Bunyanhimself，whowrotesixtyworks，wasnogreatreader.AnOxfordscholarwhovisitedhiminhisstudyfoundnobooksatall，exceptsomeofBunyan’sownandFoxe’s"BookofMartyrs."

Yet，littleastheworldingeneralcaresforreading，ithasreadBunyanmorethanmost.Onehundredthousandcopiesofthe"Pilgrim"

arebelievedtohavebeensoldinhisownday，andthestoryhasbeendoneintothemostsavagelanguages，aswellasintothoseofthecivilisedworld.

Dr.Johnson，whodidnotlikeDissenters，praisesthe"invention，imagination，andconductofthestory，"andknewnootherbookhewishedlongerexcept"RobinsonCrusoe"and"DonQuixote."Well，Dr.

JohnsonwouldnothavegivenafarthingforME，asIamquitecontentedwiththepresentlengthofthesemasterpieces.WhatbooksdoYOUwishlonger？IwishHomerhadwrittenacontinuationoftheOdyssey，andtolduswhatOdysseusdidamongthefar—offmenwhonevertastedsaltnorheardofthesea.Alandepicaftertheseaepic，howgooditwouldhavebeen——fromHomer！ButitwouldhavetaxedtheimaginationofDantetocontinuetheadventuresofChristianandhiswifeaftertheyhadoncecrossedtheriverandreachedthecity.

JohnBunyanhasbeenmorefortunatethanmostauthorsinoneofhisbiographies.

HislifehasbeenwrittenbytheRev.Dr.Brown，whoisnowministerofhisoldcongregationatBedford;andanexcellentlifeitis.

Dr.BrownisneitherRoundheadnorCavalier;forthoughheis，ofcourse，onBunyan’sside，hedoesnotthrowstonesatthebeautifulChurchofEngland.

ProbablymostofusareonBunyan’ssidenow.Itmightbeagoodthingthatweshouldalldwelltogetherinreligiousunity，buthistoryshowsthatpeoplecannotbebribedintobrotherhood.TheytriedtobullyBunyan;theyarrestedandimprisonedhim——unfairlyeveninlaw，accordingtoDr.Brown，notunfairly，Mr.Froudethinks——andhewouldnotbebullied.

Whatwasmuchmoreextraordinary，hewouldnotbeembittered.Inspiteofall，hestillcalledCharlesII."agraciousPrince."Whenasubjectisinconscienceatvariancewiththelaw，Bunyansaid，hehasbutonecourse——toacceptpeaceablythepunishmentwhichthelawawards.Hewasneversoured，neverangeredbytwelveyearsofdurance，notexactlyinaloathsomedungeon，butinveryuncomfortablequarters.Whentherecameabriefintervaloftoleration，hedidnotoccupyhimselfinbrawling，butinpreaching，andlookingafterthemannersandmoralsofthelittle"church，"

includingonewomanwhobroughtdisagreeablechargesagainst"BrotherHoneylove."Thechurchdecidedthattherewasnothinginthecharges，butsomehowthenameofBrotherHoneylovedoesnotinspireconfidence.

AlmosteverybodyknowsthemainfactsofBunyan’slife.TheymaynotknowthathewasofNormandescent（asDr.Brownseemstosucceedinproving），northattheBunyanscameoverwiththeConqueror，northathewasagipsy，asothershold.OnDr.Brown’sshowing，Bunyan’sancestorslosttheirlandsinprocessoftimeandchange，andBunyan’sfatherwasatinker.Hepreferredtocallhimselfabrazier——hiswastheratherunexpectedtradetowhichMr.

DickproposedapprenticingDavidCopperfield.

Bunyanhimself，"thewondrousbabe，"asDr.Brownenthusiasticallystyleshim，waschristenedonNovember30th，1628.Hewasborninacottage，longfallen，andhardbywasamarshyplace，"averitablesloughofdespond."BunyanmayhavehaditinmindwhenhewroteofthesloughwhereChristianhadsomuchtrouble.Hewasnotatravelledman：allhisknowledgeofpeopleandplaceshefoundathisdoors.Hehadsomeschooling，"accordingtotherateofotherpoormen’schildren，"andassuredlyitwasenough.

Thegreatcivilwarbrokeout，andBunyanwasasoldier;hetellsusnotonwhichside.Dr.BrownandMr.LewisMorristhinkhewasonthatoftheParliament，buthisoldfather，thetinker，stoodfortheKing.Mr.Froudeisrathermoreinclinedtoholdthathewasamongthe"gaygallantswhostruckforthecrown."Hedoesnotseemtohavebeenmuchunderfire，buthegotthatknowledgeoftheappearanceofwarwhichheusedinhissiegeoftheCityofMansoul.

OnecanhardlythinkthatBunyanlikedwar——certainlynotfromcowardice，butfromgoodnessofheart.

In1646thearmywasdisbanded，andBunyanwentbacktoElstowvillageandhistinkering，hisbell—ringing，hisdancingwiththegirls，hisplayingat"cat"onaSundayafterservice.

Hemarriedveryyoungandpoor.Hemarriedapiouswife，andreadallherlibrary——"ThePlainMan’sPathwaytoHeaven，"and"ThePracticeofPiety."HebecameverydevoutinthespiritoftheChurchofEngland，andhegaveuphisamusements.ThenhefellintotheSloughofDespond，thenhewentthroughtheValleyoftheShadow，andbattledwithApollyon.

PeoplehavewonderedWHYhefanciedhimselfsuchasinner？Heconfessestohavingbeenaliarandablasphemer.IfImayguess，I

fancythatthiswasmerelytheliterarygeniusofBunyanseekingforexpression.Hislies，Iwouldgobail，weretremendousromances，wildfictionstoldforfun，neverliesofcowardiceorforgain.Astohisblasphemies，hehadanextraordinarypoweroflanguage，andthatwashowhegaveitplay."Fancyswearing"washisonlyliterarysafety—valve，inthoseearlydays，whenheplayedcatonElstowGreen.

Thenheheardavoicedartfromheavenintohissoul，whichsaid，"Wiltthouleavethysinsandgotoheaven，orhavethysinsandgotohell？"Sohefellonrepentance，andpassedthoseawfulyearsofmentaltorture，whenallnatureseemedtotempthimtotheUnknownSin.

Whatdidallthismean？ItmeantthatBunyanwaswithinanaceofmadness.

Ithappenstoacertainproportionofmen，religiouslybroughtup，tosufferlikeBunyan.Theyhearvoices，theyareafraidofthatawfulunknowniniquity，andofeternaldeath，asBunyanandCowperwereafraid.

WasitnotDeQuinceywhowasatschoolwithabullywhobelievedhehadbeenguiltyoftheunpardonableoffence？Bullyingisanoffencemuchlesspardonablethanmostmenareguiltyof.Theirbestplan（inBunyan’smisery）istotellApollyonthattheDevilisanass，todotheirworkandspeakthetruth.

Bunyangotquitofhisterroratlast，brieflybybelievinginthegoodnessofGod.Hedidnotsay，likeMr.Carlyle，"Well，ifallmyfearsaretrue，whatthen？"HiswasaChristian，notastoicaldeliverance.

The"church"inwhichBunyanfoundshelterhadforministeraconvertedmajorinaRoyalistregiment.Itwasaquaintlittlecommunity，thememberslivingliketheearlydisciples，correctingeachother’sfaults，andkeepingasevereeyeoneachother’slives.

Bunyanbecameaministerinit;but，Puritanashewas，heletshisPilgrimsdanceonjoyfuloccasions，andevenMr.Ready—to—HaltwaltzeswithayoungladyofthePilgrimcompany.

AsaministerandteacherBunyanbegantowritebooksofcontroversywithQuakersandclergymen.Thepointsdebatedarenolongerimportanttous;themainthingwasthathegotapenintohishand，andfoundaproperoutletforhisgenius，abetterwaythanfancyswearing.

IfhehadnotbeencastintoBedfordjailforpreachinginacottage，hemightneverhavedreamedhisimmortaldream，norbecomeallthathewas.Theleisuresofgaolwerelong.Inthat"den"theMusecametohim，thefairkindMuseoftheHomeBeautiful.Hesawallthatcompanyofhis，solikeandsounlikeChaucer’s：Faithful，andHopeful，andChristian，thefellowshipoffiends，thetruculentCavaliersofVanityFair，andGiantDespair，withhisgrievouscrabtreecudgel;andotherpeoplehesawwhoarewithusalways，——

thehandsomeMadamBubble，andtheyoungwomanwhosenamewasDull，andMr.WorldlyWiseman，andMr.FacingBothways，andByends，allthepersonsofthecomedyofhumanlife.

HehearstheangelicsongsoftheCitybeyondtheriver;hehearsthem，butrepeatthemtoushecannot，"forI’mnopoet，"ashesayshimself.HebeheldthecountryofBeulah，andtheDelectableMountains，thatearthlyParadiseofnaturewherewemightbehappyyet，andwandernofarther，iftheworldwouldletus——fairmountainsinwhosestreamsIzaakWaltonwasthenevencastingangle.

ItispleasanttofancyhowWaltonandBunyanmighthavemetandtalked，underaplanetreebytheOuse，whiletheMayshowerswerefalling.SurelyBunyanwouldnothavelikenedthegoodoldmantoFormalist;andcertainlyWaltonwouldhaveenjoyedtravellingwithChristian，thoughthebookwasbynoneofhisdearbishops，butbyaNon—conformist.Theyweremadetolikebutnottoconverteachother;inmattersecclesiasticaltheysawtheoppositesidesoftheshield.Eachwroteamasterpiece.Itistoolatetopraise"TheCompleteAngler"orthe"Pilgrim’sProgress."Youmayputingenuityontherack，butshecansaynothingnewthatistrueaboutthebestromancethateverwasweddedtoallegory，noraboutthebestidylofoldEnglishlife.

Thepeoplearelivingnow——allthepeople：thenoisybullyingjudges，asoftheFrenchRevolutionaryCourts，ortheHangingCourtsafterMonmouth’swar;thedemure，gravePuritangirls;andMatthew，whohadthegripes;andlazy，fecklessIgnorance，whocametosoillanend，poorfellow;andsturdyOldHonest，andtimidMr.Fearing;

notsinglepersons，butdozens，ariseonthememory.

Theycome，asfresh，asvivid，asiftheywereoutofScottorMoliere;theTinkerisasgreatamasterofcharacterandfictionasthegreatest，almost;hisstyleispure，andplain，andsound，fullofoldidioms，andevenofsomethinglikeoldslang.Butevenhisslangisclassical.

Bunyaniseverybody’sauthor.TheveryCatholicshavetheirowneditionofthePilgrim：theyhavecutoutGiantPope，buthavebeentoogood—naturedtoinsertGiantProtestantinhisplace.

Unheralded，unannounced，thoughnotuncriticised（theyaccusedtheTinkerofbeingaplagiarist，ofcourse），BunyanoutshonetheCourtwits，thelearned，thepoetsoftheRestoration，andeventhegreattheologians.

Hisotherbooks，except"GraceAbounding"（anautobiography），"TheHolyWar，"and"Mr.Badman，"areonlyknowntostudents，normuchreadbythem.Thefashionofhistheology，asofalltheology，passedaway;itisbyvirtueofhisimagination，ofhisromance，thathelives.

Theallegory，ofcourse，isfullofflaws.ItwouldnothavebeenmanlyofChristiantorunoffandsavehisownsoul，leavinghiswifeandfamily.ButBunyanshrankfromshowingushowdifficult，ifnotimpossible，itisforamarriedmantobeasaint.

Christianawasreallywithhimallthroughthatpilgrimage;andhowhemusthavebeenhamperedbythatwomanoftheworld！Buthadtheallegoryclungmorecloselytotheskirtsoftruth，itwouldhavechangedfromaromancetoasatire，from"ThePilgrim’sProgress"to"VanityFair."TherewastoomuchloveinBunyanforasatiristofthatkind;hehadjustenoughforahumourist.

Borninanotherclass，hemighthavebeen，hewouldhavebeen，awritermorerefinedinhisstrength，moreuniformlyexcellent，butneversouniversalnorsopopularinthebestsenseoftheterm.

InthechangeoftimesandbeliefitisnotimpossiblethatBunyanwillliveamongtheclasswhomheleastthoughtofaddressing——

scholars，loversofworldlyliterature——fordevotionandpovertyarepartingcompany，whileartendurestillcivilisationperishes.

ArewebetterorworsefornolongerbelievingasBunyanbelieved，nolongerseeingthatAbyssofPascal’sopenbesideourarmchairs？

Thequestionisonlyaformofthatwideriddle，Doesanytheologicalorphilosophicalopinionmakeusbetterorworse？Thevastmajorityofmenandwomenarelittleaffectedbyschemesandtheoriesofthislifeandthenext.Theywhoevenaskforareplytotheriddlearethefew：mostofustaketheeasy—goingmoralityofourworldforaguide，aswetakeBradshawforarailwayjourney.

Itisthefewwhomustfindoutananswer：onthatanswertheirlivesdepend，andthelivesofothersareinsensiblyraisedtowardstheirlevel.BunyanwouldnothavebeenaworsemanifhehadsharedthefaithofIzaakWalton.IzaakhadhisreplytoallquestionsintheChurchCatechismandtheArticles.Bunyanfoundhisinthetheologyofhissect，appealingmorestronglythanorthodoxytoanaturemorebellicosethanIzaak’s.Menlikehim，withhisindomitablecourage，willneverlackasolutionofthepuzzleoftheearth.Atworsttheywilllivebylaw，whethertheydaretospeakofitasGod’slaw，ordarenot.Theywillalwaysbeourleaders，ourCaptainGreathearts，inthepilgrimagetothecitywhere，ledorunled，wemustallatlastarrive.Theywillnotfailus，whileloyaltyandvalourarehumanqualities.ThedaymayconceivablycomewhenwehavenoChristiantomarchbeforeus，butweshallneverlackthecompanyofGreatheart.

TOAYOUNGJOURNALIST

DearSmith，—

Youinformmethatyoudesiretobeajournalist，andyouarekindenoughtoaskmyadvice.Well，beajournalist，byallmeans，inanyhonestandhonourablebranchoftheprofession.Butdonotbeaneavesdropperandaspy.Youmayflyintoapassionwhenyoureceivethisveryplainlywordedadvice.Ihopeyouwill;but，forseveralreasons，whichInowgoontostate，Ifearthatyouwon’t.

Ifearthat，eitherbynaturalgiftorbyacquiredhabit，youalreadypossesstheimperturbabletemperwhichwillbesousefultoyouifyoudojointhearmyofspiesandeavesdroppers.IfIamright，youhavemadeupyourmindtorefusetotakeoffence，aslongasbynottakingoffenceyoucanwriggleyourselfforwardinthebandofjournalisticreptiles.Youwillberevengedonme，inthatcase，someday;youwilllieinwaitformewithadirtybludgeon，andstealonmeoutofasewer.Ifyoudo，permitmetoassureyouthatIdon’tcare.Butifyouarealreadyinarage，ifyouareabouttearingupthisepistle，andarestartingtoassaultmepersonally，oratleasttoanswermefuriously，thenthereiseveryhopeforyouandforyourfuture.Ithereforeventuretostatemyreasonsforsupposingthatyouareinclinedtobeginacoursewhichyourfather，ifhewerealive，woulddeplore，asallhonourablemenintheirheartsmustdeploreit.WhenyouwereattheUniversity（letmecongratulateyouonyourdegree）youedited，orhelpedtoedit，TheBull—dog.Itwasnotaverybrilliantnoraverywitty，butitwasanextremely"racy"periodical.Itspokeofallmenanddonsbytheirnicknames.Itwasfullofsecond—handslang.Itcontainedmanypersonalanecdotes，tothedetrimentofmanypeople.

Itprintedgarbledandspitefulversionsofprivateconversationsonprivateaffairs.Itdidnotevensparetomakecommentsonladies，andonthedetailsofdomesticlifeinthetownandintheUniversity.ThecopieswhichyousentmeIglancedatwithextremedisgust.

Inmytime，morethanascoreofyearsago，asimilarperiodical，butamuchmorecleverperiodical，wasputforthbymembersoftheUniversity.Itcontainedanovelwhich，evennow，wouldbeworthseveralill—gottenguineastothemakersofthechroniquescandaleuse.Butnobodyboughtit，anditdiedanearlydeath.

Timeshavealtered，Iamafogey;buttheideasofhonouranddecencywhichfogiesholdnowwereheldbyyoungmeninthesixtiesofourcentury.Iknowverywellthattheseideasareobsolete.I

amnotpreachingtotheworld，norhopingtoconvertsociety，buttoYOU，andpurelyinyourownprivate，spiritualinterest.Ifyouenteronthispathoftattle，mendacity，andmalice，andif，withyourclevernessandlighthand，youaresuccessful，societywillnotturnitsbackonyou.Youwillbefearedinmanyquarters，andwelcomedinothers.Ofyourparagraphspeoplewillsaythat"itisashame，ofcourse，butitisveryamusing."Therearesomanyshamesintheworld，shamesnotatallamusing，thatyoumayseenoharminaddingtothenumber."IfIdon’tdoit，"youmayargue，"someoneelsewill."Undoubtedly;butWHYSHOULDYOUDOIT？

Youarenotastarvingscribbler;ifyoudeterminetowrite，youcanwritewell，thoughnotsoeasily，onmanytopics.Youhavenotthatlastsadexcuseofhunger，whichdrivespoorwomentothestreets，andmakesunhappymenactaspublicblabsandspies.IfYOUtaketothismetier，itmustbebecauseyoulikeit，whichmeansthatyouenjoybeingalistenertoandreporteroftalkthatwasnevermeantforanyearsexceptthoseinwhichitwasuttered.ItmeansthatthehospitableboardisnotsacredforYOU;itmeansthat，withyou，friendship，honour，allthatmakeshumanlifebetterthanalowsmoking—room，areonlyvaluableforwhattheirbetrayalwillbring.

ItmeansthatnoteventhewelfareofyourcountrywillpreventyoufromrunningtothePresswithanysecretwhichyoumayhavebeenentrustedwith，orwhichyoumayhavesurprised.Itmeans，thispeculiarkindofprofession，thatallthingsopenandexcellent，andconspicuoustoallmen，arewithyouofnoaccount.Art，literature，politics，aretoceasetointerestyou.Youaretoschemetosurprisegossipabouttheprivatelives，dress，andtalkofartists，menofletters，politicians.Yourprofessionalworkwillsinkbelowthelevelofservants’gossipinapublic—houseparlour.Ifyouhappentomeetamanofknownname，youwillwatchhim，willlistentohim，willtrytosneakintohisconfidence，andyouwillblab，formoney，abouthim，andyourblabwillinevitablybemendacious.Inshort，likethemostpitiableoutcastsofwomankind，and，withouttheirexcuse，youwilllivebysellingyourhonour.Youwillnotsuffermuch，norsufferlong.Yourconsciencewillveryspeedilybesearedwithared—hotiron.Youwillbeontheroadwhichleadsfrommeredishonourtocrime;andyoumayfindyourselfactuallypractisingchantage，andextortingmoneyasthepriceofyoursilence.Thisisthelowestdeep：thevastmajority，evenofsocialmouchards，donotsinksolowasthis.

Theprofessionofthecritic，eveninhonourableandopencriticism，isbesetwithdangers.Itisoftenhardtoavoidsayinganunkindthing，acruelthing，whichissmart，andwhichmayevenbedeserved.Whocansaythathehasescapedthistemptation，andwhatmanofheartcanthinkofhisownfallwithoutasenseofshame？

Thereare，Iadmit，authorssoantipathetictome，thatIcannottrustmyselftoreviewthem.WouldthatIhadneverreviewedthem！

Theycannotbesobadastheyseemtome：theymusthavequalitieswhichescapemyobservation.Thenthereisthetemptationtohitback.Someonewrites，unjustlyorunkindlyasyouthink，ofyouorofyourfriends.Youwaittillyourenemyhaswrittenabook，andthenyouhaveyourinnings.Itisnotinnaturethatyourreviewshouldbefair：youmustinevitablybemoreonthelook—outforfaultsthanmerits.Theereintage，the"smashing"ofaliteraryfoeisverydelightfulatthemoment，butitdoesnotlookwellinthelightofreflection.Butthesedeedsaremerepeccadilloescomparedwiththeconfirmedhabitofregardingallmenandwomenasfairgameforpersonaltattleandthesatingofprivatespite.Nobody，perhaps，beginswiththisintention.Mostmenandwomencanfindreadysophistries.Ifareportaboutanyonereachestheirears，theysaythattheyaredoinghimaservicebypublishingitandenablinghimtocontradictit.Asifanymortaleverlistenedtoacontradiction！Andtherearecharges——thatofplagiarism，forexample——whichcanneverbedisproved，evenifcontradictionswerelistenedtobythepublic.Theaccusationgoeseverywhere，iscopiedintoeveryprintedrag;thecontradictiondieswiththedailydeathofasinglenewspaper.Youmayreplythatamanofsensewillbeindifferenttofalseaccusations.Hemay，ormaynotbe，——thatisnotthequestionforyou;thequestionforyouiswhetheryouwillcirculatenewsthatisfalse，probably，andspiteful，certainly.

Inshort，thewholeaffairregardsyourselfmorethanitregardstheworld.Plentyofpoisonissold：isitwellforyoutobeoneofthemerchants？Isitthebusinessofaneducatedgentlemantolivebythetradeofaneavesdropperandablab？IntheMemoirsofM.

BlowitzhetellsyouhowhebeganhisillustriouscareerbyprocuringthepublicationofremarkswhichM.Thiershadmadetohim.Hethen"wenttoseeM.Thiers，notwithoutsomeapprehension."Isthatthekindofemotionwhichyouwishtobehabitualinyourexperience？Doyouthinkitagreeabletobecomeshame—facedwhenyoumeetpeoplewhohaveconversedwithyoufrankly？Doyouenjoybeingasneak，andfeelinglikeasneak？Doyoufindblushingpleasant？Ofcourseyouwillsoonlosethepowerofblushing;butisthatanagreeableprospect？Dependonit，therearediscomfortsintheprogresstothebrazen，inthejourneytotheshameless.Youmay，ifyourtattleispolitical，becomeserviceabletomenengagedingreataffairs.Theymayevenaskyoutotheirhouses，ifthatisyourambition.Youmayurgethattheycondoneyourdeeds，andareevenartandpartinthem.Butyoumustalsobeawarethattheycallyou，andthinkyou，areptile.Youarenotoneofthosewhowilldothedevil’sworkwithoutthedevil’swages;butdoyouseriouslythinkthatthewagesareworththedegradation？

Manymenthinkso，andarenotinotherrespectsbadmen.Theymayevenbekindlyandgenial.Gentlementheycannotbe，normenofdelicacy，normenofhonour.Theyhavesoldthemselvesandtheirself—respect，somewithease（theyaretheleastblamable），somewithastruggle.Theyhaveseenbetterthings，andperhapsvainlylongtoreturntothem.Theseare"St.Satan’sPenitents，"andtheirremorseisvain：

Virtutemvideant，intabescantquerelicta.

Ifyoudon’twishtobeofthisdismalcompany，thereisonlyonecourseopentoyou.Neverwriteforpublicationonelineofpersonaltattle.Letallmen’spersonsandprivatelivesbeassacredtoyouasyourfather’s，——thoughtherearetattlerswhowouldsellparagraphsabouttheirownmothersiftherewereamarketfortheware.Thereisnohalf—wayhouseonthisroad.Oncebegintoprintprivateconversation，andyouarelost——lost，thatis，todelicacyandgradually，tomanyotherthingsexcellentandofgoodreport.Thewholequestionforyouis，Doyoumindincurringthisdamnation？Ifthereisnothinginitwhichappalsandrevoltsyou，ifyourconscienceissatisfiedwithafewreadysophisms，orifyoudon’tcareapinforyourconscience，fallto！

Vousirezloin！Youwillprattleinprintaboutmen’sprivatelivestheirhiddenmotives，theirwaistcoats，theirwives，theirboots，theirbusinesses，theirincomes.Mostofyourprattlewillinevitablybelies.Butgoon！nobodywillkickyou，Ideeplyregrettosay.Youwillearnmoney.Youwillbewelcomedinsociety.Youwillliveanddiecontent，andwithoutremorse.Idonotsupposethatanyparticularinfernowillawaityouinthefuturelife.Whoeverwatchesthisworld"withlargerothereyesthanours"

willdoubtlessmakeallowanceforyou，asforusall.Iamnotpretendingtobeawhitbetterthanyou;probablyIamworseinmanyways，butnotinyourway.Puttingitmerelyasamatteroftaste，Idon’tliketheway.Itmakesmesick——thatisall.ItisasinwhichIcancomfortablydamn，asIamnotinclinedtoit.Youmayputitinthatlight;andIhavenowayofconvertingyou，nor，ifI

havenotdissuadedyou，ofdissuadingyou，fromcontinuing，onalargerscale，yourpracticesinTheBull—dog.

MR.KIPLING’SSTORIES

Thewindblowethwhereitlisteth.ButthewindofliteraryinspirationhasrarelyshakenthebungalowsofIndia，as，inthetalesoftheoldJesuitmissionaries，themagicalairshookthefrail"medicinetents，"whereHuronconjurorspractisedtheirmysteries.Withaworldofromanceandofcharacterattheirdoors，EnglishmeninIndiahaveseenasiftheysawitnot.Theyhavebeenbusyingoverning，inmakingwar，makingpeace，buildingbridges，layingdownroads，andwritingofficialreports.Ourliteraturefromthatcontinentofourconquesthasbeensparseindeed，exceptinthewayofbiographies，ofhistories，andofratherlocalandunintelligiblefacetiae.Exceptthenovelsbytheauthorof"Tara，"

andSirHenryCunningham’sbrilliantsketches，suchas"Dustypore，"

andSirAlfredLyall’spoems，wemightalmostsaythatIndiahascontributednothingtoourfinerliterature.Thatoldhauntofhistory，thewealthofcharacterbroughtoutinthatconfusionofraces，ofreligions，andtheoldandnew，hasbeenwealthuntouched，atreasure—housesealed：thosepagodatreeshaveneverbeenshaken.

AtlasttherecomesanEnglishmanwitheyes，withapenextraordinarilydeft，anobservationmarvellouslyrapidandkeen;

and，bygoodluck，thisEnglishmanhasnoofficialduties：heisneitherasoldier，norajudge;heismerelyamanofletters.Hehasleisuretolookaroundhim，hehasthepowerofmakingusseewhathesees;and，whenwehavelostIndia，whensomenewpowerisrulingwhereweruled，whenourempirehasfollowedthatoftheMoguls，futuregenerationswilllearnfromMr.Kipling’sworkswhatIndiawasunderEnglishsway.

Itisoneofthesurprisesofliteraturethatthesetinymasterpiecesinproseandversewerepoured，"asrichmengivethatcarenotfortheirgifts，"intothecolumnsofAnglo—Indianjournals.Theretheywerethoughtcleverandephemeral——partofthechatteroftheweek.Thesubjects，nodoubt，seemedsofamiliar，thatthestrengthofthehandling，thebrillianceofthecolour，werescarcelyrecognised.ButMr.Kipling’svolumesnosoonerreachedEnglandthanthepeopleintowhosehandstheyfellwerecertainthatherewerethebeginningsofanewliteraryforce.Thebookshadthestrangeness，thecolour，thevariety，theperfumeoftheEast.ThusitisnowonderthatMr.Kipling’sreputegrewupasrapidlyasthemysteriousmangotreeoftheconjurors.Therewerecritics，ofcourse，readytosaythatthethingwasmerelyatrick，andhadnothingofthesupernatural.Thatopinionisnotlikelytoholditsground.PerhapsthemostsevereofthecriticshasbeenayoungScotchgentleman，writingFrench，andwritingitwonderfullywell，inaParisianreview.HechosetoregardMr.KiplingaslittlebutanimitatorofBretHarte，derivinghispopularitymainlyfromthenovelandexoticcharacterofhissubjects.Nodoubt，ifMr.Kiplinghasaliteraryprogenitor，itisMr.BretHarte.AmonghisearlierversesafewarewhatanimitatoroftheAmericanmighthavewritteninIndia.ButitisawildjudgmentwhichtracesMr.

Kipling’ssuccesstohisuse，forexample，ofAnglo—Indianphrasesandscrapsofnativedialects.ThepresenceoftheseelementsisamongthecauseswhichhavemadeEnglishmenthinkAnglo—Indianliteraturetediouslyprovincial，andIndiaabore.Mr.Kipling，ontheotherhand，makesusregardthecontinentwhichwasaboreanenchantedland，fullofmarvelsandmagicwhicharereal.Therehas，indeed，arisenatasteforexoticliterature：peoplehavebecomealivetothestrangenessandfascinationoftheworldbeyondtheboundsofEuropeandtheUnitedStates.Butthatisonlybecausemenofimaginationandliteraryskillhavebeenthenewconquerors——theCortesesandBalboasofIndia，Africa，Australia，Japan，andtheislesofthesouthernseas.Allsuchconquerors，whethertheywritewiththepolishofM.PierreLoti，orwiththecarelessnessofMr.Boldrewood，have，atleast，seennewworldsforthemselves;havegoneoutofthestreetsoftheover—populatedlandsintotheopenair;havesailedandridden，walkedandhunted;haveescapedfromthefogandsmokeoftowns.Newstrengthhascomefromfresherairintotheirbrainsandblood;hencethenoveltyandbuoyancyofthestorieswhichtheytell.Hence，too，theyarerathertobecountedamongromanticiststhanrealists，howeverrealistheessentialtruthoftheirbooks.Theyhavefoundsomuchtoseeandtorecord，thattheyarenottemptedtousethemicroscope，andporeforeverontheminuteincharacter.Agreatdealofrealism，especiallyinFrance，attractsbecauseitisnovel，becauseM.Zolaandothershavealsofoundnewworldstoconquer.Butcertainprovincesinthoseworldswerenotunknownto，butwerevoluntarilyneglectedby，earlierexplorers.Theywerethe"BadLands"oflifeandcharacter：surelyitiswisertoseekquitenewrealmsthantobuildmudhutsanddunghillsonthe"BadLands."

Mr.Kipling’swork，likeallgoodwork，isbothrealandromantic.

Itisrealbecauseheseesandfeelsveryswiftlyandkeenly;itisromantic，again，becausehehasasharpeyefortherealityofromance，fortheattractionandpossibilityofadventure，andbecauseheisyoung.Ifareaderwantstoseepettycharactersdisplayedinalltheirmeannesses，ifthisberealism，surelycertainofMr.Kipling’spaintedandfriskymatronsarerealisticenough.TheseamysideofAnglo—Indianlife：theintrigues，amorousorsemi—political——theslangofpeoplewhodescribediningas"manglinggarbage"the"gamesoftenniswiththeseventhcommandment"——hehasnotneglectedanyofthese.Probablythesketchesaretrueenough，andpity’tistrue：forexample，thesketchesin"UndertheDeodars"andin"TheGadsbys."Thatworthypair，withtheirfriends，aretomyselfasunsympathetic，almost，asthecharactersin"LaConquetedePlassans."ButMr.Kiplingistoomuchatruerealisttomaketheirselfishnessandpettinessunbroken，unceasing.Weknowthat"Gaddy"isabrave，modest，andhard—workingsoldier;and，whenhislittlesillybride（whoprefersbeingkissedbyamanwithwaxedmoustaches）liesneartodeath，certainlyIamnearertotearsthanwhenIamobligedtoattendthebedofLittleDombeyorofLittleNell.ProbablythereisagreatdealofslangyandunrefinedAnglo—Indiansociety;and，nodoubt，tosketchitinitstruecoloursisnotbeyondtheprovinceofart.Atworstitisredeemed，inpart，byitsconstancyinthepresenceofvariousperils——fromdisease，andfrom"thebulletflyingdownthepass."Mr.Kiplingmaynotbe，andveryprobablyisnot，areaderof"Gyp";but"TheGadsbys，"especially，readsliketheworkofanAnglo—Indiandisciple，trammelledbycertainEnglishconventions.

ThemorePharisaicrealists——thoseofthestrictestsect——wouldprobablywelcomeMr.Kiplingasayoungerbrother，sofaras"UndertheDeodars"and"TheGadsbys"areconcerned，ifhewerenotoccasionallywittyandevenflippant，aswellasrealistic.But，veryfortunately，hehasnotconfinedhisobservationtotheleisuresandpleasuresofSimla;hehaslookedoutalsoonwarandonsport，onthelifeofallnativetribesandcastes;andhasevenglancedacrossthebordersof"TheUndiscoveredCountry."

AmongMr.Kipling’sdiscoveriesofnewkindsofcharacters，probablythemostpopularishisinventionoftheBritishsoldierinIndia.

Heaversthathe"lovesthatverystrongman，ThomasAtkins";buthisaffectionhasnotblindedhimtothefaultsofthebeloved.Mr.

Atkinsdrinkstoomuch，istoocarelessagallantinlove，hasbeeneducatedeithertoomuchortoolittle，andhasotherfaults，partlydue，apparently，torecentmilitaryorganisation，partlytothefeverishandunsettledstateofthecivilisedworld.Butheisstillbrave，whenheiswellled;stillloyal，aboveall，tohis"trustychum."EveryEnglishmanmusthopethat，ifTerenceMulvaneydidnottakethecityofLungtungPenasdescribed，yetheisready，andwillingsototakeit.Mr.MulvaneyisashumorousasMickyFree，butmoremelancholyandmoretruculent.Hehas，perhaps，"wonhiswaytothemythical"already，andisnotsomuchasoldier，asanincarnation，notofKrishna，butofmanysoldierlyqualities.Ontheotherhand，PrivateOrtheris，especiallyinhisfrenzy，seemstoshewallthetruth，andmuchmorethanthelifeof，aphotograph.

Such，wepresume，isthesoldier，andsucharehisexperiencesandtemptationsandrepentance.Butnobodyeverdreamedoftellingusallthis，tillMr.Kiplingcame.Asforthesoldierinaction，the"TakingofLungtungPen，"andthe"DrumsoftheForeandAft，"andthatothertaleofthebattlewiththePathansinthegorge，areamongthegoodfightsoffiction.Theystirthespirit，andtheyshouldbedistributed（inaddition，ofcourse，tothe"Soldier’sPocketBook"）intheranksoftheBritisharmy.Mr.Kiplingisaswellinformedaboutthesoldier’swomen—kindasaboutthesoldier：

aboutDinahShaddasaboutTerenceMulvaney.Leverneverinstructedusonthesematters：MickyFree，ifheloves，ridesaway;butTerenceMulvaneyistruetohisoldwoman.Gallant，loyal，reckless，vain，swaggering，andtender—hearted，TerenceMulvaney，iftherewereenoughofhim，"wouldtakeSt.Petersburginhisdrawers."Canwebetoogratefultoanauthorwhohasextended，asMr.Kiplinginhismilitarysketcheshasextended，thefrontiersofourknowledgeandsympathy？

Itisamerequestionofindividualtaste;but，formyownpart，hadItomakeasmallselectionfromMr.Kipling’stales，IwouldincludemoreofhisstudiesinBlackthaninWhite，andmanyofhisexcursionsbeyondtheprobableandnatural.Itisdifficulttohaveonespecialfavouriteinthiskind;butperhapsthestoryofthetwoEnglishadventurersamongthefreemasonsofunknownKafiristan（inthe"PhantomRickshaw"）wouldtakeaveryhighplace.Thegas—

heatedairoftheIndiannewspaperofficeissoreal，andintoitcomesawandererwhohasseennewfacesofdeath，andwhocarrieswithhimaheadthathaswornaroyalcrown.Thecontrastsareofbrutalforce;thelegendisamongthebestofsuchstrangefancies.

Thenthereis，inthesamevolume，"TheStrangeRideofMorrowbieJukes，"themostdreadfulnightmareofthemostawfulBunkerintherealmsoffancy.Thisisaveryearlywork;ifnothingelseofMr.

Kipling’sexisted，hismemorymightlivebyit，asdoesthememoryoftheAmericanIrishmanbythe"DiamondLens."Theshammagicof"IntheHouseofSuddhu"isasterribleastruenecromancycouldbe，andIhaveafaiblesseforthe"BisaraofPooree.""TheGateoftheHundredSorrows"isarealisticversionof"TheEnglishOpiumEater，"andmorepowerfulbydintoflessrhetoric.Asforthesketchesofnativelife——forexample，"OntheCityWall"——toEnglishreaderstheyarenolessthanrevelations.Theytestify，moreeventhanthemilitarystories，totheauthor’sswiftandcertainvision，hiscertaintyinhiseffects.Inbrief，Mr.Kiplinghasconqueredworlds，ofwhich，asitwere，weknewnottheexistence.

Hisfaultsaresoconspicuous，somuchonthesurface，thattheyhardlyneedtobenamed.Theyarecuriouslyvisibletosomereaderswhoareblindtohismerits.Thereisafalseairofhardness（quiteincontradictiontothesentimentinhistalesofchildishlife）;thereisaknowingair;therearemannerisms，suchas"Butthatisanotherstory";thereisadisplayofslang;thereisthetooobtrusiveknockingofthenailonthehead.Everybodycanmarktheseerrors;afewcannotovercometheirantipathy，andsoloseagreatdealofpleasure.

ItisimpossibletoguesshowMr.Kiplingwillfareifheventuresononeoftheusualnovels，oftheorthodoxlength.Fewmenhavesucceededbothintheconteandthenovel.Mr.BretHarteislimitedtotheconte;M.GuydeMaupassantisprobablyathisbestinit.Scottwrotebutthreeorfourshorttales，andonlyoneoftheseisamasterpiece.Poeneverattemptedanovel.Hawthorneisalmostaloneinhiscommandofbothkinds.WecanliveonlyinthehopethatMr.Kipling，soskilledinsomanyspeciesoftheconte，sovigorousinsomanykindsofverse，willalsobetriumphantinthenovel：thoughitseemsunlikelythatitsscenecanbeinEngland，andthoughitiscertainthatawriterwhosocutstothequickwillnotbehappywiththenovel’salmostinevitable"padding."Mr.Kipling’slongesteffort，"TheLightwhichFailed，"

can，perhaps，hardlybeconsideredatestortouchstoneofhispowersasanovelist.Thecentralinterestisnotpowerfulenough;

thecharactersarenotsosympathetic，asaretheinterestandthecharactersofhisshortpieces.Manyofthesepersonswehavemetsooftenthattheyarenotmerepassingacquaintances，butalreadyfindinustheloyaltyduetooldfriends.

Footnotes：

{1}ThesubjecthasbeenmuchmoregravelytreatedinMr.RobertBridges’s"AchillesinScyros."

{2}Conjecturemaycease，asMr.MorrishastranslatedtheOdyssey.

{3}ForHelenPendennis，seethe"Letters，"p.97.

{4}Mr.Henleyhaslately，asaloyalDickensite，beendefendingtheplotsofDickens，andhistragedy.Procaptulectoris;ifthereaderlikesthem，thentheyaregoodforthereader："goodabsolute，notformethough，"perhaps.Theplotof"MartinChuzzlewit"maybegood，buttheconductofoldMartinwouldstrikemeasimprobableifImetitinthe"ArabianNights."ThatthecreatorofPecksniffshouldhavetakenhismisdeedsseriously，asifMr.PecksniffhadbeenaTartuffe，notadelight，seemscurious.