Wecouldneverquiteunderstandthephilosophyofthisarrangement,orthewisdomofourancestorsinsendingusforinstructiontothesewoollybedfellows.Asheep,whenitisdark,hasnothingtodobuttoshuthissillyeyes,andsleepifhecan.Manfoundoutlongsixes——Hailcandle-light!withoutdisparagementtosunormoon,thekindliestluminaryofthethreeifwemaynotratherstyletheetheirradiantdeputy,mildvice-royofthemoon!——Welovetoread,talk,sitsilent,eat,drink,sleep,bycandlelight.Theyareeverybodyssunandmoon.Thisisourpeculiarandhouseholdplanet.Wantingit,whatsavageunsocialnightsmustourancestorshavespent,winteringincavesandunilluminedfastnesses!Theymusthavelainaboutandgrumbledatoneanotherinthedark.Whatreparteescouldhavepassed,whenyoumusthavefeltaboutforasmile,andhandledaneighbourscheektobesurethatheunderstoodit?Thisaccountsfortheseriousnessoftheelderpoetry.Ithasasombrecast(tryHesiodorOssian),derivedfromthetraditionofthoseunlanterndnights.Jokescameinwithcandles.Wewonderhowtheysawtopickupapin,iftheyhadany.Howdidtheysup?whatamelangeofchancecarvingtheymusthavemadeofit!——hereonehadgotalegofagoat,whenhewantedahorsesshoulder——thereanotherhadscoopedhispalminakid-skinofwildhoney,whenhemeditatedrightmaresmilk.Thereisneithergoodeatingnordrinkinginfresco.Who,eveninthesecivilisedtimes,hasneverexperiencedthis,whenatsomeeconomictablehehasmenceddiningafterdusk,andwaitedfortheflavourtillthelightscame?Thesensesabsolutelygiveandtakereciprocally,Canyoutellporkfromvealinthedark?ordistinguishSherrisfrompureMalaga?Takeawaythecandlefromthesmokingman;bytheglimmeringoftheleftashes,heknowsthatheisstillsmoking,hutheknowsitonlybyaninference;tilltherestoredlight,inginaidoftheolfactories,revealstobothsensesthefullaroma.Thenhowheredoubleshispuffs!howheburnishes![p272]——Thereisabsolutelynosuchthingasreading,butbyacandle.Wehavetriedtheaffectationofabookatnoon-dayingardens,andinsultryarbours;butitwaslabourthrownaway.Thosegaymotesinthebeameaboutyou,hoveringandteazing,likesomanycoquets,thatwillhaveyoualltotheirself,andarejealousofyourabstractions.Bythemidnighttaper,thewriterdigestshismeditations.Bythesamelight,wemustapproachtotheirperusal,ifwewouldcatchtheflame,theodour.Itisamockery,allthatisreportedoftheinfluentialPhoebus.Notruepoemeveroweditsbirthtothesunslight.Theyareabstractedworks——
"Thingsthatwereborn,whennonebutthestillnight,
Andhisdumbcandle,sawhispinchingthroes."
Marry,daylight——daylightmightfurnishtheimages,thecrudematerial;butforthefineshapings,thetrueturningandfiling(asmineauthorhathit),theymustbecontenttoholdtheirinspirationofthecandle.Themildinternallight,thatrevealsthem,likefiresonthedomestichearth,goesoutinthesunshine.Nightandsilencecalloutthestarryfancies.MiltonsMorningHymnonParadise,wewouldholdagoodwager,waspennedatmidnight;andTaylorsricherdescriptionofasun-risesmellsdecidedlyofthetaper.Evenourself,intheseourhumblelucubrations,tuneourbestmeasuredcadences(Prosehashercadences)notunfrequentlytothecharmofthedrowsierwatchman,"blessingthedoors;"orthewildsweepofwindsatmidnight.Evennowaloftierspeculationthanwehaveyetattempted,courtsourendeavours.WewouldinditesomethingabouttheSolarSystem——
Betty,bringthecandles.
ww w.xＩaoshuotxT.。NetT,xt,小,说天,堂