respectful¡¡distance¡£¡¡¡¡By¡¡its¡¡means¡¡he¡¡has¡¡planted¡¡round¡¡his¡¡garden¡¡a
hedge¡¡full¡¡of¡¡thorns£»¡¡and¡¡red¡¡with¡¡wonderful¡¡roses¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡for¡¡Balzac£»
he¡¡was¡¡a¡¡most¡¡remarkable¡¡combination¡¡of¡¡the¡¡artistic¡¡temperament
with¡¡the¡¡scientific¡¡spirit¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡latter¡¡he¡¡bequeathed¡¡to¡¡his
disciples¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡former¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡his¡¡own¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡difference¡¡between
such¡¡a¡¡book¡¡as¡¡M¡£¡¡Zola's¡¡L'Assommoir¡¡and¡¡Balzac's¡¡Illusions¡¡Perdues
is¡¡the¡¡difference¡¡between¡¡unimaginative¡¡realism¡¡and¡¡imaginative
reality¡£¡¡¡¡'All¡¡Balzac's¡¡characters£»'¡¡said¡¡Baudelaire£»¡¡'are¡¡gifted
with¡¡the¡¡same¡¡ardour¡¡of¡¡life¡¡that¡¡animated¡¡himself¡£¡¡¡¡All¡¡his
fictions¡¡are¡¡as¡¡deeply¡¡coloured¡¡as¡¡dreams¡£¡¡¡¡Each¡¡mind¡¡is¡¡a¡¡weapon
loaded¡¡to¡¡the¡¡muzzle¡¡with¡¡will¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡very¡¡scullions¡¡have¡¡genius¡£'¡¡¡¡A
steady¡¡course¡¡of¡¡Balzac¡¡reduces¡¡our¡¡living¡¡friends¡¡to¡¡shadows£»¡¡and
our¡¡acquaintances¡¡to¡¡the¡¡shadows¡¡of¡¡shades¡£¡¡¡¡His¡¡characters¡¡have¡¡a
kind¡¡of¡¡fervent¡¡fiery¡coloured¡¡existence¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡dominate¡¡us£»¡¡and
defy¡¡scepticism¡£¡¡¡¡One¡¡of¡¡the¡¡greatest¡¡tragedies¡¡of¡¡my¡¡life¡¡is¡¡the
death¡¡of¡¡Lucien¡¡de¡¡Rubempre¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡is¡¡a¡¡grief¡¡from¡¡which¡¡I¡¡have¡¡never
been¡¡able¡¡completely¡¡to¡¡rid¡¡myself¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡haunts¡¡me¡¡in¡¡my¡¡moments¡¡of
pleasure¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡remember¡¡it¡¡when¡¡I¡¡laugh¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡Balzac¡¡is¡¡no¡¡more¡¡a
realist¡¡than¡¡Holbein¡¡was¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡created¡¡life£»¡¡he¡¡did¡¡not¡¡copy¡¡it¡£¡¡¡¡I
admit£»¡¡however£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡set¡¡far¡¡too¡¡high¡¡a¡¡value¡¡on¡¡modernity¡¡of
form£»¡¡and¡¡that£»¡¡consequently£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡book¡¡of¡¡his¡¡that£»¡¡as¡¡an
artistic¡¡masterpiece£»¡¡can¡¡rank¡¡with¡¡Salammbo¡¡or¡¡Esmond£»¡¡or¡¡The
Cloister¡¡and¡¡the¡¡Hearth£»¡¡or¡¡the¡¡Vicomte¡¡de¡¡Bragelonne¡£The¡¡Decay¡¡of
Lying
LIFE¡¡THE¡¡FALLACIOUS¡¡MODEL
Art¡¡begins¡¡with¡¡abstract¡¡decoration£»¡¡with¡¡purely¡¡imaginative¡¡and
pleasurable¡¡work¡¡dealing¡¡with¡¡what¡¡is¡¡unreal¡¡and¡¡non¡existent¡£¡¡¡¡This
is¡¡the¡¡first¡¡stage¡£¡¡¡¡Then¡¡Life¡¡becomes¡¡fascinated¡¡with¡¡this¡¡new
wonder£»¡¡and¡¡asks¡¡to¡¡be¡¡admitted¡¡into¡¡the¡¡charmed¡¡circle¡£¡¡¡¡Art¡¡takes
life¡¡as¡¡part¡¡of¡¡her¡¡rough¡¡material£»¡¡recreates¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡refashions¡¡it
in¡¡fresh¡¡forms£»¡¡is¡¡absolutely¡¡indifferent¡¡to¡¡fact£»¡¡invents£»
imagines£»¡¡dreams£»¡¡and¡¡keeps¡¡between¡¡herself¡¡and¡¡reality¡¡the
impenetrable¡¡barrier¡¡of¡¡beautiful¡¡style£»¡¡of¡¡decorative¡¡or¡¡ideal
treatment¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡third¡¡stage¡¡is¡¡when¡¡Life¡¡gets¡¡the¡¡upper¡¡hand£»¡¡and
drives¡¡Art¡¡out¡¡into¡¡the¡¡wilderness¡£¡¡¡¡That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡true¡¡decadence£»¡¡and
it¡¡is¡¡from¡¡this¡¡that¡¡we¡¡are¡¡now¡¡suffering¡£
Take¡¡the¡¡case¡¡of¡¡the¡¡English¡¡drama¡£¡¡¡¡At¡¡first¡¡in¡¡the¡¡hands¡¡of¡¡the
monks¡¡Dramatic¡¡Art¡¡was¡¡abstract£»¡¡decorative¡¡and¡¡mythological¡£¡¡¡¡Then
she¡¡enlisted¡¡Life¡¡in¡¡her¡¡service£»¡¡and¡¡using¡¡some¡¡of¡¡life's¡¡external
forms£»¡¡she¡¡created¡¡an¡¡entirely¡¡new¡¡race¡¡of¡¡beings£»¡¡whose¡¡sorrows
were¡¡more¡¡terrible¡¡than¡¡any¡¡sorrow¡¡man¡¡has¡¡ever¡¡felt£»¡¡whose¡¡joys
were¡¡keener¡¡than¡¡lover's¡¡joys£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡the¡¡rage¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Titans¡¡and
the¡¡calm¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gods£»¡¡who¡¡had¡¡monstrous¡¡and¡¡marvellous¡¡sins£»
monstrous¡¡and¡¡marvellous¡¡virtues¡£¡¡¡¡To¡¡them¡¡she¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡language
different¡¡from¡¡that¡¡of¡¡actual¡¡use£»¡¡a¡¡language¡¡full¡¡of¡¡resonant¡¡music
and¡¡sweet¡¡rhythm£»¡¡made¡¡stately¡¡by¡¡solemn¡¡cadence£»¡¡or¡¡made¡¡delicate
by¡¡fanciful¡¡rhyme£»¡¡jewelled¡¡with¡¡wonderful¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡enriched¡¡with
lofty¡¡diction¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡clothed¡¡her¡¡children¡¡in¡¡strange¡¡raiment¡¡and¡¡gave
them¡¡masks£»¡¡and¡¡at¡¡her¡¡bidding¡¡the¡¡antique¡¡world¡¡rose¡¡from¡¡its
marble¡¡tomb¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡new¡¡Caesar¡¡stalked¡¡through¡¡the¡¡streets¡¡of¡¡risen
Rome£»¡¡and¡¡with¡¡purple¡¡sail¡¡and¡¡flute¡led¡¡oars¡¡another¡¡Cleopatra
passed¡¡up¡¡the¡¡river¡¡to¡¡Antioch¡£¡¡¡¡Old¡¡myth¡¡and¡¡legend¡¡and¡¡dream¡¡took
shape¡¡and¡¡substance¡£¡¡¡¡History¡¡was¡¡entirely¡¡re¡written£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡was
hardly¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dramatists¡¡who¡¡did¡¡not¡¡recognise¡¡that¡¡the¡¡object
of¡¡Art¡¡is¡¡not¡¡simple¡¡truth¡¡but¡¡complex¡¡beauty¡£¡¡¡¡In¡¡this¡¡they¡¡were
perfectly¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡Art¡¡itself¡¡is¡¡really¡¡a¡¡form¡¡of¡¡exaggeration£»¡¡and
selection£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡the¡¡very¡¡spirit¡¡of¡¡art£»¡¡is¡¡nothing¡¡more¡¡than¡¡an
intensified¡¡mode¡¡of¡¡over¡emphasis¡£
But¡¡Life¡¡soon¡¡shattered¡¡the¡¡perfection¡¡of¡¡the¡¡form¡£¡¡¡¡Even¡¡in
Shakespeare¡¡we¡¡can¡¡see¡¡the¡¡beginning¡¡of¡¡the¡¡end¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡shows¡¡itself¡¡by
the¡¡gradual¡¡breaking¡up¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blank¡verse¡¡in¡¡the¡¡later¡¡plays£»¡¡by
the¡¡predominance¡¡given¡¡to¡¡prose£»¡¡and¡¡by¡¡the¡¡over¡importance¡¡assigned
to¡¡characterisation¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡passages¡¡in¡¡Shakespeareand¡¡they¡¡are
manywhere¡¡the¡¡language¡¡is¡¡uncouth£»¡¡vulgar£»¡¡exaggerated£»¡¡fantastic£»
obscene¡¡even£»¡¡are¡¡entirely¡¡due¡¡to¡¡Life¡¡calling¡¡for¡¡an¡¡echo¡¡of¡¡her
own¡¡voice£»¡¡and¡¡rejecting¡¡the¡¡intervention¡¡of¡¡beautiful¡¡style£»
through¡¡which¡¡alone¡¡should¡¡life¡¡be¡¡suffered¡¡to¡¡find¡¡expression¡£
Shakespeare¡¡is¡¡not¡¡by¡¡any¡¡means¡¡a¡¡flawless¡¡artist¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡is¡¡too¡¡fond
of¡¡going¡¡directly¡¡to¡¡life£»¡¡and¡¡borrowing¡¡life's¡¡natural¡¡utterance¡£
He¡¡forgets¡¡that¡¡when¡¡Art¡¡surrenders¡¡her¡¡imaginative¡¡medium¡¡she
surrenders¡¡everything¡£The¡¡Decay¡¡of¡¡Lying
LIFE¡¡THE¡¡DISCIPLE
We¡¡have¡¡all¡¡seen¡¡in¡¡our¡¡own¡¡day¡¡in¡¡England¡¡how¡¡a¡¡certain¡¡curious¡¡and
fascinating¡¡type¡¡of¡¡beauty£»¡¡invented¡¡and¡¡emphasised¡¡by¡¡two
imaginative¡¡painters£»¡¡has¡¡so¡¡influenced¡¡Life¡¡that¡¡whenever¡¡one¡¡goes
to¡¡a¡¡private¡¡view¡¡or¡¡to¡¡an¡¡artistic¡¡salon¡¡one¡¡sees£»¡¡here¡¡the¡¡mystic
eyes¡¡of¡¡Rossetti's¡¡dream£»¡¡the¡¡long¡¡ivory¡¡throat£»¡¡the¡¡strange¡¡square¡
cut¡¡jaw£»¡¡the¡¡loosened¡¡shadowy¡¡hair¡¡that¡¡he¡¡so¡¡ardently¡¡loved£»¡¡there
the¡¡sweet¡¡maidenhood¡¡of¡¡'The¡¡Golden¡¡Stair£»'¡¡the¡¡blossom¡like¡¡mouth
and¡¡weary¡¡loveliness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡'Laus¡¡Amoris£»'¡¡the¡¡passion¡pale¡¡face¡¡of
Andromeda£»¡¡the¡¡thin¡¡hands¡¡and¡¡lithe¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Vivian¡¡in
'Merlin's¡¡Dream¡£'¡¡¡¡And¡¡it¡¡has¡¡always¡¡been¡¡so¡£¡¡¡¡A¡¡great¡¡artist
invents¡¡a¡¡type£»¡¡and¡¡Life¡¡tries¡¡to¡¡copy¡¡it£»¡¡to¡¡reproduce¡¡it¡¡in¡¡a
popular¡¡form£»¡¡like¡¡an¡¡enterprising¡¡publisher¡£¡¡¡¡Neither¡¡Holbein¡¡nor
Vandyck¡¡found¡¡in¡¡England¡¡what¡¡they¡¡have¡¡given¡¡us¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡brought
their¡¡types¡¡with¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡Life¡¡with¡¡her¡¡keen¡¡imitative¡¡faculty¡¡set
herself¡¡to¡¡supply¡¡the¡¡master¡¡with¡¡models¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡Greeks£»¡¡with¡¡their
quick¡¡artistic¡¡instinct£»¡¡understood¡¡this£»¡¡and¡¡set¡¡in¡¡the¡¡bride's
chamber¡¡the¡¡statue¡¡of¡¡Hermes¡¡or¡¡of¡¡Apollo£»¡¡that¡¡she¡¡might¡¡bear
children¡¡as¡¡lovely¡¡as¡¡the¡¡works¡¡of¡¡art¡¡that¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡in¡¡her
rapture¡¡or¡¡her¡¡pain¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡knew¡¡that¡¡Life¡¡gains¡¡from¡¡art¡¡not¡¡merely
spirituality£»¡¡depth¡¡of¡¡thought¡¡and¡¡feeling£»¡¡soul¡turmoil¡¡or¡¡soul¡
peace£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡she¡¡can¡¡form¡¡herself¡¡on¡¡the¡¡very¡¡lines¡¡and¡¡colours
of¡¡art£»¡¡and¡¡can¡¡reproduce¡¡the¡¡dignity¡¡of¡¡Pheidias¡¡as¡¡well¡¡as¡¡the
grace¡¡of¡¡Praxiteles¡£¡¡¡¡Hence¡¡came¡¡their¡¡objection¡¡to¡¡realism¡£¡¡¡¡They
disliked¡¡it¡¡on¡¡purely¡¡social¡¡grounds¡£¡¡¡¡They¡¡felt¡¡that¡¡it¡¡inevitably
makes¡¡people¡¡ugly£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡were¡¡perfectly¡¡right¡£¡¡¡¡We¡¡try¡¡to¡¡improve
the¡¡conditions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡race¡¡by¡¡means¡¡of¡¡good¡¡air£»¡¡free¡¡sunlight£»
wholesome¡¡water£»¡¡and¡¡hideous¡¡bare¡¡buildings¡¡for¡¡the¡¡better¡¡housing
of¡¡the¡¡lower¡¡orders¡£¡¡¡¡But¡¡these¡¡things¡¡merely¡¡produce¡¡health£»¡¡they
do¡¡not¡¡produce¡¡beauty¡£¡¡¡¡For¡¡this£»¡¡Art¡¡is¡¡required£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡true
disciples¡¡of¡¡the¡¡great¡¡artist¡¡are¡¡not¡¡his¡¡studio¡imitators£»¡¡but
those¡¡who¡¡become¡¡like¡¡his¡¡works¡¡of¡¡art£»¡¡be¡¡they¡¡plastic¡¡as¡¡in¡¡Greek
days£»¡¡or¡¡pictorial¡¡as¡¡in¡¡modern¡¡times£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡word£»¡¡Life¡¡is¡¡Art's
best£»¡¡Art's¡¡only¡¡pupil¡£The¡¡Decay¡¡of¡¡Lying
LIFE¡¡THE¡¡PLAGIARIST
I¡¡once¡¡asked¡¡a¡¡lady£»¡¡who¡¡knew¡¡Thackeray¡¡intimately£»¡¡whether¡¡he¡¡had
had¡¡any¡¡model¡¡for¡¡Becky¡¡Sharp¡£¡¡¡¡She¡¡told¡¡me¡¡that¡¡Becky¡¡was¡¡an
invention£»¡¡but¡¡that¡¡the¡¡idea¡¡of¡¡the¡¡character¡¡had¡¡been¡¡partly
suggested¡¡by¡¡a¡¡governess¡¡who¡¡lived¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡of
Kensington¡¡Square£»¡¡and¡¡was¡¡the¡¡companion¡¡of¡¡a¡¡very¡¡selfish¡¡and¡¡rich
old¡¡woman¡£¡¡¡¡I¡¡inquired¡¡what¡¡became¡¡of¡¡the¡¡governess£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡replied
that£»¡¡oddly¡¡enough£»¡¡some¡¡years¡¡after¡¡the¡¡appearance¡¡of¡¡Vanity¡¡Fair£»
she¡¡ran¡¡away¡¡with¡¡the¡¡nephew¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lady¡¡with¡¡whom¡¡she¡¡was¡¡living£»
and¡¡for¡¡a¡¡short¡¡time¡¡made¡¡a¡¡great¡¡splash¡¡in¡¡society£»¡¡quite¡¡in¡¡Mrs¡£
Rawdon¡¡Crawley's¡¡style£»¡¡and¡¡entirely¡¡by¡¡Mrs¡£¡¡Rawdon¡¡Crawley's
methods¡£¡¡¡¡Ultimately¡¡she¡¡came¡¡to¡¡grief£»¡¡disappeared¡¡to¡¡the
Continent£»¡¡and¡¡used¡¡to¡¡be¡¡occasionally¡¡seen¡¡at¡¡Monte¡¡Carlo¡¡and¡¡other
gambling¡¡places¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡noble¡¡gentleman¡¡from¡¡whom¡¡the¡¡same¡¡great
sentimentalist¡¡drew¡¡Colonel¡¡Newcome¡¡died£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡months¡¡after¡¡The
Newcomer¡¡had¡¡reached¡¡a¡¡fourth¡¡edition£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡word¡¡'Adsum'¡¡on¡¡his
lips¡£¡¡¡¡Shortly¡¡after¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Stevenson¡¡published¡¡his¡¡curious
psychological¡¡story¡¡of¡¡transformation£»¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡mine£»¡¡called¡¡Mr¡£
Hyde£»¡¡was¡¡in¡¡the¡¡north¡¡of¡¡London£»¡¡and¡¡being¡¡anxious¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡a
railway¡¡station£»¡¡took¡¡what¡¡he¡¡thought¡¡would¡¡be¡¡a¡¡short¡¡cut£»¡¡lost¡¡his
way£»¡¡and¡¡found¡¡himself¡¡in¡¡a¡¡network¡¡of¡¡mean£»¡¡evil¡looking¡¡streets¡£
Feeling¡¡rather¡¡nervous¡¡he¡¡began¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡extremely¡¡fast£»¡¡when
suddenly¡¡out¡¡of¡¡an¡¡archway¡¡ran¡¡a¡¡child¡¡right¡¡between¡¡his¡¡legs¡£¡¡¡¡It
fell¡¡on¡¡the¡¡pavement£»¡¡he¡¡tripped¡¡over¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡trampled¡¡upon¡¡it¡£
Being¡¡of¡¡course¡¡very¡¡much¡¡frightened¡¡and¡¡a¡¡little¡¡hurt£»¡¡it¡¡began¡¡to
scream£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡a¡¡few¡¡seconds¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡street¡¡was¡¡full¡¡of¡¡rough
people¡¡who¡¡came¡¡pouring¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡houses¡¡like¡¡ants¡£¡¡¡¡They
surrounded¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡asked¡¡him¡¡his¡¡name¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡just¡¡about¡¡to¡¡give
it¡¡when¡¡he¡¡suddenly¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡opening¡¡incident¡¡in¡¡Mr¡£
Stevenson's¡¡story¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was¡¡so¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡horror¡¡at¡¡having¡¡realised
in¡¡his¡¡own¡¡person¡¡that¡¡terrible¡¡and¡¡well¡written¡¡scene£»¡¡and¡¡at
having¡¡done¡¡accidentally£»¡¡though¡¡in¡¡fact£»¡¡what¡¡the¡¡Mr¡£¡¡Hyde¡¡of
fiction¡¡had¡¡done¡¡with¡¡deliberate¡¡intent£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡ran¡¡away¡¡as¡¡hard¡¡as
he¡¡could¡¡go¡£¡¡¡¡He¡¡was£»¡¡however£»¡¡very¡¡closely¡¡followed£»¡¡and¡¡finally¡¡he
took¡¡refuge¡¡in¡¡a¡¡surgery£»¡¡the¡¡door¡¡of¡¡which¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡open£»
where¡¡he¡¡explained¡¡to¡¡a¡¡young¡¡assistant£»¡¡who¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡be¡¡there£»
exactly¡¡what¡¡had¡¡occurred¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡humanitarian¡¡crowd¡¡were¡¡induced¡¡to
go¡¡away¡¡on¡¡his¡¡giving¡¡them¡¡a¡¡small¡¡sum¡¡of¡¡money£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡soon¡¡as¡¡the
coast¡¡was¡¡clear¡¡he¡¡left¡£¡¡¡¡As¡¡he¡¡passed¡¡out£»¡¡the¡¡name¡¡on¡¡the¡¡brass
door¡plate¡¡of¡¡the¡¡surgery¡¡caught¡¡his¡¡eye¡£¡¡¡¡It¡¡was¡¡'Jekyll¡£'¡¡¡¡At
least¡¡it¡¡should¡¡have¡¡been¡£The¡¡Decay¡¡of¡¡Lying
THE¡¡INDISPENSABLE¡¡EAST
What¡¡is¡¡true¡¡about¡¡the¡¡drama¡¡and¡¡the¡¡novel¡¡is¡¡no¡¡less¡¡true¡¡about
those¡¡arts¡¡that¡¡we¡¡call¡¡the¡¡decorative¡¡arts¡£¡¡¡¡The¡¡whole¡¡history¡¡of
these¡¡arts¡¡in¡¡Europe¡¡is¡¡the¡¡record¡¡of¡¡the¡¡struggle¡¡between
Orientalism£»¡¡with¡¡its¡¡frank¡¡rejection¡¡of¡¡imitation£»¡¡its¡¡love¡¡of
artistic¡¡convention£»¡¡its¡¡dislike¡¡to¡¡the¡¡actual¡¡representation¡¡of¡¡any
object¡¡in¡¡Nature£»¡¡and¡¡our¡¡own¡¡imitative¡¡spirit¡£¡¡¡¡Wherever¡¡the¡¡former
has¡¡been¡¡paramount£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡Byzantium£»¡¡Sicily¡¡and¡¡Spain£»¡¡by¡¡actual
contact£»¡¡or¡¡in¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡
СÌáʾ£º°´ »Ø³µ [Enter] ¼ü ·µ»ØÊéÄ¿£¬°´ ¡û ¼ü ·µ»ØÉÏÒ»Ò³£¬ °´ ¡ú ¼ü ½øÈëÏÂÒ»Ò³¡£
ÔÞÒ»ÏÂ
Ìí¼ÓÊéÇ©¼ÓÈëÊé¼Ü