the works of edgar allan poe-2-第41部分

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blemish　in　the　picture；　if　we　can　suppose　this　picture　viewed　at
large　　in　mass　　from　some　point　distant　from　the　earth's　surface；
although　not　beyond　the　limits　of　its　atmosphere。　It　is　easily
understood　that　what　might　improve　a　closely　scrutinized　detail；　may
at　the　same　time　injure　a　general　or　more　distantly　observed　effect。
There　may　be　a　class　of　beings；　human　once；　but　now　invisible　to
humanity；　to　whom；　from　afar；　our　disorder　may　seem　order　　our
unpicturesqueness　picturesque；　in　a　word；　the　earth…angels；　for　whose
scrutiny　more　especially　than　our　own；　and　for　whose　death　　refined
appreciation　of　the　beautiful；　may　have　been　set　in　array　by　God　the
wide　landscape…gardens　of　the　hemispheres。〃

In　the　course　of　discussion；　my　friend　quoted　some　passages　from　a
writer　on　landscape…gardening　who　has　been　supposed　to　have　well
treated　his　theme：

〃There　are　properly　but　two　styles　of　landscape…gardening；　the
natural　and　the　artificial。　One　seeks　to　recall　the　original　beauty
of　the　country；　by　adapting　its　means　to　the　surrounding　scenery；
cultivating　trees　in　harmony　with　the　hills　or　plain　of　the
neighboring　land；　detecting　and　bringing　into　practice　those　nice
relations　of　size；　proportion；　and　color　which；　hid　from　the　common
observer；　are　revealed　everywhere　to　the　experienced　student　of
nature。　The　result　of　the　natural　style　of　gardening；　is　seen　rather
in　the　absence　of　all　defects　and　incongruities　　in　the　prevalence
of　a　healthy　harmony　and　order　　than　in　the　creation　of　any　special
wonders　or　miracles。　The　artificial　style　has　as　many　varieties　as
there　are　different　tastes　to　gratify。　It　has　a　certain　general
relation　to　the　various　styles　of　building。　There　are　the　stately
avenues　and　retirements　of　Versailles；　Italian　terraces；　and　a
various　mixed　old　English　style；　which　bears　some　relation　to　the
domestic　Gothic　or　English　Elizabethan　architecture。　Whatever　may　be
said　against　the　abuses　of　the　artificial　landscape　　gardening；　a
mixture　of　pure　art　in　a　garden　scene　adds　to　it　a　great　beauty。　This
is　partly　pleasing　to　the　eye；　by　the　show　of　order　and　design；　and
partly　moral。　A　terrace；　with　an　old　moss　　covered　balustrade；
calls　up　at　once　to　the　eye　the　fair　forms　that　have　passed　there　in
other　days。　The　slightest　exhibition　of　art　is　an　evidence　of　care
and　human　interest。〃

〃From　what　I　have　already　observed；〃　said　Ellison；　〃you　will
understand　that　I　reject　the　idea；　here　expressed；　of　recalling　the
original　beauty　of　the　country。　The　original　beauty　is　never　so　great
as　that　which　may　be　introduced。　Of　course；　every　thing　depends　on
the　selection　of　a　spot　with　capabilities。　What　is　said　about
detecting　and　bringing　into　practice　nice　relations　of　size；
proportion；　and　color；　is　one　of　those　mere　vaguenesses　of　speech
which　serve　to　veil　inaccuracy　of　thought。　The　phrase　quoted　may　mean
any　thing；　or　nothing；　and　guides　in　no　degree。　That　the　true　result
of　the　natural　style　of　gardening　is　seen　rather　in　the　absence　of
all　defects　and　incongruities　than　in　the　creation　of　any　special
wonders　or　miracles；　is　a　proposition　better　suited　to　the　grovelling
apprehension　of　the　herd　than　to　the　fervid　dreams　of　the　man　of
genius。　The　negative　merit　suggested　appertains　to　that　hobbling
criticism　which；　in　letters；　would　elevate　Addison　into　apotheosis。
In　truth；　while　that　virtue　which　consists　in　the　mere　avoidance　of
vice　appeals　directly　to　the　understanding；　and　can　thus　be
circumscribed　in　rule；　the　loftier　virtue；　which　flames　in　creation；
can　be　apprehended　in　its　results　alone。　Rule　applies　but　to　the
merits　of　denial　　to　the　excellencies　which　refrain。　Beyond　these；
the　critical　art　can　but　suggest。　We　may　be　instructed　to　build　a
〃Cato；〃　but　we　are　in　vain　told　how　to　conceive　a　Parthenon　or　an
〃Inferno。〃　The　thing　done；　however；　the　wonder　accomplished；　and　the
capacity　for　apprehension　becomes　universal。　The　sophists　of　the
negative　school　who；　through　inability　to　create；　have　scoffed　at
creation；　are　now　found　the　loudest　in　applause。　What；　in　its
chrysalis　condition　of　principle；　affronted　their　demure　reason；
never　fails；　in　its　maturity　of　accomplishment；　to　extort　admiration
from　their　instinct　of　beauty。

〃The　author's　observations　on　the　artificial　style；〃　continued
Ellison；　〃are　less　objectionable。　A　mixture　of　pure　art　in　a　garden
scene　adds　to　it　a　great　beauty。　This　is　just；　as　also　is　the
reference　to　the　sense　of　human　interest。　The　principle　expressed　is
incontrovertible　　but　there　may　be　something　beyond　it。　There　may
be　an　object　in　keeping　with　the　principle　　an　object　unattainable
by　the　means　ordinarily　possessed　by　individuals；　yet　which；　if
attained；　would　lend　a　charm　to　the　landscape…garden　far　surpassing
that　which　a　sense　of　merely　human　interest　could　bestow。　A　poet；
having　very　unusual　pecuniary　resources；　might；　while　retaining　the
necessary　idea　of　art　or　culture；　or；　as　our　author　expresses　it；　of
interest；　so　imbue　his　designs　at　once　with　extent　and　novelty　of
beauty；　as　to　convey　the　sentiment　of　spiritual　interference。　It　will
be　seen　that；　in　bringing　about　such　result；　he　secures　all　the
advantages　of　interest　or　design；　while　relieving　his　work　of　the
harshness　or　technicality　of　the　worldly　art。　In　the　most　rugged　of
wildernesses　　in　the　most　savage　of　the　scenes　of　pure　nature　
there　is　apparent　the　art　of　a　creator；　yet　this　art　is　apparent　to
reflection　only；　in　no　respect　has　it　the　obvious　force　of　a　feeling。
Now　let　us　suppose　this　sense　of　the　Almighty　design　to　be　one　step
depressed　　to　be　brought　into　something　like　harmony　or　consistency
with　the　sense　of　human　art　　to　form　an　intermedium　between　the
two：　　let　us　imagine；　for　example；　a　landscape　whose　combined
vastness　and　definitiveness　　whose　united　beauty；　magnificence；　and
strangeness；　shall　convey　the　idea　of　care；　or　culture；　or
superintendence；　on　the　part　of　beings　superior；　yet　akin　to　humanity
　then　the　sentiment　of　interest　is　preserved；　while　the　art
intervolved　is　made　to　assume　the　air　of　an　intermediate　or　secondary
nature　　a　nature　which　is　not　God；　nor　an　emanation　from　God；　but
which　still　is　nature　in　the　sense　of　the　handiwork　of　the　angels
that　hover　between　man　and　God。〃

It　was　in　devoting　his　enormous　wealth　to　the　embodiment　of　a　vision
such　as　this　　in　the　free　exercise　in　the　open　air　ensured　by　the
personal　superintendence　of　his　plans　　in　the　unceasing　object
which　these　plans　afforded　　in　the　high　spirituality　of　the　object
　in　the　contempt　of　ambition　which　it　enabled　him　truly　to　feel　
in　the　perennial　springs　with　which　it　gratified；　without　possibility
of　satiating；　that　one　master　passion　of　his　soul；　the　thirst　for
beauty；　above　all；　it　was　in　the　sympathy　of　a　woman；　not　unwomanly；
whose　loveliness　and　love　enveloped　his　existence　in　the　purple
atmosphere　of　Paradise；　that　Ellison　thought　to　find；　and　found；
exemption　from　the　ordinary　cares　of　humanity；　with　a　far　greater
amount　of　positive　happiness　than　ever　glowed　in　the　rapt　day…dreams
of　De　Stael。

I　despair　of　conveying　to　the　reader　any　distinct　conception　of　the
marvels　which　my　friend　did　actually　accomplish。　I　wish　to　describe；
but　am　disheartened　by　the　difficulty　of　description；　and　hesitate
between　detail　and　generality。　Perhaps　the　better　course　will　be　to
unite　the　two　in　their　extremes。

Mr。　Ellison's　first　step　regarded；　of　course；　the　choice　of　a
locality；　and　scarcely　had　he　commenced　thinking　on　this　point；　when
the　luxuriant　nature　of　the　Pacific　Islands　arrested　his　attention。
In　fact；　he　had　made　up　his　mind　for　a　voyage　to　the　South　Seas；　when
a　night's　reflection　induced　him　to　abandon　the　idea。　〃Were　I
misanthropic；〃　he　said；　〃such　a　locale　would　suit　me。　The
thoroughness　of　its　insulation　and　seclusion；　and　the　difficulty　of
ingress　and　egress；　would　in　such　case　be　the　charm　of　charms；　but　as
yet　I　am　not　Timon。　I　wish　the　composure　but　not　the　depression　of
solitude。　There　must　remain　with　me　a　certain　control　over　the　extent
and　duration　of　my　repose。　There　will　be　frequent　hours　in　which　I
shall　need；　too；　the　sympathy　of　the　poetic　in　what　I　have　done。　Let
me　seek；　then；　a　spot　not　far　from　a　populous　city　　whose　vicinity；
also；　will　best　enable　me　to　execute　my　plans。〃

In　search　of　a　suitable　place　so　situated；　Ellison　travelled　for
several　years；　and　I　was　permitted　to　accompany　him。　A　thousand　spots
with　which　I　was　enraptured　he　rejected　without　hesitation；　for
reasons　which　satisfied　me；　in　the　end；　that　he　was　right。　We　came　at
length　to　an　elevated　table…land　of　wonderful　fertility　and　beauty；
affording　a　panoramic　prospect　very　little　less　in　extent　than　that
of　Aetna；　and；　in　Ellison's　opinion　as　well　as　my　own；　surpassing　the
far…famed　view　from　that　mountain　in　all　the　true　elements　of　the
picturesque。

〃I　am　aware；〃　said　the　traveller；　as　he　drew　a　sigh　of　deep　delight
after　gazing　on　this　scene；　entranced；　for　nearly　an　hour；　〃I　know
that　here；　in　my　circumstances；　nine…tenths　of　the　most　fastidious　of
men　would　rest　content。　This　panorama　is　indeed　glorious；　and　I
should　rejoice　in　it　but　for　the　excess　of　its　glory。　The　taste　of
all　the　architects　I　have　ever　known　leads　them；　for　the　sake　of
'prospect；'　to　put　up　buildings　on　hill…tops。　The　error　is　obvious。
Grandeur　in　any　of　its　moods；　but　especially　in　that　of　extent；
startles；　excites　　and　then　fatigues；　depresses。　For　the　occasional
scene　nothing　can　be　better　　for　the　constant　view　nothing　worse。
And；　in　the　constant　view；　the　most　objectionable　phase　of　grandeur
is　that　of　extent；　the　worst　phase　of　extent；　that　of　distance。　It　is
at　war　with　the　sentiment　and　with　the　sense　of　seclusion　　the
sentiment　and　sense　which　we　seek　to　humor　in　'retiring　to　the
country。'　In　looking　from　the　summit　of　a　mountain　we　cannot　help
feeling　abroad　in　the　world。　The　heart…sick　avoid　distant　prospects
as　a　pestilence。〃

It　was　not　until　toward　the　close　of　the　fourth　year　of　our　search
that　we　found　a　locality　with　which　Ellison　professed　himself
satisfied。　It　is；　of　course；　needless　to　say　where　was　the　locality。
The　late　death　of　my　friend；　in　causing　his　domain　t