robert louis stevenson-第31部分
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ent as well as through the romantic action； and this point missed the great defect was missed； and Mr Zangwill spoke only in generals。
M。 Schwob； after having related how unreal a real sheep's heart looked when introduced on the end of Giovanni's dagger in a French performance of John Ford's ANNABELLA AND GIOVANNI； and how at the next performance the audience was duly thrilled when Annabella's bleeding heart； made of a bit of red flannel； was borne upon the stage； goes on to say significantly：
〃Il me semble que les personnages de Stevenson ont justement cette espece de realisme irreal。 La large figure luisante de Long John； la couleur bleme du crane de Thevenin Pensete s'attachent a la memoire de nos yeux en vertue de leur irrealite meme。 Ce sont des fantomes de la verite； hallucinants comme de vrais fantomes。 Notez en passant que les traits de John Silver hallucinent Jim Hawkins； et que Francois Villon est hante par l'aspect de Thevenin Pensete。〃
Perhaps the most notable fact arising here； and one that well deserves celebration； is this； that Stevenson's development towards a broader and more natural creation was coincident with a definite return on the religious views which had so powerfully prevailed with his father … a circumstance which it is to be feared did not； any more than some other changes in him； at all commend itself to Mr Henley； though he had deliberately dubbed him even in the times of nursing nigh to the Old Bristo Port in Edinburgh … something of 〃Shorter Catechist。〃 Anyway Miss Simpson deliberately wrote：
〃Mr Henley takes exception to Stevenson's later phase in life … what he calls his 'Shorter Catechism phase。' It should be remembered that Mr Henley is not a Scotsman； and in some things has little sympathy with Scotch characteristics。 Stevenson； in his Samoan days； harked back to the teaching of his youth； the tenets of the Shorter Catechism； which his mother and nurse had dinned into his head； were not forgotten。 Mr Henley knew him best； as Stevenson says in the preface to VIRGINIBUS PUERISQUE dedicated to Henley； 'when he lived his life at twenty…five。' In these days he had ＇in some degree＇ forgotten about the Shorter Catechism； but the 'solemn pause' between Saturday and Monday came back in full force to R。 L。 Stevenson in Samoa。〃
Now to me that is a most suggestive and significant fact。 It will be the business of future critics to show in how far such falling back would of necessity modify what Mr Baildon has set down as his corner…stone of morality； and how far it was bound to modify the atmosphere … the purely egotistic； hedonistic； and artistic atmosphere； in which； in his earlier life as a novelist； at all events； he had been； on the whole； for long whiles content to work。
CHAPTER XXIX … LOVE OF VAGABONDS
WHAT is very remarkable in Stevenson is that a man who was so much the dreamer of dreams … the mystic moralist； the constant questioner and speculator on human destiny and human perversity； and the riddles that arise on the search for the threads of motive and incentives to human action … moreover； a man； who constantly suffered from one of the most trying and weakening forms of ill… health … should have been so full…blooded； as it were； so keen for contact with all forms of human life and character； what is called the rougher and coarser being by no means excluded。 Not only this： he was himself a rover … seeking daily adventure and contact with men and women of alien habit and taste and liking。 His patience is supported by his humour。 He was a bit of a vagabond in the good sense of the word； and always going round in search of 〃honest men；〃 like Diogenes； and with no tub to retire into or the desire for it。 He thus on this side touches the Chaucers and their kindred； as well as the Spensers and Dantes and their often illusive CONFRERES。 His voyage as a steerage passenger across the Atlantic is only one out of a whole chapter of such episodes； and is more significant and characteristic even than the TRAVELS WITH A DONKEY IN THE CEVENNES or the INLAND VOYAGE。 These might be ranked with the 〃Sentimental Journeys〃 that have sometimes been the fashion … that was truly of a prosaic and risky order。 The appeal thus made to an element deep in the English nature will do much to keep his memory green in the hearts that could not rise to appreciation of his style and literary gifts at all。 He loves the roadways and the by…ways； and those to be met with there … like him in this； though unlike him in most else。 The love of the roadsides and the greenwood … and the queer miscellany of life there unfolded and ever changing … a kind of gipsy…like longing for the tent and familiar contact with nature and rude human…nature in the open dates from beyond Chaucer； and remains and will have gratification … the longing for novelty and all the accidents； as it were； of pilgrimage and rude social travel。 You see it bubble up； like a true and new nature…spring； through all the surface coatings of culture and artificiality； in Stevenson。 He anew； without pretence； enlivens it … makes it first a part of himself； and then a part of literature once more。 Listen to him； as he sincerely sings this passion for the pilgrimage … or the modern phase of it … innocent vagabond roving：
〃Give to me the life I love； Let the lave go by me； Give the jolly heaven above； And the by…way nigh me： Bed in the bush； with stars to see； Bread I dip in the river … Here's the life for a man like me； Here's the life for ever。。。。
〃Let the blow fall soon or late； Let what will be o'er me； Give the face of earth around And the road before me。 Health I ask not； hope nor love； Nor a friend to know me： All I ask the heaven above； And the road below me。〃
True； this is put in the mouth of another； but Stevenson could not have so voiced it； had he not been the born rover that he was； with longing for the roadside； the high hills； and forests and newcomers and varied miscellaneous company。 Here he does more directly speak in his own person and quite to the same effect：
〃I will make you brooches and toys for your delight Of bird song at morning； and star shine at night； I will make a palace fit for you and me； Of green days in forests and blue days at sea。
〃I will make my kitchen； and you shall keep your room； Where white flows the river； and bright blows the broom； And you shall wash your linen and keep your body white； In rainfall at morning and dew…fall at night。
〃And this shall be for music when no one else is near； The fine song for singing； the rare song to hear！ That only I remember； that only you admire； Of the broad road that stretches； and the roadside fire。〃
Here Stevenson； though original in his vein and way； but follows a great and gracious company in which Fielding and Sterne and so many others stand as pleasant proctors。 Scott and Dickens have each in their way essayed it； and made much of it beyond what mere sentiment would have reached。 PICKWICK itself … and we must always regard Dickens as having himself gone already over every bit of road； described every nook and corner； and tried every resource … is a vagrant fellow； in a group of erratic and most quaint wanderers or pilgrims。 This is but a return phase of it； Vincent Crummles and Mrs Crummles and the 〃Infant Phenomenon；〃 yet another。 The whole interest lies in the roadways； and the little inns； and the odd and unexpected RENCONTRES with oddly…assorted fellows there experienced： glimpses of grim or grimy； or forbidding； or happy； smiling smirking vagrants； and out…at…elbows fellow…passengers and guests； with jests and quips and cranks； and hanky…panky even。 On high roads and in inns； and alehouses； with travelling players； rogues and tramps； Dickens was quite at home； and what is yet more； he made us all quite at home with them： and he did it as Chaucer did it by thorough good spirits and 〃hail…fellow…well…met。〃 And； with all his faults； he has this merit as well as some others； that he went willingly on pilgrimage always； and took others； promoting always love of comrades； fun； and humorous by…play。 The latest great romancer； too； took his side： like Dickens； he was here full brother of Dan Chaucer； and followed him。 How characteristic it is when he tells Mr Trigg that he preferred Samoa to Honolulu because it was more savage； and therefore yielded more FUN。
CHAPTER XXX … LORD ROSEBERY'S CASE
IMMEDIATELY on reading Lord Rosebery's address as Chairman of the meeting in Edinburgh to promote the erection of a monument to R。 L。 Stevenson； I wrote to him politely asking him whether； since he quoted a passage from a somewhat early essay by Stevenson naming the authors who had chiefly influenced him in point of style； his Lordship should not； merely in justice and for the sake of balance； have referred to Thoreau。 I also remarked that Stevenson's later style sometimes showed too much self…conscious conflict of his various models in his mind while he was in the act of writing； and that this now and then imparted too much an air of artifice to his later compositions； and that those who knew most would be most troubled by it。 Of that letter； I much regret now that I did not keep any copy； but I think I did incidentally refer to the friendship with which Stevenson had for so many years honoured me。 This is a copy of the letter received in reply：
〃38 BERKELEY SQUARE； W。； 17th DECEMBER 1896。
〃DEAR SIR； … I am much obliged for your letter； and can only state that the name of Thoreau was not mentioned by Stevenson himself； and therefore I could not cite it in my quotation。
〃With regard to the style of Stevenson's later works； I am inclined to agree with you。…Believe me； yours very faithfully； ROSEBERY。 〃Dr ALEXANDER H。 JAPP。〃
This I at once replied to as follows：
〃NATIONAL LIBERAL CLUB； WHITEHALL。 PLACE； S。W。； 19TH DECEMBER 1896。
〃MY LORD； … It is true R。 L。 Stevenson did not refer to Thoreau in the passage to which you allude； for the good reason that he could not； since he did not know Thoreau till after it was written； but if you will oblige me and be so
