Chapter XXI

  Ihavethusfarsketchedtheeventsofmylife,butIhavenotshownhowmuchIhavedependedonbooksnotonlyforpleasureandforthewisdomtheybringtoallwhoread,butalsoforthatknowledgewhiestoothersthroughtheireyesandtheirears.Indeed,bookshavemeantsomuchmoreinmyeducationthaninthatofothers,thatIshallgobacktothetimewheoread.

  IreadmyfirstectedstoryinMay,1887,whenIwassevenyearsold,andfromthatdaytothisIhavedevouredeverythingintheshapeofaprintedpagethathasewithinthereayhungryfiips.

  AsIhavesaid,Ididnotstudyregularlyduringtheearlyyearsofmyeducation;nordidIreadacctorule.

  AtfirstIhadonlyafewbooksinraisedprint--"readers"finners,acolleofstoriesforchildren,andabookabouttheearthcalled"OurWorld."Ithinkthatwasall;butIreadthemoverandover,untilthewordsweresoressedIcouldscarcelymakethemout.SometimesMissSullivaome,spellingintomyhandlittlestoriesahatsheknewIshoulduand;butIpreferredreadingmyselftobeio,becauseIlikedtoreadagainandagaihingsthatpleasedme.

  ItwasduringmyfirstvisittoBostonthatIreallybegantoreadingoodear.Iermittedtospendapartofeachdayiitutionlibrary,andtowanderfrombookcasetobookcase,andtakedownwhateverbookmyfingerslightedupon.AndreadIdid,whetherIuoodonewordiwowordsonapage.

  Thewordsthemselvesfasatedme;butItooknosciousatofwhatIread.Mymindmust,however,havebeenveryimpressiohatperiod,foritretainedmanywordsandwholesenteothemeaningofwhichIhadnotthefaiclue;andafterward,wheotalkandwrite,thesewordsaenceswouldflashoutquitenaturally,sothatmyfriendswoheriessofmyvocabulary.Imusthavereadpartsofmanybooks(inthoseearlydaysIthinkIneverreadanyoneboh)andagreatdealofpoetryinthisunprehendingway,untilIdiscovered"LittleLordFauntleroy,"whichwasthefirstbookofanysequenceIreaduandingly.

  Onedaymyteacherfoundmeinaerofthelibrarypoverthepagesof"TheScarletLetter."Iwasthenabouteightyearsold.IremembersheaskedmeifIlikedlittlePearl,andexplainedsomeofthewordsthathadpuzzledme.TheoldmethatshehadabeautifulstoryaboutalittleboywhichshewassureIshouldlikebetterthan"TheScarletLetter."Thehestorywas"LittleLordFauntleroy,"andshepromisedtoreadittomethefollowingsummer.ButwedidhestoryuntilAugust;thefirstfewweeksofmystayattheseashoreweresofullofdiscoveriesaementthatIfottheveryexistenceofbooks.ThenmyteacherwenttovisitsomefriendsinBoston,leavingmeforashorttime.

  Wheurnedalmostthefirstthingwedidwastobegioryof"LittleLordFauntleroy."Irecalldistinctlythetimeandplacewhehefirstchaptersofthefasatingchildsstory.ItwasawarmafternooninAugust.Weweresittingtogetherinahammockwhichswungfromtwosolemashortdistanthehouse.Wehadhurriedthroughthedish-washingafterlun,ihatwemighthaveaslonganafternoonaspossibleforthestory.Aswehastehroughthelonggrasstowardthehammock,thegrasshoppersswarmedaboutusandfastehemselvesonourclothes,andIrememberthatmyteacherinsisteduponpigthemalloffbeforewesatdown,whichseemedtomeanunnecessarywasteoftime.Thehammockwascoveredwithpineneedles,forithadnotbeenusedwhilemyteacherwasaway.Thewarmsunshohepireesaalltheirfragraheairwasbalmy,withatangoftheseainit.BeforewebegaoryMissSullivanexplaiomethethingsthatsheknewIshouldnotuand,andaswereadonsheexplaiheunfamiliarwords.AtfirstthereweremanywordsIdidnotknow,andthereadingwasstantlyinterrupted;butassoonasIthhlyprehehesituation,Ibecametooeagerlyabsorbediorytonoticemerewords,andIamafraidIlistenedimpatientlytotheexplanationsthatMissSullivaobenecessary.Whenherfingersweretootiredtospellanotherword,Ihadforthefirsttimeakeensenseofmydeprivations.Itookthebookinmyhandsandtriedtofeeltheletterswithayof

  longingthatIeverfet.

  Afterward,atmyeagerrequest,Mr.Anagnoshadthisstoryembossed,aagainandagain,untilIalmostkbyheart;andallthroughmychildhood"LittleLordFauntleroy"wasmysweetalepanion.Ihavegiventhesedetailsattheriskofbeingtedious,becausetheyareinsuchvividtrastwithmyvague,mutableandfusedmemoriesofearlierreading.

  From"LittleLordFauntleroy"Idatethebeginningofmytrueiinbooks.DuritwoyearsIreadmanybooksatmyhomeandonmyvisitstoBoston.Iemberwhattheyallwere,orinwhatorderIreadthem;butIknowthatamongthemwere"GreekHeroes,"LaFontaines"Fables,"Hawthornes"WonderBook,""BibleStories,"Lambs"TalesfromShakespeare,""AChildsHistoryofEngland"byDis,"TheArabianNights,""TheSwissFamilyRobinson,""ThePilgrimsProgress,""RobinsonCrusoe,”

  "LittleWomen,"and"Heidi,"abeautifullittlestorywhichIafterwardreadinGermahemiervalsbetweenstudyandplaywithanever-deepeningsenseofpleasure.Ididnotstudynoranalyzethem--Ididnotknowwhethertheyrittenornot;Ihoughtaboutstyleorauthorship.Theylaidtheirtreasuresatmyfeet,andIacceptedthemastthesunshiheloveofourfriends.Iloved"LittleWomen"becauseitgavemeasenseofkinshipwithgirlsandboyswhocouldseeandhear.Circumscribedasmylifewasinsomanyways,Ihadtolookbetweenthecoversofbooksfornewsoftheworldthatlayoutsidemyown.

  Ididnotcareespeciallyfor"ThePilgrimsProgress,"whichIthinkIdidnotfinish,orforthe"Fables."IreadLaFontaines"Fables"firstinanEnglishtranslation,andehemonlyafterahalf-heartedfashion.LaterIreadthebookagaininFrendIfoundthat,inspiteofthevividword-pictures,andthewonderfulmasteryoflanguage,Ilikediter.Idonotknowwhyitis,butstoriesinwhiimalsaremadetotalkandactlikehumanbeingshaveneverappealedtomeverystrongly.Theludicrouscaricaturesoftheanimalsoccupymymindtotheexclusionofthemoral.

  Then,again,LaFontaineseldom,ifever,appealsthestmoralsehehighestchordshestrikesarethoseofreasonandself-love.Throughallthefablesruhoughtthatmansmoralityspringswhollyfromself-love,andthatifthatself-loveisdirectedarainedbyreason,happinessmustfollow.Now,sofarasIjudge,self-loveistherootofallevil;but,ofcourse,Imaybewrong,forLaFontainehadgreateropportunitiesofmenthanIamlikelyevertohave.Idonotobjeuchtotheidsatiricalfablesastothoseinwhientoustruthsaretaughtbymonkeysandfoxes.

  ButIlove"TheJungleBook"and"WildAnimalsIHaveKnown."Ifeelageerestintheanimalsthemselves,becausetheyarerealanimalsandnotcaricaturesofmen.Onesympathizeswiththeirlovesandhatreds,laughsovertheiredies,andweepsovertheirtragedies.Andiftheypointamoral,itissosubtlethatwearenotsciousofit.

  Mymindopeurallyandjoyouslytoaceptionofantiquity.GreetGreece,exercisedamysteriousfasationoverme.Inmyfancythepagangodsandgoddessesstillwalkedohandtalkedfacetofacewithmen,andiIsecretlybuiltshrihoseIlovedbest.Iknewandlovedthewholetribeofnymphsandheroesanddemigods--no,notquiteall,forthecrueltyandgreedofMedeaandJasooomonstroustobefiven,andIusedtowonderwhythegodspermittedthemtandthenpuhemfortheirwiess.Aeryisstillunsolved.IoftenwoddumbnesskeepWhileSincreepsgrinningthroughHishouseofTime.

  ItwastheIliadthatmadeGreecemyparadise.IwasfamiliarwiththestoryofTroybeforeIreaditintheinal,andsequentlyIhadlittledifficultyinmakingtheGreekwordssurreheirtreasuresafterIhadpassedtheborderlandofgrammar.Greatpoetry,whetherwritteninGreekorinEnglish,needsnootherinterpreterthanaresponsiveheart.Wouldthatthehostofthosewhomakethegreatworksofthepoetsodious

  bytheiranalysis,impositionsandlaboriousentsmightlearnthissimpletruth!Itisnotnecessarythatoneshouldbeabletodefineeverywordandgiveititsprincipalpartsanditsgrammaticalpositionienordertouandandappreciateafinepoem.IknowmylearnedprofessorshavefouerrichesintheIliadthanIshalleverfind;butIamnotavaricious.IamtentthatothersshouldbewiserthanI.Butwithalltheirwideandprehensiveknowledge,theyeasuretheirenjoymentofthatsplendidepiorI.WhehefipassagesoftheIliad,Iamsciousofasoul-seliftsmeabovethenarroingcircumstanylife.Myphysicallimitationsarefotten--myworldliesupward,thelengthandthebreadthandthesweepoftheheavensaremine!

  MyadmirationfortheAeneidisnotsogreat,butitishelessreal.Ireaditasmuchaspossiblewithoutthehelpofnotesordiary,andIalwaysliketotranslatetheepisodesthatpleasemeespecially.Theword-paintingiliswonderfulsometimes;buthisgodsandmehroughthesesofpassionandstrifeandpityandlovelikethegracefulfiguresinanElizabethanmask,whereasintheIliadtheygivethreeleapsandgoonsinging.VirgilissereneandlovelylikeamarbleApollointhemoonlight;Homerisabeautiful,animatedyouthinthefullsunlightwiththewindinhishair.

  Howeasyitistoflyonpaperwings!From"GreekHeroes"totheIliadwasnodaysjourney,norwasitaltogetherpleasant.OnecouldhavetraveledroundthewordmanytimeswhileItrudgedmywearywaythroughthelabyrinthinemazesofgrammarsanddiaries,orfellintothosedreadfulpitfallscalledexaminatiobyschoolsandcollegesforthefusionofthosewhoseekafterknowledge.IsupposethissortofPilgrimsProgresswasjustifiedbytheend;butitseemedintermiome,inspiteofthepleasantsurprisesthatmetmenowaaturnintheroad.

  IbegaheBiblelongbeforeIcoulduandit.Nowitseemsstraomethatthereshouldhavebeenatimewhenmyspiritwasdeaftoitswondrousharmonies;butIrememberwellarainySundaymwhen,havingnothiodo,IbeggedmycousintoreadmeastoryoutoftheBible.AlthoughshedidnotthinkIshoulduand,shebegantospellintomyhaoryofJosephandhisbrothers.Somehowitfailedtoime.Theunusuallanguageaitiohestoryseemunrealandfarawayinthelandofaan,andIfellasleepandwanderedofftothelandofNod,beforethebrotherscamewiththeanycoloursuntothetentofJadtoldtheirwickedlie!IotuandwhythestoriesoftheGreeksshouldhavebeensofullofcharmforme,andthoseoftheBiblesodevoidofi,uwasthatIhadmadetheacquaintanceofseveralGreeksinBostonandbeeninspiredbytheirenthusiasmforthestoriesoftheirtry;whereasIhadasingleHebrewyptian,andthereforecludedthattheywerenothingmorethanbarbarians,aoriesaboutthemwereprobablyallmadeup,whichhypothesisexplaiherepetitionsandthequeernames.Curiouslyenough,itneveroccurredtometocallGreekpatronymics"queer.”

  ButhowshallIspeakofthegloriesIhavesincediscoveredintheBible?ForyearsIhavereaditwithanever-broadeningsenseofjoyandinspiration;andIloveitasIlovenootherbook.StillthereismutheBibleagainstwhicheveryinstinybeingrebels,somuchthatIregrettheywhichhaspelledmetoreaditthroughfrombeginningtoend.IdonotthinkthattheknowledgewhichIhavegainedofitshistoryandsourpensatesmefortheunpleasaailsithasforceduponmyattention.Formypart,Iwish,withMr.Howells,thattheliteratureofthepastmightbepurgedofallthatisuglyandbarbarousinit,althoughIshouldobjectasmuchasaohavingthesegreatworksweakenedorfalsified.

  Thereissomethingimpressive,awful,inthesimplicityandterribledireessofthebookofEsther.CouldtherebeanythingmoredramatitheseinwhichEstherstandsbeforeherwickedlord?Sheknowsherlifeisinhishands;thereisoprotectherfromhiswrath.Yet,queringherwomansfear,sheapproacheshim,animatedbythepatriotism,havingbutohought:"IfIperish,Iperish;butifIlive,mypeopleshalllive.”

  ThestoryofRuth,too--howOrientalitis!Yethowdifferentisthelifeofthesesimpletryfolksfromthat

  ofthePersiancapital!Ruthissoloyalale-hearted,weothelplovingher,asshestandswiththereapersamidthewaving.Herbeautiful,unselfishspiritshilikeabrightstarinthenightofadarkandcruelage.LovelikeRuths,lovewhiriseabovefligcreedsanddeep-seatedracialprejudices,ishardtofindinalltheworld.

  TheBiblegivesmeadeep,fse"thingsseeemporal,andthingsunseeernal.”

  IdonotrememberatimesinceIhavebeencapableoflovingbooksthatIhavenotlovedShakespeare.IottellexactlywhenIbeganLambs"TalesfromShakespeare";butIknowthatIreadthematfirstwithachildsuandingandachildswonder."Macbeth"seemstohaveimpressedmemost.Onereadingwassuffittostampeverydetailofthestoryuponmymemoryforever.ForalongtimetheghostsandwitchespursuedmeevenintoDreamland.Icouldsee,absolutelysee,thedaggerandLadyMacbethslittlewhitehand--thedreadfulstainwasasrealtomeastothegrief-striqueen.

  Iread"KingLear"soonafter"Macbeth,"andIshallneverfetthefeelingofhorrorwhenIcametotheseinwhichGlosterseyesareputout.Angerseizedme,myfingersrefusedtomove,Isatrigidforonelongmoment,thebloodthrobbinginmytemples,andallthehatredthatachildfeeltratedi.

  ImusthavemadetheacquaintanceofShylodSatanaboutthesametime,forthetwocharacterswerelongassociatedinmymind.IrememberthatIwassorryforthem.Ifeltvaguelythattheycouldnotbegoodeveniftheywishedto,becausenooneseemedwillingtohelpthemivethemafairce.EvennowIotfinditioerly.TherearemomentswhehattheShylocks,theJudases,aheDevil,arebrokenspokesinthegreatwheelofgoodwhichshalliimebemadewhole.

  ItseemsstramyfirstreadingofShakespeareshouldhaveleftmesomanyunpleasantmemories.Thebright,gentle,fancifulplays--theonesIlikebestnoearnottohaveimpressedmeatfirst,perhapsbecausetheyreflectedthehabitualsunshineandgaietyofachildslife.But"thereisnothingmorecapriciousthanthememoryofachild:whatitwillhold,andwhatitwilllose.”

  IhavesincereadShakespearesplaysmanytimesandknowpartsofthembyheart,butIottellwhichofthemIlikebest.Mydelightinthemisasvariedasmymoods.Thelittlesongsandthesoshaveameaningformeasfreshandwonderfulasthedramas.But,withallmyloveforShakespeare,itisoftenwearyworktoreadallthemeaningsintohislineswhichcritidentatorshavegiventhem.Iusedtotrytoremembertheirinterpretations,buttheydiscedandvexedme;soImadeasecretpactwithmyselfnottotryanymore.ThispactIhaveonlyjustbrokeninmystudyofShakespeareunderProfessorKittredge.IknowtherearemanythingsinShakespeare,andintheworld,thatIdonotuand;andIamgladtoseeveilafterveilliftgradually,revealingnewrealmsofthoughtay.

  opoetryIlovehistory.IhavereadeveryhistoricalworkthatIhavebeeolaymyhandson,fromacatalogueofdryfaddryerdatestoGreensimpartial,picturesque"HistoryoftheEnglishPeople";fromFreemans"HistoryofEurope"toEmertons"MiddleAges."ThefirstbookthatgavemeanyrealsehevalueofhistorywasSwintons"WorldHistory,"whichIreceivedonmythirteenthbirthday.ThoughIbelieveitisnolongersideredvalid,yetIhavekeptiteversinceasoneofmytreasures.FromitIlearnedhowtheraenspreadfromlandtolandandbuiltgreatcities,howafewgreatrulers,earthlyTitans,puteverythinguheirfeet,andwithadecisivewordopehegatesofhappinessformillionsandclosedthemuponmillionsmore:howdifferentnationspioneeredinartandknowledgeandbrokegroundforthemightiergrowthsofingages;howcivilizationunderwentasitwere,theholocaustofadegeeage,androseagain,likethePhoenix,amongthenoblersonsoftheNorth;andhowbyliberty,tolerandeducationthegreatandthewisehaveopehewayforthesalvationofthewholeworld.

  InmycollegereadingIhavebeesomewhatfamiliarwithFrendGermaure.TheGermanputsstrengthbeforebeauty,andtruthbeforevention,bothinlifeandiure.Thereisavehement,sledge-hammervigourabouteverythingthathedoes.Whenhespeaks,itisnottoimpressothers,butbecausehisheartwouldburstifhedidnotfindanoutletforthethoughtsthatburninhissoul.

  Then,too,thereisinGermaureafinereservewhichIlike;butitschiefgloryisthereitionIfindinitoftheredeemingpotenansself-sacrifiglove.ThisthoughtpervadesallGermaureandismysticallyexpressedihes"Faust":AllthingstransitoryButassymbolsaresehsinsufficyHeregrowstoevent.TheindescribableHereitisdoheWomanSoulleadsusupwardandon!

  OfalltheFrenchwritersthatIhaveread,IlikeMoliereandRaebest.TherearefihingsinBalzadpassagesinMerimeewhichstrikeonelikeakeenblastofseaair.AlfreddeMussetisimpossible!IadmireVicto--Iappreciatehisgenius,hisbrilliancy,hisromanticism;thoughheisnotoneofmyliterarypassions.ButHugoaheandSchillerandallgreatpoetsofallgreatnatioerpretersofeternalthings,andmyspiritreverentlyfollowsthemintionswhereBeautyandTruthandGoodnessareone.

  IamafraidIhavewrittentoomuybook-friends,aIhavementionedonlytheauthorsIlovemost;andfromthisfaighteasilysupposethatmycircleoffriendswasverylimitedandundemocratic,whichwouldbeaverywrongimpression.Ilikemanywritersformanyreasons--Carlyleforhisruggednessandsofshams;Wordsworth,whoteachestheonenessofmanandnature;IfindanexquisitepleasureintheodditiesandsurprisesofHood,inHerricksquaintnessandthepalpablestoflilyandroseinhisverses;IlikeWhittierforhisenthusiasmsandmoralrectitude.Iknewhim,aleremembranceofourfriendshipdoublesthepleasureIhaveinreadinghispoems.IloveMarkTwain--whodoesnot?Thegods,too,lovedhimandputintohisheartallmannerofwisdom;then,feariheshouldbeeapessimist,theyspannedhismindwitharainbowofloveandfaith.IlikeScottforhisfreshness,dashandlargehoy.Iloveallwriterswhoseminds,likeLowells,bubbleupinthesunshineofoptimism--fountainsofjoyandgoodwill,withoccasionallyasplashofangerandhereandthereahealingsprayofsympathyandpity.

  Inaword,literatureismyUtopia.HereIamnotdisfranchised.Nobarrierofthesensesshutsmeoutfromthesweet,graciousdiscourseofmybook-friends.TheytalktomewithoutembarrassmentorawkwardhethingsIhavelearnedahingsIhavebeentaughtseemofridiculouslylittleimportanparedwiththeir"largelovesandheavenlycharities.”松语文学www.16sy.coM免费小说阅读

• 推荐自己的新书《天命讨债人》

  齐天大魔猴

  桀骜齐天圣，铮铮大魔猴
• 第817章 四公子当真与众不同？

  清穿后每天被迫撩

  【欢脱独宠，沙雕撩夫日
• 新书《谜城》开启

  神峰

  一次偶然， 他踏足修
• 第270章 酒吧偶遇

  网游之影子大师

  我，在黑夜中行走 我
• 007儿女成群

  婚城难入

  十八岁的她，一心想用高
• 第四百一十六章 邀请

  剑神之剑弑乾坤

  《剑神之剑弑乾坤》是一