the children(孩子们)-第6节
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
intelligence is outwardfrankly directed upon external things； it is
observant； and therefore mobile without inner restlessness。 For restless
eyes are the least observant of all they move by a kind of distraction。
The looks of observant eyes； moving with the living things they keep in
sight； have many pauses as well as flights。 This is the action of
intelligence； whereas the eyes of intellect are detained or darkened。
Rational perception； with all its phases of humour； are best expressed
by a child； who has few second thoughts to divide the image of his
momentary feeling。 His simplicity adds much to the manifestation of his
intelligence。 The child is the last and lowest of rational creatures； for in
him the 〃rational soul〃 closes its long downward flight with the bright
final revelation。
He has also the chief beauty of the irrational soul of the mind； that is；
of the lower animalwhich is singleness。 The simplicity； the integrity；
the one thing at a time； of a good animal's eyes is a great beauty； and is apt
to cause us to exaggerate our sense of their expressiveness。 An animal's
eyes； at their best； are very slightly expressive； languor or alertness； the
quick expectation； even the aloofness of doubt they are able to show； but
the showing is mechanical； the human sentiment of the spectator adds the
rest。
All this simplicity the child has； at moments； with the divisions and
delicacies of the rational soul； also。 His looks express the first； the last；
and the clearest humanity。 He is the first by his youth and the last by his
lowliness。 He is the beginning and the result of the creation of man。
20
… Page 21…
THE CHILDREN
UNDER THE EARLY STARS
Play is not for every hour of the day； or for any hour taken at random。
There is a tide in the affairs of children。 Civilization is cruel in sending
them to bed at the most stimulating time of dusk。 Summer dusk；
especially； is the frolic moment for children； baffle them how you may。
They may have been in a pottering mood all day； intent upon all kinds of
close industries； breathing hard over choppings and poundings。 But
when late twilight comes； there comes also the punctual wildness。 The
children will run and pursue； and laugh for the mere movementit does so
jog their spirits。
What remembrances does this imply of the hunt； what of the predatory
dark？ The kitten grows alert at the same hour； and hunts for moths and
crickets in the grass。 It comes like an imp； leaping on all fours。 The
children lie in ambush and fall upon one another in the mimicry of
hunting。
The sudden outbreak of action is complained of as a defiance and a
rebellion。 Their entertainers are tired； and the children are to go home。
But； with more or less of life and fire； they strike some blow for liberty。
It may be the impotent revolt of the ineffectual child； or the stroke of the
conqueror； but something； something is done for freedom under the early
stars。 This is not the only time when the energy of children is in conflict
with the weariness of men。 But it is less tolerable that the energy of men
should be at odds with the weariness of children； which happens at some
time of their jaunts together； especially； alas！ in the jaunts of the poor。
Of games for the summer dusk when it rains； cards are most beloved
by children。 Three tiny girls were to be taught 〃old maid〃 to beguile the
time。 One of them； a nut…brown child of five； was persuading another to
play。 〃Oh come；〃 she said； 〃and play with me at new maid。〃
The time of falling asleep is a child's immemorial and incalculable
hour。 It is full of traditions； and beset by antique habits。 The habit of
prehistoric races has been cited as the only explanation of the fixity of
some customs in mankind。 But if the enquirers who appeal to that
21
… Page 22…
THE CHILDREN
beginning remembered better their own infancy； they would seek no
further。 See the habits in falling to sleep which have children in their
thralldom。 Try to overcome them in any child； and his own conviction of
their high antiquity weakens your hand。
Childhood is antiquity； and with the sense of time and the sense of
mystery is connected for ever the hearing of a lullaby。 The French sleep…
song is the most romantic。 There is in it such a sound of history as must
inspire any imaginative child； falling to sleep； with a sense of the
incalculable； and the songs themselves are old。 Le Bon Roi Dagobert has
been sung over French cradles since the legend was fresh。 The nurse
knows nothing more sleepy than the tune and the verse that she herself
slept to when a child。 The gaiety of the thirteenth century； in Le Pont a'
Avignon； is put mysteriously to sleep； away in the tete a tete of child and
nurse； in a thousand little sequestered rooms at night。 Malbrook would
be comparatively modern； were not all things that are sung to a drowsing
child as distant as the day of Abraham。
If English children are not rocked to many such aged lullabies； some
of them are put to sleep to strange cradle…songs。 The affectionate races
that are brought into subjection sing the primitive lullaby to the white
child。 Asiatic voices and African persuade him to sleep in the tropical
night。 His closing eyes are filled with alien images。
22
… Page 23…
THE CHILDREN
THE MAN WITH TWO HEADS
It is generally understood in the family that the nurse who menaces a
child； whether with the supernatural or with simple sweeps； lions； or
tigersgoes。 The rule is a right one； for the appeal to fear may possibly
hurt a child； nevertheless； it oftener fails to hurt him。 If he is prone to
fears； he will be helpless under their grasp； without the help of human
tales。 The night will threaten him； the shadow will pursue； the dream
will catch him； terror itself have him by the heart。 And terror； having
made his pulses leap； knows how to use any thought； any shape； any
image； to account to the child's mind for the flight and tempest of his
blood。 〃The child shall not be frightened；〃 decrees ineffectual love； but
though no man make him afraid； he is frightened。 Fear knows him well
and finds him alone。
Such a child is hardly at the mercy of any human rashness and
impatience； nor is the child whose pulses go steadily； and whose brows are
fresh and cool； at their mercy。 This is one of the points upon which a
healthy child resembles the Japanese。 Whatever that extreme Oriental
may be in war and diplomacy； whatever he may be at London University；
or whatever his plans of Empire； in relation to the unseen world he is a
child at play。 He hides himself； he hides his eyes and pretends to believe
that he is hiding； he runs from the supernatural and laughs for the fun of
running。
So did a child； threatened for his unruliness with the revelation of the
man with two heads。 The nurse must have had recourse to this man
under acute provocation。 The boy； who had profited well by every one of
his four long years； and was radiant with the light and colour of health；
refused to be left to compose himself to sleep。 That act is an adult act；
learnt in the self…conscious and deliberate years of later life； when man
goes on a mental journey in search of rest； aware of setting forth。 But the
child is pursued and overtaken by sleep； caught； surprised； and overcome。
He goes no more to sleep； than he takes a 〃constitutional〃 with hi
