sartor resartus-第36节
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uments are partly a mystification！ What if many a so…called Fact were little better than a Fiction； if here we had no direct Camera…obscura Picture of the Professor's History； but only some more or less fantastic Adumbration； symbolically； perhaps significantly enough； shadowing forth the same！ Our theory begins to be that； in receiving as literally authentic what was but hieroglyphically so； Hofrath Heuschrecke； whom in that case we scruple not to name Hofrath Nose…of…Wax； was made a fool of； and set adrift to make fools of others。 Could it be expected； indeed； that a man so known for impenetrable reticence as Teufelsdrockh would all at once frankly unlock his private citadel to an English Editor and a German Hofrath； and not rather deceptively _in_lock both Editor and Hofrath in the labyrinthic tortuosities and covered…ways of said citadel （having enticed them thither）； to see； in his half…devilish way； how the fools would look？
Of one fool； however； the Herr Professor will perhaps find himself short。 On a small slip； formerly thrown aside as blank； the ink being all but invisible； we lately noticed； and with effort decipher； the following： 〃What are your historical Facts； still more your biographical？ Wilt thou know a Man； above all a Mankind； by stringing together bead…rolls of what thou namest Facts？ The Man is the spirit he worked in； not what he did； but what he became。 Facts are engraved Hierograms； for which the fewest have the key。 And then how your Blockhead （_Dummkopf_） studies not their Meaning； but simply whether they are well or ill cut； what he calls Moral or Immoral！ Still worse is it with your Bungler （_Pfuscher_）： such I have seen reading some Rousseau； with pretences of interpretation； and mistaking the ill…cut Serpent…of…Eternity for a common poisonous reptile。〃 Was the Professor apprehensive lest an Editor； selected as the present boasts himself； might mistake the Teufelsdrockh Serpent…of…Eternity in like manner？ For which reason it was to be altered； not without underhand satire； into a plainer Symbol？ Or is this merely one of his half…sophisms； half…truisms； which if he can but set on the back of a Figure； he cares not whither it gallop？ We say not with certainty； and indeed； so strange is the Professor； can never say。 If our suspicion be wholly unfounded； let his own questionable ways； not our necessary circumspectness bear the blame。
But be this as it will； the somewhat exasperated and indeed exhausted Editor determines here to shut these Paper…bags for the present。 Let it suffice that we know of Teufelsdrockh； so far； if 〃not what he did； yet what he became：〃 the rather； as his character has now taken its ultimate bent； and no new revolution； of importance； is to be looked for。 The imprisoned Chrysalis is now a winged Psyche： and such； wheresoever be its flight； it will continue。 To trace by what complex gyrations （flights or involuntary waftings） through the mere external Life…element； Teufelsdrockh； reaches his University Professorship； and the Psyche clothes herself in civic Titles； without altering her now fixed nature；would be comparatively an unproductive task； were we even unsuspicious of its being； for us at least； a false and impossible one。 His outward Biography； therefore； which； at the Blumine Lover's…Leap； we saw churned utterly into spray…vapor； may hover in that condition； for aught that concerns us here。 Enough that by survey of certain 〃pools and plashes；〃 we have ascertained its general direction； do we not already know that； by one way and other； it _has_ long since rained down again into a stream； and even now； at Weissnichtwo； flows deep and still； fraught with the _Philosophy of Clothes_； and visible to whoso will cast eye thereon？ Over much invaluable matter； that lies scattered； like jewels among quarry…rubbish； in those Paper…catacombs； we may have occasion to glance back； and somewhat will demand insertion at the right place： meanwhile be our tiresome diggings therein suspended。
If now； before reopening the great _Clothes…Volume_； we ask what our degree of progress； during these Ten Chapters； has been； towards right understanding of the _Clothes…Philosophy_； let not our discouragement become total。 To speak in that old figure of the Hell…gate Bridge over Chaos； a few flying pontoons have perhaps been added； though as yet they drift straggling on the Flood； how far they will reach； when once the chains are straightened and fastened； can； at present； only be matter of conjecture。
So much we already calculate： Through many a little loophole； we have had glimpses into the internal world of Teufelsdrockh； his strange mystic； almost magic Diagram of the Universe； and how it was gradually drawn； is not henceforth altogether dark to us。 Those mysterious ideas on TIME； which merit consideration； and are not wholly unintelligible with such； may by and by prove significant。 Still more may his somewhat peculiar view of Nature； the decisive Oneness he ascribes to Nature。 How all Nature and Life are but one _Garment_； a 〃Living Garment；〃 woven and ever a…weaving in the 〃Loom of Time； 〃 is not here； indeed； the outline of a whole _Clothes…Philosophy_； at least the arena it is to work in？ Remark； too； that the Character of the Man； nowise without meaning in such a matter； becomes less enigmatic： amid so much tumultuous obscurity； almost like diluted madness； do not a certain indomitable Defiance and yet a boundless Reverence seem to loom forth； as the two mountain…summits； on whose rock…strata all the rest were based and built？
Nay further； may we not say that Teufelsdrockh's Biography； allowing it even； as suspected； only a hieroglyphical truth； exhibits a man； as it were preappointed for Clothes…Philosophy？ To look through the Shows of things into Things themselves he is led and compelled。 The 〃Passivity〃 given him by birth is fostered by all turns of his fortune。 Everywhere cast out； like oil out of water； from mingling in any Employment； in any public Communion； he has no portion but Solitude； and a life of Meditation。 The whole energy of his existence is directed； through long years； on one task： that of enduring pain； if he cannot cure it。 Thus everywhere do the Shows of things oppress him； withstand him； threaten him with fearfullest destruction： only by victoriously penetrating into Things themselves can he find peace and a stronghold。 But is not this same looking through the Shows； or Vestures； into the Things； even the first preliminary to a _Philosophy of Clothes_？ Do we not； in all this； discern some beckonings towards the true higher purport of such a Philosophy； and what shape it must assume with such a man； in such an era？
Perhaps in entering on Book Third； the courteous Reader is not utterly without guess whither he is bound： nor； let us hope； for all the fantastic Dream…Grottos through which； as is our lot with Teufelsdrockh； he must wander； will there be wanting between whiles some twinkling of a steady Polar Star。
BOOK III。
CHAPTER I。 INCIDENT IN MODERN HISTORY。
As a wonder…loving and wonder…seeking man； Teufelsdrockh； from an early part of this Clothes…Volume； has more and more exhibited himself。 Striking it was； amid all his perverse cloudiness； with what force of vision and of heart he pierced into the mystery of the World； recognizing in the highest sensible phenomena； so far as Sense went； only fresh or faded Raiment； yet ever； under this； a celestial Essence thereby rendered visible： and while； on the one hand； he trod the old rags of Matter； with their tinsels； into the mire； he on the other everywhere exalted Spirit above all earthly principalities and powers； and worshipped it； though under the meanest shapes； with a true Platonic mysticism。 What the man ultimately purposed by thus casting his Greek…fire into the general Wardrobe of the Universe； what such； more or less complete； rending and burning of Garments throughout the whole compass of Civilized Life and Speculation； should lead to； the rather as he was no Adamite； in any sense； and could not； like Rousseau； recommend either bodily or intellectual Nudity； and a return to the savage state： all this our readers are now bent to discover； this is； in fact； properly the gist and purport of Professor Teufelsdrockh's Philosophy of Clothes。
Be it remembered； however； that such purport is here not so much evolved； as detected to lie ready for evolving。 We are to guide our British Friends into the new Gold…country； and show them the mines； nowise to dig out and exhaust its wealth； which indeed remains for all time inexhaustible。 Once there； let each dig for his own behoof； and enrich himself。
Neither； in so capricious inexpressible a Work as this of the Professor's； can our course now more than formerly be straightforward； step by step； but at best leap by leap。 Significant Indications stand out here and there； which for the critical eye； that looks both widely and narrowly； shape themselves into some ground…scheme of a Whole： to select these with judgment； so that a leap from one to the other be possible； and （in our old figure） by chaining them together； a passable Bridge be effected： this； as heretofore； continues our only method。 Among such
