lay morals-第31节
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hat； for its purpose； is faultless。
It was in much the same spirit that our artist sat down to his drawings。 He is by nature a Bunyan of the pencil。 He； too； will draw anything； from a butcher at work on a dead sheep； up to the courts of Heaven。 'A Lamb for Supper' is the name of one of his designs； 'Their Glorious Entry' of another。 He has the same disregard for the ridiculous； and enjoys somewhat of the same privilege of style； so that we are pleased even when we laugh the most。 He is literal to the verge of folly。 If dust is to be raised from the unswept parlour； you may be sure it will 'fly abundantly' in the picture。 If Faithful is to lie 'as dead' before Moses； dead he shall lie with a warrant … dead and stiff like granite； nay （and here the artist must enhance upon the symbolism of the author）； it is with the identical stone tables of the law that Moses fells the sinner。 Good and bad people； whom we at once distinguish in the text by their names； Hopeful； Honest； and Valiant…for…Truth； on the one hand； as against By…ends； Sir Having Greedy； and the Lord Old…man on the other； are in these drawings as simply distinguished by their costume。 Good people； when not armed CAP…A…PIE； wear a speckled tunic girt about the waist； and low hats； apparently of straw。 Bad people swagger in tail…coats and chimney…pots； a few with knee…breeches； but the large majority in trousers； and for all the world like guests at a garden…party。 Worldly…Wiseman alone； by some inexplicable quirk； stands before Christian in laced hat； embroidered waistcoat； and trunk…hose。 But above all examples of this artist's intrepidity； commend me to the print entitled 'Christian Finds it Deep。' 'A great darkness and horror；' says the text； have fallen on the pilgrim； it is the comfortless deathbed with which Bunyan so strikingly concludes the sorrows and conflicts of his hero。 How to represent this worthily the artist knew not； and yet he was determined to represent it somehow。 This was how he did： Hopeful is still shown to his neck above the water of death； but Christian has bodily disappeared； and a blot of solid blackness indicates his place。
As you continue to look at these pictures； about an inch square for the most part； sometimes printed three or more to the page； and each having a printed legend of its own； however trivial the event recorded； you will soon become aware of two things： first； that the man can draw； and； second； that he possesses the gift of an imagination。 'Obstinate reviles；' says the legend； and you should see Obstinate reviling。 'He warily retraces his steps'； and there is Christian； posting through the plain； terror and speed in every muscle。 'Mercy yearns to go' shows you a plain interior with packing going forward； and； right in the middle； Mercy yearning to go … every line of the girl's figure yearning。 In 'The Chamber called Peace' we see a simple English room； bed with white curtains； window valance and door； as may be found in many thousand unpretentious houses； but far off； through the open window； we behold the sun uprising out of a great plain； and Christian hails it with his hand：
'Where am I now！ is this the love and care Of Jesus； for the men that pilgrims are！ Thus to provide！ That I should be forgiven！ And dwell already the next door to heaven！'
A page or two further； from the top of the House Beautiful； the damsels point his gaze toward the Delectable Mountains： 'The Prospect；' so the cut is ticketed … and I shall be surprised； if on less than a square inch of paper you can show me one so wide and fair。 Down a cross road on an English plain； a cathedral city outlined on the horizon； a hazel shaw upon the left； comes Madam Wanton dancing with her fair enchanted cup； and Faithful； book in hand； half pauses。 The cut is perfect as a symbol； the giddy movement of the sorceress； the uncertain poise of the man struck to the heart by a temptation； the contrast of that even plain of life whereon he journeys with the bold； ideal bearing of the wanton … the artist who invented and portrayed this had not merely read Bunyan； he had also thoughtfully lived。 The Delectable Mountains … I continue skimming the first part … are not on the whole happily rendered。 Once； and once only； the note is struck； when Christian and Hopeful are seen coming； shoulder…high； through a thicket of green shrubs … box； perhaps； or perfumed nutmeg； while behind them； domed or pointed； the hills stand ranged against the sky。 A little further； and we come to that masterpiece of Bunyan's insight into life； the Enchanted Ground； where； in a few traits； he has set down the latter end of such a number of the would…be good； where his allegory goes so deep that； to people looking seriously on life； it cuts like satire。 The true significance of this invention lies； of course； far out of the way of drawing； only one feature； the great tedium of the land； the growing weariness in well…doing； may be somewhat represented in a symbol。 The pilgrims are near the end： 'Two Miles Yet；' says the legend。 The road goes ploughing up and down over a rolling heath； the wayfarers； with outstretched arms； are already sunk to the knees over the brow of the nearest hill； they have just passed a milestone with the cipher two； from overhead a great； piled； summer cumulus； as of a slumberous summer afternoon； beshadows them： two miles！ it might be hundreds。 In dealing with the Land of Beulah the artist lags； in both parts； miserably behind the text； but in the distant prospect of the Celestial City more than regains his own。 You will remember when Christian and Hopeful 'with desire fell sick。' 'Effect of the Sunbeams' is the artist's title。 Against the sky； upon a cliffy mountain； the radiant temple beams upon them over deep； subjacent woods； they； behind a mound； as if seeking shelter from the splendour … one prostrate on his face； one kneeling； and with hands ecstatically lifted … yearn with passion after that immortal city。 Turn the page； and we behold them walking by the very shores of death； Heaven； from this nigher view； has risen half…way to the zenith； and sheds a wider glory； and the two pilgrims； dark against that brightness； walk and sing out of the fulness of their hearts。 No cut more thoroughly illustrates at once the merit and the weakness of the artist。 Each pilgrim sings with a book in his grasp … a family Bible at the least for bigness； tomes so recklessly enormous that our second； impulse is to laughter。 And yet that is not the first thought； nor perhaps the last。 Something in the attitude of the manikins … faces they have none； they are too small for that … something in the way they swing these monstrous volumes to their singing； something perhaps borrowed from the text； some subtle differentiation from the cut that went before and the cut that follows after … something； at least； speaks clearly of a fearful joy； of Heaven seen from the deathbed； of the horror of the last passage no less than of the glorious coming home。 There is that in the action of one of them which always reminds me； with a difference； of that haunting last glimpse of Thomas Idle； travelling to Tyburn in the cart。 Next come the Shining Ones； wooden and trivial enough； the pilgrims pass into the river； the blot already mentioned settles over and obliterates Christian。 In two more cuts we behold them drawing nearer to the other shore； and then； between two radiant angels； one of whom points upward； we see them mounting in new weeds； their former lendings left behind them on the inky river。 More angels meet them； Heaven is displayed； and if no better； certainly no worse； than it has been shown by others … a place； at least； infinitely populous and glorious with light … a place that haunts solemnly the hearts of children。 And then this symbolic draughtsman once more strikes into his proper vein。 Three cuts conclude the first part。 In the first the gates close； black against the glory struggling from within。 The second shows us Ignorance … alas！ poor Arminian！ … hailing； in a sad twilight； the ferryman Vain…Hope； and in the third we behold him； bound hand and foot； and black already with the hue of his eternal fate； carried high over the mountain…tops of the world by two angels of the anger of the Lord。 'Carried to Another Place；' the artist enigmatically names his plate … a terrible design。
Wherever he touches on the black side of the supernatural his pencil grows more daring and incisive。 He has many true inventions in the perilous and diabolic； he has many startling nightmares realised。 It is not easy to select the best； some may like one and some another； the nude； depilated devil bounding and casting darts against the Wicket Gate； the scroll of flying horrors that hang over Christian by the Mouth of Hell； the horned shade that comes behind him whispering blasphemies； the daylight breaking through that rent cave…mouth of the mountains and falling chill adown the haunted tunnel； Christian's further progress along the causeway； between the two black pools； where； at every yard or two； a gin； a pitfall
