世界名著-ROSCOE 11页

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------AnnualmostpopularEnglishclassics,hopeforyourstudyhelp,supportbaidu,hopebaidulibrarycollectionsmoreandmoregood.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1819-20 THESKETCHBOOK ROSCOE byWashingtonIrving ROSCOE -Intheserviceofmankindtobe Aguardiangodbelow;stilltoemploy Themind"sbraveardorinheroicaims, Suchasmayraiseuso"erthegrovellingherd, Andmakeusshineforever-thatislife. THOMSON. ONEofthefirstplacestowhichastrangeristakeninLiverpoolis theAthenaeum.Itisestablishedonaliberalandjudiciousplan;it containsagoodlibrary,andspaciousreading-room,andisthegreat literaryresortoftheplace.Gothereatwhathouryoumay,youare suretofinditfilledwithgrave-lookingpersonages,deeply absorbedinthestudyofnewspapers. AsIwasoncevisitingthishauntofthelearned,myattentionwas attractedtoapersonjustenteringtheroom.Hewasadvancedinlife, tall,andofaformthatmightoncehavebeencommanding,butitwasa littlebowedbytime-perhapsbycare.HehadanobleRomanstyleof countenance;aheadthatwouldhavepleasedapainter;andthoughsome slightfurrowsonhisbrowshowedthatwastingthoughthadbeenbusy there,yethiseyestillbeamedwiththefireofapoeticsoul. Therewassomethinginhiswholeappearancethatindicatedabeing ofadifferentorderfromthebustlingracearoundhim. Iinquiredhisname,andwasinformedthatitwasRoscoe.Idrew backwithaninvoluntaryfeelingofveneration.This,then,wasan authorofcelebrity;thiswasoneofthosemen,whosevoiceshavegone forthtotheendsoftheearth;withwhosemindsIhavecommuned eveninthesolitudesofAmerica.Accustomed,asweareinour country,toknowEuropeanwritersonlybytheirworks,wecannot conceiveofthem,asofothermen,engrossedbytrivialorsordid pursuits,andjostlingwiththecrowdofcommonmindsinthedusty pathsoflife.Theypassbeforeourimaginationslikesuperiorbeings, radiantwiththeemanationsoftheirgenius,andsurroundedbya haloofliteraryglory. Tofind,therefore,theeleganthistorianoftheMedici,mingling amongthebusysonsoftraffic,atfirstshockedmypoeticalideas; butitisfromtheverycircumstancesandsituationinwhichhehas beenplaced,thatMr.Roscoederiveshishighestclaimstoadmiration. Itisinterestingtonoticehowsomemindsseemalmosttocreate themselves,springingupundereverydisadvantage,andworkingtheir solitarybutirresistiblewaythroughathousandobstacles.Nature seemstodelightindisappointingtheassiduitiesofart,withwhich itwouldrearlegitimatedulnesstomaturity;andtogloryinthe vigorandluxurianceofherchanceproductions.Shescatterstheseeds ofgeniustothewinds,andthoughsomemayperishamongthestony placesoftheworld,andsomebechokedbythethornsandbrambles ofearlyadversity,yetotherswillnowandthenstrikerootevenin thecleftsoftherock,strugglebravelyupintosunshine,and spreadovertheirsterilebirthplaceallthebeautiesofvegetation. SuchhasbeenthecasewithMr.Roscoe.Borninaplaceapparently ungenialtothegrowthofliterarytalent;intheverymarket-placeof trade;withoutfortune,familyconnections,orpatronage; self-prompted,self-sustained,andalmostself-taught,hehas conqueredeveryobstacle,achievedhiswaytoeminence,and,having becomeoneoftheornamentsofthenation,hasturnedthewhole forceofhistalentsandinfluencetoadvanceandembellishhisnative town. Indeed,itisthislasttraitinhischaracterwhichhasgivenhim thegreatestinterestinmyeyes,andinducedmeparticularlytopoint himouttomycountrymen.Eminentasarehisliterarymerits,heis butoneamongthemanydistinguishedauthorsofthisintellectual nation.They,however,ingeneral,livebutfortheirownfame,or theirownpleasures.Theirprivatehistorypresentsnolessontothe world,or,perhaps,ahumiliatingoneofhumanfrailtyand inconsistency.Atbest,theyarepronetostealawayfromthebustle andcommonplaceofbusyexistence;toindulgeintheselfishnessof letteredease,andtorevelinscenesofmental,butexclusive enjoyment. Mr.Roscoe,onthecontrary,hasclaimednoneoftheaccorded privilegesoftalent.Hehasshuthimselfupinnogardenof thought,norelysiumoffancy;buthasgoneforthintothehighways andthoroughfaresoflife;hehasplantedbowersbytheway-side, fortherefreshmentofthepilgrimandthesojourner,andhasopened purefountains,wherethelaboringmanmayturnasidefromthedust andheatoftheday,anddrinkofthelivingstreamsofknowledge. Thereisa"dailybeautyinhislife,"onwhichmankindmaymeditate andgrowbetter.Itexhibitsnoloftyandalmostuseless,because inimitable,exampleofexcellence;butpresentsapictureofactive, yetsimpleandimitablevirtues,whicharewithineveryman"sreach, butwhich,unfortunately,arenotexercisedbymany,orthisworld wouldbeaparadise. Buthisprivatelifeispeculiarlyworthytheattentionofthe citizensofouryoungandbusycountry,whereliteratureandthe elegantartsmustgrowupsidebysidewiththecoarserplantsof dailynecessity;andmustdependfortheirculture,notonthe exclusivedevotionoftimeandwealth,northequickeningraysof titledpatronage,butonhoursandseasonssnatchedfromthepursuit ofworldlyinterests,byintelligentandpublic-spiritedindividuals. Hehasshownhowmuchmaybedoneforaplaceinhoursofleisureby onemasterspirit,andhowcompletelyitcangiveitsownimpressto surroundingobjects.LikehisownLorenzoDe"Medici,onwhomheseems tohavefixedhiseyeasonapuremodelofantiquity,hehas interwoventhehistoryofhislifewiththehistoryofhisnative town,andhasmadethefoundationsofitsfamethemonumentsofhis virtues.WhereveryougoinLiverpool,youperceivetracesofhis footstepsinallthatiselegantandliberal.Hefoundthetideof wealthflowingmerelyinthechannelsoftraffic;hehasdivertedfrom itinvigoratingrillstorefreshthegardenofliterature.Byhis ownexampleandconstantexertionshehaseffectedthatunionof commerceandtheintellectualpursuits,soeloquentlyrecommendedin oneofhislatestwritings:*andhaspracticallyprovedhow beautifullytheymaybebroughttoharmonize,andtobenefiteach other.Thenobleinstitutionsforliteraryandscientificpurposes, whichreflectsuchcreditonLiverpool,andaregivingsuchanimpulse tothepublicmind,havemostlybeenoriginated,andhaveallbeen effectivelypromoted,byMr.Roscoe;andwhenweconsiderthe rapidlyincreasingopulenceandmagnitudeofthattown,whichpromises tovieincommercialimportancewiththemetropolis,itwillbe perceivedthatinawakeninganambitionofmentalimprovementamong itsinhabitants,hehaseffectedagreatbenefittothecauseof Britishliterature. *AddressontheopeningoftheLiverpoolInstitution. InAmerica,weknowMr.Roscoeonlyastheauthor-inLiverpoolhe isspokenofasthebanker;andIwastoldofhishavingbeen unfortunateinbusiness.Icouldnotpityhim,asIheardsomerich mendo.Iconsideredhimfarabovethereachofpity.Thosewholive onlyfortheworld,andintheworld,maybecastdownbythefrowns ofadversity;butamanlikeRoscoeisnottobeovercomebythe reversesoffortune.Theydobutdrivehiminupontheresourcesof hisownmind;tothesuperiorsocietyofhisownthoughts;whichthe bestofmenareaptsometimestoneglect,andtoroamabroadinsearch oflessworthyassociates.Heisindependentoftheworldaround him.Heliveswithantiquityandposterity;withantiquity,inthe sweetcommunionofstudiousretirement;andwithposterity,inthe generousaspiringsafterfuturerenown.Thesolitudeofsuchamindis itsstateofhighestenjoyment.Itisthenvisitedbythoseelevated meditationswhicharetheproperalimentofnoblesouls,andare,like manna,sentfromheaven,inthewildernessofthisworld. Whilemyfeelingswereyetaliveonthesubject,itwasmyfortune tolightonfurthertracesofMr.Roscoe.Iwasridingoutwitha gentleman,toviewtheenvironsofLiverpool,whenheturnedoff, throughagate,intosomeornamentedgrounds.Afterridingashort distance,wecametoaspaciousmansionoffreestone,builtinthe Grecianstyle.Itwasnotinthepuresttaste,yetithadanairof elegance,andthesituationwasdelightful.Afinelawnslopedaway fromit,studdedwithclumpsoftrees,sodisposedastobreaka softfertilecountryintoavarietyoflandscapes.TheMerseywasseen windingabroadquietsheetofwaterthroughanexpanseofgreen meadow-land;whiletheWelshmountains,blendedwithclouds,and meltingintodistance,borderedthehorizon. ThiswasRoscoe"sfavoriteresidenceduringthedaysofhis prosperity.Ithadbeentheseatofeleganthospitalityandliterary retirement.Thehousewasnowsilentanddeserted.Isawthewindows ofthestudy,whichlookedoutuponthesoftsceneryIhavementioned. Thewindowswereclosed-thelibrarywasgone.Twoorthree ill-favoredbeingswereloiteringabouttheplace,whommyfancy picturedintoretainersofthelaw.Itwaslikevisitingsome classicfountain,thathadoncewelleditspurewatersinasacred shade,butfindingitdryanddusty,withthelizardandthetoad broodingovertheshatteredmarbles. IinquiredafterthefateofMr.Roscoe"slibrary,whichhad consistedofscarceandforeignbooks,frommanyofwhichhehaddrawn thematerialsforhisItalianhistories.Ithadpassedunderthe hammeroftheauctioneer,andwasdispersedaboutthecountry.The goodpeopleofthevicinitythrongedlikewreckerstogetsomepartof thenoblevesselthathadbeendrivenonshore.Didsuchasceneadmit ofludicrousassociations,wemightimaginesomethingwhimsicalin thisstrangeirruptionintheregionsoflearning.Pigmiesrummaging thearmoryofagiant,andcontendingforthepossessionofweapons whichtheycouldnotwield.Wemightpicturetoourselvessomeknotof speculators,debatingwithcalculatingbrowoverthequaintbinding andilluminatedmarginofanobsoleteauthor;oftheairofintense, butbaffledsagacity,withwhichsomesuccessfulpurchaserattempted todiveintotheblack-letterbargainhehadsecured. ItisabeautifulincidentinthestoryofMr.Roscoe"smisfortunes, andonewhichcannotfailtointerestthestudiousmind,thatthe partingwithhisbooksseemstohavetoucheduponhistenderest feelings,andtohavebeentheonlycircumstancethatcouldprovoke thenoticeofhismuse.Thescholaronlyknowshowdearthese silent,yeteloquent,companionsofpurethoughtsandinnocenthours becomeintheseasonsofadversity.Whenallthatisworldlyturns todrossaroundus,theseonlyretaintheirsteadyvalue.Whenfriends growcold,andtheconverseofintimateslanguishesintovapid civilityandcommonplace,theseonlycontinuetheunaltered countenanceofhappierdays,andcheeruswiththattruefriendship whichneverdeceivedhope,nordesertedsorrow. Idonotwishtocensure;but,surely,ifthepeopleofLiverpool hadbeenproperlysensibleofwhatwasduetoMr.Roscoeand themselves,hislibrarywouldneverhavebeensold.Goodworldly reasonsmay,doubtless,begivenforthecircumstance,whichit wouldbedifficulttocombatwithothersthatmightseemmerely fanciful;butitcertainlyappearstomesuchanopportunityasseldom occurs,ofcheeringanoblemindstrugglingundermisfortunes,by oneofthemostdelicate,butmostexpressivetokensofpublic sympathy.Itisdifficult,however,toestimateamanofgenius properlywhoisdailybeforeoureyes.Hebecomesmingledand confoundedwithothermen.Hisgreatqualitieslosetheirnovelty, webecometoofamiliarwiththecommonmaterialswhichformthe basisevenoftheloftiestcharacter.SomeofMr.Roscoe"stownsmen mayregardhimmerelyasamanofbusiness;othersasapolitician; allfindhimengagedlikethemselvesinordinaryoccupations,and surpassed,perhaps,bythemselvesonsomepointsofworldlywisdom. Eventhatamiableandunostentatioussimplicityofcharacter,which givesthenamelessgracetorealexcellence,maycausehimtobe undervaluedbysomecoarseminds,whodonotknowthattrueworthis alwaysvoidofglareandpretension.Butthemanofletters,who speaksofLiverpool,speaksofitastheresidenceofRoscoe.-The intelligenttravellerwhovisitsitinquireswhereRoscoeistobe seen.-Heistheliterarylandmarkoftheplace,indicatingits existencetothedistantscholar.-Heis,likePompey"scolumnat Alexandria,toweringaloneinclassicdignity. Thefollowingsonnet,addressedbyMr.Roscoetohisbookson partingwiththem,isalludedtointheprecedingarticle.Ifany thingcanaddeffecttothepurefeelingandelevatedthoughthere displayed,itistheconviction,thatthewholeisnoeffusionof fancy,butafaithfultranscriptfromthewriter"sheart. TOMYBOOKS. Asonewho,destinedfromhisfriendstopart, Regretshisloss,buthopesagainerewhile Tosharetheirconverseandenjoytheirsmile, Andtempersashemayaffliction"sdart; Thus,lovedassociates,chiefsofelderart, Teachersofwisdom,whocouldoncebeguile Mytedioushours,andlighteneverytoil, Inowresignyou;norwithfaintingheart; Forpassafewshortyears,ordays,orhours, Andhappierseasonsmaytheirdawnunfold, Andallyoursacredfellowshiprestore: When,freedfromearth,unlimiteditspowers, Mindshallwithminddirectcommunionhold, Andkindredspiritsmeettopartnomore. THEEND .