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Page 40
We visited other chapels where the same sort of thing was going on in
other subjects. It all produced in me a sort of stupefaction, both at
the amazing knowledge involved, and in the essential futility of it all.
Before we left the building we went up to the statue, which represented
a female figure, looking upwards, with a pure and delicate beauty of
form and gesture that was inexpressibly and coldly lovely.
We went out in silence, which seemed to be the rule of the place.
When we came away from the building we were accosted by a very grave and
courteous person, who said that he perceived that we were strangers, and
asked if he could be of any service to us, and whether we proposed to
make a stay of any duration. Amroth thanked him, and said smilingly that
we were only passing through. The gentleman said that it was a pity,
because there was much of interest to hear. "In this place," he said
with a deprecating gesture, "we grudge every hour that is not devoted to
thought." He went on to inquire if we were following any particular line
of study, and as our answers were unsatisfactory, he said that we could
not do better than begin by attending the school of literature. "I
observed," he said, "that you were listening to our Professor, Sylvanus,
with attention. He is devoting himself to the development of poetical
form. It is a rich subject. It has generally been believed that poets
work by a sort of native inspiration, and that the poetic gift is a sort
of heightening of temperament. But Sylvanus has proved--I think I may go
so far as to say this--that this is all pure fancy, and what is worse,
unsound fancy. It is all merely a matter of heredity, and the apparent
accidents on which poetical expression depends can be analysed exactly
and precisely into the most commonplace and simple elements. It is only
a question of proportion. Now we who value clearness of mind above
everything, find this a very refreshing thought. The real crown and sum
of human achievement, in the intellectual domain, is to see things
clearly and exactly, and upon that clearness all progress depends. We
have disposed by this time of most illusions; and the same scientific
method is being strenuously applied to all other processes of human
endeavour. It is even hinted that Sylvanus has practically proved that
the imaginative element in literature is purely a taint of barbarism,
though he has not yet announced the fact. But many of his class are
looking forward to his final lecture on the subject as to a profoundly
sensational event, which is likely to set a deep mark upon all our
conceptions of literary endeavour. So that," he said with a tolerant
smile, gently rubbing his hands together, "our life here is not by any
means destitute of the elements of excitement, though we most of us, of
course, aim at the acquisition of a serene and philosophic temper. But
I must not delay you," he added; "there is much to see and to hear, and
you will be welcomed everywhere: and indeed I am myself somewhat closely
engaged, though in a subject which is not fraught with such polite
emollience. I attend the school of metaphysics, from which we have at
last, I hope, eliminated the last traces of that debasing element of
psychology, which has so long vitiated the exact study of the subject."
He took himself off with a bow, and I gazed blankly at Amroth. "The
conversation of that very polite person," I said, "is like a bad dream!
What is this extraordinarily depressing place? Shall I have to undergo a
course here?"
"No, my dear boy," said Amroth. "This is rather out of your depth. But I
am somewhat disappointed at your view of the situation. Surely these are
all very important matters? Your disposition is, I am afraid, incurably
frivolous! How could people be more worthily employed than in getting
rid of the last traces of intellectual error, and in referring
everything to its actual origin? Did not your heart burn within you at
his luminous exposition? I had always thought you a boy of intellectual
promise."
"Amroth," I said, "I will not be made fun of. This is the most dreadful
place I have ever seen or conceived of! It frightens me. The dryness of
pure science is terrifying enough, but after all that has a kind of
strange beauty, because it deals either with transcendental ideas of
mathematical relation, or with the deducing of principle from
accumulated facts. But here the object appears to be to eliminate the
human element from humanity. I insist upon knowing where you have
brought me, and what is going on here."
"Well, then," said Amroth, "I will conceal it from you no longer. This
is the paradise of thought, where meagre and spurious philosophers, and
all who have submerged life in intellect, have their reward. It _is_,
as you say, a very dreary place for children of nature like you and me.
But I do not suppose that there is a happier or a busier place in all
our dominions. The worst of it is that it is so terribly hard to get out
of. It is a blind alley and leads nowhere. Every step has to be
retraced. These people have to get a very severe dose of homely life to
do them any good; and the worst of it is that they are so entirely
virtuous. They have never had the time or the inclination to be anything
else. And they are among the most troublesome and undisciplined of all
our people. But I see you have had enough; and unless you wish to wait
for Professor Sylvanus's sensational pronouncement, we will go
elsewhere, and have some other sort of fun. But you must not be so much
upset by these things."
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