登陆注册
15724500000068

第68章 CHAPTER I.(1)

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 light-spots, the following, floating in much wild matter about _Perfectibility_, has seemed worth clutching at:--"Perhaps the most remarkable incident in Modern History," says Teufelsdrockh, "is not the Diet of Worms, still less the Battle of Austerlitz, Waterloo, Peterloo, or any other Battle; but an incident passed carelessly over by most Historians, and treated with some degree of ridicule by others: namely, George Fox's making to himself a suit of Leather. This man, the first of the Quakers, and by trade a Shoemaker, was one of those, to whom, under ruder or purer form, the Divine Idea of the Universe is pleased to manifest itself; and, across all the hulls of Ignorance and earthly Degradation, shine through, in unspeakable Awfulness, unspeakable Beauty, on their souls: who therefore are rightly accounted Prophets, God-possessed; or even Gods, as in some periods it has chanced.

Sitting in his stall; working on tanned hides, amid pincers, paste-horns, rosin, swine-bristles, and a nameless flood of rubbish, this youth had, nevertheless, a Living Spirit belonging to him; also an antique Inspired Volume, through which, as through a window, it could look upwards, and discern its celestial Home. The task of a daily pair of shoes, coupled even with some prospect of victuals, and an honorable Mastership in Cordwainery, and perhaps the post of Thirdborough in his hundred, as the crown of long faithful sewing,--was nowise satisfaction enough to such a mind: but ever amid the boring and hammering came tones from that far country, came Splendors and Terrors; for this poor Cordwainer, as we said, was a Man; and the Temple of Immensity, wherein as Man he had been sent to minister, was full of holy mystery to him.

"The Clergy of the neighborhood, the ordained Watchers and Interpreters of that same holy mystery, listened with un-affected tedium to his consultations, and advised him, as the solution of such doubts, to 'drink beer, and dance with the girls.' Blind leaders of the blind! For what end were their tithes levied and eaten; for what were their shovel-hats scooped out, and their surplices and cassock-aprons girt on; and such a church-repairing, and chaffering, and organing, and other racketing, held over that spot of God's Earth,--if Man were but a Patent Digester, and the Belly with its adjuncts the grand Reality? Fox turned from them, with tears and a sacred scorn, back to his Leather-parings and his Bible.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 福妻驾到

    福妻驾到

    现代饭店彪悍老板娘魂穿古代。不分是非的极品婆婆?三年未归生死不明的丈夫?心狠手辣的阴毒亲戚?贪婪而好色的地主老财?吃上顿没下顿的贫困宭境?不怕不怕,神仙相助,一技在手,天下我有!且看现代张悦娘,如何身带福气玩转古代,开面馆、收小弟、左纳财富,右傍美男,共绘幸福生活大好蓝图!!!!快本新书《天媒地聘》已经上架开始销售,只要3.99元即可将整本书抱回家,你还等什么哪,赶紧点击下面的直通车,享受乐乐精心为您准备的美食盛宴吧!)
  • 冥冥注定:买只男鬼来拜堂

    冥冥注定:买只男鬼来拜堂

    她是诛妖师,生于夏至最为炎热的一天,阳气过甚,阴气不足,命格诡异,得以存活。历世千年,游走于天地间,从来没有一处地方,能长久留下她的脚步。他是鬼!闷骚,腹黑,下流,颜倾天下,而无人能及的妖孽男鬼。可是……他却忘记了自己的姓名与死因。一纸卖身契他将自己卖给了她,成为了客栈里的账房先生,却发现每一个来客栈里的客人,都不是寻常之人,他们每个人的身上,都有一段或悲伤,或无奈,或凄美的故事……天色一点点暗了下来,青灯客栈的营业时间到了……你愿意来听听他们的故事?
  • 骇客纪元

    骇客纪元

    不知是过了多久,世界经历了无数的轮回,世纪与世纪的擦肩,岁月与岁月的碰撞。如今至此,已不知是何世纪,只知道这是一个属于电子与机器的时代。人为何而生,是因为何而战,生来猎取他人生命,渐渐演变成了一种习惯。这便是骇客纪元,是骇客们赖以生存的时代,是弱肉强食的时代。没有同情,没有帮助,只有利与私的交易。
  • 快穿:宿主,该睡了!

    快穿:宿主,该睡了!

    睡觉做梦=穿越执行任务?!睡梦中突然被绑定了系统,让她每晚都穿越一次,某女表示她的内心是拒绝的!她没兴趣!系统:抱歉,绑定语音密码正是没兴趣,所以恭喜你绑定成功!某女怒吼:哪个变态设置的语音密码?站出来,我保证不打死你!从此某女就开始踏上了任重而道远的快穿道路。清除BUG,虐渣,帮助男主逆袭,维护世界和平…顺便,谈个恋爱?某天,系统震惊:“宿主,你什么时候把那个人拐了?!”这消息来得太令人……高兴了!“……”额,貌似,大概,也许,是哪天来着?情不知所起,一往而深。“那个谁,你愿意和我在一起吗?”
  • 悟空降魔记

    悟空降魔记

    这是个自由的时代,曾经的神话传说,成了大众娱乐的电视剧,但那些妖魔鬼怪真的消失了吗?在昆仑山的荒古禁殿贡桌上,传承千年的驱魔大典封面依旧篆刻着天书,上面苍凉的写着,神死了,魔灭了,我还活着。孙悟空转世,誓要将那诸佛都烟消云散。
  • 都市超级兵王

    都市超级兵王

    这是一个混迹都市的兵王,不断被逆推的故事!荡气回肠、精彩纷呈,尽在《都市超级兵王》!
  • 超能力基因

    超能力基因

    这是一部热血的小说,为集齐二十六个基因奋斗,只为守护地球的和平!
  • 重生校园:美男请接招

    重生校园:美男请接招

    26岁的沈筱沫重生到了读初二的那年,她要改变一切。她只想成为超级学霸,却开创了学习方法的历史先河;她只想成为女强人,却一不小心成为超级富豪;她只想不顾一切去珍惜一个人,却引来桃花朵朵。
  • 末日下的万里归途

    末日下的万里归途

    绝对新人,初次提笔,用心之作,献给喜欢此类型小说的人。一个普通人,和伙伴在残酷血腥的末世里苦苦挣扎,只为回到远在万里之外的家人身边。遥远的路途、险恶的环境、叵测的人心、艰苦恶劣的自然环境都无法阻挡前进的脚步!为生存而战斗!为亲人而战斗!为爱而战斗不休!无异能、无种马、无后宫、无圣母、也不是龙傲天。书中有许多贴近现实的人文、地理、自然等细节,希望能够让你感同身受。
  • 异世神官

    异世神官

    ——黑翼铺翅,阴影降临,兄弟反目,天下大乱。阿尔卡德大陆在先知者的预言中,即将掀起一场腥风血雨。与此同时,身为地球人的谢灵运,被从天而降的汽车撞死后,被身为神明的“逐日者”逼迫到这个世界传教。原本无奈的他,在来到这个世界后才逐渐发现......这一切都不是偶然。面对前途未卜的未来,谢灵运该如何掌控自己的命运?