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greater sublimity of its loneliness it may be quickened into
loftier utterance and intensified into clearer song。 From the mean
squalor of the sordid life that limits him； the dreamer or the
idyllist may soar on poesy's viewless wings； may traverse with
fawn…skin and spear the moonlit heights of Cithaeron though Faun
and Bassarid dance there no more。 Like Keats he may wander through
the old…world forests of Latmos； or stand like Morris on the
galley's deck with the Viking when king and galley have long since
passed away。 But the drama is the meeting…place of art and life；
it deals； as Mazzini said； not merely with man； but with social
man； with man in his relation to God and to Humanity。 It is the
product of a period of great national united energy； it is
impossible without a noble public； and belongs to such ages as the
age of Elizabeth in London and of Pericles at Athens； it is part of
such lofty moral and spiritual ardour as came to Greek after the
defeat of the Persian fleet； and to Englishman after the wreck of
the Armada of Spain。
Shelley felt how incomplete our movement was in this respect； and
has shown in one great tragedy by what terror and pity he would
have purified our age； but in spite of THE CENCI the drama is one
of the artistic forms through which the genius of the England of
this century seeks in vain to find outlet and expression。 He has
had no worthy imitators。
It is rather； perhaps； to you that we should turn to complete and
perfect this great movement of ours； for there is something
Hellenic in your air and world； something that has a quicker breath
of the joy and power of Elizabeth's England about it than our
ancient civilisation can give us。 For you； at least； are young；
'no hungry generations tread you down；' and the past does not weary
you with the intolerable burden of its memories nor mock you with
the ruins of a beauty； the secret of whose creation you have lost。
That very absence of tradition； which Mr。 Ruskin thought would rob
your rivers of their laughter and your flowers of their light； may
be rather the source of your freedom and your strength。
To speak in literature with the perfect rectitude and insouciance
of the movements of animals； and the unimpeachableness of the
sentiment of trees in the woods and grass by the roadside； has been
defined by one of your poets as a flawless triumph of art。 It is a
triumph which you above all nations may be destined to achieve。
For the voices that have their dwelling in sea and mountain are not
the chosen music of Liberty only； other messages are there in the
wonder of wind…swept height and the majesty of silent deep …
messages that； if you will but listen to them； may yield you the
splendour of some new imagination； the marvel of some new beauty。
'I foresee；' said Goethe； 'the dawn of a new literature which all
people may claim as their own； for all have contributed to its
foundation。' If； then； this is so； and if the materials for a
civilisation as great as that of Europe lie all around you； what
profit； you will ask me； will all this study of our poets and
painters be to you？ I might answer that the intellect can be
engaged without direct didactic object on an artistic and
historical problem； that the demand of the intellect is merely to
feel itself alive； that nothing which has ever interested men or
women can cease to be a fit subject for culture。
I might remind you of what all Europe owes to the sorrow of a
single Florentine in exile at Verona； or to the love of Petrarch by
that little well in Southern France； nay； more； how even in this
dull； materialistic age the simple expression of an old man's
simple life； passed away from the clamour of great cities amid the
lakes and misty hills of Cumberland； has opened out for England
treasures of new joy compared with which the treasures of her
luxury are as barren as the sea which she has made her highway； and
as bitter as the fire which she would make her slave。
But I think it will bring you something besides this； something
that is the knowledge of real strength in art： not that you should
imitate the works of these men； but their artistic spirit； their
artistic attitude； I think you should absorb that。
For in nations； as in individuals； if the passion for creation be
not accompanied by the critical； the aesthetic faculty also； it
will be sure to waste its strength aimlessly； failing perhaps in
the artistic spirit of choice； or in the mistaking of feeling for
form； or in the following of false ideals。
For the various spiritual forms of the imagination have a natural
affinity with certain sensuous forms of art … and to discern the
qualities of each art； to intensify as well its limitations as its
powers of expression； is one of the aims that culture sets before
us。 It is not an increased moral sense； an increased moral
supervision that your literature needs。 Indeed； one should never
talk of a moral or an immoral poem … poems are either well written
or badly written； that is all。 And； indeed； any element of morals
or implied reference to a standard of good or evil in art is often
a sign of a certain incompleteness of vision； often a note of
discord in the harmony of an imaginative creation； for all good
work aims at a purely artistic effect。 'We must be careful；' said
Goethe； 'not to be always looking for culture merely in what is
obviously moral。 Everything that is great promotes civilisation as
soon as we are aware of it。'
But； as in your cities so in your literature； it is a permanent
canon and standard of taste； an increased sensibility to beauty （if
I may say so） that is lacking。 All noble work is not national
merely； but universal。 The political independence of a nation must
not be confused with any intellectual isolation。 The spiritual
freedom； indeed； your own generous lives and liberal air will give
you。 From us you will learn the classical restraint of form。
For all great art is delicate art； roughness having very little to
do with strength； and harshness very little to do with power。 'The
artist；' as Mr。 Swinburne says； 'must be perfectly articulate。'
This limitation is for the artist perfect freedom： it is at once
the origin and the sign of his strength。 So that all the supreme
masters of style … Dante； Sophocles； Shakespeare … are the supreme
masters of spiritual and intellectual vision also。
Love art for its own sake； and then all things that you need will
be added to you。
This devotion to beauty and to the creation of beautiful things is
the test of all great civilised nations。 Philosophy may teach us
to bear with equanimity the misfortunes of our neighbours； and
science resolve the moral sense into a secretion of sugar； but art
is what makes the life of each citizen a sacrament and not a
speculation； art is what makes the life of the whole race immortal。
For beauty is the only thing that time cannot harm。 Philosophies
fall away like sand； and creeds follow one another like the
withered leaves of autumn； but what is beautiful is a joy for all
seasons and a possession for all eternity。
Wars and the clash of armies and the meeting of men in battle by
trampled field or leaguered city； and the rising of nations there
must always be。 But I think that art； by creating a common
intellectual atmosphere between all countries； might … if it could
not overshadow the world with the silver wings of peace … at least
make men such brothers that they would not go out to slay one
another for the whim or folly of some king or minister； as they do
in Europe。 Fraternity would come no more with the hands of Cain；
nor Liberty betray freedom with the kiss of Anarchy； for national
hatreds are always strongest where culture is lowest。
'How could I？' said Goethe； when reproached for not writing like
Korner against the French。 'How could I； to whom barbarism and
cult