Professional Documents
Culture Documents
4.
^xh>^\)^
'
cn^^'^'>-'^^
-y-^ i^
"^-^
"^
^'
'7/^V.
&^<.^^
t^U^-t^^^^ri
./ ^-?^2-^
BROWNING'S PARACELSUS
AND OTHER ESSAYS.
BY
J.
D.
of
BUCK,
etc.
"Sleep
is
CINCINNATI:
Copyright,
1S97,
by
J,
D. Buck.
TO
L.
C.
B.
COMRADES
[n all
CONTENTS.
Introduction,
v
^3
Paracelsus,
Genius
6i
-
7^
83
(iii)
INTRODUCTION.
We
is
of unrest
will,
up,
turned.
memory
now
things
living,
when
causes
active
seemed
inoperative,
and
now
to
investigated
were regarded as
sacrilege
interfere
sacred,
was
to
question,
much more
**
with them.
as
Things settled
said, '*if
by long use,"
Bacon once
fit
not
well together."
VI
INTRODUCTION.
Chinese puzzle, loosen one piece,
like a
in pieces.
advances,
till it
sweeps
all
before
it.
Many
new
life
spring-
ing
old.
The
the
tidal-wave
advancing,
is
yet
heralded by
many
riod,
signs.
in
We
the
dawn.
We
are told
care-
of time and
many
by
mil-
lenniums
events,
similar
and
INTRODUCTION.
lights for the
Vll
coming
age.
Progress
is
the law of
life.
is
is
look;
is
looking
stars
;
upward
and
questioning
the
is
was even so
at the
Century in the
face us
now
as then,
a somewhat
different
form.
all
last analysis
these problems
merge
of
man
It is
human
race.
in
perpetual
sense
conflict
with
the things
fire
of
and
of
time
life,
the
sacred
on the
altars
by which we
VIU
to sense this
INTRODUCTION.
conflict,
true light
the
informing ideal,
spirit
all
the
as
supremacy of
over
intellect,
lower functions in
man.
tier
note
**A11
no
uncertain
sound.
The
''That
organ,
the
the
soul
in
man
not
an
all
but
animates
is
and exercises
organs;
not a
power of memory, of
but
uses
of
comparison,
is
not a fac-
but a light
will,
is
the
and the
ing, in
will;
which they
an immensity not
Emerson,
quotis
And,
ing
again,
says
from
Swedenborg,
"It
no
INTRODUCTION.
IX
confirm whatever he
pleases
is is
true,
and
that
what
is
false
this is the
It
mark and
is
character of
dis-
intelligence."
this
power of
cernment,
is
the
guiding light of
genius
and
its
oft-inspiring
theme.
inspired prophets and seers
Among the
of this
''Light of the
Logos" stands
this
Robert Browning.
ening
spirit
Discerning
awak-
in
lit
a lamp
altars
on ancient
and bore
it
aloft
Too
:
the plodding
crowd
Too pure
mon-
dawn
of the
coming age.
The
as-
INTRODUCTION.
it
to
any
as a comet, a
stars.
orbit,
revolutions,
or tabulated
the
perturbations
produced
thereby.
its
true
its
but
left
others
to
is
determine
not mind,
it."
magnitude.
''Spirit
nor
above
The new
which
it
has emerged
the
''spirit of the
it.
builds
toward Robert
light.
It is
Browning published
production
his
Paracelsus.
Such a
from
a young
man
of twenty-three, shows
how
INTRODUCTION.
XI
spirit
that
is
" above
intel-
his
mind.
brief out-
celsus
still
may
briefer glance
Browning's crea-
tion,
phy involved,
that
is
here attempted.
BROWNING'S PARACELSUS.
Paracelsus was born in 1493, and was
when
the
great
affixed his
ninetyat
church
Wittenberg, while
his senior.
The dawn of
the
new
The
era
result
of
which
has
dis-
colored
subsequent events.
covery of a new
the
and
dawn
century mark
the
beginning
of
his
the
career of Paracelsus,
who
in
own
''
Medical Luther."
(13)
14
like his
browning's PARACELSUS.
illustrious
contemporary, Para-
who
vied
and
Wind hatred
and
condemnation
to
of the physician
who dared
in
ridicule
to dispute
ancient authorities
the
heahng
but
him
in the
Ger-
man
a
by means of
number of
him
as tests,
enemies,
as
ex-
in
is
the history of
human
progress
when
it
BROWNING'S PARACELSUS.
either safe
the progress of
in the
his
man.
was even so
case
of
Paracelsus.
eries
Great as were
discovto
inaugurate,
most
intimate
disciple
condemned him
the sources
and extent of
knowledge,
his injustice
Obliged
to seek safety
and
and the
art of
concealment.
Physician,
is
Paracelsus,
the
the
Re-
idealized
to
by
portray
browning's PARACELSUS.
its
evolutionary journey.
It
becomes
us,
Browning
life
of Paracelsus an
re-
he has
and capable of
Recorded incidents
subject
will
in the
life
of our
to
be entirely inadequate
No
estimate given
by
his contemporaries,
whether friend or
our search.
concealed
diffi-
of was
due
to
the
ignorance
and
browning's PARACELSUS.
superstition
with
which
he
was
sur-
his dis-
were by no means
to
free.
is
The
always
power
limited,
impart knowledge
is
and
condemned.
As City Physician
at Basel,
and Pro-
and Surgery
made every
but,
effort
to impart
knowledge,
after
three
years
spent in such
city secretly
efforts,
he had
to leave the
and hurriedly
in
order to
He wandered
with the
from
every grade of
ject of learning
life,
avowed
ob-
l8
browning's PARACELSUS.
he practiced the
among
he
The
rich nobleif
great rewards
even persecution.
Paracelsus
left
no
gen-
v/ritings,
by
his
disciples,
and
these
are
at
imperishable.
''Those who
*'
remain
live
may
neither desire to
come
riches,
Happiness
is
is
better
than
and happy
he who wanders
He
its
v/ho
v>'ants
to study the
his
book of Nature
feet
m.ust
wander with
over
leaves.
BROWNINGS PARACELSUS.
by looking
tain
:
ig
at the letters
is
Nature
contents
studied by examining
in
the
of her treasure-vaults
every country.
and
that
all
contains
is
her
great
revelations."
This
bond
earth.
Italy,
wandering
Paracelsus
aimlessly
visited
over
the
Germany,
France,
He
went
and brought
factors
experience of Paracelsus to be
First,
his
instruc-
mius;
third,
second,
the
his
visit
to
India;
in
and
his
philosophy revealed
20
writings
BROWNING
;
PARACELSUS.
light thus derived,
and by the
we need have no
his
difficulty in
determining
St.
Adepts
Young
Paracelsus
and twentieth
between
years,
and went
to India
his twentieth
and twenty-eighth
years.
Much as
Para-
much
as
leaves,
he
was by no means a
pher.
self-taught philoso-
more extensively
BROWNINGS PARACELSUS.
treasure-vaults" or learning
terpret her revelations.
21
how
to
in-
From
The
same philosophy
in fact,
mentaries on the
latter.
Cosmogenesis
evolution of
and Anthropogenesis
the
of.
are
and
treated
The Macro-
cosm
the
the
little
is
scheme of evolution
differs
essentially
22
browning's PARACELSUS.
alone in
its
attempt to reduce
all
prob-
The
mines the
This
is
the only
human
evolution.
Such a
man.
Time
will
not permit of
mmst
refer
my read-
under consideration
with this
grand and
BROWNING
PARACELSUS.
It
23
far-reaching philosophy.
He
by
who could
point of casting
their
one only
The
ideal
of
his great
less austere
than
human by
reasonableness"
24
the
browning's PARACELSUS.
companions of
to the
his
early
life,
has
added
else.
into
and
best
lies
evidence of strength,
It is left to
not
of
weakness.
short
life.
The
wise see,
as
plane after
browning's PARACELSUS.
25
**
pillar
of fire"
by
night.
am
have been,
think
it
more
poet's intuition,
**
his
termed
higher than reason and clearer than philosophy, and, passing by the forms of
thought, gave the essence and the ideal
that
he saw.
is
This view
poet's
own
the
key
to his
whole work.
''Mind,"
he
but above."
Paracelsus
made
it
to say
"Truth
is
within ourselves;
takes
no
26
rise
browning's PARACELSUS.
from outward things, whate'er you
believe.
all,
may
in us
There
is
an inmost center
in fullness;
and around,
flesh
upon
wall,
the gross
clear per.
.
hems
it
ception
which
truth."
'*To
know, rather
way whence
the
imprisoned
splendor
may
light
supposed
to
be without."
The guiding
thus
*'
light
and the
zest
that
for the
is
im-
Faith.
Not blind
belief v/here
the
**
Spiritual
Wordsworth
calls
'
'
a pas-
intuition," or as
Browning puts
the
*'With me,
snake 'neath
browning's PARACELSUS.
Michael's
foot,
27
just
who
it
stands calm
because he
feels
writhe."
The work
literature or in art,
no
less
in
spirit shines.
In the
wood on
flame,
in
the
all
and
the
So
answer
warm and
human
heart throbs
in
for the splendor "in us 'Ho escape." Apply whatever test we may to this immortal poem of Browning's and we
shall
not
be
disappointed.
We may
28
browning's PARACELSUS.
to
it
come
increasing admiration
and
profit.
The
poem
tical
and obscure.
We
shall
do well to
own
to
of
it
apprehension;
is
and
as
mysticism,
derstood.
un-
True mysticism
is
to
quest for
life
is
principle of
to
the
it
clod
into
cloud-land
in
order that
may be hung
with rain-
light.
True
the soul to
heritage
with Divinity.
it
By
Hfting
the
is
body up
thus
the
and
interpreter
of
browning's PARACELSUS.
Nature
29
the
all
cent of
When-
ever
that
man
hems him
and
above the
and every
a revelation
in the truest
vital
and the
human
heart than he
as free
has portrayed.
He
was
from a
sickly sentimentality
as
tification
on the other.
He
stands,
Health in body,
his creations are
mind and
spirit,
and
would be audacious
to attempt in
30
browning's PARACELSUS.
condense
to
briefer
space
to
extract
is
the
so varied
is
so complete.
sincerity
And
we may
age
yet in
all
modesty and
and gather
We
of a noble
and
inspiring
friends.
Here
is
his brain,
how warm
m.e
;
'
Festus
knows he holds
the joys
I
quit
when
every
fects
browning's PARACELSUS.
varied appetite
for
;
joy
derived
life,
from
common
aims that
things
a stake in
in short,
affords not,
would
as soon that I
fear-
less
but shrank
from
me
men."
And
friend,
then he shows
after
how
Festus, his
Trithemius,
to
his
teacher,
know
God,
himself "
we devote
God
left
there were."
"You
to
with
me
our childhood's
home
whom,
here, Trithe-
"and
32
browning's PARACELSUS.
grasp
all,
and
toil
retain
all,
and deserve
like his."
by patient
It
a wide renown
linguist
and scholar
day
in
friend
first
the
Metaphysics of Aristotle.
It
may
men who
really in-
augurated the renaissance of the Sixteenth Century were taught and inspired
by the
lin,
occulists,
long
But
ing
Brown-
celsus,
**
many the
man,
browning's PARACELSUS.
and man's true purpose, path, and
33
fate."
'*
mostly
its
reward
no hope, nor
elsewhere
fear,
move
tion to sustain
aspire."
you or betray
thus you
Paracelsus
replies:
''I
profess
no
lot,
my
than
this
my
will of
organ.
praise,
and such
praise
is
attained
when
man
ne'er
attains
the
"Be
*'
sure that
God
dooms
.
to
.
Be
whom God
34
needs."
browning's PARACELSUS.
.
**This
is
the faith in
which
I trust."
*'And
am
young,
my
.
free; I
can devote
.
.
myself;
. .
I
.
have a
life
to give."
*"T
the
is
time
animate
world,
new
long,
should
a race
so
revealings
to
so
forgotten
in
a fast retreat,
learning's
many
from
places?"
his
earli-
replies that
true
an inspiration
to
this
great
work.
He
become
There
a star to
men
forever."
The
inward voice
hard
with
the
is
is
way: 'T
for flesh
frailty
to tread therein,
if
imbued
first
hopeless,
indulgence
browning's PARACELSUS.
have ripened inborn germs of
strength
:
35
sin
to
Wilt thou
adventure for
all
my
?"
reward
"I
.
answered
.
not,
for-
knowing
him.^^
"Thence
quailing
truths
ward
with
...
fate
he
proceeds "loaded
at
" so
of
that,
the
mighty range
yearned
secret
which
contemplate
its
bearings
and
effects
alone
at
by
Sir Isaac
he had been
discoveries.
make such
'*I
great
He
o'er
repHed:
keep the
mind, re-
my
till
volving
the
it
and
truth
o'er,
by and by
Genius
but
the
full-orbed
appears."
may have
various
methods,
30
BRO\yNING'S PARACELSUS.
is
fountain of inspiration
for
Truth
is
One.
for the aspiration of Paracelis
So much
sus,
which
so
fully
elaborated and
worked out
Aspiration
poem.
alternates
with
attainment
through the
of Paracelsus,
divided.
The
thought in the
poem
itself is
already so
theme one
may
scarcely discern
it
in
than another.
tainment
is
the
*'At worst," he
have performed
my
share of
the task.
The
rest
:
is
God's concern;
that I
mine merely
this
to
know
have
.
obstinately held
by
my own
work."
browning's PARACELSUS.
37
"What's
failure
or success
to
me?
have subdued
whereto
I
my
way
ordained
that
no doubt,
.
may be
life
satisfied."
'*I
.
have made
.
consist of
one idea."
In the sec-
ond
part of the
poem
poet.
Paracelsus as-
pired to
know
!
and be loved
So
far,
each
is
shown
to
man.
In the death
''Die not,
scene, Paracelsus
exclaims:
Aprile;
we
Are we
whom
know,
Part ?
Never,
and
I,
until
both are
dis-
saved."
38
browning's PARACELSUS.
is
appointed
and
and
his
meets
at first
till
and compel
In conver*'I
him
my worshipers
sagacity
all
.
shall
fur. .
owe
to their
own deep
to
ther information,
good or bad."
''Why
fret
strive
make men
't is
power
comprehend?"
As
Festus
for
despondency, he
it,
replies:
for
''I
have
said
dearest
Festus;
the
man-
You may
have
it
told
in
and scalding
browning's PARACELSUS.
39
No
it
must
one whose
it
all
men
least
He
he
may
clearly
scan the
effects."
In speaking
it
Paracelsus puts
earlier days.
now from
"The
men
of your stamp,"
he says
will, as
to Festus, ''keep
up of God's
they style
it,
man had
in
question
charac-
'Tis hardly
Doubts are
I
many, and
faith
is
weak.
know
as
much
wills
of any will of
God
as
knows some
from
the
40
browning's PARACELSUS.
but
there,
of
remains
I
my case
. .
and
for
such reasons
plod on."
fail
''God's intimations
rather
''We have
forth well
God's praises."
pages of the poem, in a
discourse
In the
last six
the
states
Paracelsus reviews
his
faith
his
life,
ideals,
and aspiration
and despondthe
ideals
ency;
yet through
all,
are
unerringly,
browning's PARACELSUS.
4I
life
and the
philosophy of Paracelsus, so
vealed in his
life
far as re-
and
writings, as a back-
upon which
Wisely trained
youth
in spiritual things,
by him
at
any
cost,
and with a
all his
faith
seeming
is
failure,
poem
made
to
epitomize
journey of
humanity
place to v/hat
*'
Prof.
doubt
if
any
of
42
browning's PARACELSUS.
elsewhere
this
in
modern
literature.
That
is
mouth of
wave
up
Tracing through
all
the
evolutionary
life,
lower
he says:
"The
worm
warm moon
this
like
happy
face
and
;
to
fill
us
with
regard for
his
man
with apprehension of
passing
worth, desire to
work
his
and
tend
life,
final
still
place."
upward, progress
is
the law of
man
not
Man
as yet."
He
speaks
BROWNINGS PARACELSUS.
which fade before the unmeasured
for
43
thirst
for-
rises in
them
evermore."
The
men,
for
who among
This
us does
either
not
feel
far
express
or
what
the
offer
as
"To
spiritual
noble
Ideals
grounds
are
for
noble
the
that
emotions."
at-
found
about
into
little
in
us,
mosphere
fashioned
are
thence
forms of
thought,
and
ex-
wrought,
by
little,
by
daily
There
life
is
be
striven after
faith,
"with
like
perpetual
unbelief
kept
quiet
the
44
foot;"
soul
to
browning's PARACELSUS.
not blind belief
that
lulls
the
interesting
and
all
beautiful,
practical.
you
please,
but not
at
It
led
him
to his
as-
great discoveries
his
to
flee
the
power
to
put him
work,
or really
Even
still
ism,
browning's PARACELSUS.
45
mover
and
inspirer of
all.
and
three
fundamental
propositions
(a)
less,
all
*
and Immutable
speculation
is
on which
since
it
impossible,
human concep-
human
be drawn
the
"Over-
knowable," and
many names
set forth in its
it
been
46
philosophical bearings and held
intelli-
gently and
consistently as
in
it
this
*'
old
Prin-
philosophy.
Plotinus called
the
he was versed
The second
of the
;
proposition
in
is,
"the
as
eternity
Universe
toto
boundless plane
manifesting
'the
and
disappearing,
called
*
Sparks of Eternity.'"
{c)
is,
the funda-
mental identity of
aspect of the
the a
whole term."
Upon
these
three
browning's PARACELSUS.
fundamental
alike
to
47
propositions,
applicable
genesis, the
at
every
or the
Macrocosm.
"Progress
is
the
put
into
his
mouth by Browning
life
man's
estate,
ness of
all
universal
Paracelsus
of
says:
:
*'
possess
vast,
two
knowledge
one
shadowy
I
hints of the
;
unbounded
aim
of
once pursued
secrets,
many
nobler prize
ciples
perhaps
offer to
which
last I
may conduct
m.uch.
here.
These
my
fellows
Now
bid
me
chronicle
the
first
of
48
these
browning's PARACELSUS.
my ancient
bid
revert
:
study
to
and
wild
in
effect
you
the
courses
scat-
just abjured
Then
simple
for the
they are
so
(being
one
time
is
as
any other
to-morrow
my class,
in print.
or half
a century hence
if
embodied
For
they
mankind intend
to learn at
faith to
all,
them and
are
on them."
to
The
"
principles
thus
shown
and, as
truth
Emerson put
is
to
honor every
effi-
by use"
Pre-
same conclusion
is
to
be de-
from the
in the writings
and
life
of Paracelsus.
principles,
The
BROWNING
are
on.
first
PARACELSUS.
49
to
'"Tis hard
imbued by
first
for
frailty
hopeless,
if
indulgence
have ripened
Paralife
was known
to
have led a
of
celebacy,
for v/hich
many and
diverse
such
is
when man
seeks to
void of worldly or
selfish
motive,
and
vow
his
of
bi-
said
by one of
Constantinople, in
therefore
when he was
years
twenty-eight
of
age.
BROWNING
lays
PARACELSUS.
scene
poet,
Browning
Paracelsus
the the
between
Aprile,
at at
and
the house of a
Greek conjuror
same
year,
Con-
stantinople in the
this
and makes
in
''jewel of
that
wisdom"
Love
to consist
learning
and Wisdom
are
No
kind,
asceticism
hud-
from human
but
here
discerned;
knowl-
man.
it
With
claimed
It is
is
way
and
for the
im-
the Truth
is
dwells
within us
wisdom's
when crowned
with Love.
browning's PARACELSUS.
possessed.
He
anticipated
Harvey
in the
Mesmer
netism,
lars,
in a
Hahnemann
Law
of Simidis-
He taught by
in allegories
and wrote
he had
acquired,
not from
superficial
as
Browning
*
:
'
My
worshipers shall
all
owe
to their
own deep
sagacity
further
information,
good or bad."
and the
teacher
intelligent alike
and
in
the
same way.
The
intelligent
52
browning's PARACELSUS.
profit greatly
by the
dull are
;
little
benefited thereby.
Browning
is
He
and
suc-
his
hero to his
own grand
failure
ideals
and
and
all
so
human, conscious of
ever
yet
to
turning
''the
from
alluring
snares
imprisoned
star.
splendor"
is
and
the
beckoning
If aspiration
followed
"so
to
every lofty
least
worn
that
he,
of
all
We
ally,
must
and never
and
fail-
BROWNING
PARACELSUS.
53
that
It is
draws
rather
him ever
what he has
man
frailty
appears.
ening tide of
life
phase
is
lost or is in vain.
Even
scorn,
bound
light
reveals in
soul's
warmer
clearer
brink
the
highway.
These dark
who
rise,
purified
by
sore
trial,
and
the
''mountain
heights
where
54
browning's PARACELSUS.
All seeming
evil, rightly
dwells repose."
"Were man
little
all
mind, he gains a
station
enviable."
is
The
soon
old
outgrown and
The same
and death
mortal
love
still.
triumphant,
all
man
im-
Were man
heart,
and
his
at
break
stand,
and
useless
all
the curse of
its
existence
existence at
by the
fear
dread ob-
^'LovC; hope,
fear, faith
these
joined to
these
are
**
BROWNINGS PARACELSUS.
ered world"
55
soul.
the
empire of the
Love
is
the
life
of the Soul,
wisdom the
light
light of the
lead
man
to his
Most people of
now-a-
great
Protestant
Reformation,
inauguless
is
rated by
generally
Martin Luther.
Far
known
of
Trithemius,
his illustrious
the pu-
great teacher,
pils,
and of
by the strange
little
title,
book
called
approving introduc-
Humanity
just
ages,
the
56
browning's PARACELSUS.
and
and
crass
ma-
logia
readers,
be the enemies of
the reign of faith,
religion.
Then began
four
and
for
and
of
dogma
and
light
dawn
its
twilight
Many
their
the
growing
dawn
We
by
its
faith
hold.
we
God
in
browning's PARACELSUS.
the
57
sense
set
forth
in
the
Theologia
knowledge.
This knowledge
is
idealized in
Brownthe
ing's Paracelsus in a
form
fitted to
and
Forms of thought,
change from age
are
eternal.
like fashions
to
age, but
principles
Truth weaves
lan-
many
garbs
is
There
in
is
many
window, or
58
browning's PARACELSUS.
seen again
when
quest,
ended the
and
so
between weari-
he learns
at last that in
the
in
soul
Self, or the
union of
god
within, dwelt
upon
by the
mystics,
in
and allegory
religions.
this earth,
is
many
in
a legend and in of
all
The
perfection
man on
heaven,
and not
some
far-off
As
Browning puts
"
Man
Nor
is
not
Man
deem
as yet,
his object served, his
shall I
end
a star dispels
The
mind
BROWNING
PARACELSUS.
59
the
O 'erlooks
host
Is out at
its
prostrate fellows;
when
When
all
mankind
alike
is
perfected,
then, not
till
say, begins
"
amid
the
half-formed
creatures
round."
This
is
and BrownIn
and triumphs of
his hero.
Brown-
come
to full
His hero,
6o
browning's PARACELSUS.
by
frailties
yet true to
self
lofty aim,
in
its
is
sublime ideal.
prophetic
The
closing
sentence
" If I
It is
I press
its
God's lamp
Close to
late.
my
breast;
splendor, soon or
I shall
emerge one
You
understand
me
"
**And
this
was Paracelsus."
GENIUS.
There
manifest,
is
certain
energy of
soul
called
genius.
it
Though
the
qualities
represents
are
to
define,
and
nevertheless recognized
whom
it
no
imaginable.
is
as-
genius to those
erratic,
who
are merely
peculiar,
unbalanced or insane,
irrespon-
and who
(6i)
62
sible,
GENIUS.
by no means proves
solid
is
that there
is
no more
that
and enduring
basis
for
which
so Httle understood.
place, real genius
is
In the
first
sponposit,
its
likely to
be the
last to
is
claim
different
it.
from
The
and seeks
is
to forestall
judgment
others,
both commonplace
less
and
vulgar,
and the
by mediocre achievements
thought or the
field
in the field of
of action, equally
talent, to
GENIUS.
63
at all.
Genius
self,"
tive.
is is
to
it-
and
It
may be
rules
it
ignorant of
all
rules of
new
may
result in trying to
just
explain
how
was done;
describe
as
the
anatomist
may
the
muscles
skill
with
fist
or
There
while
is
talent
alone
is
neither
is
creative
nor spontaneous.
There
sublime self-confidence in
that
is
is
men
of genius
far
removed from
self-conceit,
and
He
his
is at
home
with
it
and
feels sure
of
ground,
matic.
But there
64
GENIUS.
that
which
and
this
it
is
which gives
it
recog-
nition
and
authority,
permanency and
enduring fame.
barren
realities,
propositions,
and
touches.
The realm
of genius,
there-
and and
of
life
and
translates
them
into
Genius
nature,
is
therefore
the
interpreter
of
standing
above
the
plane
of
reason, yet
it.
Master
will,
it
and
in
and
them
into form
It
and sub-
stance,
and power.
it
outwardly
inwardly perceives.
GENIUS.
65
not a collection
The mind
of
man
is
mere bundle of
attributes,
but essentially
and
essentially one.
*'
to think,"
man
is
the Thinker.
The
or
imagination,
are
the
forms of
action, the
by
concep-
tion of
man
mere
aggregate,
self-consciousness
is
a misIt
that
all
it
theories of
is
also
at
of genius
mitted.
is
The
real
66
GENIUS.
genius within.
But
it is
the vehicle,
and
depend on
soil
heredity.
and condi-
Genius
not
is
from human
divine source of
being.
The organs
of action in man, the faculties and passions, furnish the theater of action of the
Thinker, define
its limits,
its
dimensions, prescribe
its
circumscribe
powers, repretendencies,
its
sent
its
environment,
predilections.
its
bias, its
All
these stand
man, as the
ditions
and
as
all
together,
GENIUS.
67
his condi-
termined.
Genius
like
a concealed
shaping
channels as
it
goes
in the real self
attributes,
man,
what are
?
its
and
whence derived
men
with genius
itself,
we may be
consists.
able
to discover
wherein genius
We
is
spontaneous,
creative,
of
power,
secret to itself,"
is
deficient
attributes, or
at
best posin
perhaps,
slight degree.
6S Talent
is
GENIUS.
a thing of growth,
It is
and
is
evolved by application.
of cultivation;
rience
;
the result
or,
in
In other
we
ac-
is
the
result of
cumulated experience.
The most
is
strik-
that
it
does
which apparently
it
to do, or
ing, unless
we admit
of pre-existence.
to
explain
Mozart,
we have
central
also
is
unless
we
the real
self,
GENIUS.
69
would annul
for the ego.
all
theories of immortality
which we have
learned,
and
is
experience, and
talent,
if,
men
is
of genius have
not true
and
cultivated,
while genius
is
the potency
itself.
Genius
is
perience.
It is
niscence of the
and therefore a
outer planes of
is
" secret
to itself"
for
on
all
consciousness,
reminiscence
the
memory
of
pre-existence.
This spark
forgotten
nowhere more
delicately
and
by James Rus-
70
GENIUS.
IN
THE TWILIGHT.
floats
Sometimes a breath
hy me,
sent,
An
Of a splendor that came and went, Of a life lived somewhere, I know not
In what diviner sphere,
Of memories
That can not
A
To
a
something so shy,
would shame
it
make
it
a show,
I
A
As
if I
if I
name
it,
For others
know,
it
had lived
or dreamed
it,
As
it,
Long ago
laws
and Heaven
for as earth
cession of events,
natural relations.
Ail fret
and
friction,
all
the sorrows
and
be
Harmony
health
all
and order
in the
life
of
man mean
and happiness.
stress
soul,
In thus removing
and
friction
is
man
resistance,
72
march of conquest
inspiring
the
soul
is
Just as there
all
pleasurable
harmony may
life
of man,
mathematical
law,
determine
may be
but
unito
inits
inspiring,
only
when
it
is
made
to
reveal
it
versal laws of
its
harmony does
and
mount
educator and
as the revealer of
It is
the
not the
highest
passions
of
man.
73
its
the
to
the finale
breathless,
soul,
nerved
beat
the
air,
ecstatic
isles
vision
of the blest
to the singing
Every
sensed
this
Can such
office of
music
emotions,
to the
man
ap-
prehension of
this universal
is
law of har-
mony.
Its office
not to amuse, or to
74
purify them.
the ceremonies of
initiations.
is
ancient genuine
science of music
The whole
was
Thus
end
in
harmony.
individual's
in the
spheres.
The
music
exist in the
very nature
75
organ in his
own
nature.
FaiHng
in this,
and
his
music
is
soulless.
His execution
it
may
never
to
celestial
harmony.
The Egyptian
all
Livis,
ing."
that
and
and perfect
veil.
har-
mony
only could
the
Modern
Initi-
color, all
upon and
brations.
are determined
by
different vi-
The form
snowflake
76
ing
every
leaf,
the
penciling
and
of
human
upon
all
depend-
ent
conform
to the lav/s
of harm.ony,
and belong
to the
Music of
the Spheres.
ter in the
Universe
set to music,
and
whether dancing in
light or coalescing in
is
part
For
the
universe
is
and
harmony.
star,
Every
through
nal harmony,
is
Man
suffers
only because he
out of
harmony with
and
Every
77
at-
but the
tempt of a
and
It
to
is
which he
is
indissolubly bound.
we
are so intent
upon
in
our our
own
discords,
and so bound up
that
own performance,
symphony
to
we
are deaf
to the
we
are no
mem-
Nature
is full
of music, as
it
exists only
harmony.
Man
How many
of sound?
Eugene Thayer,
the
well-
known
sis
an analy-
He
78
says:
but a perfectly
and unapproachable
fection.
its
majestic perall
an organ.
...
Let
arrived at
my
ically
and
practically.
me
first call
and fourth
note, G,
notes,
and G.
The ground
or take
was so
could realize
or hearing;
four
it
it
into
my thought
every-where
well
octaves
were
made
will
itself felt as
But
it
be rephed, these
to
be detected
How
that
did
I first
caught the
were
79
number
notes,
determined
the
distance
feat-
below.
ure,
And
The seventh
note,
power
and clearness
to the
an
organ.
Were
weak
the
tone
of
Niagara a
mere
either
would be
gether.
"What
is
is
Niagara's rhythm?
Its
beat
just
Here," he con-
the
chro-
nometer of God."
But
it
is
movement
of
may
become
audible.
The
basic function of
8o
the Ether
the
im-
filled
with resonant
ether
stars
constant
is
and
uniform.
it
The
is
human
to
be-
that
we do not hear
in boundless space.
mutual
at-
traction of planets
relative
size
is
determined by their
and
density,
and repulsion, so
moveall
ment of each
to
must coincide.
But what
different
is
this
but the
of
movement of
symphony of
instruments
The
and
8
is
There
and
this
when
the
this
outer function
suspended.
On
we
the
This
is
reason
why
All
language
fails,
as
When
ing throbs in
rhythm no
memat-one
man be
with
all
and join
in the great
symphony.
man
as his
power
to
sense
82
and
The
other world"
is
far
nearer than
it
we
is
think.
we
We
to the divine
harmony and
silence
all
discords within,
in order to hear
and
to
understand the
IDOLS
Man
Pilgrim.
AND
IDEALS.
the
has
been
called
Eternal
Immersed
in
in matter,
and
in-
volved
sense
to
to dis-
The
akin
is
a Spark
is
of Divinity.
to
The
spirit in
man
thus
the
Dithe
the
Supreme
Spirit
and
thus
fact
involved in
man
of
as
and
of his consciousness, as
fountain
life.
the
is
exhaustless
the
It
destiny
of
man
to
attain
per-
fection.
He
gain
descends
into
matter in
evolves
order to
experience, and
(83)
84
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
being.
human
existence
center
of consciousness begins to
the
first
expand
v/ith
experience,
and
life,
the inbreath-
of
Divinity and
the
outbreathing
Nature (involution
and evolution)
in
constitute
self-consciousness
is
man.
This process
lower forms of
ganic
cell
but in every
or-
where the
tides of life
ebb and
and
from nucleus
to circumference.
Action
al-
with
continual
adjustment,
an
instant of equilibrium,
of the conflict
the
is
rather
IDOLS
ideal
AND
IDEALS.
85
Were
and
it
all
just as
by cessation
all
the wheels of
It
is
run down.
the conscious ego in
his
thus
that
being focalizes
spiritual
and
the
circle
of consciousness
drawn
this
by
"
intuition
when he wrote
life
Here
key
to
its
is
the process of
is
life,
and the
interpretation
is
analogy.
What
we
consciousness
86
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
as as
little
we can
The
in-
in
its
entirety.
and the
They
man
to
as Ideas,
externalize
Thought
is
an externalizing process.
is
Consciousness
passive
condition
its
thought being
ing states.
that
I
its
active form,
chang:
Hence
is
"All
am
thought."
in
We
experience
sciousness
expands.
We
Arrest
thought, stop
all
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
87
panorama of
periences
idols,
same
ex-
day
and
cling to our
own
creations as
long
Pilgrim,
not exhaust,
possible experience.
Man
must know
in
kind
all
that can
be known by
Plato says
:
intelligent inquiry.
knowledge of
has an accurate
is
man among
all
brutes
but he
who knows
that
is
energy
88
world
thought,
to
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
in
consciousness
slowly
into
terms
of
converts
the
the
personal
trans-
and limited
universal;
That
which
is
makes
evolution
possible in
man
his self-consciousness
He
step
potency
in actuality
by step
as experience expands.
is
to
be
reis
Man
and imagines
be found
never
that
happiness
to
in those
final,
but
processes.
lasting
And
so
we
ring
the
everantici-
changes
in sensation
and
and
time
till
vitality
IDOLS
Stops
AND
IDEALS.
89
the
is
wheels of
life
and physical
death
the result.
The very
goal at which
is
we aim and
preserve
the
zest
blindly sense
To
ideal
while
striving
is
consciously
To
accomplish
this
we must dethrone
Man may
and Reason
eludes
which ever
him between
or
desire
and
disap-
pointment,
disgust.
between
sensation
and
ideals thrones his idols will the universal or ignores faith When take their place.
is
the re-
faith the
and man
becomes
90
a
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
the
brutish
it
worm
of dust.
Endow
soul
with self-consciousness
and
be-
comes human.
self in
man
versal
and
it
and
descends to
for
it
the
plane of
the
brute
tency,
sire,
becomes
lost in sensation
is
and
de-
and evolution
arrested.
is
Universal Nature
of Divine
the
embodiment
Nature pro-
Consciousness.
it
involves the
Behind
all
the
Divine Ideal;
toward which
all
Nature builds.
This
is
These are
Cir-
cumscribed
limited
by the
personal
equation,
the
ex-
by
self-consciousness,
perience of
man
IDOLS
distorted
perfect
AND
IDEALS.
caricatures
to
9 of
as
images,
mere
forms.
He
clings
these
final verities,
converts
them
of his
into idols,
own
hands.
the great
illu-
sion; the
Maya
of existence.
man
must
let go.
Man
it
;
serve in order to
his
life
command; must
must
in
lose
in order to save
continually
universal.
the
is
The
sin
of
separateness
In seeking
and
to hold,
man
is
eventually loses
Self-consciousness
lost, in
circumscribed,
bewildered, and
of
self.
the consciousness
ideal
92
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
tern of his
own
infirmities.
Then
rea-
pieces,
and
restores
to
the
world a purer
faith.
is
All evolution
thus
stayed by the
man remains
Perfection
Pilgrim,
is
and
all
progress
implies con;
of
and
eternal.
The
voice alike of
cries forever in
!
our
Pass
Let go
Let go
Pass on
on!
The
individual
a problem in consciousness.
is
Conscious identity
always present as
IDOLS
the primal
AND
IDEALS.
93
endowment
of the
Ego, and
day
to
Here
memory
is
The
in-
and
so
we have
and time.
continuity of
thought
in sense
People often object to Reincarnation, because they can not remember the experiences of a past
life,
when
in
fact
Now, take
in
all
the elements
and
faculties
man
with which
we
are familiar,
and
imagine
man
He
as
problem
94
If
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
he
still
and ascertained
jective world
in the sub-
came
at last to
an end, the
still
continuity of existence
solved.
If
would be
un-
memory
fails
during
its
con-
apparent
ence, independent of
all
change of en-
vironment.
existence
lies,
As
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
95
more toward
all
life
co-
individual
In seeking
empirical
proven,
we overlook
or ignore
the
in-
ternal evidence,
own
The
istence
It is
the
endowment
of that
*'
spark of
Man may
it
imagine that he
as
has "reasoned
away"
he becomes
strangle
be-
g6
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
his
wildered and
vices.
lost
through
own
de-
The
belief in immortahty,
even that of
to despise,
warranted from
scientific
and
philo-
There
is
a science of
life
which solves
Being.
As a mere
of
little
is
worth.
become a
guid-
As a
prerequisite,
one must
passionately,
dis-
IDOLS
criminate
wisely.
AND
IDEALS.
97
Faith
and
Reason
must be
as a light
in perpetual equilibrium
Faith
comguided
on the path
Reason
as a
is
pass
toward the
All
idols
must
be
dethroned,
and
goodness by cutting
and
ness, understanding,
and power
The
relations to his
fellow-men,
and adjust
ence expands.
He
must
aged
at
the outlook
in
despair.
with a
and gives
98
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
life.
as selfishness.
No
Ideal
is
so helpful
and inspiring
as that
all Hfe.
The onward
all
sweep of evolution
ity
bears
human-
and
all
life
The
of
selfishness of
all.
No
one can
alone.
is
The
ever
of those
who
to
make
more room
for others."
that others
may
enjoy the
light.
is
The
ever
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
99
is
The
ence.
basis of all
knowledge
all
experi-
Have we
not
had experience
side, of passion
selfishness
and greed?
Must
on the
in
we
downward
faith is
is
quenched
dethroned?
It is
mountains of
light,
destiny;
Diapason of Nature
is
in
harmony comGod.
Man
Ideals,
may,
if
he
will,
and
if
seem
to
is
only that
at
they
rift
may
put on a
new beauty
every
in the cloud.
ideals of
lOO
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
It is thus that
man's
expand
is
into ideals,
which
the source of
evolves
into that
Nature which
its
complete
embodiment.
This
is
God, and
for us
common
life
mortals an ''ideal,"
be to the
is
of
man what
the sunlight
to earthly existence, or
star
to the sailor
darkened
We
in
mantled ships
mast,
sails,
stormy
without
drifting
rudder or compass
and driven
pas-
hither
and
thither
by every wind of
To know
the
meaning of
life,
the
IDOLS
AND
IDEALS.
lOI
man
it
Ideal, this
more than
life
all
else
that
to all
and motive
human endeavor.
^'^\\\\\\v\w;rw