Perhaps more than one preface would be necessary for this book; and
after all it might still be doubtful whether any one could be brought
nearer to the _experiences_ in it by means of prefaces, without having
himself experienced something similar. It seems to be written in the
language of the thawing-wind: there is wantonness, restlessness,
contradiction and April-weather in it; so that one is as constantly
reminded of the proximity of winter as of the _victory_ over it: the
victory which is coming, which must come, which has perhaps already
come.... Gratitude continually flows forth, as if the most unexpected
thing had happened, the gratitude of a convalescent—for _convalescence_
was this most unexpected thing. "Joyful Wisdom": that implies the
Saturnalia of a spirit which has patiently withstood a long, frightful
pressure—patiently, strenuously, impassionately, without submitting, but
without hope—and which is now suddenly o'erpowered with hope, the hope
of health, the _intoxication_ of convalescence. What wonder that much
that is unreasonable and foolish thereby comes to light: much wanton
tenderness expended even on problems which have a prickly hide, and are
not therefore fit to be fondled and allured. The whole book is really
nothing but a revel after long privation and impotence: the frolicking
of returning energy, of newly awakened belief in a to-morrow and
after-to-morrow; of sudden sentience and prescience of a future, of near
adventures, of seas open once more, and aims once more permitted and
believed in. And what was now all behind me! This track of desert,
exhaustion, unbelief, and frigidity in the midst of youth, this advent
of grey hairs at the wrong time, this tyranny of pain, surpassed,
however, by the tyranny of pride which repudiated the _consequences_ of
pain—and consequences are comforts,—this radical isolation, as defence
against the contempt of mankind become morbidly clairvoyant, this
restriction upon principle to all that is bitter, sharp, and painful in
knowledge, as prescribed by the _disgust_ which had gradually resulted
from imprudent spiritual diet and pampering—it is called
Romanticism,—oh, who could realise all those feelings of mine! He,
however, who could do so would certainly forgive me everything, and more
than a little folly, boisterousness and "Joyful Wisdom"—for example, the
handful of songs which are given along with the book on this
occasion,—songs in which a poet makes merry over all poets in a way not
easily pardoned.—Alas, it is not only on the poets and their fine
"lyrical sentiments" that this reconvalescent must vent his malignity:
who knows what kind of victim he seeks, what kind of monster of material
for parody will allure him ere long? _Incipit tragœdia_, it is said at
the conclusion of this seriously frivolous book; let people be on their
guard! Something or other extraordinarily bad and wicked announces
itself: _incipit parodia_, there is no doubt...
| | Perhaps more than one preface would be necessary for this book; and
after all it might still be doubtful whether any one could be brought
nearer to the _experiences_ in it by means of prefaces, without having
himself experienced something similar. It seems to be written in the
language of the thawing-wind: there is wantonness, restlessness,
contradiction and April-weather in it; so that one is as constantly
reminded of the proximity of winter as of the _victory_ over it: the
victory which is coming, which must come, which has perhaps already
come.... Gratitude continually flows forth, as if the most unexpected
thing had happened, the gratitude of a convalescent—for _convalescence_
was this most unexpected thing. "Joyful Wisdom": that implies the
Saturnalia of a spirit which has patiently withstood a long, frightful
pressure—patiently, strenuously, impassionately, without submitting, but
without hope—and which is now suddenly o'erpowered with hope, the hope
of health, the _intoxication_ of convalescence. What wonder that much
that is unreasonable and foolish thereby comes to light: much wanton
tenderness expended even on problems which have a prickly hide, and are
not therefore fit to be fondled and allured. The whole book is really
nothing but a revel after long privation and impotence: the frolicking
of returning energy, of newly awakened belief in a to-morrow and
after-to-morrow; of sudden sentience and prescience of a future, of near
adventures, of seas open once more, and aims once more permitted and
believed in. And what was now all behind me! This track of desert,
exhaustion, unbelief, and frigidity in the midst of youth, this advent
of grey hairs at the wrong time, this tyranny of pain, surpassed,
however, by the tyranny of pride which repudiated the _consequences_ of
pain—and consequences are comforts,—this radical isolation, as defence
against the contempt of mankind become morbidly clairvoyant, this
restriction upon principle to all that is bitter, sharp, and painful in
knowledge, as prescribed by the _disgust_ which had gradually resulted
from imprudent spiritual diet and pampering—it is called
Romanticism,—oh, who could realise all those feelings of mine! He,
however, who could do so would certainly forgive me everything, and more
than a little folly, boisterousness and "Joyful Wisdom"—for example, the
handful of songs which are given along with the book on this
occasion,—songs in which a poet makes merry over all poets in a way not
easily pardoned.—Alas, it is not only on the poets and their fine
"lyrical sentiments" that this reconvalescent must vent his malignity:
who knows what kind of victim he seeks, what kind of monster of material
for parody will allure him ere long? _Incipit tragœdia_, it is said at
the conclusion of this seriously frivolous book; let people be on their
guard! Something or other extraordinarily bad and wicked announces
itself: _incipit parodia_, there is no doubt...
|
| hide: To hide is to try not to let others see you.adventure: An adventure is a fun or exciting thing that you do.ever: Ever means at any time.suddenly: If something happens suddenly, it happens quickly and unexpectedly.expect: If you expect something to happen, you believe it will happen.patient: If a person is patient, they don’t become angry or upset easily.experience: An experience is something you have seen or done.result: A result is something that happens because of something else.face: If you face a problem, you deal with it.fright: Fright is the feeling of being scared.return: To return is to go back to a place.weather: The weather is the condition of the air: hot, rainy, windy, etc.announce: To announce something is to make it known.sudden: When something is sudden, it happens very quickly.therefore: Therefore means for this reason.necessary: If something is necessary, you must do it.against: To be against something is to be touching it or opposed to it.perhaps: Perhaps is used when you say that something could happen.still: Still is used when you say that a situation keeps going on.certain: If you are certain about something, you know it is true.guard: To guard something is to take care of it.rest: To rest is to stop being active while the body gets back its strength.serious: When something is serious, it is bad or unsafe.wake: To wake is to not be sleeping anymore.material: A material is what is used to make something.thin: If someone or something is thin, they are not fat.hole: A hole is an opening in something.owe: To owe is to have to pay or give back something received from another.whole: Whole means all of something.exam: An exam is a test.example: An example of something is a thing that is typical of it.poet: A poet is a person who writes poems.happen: If someone happens to do something, they do it by chance.wonder: To wonder is to ask yourself questions or have a need to know.flow: To flow is to move easily and continuously in one direction.whether: You use whether when you must choose between two things.conclusion: The conclusion of something is the final part of it.doubt: Doubt is a feeling of not being sure.however: However means despite or not being influenced by something.already: If something happens already, it happens before a certain time.bit: A bit is a small amount of something.extra: If something is extra, it is more than what is needed.lie: To lie is to say or write something untrue to deceive someone.real: If something is real, it actually exists.pain: Pain is the feeling that you have when you are hurt.comfort: To comfort someone means to make them feel better.behind: Behind means to be at the back of something.fit: If something fits, it is small enough orthe right size to go there.pressure: Pressure is what you apply to make someone do something.along: Along means to move from one part of a road, river, etc. to another.ride: To ride something is to travel on it. You can ride an animal, a bike, etc.desert: The desert is an area of land without many plants or water.gain: If you gain something, you get more of it.knowledge: Knowledge is information that you have about something.mean: Mean describes someone who is unkind or cruel.belief: A belief is a strong feeling that something is correct or true. | |
hide: To hide is to try not to let others see you.adventure: An adventure is a fun or exciting thing that you do.ever: Ever means at any time.suddenly: If something happens suddenly, it happens quickly and unexpectedly.expect: If you expect something to happen, you believe it will happen.patient: If a person is patient, they don’t become angry or upset easily.experience: An experience is something you have seen or done.result: A result is something that happens because of something else.face: If you face a problem, you deal with it.fright: Fright is the feeling of being scared.return: To return is to go back to a place.weather: The weather is the condition of the air: hot, rainy, windy, etc.announce: To announce something is to make it known.sudden: When something is sudden, it happens very quickly.therefore: Therefore means for this reason.necessary: If something is necessary, you must do it.against: To be against something is to be touching it or opposed to it.perhaps: Perhaps is used when you say that something could happen.still: Still is used when you say that a situation keeps going on.certain: If you are certain about something, you know it is true.guard: To guard something is to take care of it.rest: To rest is to stop being active while the body gets back its strength.serious: When something is serious, it is bad or unsafe.wake: To wake is to not be sleeping anymore.material: A material is what is used to make something.thin: If someone or something is thin, they are not fat.hole: A hole is an opening in something.owe: To owe is to have to pay or give back something received from another.whole: Whole means all of something.exam: An exam is a test.example: An example of something is a thing that is typical of it.poet: A poet is a person who writes poems.happen: If someone happens to do something, they do it by chance.wonder: To wonder is to ask yourself questions or have a need to know.flow: To flow is to move easily and continuously in one direction.whether: You use whether when you must choose between two things.conclusion: The conclusion of something is the final part of it.doubt: Doubt is a feeling of not being sure.however: However means despite or not being influenced by something.already: If something happens already, it happens before a certain time.bit: A bit is a small amount of something.extra: If something is extra, it is more than what is needed.lie: To lie is to say or write something untrue to deceive someone.real: If something is real, it actually exists.pain: Pain is the feeling that you have when you are hurt.comfort: To comfort someone means to make them feel better.behind: Behind means to be at the back of something.fit: If something fits, it is small enough orthe right size to go there.pressure: Pressure is what you apply to make someone do something.along: Along means to move from one part of a road, river, etc. to another.ride: To ride something is to travel on it. You can ride an animal, a bike, etc.desert: The desert is an area of land without many plants or water.gain: If you gain something, you get more of it.knowledge: Knowledge is information that you have about something.mean: Mean describes someone who is unkind or cruel.belief: A belief is a strong feeling that something is correct or true.
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