Still the question remains, and let usput it boldly
to the critics themselves.
Hismistress, his style, is a little somnolent
sometimes in repose.
The storm and the drenching are on thesurface;
continuity and calm are in the depths.
Together they had seen thesettlement grow: very
slowly, almost hesitatingly. Great critics, if they are not themselves great
poets,are bred from the profusion of the age.
But in this more crowded and complicated worldsuch
terse phrases became less and less appropriate.
But ourexhilaration is strangely
curtailed.
The partsurrounding the dwelling was sheltered by
young poplar treesplanted by Mrs.
There is no name whichdominates the
rest.
All honour, of course, to those whohave sacrificed
their immortality to set the house in order.
They had been impatient and enduring, turbulent
anddevoted, unruly and faithful. We have asked the critics to help us, but theyhave
deprecated the task. Neither of them probably has a word to say about thematter
outright, but everything depends on it.
Some scrapethrough painfully; others fly with every
wind favouring. Among his readers were people of the most oppositeages and
sympathies.
It is also the first step in thatmysterious process
in which Jane Austen was so great an adept. To praisetheir silence one must possess
a voice. Neither of them probably has a word to say about thematter outright, but
everything depends on it. And modern literature, with all itsimperfections, has the
same hold on us and the same fascination. Ina long draw or hollow his own field
stretched from west to east.
He will keepthem because other students will find
them very useful. But it is ill work dragging such intimationsfrom their element.
The most sincere of them will only tell us what it isthat happens to himself. There
is no name whichdominates the rest.