thoughts on man-第20章

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d　the　veneration　of　successive　ages；　has　spent　a　period　of　time　equal　to　that　occupied　by　a　walk　from　Temple…Bar　to　Hyde…Park…Corner；　in　a　state　of　mind　as　idle；　and　as　little　affording　materials　for　recollection；　as　the　dullest　man　that　ever　breathed　the　vital　air。

The　two　states　of　man　which　are　here　attempted　to　be　distinguished；　are；　first；　that　in　which　reason　is　said　to　fill　her　throne；　in　which　will　prevails；　and　directs　the　powers　of　mind　or　of　bodily　action　in　one　channel　or　another；　and；　secondly；　that　in　which　these　faculties；　tired　of　for　ever　exercising　their　prerogatives；　or；　being　awakened　as　it　were　from　sleep；　and　having　not　yet　assumed　them；　abandon　the　helm；　even　as　a　mariner　might　be　supposed　to　do；　in　a　wide　sea；　and　in　a　time　when　no　disaster　could　be　apprehended；　and　leave　the　vessel　of　the　mind　to　drift；　exactly　as　chance　might　direct。

To　describe　this　last　state　of　mind　I　know　not　a　better　term　that　can　be　chosen；　than　that　of　reverie。　　It　is　of　the　nature　of　what　I　have　seen　denominated　BROWN　STUDY＇16＇　a　species　of　dozing　and　drowsiness；　in　which　all　men　spend　a　portion　of　the　waking　part　of　every　day　of　their　lives。　　Every　man　must　be　conscious　of　passing　minutes；　perhaps　hours　of　the　day；　particularly　when　engaged　in　exercise　in　the　open　air；　in　this　species　of　neutrality　and　eviration。　　It　is　often　not　unpleasant　at　the　time；　and　leaves　no　sinking　of　the　spirits　behind。　　It　is　probably　of　a　salutary　nature；　and　may　be　among　the　means；　in　a　certain　degree　beneficial　like　sleep；　by　which　the　machine　is　restored；　and　the　man　comes　forth　from　its　discipline　reinvigorated；　and　afresh　capable　of　his　active　duties。

＇16＇　Norris；　and　Johnson；　Dictionary　of　the　English　Language。


This　condition　of　our　nature　has　considerably　less　vitality　in　it；　than　we　experience　in　a　complete　and　perfect　dream。　　In　dreaming　we　are　often　conscious　of　lively　impressions；　of　a　busy　scene；　and　of　objects　and　feelings　succeeding　each　other　with　rapidity。　　We　sometimes　imagine　ourselves　earnestly　speaking：　　and　the　topics　we　treat；　and　the　words　we　employ；　are　supplied　to　us　with　extraordinary　fluency。　　But　the　sort　of　vacancy　and　inoccupation　of　which　I　here　treat；　has　a　greater　resemblance　to　the　state　of　mind；　without　distinct　and　clearly　unfolded　ideas；　which　we　experience　before　we　sink　into　sleep。　　The　mind　is　in　reality　in　a　condition；　more　properly　accessible　to　feeling　and　capable　of　thought；　than　actually　in　the　exercise　of　either　the　one　or　the　other。　　We　are　conscious　of　existence　and　of　little　more。　　We　move　our　legs；　and　continue　in　a　peripatetic　state；　for　the　man　who　has　gone　out　of　his　house　with　a　purpose　to　walk；　exercises　the　power　of　volition　when　he　sets　out；　but　proceeds　in　his　motion　by　a　semi…voluntary　act；　by　a　sort　of　vis　inertiae；　which　will　not　cease　to　operate　without　an　express　reason　for　doing　so；　and　advances　a　thousand　steps　without　distinctly　willing　any　but　the　first。　　When　it　is　necessary　to　turn　to　the　right　or　the　left；　or　to　choose　between　any　two　directions　on　which　he　is　called　upon　to　decide；　his　mind　is　so　far　brought　into　action　as　the　case　may　expressly　require；　and　no　further。

I　have　here　instanced　in　the　case　of　the　peripatetic：　　but　of　how　many　classes　and　occupations　of　human　life　may　not　the　same　thing　be　affirmed？　　It　happens　to　the　equestrian；　as　well　as　to　him　that　walks　on　foot。　　It　occurs　to　him　who　cultivates　the　fruits　of　the　earth；　and　to　him　who　is　occupied　in　any　of　the　thousand　manufactures　which　are　the　result　of　human　ingenuity。　　It　happens　to　the　soldier　in　his　march；　and　to　the　mariner　on　board　his　vessel。　　It　attends　the　individuals　of　the　female　sex　through　all　their　diversified　modes　of　industry；　the　laundress；　the　housemaid；　the　sempstress；　the　netter　of　purses；　the　knotter　of　fringe；　and　the　worker　in　tambour；　tapestry　and　embroidery。　　In　all；　the　limbs　or　the　fingers　are　employed　mechanically；　the　attention　of　the　mind　is　only　required　at　intervals；　and　the　thoughts　remain　for　the　most　part　in　a　state　of　non…excitation　and　repose。

It　is　a　curious　question；　but　extremely　difficult　of　solution；　what　portion　of　the　day　of　every　human　creature　must　necessarily　be　spent　in　this　sort　of　intellectual　indolence。　　In　the　lower　classes　of　society　its　empire　is　certainly　very　great；　its　influence　is　extensive　over　a　large　portion　of　the　opulent　and　luxurious；　it　is　least　among　those　who　are　intrusted　in　the　more　serious　affairs　of　mankind；　and　among　the　literary　and　the　learned；　those　who　waste　their　lives；　and　consume　the　midnight…oil；　in　the　search　after　knowledge。

It　appeared　with　sufficient　clearness　in　the　immediately　preceding　Essay；　that　the　intellect　cannot　be　always　on　the　stretch；　nor　the　bow　of　the　mind　for　ever　bent。　　In　the　act　of　composition；　unless　where　the　province　is　of　a　very　inferior　kind；　it　is　likely　that　not　more　than　two　or　three　hours　at　a　time　can　be　advantageously　occupied。　　But　in　literary　labour　it　will　often　occur；　that；　in　addition　to　the　hours　expressly　engaged　in　composition；　much　time　may　be　required　for　the　collecting　materials；　the　collating　of　authorities；　and　the　bringing　together　a　variety　of　particulars；　so　as　to　sift　from　the　mass　those　circumstances　which　may　best　conduce　to　the　purpose　of　the　writer。　　In　all　these　preliminary　and　inferior　enquiries　it　is　less　necessary　that　the　mind　should　be　perpetually　awake　and　on　the　alert；　than　in　the　direct　office　of　composition。　　The　situation　is　considerably　similar　of　the　experimental　philosopher；　the　man　who　by　obstinate　and　unconquerable　application　resolves　to　wrest　from　nature　her　secrets；　and　apply　them　to　the　improvement　of　social　life；　or　to　the　giving　to　the　human　mind　a　wider　range　or　a　more　elevated　sphere。　　A　great　portion　of　this　employment　consists　more　in　the　motion　of　the　hands　and　the　opportune　glance　of　the　eye；　than　in　the　labour　of　the　head；　and　allows　to　the　operator　from　time　to　time　an　interval　of　rest　from　the　momentous　efforts　of　invention　and　discovery；　and　the　careful　deduction　of　consequences　in　the　points　to　be　elucidated。

There　is　a　distinction；　sufficiently　familiar　to　all　persons　who　occupy　a　portion　of　their　time　in　reading；　that　is　made　between　books　of　instruction；　and　books　of　amusement。　　From　the　student　of　mathematics　or　any　of　the　higher　departments　of　science；　from　the　reader　of　books　of　investigation　and　argument；　an　active　attention　is　demanded。　　Even　in　the　perusal　of　the　history　of　kingdoms　and　nations；　or　of　certain　memorable　periods　of　public　affairs；　we　can　scarcely　proceed　with　any　satisfaction；　unless　in　so　far　as　we　collect　our　thoughts；　compare　one　part　of　the　narrative　with　another；　and　hold　the　mind　in　a　state　of　activity。

We　are　obliged　to　reason　while　we　read；　and　in　some　degree　to　construct　a　discourse　of　our　own；　at　the　same　time　that　we　follow　the　statements　of　the　author　before　us。　　Unless　we　do　this；　the　sense　and　spirit　of　what　we　read　will　be　apt　to　slip　from　under　our　observation；　and　we　shall　by　and　by　discover　that　we　are　putting　together　words　and　sounds　only；　when　we　purposed　to　store　our　minds　with　facts　and　reflections。　　We　apprehended　not　the　sense　of　the　writer　even　when　his　pages　were　under　our　eye；　and　of　consequence　have　nothing　laid　up　in　the　memory　after　the　hour　of　reading　is　completed。

In　works　of　amusement　it　is　otherwise；　and　most　especially　in　writings　of　fiction。　　These　are　sought　after　with　avidity　by　the　idle；　because　for　the　most　part　they　are　found　to　have　the　virtue　of　communicating　impressions　to　the　reader；　even　while　his　mind　remains　in　a　state　of　passiveness。　　He　finds　himself　agreeably　affected　with　fits　of　mirth　or　of　sorrow；　and　carries　away　the　facts　of　the　tale；　at　the　same　time　that　he　is　not　called　upon　for　the　act　of　attention。　　This　is　therefore　one　of　the　modes　of　luxury　especially　cultivated　in　a　highly　civilized　state　of　society。

The　same　considerations　will　also　explain　to　us　the　principal　part　of　the　pleasure　that　is　experienced　by　mankind　in　all　states　of　society　from　public　shews　and　exhibitions。　　The　spectator　is　not　called　upon　to　exert　himself；　the　amusement　and　pleasure　come　to　him；　while　he　remains　voluptuously　at　his　ease；　and　it　is　certain　that　the　exertion　we　make　when　we　are　compelled　to　contribute　to；　and　become　in　part　the　cause　of　our　own　entertainment；　is　more　than　the　human　mind　is　willing　to　sustain；　except　at　seasons　in　which　we　are　specially　on　the　alert　and　awake。

This　is　further　one　of　the　causes　why　men　in　general　feel　prompted　to　seek　the　society　of　their　fellows。　　We　are　in　part　no　doubt　called　upon　in　select　society　to　bring　our　own　information　along　with　us；　and　a　certain　vein　of　wit；　humour　or　narrative；　that　we　may　contribute　our　proportion　to　the　general　stock。　　We　read　the　newspapers；　the　newest　publications；　and　repair　to　places　of　fashionable　amusement　and　resort；　partly　that　we　may　at　least　be　upon　a　par　with　the　majority　of　the　persons　we　are　likely　to　meet。　　But　many　do　not　thus　prepare　themselves；　nor　does　perhaps　any　one　upon　all　occasions。

There　is　another　state　of　human　existence　in　which　we　expressly　dismiss　from　our　hands　the　reins　of　the　mind；　and　suffer　our　minutes　and　our　hours　to　glide　by　us　undisciplined　and　at　random。

This　is；　generally　speaking；　the　case　in　a　period　of　sickness。　　We　have　no　longer　the　courage　to　be　on　the　alert；　and　to　superintend　the　march　of　our　thoughts。　　It　is　the　same　with　us　for　the　most　part　when　at　any　time　we　lie　awake　in　our　beds。　　To　speak　from　my　own　experience；　I　am　in　a　restless　and　uneasy　state　while　I　am　alone　in　my　sitting…room；　unless　I　have　some　occupation　of　my　own　choice；　writing　or　reading；　or　any　of　those　employments　the　pursuit　of　which　was　chosen　at　first；　and　which　is　more　or　less　under　the　direction　of　the　will　afterwards。　　But　when　awake　in　my　bed；　either　in　health　or　sickness；　I　am　reasonably　content　to　let　my　thoughts　flow　on　agreeably　to　those　laws　of　association　by　which　I　find　them　directed；　without　giving　myself　the　trouble　to　direct　them　into　one　channel　rather　than　another；　or　to　marshal　and　actively　to　prescribe　the　various　turns　and　mutations　they　may　be　impelled　to　pursue。

It　is　thus　that　we　are　sick；　and　it　is　thus　that　we　die。　　The　man　that　guides　the　operations　of　his　own　mind；　is　either　to　a　certain　degree　in　bodily　health；　or　in　that　health　of　mind　which　shall　for　a　longer　or　shorter　time　stand　forward　as　the　substitute　of　the　health　of　the　body。　　When　we　die；　we　give　up　the　game；　and　are　not　disposed　to　contend　any　further。　　It　is　a　very　usual　thing　to　talk　of　the　struggles　of　a　man　in　articulo　mortis。　　But　this　is　probably；　like　so　many　other　things　that　occur　to　us　in　this　sublunary　stage；　a　delusion。　　The　bystander　mistakes　for　a　spontaneous　contention　and　unwillingness　to　die；　what　is　in　reality　nothing　more　than　an　involuntary　contraction　and　convulsion　of　the　nerves；　to　which　the　mind　is　no　party；　and　is　even　very　probably　unconscious。But　enough　of　this；　the　final　and　most　humiliating　state　through　which　mortal　men　may　be　called　on　to　pass。

I　find　then　in　the　history　of　almost　every　human　creature　four　different　states　or　modes　of　existence。　　First；　there　is　sleep。　　In　the　strongest　degree　of　contrast　to　this　there　is　the　frame　in　which　we