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life； body； and reality to the conceptions of his mind； perhaps he
wanted one thing； the want of which is but too often fatal to the
sons of genius； and without which genius is little more than a
splendid toy in the hands of the possessor … perseverance； dogged
perseverance； in his proper calling； otherwise； though the grave
had closed over him； he might still be living in the admiration of
his fellow…creatures。 O ye gifted ones； follow your calling； for；
however various your talents may be； ye can have but one calling
capable of leading ye to eminence and renown； follow resolutely the
one straight path before you； it is that of your good angel； let
neither obstacles nor temptations induce ye to leave it； bound
along if you can； if not； on hands and knees follow it； perish in
it； if needful； but ye need not fear that； no one ever yet died in
the true path of his calling before he had attained the pinnacle。
Turn into other paths； and for a momentary advantage or
gratification ye have sold your inheritance； your immortality。 Ye
will never be heard of after death。
'My father has given me a hundred and fifty pounds；' said my
brother to me one morning； 'and something which is better … his
blessing。 I am going to leave you。'
'And where are you going？'
'Where？ to the great city； to London； to be sure。'
'I should like to go with you。'
'Pooh；' said my brother； 'what should you do there？ But don't be
discouraged； I daresay a time will come when you too will go to
London。'
And； sure enough； so it did； and all but too soon。
'And what do you purpose doing there？' I demanded。
'Oh； I go to improve myself in art； to place myself under some
master of high name； at least I hope to do so eventually。 I have；
however； a plan in my head； which I should wish first to execute；
indeed； I do not think I can rest till I have done so； every one
talks so much about Italy； and the wondrous artists which it has
produced； and the wondrous pictures which are to be found there；
now I wish to see Italy； or rather Rome； the great city； for I am
told that in a certain room there is contained the grand miracle of
art。'
'And what do you call it？'
'The Transfiguration； painted by one Rafael； and it is said to be
the greatest work of the greatest painter whom the world has ever
known。 I suppose it is because everybody says so； that I have such
a strange desire to see it。 I have already made myself well
acquainted with its locality； and think that I could almost find my
way to it blindfold。 When I have crossed the Tiber； which； as you
are aware； runs through Rome； I must presently turn to the right；
up a rather shabby street； which communicates with a large square；
the farther end of which is entirely occupied by the front of an
immense church； with a dome which ascends almost to the clouds； and
this church they call St。 Peter's。'
'Ay； ay；' said I； 'I have read about that in Keysler's Travels。'
'Before the church； in the square； are two fountains； one on either
side； casting up water in showers； between them； in the midst； is
an obelisk； brought from Egypt； and covered with mysterious
writing； on your right rises an edifice； not beautiful nor grand；
but huge and bulky； where lives a strange kind of priest whom men
call the Pope； a very horrible old individual； who would fain keep
Christ in leading strings； calls the Virgin Mary the Queen of
Heaven； and himself God's Lieutenant…General upon earth。'
'Ay； ay；' said I； 'I have read of him in Foxe's BOOK OF MARTYRS。'
'Well； I do not go straight forward up the flight of steps
conducting into the church； but I turn to the right； and； passing
under the piazza； find myself in a court of the huge bulky house；
and then ascend various staircases； and pass along various
corridors and galleries； all of which I could describe to you；
though I have never seen them； at last a door is unlocked； and we
enter a room rather high； but not particularly large； communicating
with another room； into which； however； I do not go； though there
are noble things in that second room … immortal things； by immortal
artists； amongst others； a grand piece of Correggio； I do not enter
it； for the grand picture of the world is not there； but I stand
still immediately on entering the first room； and I look straight
before me； neither to the right nor left； though there are noble
things both on the right and left； for immediately before me at the
farther end； hanging against the wall； is a picture which arrests
me； and I can see nothing else； for that picture at the farther end
hanging against the wall is the picture of the world。 。 。 。'
Yes； go thy way； young enthusiast； and； whether to London town or
to old Rome； may success attend thee； yet strange fears assail me
and misgivings on thy account。 Thou canst not rest； thou say'st；
till thou hast seen the picture in the chamber at old Rome hanging
over against the wall； ay； and thus thou dust exemplify thy
weakness … thy strength too； it may be … for the one idea；
fantastic yet lovely； which now possesses thee； could only have
originated in a genial and fervent brain。 Well； go； if thou must
go； yet it perhaps were better for thee to bide in thy native land；
and there； with fear and trembling； with groanings； with straining
eyeballs； toil； drudge； slave； till thou hast made excellence thine
own； thou wilt scarcely acquire it by staring at the picture over
against the door in the high chamber of old Rome。 Seekest thou
inspiration？ thou needest it not； thou hast it already； and it was
never yet found by crossing the sea。 What hast thou to do with old
Rome； and thou an Englishman？ 'Did thy blood never glow at the
mention of thy native land？' as an artist merely？ Yes； I trow； and
with reason； for thy native land need not grudge old Rome her
'pictures of the world'； she has pictures of her own； 'pictures of
England'； and is it a new thing to toss up caps and shout … England
against the world？ Yes； against the world in all； in all； in
science and in arms； in minstrel strain； and not less in the art
'which enables the hand to deceive the intoxicated soul by means of
pictures。' Seek'st models？ to Gainsborough and Hogarth turn； not
names of the world； maybe； but English names … and England against
the world！ A living master？ why； there he comes！ thou hast had him
long； he has long guided thy young hand towards the excellence
which is yet far from thee； but which thou canst attain if thou
shouldst persist and wrestle； even as he has done； 'midst gloom and
despondency … ay； and even contempt； he who now comes up the
creaking stair to thy little studio in the second floor to inspect
thy last effort before thou departest； the little stout man whose
face is very dark； and whose eye is vivacious； that man has
attained excellence； destined some day to be acknowledged； though
not till he is cold； and his mortal part returned to its kindred
clay。 He has painted； not pictures of the world； but English
pictures； such as Gainsborough himself might have done； beautiful
rural pieces； with trees which might well tempt the wild birds to
perch upon them； thou needest not run to Rome； brother； where lives
the old Mariolater； after pictures of the world； whilst at home
there are pictures of England； nor needest thou even go to London；
the big city； in search of a master； for thou hast one at home in
the old East Anglian town who can instruct thee whilst thou needest
instruction： better stay at home； brother； at least for a season；
and toil and strive 'midst groanings and despondency till thou hast
attained excellence even as he has done … the little dark man with
the brown coat and the top…boots； whose name will one day be
considered the chief ornament of the old town； and whose works will
at no distant period rank amongst the proudest pictures of England
… and England against the world！ … thy master； my brother； thy； at
present； all too little considered master … Crome。
CHAPTER XXII
Desire for novelty … Lives of the lawless … Countenances … Old
yeoman and dame … We live near the sea … Uncouth…looking volume …
The other condition … Draoitheac … A dilemma … The Antinomian …
Lodowick Muggleton … Almost blind … Anders Vedel。
BUT to proceed with my own story： I now ceased all at once to take
much pleasure in the pursuits which formerly interested me； I
yawned over Ab Gwilym； even as I now in my mind's eye perceive the
reader yawning over the present pages。 What was the cause of this？
Constitutional lassitude； or a desire for novelty？ Both it is
probable had some influence in the matter； but I rather think that
the latter feeling was predominant。 The parting words of my
brother had sunk into my mind。 He had tal