第6章

Scott\'sboyhoodwasspentinscenesthatremindedhimofthepowertheScripturehad。 Hewasdrilledfromhischildhoodintheknowledgeofitswordsandphrases，andwhilehiswritingasawholeshowsmoreoftheOldTestamentinfluencethanoftheNew，eveninhisstyleheisstronglyunderBibleinfluence。 [1]Morley，LifeofGladstone，vol。iii，p。424。 TheprefacetoGuyManneringtellsusitisbuiltaroundanoldstoryofafatherputtingaladtotestunderguidanceofanancientastrologer，shuttinghimupinabarrenroomtobetemptedbytheEvilOne，leavinghimonlyonesafeguard，aBible，lyingonthetableinthemiddleoftheroom。InhisintroductiontoTheHeartofMidlothian，Scottmakesoneofthetwomenthrownintothewaterbytheoverturnedcoachremindtheotherthatthey\"cannotcomplain，likeCowley，thatGideon\'sfleeceremainsdrywhileallaroundismoist；thisisthereverseofthemiracle。\"AlittlelateraspeakerdescribesnovelsastheDelilahsthatseducewiseandgoodmenfrommoreseriousreading。InthedramaticscenewhenJeanieDeansfacesthewretchedGeorgeStaunton，whohassoshamedthehousehold，sheexclaims: \"Osir，didtheScripturenevercomeintoyourmind，\'Vengeanceismine，andIwillrepayit?\'\"\"Scripture!\"hesneers，\"whyIhadnotopenedaBibleforfiveyears。\"\"Wae\'sme，sir，\"saidJeanie——\"andaminister\'sson，too!\" AnthonyFoster，inKenilworth，looksdownonpoorAmy\'sbodyinthevaultintowhichshehasfallen，inresponsetowhatshethoughtwasLeicester\'swhistle，andexclaimstoVarney: \"Oh，iftherebejudgmentinheaven，thouhastdeservedit，andwillmeetit!Thouhastdestroyedherbymeansofherbestaffections——itistheseethingofthekidinthemother\'smilk!\" Andwhen，nextmorning，Varneywasfounddeadofthesecretpoisonandwithasneeringsarcasmonhisghastlyface，Scottdismisseshimwiththephrase:\"Thewickedman，saiththeScripture，hathnobondsinhisdeath。\" HischaractersusefreelythefamiliarBibleeventsandphrases。IntheFortunesofNigel，astoryoftheveryperiodwhenourKingJamesversionwasproduced，HildebroddeclaresthatifhehadhiswayCaptainPeppercullshouldhangashighasHamaneverdid。InKenilworth，whenLeicestergivesVarneyhissignet- ring，hesays，significantly:\"Whatthoudost，doquickly。\"Ofcourse，Isaac，theJewinIvanhoe，exclaimsfrequentlyinOldTestamentterms。 Hewishesthewheelsofthechariotsofhisenemiesmaybetakenoff，likethoseofthehostofPharoah，thattheymaydriveheavily。HeexpectsthePalmer\'slancetobeaspowerfulastherodofMoses，andsoon。 ScottwaswritingoftheperiodwhenmenstayedthemselveswithScripture，andhismenareallsureofGodandSatanandangelsandjudgmentandalleternalthings。Hisson-in- lawvouchesfortheoldstorythatwhenSirWalterwasonhisdeath-bedheaskedLockharttoreadhimsomethingfromtheBook，andwhenLockhartasked，\"Whatbook?\"Scottreplied: \"Whydoyouask?Thereisbutonebook，theBible。\" AllthisisscantjusticetotheGeorgiangroup； butitmaygiveahintofwhattheBiblemeantevenatthatperiod，theperiodwhenitsgriponmenwasmostlaxinallthelaterEnglishhistory。 ItisintheVictorianage(1840-1900)thatthefieldismostbewildering。Itistrue，asFrederickHarrisonsays，that\"thisVictorianagehasnoShakespeareorMilton，noBaconorHume，noFieldingorScott——nosuprememasterinpoetry，philosophy，orromancewhoseworkisincorporatedwiththethoughtoftheworld，whoisdestinedtoformanepoch，toendureforcenturies。\"[1]Thegeniusoftheperiodismorescientificthanliterary，yetwewouldbehelplessifwehadnotalreadyeliminatedfromourdiscussioneverythingbuttheworksandwritersofpureliterature。Theoutputofbookshasbeensotremendousthatitwouldbeimpossibletoanalyzetheinfluenceswhichhavemadethem。 ThereareinthisVictorianperiodatleasttwelvegreatEnglishwriterswhomustbeknown，whoseworkaffectsthecurrentofEnglishliterature。 Manyothernameswouldneedmentioninanyfullhistoryoranyminutestudy；butitisnotharshjudgmenttosaythatthemaincurrentofliteraturewouldbethesamewithoutthem。 Afewoftheselessernameswillcometomind，andinthecallingofthemonerealizestheinfluence，evenonthem，oftheEnglishBible。 AnthonyTrollopewrotesixtyvolumes，thetitlesofmostofwhicharenowpopularlyunknown。 HetoldGeorgeEliotthatitwasnotbrainsthatexplainedhiswritingsomuch，butratherwaxwhichheputintheseatofhischair，whichheldhimdowntohisdailystintofwork。Hecouldboast，anditwasworththeboasting，thathehadneverwrittenalinewhichapurewomancouldnotreadwithoutablush。HiswholeFramleyParsonageseriesaboundsinBiblereferencesandallusions。SoCharlotteBronteisinEnglishliterature，andJaneEyredoesprovewhatshewasmeanttoprove，thatacommonplacepersoncanbemadetheheroineofanovel； butonallCharlotteBronte\'sworkisthemarkoftherectoryinwhichshegrewup。SoThomasGreyhaslefthis\"Elegy\"andhis\"HymntoAdversity，\"andsomeotherwritingwhichmostofushaveforgottenorneverknew。ThenthereareMariaEdgeworthandJaneAusten。WemayevenrememberthatMacaulaythoughtJaneAustencouldbecomparedwithShakespeare，as，ofcourse，shecanbe，sinceanyonecanbe；butneitherofthesegoodwomenhasstronglyaffectedtheliterarycurrent。Manyotherscouldbenamed，butEnglishliteraturewouldbesubstantiallythesamewithoutthem； and，thoughallmightshowBiblicalinfluence，theywouldnotillustratewhatwearetryingtodiscover。Sowecome，withoutapologytotheunnamed，tothetwelve，withoutwhomEnglishliteraturewouldbedifferent。Thisisthelistintheorderofthealphabet:MatthewArnold，RobertBrowning(Mrs。Browningbeinggroupedasonewithhim)，Carlyle，Dickens，GeorgeEliot，CharlesKingsley，Macaulay，Ruskin，RobertLouisStevenson，Swinburne，Tennyson，andThackeray。 [1]EarlyVictorianLiterature，p。9 Itisdangeroustomakesuchalist；butitcanbedefended。Literaryhistorywouldnotbethesamewithoutanyoneofthem，unlesspossiblySwinburne，whoseclaimtoplaceisratherbyhisworkascriticthanascreator。 Norisanynameomittedwhoseintroductionwouldchangeliteraryhistory。 BenjaminJowettthoughtArnoldtooflippantonreligiousthingstobearealprophet。Atanyrate，thismuchistrue，thatthebooksinwhichArnolddealtwiththefundamentalsofreligionarehisprofoundestwork。Inhispoetrythebestpieceofthewholeishis\"RugbyChapel。\" HisReligionandDogmahehimselfcallsan\"essaytowardabetterapprehensionoftheBible。\" AllthroughheurgesitastheoneBookwhichneedsrecovery。\"AllthatthechurchescansayabouttheimportanceoftheBibleanditsreligionweconcurin。\"ThebookthroughoutisanefforttojustifyhisownfaithintermsoftheBible。Theeffortissometimesamusing，becauseittakessuchalogicalandverbalagilitytogofromonetotheother；butheisalwaysatit。HeisafraidinhissoulthatEnglandwillswingawayfromtheBible。HefearsitmaycomeaboutthroughneglectoftheBibleononehand，orthroughwrongteachingaboutitontheother。Notinhisideasalone，butmarkedlyinhisstyle，ArnoldhasfelttheBiblicalinfluence。 HecameatatimewhentherewasstrongtemptationtofallintocumbrousGermanwaysofspeech。AgainstthatArnoldsetasimplephraseology，andheheldouttheEnglishBibleconstantlyasamodelbywhichthemenofEnglandoughttolearntowrite。HenevergainedthesimplicityoftheoldHebrewsentence，andsometimeshissecondaryclausesfollowoneanothersorapidlythatareaderisconfused； buthiswordsasawholearesimpleanddirect。 ThereisnoneedofmuchwordonthespelloftheBibleoverRobertBrowningandMrs。 Browning。Itisnotoftenthattwosinging- birdsmate；butthesetwosanginakeypitchedforthembytheScriptureasmuchasbyanyoneinfluence。ManyoftheirgreatestpoemshavedefiniteBiblicalthemes。InthemandinothersBiblicalallusionsareutterlybewilderingtomenwhodonotknowtheBiblewell。Forfiveyears(1841-1846)Browning\'spoemsappearedunderthetitleBellsandPomegranates。Scoresofpeoplewonderedthen，andwonderstill，what\"PippaPasses\"and\"ABlotintheScutcheon\" andtheothershavetodowithsuchatitle。 Theyhaveneverthought，asBrowningdid，oftheborderofthebeautifulrobeofthehighpriestdescribedintheBookofExodus。ThefinestpoemofitslengthintheEnglishlanguageisBrowning\'s\"Saul\"；butitisonlythestoryofDaviddrivingtheevilspiritfromSaul，sweepingontotheverycomingofChrist。\"TheDeathintheDesert\"isthedeathofJohn，thebeloveddisciple。\"Karshish，theArabPhysician\"tellsinhisownwayoftheraisingofLazarus。Thetextof\"CalibanuponSetebos\"is，\"ThouthoughtestthatIwasaltogethersuchanoneasthyself。\" Thetextof\"Cleon\"is，\"Ascertainofyourownpoetshavesaid。\"In\"FifineattheFair\"theCureexpoundstheexperienceofJacobandhisstone-pillowwithbetterinsightthansomebetter- knownexpositorsshow。In\"PippaPasses，\" whenBluphocks，theEnglishvagabond，isintroduced，Browningseemstojustifyhisappearancebythesinglefoot-note:\"HemakethHissuntoriseontheevilandonthegood，andsendethrainonthejustandontheunjust\"；andMr。 BluphocksshowshimselfamusinglyfamiliarwithBiblefactsandphrases。Mr。Sludge，\"theMedium，\"thinkstheBiblesaysthestarsare\"setforsignswhenweshouldshearsheep，sowcorn，prunetrees，\"anddescribestheskepticinthemagiccircleofspiritual\"investigators\"asthe\"guestwithoutthewedding-garb，thedoubtingThomas。\"SomeonehastakenthetroubletocountfivehundredBiblicalphrasesorallusionsin\"TheRingandtheBook。\"Mrs。Browning\'s\"\'DramaofExile\"isthewoman\'ssideofthefallofAdamandEve。Ruskinthoughther\"AuroraLeigh\"thegreatestpoemthecenturyhadproducedatthattime。ItaboundsinScripturalallusions。Browningcamebyallthisnaturally。RaisedintheChurchbyafatherwho\"delightedtosurroundhimwithbooks，notablyoldandrareBibles，\"andamotherCarlylecalled\"atruetypeofaScottishgentlewoman，\" withalltheskillintheBiblethatthatimplies，heneverlosthissenseofthemajestyofthemovementofScriptureideasandphrases。 WeneedspendlittletimeindiscussingtheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonThomasCarlyle。 HedoesnotoftenusetheScriptureforhismaintheme；butheisconstantlymakingBiblicalallusions。OnarailwayjourneywhenIwasrereadingCarlyle\'sHistoricalSketches，I foundadirectBiblicalreferenceforeveryfivepages，andalmostnumberlessallusionsbeside。 The\"EverlastingYea，\"ofwhichhesaysmuch，hegets，asyouatoncerecognize，fromtheScripture。His\"HeroesandHeroWorship\" isbasedonanideaofheroismwhichhelearnedfromtheBible。HeisanOldTestamentprophetofpresenttimes；and，whilehedegeneratedintoascoldbeforehewasthroughwithit，heyetspokewiththethunderousvoiceofatrueprophet，andmuchofthetimeinthelanguageoftheprophets。SomeonesaidoncethattheonlyrealreverenceCarlyleeverhadwasforthepersonofChrist。Certainlythereisnonoteofsneer，butoftheprofoundestregardfortheteaching，theideasandthehistoryoftheScripture。 ThenameofCharlesDickenssuggestsadifferentatmosphere。HeisaNewTestamentprophet。WhereCarlylehascaughtthespiritofruggedpowerintheOldTestament，DickenshascaughtthesenseofkindlyloveintheNewTestament。Dickens\'sloveforthechild，thefactthathecoulddrawchildrenashecoulddrawnooneelseandmakethemlovable，suggeststhevaluetohimofthosefrequentreferenceswhichhemakestoChristsettingachildinthemidstofthedisciples。Itisnotable，too，howoftenDickensusesthegreatScripturephrasesforhismostdramaticclimaxes。TherearenotinliteraturemanyfinerusesofScripturethanthesceneinBleakHouse，wherethepoorwaifJoeisdying，andwhilehisfriendteacheshimtheLord\'sPrayerheseesthelightcoming。AChristmasseasonwithoutDickens\'sChristmasCarolwouldbeincomplete；butthereagainistheScriptureideapressedforward。 GeorgeEliotsurely，ifanywriter，wasunderthespelloftheScripture。Oneofhercriticscallsherthehistorianofconscience。Allofherheroesandheroinesknowthelashofthelaw。 SheknowsverylittleabouttheNewTestament，onewouldjudge；buttheonethingaboutwhichshehasnodoubtiscertainlythereignofmorallaw。Ifamanwillnotyieldtoitspower，itwillbreakhim。Thereisnosuchthingasbreakingthemorallaw；thereisnothingbutbeingbrokenbyit。HercharactersarealwaysquotingtheBible。Theypreachagreatdeal。ShetellsthatsheherselfwroteDinahMorris\'ssermononthegreenwithtearsinhereyes。Shemeantitall。Whileherownreligiousfaithwasclouded，herfinestcharactersarenevercloudedintheirreligiousfaith，andshegroundstheirfaithquiteinvariablyontheirearlytrainingintheScripture。 ItisaninterestingfactthatGeorgeEliothasnoprincipalstorywhichhasnotinitachurch，andapriestorapreacher，withallthattheyinvolve。 CharlesKingsleyisgroupedhardlyfairlyinthislist，becausehewashimselfapreacher，andnaturallyallhisworkwouldfeelthepoweroftheBook，whichhechieflystudied。ProfessorMassonsaysthat\"thereisnotoneofhisnovelswhichhasnotthepowerofChristianityforitstheme。\"NovoicewasraisedmoreeffectivelyforthebeginningofthenewsocialerainEnglandthanhis。AltonLockeandYeastareepoch- makingbooksinthelifeofthecommonpeopleofEngland。EvenHypatia，whichissupposedtohavebeenwrittentorepresententirelypagansurroundings，isfullofBiblephrasesandideas。 LordMacaulayhadbeenheldupformanyadayasoneofthemastersofstyle。Suchgreatwritingisnottobetracedtoanyoneinfluence。 ItcouldnothavebeeneasytowriteasMacaulaywrote。ThackeraymayhaveexaggeratedinsayingthatMacaulayreadtwentybookstowriteasentence，andtraveledahundredmilestomakeadescription；butallhiswritingshowsthepoweroftakinginfinitepains。Itbecomesthemoreimportant，therefore，thatMacaulayheldtheBibleinsuchestimateashedid。\"IncallinguponLadyHollandoneday，LordMacaulaywasledtobringtheattentionofhisfairhostesstothefactthattheuseoftheword\'talent\'tomeangiftsorpowersofthemind，aswhenwespeakofmenoftalent，camefromtheuseofthewordinChrist\'sparableofthetalents。InalettertohissisterHannahhedescribestheincident，andsaysthatLadyHollandwasevidentlyignorantoftheparable。\'I didnottellher，\'headds，\'thoughImighthavedoneso，thatapersonwhoprofessestobeacriticinthedelicaciesoftheEnglishlanguageoughttohavetheBibleathisfingers\'ends。\'\" ThatMacaulaypractisedhisownpreachingyouwouldquicklyfindbyreferringtohisessays。 TakethreesentencesfromtheEssayonMilton: \"Theprinciplesoflibertywerethescoffofeverygrowingcourtier，andtheAnathemaMaranathaofeveryfawningdean。IneveryhighplaceworshipwaspaidtoCharlesandJames，BelialandMoloch，andEnglandpropitiatedtheseobsceneandcruelidolswiththebloodofherbestandbrightestchildren。Crimesucceededtocrime，anddisgracetodisgrace，untiltherace，accursedofGodandman，wasasecondtimedrivenforthtowanderonthefaceoftheearthandtobeaby-wordandashakingoftheheadtothenations。\"InthreesentencesherearesixallusionstoScripture。Inthatsameessay，intheparagraphsonthePuritans，theallusionsareamultitude。Theyarenotevenquoted。 Theyaretakenforgranted。InhisEssayonMachiavelli，thoughthesubjectdoesnotsuggestit，hefallsintoScripturalphrasesoverandover。Listentothis，\"AtimewasathandwhenallthesevenvialsoftheApocalypseweretobepouredforthandshakenoutoverthosepleasantcountries\"；orthis，\"AllthecursespronouncedofoldagainstTyreseemedtohavefallenonVenice。Hermerchantsalreadystoodafarofflamentingfortheirgreatcity\"；orthis，\"Intheenergeticlanguageoftheprophet，Machiavelliwasmadforthesightofhiseyeswhichhesaw。\" AndifMacaulayisbafflingintheabundanceofmaterial，surelyJohnRuskinisworse。Carlyle\'sEnglishstyleranintoexcessofroughness； Macaulay\'sranintoexcessofbalanceanddelicacy。 JohnRuskin\'scontinuedtobethesmoothest，easieststyleinourEnglishliterature。HealsowasaHebraicspirit，butofthegentlertype。 Mr。ChapmancallshimtheElishatoCarlyle\'s，Elijah，acapitalcomparison。[1]Ruskinisoneofthefewwriterswhohavetolduswhatformedtheirstyle。InthefirstchapterofPraeteritahepaystributetohismother。HehimselfchosetoreadWalterScottandPope\'sHomer；buthesays:\"MymotherforcedmebysteadydailytoiltolearnlongchaptersoftheBiblebyheart，aswellastoreadit，everysyllablealoud，hardnamesandall，fromGenesistotheApocalypseaboutonceayear；andtothatdiscipline—— patient，accurate，andresolute——IowenotonlyaknowledgeoftheBookwhichIfindoccasionallyserviceable，butmuchofmygeneralpoweroftakingpainsandthebestpartofmytasteinliterature。\"HethinksreadingScottmighthaveledtoothernovelsofapoorersort。 ReadingPopemighthaveledtoJohnson\'sorGibbon\'sEnglish；but\"itwasimpossibletowriteentirelysuperficialandformalEnglish\" whileheknew\"byheartthethirty- secondofDeuteronomy，thefifteenthofI Corinthians，theOnehundredandnineteenthPsalm，ortheSermonontheMount。\"InthesecondchapterofPraeteritaheisevenmoreexplicit。\"IhavenextwithdeepergratitudetochroniclewhatIowedtomymotherfortheresolutepersistentlessonswhichsoexercisedmeintheScripture，astomakeeverywordofthemfamiliarinmyearashabitualmusic，yetinthatfamiliarityreverencedastranscendingallthoughtandorderingallconduct。\"Hetellshowhismotherdrilledhim。AssoonashecouldreadshebeganacourseofBibleworkwithhim。 TheyreadalternateversesfromtheGenesistotheRevelation，namesandall。DailyhehadtocommitversesoftheScripture。HehatedtheOnehundredandnineteenthPsalmmost；buthelivedtocherishitmost。InhisoldBiblehefoundthelistoftwenty-sixchapterstaughtbyhismother。 [1]EnglishLiteratureinAccountwithReligion。 NotonlywasRuskinwelltrainedintheBible，buthewasagreatteacherofit。InhisprefacetotheCrownofWildOlivesheanswershiscriticsbysayinghehasusedtheBookforsomefortyyears。\"Myendeavorhasbeenuniformlytomakemenreaditmoredeeplythantheydo； trustit，notintheirownfavoriteversesonly，butinthesumofitall；treatitnotasafetishoratalismanwhichtheyaretobesavedbydailyrepetitionof，butasaCaptain\'sorder，tobeheldandobeyedattheirperil。\"IntheintroductiontotheSevenLampsofArchitectureheurgesthatweareinnodangeroftoomuchuseoftheBible。 \"Weuseitmostreverentlywhenmosthabitually。\" ManyofRuskin\'smoststrikingtitlescomestraightoutoftheScripture。CrownofWildOlives，SevenLamps，UntothisLast——allthesearesuggestedbytheBible。 ItisalmostsuperfluoustospeakofRobertLouisStevenson。JohnKelmanhaswrittenawholebookonthereligionofStevenson，anditisavailableforallreaders。HewasraisedbyCummy，hisnurse，whoselibrarywaschieflytheBible，theshortercatechism，andtheLifeofRobertMurrayMcCheyne。Hesaidthatthefifty-eighthchapterofIsaiahwashisspecialchapter，becauseitsorepudiatedcantanddemandedaself-denyingbeneficence。HelovedBunyan\'sPilgrim\'sProgress；but\"theBiblemoststoodhiminhand。\"Everygreatstoryoressayshowsitsinfluence。Hewasnotcriticalwithit；hedidnotunderstandit；hedidnotinterpretitfairly；buthefeltit。HisDr。JekyllandMr。HydeisonlyhiswayofputtingintomodernspeechPaul\'solddistinctionbetweenthetwomenwhoabideineachofus。TheytoldhimheoughtnottoworkinSamoa，andherepliedthathecouldnototherwisebetruetothegreatBookbywhichheandallmenwhomeanttodogreatworkmustlive。OvertheshoulderofourbelovedRobertLouisStevensonyoucanseethegreatcharactersofScripturepressinghimforwardtohisbestwork。 NotsomuchcanbesaidofSwinburne。Therewasastronginfusionofacidinhisnature，whichnoinfluenceentirelydestroyed。Heisapttoliveasaliterarycriticandessayist，thoughhesupposedhimselfchieflyapoet。HisownthoughtofpoetrycanbeseeninhisprotestinbehalfofMeredith。Whenhehadbeenaccusedofwritingonasubjectonwhichhehadnoconvictiontoexpress(\"ModernLove\")，Swinburnedeniedthatpoetsoughttopreachanyway。 \"Therearepulpitsenoughforallpreachersofprose，andthebusinessofversewritingishardlytoexpressconvictions。\"YetitisimpossibletoforgetMiltonandhispurposeto\"assertEternalProvidence，andjustifythewaysofGodtomen。\"Naturally，mostpoetsdopreachandpreachwell。Wordsworthdeclaredbewantedtobeconsideredateacherornothing。 Mrs。Browningthoughtthatpoetsweretheonlytruth-tellerslefttoGod。ButSwinburnecouldnothelpalittlepreachingatanyrate。His\"MasqueonQueenBersaba\"isanoldmiracleplayofDavidandNathan。His\"ChristmasAntiphones\"arehardlyChristian，thoughtheyareabundantintheirallusionstoScripture。 ThefirstisaprayerforpeaceandrestinthecomingofthenewdayofthebirthofChrist。 ThesecondisaprotestthatneitherGodnormanhasbefriendedmanasheshould，andthethirdisanassurancethatmenwilldoformanevenifGodwillnot。Now，thatisnotChristian，buttheBiblephrasesareallthroughit。 SowhenhewriteshispoembemoaningPoland，heneedsmustheadit\"Rizpah。\"AtthesametimeitmustbesaidthatSwinburneshowslessoftheinfluenceoftheBibleinhisstyleandinhisspiritthananyotherofourgreatEnglishwriters。 WecomebackagainintotheatmosphereofstrongBibleinfluencewhenwenameAlfredTennyson。WhenByrondied，andthewordcametohisfather\'srectoryatSomersby，youngAlfredTennysonfeltthatthesunhadfallenfromtheheavens。Hewentoutaloneinthefieldsandcarvedinthesandstone，asthoughitwereamonument:\"Byronisdead。\"Thatwasintheearlystageofhispoeticallife。AtfirstCarlylecouldnotabideTennyson。Hecountedhimonlyanechoofthepast，withnosenseforthefuture；butwhenhereadTennyson\'s\"TheRevenge，\"heexclaimed，\"Eh，he\'sgotthegripo\'it\"；andwhenRichardMoncktonMilnesexcusedhimselffornotgettingTennysonapensionbysayinghisconstituentshadnouseforpoetryanyway，Carlylesaid，\"RichardMilnes，inthedayofjudgmentwhenyouareaskedwhyyoudidnotgetthatpension，youmaylaytheblameonyourconstituents，butitwillbeyouwhowillbedamned!\"Dr。HenryvanDykestudiedTennysontobesteffectatjustthispoint。Inhischapteron\"TheBibleinTennyson\"aremanysuchsayingsasthese:\"ItissafetosaythatthereisnootherbookwhichhashadsogreataninfluenceupontheliteratureoftheworldastheBible。Weheartheechoesofitsspeecheverywhere，andthemusicofitsfamiliarphraseshauntsallthefieldandgroveofourfineliterature。AtleastonecauseofhispopularityisthatthereissomuchBibleinTennyson。WecannothelpseeingthatthepoetowesalargedebttotheChristianScriptures，notonlyfortheirformativeinfluenceonhismindandforthepurelyliterarymaterialinthewayofillustrationsandallusionswhichtheyhavegivenhim，butalsoforthecreationofamoralatmosphere，amediumofthoughtandfeelinginwhichhecanspeakfreelyandwithanassuranceofsympathytoaverywidecircleofreaders。\" IneednotstoptoindicatethegreatpoemsinwhichTennysonhassooftenusedScripture。 Themindrunsquicklytothelittlemaidin\"Guinevere，\"whosesong，\"Late，Late，soLate，\" isonlyaparaphraseoftheparableofthefoolishvirgins。\"InMemoriam\"cameintotheskepticaleraofEngland，withitsnewchallengetofaith，andstoppedthedriftofyoungmentowardmaterialism。Recallthefineusehemakes，intheheartofit，oftheresurrectionofLazarus，andotherBiblicalscenes。Dr。vanDyke\'s\"fourhundreddirectreferencestotheBible\"donotexhaustthepoems。NoonecangetTennyson\'sstylewithouttheEnglishBible，andnoonecanreadTennysonintelligentlywithoutafairlyaccurateknowledgeoftheBible。 InthisVictoriangroupthelastnameisThackeray\'s。HeisanotherwhosemothertrainedhimintheEnglishBible。ThetitleofVanityFairisfromPilgrim\'sProgress，butthemottoisfromtheScripture；andhewrotehismotherregardingthebook:\"WhatIwantistomakeasetofpeoplelivingwithoutGodintheworld(onlythatisacantphrase。)\"Itiscertainhismotherdidnotcountitacantphrase，forhelearneditfromtheScripture。ThesubtitleofhisAdventuresofPhilipsaysheistoshowwhorobbedhim，whohelpedhim，andwhopassedhimby。ThackeraygotthoseexpressionsfromtheBible。SomewhereveryearlyinanyofhisworksherevealstheinfluenceofhischildhoodandmanhoodknowledgeoftheEnglishBible。 AllthisabouttheVictoriangroupismeanttobeveryfamiliartoanywhoarefreshfromthereadingofliterature。Theyaregreatnames，andtheyhavedifferencesaswideasthepoles；buttheyhavethisincommon，thattheyhavedrunklightlyordeeplyfromthesamefountain；theyhavedrawnfromitideas，allusions，literarystyle。Eachofthemhasweakenedashehasgottenfartherfromit，andloyaltytoithasstrengthenedanyoneofthem。 TurnnowtotheAmericangroupofwriters。 IfweexcepttheologicalwriterswithJonathanEdwards，HoraceBushnell，HenryWardBeecher，andtheirlike，andpoliticalwriterswithJefferson，Webster，andtheirlike，thelistneednotbealongone。Onlyonewriterinournarrowersenseofliteraturemustbenamedintheearlierday——BenjaminFranklin。IntheperiodbeforetheCivilWarmustbenamedEdgarAllanPoe(died1849)andWashingtonIrving(died1859)。 TheCivilWargroupisthelargeone，anditsnamesarethoseofthelatergroupaswell。Letthembealphabetical，forconvenience:WilliamCullenBryant，poetandcritic；GeorgeWilliamCurtis，essayistandeditor；Emerson，ournoblestnameinthesphereofpureessayliterature； Hawthorne，thenovelistofconscience，asSocrateswasitsphilosopher；OliverWendellHolmes，whose\"twochiefhatredswereorthodoxyinreligionandheterodoxyinmedicine\"； JamesRussellLowell，essayistandpoet，apttolivebyhisessaysratherthanbyhispoetry； Longfellow，whose\"PsalmofLife\"and\"Hiawatha\" havelivedthroughasmuchparodyandridiculeasanytwobitsofliteratureextant，andhavelivedbecausetheyarepredestinedtolive；Thoreau，whoseWaldenmayshow，asLowellsaid，howmuchcanbedoneonlittlecapital，butwhichhastherealliterarytangtoit； andWhittier，whosepoetryissungtheworldaround。 ThatmakesonlytwelvenamesfromFranklintoWhittier。Otherscouldbeincluded；buttheyarenotsogreatasthese。Nooneofthesecouldbetakenoutofourliteraturewithoutaffectingitand，insomedegreeatleast，changingthecurrentofit。ThisisnottoforgetBretHartenorSamuelL。Clemens。Buteachisdependentforhissurvivalonatasteforacertainkindofhumor，notdelicatelikeIrving\'sandHolmes\'s，butstrongandsuddenandabitsharp。Ifweshouldforgetthe\"LuckofRoaringCamp，\"\"TruthfulJames，\"andthe\"HeathenChinee，\"wewouldalsoforgetBretHarte。WearenotapttoforgetTomSawyer，norperhapsTheInnocentsAbroad，butweareforgettingmuchelseofMarkTwain。Whitmanisnotnamed。 Hisclaimsarefamiliar，butinspiteofhisadmirersheseemssochargedwithasensuousegotismthatheisnotapttobeaformativeinfluenceinliteraryhistory。Itisstillinteresting，however，torememberhowfrequentlyherevealshisreadingofScripture。 Fortunately，allthesewritersaresonear，andtheirworkissofamiliar，thatdetailsregardingthemarenotneeded。Twoorthreegeneralwordscanbesaid。Inthefirstplace，observethehighmoraltoneofallthesefirst-gradewriters，and，indeed，oftheotherswhomaybespokenofasinsecondrank。Thereisnotameretriciousorhumiliatingbookinthewholecollection。ThereisnotonebookwhichhaslivedinAmericanliteraturewhichhasthetoneofFielding\'sTomJones。WhetheritisthatthePuritanstraincontinuesinusornot，itistruethattheAmericanliterarypublichasnottakenhappilytostoriesthatwouldbringablushinpublicreading。ProfessorRichardson，ofDartmouth，givessomecluetothereasonofthat。 Hesaysthat\"since1870or1880inAmericatherehasbeenamarkedincreaseofstrengthoftheisticandspiritualbeliefandargumentamongscientificmen，studentsofphilosophy，religious\'radicals，\'andothers。\"HeaddsthatwhilemuchcontemporaryAmericanliteratureandthoughtisoutsidetheacceptedorthodoxlines，yet\"itisnothostiletoChristianity；totheprinciplesofitsFounderitisforthemostpartsincerelyattached。Ontheotherhand，materialismhasscarcelyanyholduponit。\" Thenfollowsaverynotablesentencewhichissustainedbythefacts:\"NotanAmericanbookofthefirstclasshaseverbeenwrittenbyanatheistordenierofimmortality。\"ThatsentenceneednotoffendanadmirerofWaltWhitman，forhe\"acceptsboththeismandthedoctrineofthefuturelife。\"AmericanthoughthasremainedloyaltothegreatTrinity，God，Freedom，andImmortality。Soitcomesaboutthatwhilethereareanumberofthesewriterswhocouldbeputunderthebanofthestronglyorthodoxinreligion，everyoneofthemshowstheeffectofearlytraininginreligionandintheScripture。[1] [1]ThisisfullyworkedoutinProfessorRichardson\'sAmericanLiterature，withampleillustrationandargument。 AnotherthingtobesaidisthatAmericahasauniquehistoryamonggreatnationsinthatithasneverbeenaffectedbyanygreatreligiousinfluenceexceptthatwhichhasissuedfromtheScriptures。NoreligionhaseverbeeninfluentialinAmericaexceptChristianity。FormanyyearstherehavebeensporadicandspasmodiceffortstoextendtheinfluenceofBuddhismorotherIndiancults。Theyhaveneverbeensuccessful，becausetheAmericanspiritispractical，andnotmeditative。Wearenotanintrospectivepeople。Wedonotlookwithinourselvesforourreligion。WhatevermoralandreligiousinfluenceourliteratureshowsgetsbackfirstorlasttoourScriptures。ThepointofviewofnaturethatistakenbyourwriterslikeBryantandThoreauisthatoftheNineteenthPsalm。 Moreover，wehavebeenstronglyundertheEnglishinfluence。Irvinginsistedthatweoughttobe，thatwewereayoungnation，thatweoughtfranklytofollowtheleadershipofmoreexperiencedwriters。Longfellowthoughtwehadgonetoofarthatway，andthatourpoets，atleast，oughttobemoreindependent，oughttowriteinthespiritofAmericaandnotoftraditionalpoetry。Whetherweoughttohaveyieldedtoitornot，itistruethatEnglishinfluencehastoldverystronglyuponus，andthewriterswhohaveinfluencedourwritersmosthavebeenthosewhomwehavenamedasbeingthemselvesundertheBibleinfluence。 Weneednotgointodetailaboutthesewriters，thoughtheyaremostattractive。BryantdidforuswhatWordsworthdidforEngland。Hemadenatureseemvocal。\"Thanatopsis\"isnotaChristianpoeminthenarrowsenseoftheword，andyetitcouldhardlyhavebeenwrittenexceptunderChristianinfluence。Hisowngenial，beautifulcharacterwasitselfatributetoChristiancivilization，andhislife，ascriticandessayist，hasleftanimpressionwhichweshallnotsoonlose。ProfessorRichardsonthinksthatthethreeproblematicalcharactersinAmericanliteratureareEmerson，Hawthorne，andPoe。TheshrewdestestimateofPoethathaseverbeengivenusisinLowell\'sFableforCritics: \"TherecomesPoewithhisravenlikeBarnabyRudge，Three-fifthsofhimgenius，andtwo-fifthssheerfudge，Whohaswrittensomethingsquitethebestoftheirkind，Buttheheartsomehowseemsallsqueezedoutbythemind。\" Thatsaysitexactly。Poeknewmanyhorriblesituations，buthedidnotknowthewayout； andofallourAmericanwriterslayingclaimtoplaceinthefirstclassPoeshowsleastinfluenceoftheBible，andapparentlyneedsitmost。 IrvingwasthefirstAmericanwriterwhostoodhighenoughtobeseenacrossthewater。 Thackeray\'smostbeautifulessayisonIrvingandMacaulay，whodiedjustonemonthapart。InithedescribesIrvingasthebestintermediarybetweenthenations，tellingusAmericansthattheEnglisharestillhuman，andassuringtheEnglishthatAmericansarealreadyhuman。 IrvingwastrainedearlyandthoroughlyintheBible。Allhislifehewasanold-fashionedEpiscopalianwithnoconcernfornewreligiousideasandwithnoroughedgesanywhere。 CharlesDudleyWarner，speakingofIrving\'smoralquality，says:\"Icannotbringmyselftoexcludeitfromaliteraryestimate，eveninthefaceofthecurrentgospelofartforart\'ssake。\"[1] LikeScott，he\"recognizedtheabidingvalueinliteratureofintegrity，sincerity，purity，charity，faith。Thesearebeneficences，andIrving\'sliterature，walkarounditandmeasureitbywhatevercriticalinstrumentsyouwill，isabeneficentliterature。\" [1]AmericanMenofLettersSeries，WashingtonIrving，p。302。 ThenthereisEmerson，asonofthemanseandonceaministerhimself。Hewas，therefore，perfectlyfamiliarwiththeEnglishBible。Hedidnotacceptitinallitsreligiousteaching。 Indeed，wehaveneverhadamoremarkedindividualistinourAmericanpubliclifethanEmerson。Ateverypointhewassimplyhimself。 Thereisverylittlequotationinhiswriting，verylittlevisibleinfluenceofanyoneelse。 HewasnotafollowerofCarlyle，thoughhewashisfriend。Ifthereisanyprecedentfortheconstructionofhissentences，andevenofhisessays，itistobefoundintheHebrewprophets。 Assomeoneputsit，\"heutteredsayings。\"Inmanyofhisessaysthereisnoparticularreasonwhytheparagraphsshouldrunone，two，three，andnotthree，two，one，ortwo，one，three，orinanyotherorder。ButMr。Emersonwasjusthimself。Itisyettruethat\"hisvaluefortheworldatlargeliesinthefactthatafterallheisincurablyreligious。\"Itistruethathecouldnotseeanyimportanceinforms，orinordinarydeclarationsoffaith。\"Hewouldfightnobattleforprelacy，norfortheWestminsterconfession，norfortheTrinity，butasagainstatheism，pessimism，andmaterialism，hewasanallyofChristianity。\"TheinfluenceoftheBibleonEmersonismoremarkedinhisspiritthaninanythingelse。Onceinawhile，asinthatfamiliaraddressatConcord(1873)，yourunacrossScripturephrases:\"Shallnottheywhoreceivethelargeststreamsspreadabroadthehealingwaters?\"ThatfigureappearsinliteratureonlyintheBible，andthereareotherslikeitinhiswritings。 AsforLongfellow，heisshotthroughwithScripture。NomanwhodidnotknowScriptureinmorethanapassingwaycouldhavewrittensuchasentenceasthis:\"Therearetimeswhenthegrasshopperisaburden，andthirstywiththeheatoflaborthespiritlongsforthewatersofShiloah，thatgosoftly。\"TherearetwostrikinglybeautifulexpressionsfromScripture。Takeanotherfamiliarsayinginthesameessaywhenhesaystheprospectforpoetryisbrightening，sincebutashorttimeagonotapoet\"movedthewingoropenedthemouthorpeeped。\"Hedidnotrunacrossthatingeneralcurrentwriting。 HegotthatdirectlyfromtheBible。InhispoemsisanamazingamountofreferencetotheBible。Onewouldexpectmuchinthe\"CourtshipofMilesStandish，\"forthatisastoryofthePuritans，andtheyspoke，naturally，intermsoftheBible；yet，ofcourse，theycouldnotdoitinLongfellow\'spoem，ifLongfellowdidnotknowthelanguageoftheBibleverywell。 Onemightnotexpecttofinditsomuchin\"Evangeline，\"butitistherefrombeginningtoend。In\"Acadia，\"thecockcrowed\"Withtheself-sameVoicethatinagesofoldhadstartledthepenitentPeter。\" And，\"WildwiththewindsofSeptember，Wrestledthetreesoftheforest，asJacobofoldwiththeangel。\"