the days of my life-第42章

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P。S。　—　I　have　read　four　chapters；　including　Golden　Falls。　I　think　it　is　the　best　thing　you　have　done；　but　of　course　I　am　saga…fain！　I　didn’t　think　anyone　could　do　it。
Next　letter；　dated　Saturday。
I　have　got　Eric　into　Swanhild’s　toils；　and　I　don’t　think　I　have　e　to　a　dull　page　yet。　I　don’t　want　to　flatter；　but　it　literally　surprises　me　that　anyone　should　write　such　a　story　nowadays。　Charles　Kingsley　would　have　spoiled　it　by　maundering　and　philosophising。　I　have　hardly　seen　a　line　which　is　not　in　keeping　yet。　Also　the　plot　is　a　good　natural　plot　and　the　characters；　except　Gudruda；　sympathetic。　I　think　she　might　be　a　little　less　feminine　and　ill…willy。　As　literature　I　really　think　it　is　a　masterpiece　so　far　as　I　have　gone。　I’d　almost　as　soon　have　expected　more　Homer　as　more　saga。　I　don’t　think　much　of　the　boy　who　can　lay　it　down　till　it　is　finished；　women　of　course　can’t　be　expected　to　care　for　it。　Surely　it　should　e　out　before　the　“Bow；”　which　is　such　a　flukey　thing；　whereas；　whatever　reviews　and　people　may　say；　“Eric”　is　full　of　the　best　qualities　of　poetic　＇？　word　doubtful＇　fiction。
Next　letter；　undated。
The　more　I　consider　“Eric；”　the　more　I　think　that　except　“Cleopatra；”　which　you　can’t　keep　back；　I’d　publish　no　novel　before　“Eric。”　It　is　so　very　much　the　best　of　the　lot　in　all　ways。　Probably　you　don’t　agree；　and　the　public　probably　won’t　stop　to　consider；　but　it　is。　I’d　like　to　suggest　one　or　two　remarks　for　a　preface　—　if　any。　The　discovery　of　the　dead　mother　and　the　dialogue　with　the　Carline　struck　me　very　much。　Clearly　Swanhild　needed　no　witchcraft；　and　as　certainly　her　natural　magic　would　have　been　interpreted　so　—　at　the　time　and　much　later。　Perhaps　the　final　bust…up　might　be　less　heavy　in　the　supernatural；　but　more　distinctly　represented　as　the　vision　of　fay　men　—　subjective。　Oddly　enough；　I　found　a　Zulu　parallel　today：　“I　have　made　me　a　mat　of　men　to　lie　on；”　says　the　Zulu　berserk　when　he　had　killed　twenty　and　the　assegais　in　his　body　were　“like　reeds　in　a　marsh。”　He　is　in　Callaway。　。　。　。　It　is　worth　an　infinite　number　of　Cleopatras；　partly　because　you　are　at　home　in　the　North。　I　wouldn’t　let　anyone　peddle　it　about；　or　show　people；　but　stick　to　someone　like　Longman；　if　it　were　mine。
And　again：
I　suppose　Ingram　must　see　it；17；　but　I　wish　it　could　appear　tomorrow　in　a　book。　parisons　are　odious；　and　I　understand　your　preferring　“Cleopatra。”　People　inevitably　prefer　what　gives　them　most　serious　labour。　But　it’s　a　natural　gift　that　really　does　the　trick。　I　bet　a　pound　George　Eliot　preferred　“Romola”　and　“Daniel　Deronda”　to　“Scenes　of　Clerical　Life。”　I　have　a　hideous　conscience　which　knows　that　a　ballad　or　a　leading　article　are　the　best　things　I’ve　done；　though　I’d　prefer　to　prefer　“Helen　of　Troy。”　But　she’s　a　bandbox。
17　From　the　Illustrated　London　News。　—　Ed。
The　last　letter　that　I　can　find　of　Lang’s　which　has　to　do　with　“Eric　Brighteyes”　was　evidently　written　in　answer　to　one　from　myself　in　which　I　must　have　shown　depression　at　certain　criticisms　that　he　made　verbally　or　otherwise　upon　the　book。
Bosh！　It　is　a　rattling　good　story！　But　I　am　trying　to　read　it　as　critically　as　I　can；　and　I　am　rather　fresh　from　saga…reading。　This　makes　me　see　more　clearly　than　other　people　the　immense　difficulty　in　bining　a　saga　with　a　story　of　love；　which；　except　in　the　“Volsunga；”　where　the　man　was　one　of　the　foremost　geniuses　in　the　world；　they　never　attempted。　Other　people　won’t　read　it　like　that；　and　it　is　not　right　that　it　should　be　read　in　that　way。　Done　in　my　way　it　would　be　rather　pedantry　than　literature；　but　I　am　a　born　pedant。　It　is　chock　full　of　things　nobody　else　could　have　done：　indeed　nobody　else　could　have　done　any　of　it。　The　Saevuna　part　is　excellent：　I　only　doubted　whether；　for　effect；　her　cursing　speech　should　not　be　terser。　I　never　read　the　very　end；　as　it　had　affected　me　quite　enough　before　I　came　to　that。　The　scene　on　shipboard　is　not　too　like　the　Wanderer　bit　＇in　“The　World’s　Desire”　—　H。　R。　H。＇；　because　it　is　worked　out　and　credible。　The　cloak；　however；　would　suffice　and　be　all　right；　without　the　replacing　of　the　bonds；　which；　under　the　cloak；　would　be　needless。　The　other　bit；　the　seduction；　is　all　right　in　itself：　but　it　is　one　of　the　passages　which　the　sages　would　have　slurred；　as　not　interesting　to　their　bloodthirsty　public。　I　think　it　may　be　none　the　worse　for　what　you　have　done　to　it。　Don’t　“time　heart”　about　it　because　of　my　pedantries。　It　is　because　it　is　good　that　I　want　it　to　be　best。　Skallagrim　is　always　worth　his　weight　in　wadmal；　whatever　wadmal　may　be。　The　death　of　Groa　fetches　me　less；　I　don’t　know　why。　However；　if　you　once　don’t　think　well　of　it；　in　the　nature　of　man　it　is　certain　to　be　more　excellent；　just　as　one　always　did　well　in　examinations　where　one　despaired。　It　is　a　queer　fact；　but　it　is　so。　The　style　is　capital；　but　I　rather　think　that　of　“Nada”　is　still　better。　I　hope　I　shall　live　to　review　it；　or　rather　that　I　shall　review　it　if　I　live。　For　heaven’s　sake；　don’t　be　disgusted　with　it；　or　me　because　I　look　at　it　through　a　microscope。　If　I　didn’t　my　looking　at　it　would　be　of　little　use。　None　of　my　things　are　worth　the　lens；　and　the　trouble；　so　I　don’t。
Yours　ever；
A。　Lang。
“Eric”　came　out　in　due　course；　and　did　well　enough。　Indeed　as　a　book　it　found；　and　still　continues　to　find；　a　considerable　body　of　readers。　My　recollection　is；　however；　that　it　was　reviewed　simply　as　a　rather　spirited　and　sanguinary　tale。　Lang　was　quite　right。　The　gentlemen　who　dispense　praise　and　blame　to　us　poor　authors　have　not；　for　the　most　part；　made　a　study　of　the　sagas　or　investigated　the　lands　where　these　were　enacted。　I　wonder　if　it　has　ever　occurred　to　the　average　reader　how　much　the　writer　of　a　book　which　he　looks　at　for　an　hour　or　two　and　throws　aside　must　sometimes　need　to　know；　and　what　long　months　or　years　of　preparation　that　knowledge　has　cost　him？　Probably　not。　My　extended　experience　of　the　average　reader　is　that　he　thinks　the　author　produces　these　little　things　in　his　leisure　moments；　say　when　he；　the　reader；　would　be　smoking　his　cigarettes；　and　this　without　the　slightest　effort。
To　return　to　“The　World’s　Desire。”　This　work　also　came　out　in　due　course；　and　was　violently　attacked：　so　I　gather　from　Lang’s　letters；　for　I　have　none　of　the　reviews。　All　that　I　remember　about　them　is　the　effort　of　its　assailants　to　discriminate　between　that　part　of　the　work　which　was　written　by　Lang　and　that　part　which　was　written　by　myself　—　an　effort；　I　may　add；　that　invariably　failed。　However；　all　these　things　have　long　gone　by；　and　the　book　remains　and　—　is　read；　by　some　with　enthusiasm。
Here　is　another　note　from　Lang　from　Scotland；　headed　Ravensheugh；　Selkirk；　Friday。
Stevenson　says　he　is　“thrilled　and　chilled”　by　Meriamun。　He　thinks　much　of　it　“too　steep；”　bars　Od（ysseus）　killing　so　many　enemies　—　exactly　what　Longinus　says　of　Homer　—　and　fears　Meriamun　is　likely　to　play　down　Helen。　He　is　kind　enough　to　say　“the　style　is　all　right；”　and　adds　a　poem　on　Odysseus。　I’ll　send　you　the　letter　presently。
I　suppose　that　Lang　did　send　this　letter；　and　that　I　returned　it　to　him。　I　believe　that　subsequently　he　lost　both　the　letter　and　the　poem。　Luckily；　however；　I　took　the　trouble　to　keep　a　copy　of　the　latter；　and　here　it　is。
1。
Awdawcious　Odyshes；
Your　conduc’　is　vicious；
Your　tale　is　suspicious
？？？An’　queer。
Ye　ancient　sea…roamer；
Ye　dour　auld　beach…ber；
Frae　Haggard　to　Homer
？？？Ye　veer。
2。
Sic　veerin’　and　steerin’！
What　port　are　ye　neerin’
As　frae　Egypt　to　Erin
？？？Ye　gang？
Ye　ancient　auld　blackguard；
Just　see　whaur　ye’re　staggered
From　Homer　to　Haggard
？？？And　Lang！
3。
In　stunt　and　in　strife
To　gang　seeking　a　wife　—
At　your　time　o’　life
？？？It　was　wrang。
An’　see！　Fresh　afflictions
Into　Haggard’s　descriptions
An’　the　plagues　o’　the　Egyptians
？？？Ye　sprang！
4。
The　folk　ye’re　now　in　wi’
Are　ill　to　begin　wi’
Or　to　risk　a　hale　skin　wi’
？？？In　breeks　—
They’re　blacker　and　hetter　—
（Just　ask　your　begetter）
And　far　frae　bein’　better
？？？Than　Greeks。
5。
Ther’s　your　Meriamun：
She’ll　mebbe　can　gammon
That　auld…furrand　salmon
？？？Yoursel’；
An’　Moses　and　Aaron
Will　gie　ye　your　fairin’
Wi’　fire　an’　het　airn
？？？In　Hell。
I　refuse　to　continue　longer。　I　had　an　excellent　half…verse　there；　but　couldn’t　get　the　necessary　pendant；　and　anyway　there’s　no　end　to　such　truck。
Yours；
R。　L。　S。
Now　I　will　turn　to　my　modern　novel；　“Beatrice。”　Oddly　enough；　Lang　liked　it；　although　he　says　somewhere　that　he　“infinitely　prefers”　Umslopogaas　and　Skallagrim。
I　have　read　your　chapters　of　“Beatrice。”　Sursum　corda：　it　moves；　it　has　go　and　plenty　of　it。　。　。　。　I　fear　it　is　a　deal　more　popular　line　than　“The　World’s　Desire。”
May　8th。
I　have　read　“Beatrice；”　and　if　she　interests　the　public　as　much　as　she　does　me；　she’ll　do。　But　I　have　marked　it　a　good　deal；　and　would　be　glad　to　go　through　it　with　you；　looking　over　the　scribbled　suggestions。　It　is　too　late；　but　what　a　good　character　some　male　Elizabeth　would　have　been：　nosing　for　dirt；　scandal；　spite　and　lies。　He　might　easily　have　been　worked　in；　I　think。　。　。　。　They　＇i。e。　the　hero　and　heroine＇　are　a　good　deal　more　in　love　than　Odysseus；　Laertes’　son；　and　Mrs。　Menelaus！　It　is　odd：　usually　you　“reflect”　too　much；　and　yet　in　this　tale；　I　think；　a　few　extra　reflections　might　have　been　in　place。　I　feel　a　Thackerayan　desire　to　moralise。
Here　is　another　allusion。
A　letter　I　wrote　anent　B。　was　never　posted。　I　said　I　did　not　quite　think　Geoffrey　gave　the　sense　of　power；　etc。；　and　that　his　rudeness　to　B。　was　overdone　and　cubbish；　which　you　notice　yourself。　I　think；　in　volume　shape；　that　might　yet　be　amended。
Miss　Marie　Corelli　writes　on　June　12；　1890：
If　you　are　still　in　town；　and　you　would　favour　me　with　a　call　on　Sunday　afternoon　next；　about　five　o’clock；　I　should　be　so　pleased　to　reneonths　past；　when　your　kindly　words　made　me　feel　more　happy　and　encouraged　me　in　my　uphill　clamber！　I　saw　you　from　the　gallery　at　the　Literary　Fund　Dinner；　and　wished　I　had　had　the　chance　of　speaking　to　you。　Your　book　“Beatrice”　is　beautiful　—　full　of　poetry　and　deep　thought　—　but　I　don’t　believe　the　public　—　that　with　obstinate　pertinacity　look　to　you　for　a　continuation　ad　infinitum　of　“King　Solomon’s　Mines”　and　“She”　—　will　appreciate　it　as　they　ought　and　as　it　deserves。　Whenever　I　see　a　World　and　Pall　Mall　Gazette　vulgarly　sneering　at　a　work　of　literature；　I　conclude　that　it　must　be　good　—　exceptionally　so！　—　and　this　is　generally　a　correct　estimate：　it　certainly　was　so　concerning　“Beatrice。”
Trusting　you　will　e　and　see　me　（we　are　very　quiet　people　and　don’t　give　crushes！）；
Believe　me；
Very　sincerely　yours；
Marie　Corelli。
Here　is　a　letter　from　the　late　Lady　Florence　Dixie；　whom　I　first　met　years　before　in　South　Africa；　which　is　interesting　as　showing　that　in　the　year　1890　she　held　views　that　since　then　have　bee　very　mon。　In　short；　she　was　a　proto…suffragette。
You　will；　I　hope；　excuse　this　letter；　and　not　misunderstand　me　in　what　I　say。　I　have　just　finished　reading　your　“Beatrice；”　and　have　put　it　down　with　a　feeling　that　it　is　only　another　book　in　the　many　which　proclaims　the　rooted　idea　in　men’s　minds　that　women　are　born　to　suffer　and　work　for　men；　to　hide　all　their　natural　gifts　that　man　may　rule　alone。
Does　it　not　strike　you　that　Beatrice　—　if　she　had　been　given　equal　chances　with　Geoffrey　—　would　have　made　a　name　as　great；　aye；　greater　than　his？　Yet　because　she　is　a　woman　you　will　give　her　no　such　chance。　You　leave　her　to　her　useless；　aimless；　curtailed　and　wretched　life　which　ends　in　suicide。　Think　you　not　that　Beatrice　in　Geoffrey’s　shoes　might　have　made　a　great　name　for　good？　Forgive　me　—　but　as　you　can　write；　why　not　use　your　pen　to　upraise　woman；　to　bid　her　bee　a　useful　member　of　society　—　the　true　panion　and　co…mate　of　man；　and　they　working　together　shall　help　to　make　impossible　such　miserable　victims　of　a　false　and　unnatural　bringing　up　as　Elizabeth　and　Lady　Honoria？　You　hold　such　women　up　to　scorn。　Yet　are　they　the　fruit　of　unnatural　laws　which　men　have　wrongfully　imposed　on　womankind。　Greatly　and　in　many　ways　does　woman　err　in　all　paths　of　life　—　but　is　she　entirely　to　blame？　You　men　have　made　her　your　plaything　and　slave：　she　is　regarded　more　in　the　light　of　a　brood　mare　than　anything　else；　and　if　within　her　narrow　sphere　she　errs；　who　is　to　blame？　Not　her；　believe　me；　but　the　false　laws　that　made　her　what　she　is。
I　have　just　published　a　new　book；　“Gloriana；　or；　The　Revolution　of　1900。”
Will　you　give　me　the　pleasure　of　accepting　a　copy　if　I　send　you　one？　If　you　read　it；　you　will　not　misunderstand　this　letter　I　hope。
Believe　me；
Sincerely　yours；
Florence　Dixie。
P。S。　—　I　hope　you　will　excuse　me　for　sending　you　some　papers　which　will　show　you　that　there　are　some　women；　and　men　too；　who　feel　that　the　cruel　position　of　woman　is　unbearable。
Alas！　1900　has　e　and　gone　years　ago；　and　the　Revolution　is　still　to　seek。　But　perhaps　it　is　at　hand。　At　any　rate　Lady　Florence　strove　manfully　for　her　cause　in　those　early　days；　if　in　the　circumstances　“manfully”　is　the　right　word　to　use。
I　find　a　letter　dealing　with　“Beatrice”　from　Cordy　Jeaffreson；　from　which　I　quote　an　extract：
。　。　。　It　is　a　fine；　stirring；　effective　story；　but　with　all　its　powe