a dead language。 They read hardly at all； preferring to listen。 They were a slave…holding people； much given to social amusement； and hardly knowing what we call industry。 Their ignorance was vast； their wisdom a grace of the gods。 Together with their fair intelligence； they had grave moral weaknesses。 If we could see and speak with an average Athenian of the Periclean age； he would cause no little disappointment……there would be so much more of the barbarian in him； and at the same time of the decadent； than we had anticipated。 More than possibly； even his physique would be a disillusion。 Leave him in that old world； which is precious to the imagination of a few； but to the business and bosoms of the modern multitude irrelevant as Memphis or Babylon。
The man of thought； as we understand him； is all but necessarily the man of impaired health。 The rare exception will be found to e of a stock which may； indeed； have been distinguished by intelligence； but represented in all its members the active rather than the studious or contemplative life； whilst the children of such fortunate thinkers are sure either to revert to the active type or to exhibit the familiar sacrifice of body to mind。 I am not denying the possibility of mens sana in corpore sano； that is another thing。 Nor do I speak of the healthy people （happily still numerous） who are at the same time bright…witted and fond of books。 The man I have in view is he who pursues the things of the mind with passion； who turns impatiently from all mon interests or cares which encroach upon his sacred time； who is haunted by a sense of the infinity of thought and learning； who； sadly aware of the conditions on which he holds his mental vitality； cannot resist the hourly temptation to ignore them。 Add to these native characteristics the frequent fact that such a man must make merchandise of his attainments； must toil under the perpetual menace of destitution； and what hope remains that his blood will keep the true rhythm； that his nerves will play as Nature bade them； that his sinews will bide the strain of exceptional task？ Such a man may gaze with envy at those who 〃sweat in the eye of Phoebus；〃 but he knows that no choice was offered him。 And if life has so far been benignant as to grant him frequent tranquillity of studious hours； let him look from the reapers to the golden harvest； and fare on in thankfulness。
XVII
That a labourer in the fields should stand very much on the level of the beast that toils with him； can be neither desirable nor necessary。 He does so； as a matter of fact； and one hears that only the dullest…witted peasant will nowadays consent to the peasant life； his children； taught to read the newspaper； make what haste they can to the land of promise……where newspapers are printed。 That here is something altogether wrong it needs no evangelist to tell us； the remedy no prophet has as yet even indicated。 Husbandry has in our time been glorified in eloquence which for the most part is vain； endeavouring； as it does； to prove a falsity……that the agricultural life is； in itself； favourable to gentle emotions； to sweet thoughtfulness； and to all the human virtues。 Agriculture is one of the most exhausting forms of toil； and； in itself； by no means conducive to spiritual development； that it played a civilizing part in the history of the world is merely due to the fact that； by creating wealth； it freed a portion of mankind from the labour of the plough。 Enthusiasts have tried the experiment of turning husbandman； one of them writes of his experience in notable phrase。
〃Oh； labour is the curse of the world； and nobody can meddle with it without being proportionately brutified。 Is it a praiseworthy matter that I have spent five golden months in providing food for cows and horses？ It is not so。〃
Thus Nathaniel Hawthorne； at Brook Farm。 In the bitterness of his disillusion he went too far。 Labour may be； and very often is； an accursed and a brutalizing thing； but assuredly； it is not the curse of the world； nay； it is the world's supreme blessing。 Hawthorne had mitted a folly； and he paid for it in loss of mental balance。 For him； plainly； it was no suitable task to feed cows and horses； yet many a man would perceive the nobler side of such occupation； for it signifies； of course； providing food for mankind。 The interest of this quotation lies in the fact that； all unconsciously； so intelligent a man as Hawthorne had been reduced to the mental state of our agricultural labourers in revolt against the country life。 Not only is his intellect in abeyance； but his emotions have ceased to be a true guide。 The worst feature of the rustic mind in our day； is not its ignorance or grossness； but its rebellious discontent。 Like all other evils； this is seen to be an inevitable oute of the condition of things； one understands it only too well。 The bucolic wants to 〃better〃 himself。 He is sick of feeding cows and horses； he imagines that； on the pavement of London； he would walk with a manlier tread。
There is no help in visions of Arcadia； yet it is plain fact that in days gone by the peasantry found life more than endurable； and yet were more intelligent than our clod…hoppers who still hold by the plough。 They had their folk…songs； now utterly forgotten。 They had romances and fairy lore； which their descendants could no more appreciate than an idyll of Theocritus。 Ah； but let it be remembered that they had also a HOME； and this is the illumining word。 If your peasant love the fields which give him bread； he will not think it hard to labour in them； his toil will no longer be as that of the beast； but upward…looking and touched with a light from other than the visible heavens。 No use to blink the hard and dull features of rustic existence； let them rather be insisted upon； that those who own and derive profit from the land may be constant in human care for the lives which make it fruitful。 Such care may perchance avail； in some degree； to counteract the restless tendency of the time； the dweller in a pleasant cottage is not so likely to wish to wander from it as he who shelters himself in a hovel。 Well… meaning folk talk about reawakening love of the country by means of deliberate instruction。 Lies any hope that way？ Does it seem to promise a return of the time when the old English names of all our flowers were mon on rustic lips……by which； indeed； they were first uttered？ The fact that flowers and birds are well…nigh forgotten； together with the songs and the elves； shows how advanced is the process of rural degeneration。 Most likely it is foolishness to hope for the revival of any bygone social virtue。 The husbandman of the future will be； I daresay； a well…paid mechanic； of the engine…driver species； as he goes about his work he will sing the last refrain of the music…hall； and his oft…recurring holidays will be spent in the nearest great town。 For him； I fancy； there will be little attraction in ever such melodious talk about 〃mon objects of the country。〃 Flowers； perhaps； at all events those of tilth and pasture； will have been all but improved away。 And； as likely as not； the word Home will have only a special significance； indicating the mon abode of retired labourers who are drawing old…age pensions。
XVIII
I cannot close my eyes upon this day without setting down some record of it； yet the foolish insufficiency of words！ At sunrise I looked forth； nowhere could I discern a cloud the size of a man's hand； the leaves quivered gently； as if with joy in the divine morning which glistened upon their dew。 At sunset I stood in the meadow above my house； and watched the red orb sink into purple mist； whilst in the violet heaven behind me rose the perfect moon。 All between； through the soft circling of the dial's shadow； was loveliness and quiet unutterable。 Never； I could fancy； did autumn clothe in such magnificence the elms and beeches； never； I should think； did the leafage on my walls blaze in such royal crimson。 It was no day for wandering； under a canopy of blue or gold； where the eye could fall on nothing that was not beautiful； enough to be at one with Nature in dreamy rest。 From stubble fields sounded the long caw of rooks； a sleepy crowing ever and anon told of the neighbo