Unto This Last, and Other Essays on Political EconomyRuskin, John
General
Unto This Last, and Other Essays on Political Economy
Ruskin, John
Art; Economics
vile, who cannot see it in any shape, but to whom it is the
picture of nobody, it still gives shrill harmony to their
false and mocking catch, "Thought is free," but leads them
into briars and foul places, and at last hollas the hounds
upon them. Minister of fate against the great criminal, it
joins itself with the "incensed seas and shores"--the sword
that layeth at it cannot hold, and may, "with bemocked-at
stabs as soon kill the still-closing waters, as diminish one
dowle that's in my plume." As the guide and aid of true
love, it is always called by Prospero "fine" (the French
"fine"--not the English), or "delicate"--another long note
would be needed to explain all the meaning in this word.
Lastly, its work done, and war, it resolves itself to the
elements. The intense significance of the last song, "Where
the bee sucks," I will examine in its due place. The types
of slavery in Caliban are more palpable, and need not be
dwelt on now: though I will notice them also, severally, in
their proper places;--the heart of his slavery is in his
worship: "That's a brave god, and bears celestial liquor."
But, in illustration of the sense in which the Latin
"benignus" and "malignus," are to be coupled with Eleutheria
and Douleia, not that Caliban's torment is always the
physical reflection of his own nature--"cramps" and
"side-stitches that shall pen thy breath up"--"thou shalt be
pinched as thick as honeycomb:" the whole nature of slavery
being one cramp and cretinous contraction. Fancy this of
Ariel! You may fetter him, but yet set no mark on him; you
may put him to hard work and far journey, but you cannot
give him a cramp.
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