RODIN IN RIME 1907 AUTHORS NOTE AUGUSTE RODIN AND THE NOMENCLATURE OF HIS WORKS A STUDY IN SPITE like that of Planchette : or if William Horton were vocal— But Heaven forbid ! WEN illegitimate criticism is met with a What he said, though parrot-talk, caught smart swing on the point of the jaw, and has wp in some fifth-rate sculptor's studio, no subsided into an unpleasant and unpitiful doubt, had so much truth in it, carefully heap; when its high-well-born brother has concealed by the lying misinterpretation he shaken hands—not without many years of had put on that, as I said, the pellet hit friendly sparring—with the new pugilist, all me. Thisit,was what it came to. Rodin's his family are very disappointed, for Society works, it is said, mean nothing. He makes takes no notice of them its (to them un- a study : people see it in his studio: A. goes seemly) adulation of theinrising star. Their up and says to the Master: ‘Ah, how unfraternal feeling may even lead them to beautiful,” &c., ad nauseam —* I suppose is * it employ a sandbagger and dark nightto rid Earth and the Spring?" B. follows, and them this dreamer Joseph.a suggests '* Hercules and Cacus"; C. thinks of * In the case of thé success, in the heavy «The Birth of a Flower? ; D. calls it De- weights, of the Meudon Chicken (M. Rodin spair?; E. varies it with ** Moses breaking will forgive us for the lengths to which we ‘ables of the Law”; F. cocks his eye carry our analogy), envy has given up hope warily, and asks if it is not meant for “ Mary even of sandbags, and is now engaged in the Magdalene”; G. votes for “The Beetle- ridiculous task of attempting to disconcert Crusher and’ his Muse,” and so on, day the eye of the. Fancy Boy by flipping paper after day, till Z. comes round and recognises pellets at him across the arena. They do it for Balzac. Rodin shakes him warmly by not reach him, it is true: but as I, who both hands : Balzac it is for all time—and happen to be sitting in a back row, admiring one ceases to wonder that it was rejected | the clean, scientificsequences of rib-punchers, ‘Now, of course, this paper pellet is in any claret-tappers, &c, &c, recently received case very wide ofits mark, Rodin can easily one of these missiles in the eye, my attention sculp himself a tabernacle and go in with was called to the disturber. I will now do Whistler—and even drag in Velasquez; but my part as a law-abiding citizen and take here am illustrating, however feebly, the my boot to the offender, as a warning to him Works, in Poetry: and poetry cannot, un- and all of his kidney. I shall not mention fortunately, ever be pure technique. I have his name: that he would enjoy: that is long wished to write “A Sonnet in W. and perhaps what he hoped. I will merely state P." (with Whip as the keynote); a triolet in that he is one of those unwashen and oleagi- UU. and K. ; an ode in S. Sh. Sw. Sp. and nous individuals who are a kind of Mérodack- Str.—and so on; but people would merely Jauneau without the Mérodack, £.e., without say "Nonsense Verses" (so they do now, the gleam of intention in their work whichto some of them !). So that my work is liable the lay mind redeems even the most grotesque to the most vital misinterpretation. My best imbecility of technique, andthe most fatuous friend tells the utterly false, utterly funny ignorance of all subjects connected or un- story about me that I wrote one sonnet for connected with art. By philosophy he under- ** L'Ange déchu" and another for ‘Icare.” stands “Science and Health”: by poetry The real heart of the attack is, of course, Lake Harris or Eric Mackay: he expects a against Rodin's intention, and it is my object painting to tell a pretty story or to upset a to show what rubbish it is, even granting the metaphysical position. His conversation is literary basis of criticism to be valid. I am I199 110 RODIN IN RIME given to understand that something of the sort one ignores laughingly the attack of tiny and described above does sometimes take place in infuriated puppies ; but there are insects so the naming a statue (of the allegorical de- loathsome, so incredibly disgusting, worms scription especially),of But that is a question whose sight is such an abomination, whose of felicity, of epigram ; never of subject. stink is 50 crapulous and purulent, that, In “La Main de Dieu,” for example, the ignoring their malignity, but simply aware of meaning is obvious, and notto be wrested or their detestable presence, the heel is ground distorted. What does it matter if we call it down in one generous impulse, and the slimy as at present, or thing is no more. Decomposition, already (a) The Hand of Creation, far advanced, may be trusted speedily to (ὁ) The First Lovers, resolve the remains into the ultimate dust of (c) The Security of Love, things, mere matter for some new and hope- (d) The invisible Guard fuller avatar. —anything in reason? These are only ways Such a worm are you, M. D—, who of looking at one idea, and as you are theolo- once, as above described, voided your noxious gian, poet, lover or mystic, so you will choose. nastiness in my presence, trusting to con- And is the Master's merit, not his fault, if ciliate me by the intended compliment that his itconception is so broad-based as to admit. my poems on Rodin were from myself and of different interpretations. The phenomenon not from him, and that any other statues is possible because Rodin is the master and would have done as well. not the slave of his colossal technique. The Iam aslittle susceptible to flattery as I am naming of a masterpiece is perhaps harder to the venomousdicta of spite and envy, and work than the producing it, and Rodin being I resent that when I see it employed as the a sculptor and not an illicit epigram distiller, medium for this, Without your compliment, is perfectly justified in picking up what he can M. D—, might have left you to crawl on, from the witty and gifted people who throng lord of yourI own muck-heap ; with it, I take his studio as muchashewill let them. this opportunity of stamping on you, Let there be an end, then, not to the sordid and snarling jealousy which greatness Nore.—Ihad intended 1to include reproduc. must inevitably excite, not to the simian tions of photographs of those few statues which tooth-grindings which must always accom- I have written upon; but I prefer to pay my readers the compliment of supposing that they pany the entrance of a man into the jungle, this senseless and possess the originals in either bronze or but to peculiarly sidelong marble, attack. One accepts the lion as a worthy with 2 antagonist; one can enjoy playing a e, in the large first edition, which con- fine dog; one can sympathise with sincere| tains seven of M. Rodin's water-colours. Vide and honourable labour, though it be in vain; Bibliographical Note. RODIN IN RIME FRONTISPIECE Titan ! the little centuries drop back, RODIN. Back from the contemplation, Stand and Here isa man! For all the world to see span His work stands, shaming Nature. With one great gripuuhis cup, the Zo- Clutched, combined diac! . | 0-0 In the sole still centre of a master-mind, Distil from all time’s art his wine, the —The Egyptian the Greek simplicity, truth force, . The Celtic subtlety. Through suffering free, Drink, drink! the mighty health—an age's The calm great courage of newart,refined| youth— In nervous majesty, indwells behind Salut, Auguste Rodin! Here is a |The beauty of each radiant harmony. man, VARIOUS MEASURES VARIOUS MEASURES THE TOWER OF TOIL. Above be various shapes of labour, ‘The bodily strength, the manual skill ; (LA TOUR DE TRAVAIL.) They shapethe anvil and the sabre, The and the THE sun ; the old earth spins ; ploughshare bolt; they old rolls fill Incessant labour bends thestats. The myriad will of brains boil: Hath not enough of woes andsins that Passed? Who shall efface their senseless Their fame be thine, O Tower of Toil ! scars? One makes, one mars. The eons foil Here set the travailers of land ; Alll purpose rise, O Tower ofToil. Here the young shepherd, fluteless now ; ; ‘The mariner with tarry hand ; Rise in thy radiance to proclaim ‘The clerk, with pale and foolish brow, ‘The alive ! agonyoftheearth Hiss brain bought cheap for brainless grind : Stand by the a marble flame, sea, ‘The bloodless martyr of the mind ! lighthouse wedded to an hive! Still upward strive! O tower, arise Grow up O An endless spiral to the skies ! the grades, godlike hand, Rodin, most rightly named “ August”! Stand on the weather-beaten coast Thy splendid sons and daughters stand “ A flaming angel in the noon ; Obedient to the master must.” A silver, fascinated ghost. The decadent dust thy spells assoil ; In midnight's revel with the moon ; Death lives in this, thy Tower of Toil. In silent swoon be still ! the spoil Of © Tower of Toil. years is thine, Grow up the grades! record the tasks ‘These arduous phantoms have achieved! Let day, a glowing vigour, male ; The growth of mind mortals asks And a virgin bowed and curled, to night, A power not swift to be believed.