The Domain of Arnheim by Edgar Allan Poe
Section [1 | 2]
the domain of Arnheim

by Edgar Allan Poe

the garden like a lady fair was cut, that lay as_if she slumbered in delight, and to_the open skies her eyes did shut . the azure fields of heaven were 'sembled right in a large round, set with_the flowers of light . the flowers de luce, and_the round Sparks of dew . that hung upon their azure leaves did shew like twinkling stars that sparkle in_the evening blue .Giles Fletcher .

from_his cradle to_his grave a gale of prosperity bore my friend Ellison along . nor do I use the word prosperity in its mere worldly sense .I mean it as synonymous with happiness . the person of whom I speak seemed born for_the_purpose of foreshadowing the doctrines of Turgot, price, Priestley, and Condorcet -- of exemplifying by individual instance what_has_been deemed the chimera of_the perfectionists . in_the brief existence of Ellison I fancy that I_have_seen refuted the dogma, that in man's very nature lies some hidden principle, the antagonist of bliss . an anxious examination of_his career has_given me to understand that in general, from_the violation of a few simple laws of humanity arises the wretchedness of mankind -- that as a species we_have in_our possession the as_yet unwrought elements of content -- and_that, even now, in_the present darkness and madness of all thought on_the great question of_the social condition, it_is_not impossible that man, the individual, under certain unusual and highly fortuitous conditions, may_be happy .

with opinions such as_these my young friend, too, was fully imbued, and thus it_is worthy of observation that_the uninterrupted enjoyment which distinguished his life was, in great measure, the result of preconcert . it_is indeed evident that with less of_the instinctive philosophy which, now_and_then, stands so_well in_the stead of experience, Mr Ellison would_have found himself precipitated, by_the very extraordinary success of_his life, into_the common vortex of unhappiness which yawns for_those of pre- eminent endowments . but it_is by no means my object to pen an essay on happiness . the ideas of_my friend may_be summed up in a few words . he admitted but four elementary principles, or more strictly, conditions of bliss . that which he considered chief was ( strange to_say ! ) the simple and purely physical one of free exercise in_the open air ." the health," he_said, " attainable by other means is scarcely worth the name ." he instanced the ecstasies of_the fox- hunter, and pointed to_the tillers of_the earth, the only people who, as a class, can_be fairly considered happier than others . his second condition was_the love of woman . his third, and most difficult of realization, was_the contempt of ambition . his fourth was an object of unceasing pursuit; and he held that, other things being equal, the extent of attainable happiness was in proportion to_the spirituality of_this object .

Ellison was remarkable in_the continuous profusion of good gifts lavished upon him by fortune . in personal grace and beauty he exceeded all men . his intellect was of_that order to_which_the acquisition of knowledge is less a labor than an intuition and a necessity . his family was one_of_the_most illustrious of_the empire . his bride was_the loveliest and most devoted of women . his possessions had_been always ample; but on_the attainment of_his majority, it_was discovered that one of_those extraordinary freaks of fate had_been played in_his behalf which startle the whole social world amid which they occur, and seldom fail radically to alter the moral constitution of_those who_are their objects .

it appears that about a hundred years before Mr Ellison's coming of age, there had died, in a remote province, one Mr Seabright Ellison . this gentleman had amassed a princely fortune, and, having no immediate connections, conceived the whim of suffering his wealth to accumulate for a century after his decease .Minutely and sagaciously directing the various modes of investment, he bequeathed the aggregate amount to_the nearest of blood, bearing the name of Ellison, who_should_be alive at_the end of_the hundred years . many attempts had_been made to set aside this singular bequest; their ex post facto character rendered them abortive; but the attention of a jealous government was aroused, and a legislative act finally obtained, forbidding all similar accumulations . this act, however, did_not prevent young Ellison from entering into possession, on_his twenty- first birthday, as_the heir of_his ancestor Seabright, of a fortune of four hundred and fifty millions of dollars .{*1}

when it had become known that such was_the enormous wealth inherited, there were, of_course, many speculations as_to_the mode of_its disposal . the magnitude and_the immediate availability of_the sum bewildered all who thought on_the topic . the possessor of any appreciable amount of money might_have_been imagined to perform any_one of a thousand things . with riches merely surpassing those of any citizen, it would_have_been easy to suppose him engaging to supreme excess in_the fashionable extravagances of_his time -- or busying himself with political intrigue -- or aiming at ministerial power -- or purchasing increase of nobility -- or collecting large museums of virtu -- or playing the munificent patron of letters, of science, of art -- or endowing, and bestowing his name upon extensive institutions of charity . but for_the inconceivable wealth in_the actual possession of_the heir, these objects and all ordinary objects were felt to afford too limited a field . recourse was had to figures, and these but sufficed to confound . it_was seen that, even at three per cent ., the annual income of_the inheritance amounted to no less_than thirteen millions and five hundred thousand dollars; which_was one million and one hundred and twenty-five thousand per month; or thirty-six thousand nine hundred and eighty-six per day; or one thousand five hundred and forty- one per hour; or six and twenty dollars for every_minute that flew . thus the usual track of supposition was thoroughly broken up . men knew not what to imagine . there were some who even conceived that Mr Ellison would divest himself of at_least one- half of_his fortune, as of utterly superfluous opulence -- enriching whole troops of_his relatives by division of_his superabundance . to_the nearest of_these he_did, in_fact, abandon the very unusual wealth which_was his own before_the inheritance .

i_was not surprised, however, to perceive that he had long made up his mind on a point which had occasioned so_much discussion to_his friends . nor was I greatly astonished at_the nature of_his decision . in regard to individual charities he had satisfied his conscience . in_the possibility of any improvement, properly so called, being effected by man himself in_the general condition of man, he had ( I_am sorry to confess it) little faith . upon_the whole, whether happily or unhappily, he_was thrown back, in very great measure, upon self .

in_the widest and noblest sense he_was a poet . he comprehended, moreover, the true character, the August aims, the supreme majesty and dignity of_the poetic sentiment . the fullest, if_not the sole proper satisfaction of_this sentiment he instinctively felt to lie in_the creation of novel forms of beauty . some peculiarities, either in_his early education, or in_the nature of_his intellect, had tinged with what_is termed materialism all his ethical speculations; and it was_this bias, perhaps, which led him to_believe that_the most advantageous at_least, if_not the sole legitimate field for_the poetic exercise, lies in_the creation of novel moods of purely physical loveliness . thus it happened he became neither musician nor poet -- if_we use this latter term in its every- day acceptation . or it might_have_been that he neglected to_become either, merely in pursuance of_his idea that in contempt of ambition is_to_be found one_of_the essential principles of happiness on earth . is_it not indeed, possible that, while a high order of genius is necessarily ambitious, the highest is above that which_is termed ambition ? and may it not thus happen that many far greater than Milton have contentedly remained " mute and inglorious ? " I believe that_the world has never seen -- and_that, unless through some series of accidents goading the noblest order of mind into distasteful exertion, the world will never see -- that full extent of triumphant execution, in_the richer domains of art, of_which the human nature is absolutely capable .

Ellison became neither musician nor poet; although no man lived more profoundly enamored of music and poetry . under other circumstances than those which invested him, it_is_not impossible that he_would_have become a painter . sculpture, although in its nature rigorously poetical was too limited in its extent and consequences, to_have occupied, at any_time, much of_his attention . and I_have now mentioned all the provinces in_which_the common understanding of_the poetic sentiment has declared it capable of expatiating . but Ellison maintained that_the richest, the truest, and most natural, if_not altogether the most extensive province, had_been unaccountably neglected . no definition had spoken of_the landscape- gardener as of_the poet; yet it seemed to my friend that_the creation of_the landscape- garden offered to_the proper muse the most magnificent of opportunities . here, indeed, was_the fairest field for_the display of imagination in_the endless combining of forms of novel beauty; the elements to enter into combination being, by a vast superiority, the most glorious which the earth could afford . in_the multiform and multicolor of_the flowers and_the trees, he recognised the most direct and energetic efforts of nature at physical loveliness . and in_the direction or concentration of_this effort -- or, more properly, in its adaptation to_the eyes which were to behold it on earth -- he perceived that he_should_be employing the best means -- laboring to_the greatest advantage -- in_the fulfilment, not_only of_his own destiny as poet, but of_the August purposes for_which the deity had implanted the poetic sentiment in man .

" its adaptation to_the eyes which were to behold it on earth ." in_his explanation of_this phraseology, Mr Ellison did much toward solving what has always seemed to_me an enigma: -- I mean the fact ( which none but the ignorant dispute) that no such combination of scenery exists in nature as_the painter of genius may produce . no such paradises are to_be found in reality as have glowed on_the canvas of Claude . in_the most enchanting of natural landscapes, there_will always be found adefect or an excess -- many excesses and defects . while the component parts may defy, individually, the highest skill of_the artist, the arrangement of_these parts will always be susceptible of improvement . in short, no position can_be attained on_the wide surface of_the natural earth, from_which an artistical eye, looking steadily, will not find matter of offence in what_is termed the " composition" of_the landscape . and yet how unintelligible is_this ! in all other matters we_are justly instructed to regard nature as supreme . with her details we shrink from competition . who shall presume to imitate the colors of_the tulip, or to improve the proportions of_the lily of_the valley ? the criticism which says, of sculpture or portraiture, that here nature is_to_be exalted or idealized rather than imitated, is in error . no pictorial or sculptural combinations of points of human liveliness do more than approach the living and breathing beauty . in landscape alone is_the principle of_the critic true; and, having felt its truth here, it_is but the headlong spirit of generalization which_has led him to pronounce it true throughout all the domains of art .Having, I_say, felt its truth here; for_the feeling is no affectation or chimera . the mathematics afford no more absolute demonstrations than_the sentiments of_his art yields the artist . he not_only believes, but positively knows, that such and such apparently arbitrary arrangements of matter constitute and alone constitute the true beauty . his reasons, however, have_not_yet_been matured into expression . it remains for a more profound analysis than_the world has yet seen, fully to investigate and express them . nevertheless he_is confirmed in_his instinctive opinions by_the voice of all his brethren . let a" composition" be defective; let an emendation be wrought in its mere arrangement of form; let this emendation be submitted to every artist in_the_world; by each will its necessity be admitted . and even far more than this: -- in remedy of_the defective composition, each insulated member of_the fraternity would_have suggested the identical emendation .

I repeat that in landscape arrangements alone is_the physical nature susceptible of exaltation, and_that, therefore, her susceptibility of improvement at this_one point, was a mystery I had_been unable to solve . my own thoughts on_the_subject had rested in_the idea that_the primitive intention of nature would_have so arranged the earth's surface as to_have fulfilled at all points man's sense of perfection in_the beautiful, the sublime, or the picturesque; but that_this primitive intention had_been frustrated by_the known geological disturbances -- disturbances of form and color -- grouping, in_the correction or allaying of_which lies the soul of art . the force of_this idea was much weakened, however, by_the necessity which it involved of considering the disturbances abnormal and unadapted to any purpose . it_was Ellison who suggested that_they were prognostic of death . he thus explained: -- admit the earthly immortality of man to_have_been the first intention . we_have then the primitive arrangement of_the earth's surface adapted to_his blissful estate, as not existent but designed . the disturbances were the preparations for_his subsequently conceived deathful condition .

" now," said my friend, " what we regard as exaltation of_the landscape may_be really such, as respects only the moral or human point of view . each alteration of_the natural scenery may possibly effect a blemish in_the picture, if_we_can suppose this picture viewed at large -- in mass -- from some point distant from_the earth's surface, although not beyond the limits of_its atmosphere . it_is easily understood that what might improve a closely scrutinized detail, may at_the same time injure a general or more distantly observed effect . there_may_be a class of beings, human once, but now invisible to humanity, to_whom, from afar, our disorder may seem order -- our unpicturesqueness picturesque, in a word, the earth-angels, for whose scrutiny more especially than our own, and for whose death -- refined appreciation of_the beautiful, may have_been set in array by god the wide landscape-gardens of_the hemispheres ."

in_the course of discussion, my friend quoted some passages from a writer on landscape-gardening who has_been supposed to_have well treated his theme:

" there_are properly but two styles of landscape-gardening, the natural and_the artificial . one seeks to recall the original beauty of_the country, by adapting its means to_the surrounding scenery, cultivating trees in harmony with_the hills or plain of_the neighboring land; detecting and bringing into practice those nice relations of size, proportion, and color which, hid from_the common observer, are revealed everywhere to_the experienced student of nature . the result of_the natural style of gardening, is seen rather in_the absence of all defects and incongruities -- in_the prevalence of a healthy harmony and order -- than in_the creation of any special wonders or miracles . the artificial style has as_many varieties as there_are different tastes to gratify . it has a certain general relation_to_the various styles of building . there_are the stately avenues and retirements of Versailles; Italian terraces; and a various mixed old English style, which bears some relation_to_the domestic Gothic or English Elizabethan architecture . whatever may_be said against the abuses of_the artificial landscape -- gardening, a mixture of pure art in a garden scene adds to_it a great beauty . this_is partly pleasing to_the eye, by_the show of order and design, and partly moral .a terrace, with an old moss -- covered balustrade, calls up at once to_the eye the fair forms that_have passed there in other days . the slightest exhibition of art is an evidence of care and human interest ."

" from what I_have already observed," said Ellison, " you_will understand that I reject the idea, here expressed, of recalling the original beauty of_the country . the original beauty is never so great as_that which_may_be introduced . of_course, every thing depends on_the selection of a spot with capabilities . what_is said about detecting and bringing into practice nice relations of size, proportion, and color, is one of_those mere vaguenesses of speech which serve to veil inaccuracy of thought . the phrase quoted may mean any thing, or nothing, and guides in no degree . that_the true result of_the natural style of gardening is seen rather in_the absence of all defects and incongruities than in_the creation of any special wonders or miracles, is a proposition better suited to_the grovelling apprehension of_the herd than to_the fervid dreams of_the man of genius . the negative merit suggested appertains to_that hobbling criticism which, in letters, would elevate Addison into apotheosis . in truth, while that virtue which consists in_the mere avoidance of vice appeals directly to_the understanding, and can thus be circumscribed in rule, the loftier virtue, which flames in creation, can_be apprehended in its results alone . rule applies but to_the merits of denial -- to_the excellencies which refrain . beyond these, the critical art can but suggest . we_may_be instructed to build a"Cato," but we_are in vain told how to conceive a Parthenon or an " inferno ." the thing done, however; the wonder accomplished; and_the capacity for

Section [1 | 2]