What is true of human polity seems to me not less so of the distinctively18 political art of Architecture. I have long felt convinced of the necessity, in order to its progress, of some determined19 effort to extricate20 from the confused mass of partial traditions and dogmata with which it has become encumbered21 during imperfect or restricted practice, those large principles of right which are applicable to every stage and style of it. Uniting the technical and imaginative elements as essentially22 as humanity does soul and body, it shows the same infirmly balanced liability to the prevalence of the lower part over the higher, to the interference of the constructive23, with the purity and simplicity24 of the reflective, element. This tendency, like every other form of materialism25, is increasing with the advance of the age; and the only laws which resist it, based upon partial precedents26, and already regarded with disrespect as decrepit27, if not with defiance28 as tyrannical, are evidently inapplicable to the new forms and functions of the art, which the necessities of the day demand. How many these necessities may become, cannot be conjectured29; they rise, strange and impatient, out of every modern shadow of change. How far it may be possible to meet them without a sacrifice of the essential characters of architectural art, cannot be determined by specific calculation or observance. There is no law, no[Pg 11] principle, based on past practice, which may not be overthrown30 in a moment, by the arising of a new condition, or the invention of a new material; and the most rational, if not the only, mode of averting31 the danger of an utter dissolution of all that is systematic32 and consistent in our practice, or of ancient authority in our judgment33, is to cease for a little while, our endeavors to deal with the multiplying host of particular abuses, restraints, or requirements; and endeavor to determine, as the guides of every effort, some constant, general, and irrefragable laws of right—laws, which based upon man's nature, not upon his knowledge, may possess so far the unchangeableness of the one, as that neither the increase nor imperfection of the other may be able to assault or invalidate them.
There are, perhaps, no such laws peculiar34 to any one art. Their range necessarily includes the entire horizon of man's action. But they have modified forms and operations belonging to each of his pursuits, and the extent of their authority cannot surely be considered as a diminution35 of its weight. Those peculiar aspects of them which belong to the first of the arts, I have endeavored to trace in the following pages; and since, if truly stated, they must necessarily be, not only safeguards against every form of error, but sources of every measure of success, I do not think that I claim too much for them in calling them the Lamps of Architecture, nor that it is indolence, in endeavoring to ascertain36 the true nature and nobility of their fire, to refuse to enter into any curious or special questioning of the innumerable hindrances37 by which their light has been too often distorted or overpowered.
Had this farther examination been attempted, the work would have become certainly more invidious, and perhaps less useful, as liable to errors which are avoided by the present simplicity of its plan. Simple though it be, its extent is too great to admit of any adequate accomplishment38, unless by a devotion of time which the writer did not feel justified39 in withdrawing from branches of inquiry in which the prosecution40 of works already undertaken has engaged him. Both arrangements and nomenclature are those of convenience rather than of system; the one is arbitrary and the other illogical: nor is[Pg 12] it pretended that all, or even the greater number of, the principles necessary to the well-being41 of the art, are included in the inquiry. Many, however, of considerable importance will be found to develope themselves incidentally from those more specially13 brought forward.
Graver apology is necessary for an apparently42 graver fault. It has been just said, that there is no branch of human work whose constant laws have not close analogy with those which govern every other mode of man's exertion43. But, more than this, exactly as we reduce to greater simplicity and surety any one group of these practical laws, we shall find them passing the mere44 condition of connection or analogy, and becoming the actual expression of some ultimate nerve or fibre of the mighty45 laws which govern the moral world. However mean or inconsiderable the act, there is something in the well doing of it, which has fellowship with the noblest forms of manly46 virtue47; and the truth, decision, and temperance, which we reverently48 regard as honorable conditions of the spiritual being, have a representative or derivative49 influence over the works of the hand, the movements of the frame, and the action of the intellect.
And as thus every action, down even to the drawing of a line or utterance50 of a syllable51, is capable of a peculiar dignity in the manner of it, which we sometimes express by saying it is truly done (as a line or tone is true), so also it is capable of dignity still higher in the motive52 of it. For there is no action so slight, nor so mean, but it may be done to a great purpose, and ennobled therefore; nor is any purpose so great but that slight actions may help it, and may be so done as to help it much, most especially that chief of all purposes, the pleasing of God. Hence George Herbert—
"A servant with this clause
Who sweeps a room, as for thy laws,
Makes that and the action fine."
Therefore, in the pressing or recommending of any act or manner of acting54, we have choice of two separate lines of ar[Pg 13]gument: one based on representation of the expediency55 or inherent value of the work, which is often small, and always disputable; the other based on proofs of its relations to the higher orders of human virtue, and of its acceptableness, so far as it goes, to Him who is the origin of virtue. The former is commonly the more persuasive56 method, the latter assuredly the more conclusive57; only it is liable to give offence, as if there were irreverence58 in adducing considerations so weighty in treating subjects of small temporal importance. I believe, however, that no error is more thoughtless than this. We treat God with irreverence by banishing59 Him from our thoughts, not by referring to His will on slight occasions. His is not the finite authority or intelligence which cannot be troubled with small things. There is nothing so small but that we may honor God by asking His guidance of it, or insult Him by taking it into our own hands; and what is true of the Deity60 is equally true of His Revelation. We use it most reverently when most habitually61: our insolence62 is in ever acting without reference to it, our true honoring of it is in its universal application. I have been blamed for the familiar introduction of its sacred words. I am grieved to have given pain by so doing; but my excuse must be my wish that those words were made the ground of every argument and the test of every action. We have them not often enough on our lips, nor deeply enough in our memories, nor loyally enough in our lives. The snow, the vapor63, and the stormy wind fulfil His word. Are our acts and thoughts lighter64 and wilder than these—that we should forget it?
I have therefore ventured, at the risk of giving to some passages the appearance of irreverence, to take the higher line of argument wherever it appeared clearly traceable: and this, I would ask the reader especially to observe, not merely because I think it the best mode of reaching ultimate truth, still less because I think the subject of more importance than many others; but because every subject should surely, at a period like the present, be taken up in this spirit, or not at all. The aspect of the years that approach us is as solemn as it is full of mystery; and the weight of evil against which we[Pg 14] have to contend, is increasing like the letting out of water. It is no time for the idleness of metaphysics, or the entertainment of the arts. The blasphemies65 of the earth are sounding louder, and its miseries66 heaped heavier every day; and if, in the midst of the exertion which every good man is called upon to put forth67 for their repression68 or relief, it is lawful69 to ask for a thought, for a moment, for a lifting of the finger, in any direction but that of the immediate70 and overwhelming need, it is at least incumbent71 upon us to approach the questions in which we would engage him, in the spirit which has become the habit of his mind, and in the hope that neither his zeal72 nor his usefulness may be checked by the withdrawal73 of an hour which has shown him how even those things which seemed mechanical, indifferent, or contemptible74, depend for their perfection upon the acknowledgment of the sacred principles of faith, truth, and obedience75, for which it has become the occupation of his life to contend.
点击收听单词发音
1 inquiry | |
n.打听,询问,调查,查问 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
2 attained | |
(通常经过努力)实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 ); 达到; 获得; 达到(某年龄、水平、状况) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
3 concise | |
adj.简洁的,简明的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
4 applied | |
adj.应用的;v.应用,适用 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
5 impatience | |
n.不耐烦,急躁 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
6 labor | |
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
7 ridicule | |
v.讥讽,挖苦;n.嘲弄 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
8 temperately | |
adv.节制地,适度地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
9 interfere | |
v.(in)干涉,干预;(with)妨碍,打扰 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
10 dependence | |
n.依靠,依赖;信任,信赖;隶属 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
11 warp | |
vt.弄歪,使翘曲,使不正常,歪曲,使有偏见 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
12 apprehension | |
n.理解,领悟;逮捕,拘捕;忧虑 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
13 specially | |
adv.特定地;特殊地;明确地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
14 inexplicable | |
adj.无法解释的,难理解的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
15 capability | |
n.能力;才能;(pl)可发展的能力或特性等 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
16 supersede | |
v.替代;充任 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
17 conjectural | |
adj.推测的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
18 distinctively | |
adv.特殊地,区别地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
19 determined | |
adj.坚定的;有决心的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
20 extricate | |
v.拯救,救出;解脱 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
21 encumbered | |
v.妨碍,阻碍,拖累( encumber的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
22 essentially | |
adv.本质上,实质上,基本上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
23 constructive | |
adj.建设的,建设性的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
24 simplicity | |
n.简单,简易;朴素;直率,单纯 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
25 materialism | |
n.[哲]唯物主义,唯物论;物质至上 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
26 precedents | |
引用单元; 范例( precedent的名词复数 ); 先前出现的事例; 前例; 先例 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
27 decrepit | |
adj.衰老的,破旧的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
28 defiance | |
n.挑战,挑衅,蔑视,违抗 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
29 conjectured | |
推测,猜测,猜想( conjecture的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
30 overthrown | |
adj. 打翻的,推倒的,倾覆的 动词overthrow的过去分词 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
31 averting | |
防止,避免( avert的现在分词 ); 转移 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
32 systematic | |
adj.有系统的,有计划的,有方法的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
33 judgment | |
n.审判;判断力,识别力,看法,意见 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
34 peculiar | |
adj.古怪的,异常的;特殊的,特有的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
35 diminution | |
n.减少;变小 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
36 ascertain | |
vt.发现,确定,查明,弄清 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
37 hindrances | |
阻碍者( hindrance的名词复数 ); 障碍物; 受到妨碍的状态 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
38 accomplishment | |
n.完成,成就,(pl.)造诣,技能 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
39 justified | |
a.正当的,有理的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
40 prosecution | |
n.起诉,告发,检举,执行,经营 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
41 well-being | |
n.安康,安乐,幸福 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
42 apparently | |
adv.显然地;表面上,似乎 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
43 exertion | |
n.尽力,努力 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
44 mere | |
adj.纯粹的;仅仅,只不过 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
45 mighty | |
adj.强有力的;巨大的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
46 manly | |
adj.有男子气概的;adv.男子般地,果断地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
47 virtue | |
n.德行,美德;贞操;优点;功效,效力 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
48 reverently | |
adv.虔诚地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
49 derivative | |
n.派(衍)生物;adj.非独创性的,模仿他人的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
50 utterance | |
n.用言语表达,话语,言语 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
51 syllable | |
n.音节;vt.分音节 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
52 motive | |
n.动机,目的;adv.发动的,运动的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
53 drudgery | |
n.苦工,重活,单调乏味的工作 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
54 acting | |
n.演戏,行为,假装;adj.代理的,临时的,演出用的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
55 expediency | |
n.适宜;方便;合算;利己 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
56 persuasive | |
adj.有说服力的,能说得使人相信的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
57 conclusive | |
adj.最后的,结论的;确凿的,消除怀疑的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
58 irreverence | |
n.不尊敬 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
59 banishing | |
v.放逐,驱逐( banish的现在分词 ) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
60 deity | |
n.神,神性;被奉若神明的人(或物) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
61 habitually | |
ad.习惯地,通常地 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
62 insolence | |
n.傲慢;无礼;厚颜;傲慢的态度 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
63 vapor | |
n.蒸汽,雾气 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
64 lighter | |
n.打火机,点火器;驳船;v.用驳船运送;light的比较级 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
65 blasphemies | |
n.对上帝的亵渎,亵渎的言词[行为]( blasphemy的名词复数 );侮慢的言词(或行为) | |
参考例句: |
|
|
66 miseries | |
n.痛苦( misery的名词复数 );痛苦的事;穷困;常发牢骚的人 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
67 forth | |
adv.向前;向外,往外 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
68 repression | |
n.镇压,抑制,抑压 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
69 lawful | |
adj.法律许可的,守法的,合法的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
70 immediate | |
adj.立即的;直接的,最接近的;紧靠的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
71 incumbent | |
adj.成为责任的,有义务的;现任的,在职的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
72 zeal | |
n.热心,热情,热忱 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
73 withdrawal | |
n.取回,提款;撤退,撤军;收回,撤销 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
74 contemptible | |
adj.可鄙的,可轻视的,卑劣的 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
75 obedience | |
n.服从,顺从 | |
参考例句: |
|
|
欢迎访问英文小说网 |