The sun., 1891-06-21

from HazlItt some Of the most absurd and out.
rscsous sayings that any writer. mot mere fool
could be charged with. Sentence after sentence
might be quoted representing no mere duipf
and cranks OF humor, or temporary and one
sided judgments. but containing blunders and
oalumnios 80 gross and palpable that their
author seems to have forfeited all claim to the
reputation OF an intelligent or responsible
being. 1t is equally certain that side by side
with these are other passages. and these far
| moro numerous, which moro than justify
Hazlitt's claim to be. as Thackeray said. " one
OF tho keenest and brightest critics that ever
lived" or az Lamb had said earlier. " one OF the
wisest and finest spirits breathing" Mr..
saintsbury IA unquestionably right in attribute
ing Hazlitt's inequality less to an Intellectual
than to moral defect The clear sunshine OF
Hazlitt's acute intellect 10 always there, but 1t
| is continually obscured by driving clouds OF
furious prejudice. As De ouincey put 1t.
Hazlltt's guiding principle was whatever
Is. is wrong" He was the very ideal
Of o literary Ishmae quite as ready to
quarrel with his friends as to chastise his
foes. Nor were his relations with women moro
fortunate than those with men. Mr.. Saints
bury indeed denies that the fault was entirely
on his side In the rupture with his first wife.
for her own friends admitted that she was OF n
rather trying disposition. 1t Is indeed evident
tDut bH6 WAS tu0 bOTL VI poEbOu NIuObt tohbluH
OF all others to q man OF Hazlitts tempera-
ment) who would put her head back az he was
kissing her to ask II he would like another cup
OF tea. or interrupt q declaration 10 suggest
shutting tho window. As for the famous and
almost legendary episode OF Sarah Walker.
tho lodging house keepers daughter, and the
Liber An,oris tthe remarkable composition
which gave the nuthor so much trouble). Mr..
Saintsbury Is charitable enough to think that
an obviously implied attack OF something like
erotlc madness nbsolves Hazlitt partly. but
only partly for there was kind Of shabbness
about that affair which shuts 1t out from all
reasonable claim to be regarded as q rew act
OF tho endless drama OF "All for Love. or tho
World Well Lost" 1t is certain. however. that
Hazlitt. though he had some stains on his
character. wns for too potent spirit for the
fire within him not to burn out mere vulgatity
Sensuous he may have been. but vulgar nevor.
Tho essay on Wilson Is well worth reading.
not only for the vivid portrayal OF highly
vitalzod and interesting personality. but be- |
cause 1t contains the only adequate analysis OF |
that extraordinary book the "Noctes Ambro. |
sianR." Mr.. Saintsbury has also done contem-
porary readers q service In calling their atten- |
tion to Wilson's series OF essays-they hll n |
volume on Homer. Critic. in the sense OF |
judge. Wilson certainly was not. but in these |
papers he is tho most convinced intense. and |
contagious OF iDpressionists. The whole |
volume contains little more than an eloquent /
and irresistible expression Of likes and dis |
likes. The long passages In which he deals
with the wrath OF Achilles at the loss Of the |
white -armod Briseis are admitted by Mr..
Saintsbury. who does not err on the side OF
gush. to be really beautiful specimens OF liter
ary enthusiasm. 1t Is un1uestionably true
that nothing in English 10 more calculated 20
initiate tho reader In the love. II not In tho
understanding, OF Homer. We have dwelt at
some length on those essays OF Wilson on
Homer because they are. now -a-days entirely
forgotten. and yet it would be impossible to
suggest q more delightful companion for
summer vacation.
Wilson. like HaZltt. liked and hated much
and strongly: but. unlike Hazlitt. being a
healthy creature. he on the whole. liked the
right things and hated the wrong ones. Yet 1t
was for the most part a merely instructive. not
a reasoned. liking and hatred. For instance.
Wilson's love for the Homeric heroes was the
outcome Of instinct He was survivor OF the
Homeric world. To the end Of his life he never
lost the athletic vigor for which In youth ho
was preeminent. He made nothing OF walking
from Oxford to London t53 miles, in a night:
and his feat OF walking from Liverpool to
Elleray 100 miles at least is undoubtedly
authentic. No wonder that he felt keen SYM
psthy for swift footed Achilles.
We may add that. although Wilson was no
studious phrase coiner. he had at times
golden mouth. His is tho noble npherism:
- Tho animosites are mortal. but the humani-
lies live forever" NJ. W. II.