Part 21 (1/2)

[208] _Genesis_ xxviii, 17

[209] _Matthew_ xxiv, 27

[210] _Matthew_ vi, 6

[211] And all other arts, for the most part; even of incredulous and secularly-minded commonalties [Ruskin]

[212] 1 _Corinthians_ i, 23

[213] For further interpretation of Greek y see Ruskin's _Queen of the Air_

[214] It is an error to suppose that the Greek worshi+p, or seeking, was chiefly of Beauty It was essentially of Rightness and Strength, founded on Forethought: the principal character of Greek art is not beauty, but design: and the Dorian Apollo-worshi+p and Athenian Virgin-worshi+p are both expressions of adoration of divine wisdoreat deities, rank, in power over the national th and life; then, for heroic exa the Greeks in the great times: and the Muses are essentially teachers of Truth, and of its harences aroused Luther to the protest which ended in the Reformation

[216] _Matthew_ xxi, 12

[217] _Jereate) ”As the partridge, fostering what she brought not forth, so he that getteth riches not by right shall leave them in the midst of his days, and at his end shall be a fool” [Ruskin]

[218] Meaning, fully, ”We have brought our pigs to it” [Ruskin]

[219] Cf _Ha to a lecture on _Modern Manufacture and Design_, delivered at Bradford, March 1, 1859 published later as Lecture III in _The Two Paths_

[221] See Wordsworth's _Rob Roy's Grave_, 39-40

[222] 1 Kings x, 27

[223] A beautiful ruin in Yorkshi+re

[224] Cf Tennyson's _The Brook_

[225] _Genesis_ vi, 2

[226] _Deuteronomy_ xxxii, 5

[227] _Daniel_ iii, 1

[228] _Proverbs_ iii, 17

[229] _Acts_ vii, 48

LIFE AND ITS ARTS

This lecture, the full title of which is ”The Mystery of Life and its Arts,” was delivered in Dublin on May 13, 1868 It composed one of a series of afternoon lectures on various subjects, religion excepted, arranged by some of the foremost residents in Dublin The latter half of the lecture is included in the present volume of selections The first publication of the lecture was as an additional part to a revised edition of _Sesame and Lilies_ in 1871 Ruskin took exceptional care in writing ”The Mystery of Life”: he once said in conversation, ”I put into it all that I know,” and in the preface to it when published he tells us that certain passages of it ”contain the best expression I have yet been able to put in words of what, so far as is within my power, I mean henceforward both to do myself, and to plead with all over who to their means” Sir Leslie Stephen says this ”is, to my mind, the most perfect of his essays” In later editions of _Sesame and Lilies_ this lecture ithdrawn At the time the lecture was delivered its tone was characteristic of Ruskin's own thought and of the attitude he then took toward the public

We have sat at the feet of the poets who sang of heaven, and they have told us their drea of earth, and they have chanted to us dirges and words of despair But there is one class of men more:--men, not capable of vision, nor sensitive to sorrow, but firm of purpose--practised in business; learned in all that can be, (by handling,) known Men, whose hearts and hopes are wholly in this present world, from whom, therefore, we may surely learn, at least, how, at present, conveniently to live in it What will _they_ say to us, or show us by exas--these councillors--these statesdoh the earth, and the dust of it, in a balance[230] They know the world, surely; and what is the mystery of life to us, is none to them They can surely show us how to live, while we live, and to gather out of the present world what is best