第6部分(第6/7 頁)

　power　of　language。

Its　more　exquisite　beauties　could　not　be

discovered　by　the　sight；　but　only　by　the　touch　of

the　hand　passed　over　it。〃　Of　another　classic

marble　at　Padua　he　says；　〃This　statue；　when　the

Christian　faith　triumphed；　was　hidden　in　that

place　by　some　gentle　soul；　who；　seeing　it　so

perfect；　fashioned　with　art　so　wonderful；　and　with

such　power　of　genius；　and　being　moved　to　reverent

pity；　caused　a　sepulchre　of　bricks　to　be　built；

and　there　within　buried　the　statue；　and　covered　it

with　a　broad　slab　of　stone；　that　it　might　not　in

any　way　be　injured。　It　has　very　many　sweet

beauties　which　the　eyes　alone　can　prehend　not；

either　by　strong　or　tempered　light；　only　the　hand

by　touching　them　finds　them　out。〃

Hold　out　your　hands　to　feel　the　luxury　of　the　sunbeams。　Press　the　soft

blossoms　against　your　cheek；　and　finger　their　graces　of　form；　their

delicate　mutability　of　shape；　their　pliancy　and　freshness。　Expose　your

face　to　the　aerial　floods　that　sweep　the　heavens；　〃inhale　great　draughts

of　space；〃　wonder；　wonder　at　the　wind's　unwearied　activity。　Pile　note

on　note　the　infinite　music　that　flows　increasingly　to　your　soul　from　the

tactual　sonorities　of　a　thousand　branches　and　tumbling　waters。　How　can

the　world　be　shrivelled　when　this　most　profound；　emotional　sense；　touch；

is　faithful　to　its　service？　I　am　sure　that　if　a　fairy　bade　me　choose

between　the　sense　of　light　and　that　of　touch；　I　would　not　part　with　the

warm；　endearing　contact　of　human　hands　or　the　wealth　of　form；　the

nobility　and　fullness　that　press　into　my　palms。

FOOTNOTE：

＇C＇　I　found　that　of　the　senses；　the　eye　is　t