theactalcharmofhisgraceful,thoughtohimonlyhalf-seriousfopperies.

    For,whilehewasbuttooreadytoacceptthepositionthatwasalmostimmediatelyofferedtohimonhisingofage,andfound,indeed,asubtlepleasureihoughtthathemightreallybeetotheLondonofhisowndaywhattoimperialNeroniaheauthoroftheSatyricehadbeeinhisinmosthearthedesiredtobesomethingmorethanamerearbiterelegantiarum,tobesultedonthewearingofajewel,ortheknottingofaie,ortheductofae.Hesoughttoelaboratesomenewschemeoflifethatwouldhaveitsreasonedphilosophyanditsorderedprinciples,andfindinthespiritualizingoftheseshighestrealization.

    Theworshipofthesenseshasoften,andwithmuchjustice,beendecried,menfeelinganaturalinstinctofterroraboutpassionsaionsthatseemstrohanthemselves,andthattheyaresciousofsharingwiththelesshighlyanizedformsofexisteitappearedtraythatthetruenatureofthesenseshadneverbeeood,andthattheyhadremainedsavageandanimalmerelybecausetheworldhadsoughttostarvethemintosubmissionortokillthembypain,insteadofaimingatmakingthemelementsofanewspirituality,ofwhichafiinctforbeautywastobethedominantcharacteristic.Ashelookedbaanmovingthroughhistory,hewashauntedbyafeelingofloss.Somuchhadbeensurrendered!andtosuchlittlepurpose!Therehadbeenmadwilfulrejeonstrousformsofself-tortureandself-denial,whinwasfearandwhoseresultwasadegradationinfinitelymoreterriblethanthatfancieddegradationfromwhitheirignoraheyhadsoughttoescape;Nature,inherwonderfulirony,drivingouttheanchoritetofeedwiththewildanimalsofthedesertandgivingtothehermitthebeastsofthefieldas