Pageiii

CollectedProse
CharlesOlson
EditedbyDonaldAllenand
BenjaminFriedlander
WithanIntroductionbyRobertCreeley

Pageiv
Equal,ThatIs,totheRealItself,HumanUniverse,ProjectiveVerse,LettertoElaineFeinstein,QuantityinVerseandShakespeare'sLastPlays,andThe
ResistancearereprintedbypermissionofNewDirectionsPublishingCorporationfromCharlesOlson,SelectedWritingsofCharlesOlson.1966byCharles
Olson.GrandPa,GoodBye,Mr.Meyer,ThePostOffice,StockingCap,andCyTwomblyarereprintedbypermissionoftheUniversityofConnecticut.
TheUniversityofConnecticut.AllotherworksaretheEstateofCharlesOlson.
UniversityofCaliforniaPress
BerkeleyandLosAngeles,California
UniversityofCaliforniaPress,Ltd.
London,England
1997byTheRegentsoftheUniversityofCalifornia
LibraryofCongressCataloginginPublicationData
Olson,Charles,19101970.
[Proseworks.Selections]
Collectedprose/CharlesOlsoneditedbyDonaldAllenandBenjaminFriedlander,withanintroduc
tionbyRobertCreeley.
p.cm.
Includesbibliographicalreferencesandindex.
ISBN0520203194(alk.paper).ISBN0520208730(pbk.:alk.paper)
I.Allen,DonaldMerriam,1912.II.Friedlander,Benjamin,1959.III.Title.
PS3529.L655A61997975390
814'.54dc21CIP
PrintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
987654321
ThepaperusedinthispublicationmeetstheminimumrequirementsofAmericanNationalStandardsforInformationSciencesPermanenceofPaperforPrinted
LibraryMaterials,ANSIZ39.481984.

Pagev
CONTENTS
Editors'Preface ix
byRobertCreeley
Introduction xi
CallMeIshmael 1
OnMelville,Dostoevsky,Lawrence,andPound 107
DavidYoung,DavidOld 109
TheMaterialsandWeightsofHermanMelville 113
Equal,ThatIs,totheRealItself 120
DostoevskyandThePossessed 126
D.H.LawrenceandtheHighTemptationoftheMind 135
TheEscapedCock 138
ThisisYeatsSpeaking 141
GrandPa,GoodBye 145
HumanUniverse 153
HumanUniverse 155
FootnotetoHU(LostintheShuffle) 167
TheGateandtheCenter 168
TheResistance 174
CyTwombly 175
Proprioception 179
Place&Names 200
youcan'tusewords 202

Pagevi
ThePresentIsPrologue 203
ThePresentIsPrologue 205
StockingCap 208
Mr.Meyer 213
ThePostOffice 217
PoetryandPoets 237
ProjectiveVerse 239
LettertoElaineFeinstein 250
OnPoetsandPoetry 253
NotesonLanguageandTheater 256
AgainstWisdomasSuch 260
Theocritus 265
AFootIstoKickWith 269
QuantityinVerse,andShakespeare'sLatePlays 270
IntroductiontoRobertCreeley 283
RobertCreeley'sForLove:Poems19501960 285
Paterson,BookV 288
EdSanders'Language 291
SpaceandTime 293
IntroductiontoTheSutterMarshallLease 295
ABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn 297
BillytheKid 311
BrooksAdams'TheNewEmpire 315
CaptainJohnSmith 318
FiveFootFour,butSmithWasaGiant 322
TheContoursofAmericanHistory 324
TheVinlandMapReview 326
OtherEssays,Notes,andReviews 337
ErnstRobertCurtius 339
ItWas.ButItAin't. 342
HomerandBible 345
BillSnow 349
AHouseBuiltbyCapt.JohnSomes1763 351

Pagevii
TheAdvantageofLiteracyisthatWordscanbeonthePage 353
ReviewofEricA.Havelock'sPrefacetoPlato 355
AFurtherNoteontheCriticalAdvantagesofEricHavelock'sPrefaceto
Plato
359
StatementfortheCambridgemagazine 360
Acomprehension(ameasure,that 361
ClearShiningWater,DeVriessays 364
What'sBackThere 367
TheAnimateversustheMechanical,andThought 368
ContinuingAttempttoPulltheTaffyofftheRoofoftheMouth 373
Abbreviations 375
ANoteonOlson'sSources 377
Editors'Notes 379
Index 465

Pageix
EDITORS'PREFACE
Thecollectionyouholdinyourhandscontainsthecontentsoffourearlierbooks,CallMeIshmael(1947),HumanUniverseandOtherEssays(1965),AdditionalProse
(1974),andThePostOffice(1975).Supplementingtheseareninefurtherstudies:DostoevskyandThePossessed(1940),GrandPa,GoodBye(1948),
IntroductiontoTheSutterMarshallLease(1948),D.H.LawrenceandtheHighTemptationoftheMind(1950),FootnotetoHU(lostintheshuffle)(1952),
CyTwombly(1952),Paterson,BookV(1959),Place&Names(1962),andyoucan'tusewords(1965).FromOlson'svoluminousarchiveof
unpublishedwritingsenoughtofillseveralvolumesequalinlengthtothisoneonlyahandfulofpieceswaschosen,andonlypiecesOlsonhimselfpreparedfor
publication.TheseareMr.MeyerandThePostOffice(fromThePostOffice),GrandPa,GoodBye,D.H.LawrenceandtheHighTemptationoftheMind,
andCyTwombly.FromHumanUniverseonepiecewasdropped,ApolloniusofTyana,alongperformancetextmoreprofitablyreadbesideOlson'sotherworks
forstage.Asmatteringofuncollectedpublicationsfrombefore1945wasalsoexcluded.
ExceptforaddingOlson'sdedicationtoLeRoiJonesinProprioception,wehavefollowedthetextsestablishedbyOlsonhimselfandbythevariouseditors(especially
GeorgeButterick)whosubsequentlyoversawprinting.(Ahandfulofinadvertenterrorswasalsocorrected,silently.)
Thenotesidentifyquotationsandoffercluestothemesandprocedures.WhereOlsonpoints,weshinealightwherelightnolongerpenetrates,welettheopacityof
thegesturestand.OurgoalthroughouthasbeentoleadthereadermoredeeplyintoOlson'swritings,intoaworkthatAmiriBarakacallstheproprioceptive
probeapracticeoflanguageandactinwhichmeaningisprizedasthecontinuityofHumanmateriallife,asactualhistory,actualmatterinmotion.Tothisend,the
essaysarearrangedinsectionsthatemphasize

Pagex
themovementofOlson'swritingsacrossarangeofpossibilities,human,material,historical.
AfewofthenotesareadaptedfromearlierannotationsbyGeorgeButterick.TheseareidentifiedparentheticallywithGB,followedbyareferencetothetextand
pagenumberwheretheannotationoriginallyappeared.
Ourthanksareowedtomanypeople,especiallyAmiriBaraka,MichaelBasinski,CharlesBernstein,CarlaBillitteri,DonByrd,CassClarke,MarcusCoelen,Horace
Coleman,RobertCreeley,AlanGilbert,LossGlazier,AlbertGlover,RobertGlck,OliverHeyer,AndrewHoyem,YunteHuang,GerritLansing,NickLawrence,Jill
Robbins,StephenRodefer,andFredWah.ThanksarealsoowedtheThomasJ.DoddResearchCenter,UniversityofConnecticutLibraries,StorrstheMandeville
DepartmentofSpecialCollections,UniversityofCalifornia,SanDiegotheGeorgeArentsResearchLibraryforSpecialCollections,SyracuseUniversityandthe
Poetry/RareBookCollection,UniversityLibraries,StateUniversityofNewYorkatBuffalo.Inparticular,weacknowledgetheassistanceofRichardC.Fyffe
(Storrs),BradleyD.Westbrook(SanDiego),KathleenManwaring(Syracuse),andRobertJ.Bertholf(Buffalo).

Pagexi
INTRODUCTION
ByRobertCreeley
IhavenoapologytomakeforthefriendshipwithCharlesOlsonthat,veritably,changedmylife.IwastwentyfourasIremember,lookingformaterialwherewithto
producewithcollegefriendJacobLeedyetanotherlittlemagazineoftheperiodtobecalledtheLititzReview.Wenevermanagedtoprintit,butmanyofthe
associationsandworksthussolicitedwentintoCidCorman'sOrigin,thegreatcollectivefinallyforusall.ItwasCid'sfriendVincentFerriniwhoputmeintouchwith
CharlesOlson.Itwasn'tuntilsomeotherfriendaskedifhewerethesameOlsonwhohadwrittenthebookonMelville,CallMeIshmael,thatIhadanyideahewas
notasIwasanotherfledglingwriter,forthemostpartunpublishedandunknown.WhenIfoundthebookandreadit,Iwasastoundedandtosomedegree
depressed.HowcouldIpossiblyfindcompanywithsomeonesosingularly,generouslybrilliant,soevidentlyaccomplished?Icouldn'tbesimplyhissidekickorstraight
man.Norhisdiscipleever.Wehadtobeequals,whichisreallywhatOlsonheresaystoallwhoreadhimandwhatweshareasasenseofpersonfromaplace,
NewEngland.LikethePequod'screw,wearefactofademocracywhichdoesnotthinkitselfassuchbutsofunctions.Webelieveinknowing,gnosis,wetakeour
variousworldsasaprimary.Wereadtheliteralbooksofourlives.
Givensuchalifeashiswas,what'sherecollected,asBenjaminFriedlanderwritesonapostcardwhileworkingonOlson'spapersatthelibrarywheretheyarekept,
isonlythetipoftheiceberg.
TwodaysrootingthroughCO'scarbonpapersmakesmefeelatonceghoulish(asifitwerethetissueofhisskinIwerepeelingbacktoseeinGod'sflesh,theeternal,ashe
inonespotaccusesallofusincludinghimselfofwantingtochew)atthesametimemoreexcitedthanever,asiftheunreadOlsonwerethenecessarysubmergedberg
makingpossibletheicefloe,Iadiverfeelingalongthemurkydepthsthecrevicethattorethehullofmanyaseaworthyship.

Pagexii
Hecontinues,WellstupidRomanceofthereader(me)Andyetitisherethatanyofushastobegin,atthisinsistentedgeofoutsideandinside,thisplacewhich
Olson'smostinitiatingsource,HermanMelville,putsinawayuncannilylikeFriedlander's:
HardBerg(methought),socold,sovast,
Withmortaldampsselfovercast
Exhalingstillthydankishbreath
Adriftdissolving,boundfordeath
Thoughlumpishthou,alumberingone
Alumberinglubbardloiteringslow,
Impingersruetheeandgodown,
Soundingthyprecipicebelow,
Norstirtheslimeyslugthatsprawls
Alongthydeadindifferenceofwalls.
TheBerg,JohnMarrandOtherSailors,1888
SuchadepthispresentinallthatOlsonwrites.HisstudyofHermanMelville'sworkbecomesitscomplementinthebrilliantcastsofpremiseandparticulars,its
rhetoricalconfidence,and,uniquely,itsexceptionalabilitytocompactandidentifythefactofourcommonhumanityin,asOlsoncalledhisownera,alatetime.
Againandagainhecomesbacktothegeographyofit,thathumanlandscape,whichmustbegivenoutofthisloweyeview,size.Heismanifestofaninside
thatofnecessitybearsitself,discoversitsownmeasure,mapsaworldnotdiscoveraunlessinitialinfact.
MappinginallitssensesandapplicationsisaprimaryactbothforOlsonandforthosetowhomhepaysattention.Onerecognizesquicklythatitisnotsimplya
romanticenterpriseheisdrawnto,buttheneedtoknowbymeansofdeterminedprocess,tohavebeenthere,asHerodotusgotthereliterally,tomakearecordof
thefactofhavingwitnessedone'sself,orheard,orfelt,orseen,somethinguniquelyspecifictothefactonehopedtomakeparticular.Ithinktheliterarydispositionis
heremostdistortingofOlson'swaysofproceeding,inthatithasthehabitofcategoriesinnosenseusefultohim,readsstoryasfiction,orthinksoffactsasgenerally
distributable.Anyonesopersuadedisapart,inmind,putit,fromthatwhichheorshehaspresumedtouseascenter.
So,forexample,OlsonfoughtfiercelyagainstthewideningofastreetinhishometownofGloucester,Massachusetts.Heknewthathabitsandhaunts

Pagexiii
werenevermerelyconveniences,somethingtobegotbypurchaseorintent.Suchincrementalworldwasallthatcouldanddidremainofsomuchofhistory,a
submergedledgeofprevioususesofferingtheonlywaybackorforward.Ifonemovedtheroad,thenonechangedunwittinglytheconsequenceofthosewhohad
traveledit.Theirmappingwasoverwritten,theirparticularmeansdestroyed.Simplythereisnowayinwhichsuchchangecanbeaccommodatedandnoterasethe
previouscondition,whetheritbealeisureoccupyingshorespreviouslycommittedtofishingorjustacommon,unintentionaldismissalasinTHEGULFOF
MAINE,whichOlsonendswiththiswrycomment:
theirknees
weresmashed
onsmallrocks
astheirpoorpinnacelikewisepoorlylay
chawnmostlybutsomepartsofherbruisedsides
nowrestingonthesandswhereweshall
digthemupandsetthemuprightasposts
atjustthesignalplacefortourists
tocomebyandnotgiveoneidea
whysuchoddculls
standalongafishing
shore
thoughnotusedmuchatthepresenttime
andmostlywelldressedpersons
frequentit
THEGULFOFMAINE,TheMaximusPoems,1983
Olson'semphaticdislikeofthatwhichcansoemptytheeffectiveauthorityofitssourceisveryevidentthroughouthiswork,whetheritbethecontempthefeelsfor
thoselearnedmonsterswhompeopleareledtothinkknowinthesecondpartofHumanUniverseorelsethemorespecificqualifyinghedoesinhiscomments
onCyrusGordonandthescholarinHomerandBible.HisattackisaconstantthroughouttheearlyMaximusPoemsandinothersasLetterforMelville1951,
whereinalltheaccumulatedangerpromptedbysuchmisappropriationfindsavoice.Inevitablyhefeelsalsoabitternessatseeinghisownworkeitherplagiarizedor
elsemadetrivial.Such

Pagexiv
perverseprofessionalismisaconditionheattacksallhislife,andineverypossiblecontext.Onemayrememberthathechoosestoleavehisemploymentwiththe
DemocraticPartyafterRoosevelt'sdeath,becausethemerchandisemenhewillhavetoacceptasdefiningcompanyfrustrateentirelyanyprospectoftheart,andthe
visionofitspossibilities,hetakesashisown.So,asTomClark'sCharlesOlson:TheAllegoryofaPoet'sLifenotes,Overthenextthreedayshebeganworkin
earnest,producingseveralthousandwordsuponwhichhewouldeventuallybuildPartOneofCallMeIshmael.
Thattextappropriatelybeginsthiscollection.Immediatelytheapparentgivensofourhabitualworldshiftofnecessity.Putwarawaywithtime,comeintospace,he
writesinapoemMay1946(LaPreface).Thereisnoplacemadesecurebyajustifyinghistory,noranyrefugefromwhichtolookout,objectively,upontheworld's
event.Thatcurious,collapsingsidedness,thatproposalonecouldbedividedfromwhat,infact,aphysicallifemadewhole,failsaltogetherinOlson'sthinking.Most
clearlyputinanintroductiontoAdditionalProsebyhisfellowpoetandfriendRobertDuncan(thoughnotpublishedwithOlson'stext),Wehavenowhereelsetobe
thanhere,inthisfirsthistory,inwhichvastextensionsofmeaning,trance,andfantasy,alchemistriesoflanguage,takeover.
He[Olson]goesback,backhome,tocomeintothedepthsoftheImmediate,goingoverthedocumentsandoldmaps,thetextsofthesciencesandthehistoricaldiggings,as
dataofwhatourspeciesis,readinthelightanddarkofaDivineIntention.Hewantstoestablishus,toreestablishusintheIdeal,toredeemallidealismfromthecommitments
thatclaimpriorauthoritythere.OtherwisethepresentwilllosewhatAmericaistheinheritorof:asecularizationwhichnotonlylosesnothingofthedivinebutbyseeingprocess
inrealityredeemsallidealismfromtheocracyormobocracy,whetheritisrationalorsuperstitious,whetheritisdemocraticorsocialism.
AsanIntroduction:CharlesOlson'sAdditionalProse
MuchoftheliteraryquestioningofOlson'sworkisbaseduponthepresumptionthatliteratureisattendanttowhatoneotherwisethinksofasactual.Itisthefamiliar
senseofholdingamirroruptolife,makingofliteratureareflectiveactwhichhasasitsmostdecisiveeffectaseeminglyaccuratedescriptionorjudgmentofthat
whichitsoaddresses.TotellwhatsubsequentlyIsawandwhatheard,inWilliamCarlosWilllams'sphrase,wouldbeitsmostsignifi

Pagexv
cantdisposition,theactoftestament,ofbearingwitnesstoanotherwiseunacknowledgedworld.
Butthatveryword(world)initsownhistorymakesemphaticthataworldisneverotherthanahumanlife,thatitis,quiteliterally,thevireld,thatlengthoftimewe
aregiventoliveandwhatweknowbymeansofit.Hencephilosophy,aesthetics,thesciences,alltheaccumulatingjudgmentsandcategorizings,together,constitute
whatwe'vemadehumanlyoftheexperienceofliving.Nothingmore,nothingless.Butitallstayscuriouslyseparateinmindfromthatwhichitsoengages,thatworld
whichisragingandyetapart,asD.H.Lawrencesaid.ThisassumptionofanobjectivityiswhatOlsonqualifiesastheuniverseofdiscourse,thesensethatthereisa
worldandthenthereisthediscussionofthatworldandthat,curiously,thesetwoconstitutedistinctlyspecificauthorities,howevercomplementary.
ButasRobertDuncanalsowritesinhisexceptionallyusefulrelationofOlson'swork,Ourgenerationhashadthedutytocarryinourworkthecontentofanexcluded
knowledge,toworkatabridgeworkbetweentherepressedcontentandtheConsciousnessthatisSelf.
CharlesOlsonmustworkatgroundworkasaneducatoragainstamassiveandrepressiveconstructinwhichallthesciencesofManoutsideofthepostChristianrationalizing
scienceofEUROPEhavebeendeclaredtobeoutofbounds.Blastingatindoctrination,Olsonblastswithathunderousindoctrination.Heinsiststhatitmustbedogmatic.A
RomanCatholicinorigin,hetransformsthemeaningofCatholicitytomeanjustthatkathaholos,havingtodowiththewholeofMankind,tobetheideaofManinthewholeof
Man.
Bizarrethatwecansoliveintheimaginationofourworldandyetsobitterlycontestanysensethatitisnottheactualone,orperhapsmoreaptly,therightone.I
wonderthatmyowngeneration,havingcomeofageinthecataclysmicimageoforderwhichwasWorldWarII,findssuchdifficultyinconsideringanyalternative,in
recognizingthatitindeedmightbeotherwise,thatthepossibledevastationofallworldsmightbethemindawryandnotsimplyafactofnature.Orifitissuchafact,if
ourconvulsionandselfimmolationareorganic,thenhowdowethinkourselvestobe,andforwhatconceivablereason?Haveallsuchquestionsbeenanswered?
Ordotheyevencontinuetomatter.
CharlesOlsonisagreatpoetformanyreasons.Becausehewasfactofhis

Pagexvi
owninsistence,Comeintotheworld.Becausehereadacrosstheendlessdivisionsofsubject,ofathinkingthatdetermineditsauthoritybyanabilitytoisolateand
categorize.BecausehedidnotstayputinalyricismonewantsitclearbynowthatthelyrickistheripplethatprecedestheKlassicalreachingtheshore.He
abhorredepicenepoets,thosewhostaycomfortablewithinagivenauthority,nomatteritscharacter.HeshareddeeplywithJohnWinthropasensethatmenand
womencancareaboutthekindofworldtheylivein.
Thereisfinallynoreasontobeimpartialhereatall.Oneisfightingforone'slifeandalwayswas.Imisssomuchtheranging,particularizing,intenselyconjecturingmind
hehad.Sansmind,nodirectionjustarudderlessdrift.Youhadtobeminded,hesaid.IthinkofmysmalltownWestActonandhismilltownWorcester,andthe
oceanouttherebeyondeitheroneofuswithitsincessant,shiftingplace.AshesaidtoElaineFeinstein,Orientateme.Ilovedthatwordlocateme,putmeinthe
picture,drawmeamap.Whatispoetryeverbutsuchmaking,theimagomundi,thehomewehave?Therearefewcollectionsofanythingaspowerfullyengagedas
arehissortieshere,hisimpeccablepropositions,hisinsistentengagementwithwhatonecanknow,givenattentionandthehearttokeepitparticular.

Pagexvii
Histalkwasthesame.Youhearithereinthepace,thewalking,theunremittingcuriositywithoutwhich,asPoundemphasized,therecanbenoliteratureatall.In
answertoastandardquestionnaire,CharlesOlsoncalledhimselfarchaeologistofmorning,atimestillpossible,stillinitial,stilltobefound.Hewrotealsothathehad
sacrificedeverything,alltheimaginedblessingsofalife,inordertoachieveconcentration.Hereitisasifallhadreturned,tobeagainthatimmeasurableintensity,to
thinkoftheworldandtoenterit.

Page1
CALLMEISHMAEL

Page3
ForCaresseCrosby
andforEzraPound
whofirstgavethisbookitswalkingpapers

Page5
Ofahter,fahter
goneamoong
Oeeysthatloke
Loke,fahter:
yoursone!

Page7
CONTENTS
FirstFactisprologue 9
Part1
isFact

CallMeIshmael 17
WhatLiesUnder 21
Usufruct 29
PartII
isSource:Shakespeare

TheDiscoveryofMobyDick 39
AmericanShiloh 43
Man,toMan 45
LearandMobyDick 47
AMobyDickManuscript 51
CaptainAhabandHisFool 56
Shakespeare,Concluded 60
Fact#2
isDromenon
67
partIII
isTheBookoftheLawoftheBlood
71
partIV
isLoss:Christ
77
ALastFact 93
partV
isTheConclusion:PacificMan
97

Page9
FIRSTFACTASPROLOGUE

Page11
FirstFact
HermanMelvillewasborninNewYorkAugust1,1819,andonthe12thofthatmonththeEssex,awellfoundwhalerof238tons,sailedfromNantucketwith
GeorgePollard,Jr.ascaptain,OwenChaseandMatthewJoymates,6ofhercomplementof20menNegroes,boundforthePacificOcean,victualledandprovided
fortwoyearsandahalf.
Ayearandthreemonthslater,onNovember20,1820,justsouthoftheequatorinlongitude119West,thisship,onacalmday,withthesunatease,wasstruckhead
ontwicebyabullwhale,aspermacetiabout85feetlong,andwithherbowsstovein,filledandsank.
HertwentymensetoutinthreeopenwhaleboatsforthecoastofSouthAmerica2000milesaway.Theyhadbread(200lb.aboat),water(65gallons),andsome
Galapagosturtles.AlthoughtheywereatthetimenogreatdistancefromTahiti,theywereignorantofthetemperofthenativesandfearedcannibalism.
Theirfirstextremesufferingscommencedaweeklaterwhentheymadethemistakeofeating,inordertomaketheirsupplylast,somebreadwhichhadgotsoakedby
thesea'swash.Toalleviatethethirstwhichfollowed,theykilledaturtleforitsblood.Thesightrevoltedthestomachsofthemen.
InthefirstweeksofDecembertheirlipsbegantocrackandswell,andaglutinoussalivacollectedinthemouth,intolerabletothetaste.
Theirbodiescommencedtowasteaway,andpossessedsolittlestrengththeyhadtoassisteachotherinperformingsomeofthebody'sweakestfunctions.Barnacles
collectedontheboats'bottoms,andtheytorethemoffforfood.Afewflyingfishstrucktheirsails,fellintotheboats,andwereswallowedraw.
AfteramonthoftheopenseatheyweregladdenedbythesightofasmallislandwhichtheytooktobeDuciebutwasElizabethIsle.Currentsandstormhadtaken
themathousandmilesofftheircourse.

Page12
Theyfoundwaterontheislandafterafutilesearchforitfromrockswhichtheypickedat,wheremoisturewas,withtheirhatchets.Itwasdiscoveredinasmallspring
inthesandattheextremevergeofebbtide.Theycouldgatheritonlyatlowwater.Therestofthetimetheseaflowedoverthespringtothedepthofsixfeet.
Twentymencouldnotsurviveontheislandand,togivethemselvesthechancetoreachthemainlandbeforethesuppliestheyhadfromtheshipshouldbegone,
seventeenofthemputbacktoseaDecember27th.
Thethreewhostayed,ThomasChappleofPlymouth,England,andWilliamWrightandSethWeeksofBarnstable,Mass.,tookshelterincavesamongtherocks.In
onetheyfoundeighthumanskeletons,sidebysideasthoughtheyhadlaindownanddiedtogether.
Theonlyfoodthethreehadwasasortofblackbirdwhichtheycaughtwhenatroostintreesandwhosebloodtheysucked.Withthemeatofthebird,andafeweggs,
theychewedaplanttastinglikepeppergrasswhichtheyfoundinthecrevicesoftherocks.Theysurvived.
Thethreeboats,withtheseventeenmendividedamongthem,movedunderthesunacrossoceantogetheruntilthe12thofJanuarywhen,duringthenight,theone
underthecommandofOwenChase,FirstMate,becameseparatedfromtheothertwo.
Alreadyoneoftheseventeenhaddied,MatthewJoy,SecondMate.HehadbeenburiedJanuary10th.WhenCharlesShorter,Negro,outofthesameboatasJoy,
diedonJanuary23rd,hisbodywassharedamongthemenofthatboatandtheCaptain's,andeaten.TwodaysmoreandLawsonThomas,Negro,diedandwas
eaten.AgaintwodaysandIsaacShepherd,Negro,diedandwaseaten.Thebodieswereroastedtodrynessbymeansoffireskindledontheballastsandatthe
bottomoftheboats.
Twodayslater,the29th,duringthenight,theboatwhichhadbeenMatthewJoy'sgotseparatedfromtheCaptain'sandwasneverheardofagain.Whenshe
disappearedthreemenstilllived,WilliamBond,Negro,ObedHendricks,andJosephWest.
IntheCaptain'sboatnowaloneonthesea,fourmenkepton.Thefifth,SamuelReed,Negro,hadbeeneatenforstrengthathisdeaththedaybefore.Withinthree
daysthesefourmen,calculatingthemilestheyhadtogo,decided

Page13
todrawtwolots,onetochoosewhoshoulddiethattheothersmightlive,andonetochoosewhoshouldkillhim.Theyoungest,OwenCoffin,servingonhisfirst
voyageasacabinboytolearnhisfamily'strade,lost.ItbecamethedutyofCharlesRamsdale,alsoofNantucket,toshoothim.Hedid,andhe,theCaptainand
BrazillaRay,Nantucket,atehim.
ThatwasFebruary1,1821.OnFebruary11th,Raydiedofhimself,andwaseaten.OnFebruary23rd,theCaptainandRamsdalewerepickedupbytheNantucket
whaleshipDauphin,CaptainZimriCoffin.
Themeninthethirdboat,underthecommandofOwenChase,thefirstmate,heldoutthelongest.Theyhadbecomeseparatedfromtheothertwoboatsbefore
hungerandthirsthaddrivenanyoftheEssex'smentoextremity.OwenChase'screwhadburiedtheirfirstdeath,RichardPeterson,Negro,onJanuary20th.
ItwasnotuntilFebruary8th,whenIsaacColediedinconvulsions,thatOwenChasewasforced,sometwoweekslaterthanintheotherboats,toproposetohistwo
men,BenjaminLawrenceandThomasNickerson,thattheyshouldeatoftheirownflesh.Ithappenedtothemthisonce,inthisway:theyseparatedthelimbsfromthe
body,andcutallthefleshfromthebones,afterwhichtheyopenedthebody,tookouttheheart,closedthebodyagain,seweditupaswellastheycould,and
committedittothesea.
Theydrankoftheheartandateit.Theyateafewpiecesofthefleshandhungtherest,cutinthinstrips,todryinthesun.Theymadeafire,astheCaptainhad,and
roastedsometoservethemthenextday.
Thenextmorningtheyfoundthatthefleshinthesunhadspoiled,hadturnedgreen.Theymadeanotherfiretocookittopreventitsbeingwhollylost.Forfivedays
theylivedonit,notusingoftheirremnantofbread.
Theyrecruitedtheirstrengthontheflesh,eatingitinsmallpieceswithsaltwater.Bythe14ththeywereabletomakeafewattemptsatguidingtheboatwithanoar.
Onthe15ththefleshwasallconsumedandtheyhadleftthelastoftheirbread,twoseabiscuits.Theirlimbshadswelledduringthelasttwodaysandnowbeganto
painthemexcessively.Theyjudgedtheystillhad300milestogo.
Onthe17ththesettlingofacloudledChasetothinkthatlandwasnear.Notwithstanding,thenextmorning,Nickerson,17yearsofage,afterhavingbailedtheboat,
laydown,drewapieceofcanvasupoverhim,andsaidthathe

Page14
thenwishedtodieimmediately.Onthe19th,at7inthemorning,Lawrencesawasailatsevenmiles,andthethreeofthemweretakenupbythebrigIndianof
London,CaptainWilliamCrozier.
Itisnotknownwhathappenedinlateryearstothethreemenwhosurvivedtheisland.ButthefourNantucketmenwho,withtheCaptain,survivedthesea,allbecame
captainsthemselves.Theydiedold,Nickersonat77,Ramsdale,whowas19ontheEssex,at75,Chasewhowas24,at73,Lawrencewhowas30,at80,and
Pollard,thecaptain,whohadbeen31atthetime,liveduntil1870,age81.
TheCaptain,onhisreturntoNantucket,tookchargeoftheshipTwoBrothers,anotherwhaler,andfivemonthsfromhomestruckareeftothewestwardofthe
SandwichIslands.Theshipwasatotalloss,andPollardneverwenttoseaagain.Atthetimeofthesecondwreckhesaid:NowIamutterlyruined.Noownerwill
evertrustmewithawhaleragain,forallwillsayIamanunluckyman.HeendedhislifeasthenightwatchofNantuckettown,protectingthehousesandpeoplein
thedark.
OwenChasewasalwaysfortunate.In1832theCharlesCarrolwasbuiltforhimonBrantPoint,Nantucket,andhefilledhertwice,eachtimewith2600barrelsof
spermoil.Inhislastyearshetooktohidingfoodintheatticofhishouse.

Page15
PARTONE
CALLMEISHMAEL

Page17
CallMeIshmael
ItakeSPACEtobethecentralfacttomanborninAmerica,fromFolsomcavetonow.Ispellitlargebecauseitcomeslargehere.Large,andwithoutmercy.
Itisgeographyatbottom,ahellofwidelandfromthebeginning.ThatmadethefirstAmericanstory(Parkman's):exploration.
Somethingelsethanastretchofearthseasonbothsides,nobarrierstocontainasrestlessathingasWesternmanwasbecominginColumbus'day.Thatmade
Melville'sstory(partofit).
PLUSaharshnesswestillperpetuate,asunlikeatomahawk,smallearthquakesbutbigtornadoesandhurrikans,arivernorthandsouthinthemiddleoftheland
runningouttheblood.
ThefulcrumofAmericaisthePlains,halfseahalfland,ahighsunasmetalandobdurateastheironhorizon,andaman'sjobtosquarethecircle.
Somemenrideonsuchspace,othershavetofastenthemselveslikeatentstaketosurvive.AsIseeitPoeduginandMelvillemounted.Theyarethealternatives.
Americansstillfancythemselvessuchdemocrats.Buttheirtriumphsareofthemachine.Itistheonlymasterofspacetheaveragepersoneverknows,oxwheelto
piston,muscletojet.Itgivestrajectory.
ToMelvilleitwasnotthewilltobefreebutthewilltooverwhelmnaturethatliesatthebottomofusasindividualsandapeople.Ahabisnodemocrat.MobyDick,
antagonist,isonlykingofnaturalforce,resource.
IaminterestedinaMelvillewhodecidedsometimein1850towriteabookaboutthewhalingindustryandwhathappenedtoamanincommandofone

Page18
ofthemostsuccessfulmachinesAmericanshadperfecteduptothattimethewhaleship.
Thiscaptain,Ahabbyname,knewspace.Herodeitacrosssevenseas.Hewasanableskipper,whatthefishingpeopleIwasraisedwithcallahighliner.Bigcatches:
hebroughtbackholdsbarrelfulloftheoilofthesperm,thelightofAmericanandEuropeancommunitiesuptothemiddleofthe19thcentury.
ThisAhabhadgonewild.Theobjectofhisattentionwassomethingunconscionablybigandwhite.Hehadbecomeaspecialist:hehadallspaceconcentratedintothe
formofawhalecalledMobyDick.AndheassaileditasColumbusanocean,LaSalleacontinent,theDonnerPartytheirwinterPass.
IaminterestedinaMelvillewhowaslongeyedenoughtounderstandthePacificaspartofourgeography,anotherWest,prefiguredinthePlains,antithetical.
Thebeginningofmanwassaltsea,andtheperpetualreverberationofthatgreatancientfact,constantlyrenewedintheunfoldingoflifeineveryhumanindividual,isthe
importantsinglefactaboutMelville.Pelagic.
Hehadthetraditioninhim,deep,inhisbrain,hiswords,thesaltbeatofhisblood.Hehadtheseaofhimselfinavigorous,strickenway,asPoethestreet.Itenabled
himtodrawupfromShakespeare.ItmadeNoah,andMoses,contemporarytohim.HistorywasritualandrepetitionwhenMelville'simaginationwasatitsown
properbeat.
ItwasanoldersensethantheEuropeanman's,moretodowithmagicthanculture.Magicwhich,incontrasttoworship,isallblack.Formagichasonepurpose:
compelmenornonhumanforcestodoone'swill.LikeAhab,American,oneaim:lordshipovernature.
IamwillingtorideMelville'simageofman,whaleandoceantofindinhimprophecies,lessonshehimselfwouldnothavespelledout.Ahundredyearsgivesusan
advantage.ForMelvillewasasmuchlargerthanhimselfasAhab'shate.Hewasaplunger.Heknewhowtotakeachance.
Themanmadeamessofthings.HegotallballedupwithChrist.Hemadeawhitemarriage.Hehadonesondieoftuberculosis,theothershoothimself.Heonlyrode
hisownspaceonceMobyDick.Hehadtobewildorhewasnothinginparticular.Hehadtogofast,likeanAmerican,orhewasalltorpor.Halfhorsehalf
alligator.

Page19
Melvilletookanawfullicking.Hewasboundto.Hewasanoriginal,aboriginal.Abeginner.IthappensthatwaytothedreamingmenittakestodiscoverAmerica:
ColumbusandLaSallewon,andthenlosthertothecompetent.DanielBoonelovedherearth.HarrodtellsthestoryofcominguponBooneonedayfartothewestin
KentuckyofwhereHarrodthoughtanywhitemanhadeverbeen.Heheardsoundhecouldn'tplace,creptforwardtoaboulderandthereinabluegrassclearingwas
Boonealonesingingtohimself.BoonediedwestoftheMississippi,inhisowncountrycriminalwanted,abankruptofspiritandland.
Beginnerandinterestedinbeginnings.Melvillehadawayofreachingbackthroughtimeuntilhegothistorypushedbacksofarheturnedtimeintospace.Hewas
likeamigrantbacktrailingtoAsia,someIncatryingtofindalosthome.
Wearethelastfirstpeople.Weforgetthat.Weactbig,misuseourland,ourselves.Weloseourownprimary.
Melvillewentback,todiscoverus,tocomeforward.HegotasfarasMobyDick.
OrtegayGassetputsitthatthemanofantiquity,beforehedidanything,tookasteplikethebullfighterwholeapsbackinordertodeliverthemortalthrust.
Whitmanappears,becauseofhisnotationofthefeaturesofAmericanlifeandhisconsciousidentificationofhimselfwiththepeople,tobethemorepoet.ButMelville
hadthewill.Hewashomelessinhisland,hissociety,hisself.
Logicandclassificationhadledcivilizationtowardman,awayfromspace.Melvillewenttospacetoprobeandfindman.Earlymendidthesame:poetry,language
andthecareofmyth,asFenollosasays,grewuptogether.AmongtheEgyptiansHoruswasthegodofwritingandthegodofthemoon,onefigureforboth,aWHITE
MONKEY.
InplaceofZeus,Odysseus,OlympuswehavehadCaesar,Faust,theCity.Theshiftwasfrommanasagrouptoindividualman.Now,inspiteofthecorruptionof
mythbyfascism,theswingisoutandback.Melvilleisonewhobeganit.
Hehadapulltotheoriginofthings,thefirstday,thefirstman,theunknownsea,Betelgeuse,theburiedcontinent.Frompassiveplaceshisimaginationspranga
harpoon.

Page20
Hesoughtprime.Hehadthecoldnesswehave,buthewarmedhimselfbyfirstfiresafterFlood.ItgavehimthepowertofindthelostpastofAmerica,theunfound
present,andmakeamyth,MobyDick,forapeopleofIshmaels.
Thethinggotawayfromhim.Itdoes,fromus.WemakeAHAB,theWHITEWHALE,andlosethem.WeletJohnHenrygo,Negro,worker,hammeringman:
Helieddownhishammeran'hedied.
Whitmanwehavecalledourgreatestvoicebecausehegaveushope.Melvilleisthetruerman.Helivedintenselyhispeople'swrong,theirguilt.Butheremembered
thefirstdream.TheWhiteWhaleismoreaccuratethanLeavesofGrass.BecauseitisAmerica,allofherspace,themalice,theroot.

Page21
WhatLiesunder
MelvillepreparedthewayforMobyDickbyridiculing,in1850,theideathattheliterarygeniusinAmericawouldbe,likeShakespeare,awriterofdramas.This
washisproposition:
greatgeniusesarepartsofthetimes,theythemselvesarethetimes,andpossessacorrespondingcolouring.
MelvilleraisedhistimesupwhenhegotthemintoMobyDickandtheyheldfirminhisschema:
E.g.hiscrew,apeople,ClootzandTomPaine'speople,allracesandcolorsfunctioningtogether,aforecastlerealityofAmericansnotyetadreamaccomplishedby
thesociety
e.g.hisjobonthewhalingindustry,aproblemintheresolutionofforcessolvedwithallforcestakenaccountof:(1)OWNERSBildadandPeleg(AuntCharity
interestedparty)(2)Ahab,hardMASTER(3)theMEN,andTECHNOLOGY,killerboat,tryworksandunderdeckstorageofyieldpermittingfouryearvoyage.
WeforgetthepartthechaseofthewhaleplayedinAmericaneconomy.Itstartedfromashortageoffatsandoils.TheIndianhadnocattle,thecolonistnotenough.It
wasthesamewithpigsandgoats.Redandwhitealikehadtousesubstitutes.Itaccountsfortheheavyslaughterofthepassengerpigeonandthecurlew,plentiful
birdsandtheslaughterofthebuffalo.
TheIndiansappeartohavetakenshorewhalesfromanearlytime.TheMakahsaroundCapeFlatteryknewtricksonlythepresentdayNorwegianwhalershave
applied.Theyblewupsealskinstoslowtherunofawoundedwhalelikeaseaanchorandtofloatthedeadwhalewhenheavierthanwater.

Page22
TheAmericanIndiancontinuedtobeaskilledpartoftheindustrydowntoitsend,amiserablypaidtool.MelvillehadreasontonamehisshipPequodandtomake
theGayheadTashteegooneofhisthreeharpooneers.
COMBUSTION.Allwhalesyieldoil.Mostoftheoilisatruefat,aglycerideofthefattyacids.UnliketheIndiansthesettlersdidnotfinditedible.Theyboiledthe
blubberdownfortallow.Inadditiontothisfat,commonlycalledwhaleoil,thespermwhaleandthebottlenoseyieldasolidwaxcalledspermacetiandaliquidwax
calledspermoil.Thespermacetiwaxiscontainedinthecavityofthehead(videchp.CisternandBuckets,MobyDick),andinthebones.
Economichistorians,lubbers,failtohefttheindustryinAmericaneconomiclifeuptotheCivilWar.(In1859petroleumwasdiscoveredinPennsylvania.Kerosene,
petroleum,andparaffinbeganrapidlytoreplacewhaleoil,spermoil,andspermacetiwaxasilluminatingoil,lubricantsandrawmaterialsforcandles.)
Whalingexpandedatatimewhenagriculturenotindustrywasthebaseoflaborandwhenforeignnotdomesticcommercewasthebaseoftrade.Afewfacts:
by1833,70,000personsand$70,000,000weretiedupinwhalingandsuchassociatedcraftsasshipbuilding,saillofts,smithstomaketoggleirons,thethievingoutfitters,their
agentsandthewhoresofportslikeNewBedford
by1844(peakyearsroughly18401860)th`efigureisupto$120,000,000,whalingcompetessuccessfullyinattractingcapitaltoitselfwithsuchopeningindustriesastextilesand
shoes,andtheexportofwhaleproductsonefourthofthecatchisthirdtomeatproductsandlumber.
ANECESSARYDISSOCIATION:thenotionthattheChinatradeandclippershipsmadeandmadeupthemaritimeAmericawhichwentdownasdidagrarian
Americabeforelandandfinancespeculation,hardmetalindustry.
TheChinatradewas,economically,distribution,appearedafterEnglandclosedtheWestIndiestoourrummerchantsfollowingtheRevolution.Itwasthewaythe
smugglers,themselvestheanswertoEngland'spreRevolutionaryrestrictions,wentstraight.

Page23
Whalingwasproduction,asoldasthecoloniesand,incapitalandfunction,forerunnertoalaterAmerica,withmorerelationtoSoconythantoclippersandtheChina
trade.
Asearlyas1688thereisarecordatBostonofaNewYorkbrigpetitioningGovernorAndrossforpermissiontosetoutuponafishingdesignabouttheBohames
Islands,AndCapflorida,forspermaCoetiwhalesandRacks.
Thiswasnewtowhaling,BRANDNEW,American.AFIRST.AllthewaybacktoFrenchandSpanishBasquesoftheMiddleAgesithadbeencoldwaterwhales,
theblack,rightorGreenlandwhalesofnorthernwaters,whichhadbeenhunted.ButtheYankeeshaddiscoveredthattheSpermwhalehadthefinestoilandbrought
thebiggestprice.
Theywentafterit.Anditledthemintoalltheoceans.AndgavewhalingitsleadingroleinmakingthePacifictheAmericanlakethenavynow,afteralapseof100
years,hasbeenaboutthebusinessofcertifying.
A
FACT:
whalelogbooksaretodayfurnishingsealawyersfirstclaimstoislandsthe
flag&that

forwhaleraspioneer,cf.chp.TheAdvocate,MobyDick.
YouwillalsodiscoverinthatchapterMelville'sfiguresonthevalueoftheindustry.Comparetomineabove.Thus:
wewhalemenofAmericanowoutnumberalltherestofthebandedwhalemenintheworldsailanavyofupwardofsevenhundredvesselsmannedbyeighteenthousandmen
yearlyconsuming4,000,000dollarstheshipsworth,atthetimeofsailing,$20,000,000andeveryyearreportingintoourharboursawellreapedharvestof$7,000,000.
Aboutthisoutnumbering:of900whalingvesselsofallnationsin1846,735wereAmerican.
AllthisisbywayofCORRECTION.Idon'tintendtodishupcoldpork.Therearehistoriesofwhalingifyouareinterested.BUTnostudyweighstheindustryinthe
scaleofthetotalsociety.Whatyougetisthis:manyoftheearliestindustrialfortuneswerebuiltontheblessingofthewhalefishery!
TWOINTERPOLATIONS.MelvilledidnotknowNumber1.MaybesomewherehedoespointoutNumber2.Forhewaswide.Addtohisknowledgeofwhaling:

Page24
merchantmarine (readRedburn)
theNavy (dittoWhiteJacket)
assortedcarriersofthe
Pacific
(Omoo,Mardi,etc.)
andtheSpanish (byallmeansreadBenitoCerenoandThe
Encantadas,thefinestthingsoutsideMobyDick)
Interpolation1
1762:thecoloniesstillveryEnglish,somuchsotheyhavelittletodowithoneanother,faceandacttowardLondon.
RhodeIsland:makersofspermaceticandlesmeetandmakecovenanttoraisethepriceofwaxcandlesandkeepitraised,itgoeswithoutsaying.Thefirst
AmericanTRUST.
Name:TheUnitedCompanyofSpermacetiChandlers.
Importance:showshowcolonialboundarieswerebeingeliminatedinthemindsofthemoneyedgroupsascontrastedwiththeasyetextremelyprovincialoutlook
andprovincialpatriotismofthesmallerpeopleoftownandcountry.
I'mputtingastressMelvilledidn'tonwhalingasindustry.Cuttingouttheglory:abookMobyDickturnsouttobeitsglory.Westillaresoftaboutourindustries,
wondereyed.What'simportantistheenergytheyareaclueto,thedriveinthepeople.ThethingsmadeareOK,too,someofthem.Butthecaptainsofindustryain't
worththepowderetc.TaketheRevolutionsolongaswe'reonthesubject:whoserevolutionwasitbutthemoneyedgroups'Breed'sHilltwoweeksafter
LexingtonanditwasalloverforthesmallerpeopleuntilJeffersongavethemanotherchance.
Don'tthinkwhalingwasanydifferentfromanyotherAmericanindustry.Thefirstmeninit,theleaders,explorers,wereWORKERS.Themoneyandtheglorycame
later,ontopwiththeexploiters.Andtheforcewentdown,stayedwhereitalwaysdoes,attheunderpaidbottom.Wheretheworkerisaftertheleaderisgone.
Whalingstarted,likesomanyAmericanindustries,asacollective,communalaffair.SeeanyhistoryofSagHarbororNantucket.Andaslateas1850therewerestill
skipperstorememberthedayswhentheyknewthefathersof

Page25
everymanintheircrew.ButitwasalreadyasweatedindustrybythetimeMelvillewasahandonalay(184143).
THETRICKthenasnow:
reducelaborcostslowerthanworker'sefficiencyduringthe1840'sand'50'sitcosttheowners15to30adaytofeedeachcrewmember
combineinefficientworkersandsuchcostsbymaintaininglowestwagesandmiserableworkingconditionsvideTYPEE,earlychps.,andOmoo,same.
THERESULT:bythe1840'sthecrewswerethebottomdogsofallnationsandallraces.Ofthe18,000men(Melvilleabove)onehalfrankedasgreenhandsand
morethantwothirdsdesertedeveryvoyage.
ThereweresomanyPacificnativeslikeQueequeg,thesecondcoloredharpooneer,thatasectionofNantucketcametobeknownasNewGuinea.
ThereweresomanyPortuguesefromtheIslandsthatasectionofNewBedfordwascalledFayal.
ThethirdofMelville'sharpooneerswastheimperialAfricanNegroAhasuerusDaggoo.
ForbottomdogsmadeprettySEEtheballeticchaptercalledMidnight,Forecastle,inMobyDick.
IinserthereadocumentofourhistoryleftoutofthepublishedworksofHermanMelville.ItwaswrittenatthesametimeasMobyDickandisheaded:
Whatbecameoftheship'scompanyofthewhaleshipAcushnet,accordingtoHubbardwhocamehomeinher(morethanafouryears'voyage)andwhovisitedmeat
Pittsfieldin1850.
CaptainPeaseretired&livesashoreattheVineyard
Raymond1stMatehadafightwiththeCaptain&wentashoreatPayta
Hall2ndMatecamehome&wenttoCalifornia
3rdMate,Portuguese,wentashoreatPayta
BoatsteererBrown,Portuguese,eitherranawayorkilledatRopooneoftheMarquesas
SmithwentashoreatSantacoastofPeru,afterwardscommittedsuicideatMobile

Page26
Barneyboatsteerercamehome
CarpenterwentashoreatMoweehalfdeadwithdisreputabledisease
TheCrew:
TomJohnson,black,wentashoreatMoweehalfdead(ditto)&diedatthehospital
Reedmulattocamehome
BlacksmithranawayatSt.Francisco
BackuslittleblackDo
BillGreenaftervariousattemptsatrunningaway,camehomeintheend
TheIrishmanranawayatSalango,coastofColumbia
WrightwentashorehalfdeadattheMarquesas
JohnAdams&JoPortuguesecamehome
Theoldcookcamehome
HaynesranawayaboardofaSydneyship
LittleJackcamehome
Grantyoungfellowwentashorehalfdead,spittingblood,atOahu
Murraywentashore,shunningfight,atRioJaneiro
TheCoopercamehome
Melvillehimselfisacaseinpoint.HedesertedtheAcushnet,hisfirstwhaleship,attheMarquesas.Hewasoneofelevenmutineersaboardhissecond,a.Sydneyship
theLucyAnn,atTahiti.Nothingisknownofhisconductonthethird,exceptthatheturnedupafterit,ashore,atHonolulu.
SoifyouwanttoknowwhyMelvillenailedusinMobyDick,considerwhaling.ConsiderwhalingasFRONTIER,andINDUSTRY.Aproductwanted,mengotit:
bigbusiness.ThePacificassweatshop.Man,led,againstthebiggestdamndestcreaturenatureuncorks.Thewhaleshipasfactory,thewhaleboattheprecision
instrument.The1840's:theNewWestinthesaddleandMelvilleNo.20ofaroughandbastardcrew.Aretheytheessentials?
BIG?Melvillemayneverhaveseenthebiggestofwhales,theblue,theprincipalkillofthepresentday.Hereacheshisfullsize,100feet,at11years,lives20to25
years,andweighs150tonsorfourtimestheestimatedweightof

Page27
thebiggestprehistoricmonsterandequaltotheweightof37elephantsor150fatoxen.
Therearetwoclassesofwhale:thebaleenandthetoothedwhale.Theblueisabaleen.Melvillewassatisfiedwiththebiggestofthetoothedwhales,thesperm.
Whaleshavelungs.Tobreathetheycometothesurfaceabouteveryhalfhour.Itisthisfactthatmakesthemvulnerabletoattackbytheonlyimportantenemythey
havethewhaleman.
Melvilledidn'tputitallonthesurfaceofMobyDick.You'llfindthefrontierallright,andAndrewJacksonregardedasheavyweightchampion(READendoffirst
KnightsandSquireschapterforfinestrhetoricofdemocracy).Andthetechnicofanindustryanalyzed,scrupulouslydescribed.Butnoeconomics.Jeffersonand
JohnAdamsobservedthatintheiryoungdaysveryfewmenhadthoughtaboutgovernment,therewereveryfewwritersongovernment.Yes,theyearMoby
DickwasbeingfinishedMarxwaswritingletterstotheN.Y.DailyTribune.ButMelville
SOMENECESSARYECOLOGY.WithhisbaleenthebluewhalestrainsoutofthewaterandeatsKRILL.Krillisashrimplikefishwhichitselffeedsonfloating
greendiatoms.Thesealgaedevelopinsummerintheneighborhoodofdriftice.
color: krillspawnattheborderofarcticandantarcticice.The
offspringdriftwiththecurrentstowardtheequator.They
areinsuchabundancetheyturnthewaterspink.
Thespermwhalefeedsoncuttlefish,particularlyontheGIANTSQUIDwhichgrowstoa33footspreadoftentaclesandanarmlengthof21feet.CompareMoby
Dick,LIX,SQUID.Thesquidlivesonbigprawnandsmallfish,andtocatchhimthewhaledivesintodepthsofseveralhundredfathom.Thestruggleleavessores
andmarksofthearmedsuckersonthewhale'sskinaroundthemouth.
whatcounts,Melvillehad,theexperience,whatliesunder.Andhisownforcetoresolvetheforces.

Page28
InterpolationNo.2
Quote. TheAmericanwhalingeraincontrasttotheBasque,French,Dutch
andEnglishX
developedindependently
concentratedondifferentspeciesofwhale
coveredallseasincludingtheArctic
yieldedonalargerscalethaninanyothercountryorgroupofcountriesbefore.

Unquote.

Page29
Usufruct
WhenIwasonboardtheshipacushnetofFairhaven,onthe
1841passagetothePacificcruisinggrounds,amongothermatters
Jan.JuneofforecastleconversationsattimewasthestoryoftheEssex.
ItwasthenthatIfirstbecameacquaintedwithherhistoryand
hertrulyastoundingfate.
Butwhatthenservedtospecializemyinterestatthetimewas
thecircumstancethattheSecondmateofourship,Mr.Hall,
anEnglishman&Londonerbybirth,hadfortwothreeyears
voyagessailedwithOwenChace(thenincommandofthe
whaleshipCharlesCarrollofNantucket).ThisHallalways
spokeofChacewithmuchinterest&sincereregardbuthe
didnotseemtoknowanythingmoreabouthimortheEssex
affairthananybodyelse.
SomewhereaboutthelatterpartofA.D.1841,inthissame
DecembershiptheAcushnet,wespoketheCharlesCarrollofNan
tucket,&OwenChacewasthecaptain,&soitcametopass
thatIsawhim.Hewasalarge,powerfulwellmademan
rathertalltoallappearancessomethingpastfortyfiveorso
withahandsomefaceforaYankee,&expressiveofgreatup
rightness&calmunostentatiouscourage.Hiswholeappear
anceimpressedmepleasurably.Hewasthemostprepossess
inglookingwhalehunterIthinkIeversaw.
BeingamereforemasthandIhadnoopportunityofcovers
ingwithOwen(tho'hewasonboardoutshipfortwohoursat
atime)norhaveIeverseenhimsince.

Page30
ButIshouldhavebeforementioned,thatbeforeseeing
NovemberChace'sship,wespokeanotherNantucketcraft&gammed
withher.IntheforecastleImadetheacquaintanceofafine
ladofsixteenorthereabouts,asonofOwenChace!Iques
ionedhimconcerninghisfather'sadventureandwhenIleft
hisshiptoreturnagainthenextmorning(forthetwovessels
weretosailincompanyforafewdays)hewenttohischest&
handedmeacompletecopy(sameeditionasthisone)ofthe
Narrative.ThiswasthefirstprintedaccountofitIhadever
seen,&theonlycopyofChace'sNarrative(regular&authentic)
exceptthepresentone.
Thereadingofthiswondrousstoryuponthelandlesssea,&
closetotheverylatitudeoftheshipwreckhadasurprisingef
fectuponme.
AlltheaboveundertheheadingWhatIKnowofOwenChace,&ciswritteninMelville'sowncopyof
NARRATIVEOFTHEMOSTEXTRAORDINARYANDDISTRESSINGSHIPWRECKOFTHEWHALESHIPESSEX,OFNANTUCKETWHICHWASATTACKEDAND
FINALLYDESTROYEDBYALARGESPERMACETIWHALE,INTHEPACIFICOCEAN.ByOWENCHASE,ofNANTUCKET,FirstMateofSaidVessel.LONDON,1821.
ThecommentsbyMelvilleappeartohavebeenwritteninthe
1851springof1851.Melvilleatthattimewasalreadyayearouton
thewritingofMobyDickandwasapproachingtheend,pre
paringtoclosewiththedestructionbytheWhiteWhaleofthe
shipPequod,thethreedaycatastrophewhichparallelswhat
happenedtotheEssex.
ThefrontflyleafcarriesthisinscriptioninMelville'shand:
HermanMelvillefromJudgeShaw,April,1851.TheChief

Page31
AprilJustice,hisfatherinlaw,hadacquiredthecopyforMelvillea
monthearlierfromThomasMacyatNantucket.*
GeneralEvidence
ThisthingoftheEssexisfound(stupidlyalterated)inmany
compilationsofnauticaladventuremadewithinthelast15
or20years.
TheEnglishmanBennettinhisexactwork(WhalingVoyage
RoundtheGlobe)quotesthethingasanacknowledged
fact.
Besidesseamen,somelandsmen(JudgeShaw&others)ac
quaintedwithNantucket,haveevincedtometheirunques
tioningfaithinthethinghavingseenCaptainPollardhim
self,&beingconversantwithhissituationinNantucketsince
thedisaster.
AuthorshipoftheBook
ThereseemsnoreasontosupposethatOwenhimself
wrotethenarrative.Itbearsobvioustokensofhavingbeen
writtenforhimbutatthesametime,itswholeairplainly
evincesthatitwascarefully&conscientiouslywrittento
Owen'sdictationofthefacts.Itisalmostas
goodastho'Owenwroteithimself.
AnotherNarrativeoftheAdventure
IhavebeentoldthatPollard,theCaptain,wrote,orcaused
tobewroteunderhisownname,hisversionofthestory.I
haveseenextractspurportingtobefromsomesuchwork.
ButIhaveneverseentheworkitself.Ishouldimagine
OwenChacetohavebeenthefittestpersontonarratethe
thing.
*Ipublishthesenotesforthefirsttimethroughthecourtesyofthepresentownerofthevolume,Mr.PercBrown.
IhaveraisedquestionsabouttheEssex,aswellasontheAcushnetandtheGlobe,withfriendsTrippofNewBedfordandStackpoleofNantucket,andtheyhavebeenmostkind.As
wereDr.andMrs.WillGardnerwhenIwaslastontheIsland.

Page32
InMelville'scopythelastpagesoftheNarrativearemissing.SoheaddsinhisnotesunderthetitleSequelasummaryofwhathappenedtothepoorfellows
intheCaptain'sboatandwhathehadlearnedofthefateofthethreemenleftonElizabethIsle.HerecordshowPollardfetchedhisnextcommanduponunknown
rocksofftheSandwichIslands,disclosingthatIgotthisfromHall,SecondMateoftheAcushnet.Melvillegoeson:
Pollard,itseems,nowtookthehint,&afterreachinghomefromthesecondshipwreck,movedtoabideashore.HehaseversincelivedinNantucket.Halltoldmethathebecamea
butcherthere.Ibelieveheisstillliving.
Atthispointhemakesageneralcomment:
AllthesufferingsofthesemiserablemenoftheEssexmight,inallhumanprobability,havebeenavoidedhadthey,immediatelyafterleavingthewreck,steeredstraightforTahiti,
fromwhichtheywerenotverydistantatthetimeandtowhichtherewasafairtradewind.Buttheydreadedcannibals&strangetotellknewnotthatformorethan20yearsthe
EnglishmissionshadbeenresidentinTahiti,&thatinthesameyearoftheshipwreck1820itwasentirelysafefortheshipstotouchatTahiti.Buttheychosetostemahead
wind&makeapassageofsomethousandmiles(anunavoidablyroundaboutone,too)inordertogainacivilizedharbouronthecoastofSouthAmerica.
HecontinueswithremarksFurtherConcerningOwenChace:
ThemiserablepertinaciousnessofmisfortunewhichpursuedPollard,theCaptain,inhisseconddisaster&entireshipwreck,didlikewisehuntpoorOwen,tho'somewhatmore
dilatoryinovertakinghim,thesecondtime.
For,whileIwasintheAcushnetweheardfromsomewhaleshipthatwespoke,thatthecaptainoftheCharlesCarrollthatisOwenChacehadrecentlyreceivedlettersfrom
home,informinghimofthecertaininfidelityofhiswife,themother

Page33
ofseveralchildren,oneofthembeingtheladofsixteen,whomIalludedtoasgivingmeacopyofhisfather'snarrativetoread.Wealsoheardthatthisreceiptofthisnewshad
toldmostheavilyuponChace,&thathewasapreytothedeepestgloom.
Thereisalastnote,withoutaheading.Itreads:
SincewritingtheforegoingIsometimeabout18503
ProbablysawCapt.PollardontheislandofNantucket,andexchanged
July,1852somewordswithhim.Totheislandershewasanobodyto
me,themostimpressiveman,tho'whollyunassuming,even
humble,thatIeverencountered.
Andadded,inpencil,alongthemarginofhisearlierremarksconcerningPollard,this:
anightwatchman

Page35
PARTTWO
SHAKESPEARE

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WhichisthebestofShakespeare'splays?
Imeaninwhatmoodandwithwhatac
companimentdoyouliketheseabest?
Keats,LettertoJaneReynolds
Sept.14,1817

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Shakespeare,orthediscoveryofMobyDick
MobyDickwastwobookswrittenbetweenFebruary,1850andAugust,1851.
ThefirstbookdidnotcontainAhab.
Itmaynot,exceptincidentally,havecontainedMobyDick.
Onthe7thofAugust,1850,theeditorEvertDuyckinckreportedtohisbrother:
Melvillehasanewbookmostlydone,aromantic,fanciful&mostliteral&mostenjoyablepresentmentoftheWhaleFisherysomethingquitenew.
ItisnotsurprisingthatMelvilleturnedtowhalinginFebruary,1850,onhisreturnfromatriptoEnglandtosellhispreviousbook,WhiteJacket.Itwasthelastofthe
materialshisseaexperienceofferedhim.
HehadusedhisadventuresamongtheSouthSeaislandsinTypee(1846)andOmoo(1847).HehadgonefurtherinthevastarchipelagoofMardi,writtenin1847
and1848,tomaptheoutlinesofhisvisionoflife.Thebooksof1849,RedburnandWhiteJacket,hehadbasedonhisexperiencesaboardamerchantshipanda
manofwar.ThewhalingvoyageintheAcushnetwasleft.
ThereisnoevidencethatMelvillehaddecidedonthesubjectbeforehestartedtowriteinFebruary.Onthecontrary.Melville'sreadingisagaugeofhim,atallpoints
ofhislife.Hewasaskald,andknewhowtoappropriatetheworkofothers.Hereadtowrite.Highbornstealth,EdwardDahlbergcallsoriginality,theactofa
cutpurseAutolycuswhomakeshistheftsasinvisibleaspossible.Melville'sbooksbattenonothermen'sbooks.Yetheboughtnobooksonwhalingamongthemany
volumespurchasedinEnglandonhistripandsoonafterhisreturnPutnam'sthepublisherswerepickingupinLondonforhimsuchthingsasThomasBeale'sThe
NaturalHistoryoftheSpermWhale.

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Hewentatitashehadhislasttwobooks,twojobs,ashecalledRedburnandWhiteJacketinalettertohisfatherinlaw,whichIhavedoneformoneybeing
forcedtoit,asothermenaretosawingwood.Hehadafamilytosupport.
ByMayitwashalfdone.SohetoldRichardHenryDanainaletteronthe1st,theonlyotherinformationofthefirstMobyDickwhichhassurvived.Thebookwas
givingMelvilletrouble.Referringtoitasthewhalingvoyage,hewrites:
Itwillbeastrangesortofabook,Ifearblubberisblubberyouknowthoyoumaygetoiloutofit,thepoetryrunsashardassapfromafrozenmapletree&tocookthething
up,onemustneedsthrowinalittlefancy,whichfromthenatureofthething,mustbeungainlyasthegambolsofthewhalesthemselves.YetImeantogivethetruthofthething,
spiteofthis.
That'stherecordofMobyDickNo.1,asitstands.Thereisnothingonwhy,inthesummerof1850,Melvillechangedhisconceptionoftheworkand,onsomething
mostlydoneonAugust7th,spentanotherfullyearuntil,inAugust,1851,hehadcreatedwhatweknowasMobyDickor,TheWhale.
Dollarsdamnme.Melvillehadthebitterthingofmenoforiginality,thestrugglebetweenmoneyandme.Itwasonhim,hard,inthespringof1850.Hesaysasmuch
intheDanaletter:Iwritethesebooksofminealmostentirelyforlucrebythejob,asawoodsawyersawswood,repeatingonMobyDickwhathehadsaid
aboutRedburnandWhiteJacket.
Heknewthecostifhelethisimaginationloose.Hehadtakenhisheadonce,withMardi,Inthisnewworkonwhalinghefeltobliged,ashehad,afterMardi,with
RedburnandWhiteJacket,torefrainfromwritingthekindofbookIwouldwishto.
Hewouldgivethetruthofthething,spiteofthis,yes.HisheadwasliftedtoDanaasitwastohisfatherinlawsevenmonthsearlier.Hedidhisworkclean.Exs:
RedburnandWhiteJacket.InwritingthesetwobooksIhavenotrepressedmyselfmuchsofarastheyareconcernedbuthavespokenprettymuchasIfeel.
Therewasonlyonethinginthespringof1850whichhedidnotfeelhecouldaffordtodo:SofarasIamindividuallyconcerned,&independentof

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mypocket,itismyearnestdesiretowritethosesortofbookswhicharesaidtofail.
Intheend,inMobyDick,hedid.Withinthreemonthshetookhisheadagain.Why?
ThroughMayhecontinuedtotrytodoaquickbookforthemarket:allmybooksarebotches.IntoJunehefoughthismaterials:blubberisblubber.Then
somethinghappened.What,Melvilletells:
Isomehowclingtothestrangefancy,that,inallmenhiddenlyresidecertainwondrous,occultpropertiesasinsomeplantsandmineralswhichbysomehappybutveryrare
accident(asbronzewasdiscoveredbythemeltingoftheironandbrassattheburningofCorinth)maychancetobecalledforthhereonearth.
When?Melvilleishisowntelltale:hewrotethesewordsinJuly,1850.TheyoccurinanarticlehedidforDuyckinck'smagazine.HegaveitthetitleHAWTHORNE
ANDHISMOSSES,WRITTENBYAVIRGINIANSPENDINGAJULYINVERMONT.
ThesubjectisHawthorne,ShakespeareandHermanMelville.ItisadocumentofMelville'srightsandperceptions,hisdeclarationofthefreedomofamantofail.
Withinamatterofdaysafteritwaswritten(July18ff.),MelvillehadabandonedtheaccountoftheWhaleFisheryandgambleditandhimselfwithAhabandthe
WhiteWhale.
TheMossespieceisadeepandlovelything.Thespiritisasweep,asinthebooktocome.TheconfusionofMayisgone.Melvilleischargedagain.MobyDickis
alreadyshadowedintheexcitementovergenius,andAmericaasasubjectforgenius.YoucanfeelAhabinthemaking,Ahaboftheglobularbrainandponderous
heart,somuchdoesMelvilleconcernhimselfwiththedistinctionbetweentheheadandtheheartinHawthorneandShakespeare.Youcanseetheprosesteppingoff.
ThegerminousseedsHawthornehasdroppedinMelville'sJulysoilbegintogrow:Bulkington,thesecretmemberofthecrewinMobyDick,ishere,hidden,inwhat
MelvillequotesasHawthorne'sselfportraittheseeker,roughhewnandbrawny,oflarge,warmheartandpowerfulintellect.
Aboveall,intheferment,Shakespeare,thecause.Thepassagesonhim

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themannerinwhichheisintroduced,thedetailwithwhichheisused,theintensitytellthestoryofwhathadhappened.Melvillehadreadhimagain.Hiscopyof
THEPLAYSsurvives.HehadboughtitinBostoninFebruary,1849.HedescribeditthentoDuyckinck:
Itisaneditioningloriousgreattype,everyletterwhereofisasoldier,&thetopofeverytlikeamusketbarrel.
IammadtothinkhowminuteacausehaspreventedmehithertofromreadingShakespeare.Butuntilnowanycopythatwascomeatabletomehappenedtobeavilesmallprint
unendurabletomyeyeswhicharetenderasyoungsperms.
Butchancingtofallinwiththisgloriousedition,Inowexultoverit,pageafterpage.
Thesetexists,sevenvolumes,withpassagesmarked,andcommentsinMelville'shand.ThesignificantthingistheroughnotesforthecompositionofMobyDickon
theflyleafofthelastvolume.ThesenotesinvolveAhab,Pip,Bulkington,Ishmael,andarethekeytoMelville'sintentionwiththesecharacters.Theythusrelatenotto
whatweknowoftheMobyDickthatMelvillehadbeenworkingonuptoJulybuttoMobyDickashecametoconceiveitatthistime.
JoinedtothepassagesonShakespeareintheMossespiece,thenotesintheShakespearesetverifywhatMobyDickproves:MelvilleandShakespearehadmadea
CorinthandoutoftheburningcameMobyDick,bronze.
Anoteofthanks
TheMelvillepeoplearerarepeople,andthisistherightplacetotell:
ofEleanorMelvilleMetcalfandHenryK.Metcalf,withwhomtheShakespearewasonlyabeginning,fortheyhavemadeallMelville'sthingsmine,indeedhavemade
meamemberoftheirfamily
ofRaymondWeaverandHenryA.Murray,Jr.,theothertruebiographer,whohavebeenmygenerousfriends
andofthoseearlycriersofMelville,CarlVanDorenandVanWyckBrooks,whohavespokenupforme.
FortheoriginaluseoftheShakespearesetandMelville'snotesinitIwishalsotothankanothergranddaughter,Mrs.FrancesOsborne.

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AmericanShiloh
ShakespeareemergedfromthefirstrushofMelville'sreadingaMessiah:asheputitintheMossespiecein1850,aShilohasheputittoDuyckinckin1849,full
ofsermonsonthemount,andgentle,aye,almostasJesus.Melvillehadawayofascribingdivinitytotruthtellers,Solomon,Shakespeare,Hawthorne,orJesus.
HenextlimitedShakespeare.HeadvancedacriticisminhissecondlettertoDuyckinckin1849whichiscentraltoallhislaterpublishedpassagesonthepoet.It
keepshimthissideofidolatry.ItarisesfromwhatMelvilletakestobeanAmericanadvantage:
IwouldtoGodShakespearehadlivedlater,&promenadedinBroadway.NotthatImighthavehadthepleasureofleavingmycardforhimattheAstor,ormademerrywithhim
overabowlofthefineDuyckinckpunchbutthatthemuzzlewhichallmenworeontheirsoulsintheElizabethanday,mightnothaveinterceptedShakespeare'sfreearticulations,
forIholditaverity,thatevenShakespearewasnotafrankmantotheuttermost.And,indeed,whointhisintolerantuniverseis,orcanbe?ButtheDeclarationofIndependence
makesadifference.
IntheMossespiece,ayearandahalflater,hegivesittone:
InShakespeare'stombliesinfinitelymorethanShakespeareeverwrote.AndifImagnifyShakespeare,itisnotsomuchforwhathediddoasforwhathedidnotdo,orrefrained
fromdoing.
Forinthisworldoflies,Truthisforcedtoflylikeascaredwhitedoeinthewoodlandsandonlybycunningglimpseswillsherevealherself,asinShakespeareandothermasters
ofthegreatArtofTellingtheTruth,eventhoughitbecovertlyandbysnatches.
InhiscopyofthePLAYS,whenShakespearemuzzlestruthspeakers,Melvilleisquicktomarkthelineorincident.InAntonyandCleopatraheputsacheck

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besideEnobarbus'bluntanswertoAntony'scorrectionofhisspeech:ThattruthshouldbesilentIhadalmostforgot.
InLearheunderscorestheFool'sanswertoLear'sangrythreatofthewhip:Truth'sadogmusttokennelhemustbewhipp'dout,whenLadythebrachmaystand
byth'fireandstink.TheverylanguageofMelvilleintheMossesthingisheardfromtheFool'smouth.
AsanartistMelvillechafedatrepresentation.HisworkuptoMobyDickwasaprogresstowardtheconcreteandafterMobyDickabreakingaway.Hehadtofight
himselftogivetruthdramaticlocation.Shakespeare'sdramaticsignificancewasnotlostuponhim,buthewouldhavebeen,ashesays,morecontentwiththestill,rich
utteranceofagreatintellectinrepose.Melville'sdemanduncoversaflawinhimself.
FortunatelyforMobyDickthebigtruthwasnotsermonsonthemount.MelvillefoundtheseinMeasureforMeasure.Itis,rather
thosedeepfarawaythingsinhimthoseoccasionalflashingsforthoftheintuitiveTruthinhimthoseshort,quickprobingsattheveryaxisofrealitythesearethethingsthat
makeShakespeare,Shakespeare.
Suchrealityisinthemouthsofthedarkcharacters,Hamlet,Timon,Learandlago,wherethedramaMelvillecouldlearnfrom,lay.Forblacknessfixedand
fascinatedMelville.ThroughsuchdarkmenShakespeare
craftilysays,orsometimesinsinuatesthethingswhichwefeeltobesoterrificallytrue,thatitwereallbutmadnessforanygoodman,inhisownpropercharacter,toutteroreven
hintofthem!
ItisthissideofShakespearethatMelvillefastenson.Madness,villainyandevilarecalledupoutoftheplaysasthoughMelville'spencilwereawandofblackmagic.
TouseSwinburne'scommentonLear,itisnotthelightofrevelationbutthedarknessofitthatMelvillefindsmostprofoundinShakespeare.Hewastowritein
MobyDick:
Thoughinmanyofitsaspectsthevisibleworldseemsformedinlove,theinvisiblesphereswereformedinfright.

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Man,toman
ShakespearereflectsMelville'sdisillusioninthetreacherousworld.InTheTempest,whenMirandacriesoutObravenewworld!,MelvilleencirclesProspero's
answerTisnewtothee,andwritesthisnoteatthebottomofthepage:
ConsiderthecharacterofthepersonsconcerningwhomMirandasaysthisthenProspero'squietwordsincommenthowterrible!InTimonitselfthereisnothinglikeit.
Shakespearefrequentlyexpressesdisillusionthroughfriendshipanditsfallingoff.Thethemehasmanyvariations.Melvillemissesnoneofthem.CaesarandAntonyon
theficklenessofthepeopletotheirrulers,inAntonyandCleopatra.AchillesandUlyssesonthepeople'sfaithlessnesstotheirheroes,inTroilusandCressida.
HenryVandRichardIIontreacherywithinthecouncilsofthestate.Melvillepullsitoutofthetragedies:inLear,whentheFoolsingshowfatherswhobearbags
drawforthloveandthosewhowearragsloseloveandinHamlet,thelinesofthePlayerKing:
Forwhonotneeds,shallneverlackafriend
Andwhoinwantahollowfrienddothtry,
Directlyseasonshimhisenemy.
TobetrayafriendwastomakeforMelvilleasforRichardasecondfallofcursedman.ShakespearegivesthethemeitsgreatcounterpointinTimon.Inthatplay
thewholeissueofidealismisobjectifiedthroughfriendship.WhenhisfriendsfailhimTimon'sloveturnstohate.Hisworldandwithittheplaywrenchesintohalves
astheearthwithonelungetoreofffromasun.
MelvilletookamorepersonalpossessionofthetragedyofTimonthanofanyoftheotherdarkmen.InLearhefoundingratitude,butwhatgaveTimonitsspecial
intensitywasthatTimonwasundonebyfriends,notdaughters.

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Melvillemakeslittleoutoftheloveofmanandwoman.Itisthefriendshipofmenwhichislove.ThatiswhyHawthornewassoimportanttohim,towhomhewrote
hisbestlettersandtowhomhededicatedMobyDick.ThatiswhyheneverforgotJackChase,thehandsomesailorheworkedunderinthePacific,towhomhe
dedicatedhislastbook,BillyBudd.
MelvillehadtheGreeksenseofmen'slove.OrtheRoman's,asShakespearegivesitinCoriolanus.InthatplaytheonlyplaceMelvilleheavilymarksisthelong
passageinwhichCoriolanusandAufidiusmeetandembrace.Theyarecaptains,withthesoldier'ssenseofcomrade.Melville'sistheseaman's,ofashipmate.Aufidius
speaksthesamepassionateimagesoffriendshipMelvilleusestoconveythedepthoffeelingbetweenIshmaelandQueequeginMobyDick.IshmaelandQueequeg
areasmarriedasAufidiusfeelstowardCoroiolanus:
thatIseetheehere
Thounoblething,moredancesmyraptheart
ThanwhenIfirstmyweddedmistresssaw
Bestridemythreshold.
LikeTimonMelvillefoundonlydisappointment.HelostJackChase,andHawthorne,shyestgrape,hidfromhim.InapoemofhislateryearsMelvillewrote:
Tohaveknownhim,tohavelovedhim
Afterlonenesslong
Andthentobeestrangedinlife
Andneitherinthewrong
Easeme,alittleease,mysong!
Timonismockedwithglory,ashisfaithfulStewardsays,lives,asMelvillenotes,butinadreamoffriendship.Melvilleusestheblastedheroasasymbolthroughouthis
books,sometimesinPlutarch'sconventionasamisanthrope,oftenasanotherIshmaelofsolitude,mostsignificantlyinPierreasdisillusionitself,manundoneby
goodness.ItisthesubjectofPierreandthelessonofTheConfidenceMan.
Melville'sfeelingfortheplayissummarizedbyalineheunderscoresinit,theStranger'sobservationonthehypocrisyofTimon'sfriends:
Why,thisistheworld'ssoul.

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LearandMobyDick*
ItwasLearthathadthedeepcreativeimpact.InMobyDicktheuseispervasive.Thatitsuseisalsothemostimplicitofanyplayservesmerelytoenforcealawof
theimagination,forwhathasstirredMelville'sownmostisheavedout,likeCordelia'sheart,withmosttardiness.
IntheHawthorneMossesarticleitistoLear'sspeechesthatMelvillepointstoproveShakespeare'sinsinuationsofthethingswefeeltobesoterrificallytrue:
Tormentedintodesperation,Lear,thefranticking,tearsoffthemask,andspeaksthesamemadnessofvitaltruth.
HiscopyoftheplayismarkedmoreheavilythananyoftheothersbutAntonyandCleopatra.OfthecharacterstheFoolandEdmundreceivetheattention.Ihave
saidMelvillefoundhisownwordsintheFool'smouthwhentheFoolcries,Truth'sadogmusttokennel.Hefoundtheminsuchotherspeechesofthatboy,as
Nay,anthoucanstnotsmileasthewindsits,thou'Itcatchcoldshortly.
ForMelvilleseestheFoolastheShakespearehewouldhavelikedmoreof,notonewhorefrainedfromhintingwhatheknew.
MelvilleisterrifiedbyEdmundwhotookhisfiercequalityinthelustystealthofnatureandwho,inhisevil,leaguedwiththatworldwhosethickrotundityLearwould
strikeflat.Thesourcesofthisman'sevil,andhisqualities,attractthewriterwhoislikewisedrawntoGoneril,tolagoandwhohimselfcreatesaJacksoninRedburn
andaClaggartinBillyBudd.
*UnderthistitleanearlierversionofthismaterialappearedinthemagazineTwiceAYear.

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Itisthepositivequalitiesinthedepraved:Edmund'scourage,andhispowerofattractinglove.WhenEdmundoutfacesAlbany'schallenge,deniesheisatraitor,and
insistshewillfirmlyprovehistruthandhonor,Melvillewritesthisfootnote:
Theinfernalnaturehasavaloroftendeniedtoinnocence.
WhenEdmundisdyinghefailstorevokehisorderforthedeathofLearandCordelia,onlylooksuponthebodiesofGonerilandReganandconsoleshimself:Yet
Edmundwasbelov'd!ThisMelvilleheavilychecks.ItisatwistingambiguitylikeoneofhisownEvilbeloved.
Melvilleisdumbwithhorrorattheclose,bloodstopdoublemeaningofShakespeare'slanguageinthesceneoftheblindingofGloucester.Hiscommentisan
exclamation:Terrific!WhenRegancallsGloucesterIngratefulfox!Melvillewrites:
Here'satouchShakespeareanRegantalksofingratitude!
FirstcauseswereMelville'speculiarpreoccupation.HeconcentratesonanEdmund,aReganandtheworldofLear,whichisalmostgeneratedbysuchcreatures,
liesdirectlybehindthecreationofanAhab,aFedallahandtheWhite,lovely,monstrousWhale.
MelvillefoundanswersinthedarknessofLear.NotintheweakgoodnessofanAlbanywhothinkstoexcludeevilfromgoodbyaremarkasneatandcorrectiveas
EliphazintheBookofJob:
Wisdomandgoodnesstothevileseemvile
Filthssavorbutthemselves.
Theambiguitiesdonotresolvethemselvesbysuchrightmindedness.AlbanyisaStarbuck.
MelvilleturnedrathertomenwhosufferedasJobsufferedtoLearandEdgarandGloucester.JudgedbyhismarkingsuponthesceneinwhichEdgardiscovers,
withahotburstinhisheart,hisfather'sblindness,Melvilleperceivedwhatsuggestsitselfasasymbolsoinherenttotheplayastoleaveoneamazedithasnotbeen
moreoftenobservedthattolosetheeyeandcapacitytosee,tolosethephysicalorgan,vilejelly,istogainspiritualsight.

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ThecrucifixioninLearisnotofthelimbsonacrossbeam,butoftheeyesputout,theeyesofpridetoosharpforfeeling.Learhimselfinthestormscenesensesit,but
Gloucesterblindspeaksit:IstumbledwhenIsaw.
Lear'swords:
Poornakedwretches,wheresoe'eryouare,
Thatbidethepeltingofthispitilessstorm,
Howshallyourhouselessheadsandunfedsides,
Yourloop'dandwindow'draggedness,defendyou
Fromseasonssuchasthese?O,Ihaveta'en
Toolittlecareofthis!Takephysic,pomp
Exposethyselftofeelwhatwretchesfeel,
Thatthoumaystshakethesuperfluxtothem
Andshowtheheavensmorejust.
Gloucester'swordscomelater,ActIV,Sc.1.Itisthepurgatorialdispensationofthewholeplay.Gloucester,whoachestohavehissonEdgarback
MightIbutlivetoseetheeinmytouch,
I'ldsayIhadeyesagain!
hashiswishanddoesnotknowit.Hedoesnotknow,becausehecannotsee,thatEdgarisalreadytherebesidehiminthedisguiseofTomo'Bedlam.Gloucester
takeshimforthepoor,madbeggarhesaysheis.HesecondsLearthus:
Here,takethispurse,thouwhomtheheavens'plagues
Havehumbledtoallstrokes.ThatIamwretched
Makestheethehappier.Heavens,dealsostill!
Letthesuperfluousandlustdietedman,
Thatslavesyourordinance,thatwillnotsee
Becausehedoesnotfeel,feelyourpow'rquickly
Sodistributionshouldundoexcess,
Andeachmanhaveenough.
TheunderscoreisMelville's.
WhatmovesMelvilleisthestrickengoodnessofaLear,aGloucester,anEdgar,whoinsufferingfeelandthusprobemorecloselytothetruth.MelvilleistoputAhab
throughthishumbling.

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<><><><><><><><><><><><>
ShakespearedrewLearoutofwhatMelvillecalledtheinfiniteobscureofhisbackground.ItwasmostkintoMelville.Heusesitasanimmediateobscurearound
hisownworldofMobyDick.AndheleavesIshmaelattheendtotellthetaleofAhab'stragedyasKentremainedtospeaktheselastwordsofLear:
Vexnothisghost.O,lethimpass!Hehateshim
Thatwouldupontherackofthistoughworld
Stretchhimoutlonger.

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AMobyDickManuscript
ItisbeautifullyrighttofindwhatItaketoberoughnotesforMobyDickintheShakespearesetitself.TheyarewritteninMelville'shand,inpencil,uponthelastfly
leafofthelastvolume,theonecontainingLear,OthelloandHamlet.Itranscribethemastheystand:
EgononbaptizoteinnominePatriset
FiliietSpiritusSanctisedinnomine
Diaboli.madnessisundefinable
It&rightreasonextremesofone,
notthe(blackart)GoeticbutTheurgicmagic
seeksconversewiththeIntelligence,Power,the
Angel.
TheLatinisalongerformofwhatMelvilletoldHawthornetobethesecretmottoofMobyDick.InthenovelAhabhowlsitasaninvertedbenedictionuponthe
harpoonhehastemperedinsavageblood:
Egononbaptizoteinnominepatris,sedinnominediaboli.
Idonotbaptizetheeinthenameofthefather,butinthenameofthedevil.
Thechangeinthewordingfromthenotestothenovelisofextremesignificance.Itisnotforeconomyofphrase.TheremovalofChristandtheHolyGhostFiliiet
SpiritusSanctiisamechanicalactmirroringtheimaginative.Ofnecessity,fromAhab'sworld,bothChristandtheHolyGhostareabsent.Ahabmovesandhashis
beinginaworldtowhichTheyandwhatTheyimportareinimical:remember,AhabfoughtadeadlyscrimmagewithaSpaniardbeforethealtaratSanta,andspatinto
thesilvercalabash.TheconflictinAhab'sworldisabrupt,morethatbetweenSatanandJehovah,oftheolddispensation

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thanthenew.ItistheoutwardsymboloftheinnertruththatthenameofChristisutteredbutonceinthebookandthenitistornfromStarbuck,theonlypossibleman
touseit,atamomentofanguish,thenightbeforethefatalthirddayofthechase.
AhabisConjurMan.Heinvokeshisownevilworld.Hehimselfusesblackmagictoachievehisvengefulends.Withtheverywordsinnominediabolihebelieveshe
uttersaSpellandperformsaRiteofsuchmagic.
TheAhabworldisclosertoMacbeththantoLear.Initthesupernaturalisaccepted.FedallahappearsasfreelyastheWeirdSisters.BeforeAhab'sfirstentrancehe
hasreachedthatidentificationwitheviltowhichMacbethoutoffearevolveswithintheplayitself.TheagentsofevilgivebothAhabandMacbethafalsesecurity
throughthesamedevice,theunfulfillableprophecy.Ahab'stenseandnervousspeechislikeMacbeth's,ratherthanLear's.BothMacbethandAhabshareacommon
hellofwicked,sleepburstingdreams.Theybothendurethetortureofisolationfromhumanity.Thecorrespondenceofthesetwoevilworldsisprecise.Ineitherthe
divinehaslittleplace.Melvilleintendedcertainexclusions,andChristandtheHolyGhostweretwoofthem.Ahab,alas,couldnotevenbaptizeinthenameofthe
Father.HecouldonlydoitinthenameoftheDevil.
ThatistheAhabworld,anditiswicked.MelvillemeantexactlywhathewrotetoHawthornewhenthebookwasconsummated:
Ihavewrittenawickedbook,andfeelasspotlessasthelamb.
Melville'swickedbookisthedramaofAhab,hishothatefortheWhiteWhale,andhisvengefulpursuitofitfromthemomenttheshipplungeslikefateintothe
Atlantic.Itisthataction,notthecompletenovelMobyDick.TheMobyDickuniversecontainsmore,somethingdifferent.Perhapsthedifferenceisthereasonwhy
Melvillefeltspotlessasthelamb.TheroughnotesintheShakespeareembraceit.
Madnessisundefinable.Twoplaysfromwhichthethoughtcouldhavesprungareinthevolumeinwhichitiswrittendown:LearandHamlet.Ofthemodesof
madnessinLeartheKing's,theFool'swhichisdefinable?ButweneednotrestonsuppositionastowhatMelvilledrewofmadnessfromHamlet,orfromLear:
MobyDickincludesbothAhabandPip.MelvilleforceshisanalysisofAhab'smaniatoincredibledistances,onlyhimselftoadmitthat

Page53
Ahab'slarger,darker,deeperpartremainsunhinted.Pip'sisamorefathomableidiocy:hisshipmatescalledhimmad.Melvillechallengesthedescription,refusesto
leavePip'smadnessdarkandunhinted,declares:Soman'sinsanityisheaven'ssense.
TheemphasisinthisdeclarationisthekeytoresolveapparentdifficultiesinthelastsentenceofthenotesintheShakespearevolume:
It&rightreasonextremesofone,notthe(blackart)GoeticbutTheurgicmagicseeksconversewiththeIntelligence,Power,theAngel.
Itakeittorefertothemadnessoftheprevioussentence.Rightreason,lessfamiliartothe20thcentury,meantmoretothelast,forintheKantColeridge
terminologyrightreasondescribedthehighestrangeoftheintelligenceandstoodincontrasttounderstanding.MelvillehadusedthephraseinMardi.Whathedid
withittherediscloseswhatmeaningithadforhimwhenheuseditinthesecrypticnotesforthecompositionofMobyDick.Mardi:
Rightreason,andAlma(Christ),arethesameelseAlma,notreason,wouldwereject.TheMaster'sgreatcommandisLoveandheredoallthingswise,andallthingsgood,unite.
Loveisallinall.Themorewelove,themoreweknowandsoreversed.
Now,returningtothenotes,ifthephrasenotthe(blackart)GoeticbutTheurgicmagicisrecognizedasparenthetical,thesentencehassomeclarity:madnessand
itsapparentoppositerightreasonarethetwoextremesofonewayorattemptorurgetoreachtheIntelligence,Power,theAngelor,quitesimply,God.
Theadjectivesoftheparenthesisbearthisreadingout.GoeticmightseemtoderivefromGoetheandthusFaust,butitssourceistheGreekgoetos,meaning
variouslytrickster,jugglerand,ashere,magician.(PlatocalledliteratureGoeteia.)WhereverMelvillepickedupthewordhemeansit,ashesays,fortheblack
art.Theurgic,insharpcontrast,isanaccuratetermforakindofoccultartoftheNeoplatonistsinwhich,throughselfpurificationandsacredrites,theaidofthe
divinewasevoked.InthusopposingGoeticandTheurgicMelvilleisusingadistinctionasoldasChaldeabetweenblackandwhitemagic,theoneofdemons,the
otherofsaintsandangels,oneevil,the

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otherbenevolent.ForwhiteorTheurgicmagic,likemadnessandrightreason,seeksGod,whiletheblackartGoeticinvokesonlythedevil.
NowgotoMobyDick.IntheAhabworldthereisnoplaceforconversewiththeIntelligence,Power,theAngel.Ahabcannotseekit,forunderstoodbetweenhim
andFedallahisacompactasbindingasFaust'swithMephistopheles.Melville'sassumptionisthatthoughbothAhabandFaustmaybeseekersaftertruth,aleague
withevilclosesthedoortotruth.Ahab'sart,solongashishatesurvives,isblack.Hedoesnotseektrueconverse.
Madness,onthecontrary,does,andPipismad,possessedofaninsanitywhichisheaven'ssense.WhenthelittleNegroalmostdrowned,hissoulwentdownto
wondrousdepthsandtherehesawGod'sfootuponthetreadleoftheloom,andspokeit.ThroughthataccidentPip,ofallthecrew,becomesprelusiveofthe
eternaltimeandthusachievestheconverseAhabhasdeniedhimselfbyhisblasphemy.ThechapteronTheDoubloondramatizestheattemptsonthepartofthe
chiefactivecharacterstoreachtruth.InthatplaceStarbuck,inhismereunaidedvirtue,isrevealedtohavenoabidingfaith:heretreatsbeforeTruth,fearingtolose
hisrighteousness.Stubb'sjollityandFlask'sclodlikestupiditybluntthespiritual.TheManxmanhasmeresuperstition,Queequegmerecuriosity.Fedallah
worshipsthedoubloonevilly.Ahabseesthegoldcoinsolipsistically:threepeaksasproudasLuciferandallnamedAhab!Pipalone,ofall,hastrueprescience:
henamesthedoubloonthenaveloftheshipTruthitslife.
RightreasonistheotherwaytoGod.Itisthewayofman'ssanity,thepureforgingofhisintelligenceinthesmithyoflife.TounderstandwhatuseMelvillemadeofit
inMobyDicktwocharacters,bothinactivetotheplot,havetobebroughtforth.
Bulkingtonisthemanwhocorrespondstorightreason.MelvilledescribeshimonceearlyinthebookwhenheenterstheSpouterInn.Sixfeetinheight,withnoble
shoulders,andachestlikeacofferdam.Inthedeepshadowsofhiseyesfloatedsomereminiscencesthatdidnotseemtogivehimmuchjoy.IntheLeeShore
chapterBulkingtonisexplicitlyexcludedfromtheactionofthebook,butnotbeforeMelvillehas,inambiguities,divulgedhissignificanceassymbol.BulkingtonisMan
who,bydeep,earnestthinkingputsouttosea,scorningtheland,convincedthatinlandlessnessaloneresidesthehighesttruth,shoreless,indefiniteasGod.


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TherestofthePequod'svoyageBulkingtonremainsasleepingpartnertotheaction.Heisthesecretmemberofthecrew,belowdeckalways,likethemusicunder
theearthinAntonyandCleopatra,strange.Heisthecrew'sheart,thesignoftheirpaternity,thehumanthing.Andbythathumanthingalonecantheyreachtheir
apotheosis.
ThereremainsIshmael.MelvilleframedAhab'saction,andthepartsPip,Bulkingtonandtherestofthecrewplayedintheaction,withinanarrativetoldbyIshmael.
ToolongincriticismofthenovelIshmaelhasbeenconfusedwithHermanMelvillehimself.Ishmaelisfictive,imagined,asareAhab,PipandBulkington,notso
completelyperhaps,fortheveryreasonthatheissolikehiscreator.Butheisnothiscreatoronly:heisachorusthroughwhomAhab'stragedyisseen,bywhom
whatisblackandwhatiswhitemagicismadeclear.LiketheCatskilleagleIshmaelisabletodivedownintotheblackestgorgesandsoarouttothelightagain.
Heispassiveanddetached,theobserver,andthushisseparateanddramaticexistenceisnotsoeasilyfelt.Butunlesshischoricfunctionisrecognizedsomeofthe
visionofthebookislost.WhenhealonesurvivedthewreckofthePequod,heremained,aftertheshroudofthesearolledon,totellmorethanAhab'swickedstory.
Ahab'sselfcreatedworld,inessenceprivative,athingofblasphemiesandblackmagic,hasitsoffset.Ahabhastodominateoveraworldwherethehumanitiesmay
alsoflowerandman(thecrew)byPip'sorBulkington'swayreachGod.BythisuseofIshmaelMelvilleachievedastruggleandacatharsiswhichheintended,tofeel
spotlessasthelamb.
Ishmaelhasthatcleansingubiquityofthechorusinalldrama,backtotheGreeks.Itisinterestingthat,inthesameplacewherethenotesforMobyDickarewrittenin
hisShakespeare,Melvillejotsdown:EschylusTragedies.IshmaelalonehearsFatherMapple'ssermonout.HealonesawBulkington,andunderstoodhim.Itwas
IshmaelwholearnedthesecretsofAhab'sblasphemiesfromtheprophetofthefog,Elijah.HerecognizedPip'sGodsight,andmoanedforhim.Hecriesforththe
gloryofthecrew'shumanity.IshmaeltellstheirstoryandtheirtragedyaswellasAhab's,andthuscreatestheMobyDickuniverseinwhichtheAhabworldis,by
thenecessityoflifeortheDeclarationofIndependenceincluded.

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Ahabandhisfool
Lifehasitsway,evenwithAhab.MelvillehaddrawnuponanothermythbesidesShakespeare'stocreatehisdarkAhab,thatofbothMarloweandGoethe:theFaust
legend.Buthealtersit.Aftertherevolutionsofthe18th19thcenturythearchetypeFausthasneverbeenthesame.InMelville'salterationtheworkingsofLearand
theFoolcanalsobediscerned.
ThechangecomesintherelationofAhabtoPip.AhabdoesnotdieinthetempestuousagonyofFaustuspointingtoChrist'sbloodandcryingforHismercy.Hedies
withanacceptanceofhisdamnation.BeforehisfinalbattlewiththeWhiteWhaleAhabhasresignedhimselftohisfate.
HissolipsismismostviolentandhishatemostengenderedthenightofTheCandleswhenheraisestheburningharpoonoverhiscrew.Itisanightofstorm.The
settingisLearlike.Ahab,unlikeLear,doesnotinthisnightofstormdiscoverhisloveforhisfellowwretches.Onthecontrary,thisnightAhabuncovershiswhole
hate.Hecommitsthegreaterblasphemythandefianceofsunandlightning.Heturnstheharpoon,forgedandbaptizedfortheinhumanWhalealone,uponhisown
humancompanions,thecrew,andbrandisheshishateoverthem.ThemorningafterthestormAhabismostsubtlydedicatedtohismalignantpurposewhenhegives
thelightningtwistedbinnacleanewneedle.Melvillemarksthispitchofhisego:
Inhisfieryeyesofscornandtriumph,youthensawAhabinallhisfatalpride.
InaveryfewhoursthechangeinAhabsetsinandPiptheshadowofPipistheagentofthechange.LikeareminderofAhab'ssoulhecallstoAhabandAhab,
advancingtohelp,criestothesailorwhohasseizedPip:Handsoffthatholiness!Itisacrucialact:forthefirsttimeAhabhasoffered

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tohelpanotherhumanbeing.AndatthatverymomentAhabspeaksLear'sphrases:
Thoutouchesmyinmostcentre,boythouarttiedtomebycordswovenofmyheartstrings.Come,let'sdown.
ThoughAhabcontinuestocursethegodsfortheirinhumanities,histone,fromthismoment,isricher,quieter,lessangryandstrident.Heevenquestionshisformer
blasphemies,forabottomedsadnessgrowsinhimasPiplivesinthecabinwithhim.ThereoccursareturnofsomethingPeleghadinsistedthatAhabpossessedonthe
dayIshmaelsignedforthefatalvoyage.PelegthenrefutedIshmael'sfearsofhiscaptain'swickednamethatdogshadlickedhisblood.HerevealedthatAhabhada
wifeandchild,andconcluded:
holdyethentherecanbeanyutter,hopelessharminAhab?No,no,myladstricken,blasted,ifhebe,Ahabhashishumanities!
ThesehumanitieshadbeensetasideinAhab'shatefortheWhiteWhale.Oneincident:Ahabneverthought,ashepacedthedeckatnightinfeverofanger,howhis
whalebonestumprappingtheboardswakedhiscrewandofficers.ThearousedStubbconfrontsAhab.Ahabordershimlikeadogtokennel.ForStubbcannot,like
Pip,affectAhab.WhenitisoverStubb'sonlyimpulseistogodownonhiskneesandprayforthehotoldmanwhohefeelshassohorriblyamputatedhimselffrom
humanfeelings.
Pipcontinuestobe,mysteriously,theagentofthisbloomonceithasstarted.SaysAhab:Idosuckmostwondrousphilosophiesfromthee!Heevengoessofaras
toaskGodtoblessPipandsavehim.BUTbeforeheasksthat,hethreatenstomurderPip,Pipsoweakenshisrevengefulpurpose.
ThoughPiprecedesinthelastchapters,thesupplenesshehasbroughtoutofoldAhabcontinuestogrow.PipisleftintheholdasthoughAhabwoulddownhissoul
oncemore,butabovedecksAhabisnolongertheproudLucifer.HeasksGodtoblessthecaptainoftheRachel,thelastshiptheymeetbeforeclosingwithMoby
Dick,thevesselwhichlaterpicksIshmaelupafterthetragedy.Thedifferenceinhisspeechiscommentedon:avoicethatprolonginglymouldedeveryword.Andit
isnoticedthatwhen,towardthelastdays,AhabpreparesabasketlookoutforhimselftobehoistedupthemasttosightMoby

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Dick,hetrustshislifelinetoStarbuck'shands.ThisrunningsapofhishumanitiesgivesoutitslastshootsinTheSymphonychapter:observethatAhabasksGod
todestroywhathasbeenfromthefirsthisboastGod!God!God!stavemybrain!HehasturnedtoStarbuckandtalkedabouthiswifeandchild!Andthoughthis
apple,hislast,andcindered,dropstothesoil,hisrevengeisnowlesspursuedthanresignedto.Histhoughtsarebeyondthewhale,uponeasefuldeath.
Inthethreedays'chaseheisatense,mastered,almostgrimman.Hesetshimselfoutsidehumanitystill,butheisnolongerarrogant,onlylonely:Cold,coldAfter
thecloseofthesecondday,whenFedallahcannotbefound,hewithers.HislastvindictiveshoutistorallyhisangerswhichhavebeenhurledandlostlikeFedallah
andtheharpoonoflightningandblood.HeturnstoFate,thehandspikeinhiswindlass:Thewholeact'simmutablydecreed.Thatnighthedoesnotfacethewhaleas
washiscustom.Heturnshisheliotropeglancebacktotheeast,waitingthesunofthefatalthirddaylikedeath.ItisMacbethinhissoliloquyoftomorrow,before
Macduffwillmeetandmatchhim.Onthethirddaytheunbodiedwindsengagehisattentionforthefirsttimeinthevoyage.EvenaftertheWhiteWhaleissightedAhab
lingers,looksoverthesea,considershisship,saysgoodbyetohismasthead.HeadmitstoStarbuckheforeknowshisdeath:thepropheciesarefulfilled.Inhislast
speechhemoansonlythathisshipperisheswithouthim:
Oh,lonelydeathonlonelylife!Oh,nowIfeelmytopmostgreatnessliesinmytopmostgrief.
HerushestotheWhiteWhalewithhisoldcursedeadonhislips.
ThelastwordsspokentohimfromtheshiphadbeenPip's:Omaster,mymaster,comeback!
WhatPipwroughtinAhabthrowsovertheendofMobyDickaveilofgrief,relaxesthetensionsofitshate,andpermitsasympathyforthestrickenmanthatAhab's
insistentdiabolismuptothestormwouldnothaveevoked.Theendofthisfireforkedtragedyisenrichedbyapityintheveryjawsofterror.
ThelovelyassociationofAhabandPipisliketherelationsofLeartoboththeFoolandEdgar.WhattheKinglearnsoftheirsufferingthroughcompanionshipwith
theminstormhelpshimtoshedhispride.Hishedgingandself

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deludingauthoritygone,Learseeswisdomintheirprofoundunreason.HebecomescapableoflearningfromhisFooljustasCaptainAhabdoesfromhiscabinboy.
InLearShakespearehastakentheconventionalcrazywittyandbroughthimtoanintegralplaceinmuchmorethantheplot.Heisatcentertothepoeticand
dramaticconceptionoftheplay.Melvillegraspedthedevelopment.
SomeonemayobjectthatPipismad,notfoolish.InShakespearethegradationssubtlyworkintooneanother.InMobyDickPipisboththejesterandtheidiot.
Beforeheisfrightenedoutofhiswitsheandhistambourinearecapandbellstothecrew.Hissoliloquyupontheirmidnightrevelryhasthesharp,bitterwisdomofthe
Elizabethanfool.AndhistalkafterhisdrowningisparallelnotonlytotheFoolandEdgarbuttoLearhimself.
AremarkinMobyDickthrowsasharplightoverwhathasjustbeensaidandoverwhatremainstobesaid.MelvillecommentsonPip:
allthystrangemummeriesnotunmeaninglyblendedwiththeblacktragedyofthemelancholyship,andmockedit.
ForPipbyhismadnesshadseenGod.

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Shakespeare,concluded
Melvillewasnonavedemocrat.Herecognizedthepersistenceofthegreatmanandfaced,in1850,whatwehavefacedinthe20thcentury.Atthetimeoftherise
ofthecommonmanMelvillewroteatragedyoutoftherise,andthefall,ofuncommonAhab.
IntheolddaysoftheMediterraneanandEuropeitwastheflawofakingwhichbroughttragedytomen.Acalamitywasthatwhichunwarstrooktheregnesthat
beenproude.Whenfatewasfeudal,andagreatmanfell,hishumanproperty,thepeople,paid.
AwhaleshipremindedMelvilleoftwothings:(1)democracyhadnotriditselfofoverlords(2)thecommonman,howeverfree,leansonaleader,theleader,however
dedicated,leansonastraw.Hepitchedhistragedyrightthere.America,1850washisGIVEN:
apooroldwhalehunterthegreatman
fate,thechaseoftheSpermwhale,plot(economicsistheadministrationofscarceresources)thecrewthecommons,theCaptainoverthem
EQUALS:
tragedy.
Foraconsiderationofdominanceinman,readbyallmeansthechapterinMobyDickcalledTheSpecksynder,concerningemperorsandkings,theformsand
usagesofthesea:
ThroughtheseformsthatcertainsultanismofAhab'sbrainbecameincarnateinanirresistibledictatorship.
Forbeaman'sintellectualsuperioritywhatitwill,itcanneverassumethepractical,availablesupremacyoverothermen,withouttheaidofsomesortofexternalartsand
entrenchments,always,inthemselves,moreorlesspaltryandbase.

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Norwillthetragicdramatistwhowoulddepictmortalindomitablenessinitsfullestsweepanddirectswing,everforgetahint,incidentallysoimportantinhisart,astheonenow
alludedto.
Much,muchmore.
Melvillesawhiscreativeproblemclearly:
Hehadaproseworld,aNEW.
Butitwastragedie,old.
Shakespearegavehimabagoftricks.
TheQ.E.D.:MobyDick.
TheshapeofMobyDick,likethemeaningofitsaction,hasrootsdeepinTHEPLAYS.MelvillestudiedShakespeare'scraft.Forexample,characterization.Inat
leastthreeplacesMelvilleanalyzesHamlet.TherearetwoinPierre.Oneenlargesupontheonlynotehewritesinhiscopyoftheplay:thegreatMontaignismof
Hamlet.ThethirdandmostinterestingpassageisinTheConfidenceMan.ThereMelvillemakesadistinctionbetweenthemakingofoddandthecreationof
originalcharactersinliterature.Ofthelatterheallowsonlythree:Milton'sSatan,Quixote,andHamlet.Theoriginalcharacteris
likearevolvingDrummondlight,rayingawayfromitselfallrounditeverythingislitbyit,everythingstartsuptoit(markhowitiswithHamlet).
MelvillelikenstheeffecttothatwhichinGenesisattendsuponthebeginningofthings.InthecreationofAhabMelvillemadethebestuseofthatlessonheknew
how.
Structure,likewise.MobyDickhasariseandfalllikethemovementofanElizabethantragedy.Thefirsttwentytwochapters,inwhichIshmaelaschorusnarratesthe
preparationsforthevoyage,areprecedenttotheactionandprepareforit.ChapterXXIIIisaninterlude,TheLeeShoreBulkington,becauseheisrightreason,
isexcludedfromthetragedy.Withthenextchapterthebook'sdramabegins.ThefirstactendsintheQuarterDeckchapter,thefirstprecipitationofaction,which
bringstogetherforthefirsttimeAhab,thecrew,andthepurposeofthevoyagethechaseoftheWhiteWhale.Allthedescriptionsofthecharacters,allthe
forebodings,allthehintsarebroughttotheirfirstmanifestation.
Anotherinterludefollows:IshmaelexpandsuponMobyDickandTheWhitenessoftheWhale.

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Merelytosummarizewhatfollows,thebookthenmovesuptothemeetingwiththeJeroboamandhermadprophetGabriel(chp.LXXI)and,afterthat,inathird
swell,intothevisitofAhabtotheSamuelEnderbytoseehercaptainwhohadlosthisarmasAhabhislegtoMobyDick(chp.C).Thepitchoftheactionisthe
stormscene,TheCandles.FromthatpointonAhabcomestorepose,fifthact,inhisfate.
InthisfinalmovementMobyDickappears,forthefirsttime.ItisamistaketothinkoftheWhaleasantagonistintheusualdramaticsense.(Indemocracythe
antagonismsarewide.)Thedemonismsaredispersed,andMobyDickbutthemoreassailablemassofthem.InfacttheactualphysicalwhalefinallypresentinMoby
Dickismorecomparabletodeath'sfunctioninElizabethantragedy:whenthewhitethingisencounteredfirst,heisinnoflurry,butquietlyglidingthroughthesea,a
mightymildnessofreposeinswiftness.
ObviouslyMobyDickisanovelandnotaplay.ItcontainscreationsimpossibletoanystageashipthePequod,whales,Leviathan,thevastsea.Inthemakingof
mostofhisbooksMelvilleusedsimilarthings.InMobyDickheintegratedthemasheneverhadbeforenorwastoagain.
ThewhalingmatterisstowedawayashedidnotmanagetheethnologyofTypeenorwasto,theparablesofTheConfidenceMan.Whilethebookisgettingunder
waythatis,inthefirstfortyeightchaptersMelvilleallowsonlyfourscientificchaptersonwhalingtoappear.Likewiseasthebooksweepstoitstragicclosein
thelastthirtychapters,Melvillerulesoutallsuchexposition.ThebodyofthebooksupportsthebulkofthematterontheSpermwhalescientificorpoetic.Melville
carefullycontrolsthesechapters,skillfullybreakingthemup:theeightdifferentvesselsthePequodmeetsasshemovesacrosstheoceansslipinandcutbetweenthe
considerationsofcetology.Actuallyanddeliberatelythewhalingchaptersbraketheadvanceoftheplot.VanWyckBrookscalledthemballast.
Stagedirectionsappearthroughout.Soliloquies,too.ThereisasignificantuseofthespecialElizabethansoliloquytotheskullinAhab'smutteringstotheSperm
whale'sheadinTheSphinx(chp.LXX).Oneofthesubtlestsupernaturaleffects,thelowlaughfromtheholdintheQuarterDeckscene,echoes
Shakespeare'suseoftheGhostbelowgroundinHamlet.
Propertiesareusedforprecisetheatereffect.AhabsmasheshisquadrantasRichardhismirror.OfthemtheDoubloonisthemostimportant.OnceAhabhasnailed
thecointothemastitbecomesFOCUS.Theimagery,thethought,

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thecharacters,theeventsprecedentandtocome,arecenteredonit.Itisthere,midstage,Volpone,gold.
OfthesoliloquiesAhab'sshowthepresenceofElizabethanspeechmost.ThecadencesandacclivitiesofMelville'sprosechange.MelvillecharacterizedAhab's
languageasnervous,lofty.InthesoliloquiesitisjaggedlikethatofaShakespeareherowhosespeechlikehisheartoftencracksintheagonyofthefourthandfifth
acts.
ThelongeaseandseaswellofIshmael'snarrativeprosecontraststhisshort,rentlanguageofAhab.Theoppositionofcadenceispartofthecounterpointofthebook.
Itadumbratesthepartthetwocharactersplay,Ishmaelthepassive,Ahabtheactive.Morethanthat,itarisesfromandreturns,contrapunto,tothewholeconceptof
thebookrevealedbythenotesinMelville'scopyofShakespearethechoricIshmaelcan,liketheCatskilleagle,findthelight,butAhab,whoseonlymagicisGoetic,
remainsdark.Thecontrastinproserepeatsthethemeofcalmandtempestwhichrunsthroughthenovel.Withoutexceptionactionrisesoutofcalm,whetheritisthe
firstchaseofawhale,theappearanceoftheSpiritSpout,thestorm,orthefinalchaseofMobyDickprecipitouslyfollowinguponTheSymphony.
AsthestrongestliteraryforceShakespearecausedMelvilletoapproachtragedyintermsofthedrama.AsthestrongestsocialforceAmericacausedhimtoapproach
tragedyintermsofdemocracy.
ItwasnotdifficultforMelvilletoreconcilethetwo.BecauseofhisperceptionofAmerica:Ahab.
Ithastodowithsize,andhowyouvalueit.YoucanapproachBIGAmericaandspreadyourselflikeapancake,singherstretchasWhitmandid,bepuffedupaswe
areoverPRODUCTION.It'seasy.THEAMERICANWAY.Soft.Turnsoutpapercups,liesflatonthebrush.N.G.
OrrecognizethatourpowerissimplyQUANTITY.Withoutconsideringpurpose.Easytoo.Thatis,solongaswecontinuetobeINGENIOUSaboutmachines,and
havetheresources.
Oryoucantakeanattitude,thecreativevantage.SeeherasOBJECTinMOTION,somethingtobeshaped,foruse.Itinvolvesafirstactofphysics.Youcan
observePOTENTIALandVELOCITYseparately,haveto,tomeasureTHETHING.Yougetapproximateresults.Theyareusableenoughifyouincludethe
UncertaintyPrinciple,Heisenberg'slawthatyoulearnthespeedatthecostofexact

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knowledgeoftheenergyandtheenergyatthelossofexactknowledgeofthespeed.
Melvilledidhisjob.Hecalculated,andcastAhab.BIG,firstofall.ENERGY,next.PURPOSE:lordshipovernature.SPEED:ofthebrain.DIRECTION:
vengeance.COST:thepeople,theCrew.
AhabistheFACT,theCrewtheIDEA.TheCrewiswherewhatAmericastandsforgotintoMobyDick.They'rewhatweimaginedemocracytobe.They're
Melville'sadditiontotragedyashetookitfromShakespeare.HehadtodomorewiththepeoplethanoffstageshoutsinaJuliusCaesar.Thiswasthedifferencea
DeclarationofIndependencemade.InhiscopyoftheplayMelvillewritesthenote
TAMMANYHALL
inheavystrokesbesideCasca'sdescriptionoftheRomanrabblebeforeCaesar:
Ifthetagragpeopledidnotclaphimandhisshim,accordingashepleas'danddispleas'dthem,astheyusetodotheplayersinthetheatre,Iamnotrueman.
Melvillethoughthehadmoresearoomtotellthetruth.HewaswritinginacountrywhereanAndrewJacksoncould,asheputit,behurledhigherthanathrone.A
politicalsystemcalleddemocracyhadledmentothinktheywerefreeofaristocracy.ThefactofthematterisMelvillecouldn'thelpbutgivethepeoplealarger
partbecauseinthelifearoundhimtheyplayedalargerpart.Heputitthisway:
ThisaugustdignityItreatof,isnotthedignityofkingsandrobes,butthataboundingdignitywhichhasnorobedinvestiture.
Thoushaltseeitshininginthearmthatwieldsapickanddrivesaspikethatdemocraticdignitywhich,onallhands,radiateswithoutendfromGodHimself!ThegreatGod
absolute!Thecenterandcircumferenceofalldemocracy!Hisomnipresence,ourdivineequality!
If,then,tomeanestmariners,andrenegadesandcastaways,Ishallhereafterascribehighqualities,thoughdarkweaveroundthemtragicgracesifeventhemostmournful,
perchancethemostabased,amongthemall,shallattimeslifthimselftotheexaltedmountsifIshalltouchthatworkman'sarmwithsomeethereallightifIshallspreadarainbow
overhisdisastroussetofsunthenagainstallmortalcriticsbearmeoutinit,thoujustSpiritofEquality,whichhastspreadoneroyalmantleofhumanityoverallmykind!

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RememberBulkington
ToMAGNIFYisthemarkofMobyDick.Aswithworkers,castaways,sowiththescopeandspaceofthesea,theprose,theWhale,theShipand,OVERALL,the
Captain.ItisthetechnicalactcompelledbytheAmericanfact.Cubitsoftragicstature.Putitthisway.ThreeforcesoperatedtobringaboutthedimensionsofMoby
Dick:Melville,amanofMYTH,antemosaicanexperienceofSPACE,itspowerandprice,AmericaandancientmagnitudesofTRAGEDY,Shakespeare.
ItisnecessarynowtoconsiderAntonyandCleopatra,theplayMelvillepencilledmostheavily.RomewastheWorld,andShakespearegiveshispeopleandthe
actionimperialsize.HisheroandheroineloveasVenusandMars,asplanetsmight.
Hislegsbestridtheoceanhisrear'darm
Crestedtheworld.
SoCleopatradreamedofAntony.Melvillemarkedherwords.HemarkedAntony'sjoyfulgreetingtoCleopatraafterhehasbeatenCaesarbacktohiscamp:
Othoudayo'th'world!
AndCleopatra'scryofgriefwhenAntonydies:
Thecrowno'th'earthdothmelt.
AntonyandCleopatraisanEast.ItisbuiltasPyramidswerebuilt.Thereisspacehere,andobjectsbigenoughtocontestspace.Thesearemenandwomenwho
livelifelarge.Theproblemsarethesamebuttheyworkthemselvesoutonastageaswideasocean.
WhenEnobarbuscommentsonAntony'sflightfromActiuminpursuitofCleopatra,wearepreciselywithintheproblemsofMobyDick:
Tobefurious
Istobefrightedoutoffear,andinthatmood
Thedovewillpecktheestridge.Iseestil
Adiminutioninourcaptain'sbrain
Restoreshisheart.Whenvalourpreysonreason
Iteatsthesworditfightswith.

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InexactlywhatwayAhab,furiousandwithoutfear,retainedtheinstrumentofhisreasonasalancetofighttheWhiteWhaleisacentralconcernofMelville'sinMoby
Dick.InhisCaptaintherewasadiminutioninhisheart.
Fromwhaling,whichAmericahadmadedistinctlyapartofherindustrialempire,hetookthispooroldwhalehunter,ashecalledhim,thismanofNantucket
grimnessandshagginess.Outofsuchstuffhehadtomakehistragichero,hisoriginal.Hefacedhisdifficulties.Heknewhewasdeniedtheoutwardmajestical
trappingsandhousingsthatShakespearehadforhisAntony,hisLearandhisMacbeth.Melvillewrote:
Oh,Ahab!whatshallbegrandinthee,mustneedsbepluckedatfromtheskies,anddivedforinthedeep,andfeaturedintheunbodiedair!
Hemadehimakhanoftheplank,andakingofthesea,andagreatlordofleviathans.FortheAmericanhastheRomanfeelingabouttheworld.Itishis,todispose
of.Hestridesit,withpossessionofit.Hisproperty.Hashenotconquereditwithhismachines?Hebendsitsresourcestohiswill.Thepaxoflegions?the
Americanizationoftheworld.Whoelseislord?
MelvilleisolatesAhabinaGrandLamalikeexclusiveness.HeiscaptainofthePequodbecauseofthatcertainsultanismofhisbrain.Heisproudandmorbid,
willful,vengeful.Hewearsahollowcrown,notRichard's.ItistheIronCrownofLombardywhichNapoleonwore.Itsjaggededge,formedfromanailofthe
Crucifixion,gallshim.Heworshipsfireandswearstostrikethesun.
OVERALL,hatehugeandfixedupontheimperceptible.NotmanbutallthehiddenforcesthatterrorizemanisassailedbytheAmericanTimon.ThatHATE,
extrahuman,involveshisCrew,andMobyDickdragsthemtotheirdeathaswellasAhabtohis,acollapseofaherothroughsolipsismwhichbringsdownaworld.
Attheendofthebook,intheheartoftheWhiteWhale'sdestruction,theCrewandPipandBulkingtonandAhabliedowntogether.
Allscatt'redinthebottomofthesea.

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FACT#2
ISDROMENON

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Fact2
OnthenightofJanuary26,1824,astheNantucketwhaleshiptheGlobecruisedinthePacificOceanoffFanningsIsland,latitude349'North,longitude15829'
West,oneofthevessel'stwoharpooneers,calledboatsteerers,SamuelB.Comstock,aged21,thesonofaQuakerschoolmasterofNantucketandadescendenton
hismother'ssideoftheMitchells,afamilyasorganictothelifeoftheislandastheCoffins,Starbucks,GardnersandMacys,wentdownintothecabinshortlyafter12
o'clockand,withashortaxe,splittheCaptain'sheadintwoasheslept,killedtheChiefMatethesameway,confrontedthetworemainingofficerswiththecry,Iam
thebloodyman,IhavethebloodyhandandIwillhaverevenge,shottheThirdMatewithamusketandlefttheSecondMatedyingfromthewoundshegavehim
withaboardingknife,atwoedgeinstrumentfourfeetlong,threeincheswide,usedinwhalingtocuttheblubberfromthebodyofawhale.

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PARTTHREE
MOSES

Page73
Thebookofthelawoftheblood
InMobyDickthesea,itscreature,andmanareallsavage.TheWhaleisathirstforhumanblood.Ahabhasthatthat'sbloodyonhismind.Theseawillforever
andforever,tothecrackofdoom,insultandmurderman.
Itiscannibalism.EvenIshmael,theorphanwhosurvivesthedestruction,criesout:Imyselfamasavage,owingnoallegiancebuttotheKingofCannibalsandready
atanymomenttorebelagainsthim.
Itisthefacts,toafirstpeople.
(Nothingiswithoutefficientcause)
1.Melvillewantedagod.SpacewastheFirst,beforetime,earth,man.Melvillesoughtit:PolareternitiesbehindSaturn'sgraychaos.Christ,aHolyGhost,
Jehovahneversatisfiedhim.WhenheknewpeaceitwaswithagodofPrime.HisdreamwasDaniel's:theAncientofDays,garmentwhiteassnow,hairlikethepure
wool.SpacewastheparadiseMelvillewasexileof.
Whenhemadehiswhalehemadehisgod.IshmaeloncecomesonthebonesofaSpermwhalepitcheduponland.Theyaremassive,andheisstruckwithhorrorat
theantemosaicunsourcedexistenceoftheunspeakableterrorsofthewhale.
WhenMobyDickisfirstseenheswimsasnowhillonthesea.ToIshmaelheisthewhitebullJupiterswimmingtoCretewithravishedEuropaonhishorns:aprime,
lovely,malignant,white.
2.Melvillewasagonizedoverpaternity.Hesufferedasason.Hehadlostthesource.Hedemandedtoknowthefather.
Kronos,inordertobecomegod,armedhimselfwithasickleandcastratedhisfatherUranus.Saturnusedapruningknife.KronosandSaturninturnwere

Page74
overthrownbytheirsonsbandedtogetherinabrotherhorde.ThenewgodsofJupiterwere,intheirturn,attackedbyothersons.Thesesonstheywerethe
Giantslost.Theyaredescribedasmoreakintomen.
Enceladuswasamongthem.HeisaconstantimageinMelville.Melvillesawhislikenessindefeatedandexiledheroes,notinsuccessfulsonswho,bytheirtriumph,
becomethefathers.
3.ThefableofMobyDickisvengeance.OnapreviousvoyageAhabandtheWhiteWhalehadmetandfought.Thewhalehadsuddenlyswepthissickleshaped
lowerjawbeneathhimandreapedawayAhab'slegasamowerabladeofgrassinthefield.
(Osiris,Egyptianheroandgod,wasmangledbyhissonandenemySethintheshapeofaboar,rentintofourteenpiecesandscatteredontheNile,wherefishatehis
phallus.)
Ahabthenhadonepurpose:anaudacious,immitigable,andsupernaturalrevenge.ForAhabpileduponthewhale'swhitehumpthesumofallthegeneralrageand
hatefeltbyhiswholeracefromAdamdown.
4.Itisnecessarytounderstandthisrageandhate.MelvilleisnotJonathanEdwards.HisanswertotheangrygodisanAhab,amanofelementsnotofsins:
Talknottomeofblasphemy,manI'dstrikethesunifitinsultedme.
Melville'sethicismythic.ShamewithhimwasprecedenttoanyEden,wasofPrime:theconcordofSpace,sweetmilktoMelvilleasuniversalpeacewasto
Shakespeare'sMalcolm,wascurdledandmadesourbyman,andblood.
ItwasnotactsbutAct,OriginalAct,thatgavemanguilt.Man'simperialthemeisthefruitofFirstMurder.
Crimeislargeandimponderablewhenaman'sexperienceofviolenceismutiny,onwidesea.TokillaCaptain!
Conscienceisnotthecalipertomeasureit:
(rememberthestoryoftheshiptheTownHoinMobyDick?whocanpassjudgmentonSteelkiltwhenitistheWhiteWhalewhoexecutesjusticeontheFirstMate,Radney?)
immediatelythatMacbethmurderstheKinghestrideshugelyforwardintothemystery.HestepsfromScotlandintothespherestobedamned:

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Thouseesttheheavens,astroubledwithman'sact
Threatenhisbloodystage.
SpaceandtimewerenotabstractionbutthebodyofMelville'sexperience,andhecastthestruggleintheirdimension.TheWhiteWhalebecamethebiggestsingle
creatureamanhasbeenpittedagainstandAhab'srageandhateisscaledlikeSatan's,thelargestenemyoftheFathermanhasimagined.
5.Ahab'sbirthwasdark,uncanonical.Starbucktookhimformoredemonthanman.ToStubbhewasoldmanofoceans.Ishmaelsawhimgnawedwithinand
scorchedwithout.Ahabfelthimselftobedeadlyfaint,bowedandhumpedasthoughIwereAdam.
Ahabhadknownanearlierterrorthanthesea.Hehadwoeonhim.Hewasbrandedwithaslenderrodlikemark,lividlywhitishthelengthofhim.Theprophet
ElijahtoldIshmaelthatAhablayinatrancelikedeadforthreedaysandnightsoffCapeHorn.Atanothertimehelookedlikeamancutawayfromastake.
ThenightofTheCandles,whenlightningturnshismaststotapers,Ahabseizestheconductorchainsofhisship.Hedoesit,hesays,tomatchhisbloodwithfire.He
criesupintothenight:
Oh,thouclearspirit,ofthyfirethoumadestme,
andlikeatruechildoffire,Ibreatheitbacktothee.
(ThereisamyththatPrometheusdidmorethanstealfirefromthesunandbringitdowntoman:itissaidthatPrometheusfatheredman.)
6.InMobyDick,whenIshmaelhassaidallhecansayaboutAhab,headmitsthatthelarger,darker,deeperpartofthemanisobscure.Hesuggeststhesameholds
trueforanymanandinsistsitisnecessarytogodowntoaplacefarbeneathaman'supperearthinordertouncovertheunknownpart.
There,hesays,amanwillfindthathisrootofgrandeur,hiswholeawfulessencesitsinbeardedstate
anantiqueburiedbeneathantiquitiesandthronedontorsos.
Ishmaelmakesthiscomment:
So,withabrokenthrone,thegreatgodsmockthatcaptiveking.

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Heanswershisownquestionwhothekingis:
itisyourowngrimsire,whodiedbegetye,exiledsons.
Then,foraclimax,offersthisenigma:
fromhimonlywilltheoldStatesecretcome.
TheMelvillewhowroteMobyDickhadafirmholdonthatsecret.Hewasastrongandsurefootedsonasaresult.Hewasnotweakenedbyanynewtestament
world.Hehadreachedbacktowherehebelonged.HecouldfaceuptoMoses:heknewthegreatdeedandmisdeedofprimitivetime.Itwasinhimself.
Thisoncehehadhisanswerhowmanacquiresthelostdimensionofspace.Thereisawaytodisclosepaternity,declareyourselftherivalofearth,air,fireand
water.
NowhecountedhisbirthdaysastheHebrewsdid:ason'syearsgatherednotfromtheson'sbirthbutfromthefather'sdeath.AnotherMosesMelvillewroteinMoby
DicktheBookoftheLawoftheBlood.

Page77
PARTFOUR
CHRIST

Page79
forEdwardDahlberg,myothergeniusoftheCrossandtheWindmills.
IftheFoolisinthisbook,younurturedhim.
MelvillereadDonQuixoteasyouhave.Hediditatamostimportanttime,whenhewasturningforsuccor,asIimagineyouhaveturned,totheMediterraneanworld,andChrist.
HeacquiredhiscopyinSeptember,1855.
Twoofthepassageshemarkedbelongtoyourexperienceastohis.Iwantyouparticularlytohavethem:
SanchoPanzaalonebelievedallthathismastersaidtobetrue,knowingwhohewas,andhavingbeenacquaintedwithhimfromhisbirth.
TheotherisDonAntonio'scryagainstalltheSimonCarrascosoflifewhogloatwhentheyhaveunseatedapoorKnight:
Oh!sir,Godforgiveyoutheinjuryyouhavedonethewholeworld,inendeavoringtorestoretohissensesthemostdivertingmadmaninit.

Page80
Christ
In1841MelvillehadgonetothePacific.In1856hewenttotheHolyland.Itisinsuchcontrastthattheworkofhislastfortyyears,fromMobyDickin1851tohis
deathinNewYorkin1891,standstothePacificexperienceandthebookswhichissuedfromit:Typee,Omoo,Mardi,WhiteJacket,andMobyDick.
Thetripof1856isanunnaturaltwintothebetterknownearliervoyage.Hemadeitatacriticaltimeinhiscareerandittells,asstory,whatisthetruth,asIseeit,of
hislossofpower.*
WhenhesetoutinOctoberofthatyearhehadreasonsofhealthfordoingso.ThewritingofMobyDickhadhurthim.Hewas31.TheimmediatelaboronPierre
aggravatedhiscondition.Itwentsofarhisfamilyin1853calledindoctors,amongthemOliverWendellHolmes,Pittsfieldneighbor,tojudgehissanity.
Asearlyas1851Melvillehadfigureditwouldhelpifhegotaway.ArelativewhocametocallinDecembershortlyafterthepublicationofMobyDickreportedher
conversationwithMelvilletoDuyckinckinNewYork:
Ilaughedathimsomewhatandtoldhimthattherecluselifehewasleadingmadehiscityfriendsthinkthathewasslightlyinsaneherepliedthatlongagohecametothesame
conclusionhimselfbutifhelefthometolookafterHungarythecauseinhungerwouldsuffer.
*Theprincipalactsofthelastfortyyearsare:Pierre,anovelofNewYork,written18512(1852)BartlebytheScrivener,TheEncantadasandBenitoCereno,three
importantshortprosepieces,twoofthemthrowbackstothePacificfirstpublishedinPutnam'sMonthlyMagazine,1853,'54,'55,collectedinThePiazzaTales(1856)The
ConfidenceMan,anovelcalledamasquerade,apparentlywrittenfrom1854to1856(1857)theHolylandjourney,October1856May1857versefrom1859on,includingthe
twovolumenarrativeinfourpartsClarel,APoemandPilgrimageintheHolyland(1876)andthereturntoprose,BillyBudd,Foretopman,ashortnovel,written188891,found
inmss.1919.

Page81
By1856andthewritingofTheConfidenceMan,wildandwhirlingwords,thewholepersistentmultitudeofMelvillesandShawsfeltthatsomethinghadtobedone,
thattherehadtobesomedisposition,onceandforall,ofthismanwhomsometoleratedandothersfeared,andofwhommostwereashamedandallseemedweary.
Themoneyforthetripcamefromhisfatherinlaw,JusticeShaw.ThistimeMelvilledidnotgoawayonhisownhewasthoughguardedlysentaway.
InEngland,tobookpassageonaMediterraneansteamer,hevisitedHawthorne.Hawthornedescribeshimaslookingmuchasheusedtodo(alittlepaler,and
perhapsalittlesadder),aroughoutsidecoat,andwithhischaracteristicgravityandreserveofmanner.ThetwomenspentadaybytheseanearSouthport,
shelteringthemselvesfromthewindinahollowamongthesandhills.TheyhadwhatMelvillecallsinhisjournalsimplygoodtalk.Hawthorne,inhis,saysmore:
Melville,ashealwaysdoes,begantoreasonofProvidenceandfuturity,andofeverythingthatliesbeyondhumanken,andinformedmethathehadprettymuchmadeuphis
mindtobeannihilatedbutstillhedoesnotseemtorestinthatanticipation,and,Ithink,willneverrestuntilhegetsholdofadefinitebelief.
ItisstrangehowhepersistsandhaspersistedeversinceIknewhim,andprobablylongbeforeinwanderingtoandfrooverthesedeserts,asdismalandmonotonousasthe
sandhillsamidwhichweweresitting.Hecanneitherbelieve,norbecomfortableinhisunbeliefandheistoohonestandcourageousnottotrytodooneortheother.
Ifhewereareligiousman,hewouldbeoneofthemosttrulyreligiousandreverentialhehasaveryhighandnoblenatureandisbetterworthimmortalitythanmostofus.
HawthornesawMelvilleagainthedaybeforehesailed:HesaidthathealreadyfeltbetterthaninAmericabutobservedthathedidnotanticipatemuchpleasurein
hisrambles,forthespiritofadventureisgoneoutofhim.HecertainlyismuchovershadowedsinceIsawhimlastbutIhopehewillbrightenashegoesonward.
Sevenyearsearlier,beforeMobyDick,Melvillehadalmostmadethesametrip.1849,atsea,boundforEnglandtosellWhiteJacket:
ThisafternoonDrTaylorandIsketchedaplanforgoingdowntheDanubefromViennatoConstantinoplethencetoAthensonthesteamertoBeyrootandJerusalem
AlexandriaandthePyramids....

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Iamfull(justnow)ofthisgloriousEasternjaunt.Thinkofit:JerusalemandthePyramids!Constantinople,theAegeanandalsoAthens!
Age37now,MelvillegoestotheMediterraneanworldtorefreshhimself.Heoffershimself,ashesays,apassivesubjecttoamoreimmediatepastthanat21he
hadfoundinprimitivePolynesia.
HedoesnotbringbackaTypee.TheJournalUptheStraitsisanuncreatedthing.ItistherecordofMelville'srediscoveryoftheEastandthen,hislossofit.The
storycanbetoldnowthatRaymondWeaverhas,aftermuchlabor,madethetextavailable.ItliesundertheJournal'sillegiblesurface.
ThesunandthedarkerracesstirredupfeelingsMelvillehadfortwelveyearsbeatenback,evenasheworked.Inspiteofhiswritinghehadbecomeweddedtoa
whiteguilt.ThepressureshadoriginatedfromhisenvironmentAmericaandtightenedinwards.Thestiflingforceshadatraitorousagenttohelpthem:theethicaland
NorthernMelville.
ThereseemsnodoubthebroughtbackfromtheSouthSeasanumberofshames,socialshamestoaddtoearlieronesreachingbacktohisfather'ssinsandfailures.
Melville'sbehaviorintheyears185156wasill.Heremainedperiodicallyviolenttohiswife,andstrangewithhismother.Therewasshockinhim.Pierreis
documentationenough.AddTheConfidenceMan.IneachChristisofthesubjectandthematter.
IntheJournalUptheStraitsthestoryofMelville'sreturnstartsafterCapeFinisterreispassed,offCapeVincent.Theentryforthatdayisadumbshowofwhatis
tofollow.ThecontrariesofthemanwhonowturnstotheEastforsomeresolutionofthemlieinthesenaturalsentences,asoutwardasgestures:
Sunday23d.PassedwithinathirdofamileofCapeSt.Vincent.
Sunday,Lighthouse&monasteryonboldcliff.Cross.Caveunderneathlight
Nov.23,house.ThewholeAtlanticbreakshere.Lovelyafternoon.Greatproces
1856sionofshipsboundforCrimeamusthavebeendescribedfromthis
point.
Melvillehadstartedaghost.Whatheseesonthecliffis,quick,his,life:HEIGHTandCAVE,withtheCROSSbetween.Andhisbooksaremadeupofthesethings:
lighthouse,monastery,Cross,cave,theAtlantic,anafternoon,theCrimea:truth,celibacy,Christ,thegreatdark,spaceofocean,thesenses,man'spast.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Firstact,theMediterranean.Itisreiteration,itmighthavebeenrite.Melvillemakesthisentryhisfirstdayonit:Pacific.ANoah,Melvillehaddominatedand
survivedhisFlood.MobyDick,ark,isbehindhim,andsoarethewatersofhisFlood,theAtlanticandthePacific.Hereturnstosmallerwaters,theMediterranean.
Inlandlessnessaloneresidesthehighesttruth,shoreless,indefiniteasGod,Melvillehadwritten,tocharacterizeBulkington,intheLeeShorechapterofMoby
Dick.
TheMediterraneanisaclosesea,isinthemiddleoftheland,istheoldcenterofearth.OnitsshoresNoah'schildren,Shem,HamandJapheth,andtheirsons,have
workedoutlifesinceflood.MelvillehadthealternativeNoahhadwhenthewatersshrank:tobeahusbandman.Therewasmuchforhimtodoasmuchhadbeen
donefromGenesison,beforeChrist.Melvillehadroominanoldtestamentworld,amplespaceandtimetoreify.TherewasaCovenantforhimtoshare,the
everlastingonebetweenGodandeverylivingcreatureofallfleshthatisupontheearth.Thepityofit,in1856,isthis:theonlyplaceMelvillemanagestoseethetoken
ofcovenant,therainbow,isoverthewatersoftheDeadSea.
Hemissedhisowntruth.TheAtlantic,thePacificandtheMediterraneanformedatrinitymorenaturaltohim,aspoted'espace,thanthatotherTrinity,thatdeserthe
chosetowandertoandfroin,hislastfortyyears.EgononbaptizoteinnominePatrisetFiliietSpiritusSanctisedinnomineDiaboli.
ConstantinoplegaveMelvillebacktosensation.Hehadshownamarkedinterestinthewomenoftwoharemsaboardshiponthepassagein.Helikensthecitytoa
woman:Thefogliftedfromabouttheskirtsofthecity....Itwasacoydisclosure,akindofcoquetting...likeherSultanasshewasthusseenveiledinherash
mack.ItisanunusualimageforMelvilletouse.Thereisnotonlyanabsenceofpalpablewomaninhisworks,thereisrarelyasenseofwhataccompaniesher,
clothes,charm,pleasure.Fayaway,ofTypee,perhaps,asamemory,adream.Therearethetwopairs,LucyandIsabelofPierreandtheirprototypes,Yillahand
HautiaofMardi.Andthereisonlyoneother,thebestofthem,theCholaWidowofTheEncantadas,whotakesbodyfromthetaleofhersuffering.
Thetwopairsareunfeltandunfleshed.HautiaisaPacificislandQueenwhomMelville,intryingtoturnintoaSalemwitch,handlesasgingerlyasCottonMatherdid
poorMargaretRule.Sheisunburnt,unconfessed,herzone

Page84
unbound,brazenandinviting,Ithevortexthatdrawsallin,absurd.Isabeltoo.SheisMelville'schromoCenci,sorceressandsistertoPierre,theircommon
spellalampishincest.Lucy,meanttobeasYillahacontrast,isabetrothedwhosketchesandsews,achalkishlady,alaceofearthlyfrailtywhocangivePierre
nothingbutatext:heavenhathcalledmetoawonderfulofficetowardthee!
ThatMelvilledid,onthistrip,atConstantinopleandelsewhere,findsomespontaneitytowardwomansuggestsachangeinthecontoursofhispsycheprofound
enoughtofreeforcesinhimlongchecked.Herangesthepolyglotcitywildly,writesaboutitextravagantly.HemixesinthecrowdsofthesuburbsofGalataandPera.
Hemountsthebridgestowatchthemmovingbelow.WhenheleansovertheFirstBridgehisbodyisaliveasithasnotbeensinceheswungwithJackChasein
maintopsabovethePacific.Thedifference:heisbroodingoveracityofamillionandahalfhumanhumanbeings,notsomanysquaremilesofemptyocean:
TotheBazaar.Awildernessoftraffic.Furniture,arms,silks,confectionery,shoes,sandleseverything.(Cairo).Crowdedoverheadwithstonearches,withsideopenings.
Immensecrowds.Georgians,Armenians,Greeks,Jews,&Turksarethemerchants.Magnificentembroideredsilks&giltsabres&caparisonsforhorses.
Youlooseyourself&arebewildered&confoundedwiththelabyrinth,thedin,thebarbaricconfusionofthewhole.
ThePropontis,theBosphorus,theGoldenHorn,thedomes,theminarets,thebridges,themenofwar,thecypresses.Indescribable.
Whatiscommontoallpassagesistheattentiontothehumanandnatural,theconcrete,whathasbeenhusbanded.Architecturebudsandleafs.Hefindsthesourceof
themosquedomeinthetentsofthenomadictribes,theformoftheminaretinthecypresstree.AsiaandEuropeconfrontingeachotherattheBosphorusaretwo
womeninacontestofbeauty.ThecolorofAsiaislikethoseAsiaticlionsoneseesinmenagerieslazy&torpid.
Turnyourattentionnowtostone.Tostoneasitis.Asitisbuiltwith.Asitisrubble.
Turnfirsttostandingstone,toEgypt.TheJournalcomestoclimaxbeforethePyramids.

Page85
Whetheritistheappropriationofspaceinvolvedortheimplieddefianceoftimeortheenceladicassaultontheheavens,MASONRYisespeciallyassociatedwith
MYTHinman.ThetaleoftheGreatTowerisasultimatealegendastheFlood,Eden,Adam.
WhatevertheexplanationofthegreatpyramidatCholulaorthesourceofPlato'sdescriptionofthewatchtowersofAtlantis,they,likethePyramids,partakeofthis
needofmantopersistinmonumentaswellasinmyth.ThetempleofthesunatBabelwasnamedEsagila,meaning,theHouseoftheLiftingoftheHead.
THEPYRAMIDSloom,alongslopeofcragsandprecipices,thetablerockoverhanging,adheringsolelybymortar,twistedatangleslikebrokencliffs.Masonryandisitman's?
Thelinesofstonedonotseemlikecoursesofmasonry,butlikestrataofrocks.SlantingupthesweepingflankspeoplemovelikemulesontheAndes.Theyascendguidedby
Arabsinflowingwhitemantles,conductedasbyangels.ThesearethestepsJacoblayat.
IshudderattheideaoftheancientEgyptians.ItwasinthesepyramidsthattheideaofJehovahwasborn.Aterriblemixtureofthecunningandtheawful.Moseswaslearnedinall
theloreoftheEgyptians.
Nowall,noroof.Inotherbuildings,howevervast,theeyeisgraduallyinuredtothesenseofmagnitude,bypassingfromparttopart.Butherethereisnostayorstage.Itisallor
nothing.Itisnotthesenseofheightorbreadthorlengthordepththatisstirred.Itisthesenseofimmensitythatisstirred.
Thetheorythattheywerebuiltasadefenseagainstthedesertisabsurd.TheymighthavebeencreatedwiththeCreation.
Aswiththeocean,youlearnasmuchofitsvastnessbythefirstfiveminutes'glanceasyouwouldinamonth,sowiththepyramid.
Itssimplicityconfoundsyou.Findingitvaintotakeinthesea'svastnessmanhastakentosoundingitandweighingitsdensitysowiththepyramid,hemeasuresthebaseand
computesthesizeofindividualstones.Itrefusestobestudiedoradequatelycomprehended.Itstillloomsinmyimagination,dimandindefinite.
Thetearingawayofthecasing,thoughitremovedenoughstonetobuildawalledtown,hasnotonewhitsubtractedfromtheapparentmagnitude.Ithashadjustthecontrary
effect.Whenthepyramidpresentedasmoothplane,itmusthavelostasmuchinimpressivenessastheoceandoeswhenunfurrowed.Adeadcalmofmasonry.Butnowthe
ridgesmajesticallydiversify.
Ithasbeensaidinpanegyricofsomeextraordinaryworksofman,thattheyaffecttheimaginationliketheworksofNature.Butthepyramidaffectsoneinneitherwayexactly.Man
seemstohavehadaslittletodowithitasNature.

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Itwasthatsupernaturalcreature,thepriest.Theymustneedshavebeenterribleinventors,thoseEgyptianwisemen.Andoneseemstoseethat,asoutofthecrudeformsofthe
naturalearththeycouldevokebyartthetranscendentmassandsymmetryandaweofthepyramid,sooutoftherudeelementsoftheinsignificantthoughtsthatareinallmen,
theycouldrearthetranscendentconceptionofaGod.
Butfornoholypurposewasthepyramidfounded.
NorMobyDickwritten.ButseehowMelvilleturned,turnedtostoneasitisrubble,toJudea:
StonesofJudea.WereadagooddealaboutstonesinScriptures.Monuments&memorialsaresetupofstonesmenarestonedtodeaththefigurativeseedfallsinstonyplaces
andnowonder...Judeaisoneaccumulationofstones.
ItisLASTACT.WhenMelvillewentfromthePyramidstoJerusalemhelostallhehadgained.ThepowersotodescribethePyramidsleaveshim,asdidthepower
todoMobyDick,preytoChrist.HehadobservedinEgyptthattheSphinxhasitsbacktodesert&facetoverdure.MelvillereversedhisSphinx.Hethoughthe
facedverdureinChrist.Itturnedouttobedesert.
BarrennessofJudea
Whitishmildewpervadingwholetractsoflandscapebleachedleprosyencrustationofcurses...bonesofrocks,crunched,knawed,&mumbledmererefuse&rubbish
ofcreation....
NomossasinotherruinsnograceofdecaynoivytheunleavenednakednessofdesolationwhitishasheslimekilnsYouseetheanatomycompareswithordinary
regionsasskeletonwithliving&rosyman.
TwoweeksintheHolylandsealedMelvilleinabitternessofdisillusionfromwhichheneverrecovered,outofwhich,fifteenyearslater,hewroteClarel,thatrosaryof
doubt,atwovolumePoemandPilgrimageintheHolylandand,thirtyoddyearslater,BillyBudd,thatmostChristiantaleofaship,andmutiny.Thestones,the
rubbleinthepoolofBethesda,Sodom'sbitumen&ashes,theDeadSeawiththefoamonitsbeachlikeslaverofmaddog,andtheHolySepulcherasickening
cheatledMelvilletoonefinalquestion:
IsthedesolationofthelandtheresultofthefatalembraceoftheDeity?

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MelvillebecameChrist'svictim,anditwasdeath,andlackoflove,thatlethimbeit.Poorsoul,thecentreofmysinfulearth,Shakespearewrote.Melvillebecame
unsureofthecenter.Ithadbeenstrong,abackwardanddownwardinhimlikeAhab's,likeapyramid's:
TheoldmummyliesburiedinclothonclothittakestimetounwrapthisEgyptianking.
Withthecomingofdespairhecalleditabulbofnothing.InthemiddleofthewritingofMobyDickhewrotetoHawthorne:
ButIfeelthatIamnowcometotheinmostleafofthebulb,andthatshortlytheflowermustfalltothemould.
InPierreitwasbetweenthesetwobooksthatthechangecamehewrote:
Byvastpainswemineintothepyramidbyhorriblegropingswecometothecentralroomwithjoyweespythesarcophagusbutweliftthelidandnobodyisthere!
appallinglyvacantasvastisthesoulofman!
HedeniedhimselfinChristianity.Itisspace,anditsfeedingonman,thatistheessenceofhisvision,bredinhimhereinAmerica,anditistimewhichisattheheartof
Christianity.WhatthePacifichadconfirmedforhimheallowedChristtoundo.ItwasonthepromiseofafuturelifethatMelvillecaught.
Deathbotheredhim.Thatbareheadedlifeunderthegrass,hisown,worriedhim,inDickinson'swords,likeawasp.HelookedforsolacetotheResurrection.Hegot
nothing.Forthelossofmortalityhegotnothinginreturn.Thedimensionsoflifeashehadfeltthemmerelydwindled.Objectslosttheirgravityastheybulkinspace.
Allhehasleftin1856istheshellofhisownfaith:hetellsHawthornehehasprettymuchmadeuphismindtobeannihilated.ThechargeMelvillelevelsatChristin
Clarelisthelieinthepromiseoflifebeyonddeath:
BeholdhimyeabeholdtheMan
Whowarrantedifnotbegan
Thedreamthatdragsoutitsrepulse.

Page88
HemocksChristwithHisowncrytotheFather,whyhastThouforsakenme:
Upbraider!weupbraidagain.
ThesenseoflifeanddeaththatMelvilleforfeitedisonetheexperienceofspacegives.ThevisionofitisMobyDick,anditssavagemyth.InPierreitisreduced,as
Melvillewas,tostatement.Therearetwopassageswhichspeakout,fattyastheproseis.TheymaysaywhyChristhamperedhim.OneisacelebrationofEnceladus
forhiswarwiththeotherGiantstoreclaimhisbirthrightfromthefather.ThatwasbattleformortalityasMelvilleunderstooditbest,andonwhichhisimaginationfed.
TheotherpassagecelebratesannihilationfreedfromthedoubtChristbrought:
OfoldGreektimes,beforeman'sbrainwentintodotingbondage,andbleachedandbeateninBaconianfullingmills,hisfourlimbslosttheirbarbarictanandbeautywhenthe
roundworldwasfresh,androsy,andspicy,asanewpluckedappleall'swiltednow!inthoseboldtimes,thegreatdeadwerenot,turkeylike,dishedintrenchers,andset
downallgarnishedintheground,toglutthedamnedCycloplikeacannibalbutnoblyenviouslifecheatedthegluttonworm,andgloriouslyburnedthecorpsesothatthespirit
uppointed,andvisiblyforkedtoheaven!
SomewhereYeatsusesthephrasesighingafterJerusalemintheregionsofthegrave.Christ'sslideoffuturelifedeflectedMelville'ssightofpast.Melvillehadmade
hisactoffaithinMardi:Mymemoryisalifebeyondbirth.Hisnaturalsenseoftimewasinitsrelationtospace.ItwasnotdivertedasChrist'swas,awayfrom
object,totheindividual,andthepassageofthepersonalsoul.ToMelvilletheintimateandtheconcreteofthepresent,asforexamplehefeltitatConstantinople,
enabledamantoloosehimselfintospaceandtimeand,intheirdimensions,tofeelandcomprehendsuchanobjectasthePyramids,tocreate,inlikedimensions,an
AhabandaWhiteWhale.Timewasnotalinedrawnstraightaheadtowardfuture,alogicofgoodandevil.Timereturnedonitself.Ithaddensity,asspacehad,and
eventswereobjectsaccumulatedwithinit,aroundwhichmencouldmoveastheymovedinspace.Theactsofmenasagroupstood,putdownintime,asapyramid
was,tobereexamined,reenacted.HewroteinMardi:

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Doyoubelievethatyoulivedthreethousandyearsago?No.Butforme,IwasatthesubsidingoftheDeluge,andhelpedswabtheground,andbuildthefirsthouse.
WiththeIsraelites,IfaintedinthewildernesswasincourtwhenSolomonoutdidallthejudgesbeforehim.
I,itwas,whosuppressedthelostworkofManteo,ontheEgyptiantheology,ascontainingmysteriesnottoberevealedtoposterity,andthingsatwarwiththecanonical
scriptures.
Melvillewas.
IhavecalledMobyDickabookoftheOldDispensation.Christ'sdispensationwasasstrangetoMelvilleasitwouldhavebeentotheFirstAdam.
Hawthornewasright,Melvillecouldnotrestwithoutabelief,hehadtohaveagod.InMobyDickhehadone.IcalledhimtheAncientofDays.Thejobwasa
giant's,tomakeanewgod.Todoit,itwasnecessaryforMelville,becauseChristianitysurroundedhimasitsurroundsus,tobeasAntiChristasAhabwas.When
hedeniedAhab,helosttheAncient.AndChristianityclosedin.Buthehaddonehisjob.
Christasgodcontractedhisvision.ThepersonofJesuswasanothermatter.Melvilleneverdidcometotoleratethegod,andthereligion.Hemerelysurrenderedtoit.
Theresultwascreativelyastiflingofthemythpowerinhim.TheworkfromMobyDickonisproof.MelvillewastheantithesisofDante.Whenhepermittedhimself
totrytoputhisimaginationtoworkinaworldofChristianvalues,ashefirstdidinPierre,itisdisaster.PierreisaChristsyllogism:Ihatetheworld.The
ConfidenceMan,Clarel,andBillyBuddaresoriteswhichfollowfromit.
Melvillepaidwithhisfleshtoo.Whathewasleftwith,whenhehadlosthismythtoChrist,wastheimageofJesustheperson,andhespentfortyyearstryingtoturn
Himintosomeonehecouldlove.ButthoseMelvilleturnedtoforlove,turnedaway:hismotherfirst,hissisterAugustatoherBible,Hawthornetohisnotebookto
write:HermanMelville'slinenisnonetooclean.Bythe

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timeMelvillewrotePierresexhadbecometohimtheidiotcrownedwithstraw.Intheyearofhisdeathhepublishedtheselines:
WhatCosmicjestorAnarchblunder
Thehumanintegralcloveasunder
Andshiedthefractionsthroughlife'sgate?*
AfterMobyDickMelvillehadonlyJesusleftastheimageofwhathecallsinClarelhisfonderdreamofloveinmantowardman.
AfterAhabhismendecline.Theyareeitherabstraction,Pierre,orepicene,BillyBudd.BartlebyisanexceptionheisparsedintobeingliketheCarpenterinMoby
Dick.BenitoCerenoisanotherexception.**TherestareportraitsofJesus:soft,hermaphroditicalChrists.Theyseektocometogetherwithoneanother,toclose
likehalvesofapplesweet:
Afterconfidingsthatshouldwed
Oursoulsinone:Ah,callmebrother!
Sofemininehispassionatemood
Which,longashungeringunfed,
Allelserejectedorwithstood.
ThecharacterofVineinClarelisadenominator.Hehasnotraceofpassion'ssoil,isshyandlanguid,hasresistedsomedemonofdesireinhisAdam'ssecret
frameandshowsdisuseofvoice.Ahab'sPacifichasshrunktoSodomlake.
*Theyarefromapoembasedonanincidentofthe1856trip.ItiscalledAfterthePleasurePartyandisaddressedtoAmorThreatening.
Thereisanothercuriousreflectionofwoman.ItistheonlycommentMelvillemadeinhiscopyofDonQuixote,whichheread,itwillberemembered,in185556.Itreferstothis
passageofCervantes
Ihavealreadyoftensaidit,andnowrepeatit,
thataknighterrantwithoutamistressislike
atreewithoutleaves,abuildingwithoutcement,
ashadowwithoutabodythatcausesit.
ThenoteinMelville'shandreads.
orasConfuciussaidadogwithoutamaster,
or,todropbothCervantes&Confuciusparables
agodlikemindwithoutaGod.
**Bothbelong,alongwiththeCholaWidow,tothatshortreturn,afterPierre,tohissourceofpowerthePacific,andthelastthrowitgavehim,from1853to1855.Itwasthelast,to
thoseofuswhofindtheadmirationforBillyBuddlargelyatechnicalone.Mendoloseout.

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Themenarealsophysicallyflawed,andinmeanways,asifitwereMelville'spersonalrevengeonflesh,notthewaysofgodsandwhaleswhomangledandbranded
Ahabbecausehedaredtomatchtheminhugecontestofelementalforce.InClarel,Vine'sdouble,Celio,isahumpback,acreatureofcrookandlump.InThe
ConfidenceManaNegrobeggarcrawlsalongthedeckoftheMississippisteamboatacripple,Pipbefouled.Andtheendofthemall,BillyorBabyBudd,the
LatterdayIshmael,hasastutter.Thestutteristheplot.UnabletospeakBillystrikesoutwithhisfistandkillshisaccuser,Claggart,theMasterAtArms.
Itallfinallyhastodowiththethroat,SPEECH.Jesusunstrunghim.ThecreatorofMobyDickcomestovaluethesecretiveandsilent,whatlackoflovehadmadehis
flesh.TheAmericanElizabethanendsbyagreeingwithaMauricedeGurin:
Thereismorepowerandbeautyinthewellkeptsecretofone'sselfandone'sthoughtsthaninthedisplayofawholeheaventhatonemayhaveinsideone.
Melville'scomment,1869:
Thisisthefinestverbalstatementofatruthwhicheveryonewhothinksinthesedaysmusthavefelt.
InTheConfidenceMan,whenMelvilleusedChristhimselfdirectlyasacharacter,heclothedhiminwhitedoeskinandmadehimaMUTE.
TheEpilogueofthe'56Journal.OffCyprus,onhiswayfromtheHolylandtoGreece,MelvillecannomoreimagineaVenustohaverisenfromthesewatersthanon
Mt.OlivetthatfromthereChristrose.
InMobyDick,inhisanalysisofwhatisthehiddennatureofthePacifichehadcompareditsgentleawfulstirringstothefabledundulationsoftheEphesiansodover
theburiedEvangelistSt.John.Now,offPatmos,hecannomorerealizethatSt.Johnhadeverhadrevelationshere.
Itisthedenial.Hehasfacedabout,andgoesWest,tosufferthebalktherestofhisdaysonearth.

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ALASTFACT

Page95
ALastFact
InthebackpagesofthesecondofthetwonotebookswhichgotomaketheJournalUptheStraits,amongscatterednoteswhichcanbeidentifiedasdirections
madebyMelvilletohimselffor(1)storieshedidnotlaterwritebutturnedintoverse,(2)fortravellectureshehadtogivetohelpsupporthisfamilythethreeyears
immediatelyfollowinghisreturn,and(3)forClarel,youwillfindonenoteunrelatedtotheothersanduntraceabletotheJournalorlaterwork,atitle,anoun(or
anothertitle)andaname,asMelvillesetthemdowntogether,inatrianglethus:
Eclipse.
NoahaftertheFlood. Cap.[tain]Pollard.
ofNant.[ucket]

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PARTFIVE
NOAH

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forConstance

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TheConclusion:Pacificman
TherewasastorytoldbeforeChristofafishermanofBoeotianamedGlaucuswhofoundanherbtorevivefishastheylaygaspingonshore.Heateithimselfandwas
changedintoaseathing,halffishhalfman.MelvilletoldHawthornehedatedhislifefromhisreturnfromthePacific.
MobyDick
ChapterCXI
ThePacific
WhenglidingbytheBasheeislesweemergedatlastuponthegreatSouthSeawereitnotforotherthings,IcouldhavegreetedmydearPacificwithuncountedthanks,fornow
thelongsupplicationofmyyouthwasansweredthatsereneoceanrolledeastwardfrommeathousandleaguesofblue.
Thereis,oneknowsnotwhatsweetmysteryaboutthissea...........
WhatthePacificwastoHM:
(1)anexperienceofSPACEmostAmericansareonlynowenteringon,100yearsafterMelville.Ofwaters,asRussiaofland,thePacificgivesthesenseof
immensity.SheisHEARTSEA,twinandrivaloftheHEARTLAND.
ThePacificis,foranAmerican,thePlainsrepeated,a20thcenturyGreatWest.Melvilleunderstoodtherelationofthetwogeographies.ATexaspaintersettledin
BrittanyandspenthislifeoncanvasesofFrenchfishermenandtheAtlanticOcean.Butthepaint,themotion,therealityturnedouttobethePlains.Eachcanvaswas
thePanhandleseenthroughascreenofsea.
SpacehasastubbornwayofstickingtoAmericans,penetratingallthewayin,accompanyingthem.Itistheexteriorfact.ThebasicexterioractisaBRIDGE.Take
theminorderastheycame:caravel,prairieschooner,nationalroad,railway,plane.NowinthePacificTHECARRIER.Trajectory.Wemustgooverspace,orwe
wither.

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Exception:theplane.Itisatimeexperience,notofspace.Speedisitsvalue.Theverticalisstillwill.FlightdoesnotturnouttobetheconquestDaedalusandDa
Vinciimaginedittobe.Weare(inevitably?),ashumans,Antaean:onlyintouchwiththelandandwateroftheearthdowekeepourWEIGHT,retainPOTENTIAL.
MelvillekepthisbywayofthePacific.
(2)acomprehensionofPAST,hismarriageofspirittosource.ThePacificturnedouttobehisAtlantis,theburiedplace.ThePacificwasfather,olderthan
America,newbuiltCaliforniantowns,olderthanAsia,andAbraham:
thismysterious,divinePacificzonestheworld'swholebulkaboutmakesallcoastsonebaytoitseemsthetidebeatingheartofearth.Liftedbytheseeternalswells,youneeds
mustowntheseductivegod...
InHomerthegodofgenesiswasRiverOcean.TheGreekshadamyththatVenuswasbornfromthefoamofatidalwavewhichswepttheAegeanafterthe
genitalsofKronos,sickledoffbyhisson,fellintothesea.
IshmaelhadtogofardownbelowAhab'supperearthtofindoutAhab'sfather.Melville'svoyagetothePacificat21wasasimilarquest.ThePacificcarriedhim,
muchasitdidthelittleNegroPip,whenhedrowned,towondrousdepthswherestrangeshapesoftheunwarpedprimalworldglidedtoandfrobeforehispassive
eyes.InMobyDickMelvillespeaksofocean'sutmostbones:
Tohaveone'shandsamongtheunspeakablefoundations,ribs,andverypelvisoftheworldthisisafearfulthing.
Inanotherplace,thechapterTHEGILDER,heisdescribingthePacific,andhowlandlikeacalmofitswaterscanbe,whenheburstsout:
Whereisthefoundling'sfatherhidden?Oursoulsarelikethoseorphanswhoseunweddedmothersdieinbearingthemthesecretofourpaternityliesintheirgrave,andwemust
theretolearnit.
Inthedeep,wherePipsawGod'sfootonthetreadleoftheloom,MelvillefoundAhab'sgrimsire,andtheStatesecret.Pipcametothesurfacemad,Melville
possessedofhisimagination.ThePacificgavehimtherightofprimogeniture.

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TheEgyptiansbelievedthatOsiris,afterhewasmutilatedbyhissonSeth,hadtobeburiedintheNileandcarriedwiththemudintotheMediterraneanbeforehe
couldbecomeKingofEternity,LordoftheUnderworld,and,hischiefattribute,RuleroftheDead.NoahwasOsiristotheHebrews,anditcanbesaidofhimasthe
Egyptianssaid:Thisistheformofhimwhomonemaynotname,Osirisofthemysteries,whospringsfromthereturningwaters.InMardiMelvillewrote:Whomay
calltomindwhenhewasnot?Toourselvesweallseemcoevalwithcreation.KingNoahfatheredusall!AfterPacificfloodMelvilletookhisdeadtobeallthe
fathersandsonsofman.ThePacifictaughthimhowtorepeatgreatRITES,ofspring.TheunceasingebbandflowtookhimintoapatrimonyofPast:
Andmeetitis,thatovertheseseapastures,widerollingwateryprairiesandPotters'Fieldsofallfourcontinents,thewavesshouldriseandfallforhere,millionsofmixedshades
andshadows,drowneddreams,somnambulisms,reveriesallthatwecalllivesandsouls,liedreaming,dreamingstilltossinglikeslumberersintheirbedstheeverrollingwaves
butmadesobytheirrestlessness.
Itwasinmeadowsofbrithefoundhisseed.
ThePacificwasalso:
(3)aconfirmationofFUTURE.WethinkwemeasurethesignificanceofColumbusandhisdiscoveries.WestillfailtocalculatetheconsequenceofMagellan's
discoveryofthePacific.3000yearswentoverboard,andthegainsarestillunaccomplished.
First,theeconomichistory.Uptothediscoveriesofthe15thcenturytheMediterraneanremainedthecenteroftheworld.Thebasisofcommercewasthespicesand
finegoodsoftheOrient.Itwasatradeinluxuries,ofhighvalueandsmallbulkbecauseoflimitedtransportation.Thespicesvariedandmadepalatablethecoarse
foodoftheMiddleAges.Thefinegoodssatisfiedaneedforcomfort,ahungerforbeauty,andadesirefordisplay.Venice,thenFlorencewasmetropolis.
Columbusoperatedonthetheory:sailtotheWestandtheEastwillbefound.HemadetheAtlanticthecentralsea.Themercantilismof15001800followed.Itwas
thesubstitutionoftheAtlanticfortheMediterraneanwhichworkedarevolutionforEngland.Shewasatthecenter,midwaybetweentheBalticandtheMediterranean
andthrustouttowardtheNewWorld.

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WiththePacificopenstheNEWHISTORY.Melville:Itrollsthemidmostwatersoftheworld,theIndianOceanandtheAtlanticbutitsarms.Themovementintoit
duringthe19thcentury,ofwhichMelvillewasapart,makesthethirdgreatshift.
MelvillefeltthemovementasAmerican.HeunderstoodthatAmericacompletesherWestonlyonthecoastofAsia.Hewasaseafrontiersmanlikethewhalers
Fanning,Delanoandotheroutriders.HewasacontemporaryinthePacificofCommodoreCharlesWilkesandtheU.S.ExploringExpedition,18381842.Later,
whenCommodorePerrywantedawritertotellthestoryoftheopeningofJapan,HawthornerecommendedMelvilleasthePacificman.
Isaid3000yearswentoverboardinthePacific.IwasgoingbacktoHomer.TheevolutionintheuseofUlyssesasheroparallelswhathashappenedineconomic
history.
HomerwasanendofthemythworldfromwhichtheMediterraneanbegan.ButinUlyssesheprojectedthearchetypeoftheWesttofollow.Itwasthecreativeactof
anticipation.
Homer'sworldwaslockedtightinRiverOceanwhichcircledit,inAnaximander'smap,likeaserpentwithtailinmouth.ButintheOdysseyUlyssesisalreadypushing
againstthelimits,seekingawayout.Homergavehisherothecentralqualityofthementocome:search,theindividualresponsibletohimself.
Weforgetthatby200B.C.thescopeofWesternthoughthadbeenmoreorlessoutlined.TheMediterraneanworldwasalreadyborn:theAthenianscomplainabout
thevulgarexchangesandbusywharvesofPiraeus.Eventherangeofactionhasbeenprospected:PlatohaslocatedAtlantisoutsideHomer'sterminus,thePillarsof
Hercules.
By1400,inDante'shandsUlyssesisagainprospective.HeisalreadyanAtlanticman.IntheInfernohespeaks,aColumbus,tohiscrew:
Obrothers!Isaid,whothroughahundredthousanddangershavereachedtheWest,denynot,tothisthebriefvigilofyoursensesthatremains,experienceoftheunpeopled
worldbehindthesun.
Hebendsthecrewtohispurpose,forcesthemWest.TheydrivethroughthePillars,crosstheEquator,andafterfivemonthsontheAtlanticfindtheNewLandonly
tobedestroyedanddrownedbeforetheycantouchonit.

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AttheendoftheParadisio,whenfromtheseventhspheretheearthissosmallitsfeaturesareobscuredasthemoon'stous,Danterecognizesonespotonallits
surfacethatentrancetotheWest,thePillars.Dante'slastglanceisonthethresholdtothatfutureColumbusmadepossible.
ThethirdandfinalodysseywasAhab's.TheAtlanticcrossed,thenewlandAmericaknown,thedream'sdeathlayaroundtheHorn,whereWestreturnedtoEast.
ThePacificistheendoftheUNKNOWNwhichHomer'sandDante'sUlyssesopenedmen'seyesto.ENDofindividualresponsibleonlytohimself.Ahabisfullstop.
Porphyrywrotethatthegenerationofimagesinthemindisfromwater.
ThethreegreatcreationsofMelvilleandMobyDickareAhab,ThePacific,andtheWhiteWhale.
ThesonofthefatherofOceanwasaprophetProteus,ofthechangingshape,who,toevadephilistineAristaeusworriedaboutbees,becamefirstafire,thenaflood,
andlastawildseabeast.
(1947)

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ONMELVILLE,DOSTOEVSKY,LAWRENCE,ANDPOUND

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DavidYoung,DavidOld
F.BarronFreeman.Melville'sBillyBudd.Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1945.
OutsideofHartCrane'snaturalandpersonalinterestinHermanMelville'sstoryoftheHandsomeSailor,BillyBudd(Craneusedtoreadit,Iwastold,tootherBillies
inBrooklyn,tocharmthem)andoutsideofoneimageinAuden'sversesonMelville(Itisevilthatishelplesslikealoverandhastopickaquarrel,andsucceeds)
onlytwomencanbesaidtohaveaddedanythingtothetwoyears,hislasttwo,thatMelvillespentonthetale.F.BarronFreemanhasnowmadehimselfoneofthose
two.
Theother,ofcourse,wasthatgentle,dedicatedmanRaymondWeaver,thatTobias,whowentofflastspringandmettheAngel.ItwasWeaver,andEleanorMelville
Metcalf,whofoundthestoryinmanuscriptin1921,asMelvilleleftit,anditwasWeaverwhofirsttranscribedit,moreaccurately,Freeman'snewtranscriptionnow
reveals,thananyone,includingFreemanhimself,ifFreemanistobejudgedbyhiserrorsofreadingfromthelongerofthetwopagesofthemanuscriptreproducedin
hisbook.
WhatMr.FreemanhasdoneissomethingvastlymoreimportantthananothertextofBillyBudd,Foretopman.Byanilluminatedactofscholarshiphehasuncovered,
fromthepasteandpinupofthe36,000wordmanuscript,whereallothershavemissedit,Melville'soriginalversionofthetale,a12,000wordshortstorywhichhe
hasnowpublished,alongsidethenovelbutseparatefromit,underthetitleBabyBudd,Sailor.
TomakeclearwhyItakeitthatthisdiscoveryofFreeman'sisoffirstimportanceImustdowhathehasnotdone(tothedetrimentofhisbookandtheinvalidationof
mostofhislongandacademicintroduction)nor,sofarasIamaware,anyoneexceptRichardChaseandmyself,andhefromotherneeds.

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Thatis,toconsiderBillyBudd,Foretopmanassomethinglessthanthelatterdaygemithasbeentakenfor.
Ihavefoundthestoryaswehavehaditapainfulbook,andhavefelttheinterestinit,Weaver's,Crane's,Auden's,tomentionthreeIrespect,tobemoreamorous
thanimaginative.Melville'swas,Iamsure,andifhehadnotbeenpreventedfromjoininghisnaturalimaginationtohislove(Ithinkwecanputourfingeronwho
preventedhim)hewouldhavewrittenamajorwork.ForthematterofthestoryBillytheInnocent,ClaggarttheMasteratArmswhoselongingforBillyistwinto
malice,andVeretheCaptainwhoordersBillyhunghadadensityMelvillenowhereelsetookup(three,&primal,atriadasnativetohisgeniusasAdam,Serpent,
GodtheFather).Itisbecauseatnopoint,innotonesinglephraseorimage,evenwherethephrase,thesituationortheimagequiteclearlytriestogotothishebraic
heartofthematter,hasMelvilledoneitthatIhavefoundthestoryitwasWeaverwhostartedthefashiontocallitanovelpainful.Pierreisendurable,thereare
perceptionsinit,strokesthroughthemaskwhichMobyDickdoesnotcontain.LikewiseTheConfidenceMan.Clarelisendurable,becauseitisverse,andwe
excuseMelville.ButBillyBudd,cananyonewhohasgonealittlewayintothecaveofthisman,hasfelthisair,hadthethreadinhand,heardtheanimalofthemaze,
cananyonebemovedbyanythinghereotherthanthemyrrhofMelville'sloveforBilly(wealwaysgofarthestwithourflesh).Ihaveaskedmyself,isitpossiblethat
othersgenuinelyfeelMelville'saccent,motion,depthinthesechapterswhichdryupinfutiledigressions,inthesesentenceswhichgroundoncommonplace?Ihavenot
beenabletobelieve,havedeeplydisbelievedand,exceptforthosewhohavelegitimatelyfalleninlovewithlove,havedistrustedthebook'sexplainers.
Theyhavebeenoftwoclasses(orisitone).Therearethoseofdullmindwhotakewhatisobvious,Melville'sintent,andproveitwherehehasnot.Ihavenothingbut
scornforsuchpietism.Theothers(andtheyaremoredisturbing)arethoseamonguswhonourishthemselvesonthatfavoriteposingofit,OriginalSin.Itisacurious
trait,Americansurely,anactoffearinmenandart.Ithastodowithaguardandswordagainstpassion.Suchpeople,whenevertheyfindHawthorneorMelvilleor
Eliotinterestinghimselfintheidea,usingthephrase,bandtogether(likepatriots,oraunties)andmakeacause.Itisverydull.Theyshouldberemindedofwhatthe
FoxsaidtoMr.Eliotonefineday:Itain'tOriginalSinthatdoneusin,Possum,it'soriginalinnatestupidity!

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OnBillyBuddthesecharacters(andtheybulkamongcritics,ofMelvilleandofwritingtoday)havesucked.Notwithouttheirreason.ThisoncethisAnakofaman
triedtohandleevilandinnocence,hisprimalstuff,CainandEden,bythebook,byconceptanddemonstrandum.Why?Hewasold.Itisnottruehegrew.Itoohave
measuredwhetherthereisinthelanguageacalmdeliberatelysought,intheideaofaresolutionofhispermanentquandaries:Ihaveasked,isthisawriter'stale,a
master'sTempest?WhatIhavefoundisapitifulthing,amovingthing,whichIofferasclosertotheanswer:mattersofmagnitudepropertothemanprofferedinthe
styleandprocessofanother.ForifthereismyrrhinBillyBudd,forBilly,thereisfrankincense,anditisforNathanielHawthorne.
BillyBudd,Foretopmanistheworkofamanandawraith,andthoughFreemanhasbeenalertenoughtoemphasizetheimportanceofMelville'sdirectreferenceto
Hawthorne'sTheBirthmarkinthepassageontheflawinBilly'sperfection,hisstutter,hehasnotseenwhathisdiscoveryoftheshortstoryBabyBuddmakesit
possibletosee,thatbetweentheoriginalversionofthetaleandMelville'srewriteofitHawthorneintervened,andstoleastrengthaway.
Hawthornewaslongdead,andlongerwasthephysicalseparationbetweenthetwomen.TheyhadbeenneighborsintheBerkshiresforayearandahalf40years
earlierwhenMelvillewas31andwritingMobyDick.MobyDickisinscribedtoHawthorne.
ButtimeisnothingwhereamanofMelville'spassionisconcerned.ThisispeculiarlytrueofBillyBudd,andsignificantofthelayerofhisbeingMelvillewasworking
frominit.FortheothermanwhosedominationoverMelville'sheartishereinvolvedisevenfartherremovedintimethanHawthornehimself.Melvillehadnotseenor
heardofJackChase,towhomBillyBuddisdedicatedandwho,asmuchasanyoneelse,wastheprototypeofBilly,sincetheywereshipmatestogetherwhen
Melvillewas24.
TherearetwolevelsofloveoperativeinBillyBudd(whichisitselfMelville'spoorbookoftherevelationsoflove).Thatoftheplotisobvious,yettoFreeman'scredit
hehas,morethoroughlythananypreviouscommentator,exhibitedthehomosexualityresidenttoallthreeofthemenofthetragedy.Butthereisthisotherloveimplicit
inthebook'sfinalpresentationanditcannolongergounrecognized.ForHawthornewasasjoinedtoMelvilleinhisownmindasJonathantoDavid,andthough,inits
beginnings,thislovewasgood,whenit

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wasplantedinMelvilleyoung,intheendthetreethatflourishedfromitrovethegiantoutofSamuel.
ThestoryofthecompositionofBillyBuddturnsouttobetheexactcontrarytothestoryofthecompositionofMobyDick.There,afirstversiondonequickemerged,
afterayearofrewrite,asthebookweknowandcancallMelvillepoetfor.Twothingshappenedatthemomentofthechange,summer1850Melvilleread
Shakespearestrong,andmetHawthorneforthefirsttime.Buthere,attheendofMelville'slife,itnowappearsthatthefirstversionofanothertaledoneinalittle
underfourmonths(November16,1888toMarch2,1889)insteadofgainingforcewas,fortwofullyears,untilApril18,1891(MelvillediedinSeptember),worked
overandoverasthoughthehandthatwrotewasHawthorne's,withhisessayism,hishints,theveilofhissyntax,untilthecelerityoftheshortstorywasrunout,the
forceofthejuxtapositionsinterrupted,andthesecretofMelvilleasartist,thepresentationofambiguitybytheeventdirect,waslostintheSalemmanner.
ThankstoFreemanwecannowknowthat.Hisremovaloftheshortstoryfromthenovelimpressesmethemoreinthattheverypassageswhichhavekeptmefroma
tolerationofthenovel,everyone,arewhatFreemanlistsastheinsertionsanddrasticexpansionsofthelasttwoyears.
IfwedonotactonthatknowledgeandacceptMelville'sfirstintentratherthanhisrewritewewilldohim,old,suchadisserviceoutofpietyashedidtohimselfoutof
amorwhathedidnotwithMobyDick,whenHawthornewasaliveandfreshandShakespearenewtohim,andMelvilletookthedoublecharge.
WasitnotHeraclituswhosaidthattotakethoughtistothickenthebloodaroundtheheart?
(1949)

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TheMaterialsandWeightsofHermanMelville
LutherS.MansfieldandHowardP.Vincent,eds.MobyDick.NewYork:HendricksHouse,1952RonaldMason.TheSpiritabovetheDust.London:JohnLehmann,1951
LawrenceThompson.Melville'sQuarrelwithGod.Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1952.
1
IhaveaddedMr.RonaldMason'sbooktothetwobooksIwasaskedtoreviewfortheNewRepublicsimplybecauseitsintelligenceandlimpiditymeasuresthe
soddennessofthescholarshipoftheneweditionofMobyDickandtheperversenessofthinkinginMelville'sQuarrelwithGod.Butmorethanthat:Mr.Mason's
bookisthetriumphoftheseveralbookswhichhavetriedtothrowlightonMelville'sworkwiththefootcandleofrationalism,thatseriesofcritiqueswhichcanbe
saidtostartwithJohnFreeman'sbiography,toincludeMr.Mumford'smoretroubledrationalism,andtorunthelistofthebeadtellingbooksofthelastyears:
Matthiessen's,Sedgwick's,Chase's,Arvin's,andBrooks'perhapsYvorWinters'andAuden'sTheEnchafdFloodinotherwords,arosaryofpraisewhichhas
(withsomequietnessandalittledecency)beentheprivateactofthesemen.
IamatsomepainstoseethestoryofMelvillecritiqueandscholarshipwhole,andsetitbeforeyou,justbecausethereisnowsomuchofit:hisimportanceisso
crucialthatsomesharpness,andaneffortatadiscriminationofthepresentstateoftheknowledgeofit,seemstometobecalledfor.Forexample:facetofacewith
suchamonsterasthisneweditionofMobyDick,itsstomachgurgitating250pagesoffootnotesprobablyinquantitytheequaloftheactualpagesofthetextitself,I
toyedwiththenotionofusingthisspacetotrytoestablishSomePrinciplesTowardaCorrectEditingofMobyDick,asseverealistofsuchsimpledemandsas,say,
GeorgeLymanKittredgemighthaveexpectedfromanybodydoingabookonChaucer.Youyourselfwould

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feelthisvalidityofoldfashionedscholarshipifyouhadtograpplewiththepretentiousness,theignorance,andtheintolerableillproportionofthisworkoftwohighly
placedprofessors.
Or,confrontedbythisothersortofprofessor,Thompson(anewermemberoftheMelvillelobby),IwastemptedtowriteanessayforyouonClarel,thatthorough
thinginwhichthatmostseriousmanMelvilletried,almostwithhishandsgone,toexposetoanyAmerican'sviewin1876theworseningofthesocietyoftheWestand
thestruggleofhimself,inthemidstofit,tokeep
Faith(whofromthescrawlindignantturns
Withbloodwarmoozingfromherwoundedtrust
Inscribesevenonhershardsofbrokenurns
Thesignofthecrossthespiritabovethedust!
Thefactwhichyouwouldnotbelieveis,thatthisMr.Thompsonhaswrittena450pagebookonthesubjectofMelvilleandGodandhasgivenonlyfourpagesto
Clarel!
Inmyquandary,afriendhappenedtoputMr.Mason'sbookinmyhandsanditsdecency,itsseriousnessandthedeftnessofitsproportion(inthisrespectI'dguess
themostconsideredofallthecritiquesIhappenalsotolike,myself,GeoffreyStone'sMelville,thoughhisengagement,fromaCatholicposition,makesforaneasier
orderingthanMr.Mason'slesspositionedspiritualone)madeitpossibleformetofeellessburdened.AndIwasfreetotrytodotwootherthings:tobringthetotal
Melvillepictureintosomesortoffocus,andtoofferwhateverinsightsfiveadditionalyearsofworkofmyownmightbringtocorrectoraddtothemeasurementof
MelvilleIofferedinCallMeIshmael.
TheverybadnessofthetwoAmericanbooksunderreviewdoesobligeamantocallattentiontosuchexceptionalbiographicalscholarshipasJayLeyda'sinhis
Melville'sLog(IhavenotyetreadLeonHoward'sbiography),toHarrisonHayford'swork(still,Ibelieve,anunpublisheddissertation),toHenryA.Murray's
continuingapplicationofdevelopedpsychologicaltoolstothequestionofthenatureofMelville'spersonality,tomanuscriptscholarshipoftheusablenessofF.Barron
Freeman'seditionofBillyBudd,andtothescrupuloussteadystudyofMelville'slibraryandhisreadingthatMertonSealtshasbeenengagedinforbetterthanten
years.ThesearemenwhoseworkIknowandcanrespectcanencourageanyofyoutoturnto,whowanttoaddsuchknowledgestotheexperienceofthereading
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TwoothersImightmark:MissWright,whosebook,Melville'sUseoftheBible,goesaverygreatwaytohelptorightperhapsthemostprevalenterrorof
contemporaryMelvillecritiquethetendencyofittoexaggeratetheNewTestamentandChristasagainstthelessconsciousattentionMelvillegavetheOld
Testamentasasourceforhimself(hewent,itmightbeusefultoremindacontemporaryreader,toJudeoChristianityasPicassohassaidhewenttotheCommunist
Partytodrawfromit,aswomengotothefountainofthetowntodrawwaterforthedailyusesoftheirfamily).AmanwhoseworkonClarelIonlyknowby
snatches,WalterBezanson,oncereadershavetheoldfashionedconcentrationofmindMelvillehad,andhadthenervetowriteto,willshowitselftobemuchmore
thetrueotherweighttoMobyDickofMelville'sinvolvementwithJudeoChristianvaluesthanBillyBudd.YoucanexpectClarel,infact,soontohaveattention,as
TheConfidenceManisnowreceivingitsfirstattentionMelville'smostconsideredexaminationofthesecondofhisthreegreatsources,America,theexperimentof
theseStates.SojustasMr.Chasegavethelatterafairgo,Mr.MasonhasgivenClarelthebeginningofitsdue.
Whichleavesmewithmytribeofmenandthechancetogoalittlefree,andcometoMelville.FornowIcansingleoutRaymondWeaver,canthinkaboutHart
Crane'samoroususesofMelville'sBillyBuddandMobyDick(evidenceofRobertCreeley'simportantobservationthatCranehadliterallynootherdeviceinlifethan
poetry,andwhenhethoughtpoetryhadfailedhim,orhehadfailedit,hekilledhimself).IcancontinuetotroublemyselfaboutamostdifferentusingofMelville
EdwardDahlberg's,inDoTheseBonesLive.IcanalsoaskmyselfwhyWilliamCarlosWilliamshasalwaysdrawnablankonMelvilleinterestedintheconundrum,
asIam,becauseofalikecaretoMelville'swithwhichWilliamshasdevotedhimself,fromIntheAmericanGrainon,tothenatureoftheAmericanconsciousness.
WilliamsislikeMelville,amanwhoregistersthegoingonsofallofthehumanbeingshelivesamong.Heseeschargeinthem,worthintheirfires,alsoafirehisown
burnsin,asagainstEzraPound,withthatselectionoutof,thatthelightintheconversationsofthelettersoftheintelligentones,oratleasttheliterateones).
AndIcanendthiswholefirstpartofthejobIwantedtodoforyougivethefocusitsproperdepthbynotlettingyouormyselfforgetwhattheseeditorsofMoby
Dickhavesooutrageouslyneglectedtomention,thatthemanwhomoreandmorestandsupastheonemanofthiscenturytobeputwithMelville,Dostoevskyand
Rimbaud(menwhoengagedthemselveswithmodern

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realityinsuchfiercenessandpityastobeofrealusetoanyofuswhowanttotakeonthepostmodern)isD.H.Lawrence.HewrotetwochaptersonMelvilleinhis
StudiesinClassicAmericanLiteraturewhich,althoughtheyarenottheequalofhisWhitmanchapters,areworth,tomenofsoul,whatMelville'sownwordsare
worth.
Itisthosewordsinthosenovelsinproseandverse,from1846to1891,Iproposetoleadyoubackto.AndIproposetodoitbywhatIhavefoundthemost
valuablethinginallthreeofthesenewMelvillebooksunderreview,apassagefromGoethe'sDichtungundWahrheitwhichMelvilleisknowntohavereadatthe
timehewasconceivingthecharacterofAhabandtheshapeoftheWhale.Thecrazypartofitis,thatitisjustthesetwoegregiouseditors,VincentandMansfield,
whohavebroughtittolight!
2
HowtoextricatewhatMelvilleblindlyknewanddidfromwhathemerelysaid,keptturninghismindto,ortossedupasmaterialforhisnovelsandpoems.Howto
showthatundereyeintowhichhissmallonescouldenlargeor(tousehisownimage)openunderwaterandtheybloodshot,orthatsortofblindnessofhiswhich
continuestomakehimvaluable,nothissurfaces.Makeatry.
Melville'simportance,greaterthanever,liesin(1)hisapproachtophysicality,(2)hisaddresstocharacterasnecessaryhumanforce,and(3)hisapplicationof
intelligencetoallphenomenaastheorderingagentwhatCreeleyandIhaveelsewherecalledtheSingleIntelligence,whichisabetterwayofnamingthetotal
intelligence,simplythatitisnevermorethanthegivenman'sactinthepresenceofhismultiples.Melville,majorfigurejustbecausehedidtakeonthemultiplewhenno
oneelsesawit,anddidriskhavocandwreck,hadhisformulaforthedistinction:heopposedRightReasontoreason,dubbingreasonandhertoolslogicand
classificationBaconianism.
Nowifbystressingpoint3,Iappeartocomedownhardonthemethodologicalquestion,itistomakeverycertain,hereattheoutset,thatnooneshouldthinkthat
anyofthesethreefrontsofMelville'sattackareanythingbuthookedtogetherandunhookable,thatanyofthemisnotmethodologyandthathe,asanyofus,isnot
solelyaninstrumentforuse.ItisoneofthelossesofallthecritiqueandscholarshipwhichIamreviewingthatthetotalityofMelville'seffortisnotdealtwithasone.
Andsotheveryextraordinarycontribution

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Melvilledidmakestillstaysobscured.Byhisimpeccableandcontinuousinquiriesintowhatwaysideality(transcendentalismwasthecurrentwordforitinMelville's
time)nolongerfitmodernrealityinaformpropertoitscontent,hedrovefurtherthananyofhispredecessorstowardforcingtotalityofefforttoyieldsomeprinciple
outofitself.Leavingthisout,failingtogetit,makessomuchoftheworkonMelville(theexceptionisD.H.Lawrence's)merelypraise,dispraise,orhistoryinother
wordswhatisleftiseithertheveryrationalismMelvillespenthislifeexposing,orjustthefactsofhimwithoutlendingthosefactsananimationtheequalofMelville's
animation.
IthappenedthatIopenedtothechapterTheTailwhenthisnew(MansfieldandVincent)editionofMobyDickcametohand,andIfeltthewonderalloveragainof
Melville'sknowingnessofobjectandmotion,thosefactorsofathingwhichdeclarewhatwecallitsphysicality(anddonotmeanphysiology).TheTailisaslovelyan
evidenceasanyotherofMelville'sabilitytogoinsideathing,andfromitsmotionandhistoshowandtoknow,notitsessencealone(thiswasmostlythegiftof
idealityofGautama's,Socrates',orChrist's),butitsdimension,thatpartofathingwhichidealitybyitsIdeal,itsWorldFormsoritsPerfectionstendedto
diminishthatqualityofanyparticularthingoreventwhichcomesinanyoneofourconsciousnesseshowitcomesinonusasaforcepeculiartoitselfandtoourselfin
anyofthoseinstantswhichdohitus&ofwhichourlivesaremadeup.Wecallitsizewesay:itwasabigthingakickhe'sabigpersonthedaywasawhopper.
WehavemoreofavocabularyforthephysicsofitthanMelvillehad.Weknowtheliteralspacethereisinsideamicrocosm,thenatureofthemotionhiddeninany
mass.YetIdonotknowanotherwriterexceptHomerwhoachievesbywordssomuchoftheactualexperiencingofthisdimensionasMelvilledoes.
IfIputthisfirstifIputMelvilleinthecontextofHomerIdoitbecause,untilanyofustakesthisgivenphysicalityandmovesfromitsessenceintoitskinetic,as
seriouslyaswearealltooapttotaketheotherendthegoal,we'llnotbebusyaboutthecivilizationbreedingassurelynowasthatotheronewasbetweenHomer
and500B.C.Andwe'llnotknowwhatMelvillehadstartedahundredyearsago.Forthemetaphysicnowtobeknowndoeslieinsidefunction,methodologyisform,
Rimbaud'squestionistheincisiveonewhatisontheothersideofdespair?Thereisnowhereelsetogobutinandthroughthereisnolongeranyleastpieceofpie
inthesky.WithMelville'snonEuclidean

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penetrationsofphysicalrealityignoredoravoided,alltheimportantgainshemadeinexpressingthedimensionspossibletomanandtostoryarealsowashedout.
ThepushMelvillemadebeyondcharacterizationasheinheritedit,evenfromShakespeare,andbeyondfictionwasinevitable,giventhestancehetooktowardobject
movinginspace.Withsuchasenseoftotalityandyetwithsensescrispenoughtokeephimusuallysafefromgeneralization,hehadtogobeyondthefamiliar
causativesofenvironment,psychologyandeventatleasteventasreducedasmoderneventis,seenonlyastheeyeoftheneedleandthecamelleftout.
SeveraloftheMelvillebookswillbeatpainstoshowthathedidnotloseanyofthesefactorsinhisdrivebeyondthem,especiallythosewhichapplycrudelyor
sometimesfinelycontemporarydisciplinesproceedingfromMarx,Freud,andNeoChristianity.Iwouldonlygetintothisgametokeepthoseplayersfromneglecting,
bytheirownrules,suchapassageasthatinTheConfidenceManinwhichMelvillelikenscharacter,inthiscaseHamlet's,toaDrummondlightrayingoutfromitself
onallotherthingsbymovementfromitssourcesonallsidesortoinsistupontheimportanceofTheSpecksynderchapterinMobyDick,callingattentiontothe
newevidenceofGoethe'sinfluenceonthatchapter.(ItistoLutherMansfield'screditthathehasbroughttheDichtungundWahrheitpassagestolight.)Butthefact
isthatthesultanismthatGoetheenabledMelvilletoexposebywayofAhableavessuchachievementsofMelvilleonlyprophetic,likehisdiscoveriesinPierrewhich
theFreudiansfindpioneerorthosemetapsychiconesinMobyDickwhichJunghasacknowledged.InTheSpecksynderpassageMelvilleevenusesjustsuch
signalwordsofrecentpoliticalandeconomicfactasdictatorshipandcentralization(theplebianherdscrouchabasedbeforethetremendouscentralization).
Itisinmorethoroughdepthsofthisengagementwithwhatmenarelesssubstantive,andmoretodowiththemoralityimplicitinformwhereMelvillecanstand
examinationandmoreserveus.IntheAmbiguities(RonaldMasonrightlyinsistsuponthesignificanceofthissubtitletoPierre)whichtestedMelville,hetriedtogo
beyondtheantihero.IncreatingtheantiheroAhabandintryingtogobeyondhim,Melvilleputhimselfsquarelyupagainstthehero,andthusattheheartofnarrative
andversenow.IthrowdownthepropositionthatBillyBuddisaChristianHero(itisanoxymoron:aChristiancanonlybeasaint).AnditisasperverseoftheNeo
ChristiancriticstoreadMelville'sChristianity

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theirway(tofailtoseewhatBillyBuddcosthim)asitisforMarxiansandFreudianstoputMelville'spainstheirway.ForMelvillegraspedthearchaeologicalman
andbydoingitenteredthemythologicalpresent.MobyDickistheevidence.Therestofhisworkisthedefeatwhichisstillourown.
Melvillealreadyknewwhatnoneofthemodernstodayyetknowbyhaving,intheantiheroAhab,confrontedanygoodorevilnegatively,andtherestofhiswork
wasahugeefforttodoittheotherwaytoachievepersonageinsteadofcharacterization.Hedidnotseemanasmeasureofman(Ahabgothimoverthat
Renaissancestile)butaslimit.Thushehadthetotalnesstolendanyofhiscreationssuchinsidesthatonlyinhisworkamongthemoderns(notinJoyce's,say)canany
ofusinvolvedinthepostmodernstrugglefindlessonspropertothedimensionalratherthantheessentialproblemoftheHero(allthatIreadiseithertheessenceor
thedocumentation,nevertheact).
ItwasoneoftheseveralvulgaritiesofthetwoeditorsofthisnewMobyDick,thattheyputMelville'suseofLordNelsoninBillyBuddinsuchflatnessas:Nelsonwas
oneofMelville'sgreatestheroes,whenthetextofthenovelitselfshowshowbitterlyMelvillefelthisfailuretogiveNelson(orBilly,forthatmatter)theproportions,
sufferingsandrelevancesheknewmanasherotobe.
InfacthereisthatlimitofMelvillewhichmightalsobeseentohavebeenRimbaud's,thatbothofthem,inwhollydifferingways,werepreventedfromworkbeyond
whattheydiddo(whatcannotbesaidofDostoevskyorLawrenceexceptinadullabsoluteway)byanexasperationthatarealityequivalenttotheirownpenetration
ofrealityhadnotcomeintobeingintheirtime.Theybothhad,inthemselves,manumittedmanfromtheinaccurateestimateofrealitymenhavehadtogobysincethe
lonians.Bothhadseenidealityforthediscrepancyitis.TherearesignsthatRimbaudhadbeensofierceastocometototality,theconditionoftheHero.Melville
couldn'ttheappealofChristwassostrongonhim.Butheknew.ForhehadgotasfarasAhabintheattackagainstorganizationorfalseforminmen,society,or
nature.ChristdidstaysomuchtheimageofperfectiontoMelville,whohadgonesofarbackintothenatureofthingsthathehadalsogivenmentheirfirstimage,since
thebiblums,ofChaosorPreForm,theDragonasWhiteWhale.Inanycase,thedebateinhisnatureroveMelville,andleftthejobhewassomuchthemorecapable
todostilltobedone.HewastooAmericantohavethelogicRimbaudhadtoquit,andtomakemoney.
(1952)

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Equal,Thatis,totheRealItself
MiltonR.Stern.TheFineHammeredSteelofHermanMelville.Urbana:UniversityofIllinoisPress,1957.
TwoyearsbeforeMelvillewasbornJohnKeats,walkinghomefromthemummers'playatChristmas1817,andafterwards,he'dhadtolistentoColeridgeagain,
thoughttohimselfallthatirritablereachingafterfactandreason,itwon'tdo.Idon'tbelieveinit.Idobettertostayintheconditionofthings.Nomatterwhatit
amountsto,mysteryconfusiondoubt,ithasapower,itiswhatImeanbyNegativeCapability.
Keats,withoutsettingoutto,hadputacrossthecenturytheinchofsteeltowreckHegel,ifanythingcould.Withinfiveyears,twogeometers,Bolyaiand
Lobatschewsky,weren'tanylongersatisfiedwithEuclid'spictureoftheworld,andtheyeachmadeanewone,independentlyofeachother,andremarkablyalike.It
tookthirtyoneyears(Melville'sagewhenhewroteMobyDick)fortheGermanmathematicianRiemanntodefinetherealasmensincehaveexploitedit:he
distinguishedtwokindsofmanifold,thediscrete(whichwouldbetheoldsystem,anditincludesdiscourse,languageasithadbeensinceSocrates)and,whathetook
tobemoretrue,thecontinuous.
Melville,notknowinganyofthisbutinitevenmoreasanAmerican,downtohishipsinthings,wasafirstpracticer(RimbaudwasborntheyearRiemannmadehis
inaugurallecture,1854)ofthenewequation,quantityasintensive.
Theideaonwhichthisbookisbased,naturalism,isuselesstocopewithMelville,eitherasalifelivedinsuchatimeorasanart,thefirstartofspacetoarisefromthe
redefinitionofthereal,andinthatrespectfree,forthefirsttimesinceHomer,oftherigiditiesofthediscrete.Naturalismwasalreadyoutmodedbytheeventsabove,
whetheronetakesitasan18thor19thcenturyidea.

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Mr.Stern,alas,takesiteveryway,includingtheunhappythoughtthatMelvillecanbeputattheheadofaliteraryusewhichincludesTwain,Dreiser,Hemingway,and
Faulkner!
Itistheerroronmattersittinginnaturalismwhichgivesititsappeal,thatbyitonecanavoidthereal,whichiswhatisleftout,atwhatcostallovertheplaceMr.Stern
isonlyoneofthefoolsof.Hewrites,insummaryofwhathetakesitMelvilledidprove:
thatthenaturalisticperceptionintheyearsofthemoderncouldandmusttakefromwoenotonlymaterialismbutalsothehumanismandthedeepmoralityofsocialidealism,which
arethetruebeginningsofwisdom.
ThetruebeginningsofnothingbuttheSupermarkettheexactdeathquantitydoesoffer,ifitisnumbers,andextension,andtheappetiteofmatter,especiallyinhuman
beings.
Thechangethe19thcenturydidbringaboutisbeingsquanderedbythe20th,inignoranceandabuseofitstruth.Melvillewasapartofthechange,andIcando
nothing,inthefaceofthisbook,buttrytoshowhow,inthetermsofthatchange.Heputitaltogetheraccuratelyhimself,inasinglesentenceofalettertoHawthorne,
writtenwhenhewaswritingMobyDick(1851):Byvisibletruthwemeantheapprehensionoftheabsoluteconditionofpresentthings.
Allthingsdidcomeinagain,inthe19thcentury.Anideashookloose,andenergyandmotionbecameasimportantastructureofthingsasthattheyareplural,and,by
matter,mass.Itwasevenshownthatintheinfinitelysmalltheolderconceptsofspaceceasedtobevalidatall.Quantitythemeasurableandnumerablewas
suddenlyasshaftedin,toanything,asitwasalso,ashadbeenobvious,thestrikingcharacteroftheexternalworld,thatallthingsdoextendout.Nothingwasnow
inertfact,allthingswerethereforfeeling,topromoteit,andbefeltandman,inthemidstofit,knowingwellhowhewasfoldedin,aswellashowsuddenlyand
strikinglyhecouldextendhimself,springor,withoutevenmoving,go,tofar,thefarthesthewassuddenlypossessedorrepossessedofacharacterofbeing,athing
amongthings,whichIshallcallhisphysicality.Itmadeareentryofortotheuniverse.Realitywaswithoutinterruption,andwearestillinthebusinessoffindingout
howallaction,andthought,havetoberefounded.

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Takingitintowardswriting,thediscrete,forexample,wasn'tanylongeragoodenoughbasefordiscourse:classificationwasexposedasmeretaxonomyandlogic
(andthesentenceaspoisedonit,acompletedthought,insteadofwhatithasbecome,anexchangeofforce)wasaslooseandinaccurateasystemasthebodyand
soulhadbeen,dividedfromeachotherandrattling,sticksinastiffbox.
SomethinglikethisarethetermsoftherealandofactionMelvillewasanearlyinheritorof,andheiseitherheldthiswayorheismissedentirely.Withonethingmore:
themeasurementquestion.Whatdidhappentomeasurewhentherigiditiesdissolved?WhenNewton'sScholiumturnedouttobethefullingmillMelvillesensedit
was,viaBacon,whomhecalledthatwatchmakerbrain?Whatismeasurewhentheuniverseflipsandnopartisdiscretefromanotherpartexceptbytheflowof
creationitself,inandout,intensivewhereitseemedbeforequalitative,andtheextensiveexactlythewidest,whichwealsohavethepowerstoinclude?Rhythm,
suddenly,whichhadbeensolongthecaptiveofmeter,nomatterhowgood(Shakespeare,say,inourowntongue,orChaucer),wasapumpingoftherealso
constantarthadtoinventmeasureanew.
WatchingMelvilleinalifetimetryingtomakeprosedowhathisbodyandhissoulasaheap,andhismindontopofthematangle(thisisalsoawayofputtingaman's
physicality),tryingtogetameasureoflanguagetomovehimselfintoabookandovertoanotherman'sexperience,isastudymakesmoresensenow,inthemidstof
20thcenturyart,paintingandmusicaswellasnarrativeandverse,thanitcouldhave,previously.Itwasn'timage,itwasn'tanythinghelacked.Possiblyitwasonlyany
reasonhemightbeconfidenthewasright,takingitallsodifferentlyashedid,fromthosearoundhim,atleastthoseknowntohim.OrsayitasmyfriendLandreau
does,whoswings,withTheConfidenceMan:Melvilleseemsentitledtodisillusionitself,andgivenhispersonalbitterlife,possiblybecauseofthatvision,inthe
scene,society,hehadtoliveitin.
Whostillknowswhat'scalledfor,fromphysicality,howfaritdoescoverandreveal?NoonehasyettriedtosayhowMelvilledoesmanagetogivetheflukesofthe
whaleimmediacyassuch.Itiseasiertoisolatehisskillovertechnologythantoinvestigatethetopologicalbothinhissoulandinhiswriting,butitismyexperiencethat
onlysomesuchsenseofformasthetopologicalincludes,

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abletodiscriminateandgetinbetweenthevaguetypesofformmorphologyoffersandtheidealstructuresofgeometryproper,explainsMelville'suniqueabilityto
revealtheverylarge(suchathingashiswhale,orhimselfonwhiteness,orAhab'smonomania)bythesmall.
Thenewworldofatomismofferedametricalmeansaswellasatoposdifferentfromthediscrete.Congruence,whichthere,inmathematicians'hands,liftedeverything
forwardafterLobatschewsky(viaCayleyespecially,anothercontemporaryofMelville,andFelixKlein)makesmuchsense,asnoothermeterdoes,toaccountfor
Melville'sprose.CongruencewasspatialintuitiontoKant,andifIamrightthatMelvilledidpossessitspowers,hehadthembyhisbirth,fromhistimeoftheworld,
locallyAmerica.Asitdevelopedinhiscentury,congruence,whichhadbeenthemeasureofthespaceasolidfillsintwoofitspositions,becameapointbypoint
mappingpowerofsuchflexibilitythatanythingwhichstaysthesame,nomatterwhereitgoesandintowhatevervaryingconditions(itcansufferdeformation),itcanbe
followed,and,ifitisart,led,including,whatissoimportanttoprose,suchphysicalquantitiesasvelocity,forceandfieldstrength.
Melville'sprosedoesthingswhichitsrhetoricwouldseemtocontradict.Hemanagesalmostanytimehewantsto,forexample,toendowamoregeneralspacethan
otherwriters,thananyoneexceptHomerIfind.ThedeliveryofTashtegofromthewhale'shead,say.ThepointisalsotheoverallspaceofMobyDick.Thatspace,
andthoseofwhichitismadeup,havethepropertiesofprojectivespace(otherwisetheyshouldallcomeoutmorefamiliar,andround,becausetheywouldstay
Euclidean),andIconcludethatMelvillecouldnothaveachievedwhatamountstoellipticalandhyperbolicspaces(hemakesthingsstandoutatoncetransparentand
homogeneous)ifhewerenotusingtransformationswhichwehavenotunderstoodandwhichonlycongruencemakespossible.(Thelackofit,inhisverse,as
negativisminhislife,suchasKeatsknew,isoneofthewaysofputtinghowfarMelvilledidn'tgo.)
Hisideasalso.Inspiteofthevocabularyofhistime,muchmoreistobereadoutofhim,Isuspect,thananyofushaveallowed.IntherestofthelettertoHawthorne
fromwhichIhavequoted,hegoesontodiscusstheeffectsoftheabsoluteofpresentthingsonself,andbeing,andGodandhisinsistencethere,togetGodinthe
street,lookstomelikethefirstratebreakthroughofman'sthoughtwhichwascalledforat1851:thenecessarysecularizationofHispart

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intheworldofthings.(Itdoesn'tdiminishit,thatitwasprobablytheonlytimeinalifetimeinwhichMelvilledidmanagetothrowofftheSemiticnotionof
transcendence.)
OrtakehimjustwheresomuchacademicismhaswasteditstimeonclassicAmericanliterature,andMr.Sterndoesagain:theplaceofallegoryandsymbolinMelville
andhiscontemporaries.AstheMastersaidtomeinthedream,ofrhythmisimage/ofimageisknowing/ofknowingthereis/aconstruct.Itisratherquantum
physicsthanrelativitywhichwillsupplyaproperevidencehere,asagainstnaturalism,ofwhatMelvillewasgrabbingontowhenhedeclareditwasvisibletruthhe
wasafter.Forexample,thatlightisnotonlyawavebutacorpuscle.Orthattheelectronisnotonlyacorpusclebutawave.Melvillecouldn'tabuseobjectassymbol
doesbydepreciatingitinfavorofsubject.Orletimageloseitsrelationalforcebytransferringitsoccurrenceasallegorydoes.Hewasalreadyawareofthe
complementarityofeachoftwopairsofhowweknowandpresenttherealimage&object,andaction&subjectbothofwhichhavepaidoffsodecisivelysince.
AtthisendIamthinkingofsuchrecentAmericanpaintingasPollock's,andKline's,andsomerecentAmericannarrativeandverseandathisend,hiswhaleitselffor
example,whatanunfoldingthingitisasitsitstherewritten100yearsoff,implicitintrinsicandincidenttoitself.
Melvillewasnottempted,asWhitmanwas,andEmersonandThoreaudifferently,toinflatethephysical:takethemodelforthehouse,thehouseforthemodel,death
istheopenroad,thesoulorbodyisaboat,etc.Melvilleequallycouldn'tspiritualizeit,asHawthornetried,usingsuchsetsasthemirrorimage,M.duMiroir,etc.,and
MelvillehimselfinTheBellTower,butnotinTheEncantadas,orBartleby,andhowexplainthewaytheremarkThenegrodoesholdoffandfreeinBenito
Cereno?Melvillewouldn'thaveknownittosayitthisway,buthewasessentiallyincapableofeitherallegoryorsymbolforthebestofcongruentreason:mirrorand
modelareeachfiguresitEuclideanspace,andtheyarenotcongruent.Theyrequireadiscontinuousjump.
Finally,totakethepossibilitiesheresuggested,attheirfullesttheactualcharacterandstructureoftherealitself.Ipickuponcalm,orpassivity,Melville'swords,and
aboutwhichheknewsomething,havingservedasaboatsteererhimself,onatleasthisthirdvoyageonawhalerinthePacific.Hesayssomewhereaharpooncanonly
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alsolikenedtheWhiteWhaleto,asitfinallyapproached,amightymildnessofreposeinswiftnessishisphrase.Likewise,inhandlingAhab'smonomania,hesetsupa
differentsortofapossibleman,oneofacompanywhichhecallsthehustingsoftheDivineInert.
IamabletostresstheseveralaspectsofMelville'sthoughtonthisbecause,note,ineachcasethefeelingornecessityoftheinert,orofpassivityasapositionofrest,
isjoinedtothemostinstantandpowerfulactionsMelvillecaninvent:thewhaleitself'sswiftness,Ahab'sinordinatewill,andtheharpooner'sabilitytostriketokillfrom
calmonly.Theinertialstructureoftheworldisarealthingwhichnotonlyexertseffectsuponmatterbutinturnsufferssucheffects.
Idon'tknowamorerelevantsinglefacttotheexperienceofMobyDickanditswriterthanthis.UnlessitisthepriorandlesserbutmorecharacteristicRiemannian
observation,thatthemetricalstructureoftheworldissointimatelyconnectedtotheinertialstructurethatthemetricalfield(artismeasure)willofnecessitybecome
flexible(whatwearefindingoutthesedaysinpaintingwritingandmusic)themomenttheinertialfielditselfisflexible.
Whichitis,Einsteinestablished,bythephenomenaofgravitation,andthedependenceofthefieldofinertiaonmatter.Itakecaretobeinclusive,toenforcethepoint
madeatthestart,thatmatteroffersperilswiderthanmanifhedoesn'tdowhatstilltodayseemsthehardestthingforhimtodo,outsideofsomeartandscience:to
believethatthings,andpresentones,aretheabsoluteconditionsbutthattheyaresobecausethestructuresoftherealareflexible,quantadodissolveintovibrations,
alldoesflow,andyetisthere,tobemadepermanent,ifthemeansareequal.
(1958)

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DostoevskyandthePossessed
Sunworshippershadmoresensethanwe.Theyreverencedsomethingorganicandnecessarytofleshandbone.WegiveourfaithtotheState.Daybydaythe
modernworldconfirmsDostoevsky'sGrandInquisitorinhisestimateofman.BeyondGermany,Russia,andItaly,mentakebreadforfreedom,miracle,mystery,
andauthorityforfaith,andCaesarismfortheuniversalstate.Interrorwefacethisworld,butsubtlyandpatheticallyweignorethatalternativeevenourapologist,
theInquisitor,cannotthefearfulburdenofindividualfreechoiceintheknowledgeofgoodandevil.ThewarofourtimeisnotDemocracyagainstFascism,the
ChurchagainstCommunism,buttheauthorityofManagainsttheauthorityoftheState.TheInquisitorisrightmanfindsiteasiertogivehisauthorityaway,firsttothe
ChurchandnowtotheState.Buthegivesitawayalwaysathisownperilandtohisowndestruction.Hisbodyandhisspiritdies.Todaymanishorrifiedbythesmell
ofbothcorruptions.
OursistheKaramazovway.AstooldKaramazov,everythingislawful.Fearfully,Dostoevskysensedthedisintegrationinmanandsociety.Seventyfiveyearsago
hewatchedourworldturningawayfrommantotheStateandsetdown,inhisnovelsandinTheDiaryofaWriter,acontraryvisionoflife.Byhiscursed
questioninghepropheticallyanticipated,askedandsoughttoanswertheveryquestionswearelostin.Nomaneverknewman'spowerofdispersionandwillto
violencebetterthanDostoevsky.Infinitelyawareofthebreadthanddepthofman'snature,headmittedtheneedofdiscipline.Hedidnotseekit,aswehave,outside
man.Dostoevskyputhisfaithin,andmadehisdemandsonindividualman.
DostoevskyacceptedChrist'sethics.ChristianityisasessentialtohisworkasCatholicismwastoDante's.ItisaChristianityburnedcleanbyoneofman's

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greatminds,forgedanewthroughthecreativeconsciousnessofanexceptionalartist,andrestoredasaweapontoman.Dostoevskydidforthemodernworldwhat
ChristdidfortheRoman:hegavemanbackhisauthority,andthroughChristofferedhimthewaystoexerciseit.Hehimselfonlyaccomplishedthisdynamic
reconceptionbyawrestlinglikeJacob'swiththeAngel.Hewroteinoneofhisnotebooks:
ItwasnotasachildthatIlearnttobelieveinChristandconfesshisfaith.MyHosannahasburstforthfromahugefurnaceofdoubt.
TheLegendoftheGrandInquisitoristhetestamentofthestruggle.Afterhis,Jacobhalteduponhisthigh.LookintoDostoevsky'sfaceinthePerovportrait,painted
whileThePossessedwasinprogress.Abrandliesuponthetemple,andthecheekandmoutharescorched.Themarkisthere,andtheblessing.Thedelicateskinand
theeyesbespeakhosanna.AwomaninhismagazineofficesawthatfaceoneJunenightturnuptothetendersummerskyasheurgeduponherwhatgloryand
tormentitwastospeaktopeopleoftheworldsbeyondthis.Hisarmswoo'dtheskyaway,hiseyesliftedaltars,andhisvoice,burstingchains,criedout:Toother
worlds.CallhimIsrael.HeincludedinThePossessedthatlovely,strange,misunderstoodremarkofhis:
IfanyonecouldprovethatChristisoutsidethetruth,andifthetruthreallydidexcludeChrist,IshouldprefertostaywithChrist,andnotwiththetruth.
FromDresdenin1870whilehewasbroodingoverThePossessedheconfessedtoMaikov:
Thechiefquestionbywhich,consciouslyorunconsciously,Ihavebeentormentedallmylife,istheexistenceofGod
Inthathungerofthespiritoftheman,allhisturningagainstliberalismand2plus2equals4science,allhisreachingforChristlieswrapped.
ThePossessedhasraisedmorequestionsthananyothernovel,andwhateveranswershavebeenofferedonlyquestionDostoevsky'ssuccesswithhismaterialsand
withhisconception.MoreandmoreattentionhasbeengiventoThePossessedinrecentyears,perhapsjustbecauseDostoevskyisdealinginitdirectlywiththings
weandourStatesarefacedwithrevolutionandtheagentsofrevolution.Thebookwaspublishedin1872andthuscomesinthe

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middleofhismaturecareer,afterCrimeandPunishmentandTheIdiot,andbeforeTheRawYouthandTheBrothersKaramazov.Hiscontemporaries,both
liberalsandradicals,dismissedthetreatmentofsocialrevoltinthebookasanachronisticandmalicious.Todayitisfoundconservativeorreactionary.Stavrogin
remainsasmuchanenigmaasDostoevsky'sdialecticofrevolution.AndThePossessedwillcontinuetobeafailureandapuzzle,twobooksinsteadofone,apolitical
pamphletandaphilosophicalnovel,justsolongaswerefusetotakeseriouslyinourownworldtheineluctableidentityofpersonalandsocialevil.Foritisprecisely
thatidentityDostoevskyconsideredabsolute,governedashewasbyspirit:tohimtheexactionuponmaninsocietyisthesameasthatuponmaninsolitude.Outof
thisconceptThePossessedwaswrittenandinitliesthesecretofthenovel'sunity,thatwhichbindsthestoryofStavroginandthestudyofrevolutiontogether.
ThePossessedisDostoevsky'sSodomandGomorrah:allislaidwaste.Itisabloodtragedywithoutredemption.Thinkoftheviolenceofdeathwithwhichthebook
culminatesalllikeswinearerunviolentlydownasteepplaceintothelakeandarechoked.OnlySatanremainsalivetowalktheearth:Petertheconspiratorlives.
ButShatovismurdered,andsoaretheCrippleandherdrunkenFalstaffofabrotherKirillovisasuicide,Lisaishorriblydestroyed,Shatov'swifeandStavrogin's
childaredead,andStavrogin,thecitizenofthecantonofUri,ishangingtherebehindthedoor.All,alldrownedinalakeofblood.Amosthorribletragedy,against
whichafeebleoldman,StephenTrofimovitch,aloneraiseshisvoice,onlyhimselftodie.
WealsoareaslostasDostoevsky'speople.Likethemwefeelwearepossessedofdevils.Wesenseapresenceofevilsosharplyweinstantlyrecognizeourown
humanfearintheheartsoftheGermanpeoplewhenwelearntheyneverrefertoGoebbelsbynamebutalwaysspeakofhimasderkleineTeufel.Wehavegoneso
muchfartherthantheworldcontemporarywithDostoevskywedonotneed,ashedid,theparablefromLukeontheDemoniacofGadaratocreatehissymboland
histitle.OurdemoniacofBavariaisaliveandactiveandapalpablefactweareconfrontedbyeverymidnightbroadcastandeverymorningpaper.Andwesense
thoughwecannot,perhapsdarenotnameotherdevils,menwithumbrellas,menwithmitres,menwithguns.Butwhatwedonotknowishowtoexorciseourdevils,
howtosaveourselvesfromthedestructionDostoevskyvisitsuponhispossessed.

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ToDostoevskytheanswersliedeeperthantheHitlersandtheGoebbels.InThePossessedheexaminedsuchdevilsinthepersonofPeterVerhovenskyandhis
conspirators,andanticipatedmuchknowledgewehavehadforcedonusbytheeventsoftheyearssincethefirstworldwarandoftheyearofthepresentwar.For
example,inthepersonandsystemofShigalev,Dostoevskyexposedtheauthoritariannecessityofallstatism:
Startingfromunlimitedfreedom,Iarriveatunlimiteddespotism....Everythingshallbereducedtoacommondenominator.Completeequality....Absolutesubmissionno
individualitywhatsoever.Alltheslavesareequalintheirslavery....Thefirstthingtodoistolowerthelevelofeducation,science,andability.
AndDostoevskysawanotherfaceofthemodernrevolutionarystateitsreligiousclaims.ThearchconspiratorPetercries:Anewreligioniscominginsteadofthe
oldone.Dostoevskyprofoundlyperceivedthatitisactuallymanandnotthestatewhoisfinallyattacked.Tohimonlyahideouslevelingofmancancomewhen
revolutionestablishesitselfontheelementsofscienceandreason.Whathesensedandwhatweknowisthatthemodernrevolutionarystatedeniesthedignityand
thevalueofindividualhumanpersonality.Itonlyrisesuponthedestructionoftheindividual.AndsoPeterVerhovenskyisrightwhenhecallsshameathavingany
opinionofone'sownthemostimportantelementoftherevolution,thecementthatbindseverythingtogether.Successcomestotherevolutionandsuchagentsof
revolutionasaPeterVerhovenskyoraHitlerwhenmanforsakeshimself.
ThatconclusionDostoevskydrew.Hefoundthedisintegrationofsocietyaconsequentofman'sdisintegrationandnotacause.Hepushedhisattentionbeyondthe
enemiesofmantomanhimself.ToDostoevskytherealdangerdoesnotlieinthedevilsoutsideourselves.Itisnotfinallytherevolutionortherevolutionarieswhom
Dostoevskyfears,buttheprostrationinmanoutofwhichVerhovenskysandShigalevs,HitlersandStalinsarespawnedandbywhichtheygrow.So,inThe
Possessed,itisnottheconspiratorswhodominatethebookbuttheirvictims.Dostoevskysetsouttoshowwhythevictims,eventothepureinheart,allow
themselvestobedestroyed.Theyarevictimsnotbecauseofanyrealpowerintheconspiratorsbutbecauseofthelackofpowerinthemselves.Theyarecaughtina
greaterwebthanthewebofrevolutionthewebofapathy.ItisStavrogin,ofallthepeopleinthenovel,whoismost

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sick.Heisthedisease.Heisdisintegration,ourdisintegration.InStavrogin,Dostoevskynamesus.
DostoevskyimaginesStavroginasoiledman,andmakeshimthecenterofthebooksofirmlythebookactuallyturnsuponhimandhasitsbeingthroughhim.Heisthe
novelasHamlettheplay.StavroginiswhattheconspiratorPetercallshim,thesun,thesourceofthebook'slife.Allthewomenexceptthebiblepeddlerexistonly
throughtheirrelationswithhimhismother,hiswifethecripple,Shatov'swifewhobearsStavrogin'schild,Shatov'ssisterDaryaStavrogin'smistress,andLisawho
finallygivesherselftoStavrogin.AndallthemenofthebookbutStephenTrofimovitchlikewiseinthechaptercalledNight,Kirillov,ShatovandPeter
Verhovenskyalladmitheistheirsource.AsStavroginpassesfromonetotheotherthroughthatnightofrainandmudallrevealthemselvesashiscreatures,almost
facesofhimself,generatedbyhim.Notsomuchgeneratedperhaps,butsetandfixedasthoughhypnotizedbyasnake,foronceestablishedbyStavrogintheycannot
freethemselvesfromhisinfluenceandcometosufferfromhisnature.
Stavroginiscomplex,possiblythemostcompactedcharacterDostoevskyevercreated.HeisallthreeoftheKaramazovbrothersinoneskin:hehasallthatissensual
inthelustinessofDmitri,alltheintellectionofIvan,andevensomeofAlyosha'stendernessofspiritwhatPetercalledStavrogin'ssimpleheartednessandnaivet.
Buthehasnoneofeach'scounterpoise.Arrogant,andimpotentfrommorethanennui,Stavroginannulshimself.Comparehim,inallhispower,tothepeopleofhis
ownworld.HeneverlivesuponhispulseasShatovdoes:Shatov'sblowuponStavrogin'sfaceisamoresignificant,wholeandvitalgesturethanalltheviolentcareer
ofStavroginhimself.Shatov,Darya,Lisalove:Stavrogincannot.UnlearnedishisoldteacherStephen'slessonoftheheart.EvenasadestroyerStavroginisneveras
purposefulastheengineofhate,Peter.NorcanhedielikeKirillov,byasustainedactofself.
ConsiderhimwhenPeter,inafrenzylikeSatan's,offersStavrogin,amockChrist,allthelandandpowerstretchingoutfromtheMountain.Youaremyidol.Ivanthe
Tsarevitch.You!You!Peter'sKiss,Peter'sprostration:Verhovenskybesought,implored.ButStavroginisbothwithouttemptationand,unlikeChrist,without
answer:Stavroginwonderedsmiling.ForStavroginexistswithoutselfgeneration,astillpointinahorriblyturningworld.
Thattemptationisaparableofourtime.FortheworldturnsandStavrogin,thoughhedidnotyieldtothelargetemptation,didnotansweritand,as

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result,hebecomesasilentaccompliceinPeter'sandtheconspirators'murderofShatov.
Whendictatorsofferusstatesinreturnforourmanhoodwetoowondersmiling,failtoanswer,theworldturns,andthere'sGuernica.For,theworldalwaysturnsand
theStavroginsdonotmove.Why?BecausetheessenceofaStavroginisneuter.Heishisworld'ssun,butasunwithoutafireandheatofitsown.Hegiveslifeto
othersbutinhimselfthereisfinallynolife.Hecannotgeneratehimself.Andinthatimmobilityliesafurtherhorribletruthallthoseseparateliveswhichhedominates
whentheycrosseachother,destroyeachother.Uptoapointhecreates,buthecreatesonlyfinallytodestroy.Hislightisblack.Anditisjustbecausehedoes
nothingthattheydestroyeachother.Theycanceloutbecausehe,inhisneutrality,lendslifetotheevilaswellastothegood.ForStavroginiswithoutchoice,thushe
iswithoutdirectionandthusheandhisworldaredestroyed.Ultimately,ThePossessedisahorriblepuppetry,thetragedyoftheinert,theneuter,theahuman:
Iknowthyworks,thatthouartneithercoldnorhot:Iwouldthouwertcoldorhot.Sothenbecausethouartlukewarm,andneithercoldnorhot,Iwillspuetheeoutofmymouth.
Stavroginknewhimselfsopatheticallywellhedidfinallydowhathethoughtheoughttodobrushmyselfofftheearthlikeanastyinsect.HislettertoDaryabefore
hissuicideposestheproblemofhimselfclearly:
Iamstillcapable,asIalwayswas,ofdesiringtodosomethinggood,andoffeelingpleasurefromitatthesametimeIdesireevilandfeelpleasurefromthattoo.Butbothfeelings
arealwaystoopetty,andareneververystrong.Mydesiresaretooweaktheyarenotenoughtoguideme.
HehasonepowerStavrogincanstateStavrogin:
Evennegationhasnotcomefromme.Everythinghasalwaysbeenpettyandspiritless.
Hislastsightisamoan:
IndignationandshameIcanneverfeel,thereforenotdespair.

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Hehasdivulgedhimself,butbecauseheknowsnootheranswerthanhimself,hedies,andbringsalltheworldofThePossesseddown.
Whycanhenotdeliverhimselfovertolife?Whycanhenotshedhisinanition?Whymustthissensuallyhotandintellectuallycoldmanremainlukewarm?Why,no
matterwhatextraordinarypowerhehasandnomatterwhatgenerationhegivesothers,musthebedestructiveofhimselfandallothers?WhymustStavroginforever
remainoutsidebothheavenandhell,uponaDarkPlain,underthestarlessair,oneofDante'sTrimmers?BecauseherefusestoexercisewhatDostoevskyregardedas
thatessentialandprecioushumanpowerthefreedomofchoiceintheknowledgeofgoodandevil.Dostoevsky,likethePrisonerChristwhomtheGrand
Inquisitorconfronts,exaltedsuchfreedomaboveeverythingelseandinStavroginheportraysthemostabominableabdicationoftherightofsuchfreedom.Choiceis
thefirstandlastnecessityoflife.Tochooseistotakeuptheburdenoflife.ButStavroginissuspended.Hecantakeupneithertheburdenoffaithnortheburdenof
thedenialoffaith.Kirillov,themanwhodeniedGodandkilledhimselftoprovehimselfthemangod,baredStavrogin'stragedyinthesewords:
IfStavroginhasfaith,hedoesnotbelievethathehasfaith.Ifhehasn'tfaith,hedoesnotbelievehehasn't.
StavroginisaTrimmer,unable,inDante'swords,torebelfromGodorbefaithfultohim,oneofthecaitiffs:
chenonfuronribelli,
nfurfedeliaDio,mapersforo.
WithDanteDostoevskyregardssuchastateofman'ssoulasthemostcorruptofall.Tochoosetheevil,asPeterVerhovenskydoes,istobedamned,buteventhat,
toDostoevsky,isdynamic:DantelikewisegavethewickedgloryovertheTrimmers.Buttohave,asStavrogindid,anawarenessofgoodandnottomovetowards
itorevenawayfromitexceedseveryothermoralaberration.HeremainsanabhorrentLaodicean.
AndwhatisthestateofStavrogin'sinnerlife,whatisthelukewarmstate?Aswampofselfinwhichheismiredbeyondescape.AgainDanteisapposite:mapers
forotheTrimmerswerenotforGodoragainsthim,butwereforthemselves.Stavroginisforhimself,caughtbyhisself.BecauseStavrogin

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denieswhattheGrandInquisitorcallsman'sfearfulburdenoffreechoice,helosesthesweetairofthespirit,isleftwithonlytheself,andtheselfincreasingly
suffocateshimuntilfinallyhecannotsurvive.ForwithoutthewishforGodDostoevskyfoundmanunmotivated,abominablystatic,ahumananddead.Stavroginis
bound,therefore,todisappear,asShatovtoldhimhewould,likerottenmildew,becausehecannotattaintoGod.NevercanthegreatwordspassStavrogin'slips:
Lord,Ibelieve,helpthoumyunbelief!Because,inhisheart,hecannotbowdownbeforeStephenTrofimovitch'sandDostoevsky'sGreatIdea:
Theoneessentialconditionofhumanexistenceisthatmanshouldalwaysbeabletobowdownbeforesomethinginfinitelygreat....TheInfiniteandtheEternalareasessential
formanasthelittleplanetonwhichhedwells.
Dostoevskyinsistsoverandoveragainthatman,tobewholeandalive,mustchoosetobelieveinhisownimmortalityandinGod'sexistence.Manmustpledge
himself,hemustlove.Otherwise,forsakinghisspirit,heisleftwithonlytheself,andtheself,likethebonesandflesh,likeStates,isperishable.Infactthedenialof
spiritleads,inDostoevsky'smind,toakindofselfcannibalismtheselfswallowsupthewholebeing.SuchisStavrogin'sfate,anduponhimDostoevskypassesa
moreterriblejudgmentthanuponanyothermanorwomanheevercreated.
ThepureinhearthavewhatStavroginlacks.AllthewomeninThePossessedarecapableofloveandbecausetheylove,itdoesnotmatterthattheonetheyloveis
Stavrogin.AmongstthementhereisStephen,aQuixote,somethingofthebuffoon,somethingofthesaint,butalwaysthemansearchingforhistruth.Andthereis
Shatov.Dostoevskycreateshimagraveandbeautifulman,theonemancaughtintheterriblevortexofthenovelwhohungersforGod.Externallyhewasrough,but
inwardlyhehadgreatdelicacy.HismurderisthepricemanpaysforspawningvillainslikePeter,selfwillslikeKirillov,andneuterslikeStavrogin.Andthemostevil
oftheseisStavrogin.AgainstthemildewofStavrogin'sselfthesweetnessofthepureinheartprevailsnot.InStavrogin'ssinaretheydestroyed.HimDostoevsky
damns.
Fearfuljudgmentthoughitbe,westernmanstandsindangerofittoday.Suddenlyahumanbeingisworthnothing.Shatovsaremurderedandmanacquiescesinthose
murders.FatallysuspendedlikeStavrogin,andconfusedby

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hisownapathy,manpermitswhatheabhors.Dostoevskycannotlosehissenseofindividualmaninthesocialmass,forheknowsthat,inthefamilyandintheState,
likesinsproduceliketragedies.Norcanwe:theassassinationofRoehmandthebombingofWarsawarejoinedimplacablytogether.Toestablishandsustainhisspirit
manmustliveandjudgebyit.WehaveneedofadedicationlikeDostoevsky's.Wemaydespair,butasStavroginsensed,indignationandshameareavailablewhen
despairisfelt.Possessedofthemwecanfreeourselvesofourpublicandprivatedevils,forbothstruggleshave,asDostoevskyknew,inevitablyonlyoneground
man'sindividualspirit.
(1940)

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D.H.LawrenceandtheHighTemptationoftheMind
WhenIspeakofthehightemptation,IamthinkingofPlato,Schopenhauer,say,and,amongourcontemporaries,Ortega.AtthesametimeIamthinkingofHomer,
Euripides,andD.H.Lawrence.AndIamthinkingofChrist.
SupposewestartwithChrist.IfSatanhadwantedtotemptChristultimately,wouldhenothaveofferedhimafourthtest,offeredhimalltheunderstandingsthemindis
capableof?Foritistheputtingoffofthiscloakthatisthechallengelifedemandsofitsfinestcreatures.Andsofewcanputitoff.
Lawrencewasone.Whatresistancewasplacedinhimtoenablehimtodoitisnotofsomuchimportanceasthathedidit.Lawrencesomehowchosetheadvantage
ofmoralperceptionstothoseoftheintellect.
Foritisthesetwowaysthat,atacertainpoint,diverge,andifamandoesnot,atthatpoint,makethekindofchoicethatLawrenceseemstohavemade(Huxley,in
hisintroductiontotheLetter,makesmuchofDHL'sleavingoffhisintellect'sskills),hewillgoon,asPlatodid,asOrtegahas(topickoneamongseveralofour
betterthinkers),toakindofdeath.
Itis,inapeculiarway,achoiceofspeedsor,rather,ofthemostsatisfyingvelocitymancanknowagainstsomethingwhichissoattherootoftimeastobenot
measurablebytimeand,thus,novelocityatall.Formoralperception,incontrasttothevelocityofmind,issoinstantaneousastobeimmeasurableintime.
Itismyimpression(andOrtegaleadsmetoitasmuchasanyone)thattheuseoftheintellectinitsmostnaturalsphere,thatwhichwecallphilosophy,sosatisfiesthe
vanityofmanthathecannotresistitunlessheispreparedtoundohisvanity.Heisforcedtoruntheraceasahare,thehare'sleapsseemtocovertheareaoftruthso
satisfactorily.
ItmaywellbethattheresistanceIspeakofasimbeddedinLawrenceismerelyarecognitionthatthetortoiseoffeelinghastobeallowedtomakehis

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race,thatamancannotstayaliveasamanunlessboththetortoiseandthehareheisbothrunthecourse.Andthatthedivergenceofthepathofthemindisonly(to
useanimageLawrenceusesinreferencetothecrisisinourculture)anactofdetour,bywhichamanpicksupthatslowerthinghecannot,athisperil,leavebehind,
nomatterhowfastaharehebe.
Theproposition,then,isthis,thattheact,theLaurentianact,istheanswertometaphysics,anditshightemptation.Whatresults,whatthemoraladvantageis,isathing
bothfasterthanthehareandslowerthanthetortoise,acombinationbotharchaicandprospective,whichgivesman,inhispreoccupationwithlife,theproper
instrumentationforitsunderstandinganduse.
Imust,finally,offeroneconnectionofthehightemptationwhichisdifficulttostate(thesedaysespecially),butwhichisessential.Itistheevidenceoftheconnection
betweensexandthestructureofthemind.WhenLawrence,inoneofhisverses,callsthesearchfortruththeprofoundestofallsensualities(hecallsthesearchfor
justicethenextdeepestsensualexperience),heisrecognizingtheconnectionIamtalkingabout.Whatisfineinhisstatementis,ofcourse,thatheisspeakingofthe
satisfactionafterthetemptationhasbeenresisted.ButwhatIamhereinterestedin,istheeffectsofsensuality(grantingthatitistosensualitythatthoughtisdirectly
tied),ifthetemptationisnotresisted.
Iamawarethatwhichiscauseandwhichiseffectisofthematter,andthatwhatmaybetheresistancewhichenablessomementoputoffthoughtasitismetaphysical
ispreciselythestrengthofthesensualinthem.Ithinkitis.Itake,forexample,Plato'sdescriptionofthesecondofthetwohorsesintheparableofThePhaedrus,the
evilhorse,tobeameasureofPlato'sfearoftheunrulinessofthesensual,notsomuchasitisauniversal,butasitisathingtobecheckedinhimself.(Theviciousness
withwhichthehorseisreinedin,theinflictionintheimagery,asagainstthesoft,almostsentimentalhandlingofthegoodhorse,willstandexamination.)
Thereisafear,beforethesensual,asuppressionhereandelsewhereinPlato(anditcanbeexaminedinSchopenhauermoreopenly)whichgoesbeyondthedenialof
appetite,andisdirectlyrelatedtoanotherfearsomanymetaphysiciansshow(Ortegadisclosesit,inhisbrilliantessayonGoethe,whenhecharacterizesart,even
thoughheisarguingthatGoethewasdesignedtobeapoet,assuperficialandfrivolouswhenitiscomparedtotheterribleseriousnessoflife).Theproblemcanbe
posedthisway:aLawrencewouldneverfind

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itnecessary,asPlatodid,toexcludeHomerasadangertothestate,topaintbothHesiodandHomer,asPolygnotusdid,inhellsufferingliketormentstoSisyphus
andTantalus.ForLawrenceknew,asnometaphysicianeverdoes,thedisciplineandhealthofform,organicformasdistinguishedfromthatfalseformwhichthe
arrangementsoftheintellect,initsfalsespeed,offer.
Itisthevalidityofform,anditsilluminations,whichcallforthiscritiqueofhighthoughtnow.Arthastoolongbeenjockeyedbyphilosophersintoaplace,sofarasthe
intellectgoes,ofsecondpower.Theariditiesofmindhavetoolongledthepeoplebythenose.Theharehasarrogatedtohimselftoomuchtheleadershipintherace.
Itistimewetestedthephilosophersbytheverytesttheyaresuchadeptsatsettingaside,theonetheyaresoquick,becausetheyarequick,todisarmtheircriticsof.
Lawrencewasnotdisarmed,hemadebold,becausehehadearnedtheright,hehadpaidtheprice,totestthemashetestedChrist.(InTheManWhoDiedhe
appliedthetesttoChristandis,sofarasIknow,theonlymanwhohas.)ItisthesametestbywhichwemustmeasurePlato,orOrtega,anyoftheirkind.Thetest
ofthetemptationistheirownlives.
(1950)

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TheEscapedCock
NotesonLawrence&theReal
Themansleeps,butIamawake.ForitistheLordwhocastsouttheheartofmeninordertogivemenanewheart
1
ItakeitthatCONTESTiswhatputsdrama(whattheycallstory,plot)intothething,thewriter'scontestingwithreality,toseeit,toSEE
thatclimaxisnotwhathappenstothecharactersorthings(whichis,evenatitsfinest,nomorethanariggedpuppetdemonstrandum)butis,
instead,theissueofthiscontest,theISSUEofthemanwhowritesabrokenstumpsaidmypeer,Thisiswhataplotoughttobe.
TheissueiswhatcausesCHANGE,thestruggleinside,thecontestthere,exhibited.
Atroot(orstump)whatis,isnolongerTHINGSbutwhathappensBETWEENthings,thesearethetermsoftherealitycontemporarytousandthetermsofwhat
weare.Ifformisnevermorethananextensionofcontentthenthepropositionreadsthus:content(contestleadingtoissuearrivingatchange)equalsform.
Myself,ItakeitthatDHLexploredtheproblem,was,atend,soattacking:
(1)ETRUSCANPLACESterminusofthatextraordinarycontest,Lawrencevsplace,idealplaceendtothegoingaroundtheearthtofindit,findingitthere,
Civitavecchiaandtheworkofthelastfiftymonthsofhislifefollowingthereon:
(2)LADYCHATTERLEY'SLOVER:theactofsimplificationtogetobjectsintoexertotherthanpsychologicalorintrospectiveeffects,bypullingoutofthe

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clothONE(red,Guatemalared,Pompeianred,forthatmatter,EtruscanorSumerianRED)THREADandthatthesimplestifsturdiestofall,sex,anditself,here,the
physicaloranimal,straight,here,and(onlyhereexcusable)thewordorgasmasissueintended,thatis,thetriumphordelightofsameasMellorsiscapableofits
teaching.
Thistheactofsimplification,thesametobecarefullyseenasutterlydifferentfromtheelementary(evenStein)healsodoesin(3)THEESCAPEDCOCK,Part
I.Itisnotsoeasytoputthesimplificationthistimeexceptthatitisadirectquestion,thequestiontheManWhoDiedaskshimself,onhisreturn:isanythingworth
morethanthemostprecisesharpeningoftheinstrument,ahuman,tothehearingofthehearingofallthereisinthebronzeclangofacock'scrow?
(IsanXfictionworthacock'scrow?)
InotherwordsthenextstepdownfromLadyChatterley'sLwastothedarkorphallicgodwhoisnotphallicorpenissimusalonebutthedarkasnighttheforever
dark,thegoingonofyoumewhoeverasconduitofthatdark,thewellspring,whateveritis.Thenextstepdown(outofthelight,intothepaintedtomb,backinto
theshell,thepaintedshell,goes)THEESCAPEDCOCK,isTHEWHOLESENSESassimplifiedfrom(asthenextstepto)theFIRSTSENSE,sex.(Part2fails
miserably,apparentlybecause,atthisnewstageofnarrativeLawrencewasnotyetabletotakewomandownthatnextsteptowardshisetruria.Hiswomanhere
losesbygoddessissingtheactualityofConstance(Frieda),anactualitytheChristgains.(AlwaysthemanleadsLawrence,in?)
2
beauty,sdtheBeardedMan
ininception,incontinuation,andinend
Thethingishasgotso(love,affection,friendship:thedyinginto,orwhatever)hasalreadybecometheFACT,isnowmorethan,iswhatDHLprojectedinEC
Part1,isviz:
thatthething,thatwhathappensbetween,is:tohear,absolute,asitis,theSOUND,thatcrow(gold,hesd,theMan)or(asanother)ofanotherhischicken
finebirdheis,twoendsliketheysay,cleanstraightbarringJimmy(hisfather,alsoJimmy,thesame)

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andthatsuchhearing(tofindthesecretofit,whichmeans,ofcourse,torecognizeit,thentoadmitit,then,ofall,toparticipate)isworththe
comingback,theputtingbehindone,theoverlooking,aCrucifixtion.
ItstrikesmethatwhereevenDHLwentoff(Part2)wastheabandoningofthatpossibilitywhichevenSomers(kangaroo)andMellorscometoadmit:thatweare,all
ofus,now,essentiallyguerrillasmaquis,frontierorsidestreetEVENintheintimate,EVENWHEREthoseoldessentials(love,etc.)are,wheretheytookroot/
itcanbeputthisway:thatitisnotaquestionoflossorofalackoflove(ofcapability)butadeepandprofounddifferenceofthewaythisthinggetsitself
expressed,nowadays.Confrontedbyrotonallhandsyetstillactiveenoughtowanttogoaheadtoundothatrotthosewhoarefrontdisposethemselves
towardtheintimatejustasaslantandacockedastheydotowardallthoseotherrealities,externalmostly,whicharemovingsocuriouslyfastandtreacherously
beforethenosethatwhy?anywhere?letatwigbreak?
Love,astheyhaveit,isasdeadaspeace,aswaris.Thereisonerequirement,onlyonerequirement,anywhere(andwhat'ssodifferentaboutit,actually,fromwhat
thepredecessorsmadesomuchof,withthatwordoftheirs,thatwordamorplushowtheyfigureditoughttobehave)theclue:open,stayOPEN,hearit,
anything,reallyHEARit.AndyouareIN.
Youareall,allofyou,soglibaboutwhatishuman,sogoddamnglib.Takealook.Justopenyoureyes,ashedid,theManwhodied:
1:thedayofmyinterferenceisdone
2:compulsion,nogoodtherecoilkillstheadvance
3:nothingissomarvellousastobedonealoneinthephenomenalworldwhichisragingandyetapart
(1951)

Page141
ThisisYeatsSpeaking
ThisisWilliamButlerYeats.IwanttospeaktomyfriendsinAmericaaboutathingwhichtroublesmeevennow,thoughIhaverecoveredleisure,andknowmore
thanIdidaboutstructure,mathematicalandotherwise.
ItismyfriendEzraPoundwhohasmadesomanybeautifulthings.YouAmericans,youhavehimnowontrial.IrememberIwarnedhimonceaboutpolitics,notas
youthink,thatwepoetsshouldstayoutofit,Isaidsimply,donotbeelectedtotheSenateofyourcountry.Iwasthinkingofmyownexperience.Imerelyobserved,
youandIaremuchoutofplaceaswouldbethefirstcomposersofSeashantiesinanageofSteam.
Iamnotveryinterestedinyourhysteria,orhis.WeofIrelandhavelivedwithtreasonlong.ItisnotasdramaticasEzrathinks,hehasalwaysbeeninthesethingsasin
somuchAmerican,exterior,moral.Whenheshouted,andnowIhearyoushout,Istoopdownandwritewithmyfingerontheground.
Idonotknowthatanyofusofmygeneration,andfewofyoursItooarevolutionistunderstoodthecontrarieswhicharenowengaged.WilliamBlakeobserved
thatoppositionsdonotmaketruecontraries.
Itwasourglory,Pound'sandmine,IexceptEliottraditionistooorganizedwithhim,hisuncertaintybeforechaosleadshimtoconfuseauthoritywithorthodoxyto
reasserttheclaimsofauthorityinaworldofwhiggery.ItistruewhatPoundsaid,wemenoftheminddostandwiththeloversoforder.Wevalueit,withwhatlabor
wepurchaseitinourwork.Weopposedourselvestoaleveling,rancorous,rationaltime.
WhatamanofEliot'swordswouldcalloursinwastheoppositeofhis.Willingasweweretoopposeandgoforward,wedidnotseektruecontrary.Becauseofyour
irasciblemind,Pound,andbecausemybonesalwaystooktocomfortlikearetainer's,youwereeverinhaste,andIsometimes,tothinkthesemenwhomarchedand
preachedaneworderweofourexcitablepro

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fessionareattractedtosickmenandbuccaneershadtakenthatotherchaosofmen'slivesupintheirhands,hadworkedtomasteritaswedoours,andcould
shapewhatmennowneed,rest,anendtothisseaofquestion.
Iunderstandthis,atthedistanceIhaveacquired,IhaveTroilus'advantage,fromtheseventhspheretolookbackonDiomedandCressidboth.
ItwasPound'serrortothink,becausehewasabletoexaminewithcourageandcriticizeeloquentlytheworldwehaveinheritedRapallowasaplacetoescapethe
knotsofpassion,itwasthevillageintheChinesepoemtowhichtheofficialretired,inhabitedbyoldmendevotedtotheclassicsPoundthoughtthispower,
necessarytousmenwhohadtomakethelanguagenew,alsogavehimthesighttoknowthecure.Itisthefrenzythatfollowswhenthemaskofmanisaskew.The
beingmustbragofitstriumphoveritsownincoherence.
Iexaminehisworkinthisnewlightandwhenhelaywithbeautyinhercornerorfedcatsinthestreet,theyhavetheiroppressors,hewasatrueloveroforder.I
wouldundonosinglewordofallhehaspublished,quarrelasIhavewithhim,takeasIdidattimeshisworkoftwentyyears,theCantos,tobeabotchoftoneand
colour,allHodosChameliontos.
Hewasfalseoutofphasewhenhesubordinatedhiscriticalintelligencetotheobjectsofauthorityinothers.IfthePositiveMandothat,allthecrueltyand
narrownessofhisintellectaredisplayedinserviceofpreposterouspurposeafterpurposetillthereisnothingleftbutthefixedideaandsomehystericalhatred.
Itwasnaturalhelookedforanelite,andfrombrawlersandpoets.Itwashisobsessiontodrawallthingsupintothepatternofart.Hewasignorantofscienceandhe
willbesurprised,asGoethewillnotbe,tofindaphysicistcomeonasStageManagerofthetragedy.
Itisatime,yours,whenforceslargeascenturiesbattleandIsupposeyoumustbemoreviolentinyourjudgmentthanamanlikemewhohadagetiedtohistaillikea
can.ButthisIwouldsaytoyou:youmusttakestrengthbyembracingthecriticismofyourenemy.Itisthebeautyofdemonstheyrushintostrugglewithacryofhate
youmusthearifyouwillanswerthem.
Ihaveadvancedfarenoughoutoftheprisonofmygenerationtounderstanditiscivilwarinwhichyouarelocked.

Page143
Whatdayyouaskwhendateisdead
ofMay,whenmonthislost.
Icanbeprecisethoughitisnoanswer:
thisisthedayofgreatyear
thedayoffear.
Manismoon.
YouwillknowbetterthanIhowitistobefought.IwrotetomywifeonetimefromRapallowhenIhadlistenedtoPoundforanafternoondamnusury,expound
creditandMajorDouglas,talkthetotalitarianway,itwasasthoughIwereinthepresenceofoneofWyndhamLewis'revolutionarysimpletons.
IhadneverreadHegel,butmymindhadbeenfullofBlakefromboyhoodup,Isawtheworldasaconflict,andcoulddistinguishbetweenacontraryandanegation.
YetitwasnoteasyformetolistenwhenoneofyouryoungmenwhohadcometoRapallotoseePoundcameawayandsaidtome:Hehasmingledwithferretand
chameleon,vultureandkite,everyantiSemiteafterhiskind.Hehastouchedabominationandisunclean.
InmyfirsthardspringtimeIhadafriendIthoughthalfalunatic,halfknave.
AndItoldhimso,butfriendshipneverends
Andwhatifmindseemchanged,
Anditseemedchangedwiththemind,
Whenthoughtriseupunbid
Ongenerousthingsthathedid
AndIgrowhalfcontentedtobeblind!
NowinyourcountryIhearadepartmentcalledJusticespeakofscriptsforwirelessandEzra,asIwouldexpect,talkbacksharp.(Wordscausenomanfearexcept
inthemakingofthem.)Ipaylittleheed,thoughthereispityinme,forIknowPound,heisagamblerandcanmeasureconsequence.
Thesoulisstunnedinme,Owriters,readers,fighters,fearers,foranotherreason,thatyouhaveallowedthistohappenwithoutatrialofyourown.Itisthepassivity
ofyouyoungmenbeforePound'sworkasawhole,notscriptsalone,youwhohavetakenfromhim,Joyce,Eliotandmyselftheadvanceswemadeforyou.Thereis
acourtyouleavesilenthistorypresent,theissuethelargerconcernsofauthoritythanastate,HeraclitusandMarxcalled,perhapssomeconsiderationofdescents
andmetamorphoses,formandtheeliminationofintellect.

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WeweretheforerunnersPoundonlythemoreextremebutourtimewasoutofphaseandmadeusenders.Lawrenceamongusalonehadthetruemask,he
lackedthecriticalintelligence,andwasprospective.Youaretheantitheticalmen,andyourtimeisforward,theconflictismoredeclared,itisforyoutoholdthemirror
uptoauthority,behindourrespectforwhichlayadisrespectfordemocracyaswewereacquaintedwithit.Asloganwillnotsuffice.
ItisasimplethingIaskasImightquestionabeggarwhostoppedmeforacoin.Itistheuse,theuseyoumakeofus.
Areyouacourttoacceptand/orrejectJEFFERSONAND/ORMUSSOLINI,indictGUIDETOKULCHURandwriteabetter,briefmecontraryABCs,charge
why100CANTOSbetraysyourcountry,thatpoemwhichconcernsitselfsomuchwiththemenwhomadeyourRevolutionforyou?IhavesaidIoftenfoundthere
brightlypaintedkings,queens,knavesbuthaveneverdiscoveredwhyallthesuitscouldnotbedealtoutinsomequitedifferentorder.Whatdoyoufind,atraitor?
DeanSwiftsaysinameditationonawomanwhopaintsadyingface.
Matteraswiselogicianssay
Cannotwithoutaformsubsist
Andform,sayIaswellasthey,
Mustfail,ifmatterbringsnogrist.
Whathaveyoutohelpyouholdinasinglethoughtrealityandjustice?
(1946)

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GrandPa,GoodBye
1
Timeisinhisconversationmoreoftenthananythingelse.IsaidtoLowelltheothernight:ThereisahasteinPound,butitdoesnotseemtoberushingtoanyfutureor
awayfromanypast.Itismereimpatience,thenervesturninglikeawildspeedmachine(itishowhegothisworkdone)and,moreimportant,anintoleranceofthe
mind'sspeed(fastashisgoes),anintoleranceevenofhimself.Forheisnotasvainasheacts.30yrs,30yrsbehindthetimeyouhearitfromhim,overandover.
Itishismeasure(andhisrod)forallwork,andmen.Hismindburstsfromthelagsheseesaroundhim.
Hespeaksasthoughhefoundhimselflikeretardedwhenhebegan.AproposFord(F.M.),hesaidtomeonce:Fromtheintellectualcentre,30yrsstartofme.He
elaboratedonit,anothertime:Fordknew,whenIwasstillsuckingatSwinburne.(HecreditsFordsomewhereastheonewhoformulatedtheproposition,c.1908:
verseshouldbeatleastaswellwrittenasprose.)
Nowheputsalllittlemagazinesaside,orquestionsaboutsomeone'swork,orpresentationcopies,withajerk:Ican'tbebothered.I'veworked40yrs,I'vedone
mine,andIcan'tbebotheredtryingtofindoutwhatthenewcandidatesdon'tknow.
WhenIwasafreshman...,hestartedonce.
2
IfIwereaskedtosaywhatIthoughtwasthepurepointoftheOldManaspoetIwouldsaythebacktrail.Themorefamiliarobservation,thatitishistranslationson
whichhisfamewillrest,isastepoffthetruth.Theyareapartofthecareerhehasbuiltonremembering,buttherootisagivenofhisownnature.Thelinesand
passageswhichstandout,fromthestart,captureamood

Page146
ofloss,andbearabeautyofloss.ItisasthoughPoundneverhadillusion,wasbornwithoutanearofhisown,was,instead,anextraordinaryearofanera,anddid
thelisteningforawholetime,thesharpestsortoflistening,fromDantedown.(IthinkofBillWilliams'remark:It'sthebestdamnedeareverborntolistentothis
language!)HesaidtomeoneofthefirstdaysIvisitedhim,whenhewasinthepenitentiarypartofthehospital,whathehasnowcometocalltheHellHoleto
distinguishitfromhisfirstdetentioncellatPisa,theGorillaCage(wherehefelthehadbeenbroken),Amongtheruins,amongtheruins,thefinestmemoryinthe
Orient.(Hesd,Orient.)
Hisconversation,assomuchoftheCantos,isrecall,storiesofPicabia,Yeats(Willie),Fordie,Frobenius,Hauptmann,ofintelligentmen,anditisasgoodasyoucan
get.Iwasnevermadesoawareofwhatavalueheputsonanecdoteasrecently,whenIreturnedfromsevenmonthsonthePacificCoast,andhejibedme,towhat
useIhadputmytime.IgotaroundtomyadventureinHollywood,andyoungHuston'sstoryofJackWarnerandtheWhale.ItpleasedPoundmuch,and,ashe
sometimesdoes,wagginglikeanoldsaw,hesaystoDorothy,Well,sevenmonths,onestory,notbad,notbadatall.Therearen'tsomanygoodstoriesafterall.
He'sacollectorwhat'sthatlinehehadintheCantosandtookout,aboutscrapbag,theCantosassame?
IdaresaythesearenowcommonplacesofPoundcritique,butIdon'tthinkithasbeensufficientlyobserved,ifithasbeenobserved,howmuchhisworkisastructure
ofmnemonicsraisedonareed,nostalgia.
3
EdwardDahlberghasit,inDoTheseBonesLive,thatennuiisthemalaiseofthelifeofourfathers,modernlifeIthinkhesays,andinreferencetoDostoevsky,and
hiswomen.Isitfarfetched,ortooeasyofmetotakePound'shaste,andthisvertuofhisverse,asbornofsame?
Itishardformetodootherwise,havingknownhim.Hispowerisafunnything.Thereisnoquestionhe'sgotthejumphiswit,thespeedofhislanguage,thegrabof
it,theintimidationofhisskillfullywroughtcareer.Buthehaslittlepowertocompel,thatis,byhisperson.HestrikesyouasbrittleandterriblyAmerican,insecure.I
missweight,andanabundance.Hedoesnotseemandthisisacrazythingtosayinthefaceofhisbeautifulverse,toappearungratefulforitbutIsayit,hedoes
notseemtohaveinhabitedhisownexperience.Itisalmostasthoughheconvertedtoofast.Theimpression

Page147
persists,thattheonlylifehehadlivedis,infact,theliterary,and,admittingitsnecessitytoourfathers,especiallytohimwhohadsuchajobofclearingtodo,Itakeita
fault.Fortheverbalbrilliance,delightfulasitis,leavestherootsdry.Onehasastrongfeeling,comingawayfromhim,ofalackoftheamorous,downthere
somewhere.(IrememberthatRobertDuncan,whenhereturnedtoCaliforniafromhiscrosscountrypilgrimagetoPound,spokeofthis,wasstruckbyit.)E.P.isa
tennisball.
(WhenIthinkofwhatIhavejustsaid,andofthoseearlypoems!)
Anattemptlikethisissuchapresumption:saidFrederickofPrussia,Everymanmustsavehimselfinhisownway.YoumightsayIamofferingthesenotesoutof
curiosity,onthechancethattheymayormaynotilluminehim.Hecanstandit.He'snoeasyman.Hehasmanydevices.Andhe'slarge.I'mnotsurethat,precisely
becauseoftheusehehasputnostalgiato,andthewayhehasusedhimself,hehasnotmadeofhimselftheultimateimageoftheendoftheWest.Whichissomething.
(IamremindedofaremarkofIdon'trememberwhich,sohelpme,LaoTseorConfucius!,thatashrewdmanknowsothers,atruemanilluminateshimself.)
Wait.IthinkI'vegotit.Yes,Ezraisatennisball,doesbounceon,off,along,overeverything.Butthat'stheoutsideofhim.Insideit'sthesame,butdifferent,he
bounces,butlikelightbounces.Insideheislikelightis,thewaylightbehaves.Inthissenseheislight,lightisthewayofE.P.'sknowing,lightisthenumenofhim,light
ishisway.
Andthatiswhyhegoesashedoes,andwhyheisabletomakehismostbeautifulpoemoflovelaterthanCino,notsodifferentfromCinoeither,butvastlymore
complete,andmakethewholeCantoIamreferringtoXXXVIastraighttranslationfromCavalcanti,theCavalcantiitselfonewholeextrapolationofloveinterms
oflight,anddrawn,initsturn,straightfromGrosseteste'sessayonthephysicsoflight.
ThusalsoPound'sfinepenetrationofDante?(IamthinkingofthoseimagesoflightinandimagesofBeatrice,toointheParadiso,isit,orisitattheendofthe
Purgatorio?Anyway,thosewhichEliothasmadesuchapooruseof.)
MaybenowIcangetatthisbusinessofamorasofEzra,andgetatitright.Itisn'talackoftheamorous,perhaps,somuchasitisacompletelydifferentsenseofthe
amoroustothatwhichpostChristianmancontains,tothat

Page148
whichtobemostinnocentaboutit,andproperlyrelativethelikesofDuncan,say,ormyselfmayfeel.
(OfthelikesofBillW.?IamstruckbytheimageoffireinPaterson.Maybefireistheoppositeprincipletolight,andcomestotheuseofthosewhodonotgothe
wayoflight.Firehastoconsumetogiveoffitslight.Butlightgetsitsknowledgeandhasitsintelligenceanditsbeingbygoingoverthingswithoutthenecessityof
eatingthesubstanceofthingsintheprocessofpurchasingitstruth.Maybethisisthedifference,thedifferentbaseofnotjustthesetwopoets,BillandE.P.,but
somethingmore,twocontraryconceptionsoflove.Anyway,inthepresentcontext,itservestocharacterizetwodifferingpersonalvia:oneachievesitsclaritiesby
wayofclaritas,theothergoesaboutitsbusinessblind,achievesitsclaritiesbywayofwhatyoumightcallconfusio.AtwhichpointIquoteChaucer'sCocktohis
Dameinthemiddleofthenightontheirperch.Andquitthewholesubject.
ForalsosikerasInprincipio,
Mulieresthominisconfusio,
Madame,thesentenceofthisLatynis,
Wommanismannesjoyeandalhisblis.
4
Alongtimeago(what,25years?)PoundtooktheroleofConfucius,putonthatmask,forgood.I'msurehewouldresthisclaimnot,asIhaveputit,onthepast,but
forward,asteacherofhistorytocome,CultureBearerinthedesertandshameofnow.(Idon'tthinkitispossibletoexaggeratethedistancehegoeswithhisnotionof
himselfattheendGateofthelastCantoConfuciusistobeoneofthetwohugefiguresstandingthere,lookingon.)
Itisalltiedupwithwhathecallsatruism,London,1913:areyouorareyounot,aseriouscharacter?ThenitwasGaudier,Lewisandhimself.NowitistheMajor
(Douglas),Lewisandhimself.Hesdthattheotherday,whenweweretalkingaboutBillWilliams.Billhadjustbeentakentothehospital,andoneofthenew
candidateson2ndAvenuehadhadaletterfromBillrepeatingoverandoveragain,Ihavenothingtosay,nothingtosay.E.P.didn'tpaythismuchmind.Sdhe:Bill
hasalwaysbeenconfused.He'soneofthereasonsImakesomuchofrace.It'shardenoughforamantogetthingsclearwhenhe'sofonerace,buttobeBill!
french,spanish,anglo,somejewfromSaragossa....AndthoughIleftPoundthatdayandshallnotseehimagain,he

Page149
wentontosaysomethingwhichistrue,thatwhathasmadeBillimportantisthatBillhasneversdonegoddamnedthingthathasn'tfirstcirculatedentirelythroughhis
headbeforeitcomesouthismouth.(Billneverfaked,andthat'swhyhehasbeenofsuchusetoallusyoungmenwhogrewupafterhim.TherehewasinRutherford
tobegoneto,andseen,acleananimal,theonlyonewehadontheground,righthereintheStates.)
5
Poundmakesalotofthehead.Youcantellthathethinksofitasapod,andmostofthetimecomestotheconclusionthatverylittlerattlesaroundinsidemostknown
pods.TheMajor,Lewisandhimself.TheMajor,LewisandE.P.Lewis,saysheonce,Lewismostalwaysgetsthingswrong.Buthegetssomethin'!
AtthatpointhiswifegottheconversationoffonEliot,andHulme,confusing1914with1913.PounddidnotsaythatEliotwasnotaseriouscharacter,whatI
gatheredwasthatPoundhadhopedthePossummightturnouttobeone,in1914.Hethenwenton:ThewargotHulmetooyoung.Heusedtospendthreehoursa
weekwiththeBloomsburygang,AshleyDukes...hereeledoffothersandwe'dlaughathim,Gaudier,Lewis,IandyoucouldseePoundgivingittohim.But
whenhewasgone,whenhewasn'ttheretodoit,wecaughton,wesawwhathe'dbeenuptohe'dbeenbeatingthatgangovertheheadhardenougheverytimehe
sawthemtokeep'eminline.Afterhewasgone,theywentontheloose,therewasnoonetotell'emAndlook!...Grampawwasgivingalesson.
AnotherlessonthatdaywashisstoryofHunecker?no,someH,somecitizenwhosenameImissed(theycomeflyin'),whowaslisteningtoSturgeMooredoa
lecture,orareading,inoneofthoseroomswhicharebuiltlikeanoperatingroom,theseatssteepanddownlikeabowl,andwhowaswishingthatMoorewouldget
onwithit,anddone,andholdinghisheadinhishand,whenacharacterintherowabovehimtapshimontheshoulder,andsez,Friend,don'tfeelsobad,what
makesyouthinkwe'reheretoenjoyourselves?
Heisdriven,E.P.,togetonwiththings,histhings,theserious.Hesdtomeanothertime:Ican'tgititintoyramericanheadsthattheearthmakesonecomplete
circuitonceEVERY24hrs.
Anothercrack:IthoughtyoumightbeaseriouscharacterwhenIreadthatlaborsavingdeviceofyrsonH.Melville.Butthatwas2yrsago,bro.

Page150
6
WhenIhappenedtoaskhimwhatFrobeniuslookedlike,IstumbledonthefactthatPoundseeshimselfasacatman.Bothheandthewifequickenedtothequestion.
Glanceswereexchanged.Hetookitup,first:Sdhe,Therewerethreemenitwasalmostasthoughhesaid,onceuponatimetherewerethreemenwhomight
havecomefromthesamegenes.Frobenius...DPinterrupted,andstartedtogoontoillustratethedifferencesbetweenEP'sfaceandFrobenius'.ThenPoundwas
uponhisfeet,showinghowFstood,backonhisheels(Phimselfseemsalwaysonhistoes,ordid,beforehethickenedupfromlackofexercisehissecondyrat
SLiz,aroundthebellyandbelowtheback)withhisarmsoutandhishandsstuckinhisbelt,Hemust'avegotitfromAfrica,sezPound(fromtheexigenciesofthe
place,Ijudged,butthepointbeing,allaroundthethreeofus,thatE.P.neverinhislifewouldhavespenttheyearsthatFrobeniusdidpushingaroundAfrica).DP
wentonmakingwithherhands,seekingfurthertoshowthedifferencesFnotsowideatthetemples...aVforF'sbeard,whenallofasuddenoldEzletsitout,
sortofhalftoher,alltome,catfamily,catfamily,makingwithhishead,andgettingthatfixinhisoye!
Andthe3rdofthesamegenes?Barkoff,Barkoff(EPwithobviousdelight)nowChiefofprotocol,Moscow.(PoundhadmentionedthisBarkoff[Barkov,I
suppose]severaltimestwoyearsearlier,particularlyatthetimewhenhewasridingtheideathattheU.S.Govt.couldhavesaveditselfalotoftroubleandtheworld
alotofwarifithadallowedOldEzwhatheaskedfor,thechancetopickupGeorgianaweek,10daysandgetoverthereandtalkitoutstraightwithJoe,in
hisowntongue.IgatheredthenthatwhatwouldhavemadeitallsosimplewasBarkov'spresence,torigthetalk,oncetheUSGwisedup.Poundseemstohave
knownBarkovyearsbefore,inItaly,perhaps,Idon'tknow.)
7
MadameandSirPoundalsomanagedtogetthisacrossoneday,thattheyhadrecentlylearned,throughAgnes,whoevershewas,thatFrobeniushadsaidofE.P.
beforehedied,HeisworththreeOxfordswithfourCambridgesontop.
Anditfeltgoodtohearit,forthesepraisesareoldEz'sOM'sandNobelAwards.Joyce,apparently,wasnotamantogivepraiseouteasily,andPound

Page151
toldmeonce,withwhatpleasure,theonlythingheevergotoutofJoyce,thiscommentonedaywhenhehadreadsomethingnew,Thesleekheadofverse,Mr
Pound,emergesinyourwork.
HehasastoryofJoyceandHauptmann,Joyce,whenyoung,hadtranslatedoneofHauptmann'splays.AfterPoundhadmetHauptmann,Joyceputacopyofthe
playintoEzra'shandsandaskedhimtogetHauptmanntoautographitforhim.And,saysEz,hedidn'twriteoffoneofthoseinscriptionstheintervals,thatway
Poundgetsgestureinbetweentheletterseven,showedthathewasthinkingofthewayhedoesit,dashesthemoffhetookitaway,camebackthreedayslater,
gaveittome,itread,toJJthebestreaderthisplayeverhad,andIshippeditoff.Atwhichpointhecriesoutatthetopofhisdelight,Hesuresatonthatonetillit
hatched!
8
Anotherofhiscomforts,istoseehimselfinthepartoftheOldMan,Grandpa,nowthatMaryhasmadehimone.Sdhetheotherday,mistaking,Ithink,the
significanceofwhatIwascallingtohisattention,thecomingtoWashington(asthotoRome)ofthePoets(EliotattheNationalGallerythespringbefore,whichwas
likealayingonofhands,thecomingintoexistenceofanAmericanpoetlaureatethecreation,andtheturnover,ofthepoetsofCongress,theConsultantsand,at
thetimeIwasspeakingtohim,therunofaseriesofreadingsatthenewInstituteofContemporaryArts,Spender,Tate,Lowell&theotherJrs).SaystheO.M.:
Ya,they'llallbecomingtooldEzonhisdeathbedandtellinghimhewasright
and,whenIwastellinghimaboutthewaythepeopleinthestreetcarswereshakingtheirheadslikeabunchofdippingbirdsoverablacknew
headlineoutoftheAntHill,Ifthey'donlylistenedtooldEzinthefirstplace!
right,
right
fromthestart
(1948)

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HUMANUNIVERSE

Page155
HumanUniverse
Therearelaws,thatistosay,thehumanuniverseisasdiscoverableasthatother.Andasdefinable.
Thetroublehasbeen,thatamanstayssoastonishedhecantriumphoverhisownincoherence,hesettlesforthat,crowsoverit,andgoesatadayagainhappyheat
leastmakesalittlesense.Or,ifhesaysanythingtoanother,hethinksitisenoughthestruggledoesinvolvesuchlaborandsometerrortowrapitinalittlemystery:
ah,thewayishardbutthisiswhatyoufindifyougoit.
Theneednowisacoolerone,adiscrimination,andthen,ashout.DerWegstirbt,sdone.Andwasright,washenot?Thenthequestionis:wasstderWeg?
I
Thedifficultyofdiscovery(inthecloseworldwhichthehumanisbecauseitisourselvesandnothingoutsideus,liketheother)is,thatdefinitionisasmuchapartofthe
actasissensationitself,inthissense,thatlifeispreoccupationwithitself,thatconjectureaboutitisasmuchofitasitscomingatus,itsgoingon.Inotherwords,we
areourselvesboththeinstrumentofdiscoveryandtheinstrumentofdefinition.
Whichisofcourse,whylanguageisaprimeofthematterandwhy,ifwearetoseesomeofthelawsafresh,itisnecessarytoexamine,first,thepresentconditionof
thelanguageandImeanlanguageexactlyinitsdoublesenseofdiscrimination(logos)andofshout(tongue).
Wehavelivedlonginageneralizingtime,atleastsince450B.C.Andithashaditseffectsonthebestofmen,onthebestofthings.Logos,ordiscourse,forexample,in
thattime,soworkeditsabstractionsintoourconceptanduseoflanguagethatlanguage'sotherfunction,speech,seemssoinneedofres

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torationthatseveralofusgobacktohieroglyphortoideogramstorightthebalance.(Thedistinctionhereisbetweenlanguageastheactoftheinstantandlanguageas
theactofthoughtabouttheinstant.)
Butonecan'tanylongerstopthere,ifoneevercould.Forthehabitsofthoughtarethehabitsofaction,andhere,too,particularshastobefoughtfor,anew.Infact,
bytheverylawoftheidentityofdefinitionanddiscovery,whocanextricatelanguagefromaction?(ThoughitisoneofthefirstfalsefacesofthelawwhichIshallwant
totrytostrikeaway,itisquiteunderstandableinthelightofthisidentitythattheGreekswentontodeclareallspeculationasenclosedintheUNIVERSEof
discourse.Itistheirword,andtherefugeofallmetaphysicianssinceasthoughlanguage,too,wasanabsolute,insteadof(asevenmanis)instrument,andnottobe
extended,howevermuchtheurge,tocoverwhateach,manandlanguage,isinthehandsof:whatweshare,andwhichisenough,ofpowerandofbeauty,nottoneed
anexaggerationofwords,especiallythatspreadingone,universe.Fordiscourseishardlysuch,oratleastonlyarbitrarilyauniverse.Inanycase,soextended(logos
givensomuchmoreofitspartthanlivespeech),discoursehasarrogatedtoitselfagooddealofexperiencewhichneededtostayputneedsnowtobereturnedto
theonlytwouniverseswhichcount,thetwophenomenalones,thetwoamanhasneedtobearonbecausetheybearsoonhim:thatofhimself,asorganism,andthat
ofhisenvironment,theearthandplanets.
WestayunawarehowtwomeansofdiscoursetheGreeksappeartohaveinventedhugelyintermitourparticipationinourexperience,andsopreventdiscovery.They
arewhatfollowedfromSocrates'readinesstogeneralize,hiswillingness(fromhisownbias)tomakeauniverseoutofdiscourseinsteadoflettingitrestinitsmost
serviceableplace.(Itisnotsufficientlyobservedthatlogos,andthereasonnecessarytoit,areonlyastagewhichamanmustmasterandnotwhattheyaretakento
be,finaldiscipline.Beyondthemisdirectperceptionandthecontrarieswhichdisposeofargument.Theharmonyoftheuniverse,andIincludeman,isnotlogical,or
better,ispostlogical,asistheorderofanycreatedthing.)WithAristotle,thetwogreatmeansappear:logicandclassification.Anditistheythathavesofastened
themselvesonhabitsofthoughtthatactionisinterferedwith,absolutelyinterferedwith,Ishouldsay.
NorcanIletthethirdofthegreatGreeks,Plato,gofreehewhohadmoreofasortoflatitudeandstylemytribeofmenareapttoindulgehimfor.Hisworldof
Ideas,offormsasextricablefromcontent,isasmuchandasdanger

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ousanissueasarelogicandclassification,andtheyneedtobeseenassuchifwearetogetontosomealternativetothewholeGreeksystem.Platomaybeahoney
head,asMelvillecalledhim,butheispreciselythattreacheroustoallants,andwhere,increasingly,mycontemporariesdie,ordrownthebestofthemselves.
Idealismsofanysort,likelogicandlikeclassification,interveneatjustthemomenttheybecomemorethanthemeanstheyare,areallowedtobecomewaysasend
insteadofwaystoend,END,whichisnevermorethanthisinstant,thanyouonthisinstant,thanyou,figuringitout,andacting,so.Ifthereisanyabsolute,itisnever
morethanthisone,thisinstant,inaction.
Whichoughttogetuson.Whatmakesmostactsoflivingandofwritingunsatisfactory,isthatthepersonand/orthewritersatisfythemselvesthattheycanonly
makeaform(whattheysayordo,orastory,apoem,whatever)byselectingfromthefullcontentsomefaceofit,orplane,somepart.Andatjustthispoint,byjust
thisact,theyfallbackonthedodgesofdiscourse,andimmediately,theyloseme,Iamnolongerengaged,thisisnotwhatIknowisthegoingon(andofwhichgoing
onI,aswellasthey,wantsomeillumination,andso,somepleasure).Itcomesoutademonstration,aseparatingout,anactofclassification,andso,astopping,and
allthatIknowis,itisnotthere,ithasturnedfalse.Foranyofus,atanyinstant,arejuxtaposedtoanyexperience,evenanoverwhelmingsingleone,onseveralmore
planesthanthearbitraryanddiscursivewhichweinheritcandeclare.
ItisnottheGreeksIblame.Whatitcomestoisourselves,thatwedonotfindwaystohewtoexperienceasitis,inourdefinitionandexpressionofit,inotherwords,
findwaystostayinthehumanuniverse,andnotbeledtopartitionrealityatanypoint,inanyway.Forthisisjustwhatwedodo,thisistherealissueofwhathas
been,andtheprocess,asitnowassertsitself,canbeexposed.Itisthefunction,comparison,or,itsbiggername,zymology.Thesearethefalsefaces,toomuch
seen,whichhideandkeepfromusetheactiveintellectualstates,metaphorandperformance.Allthatcomparisoneverdoesissetupaseriesofreferencepoints:to
compareistotakeonethingandtrytounderstanditbymarkingitssimilaritiestoordifferencesfromanotherthing.Righthereisthetrouble,thateachthingisnotso
muchlikeordifferentfromanotherthing(theselikenessesanddifferencesareapparent)butthatsuchananalysisonlyaccomplishesadescription,doesnotcometo
gripswithwhatreallymatters:thatathing,anything,impingesonusbyamoreimportantfact,itsselfexistence,withoutreferencetoanyotherthing,inshort,thevery
char

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acterofitwhichcallsourattentiontoit,whichwantsustoknowmoreaboutit,itsparticularity.Thisiswhatweareconfrontedby,notthething'sclass,any
hierarchy,ofqualityorquantity,butthethingitself,anditsrelevancetoourselveswhoaretheexperienceofit(whateveritmaymeantosomeoneelse,orwhatever
otherrelationsitmayhave).
Theremustbeameansofexpressionforthis,awaywhichisnotdivisiveasallthetagendsandupendingoftheGreekwayare.Theremustbeawaywhichbearsin
insteadofaway,whichmeetsheadonwhatgoesoneachsplitsecond,awaywhichdoesnotinordertodefineprevent,deter,distract,andsoceasetheactof,
discovering.
Ihavebeenlivingforsometimeamongstapeoplewhoaremoreorlessdirectlythedescendantsofacultureandcivilizationwhichwasacontraryofthatwhichwe
haveknownandofwhichwearethenaturalchildren.Themarkedthingaboutthemis,thatitisonlyloveandfleshwhichseemstocarryanysignoftheirantecedence,
thatalltherestwhichwasonceagreatnessdifferentfromourownhasgonedownbeforethepoundingofourway.And,now,exceptastheirbodiesjostleinabus,
orastheydisclosethedepthandtenacityofloveamongeachotherinsideafamily,theyarepoorfailuresofthemodernworld,incompetenteventoarrangethat,inthe
monthofJune,whentherainshavenotcomefarenoughforwardtofillthewells,theyhavewatertowashinortodrink.Theyhavelostthecapacityoftheir
predecessorstodoanythingincommon.Buttheydoonethingnomodernknowsthesecretof,howeverheisstillbynaturepossessedofit:theyweartheirfleshwith
thatdifferencewhichtheunderstandingthatitiscommonleadsto.WhenIamrockedbytheroadsagainstanyofthemkids,women,mentheirfleshismostgentle,
isgranted,touchisinnosenseanythingbutthenaturallawofflesh,thereisnoneofthatpullawaywhich,intheStates,causesamanforalltheyearsofhislifethe
deepestsortofquestioningoftherightsofhimselftothewildreachingofhisownorganism.Theadmissionthesepeoplegivemeandoneanotherisdirect,andthe
individualwhopeersoutfromthatfleshispreciselyhimself,isacuriouswanderinganimallikemeitissoverybeautifulhowanimalhumaneyesarewhenthefleshis
notwornsocloseitchokes,howhumanandindividuatedthelookcomesoutofahumaneyewhenthehouseofitisnotexaggerated.
Thisisnoteasytosavefromsubjectivism,tostatesothatyouunderstandthatthisisnotanobservationbutafirstlawtoarestorationofthehuman

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house.ForwhatismarkedabouttheseLearnerswithwhomIlive(bycontrast,forexample,tothepeopleofthecitynearby)isthat,here,thebigeared,smalleyed
creaturesstayastheminoritytheymustalwayshavebeenbeforegaragesmadethemvaluableandallowedthemoutoftheirholestoproliferateandoverruntheearth.
Nothingisaccident,andman,nolessthannature,doesnothingwithoutplanorthedisciplinetomakeplanfact.Andifitistruethatwenowliveinfearofourown
house,andcaneasilytracethereasonforit,itisalsotruethatwecantracereasonswhythosewhodonotordidnotsolivefoundouthowtodootherthanwe.
Myassumptionis,thatthesecontemporaryMayaarewhattheyarebecauseoncetherewasaconceptatworkwhichkeptattentionsopoisedthat(1)menwereable
tostaysointerestedintheexpressionandgestureofallcreatures,includingatleastthreeplanetsinadditiontothehumanface,eyesandhands,thattheyinventeda
systemofwrittenrecord,nowcalledhieroglyph,which,onitsveryface,isverse,thesignsweresoclearlyanddenselychosenthat,cutinstone,theyretainthepower
oftheobjectsofwhichtheyaretheimages(2)tomassstonewithsufficientproportiontodecorateanearhillandturnitintoafiretoweroranobservatoryorone
postofanenclosureinwhichpeople,favoredbyitsshadows,mightswapcaymotesforsandalsand(3)tofireclayintopotsporousenoughtosieveandthuscool
water,strongenoughtostewiguanaandfish,andhandsomeenoughtoputceremonywhereitalsobelongs,inthemostelementaryhumanacts.Andwhenapeople
aresodisposed,itshouldcomeasnosurprisethat,longbeforeanyoftheseaccomplishments,thesamepeopledidanimprovementonnaturethedomesticationof
maizewhichremainsoneoftheworld'swonders,eventoanationofBurbank,andthatlongafteralltheiraccomplishments,theystillcarrytheirbodieswithsomeof
thesavorandtheflavorthatthebodiesoftheAmericansareasmissinginasistheirirrigatedlettuceandtheirgreenpickedrefrigeratorripenedfruit.Forthetruthis,
thatthemanagementofexternalnaturesothatnoneofitsvirtuislost,invegetablesorinart,isasmuchadelicatejugglingofhercontentasisthesamejugglingbyany
oneofusofourown.Andwhenmenarenotsuchjugglers,arenotabletomanageameansofexpressiontheequaloftheirownornature'sintricacy,thefleshdoes
choke.Thenotionoffuncomestodisplaceworkaswhatweareherefor.Spectatorscrowdsoutparticipationastheconditionofculture.Andbonusesandprizesare
therewardsoflaborcontrivedbythemonopoliesofbusinessandgovernmenttoprotect

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themselvesfromtheadvancementinpositionofablemenorthatoldassertionofaninventiveman,hisownshop.Allindividualenergyandingenuityisboughtoffata
suggestionboxorthecinema.Passivityconquersall.Evenwarandpeacedie(tobedisplacedbyworldgovernment?)andmanrevertstoonlytwoofhiscomponents,
inertiaandgas.
Itiseasytophrase,tooeasy,andwehavehadenoughofbrightdescription.TosaythatinAmericathegoodsareasthefruits,andthepeopleasthegoods,all
glisteningbuttasteless,accomplishesnothinginitself,fortheoverwhelmingfactis,thattherestoftheworldwantsnothingbuttobethesame.Valueisperishingfrom
theearthbecausenoonecarestofightdowntoitbeneaththeglowingsurfacessoattractivetoall.DerWegstirbt.
II
Canonerestatemaninanywaytorepossesshimofhisdynamic?Idon'tknow.Butformyselfafirstanswerliesinhissystemicparticulars.Thetroublewiththe
inheritedformulationswhichhavehelpedtodestroyhim(thenotionofhimselfasthecenterofphenomenonbyfiatorofgodasthecenterandmanasgod'schief
reflection)isthatbothsetasidenatureasanunadmittedorsuppressedthirdparty,asortofHolyGhostwhichwasallowedinoncetotouchmen'stonguesandthen,
becausethefirewastoogreat,wasimmediatelybanishedtosomesortofhalfplaceinbetweengodandthedevilwhoactually,ofcourse,therebybecamethemost
powerfulagentofall.Theresult,wehavebeenthewitnessesof:discoveringthisdiscardedthingnature,sciencehasrunawaywitheverything.Tappingherpower,
fingeringherlikeachild,givingheragainherplace,butwithoutsomehow,rememberingwhattruththerewasinman'scenteringtheuseofanything,god,devil,orholy
ghost,inhimself,sciencehasupsetallbalanceandblownvalue,man'speculiarresponsibility,tothewinds.
Ifunselectednessisman'soriginalcondition(suchismoreaccurateawordthanthatlovelyridingthing,chaos,whichsoundslikewhatitis,themosthuge
generalizationofall,obviouslymakingitnecessaryformantoinventabeardedgianttoshapeitforhim)butiflikewise,selectivenessisjustasoriginallytheimpulseby
whichheproceedstodosomethingabouttheunselectedness,thenoneisforced,isonenot,tolookforsomeinstrumentationinman'sgivenwhichmakesselection
possible.Andithasgonesofar,thatis,sciencehas,astowonderifthefingertips,arenotveryknowingknotsintheirownrights,littlebrains

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(littlephotoelectriccells,Ithinktheynowcalltheskin)which,immediately,inrespondingtoexternalstimuli,makedecisions!Itisaremarkableandusableidea.Forit
isman'sfirstcauseofwonderhowrapidheisinhistakinginofwhathedoesexperience.
Butwhenyouhavesaidthat,haveyounotdoneoneoftwothings,eitherforeverdamnedyourselfbymakingthesoulmechanical(ithaslongbeenthesoulwhich
hassoftlystoodasawordtocovermanasaselectinginternalrealityposeddangerouslyinthemidstofthoseexternalswhichthewordchaosgenerouslycoverslike
Williams'paint)oryouhavepossiblycommittedagreatercrime.Youhaveallowedthatexternalrealityismorethanmerelythesubstancewhichmantakesin.By
makingthethresholdofreceptionsoimportantandbyputtingtheinstrumentationofselectionsofaroutfromitstraditionalplace(thegreatesthumanistofthemall
openedasonnet,Poorsoul,thecentreofmysinfulearth),youhavegonesofarastoimplythattheskinitself,themeetingedgeofmanandexternalreality,iswhere
allthatmattersdoeshappen,thatmanandexternalrealityaresoinvolvedwithoneanotherthat,forman'spurposes,theyhadbetterbetakenasone.
ItissomesuchcrimebywhichIamwillingtohazardaguessatawaytorestoretomansomeofhislostrelevance.Forthismetaphorofthesensesoftheliteral
speedoflightbywhichamanabsorbs,instantoninstant,allthatphenomenonpresentstohimisafairimageaswell,myexperiencetellsme,ofthewaysofhisinner
energy,ofthewaysofthoseotherthingswhichareusually,forsomereason,separatedfromtheexternalpickupshisdreams,forexample,histhoughts(tospeakas
thepredecessorsspoke),hisdesires,sins,hopes,fears,faiths,loves.Iamnotabletosatisfymyselfthatthesesocalledinnerthingsaresoseparablefromtheobjects,
persons,eventswhicharethecontentofthemandbywhichmanrepresentsorreenactsthemdespitethesuckofsymbolwhichhasincreasedandincreasedsincethe
greatGreeksfirstpromotedtheideaofatranscendentworldofforms.WhatIdoseeisthateachmandoesmakehisownspecialselectionfromthephenomenalfield
anditistruethatwebegintospeakofpersonality,howeverIremainunawarethatthisparticularactofindividuationispeculiartoman,observableasitisinindividuals
ofotherspeciesofnature'smaking(itbehoovesmannownottoseparatehimselftoojauntilyfromanyofnature'screatures).
Evenifonedoesfollowpersonalityup,doesittaketheproblemfurtherintothoseareasoffunctionwhichmayseemmorepeculiarlyhuman(atleastare

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morepeculiarlytheconcernofahumanist),Iequallycannotsatisfymyselfofthegaininthinkingthattheprocessbywhichmantransposesphenomenatohisuseisany
moreextricablefromreceptionthanreceptionitselfisfromtheworld.Whathappensattheskinismorelikethandifferentfromwhathappenswithin.Theprocessof
image(tobemoreexactabouttranspositionthanthesoulallowsorthantheanalystsdowiththeirtrickysymbolmaker)cannotbeunderstoodbyseparationfrom
thestuffitworkson.Hereagain,asthroughoutexperience,thelawremains,formisnotisolatedfromcontent.Theerrorofallothermetaphysicisdescriptive,isthe
profounderrorthatHeisenberghadtheintelligencetoadmitinhisprinciplethatathingcanbemeasuredinitsmassonlybyarbitrarilyassumingastoppingofits
motion,orinitsmotiononlybyneglecting,forthemomentofthemeasuring,itsmass.Andeitherway,youarefailingtogetwhatyouareaftersofarasahuman
beinggoes,hislife.Thereisonlyonethingyoucandoaboutkinetic,reenactit.Whichiswhythemansaid,hewhopossessesrhythmpossessestheuniverse.And
whyartistheonlytwinlifehasitsonlyvalidmetaphysic.Artdoesnotseektodescribebuttoenact.Andifmanisoncemoretopossessintentinhislife,andtotake
uptheresponsibilityimplicitinhislife,hehastocomprehendhisownprocessasintact,fromoutside,bywayofhisskin,in,andbyhisownpowersofconversion,out
again.Forthereisthisotherpartofthemotionwhichwecalllifetobeexaminedanew,thatthingweoverlove,man'saction,thattremendousdischargeofforcewhich
weoverlovewhenweloveitforitsownsakebutwhich(whenitisgood)istheequalofallintakeplusalltransposing.
Itdeservesthisword,thatitistheequalofitscauseonlywhenitproceedsunbrokenfromthethresholdofamanthroughhimandbackoutagain,withoutlossof
quality,totheexternalworldfromwhichitcame,whetherthatexternalworldtaketheshapeofanotherhumanbeingoroftheseveralhumanbeingshiddenbythe
generalizationsocietyorofthingsthemselves.Inotherwords,thepropositionhereisthatmanathisperilbreaksthefullcircuitofobject,image,actionatanypoint.
Themeetingedgeofmanandtheworldisalsohiscuttingedge.Ifmanisactive,itisexactlyherewhereexperiencecomesinthatitisdeliveredback,andifhestays
freshatthecominginhewillbefreshathisgoingout.Ifhedoesnot,allthathedoesinsidehishouseisstale,moreandmorestaleasheislessandlessacuteatthe
door.Andhisdooriswhereheisresponsibletomorethanhimself.Mandoesinfluenceexternalreality,anditcanbestatedwithoutrecoursetothestupiditiesof
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toloveamysteryasmuchoutsideasitdoesin).Ifmanchoosestotreatexternalrealityanydifferentlythanaspartofhisownprocess,inotherwordsasanything
otherthanrelevanttohisowninnerlife,thenhewill(beingsuchafrowardthing,andboundtousehisenergywillnil,natureissosubtle)useitotherwise.Hewilluseit
justexactlyashehasuseditnowfortoolong,forarbitraryandwillfulpurposeswhich,intheireffects,notonlychangethefaceofnaturebutactuallyarrestanddivert
herforceuntilmanturnsitevenagainstherself,heissopowerful,thislittlething.Butwhatlittlewillfulmodernmanwillnotrecognizeis,thatwhenheturnsitagainsther
heturnsitagainsthimself,heldinthehandofnatureasmanforeveris,tohisuseofhimselfifhechoose,tohisdisuse,ashehas.
Whatgetsmeis,howmanrefusestoacknowledgetheconsequencesofhisdisposingofhimselfathisownentranceasthoughakisswereacheapthing,asthough
hewere.HewillgiveaRimbaudalotoflipandnoserviceatall,asthoughRimbaudwereasportofnatureandnotaproof.Orapeopledifferentfromhimselfthey
willbethesubjectofhistorians'studiesoroftourists'curiosity,andbeletgoatthat,nomatterhowmuchtheymaydisclosevaluesheandhiskind,youwouldthink,
couldmakeuseof.Ihavefound,forexample,thatthehieroglyphoftheMayadiscloseaplacementofthemselvestowardnatureofenormouscontradictionto
ourselves,andyetIamnotawarethatanyofthepossibleusagesofthisdifferencehavebeenallowedtoseepoutintopresentsociety.AllthatisdoneiswhataTone
does,diminishtheenergyoncehereexpendedintothesievephoneticwordshavebecometobeofferedlikeoneofnature'spastesthatwecalljewelstobehungasa
decorationofknowledgeuponsomeChristianandthereforeeternalandholyneck.Itisunbearablewhatknowledgeofthepasthasbeenallowedtobecome,what
functionofhumanmemoryhasbeendribbledoutintothehandsoftheselearnedmonsterswhompeopleareledtothinkknow.Theyknownothinginnotknowing
howtoreifywhattheydoknow.Whatisworse,theydonotknowhowtopassovertoustheenergyimplicitinanyhighworkofthepastbecausetheypurposely
destroythatenergyasdangeroustothestatesforwhichtheyworkwhichitis,foranyconcretethingisadangertorhetoriciansandpoliticians,asdangerousasa
hardcoinistoabanker.AndthemoreIlivethemoreIamtemptedtothinkthattheultimatereasonwhymandepartsfromnatureandthusdepartsfromhisown
chanceisthatheispartofaherdwhichwantstodotheverythingwhichnaturedisallowsthatenergycanbelost.WhenI

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lookatthefilthandlumberwhichmanisledby,Iseeman'sgreatestachievementinthischildishaccomplishmentthathedamnwellcan,anddoes,destroydestroy
destroyenergyeveryday.Itistoomuch.Itistoomuchtowastetimeon,thisidiotwhospillshisfluidslikesometruculentandfingerlessChamhereaboutswho
wasteswateratthepumpwhenbirdsaredyingalloverthecountryinthishottestofthemonthsandwomencomeindrovesinthemorningbeggingforevenaasofthe
preciousstufftobepouredintheamphorastheyswingontheirhipsastheyswingtheirbabies.Manhasmadehimselfanuglinessandabore.
Itwasbettertobeabird,astheseMayaseemtohavebeen,theykeptmovingtheirheadssonervouslytostayalive,tokeepalertedtowhattheyweresurrounded
by,towatchitevenforthesnaketheytookittobeorthatlargerbirdtheyhadtobeinaweof,thespiltwhofedonthemwhentheyweredeadorwhomtheylooked
atofamorninginagreatblackheaplikelocuststearingupadeerthathadbrokenhiswindorleginthenight.OrevenVenustheywatched,asthoughtheywerea
gracklethemselvesandcouldattackherverticallyinherhousefullofholeslikeaflutethroughwhich,theythought,whenshehadtheupperhandshespreaddownon
them,onaneastwind,diseaseandthoseblowsontheirskintheycallgranitos.Whenshewasnew,whenshebuzzedthemorningsky,theyhidintheirhousesforfear
ofher,ShooshEk,forfearofherbite,theWaspshewas,thewayshecouldthrowthemdownlikethatelectricalstickwhich,lastyear,pinchedoneofthese
fishermenonhischeek,inallthegulfhithimashesatintheprowofhiscayucowithalineoutfordogfishofadayandlaidhimoutdead,withnomoremarkburned
onhimthanthatlittletoothofakisshiswifewasgivenascausewhentheybroughthimoutoverthebeachashemighthavehauledinawellpayingshark.
OrtobeamanandawomanasSunwas,thewayhehadtoputupwithMoon,fromstarttofinishthewayshewas,thewayshebehaved,andheupagainstit
becausehedidhavetheadvantageofher,hemovedmorerapidly.Inthebeginninghewasonlyyoungandfullofhimself,andshe,well,shewasagirllivingwithher
grandfatherdoingwhatagirlwassupposedtobedoing,makingcloth.Eventhenhehadtheadvantageofher,hehunted,instead,andbecausehecouldhunthecould
becomeahummingbird,whichhedid,justtogetclosertoher,thislovelinesshethoughtshewasandwantedtotaste.Onlythetroublewas,hehadtoactouthis
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onetobaccoflowertoanothertowardthehouse,hergrandfatherbroughthimdownwithaclayshotfromablowgun.Andsunfell,rightintomoon'sarms,whotook
himtoherroomtomotherhim,forshewasallreadytobeawife,aman'ssecondmotherasawifeisinthesepartswherebirdsaresooftenstonedandneedtobe
broughtbacktoconsciousnessand,iftheyhavetheirwingsintact,mayflyawayagain.Assunwas.Onlyhecouldalsotalk,andpersuadedmoontoelopewithhimin
acanoe.Butthereyouare:thereisalwaysdanger.Grandfathergetsraintothrowhisfireatthemandthoughsunconvertstoturtleandistoughenoughtoescapealive,
moon,puttingonacrabshell,isnotsufficientlyprotectedandiskilled.
Whichisonlypartofit,thatpartofitwhichisoutsideandseemstohaveallofthedrama.Butonlyseems.Fordragonfliescollectmoon'sfleshandmoon'sbloodin
thirteenhollowlogs,thesortoflogsunhadscoopedhishelplessrunawayboatoutof,thinkinghehadmadeit,hadmoonfinallyforhisown.Foolishsun.Fornowhere
heisbackagain,afterthirteendays,diggingoutthethirteenlogs,andfindingthattwelveofthemcontainnothingbutalltheinsectsandallthesnakeswhichflyand
crawlabouttheearthofmanandpesterpeopleinahotclimatesothatalotdieoffbeforetheyarewellbegunandmostareready,atanyinstant,forasicknessora
swelling,andthebestthingtodoistoliequiet,waitforthepoisontopass.Forthereislog13,anditrevealsmoonrestoredtolife,onlymoonismissingthatpart
whichmakeswomanwoman,anddeeralone,deercangiveherwhathedoesgivehersothatsheandsuncandowhatmanandwomanhavethepleasuretodoas
onerespitefromtheconstanthammering.
Butyousee,nothinglasts.Sunhasanolderbrother,whocomestolivewithsunandmoon,andsunhasreasonsoontosuspectthatsomethingisgoingonbetween
moonandthebigstar,forthisbrotheristhethirdoneofthesky,thedevilishorwaspishonewhoissooftenwithmoon.Byatrick,sundiscoversthem,andmoon,
dispirited,sittingoffbyherselfontheriverbank,ispersuadedbythebirdspilttogooffwithhimtothehouseofthekingofthevultureshimself.Andthoughavultureis
not,obviously,ashandsomeathingasthesun,donotbefooledintothinkingthatthisbirdwhichcandarkentheskyaswellasfeedondeadthingsuntiltheyareonly
bonesforthesuntowhiten,hasnothisattractions,hadnothisattractionstomoon,especiallythekingofthemall.Shetookhim,madehimthethirdofhermen,and
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Butsunwasnotdonewithher,withhiswantofher,andheturnedtothatcreaturewhichempoweredher,thedeer,foraid.Heborrowedaskin,andhidingunderit
knowingashotsundoesthehabitsofvultureshepretendstobeacarcass.Thefirstvulturecomesin,landingawkwardlyadistanceoff,hobbleshisnervousway
neareruntil,asheisabouttopickapartwhathethinksisasmalldeer,sunleapsonhisbackandridesofftowheremoonis.Hetriumphantlyseizesher,onlytofind
thatsheissomewhatreluctanttoreturn.
Atwhichstage,forreasonsofcauseornot,sunandmoongoupintotheskytoassumeforevertheirplanetaryduties.Butsunfindsthereisonelastthinghemustdo
tothemoonbeforehumanbeingsaresatisfiedwithher.Hemustknockoutoneofhereyes,theycomplainsheissobrightandthattheycannotsleep,thenightisso
muchthesameashisday,andhisdayistoomuchanyhow,andalittleofthesweetnessofthenighttheymusthave.Sohedoes,heputsouthereye,andletshuman
beingshavewhattheywant.Butwhenhedoesmore,when,occasionally,heeclipsesherentirely,somesayitisonlyasignthatthetwoofthemcontinuetofight,
presumablybecausesuncannotforgetmoon'spromiscuity,thoughotherssaythatmoonisforevererratic,isverymuchofaliar,isalwaystellingsunabouttheway
peopleoftheearthareasmuchmisbehaversasshe,getdrunk,dothethingsshedoes,infact,theoldonessay,moonisasdifficulttounderstandasanybitchis.
O,theywerehotfortheworldtheylivedin,theseMaya,hottogetitdownthewayitwasthewayitis,myfellowcitizens.
(1951)

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FootnotetoHU(LostintheShuffle)
Theetymologyofdiscoursehasitssurprises.Itmeans,TORUNTOANDFRO!
Andthe6'4''Negressstoodinthemiddleoftheroomfullofbrightandtalkingpeople,listenedforamomenttowhattheyweregoingonabout,andthrewthisatthem,
ashercontribution:ARTISTHECELEBRATIONOFTHEACTUAL.Andwithoutgivingthemamomenttothink,said:ONLYTHEARTIST(shehadjustcome
in)ISONTIME!
(1952)

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TheGateandtheCenter
1:
WhatIamkickingaroundisthisnotion:thatKNOWLEDGEeithergoesfortheCENTERorit'sinevitablyaStateWhorewhichAmericanandWesterneducation
generallyis,hasbeen,sinceitsbeginning.(IamflatlytakingSocratesastheprogenitor,hismethodologystilltheRULE:I'llstickmylogicup,andclassify,boy,
classifyyourightoutofexistence.)
SowhenIsay,it'saquestionofreestablishingaconceptofknowledgeascultureratherthanaquestionofwhat'swrongwiththeschools,Imeanthatalreadyanyone
whowantstobegintogetstraighthasto,tostart,astraightmanhastouneducatehimselffirst,inordertobegintopickup,totakeup,togetback,inordertogeton.
Whichisturkeycrazy,isitnot.SoIsay,let'stakethequestionbyanotherhandle,let'ssaysomesimpleandnonaestheticpropositions:whatisthestoryofman,the
FACTS,wheredidhecomefrom,whendidheinventacity,whatdidaplateauhavetodowithit,orarivervalley?whatfoodswerenecessary(Iamthinkinghereof
Steffansonondiets,CarlSaueronstarchcropsandhow,wheretheycouldbedomesticated)
werethepeopleontheedgeoftheretreatingice,marauders,orwerethey(asSauersobeautifullyargues)fisherfolk?andman'sfirstfood
clue,thattuberswhichpoisonedfishdidnotpoisonhumans?
andareeuhemeristslikemyself(soIamtoldISHMAELprovesme)correct,thatgodsaremenfirst?andhowmanygenerationsdoesittaketoturna
herointoagod?isit3(ex.,A.Lincoln)?
1000moresuchquestions,putstraightdownthealley,withoutdeferencetoarbitrarydivisionsoflearningwhicharecalculated,arepurposelybroughtintobeing
(OldStinkSockondown)toCONFUSEconfuseCONFOUND

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Takelanguage(&startwithFenollosa):didanyonetellyousameanyonesaresostuckwithvariantsthatallIndoEuropeanlanguage(ours)appearstostemfrom
theverysamegroundonwhichtheoriginalagglutinativelanguagewasinvented,Sumeria?andthatourlanguagecanbeseentoholdinitselfnowasmanyofthose
earliestelementsasitdoesSanskritroots?thatthoughsomepeoplesstucktothesignswhileotherstookoffwiththesounds,boththephoneticandideographicisstill
presentandavailableforuseasimpetusandexplosioninouralphabeticspeech?(WhyFenollosawrotethedamnedbestpieceonlanguagesincewhen,isbecause,in
settingChinesedirectlyoveragainstAmerican,hereassertedtheseresistantprimesinourspeech,putusbacktotheoriginsoftheirforcenotashistorybutasliving
orallawtobediscoveredinspeechasdirectlyasitisinourmouths.)
Itisoneofthelastactsofliberationthatsciencehastooffer,thatis,modernsciencestemmingfromtheArabs,thatalltherealboys,today,arespendingtheirtimeno
longeralonebutinteams,becausetheyhavefoundoutthattheproblemnowisnotwhatthingsaresomuchasitiswhathappensBETWEENthings,inotherwords:
COMMUNICATION(whyweareatripe,livecenter)andthejoker?thatfromStockpileSzilardondown,whatthehotladsareafter(underhim
atChicago,MerrittatColumbia,TheodoreVannattheUniv.ofParis,andatthePrincetonInstitute)is,whatisitinthehumanorganism,whatisthe
wave(isitHmu)thatmakescommunicationpossible!Itkillsme.AndImadeonephysicistrun,whenIsd,quitequietly,theonlythingwrongwithyr
teamsis,youhaveleftouttheoneprofessionalwhohasbeenbusyabtthisproblemallthetimetherestofyouandyrpredecessorshavebeenfingering
thatpowerfulsolid,butuselesswhenabstraction,Nature.
Item:toanswerallwhosay,butisapoetthatimportant?EdithPorada,ingetthisCorpusofAncientNearEasternSealsinNorthAmericanCollections,Edited
fortheCommitteeofAncientNearEasternSeals,aProjectoftheIranianInstitute,theOrientalInstituteoftheUniv.ofChicagoandtheYaleBabylonianCollection,
BollingenSeriesXLV(IfindthatshesaysthisnotintheabovebutinMesopotamianArtsinCylinderSealsofthePierpontMorganLibraries(N.Y.,1947,p.1):
Sometimesforeigninfluenceswereintroducedthroughtrade,sometimesthroughcontactwiththemanypeopleswhotimeandagaininvadedtherichMesopotamianplainfromthe
poorerandlesscivilizedregionsoftheEast,North,andWest.

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Moreover,whiletheactualassumptionofpowerbyaforeignkinginMesopotamiawasasuddenevent,markingtheclimaxofaninvasion,suchinvasionswereoftenprecededby
thegradualinfiltrationofforeignersintothecountryasmercenariesorlaborers.Thenewelementthereforemadeitselffeltgradually,andasuddenbreakintheartistic
developmentnevertookplace,onlythedisintegrationofonestyleandtheemergenceofanother.Itmaybeaddedthatartistsappeartohavebeensohighlyvaluedthattheywere
sparedinwarfare.
Well,tohellwithit,onlyasIsdbeforethepoetistheonlypedagogueleft,tobetrusted.AndImeanthetoughones,onlytheverybest,notthebulkofthemand
theothereducators.
Whichbringsushome.ToPorada,&S.N.Kramer'stranslationsofthecitypoems,addoneL.A.Waddell.WhatWaddellgivesmeisthischronology:that,from
3378BC(dateman's1stcity,nameandfaceofcreatoralsoknown)inunbrokenseriesfirstatUruk,thenfromtheseaportLagashoutintocoloniesintheIndusValley
and,circa2500,theNile,untildate1200BCorthereabouts,civilizationhadONECENTER,Sumer,inalldirections,thatthisonepeopleheldsuchexactandsuperior
forcethatallpeoplesaroundthemweresustainedbyit,nourished,increased,advanced,thatacitywasacoherencewhich,forthefirsttimesincetheice,gaveman
thechancetojoinknowledgetocultureand,withthisweapon,shapedignitiesofeconomicsandvaluesufficienttomakedailylifeitselfadignityandasufficiency.
(Note:Iamthemoreconvincedofthisargument,thatIhaveforsomeyears,bywayofBerard,Herodotus,&Strzygowski[Frobeniusaufondwithhissunmoon,
landfolkseafolkpremises]feltthatitwasjustabout1200BCthatsomethingbroke,thatabowlwentsmash,andthat,asaconsequence,thisartificialbusinessofthe
EastandtheWestcameintoitsmostfalsebeing.)
2:
Suddenly,bysuchasmallnessoftime,seenasbackthere3378to2500BC,thenatureoflifethenismadeavailable,seemssuddenlynotatallhistory,seemswhatit
was,menfallingofftheoriginalimpetusbutstillcloseenoughtotheclimaxofawilltocoheretoknowwhatCENTERwas,and,thoughgoingdownhill,stillkeeping
theFORCE,eventhoughtheSHAPEwasstartingeventhentoloseitssharpness.
(Onemayseethefarendofthepersonages,events&actsoftheseyearsinsuchthingsastheOdyssey,Herakles,Egyptianfolktales[asMas

Page171
perogivesthem],Phoenicianperiploi,andlonianthought.ThattheartofclassicalEgyptandGreecearealsosignsofthisderivationismoreobvious,nowthatCrete,
SusaandevensuchalatethingasDuraEuroposareavailable.Weareonlyjustbeginningtogaugethebackwardofliterature,breakingthroughthenotionthat
Greecebeganit,tothewritingsfartherback:tothePhoenicians,totheBabylonians,behindthemtheAkkadians,and,mostpowerfulofall,theSumerianpoets,those
firstmakers,betterthan2000yearspriortoHomer,Hesoid&Herodotus.)
WhenIsaygauge,Iamthinkingthatwehavenomeasureofwhatmenarecapableof,taking,say,the700yearsfrom,say,Dante,ascomparisonofliketimetowhat
thosemenwereaboutinthefirst700yearsoftheSumerthrust.
WhatIamtryingtocrackdownis,heroism.Therehasbeen,ofcourse,noreasonwhy,sinceDante,thatmenshouldnothavetakenheroismsolelyintermsofman's
capacitytooverthrowordominateexternalreality.YetIdonotforaminutethinkthatthismayorwillbethegaugeofalifeturningontheSINGLECENTER.But
justbecauseofourownlate,&Western,impressionwecontinuetoshy,inourpresentdisgustwithsuchmuscularity,awayfromallsuchapparentmagnificationsas
epicandmythsseemtoinclude.
Butthethinggoesfarther,&deeper.Whathasbeentheselast700years,istheinevitableconsequenceofacontrarywilltothatofSumer,awillwhichovercamethe
oldwillapproximately2500BCandsucceededinmakingitselfbossapproximately1200BC.Itisthelongreachofthissecondwillofmanwhichwehaveknown,the
deadofwhichwearethewitnesses.Andtheonlyanswerofmantotherashofmultipleswhichthatwishtodispersecausethtobreakout(themultiplefaceofit,the
swarmingsnakechoicesitbreedsasmultipleashairs)wasonethingonly,theonlythingmanhadtoputagainstit:theegocentricconcept,amanhimselfas,andonly
contemporarytohimself,thePROOFofanything,himselfresponsibleonlytohimselfbytheexhibitionofhisenergy,AHAB,end.
IpickupfromtheOmahas,toventuretoseewhathappensaheadifIamrightthatnow,only,onceagain,andonlyasecondtime,istheFIRSTWILLbackin
business.Aboy(oragirl,ifshechose,thoughitwasnotrequiredofthegirlasitwasoftheboy)wentoutat16,17,aloneintothewoods,withnothingtotakecare
ofliving,forthreedaysofhunger&watch.Theoneendwas,towooadream,andthatdream,onceitcame,was,whateveritsform,tobethereafterthe
SIGNATUREofthatindividual'slife.Whattheboyorgirlwasnotto

Page172
do,wastospeakofit.Butduetotheotherpartoftheceremony,whichwastowear,fromthenon,afetishtostandforthedream,itbecamepossibleforthe
individualinstantlytoknowothersofthetribewhohadalikedreamandtoconsortwithsame,astheythereafterdid.
Ishould,myself,assumethatbothpartsofthisactrestedongoodcause,thatwhateverbeindividuation,therearegroupingsofuswhichcreatekin(hungryaftermy
ownkind),limitsof,say,SevenTribesofman,orwhateverwhichsamelimitsbecomevesselsofbehaviourtowardsuseofself,&recognition.
Itisinsomesuchframethattheoldhumanscienceofarchetypefigureandarchetypeeventbecamerelevanttoindividualbehaviouratalltimeforward.Anditwould
bemyguessthatwehavebeenrunning,knowitornot,ontheinventionoftheverbalfunctionisnotquiteright:therecognition,obedienceto,andcreationofjust
sucharchetypesbytheSumerianssometimebeforeandsomecertaintimeafter3378BC(thedate2500isonlytheoutsidelimitthissideoftheaction).Andthat,of
course,welongagolostthePOINT&PURPOSEofwhatwecallandthuskilltheactofmyth.
Ihavethisdream,thatjustaswecannotnowsee&saythesizeoftheseearlyHUMANKINGS,wecannot,bytheverylosttokenoftheirscience,seewhatsize
mancanbeoncemorecapableof,oncetheturnoftheflowofhisenergiesthatIspeakofastheWILLTOCOHEREisadmitted,anditsenergytakenup.
WhatIshouldliketodisposeofis,thatitisadream,anymorethanthat,whatIthinkweshallbeablesoontodemonstrate,thesocalledfigures&storiesoftheold
sciencewerenevermen.AndIventuretosaythattheirenlargeddimensionsarenowhereasdiscrepantfromthemaswe,goingbywhatwehavebeenabletoseeof
maninrecenttime,includingourselves,wouldsurmise.
Thepropositionisasimpleone(andthemoreeasilyunderstoodnowthatwehavebeenshockedatwhatwedidnotknownature'senergiescapableof,generally):
energyislargerthanman,buttherefore,ifhetapsitasitisinhimself,hisusesofhimselfareEXTENSIBLEinhumandirections&degreenotrecentlygranted.
Quickly,therefore,theEXCEPTIONALman,thehero,loseshisdescriptionasgeniushisbirthismereinstrumentationforapplicationtotheenergyhedidnot
createandbecomes,instead,IMAGEofpossibilitiesimplicitinthe

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energy,giventheMETHODOLOGYofitsusebymenfromthemanwhoiscapablepreciselyofthis,andonlythiskindofintent&attention.
Iamstruck(asWaddelltellsthestoriesofthesemenwhowereheroeswhobecamegods)bythepremisesonwhichtheyacted,wereexpectedtoact,&were
judged.Andhowverysmall,howhairlike,thedifferenceisfromthepremiseswehaveregarded,inourinheritedblindnessduetodeparturefromtheoldscience,as
essential.Forexample,this,fromamonumentofSargonofAgade,onthedutiesofaruler,apparentlyformulatedbyhistutor(hisAristotleorApolloniusof
Tyana),amanvariouslyknownasAnnakiorUrura(Sanskrit:AurvaorUrva),date2725BC:
armsareallowableonlyasPROTECTIONOFTHEEARTH(Ijudge,indistinctionfromtheruler'spower,oreventhepeople's,inthe
senseofvolkornation).Infactthenextsentenceoftheinscriptionrepeatstheinjunctionthus:
THEGUARDIANSHIPOFTHEEARTHISTHERULER'SESPECIALPROVINCE.
Andalaterpriestking(whosestatueportraitsindiorite&lapislazuliarestraightprojectionsofGotamaBuddha'sface,themanGotama),bynameGUDA,Kingof
theportLagash,date2370BC,inreportinghisaccomplishmentsduetotherestorationofthelawcodesofboththeFounderofthatCity,Uruash(c.3000),andofthe
patronofthecity,Nimirrud(Nimrod),saysthis:
themaidisnowtheequalofhermistress,
themaster&theslaveconsortasfriends,
thepowerful&thehumblelaydown,sidebyside.
Thewholequestion&continuingstruggletoremaincivilizedSumerdocumentedin&out:IimagineyouknowthesubtletaleofhowGilgamesh(King14,andfounder
oftheseadynastyofSumeria,accordingtoWaddell'scount)wassenttherudefellowEnkidutocorrecthimbecausehe,evenGilgamesh,hadbecomeaburden,in
hislust,tohiscity'speople.AsIreadit,itisanincrediblyaccuratemythofwhathappenstothebestofmenwhentheylosetouchwiththeprimordial&phallic
energies&methodologieswhich,saidthispredecessorpeopleofours,makeitpossibleforman,thatparticipantthing,totakeup,straight,nature's,livenature'sforce.
(1951)

Page174
TheResistance
forJeanRiboud
Thisiseternity.Thisnow.Thisforeshortenedspan.Menwillrecognizeitmoreeasily(&dwellinitso)whenweregainwhatthespecieslost,howlongago:nature's
originalintentionwiththeorganism,thatitlive130years.OrsoBogomolets'researchesintothenatureofconnectivetissueseemtoprove.Trueornot,withor
withoutaidfromhisownbiosis,manhasnoalternative:hismortalyearsarehisenemy.Heacceptsthisnewposition.Itistherootact.
Thereareotheraids.Time,forexample,hasbeencutdowntosize,thoughIdonotthinkthatthosewhohavecometotheknowledgeofnowcameherefromthat
powerfulabstractionspacetime,nomatterhowitscorrectionsoftimereinforcetheposition.
Mancameherebyanintolerableway.Whenmanisreducedtosomuchfatforsoap,superphosphateforsoil,fillingsandshoesforsale,hehas,tobeginagain,one
answer,onepointofresistanceonlytosuchfragmentation,oneorganizedground,agroundhecomestobyawaytheprecisecontraryofthecross,ofspiritintheold
sense,inoldmouths.Itishisownphysiologyheisforcedtoarriveat.Andthewaythewayofthebeast,ofmanandtheBeast.
Itishisbodythatishisanswer,hisbodyintactandfoughtfor,theabsoluteofhisorganisminitssimplestterms,thisstructureevolvedbynature,repeatedineachact
ofbirth,theanimal:manthehouseheis,thishousethatmoves,breathes,acts,thishousewherehislifeis,wherehedwellsagainsttheenemy,againstthebeast.
Orthefraud.Thisorganismnowourcitadelneverwascathedral,draughtytenementofsoul,waswhatitis:ground,stone,wall,cannon,tower.Inthisintricate
structurearewebased,nowmorecertainlythanever(beseiged,overthrown),foritspowerisbonemusclenervebloodbrainaman,itsfragilemortalforceitsold
eternity,resistance.
(1953)

Page175
CyTwombly
whatwhitenesscanoneaddtothatwhiteness,whatcandor?
Mencius,astranslatedbyPound
Sculpturefled.Andarchitecturehasnowrunafter.Andforgoodreasons:thattheroundworld(whichitwastheirjobtoleadustoenjoytoilluminate)turnedto
rot.Ithadbeentreatedcheap,notbytheseartsbutbywhatmakesarts:men.
Allgoldenthings,includingthemean,gotdebased.Theneverythingblewup,fromtheinside,fromcause.
Itisevenpossiblethatonehastoincludelineashavingsuffered,andcolor.Butthiswillnotbesoeasilyapparent,andthepointofitcanwait.
Therecameamanwhodealtwithwhiteness.Andwithspace.HewasanAmerican.Andperhapshisgeniuslaymostininnocenceratherthaninthecandornow
necessary.Inanycase,hewasnotunderstood.
Whatseemsclearis,thattwodimensionsassurfaceforplasticattackisoncemoreprime.Andwithallperspectiveasaidgone,thewholeRenaissance.Evenline
gone.Andmaybecolorastooeasy.
Theallurethelighthadbetterbeinanypainted,drawn,cutorcarvedthingwithoutuseorreferenceofanyobject.Anynarrativetoo,forthatmatter.Exceptone.
Andthatoneithasnotbeenourhabittoregardasone,aseitheranobjectoranarrative.Sayitisnotone.Butitissurelythewaythetao thattwodimensions
isnowbeinggivenbackthejob.
Takeitflatly,aplane.Onit,howcanamanthrowhisshadow,makethisthe

Page176
illuminationofhisexperience,howputhisweightexactlythere?(Inmybusinessitcomesouthow,byalphabeticletters,suchsignsandtheirsyllables,howtomake
themnotsoundsbutmysounds,mywhatarenotanymoresoundsthanisapainter'sobjectsoradancer'smovementsmyvoicetosaywhatIgottosay,which
maybeofinteresttoothersbecauseitcanstandforwhattheyhavegottosay,ifitsaysanythinganditcanonlytothedegreethat,likeaplane,itisnoplaneatall.)
Howmakethatplane,thetwodimensions,beallfromapointtoanydimension?
ItwasTwombly,andwhollyinsomeotherreference,infacttohowalakeweknowincommonaffordedhimaboutwhatTaoYuanMing'seasthedgewas,who
gavemesuddenly,ashetalkedofcontemplation,thesenseofwhatarchitecturenowhadtodowith.
Thatis,Iknewsculpturewasburied,wasbecometheartunderneathusall,hadgonedowntobeoursignbyasortofinvertedarcheologythateachofushad
nowtocomeuplive,likethosestoneimagesscholarsarediggingupinsomanyplacesthatonlybyourselvescanwefindoutbynooutsidemediumormeans
whatsoevertheroundallmenhavebeenrifledof.AndIknewthiswas,toputitquickly,tractionindance,wasPierreBoulezinmusic,wasalikecombinationofa
man'sowndocumentationandhisconjectureintheartofnarrative.ButIdidn'tknow,untilthatinstant,asthetwoofuswerelookingatanewlargeblackandwhite
canvasofTwombly's,whatusearchitecturehadnowtobe.
Iwastakingexceptiontothisparticularpainting.IthoughtthathereTwomblyhadbeentempted,thathehadslippedoffthewireanyofusinallofthearts
walkoverspaceonthesedays,thathehadgoneintothewhitenessasthatothermanhadasanAmericanstandsespeciallyindangerof,candorisstillsuch
aruthlessrealityontheothersideofdespair,orstillseemsruthlessinthefaceofhumanismandconfrontedbythewillofthatrealitywithwhichartistscanhave
nothingtodo,thewilldespairbreedsandwhichis,godsaveus,thewillbywhichmostofourfellowmenmanagetogetthrough.Anartisthastocrossover.
IknewwhatTwomblywasfightingfor,eveninthiscanvas.Itiswhatheisalwaystryingtogetdown,whathesooftendoessosucceedingettinginto
whatheisconfrontedbyintothatrectanglethathonor&elegancearehereoncemorepresentintheactofpaint.

Page177
Itwasjustthen,justwheninthisparticularcanvasIdidn'tseeitorsawmorethanIneededtosee,sawwhatisdeathtosee,theinnocence
ofitissuchadissolvewhenTwomblyhimselfhad,bygoingtoofarnotgonefarenough(thatis,asapainter,soconfined,hadnotgonefar
enough)had,infact,goneoutsidehimself,had,assomanymostablemenhavegoneoutsidethecanvasgonetotechniquewhen,inthisone
case,Twomblyhadtriedtosolveitoutsidetheplacewherehealmosteverytimedoesbattleitout(heisthatpure),lookathiscanvases...
orforthatmatterhissculptures,whichareproperlymadeupfromwhatwire,bone,stone,iron,woodhepicksup,andsodorespectfacts,the
accidentsofsame
(thisisthetwinmethodology,thisisdocumentation,thesesculpturesofhisalsoshowhowaccuratehispenetrationoftherealitybearingonusis:thesearethe
artifactshefindssurroundinghimselfinthesamediggingsoutofwhichheisdigginghimself
whatIlikeaboutTwomblyisthissenseonegetsthathisapprehensionhistien isburiedtothehips,totheneck,ifyoulike
thedugupstonefigures,thethrowndownglyphs,theoldsorellsinsheepdirtincaves,theflakingironthesearehispaintings
Iunderlinehispaintingstodistinguishthemfromtheobjectspickedup,thesculptures,simply,thatalldocumentisnottheequalofaman'slife,whathebearsinside
himselfandmakesspeakdirectly:thisisonlyitneedsnowtobeunderlinedwhatheisinsidehimselfandnothingoutside,nofacts,onlyhisownactsmakeit
SuddenlyIunderstood,asthetwoofuswerethereinsidethattoosmallroominthattoomodernbuildingjuttingoutoverthatlakewhichwebothhadbentourart
around,thatarchitecturehadnoreasonanylongeratalltoconfinespace,thatitwaswewhowereconfined,thatarchitecture,likesculpture,hadgoneelsewhere.And
itoccurredtome,thatabillboardmademoresense.Thathere,too,manhadbeengivenbackhisoldestjob,thatifhewasburied,hewasalsoallthatcamebetween
thelight.

Page178
Andso,ifTwomblydoesmakecanvasesboldlybehaveastwodimensionsandyetmakesforcespresentwhichatleasthavebeenabsentsincethemuralofthedeath
ofAdamwaspaintedatArezzo,lookforcause
lookforitinyourself,
inwhatyouhavelost
andletthismantellyou,
thereisnothingtofear,youputyourhandup,andbythis
othersortofwill,youtakeawayanyswordthathangsbyahairoveryou,oranyrottedapple
youcandoit,becauseyouaretheonly
roundthingleft,whateverthedirt
squeezingyou,orhorseshooves
Thewritingherereads:weareneverasthinastheyellowflowerbecauseofthesun.
Andthefable?TheseedplantedwiththatAdaminhismouth.
Andthewoodofthetreewhichgrew?howwouldyoucarveitotherwisethaninlikedimensions,andlikecandor?
(1952)

Page179
Proprioception
Proprioception 181
Logography 184
Postscript(toPreviousTwo) 185
TheoryofSociety 186
BridgeWork 188
TheHinges(ofCivilization) 189
GRAMMARaBook 191
APlausibleEntry,Like 196
AWork. 197

Page180
forLeRoiJones
whofirstpublished
allofthesepieces,and
fast,inYugen,FloatingBear,&Kulchur,
1961and1962.

Page181
Proprioception
Physiology:thesurface(sensesthe'skin':of'Human
Universe')thebodyitselfproperone'sown
'corpus':PROPRIOCEPTIONthecavityofthebody,
inwhichtheorgansareslung:theviscera,or
interoceptive,theold'psychology'offeeling,
theheartofdesire,theliverofsympathy,the
'bowels'ofcouragethekidneyetcgall.
(StasisorasinChauceronly,spoofed)
Today:movement,atanycost.Kinesthesia:beat(ink)
thesensewhoseendorganslieinthemuscles,
tendons,joints,andarestimulatedbybodily
tensions(orrelaxationsofsame).Violence:
knives/anything,togetthebodyin.
Towhich
PROPRIOCEPTION:thedataofdepthsensibility/the'body'ofusas
objectwhichspontaneouslyorofitsownorder
producesexperienceof,'depth'Viz
SENSIBILITYWITHINTHEORGANISM
BYMOVEMENTOFITSOWNTISSUES
'psychology':thesurface:consciousnessasegoandthusnoflow
becausethe'senses'ofsameareallthatsdcontact
areaisvaluablefor,toreportintocentral.In
THEWORKINGspection,followedhardonheelsby,judgement
'OUT'OF'(judicium,dotha:cry,ifyoumust/allfeelingmay
'PROJECTION''flow,isallwhichcancount,atsdpoint.Direction
outwardissorrow,orjoy.Orparticipation:active
sociallife,like,fornootherreasonthanthat
sociallife.Inthepresent.Washtheegoout,inits
own'bath'(os)
The'cavity'/cave:probablythe'Unconscious'?That
is,theinterioremptyplacefilledwith'organs'?for
'functions'?
Theadvantageisto'place'thething,insteadof
itwallowingaroundsortofoutside,inthe
THE'PLACE'universe,like,whentheexperienceofitisintero
OFTHEceptive:itisinsideus/&atthesametimedoes
'UNCONSCIOUS'notfeelliterallyidenticalwithoutownphysicalor
mortalself(thepartthatcandie).Inthissense

Page182
likewisetheheart,etc,thesmallintestineetc,are
orcanbefeltasandliterallytheycanbe
transferred.Orsubstitutedfor.Etc.Theorgans.
Probablyalsowhytheoldpsychologywaschiefly
visceral:neitherdream,northeunconscious,was
thenknownassuch.Orallowablyinside,like.
'ACTION'OR,AGAIN,'MOVEMENT'
This'demonstration'thenleadstothesamethird,
orcorpus,thingor'place,'the
propriousception
'one'sown'ception
the'body'itselfas,bymovementofitsowntis
sues,givingthedataof,depth.Here,then,wldbe
thesouliswhatisleftout?Orwhatisphysiologicallyeven
proprioceptivethe'hard'(solid,palpable),thatone'slifeis
informedfromandbyone'sownliteralbody
aswell,thatis,asthewholeinnermechanism,
whichkeepsussodamnbusy(likeeating,sleeping,
urinating,dyingthere,bydeteriorationofsd
'functions'ofsd'organs')thatthismidthing
between,whichiswhatgets'buried,'like,the
flesh?bones,muscles,ligaments,etc.,whatone
uses,literally,togetaboutetc
thatthisis'central,'thatisin
thisofthepicturewhattheycalltheSOUL,
theintermediary,theinterveningthing,theinter
ruptor,theresistor.Theself.
Thegain:tohaveathirdterm,sothatmovementoraction
is'home'.NeithertheUnconciousnorProjection
(hereusedtoremovethefalseoppositionof
'Conscious''consciousness'isself)haveahome
unlesstheDEPTHimplicitinphysicalbeing
builtinspacetimespecifics,andmoving(by
movementof'itsown')isasserted,orfound
outassuch.Thustheadvantageofthevalue
'proprioception.'Assuch.
The'soul'thenisequally'physical.'Istheself.
itsownIssuch,'corpus.'Ortolevythegainpsychology
perceptionfrom1900,or1885,didsupplyuntilitdidn't
(date?1948?)thethreetermswldbe:

Page183
surface(senses)projection
cavity(organshereread'archtypes')
unconsciousthebodyitselfconsciousness:
implicitaccuracy,fromitsownenergyasastateof
implicitmotion.
Identity,therefore(theuniverseisone)issuppliedandthe
abstractprimitivecharacterofthereal(asserted)
is'placed':projectionisdiscrimination(ofthe
objectfromthesubject)andtheunconsciousisthe
universeflowingin,inside.

Page184
Logography
Wordwriting.Insteadofideawriting(ideogrametc).Thatwouldseemtobeit.
Leadingtophonetizationasthoughwedidn'tknowidentityofsounds,meaningtwothings,anylongerdidmean.Thepropositionwldseemtobethatwedon't.
Abouttheonlywaythecharacterofthepunandrhyme(whichhasstruckmenowforsometimeasamostinterestingcrazybusinessofwritingrightnow)makes
sense.Iquote(abttheearliestbusinesswecanknowanythingabt,someSumeriantradersincattlerecowsandoxenisthetablet,3500BCfrom
Uruk
Erech
Orchoe
Warka
Theneedforadequaterepresentationofpropernamesfinallyledtothedevelopmentofphonetization.ThisisconfirmedbytheAztecandMayanwritings,
whichemploythephoneticprincipleonlyrarelyandthenalmostexclusivelyinexpressingpropernames.
Theprocedureinvolvedmayresultinafullphonetictransfer,asinadrawingofkneestoexpressthenameNeil(fromkneel),ofthesunforthewordson,
oreventogetherinadrawingofkneesplusthesuntoexpressthepersonalnameofNeilson.
Istopthere.MyownsenseisIdon'tknowthatweareanyfurther.(Inthatconnection,negativelyhowever,onecanaddthis,atthesamepointfromthesameman
Gelb:
Thattheneedforindicatinggrammaticalelementswasofnogreatimportanceintheoriginofphonetizationcanbededucedfromthefactthatevenafterthefull
developmentofphonetizationwritingfailedforalongtimetoindicategrammaticalelementsadequately.

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PostscripttoProprioception&Logography

Page186
TheoryofSociety

Page187

Page188
BridgeWork

Page189
TheHingesofCivilizationtobePutBackontheDoor:

Page190

Page191
Grammara''Book"

Page192

Page193

Page194

Page195

Page196
APlausible'Entry,'Like

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AWork.
Aworkwhichwouldfreemuchoftheencumbranceuponmanashimselfauniversenotmicroorganism,microcosmwouldstartwithHesiod,takinghimasabase
lineandsayinganythingafterhimaslostsomethingandthatallwhichhedoesshowandincludeisabeginningofdimensionofman'splaceinthecosmosasithad
beenimaginedbeforeHomeroranysuchbetterknownwaysmanisplacedwhichhavecomeonsince.WhatIamgesturingin,isaliterature(ofwhichHesiod
seemstobeaconclusion)whichisnowforthefirsttimeagainavailable,anditamountstosomethinglikeHesiod'sowntitle,atheogony.Assuchandnotasithas
soundeditisatotalplacementofmanandthingsamongallpossibilitiesofcreation,ratherthanthatonealone,ofmodernhistoryandpolitics,andscienceand
literature,orarma,theIndoEuropeanchariot,andvirum,theoldepic.Myconfidenceis,thereisanewone,andHesiodisoneofitsgates.
ImmediatelymypurposeisonlytowakeupthetimespansandmaterialslyingbehindHesiod,sothattheycanseemfreerthantheyhavebutessentiallyI'msurealine
drawnthroughHesiodhimselfwillalreadydemarkthedifferencethematerialsandtimesbehindhimwillyield.Theproblemiswhatseemsstilltobeanunwritten
history,theHistoryoftheSecondMillenniumBC.AlreadyinfactanhistorianscholarofHittite,suchasHansGterbock,hassuggestedthattheclassicthree
generationsofGodFathersAbsolute,andtheirWivesandSons,isinfactsomecurioussummaryofconditionsineachofthreesuccessivemillennia,the4th,the3rd
andthe2nd,theseriesrunningthus:

Greek Hittite Phoenician Meso

potamian
3rd Ouranos(Saturn) Anu

Millennium: Cronos Kumarbi Enil(alsoEl)

Zeus Tesub Baal Marduk

AndeveninBabylonianandinPhoeniciana5thMillenniumoldestofallGods,priortoOuranosetcandfatherofsames:Alalu(Babylon),and,accordingto
PhyloBibliusquotingSanchuniathonthelatterlivedinthetimeoftheWarofTroythefirstgenerationinCanaanitewasEliunorHypsistos,TheHighest.
Istressthe2ndMillenniumbecauseitisclearthattheseriessetthemselvesthen,andthoughtherearethewarsoftheZeusandhisbrotherswiththeTitans,orGiants,
whodidn'trebelwiththebrothers,andthereforeinsertacuriousmixedevilsetwhotroublethereafteralltheestablishededictsofheavenandconfusethegeneral
cosmology,thefathersrunoutinthesonsdecisivelyinthe2nd.Atthesametimethe2nd

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isthemillenniumofthegeneraloverthrowoftheancientsettledworld,whichwasneitherEastnorWest,andthebringingintoexistenceofwhat,evenifunclear,comes
throughtousorhas,uptonowviamostlytheGreeks(allowingthatthosewhostillreadtheOldTestamentgetagreatdealofthatprevioustimeofmanslipping
throughtheIsraeliteoverlays).
Thefactsofthe2ndMillenniumarelooselyknown.Aroundabout1800thingsshookup.ThemaindrivedownontheolderMesopotamianEgyptianIndusworld
seemstostartwithHurrianandthenHittitepeople,thelatteratleastcertainlyIndoEuropean,inandbeforethatdate.Buttherewasdisturbanceearlier,settingin
betweenMesopotamiaandEgyptwhenWesternSemitescalledAmorites(meaningtheWesterners)werefussingatsettledcitiesandpeoplearound2200and2000
BC,actuallyfoundingtheLarsaDynastyinsouthernBabylonin2020BC.
Butby1800resultsshowedallovertheknownworld:EgyptitselfwasruledbyHyksos,whoarenowsdeasilytobePhoenicians,thePhoeniciansthemselves(or
Canaanites,tousetheHurrianmeaningofpurple)weremixedwiththeHurriansandtheHittiteFirstEmpirewasinfullswingnorththroughoutAnatolia.Creteitself
appearsalreadybythisdatebyalltheevidencethattheidentificationofLinearAbyCyrusGordonnowmakeseasiertolockinplacetohavebeenconqueredor
infiltratedbyPhoenicians,somuchsothatintheperiod1600to1400thebalanceofAegeantradewasinPhoenicianfavor.
Givingthathistoryofthatdisturbancethemosttimeonegetsaperiodof1000yearsoverlappingthenexthugeimpactfromwhichcameGreece:thatis,by1230a
wholenewseriesofshiftdoescomein,theIsraelitesinvadefromtheeast,thesocalledSeaPeoples(thePhilistinesoftheBible)sweepovertheEastern
Mediterraneanbetween1225&1175,devastatingtheHittiteEmpireanddestroyingTyreandPhoenicianpower.Twogreatbattlesorwarsdramatizethistime,Troy,
1183,andKadesh,1188/87butobviouslyyearsearlierGreekandothernewforceshadbeenaccumulatingandtheoverlapappearstocomefromabout1500BC
TatianinhisaddresstotheGreeksquotesThallus,a1stcenturyADhistorian,assayingthatZeus'victoryinalliancewiththeHundredhandedOnesovertheTitansof
Thessalytookplace322yearsbeforethesiegeofTroy.ThisthencanbetakentobethelineoftheendofGodFatherchangeandortransmission,aswellasagood
controllingdatefortheemergenceoftheMyceneanorAegeanGreekgovernanceoftheMediterranean:1505BC.
Wehavethentwohalvesofthe2ndMillennium,startingwithTheWesternershittingBabylonia2220,andendingwithTroyandKadesh(1188/87and1183).In
thefirsthalfoftheMillenniumHittitesandCanaanitesor,adoubleIndoEuropeanandSemitedisturbancereplacedoldercentersofpowersuchasBabyloniaand
EgyptandinthesecondhalfanewIndoEuropeanforce,theGreeks,andanewSemiteforce,theIsraelites,overrantheearlierlikepair.
Ibelievethisisafairpicture,despitehowitleavesoutmuchthatweusuallythinkisancienthistory,especiallythat19thcenturystuffwhich

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stressedEgyptandBabylon.Itmayinfactbeoneoftheadvantagesofjusttheliterature,bothwhichwehaveinherited,theGreekHebrew,aswellasthenew
literaturethesefactsputintopropershape,theHittiteCanaanite(aswellastheimprovementontheoldestpastwhichSumeriangivesus),thattheyrightthehistory
andgiveusthisnewpictureofthe2ndMillennium.
WiththatonecanthenbegintoworkHesiodbackaswellforthatmatterastheIliadandatthesametimecomeforwardtowardHomerandHesiod'sday(850
800BC)fromatrueoriginofmuchwhichtheyinclude,thethousandyearsofwritingsomeofwhichisnowknownandwhichprecedesthembyatermoftimeaslong
as1000years.InotherwordsIndoEuropeansandSemiteshad,forthatlongbeforeHomerandHesiod,powerandgovernedanearlierliteraryandhistorical
traditionwhichitselfprecededthembytwofullmillennia,the3rdandthe4th.
Howmuch,then,ofHesiodandHomeris,(a)earliestman'sworkandstory(3500BCorbefore,andcomingthroughrelativelyaunitto1800BCorso)and(b)how
muchisitthe1000yearsoftheirownsortofpeopleIE'sandSemitesfrom1800BCto800?
May3,1962

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Place&Names
aplaceastermintheorderofcreation
&thususefulasafunctionofthatequation
example,thatthePlaceWheretheHorseSacrificersGo
oftheBrihadaranyakaUpanishadisworthmorethan
ametropolisor,forthatmatter,anymoral
concept,evenametaphysicalone
andthatthisisso
forphysical&experimentalreasonsof
thephilosophiaperennis,orIsness
ofcosmosbeyondthosephilosophies
orreligiousormoralsystemsof
rule,thusgivingfactorsofnaming
nominativepower&landschaft
experience(geography)whichstaytruer
tospacetimethanpersonalities
orbiographiesofsuchtermsasspecific
citiesorpersons,aswellastheinadequacy
totheorderofcreationofanythingexcept
namesincludingpossiblymathematics(?)
thecrucialnessbeingthattheseplacesornames
beaspartsofthebody,common,&capable
thereforeofhavingcellswhichcandecant
totalexperiencenoselection
otherthanonewhichiscapable
ofthiscommonness(permanently
duplicating)willwork

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Storyinotherwordsisifnotsuperior
atleastequaltoultimatemathematical
languageperhapssuperiorbecauseof
cellness(?)Inanycasehistory
(astobeunderstoodbyDuncan'sLaw
tomeana)histology&b)story)
applieshere,inthisequationalway
&severelyatthecomplementarityof
cosmos(complementarytoindividual
orprivate)andnottocitiesor
eventsinthewayithas,in
amistakensecondaryway,been
understood
(1962)

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youcan'tusewordsasideasanymorethanthattheycanbestrungassounds.Theyaremeaningsonlyandactionsoftheirownsort
feelinganddesiresandbreaththecauseofthewordscomingintoexistenceaheadofthem,thenosebringingthemoutaheadofitsself,andaprinciple,theirown
meaning,enoughanimussoitallhaswill
FeminineWritingsothatalltheWorldisredeemed,andhistoryandallthatpolitics,andStateandSubjectionareforonce,doneawaywith,asthereasonofwriting
(1965)

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THEPRESENTISPROLOGUE

Page205
''ThePresentisPrologue"
MyshiftisthatItakeitthepresentisprologue,notthepast.Theinstant,therefore.Isitsowninterpretation,asadreamis,andanyactionapoem,forexample.
Downwithcausation(except,seebelow).Andyrself:you,astheonlyreaderandmoveroftheinstant.You,thecause.Nodragallowed,oneither.Getonwithit.
Intheworkanddogmasare:(1)How,byform,togetthecontentinstant(2)whatanyofusarebytheworkonourself,howmakeourselffitinstrumentsforuse
(howweaugmentthegivenwhatusedtobecalledthefate)(3)thatthereisnosuchthingasdualityeitherofthebodyandthesouloroftheworldandI,thatthe
factinthehumanuniverseisthedischargeofthemany(themultiple)bytheone(yrselfdoneright,whateveryouare,inwhateverjob,isthethingallhierarchies,like
dualities,aredeadducks).
Iamstill,at40,hugelyengagedwithmyparents,infactmoreengagedwiththemnowthanwiththatIspentsomuchtimeoninmy20sand30s:society,andother
persons(whyIwasineducation,governmentandpoliticssolong).So,first,Itellyoutheirnamesandplaces,toindicatehowIamoftheheterogeneouspresentand
notoftheoldhomogeneityoftheFounders,andtheWest.
MyfatherwasbornKarlJosephOlsen,inSweden,andhisnameprobablyreflectsastoryinthefamilythattheywereHungariansonmygrandmother'sside.Hewas
carriedtotheStatesatfivemonths.
MymotherwasMaryHines,andYeatstoldme(onthegroundsofmygrandfather,whowastheimmigrant,'borninCorkandbroughtupinGalway')thatmy
mother'sauntmusthavebeenhis'MaryHines,'thebelovedoftheblindpoetRafteryand'themostbeautifulwomaninallWesternIreland.'Itwasroughonmymother
whenIfoundthisoutat18myfatherandInever

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letherforgetthefallfromgrace,thatshewasonlythemostbeautifulwomaninSouthWorcester,Mass.
Butwhatstrikesme(andInowsuspecthasmuchmoregovernedthenatureofmysevenyearsofwritingthanIknew)is,thedepthtowhichtheparentswholiveinus
(theyarenotthesame)areourdefiners.Andthattheworkofeachofusistofindoutthetruelineamentsofourselvesbyfacinguptotheprimalfeaturesofthese
founderswholieburiedinusthatthisisus,theDoubleBackedBeast.(Didn'tHesiodcallhisgenealogyofthegodsandmen"theworkofthedays,"thatnextoldest
poemoftheoldculturetoHomer'stwo?)
Thereareonlytwolivepastsyourown(andthathugelyincludedyourparents),andoneotherwhichwedon'tyethavethevocabularyfor,becausetheWesthas
stayedsoignorant,andtheEasthaslivedofftheoldfattoolong.Icaninvokeitbysaying,themythological,butit'stoosoft.WhatImeanisthatfoundlingwhichlies
assurelyinthephenomenological'ragingapart'asthesequeerparentsrageinus.
Ihavespentmostofmylifeseekingoutandputtingdownthe"Laws'ofthesetwopasts,tothedegreethatIampermittedtoseethem(insteadoftheboringhistorical
andevolutionaryonewhichtheWesthasbeensobusyaboutsinceThucydides)simplybecauseIhavefoundtheminthepresent,myownandyours,andbelievethat
theyarethesignofadelightfulnewcivilizationofmanahead.
Now,IspendmostofmytimestudyingtheSumeriansandMayans,transposingthepoemsandtheinscriptionstheyleft.Thewilltocohereinboththesepeopleis
whatIseeinus,innow.Idonotmeancollectivism,thoughIamnotatallsouncomfortableinthefaceofit,andofquantity,asthoseofmycontemporariesseemto
bewhoarestuckwiththeoldsoul,andquality,andwhobackup,forsanctions,tothosewallswhichhavebeenacomfortformanintheEastandtheWestsince
1500B.C.(TheAmericanIndianliesoutsidethatcomfortableboxjustasmuch,I'dargue,astheAmericansnowdo,despiteWesternappearance.Imeantit,in
Ishmael,thatwearethelastfirstpeople.)
ThereforeIfinditawkwardtocallmyselfapoetorawriter.Iftherearenowallstherearenonames.Thisisthemorning,afterthedispersion,andtheworkofthe
morningismethodology:howtouseoneself,andonwhat.That

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ismyprofession.Iamanarcheologistofmorning.AndthewritingandactswhichIfindbearonthepresentjobare(I)fromHomerback,notforwardand(II)from
Melvilleon,particularlyhimself,Dostoevsky,Rimbaud,andLawrence.Thesewerethemodernmenwhoprojectedwhatweareandwhatwearein,whobrokethe
spell.Theyputmenforwardintothepostmodern,theposthumanist,theposthistoric,thegoinglivepresent,the"BeautifulThing."
(1952)

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StockingCap
Theskillwasnottosnubthenoseofthepickerelontheunderedgeoftheiceas,withwet,numbhands,youbroughthimupmoreoftenthannothewasaperch
outofthewatersixinchesorthreefeetdown,asthewinterwent,fromthefrozensurfaceofthelake.
Therestwascrude,coldworkandmyfathersawtoitthatitbeganthemomentwehittheice,thesunhardlyup.First,thecuttingoftheholes,roundandeighttoten
inchesacross,theonlychallengethatyounotletgoyourgrip,fromstifffingers,onthelong,narrowsteelofthechiselthesettingoutofthetilts(likelaths,butofa
betterwood,afoodandahalfhigh)eachinaslitchippedoutclosetotherimofahole,withslushpackedintofreezeituprightthebaitingofthelinesandtherigging
ofthemfromeachtilt,theirfinethreadstickingtotheiceandhardtofreewithmittenson.Then,onshore,thegatheringthewoodandmakingthefire,theimportant
thingthespot,protectedbutatsomepromontoryfromwhichallthetiltscouldbeseen.Andtherestofthedaytheeverrepeatingroutineofthecircuitoftheholes,to
skimthemandtomakesurethatthewindoranibblehadnotslippedthenooseinthelineoffthetiltarmthathelditoverthecenterofthehole.
Itwasthissamearm,whenastrikewasagoodone,whichtrippedandletgotheredflannelflagandbentdownonaspringfromthetopofthetilt,anditwasthese
flagswegaveourattentionto,oncethetiltswereout,swiggingcoffeebythefire,alwaysoureyesoutoverthesurfaceofthelaketosightthem,ifandwhenone
shouldgoup,theexcitingsignalthatstartedusontherunovertheice.
IsupposeitwasbecausemyfatherpickedhisSundaysthatway,buttheyallstandinmymindassunnybutwinddrivenandbittercold.Iwasallowedtobringmy
skates,thoughIcouldseehedidn'tmuchapprove,itwasnotaccordingtosomeHoyleoficefishinghehadinhishead.Hemadethisexceptionof

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hisson,however,anditgavethedayaconnectiontootherthingsonedidinaNewEnglandwinter.Otherwiseitstoodclear,standsclearnow,assomeglistening,
cruel,attractiveothercountryenclosedindark,fromthebitterdarkofwintermorningbeforedawn(whenhewakedme)tothetravelhomeinthetrolleyatnightand
thesweetanimalcollapsetheheatofthehouseandsupperbroughtoncewewerebackinthetenement,asthoughablowhadstruckus,andwewelcomedit,and
wentdownunderit,easily,pleasurably,backintosleep.
MyfatherwasasticklerfordetailsanditseemsnowasthoughitwasallweekhewasworkingonthegearalthoughIsupposeitwasonlythenightbefore.Thiswasa
holiday,hischancetogetfree,andhetreateditashetreatedtheotheradventureshecontrivedforlaterseasonsoftheyearpartridgeberries,Mayflowers,
elderberriesforthewinehekeptfiveyearsahead,ourtripstothedumpforiron,histripsaloneinsummertosketchforthewatercolorshedidatnightsathome.He
fishedatothertimesoftheyearbutIneverseemtohavegonealong,itwasalwayssomefriendwhowentwithhimnightsafterwork.Henevercaughtanymorethan
hedidinthewinter.Thetruthis,Idon'tthinkhecared.Itwasonlyanotherwayofgoingfree,gettingouttothesensationsoflife.(Irememberhowirritatedhewas,
whenwewentafterwalnutsonceinthefall,becauseIdidnotseethingsassharplyoratthedistancehedid.)
Andmywearinessbotheredhim.Anotherritualofthefallwasgrapes.Hehadfound,howIcouldneverfigureout,wildvinesofredandConcordgrapesburiedina
tangleofforestmilesofftheBostonWorcestertrolleyline.Wewouldsetoffcircumspectlyenough,withonlyafoldedmailsackunderhisarm.Thetrolleyridewas
morethananytrainforme,rushingandwobblingasitdidthroughmostlyopencountry.ThewalkfromthestopIrememberasthehighpointnextafterthatfirstsight
ofthegrapesthemselves.Itwasdownacountryroadlinedwithapples,byfarmsanddogsandstock.Myfatherwasenoughofakidtostop,andgape,anddawdle
asmuchasIdid,throwingstoneswithme,hangingoverabrokenwallintoafield,breakingoffbranchesoftreesalongtheroadbyhurlingotherrottedpiecesatthem
likeboomerangs.
ItwaswhenwestartedintothewoodsthatIbegantotire,andthoughthecomingonthegrapeswasatremendousthing,atwhichImarveledinmyfather,howhe
broughtustothem,itwasn'tlongbeforeIwasplaguinghimwithquestions,howlongmorewe'dbeandwhenwecouldgo.Iwondernowifitwasn'tthepresenceof
woods,theydepressmeso,eventothisday.AtfirstI

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wasallright,theConcordstastedsogood,andIgorgedmyself,eatingmorethanIwasputtinginthesack.He'dlaughatmeandtellmetogetonwithit,pickthem
noteatthem,asheworkedawayrakingthemfromthevinesintothebag.Butitwaswhenwehadallthosewithineasyreachanditwasnecessaryforhimtoclimbthe
treetofollowthevineasitwounditselfupwardandIwasleftalonebelowwiththewoodsthatI'dbegintocomplainandhemusthavethoughtIsoundedlikemy
mother.
Idon'tremembermuchtheroadbackbutIdorememberthewonderfulstainsonthesack,andthecarewehadtokeepitawayfromourclothesandaself
consciousnesswhenwewerebackinthecityandstoodontherearplatformofthetrolleyswithourbag.
Onlyonceinwinter,strangelyenough,doIseemtohavebeeninadequate,andthattime,Ithink,hewascomplainingfortheshowofit,andtosethimselfalittlebit
abovemymother.Itwasthetimemytwocousins,olderthanI,camewithus.Itwasasevereday,thetemperaturebelowzero,andwhenweleftthehousemymother
madeasceneagainsthistakingme."You'llkillhim,"shesaid"you'llbethedeathofhim."Itwasatoughday,andIdaresayIdidfeelthecold,butIwasdetermined
togo,andIputupwithhisjibesbeforemycousins,foreventhenIsensedtheyweremeantformymother,andnotforme.Theywerecompliments,inaway,forI
wasalong,andtheycalledmycousins'attentiontothatfact,andthathehadasonwhocouldstaywiththem.
Hismainconcerneachofthosewintertripswasthechisel.Thetiltstookcareofthemselves.Theycamehomereadyforuseagainnomatterhowcoldordarkithad
beenwhenwehadleftthelaketheprevioustime.HewouldneverallowthemtobewoundcarelesslyasIhaveseenotherfishermendo.Butthechiselalwaysneeded
newattention.Itwasonehehadmadehimself.(IrememberhowsurprisedandscornfulIwaswhenIdiscovered,oncewefishedalargelakenearerthecity,that
othermenhadwider,storeboughtchiselsandthattheycalledthembyanothername.)Hiswasarrangedinsections,outofpipe,inlengthsaboutaslongastiltssothat
allourgearcouldbestrappedtogetherinabundle.Thethreadedsleevesofthesectionsfascinatedme,andtheputtingofthemtogether,buttheimportantparttohim
wasthecuttingend.Itwasnothickerorwiderthanatiltandmayhavebeenhisowndesign.Itwasthishesharpenedwithsuchcare.
Iwaspuzzledhetooknomorethanonealong.IsupposeitwasweightthatdictatedbutIknewtheycouldgetlost,slipoutofacoldhandandwhenyou

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suddenlybrokethroughthatlastplugofice,andthewatercameup,andsloshedoveryourfeet.Hehadlostoneonce,andIthinkIdid,andoncewewereabletofish
oneoutofshallowwater,howIcan'tnowsay.ThecuriousthingwasIdon'tthinkheeverhadaropeonthechisel'sendasothermenhadandasyou'dthinkhe
might.Perhapsitwasanotherofthosequeerobstacleshehadawayofdealingwithasachallengeandwhichmadehimsuchanattractive,tragicman.Thestubborn
sideofitkilledhimintheend.
Thebaitpailandtheskimmerweretheothercrucialtools.OnlyoncedoIremembergettingtheminnowsthedaywefishedfromalittleoldmaninashantyonthe
way,aprofessional,Ithought,comparedtous.Theothertimes,Isuppose,myfatherbroughttheminnowshomefromwork,forhewascarefulwiththem,tokeepthe
waterrightandtoleavethemoutonthebackporchovernight.Onthewaytothelaketheyhadtobecarriedmostcarefully,nottojounce,andtobelookedat
severaltimesontheridetomakesuretheydidnotdie.Alwaysoneortwodid,andtoseethemturnedup,lollinginthewater,sickenedme.Itwasn'tthesamewhen
theyweredeadfrombeingonthehooktoolongintheholes.Theholes,beforethedaywasthrough,werecircledwiththem,sideup,withbigeyes,frozenintheice.
Theadvancetothelakewasalwaysnew,assharpasIimaginethediscoveryofacontinentusedtobethewhiteness,thecuriositywhetheranyoneelsemightbe
therefirst(thenIwasalwayssooverwhelmedwithdisappointmentIwantedtogohome),therushtostarttheholes,thedecisionshowtolaythem,thequestion,how
thicktheice.IsupposetheworkofcuttingwasinvitingforitswarmthbutitwasexhaustingandIwasinterested,longbeforemyfatherwouldallowhimselftobe,in
thefire.
Thefirewas,forme,thebigbusinessoftheday.Withthelinesoutthefishingdependedonthefish,butthefire,thatdependedonme.Ifetchedthewoodandstarted
it.Ikeptitalive.Itoremymittensfeedingit.Iburnedmycoathuggingit,IhadtostandsoclosetokeepwarmIwasforeversuremyrubberswouldcrackormelt
away.Orthewindwouldgust,andscatterthefire,andI'dhavetogoofffartherandfartherintothewoodstogetnewwoodforitandloseamittendoingit,and
comebackwithsnowbithands.
Butitwashome,andeverythingcenteredonit,andthoughitalwaysarrangedtotipthecoffeepotintoitself,andburnthehandlesoI'dburnmyselfrightingit,thefire
wasapreciousthingandIwasproudofitscare,andbuiltlivesaroundit.(MostofthetimeitbecameafortinwhichIbarricadedmyself

Page212
againstthewoods,andthelakewasaplainIscannedvigilantlyasthoughitmighthideIndiansaswellasredtoppedtilts.)
Itwasalso,ofcourse,theplaceyoucamebackgladlytofromtheice,fromarunouttoplayafishortopatrolthenearerholes.Andfoodhadaspecialtastebecause
ofit,coveredwithsootfromthetendingofit,seasonedwiththesmellofeachofthetreeswewereusingforit,andthesmokeenteringthemouthwitheachbiteas
muchasthemeat.
SoIwastheguard,themotherofthefire,whilemyfather,everactive,keptrestlesslytouringtheice,hopingaflagwouldgoup,changingthetilts,cuttingnewholesto
findthefishes'feedingground.Andsometimeshe'dgooffaroundsomeheadlandofthelakeandbegonesolongI'dgetnervousandstrikeoutafterhim.Oratleast
gofarenoughtogetabetterlookoutforhimwithoutlosingsightofthetilts.Foritwasalwaysmyhope,whenhewentofflikethat,thataflagwouldgoupandallby
myselfIwouldlandthebiggestpickereloftheday.
Itwasthedyingofthedayonthoselakeswhichgavememyfirsttaste,Isuppose,ofwanhope.NomatterwhatIdidthefireseemedtogodownasthesundid,and
whenthatlightwhichcomesasbrightnessgoesoffandthatcoldwhichsettlesasthewinddieswouldspreadinfromthelake,Ifirstknewsomesecretofdeath.
Itwasanattractivehour.Myfather'sfigureoutontheicegrewandhisstockingcapbecamethefurcrownofsomeSiberiantrader.Hisovercoatfilledoutandthough
Iknewitwasgreenwithage,andtorn,itwasfurtoo,andhewasgrand.Hisrun,alwayspeculiarfromhisthicksoledrubbersandhislayersofclothes,wasnow
immense.
Thetiltswereeasiertoseeandthoughtheflagsflewuplessoftentheyneverkeptusbusyenoughtheywerestartlingwhentheydidandmyshout,ormyfather's
run,wassharpliketeethonthegreyiceandintheblueair.ThiswasoneofthetimeswhenIsharedmyfather'sfeelingsprecisely:Iwasaspreparedashetolingeras
thedayranout.Hestayed,perhaps,becausehehopedforonemorefish.
Itiswoodsmokethatalwaysthrowsmebacktothosewilddays,thestainofit,sweetandsharpandgreen,inourstockingcapsandhair,inoureyesandclothes
(morethanthedyeofthem),andinmynoseandmouthandmindaswesteppedintothatwelcomething,thetrolleycar,tosetoffforhome.
(1948)

Page213
Mr.Meyer
TherewasatailornamedMeyerwhofixedmyfather'sclothes,ashort,warm,roundmanofwhomIwasmostfond.Myfatherwasalettercarrierandhisuniforms
wereconstantlyinneedofpatching,particularlyontheshoulderwherethebagwascarriedandalongthesideofthecoatwherethebottomofthebagworethecloth
away.
MyfatherhadlefthistradeasanironworkersometimebeforeIwasborn.Atthattime,beforethefirstworldwar,thesalaryofalettercarrierwashigherandoffered
theflypaperthateventhebestofthelowermiddleclassgetcaughton,security.
Duringthatwarandafter,whenothersalarieswentup,myfatherhadlostthegainandwasleftonlywiththesecurity,andthatofthelowest,meanestkind.So
uniforms,whichthepostmenhadtobuyforthemselves,hadtobemadetolastuntiltherewaslittleleftoftheoriginalgarment.Mymother,Iknow,keptupwiththem
aswellasshecould,repairingandrelining,usingtheoldtoreinforcethenew,workingaseasonahead,theheavierwinterthingsathermachineinthefall,thespring
andsummerstuffasthewinterbegantoeaseoff.
Buttherewerecertainjobs,liketheshoulderpatch,whichtookatailor'sskill,andthat,Iguess,waswhenMr.Meyercamein.Iimaginehedidsuchworkforother
carriersanditwasthroughthemmyfatherlearnedofhimalthoughvaguely,inthebackofmymind,aresomebrokenpiecesofamemorythatitwasinanswertoan
advertisementofMr.Meyer'sthatmyfathergotintouchwithhim.
Iknowonething.HelivedattheotherendofthecityonastreetthenameofwhichissojoinedtohimIcanneverseparatethem.ItwasBurncoatStreet.
ItonlystrikesmenowwhythatnameobviouslysettledintomysubconsciousjoinedtoMr.Meyer.Ihadpreviouslythoughtitwasfastenedthere

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becauseofonewinternightwhen,forsomereason,Mr.Meyercouldnotcomeacrossthecitytous,aswasthecustom,topickuptheclothesortodosomework,
andmyfatherandIhadtogooveronthestreetcarstohisshop.
Itmayhavebeenthehourandtheweather,orperhapsitwasbecauseIwasthusuplaterthanusual,butitwasprobablytheintensityofthesightofhim,smallashe
was,bentoverhistablewiththeonlylightintheshopthegreenshadeabovehishead(theshadowspeopledwithuncertainfigurescalledcoatsandthefloorandtables
ambushesofpantsanddresses).Itopenedupawholenewsideofhimforme,theprofessionalIhadnottheexperiencetorecognizeinhimasIhadcometoknow
himinourhome.
Heusedtocomeovercarryingapaperbag,andsweating,not,Ifelt,fromhurryingsomuchasfromtheworkingofthatqualitywhichmarkedhimforme,hisshyness.
IwasawarethatotherpeoplewereshybutwhetherIknewitthenIknownowtheirshynesswasbrittle.Itwasnothowtheywereintheirnaturesbuthowpeople
tookthem,asocialmatterwhichdidn'tgoanydeeperthantheirvanities.Icouldsensethatwhentheywentawayandtalkedtosomeonetheyfeltsuperiorto,orwhen
theywerealone,theywereabletojustifythemselves,shoringupthedetailswhichtoretheenemy,thatotherhumanbeingtheywerenotsureof,down.Thethingwas
notsomuchshynessasnarrowness.Therewasnomodestyinit.
ItwasthemodestyofMr.Meyerwhichlayatthebottomofthemotionsofhischaracter.Thoughhewasinordinatelyshyandseemedtowanttostayinasmaller,
moreinconspicuousplacethanheoccupiedinaroomoronastreetcar,hewasnotwithdrawn,hunchedupwithinsomesillyfearwithoutreferencetoeitheranimalor
humanlife.Therewasinfactaverystronganimalqualityabouthim,wrappedupinhisrustyandblackclothes.Hisfleshwasfatandhisverywhiteskinwasnotdry
likemostofthepeopleIknew,andhiseyes,whichmovedmorethanotherpeople's,werebareandbeautifulandIcouldlookatthemonlyinsnatches.
NowthatIcometothinkofitIwonderifMeyerwasnothisfirstnameandthatIcalledhimMr.Meyeroutofmygreatrespectandloveforhim.Ithink,too,that
whathecarriedinhispaperbagwasfood,sothathewouldnotbeaburdenonmymother.Fortherewasanattitudeofnotwishingtoimposeonanyone,whichwent
withhimandwhichhecarriedfaultlessly.Hecameto

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work,andhedidhisworkwithoutspreadinghimselfoutsideitslimits.Itwasaverystrongthing.
Myfather,however,whowasmoresureofhimself(andlesssure)thanMr.Meyer,wouldleadhimout,teasehim(ashehadawayofdoingwithothers)onthe
surfacesofhispersonality.Itwasatalent,Isupposeyoumightsay,ofmyfather,thoughitmademeverynervous,andsaddenedme,forIknewitsotherside.There
wasapartyonceofthe''campers,"astheycalledthemselves,whohadagroupofhousesinthesummerbuiltinanoldsettlementnearthesea.Itwasananniversaryof
theircomingthere,thefifthmaybe,forthereisapictureofthem,incostumesandout,posedagainstthehouseinbackofours.Mymotheristhereinawhitedressand
withherblackhaircombedinapompadour(asitisinthepictureofheratthetimeofhermarriage),andmyfatherwithhisbigfaceandhisarmslungaroundsome
woman,andmyselfontheroofwithmystockingedlegsdanglingdown.ItmusthavebeenaboutwhenIwasten.Anyhow,theclimaxofthecelebrationwasaminstrel
showinourcampanditistheimpressionmyfathermadewhichfirstsharpenedmyattentiontothatsideofhimwhichmadepeopleusetheword"fun."Itwasn'tso
muchwhathedidthatIrememberasacurtainwithsunflowerspaintedonit.Holeswerecutoutwheretheblossomswereandeachofthemenwereposedbehindit
withtheirheadsthrough.Andthefacesthatmyfathermade!Andtheantics!
Hehadawayofbeingliked,forhisenergy.He'dsinganddanceandplaytricks,getupfishingpartiesorwalks.Therewasabravuraaboutit,ahecticnotewhichI
couldonlyputupwithbecauseIhadseentheotherthing,thesuddendistaste,orsombreness,thesenseoftheeffortwasted.Forhewasawkward,unabletocope
withthefailingsoflifeexceptbyhimself,inhisearlymorningwalks,fishing,painting,orcarpentry,whenhecouldbeardownandgethisrestlessflyingofffromthe
nubsoflifeconcentrated.
HedidnothavewhatMr.Meyerhad,whatmaybeanytailorhas,thatsquattingwithlifeoveraneedle.InanycaseMr.Meyerhadit,andIthinkmyfatherknew,for
therewasagooddealofaffectionbetweenthem.MyfatherwasabigmanandtoseeMr.Meyersmilingandtalkinguptohim,andmyfather,withhisbroaderstyle,
hagglingwithMr.Meyer,wasapleasureforme.
ItwasasthoughMr.Meyerwasclosertoolderrootsoflife,andmyfather,whohadbeenheresincehewasthreemonthsold,hadgottensofaraway

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fromthemhehadalmostlostthem.Yethehadtheneed,aswealldo,forthem,andMr.Meyerpulledhimback.Icanthinkofonlyoneothermanwhodidsomething
similarforhim,andhewasalittlemantoo,butitwasofanotherorderoffeeling,andisanotherstory.
Mr.MeyerhadafamilybutIdon'tknowthatweeversawthem,eventhatnightwewenttohisshop.Mymotherandmyfatheralwaysaskedafterthem,andIrecall
therewereclothesgiventohim,forhewaspoor,andtherewereseveralkids.Itseems,too,thatmymothersentcandywithhim,herfudge,Isuppose.Ihatedtohave
himgoandIwouldrunaroundtothefrontwindow(wewerethreestoriesup)toseehimagainasheemergedintothestreetandtowatchhisfigureinthestreetlights.
Hecaughtthetrolleyatthecorner.SometimesIcouldseehimgetin.ItgavemeasdeepafeelingasIhaveeverknownofmanandhisnaturallyaccumulated,fated
responsibilities.
(1948)

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ThePostOffice
Isaiditwasmyfather'sstubbornnessthatkilledhimintheend.Itwas,andthetroubleoutofwhichhisdeathcamewasbornfourteenyearsearlier.Initsbirthhewas
right.Thefightheputupwasajustone.
IcandateitthatexactlybecauseitwashisdeterminationtotakemetothecelebrationatPlymouthofthe300thanniversaryofthePilgrimlandingthataggravatedthe
situationhissuperiorsinthePostOfficehadprovoked.
MyfatherhadrequestedandreceivedpermissiontotakehisvacationtheweekofthepageantatPlymouth.HeandIweretogo,leavingmymotherathome.Itwas
tobeourfirstbigtripandhehadplanneditmostcarefully,foritwasamajorexcursionforhimaswell,comparableonlytohistripalone,beforeIwasborn,to
Gettysburg.
Thattriphadalsogothimintotrouble,butofanothersort,lessmortal.Itwaswithmymother.AsfarasIcouldevergetthepicturehesurprisedherbygoingoff,so
soonaftertheirmarriage,onaholidayofhisown.Thismaybealittleunfairtoher.ItmaybethattherunningreferencestothetripthatIheardtherestoftheyearsmy
fatherwasalivewerenothingmorethanthetauntsbywhichweremindourselvesaswellastheotherofexperiencewehavenotshared.Itisapartofthatplayof
jealousywhichinhabitstheintimatelifeasmuchasaffectiondoes.
Imyselfwassatisfiedwiththetripaswas,asIhearditfromhimandasIwasremindedofitbythetwosmallpitchershehadbroughtbackformymother,ofamost
delicateporcelain,withscenesonthem.Theysetonthemantelpieceinthediningroomanderasedformethetwohideousvasesateachendoftheshelf,fatcylinders
ofunglazedfloweredglasswhichlookedtomeasuglyaslegswithoutankles.InfactIwassodelightedinmyfather'stasteinchoosingthepitchersthattheycreatedin
meadelightinthetripwhichmakesitmoresweetinmemorythananyofmyown.

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Butnotmymother.Hislettersorthepitchersorhersuresensethetripwasrightforhimpreciselyasithadbeenmadeneverblottedoutwhatalsostoodontheshelf
ofhermind.Itneverdoes.Shehadthegreedwehave,toknowallthathappenstotheotherperson.Ourimaginationwon't,inthiscircumstance,staystraight.It
corrupts,andwegobackandback,asgreedytoknowaswearefearfultoknowtoomuch.
MaybemymothermadesomuchoftheirmarriagetriptoNewYorktooffsetthisGettysburgwhichfollowedhardonit.Theyarrivedinablizzardandstayedatthe
oldGrandCentralHotel.Onethingstoodoutthatcouldbetalkedaboutandthatmymotherdweltonwithablush.Shehadpackednobuttonhookforherhigh
shoes.Myfatherhadtogooutinthestormandatthathourfindsomestoreopen.Hepickeduptheirumbrella,oneoftheweddingpresents,andwhenhesteppedout
intothesnowhestepped,shedelightedtoputit,intoaricestormaswell!
IwasnottenwhenthePlymouthtripwasplannedbutmyfatherhadlongsincegotovertomehisinterestintheAmericanpast.AnyboybroughtupinNewEngland
hadwornthehighhatandsquare,buckledshoesatThanksgivingplaysatschoolandwrittenalifeofGeorgeWashingtonroundandroundanelmtreeatCambridge.
Myfatherhadtakenmeseveralstepsdownfromthat.
I'mnotsurehisfirstservicewasn'tonthebiographyofGeneralGeorge.Iwasworkingonitatthekitchentablewithmymotherironingbythestoveandhimacross
frommeoveradrawingboard,probablyfinishingablackandwhite(hewasatthattimemakingupfortheschoolinghedidn'tgetbyshippinglessonstoa
correspondenceinstituteofartinMinneapolis).TheessaywastoomuchformeandIsuddenlythrewitupindisgust.Thegesturestruckhimwithalmostthesame
forceasthediceoftheparchesiboxdidthetimeIdishedthemintohisfaceinmyangerhehadlickedme.Thattimehechasedmeandwouldhavewhaledmehadit
notbeenformymother'sfranticfear.Whenhecaughtupwithmebythesettubshecontentedhimselfwithamildertorture.Hemerelypulledmyhair.
OverGeorgeWashingtonhewasgentleandstrong.Hetalked.Andhemadehispoint,themoreeasily,Isuppose,becauseIknewhowthoroughlyhehimself
worked,overadrawingboardoronourneighbors'boilersortheirplumbing.Ihadalreadylearnedonetrickfromhim,handingtoolstohim:

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youcanswearyourwaythroughthedirtiestweather.AshisassistantthenIacquiredalmostasgoodatongueasIwaslaterto,fromcertainfishermenIknow.
WhathehadtosayaboutmeandGeorgeWashingtonwas:doit.AndIdidit.Ittook.
ItiseasytofigureouthowoldIwas.ThepaperwasreadtotheclassbutIwascompletelyembarrassed,especiallybecauseofMargariteLuddonwhohadtheseatin
frontofme,andsuchbeeyootifulhair.Allthe"of's,"theteacherwantedtheclasstoknow,andtheremustbealotoftheminabiography,werespelt"uv"!
ItwastheMatthewBradysmyfathergavemeasachildthathaveinfluencedmysenseofthepasttothisday.Ihavetheset.ItwastheReviewofReviewsissueof
thePhotographicHistory.Theycame,bysubscription,Isuppose,asthin,large,bluepaperboundpamphletswhichIcouldlayopenpagebypageonthefloor.The
photographscuredmethatearlyofromantichistory.IpreferredBradytothecoloredfrontispieceeachonecarriedofsomefool'soilonGrantatLookoutMtor
BurnsideatNashville.IcouldtakethatasnarrativeinJosephAltsheler,TheRockofChickamauga,say.Orintheannualplaymyfathermadeitaritualtotakeme
to,eventhough,eachyearIduckedbehindthebackoftheseatinfrontofmewhenthevolleycamewhichcuttheherodown.Itwasyearafteryear,oneplay,"The
DrummerBoyofShiloh."
OnceBradyhadtaughtmyeyes,Ibrokethroughthepaintedsurfacesofwar.ThedeadinDevil'sGulchatGettysburg,thiswassomethingIwasnotshownatschool.
OrhorsespuffeduponafieldhugebesidethecorpsesofmenorhumpedinaditchalongsomeWildernessroad.OrthosegroupsofBrady's,menandwomen
standingwiththecuriouslypenetratingeyesBrady'swetplateseemedtofix,atadistancethoughhewas,focusseddownonsomeVirginia"Station"throughagroveof
strippedtrees.These,too,schooldidnotgiveme.
Ormyfather,forthatmatter.IwondernowwhatBradydidforhim.Maybe,justbecauseIwasbornhere,Ihadthejumponhim.HevaluedAmerica,asimmigrants
do,morethanthenative.I'mnotsureit'sagoodthing.Itwasn't,inmyfather'scase,asthistroublehegothimselfintowillshow,thoughformehisfascinationwiththe
storyofthiscountrywasfruitful,asitsometimesis,inthesecondgenerationAmerican.Thereisasentimentalityaboutthefreedoms

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ofthiscountrywhichnoneofthebitternessofpovertyandabusewillshakeinanimmigrant.Myfatherhadit,atleastuptothistroubleIwriteaboutwhenthe
governmentoftheseStatessofailedhimhewasthrownbackonthatotherrockoftheimmigrant,hisforeignnationalityorganizations.
Ittooksomethingoutofmyfather'shistoricalsoul.FromthenonhelocalizedhisinteresttothepastofGloucesterandthefishingindustry.That,Ithink,wasagain
and,hadhelived,itwouldhavegivenhislifeandhispaintingaground.Thatwasamoreusable,economicAmericathanthesocietyoftherightsofmanwhichfailed
him.
Buthedidsomethingelse,whichwasnothelpful.TosomedegreehesubstitutedSwedenforAmericaasafocusforhiscuriosity,afterthe"Americans"failedhimin
hisfightandhehadtoturntotheSwedishAmericansocietiesforaid.Theyarelikemothersanyway,thesesocieties,keepingtheirchildrenbackfromthebruntofthis
country.Theyaidthembuttheyalsofondlethemwhentheyarehurtorcuttopiecesastheysooftenareonthesteelpointsofthesociety.
Ithinktherecanbenodoubtmyfatherletdownandacceptedsomeofthiscaressingfrom1920on.NorcanIblamehim,forhewasgravelywounded.Ionlyhave
thisfeeling.Ifhehadlived(hewasonly52whenhedied)Ithinktherewasagoodchance,givenhisintelligenceandacoupleofN.A.L.C.victorieshewasonthe
pointofwinning,thathemighthavemended.WiththehelpofGloucester,hemighthaveseenhisstruggleoutsidebothSwedenandAmerica,asapartofthis
ambiguousbattleallhumansocietyisnow,forgoodorevil,engagedin.
ItwassomethingofthisviewthatIwastryingtogivehiminhislastyears,ameagrereturnforthechildhoodhegaveme.Iarguedthat,ifheweretopitchhisenergies
true,heneededtofreehimselffromthenarrowareaofrecriminationintowhichtheenemyhadmaneuveredhim.ButIamaheadofmystory.Letmesaythis:Icarried
onethinghomefromPlymouth,thebrokenshaftofanarrow.Ifounditonthegroundbehindthestageafterthepageantwasover.
Ibetterspellthesituationout.Postalemployeesdonothavetherighttostrike.Theresultis,unionorganizationamongcarriersandclerkshaslagged.Ontopofthat
theirorganizationshavetended,becausetheirofficersmustwheedleandactmostlyaslobbyistsonCongress,tocontinuethesamemen

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innationalofficeforunhealthyperiodsoftime.Theupshotis,therankandfileareaboutasspiritlessagroupofworkersasyoucanimagineandtheirofficershave
moreincommonwiththePostOfficeofficialsthanwiththementheyrepresent.
Thiswashardlyaconditionafighterlikemyfathercouldabide.Ican'tsaywherehefirstacquiredhissenseofworkingmen'srights.Ithinkitwasmoreamatterofhis
bonesthantraining.Hehadgonetoworkatfourteentoaidhismotherinthesupportofhimselfandtwosisters.Hehadamilkroute.
Hewasoneofthosemenforwhomnewspapersareeducation.ThefewtimesIsawhimwithabookinhishandshestruckmeasmostawkward,andhesoonfell
asleep.(Theonlyexceptionwasacompleteone.ItwasHandyAndy.HereadittomenightswhileIrecoveredfromatonsilandadenoidoperation.Ihavenever,in
anyoneelse'shands,seenabookdolikeconvulsivethings.)
Idon'tevenhavetheimpressionthathisemploymentasanironworker,beforehebecamealettercarrier,contributedtohim,inanydirectway,asalabororganizer.
Hestayedwiththesamefirminwhichhelearnedthetrade,anditwasafamilybusiness,andasmallshop.Myfatherwas,infact,theleaderofacrewofmaster
builders.Theworkofthefirm(itwastheStewartBoilerWorks)wasprincipallytheraising,alloverNewEngland,ofthosehugefactorystackswhichreplacedbrick
intheexpandingdaysofindustryattheturnofthecentury.ForsomereasonCalais,Maine(Iheardit"callous")cametobetheplacewhereIputhimwhenIimagined
himhighonastagingsettingthefinalliptothechimney.TothisdayIcan'tquitegetoverthedifficultyIthenhadtofigureouthowhegotdown.Icouldonlyimagine
thedescentasmadedownthroughthelongholeofthecompletedchimney,anditgavemethen,andgivesmenow,whateveristheinsideoutofvertigo.Itwasan
excitingthing,thisimageofhim,asamanofheights,andwas,Isuppose,assatisfyingawayasasoncanseehisfather.
Calais,bytheway,gotchosen,I'msure,becauseitlookedandsoundedstrangeenoughtobeafrontierandfittedthemapmymindmadeofthewanderingsofthis
heroofmineasIhadconstructeditfromthetalesIpickedup.ItwasapartofthesatisfactionIdrewfromthisemployment,thatitledmyfathertoallsortsof
unknownlandsandcontinentsinRhodeIsland,Massachusetts,NewHampshireandMaine.CalaiswasGades,thefarthestoutpost.It

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wasfromCalais,Ithink,thatheproposedtomymother.Therewassomeimportantbusinessattachedtoit.PerhapsitwastheCanadianstampsonthepostcardshe
senttoherfromthetownacrosstheriverfromCalais.
WhateverorganizinghehaddoneinhisfourteenyearsinthePostOfficebefore1920,itwasthatblowoffwhichfirstmademeawarethatcarryingmailinvolvedmy
fatherinotherthingsthangoingawayinthemorningandreturningatnight.Iknewthatoccasionallyhewouldgooutintheevenings,towhatwerecalled"meetings."
ButsofarasIwasconcernedthedayreachedaclimaxwhenhecamehomefromworkastheafternoonfelloff.Ihadahabitofwaitingforhimattheheadofthe
street.(LateritwastowatchforhimasweplayedballinthefieldwhichstretchedfromourbackyardasfarasHill'sbarn.Weusedtogethimtocomeandknockflies
outtousbeforewe'dlethimgoupstairs.)HewasagaymanandIguessIfirstknewhowgayhewasthenighthecamehomewithwhattheythencalledanulcerated
tooth.WhenImethimandhewalkedmedownthestreetwithoutawordorgreetingIfellintostepbesidehimastroubledashe.Hisfacewassoheldandhiswalkso
carefulIwascompletelybewildered.Ididnotdaretolookathimmorethanonceortwice.Thatnightthestreetwasverylong.Itwasthefirsttime,Isuppose,thatI
wentalongasidewalkinthatblindwaywhichcausestimeandspacetodistend.OncewewerehomeIhadtogoouttogetflaxseedpoulticebuthecontinuedto
sufferso,thehousethatnightstayedlikethestreet.Itwasneverhisteethagain,butfrom1920onhewasmoreoftengrim,whenImethim,thangay.
Whathappenedwasthis:thepostmastercancelledhisvacationthenightbeforeweweretoleave.Itwasamostunusualact,andallthatIwaseverabletofindout
confirmsthefacttheydiditbecausemyfatherwasthewheelhorseoftheunionandtheywanted,inthissmallway,togetbackathim.
Idon'tknowthattheyknewhe'dplayintotheirhandsashedid.Theforemanofcarriers,PaddyHehir(hair,theIrishpronounceit),knewmyfather,andmymother,
well.Itcouldbethatheknew,andpassedon,howmuchthistripwasinmyfather'smind.ButIthinknot.Paddy'spartwasotherwise.I'minclinedtobelievethe
bossesdidn'tknow.I'minclinedtothinktheyjustdecidedtobalkmyfatherfornootherreasonthanavacationgavethemachance.
ItwasBlockySheehan,astheycalledhim,theSuperintendentofMails,whommyfather,totheendofhislife,blamedforthewholebusiness.AndSheehancould
onlyhaveknownthespecialpointofthetripfromPaddyoranothercarrier.AsIsay,Idoubtitwasthatplotted.

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ItwasthefactthatSheehanandthePostmasterhadfirstgrantedhimpermissionthatforeverafterwasthestaketowhichmyfatherwastied.Itwastheinjusticeofit,
thedirty,underhandedtrick,Iseemtohearhimsay.HehadmadeBranch12oftheN.A.L.C.(NationalAssociationofLetterCarriers)strong,forthefirsttime,I
believe.Thatwasenough.ButhewasalsoincorrespondencewiththeStateofficersoftheunionandhehadalready,ifmymemoryiscorrect,beenactiveinpushing,
throughtheBranchandtheannualconventionoftheN.A.L.C.,suchprogramsasnationallegislationinfavorofthirtyyearoptionalretirement,thewidows'pension,
andotherlikelongrangegoals.Hewasa"troublemaker."Heandhispal,DinnyRiordan,whohadhadlegaltrainingnightsbeforehebecameacarrier,weretoo
activeforthebosses,toosmart,andtheyfiguredthiswasthetimetosetmyfatherback.
Itdid,butnotthewaytheythought.Hedidn'ttakeit.Wewentoffthenextmorningasplanned.
IknewnothingaboutthetroubleofcourseandtothisdayIcanremembernothinginmyfather'sbehaviourthatwholeweekwhichgavemeanycluethattherewas
anythingwrong.Hedideverythingtothehilt,asusual.WemissednothingandIstillhaveasightofonemomentofhisfaceassomecostumeorfloatorincidentinthe
paradepleasedhimandInoticedhissuddenpleasure,andthewayhishairblew.Hehadtakenhishatoff,thatflat,stiffstrawheworeeachsummer,theoldkindwith
broadstrawwovenlikefishscales,andithadleftaredmarkonhisforeheadnearthehair,andInoticedit,andbeadsofsweat.
Wesawthepageantnightafternight.WewentaboardthemodeloftheMayflower.Wefoundtheoldcemeterypitchedupoverthetown.WewentouttoDuxbury,
toMilesStandishandPriscillaAlden'sgraves.WevisitedthePlymouthCordageCompany.Atleasthedid.ForitseemstomeitwasthereImethimaftermySunday
morningventurewhichbecameoneofthosestandingjokesinthefamily.
MymotherwasaCatholicandIwasraisedone.Theproblemwas,inPlymouth,whereI'dgotomass.SomewherearoundtheCordageCo.wefoundachurchmy
fatherandIdecidedmustbeCatholic.Ithadtherightcrossonit,Iguess.Iwentinandhewenton,tolookoverropes.Itwasn'tverylongwhenIwasout,andso
confusedtobeoutsoquicklyIcouldnottellhim,anymorethanIcouldmymotherafterwards,thatIwassureIhadbeentoaCatholicservice.Iknewonlyone
thing,thatwhenIhadenteredhandbellswereringing

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astheyare,inthemass,whencommunionisbeingprepared.Iwassurethisatleastwouldsatisfymymotherbut,onthecontrary,itmadeheronlythemoreupset,for
ifitwerethatlongaftertheGospelthatyouwentin,saidshe,withavoicethatsoundedasthoughshewerewringingherhands,youdidnothearMassatall!
FormyfathertheironyofthatweekmusthavebeenthatthefamilywestayedwithwasthatofthePostmasterofNorthPlymouth!Itwasoneofthosegentlehouses
theNewEnglandersofthe17thcenturybuiltandthepleasureofit,ofthetreesatDuxburyandtheseaatPlymouthmeantmoretome(atleastIamstainedmorewith
thetraces)thantheexcitementswehadcometoPlymouthtoenjoy.ThePostmasterwasaMr.Brown.Myfatherhadmethimatsomeconventionanditisameasure
ofhowmuchmyfather'sheartwassetonthistripthathehadarrangedourroomwithMr.Brownaheadoftime.
Itwasnotlikehim.Itakethatfromhim.Hemuchpreferredtosetoff,recklesslysurethatthingswouldworkoutintheircourses.(Itwasthatwaytheonlytimewe
wereinNewYorktogether.Heendedupsharingmyhotelroom.Andforgothisstraightedgerazorwhenweleftinthemorningandonlyremembereditwhenwe
werehome.Whichworriedhim,foritwashispride,andhehoneditstrokeafterstroke,wipingthelatheroffonpiecesoftoiletpaper.Hewasn'tsurehe'dgetitback,
forwe'dlefttheregistrationsingle,tosavemoney,whenhehadfailedtofindaroomforhimselfandhadcometobunkwithme.)
Theweekpassed,andwhathappenedwhenwereturned,sosharplychangedlifeinmyhomethatthatweekcametomeantheendofmychildhood.Uptothenthere
hadbeenacocoonofpeaceandeasearoundmynerves.Itwassopureitwasamniotic,andhasleftme,ithasbeenmythought,thoseseveralyearsretarded.They
multipliedsecurity,mymotherandmyfatherweresobalanced,andwhenthechangecameittoreafabricsodelicateitjustblewaway.
Itisalsomythoughtthat,becauseitwasmyfatherwhowasstruck,intensifiedtheroleheplayedformebeforeandafter.Hehadanaddeddimensionbecausehewas
thesingleimageoflife,Ihadlivedsolonginthesleepofthemother.
Theybustedhim,forinsubordinationandprofanity.ItseemshehadcalledPaddyHehirasonofabitchwhenPaddytoldhimhisvacationhadbeenrevoked.Ontop
ofthat,ofcourse,hehaddonetheundoable,whenhehadupandgonewithoutpermission.Thatwasinsubordinationtoduty,tothePost

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master,tothePresident,toGod.Therewasonlyonelargercrime,torobthemails.
Theyhadmyfather,andtheydidn'tletgo.ThepostalsystemhasresemblancestotheArmy.Thereis,forexample,ademeritsystem.Theoffensesaregraduatedand,
intheirdegree,aman'spayisdocked.Theygavemyfatherthemaximum,andourscaleofliving,poorasitwas,wentdown.
Buttheydidn'tstopthere.Theydidtheonethingwhichinthosedayswouldcutaveteranlettercarriertotheheart.Theytookmyfatheroffhisroute.Menworkedfor
yearstogettheroutestheywanted.Therouteswouldopenasoldermenretiredandthecarriersbidforthem,byseniority,inturn.Eachmanhadhissenseofthekind
ofrouteandwhatpartofthecityhelikedbestandthisprocessofselectiontendedtomakeboththecarrierandthepeopleheservedcongenial.
Foryearsmyfatherhadhadtheroutehewanted.Itstretchedalongthelakewhichboundsthecityontheeast.Originallytherouteranonbothsidesofthelakesouth
fromthebridgewhichcarriedtheroadtoBoston.Thebridgealone,andtheotherwoodedside(wherenothingmuchwasbutthecity'samusementparkandsome
summercamps)wereenoughtomaketheroutewhatmyfatherwouldlike.Justtocrossthebridgeawintermorningandawinterafternoon,ortobeapartofthe
boatingarounditinthesummerandthefall,gavehisworkdayafreedomhecouldneverhaveknowninanyotherrouteinthecity.Thewholeroutehadthisquality.
Onthecitysideitwasaseriesofstreets,''avenues"mostofthemwerecalled,runningparalleltothelake,eachalittlehigherupthegradualslopefromit,onwhich
peopleofsmallmeanshadbuiltmostlyoneandahalfstoryhomesaroundtheturnofthecentury.Theyhadleftroombetweenthemselvesandtheirneighborsandthe
routewasawalker,appropriatetoamanwithmyfather'slegsanddrive.Dogs,forexample,ranfreeand,forsomestrangereason,attachedthemselvestohimin
troupes.(Theyusuallydislikecarriers,forthestrapstheycarry,andthewaythebagswingswhenitisunslungfromtheshoulder.OrsoIfoundwhenIwasacarrier
later.They'dcomethroughascreendoortogetmeintheleg.)MyfatherhadsomanystoriesaboutthemthatIremembertheirnamesandthedifferencesoftheir
naturesbetterthanIdomostofthepeoplewhoownedthem.Hehadhisfavoritesforyears,whowentthewholeroutewithhimandwhobecameaswellknownashe
was,alongtheway.He'dsetthemoffagainsteachotheryetseethatthebutchersinthestoresatthecornershadmeatforthem.Whenone

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Airedale,Cuppy,waskilledbythetrolleywhichrantothelakedownafreewaywhichcutthroughthebackyardsofthesettlement,myfatherwasdisconsolatefor
days.Thereisapictureofhim,inanewuniform,withCuppypawinghimtotheshoulderslikesomemythiclion.
Andthentherewasthelifedirectlyonthelaketogivetherouteafilliparesidentialareaneverhas.TherewastheLincolnParkTheatreonthissideofthebridge,to
whichIwastakenonpassesinthesummereveningsdownthefreewayintheopencars.AndtheChinesewhohadawheelconcessionnearthetheatreontheBoston
road,whoeachyeargavemyfather,formymother,somenewsetofchina.(Theycamepackedinafinestrawwhichinterestedme.)Andtheboathousesdirectlyon
thelake.Randall'swasmyfather'sfavorite,or,rather,hewasafavoriteoftheRandalls.Sundays,whentheicewasgone,hewouldtakemetoRandall'sandwe
wouldgoouttogetheronthelakeafteralotoftalkbetweenhimandtheRandallboysduringwhichtimeIgawkedattheracingshellsandthecanoessetonracksup
totheceiling.And,towardstheendoftheroutesouth,wherethesettlementranoffintothewoods(inwhichthecityhadplacedthelittleherdofwhatlookedtome
likemotheatenbuffaloes),wastheicehouse.MyfathergotmeajobthereoneChristmasvacationwhenIwasinhighschoolanditshouldhavemadeamanofme.I
cuticewiththemenfrom6inthemorninguntil6atnight,andtheonlythingIcansayforthedaywas,thatIwaitedinterror,formyfather'sappearance,inthemiddle
ofthemorningandtheafternoon,whenhewassuretohailmefromtheshoreandmakefuntothemenofthewayIpoledthecakesthroughthechannelintothe
elevatorinclinewhichtooktheiceupthreeflightstothehouseforstoring.
Ofthepeople,MartinandMinnieHesterseemtohavebeentheoldest,mostcontinuousfriendsmyfatherhad.IremembertheupsetwhenMr.Hesterdied.Ithinkhe
wasacarpenter,thoughImayhavethisconfusedwithMartinandNoraReidy.Shewasmygodmother,andMartinwasacarpenterinthecityschoolsystem.Nora
markedmybirthdays.Shealwaysgavemegloves,andwastheonlyoneoutsidethefamilywhorememberedmybirthday.ItfelltwodaysafterChristmas.ButMartin
studdedmyschooldays.Itwasunexpectedanddelightfultohavehimturnupatmygrammarschool.Later,whenIwasinhighschoolandworkedasthecashierat
thelunchcounter,Isawalotofhim.HeusedtocomeoverandeathislunchwithmeasIsoldthetickets.WhenevertheHesterswerementioneditwasthelifeofthe
Reidys,whichIknewinti

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mately(theywerebrotherandsister,bothunmarried),thatroseupinmymind.IstillhavetoworkitouttorealizethattheHesterswerenotabachelorandanold
maid.TheyrememberedmyfathereveryChristmasandwhenhewasofftherouteweremostsolicitous,thoughIdon'tthinktheyplayedanypartinorganizingthe
protestofthepeopleoftherouteagainstthePostOfficeofficials.Theyweretooshy.
ThatwasthedoingofmenlikeMr.Lawrence.Hehadaprintshop,andImayrememberhimmore,becausehealsoinventedasolutiontosoftentypewriterrollers,
andtherewereafewSaturdays,veryfew,whenI,atmyfather'surging,madetheroundsofthefactoriesinourneighborhoodtryingtosellthestufftosecretariesand
officemanagers.Itwasasdreadfultomeasanotherattempt,tosellMr.Lawrence'sletterpaper,withthenamedonetoorder.(Theonlytimedoortodoorselling
interestedmewasChristmascards,fortheWalthamCompany,andthattooknoselling,andgavemeahugeprofit,50onadollarbox.)ButMr.Lawrencestandsin
mymindasoneoftheleaderswhocalledtheseveralmeetingsattheLake,aswecalledtheroute,totakeactiontogetmyfatherback.
IrecalltheBiancis,mostlyforthehugeItaliandinner,myfirstspaghettiandmeatballs,thatweandtheFoleyswereinvitedto.IhavethefeelingtheywereonPat
Foley'sroute,whichjoinedmyfather'sonthecityside.
Mostoftheothernamesaregone.ThereweretheSiskins,whohadthemeatmarket,andwhospoiledmyfather'sdogs.Buttheothers,thoughremnantsofmy
father'stalkaboutthemswiminmymind,havelosttheirfacesandtheirnames.TherewasanIrishgirlwhokepthouseforthepriests,anditwasoneofmyfather's
favoritediversionstoplagueherwithhisskepticismsaboutreligionwhenheknewthatoneofthecurateswaslisteninginthenextroom.Once,withgreatcare,he
decoratedandwrappedabrickasafool'spresentforher,inlieuofwhatobjectshewantedIcan'tsay.Hewasgiventowrappingandboxingminutepresentsinhuge
boxeswhichhehadtheparcelpostcarrierdeliverwithextrafanfare.Thisseemstohavebeenapartofthegiveandtakeoftheroute.Hecamehomeoncewithabox
offool'scandy,softonesofpepper,nougatsoftobacco,thinonesofcardboard.Hehadbeentakeninandtriedthemonus.
IimaginetheonesIhaverememberedarethosewithwhomIhadsomethingtodo.ThevastmajorityIneversaw,eventhoughononegrandoccasionIwenttheroute
withmyfather.Imusthavebeenabouttwelve.Idon'tknow

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whattheoccasionwas,butIdorecalltheplacethatimpressedmemost.ItwastheStateInsaneHospital.Itoccupiedthewholeofthehilltothelakeontheopposite
sideoftheBostonroadfromthebodyofmyfather'sroute.Thebuildings,brownstoneandlikeacollege,wereatthetopandthefarmrandowntheslopebehinda
fencewhichseemstomenowtohavebeenmadeofrails,thoughitprobablywasofstone.Itwasalongthisfencethattheinmatessatorwalked,andtheireyes,
clothes,posturesandgestureswereaworldofpeopleIfoundmuchmoreinterestingthantherestofus.Fromthatdayon,wheneverIwouldgototheLakeofa
Sundayorcouldgetmyfathertotalk,itwasthesemenIwantedtoseeandhearof.TheygotmixedupinmymindwithBrady'speopleoftheCivilWar.WhenIwas
toldthattheReidys'sisterAgneshaddiedinthathospitalIcouldnotbringthefacttogetherwiththefablethemenalongthefencestoodfor.(Ievenhadsomeofthe
samedifficultymuch,muchlaterwhenMartinReidywastakenthere.Itwasaftermymotherhadlivedwiththem,thewinterfollowingmyfather'sdeath.Ihadvisited
withthematChristmasandthoughtherewasadifferenceinNoraandMartin[Norahadalwaysmademenervouseversincethehatesheshowedinargumentswith
myfatherovertheGermansduringthefirstworldwar]Iattributedittoage.ThehousestillsmelledofMartin'sgoodtobaccoandwasasremarkablyneatasNora
hadalwayskeptit.Noonewaspreparedforthecrisiswhenitcame.OnenightNorawakedtofindMartingoingaroundthehousewithanaxe,lookingunderallthe
bedsandaccusingherofintimaterelationswiththeirnephewwholivedupstairs.)Someofthenuts,astheywerecalled,werefreetoleavethegroundsandusedto
walkmyfather'sroutewithhim.Onecarvedthingsaspresentsforhim.Myfathergavethemsmokesandclothes.
Thatroutewasmyfather'sparish,villagetowhichhewascrierandwalkingmayor.Hewasmoreintimatetothecommunity,andthelivesofallthepeople,than
anyoneelsecouldbe.Thepeopleshowedit,thewaytheyfoughtforhim,whenthecrisiscame.
Someofitwashimselfbutpartthefacthewas"thepostman."Mail,overanylengthoftime,willtellsecretsaneighborcouldnotguess.NordoImeanthereadingof
postcardsorthe"lamping"ofletters.Norwhatamanhearsovercoffee.Orthataman'smaildoesnotalwayscometohishouse,orawoman'seither.Itliesmorein
themannerinwhichpeoplelookfor,askfor,receivetheirmail.Andtalkaboutit.
Aletter,expectedorsurprise,isalance,andthevizorslips,andItalktothis

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persontogetitbackintoplace,forIknowhimeverydayandyetIdonotknowhimsowellaconfidencewillleadmeanywhere.IamawareIamvulnerableandI
willregretalittlesomeofthethingsIamsaying,but...theuniformmakesMr.Olsonanonymousenough.
ThiswasmosttrueinthedaysbeforeBurleson,Wilson'sPostmasterGeneral,tookthecraftandcountryqualityoutoftheservice.Thelosswasthelosscommonto
mostlaborsince.Thisbetterbeunderstoodasnotnostalgia.Iwasalettercarriermyselflateranddonotharkback.Wehavegotsousedtochangethatweare
unwillingtobelievethatsuddenlysomechangemaybesototalastodestroy.Thepathdoesdie,andtherearetimeswhen,tofindhiswayback,manhastopickup,
fiercelyandwithoutanyeasyemotion,tracesoftheway.Whathappenedtoworkduringthefirstworldwarisatrace.
Carryingmailneverdidrequiregreatskillanymorethanmostofthebroadgaugedjobswhichmakesocietyrun.Youhaveheardalleitherofuswantstohearofthe
carriertheManofWeathersleetsnownightrain:excelsior.Whatisnotmentionedareherniarheumatismflatfeetdeath(insurancecompanyaverage)52.The
hazards.Icanadd,ofCharlesOlsonSr.,(1)afalldownaflightof30stonesteps&likeincidentsinthelineofduty,(2)themorninghewasbroughthome,beforeI
hadleftforschool,tomymother'sandmysurpriseatrolleycarhadsplitaswitchandspreadhimoutfullsixfootthreeonthepavementatFrontandPleasant
Streets.Thiskindofweatherlasts.
Whatcanbelostistheweatherofaman.Whatgavethecarrierdignity,thesenseofaccomplishment,whatmadehisdayofusetothepeopleheservedaswellasto
himselfwastheillusionthathowhediditwasofvalue.
HereistheconnectionbetweenBurlesonandwhatthebossesdidtomyfather.Myfatherdidnotwantunionpower.Heneverheldorsoughttopoffice.Heserved
sometermsassecretary,butnottocontrolfromthatpowerfulpost.Togettheworkdone.ForseveralyearsIdidhistypingandcansay.Whathewasafter,whatall
thelegislationhepushedwasdirectedagainst,wasthespeedup.Iusedtogetprettyboredwithfiguresontheoccupationaldiseasesoflettercarriers,calculationson
thedifferentialsofthevolumeofmailoveramonth,statisticsontheconditionofthewidowsofcarriers,numbersofchildrenperfamilyetc.,butitisclearthathesaw
whatthefightwas.
I'msurethebossesweretooknowingtothinkhecouldtaketheunionover.Hedidnothavethatwillandifhehadtheyknewhowtobuysuchmenoff.Insome
awkwardway,withnoschemeorlargesenseofwhatwasinvolved,out

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oftheneedsofhisownpersonality,hisassurancethatthesatisfactionofajoblayintheperfectionofthedoingofit,thepoundingofarivet,theuseofpumiceafter
sandpapertomakeasurfacereadyforastain,thefixativetosetacrayonsketchforO.VictorHumannattheMuseum,ledmyfathertofightforqualityagainst
efficiencyinthepostalservice.Thatwas,andis,thebattleline.
Hewastheresistanceofaman,myfather,thecryoftheindividualthathebeallowedthetimeandtheconditionstodohiswork,astheyusedtosay,right.Andthat's
whythebosseswentafterhim.Theyattackedhimbecausehewantedtodohisworktoowell.Hewasunhealthytohavearound.Thespeedupmightirktheother
menbuttheywouldbeunprepared,asmostmenare,fromconfusionandthehundredcoststhefamilyisheirto,todoanything.Theywouldgoalong,eventhoughit
meantthey'dwitherandgodead.Myfather'sthreattothebosseswasnotsomuchhisactivityashimself.Hewasanimagetotheothermenofwhattheyhadbeen,a
tracetotheyoungermenofwhatworkwas.Hehadtobeharassed.
Todayhe'dbefired.Ornothiredinthefirstplace.Or,ifacompanyhadtoshowapayrollforacontract,bethefirstlaidoff.Groundhasbeenlost.Butagood
workerstillknows,andcantellyou,whatmyfatherknew.Hejusthappenedtobeoneofthefirst,anditwasclearerearlierinthepostalservicethaninheavy
industry.Hewasattheswitchpointwhentheturncame.Hewasnoenemy.Hewasopposition.Hewasfightingforprideinworkwhichispersonality.Itisthat
simple.Wehaveforgottenwhatmencrave.Wethinkthatallworkerswantispay.Butthat'salltheyareleftwith,whereproduction,andthatrotofmodernwork,
efficiency,rule.Giveworkersonlythatandthey'llfeatherbedyouback.Ifyoutakeawayprideyou'llhavetogiveprizes.Andwhynot?Cornermenandtheyare
goodanimals:theyknowhowtoresist.
Behindhisbosseswerethepostalinspectors.BehindthemBurleson.BehindBurlesonthehugeforfeitofproduction.ItisoldGeorgeHarris'proposition:bishopseats
elders,elderseatscommonpeopil,theyeatssichcattilasme,Ieatspossums,possumseatschickins,chickinsswallerswums,an'wumsiscontenttoeatdus,an'dus
istheainduvhitall.
Onlyhitain't.Thedusisthekulchurdaidonthegroun'.Forexample.Myfatherwasoldfashion.Hehadnotionshavingtodowithcourtesy,modesty,care,
proportion,respect.Hehadthemconfusedwithhiswork.Aletter,say.Hewasscrupulousaboutaletter.Hehadtheideaitwassomehowimportantjustbecauseit
wasmadeupofwords(hehadthenotionthatwordshave

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value,assignsofmeaningandfeeling)andbecauseitwasacommunicationbetweentwopersons(theideaofapersonseemstohavemeantsomethingtohim).Thus
hetookhimselfseriouslyasthelast,andonlydirectlypersonalagent,ofseveralhiredbyastamptoseethataletterreachedthepersontowhomitwasaddressedor,
rather(asIamsurehe,withhisnotions,wouldhaveputit)forwhomitwasmeant.
Asapartofsuchmotionhetookhimselftoberesponsible.(Hewas.Ihaveknownhim,ofaneveningafterwork,tobeasconcernedastowhetherapartyonhis
routehadgotalettertheyhadbeenexpectingwhichhehadhadtoleaveintheirboxbecausetheywerenotathome,asanothermanmightbeconcernedaboutwell,
say,thesafe,orwhetherhehadlockedtheofficedoor.)Agoodcarrierdidnotjamcards.Hedidnotleaveinsuredparcelscarelessly.Hestoppedtoringandwaitto
getthemailinsidewhentheweatherwasbad.Heheldmailforpeoplewhentheywereaway,orforwardedforthem,withoutdelay.Theniceties.
Andtheaccommodations:bringstampstopeople,ortaketheirlettersandbuythestampsforthem.Orsmallpackagesormagazines,wheretheydidnotknowthe
weight.Evenalaundry,onceinawhile.
Andregisteredmail:toletpeopleknowtheycouldsendmoneydirectlybyyouinsteadofgoinguptowntothepostofficetodoit,asmostpeoplethinktheyhaveto.
Thefinishonthework.(Itwasmyfatherwhofirsttoldmetheanswerofthecabinetmakertothelookeronwhowasmakingfunofthecarethec.m.wasgivingtothe
undersideofatable."Whybotheryourself.Noonewillever,inthisworld,noticethat."Drawlsthec.m.,switchinghischaw,"Inoticeit."
Allofwhichcourtesiestaketooktime.
Enter:therouteinspector.
From1920onmyfatherwasneverleftlongatpeaceonhisroutewithouttherewas,suddenly,anyday,arouteinspectoronhisback.AshewouldleavethePost
Officeforhisroutetherewouldbesomeguy,knownorunknown,withhissheetofpaperandhisyellowlook(thelookofthecheckerinanybusiness)whowouldgo
theroutewithhimthatdayto"clockhim,"tocountthepiecesandthetime.Itwasthewaythebosseshoundedaman,inPostOfficetalk.
Theyhadanothertrick.Whenamanwentonvacationthey'dassignaspe

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cialsubstitutetocarrytheroute,amanwhomtheregularscalledaroutekiller,somebirdwhowantedtostandinwiththeforemanofcarrierstogetextraworkand
whowasready,forthatreason,orfromplainfear,torunaroundtherouteandgetinundertheregular'stime.Ihadoneoncemyself.Hemanagedaballclub.Aroute
wassomethinghegotridofassoonashecould(thoughhewaspaid,asIwas,bythehour)inordertohavetimetochewthefatwithhisplayersatnoonorgetthe
basesouttothefieldatnight.Hecameinonedaytwohoursundermytime!Thatfinishedmeonthatroute.Theytransferredmetoatruck!
ButIwasakid,anddidn'tcare.Withmyfatheritwasdifferent.Itwashislifework.Hegotsohewasgrimanddangerousoverthisbusiness.Ifhe'dhavebeena
machinist,theyhadturnedhimintosuchabitter,revengefulman,hewouldhavegonebeyondtheslowdown.Hewouldhaveturnedsaboteur,andwrecked
machinery.Asitwashewentillegal.Heworkedoutatricktobeatthem.Itwastoincreasethemailthedaytheyinspectedhim.Hediditinoneoftwoways.Onat
leastoneoccasion(attheheightofhistrouble,I'dsay,fromthewayIrememberit)whenhewastippedoffaheadoftimethathewasgoingtogetit,hemailedfirst
classstuffhimselfthenightbefore,inseveraldifferenthandwritingstopeopleontheroute.Anothertime,itseemstome,hecalledmymotherduringthemorningand
hadherdropsomesimilarlettershehadreadyinordertofattentheafternoondeliveryonhisroute.Buttheotherdevicewassimpler.Itrestedontheincreaseof
advertisingcircularsinthe20sand30s.Itwasmostlythirdclassmail,andcarrierswerenotobligedtodeliveritthedayitcamein,ifsuchapiecemeantadding
distancetotheroute.Butmyfatherwentmuchfurtherinhisdeterminationtobeattheinspectionsystem.Hewouldculloutthesecircularsuntilhehadaselectedbunch
ofthemwelldistributedaroundhisroute.Thesehewouldkeephiddeninhislockerorperhapsitwasbehindhissortingcaseatthepostoffice.Whenaninspectorwas
dueoutwithhimhewouldsortthesepiecesinwiththeday'smail.Ittookuptheslack.(Ishouldmakeclearthatitwasthecustom,whenthehigherupswereaftera
man,tosendaninspectoroutatthattimeofthemonthortheweekwhenthemailislightest.Mondayissuchaday.Thefirstofthemonthistheheaviest.)
Itwasamischievousbusiness,andmyfatherlivedwithitnervously.(Hehadabadtimeofitthedayhediscoverednewcaseshadarrivedandtherehadbeensome
shiftingoftheoldonesduringthemorningwhenhewasouton

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theroute.)Myimpressionis,thisstupidbundleofmailwasonhismindalltheyearsuptohisdeath.Thereitsat,theonlyillegalthinghe'deverdone,theonething,and
theonlything,iftheyfoundit,whichwouldgivethemthegoodstheywishedtheyhadonhim.Hisrecordwasclean,cleanasawhistleisthewayhewouldhaveputit,
ifhewasofamindtotalkabouthimself.Yetherehehimselfrantheriskofgivingthemtheverythingtheywanted.Andwhy?Merelytobeatthematagamewhichhe
tookasaninsulttohisamourpropre.
ThisiswhatImeantbyhisstubbornness.Hewantedhisroutethewayithadbeenbeforethespeedup.Hewantedhisroutethewayhehadbuiltit,withtimeleftin
forthecourtesies,theniceties,andacoffeenowandthen.Buttherewasasidetothisdesire,afterhistrouble,whichhastobeputthisway:hewanteditthewayit
hadbeenbecausethebosseswanteditdifferent.Thefactofthematterishewantedtooverprovehispointwithsomeideathatinsodoinghemademoreapparentthe
dirtinessoftheirattackonhim.Which,ofcourse,wasnotso.Hecouldeasilyhaveturnedthepointofanyoftheirtricksbymerelycontinuingashehadbeen.Hehad
alongrouteandnoonecouldhavesqueezeditmuch.Theproofis,thatwhentheyfinallydecidedhehadsufferedenough,afterthePlymouthdeal,theyputhimback
ontherouteprettymuch,asfarasIcanremember,ashehadbeenbeforehand.Inotherwordsthehoundingtook.Theonlythingitdidn'tdowasbreakhiswill.He
didn'tgivein.Heonlydied.
Ittookfourteenyears.Thedemeritscamefirst.Thentheremovalfromtheroute.Atthatpointtheypulledanothermilitarymove.Theyrequiredhimtotearoffthe
threeredstarsfromhissleeve,forthefifteenyearshehadserved.Fortheyhadafinalignominy.Isupposeitispossibletheythoughttheycoulddrivehimoutofthe
servicealtogether.Anyhowtheyassignedhimtothelowestjobthereis,thejobthegreenestsubcarriergets,thenightcollection.
Idon'trememberhowlongtheykepthimonit.Itmayhavebeenayear.I'mnotsure,nowthatIamfurtherdownintothepast,ifIamrighttheytookhimoffhisroute
immediatelyonourreturnfromPlymouth.I'mnotsuretheydidn'tinspectthelifeoutofhimfirst,havingdockedhispay,andthatitwasn'tononeoftheseinspections
thathecalledPaddyHehirormaybeitwasBlockySheehanasonofabitch.Inanycasethenightcollectionwasthefinalpunishment.
Onethingstandsout,apicturethatDinnyRiordangavemethedaymyfatherdied.Itwasasuddendeath,cerebralhemorrhage,thefirstshockona

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Thursdayparalyzingtherightside,thesecondone,Saturdaymorning,gettingtheheart.WhatDinnyrevealedtomewasthatin1920,apparentlynotlongafterthe
startofthetrouble,heandmyfatherwereonastreetcargoingtotheirroutes.(Dinny'swasthenextabovetherouteadjoiningmyfather's.)Suddenlyastheywere
sittingthereinthelongseatatthebackofthecarDinnybecameawarethatmyfatherwasnotlisteningtohim,wasinfactleaningslightlyagainsthimandlookingoff
withafixedlookoutthewindowsacrosstheaisle.Hethoughtmyfatherwasjoking,orsomething,andgavehimashove.Itwasthewaymyfathercameoutofitthat
madeDinnyfirstawarethatsomethingwaswrong.Hesaidnothing,andnothingmorewasmentionedaboutit.Butthedoctorstoldme,whenIcheckedwiththem,
thatitwasthepremonitoryshock.Thetroublehadbroughtiton.Shortlyafter,ingoingovermyfather'spapers,Idiscoveredthatitwastheveryyear,1920,thathad
beguntheannualcheckupswiththedoctorwhichweredramatizedformebytheurinebottle.
Thenightsmusthavebeendirtinmyfather'smouth,thecity'smainstreets,lettersinlumps,peopletoaskwhyhewasthere.Ortosay,what'sthisweseeinthe
papers.Forhefoughtbackfromthestart.ThesenatorwasDavidI.Walsh.Hetriedtoreachhim.ThecongressmanwasPehrHolmes,aSwede.Hesawhim.
Promises,letters,meetings,articles.TheNALC.ThebranchofUNIPOX(Un.POClerks).Idon'tfigure,now,thatitwaslongbeforehewasbackontheroute.But
that,alas,wasnottheendofthestruggle.Itneverendedforhim.Somehowhehadtopaythemback,Hehir,Sheehan,andthePostmaster,Healy.Heincreasedhis
workintheBranch.Hewidenedouttothenationalofficers.HejoinedtheCarlthe15thLodge,theSwedishAmericanFederation.ThepaperSevahadhelpedinthe
struggle.HebecameafriendofKarlFredintheeditor.HisSwedishbegantocomeback.Hebegantogetmetospeaktotheirfestivals.Hebecamemoreandmore
involved.Moreeveningswentoutfromhisdrawing,hispianoplaying.TheonethinghedidnotlessenwasGloucester.Gloucesterbecametheoneoffset.Hewould
comeeachweekend,arrangingridesforhimselfifhecould,orhoppingthetrain.OnlyinGloucesterwashefreefromrevenge.AnditwasfromGloucesterthatheleft
thelasttimeIsawhimwhole.HewastogothenextweekendtotheNationalConventionoftheCarriersatCleveland.Itwastobeabigbusiness,forheandhis
croniesaroundthecountry(hehadbuiltupaterrificcorrespondence)werehopingtheycouldturnouttheoldofficersandputinFredDouglasofBrooklyn.Itwas
oneofthe

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payoffsmyfatherintended,fortheofficersoftheNALChadfailedhim,hethought,inhisfight.Hewasouttogetthem.Itwastobeabigthing,andwhenhewas
leavinghewakedmetoaskifIwouldlethimtakemysuitcasewhichwasbiggerandnewerthanhis.Ihadauseforitthatcomingweekendwhichseemedimportant
tome,andIrefused.Hewentawaysore,andthecuriousthingis,thatthoughmymotherandIdrovethehundredmilestothehospitalthemomentweheardhewas
sickandthoughIwaswithhimmuchofthetimeuntilhedied,IdonotrememberthatheeveraddressedmeorseemedtonoticethatIwasthere.Hepinchedmy
mother'snoseandsaidsomethingunintelligiblefromthetwistofhismouthbutitisonlynowthatIrealizeatnotimedidheadmitanoticeofme.OrdoIexaggerate
andpunishmyselfanewfortheguiltofmyrefusalofthesuitcase.Idonotknow.WhatIdoknowisthatthehouse,whenwegotbacktoit,showedthatallthatweek
hemusthavestayedupnightafternightpreparingthepapersandresolutionsthatweretobeusedattheConvention.Thatwas1934.Plymouthwasallthoseyears
back,yetherehewaslockedinthestrugglewhichissuedfromit.Hehadwonthefight,andlostit,godhelpusall.
(1948)

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POETRY&POETS

Page239
ProjectiveVerse
(projectile(percussive(prospective
vs.
TheNONProjective
(orwhataFrenchcriticcalls''closed"verse,thatversewhichprintbredandwhichisprettymuchwhatwehavehad,inEnglish&American,andhavestillgot,despitetheworkof
Pound&Williams:
itledKeats,alreadyahundredyearsago,toseeit(Wordsworth's,Milton's)inthelightof"theEgotisticalSublime"anditpersists,atthislatterday,aswhatyoumightcallthe
privatesoulatanypublicwall)
Versenow,1950,ifitistogoahead,ifitistobeofessentialuse,must,Itakeit,catchupandputintoitselfcertainlawsandpossibilitiesofthebreath,ofthebreathing
ofthemanwhowritesaswellasofhislistenings.(Therevolutionoftheear,1910,thetrochee'sheave,asksitoftheyoungerpoets.)
Iwanttodotwothings:first,trytoshowwhatprojectiveorOPENverseis,whatitinvolves,initsactofcomposition,how,indistinctionfromthenonprojective,itis
accomplishedandII,suggestafewideasaboutwhatstancetowardrealitybringssuchverseintobeing,whatthatstancedoes,bothtothepoetandtohisreader.
(Thestanceinvolves,forexample,achangebeyond,andlargerthan,thetechnical,andmay,thewaythingslook,leadtonewpoeticsandtonewconceptsfromwhich
somesortofdrama,say,orofepic,perhaps,mayemerge.)
I
First,somesimplicitiesthatamanlearns,ifheworksinOPEN,orwhatcanalsobecalledCOMPOSITIONBYFIELD,asopposedtoinheritedline,stanza,overall
form,whatisthe"old"baseofthenonprojective.

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(1)thekineticsofthething.Apoemisenergytransferredfromwherethepoetgotit(hewillhavesomeseveralcausations),bywayofthepoemitselfto,alltheway
overto,thereader.Okay.Thenthepoemitselfmust,atallpoints,beahighenergyconstructand,atallpoints,anenergydischarge.So:howisthepoetto
accomplishsameenergy,howishe,whatistheprocessbywhichapoetgetsin,atallpointsenergyatleasttheequivalentoftheenergywhichpropelledhiminthefirst
place,yetanenergywhichispeculiartoversealoneandwhichwillbe,obviously,alsodifferentfromtheenergywhichthereader,becauseheisathirdterm,willtake
away?
Thisistheproblemwhichanypoetwhodepartsfromclosedformisspeciallyconfrontedby.Anditinvolvesawholeseriesofnewrecognitions.Fromthemomenthe
venturesintoFIELDCOMPOSITIONputshimselfintheopenhecangobynotrackotherthantheonethepoemunderhanddeclares,foritself.Thushehasto
behave,andbe,instantbyinstant,awareofsomeseveralforcesjustnowbeginningtobeexamined.(Itismuchmore,forexample,thispush,thansimplysuchaone
asPoundput,sowisely,togetusstarted:"themusicalphrase,"gobyit,boys,ratherthanby,themetronome.)
(2)istheprinciple,thelawwhichpresidesconspicuouslyoversuchcomposition,and,whenobeyed,isthereasonwhyaprojectivepoemcancomeintobeing.Itis
this:FORMISNEVERMORETHANANEXTENSIONOFCONTENT.(Orsoitgotphrasedbyone,R.Creeley,anditmakesabsolutesensetome,withthis
possiblecorollary,thatrightform,inanygivenpoem,istheonlyandexclusivelypossibleextensionofcontentunderhand.)Thereitis,brothers,sittingthere,forUSE.
Now(3)theprocessofthething,howtheprinciplecanbemadesotoshapetheenergiesthattheformisaccomplished.AndIthinkitcanbeboileddowntoone
statement(firstpoundedintomyheadbyEdwardDahlberg):ONEPERCEPTIONMUSTIMMEDIATELYANDDIRECTLYLEADTOAFURTHER
PERCEPTION.Itmeansexactlywhatitsays,isamatterof,atallpoints(even,Ishouldsay,ofourmanagementofdailyrealityasofthedailywork)getonwithit,
keepmoving,keepin,speed,thenerves,theirspeed,theperceptions,theirs,theacts,thesplitsecondacts,thewholebusiness,keepitmovingasfastasyoucan,
citizen.Andifyoualsosetupasapoet,USEUSEUSEtheprocessatallpoints,inanygivenpoemalways,alwaysoneperceptionmustmustmustMOVE,
INSTANTER,ONANOTHER!
Sothereweare,fast,there'sthedogma.Anditsexcuse,itsusableness,in

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practice.Whichgetsus,itoughttogetus,insidethemachinery,now,1950,ofhowprojectiveverseismade.
IfIhammer,ifIrecallin,andkeepcallingin,thebreath,thebreathingasdistinguishedfromthehearing,itisforcause,itistoinsistuponapartthatbreathplaysin
versewhichhasnot(due,Ithink,tothesmotheringofthepowerofthelinebytoosetaconceptoffoot)hasnotbeensufficientlyobservedorpracticed,butwhichhas
tobeifverseistoadvancetoitsproperforceandplaceintheday,now,andahead.ItakeitthatPROJECTIVEVERSEteaches,is,thislesson,thatthatversewill
onlydoinwhichapoetmanagestoregisterboththeacquisitionsofhisearandthepressuresofhisbreath.
Let'sstartfromthesmallestparticleofall,thesyllable.Itisthekingandpinofversification,whatrulesandholdstogetherthelines,thelargerforms,ofapoem.I
wouldsuggestthatversehereandinEnglanddroppedthissecretfromthelateElizabethanstoEzraPound,lostit,inthesweetnessofmeterandrime,inahoney
head.(Thesyllableisonewaytodistinguishtheoriginalsuccessofblankverse,anditsfallingoff,withMilton.)
Itisbytheirsyllablesthatwordsjuxtaposeinbeauty,bytheseparticlesofsoundasclearlyasbythesenseofthewordswhichtheycompose.Inanygiveninstance,
becausethereisachoiceofwords,thechoice,ifamanisinthere,willbe,spontaneously,theobedienceofhiseartothesyllables.Thefineness,andthepractice,lie
here,attheminimumandsourceofspeech.
Owesternwynd,whenwiltthoublow
Andthesmallraindownshallrain
OChristthatmylovewereinmyarms
AndIinmybedagain
Itwoulddonoharm,asanactofcorrectiontobothproseandverseasnowwritten,ifbothrimeandmeter,and,inthequantitywords,bothsenseandsound,were
lessintheforefrontofthemindthanthesyllable,ifthesyllable,thatfinecreature,weremoreallowedtoleadtheharmonyon.Withthiswarning,tothosewhowould
try:tostepbackheretothisplaceoftheelementsandminimsoflanguage,istoengagespeechwhereitisleastcarelessandleastlogical.Listeningforthesyllables
mustbesoconstantandsoscrupulous,theexactionmustbesocomplete,thattheassuranceoftheearispurchasedat

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thehighest40hoursadayprice.Forfromtherootout,fromallovertheplace,thesyllablecomes,thefiguresof,thedance:
"is"comesfromtheAryanroot,as,tobreathe.TheEnglish"not"equalstheSanscritna,whichmaycomefromtherootna,tobelost,toperish."Be"isfrombhu,togrow.
Isaythesyllable,king,andthatitisspontaneous,thisway:theear,theearwhichhascollected,whichhaslistened,theear,whichissoclosetothemindthatitisthe
mind's,thatithasthemind'sspeed...
itisclose,anotherway:themindisbrothertothissisterandis,becauseitissoclose,isthedryingforce,theincest,thesharpener...
itisfromtheunionofthemindandtheearthatthesyllableisborn.
Butthesyllableisonlythefirstchildoftheincestofverse(always,thatEgyptianthing,itproducestwins!).TheotherchildistheLINE.Andtogether,thesetwo,the
syllableandtheline,theymakeapoem,theymakethatthing,thewhatshallwecallit,theBossofall,the"SingleIntelligence."Andthelinecomes(Iswearit)from
thebreath,fromthebreathingofthemanwhowrites,atthemomentthathewrites,andthusis,itisherethat,thedailywork,theWORK,getsin,foronlyhe,theman
whowrites,candeclare,ateverymoment,thelineitsmetricanditsendingwhereitsbreathing,shallcometo,termination.
Thetroublewithmostwork,tomytaking,sincethebreakingawayfromtraditionallinesandstanzas,andfromsuchwholesas,say,Chaucer'sTroilusorS'sLear,is:
contemporaryworkersgolazyRIGHTHEREWHERETHELINEISBORN.
Letmeputitbaldly.Thetwohalvesare:
theHEAD,bywayoftheEAR,totheSYLLABLE
theHEART,bywayoftheBREATH,totheLINE
Andthejoker?thatitisinthe1sthalfofthepropositionthat,incomposing,oneletsitripandthatitisinthe2ndhalf,surprise,itistheLINEthat'sthebabythatgets,
asthepoemisgettingmade,theattention,thecontrol,thatitisrighthere,intheline,thattheshapingtakesplace,eachmomentofthegoing.
Iamdogmatic,thattheheadshowsinthesyllable.Thedanceoftheintellectisthere,amongthem,proseorverse.Considerthebestmindsyouknowinthishere
business:wheredoestheheadshow,isitnot,precise,here,inthe

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swiftcurrentsofthesyllable?can'tyoutellabrainwhenyouseewhatitdoes,justthere?Itistrue,whatthemastersayshepickedupfromConfusion:allthethots
menarecapableofcanbeenteredonthebackofapostagestamp.So,isitnotthePLAYofamindweareafter,isnotthatthatshowswhetheramindisthereatall?
Andthethreshingfloorforthedance?IsitanythingbuttheLINE?Andwhenthelinehas,is,adeadness,isitnotaheartwhichhasgonelazy,isitnot,suddenly,slow
things,similes,say,adjectives,orsuch,thatweareboredby?
Forthereisawholeflockofrhetoricaldeviceswhichhavenowtobebroughtunderanewbead,nowthatwesightwiththeline.Simileisonlyonebirdwhocomes
down,tooeasily.Thedescriptivefunctionsgenerallyhavetobewatched,everysecond,inprojectiveverse,becauseoftheireasiness,andthustheirdrainonthe
energywhichcompositionbyfieldallowsintoapoem.Anyslacknesstakesoffattention,thatcrucialthing,fromthejobinhand,fromthepushofthelineunderhand
atthemoment,underthereader'seye,inhismoment.Observationofanykindis,likeargumentinprose,properlyprevioustotheactofthepoem,and,ifallowedin,
mustbesojuxtaposed,apposed,setin,thatitdoesnot,foraninstant,sapthegoingenergyofthecontenttowarditsform.
Itcomestothis,thiswholeaspectofthenewerproblems.(Wenowenter,actually,thelargeareaofthewholepoem,intotheFIELD,ifyoulike,whereallthe
syllablesandallthelinesmustbemanagedintheirrelationstoeachother.)Itisamatter,finally,ofOBJECTS,whattheyare,whattheyareinsideapoem,howthey
gotthere,and,oncethere,howtheyaretobeused.ThisissomethingIwanttogettoinanotherwayinPartII,but,forthemoment,letmeindicatethis,thatevery
elementinanopenpoem(thesyllable,theline,aswellastheimage,thesound,thesense)mustbetakenupasparticipantsinthekineticofthepoemjustassolidlyas
weareaccustomedtotakewhatwecalltheobjectsofrealityandthattheseelementsaretobeseenascreatingthetensionsofapoemjustastotallyasdothose
otherobjectscreatewhatweknowastheworld.
Theobjectswhichoccurateverygivenmomentofcomposition(ofrecognition,wecancallit)are,canbe,mustbetreatedexactlyastheydooccurthereinandnotby
anyideasorpreconceptionsfromoutsidethepoem,mustbehandledasaseriesofobjectsinfieldinsuchawaythataseriesoftensions(whichtheyalsoare)are
madetohold,andtoholdexactlyinsidethecontent

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andthecontextofthepoemwhichhasforceditself,throughthepoetandthem,intobeing.
Becausebreathallowsallthespeechforceoflanguagebackin(speechisthe"solid"ofverse,isthesecretofapoem'senergy),because,now,apoemhas,by
speech,solidity,everythinginitcannowbetreatedassolids,objects,thingsand,thoughinsistingupontheabsolutedifferenceoftherealityofversefromthatother
dispersedanddistributedthing,yeteachoftheseelementsofapoemcanbeallowedtohavetheplayoftheirseparateenergiesandcanbeallowed,oncethepoemis
wellcomposed,tokeep,asthoseotherobjectsdo,theirproperconfusions.
Whichbringsusup,immediately,bang,againsttenses,infactagainstsyntax,infactagainstgrammargenerally,thatis,aswehaveinheritedit.Donottenses,mustthey
notalsobekickedaroundanew,inorderthattime,thatothergoverningabsolutemaybekept,asmustthespacetensionsofapoem,immediate,contemporarytothe
actingonyouofthepoem?Iwouldarguethathere,too,theLAWOFTHELINE,whichprojectiveversecreates,mustbehewnto,obeyed,andthatthe
conventionswhichlogichasforcedonsyntaxmustbebrokenopenasquietlyasmustthetoosetfeetoftheoldline.Butananalysisofhowfaranewpoetcanstretch
theveryconventionsonwhichcommunicationbylanguagerests,istoobigforthesenotes,whicharemeant,Ihopeitisobvious,merelytogetthingsstarted.
Letmejustthrowinthis.Itismyimpressionthatallpartsofspeechsuddenly,incompositionbyfield,arefreshforbothsoundandpercussiveuse,springuplike
unknown,unnamedvegetablesinthepatch,whenyouworkit,comespring.NowtakeHartCrane.Whatstrikesmeinhimisthesinglenessofthepushtothe
nominative,hispushalongthatonearcoffreshness,theattempttogetbacktowordashandle.(Iflogosiswordasthought,whatiswordasnoun,as,passmethat,as
NewmanSheausedtoask,atthegalleytable,putajibontheblood,willya.)ButthereisalossinCraneofwhatFenollosaissorightabout,insyntax,thesentence
asfirstactofnature,aslightning,aspassageofforcefromsubjecttoobject,quick,inthiscase,fromHarttome,ineverycase,frommetoyou,theVERB,between
twonouns.DoesnotHartmisstheadvantages,bysuchanisolatedpush,missthepointofthewholefrontofsyllable,line,field,andwhathappenedtoalllanguage,
andtothepoem,asaresult?

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IreturnyounowtoLondon,tobeginnings,tothesyllable,forthepleasuresofit,tointermit
Ifmusicbethefoodoflove,playon,
givemeexcessofit,that,surfeiting,
theappetitemaysicken,andsodie.
Thatstrainagain.Ithadadyingfall,
o,itcameovermyearlikethesweetsound
thatbreathesuponabankofviolets,
stealingandgivingodour.
Whatwehavesufferedfrom,ismanuscript,press,theremovalofversefromitsproduceranditsreproducer,thevoice,aremovalbyone,bytworemovesfromits
placeoforiginanditsdestination.Forthebreathhasadoublemeaningwhichlatinhadnotyetlost.
Theironyis,fromthemachinehascomeonegainnotyetsufficientlyobservedorused,butwhichleadsdirectlyontowardprojectiveverseanditsconsequences.Itis
theadvantageofthetypewriterthat,duetoitsrigidityanditsspaceprecisions,itcan,forapoet,indicateexactlythebreath,thepauses,thesuspensionsevenof
syllables,thejuxtapositionsevenofpartsofphrases,whichheintends.Forthefirsttimethepoethasthestaveandthebaramusicianhashad.Forthefirsttimehe
can,withouttheconventionofrimeandmeter,recordthelisteninghehasdonetohisownspeechandbythatoneactindicatehowhewouldwantanyreader,silently
orotherwise,tovoicehiswork.
ItistimewepickedthefruitsoftheexperimentsofCummings,Pound,Williams,eachofwhomhas,afterhisway,alreadyusedthemachineasascoringtohis
composing,asascripttoitsvocalization.Itisnowonlyamatteroftherecognitionoftheconventionsofcompositionbyfieldforustobringintobeinganopenverse
asformalastheclosed,withallitstraditionaladvantages.
Ifacontemporarypoetleavesaspaceaslongasthephrasebeforeit,hemeansthatspacetobeheld,bythebreath,anequallengthoftime.Ifhesuspendsawordor
syllableattheendofaline(thiswasmostCummings'addition)hemeansthattimetopassthatittakestheeyethathairoftimesuspendedtopickupthenextline.
Ifhewishesapausesolightithardlyseparatesthewords,yetdoesnotwantacommawhichisaninterruption

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ofthemeaningratherthanthesoundingofthelinefollowhimwhenheusesasymbolthetypewriterhasreadytohand:
Whatdoesnotchange/isthewilltochange
Observehim,whenhetakesadvantageofthemachine'smultiplemargins,tojuxtapose:
Sdhe:
todreamtakesnoeffort
tothinkiseasy
toactismoredifficult
butforamantoactafterhehastakenthought,this!
isthemostdifficultthingofall
Eachoftheselinesisaprogressingofboththemeaningandthebreathingforward,andthenabackingup,withoutaprogressoranykindofmovementoutsidetheunit
oftimelocaltotheidea.
Thereismoretobesaidinorderthatthisconventionberecognized,especiallyinorderthattherevolutionoutofwhichitcamemaybesoforwardedthatworkwillget
publishedtooffsetthereactionnowafoottoreturnversetoinheritedformsofcadenceandrime.ButwhatIwanttoemphasizehere,bythisemphasisonthe
typewriterasthepersonalandinstantaneousrecorderofthepoet'swork,isthealreadyprojectivenatureofverseasthesonsofPoundandWilliamsarepracticingit.
Alreadytheyarecomposingasthoughversewastohavethereadingitswritinginvolved,asthoughnottheeyebuttheearwastobeitsmeasurer,asthoughthe
intervalsofitscompositioncouldbesocarefullyputdownastobepreciselytheintervalsofitsregistration.Fortheear,whichoncehadtheburdenofmemoryto
quickenit(rime&regularcadencewereitsaidsandhavemerelylivedoninprintaftertheoralnecessitieswereended)cannowagain,thatthepoethashismeans,be
thethresholdofprojectiveverse.
II
WhichgetsustowhatIpromised,thedegreetowhichtheprojectiveinvolvesastancetowardrealityoutsideapoemaswellasanewstancetowardstherealityofa
poemitself.Itisamatterofcontent,thecontentofHomerorofEuripidesorofSeamiasdistinctfromthatwhichImightcallthemore"literary"

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masters.Fromthemomenttheprojectivepurposeoftheactofverseisrecognized,thecontentdoesitwillchange.Ifthebeginningandtheendisbreath,voicein
itslargestsense,thenthematerialofverseshifts.Ithasto.Itstartswiththecomposer.Thedimensionofhislineitselfchanges,nottospeakofthechangeinhis
conceiving,ofthematterhewillturnto,ofthescaleinwhichheimaginesthatmatter'suse.Imyselfwouldposethedifferencebyaphysicalimage.Itisnoaccident
thatPoundandWilliamsbothwereinvolvedvariouslyinamovementwhichgotcalled"objectivism."Butthatwordwasthenusedinsomesortofanecessaryquarrel,
Itakeit,with"subjectivism."Itisnowtoolatetobebotheredwiththelatter.Ithasexcellentlydoneitselftodeath,eventhoughweareallcaughtinitsdying.What
seemstomeamorevalidformulationforpresentuseis"objectism,"awordtobetakentostandforthekindofrelationofmantoexperiencewhichapoetmightstate
asthenecessityofalineoraworktobeaswoodis,tobeascleanaswoodisasitissuesfromthehandofnature,tobeasshapedaswoodcanbewhenamanhas
hadhishandtoit.Objectismisthegettingridofthelyricalinterferenceoftheindividualasego,ofthe"subject''andhissoul,thatpeculiarpresumptionbywhich
westernmanhasinterposedhimselfbetweenwhatheisasacreatureofnature(withcertaininstructionstocarryout)andthoseothercreationsofnaturewhichwe
may,withnoderogation,callobjects.Foramanishimselfanobject,whateverhemaytaketobehisadvantages,themorelikelytorecognizehimselfassuchthe
greaterhisadvantages,particularlyatthatmomentthatheachievesanhumilitassufficienttomakehimofuse.
Itcomestothis:theuseofaman,byhimselfandthusbyothers,liesinhowheconceiveshisrelationtonature,thatforcetowhichheoweshissomewhatsmall
existence.Ifhesprawl,heshallfindlittletosingbuthimself,andshallsing,naturehassuchparadoxicalways,bywayofartificialformsoutsidehimself.Butifhestays
insidehimself,ifheiscontainedwithinhisnatureasheisparticipantinthelargerforce,hewillbeabletolisten,andhishearingthroughhimselfwillgivehimsecrets
objectsshare.Andbyaninverselawhisshapeswillmaketheirownway.Itisinthissensethattheprojectiveact,whichistheartist'sactinthelargerfieldofobjects,
leadstodimensionslargerthantheman.Foraman'sproblem,themomenthetakesspeechupinallitsfullness,istogivehisworkhisseriousness,aseriousness
sufficienttocausethethinghemakestotrytotakeitsplacealongsidethethingsofnature.Thisisnoteasy.Natureworksfromreverence,eveninherdestructions
(speciesgodownwitha

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crash).Butbreathisman'sspecialqualificationasanimal.Soundisadimensionhehasextended.Languageisoneofhisproudestacts.Andwhenapoetrestsinthese
astheyareinhimself(inhisphysiology,ifyoulike,butthelifeinhim,forallthat)thenhe,ifhechoosestospeakfromtheseroots,worksinthatareawherenaturehas
givenhimsize,projectivesize.
Itisprojectivesizethattheplay.TheTrojanWomen,possesses,foritisabletostand,isitnot,asitspeopledo,besidetheAegeanandneitherAndromacheorthe
seasufferdiminution.Inaless"heroic"butequally"natural"dimensionSeamicausestheFishermanandtheAngeltostandclearinHagoromo.AndHomer,whois
suchanunexaminedclichethatIdonotthinkIneedtopresshomeinwhatscaleNausicaa'sgirlswashtheirclothes.
Suchworks,IshouldargueandIusethemsimplybecausetheirequivalentsareyettobedonecouldnotissuefrommenwhoconceivedversewithoutthefull
relevanceofhumanvoice,withoutreferencetowherelinescomefrom,intheindividualwhowrites.NordoIthinkitaccidentthat,atthisendpointoftheargument,I
shoulduse,forexamples,twodramatistsandanepicpoet.ForIwouldhazardtheguessthat,ifprojectiveverseispracticedlongenough,isdrivenaheadhardenough
alongthecourseIthinkitdictates,verseagaincancarrymuchlargermaterialthanithascarriedinourlanguagesincetheElizabethans.Butitcan'tbejumped.Weare
onlyatitsbeginnings,andifIthinkthattheCantosmakemore"dramatic"sensethandotheplaysofMr.Eliot,itisnotbecauseIthinktheyhavesolvedtheproblem
butbecausethemethodologyoftheverseinthempointsawaybywhich,oneday,theproblemoflargercontentandoflargerformsmaybesolved.Eliotis,infact,a
proofofapresentdanger,of"tooeasy"agoingonthepracticeofverseasithasbeen,ratherthanasitmustbe,practiced.Thereisnoquestion,forexample,that
Eliot'sline,from''Prufrock"ondown,hasspeechforce,is"dramatic,"is,infact,oneofthemostnotablelinessinceDryden.Isupposeitstemmedimmediatelytohim
fromBrowning,asdidsomanyofPound'searlythings.InanycaseEliot'slinehasobviousrelationsbackwardtotheElizabethans,especiallytothesoliloquy.YetO.
M.Eliotisnotprojective.Itcouldevenbeargued(andIsaythiscarefully,asIhavesaidallthingsaboutthenonprojective,havingconsideredhoweachofusmust
savehimselfafterhisownfashionandhowmuch,forthatmatter,eachofusowestothenonprojective,andwillcontinuetoowe,asbothgoalongsideeachother)
butitcouldbearguedthatitisbecauseEliothasstayedinsidethenonprojectivethathefailsasadramatistthathisrootis

Page249
themindalone,andascholasticmindatthat(nohighintellettodespitehisapparentclarities)andthat,inhislisteningshehasstayedtherewheretheearandthe
mindare,hasonlygonefromhisfineearoutwardratherthan,asIsayaprojectivepoetwill,downthroughtheworkingsofhisownthroattothatplacewherebreath
comesfrom,wherebreathhasitsbeginnings,wheredramahastocomefrom,where,thecoincidenceis,allactsprings.
(1950)

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LettertoElaineFeinstein
May,1959
DearE.B.Feinstein,
YourquestionscatchmeathwartanynewsenseImighthaveofa'poetics.'ThebestpreviousthrowImadeonitwasinPoetryNYsomeyearsagoonProjectiveOpenorField
verseversusClosed,withmuchonthelineandthesyllable.
Thebasicideaanywayformeisthatone,thatformisneveranymorethananextensionofcontentanonliterarysense,certainly.IbelieveinTruth!(Wahrheit)Mysenseisthat
beauty(Schnheit)betterstayinthethingitself:dasDingJa!machtring(theattack,Isuppose,onthe'completedthought,'or,theIdea,yes?Thusthesyntaxquestion:whatis
thesentence?
Theonlyadvantageofspeechrhythms(totakeyour2ndquestion1st)isilliteracy:thenonliterary,exactlyinDante'ssenseofthevalueofthevernacularovergrammarthat
speechasacommunicatorispriortotheindividualandispickedupassoonasandwithma'smilk...hesaidnurse'stit.Inotherwords,speechrhythmonlyasanyoneofushasit,
ifwecomeonfromthelineofforceaspipedinaswellasfrompipingweverymuchhavedoneuptothismomentifwehave,from,that'common'notgrammaticalsource.The
'source'questionisdamnedinterestingtodayasShelleysaw,likeDante,that,ifitcomesin,thatway,primary,fromMathereisthenadoublelineofchromosomicgiving(A)the
inherentspeech(thought,power)the'species,'thatisand(B)theetymological:thisiswhereIfind'foreign'languagessowild,especiallytheIndoEuropeanlinewiththe
advantagenowthatwehaveHittitetobackupto.Icouldn'tstressenoughonthisspeechrhythmquestionthepayoffintractionthatanonliterate,noncommercialandnon
historicalconstantdailyexperienceoftrackinganyword,practically,onefindsoneselfusing,backalongitslineofforcetoAngloSaxon,Latin,Greek,andouttoSanskrit,ornow,
ifsomeonewlddoit,some'dictionary'ofrootswhichwldincludeHittiteatleast.
I'llgiveinaminutetheconnectionofthistoformifcapturableinthepoem,

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thatis,theusual'poetics'biz,butexcusemeifIhammershortlytheimmensehelparchaeology,andsomespecificlinguisticscholarshipactually,frommyexperiencemainlyof
suchcompletelydifferent'grammars'asNorthAmericanIndianspresent,inthepresentsyntaxhangup:likeHopi.ButalsoTrobriandspaceTimepremises.AndacoupleofNorth
Californiatongues,likeYani.Butitisthearchaeologybehindourownhistoryproper,Hittite,fortheabovereason,butnowthatCanaaniteisknown(Ugaritic)andSumerian,and
thedirectconnectionoftheCeltstotheAryansandsototheAchaeanTrojanforbearswhichhasslowedandopenedthespeechlanguagethingaswegotit,now,inourhands,
tomakeitdomoreformthanhowformgotsetbySappho&Homer,andhasn'tchangedmuchsince.
Iamtalkingfromanew'doubleaxis':thereplacementoftheClassicalrepresentationalbytheprimitiveabstract((ifthisallsoundsbloodyGerman,excusetheweather,it'sfromthe
easttoday,andwet)).Imeanofcoursenotatallprimitiveinthatstupiduseofitasopposedtocivilized.Onemeansitnowas'primary,'ashowonefindsanything,pickitupas
onedoesnewfresh/first.Thusoneisequalacrosshistoryforwardandback,andit'salllevy,aspresentis,butsdthatway,onestates...adifferentspacetime.Content,in
otherwords,isalsoshiftedatleastfromhumanism,aswe'vehaditsincetheIndoEuropeansgottheirfidinthere(circum1500BC)((Note:I'mfor'emonthemuselevel,andagin
'emonthecontent,or'Psyche'side.
Whichgetsmetoyr1stquestion"theuseoftheImage.""theImage"(wow,thatyoucapitalizeitmakessense:itisallwehad(postcircumTheTwoNobleKinsmen),aswehad
asterilegrammar(aninsufficient'sentence')wehadanalogyonly:images,nomatterhowlearnedorhowsimple:evenBurnssay,allowingetcandincludingFrost!Comparison.
Thusrepresentationwasneveroffthedeadspotofdescription.Nothingwashappeningasofthepoemitselfdingandzingorsomething.Itwasreferentialtoreality.Andthata
p.poorcrawlingactuarial'real'goodenoughtokeepbanksandinsurancecompanies,plusmediocregovernmentsetc.ButnotPoetry'sTruthlikemyfriendsfromtheAmerican
Undergroundcryandspitinthefaceof'Time.'
TheImagealsohastobetakenbyadouble:thatis,ifyoubisectaparabolayougetanenantiomorph(TheHopisaywhatgoesonoverthereisn'thappeningherethereforeitisn't
thesame:pure'localism'ofspacetime,butsuchlocalismcannowbecalled:whatyoufindoutforyrself('istorin)keepsallaccompanyingcircumstance.

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Thebasictriowldseemtobe:topos/typos/tropos,3inI.The'blow'hitshere,andme,'bent'asbornandofsdone'sowndecisionsforbetterorworse(allowingclearly,byJesus
Christ,thatyoudoloveorgodown)
ifthissounds
'mystical'Ipleadso.Wahrheit:Ifindthecontemporarysubstitutionofsocietyforthecosmoscaptiveanddeathly.
Image,therefore,isvector.Itcarriesthetrinityviathedoubletothesingleformwhichonemakesoneselfable,ifso,toissuefromthe'content'(multiplicity:originally,and
repetitively,chaosTiamat:wottheHindoEuropeansknockedoutbygivingtheOldMan(Juicehimself)allthelightning.
TheDouble,then(the'home'/heartland/ofthepostMesopotamiansANDthepostHindoEees:
YouwldknowalreadyI'mbuggyonsaytheProperNoun,somuchsoIwldtakeitPunisRime,allfromtope/type/trope,thatbuiltinistheconnection,ineachofus,toCosmos,
andifonetaps,viapsyche,plusa'true'adherenceofMuse,onedoesreveal'Form'
inotherwordsthe'right'(wahr)propernoun,howeverapparentlyidiosyncratic,if'tested'byone'sownexperience(outplusin)oughttoyieldalongthisphyloline(asthespeech
thing,above)becausedecentlywhatoneoneselfcanknow,aswellaswhatthewordmeansontogenetic.
Theotherpartiscertainly'landscape'theotherpartofthedoubleofImageto'noun.'ByLandscapeImeanwhat'narrative'sceneeventclimaxcrisisherodevelopment
postureallthatmeantallthesubstantiveofwhatwecallliterary.Toanimatethescenetoday:wow:Yousay"orientateme."Yessir.Placeit!
again
Idragitback:Place(topos,plusone'sownbentpluswhatonecanknow,makesitpossibletoname.
O.K.I'mrunningoutofappetite.LetthisswirlabitlikeCrabNebuladofornow.Andpleasecomebackonmeifyouareinterested.Yrs.
CharlesOlson

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"OnPoetsandPoetry"
GroverSmith."OnPoetsandPoetry,"NewMexicoQuarterlyXXIII,no.3(Autumn1953):31729.
DearEditor:
Thisman,GroverSmith,"OnPoetsAndPoetry,"inyour1953Autumnissue.He'saglibone.Butbecauseheisaphilosophe(andnotanotherofthetextualists)I
takeitheoughttobemetonthepremisesofthesystematicbywhichhetherejudges,outofhand,theworkofHartCraneandW.C.Williams.Norisitsurprising
thathealso,inhiseasyarticle,ismoreathome,patently,withYeats,and,bywayofDurrell'sbook,withHopkins,andEliot.ForIthinkitcanbeshownthathis
stricturesonCraneasdisordered,andonWilliamsasequallyrandom,aremoreoftheculturalcolonialism(nottobebotheredwithSmith'sacademicism)whichkeeps
readersfromtheadvanceindiscoursewhichPound&Williams,andCrane,afterhislights,ledtherestofusonto.
Itisdiscourse,notjustverse.Smithstatestheconventionheisapplying:
RawmaterialisalwayspresentwhatCranecouldnotseewasthatmattermustmoveintoform,andthatallform,toberecognizableasanewthing,andathingmorethanits
ingredients,mustbeshapedinrationalpatternsofdiscourse.(Italics,mine.)
BythistestSmithnecessarilyisledtohismostsweepingparenthesis:
(ThereisastrongresemblancebetweentherationaleofPound'sCantosandthatofWilliams'Paterson:bothsuggestalinkbetweenthepoetrywhichdisplays,asinaprovincial
museum,detachedobjects,andthatwhichsimilarlydisplaysdiscontinuousideasorideasconnectedonlytangentially.)
ThusandslylyhedepressesthewholeoftheAmericanpushtofindoutanalternativediscoursetotheinheritedone,totheoneimplicitinthelanguage

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fromChaucertoBrowning,totry,bysomeothermeansthan"pattern"andthe"rational,"tocausediscoursetocoverasitonlyeverbestcanthereal.
Andnotknowingthatitisthesentence(asa"completedthought")whichhasbeenunderscrutinyandattackforfortyyears,SmithisledtoaskofWilliams:
(1)images,insteadofconcepts
(2)narrativeanddramaticpower
(3)"objectivevision"(whichItakeitmustechoEliot's"correlative")
&(4)thatWilliamsbeapearlinside,withoutboiling,hisownoyster.
Or,asheputsitasofMissKoch'sbookonWilliams,whatSmithexpectswhathemeansby"form"is"asimpleunionbetweengeneraland
particular."(Italics,mine.)
Ihavethisdifficultyasanyonehas,whopracticesatradetodragupthebaseofonetoconfrontajudgewhoclearlybacksuponthelawinlieuoftheduressthe
necessitiesoftheactoftrade.Toputitallinthemouth,inafewsentences,whatisfortyyearsintheworksofPound,Williams,Crane,tobereadthere,orin
whateveryearshavebeenone'sown.Whichiswhywritersdon'tbotherwithSmiths,toexposetheirignorances,theirsmartnesses.AndIhaven't,exceptforthisone.
Butithappensthatjustthissubjectofdiscourseismuchonmymind,tosaywhatpoetshavedoneinthiscentury,andtotrackbackthatveryrationalsystemSmithis
usingandsomanywithhimtoblindthemselvestowhatisgoingon,tostaybehind,eventogobehindto,Reaction.
Anditdoesboildowntohowhehasitthere:"allform...mustbeshapedinrationalpatternsofdiscourse."Itisthemeasurewhichhasbeen.AndbyitWCWdoes
losehispearl,the400grams,thefinestpearlofmoderntimes.Haha.
Letmebeshort,soyou'llpublishatleastanobjectiontoSmith,sothatsomereaderswillknowwhathedoesnotmakeclearthatheisimposingolddiscourseona
groupofmenwhoarestillworkingtowardanew.Andthusfindingfaultsinthemwhichareexactlytheirvirtues.Smith'sadjectives"disordered,""irresponsible,"
"disintegrated,""random''"discontinuousideas"areadrab'stalk.
Exactlynarrativeanddramaticpowerisnolongerapoet'sattentionthatis,assuchpowerwasfromSophoclestoHardy,orthroughYeatsorDurrell.

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Andsimplybecausethe"general"isnotnowknown,anyuniversal,"Narrative,"whatitis.Or"Drammer,''astheOldMancrieditdown.
Or"Image."ItshouldalsobenoticedthatSmithhasanothersleeper,inhisderogationofWilliamsthatimagesshouldemergeas"symbols"inorderthattherebethis
objectivevisionhesetsupassuccess.Itdoesn'ttakemuchthoughtoverBill'sproposition"Notinideasbutinthings"tobesurethatanyofusintendanimageasa
"thing,"never,sofarasweknow,suchanonanimalassymbol.(Ifthereisanycluetowhatanimageistoday,LinnaeusorAgassiz,forthatmatterarebetter
informantsthanallwritersotherthanthehandfulofAmericanswhohavebeenatthejob,recently:"aninsectinitsfinaladult,sexuallymature,andusuallywinged,
state.")
Whichgetsmebacktothesentence.AndhowGrammar,too,ain'twhatitwar.Solongasasentencestayeda"completedthought"andI'dguessitgotthatway
whentheGreeksdidimposeidea(tosee)onact(dran,drama,toact)itceased(becauseideasarenotwhatweactto,howevermuchwedoseeafterwards
therefore,formisbeforeideas,Groverboy),thesentenceceasedtobethecapableanimalitnowis,andhasbeenforsomeyears,jumpingallovertheplace,and
growling(thusWCW's"vernacular,"nodoubt,dearEnglish)inthewordsofsaidpoets,Pound,Williams,Crane.Andsomeothers.
(1954)

Page256
NotesonLanguageandTheater
BeforetheclassicGreektheatermimewasanotherthing.ItwasManwithaTail,first,longbefore,solongitwasacave,France,theguy:outofthisworld.No
comic.OrifhewashewasaftersomethingChaplin...Mimoswasn'tevenimitationsolateastheGrks.Itwastravesty,morelikewhathadprecededitthanwhat
there,Athens,overwhelmedit:tragedyandwrittencomedy,thosetwo.
Igatherthatdramaandtheaterweremorelanguage&movementbeforeAeschylusthansince,beforeheaddedasecondactor,andhaddialogue,andbeforehe
addedmasks(andhadthathollowthing,mechanicalprojection).Itwasadoublechangeheeffected:wordsasgabandmaskstomagnifysensation.Andtheresult?
Thebirthofthatexaggeratedindividualcalledhero,andofthatexaggeratednarrativecalledtragedy.Onecandatethisconsequenceofthesplitoflanguagefrom
movementwhichdividingupthesingleactordoesinvolve:A'stime,490BC.Andthetrick?Magnificationbymultiplicationofthetheatricalmeans.
BeforeAeschylusandbeforeheaddedthesemeans,beforethetheaterofboardscollapsedduringtheperformanceofThePersiansfromthefrightheproduced,
ladiesscreamingandgivingbirthrightthereinthetaxicabandthecityfathersannouncingthathenceforthitshallbeobscene,shallbekeptoffthescene,therewere
threeothersortsoftheaterwhichoughttobegivenattention:
(1)therhabdians,orsingleactorswithastickbeatingoutverseandactingoutnarrativesituationsinsaidverse,500hexametersataperformance,thetextthe
"Epics"(whohavebeenknownbythatclichethe"Rhapsodists"butwhomIthinkVictorBerardismorerightabout,thataperformancewasnotarecitationofa
"classic"orifitwasitwasmorelikewhatLaughtonandClaude

Page257
Rainsarenowsweepingthecountrywith,"crumbs,"Aeschylussaidhisplayswere,"fromHomer'stable."
(2)thecomedians,thegagmen,notext,whosurvivetodayinGreeceandelsewhere(Grossinger's)asthosetravelingkerekters(theborschtcircuit)whoare
anywheredoingthesteadybusinessofphallicjokesandsituations,whatAmericanburleskdidbeforetheuppermiddleclass(LaGuardia,thatenlightenedfoolwho
hadtocrowd'emoff,shut'emdown,inordertomakeroomforhisownidiociesforgrownupamericanchildrenonthatfleshlessthingradio)Oh,wherearethelegs
ofyesteryear,thescaronAnnCorio'sbelly,Raglandandhishandfulof"yours"...anyhow,whatAristophanescameinon
(youcanseeterracottasofthepersonagesofthisearlier"comedy"dugupatCarthageaswellasanynumberofsitesintheloniansea,withHerculesthechiefbuttandbigone,
thesamestocktheytellmethereisoneofrightnowintheMiddleWest,playingthefairs,SamSpadeorsomething,whostillwowstherubesasthedumbonewhooutsmartsthe
CityFeller,andisbetterknown,thisbumbkin,inthosepartsthanmoviestars.
&(3)whatisalmostindistinguishablethroughthecurtainofthe5thCentury,andinanycaseprobablyliesfarbackofeitheroftheabove,atleastbackofthemime
explicitin(2)andimplicitifBerardisright,in(1),butofwhichthereisonefinesurvivingclue,TheCyclopsofEuripides.The5thCenturycalledthesefourthplaysof
anafternoon"satyrplays,"or,thesaturos,anditwouldtakearguingtoattachtheseplaysto,likeIsay,theManwithaTailorChaplin'sCharlie.
Butthat'swhatwe'reherefor.Andwe'llgettoit.
TheotherimmediatethingtosayabouttheGreeksbeforethe5thCenturywouldbetoinsistthat"seriousmatters"(whatweassociatewith"tragedy")alsoexisted,
onlytheywerenotseparableasprofessional,didnotgetsecularor"entertainment,"inthemodernsense,untilthatcentury.Theyhadbeenwhattheyhavenowonce
morebecome,I'dguess:RITESorRELIGION(allthattediousacademicbizofthegoatsong,etc.,ofthelittlewhitecakes,etc.,andHenryLucecryingoverhow
theAmericansarenottragicbecausetheyhaven't

Page258
produceda"tragedy,"notevenMobyDickdoing...).Therealpointwldseemtobethatour"tragedies"arejustwheremissionarysonLucewillnextweekfumble
justwheretheyare:InStateandchurchevent,inPUBLICritualpractices(toourdoom!).TheyareontheFRONTPAGES,andrealthere,notatallinsadpresent
theater(tryingtobelikeafrontpage),orinnovels(tryingtogettothegalaxiesaheadofthegas).
Thethingis,toseetheparallelpictureatthisendafterChaplinasagainstthesituationbeforeAeschylus.Letmetryitthisway:
(1),thetheater,aswecalltheater,willsoonbeoncemorerhabdian,plotsgone,gabgone,alltherestofthebaggageofmeans,strippeddown,these"recitations"
nowgoingoninpublichallasign,butDylanThomasmore,thehungerofpeoplemerelytohangtheirearsoutandhear,notanylongerthejiggingoftheireyes,allthat
"luxury,"Schubertseatsetc.
Onecansaythis:itwillbewhathexametersthenwerewhentheywereasgoodas
(2),comics,they'llstay,whocandowithoutthem,onlyit'llsurelybeonlythebest,evenontelevision,onlysuchastheBeantownexjuggler,what'shisname,Fred/the
Great/Allen...
(3)tragedy,likeIsay,isnowaltogetherpubliceventandperson,soletitstaythere,theherodead,gonebacktothenewspaperwherehisface,godhelpus
(evenChaplincldn'tquitemaketheGreatDictatorwhathisotherswere,HitlerandMussolinibeingalreadymorethanevenhe,andJackOakie,coulddowiththem
and(4),whatIampersuadedisaformweknownothingabout(exceptasChaplinhasgonetowardsit),thesaturos,callit,butwhoknowshowwhatisis
presentable,howwhatmatters,inthefaceofevents,isdeliverable,howmaniswhatdoes?
II
Inhimself,inside,itturnsoutamanishow?Exceptasanyoneofuspursueshimthroughtheseveralguisesofidentity,orwhatevertheselfis,whichwhatanythingis
notonlyforcesonus,orinvolvesusin,butinsiststhatweobeyto

Page259
untilwedotakesomestandthatthisiswhoweare,thesinglethingintheend,perhaps,weturnouttobe,orsettlefor.
Itisherethatnamingisimportant.Surelywearenotpsychological(firstpersonsingular,he,she,it).Norsociological(weyouthey,goddamn'em).Ormythological(the
absolutepersons,thegrrONdstories).Orweareonlyoftheseafternotatallbeforewehavefoundoutthenamesofwhoweare,whatwehavebeenaboutinall
ouractionsandactivities(asIheardamansaytoafineactorwhoisasgoodacomicasChaplinifhe'dtakeupthemimeinhisfingertipswhichhecan'tbecausehe
isn'tsureheissingular,themansaidtohim,look,youknowyouareaHorse,youdreamyouare,youmakesuchexcellentfaces,whybotheryrselfaboutpronouns
andabsolutes,isn'titenoughthatHorsesays?
Namesarethecoloredbarrelswetripoverinside.Andifwehaveanymeans,anyofthosethings.Aeschylusgotthewholethingwrongbyexploiting'emoutside,by
turningtheaterintowhatonlylanguagecangivespitto,masks,images,personages,myths,ifwegot'em,theyarerighttherewherewestumble,yes?"Insidethistent,
LsandGs,youwillfind,foryrQuarter..."
III
Theotherhalfofthetruthisthepaththatitdon'tdonogoodtohavethenameonthelocomotiveifthedamnedtrainain'tgotsomewheretogo.Andtherailstoget
there.Whatthesaturostravestied,orrepresentedonthehinterside,wasallthatisnowdubbedancientorhiddenknowledge.Butwhichwas,I'mconvincedfromthe
evidence,adanced(orcrawled)sung(orwithratchets,loudasthunder)witnessed(everybodyinit)THEATERPERFORMANCE.Callitthat.
AtwhichpointIbuckoff.Forcause.Ihadthoughtthismysterywaspriestbusiness,butIknownowthat"priests"gowithacontrarysystem,withexactlythesystem
whichintervenesbetweenamanandhispath,andwhichintervened,historically,themomentwhenthesecularovertookwhatwasn't,inthefirstplace,"religious,"in
fact,whenmovementandthought(languageasone)weresplit.
Theaterislanguage,thatunitmorethanitisalltheotherthingsitis.Grabbingholdofitthatway,mimematters.SoIbeginwithmimesimplythatitisthesingleactor
beingarticulate,withorwithoutwords.
(1954)

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AgainstWisdomasSuch
Issueno.5ofTheArtist'sView("PublishedbyPoets,PaintersandSculptors,56MagnoliaSt.,SanFrancisco")designedandeditedbyRobertDuncan,andmadeupofthree
doublecolumn"PagesfromaNotebook"byhim.
AsthebestofthemoodofDuncan'sgenuine"diary"(undersuchheadingsas"OnChildrenArtandLove,""OntheSecretDoctrine,""OnRevisions,"and"Notes
MidwayonMyFaust'')Ipickthisparagraph:
HereIam,atlast,Isaid.Whywhocaresnow,notI,thatIimitateorpretend,orsitagreatfroginthemightypuddleofmyownfrontroom.HereIneednotbemature.Icanbe,as
VirginiaAdmiralusedtoaccuse,wetbehindtheears,adolescentindeed.Ishallliveoutmylifeinthissmallworld,withmyimaginarygenius,doingasIplease,asfancywillall
pretensionandwithmywitsatanendatlast.
JustafterthisentryDuncanputsitallinthissentence:"Iamapoet,selfdeclared,manqu."AndIhadtowritetohimthatItookit(frompoemsofhisIhaveadmired
sinceIsawoneinCirclein1947)thathewasneitherasbalancedasthesentencesinthis"Notebook"trytobe.Normanqu.Andthathechastiseshimselfaseither
moreorlessthanheis,becauseofsomeoutsideconceptandmeasureof"wisdom."Whichiswhat'swrongwithwisdom,thatitdoesthistopersons.Andthatitdamn
wellhastogo,atleastfromthemanoflanguage.
(IwantedeventosaythatSanFranciscoseemstohavebecomeancoledesSagesouMagesasominousasOjai,L.A.ButIdidn't.ForasIsitinthemidstofthese
drearyStates,allatomicandantiRussianeventsserveduptothepeopletokillthemoffwithbotulismbeforebotulism,IthinkthatjustbecauseDuncandoesdeclare
"Iamapoet,"becausehedoesincludeJackSpicerinalistoffortyfashionablewritershehimselfwouldemu

Page261
late,imitate,reconstrue,approximate,duplicate(ledoffbyPound)becauseRexrothandPatchendoalsosay"Wewrite,"thatthisissomething.Andworthmorethan
allthereligiontheyalldoseemtocourt(assomanygiftedmendo,thesedaysasJung,sayorasothermoreimmediatewritershavecourtedotherformsof
authority).Asthoughartwerenotenoughforanyofustobehaveto!
Itakeitwisdom,likestyle,isthemanthatitisnotextricableinanysortofastatementofitselfeventhoughandhereisthecatchtherebe"wisdom,"thatitmust
besought,andthat"truths"canbecomeon(theyaresooverwhelmingandsosimpletheredoesexistthetemptationtoseethemas"universal").Buttheyare,inno
wise,oratthegravestloss,verballyseparated.Theystaytheman.Ashisskinis.Ashislife.Andtobepartedwithonlyasthatis.
Onlysectariescandealwithwisdomasseparable.Andeventheydoitbysymbolsandbysigns,andinsecret.Example,theeightsignsoftheBookofChanges(I
Ching).Oritssticksforcoins,tobetossed.
Note:Itisworthsaying,atatimewhentheideogram,whichoncehadsomucheffectinteachingushowtohewbacktothelinesofforcebywhichanAngloAmericanwordhas
itspower,hasflippedoverandisnowtakenastherootofOrientalwisdoms,tobeimposedonusandatatimewhensuppressionforanyheresyistheorderofsocietythatIdo
notmyselfbelievethatsymbolsandsignsareforcedonsectaries,outofanecessitytobesecret,butthatwisdomitself,oratleastthecultivationofenergystatesperse,thrives
onsecrecy,onsect,andatexactlythetimeweareinfindsitspleasureinconspiracy("patertoutlemonde").
AndIthinktwothings:(1)thatsuchsecrecyiswearingtheskinthattruthisinsideoutand(2)that,asDuncanhassofinelymadeConfuciussay,thethirdofthe
civilizedpleasurescannoteverbeconspiracysimplythatitis"Perspective"whichiseverywhereandeverything,whenitis"contained."
"Contained."IfallbackonadifferenceIamcertainthepoetatleasthastobefierceabout:thatheisnotfreetobeapartof,ortobeany,sectthatthereareno
symbolstohim,thereareonlyhisowncomposedforms,andeachonesolelytheissueofthetimeofthemomentofitscreation,notanyultimateexceptwhatheinhis
heatandthatinstantinitssolidityyield.Thatthepoetcannotaffordtotraffickinanyother"sign"thanhisone,hisself,themanor

Page262
womanheis.OtherwiseGoddoesrushin.Andartiswashedaway,turnedintothatsecondforce,religion.
ItwasthinkingaboutanearliereasternWesterner,ApolloniusofTyana,whichpromptedmetowriteDuncan.ForApolloniusisvaluableinthathedidinsistthatthere
is"themomentwhichsuitswisdombesttogivedeathbattle."Itcameforhim,hedecided,whenDomitianputhimontrial.Itcomesforapoetthatis,isthisthesingle
moment,orshouldwisdomgobackwhereitcamefromeachtimehewrites.Butwisdomisonlythisthingwhichiscarriedlikethebladeinaspringknife(orlike
Cordelia'sheart,whichshewouldn'theaveintohermouth,couldn't).OrasApolloniussaidtooneofNero'squestioners,tryingtotraphim,"Whatdoyouthinkof
Nero?"heanswered,"Ithinkbetterofhimthanyoudo,youthinkheoughttosing,Ithinkheoughttokeepsilent."
Thesubjectisamatterofimportance,nowthatthewisdomoftheEastandtheunwisdomoftheWestarebothbeinglookedtoasdispensations,bytheRight,andthe
rightRight.
Note:Idon'tknowenoughAngloSaxontosay,butifthenoun"wise"(AS.wise)istherootoftheadjective(AS.wis),thenoneisbackatthesortofforceIsuggesttheproper
useofwisdomis:"wayofbeingoracting,"asin,"inthiswise."
Allthevocabularywhichgoeswithtruth(thesortofwordsDuncan,hereatleast,seekstomakegnomicbysetsofpositiveandnegativeupsets)isonlyvalidifthey
areusedrecognizablyaspartofthereductive,nottheproductive,processthatonedoestry,anddamnwellmight,toanalyzetheknowledgeoftruth,buttouse
it...
hereIgooffandhavetoexplain,thatIbelievethatthetraditionalorderofwatertofiretolightthatis,asofthesectaries,aswellastheIonian
physicists,thatexceptamanbebornofwaterandofthespirit,hecannotenterintothekingdomofGodhastoberetaken.Lightwasthesignof
thetriumphofloveandspiritbeforeelectronics.Andweareafter.So,fire...
Sound
isfire.Aslove
is.
Lightisreductive.Fireisn't.Ortogetridofanyofthosefalsepleasureswhichparadoxandsectariesinvolvethemselvesin(arealchemicorgnosticor

Page263
LTungpin,theGuestof,theCavern)IsaidtoDuncan,"heat,allbutheat,issymbolic,andthusallbutheatisreductive."
IaskedDuncanifitwasn'thisownexperiencethatapoemistheissueoftwofactors,(1)heat,and(2)time.Howplastic,criesWilhelm,isthethoughtof"water"as
seedsubstanceintheT'aiIChinHuaTsungChih.Andtimeis,inthehandsof,thepoet.Forhealoneistheonewhotakesitastheconcretecontinuumitis,and
whopracticesthebendingofit(asothersdo,say,aluminum,tomaketherockers,say,ofahobbyhorse).
Rhythmistime(notmeasure,asthepedantsofAlexandriamadeit).Therootis"rhein":toflow.Andmasteringtheflowofthesolid,time,weinvokeothers.Because
wetaketimeandheatit,makeitserveourselves,our,form.Whichanyhumanbeingcravestodo,toimpresshimselfonit.
ButIdidn'twanttoleaveitattheword"time"anymorethanIwantedtoleaveitattheword"fire."Onehastodriveallnouns,theabstractmostofall,backto
processtoact.AndIwantedtoconvinceDuncan,oranyone,ofwhathehasprovedtomebyanynumberofhispoemsthathehashadtheexperiencethata
poemisorderednotsomuchintime(Poe'sPoeticPrinciple)orbytime(metric,measure)asofacharacteristicoftimewhichismostprofound:thattimeis
synchronisticandthatapoemistheoneexampleofamanmadecontinuum"whichcontainsqualitiesorbasicconditionsmanifestingthemselvessimultaneouslyin
variousplacesinawaynottobeexplainedbycausalparallelisms."
ItakeitDuncan,oranywritingmanwhotakesitseriously,needn'tbotherhisheadwithgreatness.Weareultimatewhenwedobendtothelaw.Andthelawis:
/whateverisbornordonethismomentoftime,has
thequalitiesof
thismomentof
time/
II
IurgeonDuncanoranyonethatapoemisnotwise,evenifitis:thatanywisdomwhichgetsintoanypoemissolelyaqualityofthemomentoftimeinwhichthere
mighthappentobewisdoms.

Page264
Thereareobviouslyseizureswhichhavenothingtodowithwisdomatall.Andtheyareverybeautiful.
OrmaybeIdon'tbelieveit's"beauty,"anymorethanIbelieveit's"light"...howBillhasitin"ToaDogInjuredintheStreet,"thatheandRenCharbothbelieve"in
thepowerofbeauty/torightallwrongs."MaybeIthinkthisisalsopartial,social,wisdom.
"Itistime(love)isdifficult,Mr.
Beardsley"
I'msofoolish.Asongisheat.Theremaybelight,butlightandbeautyisnotthestateof:thestateisthegripof(anditisnotfeverish,isverycool,istheeyesare
howdidtheygetthatway?
"Hewhocontrolsrhythm
controls"
Thiswldseemtometobethe
END
Otherwise,weareinvolvedin
ourselves(whichisdemonstrably
notveryinteresting,no
matter
who
(1954)

Page265
Theocritus
CidCorman.AThanksgivingEclogue(VagromChapbook2).Flushing,N.Y.:SparrowPress,1954.
ThishasnothingtodowiththePilgrimFathers.Ortheirpresentdescendents.AndwhyTheocritus'7thIdyllisthusjigged,isnotclear.Inanycasetheeffectofthe
changeiscuteness,themoresothatthe"verse"soughtisthatslackestoftranslationdevices,movingovernotthepoet'sform&intentionbutmerelythe
replacementofthesurfaceofhisspeechbyacontemporarychoctaw.ItmakesTheocritus,ofcourse,easiertoreadthanthe19thcenturyBohntranslations,or
whatever(Leaf,Lang,Butcher,&Myer,orwhoever).Butonlybyalawoflaziness,atleastonthereader'spartandIsuspectthewriter's.Suchtranslationis,in
short,agimmick.(AndI,forone,wouldincludeinsuchachargethemuchpraisedRouseandthusEzra,totheextentthathepropagatedthissmartness,however
muchhisowngenius,etc.)
Butwhatexasperatesaboutthepresentchapbookis,thatT'scentralactisavoided,indeedflatlyleftout.Thatis,theidyll,ashewroteit,wasasetup.Hispointwas
todeviseameetingbetweentwopoets,Lycidas(a"classic"shepherdsinger)andSimichidas(obviouslymoreThimself,andabusterofidylls,especiallythoseRoman
things,"eclogues").AsthepupilofPhiletasofCos,Theocritusdamnwellknewhecouldoutwritethetrueboys,buthealsohadthepowerheisrememberedfor,that
hecouldfreshenupanydamnform.Sohehasthesepeopletravelingalongaroadinthemiddleofthedaytogetsomewheretoeatanddrink,withDemeter,that
harvestgal,astheexcuseforthat.Buttherealexcuseforthewholegigistowritebothkindsofpoems.WhichTtherebydid.AndMr.Cormandidn't.Why?
Itstrikesmehehadto,tomakehisrisk.Asitisheplayeditsafe.Andeasy.Inanycase,takingthisposition,Ihavenochoicebuttofallonmyownface,

Page266
iffornootherreasonthantoinformtheunwaryreaderthatthetwosongstofollowarewhatheismissing,ifhebuysthislittlepamphletforhismotherandfatherfor
theholidays(tosendhomefromGettysburg,likechinasouvenirs,thathewaswherehetoldthemhesaidhewasgoing).
Lycidassingsfirst,thepropersong:
"Ageanax!fairvoyagetoMitylene,
agoodsouthwindcarryyou,
nowthatitisDecember,andOrion
putshisfeetintheocean.
Thatis,agoodtrip
ifyourequitemylove
whoamsetburningbythegoddess
withloveofyou.
Kingfisherstosmooththewaves,
aswellanyswell,aswell
thesouthwestwind,aswell
thesoutheaststormwhichdoesthemost
totearupseaweedfromthebottom,
kingfishers,thosemostlovedofbirds,
wholive,alongsidegreenNereids,
onthesea.
Mayeverythinggorightforyou,Ageanax,
asyoumakeforMitylene,andthatyougetthere
afteraneasypassage.AndI,
onthatday,shallcrownmyselfwithdill,
maybewithroses,possiblywhiteviolets,I'lldrink
Pteleaticwinelyingbythefire,
andhavearoastcooked,bedded
invineleavesuptomyelbows,
andcoveredthicklywithasters,
asphodel,andwrinklingparsley
Inlongingforyou,Ageanax,I'llempty
asmanycupsasIcan,andhavetwoshepherds
playformethewholetime,onefromAcharnia

Page267
(forthattone),theother,fromLycope.
AndTityruswillsingwiththem,firstofDaphnis,
howhelovedawrongwoman,astranger,
andtooktothehillsafterher,wastedthere
untileventheoaksweptforhim,
andhewenttopiecesasthesnowdoes
nomatterhowhighitliesonHaemus,
oronAthos,RhodopeortheCaucasus
I'llhavehimalsosingthestoryofComatus,
wholovedtheMusessohesangallday,piped
hisflocksdown,muchtohismaster's
envy,whothoughtofthisidea:sealtheladup
inaboxandthensneerathim,seeifyourMusesnow
willhelpyouout!Greatpowerofloveandsong,
forflatnosedbees,thefullthreemonthsofspring,
frommeadowstothefoothillsofthemountains,
broughthoney,builtcombsbesidehimashelay
helplessinhisbox,until,whenthevillainopenedit,
thereComatuswas,aliveashehadeverbeen.
O,Comatus,thatIhadlivedwhenyoudid,lad,
I'dhavetakencareofyourshegoats,youcanbet,
justtohavehadthechancetohearyousingassweetly
astheMusesknewyousang,stretchedout,asanysingermust,
underoakorpine."
Atwhichpoint(seeMr.Corman'stext)SimichidasboastsheknowsafewsongsZeusmusthavecaughtinhiseartrumpet,amongwhichisthisone:
"Love'ssneezedonmetoo.I'vehadit.
ThisladMyrto.Igoforhimasshegoats
goforthespring,trala.
Butthenthere'sthisfriendofmine,Aratus.
Heburnsforanotherlad.AndAristis
(he'sthat'aristocratofsong,'haha,
butit'strue,goddamnit,Phoebushimself

Page268
wouldbeafoolifhedidn'tlistencarefully
whenAgetsoffonhislyre)Aristisknows
whatatorchAratusiscarrying,he'sconsumed,
likehesaid,totheverybonewithlove.
Nowlook,Pan.YougotthiswholemountainHomole
toyourself.Comeoffit,andgivemyfriendAratus
abreak.SeetoitthatthisladgivesAratusatumble.
OratleastgetAratusthechancetolayhishandsonit,
themoresoifitisPhilinus,astheysayitis,
who'sarealpiece,ifthereeverwasone.
Ifyoudothis,Pan,thereisn'tanyreasonatall
whythoseArcadiansoughtn'ttolayoffinstantly
knockingthehelloutoftheirimagesofyou,
simplythattheycan'tgetanythingthemselves.
Butifyoudon'tifyoucontinuetoleaveAratushung
likethisyououghttohaveyourownasschewed,
andthentrytosleeponit.YououghttohavetoliveinThrace
allwinter.AndhavetospendyoursummersinEthiopia,
whereeventheNilehassenseenoughtodryup.
Andforyou,yougodsoflove.Comeoutofthosewateringplaces
aroundMiletus.GetovertoCypruswherethatblondDione
keepsherhouse.You'reasripeasapplesyourselves,
andit'stimeyoudroppedthislad,timeyoushothimoff
whatafruitheisanyway,aperfectpeach,thegirlsknow,
crowdin'him,liketocrawlalloverhim,crying,Oh,oh,
Philinus!don'tyouknowitwon'tkeepforever?
Anyhow,Aratus,let'squitit.
Stopspendingeverynightlookingoutofwindows.
Orwalkingmylegsoffme.Letsomeotherdope
goforit,havetobeuptolistentothat3o'clockcock.
LetMolon,he'sdumbenough,havethissortoftrouble.
Let'syouandIgetsomesleep.It'snogood,love.
Anyoldwomanwouldhavesenseenoughtospitonit."
(1954)

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AFootIstoKickWith
"Prosodyisthearticulationofthetotalsoundofapoem"
It'sgotakickinitWhatakickerMidfielda12horsepowerkickerYougotakick?GotellittoCityHall
It'sasthoughyouwerehearingforthefirsttimewhoknowswhatapoemoughttosoundlike?untilit'sthar?Andhowdoyougetittharexceptasyoudoyou,
andnobodyelse(who'sapoet?
What's,
apoem?
Itain'tdreamtuntilitwalksIttalksItspreadsitsgreenbarrazza
Listenclosely,folks,thispoemcomestoyoubybenefitofitsownIrishgreenbazoo.Youtakeit,fromhere.
Thinkofwhat'spossiblenotwhat'snew,butwhatit'sallaboutwhataboutit'sallwhatallofapoemis.Youthinkofit.Youputdownaword:howdoyouput
downthelastword.Howdoyouhavethelastword?
Wow.Yessir.Thelastword.Whatintervenes,isthesimplestBut
Youwavethefirstword.Andthewholethingfollows.But
Youfollowit.Withadogatyourheels,acrocodileabouttoeatyouattheend,andyouwithyourpackonyourbacktryingtocatchabutterfly.
(1956)

Page270
QuantityinVerse,andShakespeare'sLatePlays
(Theargument:inthetenyearsfrom1602tothetheatricalseason161213,fromCampion'sObservationsintheArtofEnglishPoesiethroughShakespeare'slast
twoplaysHenry8andTheTwoNobleKinsmen,quantitymadeenoughchangeinverseandShakespeareenoughchangeincomedytotakeformallthewayover
Tochartit:
(I)in160304thefirstsigns TroilusandCressida
MeasureforMeasure
(II)by160708changeshowsand
mostin
TimonofAthens
PERICLESOFTYRE
(Coriolanusiswrittenthesameyearandisthefinalaccentualblankverse
tragedy.)
Inthefallof1609,Shakespeare'scompanymovedindoors,intotheBlackfriarstheater,
andinthatfirstseasonthetakingsincreasedby 1000,orbetterthan$50,000inmodern
buyingpower.
(Ill)TheEvidence,theseasonof161011:
CYMBELINE(performedApril,1611)
THEWINTER'STALE(performedMay15,1611)
THETEMPEST(performedNovember1)
Intheseplaysthechangeofformisaltogetherclear,TassoorAriostoregained,
MidsummerNight'sDreamretaken,PLUS.
(IV)Versewise,formyselfthefullpleasureofquantityismostevidentinShakespeare's
partwithFletcherinHenry8,and,aboveall,inTheTwoNobleKinsmen,bothdone
161213

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ThelateplaysofShakespeareareaerodynes,inwhich,byaseriesofbaffles(theverse,withitsemphasisonquantities),theyhavetheirpowerstraightfromthe
elementtheymovein,thattheydisplace,andtheygoinspeedfromzerotoasfastassound.Theyaremotion,notactionbypowerofvacuum,theyuseitand
occupyitatthesametime.Thoughtheplaysexploittheearlier''Comedies,"music,dance,spectacle,particularlyMidsummerNight'sDream(itisturnedbackasthe
Italiansareturnedto),theseearlierthingsonlyresemblethelaterasflyingmachines:theygointheair,that'sall.Thelaterplaysmovewithoutinternalcombustion,or
showanybladesthrowingtheair.Theycomeasquietlytoastopastheytakeoff,vertically.Theyhover,theydowhatevertheyareofamindtodo,oneisnotinthe
presenceofdramaorpoemsoknown.Thesethings(Winter'sTale,Tempest,TwoNobleKinsmen)areformsofpowernotknown.
Fortwoliteraryreasons:thefashioningoftheverse,whichtakestheEnglishlanguageoffwhereitwasstuck,onitsownmotorpower,onaccent,onthat"flow,"
those"wings"andthematterofthethought:thesearecomediesallright,buthardlyBottomorBeatrice(hisBeatrice),neithertheoldrusticcomicnoranylighturban
witty,normagicfaeryspiritpleasantillusionofforestnightstreams,Naturethatis.ShakespeareisnolongeraHumanistinwhichNatureandManareseparate
delights,orsheisrankandheishisownwheeloffire.Whattheseplaysareiscomedyinthesenseanothermanwasafterwhoputit:
SoComedyisacertainkindofpoeticnarrationdifferingfromallothers.Itdiffersthenfromtragedyinitscontent,inthattragedybeginsadmirablyandtranquilly,whereasitsexit
isfoulandterrible,itisfetid,likeagoatbutcomedyintroducessomeharshcomplicationyetbringsitsmattertoaprosperousend.
(Prospero'send.)
ThroughoutDeVulgareEloquentiaandEpistolaX(fromwhichtheaboveistaken)Danteawardsamoresatisfyingpossibilitytocomedythantotragedy,andfor
cause.AsheputsitatthecloseofthislettertoCanGrandedellaScala:
Theendofthewholeandthepartmaybemanifold,towit,theproximateandtheultimate.Butdroppingallsubtleinvestigation,wemaysaybrieflythattheendofthewholeand
thepartistoremovethoselivinginthislifefromthestateofmiseryandleadthemtothestateoffelicity.
IwouldmakenomoreofthisthanthatShakespeare,byandabout1610,age46,wantedcomedytodothatwhichDantealsomadeitdo:enjoin."As

Page272
wearemen,"saysTheseusattheendofthefirstsceneofTheTwoNobleKinsmen,"Thusshouldwedo."Iwishonlytoestablishthattheseplaysaredifferentinthat
theyareinjunctive,sothattheynolongerneedsitintheconfusionofdefinitioninwhichtheyhaveromanticaltragical,tragicalcomical,pastoralwittical,whatever.
Beyondthat,ShakespearehadnosuchframeasChristianitytosethisvisionof"felicity"in,asDantehad.HewasamanoftheRenaissance,andanEnglishman,and
whathetookitcouldleadthelivingfrommiserystayssecular.WhatTheseussaysis
Thusshouldwedo.Beingsensuallysubduedweloseourhumantitle.
ItisthattitlewhichShakespeareisatpainstospelloutthetermsof,andbysodoingtoinsureit,by1610andafter.
WhatismoreimportantandthemostdifferencefromDante,aswellasfromShakespeare'sownpreviousartandmostsince,forthatmatteristhathemakesform
itselfsecular.Iamimaginingthatform(onemeanssimplythepowerathingofartassertsbywhichitseizes,andbothartandtheobserverarechangedthereafter)has
leftitsformerplacesandthoughthemeansandthematterseemthesame,itusesthemsodifferentlyoneisfooledifonelooksforthemasoneusedto,intheplace
whereformwas,inthesoundofmotors,brillianceinthesky.Formisnowasmuchaninventionasitalwaysis.Whatismissedis,thatitis.Verseandthoughtsare
vernacular.Whowouldhavethoughtit!Theabsolute,inallitsguises,eventhesmallestnotionopinionselfassertionhasslunkaway.Ahugedifferencehascome
about,somethingpreviouslyunknownabouttherealandthenaturalhasbeendisclosed:thattheartificial(paradisn'estpasartificiel)themechanicalthearbitrary
whateveryouwanttocalltheaesthetic,isnotseparatefromthem.Itiswhatthefelicityintheseplaysleadsto,itdoesnotleadtoitsownpursuit(thisisthepathetic
fallacyofhumanism)itgoesdirectlybacktotherealbutinsodoingarealandnaturalwhicharethemselvestransposed.Itismypurposetoshowthat.
I
Thelimitonnewintheverseissyntax.Shakespearedidnotparticularlydisturbtheworkingsentenceasithadservedhimandothersinblankverseproper.Imagery
likewise.Itisgoneintoasthesentencedoes,explicit,anddescriptive.Yetthethoughtincreasesaverticalitygainedbyblankverseitselfbe

Page273
tween1600and1608,andquantity(whichtendsatanytimetoincreasethestandingasagainsttherunningpowerofverse)mostmakesthelanguagedifferent.A
patternisseen:logicalitypersistsinthesyntaxandimagebutthethinkingandweighinginofthequantitystoptwistandintensifythespeech,thusincreasingtheinstancy.
Inthissituationitisthevocabularywhichtipsthescale,theincrease(forgoodreasonsofcomedyandquantity,asweshallsee)ofthesimplestmonosyllablesonthe
onehand,and,ontheother,ofthemostintellectivepolysyllables.Theresultisapoetrywithaperspectivewhichblankverse,initsextensivity,couldnotsupply.
OnedoesnothavetogooutsideTheTempesttoshowthesethings:themonosyllablesattheirquietestandsweetest,
(Ceres,mostbounteouslady,thyrichleas)
ofwheat,rye,barley,vetches,oatsandpeas
consonantsforcedtothevertical,
Thybankswithpinionedandtwilledbrims
whichspongyAprilatthyhestbetrims
tomakecoldnymphschastecrowns
andthedifferenceevenwhenthebasicsentenceandimageholds,
Herethoughttheytohavedone
somewantoncharmuponthismanandmaid
whosevowsarethatnobedrightshallbepaid
tillHymen'storchbelighted.Butinvain.
Mars'hotminionisreturnedagain
herwaspishheadedsonhasbrokehisarrows
swearshewillshootnomorebutplaywithsparrows
andbeaboyrightout.
ButbecauseTheTwoNobleKinsmenisevenleftoutofmostcanonsasnotShakespeare's!andHenry8isjustletin,andbothcontainsomuchofjusttheorderof
powerhereasserted,Ipickuponaspeechfromthelatterplay,Norfolk's,inthefirstscene,toBuckingham:
Wemayoutrun
byviolentswiftnessthatwhichwerunat,
andlosebyoverrunning.Knowyounot
thefirethatmountstheliquortillitrunover
inseemingtoaugmentitwastesit?

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Thewholefirstsentenceisapleasure,despiteitisanotheroftheold"State"figuresspeaking,simplythatitsvocabularyissodry.Itisamostreasonableexampleof
thelateverse.AsIhearthesecondline,theaccentsare:"vi,""swift,''"that,"and"run,"inotherwordsnotthefivefeetblankversegoesby.Foragoodreason:that
thequantityofthesyllables(howlongittakestosaythem)pullsdowntheaccenttoaprogressofthelinealongthelengthofitself,whichprogressandwhich
quantitiesthethinkingitself,theideaofoutrunning,demands.Thequantityassertsitselfatoncewith"by"(longi)and"violent"(notonlylongialso,butwithtwo
followingsyllableswhich,thoughunaccented,arethelongoandtheheavyconsonantalsyllable"lent,"3consonantsto1vowelslowtogetthrough).Somuchso,
infact,thatthefirstbreathinthelinehasheretobetaken,evenifitisaslightstopbeforestartingtosay"swiftness,"the"t"ontheendof"lent"beforethe"s"of
swiftnessrequiringthetonguetoshiftfromtheupperteethridge(alveolar)offittowardsthecombinedlipandtonguepositionfromwhich"sw"maybesaid.
Tosumup,then:"byviolent"(whichisonly1accentand4syllables)alreadyshowsforththeweaveofaccent,quantity,breathwhichmakesprosodythemusicitis:
andhereisaveryclosemusic,sharp,longandstopped,allinasmallspaceoftime,reflectingthetruthitis,thatthisart,whenitisatitsbest,ispowerfuljustbecauseit
doesobeyspacetime.
ThepointofNorfolk'sthoughtisofcoursetofocustheattentionon"violent,"heissayingtoBuckinghamthatviolentrunningthefire,overrunningiswhatlosesthe
game,spillstheenergy,wastesit.Themusicislikewisefitintherestoftheline:"swiftness"itselfdemandsastopafter(themostmarkedbreaththelinerequires)dueto
thedoublesatitsend,aswell(reversingthetongueproblembetweenlentandswift)the"th"atthebeginningof"that,"atonguepointdentalvoicedfricativefollowing
hardonthevoicelessdoublessof"ness,"alsoinvolvesthevoiceinanaccenton"that,"whichhereisarelativepronounopeningaclauseofsomeduration"that
whichwerunat"whichdelightsbecauseitissomadeupofthose"necessaryshaggyandurbanwords"Dantecalledthem,themonosyllablescomedycan'tdo
without.Which,Ishouldnowadd,strikemeasbothwhatShakespearemoreandmorecametodependupon,andforthesamereasons,Iimagine,thatthe
Americanswhonowpracticethelanguageatsomethinglikethesamevitality,alsodependupon.

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IcanmakethisimmediatepointaboutShakespeare'slateverse.IthasexactlythecharacteristicDantelongagoinsistedanyversehaswhichplacesitselfbackonthe
vernacular:onlytwokindsofwordshavethegrandeurrighttothedeed,the"combedout"andthe"shaggy."Theglossyandrumpledwon'tdo.Andwhatdoeshecall
the"shaggy"(thecombedoutarethreesyllables,andsweet)?Themonosyllables,inotherwords,thegistofspeechandwhathecallsthe"ornamentalpolysyllables,"
thejawbreakers,ifyoulike,butforallthatthewordswhichholdinthemselvestheflowandtheresistancesoffeeling,thinking,acting.Dantecallsthepolysyllables
thosewhich,whenmixedwithcombedoutwords,producea"fairharmonyofstructure''becausetheyhave"theroughnessofaspirate,accent,doubleletters,liquids
andlengths,"inshort,breath(aspirate)accentquantity,allthreeatonce,thepossibilityofsame.
OneshouldnothavetobebuggedbecauseShakespearesooftendoesknotuphisspeechinhislateplays,doescomeupwithroughpolysyllables,"stops"hislinesso
much,yields,reluctantly,anyofthatrunningonwhichmadehimsosuaveapoetfromVenus&AdonistoAntony&Cleopatraandverymuchdoesn'tanylonger
bothertokeephismusicandthoughtinsidetheskinofthepersonorsituation,ableashehadbeentomakeeachpersonofhisplaymakehisorherindividualself
registeritsexperienceofreality.IftheShakespeareafter160708(Antony&Cleopatra)isinterestedinsteadinmakinghisownthoughtandmusicoverride
anybody's,itshouldonlybeasignthatheisintendingsomethingelsethanpreviously,somesortofsongotherthanherswhomheservedsolongEratofirst,then
Melpomene.
ThatitisnowThalia'ssong,IcomedownagainonDante,onanotherpartofhiscarefulanalysisofwhatispossibletocomedy.Heinsiststhaturbanspeechalonewill
do,that"sylvan"won't.(Hecallssylvanandurbanthetwokindsofmasculinespeechthereare,delimitingofffeminineandchildspeechasnotthebusinessofpoets,
howevermuchanypoetmayoncehavebeenachildandhoweverasamanhehastolistentowomentalk.)Itisanotheraspectoftheseplays,andhowlongittook
Shakespearetogettothem,thattheyshowhowmuchhe,andtheotherElizabethanpoets,wereinadilemmabetweenurbanandsylvanbyandaboutElizabeth's
death(1603):thoughtheyhadexploitedLondonmidlandspeechmagnificentlyindrama,themomenttheywantedtodosomethingelse,hadtodosomethingelse,they
knewno

Page276
othermoldforitthanasylvanone,thepastoral,than,infact,thatmasquewhichComus,godhelpus,hasbeencalledthetriumphof.Isitpossiblethatthissylvan
business(whichgotintoEnglandfromtheItaliansofthe16thCentury)confoundedtheverypushofurbanEnglish?Andthatonlyafter"Metropolis"after300years,
afterwehavegotourfillofurbanascityisitpossibletoseethatShakespearesoughtaforminhislateplayswhichwoulddeliverhimfromthepastoralandenable
himtodowhatlongformhastaughtus:tobeurbanatthesametimethatweareforeverridof"nature,"evenhuman"nature,"inthatdamnedsylvansense?
II
Intheplaystheplotsofcourse,thosesillythings,arepastoral(hehadn'tgotthatfar),romanticalpastical,extremeplacestheeventsexoticstormsfloatingcoffins
statueswhichfloatadancingbaboondamnedcountrymendancing...Whoosh.Ifthatwereallofit.
Butsomethingelse.Loveispitchedwhereyouhaven'tfoundit.Itisnotatallafluentscene.Therearepureawkwardnesses.Womenandmansaythings.Mylast
gooddeedYoumayrideuswithonesoftkissathousandfurlongsIthasaneldersistererewithspurweheatanacreO,wouldhernamewereGrace!
Twentythreeyears,andsawmyselfunbreeched
inmygreenvelvetcoat,mydaggermuzzled
lestitshouldbiteitsmasterandsoprove
(asornamentsoftendo)toodangerous
O,thenmybestbloodturn
AndmynamewithhiswhodidbetraytheBest!
Thedelicacy(whichwouldseemthemostthingyouwouldsay.Thescrupulousness
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Thematterisinnocence.Innocence,mindyouthatitmustbekept.Animpossiblesubject.Onlyamostquietman,andaveryclearone.Withoutleavingtheworldas
place,toseeinnocencethroughit?todothatwithout,asLeartookititcouldonlybedoneoutoftheworld(hisFooldiedofacold)inprison?/wherehepromised
Cordeliatheywouldsingand,asGod'sspies,takeupon

Page277
themselvesthemysteryofthings/.Asthoughonlythere,onecould.Itistrue,ifyouaregoingtoleaveitatthat,atthelevelofhiringouttoGodandofatotal
assignment,themysteryofthings.
ForalikereasonIamnotsatisfiedbytheusualinsightthattheplaysaredominatedbyasearchtheme,offatherforlostchild.Itseesthemfromtheoutside.Itlooks
onthem,astheabovefatheranddaughterontheworld.Itmakestheerrortoexpecttheman,afterhehaslettheworld'srealsitforportrait,thathewilldoitagainas
hehadthroughLearandAntony&Cleopatra,thathe'llmakeitsoroundonecanonlygoasidefromitand,asthetwodo,weepandsing.
"Theflatnessofmymisery!"iswhatHermionecriesoutinthefaceofwhathappenstoherinTheWinter'sTale.Eachofthethreechiefclassesofpeopleinthesenew
playsthewomen,theyoung,andthefathersarenowforcesasstatics,andthemovingmoralorphysicaldynamicsarefromthosepeople'sownstance,ratherthan
somethingexertedonthem.Theonethingwhichis,isexplodedonthem,andisthethingtheyareset,eachofthem,tooffset.
Itisinthisrespectthattheplaysarebestseenasritesdepassage,inwhichthepoetismakingsure,asofthesethreeclassesandatthreestages,puberty,marriage,
andmiddlelife,that,withoutgoingasideandatthesametimewithoutaddinganymuscletoovercometheworld,outsideinitshellorheaven,insideinitsheavenor
hell,somethingelseisattendedto.
Atpubertyyouthisfullofprotestoftheinnocenceitisgivingup,andbecauseinnocencecan,atthisstage,describeitself,youthgetsmuchvoice.Theplays,infact,
areanequilibriumbetweenloquaciousboysandgirlsandthetersefathers,withwomanthemidterm,atoncetheonewhoismostsexandmostfirmed,somuchthe
onewhodoesstand,andstandtoit,thattheimageofherisHermionewhohidfromherhusband'sjealousyanddestructionfor19yearsandisrestoredtohim,inthe
end,asastatueoutofherowngarden!
IshallusePolixenes'descriptionoftheloveofboy&boybutthepairsandtheirpraisesoftheiryouth,withflowerstheimage,areomnipresentconspicuously
Palamon&ArciteinTheTwoNobleKinsmen,GuideriusandArviragusthesonsofCymbeline,etc.PolixenesistellingHermionehowitwasbetweenhimandher
husband:
Wewereastwinnedlambsthatdidfriskinthesun
andbleattheoneattheother.Whatwechanged
wasinnocenceforinnocence.Weknewnot

Page278
thedoctrineofilldoing.Nordreamed
thatanydid.Hadwepursuedthatlife
andourweakspiritsneverbeenhigherreared
withstrongerblood,weshouldhaveansweredheaven
boldly,"Notguilty"
Theloveofman&manisonlyanextensionoftheboything,andispresentedassuch,thebondofwarreplacingtournamentandgames,andthoughitdoes
sometimes(asitdidearlierintheinstanceofCoriolanus&Aufidius)nervouslyadmitasimileofmarriage,itistomarriage'sdisadvantage.Hermione,afterlisteningto
Polixenessaywhathesaysabove,wrylyobserves:"Bythiswegather/youhavetrippedsince"!
AgainstthemalethingintheplaysEmilia,inTheTwoNobleKinsmen,directlyopposestheloveofgirl&girl,hers,forFlavina.Shesaystohersister:
YoutalkofPirithous'andTheseus'love.
Theirshasmoreground,ismorematurelyseasoned,
morebuckledwithstrongjudgment,andtheirneeds
theoneoftheothermaybesaidtowater
theirintertangledrootsoflove,butI
andsheIsighandspokeof,werethingsinnocent,
lovedforwedid,andliketheelements...
Whatsheliked
wasthenofmeapproved,whatnot,condemned
TheflowerthatIwouldpluck
andputbetweenmybreasts(thenbutbeginning
toswellabouttheblossom)
Onmyheadnotoy
butwasherpattern...
Thisrehearsalhasthisend
thatthetruelovebetweenmaidandmaidmaybe
morethaninsexdividual.
Iamsayingtheseonesarenotchucksaschildrenwere,andtheyoungpairsoflovers(PerditaFlorizel,FerdinandMiranda,EmiliaArcite&c)arepresentassuch,
neithertobemademoreof(Romeo&Juliet)nortobeleftaslessthanthenextstage,marriage,orthefurtherone,middlelife.Whatissoverymovinginthisnew
worldistheequity.Position,title,thesocalledlargercon

Page279
cernsStatepassionconditionambitiondon'tcrowdoutsomethingwhichisless(lessintheroundworld.
Actually,evenallthat,eventhebigthing,is,here,madeintoasingleone,oneharshcomplication.ItisasthoughsuddenlyforShakespeareSonnet129hadrolledup
intoitallthathislovehistoryandambitionplaysamountedto:"Theexpenseofspiritinawasteofshame/islustinactionandtillactionlust/isperjuredmurderous
bloodyfullofblame/savageextremerudecruelnottotrust..."Whatisactionableintheseplaysfollowsfromlust'soutbursts,Leontes',inTheWinter'sTale,
lachimoinCymbeline,itbreaksinonthenobleones,Palamon&Arcite,inKinsmen,tosplitthem,itiscircumambientinTheTempestwhereCaliban,the
Patagonian,isthedangeralltheplayshavehiddeninthemdraggedintothelightandheapedupinhimasasinglecarbuncularfigure.
Lustisnotdevelopmental,itdrops,bang,andthus,onthissecondleveloftheaction,theplaysbehaveastheydoonthefirstandthird.Theyareverticalandflatand,
asthroughout,itisbecauseitisinitiationandnotdramawhichisintended:youthatpubertyandthemarriedthroughoutmarriageareseeninaprocessoffindingout
howtoacttokeepwhatyouthhad,andageadvises,whenthefiresinthebloodflare.Prospero,mostthefatheroftheplays,thoughfromPericlesfirstthrough
Theseusthelasttherearerealorsubstitutefathersineach,warnsFerdinand,whoisabouttomarryhisdaughter:
Donotgivedalliance
toomuchtherein.Thestrongestoathsarestraw
tothefireintheblood.Bemoreabstemious
orelsegoodnightyourvow.
TheoneactiveprincipleShakespearehas,tooffertotheuproaroflust,ischastity,whichhastherootmeaningbright,itwasoriginallyonewithcandor,dazzling
whiteness,andnewfallensnowisShakespeare'ssimile.Posthumus,tormentedintotheconvictionhiswifehasbeenadulterous,protestsshehad
Apudencysorosythesweetviewonit
mightwellhavewarmedoldSaturn,thatIthoughther
aschasteasunsunnedsnow
andFerdinandmakesthesamecomparisonofhimselfasPosthumusofhiswifeinassuringProspero

Page280
Iwarrantyou,sir.
Thewhitecoldvirginsnowuponmyheart
abatestheardorofmyliver.
Youthandwomanhavethischastenessstraightfromsource,andwheninnocenceisreared,asPolixenessays,"higher,"withstrongerblood,theydonotloseitifthey
choosenotto,tothefires.
Ipressit(anditisdifficulttoimaginethatitwouldpersuadeamodern)becauseitdoesseemtobe,asofthebodyoftheseplays(asitwas,tomakeitmorefamiliar,in
MeasureforMeasure)whatShakespearemeanstoinsistuponisthelittlethereiswhichamanorawomandoeshave,towearas,intheChineseplay,thegirlis
givenbytheicyriveracloakwhichfreezesburnsthenoblemanwhohassoughttomarryheragainstherwish,areverseofNessus'shirt,ineachinstance.
Onemayallowitisthatway.WhenyoureversetheconclusionofSonnet129,whenyoudoopposethebigthing
Allthistheworldwellknowsyetnoneknowswell
toshuntheheaventhatleadsmentothishell
itisbigger,andyouareslighter.Yourmeansareslight.
Onlybaffleswilldo,andthecounseloftheiruseintheseplays,aswellastheiruse,comesfromwhathastobesingledoutasathirdstageofthemwhatinnocenceis
itselfbytheriteofitsownpassage,whatisitsownregardingthatithasknownsomuchitcanpresentboysandgirlsandmenandwomen,notthrustingaboutinthe
foulandterribleexitsofthegoatworld,butproximate,nexttothemselves,notsubduedbutequally(asitisanotherthingonemustsayoftheseplays)thereareno
triumphs.Thereisonlytherestoration,nomatteratwhatlevelinintensity,arbitraryorotherwise,ofinnocence.
Subjectnolongerwilldo.Itisalsothepoetwearenowtalkingabout,howhegottherethathesawitthisway,awaysodifferentitisasthoughhehadwalkedoutof
theRenaissance.Inonerespectheappearsnottohaveatall,inthefiercenesswithwhichhefightssensualityasthoughitwerethedogshesohatedwhowerefed
fromthetableswhilethemealwasgoingon.Ifheseemsextremeinthis,ifheseemsasdeterminedasProsperotokeeplust,tokeepnatureasinanarmedcamp
outsidethefenceoflife,onemustnowhearthe

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thirdinnocencewhichfallsacrossthepagesoftheseplaysasboththeirdiffidenceandasoundjustoutofhearing.Emilia,inTheTwoNobleKinsmen,explainsherself
thus:
Extremity,thatsharpenssundrywits,
makesmeafool.
Itisthequestionwestartedfrom:howthematerialandmeansofart,oncetheRenaissanceanditsbastardtheModernarepassed,aredifferentlydisposedandthus
theformdifferentlypowered.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Winter,hesays,winter.Prospero'sanswertoMiranda'spleasurebeforethenewworldshethinksbravehesays,"'Tisnewtothee"isnooldman'squip.And
chastity,itisastickeramanaspostmodernasLawrencecanbenomoreexplicitabout(inhislastpoemtothewomenwhoareburiedinEnglandwhomhehas
loved)thantoasseveratewhathesayshebeggedthemthroughoutlove,findtheirvirginity.
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Thequestionistwothings,theattentionitself,whatitison(thisismostwhereachangeinthediscoursesystemcounts)andhowitison,thedegreeofintensity
mounted,thatitbetheequaloftheoccasion.Itistoofrequentlyunnoticedthatitistheformerchangewhichmakesthelattermorelikely.Thereisagreatdealof
whirlybladeaboutfeeling,aboutincreasingit.Buttomovethewholestanceover,totakeagoodlookatwheretheinisbeingsoughtfrom...Thereisarule:athing
oughttotakeoff,andputdown,andtravelatallthevaryingspeedsinbetween,preciselyequalinamountandbehaviortothethingitsetsoutfromorseeks.Orifit
multiplies,itonlymultipliesbychangingthatthing,notbyintroducingandassertingoutsidepower(ashumanismdidandallmotorswithmovingpartsdo),andthe
quarrelwithitisthewasteofenergy,whichisdispersaland,inthecurvingaboutoffact,dispersalcomesbackandchanges,willnilwhirligig,theoriginalelementof
boththingandthing,bymakingeasytheattentionandthusreducingtheintensitybelowtheleveloftheimplicitpowerofoccasionorofthing.
Iftheintensityoftheattentionisequaltoit,innocenceoughttoyieldwhat

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itismadeupofandwhenitdoes,likewaterinacontrolledvacuum,itisenormouslymorethanitwasinitsapparentstate.Ifitisthenmixedwithwhatispropertoit
(atnopointknowntomedoesShakespeareattackdesire)itssizeandpowerincreaseagain,andinnocenceemergeswithathrustmuchmorethansensualityever
gave.
IamsuggestingthatsomesuchunderstandingasthisiswhatShakespearehasreached,andtheversecapableof,intheseplays.Heisn'tpickinguphisobjects
(words),despiteonehandistiedbehindhisback,eitherfortheirmusicorimage.Hegetsbothbygoinginfurthertothewordasmeaningandthing,and,mixingthe
governinghumantitleandexperience(whichpromptshimtobotherwithwordsatall),hiseffectistheequivalentofhisact:thepower,insteadofpeelingoff,ofbeing
peeledoff(asverseandplayshad),withoutbeingdisturbedfromitsplace,twistedintoturbulenceandaction(eachnottheconditionofanelementbutweatherfrom
outside),suddenlymovesasonehasknownitdoesofitsownnature,withoutusinganymeansormatterotherthanthoselocalandimplicittoit.Itismolecular,how
thispoweris,whyitallmultipliesfromitselfandfromtheelementpropertoitsbeing.Weareinthepresenceoftheonlytruthwhichtherealcanhave,itsown
undisclosedbecausenotapparentcharacter.Getthatoutwithnoexteriormeansormaterials,nomechanicsexceptthosehiddeninthethingitself,andweareinthe
handsofthemystery.
(1956/1965)

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IntroductiontoRobertCreeley
Itakeitthereishugegaintosquareawayatnarrativenow,notasfictionbutasREENACTMENT.TakingitthiswayIseetwopossibilities:
(1)whatIcallDOCUMENTsimplytoemphasizethattheeventsalonedothework,thatthenarratorstaysOUT,functionsaspressurenotasinterpretingperson,
illuminatesnotbyargumentor"creativity"butbymasterofforce(asspaceisshaper,confiningmaintaininginsidetensionsofobjects),theart,tomakehismeanings
clearbyhowhejuxtaposes,correlates,andcausestointeractwhatevereventsandpersonshechoosestosetinmotion.InotherwordshisegoorpersonisNOTof
thestorywhatsoever.Heis,ifhemakesit,lightfromoutside,thethingitselfdoingthecastingofwhatshadows
(2)theexactopposite,theNARRATORIN,thetotalINtotheabovetotalOUT,totalspeculationasagainstthehalfmanagement,halfinterpretation,thenarrator
takingonhimselfthejobofmakingclearbywayofhisownpersonthatlifeispreoccupationwithitself,takingupthepushofhisownsingleintelligencetomakeit,to
bebyhisconjecturessopowerfulinsidethestorythathemakesthestoryswingonhim,hiseyetheeyeofnatureINSIDE(asisthesameeye,outside)a
lightmaker.
Both(1)and(2),bothmethodologiesdriveforthesameend,sotoreenactexperiencethatastoryhaswhatanobjectorpersonhas:energyandinstant.Hereistheir
gain,overthefictivenottospilloutthesebloods,buttokeeporiginalforceinatthesametimethatthatforceisgivenillumination.
ThereisanotherreasonwhyIamsurethatthechoicenowisoneortheotherofthesetwoattacksontheproblem.Theyaretheonlywaythatnarrativecantakeup
thataspectofversewhichisitsmultitude.Forvariations"motion"liesoutthereinthemeatofreality,notinthesmallpaperofegosorlyricsoullessnesses.Events
haveoutreachednarrators,haveovermatchedthem,

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becausenarratorshaveeithersuccumbedtothemor,assillywhitetothatridiculousblack,havetakenthemselvestobemoreinteresting.Theyarenot.Poetscould
havetoldthem.For"things"arewhatwritersgetinsidetheirwork,orthework,poemorstory,perishes.Thingsarethewayforceisexchanged.Onthings
communicationrests.Andthewriter,thoughheisthecontrol(orartisnothing)is,still,nomorethanbutjustasmuchasanother"thing,"andassuch,isin,inside
orout.
Whatitis,istwogeometries,now,forthestoryteller:eitherheletsthingsinandmanagesthemsowellthattheygetcurvedbackbyhispressureoutsideandmakea
selfexistentsphere(thelawisgravitation)orhetakesonhimselftheotherlaw(theyarerecognizednowtobeidentical)and,ascenter,ascoretothemagneticfield,
hecausesthethingstopullintomaketheirshape.
Itakeitthatthesestoriesareofthesecondway,ofthewriterputtinghimselfallthewayintakingthatrisk,puttinghisheadonthatblock,andbysodoinggivingyou
yourrisk,yourcommitmentbytheseriousnessofhisconstitutinghimselfthegoingrealityand,bythedepthandsurenessofhisspeculating,makingitpay,making
youmebelieve,thatwearehereinthepresenceofamanputtinghishandsdirectlyandresponsiblytoexperiencewhichisalsoourown.Itishispresencethat
matters,foritridsusofartificeassuch(asthewholeofthestory),insteadonlyusesittokeepthegoinggoing,tomakethereachofwhatishappeningclear.Forhis
presenceistheenergy.Andtheinstant?That,too,ishe,givensuchmethodology.Forhisurgency,hisconfrontationis"time,"whichis,whenhemakesit,ours,the
now.Heistime,heisnow,theforce.
Whichismultitude.Itishumanphenomenologywhichisreinherited,allowedin,onceplotiskissedout.Forthemomentyougetamanbackin,amongthings,thefull
motionandplaycomesback(notpartsextricatedforshoworrepresentation)butthetotalbearing,eachmomentofthegoingasitis,foranyofus,eachmoment,
anywhere.MR.BLUE,forexample.
(1951)

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RobertCreeley'sForLove:Poems19501960
Creeleyhashadthewittomaketheshortpoemdowhatanykindofapoemmightbeimaginedtodoifitwasdoingwhatapoemmight.
Howhashedonethis?Forhehas,anditshakesverse,andthelanguage,howhehas.
Ittookwillofaspecialkind.Whichishis.Ittookaplacementofselfofsuchanorderthateachoneofthesepoemsiswhatconceivablythepoethimselfhastoshow
forwhathehaslived.Hesaysthis(assooften)wrylyexceptperhapswhenhedoesaddresshimselftothewomanhelovesthen,andsheiswhatmakeslife
otherwisepossibleinapoem''TheSong,"ifIreaditright:
Itstillmakessense
toknowthesongafterall.
MywisenessIwear
indespairofsomethingbetter.
Iamallbeggar,
Iamallears.
Sooneverythingwillbesold
andIcangobackhome
bymyselfagain
andtrytobeaman.
Butitwouldbesillytoaskanyofthesepoems,andthewholedelightfulvolumeofallthepossibilitieswhichhaveoccurredtoCreeleyover10yearsandhis
inventionissucheachofthesepoemsisapossibilitytoproveanything.Theysimplydo,practicallythe150ofthem.Anoldfriendofhisthinks"IKnowaMan"is
thebest:

Page286
AsIsdtomy
friend,becauseIam
alwaystalking,John,I
sd,whichwasnothis
name,thedarknesssur
roundsus,what
canwedoagainst
it,orelse,shallwe&
whynot,buyagoddamnbigcar,
drive,hesd.for
christ'ssake,look
outwhereyrgoing.
Howmuchhecanmakethesizeofpoemhelongagochosetodohiswork(itisachoicelikemathematiciansonlyaremakingcontemporarywithhim)oneneedread
"TheDoor"forRobertDuncan.
2.Itisastudy,howCreeleylandssyntaxdownthealley,andhisvocabularypureEnglishtohitameterandrhymesallofwhicharesparesandstrikes.
Orhowtimeandspace,whichinhimisascarefullydrawnclose,almosttoageneralizedsymbiosisofhimselfandthoseheplacesintheforgedlandscapetimeof
coursestaysrightonhisownterms,bythegoverningtermofhissevereandexactingdemandanyway,thatitbethiswayorwhyhaveanythingtodowithit.Heknows
whateasereallyisandhates,exactly,whatisn'tandisseenassuch.Read"ThePeople."
Thisisnotabookofabodyofdoctrineofverse.Orpoemsdoneassuchandcollectedlikeoveradispersedperiodofyears.Whatagainisspecialized,andone
wantsthewordstomeanlikeaspecialgeneralfieldtheory,thepoemsaresoconsistent,orhowisthewordastheyuseit,canbeshowntobeconsistent,theposition
chosencreatesthepoemsdayinandoutandtheyremand(Ishallusethewordagain)tothesamepolarizedfieldwhichthegeneraltheoryofwhichhe,orthey,
arethespecialinstance.
ItisworthgettingathowtheforceofaCreeleypoem,allclearoutthereashehaswellmadeit,goesback,itisthegoingoftheforcebacktothemagneto,ofthecoils
ofwhicharetheconditionofthecreationoftheforce,which

Page287
makeanyofthepoemsandallofthemdistinctinaway(again)differentfromthedifferencesofoneman'spoems(usually).Sothattheuncannyrange,thenumberof
subjectsandareasthepoemsactuallydoinclude,isstriking.ItisthesamewayassayingwhatanachievementquitealongsidethelongpoeminourtimeCreeley
has,intheuseoftheshortest.
Themistake,anditismademuch,asIfindmuchofthecriticismabouthimfallingforwhathehimselfhasalreadyandwillalwaystop,andthecriticismbecominga
wastedelegance,istotalkgemorlyricor,evenashe,inoneinstance,itseemstome,afteraverygreatfirststanzausesamuletandquicksurprise,forpicture.He
needn't.Hehasrifledairandsong,Provence,Mallorcan,andCycladicformtowritestudstakenrightoutoftheframesofeachofus.
3.Therearethreepoetries,IbelieveitwasLorca'sneatnesstospecify,thereisoneofthemuse,oneoftheangel,andthatwhichIsupposewashis,oftheduende,is
it?Creeleyhasoneofthesealltohimself.Itisanotheroftheinterestingthingshowcoollyhispoems,whichmaylookonthesurfaceandinformandlanguageto
deliberatelyrunoverandplayuponallthepleasurestheinheritedEnglishthinghastakeseachofthoseforms,interestinglysayeventheballadaswellastheairand
the,likelovelyricandswing'emsoweareoutontheothersideofAlcaeus,andtraveling.
(1962)

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Paterson,BookV
WilliamCarlosWilliams.Paterson,BookV.NewYork:NewDirections,1959.
Itreadthestepsofthispoem.Ididn'tfinditeasyjustwherethepoetwouldseemtohaveputtheweight:thepassageoftheCloisters'tapestryonthehuntofthe
Unicorn.
Oneisonfamiliargroundintheotherlongpassageofthepoem:"Thereisawomaninourtown,"etc.,ajubilantopenmanSapphopoemtoastrangerwomanseen
quickly,andonce,onthecitystreet.
ThereisnodistanceintheCloisterspassage,suchastherewasinPatersongenerally,andinthisinstancehere,ofthewoman.Ilikedthatdistance.Itdefinedtheedge
ofanything,aswellasDr.Williams'ownedge(ashewasthe'poet'of'Paterson'here,heisPatersonhimitself,heisupagainstthefaceascloselyastheCloisters
story).Itwasapointoftheoldpoem,thatthepoetwasinittoseekalanguagetodelivermen&womenfromthelumptheirliveswerewithoutit,inthecitybythe
riverwhichborethemtoanendinthehostilesea.Thepoetwastheonetosurvive,tofindthemeaning&layitwhite,besidetheslidingwater.
Mydifficultywiththenewpoemwasthis,thatthetapestry,evenifthepoetcalledit"thelivingfiction,"wasatapestryathingofonetexture(healsosaysthemuseum
becamereal)whereIwasusedtotheinstantaneouspresenceofmanyandofall,therealasmultiple,andthepoettooassuch,inhisfleshorinhisattention,the'dog'
ofhismind.
NowIhadtoallowthatWilliamshimselfwastryingtoturnmetoasewnclothofflowersfillingthedetail,ashesays,fromframetoframewithoutperspectivean
heraldicstoryofawhiteonehornedbeast,thedogswhichhuntit,andaladywhoenablesthem(orisitsomethingelse?)tobringthebeastin.
Itwasnothardtoenjoythestory,orthepoemitselfasapoemofmottoes

Page289
writtenfromitofthevirginandwhoreanidentity,ofthemarriedmanwhocarriesinhisheadanimageofavirginwhomhehaswhored,ofthebeastitselfwounded
andlyingdowntorest.Itwasthezerodistanceofthetapestryitself,andversewise,whereIbalked.
Ihadgivenitupasabadjob(forme),whenIreadittoputitaway.Isaid,"Ileaveittoitself,andtoWilliams,"whenthereitwas.Whenonewalksthetapestry
passageliterallysyllabletosyllable,flowerwordtoflowerword,etc.,theintentionofthepoetaswellashisstatementoftheonethinglife(oritisactuallydeath)has
taughthim,iswhatonefindshehasmadeyoudo.Itisnolongeramatterofathing.Itisonlyatrack,apimesonmovement(afterthecollision)whichhehaslaid
downyield,likeitornot,tothestepofit,fromnothingoutsideit,includingyourself&himself,andtakenothingfromitbutitself,away.
Inotherwords,anobjectivity(whichistherenototherthanantimatter)whichforcesyou,byanunexampledsubjectivityof(whomWilliamscalls)"I,Paterson,the
Kingself"tobringyoutohisline.
Bywalkingit,andaccidentally,andagainstmychoiceofpleasuresinthepoem,IfoundthatWilliams,inappearingtocontradictallthatPatersonwasversewise
beforeBookFive,accomplishesanuncannytriumphinBookFive.Iampersuadedthatsomethingofthisiswhatheistalkingabout(incaps,mindyou)inthepoem
whenhesaysaworldofartaloneiswhathassurvivedsincehewasyoungandthattheonlythingwhichescapesfromtheholeofdeathis"theimagination,"which
cannotbefathomed,itisthroughthisholeweescape,throughthisholetheimaginationescapesintact.Whatlookslikeculturetalk,andthat'thinking'theDoctorso
longhassaidwasnotwhereitwas,Notinideasetc(NOTprophecy,heexclaimshere),isn'tbytheexperienceofthetextofthepoem,inwhatwouldappeartobe
itsfussiest,orcutest(flowers&allthat,andatthefeetofthebeloved)andleastreplicapassage.Actuallyandsolely,&quiteexactly,&intact,thepoemoffersnothing
butthepathofitself,"Nothingelseisreal."
Iappendthesepassageswhichshookoutthenwiththatmeaning:
"Anywhereiseverywhere"/
"Themoral
proclaimedbythewhorehouse"
(andtothevirginaswell)...
"Threwitaway!(asshedid)"

Page290
nowomanisvirtuous
whodoesnotgiveherselftoherlover
forthwith/
andbackward
(andforward)
ittorturesitselfwithinme
untiltimehasbeenwashedfinallyunder:
and"Iknewall(orenough)
itbecameme."
Takeitorleaveit,
ifthehatfits/
Achoiceamongthemeasures
(1959)

Page291
"EdSanders'Language"
EdSanders'language
advances
inadirectionofproduction
whichprobablyisn'tevenguessed
atandwhichsymbols&allegories
aremoreevidencesofthanthemore
usual,andrecent,andprincipallyexistent
sincetheuseofanewmetricbySappho&
Alcaeusonly.Priorproductionfrom550BC
backconceivablymoreinterestingnow
asaidandabettmenttohelprecognitionof
forms&inventions'weak'onlybecause
thesizeofthesubstanceneeded
forthemislike,say,the
earth.Thatis,ittakestheearth
tomakeafeatherfall.
Wednesday,October7th,1964

Page293
SPACEANDTIME

Page295
IntroductiontoTheSutterMarshallLease
TheLostSutterMarshallLease.Thisisauniquecopyofanhistoricclaim:SutterandMarshall'sjointclaim,andtheveryfirstoneofthegoldperiod,following,asit
does,withinelevendaysofthediscovery(notedatedocumentsigned,February4,1848).
SutterknewthatthemilitarygovernorofCaliforniahadnopowertograntlandinthatinterimperiodbetweenMexicanandUnitedStateslaw.HeandMarshall,faced
withthegold,thereforetriedtousetheonly"legality"theyfiguredtheyhadSutter'spositionasSubIndianAgentunderthemilitaryrule(notethatSutterapproves
theleaseasAgentandsignsthelettertoMasonasAgent).
TheyarrangedtoleasethelandfromtheYalesumneyIndians,thedominanttribeofthewholeregionalongthesouthforkoftheAmericanRiver,andforwardedthe
leasetoGovernorMasonlateinFebruary(notethatSutter,inhislettertoMason,callsthelease"articlesofagreement").
Masonrejectedtheclaimfortheveryreasonstheyhopedhemightapproveit.TheUnitedStates,hestated,donotrecognizetherightofIndianstolease,rent,orsell
theirlands.Thearea,fromhispointofview,wasboundtoberegardedaspublicdomainthemomentthetreatyofpeacewassettledwithMexico.(Hislettercannow
bereadbackintotherecord,forthereithasbeenalltheseyears,unnoticedalongsidehismoredramaticreportonthegoldmines,HouseExecutiveDocumentNo.
17.)
ButtheMormonswhoworkedatthemill,andtheotherearlyminersrespectedtheclaimevenafterCharlesBennettreturnedtotheFortwithMason'srejection,
March13th.Itwas,infact,ashrewdandthoroughlease.Ifyouwillbothertoworkoutitsboundaries(thekeyistheidentificationofPumpumulCreek,whichall
evidencesuggestsisWebberCreek)youwillseethatSutterandMarshall(probablyonthebaseofMarshall'searlierexplorations)arrogated

Page296
tothemselvesatriangleoflandwhichwastobethefirstheartofthemotherlode.ItincludedwhatwastobePlacervilleaswellasColomaandthoserichspotsalong
WebberCreekfromwhichCaptainWebberhimself,WilliamDaylor,PerryMcCoonandothersmadethefirstbighaulsofthespringof1848.
ByMay,however,thejigwasup.Biglersays,asofthe12thofthatmonth:"itisthoughtMarshallandSuttercannotholdsomuchlandastheyhavetakenup(10or
12milessquare)andImaysayitwasfromthistimeonthatpeoplecomingtoseektheirfortunesbegantodisputetheirclaimsandbegantodigwhereevertheyplease
forgold."FromthenonMarshallatColomahadtobreakthesamebitterbreadasSutterdownbelow.
(1948)

Page297
ABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn
Assumptions: (1)thatpolitics&economics(thatis,agriculture,fisheries,capital
andlabor)arelikelove(canonlybeindividualexperience)and
therefore,astheyhavebeenpresented(again,likelove)arenot
muchuse,thatis,anystudyofthebooksabout

(2)thatsociology,withoutexception,isalotofshitproducedby
peoplewhoarethemostdeadofall,historyaspoliticsoreconomics
eachbeingatleasteventsandlaws,notthisdreadfullbeast,some
averageandstatistic
Workingpremises:
Inotherwords,thatplural&quality(taste)KingNumbers&KingShitobscurehowitis.
Andthatonemusthenceforthapplytoquantityasaprinciple(totallydisplacinghierarchiesoftasteorquality,asthoughtherewereanyother''like"thanan
attentionwhichhascompletelysaturatedorcircumventedtheobject)
andtoprocessasthemostinterestingfactoffact(theoverwhelmingone,howitworks,notwhat,inthatwhatisalwaysdifferentifthethingor

Page298
personoreventunderreviewisaliveone,andisdifferentbecauseadverbiallyitischanging)
onemusthenceforthapplytoquantityasaprincipleandtoprocessasthemostinterestingfactallattention
Results,asofhistoricalstudy:
(a)itisnothowmuchoneknowsbutinwhatfieldofcontextitisretained,andused(millennia,&quantity)
(b)how,asyourselfasindividual,youareacquiring&usingsameinactsofformwhatuseyouaremakingofacquiredinformation(person,&process)
THEABOVE,INOUTLINEFORM,ISATABLEOFCONTENTS.ThePREFACEistofollow.
Oneneedstogobackovertheseaxesofrelevancebeforelistingthebooks.
Thelocal,forexample,becomescrucialoncethecrossedstickoftheseaxesisusedtopickitup:
Applyingallfouroftheseatonce(whichiswhatImeanbyattention),thelocallosesquaintnessbythetestofperson(howgoodisitforyouasyouhavetobea
workofyourlifetime?)itselfascrutchofambience,bytestofmillenniaitsonlyinterestisasprocess(saybarbedwire,asattackonPlainshusbandry)orasitmaybe
asignificantlocusofquantity(inAmericahow,say,prairievillagecalledChicagoisstill,despiteitself,aprairievillageasagainst,say,LAor,byturningitselfinside
outfromsize,Manhattanisnowavulgarvillage(note:thislastwldbeanexampleoftheexerciseofinversion,oneofthemoreinterestingmoraleffectsofquality,
inversionis/howRimbaudputit,"What'sontheothersideofdespair?"

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excusemeforamoment,butIonceknewaguywhoalmostsucceededindoingthatwhicheverytheatricalofficedoesn'tbelievewilleverhappen
thataplayonEdgarAllanPoe(moresuchmsscomeinthananysingleothertry)willbewritten,byhavinghimturnhiscoatinsideout,andwearitso,
goinghomealongFordhamRoaddrunk,liketheysay
ThebestdefinitionofinversionIknowisthechemicaloneturningcanesugarbyhydrolysis(anotherwordforinversion)fromthedextrorotatoryitis
toalevorotatorymixtureofdextroseandlevulose
Itispossiblechemicallytokillapersonbyinversion.
Toillustratethevalueofthepracticeoftheseaxes(insteadoftheoldaxisofhistoryastime,andtheaxisoftheindividualversussocietyandviceversus),study
Webb'sGreatFrontierversushisGreatPlains,how,inthelatterbook,hisfirst,hecausedthelocaltoyieldbecauseatleastheappliedprocess,andsomemillennia
sense,probablybecausethegeographyofthePlainsenforcesitoneveryonebutinhislatestbook,becauseheisaprofessorinsteadofaperson,andshowshimself
tohavenosenseofthequantitiesofgeographybyextrapolationfromhisknowledgeofa"local"likethePlains,heisledbackintothetrapofhistoryastimeand
comestothefoolishconclusionthatitistheFrontierwhichisdone,andtheMetropoliswhichdoneitin!
Note:havingrecentlyvisitedManhattanandhavingrecentlywrittenyoursecondstory(thewideone,notthe'local'one),youmayjudgeforyourself
BECAUSETHELOCALANDTHESENTIMENTALISHOWHUMANISMCOMES
HOMETOROOSTINAMERICA,THISISENOUGHOFAPREFACE."TOGETTO
THEOTHERSIDE,"ISTHEONLYMORALACTWHICHCANPOSSIBLYCORRECT
THEWEST,ASEITHERGREEKORU.S.

Page300
I.Millennia
SauerEnvironment&CultureintheDeGlaciation(AmPhilSoc)
LobeckPhysiographyoftheU.S.(getmapswhichgowithit,&fillem
in,locatestuff,etc.,togetthattopographicsenseinthemind
asyouhaveitinthefeet)
[Gladwin]MenOutofAsia(NewMexicopotman,guessingonmigrations)
Indiantextsonmigrations,suchastheToltecsbeingpushedoutofTulabyChi
chimecs,etc.alsocodicesinwhichfeet(likeonfloorafter
bath)areasarrowsinKlee
HerodotusAtleastfirstchapterofHistoriesonsailors&rapesofseveral
women(Europa,lo,Helen,etc.)
FrobeniusanythingJung,infact,also(atwhichpointIamsuggesting
how,whenonewidensoutonanyofthesefourpointsofthe
DoubleAxe,onebeginstohitoneoftheother4,inthisin
stance,personreadDHLawrenceprefacetoFantasia(don't
botherwithrestofbook!)
BrooksAdamsTheNewEmpire(despitetheanalogicalreasoningfornature
asmachine,thespaceofthefactsandthemapsasroutes
equaledbynothinghereexceptSauer'sspaceoftime
andprecisionsonroots
Withgreatcareonemightaddastronomy,simplythatascrupulousexperienceoflightyears(asdistance,nottime)isaformofexercise(literally,musclestuff)ofwhat
itmeanstoapplyacontextasdelicatetohandleasthisoneofmillennia.(Anexampleofhowevenoneofthebestmendon'tquitemakeitisalastpossiblereference
tostartwith,WCWilliamsAmericanGrainconsidertheJacataquaessay,andtheHouston,versuswhat,say,JimBeckwithorRedCloudbrainingtheFortPhil
Kearnymassacre(alsocalledtheBozemanRoad

Page301
M)are.Nuffsed.)LikeIhavesaidelsewhere,RiderHaggard.AndoldAmericanWeekly.
II.Person:
what,infact,thecritter,homosap,is,aswetakeit,now?yrself,surely,here,thebook:simplythatyouhasthisADVANTAGE,thatyouisanamerican(no
patriotismintended:signreads,"LEAVEALLFLAGSOUTSIDEPARKYRKARKASSONE")
recommend,forlightreading:homer'sodysseus(forodysseusasmoreinterestingfellerthanhamletorcaptainahab)misterjung,likeisay(exceptthatheain'tfreeto
writehideshis"creative"mssinasafeheistheonereligiousimeanheisseriousinhisattentiontotheimportanceoflifeasitissolelyofinteresttousasitis
human,liketheysay,ofanyofthenewscientistsofmanandiforonethinkthebodyofthesemen(Sauerisone)areavastimprovementonalmostallthe"creative"
menwhohavegonealongsideofsame(say,Peekgasso,Prrrroost,JJJJoys,allbutChaplin.AndEisenstein.Yes.Eisenstein.
TRANSFERTOLOCAL.BUTTODOIT,LETMEMENTIONONEVICTORBERARD'SWORKONTHEODYSSEYASAREWRITEOFASEMITIC
(PROBABLYPHOENICIAN)ORIGINALSAILINGDIRECTION.YoucanfinditinFrenchintheSondleyLibrary.Sofaras"scholarship"might,itwilldisclose
theintimateconnectionbetweenpersonascontinuationofmillenniabyactsofimaginationasarisingdirectlyfromfiercepenetrationofallpastpersons,places,
thingsandactionsasdata(objects)notbyfictiontofiction:ourown"life"istooseriousaconcernforustobeparlayedforwardbyliteraryantecedence.Inother
words,"culture,"nomatterhowgreat.
(Ishouldthink,ifonestoppedlongenough,onecouldexposeafallacyherewhichhasdominatedalllivingliterallysincethe5thCenturyBC,when,forthe
firsttime,thatunhappyconsciousnessof'history'andwhichconsciousnessbegets'culture'(artastaste,inheritedforms,MrEliotindeed,MisterPoundas
hepreachesthe"grrratebookes")cameintoexistence.
Idon'tknowwhetheryouknowthephilosophyofAlfredNorthWhitehead,butifonecldstoplongenoughoneoughttoexposelikefallaciesinart,likeit's

Page302
called,towhatAlfiehassohugelyexposedinthemetaphysicwhichfuckedeveryoneupfromthoseGrks(orthatChink)toAlfie.He'sjustthegreatest,ifyouread
onlyhisphilosophy.Ifyoureadhimonanythingelse,especiallycultureandorbeauty,yourealizethatoldsaw,amancan'tdoeverything!
Well,itdoesn'tmatterwhetherwedoexposefallacies.Thepointis,allthatanyofusiznowdoingistryingtogetsdpoorcritterbackonhisrail.Andoncedone,
therewon'tbeanyofthatnonsensetoshovelone'swaythrough.Iimagineyoudon'thaveasmuchshitinyouasIdosimplythatyouizlater,Mister/Dorn.
TogetonwithsdbibliographyabtmaninAmurrica:
III.Process
sdWhiteheadProcessandReality.AnEssayinCosmology
asoftheStates,allyoucanpackinofsuchmattersasMrMelville,howtocookawhaleProfessorMerk,howpemmicanwasbornhowtoskinabuffalo(cfonly
andpooronsame,in,QueenofCowtowns:DodgeCity,StanleyVestal)onhowfishareputinacornhill(askFreddie,whoknows,andwhy)howtolive,by
CharlesOlsonhowtonotknowknowhow(byanAmerican,afterthedeluge)howtoremember(cfMuses)
howtofindout:PAUSANIAS'DescriptionofGreece(thebible,youcan'treadit,butforgawdsakeownit,andwhenever,lookupanything,especiallyARCADIA
howtofindoutnowaboutthen:MISSJANEHARRISON,Prolegomena,Themis,andherfirstbook,whichisMythologyandMonumentsofAncientAthens
andis,bygod,nothingbutPausaniasonPausanias!SheisLadyPausanias.
Magnificent.Andasyetnoonehasappliedthatmethodology(HOWAS,huPROCESS(is"tomove")METHODIS(metahodos,thewayafter:TAO)
whatIamtryingtosayisthataMETHODOLOGYisascienceofHOW)
<><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Theprincipleatworkhere"weshouldstartfromthenotionofactualityasinitsessenceaprocess"(Whitehead,AdventuresofIdeas,p.355)is:
yes,letmetry,foronce,foryou,todothechiasma.IcannotstandanythingshortofMissHarrison,say(orPausanias),orSauer,ormymanMerk(whomIcanatleastgiveyoua
tasteofbyshowingyousomeofhisreprintsontheOregonTriangle,ofwhichheisthemasterhistorianuptonow)andacarpenterdoingitisthesamething,orasailor,or
anyonewhoreallyknowswhatheisdoingdoingitandifyouarelucky,andyoustumbleonsomeoneinprinttellingyouhowtodoit,if,say,it'ssomethinglikeloweringawhale,
say,whichain'tdoneanymore,loweringaboom(cfsdMelvilleonhowawhaleuseshisflukes,chaptercalledTHETAIL,Ibelieve,thatexactitudeofprocessknown
IcanonlystandDeVoto,say(whoknowsasmuchasanyliterarymanabtAmericaWest),whenheain'tcute,andisverydamnseriousabtthefactsabt,say,exactlywhowas
therethatnightthatcampaday'sdriveeastofLaramie,wasitJimFitzpatrickwhowassittingjustinsidethelight,andtheDonners,bothJacobandGeorge,didn'tknowthatthat
manwastheonemanwhocldhavesavedthemwhattheywentthroughbecauseHastings,thatfirstofadvertisingmen...becausetheydidn'thavetheadvantageofJim's
knowledge...
thereyougetDeVotoathisbest,that,hethoughttheknowledgeofamountainmanwasthegreatestthinginknowledgeanAmericanhasyethad
(like,say,Homerhad,Berardthinks,abtaPhoenicianmanuscript...
Thepointis,thatscholarshipinhistory(nottheacademicbutMissHarrison'sexactitudes,hercareorPausanias,thanwhomnone...
isthesamethingascareofSwedishcabinetmakerorMeisterEckhartonhowasoulisonlyonewhenitisnotmeinGodbutGodinme,thatprecision(?)
AndthedividinglinebetweenallthatwasfromGrks(andthatChink)towhatnowis,isexactlythisoneofPROCESS:HOW:
soanywhereyoufindit(andinAmericaasahistoryyoudamnwellhavetolookforit)is,itwillturnout,tobescratchedfor.ThatiswhyIdon't,here,listbooks

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underIII.Process:youwillhavetofindemyrself.Andbywadingthroughunconscionablestuff.Like,forexample,Igiveyou:AREADINGLIST:
can'tlaymyhandsonthedamnbookatthemomentbutseeVestalQueenofCowtowns:DodgeCity'sbibliographyasex.ofwhat,ifyouwantedtofindoutforyourself(istorin)
you'dhavetogothrough
Iguessyou'dsayIgotoffthetrack.Well...Tojumpbackon:
IV.Quantity(continuedinournext....
AppendixA:
Berard'spointisthattheIncidentsintheOdysseyresultfromthePlaceNames,inotherwordsnotfictioninanyhumanisticsensebutthattheprocess
oftheimaginationisfrom1)aplacepersonthingeventto2)thenamingofitto3)thereenactmentorrepresentationofit,inotherwords
Ex.:Kirke=sshehawkinPhoenicianperiplousherislandwasNesosKirkes=IsleoftheSheHawk(infacttheveryplaceisthehauntofbirdsof
prey,ItalianCoastjustaboveancient1stGreekCity).Buthere'sthekicker:Odysseussays"wecametotheislandAeaea,whereCircelived.."
Aiaia,inHebrew,means"IslandoftheSheHawk"!
Youwillimaginewhatthisdoestomewhoissuchahoundofabelieverinfactactdatumaswhatwedamnwelldoeatup!Andthereby,"proceed"!

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Page306
BasicReadingList:
Merk(HarvardPress)onWestwardMovement(youcaneatyrwaythruthislistforever!)
I.FarWest:KatherineComanEcon.BeginningsoftheFarWest
W.P.WebbTheGreatPlains
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
&suchasDeVoto'sYearofDecision(notsomuchforitselfasforwhatitstartsup:thatis,DeVoto'sknowledgeissowide&curiousitshouldbebetter.Heshould
havewrittentheunwrittenbook)
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
andsuchbooksonregionsasyouwillstumbleonforyourself,viz.EdwinCorle'sDesertCountry(ormaybethemuchpraisedrecentjobintheRiverSeriesonthe
RioGrande,don'tknow)
II.Physiographyofcountryasawholealwaysthegeology&geographyCarlO.Sauer,from"Environment&CultureintheDeglaciation,"allthewaythrough
"RoadtoCibola,"backtohisfirstjob,fortheStateofIllinoishandbook(1915?)onthenewStateParkatStarvedRock,SauerdoingjobonIndianagriculture
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
FrancisParkmanespecially,forme,hisLaSalle,butCanadaaswell,orFlorida,ifyougooffthemaintrailthatmuch(asIimagineanyonemight,notme)
III.Tostartwiththemillennia,readforkicksMenOutofAsia,byN.Mex.archaeologistnamed[Gladwin]onarrivalofmigrationsinAmerica.Beyondthathow
doesonegetthespacetimethingexceptintheimaginingofmen?SuchcharactersasSamHouston,JimBeckwith,(SimonGurty?),anyofemasourkindof"You
lissseas"?
Plusalwaygeography
Here'swhereIVcomesin:PRIMARYDOCUMENTS.Andtohookonhereisalifetimeofassiduity.Bestthingtodoistodigonethingorplaceorman

Page307
untilyouyourselfknowmoreabtthatthanispossibletoanyotherman.Itdoesn'tmatterwhetherit'sBarbedWireorPemmicanorPatersonorIowa.Butexhaustit.
Saturateit.Beatit.
AndthenUKNOWeverythingelseveryfast:onesaturationjob(itmighttake14years).Andyou'rein,forever.
Thisoneprinciple(&it'snew:eventhebestofrecentmendidn'tdoit,once)plusmillennia(orquantityasaprincipleinsteadof
commodity,/orspacetime(=sthelittlestisthesameastheverybig,ifyoulookatit)
doesthetrick.
Sofarasit'sreading(&historyis,becauseyoucan'tfindemallinJustusGarageofanafternoon!)reading(=soralhistory,ifone'searsareopenaswellas
one'seyeswhyIsayit'smen,millennia,&oneman'swork):
thepointistogetallthat'sbeensaidongivensubject.AndIdon'tmeanbooks:theystop.Becausetheirmakersareusuallylazy.Orfancy.Ortheyarecreative.And
that'stheend.ButDeVotoain't.Andthat'swherethetroublecomesin:sofeware,butsomanythinktheyare.QED:you'llhavetodigmss
AsofAm.hisotory:
Repository #1:THENAT'LARCHIVES,Wash.,D.C.

#2:SenateDocuments(published)

#3:BereayifAm.EthnologyReports&Bulletins(pub.by
SmithsonianInst.)
&then,dependingonsubject,allovertheplace:

ex.,DonnerParty,Sutter'sFortMus.,&Cal.StateLibr.,
Sacramento

ex.,theAdamses:Mass.Hist.Soc.,Boston
Ex.:WhaleshipEssex:Privatelyowned,PercBrown,Oilman,Jerseyatcruxes,msswillbeinprivatehands,&onehastrouble,patience,breaksgettingsame.
Butitdoesn'tmatterallgoesbacktotheONEJOBthat'swhereone'snoseiswhittled.Ifyoudon'tdothatone,youcanneverdotheothers.
Andit's

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crazy,how,oneyields.Youcangoanywhererightintosomeoldmaid'sfrontparlor,CraigieCircle,BrooklynorMonterey,Cal.(&eatsmidgenforthefirsttime,
fried,withharborontop
OKJusttogetyoustarted.AndifIsayitdon'tendshortofPelasgus(date7000BC,placecircumMt.Lycaon,Arkadia),don'tletthatscareyou:
I'monlytryingtosayhowfarbillWCWmissedbynotgoingbehindSamoneHouston!
Love,
O
PS:
(1)Indianiswicked.Ithinkthethingistosettleononeofem,eitherliterallyone.RedCloud,sayortheUtes(whoselanguageisoffamilyofNahuatI,thusshowing
AztecspasseddownRockies)ora''civilization"likePlains,orMaya,orArawakorevenatribe,Shawnee,sayandonceoneisdug,therestoughttoyieldmore
easily.
(2)Historyasevents.Thatis,social,ornational,or"cultural,"or"intellectual."Ithinkit'snowmostlyhogwash.Morphologyhasknockedthisstuffcockeyed.And
exceptforFrobeniusorsuchaclearmanasSauer(who'snohistorianexceptintheinitialsenseofistorin,tofindoutforoneself)Ithinkthebestthingistohave
yourselfcatchitupasyouhaveto,(a)becausesofewevengoodmenwillbotherwithitand(b)thesequenceofeventsyouwillwantforyourselfjustasyouwant
geography:thelocusisnowbothplace&time(topology)
W.E.Woodward,sayTurner,yes
Turner,yes atleastthebookofhisessaryscalled
TheFrontierinAmer.Hist.
BrooksAdams NewEmpireforsureaswellashis
Civ.&Decay
DHL's Studies
WCW AmGrain
Pound's GuidetoKulchur
&theunwrittenbookbyFredJacksonMerkIhavebeentryingtogetoutofhimforyrs:LAND
AlsoreadWebb'slastbook.TheGreatFrontierwithitsfalsenotion

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MetropolishasbestedFrontier,butaflurryerthisbook,becauseitatleastrepresentswhatToynbee&Europecan'tdo,Imeanmove
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
Ohyeah:(3)trees!GetaloadofEdgarAnderson'sPlants,Men,&Lifeorsomesuchtitle(availableAshevillePublicLibduetomyaskingemtobuyit).Which
leadsout,thisway:biosis,isnowthewildestscience.Afterwhatmorphedidfor75years(1875allthe"newsciences"began),biosisahead:ex.blood(Gates'
HumanAncestry,HarvardPresslet'sgetBMClibrarytobuyitBoydatBostonU).ButalsosuchsillybusinessasJonathanSauer(CarlO'sson)nowbecoming
theworldauthorityontheamaranthplantfromstudyingdumpheaps!
Noendtothiswildstuff.Andturnsit,bywayofESP,topsychology,ofcourse.
Merelytoremindyou:science,now,isman(&manismillennia).
OK.
Thatis,ifCrowscutofftroopers'genitalsdecorativelyeachthinghasitsefficientcause!
PS2
AboutEconomics.It'slikepolitics:Idon'tmyselfknowhowyoumasterthemexceptbypracticingthem.Ican'tforthelifeofmeseehowbookshelphere.Theyare
nothistory.Theyaretooingrainedinourdailylives.Theyarelikesecondarylove:whatcanyoudoaboutitexcepthaveit?
Theyareaxiomatic&havenothing(oreverythingtodo)withclassExceptthisway:asofAmerica(andIcan'ttellyouwheretogoforit,
simplythatIimagineit'salaw,complementarytotheforegoing,thattherealpowercontemporarytooneiskepthidden),onedamnwell
betterguess,atleast,andthentrytofindout,keepasking,howthemoneyor"ownership"reallykeepsitshiddenhandsonthemachinery:
forex.,the"ChinaLobby."IhavecometobelievethatAmericanAsiaticpolicyisnotsomuchafinancialmatter(ElectricBond&Share,the
Philip'sCorp.,etc.thusBankofEngland),asitistheProtestantChurch!
SoyouseewhatImean.(DaveCorkran,sonofamethodistminister&Wesleyanuniv.graduatelikemyself,oncetoldmethatthe18th
AmendmentwasthebesthinttoTeddyRoo

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sevelt'sRussoJappolicyasanything!AndwhenIthinkofCongressmanJudd(oneofPound's"agents"ontheHill!)....
Idon'tknow.Oneisconfrontedhere.Onecanonlyhackawayatit.Andreadbetweenalllines:50FamiliesorGustavusMyerswon'tdoit.It'swhyIsayonehasto
eitherbeabankerorknowone,intimately.Weneednowanothersetofmuckrakers.ButtheFBI'sgot'emallinhand!
It'satoughone.Onething'ssure.Economicsaspoliticsasmoneyisagonebird.It'smuchmorenowpowerasstateasfission.Andthereforeharderthanever
togetat,ifmoremortal!
OK,thishasnowbecomealetter.
How'stheBigShitty?
Yrs
Olson
(1955)

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BillytheKid
WalterNobleBurns.TheSagaofBillytheKid.NewYork:NewAmericanLibrary,1953.
It'sthisway.Here'sthiscountrywithwhataccumulationithassomanypeoplehavinglivedheremillennia.Whichoughttomean(peoplebeingactive,moreorless)
anamount,you'dfigure,ofthingsdone,andsaid,moreorlessasinotherlands.Andwithsomeproportionofmiseryforwhichread"reality,"ifyouwillwaita
minuteandnottake"misery"asanythingmorethanacharacterizationofunrelievedactionorwords.
Thatis:whatstrikesoneaboutthehistoryofsdStatesbothasithasbeenconvertedintostoryandastherearethosewhoarealwayslookingforittoreappearas
artwhathashitmeis,thatitdoesstay,unrelieved.Andthusloseswhatitwasbeforeitdamnwellwashistory,whaturgencyorlazinessormiseryitwastothose
whosaidanddidwhattheydid.Anytranspositionwhichdoesn'thaveinitanexpenditureatleasttheequalofwhatwasspent,diminisheswhatwasspent.Andthisis
loss,lossinthepresent,whichistheonlyplacewherehistoryhascontext.
Itakeitthewhyisnowobvious:thatallconversionhasbeensoughtin,andassumedtofollowfrom,formswhichpreviouslydid,byrespect,movelifefromthereto
this.FromHomertowhom,itwassaga,myths,folktale,fairytale,drama,the"nuvvel,"astheladycalledit,commentingonmyfriend'sbehavioronthebeach,witha
certaingirl:"Gettingexperience,eh,forhisnuvvels,ishe?"
ButifyouhaveevercutbehindanyAmericaneventoranypresentationofthem,totheprimarydocuments,youwillknowthediminishmentIamhereasserting:that
onlyMelvilleescapes,andthatevenParkman,whoalsohadbadeyesightandshouldhavebeensomethingnew(thepairofthem,HomerandHerodotuswere),
missed,evenifinLaSalle,or,TheDiscoveryoftheGreat

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Westtotakemyownchoice,heputfinish,forever,to,thenovel.DramaandverseIguessIdon'tneedtoargue,howsillytheyare,Mr.Eliot's4Quartetstryingto
cancelMississippimud.Andthefolk?DowChemicalsandtheCommunistPartyhavetakenthemover,outofourway,bothheroesandtales,amajorgain,tohave
gotridofthosestuffedlogsevenifStewartHolbrookdoesn'tknowit.Andwehavenofairytales,quodcesstous.
Allwegotiswhatthebestmenhavekepttheireyeon.Nofigures,noforms,noknownlargenesseswhatsoever.Zero.Notevenadigit,nostringtie.Perfect.Itwas
likethemanwhostudiedtheCherokee.Andwashimself,withoutbeingcoy,awoodsman,camperenoughtocomprehendhowsuchanEasternWoodlandspeople
hadmademeaningoftheirlives,tookarivertobelongtoamanbecausehecouldfallbacktoit,anditwasblack.Deathwasblack,andamanpaintedwhitelineson
hisfacesothatifhehadtolookintowater,hadtomeetanenemyortheriver,hehadthoselinestomarkhim,hadthesignofhimselfamanhastohavewhenhe
confrontsthefaceofmerenature.Hisrivercouldknowhim.Andmyfriend,withalltheintentions,andgettingthemovementofthemanthroughthewoods,endedup
withashortshort,aMohawkscalpingtheCherokeewhofallsbackintotheriverwhich,ofcourse,runswithblood!
2
Idon'tknowthatanyoneofusyetknowshowtodoit.Orrather,hasyetdoneit.Thatis,itisclearhowmuchhastobemastered,that,infact,itisallofit,thatonly
themillenniawilldo.Thesingleeventorpersonwon't,whitestripescrosswiseonthefaceoreven,say,ifitisasapparentlylargeandunreflectingastheCivilWar,
eventhatdense.Noranysingleplaceortime:theyyield,ourplacesandourtimesaresounfixed,nothingmorethanarealismorlocalismdrilytheirown,leanenough,
becausetheygoitalone,charqued,becausetheyhavetolast,wehavetogosofaronsolittle,cannot,infact,affordtoomuch.Butnothingmore.Andthatisnot
enough.
Thislastthatwecanhavenofatiswhytheoldformsfall.Butitisalsowhythehuntsmanandappleseedswehavemadeheroesof,won'talsodo.Nosingle
function,evenabundance,isgood.Andnoadventure.
Theuniquething(anditisnosurprise,thesurpriseisthatstillnoonehasmadehimselfabletograbitbyitscoat)isthatitisthemassofit
whichisit.Whichis,ofcourse,why

Page313
newformsofpresentationhaven'tyetmounted,thatallofitisn'teasilyheadedorpointedup,thatitis,infact,moreherd(morecattle)thangun
(thananyoneofusevenifwecanshoot).
Andslow,verydamnslow,slowerinfactthanweare(thanmanis,evenwithhisthumbs).Sospeed,whichhastobegotin,hastobeimages,not
actions.Andimagesarenoteasilycomeby.(Actionsare,theyare,drama,thatthingwhichneverisasslowastherealis.Norasfast.Asheroes
ain't.)
Soyoubetterfigureonman'sinteriors.Ifitsimagesarecalledfor,theycomefromthere.Andhe'sgotem.TheAmericanshave.Noneedtoworry.Orlookfor
heroes.Thepointmissedis,thatwhenmenaren'tsurejustwhatinsidesare,orjustwheretheyare,suchmenarenoteasilyread.Oraremisread.Andyougetthe
falseimpressionsthathavemostly,uptonow,governedallconversions.Tofalseformsyouhavetoaddthesefalsepremises:eitherthatsdAmericansaremorethan
theyare(stillwaters,liketheIndiansorWyattEarp,whowasalso,besideswhathewas,nothingbutacompanycop)orless(merekillers,likewearetaken,asBilly
hasbeentakenbythosewhodonothear,asonecansayforWalterNobleBurnsthathedoeshearevenifheoverhears,theKid'squestion"Quines?"((withPat
Garrettsittingatthefootofthebed,intheblackness)),whyElChivatoaskedanything,thisonce,insteadofbarking,withhisgun.
3
Thetimehasn'tcomewhenwearethatsure,thatwecanaskaquestion,andlive.Wearestillmoremastersoftheoutside,still(liketheheroesofthewoods,and
thesegunmen)wedon'tbreakatwig.
Butvalues?whatallofittakes?Don'tbesosurprisediftheyarealreadyovertakinguse.Evenif,sofarasthebooksgo,theyarebestwhen
theysticktoEarps.Orsuchasthisone,whowentflat,thatnight,onthefloor.("TheKidhadnotfiredashot.Helaywithhisgunstillclutched
inhislefthandand,inhisright,CelsaGutierrez'skitchenbutcherknife.")
Tosinglekillers.Thereisthisgain:bysoconcentrating,themenwhowritetryatleasttoleaveitasitwas,togetatitascloseastherecordwillenable
them.AndsolongaswecangetitasnearasBurnshasithere(asStuartLakehadit,inhisEarp,FrontierMarshal)wecandowhattheirrefusalof

Page314
fictioncan'tdo.Theydon'trefuseitenough.Theystillclothethesefigures,inblackandwhite.Bythetotalrefusal,outtheothersideofanyfiction,out
wherethereisonlytotalityitself,notanyoneoftheseorallofus,butbywhatthesepiecesandthesepersons,allplacesandthesemarkingsonsticks
orfacesthemselvescompose,we'llcompose,we'llcomposeitallforyou.
(1954)

Page315
BrooksAdams'TheNewEmpire
BrooksAdams.TheNewEmpire.NewYork&London:Macmillan,1902.Notedate.Thepointofthisreviewistoaskaquestion.Ortoanswerit.Whydoesthisbookstayoutof
print?
Adams'story,withmapsofhisownmaking(therebeingnone,hedeclaresinaprefatorynote,becausehistorybeforehimhadbeenrepose),isthis:incivilization
nothingisatrest,themovementistrade,thenecessityismetals,andtheconsequentcentralizationofpoweralsomoves.Itmoved,March,1897,totheU.S.:
"Americacompletedherreorganization,forinthatmonththeconsolidationatPittsburgundersoldtheworldinsteel,andforthwiththesignsofdistressmultiplied."
Itisfairtotakeholdofhimbywhathewascleanenoughtotakeholdof,metalsintheWest,goods,intheEast.Andtographhim,ashemadeitpossibleforhimself
togobelowallconceptsandlaws,toget,ashedidget,asgraphicastheearthis.
Amongtheinventionswhichhavestimulatedmovementandconsequentlycentralization,nonehasequalledthesmeltingofmetals.
Atomicpower,then,istheultimateactofsmiths,justthat,justthose,nothingmore.Butassuch,oflikeimporttoalikeseriesofimpulsionsreachingbackto,and
comingforwardfrom:
themetals thetrade thetime

(WestEast)

(I)Sinai&RedSea,
COPPER
Egypt&Mesopotamia 3500BC2500(?)
(II)Cyprus,COPPER Crete&NinevehBabylon ?1450BC

Page316
(III)Lydia,GOLDEuxine
IRONTIN(Cornwall,by
RhoneRiver?)
TroyfirstloniaAthensandGreece
properending,Alexander
1450BC
333BC
(IV)Spain,theMINESof Carthage,firstSyracuseandRome,
takingSpain,toDiocletian
withdrawingcapitaltoPropontis
207BC
284AD
AdamsseestheRomanEmpireastheinevitableendingtotheaboveseriesofchangeswestward,because(1)theRomansneverlearnedtomanufactureanyarticle
whichcommandedtheOrientalmarket,and(2)becausetheMediterraneanremainedalways,forthem,aclosedellipse,notrichenoughinmetalstosustaina
prolongeddrain,especiallyundertheirwastefulmethods.
ThusalonginterregnumfollowedbetweenthisFIRSTEXPANSION3500BCto284AD,andthatonemoreimmediate,toourselves,whatWalterPrescottWebbhas
dubbed"TheGreatFrontier"butwhichismoreproperlynomorethantheSECONDEXPANSION,and,asAdamsdemonstrates,issetoffearlierthanthe
discoveryofsearoutesinthe15thcenturybythediscoveryduringthe10thcentury,oftheHarz,ErzandTyrolmines.
Thechart,then,upto1897,completesitselfthus:
(V)Harz,Erz,&TyrolSILVER,
COPPER
Germany&VeniceAntwerp&
FlorenceEngland,thereafter
c.1000
1588
(VI)MexicanGOLD,Potosi(Peru)
SILVERlater,Sutter,etc.&
STEEL
Europegenerally,butEngland,
chieflythentheU.S.A.
1492
1897
Adamstakescaretobreaktheselast1000yearsdowntoamuchfineranalysisthanthissummaryindicates.Perhapsmostimportantofall(inthelightofsomuch
emphasisontheRenaissance,andColumbus,etc.,inourculture)ishisemphasisthatitwasthediscoveryofthemagneticneedleinthe9thcenturywhichbeganthe
freeingofseatradefromnecessaryhuggingofcoasts,reachingbacktotheearliestseatrade(theOdysseyasexample):andthattheresult

Page317
wasthat,byasearlyadateas1147(when200FlemishshipsreachedVenice)onecansay,asAdamsdoes,thattheoldeconomicsystem(whichhadbeenbased,
becauseofnavigationalproblems,onthecaravanroutesacrossCentralAsia,essentially,and,from1000ADon,ontheriversandpassesnorthandsouthinEurope)
hadbeensuperseded(whenAntwerpbecamethenorthernmeetingplaceofGermanyandItaly,andtheHansewasborn)bythemodernsystem,which,itisworth
noting,Adamsflatlysays,"isbasedonthesea."
(1954)

Page318
CaptainJohnSmith
BradfordSmith.CaptainJohnSmith,HisLife&Legend.Philadelphia:Lippincott,1953.
ThenameisSmith,JohnSmith.Andthat'swhatI'mbucking.PlusPocahontas,thathedamnwellwassavedbythis10,or13yroldgirl(JohnGouldFletchersays,
Powhatanputheruptoit,inorderbothtoorderSmithbeheaded,thussatisfyhalfhiscouncil,andsavehim,tosatisfyhimselfandHakluytisauthorityforalike
incident,80yearsearlier,JuanOrtiz,who,in1539,waspickedupbyDeSoto,andtoldhimhowthedaughterofChiefUcita,northofFlorida,savedhimfroma
roasting,alive).
ButitisanothersignofhowHartCranewasnotafraidofaclichandamancan'tuseacountryasstupidasthis,whoisthathetookPocahontas(instead,say,of
Jacataqua,asWilliams,byadifferentoptic,did...)
Anyhow,now,IwanttotakeSmith.Andtheoccasionisnotsomuchthisnewbook,asthewomantowhomthebookisdedicated,Laura
PolyaniStriker,whosuppliesAppendixItoit,31ofthemostimportantpageswhichhavebeenaddedtotheSmithrecordsincehisown
exceedingfineninebookswerepublished,1608to1631.
Whatthiswomanhasdoneistoconfirm,fromMagyarsources,theveracityofSmith'sadventuresinHungaryandTransylvaniain160102,eventohistale
ofhisjoustswiththree''Turks"(theywereHighDoos,itturnsout,Hajdus)andthatbecausehedid,bythesechallenges,gainthearmythetimetheyneeded
tomountcannononearthworksraisedfiftyfeetabovetheplain,SmithdidreceivethegrantofarmsfromSigismundBathoryhealwaysthereafterclaimedhe
did,andwore,"threeTurkesheadsinaShield."

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What'stherebygivenisallthatanyofusifwebelievedthatstyleis,themancouldhavetaken(cantake)fromthisearliestofwritersregisteringinEnglishwhat
aboutthenatureof,thisnewplace.
Andit'sthat,thatgetsme,aboutSmithhowhebitesinto,thething.NotthatI'msoreadinhim,butenoughtokeepgoingbacktohim,and
tosuggesthimtoyouforexactlywhatthisBradfordsmithobscuresbyhisownToniprose.It'snottrue,whatlowercasesmithsays(middle
case,middleclasssmith,thepoorundescendedsmith,norelationofthebachelorElizabethanwhowentfishingoffMonhegan):thatSmith
wasn'tagreatstylist.Ofcoursehewasn't,butbythemeasurebythecontinuinguseofthesehairdresser'smeasuresofwhatproseisno
man'swork,aliveordead,isfreetobeknown,foruse.Parkman,ispairedwithPrescottWilliams,isdamnedinLondon(inTheNew
Statesman&Nation,byG.S.Fraser)forhis"neologisms"and"barbarisms."AndthusPatersonIandIIisthrowndownwhileRichard
Eberhartisraisedup!It'sallovertheplace:anothersmith,Groverbyname,inthefallNewMexicoQuarterly,alsoputsdownPaterson
andtheCantoswithit,aswell,byimplication,Craneasthepoetrywhichdisplaysdetachedobjects"asinaprovincialmuseum.''
ThewildthingabouttheoriginalSmithisthisbusiness,thatitmaydamnwellhavebeentheverybiteinhislanguage,whichdidbreakhislifein
half,didmakehimthefailurehetookhimself,didkeephimfromevergettingbackingagain,togetbacktotheStateskepthimexiledin
London,thefirstonewhowantedout,themanwho,by1614,knewthecountryasnotonlynotoneotherdid(notevenaWestCountry
fisherman)butsaiditinproselikeasnoonehassince,simplythathehadthefirstofit,haditnotlikeevenColumbusdid,butasColumbus'
navigatorsay,onlySmithsaidit,gotitintowords,didn't,asJuandelaCosadiditsohandsomely,byamap.WhyIsingJohnSmithisthis,
thatthegeographic,thesuddenlandoftheplace,isinthere,notdescribed,notlocal,notrepresentedlikealladvertisements,alltheshit
nowpoursout,theAmericanRoad,thefilthiness,ofgraphicwords.Modess...
god,togetthedistinction,across!sothatevenEzraPoundstopspraisingads,forsomesilkstocking,intheerrorofhisanger,atthebland,
notgettingthattheageofusurywhichfollowedfromthetimeofcantisworse,worsethanheknows,worsethan

Page320
evenhimselfinjail(heisnowhereinsuchdangerasuswhoaren't!),thatevenhisownactisnowadwriting,thatwherehegotitsayElbert
Hubbardthatthisageofdistractionistotal,thatenergy,asacomponent,isnotenough,notenough,Ezra,eventhoughthesyllables(nickel
nickel)...
hearSmith,totheVirginiaCompany,fromJamestown,aletter,burnedup,atwhattheysendovertohim,tokeeppeople,inawilderness,to
getpitch,tarandsoapashes,frankincenseeven,believeme,outofit,tomakeupforthatthereain'tgold,astherewastothesouthandthat
theysendabirdlikeNewport,ascaptainofaship,andwithorderstodressPowhataninascarletcoat(thatearly,theEnglish,wereplaying
thatgame)whenSmithknewthethingwastogetcornoutofPowhatan,notgivehimblague,notkeephopingforalumpofgold,notkeep
lookingforapassagetotheSouthSea.
Smithsentthemamap.Themap.Thewholemiddlecoast.Soknown,sodone,thestatesstillstandtheirboundariesbyit.ThesortofknowledgeSmithgaveHudson,
inanotherletter,Hudsonwentstraighttotheriver.HowSmithlaterknewNewEngland,namedherthat,putherdowninproseIcanfeelnowthewayhisboatbent
alongthesamecoastsIknowmindyou,hewasdoingitforoneoftheveryfirsttimes,it'sadifferentthing,tofeelacoast,anancientthingthisSmithhad,whatmen
hadtohavebeforePytheas,tomove...
SmithwassosoreovertheknockdownportableboattheCompanyhadsentoverwithNewportsupposedlytoenablethemtoexploreabovetheFallsofall
theseriversSmithfirstknew,theJames,thePamunkey,theChoptank,knew'emhewrites:
ifNewport"hadburnthertoashes,onemighthavecarriedherinabagbutassheis,fivehundredcannot,toanavigableplaceabovetheFalles."He
letsthemhaveit:
"ThoughIbenoscholar,Iampastaschooleboy,andIdesirebuttoknow,whateitheryou,andthesehere,doeknowbutthatIhavelearned
totellyoubytheconttinuallhazardofmylife."
Thewhich,ofcoursethedemonstrabletruthofit,thathesaiditeventuallytiedhimdowntoLondon,turnedhimintoawriterinstead,madehimthe
prisonerofthevirtuofwhathewas,whatanymanwhoknows

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is,tooknowingfortheeasy.Smithwasonemanwhoknewthenewfactsearly.Andhisprosesays'em.It'swhystyle,andanyeleganceotherthanthecode
NapoleonanothersoldierbynameBeylegotaholdof,isasillyaskingwhentheobjectsareasdetachedasweareasmengottobebycant,asStendhal
saystheywellhadbyjustthedateJohnSmithwas19years,whentheperfectDonJuan,theonlyanswermanhastohypocrisy,FrancescoCenci,was
murdered,whilehiswifeanddaughterlookedon,Rome,1599.
Itisveryquiet,howSmithhasit,inthatletter,attheend:
"ThoughtherebefishintheSea,foulesintheayre,andBeastsinthewoods,theirboundsaresolarge,theysowilde,andwesoweakeand
ignorant,wecannotmuchtroublethem."
(1954)

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FiveFootFour,butSmithWasaGiant
PhilipL.Barbour.TheThreeWorldsofCaptainJohnSmith.Boston:HoughtonMifflin,1964.
Itcannotbeatallthathisnameissoordinary.ForIdreamtsomenightsagomyselfofawomannamedMissSmith.Ithasthen,Istillfeelsure,tohavetodowitha
350yearinabilityoftheAmerican"soul"obviously,toallowinstillthedifferenceJohnSmithwas,fromanyoneelseandfromthegreatShoveAmericawas,andhas
been,fromthebeginning.Heisstillsomewaif,presidingoverAtlanticmigrationlikea5foot4leadfigure,MercuryoranHermaphroditusofthewholematter.
Awholeseriesofsuchpossibilitiesistheonlywaytoimaginethismaninanystyleequaltohisownprose,poetryandacts,includinghismapsand,asPhilipBarbour
isatcaretopointout,hiswill.ForthoughthisnewbookseemsthemostcompletebiographyyetofSmith,andthoughBarbouriscorrectinhisassertionhedoesnot
wishtodefendSmithbutinsteadtopresenthim,asifforthefirsttime,thetruthisSmithhimself,inhisownpagesandlife,stillmakesmoresense.Andaperspective
still,whichmakesthatsenseoutofhim,isnotyetknown,despitethewonderfulnewworkthatthisbook,andBradfordSmith'spreviousone,in1953,almostbecause
itdidincludetheresearchesofLauraPolyaniStriker,fromtheHungarianArchives,hasofferedtomakeSmitha"trutherteller."Evenifheobviouslywas,fromthe
beginning.
Thebookunderhandhasanotherrealgain,thatMr.Barbourhas,andhasusedandmakesavailableagoodjournalisthistoriansenseoutoftheEnglishsceneinwhich
Smithstrove,anddidn'tdosowell.AsBarboursuggests,becauseofacastesysteminwhichSmithwasnohigher"thanan'untouchable'inAkbar'sIndia"?I'mnot
sureBarbourhimselfisn'tonbettergrounds,whenhe,withoutclinchingit,bringsattentiontoSmith'spositioninbetweenthenewerLondonmerchantsandtheolder
Westcountryinterests.

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(Itisinsuchpointsasthisstill,thattheabsenceofprofessionalhistoriansinthestoryofJohnSmith,show.Ineachcase,for100years,ithasbeen
quasiprofessionalsfromCharlesDeaneandHenryAdamsonwhopickuponhim.)Mr.Barbour'sintentionis,clearlytodoeverythinghecantoputSmith's
biographyon,ashesays,a"scientificbasis,"andtoinvitetheworkofthefuture.
Thatseemstobeallhere,withinteresting"Commentaries"of100pagesaddedtoa400page"life"andacarefulandcomplete30pagebibliography.Thebookcan
beenjoyedbyanyone,aswellasgivenattentionbywhateverinterestedparties(includingIshouldthink,"historians'').Theeel,however,Smith,whohasslippedaway
ashehassleptfor333yearswillcontinuetoasIsaidtotheLadyPrizeWinnerPoetofCanadaonenightinTorontountilheismeasuredonlybywhatalso
happenedtoWilliamShakespeareafter1607!ItisanotherofBarbour'sattractivequalities,inthisnewHoughtonMifflinbook,thathetoobelievesSmithhimself
wrote"TheSeaMarke"andbringsotherpoets,includingJamesShirleyandJohnDavies,tobear.IfsomeonecouldfindoutmoreabouttheThomasPackerofhis
Will,towhomalmostallwent"oneoftheKing'sPrivySealclerks"we'dallbeclosertocominghometothefigureofthedream.
(1964)

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TheContoursofAmericanHistory
WilliamAppletonWilliams.TheContoursofAmericanHistory.Cleveland,Ohio:World,1961.
Theexaminationisdifficult.Whichwldbethepoint.Howthe'thesis'(ofWilliams'TheContoursofAmericanHistory)isthatthethingcanbeexplained,andthathe
triestodoit,isthereasonthisbookgetstheattentionitdoes,anditisaltogetherinterestingthatamanproposetoexplainit.Itis,inproof,anenormoussyllogism
threeAmericasfoldingoutofeachother,thusestablishingsequenceandyieldingapresentwhichismoreattractivethanmostpersonspossesswithoutWilliams'help:a
mercantilismuntil1828,alaisseznousfaire18191896,theAgeofCorporationCapitalism,1882
Notrouble.Intelligent.Betterthanacademic,andbetterthanjournalism.BetterthanHeilbroner,andsynthesishavingalwaysthatadvantage,thatitgivesintellectual
experience.Myownexperienceofthebook,then,isthatonlywherethefinestquestion(whetheritisthequalityatanygivenmomentalwaysbrilliantandshooting
starsanywhereoverthelot,andintoortheexaminationatthosepointswhereonecares,thatWilliamsseemsalmostanadvertisingman:thatIamboredwiththe
experience,andthatthethesis,absorbingsomuch,strainsmesoIwonderaboutabunchofcattleonadraw,orthepictureofsomehuntersittingamongstthebones
ofaPottawatomihuntingpartyofayearbeforelookingexactlyastheywerewhentheyfellallthatsceneinsteadofthatexplanation.Becausejustwhereitoughtto
work(whatwasthechangeintheStatessometimebetween1763and1771comesoutlikethosedreamylandscapesandinnatelysmallinstances(ofdadosona
buildingsuddenlyundertheroof'sgutter,forthefirsttimethefirmnessoftheflatnessisinterferedwith,uppedtosatisfysomeambition,andinitselfthatambitionvery
quietandlegitexceptthatofthatdateaboutCopley'spicturesdon'tanylongerportraypersonsCopley'spicturesclearlydodid.

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Allright.Onlyonelastthing:thethesisbetterdoitallorthesiswon'tdo.TheContoursay,proposingsomuch.Andmyownexperienceisthatthereisahistoryofsd
sameStatesandalloverwhichdoth.AndthisisFrederickMerk'spostulate(sdbooknowoughttobeavailablesoon,afterfortyyearsithasbeenpromulgatedas
lecturesetc.eversince,interleafingeachyear'seventslikeacomptometry,theinformationandthemessagehasthemachinewhichexcusesitselfbeingfed(wldbe
Williams'justificationcertainlyforhisthesisthatitoughttowork)andthisoneMerk'sdoes.
Ok.Notatalltohammerhelloutofonemanatallbyanother.Buttoendwhereonebegan,thatacontourcanbeanexaminationofAmerica,andifitisn'tIdoowe
tosaywherewhatWilliamsdoesbitemightnotdisappoint.
PS:thereisoneattractivethingaboutWilliams'mindandattention,thatheisliketheysay'Marxian'andtherehasbeenaltogetheralmostnoneofsuchmindedness
addressedtothesubject(exceptforreadingsthatanyanarchisttemperedpersoninthiscenturymightlongagohavereadlikewhosewasitshistoryoftheAmerican
LaborMovementetc.AtsomepointalongthislinetooWilliams,despitehisadvantages,ifhesoundsbetterthanHeilbronerbecauseheisn'tjumpingintothefuture
buthedoessoundlikeCollingwoodfeelingwiseasofhistory,andendsup,whenonestartstolosethedrivefromthereadingaboutwhereA.A.BerleorJ.K.
Galbraithoffer,itseemsatthatmoment,moreliteralmodernrightatthisday,and'American'substancethan
(1963)

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TheVinlandMapReview
BrooksAdams,SoleUserofHistory:NOTENUMEROUNOon1440(AD)mapshowingVinland,andwith'legend'statingeventsof12thcentury(AD).
Danger(ofYalediscovery)thatHistoryasUsual
renaissancey(modern)mindnesswillcontinue
I"Inthetenthcenturytheoldeconomicsystem,ofwhichConstan
tinopleandBagdadwerethefoci,culminated.
Contemporaneously,westernEuropefelltothelowestpointofits
declineduringtheDarkAges."
Adamsdoesnotadd[TheNewEmpire,1902]thatitisexactlyinthe
10thcenturythe"Swedes"orNorthmenthrewoutthreehugedrives
fromthePolarNorthdownontothethreelegsofthefuture:onto
Europe,easttoRus(Swedishword)sia,andWesttoGreenland
ANDVINLAND.
IICLOSEOUT:12001296(AD):"FlandersandtheFairsofChampagne
decayedbecauseofthemovementofthetraderoutefromVenice,
fromtheRhoneandSeine,totheocean.Thisdisplacementwasthe
effectoftheeffortofFrancetoconsolidateunderoneadministration
thevalleysoftheRhone,Seine,Loire,Garonne,andScheldt.Thewars
whichensued,coupledwiththeintroductionofthemariner'scom
pass,causedseafreightstounderselllandfreights."
<><><><><><><><><><><><>

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Inotherwords,Norseseaabilitiesofthe10thcenturybytheendof
the12thhadinfactbecomethevirtueofEuropeitself.Thencefroth,
thewithdrawalorconversionofallNorsemenonallthreesidesin
cludingtheirowncentertothe"newsystem"(outofwhich,inthe
13tharosethemindednessofwhichgenerallyourownpowerandac
culturationisstillaweakeninginstance).Interestthereforeinthelat
estdiscoveryofdiscoveringistobewatchedwithinterest:thefigure,
forexample,forthe"purchase"forYaleofthepaperandbookin
volvedisstatedtobe$1,000,000.Typicalcultural"waste"(inVeblen's
exactsense,andlook,fromexactlythe'danger'center(Veblen'spoint
also),the''University."(DateVeblen'sTheoryoftheLeisureClass
[1899]contemporarywithBrooksAdams.)
Dragsince.Continuing.
IIINowwillhappenagain(hasinfactsincesteelPittsburgh,Mar.,1897):
usefulnessoffactANDknowledgethatforMORETHAN100YEARS
andprobably200YEARSVINLANDwasaFRONTIERmountedfrom
GREENLAND(vizsitVINLANDlegateofVaticanformorethansix
monthsinquoteVASTANDVERYRICHLAND[TheVinlandMap,Latin
captiontoit].Dateofvisit111718(AD)
RIGHTINTHEHEARTOFTHEDISTURBANCEBROOKSADAMS
WASATPAINSTOPOINTOUTWASTHEEND(andthebegin
ning)ANDTHENTHEofthisoneleague
orlegWESTWARDOFTHEREPLACEMENTBYOCEANOF
LAND200YEARSBEFOREIT.NORSEINAMERICABYOR
BEFORE1000(AD)
October18th1965
NoteTwo:
woodenships
:Barrow

Page328
Longships(DerwentonTrent...whatis
theGREAT
burial,ESSEX
esscester
[XtopherP
Hawkes.Antiquity,spring1965?
IIThegreatSTUPAS(stone)INDIAareaselaborateandDECORATIVE
BECAUSEasStrzegowskishowsDEMONSTRATESthatarchitecturefol
lowsISBUILTDIRECTLYOVERwoodWHICHTHESTONE(flowers)DU
PLICATES[Woodhenge,literally,fromtheair,WorldwarII,Ameri
canfliersitSAWthePOSTHOLES
:"GOTHICisSTONEONTOPOFWOOD
Quote(BrooksAdams,
TheLawofCivilizationandDecay.2ndEdition,1896)
"Beforetheopeningoftheeconomicage,whentheimagination
glowedwithallthepassionofreligiousenthusiasm,themonkswho
builttheabbeysofClunyandSaintDenistooknothoughtofmoney,
foritregardedthemnot.Shelteredbytheirconvents,theirlivelihood
wasassured,theirbreadandtheirrobeweresafetheypanderedto
nomarket,fortheycaredfornopatron.Theirartwasnotachattelto
bebought,butaninspiredlanguageinwhichtheycommunedwith
God,ortaughtthepeople,andtheyexpressedapoetryinthestones
theycarvedwhichfartranscendedwords."
TheNorse,whotraveledwidelyasmonksoranyoneelseinEu
ropedidnot,beforetheCrusades,beforetheFirstCrusadeHAD
BROUGHTBACKALREADYorweretransmitting,eventravelingin
theirwoodenboats,afurtherarchitecturetheCrusadersKnightTem

Page329
plarsvenitiifreemasonsCUTOFF(bytakinghome,likerightnow,too
cheaplytooeasilytoodemocraticallyfromtheshoppingcenterEAST
ERNGOODS(likerightnowpoorChinesepoorWESTERNGOODS
goodBenRusWRISTWATCHESonRADICALCHINESEWRISTSBob
DylanAmericanRIGHTS
IIINorsewas
movementof
Gothic"Guti"
Westpickedupalong
Russianrivers[onwayto
Micklegarth],taken
overtheOcean:"ironbog"
I'anseauxMeadows
L'ANSE,Promontorium
NEWFOUNDLANDIAE
CUTOFF,as,still:CUTOFFCambridgeshire
FENS
Thereisnogerund,norismetonomypossible
whenthematerial
woodstonegoldcolorblue
therateofratio1:1200

Page330
theLakeVanmeasure[forrepro.of
cosmiccondition]
isadheredto.Otherwise
thereisNOACTIVESUBSTANCE
NOCEREMONYOR
SUBSTANTIVEACTIONPOSSIBLE
Lightness
shalldescendshallnotbesoaring
vaultVAULTSHORED_UPBY
fromBASTIONS["Flying
volens:BUTTRESSES]
above:ashipKirchSantaClaraAssisi
isachurch
upside
down
TheMayflower
whichtookthePilgrimsoverhere
isstillabarnorchurchstructure
putdownlikeaboxoverfishdrying
ifthesunissostrong
onracks
intheWestcountry[still]

Page331

Page332

Page333
Note#5
Rereceivingtoday[November17th1965]TurvillePetre'sMythandReligionoftheNorth,andH.R.EllisDavidson'sGodsandMythsofNorthernEuropeputs
theVinlandaMapandCarpiniRelation"aByarnorepaetleiphosocijs"("discoveredbyBjarniandLeifincompany")inthislight:
iftheBavarianpoemMuspilli(c.830a.d.)is,say,awaytobegintoexpect'written'Norseliterature[Ynglingatl,byThjodolfofHvin,Mrs.Davidsondates9th
century],thesenew"discoveries"emphasizingNorseoccupationofNewfoundland,attheendofthe10thcentury,havetheadvantageofadding"Zone"firmnessto
"Strata,"inwhatshallcontinue,increasingly,tobeaninterest,inbothEnglandandtheUnitedStates,inbasalmatterofbothnationsasofthelanguagecalled
''English"
andtheconditionorattentionofpoetsofthesetwopeoplesoneithersideoftheNorthAtlantic.
[Oneisnoteither,insayingthis,leavingoutNorthmeninFranceandheradjoiningcoastsEastward,norRogerinSicily,especiallynotSwedesinRussiaandas
GuardsatMidgarthorConstantinoplethisenormousearlierdragnettingofEasternandSouthernlifebythismag'(k)nutoftheNorth(Norse"Swedes"Dansk
'Wickings'[touseF.YorkPowell,andW.G.Collingwood'spreferredname,andrecalltheirnotatalltobeforgottenScandinavianBritain,intheSocietyFor
PromotingChristianKnowledgepublication,of1908.]
Thedepth,andextent,ofthesetwotothreehundredyearsplus,before1200ADandthedecisiveretrogressiontoEuropeasamartandsteelyardCities,areinthe
presentcriticalchangeofaffectivefeelingtowardHistoryaltogether,andwritingalready,byyoungEnglishandsomewhatolderAmericanpoetsis'stealing'fromand
uptomaterials(andfeelings)whichportenddevelopmentsprobablyonlyequalled,inrefixingandextendingexperience,bythe"TeutonicMigration"[againtouseF.
YorkPowell,andtoplacetheScandinavianmovementsnowbeingmoreandmorebroughtintoplace].The'civilization'soughttodayrequirestheseimprovementsof
theknowledgeoftheNorthernpast,andthoughsofarallthislookslikesimplymorehistory,looksas

Page334
thoughthegainsareonlyinthe"facts,"theimportance(oftheseimprovements)canbeshowntohavealreadyeffectedlanguageandpoeticresults.
Itwouldnotbeanexaggeration,totakeonlyChristopherHawkes'workitself[or,recently,theexampleofhiscollaborationwithhiswife,andwithMrs.Davidsonon
theSwedishfindsinKent],tothinkthatinthis'Northern'displayofandbefore1000AD,andreachingintotheearlypartofthe13thcentury,onehassubstantiveand
textualfreshnesseffectingdiscourse,onbothsidesoftheNorthAtlantic,likeinfacttheimportanceofwhathasbeenhappening,inthelastdecade,allaroundonthe
otherside,onthebackofGreekandLatinlanguage.ThedeciphermentofLinearBbyMichaelVentris[andtheworksincebymanyothers,includingJohn
Chadwick],andnowthestrongpushtoseeifLinearA[thesame"sign"systemasB]isaNorthwestSemiticlanguage[orLuvian,orHittite,whateveritwill,inthe
end,showitselfas].Whatoneisfeeling,whowritestoday,andinquiresintotheconditionofmodernstatesandnations,istheemphasisoftwoMigrations,theIndo
Europeaninitsfirstexpression,onEuropeandtheolderNearEast,from,say,2100BCthroughsomethinglike1750BC[orontothe'Mycenaean'date,1550BC]
And,ofcourse,thecuriousretaking,ofmigration,bythe"Teutonic,"andScandinavianpeoples,inthelatterpartsofthefirstmillenniumAD,
andonlybeingbentbackbydevelopmentsalmostthroughouttheworldinthefirsthalfofthe13thcentury.
Thereissomethingmoreinteresting,andimmensehere,intheseattentionsandsuccessesofthelastfewyears,toseearoundbehindtheessentiallyThucydidean
historyprecedingusfor2500years[Toynbeesandsuchpeople,includingmostAmericanhistorians]togobackto'ground,'tohaveadipolarmethodology,tosee
languageandwritingashavingasmuchtodowithetymologyandrootinthissense,ofeventsofmenintheworldintheirtime,astheshockingandfoulingeventsof
thepresentareunexplained,because,thereasoningwouldseem,fromtheadvantageofthisnewknowledgeofthosetwoearlierstrikeouts[not"outages"either]of
whatinfactisa'same'people.[Sothatnobodymayseemtotakethisas"Silver"manthought,andthe"Goldbugs"seektotrytokeepanoldadvantage,mayIeven
remindthatitwasHyksoskingsinEgyptwhowouldseemactuallytohavepromptedorcausedthe"mi

Page335
gration"oftheNorthwestSemiticfromthedeltasoftheNile,toCrete,ifLinearAeventurnsouttobeSemitic.]The'case'anyway[andwhatwouldseemfromthe
flurryonthissideoftheAtlantic,ofthediscoveryoftheVinlandaMapwhatisn't,ofcourse,noticedparticularlyatall,istheecumenicalinterestintheTartar
Relationwhichgoeswith"theMap,"thattheleaderisoneofSt.Francis'earliestadherents,abrothersoablehewastheFranciscan'sfirst'ambassador'tothe
Germans,andwassousefulthereinEurope,andinPoland,thatwhentheMongolslookedasthoughtheywereinalllikelihoodgoingtosmashEuropeby1250[the
missionis12451247],itwasCarpiniwhowassenttoKarakorum,bythePope,toseeifhecouldsmokeout,aheadoftime,orinanywayforfendthedreaded
Destruction.
Thecareanyway,inanyofthis,istoimprove,orregainanattention,whichoffhandwouldseemtohavebeenlost,forEuropeand,subsequently,fortheWest
sometimearound1225AD,andcertainlydecisivelyby1250.Andthereafter.Ofwhichourevents,dreadfully,arestillapart.Nowonderpoetscareforfindingouta
bettersortsomewherelower,anddeeper,andinmorecarefulZonesandStratathantheirquiterecentcounterparts.
(1965)

Page337
OTHERESSAYS,NOTES,ANDREVIEWS

Page339
ErnstRobertCurtius
EuropeanLiteratureandtheLatinMiddleAges.TranslatedfromtheGermanbyWillardR.Trask.BollingenSeries36.NewYork:PantheonBooks,1953.
ItwastheyoungGermanpoetRainerM.GerhardtwhointroducedmetotheworkofCurtius.IhadaskedGerhardtwhatinteresttherewasinFrobenius,afterthe
war,ifmenofhisgenerationwerediggingthatmorphology.Heswore,andanswereddamnwellno,thatitwasCurtiuswhowastheirinspirer.
NowIgetit.Ishouldhaveknown.IhadsniffedtypologyinGerhardt'slongishpoem,"BriefanCreeleyundOlson."Inmyanswer,alsoalongishpoem,"ToGerhardt,
There,AmongEurope'sThings,"IhadopposedspecificsasmuchEuropeanasAmericantohisuniversalsofMetropolis.
ItbetterbeWalterPrescottWebbyouuseasbackfiretocheckthisbookofCurtius.Byadmissionitiswrittentopromotethe"Europeanizationofthehistorical
picture,"ontheassumption(Troeltsch,Toynbee)thatEuropeanculture,incontrasttoallother,isan"intelligibleunit"ofuniquecast,atonceancientandmodern,
easternandwestern,RomanandChristian,andthusworthyoftheclaimsofHolyMotherChurchherself,one,apostolic,anduniversal.
Idon'tknowwhetherIhadsaidit,butImeant,toGerhardt,gooutthebackdoorofyourinheritance.Ididsay,plantOdysseus'oar,don'tworryaboutHomer's
poetics.Curtius,doesworry.Hisbookhastodowiththosegreatnessessothattheremaybe,hesays,cultivationoftheEuropeantradition.
IwakeuptothefactthatweareinthehandsofahugePropagandaOffice.Itisn'tthecontentsofthisbookalone.Itisalso,thatitisthe36thvolumeoftheBollingen
Series.Whetherweknowitornot(andIdon'tknowthatWebbdid,nowthathehasdoneTheGreatFrontierevenif,inTheGreatPlains,hemadethe
importanceofbalingwiremostevident,aswellasthehorse,totheComanche)butitisabundantlyclearthattheMetropolisseeks,aswelloutof

Page340
ManhattanasoutofthechancelleriesofEuropeandWashington,todistractourattentionfromourgoods,and,fromthefiercenesstheyoughttohavetaughtus.
Whichsoundsaspoliticalandhortatory,asitis.IamtooengagedtoplayJacobtogetthegainCurtiushasalreadygivenmeinEuropebyareviewofmywork.I
mustshowhimthepawofEsau,orOdysseus'paw,asmuchasIdidtoGerhardt,whoalsomakesmeknownthere.Curtius,too,shouldhavethebirthrightofwhathe
wants,whatheandGerhardt,andallEuropeanssodesperatelyneed.
Including,Inowdiscover,theEnglish.IhadthoughtthattheLondonofficeofthismachinery,theNineboys(nowshrunktoonelittlePeter),wereTrojanEnglish,that
istosay,thattheirschoolboyRenaissancewasonlymoreoftheAeneid,moreofthatmodel,GavinDouglas,Milton,thatneedforaclassicism,Virgilthatbore,howit
hamperedBenJonson,andonlyinTroilusandCressidadidShakespearestopstuffinghisStatefiguresaftertheantiquemold.ButitturnsoutitisasMr.Churchillis.
Europeisonegenealogy,Curtiusisatthepainsthepoliticiansare,toprove.HomertoGoethe.AndStefanGeorge'sisthevision:
SpeakoftheFestival'snearness,oftheKingdom's
Ofnewwineinnewskin:butspeakitnot
Untilthroughallyourdullandtoughenedsouls
Shallrunmyfieryblood,myRomanbreath
Itis,ofcourse,baloney.Allismoreseriousthansuchrecrudescence.Anditisculture(history,whenitisEuropeanised)whichleadstosuchnonsense.Andgivessuch
decentfolkasGerhardt,Curtius,andhowmanymore,expectations.Whentheyshouldhavethepresent.Insteadofthegreatshittingfromtheskytheyhavehad.And
willhavemoreof.AndsotheylookfortheLegitimateChildtheyarepromisedwillcomeupoutoftheRhine,falselypromisedbyGeorge,andallleadership.
ButtheBrazos,too.Don'tforgetthatthefalsenessisuniversal.WhyonehastourgeCurtiustogooutthebackdoor,toleaveallfronts,isthatanyofus,America,
AsiaorEurope,isalsobeingslippedtheculturemitt.Andmustwearourhairyhands,wherever.ItisnottheBeastweareindangerfrom.Itis,theBeauty.Bergson
waswrong.Orhalfright.Thefabulatoryfunctionisman'suniqueness.ButwhenheusesittomaketheBauble?

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I'mgoingfancy.AndnoneofyouwillthinkIamspeakingaboutthisbook.ButIam.ForitisHerodotuswhoismostmissinghere,hewhoknewwhathistoryis.And
Webb,totheextentthathedidknowthatwheretalesaretodayisnotinstoriesbutinthings,inColt,revolvers.
TheGreatFrontierisnotover.Whatis,isMetropolis,despitetheappearances.Andmanagement.AndwiththemwhatTroeltschandToynbeehavemisledCurtiusto
lookfor:"fromthecrucibleofhistorismanewcompletenessandcoherence,agreatartisticsymbol,suchastheDivinaCommediaoncewas,andlaterFaust."That's
Troeltsch.AndToynbee?"Itwilleventuallybecomeimpossibletoemployanytechniqueexceptthatof'fiction,'"godcherishthelivesofeachoneofuswritingmen!
Theseliterateignorantmenwillhavethehairoffourhands.
Ibetterstop.IcanseeIamnotgoingtodowhatBlackburninsistsIcan't:think.Thatis,Ioughttodotwothings:(1)elucidatewhathistoryis,inthefaceofthe
historismnowplaguingallEuropeans,andsotheworld,byproselytizingfromthatcenterand(2)exposethe"phenomenologyofliterature"Curtiusthinksheisarriving
atthroughsucha"scienceofEuropeanliterature"ashetakesthepresentbooktobe.Itwouldbeeasytodoboth.Neitherhistory(tofindoutforoneself)nor
literature(whatissaid)isscience.ThatiswhatHerodotusknew.Oranyofusdoes,whoisatonceourgrandmothers(history)andourselves(whatwesay).As
Curtiusis,heissomodest,andhopeful,andcurious.Butnothismethod.Hehasbeencaughtbetweenthosetwodevilswhothreatenallwhoreadbutdon'twrite:
scienceandreligion.
Itallcomesoutinonesentence.Andthoughyouwillfeed,asIhave,ontheinformationinthese650pagesat5dollarsand50cents,becarefulofbothofthese
horns:
"Specializationhasthusopenedthewaytoanewuniversalization"
Itjustdamnwellain'ttrue.
(1954)

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ItWas.ButitAin't.
Herodotus.TheHistories.Thucydides.ThePeloponnesianWar.TwonewtranslationsbyAubreydeSelincourtandRexWarner,respectively.London:Penguin,1954.
ItislikethatBulldogDrummondmystery,ofleavingtheroominyourhoteltocomebackandfindthatthereisnosuchroom,themanagershowsyou,thereisnosuch
number,nodoor,nothingasyouhadhadit,norecognitionofyou,nobelongings,theregistrydoesn'tshowthatyoueverputupthere,youwereneverhere,youknow
theface,theplace,youwerehere,butallisbland,thesmilesareproper,theshakingoftheknownheadsoveryourbewildermentonly,nohelp,youdon'texistso
farasanyonehereletson.Youarethussuddenlywithoutaplace.Andyouarethusanonymous,youarewithoutaface,aname,clothes,setdowninthemidstofthe
cityanoface.Andnoteventreatedbadly,simplytreatedblandly,astheyarebland.
Itiscrazy,whereonehistoryhasleftus.YoudamnwellknowThucydides.Itisanyday.Itisasithasbeen.Itiscommodity.Butthedoorhasbeenerased.The
shrewdnesswhichranthehouse,thecuriositywhichledyououtintothestreet,thebusinessyoucomebackandallischanged.Theydon'twantyourmoney.They
don'twantyou!
Andtheother,Herodotus?ItisasthoughThucydideswantedtobesure,likethemanagerofwhatwasjustnowyourhotel,thatallyournonsenseabouthavinglived
here,thatthiswaswhereyourbelongingsatleastwere"wherearemythings,"youshout,"where'smyluggage,youbastard"thatallyourprotestationsarejust
whathesaysanyotherhistoryis,nottheequalofhiseyewitness.Thatevidence.Thatyouseethedoorain'tthere.Itwas.Butitain't.Youcanseeforyourself.Listen
tothehotelkeeper:
IdonotthinkthatonewillbefarwronginacceptingtheconclusionsIhavereachedfromtheevidencewhichIhaveputforward.Itisbetterevidencethan

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thatofthepoets,whoexaggeratetheimportanceoftheirthemes,oroftheprosechroniclers,whoarelessinterestedintellingthetruththanincatchingtheattentionoftheir
public,whoseauthoritiescannotbechecked,andwhosesubjectmatter,owingtothepassageoftime,ismostlylostintheunreliablestreamsofmythology.
Itwasaniceroom.AnditwasinSoho,neargoodrestaurants.YourfirsttimeinLondon.Thewholecityspreadoutbeforeyou.Oh,yes.Ohwhatintimations.Ah,
commerce.OEuropeRealcity!
ButnowyougotNoplace.Youain'tAnyface.YouisNoface.Wheretoturn?Towhomtoappeal?Affiant,whatwillyousign,doyouhaveevenhandstosignwith?
Ifyouread(asIsupposethesetwobooksarerepresentedtogether,andaretranslatedinamodernidiomsothatyoumayreadthemasyoumightreadbooksofyour
time,thus,assuch,theyareserviceableandcheap,onedollar,onecanhardlydodamagetothetexts,theywerepowerfulmen,andsomeoftheancientmethodof
tellingeitherofthestorieshasbeenfreshenedbysettingdownintofootnotespiecesofinformationwhicharenotimmediatelyrelevant,or,asthetranslatorof
Herodotussays,"interruptthenarrative"!),ifyoureadthemastwodifferentkindsofhistoryoftwodifferentwarsfollowingnottoolongatimeaftereachother,the
PersianandthePeloponnesian,well,youcan.Indeed,anyofuswill,tothedegreethatwedoknowwherewelive,thatweareinthishouse,itisawinterday,the
fireisinthegrate,thesethingsdidhappen,atleastonecanbesureThucydidesdidhappen,menasstateswillcontinuetobelikethis,politicsisasusualthepursuitof
gain,thisisthesourcross,andtheruewillbeyoursourgracethatyouarehereinaroomwithanumber.
Onlyyouain't,quite.Modernityisdonein.Youhavecomebackfromshoppingandnobodyknowswhoyouare.
NowtheadvantageofHerodotus,inthissituation,isofthesimplest:hesaysthevoiceisgreaterthantheeye.Ifyoushoutifyoutellyourstoryhelistenstoyou.
Hedoesn'tgiveyouthatnodandfingerwhichdestroysyou,wagging,andsaying,look,youain'tthere.Hesays,yousayso?OK,Ibelieveyou.Truthiswhatissaid,
not,whatisseen.Yourownreportisgoodenoughforhim.Yousayyoulivedhere?OK.Youdid.Thesethingshappenedtoyou?OK.Signhere.Yourname,
please.That'sall.Yourgoodswillberestoredinjustaminute.Yousee,welimedupyourroomwhileyouwereout.Wemadeawholenewhall

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way.IfyoulookcloselyImean,closelyyou'llseethefaking.Therewasadoorhere.Onlyit'sgone.That'sallright:we'llfixyouupelsewhere.Withabetterview.
Gladyoucalledus.Thecustomer,isalways,right!Thankyousir.
Theolddoorisgone.AndIsupposethemostcuriousthingaboutthepresentisthewaythenewdoorain'twhatitsmakersintended.Itturnsoutoneisdamnluckyto
beturnedout,tohavetoscreamattheblandonesthatonedamnwelldidlivehere.Onehastoinsistthatoneisbecauseonesaysso.
AndwhereThucydidesisloadedwithalltheseaccuratestatementsofdeputations,ofallnationalists,Herodotus,whowashimselfamigrantandknewwhathappens
whenmenhavetoberecognizedforwhattheyare,nottowhattheybelong,isalwaystalkingofmenandthings,notofsocietiesandcommodities.Itisverynicetobe
soaddressed.Ithelps,whenoneissuddenlyoutinthecold.Heremindsus.
(1955)

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HomerandBible
CyrusH.Gordon.HomerandtheBible.Ventnor,N.J.:VentnorPublishers,1956.
Animportantthingisdonehere:an''EastMediterraneanliterature"isblockedout,asofandinside1400BC,ofsuchsizeandimportthatHomer'spoemsbelongtoit,
theOldTestament(throughthePatriarchalnarratives),recentlypublishedLateEgyptianstories,andtheRasShamrapoems.Gordonisthefirst,tomyknowledge,to
pushtheliterarytotheconclusionwhicharchaeologyandphilologyhadalreadypointedtothatthereissuchaprehistorytoHomerandHesiod,thattheoldestofthe
OldTestamentcanbepulledinfromvaporousreligioussourcesandpeggeddownasatextwritteninaknowableperiodofhistory,andthatthe"Phoenician,"
properlyCanaanite,istheswitchhousefromwhichitisdone.Gordon'sadvantageisthathehasmadehimselfthescholarofUgariticandhastranslated(Ugaritic
Literature,Rome,1949)thepoeticandprosetextsfoundatRasShamrasince1929anddatingfromtheearlyyearsofthe14thcenturyBC(whatisknownasthe
AmarnaAgefromthetabletsfoundatAmarna,Egyptin1887).
Anyonewhodoesn'tyethavethispictureandhistory,asavailable,hasbeenslowtocatchupwiththefindsofthepastseventyfiveyearscangetafasttakefrom
Gordon'sswiftfirsttwentypagesofsummaryanddeclarationofwhathedubs'EastMediterranean':Creteasthehub,theGreeksandHebrews'new'onthestagein
theseyears(Knossosfell1450BC),CanaanandEgypt'older'oneitherside,andtheHittites,thoughGordonslightstheminthisbook,inAnatolia.
Beyondthat,andbecausethefirsttwentypagesaresovaluable,onedoesn'twanttokeepanybodyawayfromGordonbyquestioningwhathedoesinfortyfour
morepages.Itisafamiliarthing.InsuccessivechaptersheusesthesepoemsandnarrativestodescribetheEastMediterranean"Society"

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whichproducedthemcommon"War"matters,differencesandlikenessesof"Gods,ReligionandRitual,"andof"Styleandldiom."Itisthedrag,comparative
literature,andthereisloss.IamnotpersuadedthatMr.Gordonmeanstopaythatprice,themoresothatheshowshimselfcapableinhisfirstpages,andhasgivenus
poems,butheseemscaughtthereafterinadilemmathepracticeofphilologydoesinvolveitsownin.Asascienceoflanguageitdependsuponthecomparative
method.Muchofitsfinestworkresultsfromit.Buttherecomesthemomentwhenthewritingexists.Withit,whatshouldthephilologistdoandnotdo?
Totakeitinitsownsteps.Oncearchaeologyfindsanytabletswithinscriptionsortext,philology'sfirsttaskistodetermineanddecipherthelanguageinwhichtheyare
written.RecentlyMichaelVentrisdidforCretanwhatimmediatelyearlierGordon'spredecessorsdidforUgaritic,othersagainearlierforHittite,andinthelastcentury
wasdoneforSumerianandEgyptian.
ThenandMr.Gordonisasuperbexampleofthesecondstep(asS.N.Krameris,inSumerian,andHansGterbockinHittite)thereisthejoboftranslatingand
establishingthebodyoftheliterature,sofarasthediscoveriesmakeitevident,andatacertainpointenoughdoesaccumulatetogetthethinginhandandoutthereas
apartofallwriting.
Uptothispointtheworkofthescholarisallgain,andprime.Butatthethirdstepphilologyisdifferentlyconfronted.Weliveinanageinwhichinheritedliteratureis
beinghitfromtwosides,fromcontemporarywriterswhoarelayingbasesofnewdiscourseatthesametimethatsuchscholarsastheabovearemakingavailablepre
HomericandpreMosaictextswhicharethemselveseyeopeners.Itisatremendousmoment.Butifthewritersknowit,dothescholars,ifamanasgoodasGordon
doeswhathedoeshere,atthethirdstep,usesthesetextsforsocialhistorywhentheirnewpowerbelongsstrictlytothefactofthemselves,callsthemepicandspeaks
ofanheroicage,usesthemforsuchsecondaryandtypologicalinterestwhentheepicitselfhasbeenatomizedinourtimeandreconstituted,andtheheroic,whichis
theotherfaceofthesamedimension,isunderasfierceanexamination.Somethingiswrongwithamethodwhich,fruitfulinitsfirsttwostages,doesthisdeadthingin
itslast.ThefaultisnotGordon's,ortheothers'.Itisahabitofmindwiderthantheliteraryapplicationalone.Ithasdeanimatedhistory,spilledmuchethnology,and
mythology,spreadnothingbutmisconceptionofpsychology,andonlyproduceditscreature,thepseudoscience,sociology,whichisthemeasureofthe

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dirtcomparisonis.Whocaresforlikeness?Alikenessrecognizedisonlysomethingtomoveinfrom,untildifference,whichisidentity,isfound.Tostopatany
likenessistostayinthebath.EquilibriumisLaodicean.Onemustdisturbit.Itisalie.Itain'ttrue,atleastitain'tgoodenough.Oritisatruthforthosewhosleep.You
know,evenaglassofwater,won'tspillonthismattress!
Actuallyofcourseeverythingspills.Nothinghasorganization.Thereisnowilltoconstruct.Whocandoanythingwheneverythingisshowntobelike?Onesuccumbs.
Thetruthisthereisnoglass.Thereisonlywater.
Thisisthedanger,inthecaseinhand.Ifthesenewtextsaretakenbythecomparativehandleatthethirdstep,alltheirenergies,whichareofsuchpleasureandusefor
writingnow,nowthatwehavethemandtheyareearlierthanHomer,arewastedagainintothesandsfromwhichthesemenhavereadthem.Theymustresist.They
mustnottrytobehistoriansaswell.Leavethattothosewhowanttopracticeitasadiscipline.Itcanbe.Butittakestimeandenergyandaprecisionthesemenhave
puttolanguages.Historyisn'tanyeasier,either.
Thereisarule:theverylikenessesanddifferenceswhichmakecomparisonpossibleinthefirstinstance(whenathingisbeingdrawnoutfromthegeneraltothe
uncoveringofitsownspecific)must,themomentthethingisseenforitself,servethedetailsofthethingforeverafterandneverreturntothegeneralorthelifeofthe
thing,whichlivesbyitsdifference(itisdifferencewhichisthefreshnessbywhichanythingstaysopen,itsownliteralandparticularness)willbelostagainintothe
general,fromwhich,byallthelabor,ithasbeendrawn.WhenMr.Gordonstaysthatclear,hecandothis
"Para.31.Homericdorp(lliad19:208'food,ameal,'hasnoplausibleIndoHittiteetymology.ItisidenticalwithEgyptiandrp,'tofeedofferfoodto.'SincedrpisattestedinOld
Egyptianofthethirdmillennium,itappearsthatitmovedfromEgypttowardGreece,viatheMediterranean."
Otherwise,whenheistellingusMoses'staffofGodisthesameastheGreekaegis,theverythingheestablishes,aliteratureofsuchanorderat1400BC,shrinks,
andoneendsaskingoneselfis1400BC,andthiswriting,notactuallylessimportantthanhesaysitis!
Whatweneedismoreofthetext,alwaysmoreofthe,text,noendtotheworkthatcanbedone.Morelightoneveryword,everydeviceofsyntax,eachdifferenceof
morphologyinstructureandinform,untilit'salllaidclear.Whentheattentionisthatsteadyandintense,staysthatway,thereisnothingbut

Page348
gain,onallsides.EventhehistorianscanlearnfromthemovementofawordstemfromEgypttoGreeceviaUgarit.Anystaticing,anysettingupofapatternexcept
intheinstantofthedeclarationofit(noproving,noprovingplease)tellsanuntruthwhichthetextsthemselves,iftheyareanygoodiftheywereworthtranslatingin
thefirstinstancewilldisclose.Itisnotthatheborrowedthattellsanythingaboutawriter,butwhatheorshe(saySappho)doeswithitwhatHomerdidwith
parallelismwhenheorGreekgotit,notthefactofit.Likewisewordslikeepicandheroic:typology.Tellsnothing.Instantlyevident.Howwasheepic?Whatdifferent
waywashe?Orhisageheroic?Andtheseclosestudiescomefromadheringtothetext,attendingtoitasthewriterdid,inwritingit.
OntheverylevelatwhichGordonthinksheisthrowinglight,byshowingtheinternationalcharacterandfusionof"NearEastculturesculminatingintheAmarnaAge,"
apredecessor,withoutwhatGordonknows,didsomethingfiftyyearsagowhichisoneofthegreatcriticalservicesyetdonetowritinginthiscentury:inLes
Phniciensetl'OdyseBerardkepthisattentionsostrictlytohisthingthathisinvestigationintotheSemiticrootsofthepropernounsoftheOdysseyhastoldusthe
onlynewthingweknowabouthowHomercomposed.Anditfitspresentindependentdiscoveriesabouttheepic.Itwasdonein1902,1903(not,asGordon's
footnoteonBerard'sworkcouldmisleadareadertothinkingaccidentally,Ibelieve,heismerelyrecordingthemostavailableeditionin1937).*
Itisthisbusinessoftakingtheedgeoffnewdiscoverywhenthestuffhasn'tevenbeentakenintothebloodstreamofthepresentwhichmakesliteracyasitisnow
practicedsuspecteven(andthisistheproblem)whenonehassomuchtothankamanlikeGordonfor,thathedoesinsistthere's600yearsyoupeoplebetterget
onto,andIhavealreadyofferedyouawholenewfeastofpoemsyouneverevenknewexisted.
SoIshutup,urgingGordontotakethetopandthebottomofhisdiscoveries(thesurfaceofCanaaniteverseaswellastheinteriorsofitandoftheseothernew
literatures)asholdingdimensionsanddynamicsmoreimportantthantwothirdsofhisbookletsonheknows.
(1957)
*Istressthedatesimplythatscholarshiparound1900seemstohavebeenextraordinarilyclearatthethirdstepatleastofthecomparativemethod:JaneHarrison,asanother
example.Andthereareothers.

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BillSnow
BillSnow'sthirdcousinsaidyesterdaywearequiteasophisticatedsocietyandhadapoetreadapoemforhimandthenationatthatcousin'sinaugurationasa
presidentoftheUnitedStates.Allright.
Bill'slivedintheperiodbetweenandbetween.TheonlytimeIeverdidareviewofabookwaswhenIwastwentyanditwasBillSnow'sDowneast.Andthisisthe
onlytimeIeverdidanintroduction,excepttointroducemyfriendCreeley'sstories10yearsagoandonhismotherorhisfather'ssidehecomesfromHeadtide
Maine(theSheepscotortheDamariscotta).
It'sthesecularIdon'tthinkisgoingtogooutofourbonesyetandBillSnow'sIrishIndianSnowappetiteforappetiteiswherehekepttherunnerontheice,or
sledpathintothewoodsturningEnorthlyontheNsideandnotinanywayinfringingonsledpathtobe4rodswide.
Like,form,andfunction?Thesoulisasdoubleasthebody,andifyouaddupfourfunctionsformstillisoutthewindow.Bill'shadsensationforhissideeachtimehe
hasrecalledaconditionoflifewhenyoungsuchasasnowstormontheislandtotheWofSpruceHeadIslandwherehisfatherwasamemberofthecoastguard.
It'sascandalhowlazyallhavebeenforacenturyonwhatwentonintheUSfortheprevioustwocenturies.AtWaldoboro,orThomastonbettereven,onelooksat
housesstraightintotheeyesofthepeopleoftheCivilWarandyoucouldexchangePittsboroNorthCarolinaforeither,howunifiedformandfunction(speakingof
thehumanuseofhumansocietynow,notpoetry)were.SpeakingofpoetryonedoesneedthenalsotomarkWaltWhitman.Iamthinkingofonepoemofall,"Trickle
Drops."Thereafteranyenlargementlookedsick,andanyhumanism,ofwhichtherehasbeenonlypracticallytogetthatclimacticorquotableline,orgouptothetop
wheninfactthepoetbetterhadbeen,asaDemocrat,SpeakeroftheHouseofRepresentatives.AndImean

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FrostnotSnow.ItwasRosieMcGrawactuallywhounifiesBillwiththeFitzgeraldsandthusbringsaboutthiscuriousconnection,atthisdate,ofBillwithpolitics.
Only,Irememberhimasearlyas1904ataDemocraticRallyonVinalhavenandalreadybilledasProfessorSnow.
Imeangreen,andignorant,Ijustcan'tcatchonthatweasasocietyorasindividualsareasknowingasthoseborninthiscenturytakeustobe,and,whichseemsto
betheimmediatecorollaryandbywhichcourageissuddenlyanewwordinthedictionary,thatwearesurroundedbyenemiesandmuststayfit.Itsoundslike
athleticismtome,andwhenallthatisisonlydemonstratedbyselfconsciousnessofthatitis,gamesarebeingplayed.I'dgostraightfromNaturetotheWorld.Ifform
everdidlieintalesandonshortstretchesofdistancebetweenpersonallyknowntownsalreadytheCollectorofPortDutiesonWoolinthecityofLondonin1390
hadhadit.Andthentherewastrickledrops.Andthentherewasnone.Courageisknowingeveryfearandheroismisacomplementarityofsame,notatalltobe
identifiedwithit,andthereasonwhythesecularstillmakessenseisthatitputsthesetwoheadstogetheragain,rightnow.Ican'timagineaclosenessofdetailwhich
canerrasagainstthebiggestandthepowerfullestnationonearth,whicheveroneitisorwillbeortheleastlocalscene.Manismuchmoreofapowerthanhis
accentorthemosthecanmanagetoreferto.Thisiswhathashappened.Onecan'tstareanymoreorholditinside.Lincolnistheonlyfaceworthlookingatofallthe
39or38Presidentses,andthatevenwastheendofthat.Underthemushroomthereisn'tevenathingwhichisn'tsolelymoreofitself.Thiscertainlyiswhat'snowtrue.
Andtherebyhangstalespoemsactsandmenwhichwillgatherupeverythingandrollallupintotheballliketheweevilgettingthere.
(1961)

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AHouseBuiltbyCapt.JohnSomes1763
Mendon'tfollowmen
theyfollowmen'sideas
Diderot,forexample.Ihatethespiritofstreets.Thespiritanywayofthisnationwentawayatsomepointoftimebetween1765and1770andamanbornaboutthen,
thereforeasonratherofthosemenwhomadetheRevolutionwasalready,inthefirstyearsoftheNineteenthCenturycryingusdownaccuratelyJamesFenimore
Cooper,thatearly.AllwhichwritingincludingthehumpupoftheMiddleofthe19thCenturydidinsistuponandMelvillehadalreadypassedAmericanartoutinto
thegeometrywhichaloneuntiltimereentered,about1948waswhatwasmakingthingspossibleagain.
WhatitwaswhichdidbreakinthemomentoftimeintheEighteenthCenturymusthavebeenwhatGinoClayshassaidI'msureaswellasanyone,thatwhenmenare
stillputtingdownhousestoliveinandworktomakefoodtheearthisstilllivedon.WhenthatbreaksCaptainSomes'houseonLowerMiddleStreetisthe
possibilityatitslastmomenthereonthenewcontinentwhenitbrokeallhadtobebegunagain.ThecritiquebyCooperwassocompleteallafterwassimplygoing
toliveitout,untiltodayoratleastuntil1949.Anychange,anynewchance,hadtobetowardearthnot(againGinoClays)notacross.InsideoftheworldClays
says.
ThemenoftheRevolution,allheroes,areallFalseIdentities,TimeoftheirAgeServants,goodmeninthatsenseofDeismwhichdoesn'tgoawayatall,evenright
nowtheideaofGodismostlythatArchitectorGardenerorAFineCellistafterdinner,orStateAccomplisher.ActuallyNoahWebster,likeCooperisabetterEnd
ofthatthanallthoseprolongations.
IwasaGnostic*possibly,Iain'tanylongeratleasttomypresentproblems
*AGnosticor13thcenturyMuslimsenseoftimeasintense

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somethingneitherBuddhistnorGnosticwilldo,butbecauseideasareonlywhatlive,ortheFormsideasaretheStatementof,itwouldbeveryvaluableifwehadnow
acompletelyIndoEuropeanizedAmericandictionaryandanencyclopedia*whichwasatleastunhamperedbyanypremiseofwhatknowledgeisexcept,inthat
form,allthatisknown.Already(asCreeleyhasrecentlypointedout)almosteveryonewhopicksupatallaregoingonsomethingasslackastheirowninformation
andthereisonly,asCreeleygoesontosay,asmallbody(ofwhomDornisanexample)whoreallywanttoknow.
ThisissimplyalsotoplacemenlikeGinoClayswhohavetheotherclarity:Iamgoingtobereborninsidetheworld.Thereismigration,andthereisn't,thereistime
andnoholesinit.
CharlesOlson,
forTedCrump,
April10th,1962
*Anencyclopediaequallyofroots,ratherliketheEncyclopediaofReligionandEthicsnow,includingsaythedifferenceofthevalueofthedeciphermentofLinearAasagainst
thedeciphermentofLinearBetc.

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TheAdvantageofLiteracyIsThatWordsCanBeonthePage
ABibliographyontheStateof
KnowledgeforCharlesDoria
Thatthearcheologicaldiscoveriesofthepastcenturyhavesupplied,directlyfromtheground,substantiveandnarrativephysicalitytopreviouslydiscursivelanguage
andthought
thatthisistruewhetheritistakenasSchliemann'stoBlegen'sconfirmationofHomer'sliteralgeography(VictorBerard,asearlyas1904(?)arguingtheimportofthis
onHomer'scomposition,andLeoFrobenius,asearlyasthat,viaAfricanremainsandhisownactualfieldexperience,demonstratingthecriticalimportanceoforal
memory,thatepicthefragmentofDausiepicfoundbyhimamongtheSonike(?)sayasexampleisinfactcriticallyearthishoritdoesn'toccur,thatlogography
andthemuthologoticareinfact,prosetopoetryandpoetrytoprose,oneearthboundmatter:
orthatitistakenliterallyinthediscoveryinthegroundnearLatakiaofUgaritictablets,thusapoetryofsomelinesbeingthereforeagainnew,orthatHittiteand
SumeriantextandpoetrycannowbeplacedbesidetheactuallanguageandcompositionofRigVeda,itselfretainedorallyfromadatepriorto1750BCthrough
someEnglishmanforthefirsttimegettingitintowrittenandthereforereadableaswellaspreviouslyhearablefor4000years,besideCelticsocialorganizationofthe
Tarakingdom,literallytheplaceofwrestlerspoetshistoriansaswellascooksandqueensinthetentsoneachnewgroundoftheclockwisemovementoftheO'Neils
aroundthe12kingdoms(wasit?)ofIrelanddate6thor7thcenturyAD(repeatingorconfirmingsocialorganizationandadministrationrevealedintheRigVeda),or
besidethePoeticEdda,possiblythelast'classic'addedbeforethepresent,900AD(?)disclosingacosmologyHesiodseemspurerofthanHomer.Butinanycase,
leavingitwhereitalwayswas,andstillsomuchis,ontheGreekclassic,thereistheadvantagethatHerodotuswasthemostlikeHomerofallhissuccessors.

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Iftothisarcheologicalgainofthepresentoneaddstheotheronewhichranpriorbutcurrenttoit,thatthelanguagesoftheworldwerefoundtohaveafamilyand
homeasliteralasisnowknownthatSumerianscameintotheriverbasinoftheTigrisEuphratessometimearound4000BCfromthenortheast,thattheSemitic
peoplesarenotdesertpeoplebutcomefromaregionsouthoftheCaucasussomewhatfixedaroundArarat,andthateventheAmoritesstiratthesamedatethatthe
IndoEuropeansappearviaorfromMaikopatbeforeorafter2100BC,onehasetymologyaswellasalphabettowritewordsby.
Ihavecalledthisartlogography:andbelievethatthediscoursewhichmakesitpossiblecanalsoitselfbedefinedasthemythological,andthatthisinitsturnatthisdate
canbespecified,sothatgestureandaction,bornoftheearth,mayinturnjoinheavenandhell,canbecalledproprioception.Butthisissimplytomakesurethat
perceptionisrefoundtobeprimaryormorphological,andthatconceptionisputbackwhereitdoesoccur,thatitisgeneticbutonlyeventousethatwordasgenet:
earthwasgenetinanorderoftime.
Onewantsphenomenologyinplace,inorderthateventmayrearise.Thereareonlytwofactsaboutmythologywhichcount:thattheyaremadeupoftalesand
personages,inplace.Wordsthenarenamingandlogographyiswritingasthougheachwordisphysicalandthatobjectsareoriginallymotivating.Thisisthedoctrine
oftheearth.
Youaskedmeforacurriculum.IamproposingarearisingoftheOlympicGame:thepublicisthebody(TantalusfoundedthoseGamesbyunhitchingthelinchpinof
thechariotofthefatherofthegirlhewanted,thenruleroftheplacewheretheOlympicGamesdidstart.TantaluswasaHittite.YouatleastCharlesDoriaarea
Hittite.Theprivateisabody.Languageisonlypublicaswritten.
IntroductoryNotetotheBibliography,
writtenDecember9th,1963

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ReviewofEricA.Havelock'sPrefacetoPlato
Thisbook,byattendingwithcompleteattention(anactinitselfpartofdevelopmentsinthephenomenlogyofattention)topreciselywhatPlatodidmean,inhis
RepublicbypoetryandattendingtothisfromPlatobacktoHomerandHesiod(HavelockassertsthatpoetryasPlatomeantitisasmuchormoredirectedatthe
epicasattragedyorotherlyricpoetry)isofsuchimportance,becauseofhowitisdoneaswellasthecompletecapitalsubjectsitthereforeraises,thatIamgoingto
goontheassumptionthatitmaybethatinthisbook,forthefirsttime,somethingthathasbeencalledcriticism,andliterarycriticismatthat,uglyasthatwholematter
hasbeen,ishereraisedtoalevelwiththedevelopmentofhistoriographygenerally(inthepast85years)andthatHavelock'sPrefaces[heproposestwomorein
ordertotaketheworkbackthroughthepreSocraticstoHesiod]canprovetobetheonlyworkincriticismwhichisrelevantatalltodevelopmentsinthoughtand
poetryoverthepast150years.Therefore(tobeginaseriesofnotesonHavelock,ratherthananythinglikeareview)Ishouldlikefirsttotakeoutofhispagessome
oftheresultsofhisstudies,andofothers,intowhatwasdifferentaboutthepoetryofHomer,andofHesiod,towhichPlatodidtakeobjectioninorderthebetter
himselftosupporthisowninventionofanotherepisteme,ofhisbeliefinadialecticofSocrates'order,andthoughthisislater,butalreadyimplicitanewsenseof
metaphorwhichbecomes,inAristotle(cf.thePoetics1457)apartorparcelofthePlatoSocratesgeneralizationsystem,speciesgenusandanalogy,similarityand
contiguousness,includingletitbeemphasizedtheperiodicsentence:
(1)that[thepoetryofHomerandHesiodwasbasedon]awhollydifferentsyntax,towhichNotopoulos(1949)hasappliedthewordparataxisinwhichthewords
andactionsreportedaresetdownsidebysideintheorderoftheir

Page356
occurrenceinnature,insteadofbyanorderofdiscourse,or'grammar,'aswehavecalledit,theprioranactualrestingonvulgarexperienceandevent:
(2)Zielinski,1901,andliterallythereforealmostcontemporarywithPlanck,wassayingthat'time'insuchpoetsasHomerandHesiodcannotadmitofintervalswhere
nothinghappens,thatthereisnosuchthingasnothing,andthatthereforeyoucannotleapover,youdothereforenecessarilytraverse,inwriting,andanyoneevent
seriesoncenarratedfillsuptheavailabletimespace.Thereisnowhilebackatthefarmsequencepossible.Theepicactionisastreamandyouarenotfreetoplay
aroundjumpasthoughyouwasonthebankortheotherorinthewateratyourchoiceorprivilegeorpleasure,thatyoueitherisoryouisn't,definitely:
(3)Fraenkel's(2nd.ed.1960)isanotherlovelyindicationofwhatthedifferenceofHomeris:thatHomerisinnocentofanyconceptoftime,andchronos,inthe
idiomsinwhichhedoesuseit,coversperiodsofwaitingordelayordoingnothingliterallydoingnothing,not'nothing'andthatitwasthroughwaitingthatthe
experienceoftimeisborn,thataday,literallyaday,ishowitis,thethingitselfthebusinesspossibleandthereportwhereofthereonthereafterrepeatsslowlyor
howeveryoudoitjustthatswiftly.
Thereismuchmore,andonecouldsayalot(andIdodeliberatelyleavetheadvantageousstatementsofNotopoulosonthatother'syntax'unstated)butthereisone
quotedstatement(fromCollingwood)whichdoes,insomanywords,setthecontrastgoingwhichoughtbynowtobeafreeingmatter:
Thegeneraldistinctionbetweenimaginationandintellectisthatimaginationpresentstoitselfanobjectwhichitexperiencesasoneandindivisible:whereasintellectgoesbeyond
thatsingleobjectandpresentstoitselfaworldofmanysuchwithrelationsofdeterminatekindsbetweenthem.(Collingwood,R.G.,ThePrinciplesofArt.Oxford,1938)
ThankstoMr.Havelock.
Buffalo,1963
1)Thatwerequiremapping.Bytopologicallawthattheproximate:amicrocosmisliterallyasabsoluteastheotherone,and,infactthatsomethinglikeripples.But
inanycasethatasyntaxofappositionis'true'tothe

Page357
'order'whichdoesobtain.AndtherebyeventdoesexistintheotherdiscoursewhichislostbyThucydides,andthereafter,whetherinproseorverse.
andthatdothaorjudgmentarisesfromthismoreaccurateparatax,orismademorepossibleasanexperienceofexperience,visiondreamseeming[doxa]sittingin,
andtheselfrising:fromthescud
2)a'time'ofthesortZthendidanalyzeastrueofHomer(infactwithalmostnoadjustmentsexceptthoseofpossiblygreaterindividualgenius)IndoEuropeantime
sense[plusDausitobesureanAfricanexample,whichprobablyalsoisetc.tobeincluded]thusinherentinlanguageasmuchinexistencenowasthen,atleastif
possiblythereisanylimit,IndoEuropeanlanguage.alsoasmuchpresentthereforelexicallyasifthereisadistinction
3)thatknowingisnotseparableas(psyche:logostheothertermandimpossiblythereforesuchathingasepistemeequaltodogma)andthatthereflexiveandthe
notive
AddednotesSundayNovember25th1963
3rdPart
ThatthetimenowforsometimehasbeenpostAristotelianandthattherewaspreAristotelianconditionofdiscourse,hasnowtoincludePlatoandSocratesandto
seethesetofthemasproposingtochangesociety,conceivablythemostconspicuousattempttodosopriortothepresent,andwedon'tevenknowwhatitdoes
meantochangesocietycomparablytohowtheydidengagetodoit,somuchofourowndiscourseisinfacttheirs.Thussocialchangeinthepresentisboringlysocial
andunequallyrevolutionarytotheirs.
Itwouldseemtomethatthisisbecausethemostmissingunderstandingofwhattheydiddoisdialexis,atwhateverdatethatwordevenmighthavecometohavethe
meaningofanactualactionofdialogue:dialecticaldoesmeanonetoone,andanimmediatedischargeofmentalengagementinwhichthewillandthemindarelike
aggressivemotoractions,andarecomplimentaryinthattheydocomplimenttheotherpersonengaged,asthoughtherewasaonetoonepossible,asthoughthe
conversationwasbetweenusandameetingofmindswaspossible.Itissocializing,andrelational.
Onewantsthereforetoenterthisringonadifferentfooting:itisn'ttrue,andhaslefttheuniverseout,substitutingforitapruneorwrinkledgrape,the

Page358
social.ApoliticsoftheorderoftheAthenianThreehasnomorepersonoretheainithasonlyapsycheofhalvetologosandtheirfalseconjunctionsupportedby
aninventedepiteme,aninventednouninsteadofaparticiple,astretchingneuterizingandsisingofprobablythesingleverb(verbal)whichstoodinplaceasabowat
rest,andthethingswhichflyandsplitthemarkequallysittinginthestatepriortousethanasociety(social)ofanorderequaltoorderitself.Thewholeslipto
discourse,deliberatelymountedtosupplyaneducationandStateastheresult(causeandeffect)ofanartificial'person'andanequallyshrunkensocius(company)
endedupinHegel,andinMarxplus,themodernliberalcompanionship.Notonlydoesmaterialism(insteadoftechnology)becometheappetiteofthecontemporary
person,satisfiedbythegoodsaloneandacreditmarketaswellasthedebtedNation,butequallythenewmangrapegazesuponspaceasthoughhecanreturnviait
totheparadise,oftrees,onwhichallthefruitsdogrow,aconversationwithsomesuperioritsfromanotherplanet.Nothingnotoption,oftheindividual,andacoming
together,whereepisteaisthefilthyHost,thoughttobefood,andEranosisquiteexactly(agape)thefunction(oralformulaic,StephanitestheunholyAthenianThree,
viaHegelMrakandFreud.Itdoesnotnegate.Itisnotcapable.
Thereisnocolloquy.Societyisasinheritedorderis,entropyisasisthebole(boul)ofPerson:bornyouis,ofyourMotherasyouareviathepartplayedinit,of
Yourfather.ThereturnUpthetreeisasdecisiveasthepartyouplaySuspendedinthegenesis,thatyouwereborn.TheTreecomesdowncoloredbytheairsand
lightofthedatum.Thereisadiscourse.Thereisagrammar.Thereisasentenceyoudohave.Ithappensalsotobeamotiveofthingsthatyouarenot,butwhichyou
doexactlyinsomesenseinwhichtheAthenianThreewereaftersomething,theywere'after'(meta)somethingelse,whichprecededthemattendto.Youarenot
freethanotherwisetoperceive.
This,then,wouldbetheconversation.
NoteaddedDecember6th,and
inanticipationofanything
further

Page359
AFurtherNoteontheCriticalAdvantagesofEricHavelock'sPrefacetoPlato
Knowledgehaschanged.Activeuseisitsnonconditionedpriorandnowoncemorearoseuse.If50yearsagohistoriographyapprehendedoncemorehistoryand
Timethensomepointquiterecentlythat,initsturn,turnedthiswayandIamsatisfiedthatEricHavelock'sPrefacetoPlatodenotesthatchange.Mypointinsaying
thisistoawakenanyonewhoreadssuchrecentmastersasJosephNeedhamorMirceaEliadetonotetheabsence,intheverybestoftheirthought ,ofdistinctions
Havelockexamples:viz.,discourseandpolitics.NeitheroftheaforementionedmenseemtohaveanyexperienceofachangeofthesortitseemstomeHavelockis
ingrainedof,andasaresultlacktwoquotablestatementsgoingbeyondanythingtheyareabletoyield:
(1),thatthegodsandheroesofmythologyaremetaphors
and(2),thatbothgodsandheroesareconspicuousandpublic.
Saturday,April17,1965

Page360
StatementfortheCambridgemagazine
Therearesymmetricalthings
don'tletafilthyrelativisticgreedy
overoccupiedthermodynamicsocietykidyou
thatthetheoryofgamesorthetheoryof
probabilityresemblesanything
butamiserablesecondratesupport
forthemselves
That'sthefirstthing.Andtheother
&therearen'tnomoreissimplythe
wholeareatheyoccupywiththeir
incredibleerrorsofetcis
thesubstanceof
allbeing
whatdoes
goon,&isalwaysgoingon&
is
[exceptforthecomplete
recognizablesymmetryofinstance]
condition
(February1964)

bronzeApolloofPiombino)
Page361
Acomprehension(ameasure,that
theperiodfrom
Capt.Somes'houseMid.St.Gloucester
1760tothisdatenow
acomprehensible
periodoftimeisdittotheperiodfr
HomerwritinglliadOdysseyto3equals:
HeraclitusBuddhaand
the1stidealyouthor
Venusstatue,allcirc.
500BC(Heraclitusdies
480,and
that'sdateof
Kritios'Ephebe,
after
allwithinthiscomprehensibleperiodoftime,206yearsfromCapt.Somes(Homer700,orevenmaybe675)andtodate:1966equaltoHeraclitus,Buddha,or
BattleofSalamis,480
thatfromIndoEuropean''poems"iliadOdysseyandevenafterthem,Hesiod'stwoorthreealso"last"IndoEuropeanpoemsisnolongerfrom"present"moment
1966thanthespreadtojustastheAm.Revolutionwasbreakingout:as'little'asCaptSomes'housetwofamiliesofWebbersrightnow,address20(?)Middle
Andthatinthatkindoftimeeverything'went'infactinlessthanonehalfofit,thatis,byHermanMelville'sClarelsay,atwovolumenovelintetrameters,

Page362
thelyrickSapphoandAlcaeusdatewithin75yearsofHomer!!!(100atthemost!)
andHeraclituswhohadalready"ruined"thought(byfeaturingthenewpostIndoEuropeanconceptofsoulaspsycheanddoingthisbytheprimaryerrorof
analogyaslogicinsteadofimageoractualnesslikenesstolikenessinsteadofasthecomparison,makingan"image"(imago)outofit),Heraclitusisexactly
contemporarytothosebloodyperfectsculptures("statues'')or,asSnellsaysinsomanywords,belongsto"theeraofthelyric."Ours,since1763!
bibliography: G.S.Kirk,Heraclitus,TheCosmicFragments,p.3Bruno
Snell,TheDiscoveryoftheMind,p.17SirKennethClark,
TheNude,p.57bottom&over
Addalso:G.Else,Origin&EarlyFormofGreekTragedy(1966)p.61,top
Add,please:
StuartPiggott,PrehistoricIndia,p.255
Also,todateHomer,see: G.S.KirkFascicle,forCambridgeAnc.History,#22onTheHomeric
PoemsasHistory,p.10
P.S.toprevious'Argument'ofAComprehension(ameasure)
Iamforcingit,tothatextentthatonewantsitclearbynowthatthelyrickistheripplewhichprecedesKlassicalreachingtheshoreandthatthathappens,thelyrick,
inacenturybothbefore&includingHeraclitusandonly(beiteventhemorenoticednowthatthealphabetizationofGreeceissettledatafter725BC)acenturyor
lessaftertheformalsettinginwritingofthelliadandtheOdyssey,withHesiod'sTheogonyandWorksandDaysstillconsideredlaterthansuchredactionofHomer.
Thereisthenafreedommuchcalledforatbothends:the'attack'byPlatoonpoets&poetryalreadyhasasserteditselfinfragments57,40&41ofHeraclitus,dating
say505whenhewasinhis40sorataround480wheninhis60sandonewantsnowatheoryofcomposition,acapacityofpoemwhichasL.J.D.Richardsondoes
sayoftheSophia,theplainabilityofHesiod,togo

Page363
backtoMycenaeanpractice,andman'sabilityovermechanics.Wearethenunloadingboththisend,2550yearsafterlyrick,andacquiring,inthefaceofignorance,
poweritselfevidentinanearlierGothic(theoneEuroperoseby)datingfromMycenaeanatleastandMycenaeanitselfonlyoneofthedevelopmentsfollowingon
thegreatestsinglemovementyet,ofman&language,theIndoEuropeandispersion(fromsay1900BCto1400,afirmdatefor"Mycenaean"assuch).
Suchmattersas,eachwordfollowingontheother,andthattheworldofthingsisn'ttheblockthelyrickthrowsinthewayofnatureandHesiod'sepistamenosto
describethemannerofhisowncomposition,belongstous(aswellasthatSophiaofhis,&CelticandNorseandVedicpoetsandArthurianEnglishtaletellers)
Epistamenos,WorksandDays107.
(1966)

Page364
"Clear,ShiningWater,"DeVriessays*
Wishing,inthatsense,tostartatthebottomor,infact,togetthere(thatis,bytheetymologicalpartofta'wil
thereisthiswholeoldhatbusinessofthreesomethingsisters,ortripartsofwhomanhood((Imeantofcoursetotypewritewomanhood,or,simply,Womanorif
youtakeitbyGraves'sAHistoricalGrammaroftheLanguageofPoeticMyth,MuseorwhathetherecallstheWhiteetcGoddess,
theeasiestandinterestinglyenough,thecompletest,rightstraightacrosstheboardisWebster's2ndInternational,underwhicheveroftheIndoEuropeanlanguages
oneseemstotakeitby,viz:((IcameinonitthroughNona,fromtheLatin"Three"(Nona,Decima,andMorta)))
faten.4[cap.]Class.Myth.Thegoddess,oroneofthegoddesses,offateordestinyesp.,pl[L.Fata,pl.offatum],thethreegoddesseswhoweresupposedto
determinethecourseofhumanlife.InGreekmythology,theyarecalledtheMoerae(seeMOERA)
quotetheorlookattherestp.795
*AltgermanischeReligionsgeschichte(Berlin,1957),Vol.II,p.380.

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Nowifyoudogothenext,andpenultimatesteptoNORNyoucomeintotheheartofthematter:there,whethertheoneorindexinggoddess,likeMOERA,or
MORTAintheLatin(alsoPARCAaswell,eachoneofthemcomingfromafurtherestrootaroundMERwhichultimatelyIbetterbeatpainstoshowthecomplete
tieupof,inadecent,flexiblebundleaboutlikeasGravesishappilywittilyabletoknowiswhatatleast,evenwithallhisspreadonthe"WhiteetcGoddesslikethey
say,is,infact,Alexander'sGRAMPIANKNOT(ImeanofcourseGORDIAN)
soyouwillfind,NORN,oneeitherA.S.WyrdandNorseUrth,whichsuddenlyrunsThree,Urth,Verthandi,andSkuld,orPast,PresentandFuture,twogiving
blessings,thethirdills,oflife,ifyoucanbesopatasthatastheDictionaryisandis,infact,simplerandstraighterthanagooddealofClotho,Lachesis,Atropos
handoutswe'veallhadonthissaidimportantsubjectenoughtosinkusanditasasubjectsincewewerelikeschoolchildrenforsure.
IstickthenontheselaterAngloSaxon,NorseduplicatesofLatinGreekLithuanianetcbetterknownIndoEuropeanwordsofthesethreewomen.Ortridivided
Woman,asUrth,orWyrd.Itgetssomewhere.
II
OnesuddenlytalksattherootsoftheWorldTree.Icanreferyou,forthemostcarefulmodernidentificationshere,toTurvillePetreMythandReligionoftheNorth
(London,1964),pp.246,277,279,and280.ForitisofcourseSnorriSturlason,whomay,asPetreisanxioustosay,be"toosystematic,"butheequally,asHesiod
hassooftenbeenfoundandsayamongcontemporarycosmologists,Whiteheaddogmatic.HerehowevertruthorVerthandi(Verdandi)placesupitsownwild
singlenessandsayslikeanyherbmyefficacyliesinmyuseasisnotinsomebyeproductoralternative.
InanycaseIwantmoretoturnthisonefurtherandlasttwist(onewhichTurvillePetrehimselfwellknows,thatUrthandWyrdarethemselvesprobablyvertere,and
domeanmillstoneturning,gristorspun(AtroposisinhermeaningInflexibleand"Last"simplyatropos,nottobeturnedorunspunbackwards,thereforelikeEND
ofsceneEtc.Morta.(merxmercis2SMARroot,'ascribe.')Allright.

Page366
ItisMrs.Davidson,H.R.EllisDavidson,inGodsandMythsofNorthernEurope(Baltimore:Penguin,1964)page26,whogivesSnorri'spicturestraightest
perhaps.InanycasetranslatesVerthandi(Verdandi)as"Being"(sofairlyonewldsupposePresent)andSkuldas"Necessity,"thuslosingperhapssomethingofwhat
TurvillePetreholdsinhiswordFutureorill.Butinanycaseasshesaysthetreewascontinuallythreatenedatwhichthesethree,asitswaterers,andcarers,worked
atitsrootsdailytopreserveitslife.Itisthe'poleofMimir'(mimameidrmeithr)(Davidson,p.194)
oranotherobscurenamegiventothetreeisMjodvidr'meadtree'(p.195)
oritissimply,look,lookatwhatthesethistripartitetheWhiteMuseorGoddesscalledallParcaeetc'names'isinfact,like,doing
InstituteofFurtherStudies
July1st,1968

Page367
What'sBackThere
Itbeginstocomeinfromthefarendaswell.Weareagrossandchronologicalpeople,hadnoundergroundorpreviousgroundofconductandwhatwaswiped
out,onthebackend,atthenearesttowaswhatstill'scalled"Phoenician"[liketheGreek,andtheJewishandnottheEgyptian,whichhad,itself,stayedinthe
ground,orthere,forsights,inEgyptuntilNapoleon].
Howtobackthehorseintothetail.Thatwasoneproblem,anduntilLinearBandnowCyrusGordon,therewasAlbright.(StillthoughIwantthatperi
MediterraneansyllabaryroundaboutallthoseFarEasternseapersons'waters[of,still,thoseshores,thatsmallpreAtlantichyperRedwaters"andbaysthereunto
appertaining"]
<><><><><><><><><><><><>
DoriaandIhavethiscompact:4original"Phoenician"survivalsonly.[NotyetanysignofanHerakliadthoughplentyreasonstothink,still,shallbe.]Sanchuniathon
[T.L.Webster,Italy,didexist(viaLinearB's1400&backwards)].JohnMalalas
Etc.
Sothereis,signsofthisawakening.
Gloucester,December1968

Page368
TheAnimateversustheMechanical,andThought
Gravity,infact,butpreorpostmechanics.Thatis,noteffect(Newtonian)norproof(Recent)butexperiential:phenomenological,perceptional,actionable.
Orthefactthatplants,bystarch(statoliths),turgorandageotropismasmuchapartofaplant'ssensiblenessasitsheliotropism,hasatthetipsofitsleavesandthe
endsofitsroots"standinggrowingresponding"actions(itshinges,ofleavestostem,aswell,sofarasturgorgoes,andhas,ifandas'weight,'gravitational'history.'
Infact'history,'as,inthatsense,differencefrom"astronomy":thatevent(inMerleauPonty'ssensenarrative)isaperceptualthatwldbeprimordialelementof
experiencesomuchsothatit'carries'throughoutthesystemthesystembeing'Creation'as'element'(or'weight')asprofoundasanymechanicallymeasurableor
demonstrable'truth'thateventinshororheredecisively'history'asmustisaconditionoforganism.(Above'Animate.')
Andthatanypresent(Present)'thought'('Thought')requirestheinsistenceofthesetipsandends(as,earlier,CosmologyMythologyhasledmeDogtown,and
Hesiod,MaximusPoemsIVVVItobelieveendsandboundaries(Hermesorallnomoi:'laws'againstcannibalismthievery)are'spaceactivities'in,Creation
nowIamproposinganevenmorefundamental'tropism':thatonecannot'think'evenbecauseonecannot'act'evenwithoutsuchlimitsasthe'lines'ofbeing,both
intheplantandtheanimalmeaning,'animate.'ThatallmostRecentthinkinghashadthis'exaggeration'ofkineticormechanical,'measure.'
Whichinitselfis'astronomical'(Clio,byinversesquareofthedistance)insteadofUranian:distancebyinversesquareoftheevent.The'event'beingnowmost
decisivelygravity.ThegreatunadmittedlimitactuallyHermetismoralchemism,thusOuranianismofexperience.

Page369
Eventothescienceor'time'ofsame:thatanythinginexperiencedintheweightormatteroftheorganismisnottransactedtraversedthus'carried,'or'known'ina
decisive,andtheologicalor'moral'ethical(inthemeaningethos,orcaveofbeing)sense.
SoIambacktoanimate,plantoranimal'perception'senseofthefreshnessintimeofthenarrativeorhistoryasatoneormode&soactivenessof,forahuman
being,'Creation':thatthereisno'knowledge'ofthecrucial(axialtropistic)senseofanything,includingthe"Universe"orthe"Self,"exceptbythis'Time'phenomenon
offreshnesswhichAnimateness,inandbyitself,asinitialofexperience.AndsoantiNewton,andantiEinsteinofHistory.(Forwhichinstantaneouslyread
'narrative'(asitsonlymeansMemory),orEvent.
Wearehereandherebyunderimage(theotheronlyofthetwotracksofformgestalt,ifyoulikemorphologyequally,ifyouwant(to,thatis,andinpairto,
genetic).Image.Imagination.(Thought,consciousnessandsenseperceptionchieflyitself,anddominantlyopticaltelescopicphoticaresecondary
phenomenon.Or,activity.Thefundamentalessentialandexperientialactive(whatIamhereinsistingistheunbelievablyleftoutbutunbelievablypowerfulandsole
human'power',viz(quote):
oftipandend
ofgravity(geotropism)
/Godistheaboriginalinstanceofthis
creativity,andisthereforetheaboriginalconditionwhich
qualifiesitsaction/
IfIrightthenandthereobviateanyModern(orboringKierkegaardFearofGodMindedness)bysubstitutingtheequallylimiting(thoughequallydipolarword
AnimateofthispresentationPrincipiaorDeMotumovement,motionmatter,Ihavemyargumentperseinthesewords:
TheAnimateistheaboriginalinstanceofactivity,andisthereforetheaboriginalconditionwhichqualifies(limits,intheeventor'History'sense'Time'sense:
Hermes,or'Ekatick'sense(Iristheonlypartchild,otherthanhisBrotherandSisterchildrenof'God'thewaterorturgor'test'oftheGods
aswhethertheyareor

Page370
arenottelling'truth'testedandfailing.Theyareabandonedby'God'from'hisHouseofMountain'forprecisely'9'Years
(Comeback(:
TheAnimateistheaboriginalinstanceofactivity,andisthereforetheaboriginalcondition(gravity)whichqualifiesits'action'(meaningofcoursethenmorethanever
whatmakesgravitygravitationmagnetic((asopposedordipolarof,andtoelectronicweliveinaprescribed'kalpa'ofTimespecificallytheElectromagnetic
Epoch))
Sofinally:
Theanimateplantoranimalistheaboriginalinstanceofouroccurrenceandisthereforetheaboriginalconditionwhichqualifiesdefinesbothinfactand
act,includingtheformmakingusefulnessofouraction.
(Andmy'point'hereinordertoplace'time'initsproperandtruepowerfulrelationtospace(theCliohere,thoughtheUraniathere,and,byinversionofthe
powerfuldimensionoftimeas'smaller'thanspace,themultipleor'power'itproperlyis,theUraniahereastheretheClioIaminshorttryingtoexposeall
astronomyphysicsandmentalnessortelescopic,opticalvideoideinthoughtasnonEventasnonUraniannonhistoric)
thatThoughtitself,withoutthisanimateadmission,entrancelimit,isoverextent(overExtension=Spatial)andsoremoved,byoneremove
unessentialandsecondaryandthatwithourlimitasbeingbothplantandanimal,Thoughtthenas'ours'isaboriginalofPrimordial,andso
Consequent.
Theimportofthiscanquicklybestated:manasLove(plant,heliogeotropic)growsupanddown,manasseparateness(animal)disposesofhimselfbysitiochooses
hisplacebutwhicheventhoughitgiveshimfreedomdisposeshimlikewisebygravity(statolith)starch,turgor'weight'ofmass)equallytropistically.Heavenand
Earth.
Gloucester,28FortSquare
Feb.15th(LXIX)

image:of
innerbeing
thatwe'are,'catchesboth
(Ishldthink)oftheoriginary&continuouslyprimary'matter.'
Page371
1stAddition,aftersomeslightstudiesintopresentscientificunderstandingof"gravity,"toTheAnimateversustheMechanical,
andThought:
Gravity
[orforwhichreadhappily&allowablygravitationalwaves,toalladvantages]are'narrative'inthesimplefactthatwestandup&therefore'move'inthewidest
possiblealle[literally,alleanywhereanywhere]
&thesoundsense
[Saturday,April19th
*IcldnotethatnothingthatDr.ForwardortheHughespeopleorDr.Sinskyhavecomeup[with]contradictstheabove.Theyfindthatthereisnomaterialwhich
refractsgravitationalwaves,norcansuchwavesbeledalongconductorslikeelectricalwaves.
Icldsuggestthenthatbothfactswldseemnotsomuchnegativeasevidencerequiringawhollydifferentattitudetowardthem,theoneIhavealreadyputin'our'terms,
thatis,thatnomaterialrefractsthemtheycan'tbebentorfocusedbecausetheyalreadyare('narrative').Areintime.And(2)don'tconductbecauselikethe
figuresunderthehilltheydosomethingelse,directly.Figure,andeventthen,putit.
Theenclosed,hopefullywillalsopushthediscussionanotherinchortwoOTomakeabsolutelysurethatthisdiscussionisonthetableintendedbyit,Ioughtas
welltoaddthisnote[asafurther"Addition"andasof"other"

Page372
studies]:thatIamhereseekingtospeakwithin,oracrossthe'range'ofaprincipleoflikenesswhichincludes,andseeksto'cover'whatHenryCorbinremindsmeisa
constantlyaffirmedhomologyamongtheinitiaticcosmos,theworldofnature,andthecelestialworld.
[NoteaddedApril30th,1969]

Page373
ContinuingAttempttoPulltheTaffyofftheRoofoftheMouth

Page374

Page375
ABBREVIATION
WorksbyCharlesOlson
AP AdditionalProse,ed.GeorgeF.Butterick(Bolinas,Calif.:FourSeasons
Foundation,1974)
ARCH ArchaeologistofMorning(London:CapeGoliardPress,1970)
CP TheCollectedPoemsofCharlesOlson,Excluding''TheMaximusPoems,"
ed.GeorgeF.Butterick(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1987)
FH TheFieryHuntandOtherPlays,ed.GeorgeF.Butterick(Bolinas,CA:Four
SeasonsFoundation,1977)
HU HumanUniverseandOtherEssays,ed.DonaldAllen(SanFrancisco:
AuerhahnSociety,1965)
MAX TheMaximusPoemsofCharlesOlson,ed.GeorgeF.Butterick(Berkeley:
UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1983)
MIG MaximustoGloucester:TheLettersandPoemsofCharlesOlsontothe
EditoroftheGloucesterDailyTimes19621969,ed.PeterAnastas
(Gloucester:TenPoundIslandBookCompany,1992)
MUTH Muthologos:TheCollectedLecturesandInterviews,2vols.,ed.GeorgeF.
Butterick(Bolinas,Calif.:FourSeasonsFoundation,1978and1979)
Nation ANationofNothingbutPoetry:SupplementaryPoems,ed.GeorgeF.
Butterick(SantaRosa,Calif.:BlackSparrowPress,1989)

Page376
O/CC CharlesOlsonandCidCorman:CompleteCorrespondence19501964,2
vols.,ed.GeorgeEvans(Orono,ME:NationalPoetryFoundation,1987and
1991)
O/CS "TheCorrespondences:CharlesOlsonandCarlSauer,"ed.BobCallahan,New
WorldJournal,Spring1979,pp.13668
O/FB "CharlesOlsonandFrancesBoldereff:WhoWillBringItUp,MyLute?The
FirstLettersoftheCorrespondence,"ed.RalphMaudandSharonThesen,
Sulfur,no.31,1992,pp.11860.
OJ Olson:TheJournaloftheCharlesOlsonArchive,nos.110,ed.GeorgeF.
Butterick(Storrs:UniversityofConnecticutLibrary,19741978)
O&P CharlesOlsonandEzraPound:AnEncounteratSt.Elizabeth's,ed.
CatherineSeelye(NewYork:GrossmanPublishers,1975)
O/RC CharlesOlsonandRobertCreely:TheCompleteCorrespondence,ed.
GeorgeF.Butterick(vols.18)andRichardBlevins(vol.9)(SantaBarbaraand
SantaRosa,Calif.:BlackSparrowPres,19801990)
PO ThePostOffice:AMemoirofHisFather,ed.GeorgeF.Butterick(San
Francisco:GreyFoxPress,1975)
SL SelectedLettersofCharlesOlson,ed.RalphMaud(Berkeley:Universityof
CaliforniaPress,forthcoming)
SV TheSpecialViewofHistory,ed.AnnCharters(Berkeley,Calif.:Oyez,1970)
SW SelectedWritings,ed.RobertCreeley(NewYork:NewDirections,1966)
ManuscriptCollections
Buf. ThePoetry/RareBookCollection,UniversityLibraries,StateUniversityof
NewYorkatBuffalo
Storrs CharlesOlsonPapers,ThomasJ.DoddResearchCenter,Universityof
ConnecticutLibraries,Storrs

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ANOTEONOLSON'SSOURCES
CallMeIshmaelis,ofallOlson'sprose,themostdenselyworkedthroughquotationthemajorityofthequotationscomefromMelville(especiallyMobyDick),here
citedtotheNorthwesternNewberryeditionsofMelville'scollectedworks.OlsonhimselfownedtheStandardEditionofthe1920sMelville'sletters,uncollectedat
thetime,heknewfromanumberofsources,includingmanuscript.
QuotationsfromShakespeareareherecitedtoTheRiversideShakespeare,ed.G.BlakemoreEvansetal.(Boston:HoughtonMifflin,1974).
OurgoalhasbeentosupplyfullbibliographicinformationforallquotationsandtoidentifythemostimportantofOlson'ssources.Wherepossible,weprovideboth
originaldatesofpublicationandcitationtocurrentlyavailableeditions.
ReadersdesiringarichersenseofOlson'ssourcesareurgedtoconsultRalphMaud'sOlson'sReading(Carbondale:SouthernIllinoisUniversityPress,1996),aswell
asGeorgeButterick'sinvaluableGuideto"TheMaximumPoems"ofCharlesOlson(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1978).

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EDITORS'NOTES
CallMeIshmael
1CallMeIshmael
Olson'sfirstbook,namedafterMobyDick'sopeningline.Thetitleisespeciallyapt,foroneofOlson'schiefconcernshereisMelville'spaternityaswriter.(The
biblicalIshmaelisAbraham'sscornedson,borntoHagartheEgyptian.)TheheartofthebookisPartII,adiscussionofMelville'sfilialdebttoShakespeare,but
Ishmael'sfocusisnotsimplyliterary,andMelville'snonliteraryprogenitors(suchasOwenChase,whosestorybecomes"FIRSTFACT")areoflikeimportance.
AsmadeclearbytheepigraphapoemofOlson'sowncompositionthegoalistobringtolight"asone."
Writteninaspurtin1945,CallMeishmaeloriginatesinOlson'sM.A.thesis,TheGrowthofHermanMelville,ProseWriterandPoeticThinker,submitted
inJune1933atWesleyanUniversity.AsubsequentOlinfellowshipmadepossibleatrackingdownofMelville'slibrary,includingMelville'sannotatedcopyof
Shakespeare'splays.InthisOlsonlaidthefoundationfortwofoundationalbooksinMelvillestudies:MertonM.Sealts,Jr.,Melville'sReading:AChecklistof
BooksOwnedandBorrowed(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1950),andWalkerCowen's1965Harvarddissertation,Melville'sMarginalia.
OlsonhimselfrecordedhisdiscoveryinapaperwrittenforF.O.Matthiessen'sseminaratHarvard,whereOlsonwasadoctoralcandidateinthenewlyformed
AmericanStudiesprogram.WithEdwardDahlberg'sassistance,arevisionofthatessaywasplacedinTwiceaYear1,FallWinter1938.Asubsequent
GuggenheimfellowshipledOlsontoforsakegraduateschoolinordertowriteabookonMelville,thoughhisattemptsatsuchabookwereunsuccessful.From
1942until1945heworkedforthegovernment,intheForeignLanguageDivisionoftheOfficeofWarInformation,andfortheDemocraticParty.WithF.D.R.'s
deathandtheendofWorldWarII,OlsonreturnedwithrenewedattentiontoMelville,researchingthewhalingindustryattheLibraryofCongressandrevisiting
hisabandonednotesanddrafts.Themanynamesofsupportersinscribedinthefinalversionindicatehowtortuousthepathhadbeen.
IshmaelisoneofseveralimportantstudiesthatfollowedinthewakeoftheMelvillerevivalofthe1920s.Writtenintheabsenceofscholarlyeditions,thebookis
partlybasedonarchivalresearch,andonnotesandinsightssharedbyalargelyunknownandunpublishedcommunityofscholars.Sometimesthesharingshaded
intocompetitionsometimesthecompetitionbecameunderhanded.Disaffectionwithconventionalacademic

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lifewasprobablyinevitable,andby1951,inhis"LetterforMelville"(CP,23341),OlsonwasofferingpublicexcoriationoftheMelvilleSociety.Henonetheless
maintainedcordialrelationswithmanyMelvilleans(JayLeyda,RonaldMason,HenryMurray,MertonSealts)andcontinuedtopublishsurveysofMelville
scholarshipuntil1958(see,e.g.,"Equal,ThatIs,totheRealItself").
Arguably,itisthecompositionofIshmaelthatledOlsontodiscoverhimselfaspoet.In1953,atBlackMountainCollege,hewouldwrite:
Mypresentpurposeistoattackestrangement....
Itstarted,forme,fromasensingofsomethingIfoundmyselfobeyingforsometimebefore,inCallMeIshmael,itgotitselfputdownasspace,afactorof
experienceItookasofsuchdepth,width,andintensitythat,unwittingly,Iinsisteduponitasfact...bytellingthreesortsofstories,...whichIdubbed
FIRSTFACTS....
IknewnomorethenthanwhatIdid,thantoputdownspaceandfactandhope,bytheactofsympatheticmagicthatwordsareapttoseemwhenonefirst
usesthem,thatIwouldinvokeforothersthosesensationsoflifeIwassmallwitnessto,partdoerof.Buttheactofwritingthebookaddedathirdnoun,
equallyabstract:stance.Forafteritwasdone,andotherworkinversefollowed,Idiscoveredthatthefactofthisspacelocatedamandifferentlyinrespectto
anyact,somuchsoandwithsuchvexationthatonlyinversedidIacquireanyassurancethatthestancewasnotinsomewayidiosyncraticandonlysignof
thelimitsofmyowntalent,onlywretchedevidenceofthelackofmyownengagementattheheartoflife.(OJ10:9596)
3CARESSECROSBY...EZRAPOUND
WhilelivinginWashington,D.C.,inthe1940s,OlsonvisitedPoundatSt.Elizabeth'sHospitalfortheCriminallyInsane,wherePoundremainedincarcerateduntil
1958,havingbeendeclaredmentallyunfittostandtrialfortreason.Poundrecommendedin1946thatOlsonsendthemanuscriptofIshmaeltoT.S.Eliotat
Faber,andthoughEliotturnedthebookdown,Pound'sinterestappearstohaveconvincedtheNewYorkfirmofReynalandHitchcocktogoforwardwith
publication.OlsonmetCrosbywhileoperatingasPound'ssecretary,andthetwobecamelifelongfriends.In1948,Crosby'sBlackSunPresspublishedOlson's
firstbookofpoems,Y&X.
Apartfromacknowledgingthesedebts,Olsonmayhavewantedfollowinghisbook'sthemeandtitletoinscribeIshmaeltotwoliteraryparents.Ifso,his
Melvilleworkhadcomefullcircle.Olson'sfirstcopyofMobyDick,theModernLibraryeditionof1926(preservedwithOlson'slibraryatStorrs),wasapresent
fromhismotherandfather,inscribedwiththefollowingpropheticinjunction:"Wheno'erthisbook,youcastyoureyes,/ForgetyourstudiesandMobylize./Each
minutespent,somethoughtshouldbring/OfGloucesterscenes,andyouroldViking,/Dad/&Mother/Dec.27,1929."
5Ofahter,fahter
FrancesBoldereffwroteOlson,20May1949,"IloveverydeeplythelinesattheopeningofCallMeIshmael.AretheyearlySwedish?"Areturnletterof23
May1949answered,"TheyareearlyOlson."(O/FB154,155)
7Contents
Olsonhimselfpreparedthistableandapparentlyintendedtheminordiscrepancies

Page381
betweencontentspageandtext.AsAnnChartersnotesinOlson/Melville:AStudyinAffinity(Berkeley,Calif.:Oyez,1968),p.27:"Headingthecontentspage
is'FIRSTFACTisprologue.'Onthesectionpagefollowingitinthebookis'FIRSTFACTasprologue.'Notamisprint,forOlsonexplainsintheessay
'ProjectiveVerse'that'is'comesfromtheAryanroot'as,'meaning'tobreathe.'TheFIRSTFACTbreathesprologue."Inafootnote,Chartersunderscoresher
interpretationwithreferencetoapersonalcommunicationfromOlson:"OlsonverifiesthattheCapeEdition(London,1967)ofIshmael,whichhas'FIRSTFACT
isprologue'onbothpages,isinerror."
11FIRSTFACT
ThestoryOlsonrecountsherederivesprincipallyfromOwenChase's1821memoir,NarrativeoftheMostExtraordinaryandDistressingShipwreckofthe
WhaleShipEssex,ofNantucket,consultedbyMelvillewhenwritingMobyDick.(MelvillequotesfromtheNarrativeinChapter45,"TheAffidavit.")Among
Olson'ssourcesforthelaterlivesofthesurvivingcrewmenareMelville's"memoranda'ontheEssex,scribbledinacopyofChase'smemoir,andquotedbelow,at
pp.2933.
17fromFolsomCavetonow
The"Folsomsite"isnot,infact,acave,butanopenquarryoutsideFolsom,NewMexico,whereGeorgeMcJunkin,ablackcowboy,discoveredaflint
spearpointin1927nearthebonesofanextinctbison,pushingbackto10,000yearsagothedateofhumanhabitationofthecontinent.Olsonmaybethinkingof
SandiaCave,outsideAlbuquerque,alsooccupiedbyIceAgehumans,discoveredadecadeaftertheFolsomsite,in1936.HementionsSandiainPleistocene
Man(NewYork:InstituteofFurtherStudies,1968),acollectionofletterstoJohnClarke:"IcanconfidentlyASSUREYOUAmericaALREADYHASPLENTY
OFHISTORYforustouseourabstractpowersON:...Sandia,bugeyedpoormortalslivingcenturyonMillen[n]ialookingouttopofmountainHOMEon
WATERWATEREVERYWHERE"(p.8).TakenasarebusofFolsomsiteandSandiaCave,"FolsomCave"standsasanearlyexampleofOlson's
"logography.''In1963,in"TheAdvantageofLiteracyIsThatWordsCanBeonthePage"(pp.349,350),Olsondefines"logography"(wordwriting)astheuseof
"archeologicaldiscoveries"tosupplyan"etymologyaswellasalphabettowritewordsby."
17thefirstAmericanstory(Parkman's):exploration.
FrancisParkman,nineteenthcenturyAmericanhistorian,authorofTheOregonTrailandFranceandEnglandinNorthAmerica(partthreeofwhichis
LaSalleandtheDiscoveryoftheGreatWest).Inan18February1952lettertoRobertCreeley,Olsonwrites,"Parkmanasyouknowisoneofthosemen
Idonotreadenough(never,e.g.,readOTitisstillLASALLE,or,THEDISCOVERYOFTHEGREATWEST,onwhichIbasealmostallthatIhavesd."
Olsonalsowritesinthisletter,"ifeelsooftencaughtjustbetweenexactlyParkman's&HM'smotionsstillgoalonglookingforthewaytoforceParkman's
materials...toservethisthingwhichhasalwaysstoodtomeasHM'sdrive:theimage."(O/RC9:13031)

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19OrtegayGassetputsit
JosOrtegayGasset,RevoltoftheMasses(NewYork:W.W.Norton,1957),p.160:"TheGraecoRomandoessufferanextraordinaryblindnesstothe
future.Hedoesnotseeit,justasthecolourblinddonotseered.But,ontheotherhand,helivesrootedinthepast.Beforedoinganythingnow,hegivesastep
backwards,likeLagarijo,whenpreparingtokill."Atranslator'snoteidentifiesLagarijo("TheLizard")asthenicknameofa"wellknownbullfighter."
19asFenollosasays
ErnestFenollosa,TheChineseWrittenCharacterasaMediumforPoetry,ed.EzraPound(1936SanFrancisco:CityLightsBooks,1968),p.24.Olson's
earlierstatementabout"Logicandclassification"mayalsoderivefromFenollosa,whospeaksagainst"theinveteratelogicofclassification"atp.27.
21Thiswashisproposition:
Inthe1850essay,"HawthorneandHisMosses,"ThePiazzaTalesandOtherProsePieces18391860,ed.HarrisonHayford,AlmaA.MacDougall,G.
ThomasTanselle,etal.(Evanston,III.,andChicago:NorthwesternUniversityPressandNewberryLibrary,1987),p.246.
21hiscrew,a'people,'ClootzandTomPaine'speople
In"KnightsandSquires,"Chapter27ofMobyDick,orTheWhale,ed.HarrisonHayford,HershelParker,andG.ThomasTanselle(Evanston,III.,and
Chicago:NorthwesternUniversityPressandNewberryLibrary,1988),Melvillewrites(p.121):"TheywerenearlyallislandersinthePequod,Isolatoestoo...
eachIsolatolivingonaseparatecontinentofhisown.Yetnow,federatedalongonekeel,whatasettheseIsolatoeswere!AnAnacharsisClootzdeputationfrom
alltheislesofthesea,andalltheendsoftheearth,accompanyingOldAhabinthePequodtolaytheworld'sgrievancesbeforethatbarfromwhichnotverymany
ofthemevercomeback."Melvillerefersto"Clootz"(areferencepickedupfromCarlyle)inTheConfidenceManandBillyBuddaswell.
23wewhalemenofAmericanowoutnumber
From"TheAdvocate,"Chapter24ofMobyDick,p.109.
25bottomdogs
NodoubtanallusiontoEdwardDahlberg'sautobiographicalnovelofthesamename,publishedin1929withanentroductionbyD.H.Lawrence.Olson'scopyis
inscribed"TOCHARLESOLSON/whosegeniusIbelievein&againaffirmfromhisdevoted&lovingfriend,EdwardDahlberg/Nov.21'38
N.Y.C."(OJ2:72).
25Iinserthereadocument
Nowincludedunderthetitle"Melville'sAcushnetCrewMemorandum"asaneditorialappendixtotheNorthwesternNewberryeditionofMobyDick.First
printedin1921byRaymondWeaver,inHermanMelville:MarinerandMystic(NewYork:GeorgeH.Doran,1921).

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29Usufruct
Therighttotakepossessionofsomeoneelse'sproperty,temporarily.ThematerialthatfollowsisincludedasaneditorialappendixtotheNorthwesternNewberry
MobyDick,pp.97195.
31Ipublishthesenotesforthefirsttime
PaulMetcalfgivesoneversionofhowOlsonobtainedthenotesinEnterIsabel:TheHermanMelvilleCorrespondenceofClareSparkandPaulMetcalf
(Albuquerque:UniversityofNewMexicoPress,1991),pp.7475:
Seems[HowardVincent,thenwritingTheTryingoutofMOBYDICK,andCharlesOlson]werehavinglunchtogetherinCambridge.Howard,whowasnotcompetitiveorparanoid,
mentionedexcitedlythathehadjustdiscoveredMelville'scopy,withmarginalnotations,oftheOwenChasenarrative,thesinkingoftheEssex.Olsonhittheceiling.WHEREIS
IT?Howardblandlytoldhim,somecollectioninNewYork.Thismaybeexaggerationbut,beingOlson,itmaynot:hegotupfromthetablecaughtthesubwaytoSouthStation,
boardedthefirsttraintoNewYork,foundthecollection,foundthebook,copiedeverythinghewanted,andeventuallyputitintoprint,ashisowndiscovery.Nevercredited
Howard.Onthecontrary,proceededtoattackhim,inprint,as"thatmiddlewesternminister'sson."
Olsonhimself,ina14June1950lettertoJayLeyda,declaresthat"atnotime,whenIsawthatmaterialinmyhandswasnotgoingtobeusedbymehaveI,I
thinkIcanaccuratelysay,blockedanyoneelse.YetIhaveruthlesslythemarkedexampleistheEssexbooktoreinandtookaway,when,asinthatcase,I
hadbeenhuntingthebooksince1933!"(SL)The"attack"onVincentreferredtobyMetcalfappearsinOlson's"LetterforMelville1951"(CP23341).
31friendsTrippofNewBedfordandStackpoleofNantucket
WilliamH.Tripp,curatoroftheOldDartmouthHistoricalSocietyandWhalingMuseuminNewBedford,Mass.,andEdouardA.Stackpole,Presidentofthe
NantucketHistoricalAssociation.
31DrandMrsWillGardner
OfNantucketIsland.Dr.GardnerwasalocalwhalinghistorianwithwhomOlsondiscussedtheEssex.OlsonownedaninscribedcopyofGardner'sThree
BricksandThreeBrothers:TheStoryoftheNantucketWhaleOilMerchantJosephStarbuck(Cambridge,Mass.:WhalingMuseumPublications,
NantucketIsland,1945).
39EvertDuyckinckreportedtohisbrother
TheletterappearsinEleanorMelvilleMetcalf,HermanMelville:CycleandEpicycle(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1953),pp.8384.
39Highbornstealth,EdwardDahlbergcallsoriginality,
SectionVIIofDahlberg'sDoTheseBonesLive(NewYork:Harcourt,Brace,1941),containsthefollowingdedicationandadmission(p.104):"Inscribedtomy
verydearFriend,CharlesOlson:MydearCharles:Literature,weknow,istheartofripeningourselves

Page384
byconversationandoriginalityisbuthighbornstealth.HowmuchofourtalkshaveyeastedandbloomedthislittleHermanMelvilleloafandhowIhaveplayed
thecutpurseAutolycus,makingmytheftsasinvisibleaspossible,youandmyblushesbestknow...."
39ThomasBeale'sTheNaturalHistoryoftheSpermWhale.
CitedbyMelvilleinChapters32and56ofMobyDick.
40alettertohisfatherinlaw
LemuelShaw,on6October1849.SeeHermanMelville,Correspondence,ed.LynnHorth(Evanston,III.,andChicago:NorthwesternUniversityPressand
NewberryLibrary,1993),p.138.
40SohetoldRichardHenryDana
TheauthorofTwoYearsbeforetheMast,towhomLawrencedevotesachapterinStudiesinClassicAmericanLiterature.Thelinesquotedhereandbelow
appearinMelville'sletterof1May1850(Correspondence,pp.162and160,respectively).
40"Dollarsdamnme."
FromMelville's1June1851lettertoNathanielHawthorne,Correspondence,p.191.
40"torefrainfromwritingthekind..."
Thisexcerptaswellasthetwobelow("Inwritingthesetwobooks...Ifeel"and"Sofaras...'fail'")arefromMelville's6October1849lettertoLemuel
Shaw,Correspondence,p.138.
41Isomehowclingtothestrangefancy
"HawthorneandHisMosses,"PiazzaTales,p.253.
41Ahabof"theglobularbrainandponderousheart"
Chapter16ofMobyDick,"TheShip,"p.73.
41Bulkington,thesecretmemberofthecrewinMobyDick,ishere,hidden,
In"HawthorneandHisMosses."ThequotationfromHawthorne's"TheIntelligenceOffice"readsinpart:
"Amannowentered,inneglectedattire,withtheaspectofathinker,butsomewhattooroughhewnandbrawnyforascholar....Headvancedtothe
Intelligencer,andlookedathimwithaglanceofsuchsternsincerity,thatperhapsfewsecretswerebeyonditsscope.
"'IseekforTruth',saidhe."(PiazzaTales,p.250)
InChapter3ofMobyDick,"TheSpouterInn,"Bulkingtonisdescribedas"sixfeetinheight,withnobleshoulders,andachestlikeacofferdam"(p.16)in
Chapter23,"TheLeeShore,"heentersforasecondandlasttime,toillustrate"thatmortallyintolerabletruththatalldeep,earnestthinkingisbuttheintrepid
effortofthesoultokeeptheopenindependenceofhersea''(p.107).

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42Itisaneditioningloriousgreattype,
RedactedfromMelville'slettertoHawthorneof24February1849,Correspondence,p.119.Olson's"sperms"isapparentlyamistranscriptionMelvillehas
"sparrows."
42Anoteofthanks
EleanorMelvilleMetcalf,Melville'sgranddaughter,andherhusband,Henry,verynearlyadoptedOlsonduringOlson'sstudentyearsinthe1930s.Throughthe
MetcalfsOlsonmetWeaver(authorofthefirstbiographyofMelville)andHenryA.Murray,Jr.(founderoftheHarvardPsychologicalClinicandeditorofthe
HendricksHousePierre).RobertBertholfinhisessay"OnOlson,HisMelville,"Io,no.22,1976,pp.536,quotesa1945letterfromOlsontoJohnWoodburn
describingthealliancewithWeaverandMurray:"Weaver,HarryMurrayandIhaveformedanunholythreeagainstthescholars.Theylikenoneofus.Theyhave
alwayssnipedatWeaver'sbook,theywillgiveminenobreak,andtheyhavelongtalkeddownHarryMurray'sminutebiographytocome.Maybeit'sbecausein
theirownworldofdocuments,thethreeofushave,successfully,scoopedthem"(p.26).CarlVanDorenhadsupportedOlson'sMelvillestudiessincetheearly
1930sandexpectedgreatthings(Ishmaelcameasadisappointment)VanWyckBrookswrotearecommendationforOlson's1939Guggenheimapplication.
Mrs.FrancisOsborne,anothergranddaughterofMelville,actuallyheldpossessionofMelville'slibrary,orsomeninetyfivevolumesfromthelibrary,including
Melville'sShakespeare.EleanorMetcalf'sownworkonMelvillewouldnotappearuntilafterthepublicationofCallMeIshmael.HereditionofMelville's
JournalofaVisittoLondonandtheContinent,18491850(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1948)wasprecededbyHermanMelville:Cycle
andEpicycle.
43asheputittoDuyckinck
Inaletterof24February1849,Correspondence,p.119.
43IwouldtoGodShakepsearehadlivedlater,
Letterof3March1849,Correspondence,p.122.
43InShakespeare'stombliesinfinitelymore
"HawthorneandHisMosses,"PiazzaTales,p.244.
43InhiscopyofthePLAYS
SeeWalkerCowen,Melville'sMarginalia(NewYork:Garland,1987),2:440(AntonyandCleopatra2:2:108),and2:467(KingLear1:4:11113).
44thosedeepfarawaythingsinhim
Thisexcerptandtheonebelow("craftilysays...hintofthem!")arefrom"HawthorneandHisMosses,"PiazzaTales,p.244.
44Swinburne'scomment
InSectionIIIofAStudyofShakespeare:"Wehaveheardmuchandoftenfromthetheologiansofthelightofrevelation:andsomesuchthingwefindin
Aeschylus:butthedarknessofrevelationishere."Thepassagecontinueswithwordsequallyapplicableto

Page386
Melville'sdarkmasterpiece:"Forinthismostterribleworkofhumangeniusitiswiththeveryspringsandsourcesofnaturethatherstudenthassethimselftodeal.
Theveilofthetempleofourhumanityisrentintwain.Natureherself,wemightsay,isrevealedandrevealedasunnatural."TheCompleteWorksofAlgernon
CharlesSwinburne,ed.SirEdmundGosseandThomasJamesWise,ProseWorks(BonchurchEdition,1925NewYork:RussellandRussell,1968),1:123
24.
44Thoughinmanyofitsaspects
MobyDick,Chapter17,"TheWhitenessoftheWhale,"p.195.
45InTheTempest...Melvilleencircle...andwrites
SeeMelville'sMarginalia2:356(TheTempest5:1:18384).
45Shakespearefrequentlyexpressesdisillusion
TheannotationscitedinthisparagrapharenotedinMelville'sMarginalia2:43738,2:42021,2:409,2:403,2:467,and2:476(Hamlet3:2:2079).
46JackChase
DedicateeofBillyBudd,SailorandcaptainofthefrigateUnitedStates,whereMelvilleservedasmidshipmanin184344.Chapter4ofMelville'sWhite
Jacket,"JackChase,"givesalovingportrait.
46theonlyplaceMelvilleheavilymarks
SeeMelville'sMarginalia2:42829(Coriolanus4:5:11518).
46Inapoemofhislateryears
"Monody,"publishedinTimolean(1891),includednowasanappendixtoMelville'sClare,APoemandPilgrimageintheHolyLand,ed.HarrisonHayford,
AlmaA.MacDougall,HershelParker,andG.ThomasTanselle(Evanston,III.,andChicago:NorthwesternUniversityPressandNewberryLibrary,1991),along
withspeculationsastothepoem'ssubject,whichmanypresumetobeHawthorne.
46Timon
SeeMelville'sMarginalia2:42324(TimonofAthens3:2:64).
47MelvillepointstoproveShakespeare'sinsinuations
SeePiazzaTales,p.244,forbothofthecitedpassages.
47Hefoundtheminsuchotherspeechesofthatboy,
SeeMelville'sMarginalia2:467(KingLear1:4:100101).
48thepositivequalitiesinthedepraved
SeeKingLear5:3:240andMelville'sMarginalia2:473forEdmund'slineandMelville'smarkings.
48Melvilleisdumbwithhorror
SeeKingLear3:7:28andMelville'sMarginalia2:468forRegan'scommentandMelville'smarkings.

Page387
48Wisdomandgoodnesstothevile
KingLear4:2:3839.Thephrase"vilejelly"appearsat3:7:83.
49"IstumbledwhenIsaw."
KingLear4:1:19.Lear'sspeechoccursat3:4:2836.Gloucester'slinescitedimmediatelyafter("MightIbutlive...again!")appearat4:1:2324.
49HesecondsLearthus:
SeeMelville'sMarginalia2:469(KingLear4:1:6471).
50AndheleavesIshmaelattheendtotellthetale
Thelinesof"Ishmael"citedhere(i.e.,Kent's)aremarkedbyMelville.SeeMelville'sMarginalia2:474(KingLear5:3:31416).
51Itranscribethemastheystand:
TheholographisreproducedintheNorthwesternNewberryMobyDick.SeealsoMelville'sMarginalia2:483.
51whatMelvilletoldHawthorne
Inaletterof29June1851,Correspondence,p.196.ThephraseappearsinChapter113ofMobyDick,"TheForge,"p.489.
52Ihavewrittenawickedbook
Letterof17November1851,Correspondence,p.212.
52MobyDickincludesbothAhabandPip
ThethreequotedphrasesthatfollowarefromChapter41("MobyDick")andChapter93("TheCastaway"),atpp.185and414.
53Rightreason,andAlma(Christ),arethesame
HermanMelville,MardiandaVoyageHither,ed.HarrisonHayford,HershelParker,andG.ThomasTanselle(Evanston,III.,andChicago:Northwestern
UniversityPressandNewberryLibrary,1970),Chapter187,"TheyLand,"p.629.
54Pipismad,
ThequotationsthatfollowarefromChapter93ofMobyDick,"TheCastaway,"p.414,andChapter27,"KnightsandSquires,"p.121.
54"TheDoubloon"
Chapter99.ThedescriptionofStarbuckisfromChapter41,"MobyDick,"p.186,and"TheDoubloon,"p.432.Therestisfrom"TheDoubloon,"pp.431and
435.
54Bulkington
Seenotetop.41.Thequotedlinesarefromthesamepassagescitedthere.
55LiketheCatskilleagle
MentionedattheendofChapter96ofMobyDick,"TheTryWorks":"Thereisawisdomthatiswoebutthereisawoethatiswisdom.AndthereisaCatskill
eagleinsomesouls

Page388
thatcanalikedivedownintotheblackestgorges,andsoaroutofthemagainandbecomeinvisibleinthesunnyspaces."
56Inhisfieryeyesofscornandtriumph
ThelastlinesofChapter124ofMobyDick,"TheNeedle,"p.519.Thetwosentencesbelow("Handsoffthatholiness!"and"Thoutouchestmyinmostcentre,
boy")arefromChapter125,''TheLogandLine,"p.522.
57holdyethentherecanbe
Chapter16ofMobyDick,"TheShip,"p.79.Thelinesbelowareallfromthebook'sconclusion:Chapter127,"TheDeck,"p.529("Idosuck...fromthee")
Chapter128,"ThePequodMeetstheRachel,"p.532("avoicethat...everyword")Chapter132,"TheChaseFirstDay,"p.547("lifeline")andChapter
132,"TheSymphony,"p.544("God!...stavemybrain!").
58"Cold,cold..."
Chapter133ofMobyDick,"TheChaseFirstDay,"p.553.ThefollowingcitationsarefromChapter134,"TheChaseSecondDay,"pp.56162("The
wholeact'simmutablydecreed"and"heliotropeglance")andChapter135,"TheChaseThirdDay,"p.571("oh,lonelydeath...topmostgrief").Pip'scryis
abstractedfromChapter129,"TheCabin."
59allthystrangemummeries
LastlineofChapter113,"TheForge,"p.490.
60"unwarstrooktheregnesthathadbeenproude."
Chaucer,from"TheMonk'sTale."
60throughtheseformsthatcertainsultanism
Chapter33,"TheSpecksynder,"pp.14748.
61InatleastthreeplacesMelvilleanalyzesHamlet.
InPierreorTheAmbiguities,ed.HarrisonHayford,HershelParker,andG.ThomasTanselle(Evanston,III.,andChicago:NorthwesternUniversityPressand
NewberryLibrary,1971),Book7,Section6,andBook9,Section2andinTheConfidenceMan,ed.HarrisonHayford,HershelParker,andG.Thomas
Tanselle(Evanston,III.,andChicago:NorthwesternUniversityPressandNewberryLibrary,1984),Chapter44thislastquotedbelow("likearevolving...")
fromp.239.
62"amightymildnessofreposeinswiftness."
Chapter133,"TheChaseFirstDay,"p.548.
63"nervous,lofty."
Chapter16ofMobyDick,"TheShip,"p.73.
64TAMMANYHALL
SeeMelville'sMarginalia2:431(JuliusCaesar1:2:15861).

Page389
64"hurledhigherthanathrone."
Adaptedfromtheendof"KnightsandSquires,"Chapter26ofMobyDick.
64thisaugustdignityItreatof,
Chapter26ofMobyDick,"KnightsandSquires,"p.117.
65ItisnecessarynowtoconsiderAntonyandCleopatra,
SeeMelville'sMarginalia2:448,2:45152(AntonyandCleopatra3:13:19499,4:8:13,4:15:63,5:2:8283).
66"pooroldwhalehunter,"
ThislineandthosebelowdescribingAhabarefromChapter33,"TheSpecksynder,"pp.14748,except"akhanoftheplank...leviathans,"fromChapter30,
''ThePipe,"p.129,and"aGrandlamalikeexclusiveness,"fromChapter106,"Ahab'sLeg,"p.464.The"IronCrownofLombardy"isn'thollow,but"heavy."
SeeChapter37,"Sunset,"p.167."Allscatt'red"comesfromShakespeare'sRichardIII,1:4:28.
67FACT#2DROMENON
JaneE.HarrisoninAncientArtandRitual(1913London:OxfordUniversityPress,1951)writes,atp.35:
TheGreekwordforarite...isdromenon,"athingdone"andthewordisfullofinstruction.TheGreekhadrealizedthattoperformariteyoumustdo
something,thatis,youmustnotonlyfeelsomethingbutexpressitinaction....Itisafactofcardinalimportancethattheirwordfortheatricalrepresentation,
drama,isowncousintotheirwordforrite,dromenondramaalsomeans"thingsdone."Greeklinguisticinstinctpointedplainlytothefactthatartandritual
arenearrelations.
RegardingthestoryoftheGlobe,Olsonhasthefollowinginanunpublished,untitledessayonMelvillefrom1948:
IhaveburiedtheactofmutinyinthesoilofCALLMEISHMAEL,attheroot,outofmybeliefthatthemotive[of]mutinywastheroot,theradicalof
Melville.Thereare[those]whoseethisneedofhistorebelagainstauthority,[of]whichAhabishisfineimage,astheological,thefruitofthelongPuritanpast,
protestant.Myself,Itakeittobemorevital,andspeakingtoourtime,oftheorderofrevolution,areflectionofthesocialandeconomicviolenceofAmerica
inhistime,andaprojectionofwhatwenowareexperiencing.Weknownothingifwedonotseethischaosasoflongshaping.Melvillefeltmaninhis
frustrationsmorethanhisglories,sawhimcrackingtheelements,blindly,asawildmanwithanaxe,theconsequenceofspaceunmeasured,theholdonobject
gone,and,withtouchbroken,violencetheonlylaw.Hisstatementwentsour[for"sour"Olsonfirstwrote"romantic"],buthisact,Ahabastropism,stayed
true.AndthatiswhyMobyDickisworththelotofwhatwe'vehad.Wenowhavehisneedandurge:toputanendtotheseaofquestion.Isittobe
wonderedat,thattomutinyseemedtoact,toclean,...tomakeafresh,afirststart?Mutiny,translatedfromthesea,isknownonlandasrevolution.(Storrs,
ProseSeries)
73"athirstforhumanblood."
Chapter41,"MobyDick,"p.181.TheotherquotationsarefromChapter31,"QueenMab,"p.133("thatthat'sbloodyonhismind")Chapter58,"Brit,"p.273
("foreverand

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forever...man")andChapter57,"OfWhalesinPaint,inTeeth,&c.,"p.270("Imyselfam...againsthim").
73(Nothingiswithoutefficientcause)
ThephraseservesasheadnotetothefrontmatterofEzraPound'sJeffersonand/orMussoliniL'ldeaStataleFascismasIHaveSeenIt(1935NewYork:
Liveright,1970).ThesilentallusiontoPound'sfascism,inasectionofIshmaelcalled"Moses,"offerstellinginsightintoOlson'sownagonizings"overpaternity"(p.
73).Pound'smottorecursinthe1965BibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn(p.309).
73"Polareternities"behind"Saturn'sgraychaos."
Thesequotationsand"antemosaicunsourced...whale"(below)arefromChapter104,"TheFossilWhale,"MobyDick,p.457.
74Enceladus
OneofthetwentyfourgiantswhobattledtheOlympiangods,"enragedbecauseZeushadconfinedtheirbrothers,theTitans"Enceladuswassubsequently
crushedbyAthena"andbecametheislandSicily"(RobertGraves,TheGreekMyths[NewYork:Penguin,1992],pp.13132).Olsonreturnstothis
mythologicaleventinProprioception,inthesection"AWork.''
74+"hissickleshapedlowerjaw...inthefield"
Chapter41ofMobyDick,"MobyDick,"p.184.Thequotationsbelow("anaudacious...revenge"and"piledupon...Adamdown")arefromthesame
chapter,pp.184,186.
74JonathanEdwards.Hisanswertotheangrygod
AreferencetoEdwards'sbestknownsermon,"SinnersintheHandsofanAngryGod."Thesentencebelow("Talknottome...")isfromChapter36of
MobyDick,"TheQuarterDeck,"p.164.
74"sweetmilk"
SeeMelville'sfootnoteonp.388ofMobyDick,inChapter87,"TheGrandArmada."Malcolmspeaksof"universalpeace"inMacbethat4:3:9799.
75Thouseesttheheavens,
Macbeth2:4:56.
75Ahab'sbirthwasdark,
ThequotationsinthisparagrapharefromMobyDick,Chapter132,"TheSymphony,"p.544("moredemonthanman"and"deadlyfaint...Adam")Chapter
118,"TheQuadrant,"p.502("oldmanofoceans")Chapter41,"MobyDick,"p.186("gnawed...without").
75"slenderrodlikemark,lividlywhitish"
Chapter28ofMobyDick,"Ahab,"p.123.
75Oh,thouclearspirit,ofthyfire
Chapter99ofMobyDick,"TheCandles,"p.507.

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75anantiqueburiedbeneathantiquities
ThisquotationandthethreethatfollowarefromChapter41,"MobyDick,"pp.18586.
79forEdwardDahlberg
Thededicationofthis"Christ"chaptertoDahlberg(awriterwhosemostformativeexperienceasachildwashisstintinaJewishorphanage)makestheIshmaelite
Dahlberg"anunnaturaltwin"totheantiSemiticPound,whosespiritissilentlyinvokedinthepreviouschapter,titled''Moses."(This,perhaps,iswhatOlsonmeans
by"othergenius.")"TheCrossandtheWindmills"isthetitleofSectionVIofDahlberg'sDoTheseBonesLive,adiscussionofDonQuixote.
79MelvillereadDonQuixote
SeeMelville'sMarginalia1:430,1:432,and1:436.
80Arelativewhocametocall...reportedherconversation
SarahMorewoodtoGeorgeDuyckinck,28December1851,quotedinHermanMelville:CycleandEpicycle,p.133.
81Hawthornedescribeshim
InTheEnglishNotebooks,ed.RandallStewart(NewYork:RussellandRussell,1962),pp.43233,entryfor20November1856.Melville'scomment("good
talk")isgiveninaneditorialnoteinTheEnglishNotebooks,citedfroma12November1856entryinMelville'sjournal.
81ThisafternoonDrTaylorandIsketchedaplan
HermanMelville,Journals,ed.HowardC.HorsfordandLynnHorth(Evanston,III.,andChicago:NorthwesternUniversityPressandNewberryLibrary,
1989),p.7.
82RaymondWeaverhas,aftermuchlabor,
HermanMelville,JournaluptheStraits:October11,1856May5,1857,ed.RaymondWeaver(NewYork:Colophon,1935).Olson'sannotatedcopyshows
signsofOlson'sownshapingofMelville'sreportinsomeofthequotationsofferedlateroninthetext.Seethenotetop.85below.
82Heremainedperiodicallyviolenttohiswife,
ApparentlythefirstexplicitreferenceinprinttoMelville'sconjecturedwifebeating.Olson'ssourceisnodoubtanecdotalstoriestoldbyEleanorMelville
Metcalf,orperhapsbyoneoftheotherMelvilleanstowhomEleanorMetcalfwasclose.InEnterIsabel(pp.1415),Eleanor'sson,PaulMetcalf,reports"a
curiousstory,verymuchgarbled...toldtomebyCharles.HowCharlesgotthisstory,...howmuchofitisrealgoods,orhowmuchwasembellished(or
eveninvented)byOlson,Isimplydon'tknowbuttherewassomethingaboutHermanbeatingonLizzie,aboutHermancominghomeonenightdrunkand
throwingherdownthebackstairs."
In1975twoletterscametolight(onebyElizabethMelville,theotherbyherbrother,SamuelS.Shaw),whichbroughttheissueintotheopen.Bothlettersare
addressedtotheReverendHenryW.BellowsandrevealaplantosneakElizabethoutofthehouse,

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presumablyinordertorescueherfromphysicalabuse.ThelettersarenowincludedasaneditorialappendixtotheNorthwesternNewberryCorrespondence,
pp.85760.Foracarefulstudyofthismatterandasurveyofhowcriticsandscholarshavedealtwithit,seeElizabethRenker,StrikethroughtheMask:
HermanMelvilleandtheSceneofWriting(Baltimore,Md.:JohnsHopkinsUniversityPress,1996).
82Sunday23d.
Melville,Journals,p.52.
83inthe"LeeShore"chapterofMobyDick
Chapter23,p.107.
83Helikensthecitytoawoman:
Melville,Journals,p.58.
83"zoneunbound,"
Chapter194ofMardi,"TajiwithHautia,"p.650.
84TotheBazaar.Awildernessoftraffic.
Melville,Journals,pp.5960.
84"acontestofbeauty."
Melville,Journals,p.64.Thequotationbelow("likethoseAsiaticlions...")appearsonp.68.
85THEPYRAMIDSloom,
ThelongpassagefromMelville'sjournalpresentedhereisOlson'sownconstruction,editedfromhiscopyofJournaluptheStraits(asthemarkingsinOlson's
copyatStorrsreveal).
86StonesofJudea.../BarrennessofJudea....
ThetwophrasesarefromMelville'sJournals,pp.90and83,respectively.Theinterveningquotation("backtodesert...verdure")occursonp.76.
86"bitumen&ashes,"
Melville,Journals,p.83.Theotherphrasescitedhereoccurasfollows:"likeslaverofmaddog"(p.83),"asickeningcheat"(p.88),''Isthedesolation...
Deity?"(p.91).
87"Poorsoul,thecentreofmysinfulearth,"Shakespearewrote.
OpeninglineofSonnet146.
87ButIfeelthatIamnowcometotheinmostleaf
Letterof1June1851,Correspondence,p.193.
87Byvastpainswemineintothepyramid
Pierre,Book21,Section1,p.285.
87Deathbotheredhim....inDickinson'swords,likeawasp.
InhisabandonedMelvillebookOlsonsaysjusttheopposite:"Melvillegavelittlethoughttodeathanhorrorofdissolve,rhetorictherest.ButDickinson,wired
withnerves,knew

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deathinconstantstingandstartle.Thewintershefirstmadepoemsshewrote:'Thatbareheadedlife,underthegrass,worriesonelikeawasp.'"(InAdullam's
Lair,ArchetypeOne[StateUniversityofBinghamton,1975],p.8)
TheDickinsonlinecomesfromaletterofabout1860toSamuelBowles.
87Beholdhim...repulse.
Theselinesandtheonebelow("Upbraider!...")comefromMelville'sClarel,Part1,Canto13("TheArch"),lines6264and48.
88OfoldGreektimes...heaven!
Pierre,Book12,Section3,p.198.
88SomewhereYeatsusesthephrase"sighingafterJerusalem..."
PossiblyinAVision(1925NewYork:Macmillan,1961),p.161:"Foramomentthatfragment,thatrelation,whichisourverybeing,isbrokentheyareatUdan
Adan'wailingupontheedgeofnonentity,wailingforJerusalem,withweakvoicesalmostinarticulate'andyetfullsubmissionhasnotcome."
88HemadehisactoffaithinMardi:
InChapter119,"Dreams,"p.368.
88HewroteinMardi:
SeeChapter97,"FaithandKnowledge,"p.297.
89"Ihatetheworld."
Notadirectquotation,butperhapssuggestedbyBook26,Section4,ofPierre,p.357:"HereIstepoutbeforethedrawnupworldsinwidestspace,and
challengeoneandallofthemtobattle!Oh,Glen!oh,Fred!mostfraternallydoIleaptoyourribcrushinghugs!Oh,howIloveyetwo,thatcanmakemelively
hate,inaworldwhichelsewiseonlymeritsstagnantscorn."
89"HermanMelville'slinenisnonetooclean."
Hawthorne,TheEnglishNotebooks,p.432:"[Melville]isapersonofverygentlemanlyinstinctsineveryrespect,savethatheisalittleheterodoxinthematterof
cleanlinen."
89WhatCosmicjest...life'sgate?
Theselinesandtheoneabove("theidiot...straw")comefrom"AfterthePleasureParty,"CollectedPoemsofHermanMelville,ed.HowardP.Vincent
(Chicago:HendricksHouse,1947),pp.217,219.
90n.ThenoteinMelville'shandreads:
SeeMelville'sMarginalia1:435.
90parsedintobeingliketheCarpenterinMobyDick.
SeeChapter127,"TheDeck."

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90"likehalvesofapplesweet"
FromClarel,Part1,Canto31("Rolfe"),line56.Theversesbelowappearasfollows:"Afterconfidings...withstood"(Part2,Canto27["VineandClarel"],
lines108112)"notraceofpassion'ssoil"(Part1,Canto29[''TheRecluse"],lines1415)"Adam'ssecretframe"(Book1,Canto32["OfRama"],line46)
"crookandlump"(Book1,Canto12["Celio"],line43."Disuseofvoice"isnotfromClarelandremainsunidentified.
91MauricedeGurin
QuotedbyMatthewArnoldinEssaysinCriticism,acquiredbyMelvillein1869.SeeMelville'sMarginalia1:30.
91"onMt.Olivet..."
Melville,Journals,p.95.
91"gentleawfulstirrings"tothe"fabledundulation..."
Chapter111ofMobyDick,"ThePacific,"p.482.
91"nomorerealize..."
Melville,Journals,p.97.Thephrasecontinues,"thanwhenoffJuanFernandez,couldbeleive[sic]inRobinsonCrusoeaccordingtoDeFoe."
95Alastfact
PollardwascaptainoftheEssex,whosestoryOlsontellsinCallMeIshmael'sopeningsalvo.InClarel(Part1,Canto37,"ASketch"),Melvilleoffersaverse
portraitofthistragicfigure.
99forConstance
ConstanceWilcockOlsonBunker,Olson'sfirstwife.Thetwometin1940andenteredintoacommonlawmarriagethenextyearadaughter,Kate,wasbornin
1951themarriageendedduringOlson'stenureatBlackMountainCollege.
101MOBYDICK/ChapterCXI/"ThePacific"
Thisandthepassageonp.102("thismysterious,divinePacific...")appearonpp.48283.
102thelittleNegroPip,
ThePipquotationsarefromMobyDick,Chapter93,"TheCastaway,"p.414("wondrousdepths...passiveeyes"and"God'sfoot...theloom")Chapter9,
"TheSermon,"p.47("ocean'sutmostbones")Chapter32,"Cetology,"p.136("Tohaveone'shands...thing")andChapter94,"TheGilder,"p.492("Where
isthefoundling's...learnit").Thephrase"grimsire"appearsinChapter41,"MobyDick,"p.186.
103"Thisistheformofhimwhomonemaynotname,Osiris..."
TakenfromJaneHarrison'sAncientArtandRitual,p.17.
103InMardiMelvillewrote:
NotinMardithesourceremainsunidentified.

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103Andmeetitis,thatovertheseseapastures,
Chapter111ofMobyDick,"ThePacific,"p.482.
104Fanning,Delano....Wilkes
EdmundFanning,authorofVoyages&DiscoveriesintheSouthSeas17921832(1833Salem,Mass.:MarineResearchSociety,1924)AmasaDelano,
authorofANarrativeofVoyagesandTravelsintheNorthernandSouthernHemisphere(Boston,1817),longstretchesofwhichMelvilleincorporatedinto
"BenitoCereno"CharlesWilkes,authorofNarrativeoftheUnitedStatesExploringExpedition,duringtheYears1838,1839,1840,1840,1841,1842,2
vols.(London:Ingram,Cooke,1852)(aconjecturedsourceforMelville'saccountoftatooinginTypee).
104whenCommodorePerrywantedawriter...Hawthorne
On28December1854,Hawthornewroteinhisjournal:
COMMODOREPERRYcalled....HesoonintroducedhisparticularbusinesswithmeitbeingtoinquirewhetherIcouldrecommendsomesuitable
persontopreparehisnotesandmaterialsforthepublicationofanaccountofhisvoyage....IspokeofHermanMelville,andoneortwoothersbuthe
seemstohavesomeacquaintancewiththeliteratureoftheday,anddidnotgraspverycordiallyatanynamethatIcouldthinkof.(TheEnglishNotebooks,
p.98)
104IntheInfernohespeaks
InCanto26,p.141oftheCarlyleWicksteedtranslationofTheDivineComedy(NewYork:ModernLibrary,1932).
105Porphyrywrote
CitedbyYeatsin"Earth,FireandWater,"TheCelticTwilight,whichOlsonownedaspartofEarlyPoemsandStories(NewYork:Macmillan,1925),p.237.
OnMelville,Dostoevsky,Lawrence,andPound
109"DavidYoung,DavidOld"
ThisessayfirstappearedinWesternReview14:1,Fall1949reprintedinHU.
109HartCrane'snaturalandpersonalinterestin...theHandsomeSailor,
Afiguredescribedintheopeningparagraphof"BillyBudd."OlsonmakeshisowninterestknowninMaximus,inthestoryofJamesMerry(rippedtoshredsin
Dogtown"bythebullsheraisedhimselftofight/infrontofpeople,toshowoffhis/HandomeSailorism"[MAX172]).
109Auden'sversesonMelville
"HermanMelville,"pp.14647ofTheCollectedPoetry(NewYork:RandomHouse,1945).
109RaymondWeaver,thatTobias....EleanorMelvilleMetcalf,
OlsonrecordedhisappreciationofWeaver,"thegraciousfirstspokesmanofHermanMelville,"inanunpublishedobituaryfrom1948:

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Hisdeathispoignantintheessentiallonelinessandsilenc[e]ofhislif[e].
Againsttha[t]stand[s]hisMelvillebook,arich,fullmanneredtext,abookoutofsomeearlierliteraryperiod,17thcenturyI'mledtosay,whenformwas
personalandallusive,andmenlettheirownfleshintowork,beforeth[e]18thcenturycloseddown.
...HewasaTobias,andnowhehasmethisangel.(Storrs,ProseSeries)
TobiasisthesonofTobithemeetswiththeangelRaphaelintheapocryphalBookofTobit.WeaverandMetcalfarealsomentionedinCallMeIshmael.See
thenotetop.42above.
109RichardChase...fromotherneeds
In"DissentonBillyBudd,"PartisanReview15,Nov.1948,Chaseargues(p.1218):"BillyBuddispreeminentlythebeatifiedboyoftheliberalprogressive
myth,thefigurewhogets'pushedaround,'thefigure'towhomthingshappen.'Hissufferinganddeatharewithoutmoralcontent."
111thisAnakofaman
Numbers13:33refersto"thegiants,thesonsofAnak,whichcomeofthegiants"aphraseMelvilleborrowsinhisHawthorneessaytodescribe"thoseneglected
oldauthors,"Shakespeare'scontemporaries(PiazzaTales,p.253).
111JackChase
SeenotetoCallMeIshmael,p.46above.
112WasitnotHeraclituswhosaid
Apparentlynot.OlsonmayhaveinmindapassagefromPlato'sTimaeus,includedinBenjaminJowett'stranslationinThePortableGreekReader,ed.W.H.
Auden(NewYork:VikingPress,1948),abookOlsonownedandavidlyread:
Theheart,theknotoftheveinsandthefountainofthebloodwhichracesthroughallthelimbs,wassetintheplaceofguard,thatwhenthemightofpassion
wasrousedbyreasonmakingproclamationofanywrongassailingthemfromwithoutorbeingperpetratedbythedesireswithin,quicklythewholepowerof
feelinginthebody,perceivingthesecommandsandthreats,mightobeyandfollowthrougheveryturnandalley,andthusallowtheprincipleofthebesttohave
thecommandinallofthem.(P.149)
113"TheMaterialsandWeightsofHermanMelville"
ThisomnibusreviewoftwobooksofMelvillecriticismandtheHendricksHouseeditionofMobyDickfirstappearedintwoparts,inthe8and15September
1952issuesofNewRepublicreprintedinHU.Forasenseofthereview'sbackground,seeOlson'sletterof16March1952toCidCorman.RonaldMason
latercontributedanessayonMelville'spoetrytothesecondissueofBlackMountainReview.
113thebeadtellingbooksofthelastyears
F.O.Matthiessen,AmericanRenaissance:ArtandExpressionintheAgeofEmersonandWhitman(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1941)William
Sedgwick,HermanMelville:TheTragedyofMind(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1944)RichardChase,HermanMelville:ACriticalStudy
(NewYork:Macmillan,1949)NewtonArvin,Herman

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Melville(NewYork:WilliamSloane,1950)VanWyckBrooks,TheTimesofMelvilleandWhitman(NewYork:E.P.Dutton,1947)YvorWinters,
Maule'sCurse:SevenStudiesintheHistoryofAmericanObscurantism(Norfolk,Va.:NewDirections,1938)W.H.Auden,TheEnchafdFloodorthe
RomanticIconographyoftheSea(NewYork:RandomHouse,1950)GeoffreyStone,Melville(NewYork:SheedandWard,1949).Olson'sphrase"a
rosaryofpraise"isdiplomatic.Theyearbefore,Olson's"strangered"friendEdwardDahlberg(thewordisDahlberg's)publiclyaccusedArvinofplagiarizingCall
MeIshmael(see"LaurelsforBorrowers"inSamuelBeckett'sWakeandOtherUncollectedProse,ed.StevenMoore[ElmwoodPark,III.:DalkyArchive
Press,1989])."JohnFreeman'sbiography''isHermanMelville(NewYork:Macmillan,1926).TheotherbookscitedareJayLeyda,TheMelvilleLog:A
DocumentaryLifeofHermanMelville,18191891(NewYork:Harcourt,Brace,1951)LeonHoward,HermanMelville:ABiography(Berkeley:
UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1951)MertonM.Sealts,Jr.,Melville'sReadingNathaliaWright,Melville'sUseoftheBible(Durham,N.C.:DukeUniversity
Press,1949).Olsonalsoreferstotwodissertations,WalterBezanson'sonClarel(Yale,1943)andHarrisonHayford'sonMelvilleandHawthorne(Yale,1945).
HenryMurray'sbiographyneverdidappear.
113GeorgeLymanKittredge
OneofOlson'steachersatHarvard,authorofChaucerandHisPoetry(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1946).
114Faith(whofromthescrawl
Part4,Canto35,ofClarel,"Epilogue,"lines811.
116thepostmodern
Olson'sfirstpublishedreferenceto"postmodernism,"atermthathadcirculatedincorrespondencewithRobertCreeleysince1950.
116DichtungundWahrheit
"PoetryandTruth"OlsontookthisasthetitleofaseriesoflecturesdeliveredatBeloitCollegein1968,transcribedandpublishedinvol.2ofMuthologos.
116whatCreeleyandIhaveelsewherecalledtheSingleIntelligence
Intheircorrespondence.ThephraseisCreeley's,developedatOlson'surging,usedin"ProjectiveVerse"and"IntroductiontoRobertCreeley"also.
116heopposed"RightReason"toreason,..."Baconianism."
See,e.g.,Ishmael,pp.5154and88.
116themethodologicalquestion
OlsonwroteCidCorman,13June1952,"Methodologykeepsforcingitselfintomymouthasthewordtocoverthenecessitythattheexecutionofform
involves"(O/CC1:273).Anotewrittenin1951or1952forMaryFitton(astudentatBlackMountainCollege)elaborates:
Themethodologicalismorethananyresemblancetomethodasthelatterhasbeen"orderly,""systematic,""therule,"bankclerklife&morality.Ifyou
suddenlythinkof

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"theexperimentalmethod,"you'llbegintobegintofeelthedifferenceoftheair.Andadifferenceof,results.Butatleastinthosethingswhichareour
concern,life,&theartstheadjective'experimental,'indeedthenoun'experiment,'contradictwhat'themethodological'isfelttopresshome.For'the
way'(road,pathtao),whichtherootwas['odos,plus'meta,'&'Me odos,'meaning,'with,away'][witharoad]hasthispower,thatitsuggeststheTraveller
isdistinctfromwhathetravelson.Andatthispoint,itseemstome,oneishome:thatis,themethodologicalisaninsistencethatthisdistinctionisan
authoritativeone:onetravels,butthereissomethingonwhichonetravelsdistinctfromsdTraveller!(OJ8:43,bracketsinoriginal)
117ifIputMelvilleinthecontextofHomer
Anunpublishednotefrom1949headed"MELVILLEandHomer:notesvisavisV.Berard"putsitthisway:"Melvillecanopenedarchaicnarrative,thewhich
ain'tbeendonesinceabovementionedandhonoredGreek"(Storrs,ProseSeries).
117Rimbaud'squestionistheincisiveone
Olson'sformulationofthequestionisborrowed(asGeorgeButterickpointsout)fromWallaceFowlie'sRimbaud(NewYork:NewDirections,1946),p.42:
"Manymenwonderwhatliesbeyondsin,butwhen,onpersevering,theydiscoverthatitisdespair,theyretreattosinortochastity.ButRimbaudmovedontothe
despairwhichliesbeyondsinandthensoughtwhatliesbeyonddespair."Rimbaud's"question"recursintwootheressays,"CyTwombly"(p.176)and"A
BibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn''(p.299).
118suchapassageasthatinTheConfidenceMan
InChapter44,whereweread(p.239):"Theoriginalcharacter,essentiallysuch,islikearevolvingDrummondlight,rayingawayfromitselfallroundit
everythingislitbyit,everythingstartsuptoit(markhowitiswithHamlet),sothat,incertainminds,therefollowsupontheadequateconceptionofsucha
character,aneffect,initsway,akintothatwhichinGenesisattendsuponthebeginningofthings."
118hisdiscoveriesinPierrewhichtheFreudiansfindpioneer
In1949Olson'sfriendandfellowMelvilleanHenryA.MurraybroughtoutanannotatededitionofPierre(NewYork:HendricksHouse,1949),notinginhis
introduction(p.xci):"MelvilledevotesseveralpagestoanaccountofthewaningofPierre'sardent'boylove'forGlenStanleyand,inconformitywithFreud's
findings,ofthegradualconversionofthissentimentintonormaladolescentheterosexuality.Butitwouldbeevidenttoanypsychiatristthatthistransformationwas
notcompleted."
118thosemetapsychiconesinMobyDickwhichJungacknowledged
Inthe1930essay"PsychologyandLiterature":"Ingeneral,itisthenonpsychologicalnovelthatofferstherichestopportunitiesforpsychologicalelucidation.Here
theauthor,havingnointentionsofthissort,doesnotshowhischaractersinapsychologicallightandthusleavesroomforanalysisandinterpretation,oreven
invitesitbyhisunprejudicedmodeofpresentation.Goodexamples...includeMelville'sMobyDick,whichIconsidertobethegreatestAmericannovel"(The
SpiritinMan,Art,andLiterature,tr.R.F.C.Hull,TheCollectedWorksofC.G.Jung,vol.15,BollingenSeries20[Princeton,N.J.:Princeton

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UniversityPress,1966],p.84).AtranslationbyEugeneJolasappearedintransition,no.19/20,June1930.
118"theplebianherds...centralization"
Chapter33ofMobyDick,"TheSpecksynder,"p.148.
120"Equal,ThatIs,totheRealItself"
PublishedinChicagoReview12:2,Summer1958reprintedinSWandHU.Olson'sprincipalsourcesonnoneuclideangeometryareHermannWeyl,Philosophyof
MathematicsandNaturalScience,tr.OlafHelmer(Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1949)(agiftfromStefanWolpeatBlackMountainCollege)and
H.S.M.Coxeter,NonEuclideanGeometry(Toronto:UniversityofTorontoPress,1942).Coxeter'sprefaceprovidesabriefhistory(atp.vii)pertinenttoOlson's
essay:
ThenamenonEuclideanwasusedbyGausstodescribeasystemofgeometrywhichdiffersfromEuclid'sinitspropertiesofparallelism.Suchasystemwas
developedindependentlybyBolyaiinHungaryandLobatschewskyinRussia,about120yearsago.Anothersystem,differingmoreradicallyfromEuclid's,
wassuggestedlaterbyRiemanninGermanyandCayleyinEngland.Thesubjectwasunifiedin1871byKlein,whogavethenamesparabolic,hyperbolic,
andelliptictotherespectivesystemsofEuclid,BolyaiLobatschewsky,andRiemannCayley.
Olson'sengagementwiththismaterialleftitsmarkearlyon,asin"HumanUniverse,"whereweread,"theharmonyoftheuniverse,andIincludeman,isnot
logical,orbetter,ispostlogical,asistheorderofanycreatedthing."
120NegativeCapability
DefinedbyKeatsina22December1817lettertoGeorgeandThomasKeats:
BrownandDilkewalkedwithmeandbackfromtheChristmaspantomime.Ihadnotadispute,butadisquisition,withDilkeuponvarioussubjectsseveral
thingsdovetailedinmymind,andatonceitstruckmewhatqualitywenttoformaManofAchievement,especiallyinLiterature,andwhichShakspeare
possessedsoenormouslyImeanNegativeCapability,thatis,whenamaniscapableofbeinginuncertainties,mysteries,doubts,withoutanyirritable
reachingafterfactandreason.Coleridge,forinstance,wouldletgobyafineisolatedverisimilitudecaughtfromthePenetraliumofmystery,frombeing
incapableofremainingcontentwithhalfknowledge.(TheLettersofJohnKeats,ed.SidneyColvin[London:Macmillan,1921],p.48)
ThepassageisoneofOlson'stwoepigraphstoTheSpecialViewofHistory,notesfora1956lectureseriesatBlackMountainCollege,wherewefurtherread:
Keats,morethanGoetheorMelville,facedwiththeManofPower,gottotheheartofit.Hetooktheoldhumanismbyitsrightfront.Itwasn'tthedemonism
ofGeniushesawwasthehooker(almostnobodyyethascaughtupwithKeatsonthesamesubjecthewasalmosttheonlymanwhohasyetseenthe
subjectivetragedyasnolongersointeresting),buttheveryopposite,theSublimeintheEgotistical,theverycharacterofGenius,itsproductivepower.(SV
15)
See,inthisconnection,Olson'suseofKeats'sphrase"theEgotisticalSublime"in"ProjectiveVerse,"p.239andnote.

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120theinchofsteeltowreckHegel
OlsonexpandsonthisnotioninasectionofTheSpecialViewofHistorytitled"Ethics."
121thatthenaturalistic...wisdom
MiltonR.Stern,TheFineHammeredSteelofHermanMelville(Urbana:UniversityofIllinoisPress,1957),p.249.
121alettertoHawthorne
Dated16April1851.SeeMelville,Correspondence,p.186,andStern,TheFineHammeredSteelofHermanMelville,pp.89.
122Newton'sScholiumturnedouttobethefullingmillMelvillesenseditwasInthepassagefromPierrequotedinIshmaelatp.88,whichOlsonisapparently
conflatingwithAlfredNorthWhitehead'scommentsonNewtoninProcessandReality:AnEssayinCosmology(NewYork:Macmillan,1929).
122myfriendLandreau
AnthonyLandreau,weavinginstructoratBlackMountainCollege.
123ThedeliveryofTashtegofromthewhale'shead
InChapter78ofMobyDick,"CisternandBuckets."Thedescriptionofthewhale'sheadinthepreviouschapter("TheGreatHeidelburghTun")includesthe
intriguingword''quoin,"whichMelvilledefinesinafootnote:"QuoinisnotaEuclideanterm.Itbelongstothepurenauticalmathematics.Iknownotthatithas
beendefinedbefore.Aquoinisasolidwhichdiffersfromawedgeinhavingitssharpendformedbythesteepinclinationofoneside,insteadofthemutual
taperingofbothsides"(MobyDick,p.339).
124AstheMastersaidtomeinthedream
RecordedinOlson'spoem"ABC's(2)"(CP,173).
124Pollock's,andKline's
JacksonPollockandFranzKline,abstractexpressionistpainters.KlinetaughtatBlackMountainCollegeduringOlson'stenure.In1966,inatelevisioninterview,
Olsonwouldsay,"IbelievethattheAmericanpainters,namelyMr.PollockandMr.Kline,in1948andI'moftheirtimesolvedtheproblemofhowto
live"(MUTH1:194).Seealso,inthisconnection,theeditors'noteto"HumanUniverse,"p.411.
124M.deMiroir,etc.
Hawthorne'stale"MonsieurduMiroir,"inMossesfromanOldManse.Melville's"TheBellTower,""TheEncantantadas,""Bartleby,theScrivener,"and"Benito
Cereno"allappearinPiazzaTales.
124theremark"Thenegro"...in"BenitoCereno"
InthelastexchangebetweentheSpanishandAmericancaptains:
"Youaresaved,"criedCaptainDelano,moreandmoreastonishedandpained"youaresavedwhathascastsuchashadowoveryou?"
"Thenegro."

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Therewassilence,whilethemoodymansat,slowlyandunconsciouslygatheringhismantleabouthim,asifitwereapall.
Therewasnomoreconversationthatday.(PiazzaTales,p.116)
124adiscontinuousjump
FromWeyl,PhilosophyofMathematicsandNaturalScience,p.82"arigidbodycouldgooverintoitsmirrorimageonlybyadiscontinuousjump"the
phrasealsorecallstheSpanishcaptain'sdesperateleapin"BenitoCereno,"whichbringstolightBabo'sslaverevoltandpiercestheAmericancaptain'sfoggy
comprehension.
124Hesayssomewhereaharpoon...likenedthewhitewhale
InChapter60ofMobyDick,"TheLine,"top.281,recalledinChapter133,"TheChaseFirstDay,"p.548.
125DivineInert
MobyDick,Chapter33,"TheSpecksynder,"p.148.
125Riemannianobservation
In"Demeter,"anunpublishedprosepiecefrom1956,Olsonwrites:"Thelawsofnearbyactionareonlytobeencountered,asRiemannwasanearlyonetopoint
out,orMelvillewas,inconveyingthepowerofawhale'stale,intheplacesoftheverysmall.Topologyisthat"(Storrs,ProseSeries).
126"DostoevskyandThePossessed"
PublishedinTwiceaYear,nos.56,FallWinter1940/SpringSummer1941reprintedinCivilLibertiesandtheArts:Selectionsfrom"TwiceaYear,"
193846,ed.WilliamWaserstrom(Syracuse,N.Y.:SyracuseUniversityPress,1964).OlsonwrotethisessaytheyearhereceivedhisGuggenheimforworkon
Melville.AnOctober1939lettertoDorothyNorman(publisherofTwiceaYear,where"LearandMobyDick"appearedin1938),reports:
OutofthemorassofthelasthalfyearhascomeacoupleofchaptersoftheMelvillebookandthisenclosedessayonDostoevsky....Iwantedyouto
haveit,ifyoucoulduseit,forthefallnumber.Ihavelikejobs,ontheotherignorednovelsofD:NotesFromUnderground,TheIdiot,DiaryofaWrite[r]and
TheRawYouthespeciallyandifyouwereinterestedinthisyou'dnotbepublishinginavacuum,fortheothersmightfollow.Thepresentessayisakindof
testamenttomyownfaithandI'dliketogetitintoprintthisfall.(SL)
126Dostoevsky'sGrandInquisitor
Book5,Chapter5,ofTheBrothersKaramazov,whichOlsonreadinConstanceGarnett'stranslation.Thequotationsbelowarefrompp.266("miracle,
mystery,andauthority")and267("universalstate")oftheModernLibraryedition.
126OursistheKaramazovway.AstooldKaramazov,"everythingislawful."
ThequotedwordsareIvan'sandrecurallthroughDostoevsky'snovel,asattheendof"TheGrandInquisitor,"whereIvanspeaksof"thestrengthofthe
KaramazovsthestrengthoftheKaramazovbaseness"(p.273).

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127Dostoevsky'sfaceinthePerovportrait
FrontispiecetoAvrahamYarmolinsky'sDostoevsky:HisLifeandArt(NewYork:Criterion,1957),whichOlsonownedintheearlier1934edition.
127thatlovely,strange,misunderstoodremarkofhis
InPart2,Chapter1,"Night,"Section7,ofThePossessed,tr.ConstanceGarnett(NewYork:ModernLibrary,1963),p.253.
127heconfessedtoMaikov
AppollonMaikov.ThelinesarecitedinYarmolinsky,Dostoevsky,p.294.
128"derkleineTeufel."
German,"thelittledevil."
128thatparablefromLuke
OneofDostoevsky'sepigraphstoThePossessed.
129Dostoevskyexposedtheauthoritariannecessityofallstatism:
TheblockquotationcompriseslinesfromPart2,Chapter7,ofThePossessed,"AMeeting,"Section2,p.409,andChapter8,"IvantheTsarevitch,"p.425.
ThephrasesbelowcomefromPart2,Chapter7,Section2,p.414("Anewreligion...")Chapter1,"Night,"Section7,p.253(''ontheelements...")and
Chapter6,"PyotrStepanovitchIsBusy,"Section7,p.392("shameathaving..."and"thecementthatbinds...").
130Petercallshim,"thesun,"
InPart2,Chapter8,ofThePossessed,"IvantheTsarevitch,"p.426.
130"simpleheartednessandnaivet."
FromPart2,Chapter8,"IvantheTsarevitch,"p.426.
130"Youaremyidol.IvantheTsarevitch.You!You!"
CobbledtogetherfromtwoplacesinChapter8,"IvantheTsarevitch,"pp.426and429.Thelinesbelowarefromthesamechapter,p.423("Verhovensky
besought,implored")andp.430("Stavroginwonderedsmiling").
131Iknowthyworks
From"Stavrogin'sConfession,"thesuppressedchapterofDostoevsky'snovel,included(tr.Yarmolinsky)asasupplementtotheModernLibraryeditionOlson
owned.ThefourquotationsbelowareallfromPart3,Chapter8,"Conclusion,"p.685("Iamstillcapable,...")andp.686("brushmyself...,""Evennegation.
..,"and"Indignation...").
132"thefreedomofchoice..."
Thislineandtheonebelow("aboveeverythingelse")arefrom"TheGrandInquisitor"chapterofTheBrothersKaramazov,pp.264and263,respectively.
132IfStavroginhasfaith....hehasn't.
FromPart3,Chapter6,"ABusyNight,"Section2,p.626.

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132chenonfuron...sforo
Canto3ofDante'sInferno,lines3839,"theywerenotrebellious,/neitherweretheyfaithfultoGod,butkepttothemselves."
133whattheGrandInquisitorcallsman's"fearfulburdenoffreechoice,"
TheBrothersKaramazov,p.264.
133"likerottenmildew,"
FromPart2,Chapter1,"Night,"Section7,p.259.The"GreatIdea"isarticulatedinPart3,Chapter7,''StepanTrofimovitch'sLastWandering,"pp.67475.
133"Externallyhewasrough..."
AdaptedfromThePossessed,Part3,Chapter5,"AWanderer,"Section1,pp.57879,"Thisstrong,ruggedman,allbristlesonthesurface,wassuddenlyall
softnessandshininggladness."
135"D.H.LawrenceandtheHighTemptationoftheMind"
Written2122January1950posthumouslypublishedinChicagoReview30:3,Winter1979,andthenasapamphletbyBlackSparrowPressin1980.
135Huxley,inhisintroductiontothe"Letters,"
SeeTheLettersofD.H.Lawrence,ed.AldousHuxley(NewYork:VikingPress,1932),whereweread(p.xv):"Itwasnotanincapacitytounderstandwhich
madehimrejectthosegeneralizationsandabstractionsbymeansofwhichthephilosophersandthemenofsciencetrytoopenapathforthehumanspiritthrough
thechaosofphenomena.Notincapacity,IrepeatforLawrencehadoverandabovehispeculiargift,anextremelyacute
intelligence."
136Ortegadisclosesit,inhisbrilliantessayonGoethe,
ReadbyOlsonintheDecember1949PartisanReview.SeeJosOrtegayGasset,"InSearchofGoethefromWithin,"tr.WillardTrask,TheDehumanization
ofArtandOtherEssaysonArt,Culture,andLiterature(Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1968),p.146.
137TheManWhoDied
AlsoknownasTheEscapedCock,referredtobythattitleintheessaythatfollows.
138"TheEscapedCock"
TheEscapedCockisthetitleofthefirsteditionofLawrence'slastnovel,broughtoutinParisbytheBlackSunPressin1929latereditionsappearedasThe
ManWhoDied.Olson'sreviewderivesfromalettertoRobertCreeleysent1October1950.FirstpublishedinOrigin,no.2,Summer1951reprintedinHU.
138Civitavecchia
Italian,"oldcity."LawrenceinEtruscanPlaceswritesatlengthaboutfouroldcities(Cerveteri,Tarquinia,Vulci,andVoltera),citingtheactualCivitVecchiain
passingonly,withdisparagement.SeeMorningsinMexicoandEtruscanPlaces(London:Heinemann,1965),p.23.

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139Mellors
ThegameskeeperinLawrence's1928novelLadyChatterley'sLover.
139Constance(Frieda)
Mellors'sloverinLadyChatterley'sLover.FriedaisFriedaLawrence,Lawrence'swifeConstancewasthenameofOlson'sownwifeatthetime(seeCallme
Ishmael.
140Somers(kangaroo)
AcharacterinLawrence's1923novelKangaroo.
140theManwhodied:
ThenumberedlinesthatfollowareallquotationsfromLawrence'snovel.SeeTheEscapedCock,ed.GeraldM.Lacy(LosAngeles:BlackSparrowPress,
1973),pp.24and30.Thelastofthesequotationsiscitedagainin"ThePresentIsPrologue,"p.206.
141"ThisIsYeatsSpeaking"
PublishedinPartisanReview13:1,Winter1946reprintedinHUandO&P.ThetitleechoestheopeningofPound'sbroadcastsforRadioRome(editedby
LeonardW.Doobas"EzraPoundSpeaking":RadioSpeechesofWorldWarII[Westport,Conn.:GreenwoodPress,1978]).Olsonsubsequentlyarrangedto
coverPound'slegalproceedingsforDorothyNorman'sTwiceaYear,becomingthefirstAmericanpoettomeetwithPoundafterthewar.Hissmallactsof
kindnessquicklyearnedtheolderpoet'sgratitude,asshownbyapencilednotePoundscribbledatthetime:"Problemnowisnottogostarkscreaminghysteric....
Olsonsavedmylife.youngdoctorsabsolutelyuseless,musthave15minutessaneconversationdaily"(quotedinC.DavidHayman'sEzraPound:TheLastRower
[NewYork:VikingPress,1976],p.191).OlsonrecordedhisfirstviewofPound(fromadistance,atthearraignment)asfollows:
Hiseyescrossedmineonce,andtheywerefullofpain,andhostile,corneredashewasinacourt,withnooneheknewaroundhimexcepthislawyerwhom
hehadonlyknownaweek.Themomentwhenhe,amanofsuchwords,stoodupmutebeforethecourt,haditsdrama,personal.Butearlier...therewas
anothermoment,apoliticalone.Pound'slawyercalledhisattentiontoajurywaitingintheboxforsomeroominghousetrialwhichwastofollowPound's
arraignment....Itwasatypicaljury,thatcollectionoffreemenwhichconstitutesthatrightofthedemocraticprocess,TRIALBYJURY,easytosatirize,
commonasitis,toburlesque,unliterateasthepeopleare,tocaricature,lumpishastheyappearin[a]publicplace.Thereitwas,andPoundswungroundin
hischairtoconfrontit.ForfortyyearsofexilehehadturnedhistongueagainstAmerica,fortwentyyearshehaddamneddemocracyanditsworks.Now,at
bay,hisownlifewouldsoonbeinthehandsofsomesuchgatheringoftwelvemen.Hehunchedforward,shothisheadupandoutlikeabeak,andsquinting
hiseyesasthoughhemissedglasses,thoughhehadthemon,movedalongthejurors[']faces,squaringateachdirectanddwelling,aschildrenandpoetswill
andnobodyelsedoesbecauseitissupposedtoberude.Hisfacetoldnothing,hiseyeswereastheyweretowardsme,andIwouldguesshewastoo
distractedbyhisowntroublesforhisfeelingstocometobearonthisthingbeforehim....Whatwasinthemomentlayoutsideit,stretchingbackalongway,
withPound'ssixtyyearsfromIdahoonmeasuredagainst

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thoseseveralhundredyearssincesomeEnglishmenfirstfiledinandmadeajury.(O&P3536)
142Troilus'advantage,fromtheseventhsphere
FromtheendofChaucer's"TroilusandCressida."
142HodosChameliontos
Greek,"thechameleon'sway."Ina1945prosefragmentOlsonconfides,"Ihatethisantisemite!thisrevolutionarysimpleton,asYeatscalledhim.Gofurtherand
wonder,asYeatsdid,ifhisCantosaren'tallhodoschameliontos"(O&P,p.15).Yeats,in"APacketforEzraPound,"has,"Imay,nowthatIhaverecovered
leisure,find...thatseeminglyirrelevantdetailsfittogetherinasingletheme,thathereisnobotchoftoneandcolor,allHodosChameliontos''(AVision,p.5).
ThephraseisalsothetitleofBook3ofYeats's"TremblingoftheVeil"(1922),whereweread:"Butnowimagecalledupimageinanendlessprocession,andI
couldnotalwayschooseamongthemwithanyconfidenceandwhenIdidchoose,theimagelostitsintensity....Iwaslostinthatregionacabbalistic
manuscript...hadwarnedmeofastrayuponthePathoftheChamelion,uponHodosChameliontos"(TheAutobiographyofWilliamButlerYeats[New
York:CollierBooks,1965],p.181).
143expoundcreditandMajorDouglas
MajorCliffordHughDouglasandthetheoryof"SocialCredit,"aspeciesofmonetaryreformthatcametopreoccupyPoundinhisCantosandelsewhere.
143AndItoldhimso,butfriendshipneverends
Yeats,"AllSoul'sNight:AnEpilogue,"inAVision,pp.3045.
144Areyouacourttoacceptand/orreject
OlsonsilentlycitesJeffersonand/orMussoliniinCallMeIshmael(p.73)GuidetoKulchur(originallyissuedasCulturein1936NewYork:New
Directions,1970)ismentionedin"ABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn"(p.308).TheABCsareABCofReading(1934NewYork:NewDirections,1960)
andABCofEconomics(1933reprintedinSelectedProse:19091965,ed.WilliamCookson[NewYork:NewDirections,1973]).Poundoriginallyproposed
writingahundredCantos.
144Matteraswiselogicianssay
DeanSwift,quotedbyYeatsinafootnotein"APacketforEzraPound"(AVision,p.4n.2).
145"GrandPa,GoodBye"
FirstpublishedposthumouslyinNewDirectionsinPoetryandProse30,ed.JamesLaughlin,PeterGlassgold,andFrederickR.Martin(NewYork:New
Directions,1975)reprintedinO&P.Olson'sgrowingdissatisfactionwithPound'snativistprejudiceledtoacoolingofrelations.(A1948lettertotheolderpoet
includesthecomment,"BUTyoudohavetodealwithusOlsons...yourdamnancestorsletusin....We'rehere,andtotellyouyourowntruth,youdamn
wellknowanglosaxonismisacademicismandshriekingem

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pire"[SL].)Olson'sviewisalreadyretrospectiveina17November1949lettertoPeterRussell,editoroftheBritishjournalNine:
IstandreadytoansweranyandallquestionsonEPyouwanttoput,and,thoughIdonotnowseehim,ifyouwantquestionsputtohim,Ithinkmyfriend
FrankMoorecandothat....
Itisstillaquestionswimminginmyblood,butIfoundIhadtoceaseseeinghiminthespringof1948(IhadbeenasortofAchatesfromhisarrivalinthe
FederalPen(hashenotmadeitthe"Bughouse"tostandnexttothe"GorillaCage"atPisa?)untilthattime,sawhimonceortwiceaweek,andkeptsporadic
notesonhisconversation.Whatstoppedmewasacruxofthings,ofhimandofme.
Look,forastarter,letmeenclosetwothings,oneyoumayhavecomeby,theotheryouarethe1sttosee.(Theyarethe1standlastthingsIhavedoneon
Ez.)"THISISYEATSSPEAKING"waswrittenbeforeIhadseenhim,infactbeforehewasbroughttotheStates,whenhistrialwasimminent.Itwas
publishedinthePartisanReview,issueWinter1946.(IampleasedIcalled,thatearly,forthepolemictheBo[l]lingenfinallyprovoked.)
TheothermssisthelastnotesIwrote.IthinkthedayIlastsawhim.Thusyouhavethebracketofmyacquaintance.
IimagineIwill,oneday,setmoredownonhim.HeseemstomedefinitelyourGrandpa,evenifLawrenceiscloserintheblood.ButthemindofEz,that'sthe
thing,that'stheflaretolightusback.Heseemstometohaveputhimselfinourhandsasthecleanestsortofinstrument,eventhoIthinktheNewHistoryhe
criesfor,willbesomuchdifferentthanhe.(Frobenius,forexample,whomheputmeonto,Ireadquiteopposite).Language,thelanguage,that'swhathe
deliveredtousnew.(Buf.)
Shotthrough,inthemannerofPound'sownwork,withliteraryallusionandtelegrammaticreference,"GrandPa,GoodBye"isbestreadinconjunctionwith
Olson's"Cantos"(O&P3393),atenpartrecordofvisitstoSt.Elizabeth's,writtenbetween5January1946and9February1948.SeealsoCatherineSeelye's
moredetailednotestothisessayinO&P.
145Lowell
RobertLowell,anotherofPound'svisitorsatSt.Elizabeth's.
145Ford(F.M.)
FordMaddoxFord,called"Fordie"below.SeealsoOlson'spoem"Aucteur,""SaidPoundtheRed,oneturquoiseearringathishead/'FMFknewmorethan
anyofus,he..../fromtheliterarycentre,12yearsstartofme'"(Nation39).
146Picabia,...Hauptmann,
FrenchpainterFrancisPicabiaandGermandramatistGerhartHauptmann.
146YoungHuston'sstoryofJackWarnerandtheWhale.
InTomClark'stelling,
JohnHustonwasatworkonascreenadaptationofMobyDick....Olsonmetwith[thedirector]andofferedhisservices...aswriter/consultant....But
beforeOlsonhadanopportunity...theMobyDickproductionranintosomeveryunliterarytechnicalproblems.Amechanicalmonsterbuilttosimulatethe
WhiteWhalestubbornlyrefusedtofloat,sinkingtothebottomofthetankinonetestrunafteranother.Returningaweeklatefromvacation,JackWarner
blewupoverthedelaysandgaveordersto

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"killthatfuckingwhale."Themovie,andOlson'schancesofwork,sankalongwithit.(CharlesOlson:TheAllegoryofaPoet'sLife[NewYork:W.W.
Norton,1991],p.128)
146What'sthatlinehehadintheCantos...?
IdentifiedbyCatherineSeelyeasanearlyversionofCanto2,publishedinPoetryin1917,describingBrowning'sSordelloasa"bag/oftricks"andadding,"the
modernworld/Needssucharagbagtostuffallitsthoughtin."
146EdwardDalhlberghasit,inDoTheseBonesLive
InthesectiondedicatedtoOlson,"Woman"(p.134):"Thewomanwhofeversinmanamoroselyboilingennuiiswestern:sheistheoccidentaleuropeanwoman
ofShakespeare,Dostoevsky,Stendahl,Tolstoy."
147numen
Latin,"anodhence,acommand,will,authority,""theDivinewill,""divinity"(CharltonT.Lewis,AnElementaryLatinDictionary).
147"Cino,"...XXXVI
"Cino"isoneofPound'searliestpoems(publishedinPersonae:TheShorterPoemsofEzraPound,ed.LeaBaechlerandA.WaltonLitz[NewYork:New
Directions,1990],pp.68)Canto36ispartofthesection"ElevenNewCantos,"firstpublishedin1934,nowgatheredinTheCantos(NewYork:New
Directions,1975).
147Grosseteste'sessayonthe"physics"oflight
JohnClarke,inhisunpublishednotesfromOlson'sMythologySeminaratSUNYBuffalo,Fall1964,has:
Light,verybadlikethe13thC.Meisters
Eckhart,Aquinas,Bacon&GrossetestewithhisPhysicsofLight,whomwe'vehadenoughofbynow
Heat,however,verygood...
148theimageof"fire"inPaterson
ThereareseveralsuchimagesinWilliams'spoem.See,forinstance,Book2,Section1:
aflightofempurpledwings!
invisiblycreated(their
jacketsdustgrey)fromthedustkindled
tosuddenardor!
(WilliamCarlosWilliams,Paterson,ed.ChristopherMacGowan
[NewYork:NewDirections,1992],p.47)
148claritas...confusio.
Latin,"clearness"and"confusion."
148foralsosikerasInPrincipio,
Chaucerfrom"TheNun'sTale."

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148Gaudier,Lewis
SculptorGaudierBrzeskaandnovelistWyndhamLewis.
149"thatlaborsavingdeviceofyoursonH.Melville.
l.e.,CallmeIshmael.
150Frobenius
AnthropologistLeoFrobeniustheunnamed"one"oftheopeningsectionofOlson'sessay"HumanUniverse."AtPound'ssuggestion,Olsonlookedinto
Frobenius'suntranslatedwork,andlateracquiredDouglasFox's"Frobenius'PaideumaasaPhilosophyofCulture,"NewEnglishWeekly,3September8
October1936.
150DP
DorothyPound,thepoet'swife.
150Georgian...Joe
JosephStalin,bornintheSovietprovinceofGeorgia.
150"throughAgnes,"whoevershewas,
IdentifiedbyCatherineSeelyeas"AgnesBedford,amusicianwhocollaboratedwithPoundonFiveTroubadorSongs."
151oneofHauptmann'splays.
Joycetranslatedtwo,neitherpublished,VorSonnenaufgang(BeforeSunrise)andMichaelKramer.
151theOldMan,"Grandpa,"nowthatMaryhasmadehimone.
MarydeRachelwitz,Pound'sdaughterbyOlgaRudge.
151Spender,Tate
PoetsStephenSpenderandAlanTate
151saystheO.M.
T.S.Eliot,referredtobyhistitle(OrderofMerit)in"ProjectiveVerse"aswell(p.249).
151AntHill
OlsonwroteCidCorman,21October1950:"THEFACTis,that,americansareputtingoutabodyofresearchROUNDtheWORLD,whichisthekindof
groundingonwhichthatcultureofEuroperestedrestsisnowburiedinherliestheanthill"(O/CC1:44).GeorgeEvansinhisnotessuggestsareferencetoPound's
PisanCantos,"Asaloneantfromabrokenanthill/fromthewreckageofEurope,egoscriptor"(Canto76).Thephrasebelow,"right,/right/fromthestart,"
echoes"HughSelwynMauberly,"wherePoundhas''Wrongfromthestart."

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155"HumanUniverse"
PublishedinOrigin,no.4,Winter195152,andagaininEvergreenReview2:5,Spring1958reprintedinSWandHU.Anearlyversion,titled"TheHuman
Universe,"wassentinaletterof17June1951toCidCorman,andappearsasAppendixAtoAlbertGlover'sdissertation,"CharlesOlson:Lettersfor
Origin"(StateUniversityofNewYorkatBuffalo,1968).TheprincipaldifferencebetweentheearlyversionandfinaltextisOlson'sellisionofanextended
responsetoNewDirections12,andabrieferreferencetoBronislawMalinowskiontheTrobriandIslands.Themythopoeticnarrativeattheendoftheessayis
adaptedfromJ.EricS.Thompson,MayaHieroglyphicWriting(1950Norman:UniversityofOklahomaPress,1960),p.230,relatedpreviouslytoRobert
Creeleyinaletterof27March1951.Theessay'stitlemayreflectacquaintancewithDavidRousett'sinfluentialaccountoftheBuchenwaldconcentrationcamp,
L'Universeconcentrationaire(Paris:EditionsduPavois,1946),mentionedbyOlsoninalettertoCreeleyof30May1950.
155DerWegstirbt,sdone.
The"one"isLeoFrobenius,who(asMaudnotesinOlson'sReading,p.260,n.9)tellsthetaleofthepaththatdiesinthe1928editionofPaideuma.Olson
drawsaconnectionbetween"laws"and"derWeg"onceagaininTheSpecialViewofHistory:"ImeantothrowinonelastimperativewhatIshallcallLAW
itself.AndImeanitasthecorrectapplicationoftheoldWesternconceptionofTheWayandtheEasternconceptionoftheTao(theWayisthepath,followme
etc.ofChristianity,the'Law'literallyinJudaism,etc.the'light,'say).Or,mostexcitinglyforme,theAfrican'DerWeg,'asinthefolktaleinwhichDerWeg
stirbtdies"(SV54).
155ifwearetoseesomeofthelawsafresh
IntheearlyversionoftheessayOlsonhas:"Weareattheheartofthematterofhumanismversussomealternative.Onelawnecessarytothatalternativecertainly
is,thatwehavebeenmisledtolookfortruthwhentherealmeasureforanyoneofusofanythingisitsusetous,exactlyitsusetousintermsoftheperformance
ofritualandmoralacts"(Gloverdiss.,p.266).
156enclosedinthe"UNIVERSEofdiscourse."
Thatis,"kosmoslogos"cosmology.
157Platomaybeahoneyhead,asMelvillecalledhim,
InChapter78ofMobyDick,"CisternandBuckets,"comparing"Plato'shoneyhead"tothe"secretinnerchamberandsanctumsanctorumofthewhale,"into
whichTashtegotumbles,"likethetwinreciprocatingbucketinaveritablewell"(pp.344,342).Seealsothenoteto"Equal,ThatIs,totheRealItself,''p.400,
above.

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157comparison,or,itsbiggername,zymology
Olsonhasintheearlyversionoftheessay:
OnereasonwhyIvalueMalinowskiistheintellectualclarityheexhibitsinhisuseoftheword"Symbol."Forthisisawordwehaveallowedtoslideandata
timewhenitiscrucialthatwebeclearaboutit,especiallytodistinguishtheprocessofimagefromit....Forsymbol,initsoriginalmeaningastheGreek
"symballein,"meant"tothrowtogether,tocompare,"anditiscomparisonwhichhaslain,fromthebeginning,attherootofhumanismasoneofitsmostevil
characteristics.Image,onthecontrary,denotesamuchmoreactiveprocess,derivingasitdoesfromtherootoftheLatinverb''imitare,"toimitate,andthusis
closelyjoinedtotheimplicitlydramaticactionoftheconcept"tomime,"andbearsalwaysinthedirectionofdirectrepresentationofanoriginalobjectoract,
not,assymbolgoes,inthecontrarydirection,towardgeneralization,towardanabstractsign,figure,ortypetostandintheplaceofasortofrationaland
intellectualshorthandtheoriginalobjectoract.Anditisameasureofhowsymbolhaseatenitswaythatoneofthemarksofpresentartisthatsimileandthe
abstractaremuchmoreinstrumentsofthatartthanismetaphorandtheconcrete.Thereasonisthisprofoundone,thatcomparisonratherthanduplication,
thanreenactment,than"performance"asMalinowskihasit,isthelaw(orrather,asIhopetomakeclear,thefalsefaceofalaw).(Gloverdiss.,pp.26364)
158Ihavebeenlivingforsometimeamongstapeople
InJanuary1951OlsonleftWashington,D.C.,forLerma,Mexico,nearCampeche,wherehespentsomesixmonthsliving,writingandstudyingMayan
archeology.AselectionofOlson'slettersfromthisperiodwaseditedandpublishedbyRobertCreeleyunderthetitleMayanLetters(Mallorca:DiversPress,
1953reprintedinSW).
159swapcaymotesforsandals
Sweetpotatoes,asOlsontellsCidCormaninaletterof18September1951.
159refrigeratorripenedfruit
Olson's"RufusWoodpecker,"anecopoliticalpoemfrom1958,concludeswith
thesight
oftherepresentativeoftherestofcreation
nestinginsidetheMouthofthenation,andpecking
broccolioutofit,clearlyconcerned
thatifhewentanydeeperhewasapttofindmore
foodstuffburiedintheDefrost
(CP454)
159Spectatorscrowdsoutparticipationastheconditionofculture.
OlsonexpandsonthisDebordiannotionina7June1952lettertoCidCorman:
Ibelieve...thatallmenandwomencandanceandthisaloneisenoughtoestablishexpressionthatallotherexpressionisonlyupfromthisbaseandthat
todanceisenoughtomakeawholedayhaveglory,grantingthatworkiscalledforofeachofus.Thehookisthatworkwillalwaysmakesenseifdancingis
understoodtobeexpressionistheotherissueofaday.
"Ourclass"thenonclasstheaclasstheexpresserssolely,nowhavetheresponsibilitytorestoreexpressionto...primeplace.(Itakeityou
understandyrownmasthead....

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...itistheonlyanswertothatspectatorismwhichbothcapitalismandcommunismbreedbreeditassurelyasabsenteeownership....
Fortobeaspectatoristoassertanownership...whichisabsentee(O/CC1:271)
Origin'smastheadwas"Omyson,arisefromthybedworkwhatiswise."
161likeWilliams'paint
SherwinWilliams,notW.C.ThereferencerecursinJohnClarke'sunpublishednotesforOlson'sMythologySeminaratSUNYBuffalo,Spring1965:"[Franz]
Kline...seizedtheadvantageofputtingthepaintoutontheworld(likeSherman[sic]Williams:'Wecovertheworld').Blackandwhitewerecolorsofsuch
vitalityaftersay1948..."
161thegreatesthumanistofthemall
Thatis,Shakespeare.
162Heisenberg
WernerHeisenberg,whose"UncertaintyPrinciple"OlsoncitesinTheSpecialViewofHistoryasanaspectofNegativeCapability(SV42).
163Tone
ArnoldTone,authorofAStudyofHistory,2vols.(NewYork:OxfordUniversityPress,1947and1950).
164Cham
Spanish(specifictoMexico)forboy,lad.
164ShooshEk
OlsonwroteRobertCreeley,15March1951,"StillgoingalongonVenus,or,astheycallher,Nohek(thegreatstar)or,Xuxek(thewaspstarwhichsounds,
thisway:shooshek"(O/RC5:74seealsoThompson,MayaHieroglyphicWriting,p.218).AsubsequentlettertoCidCorman(28March1951)endsplayfully,
"o,lad,youhaveagoldenegg,yes,agold&egg,eck,shoosh,ek"(O/CC1:118).
167"FootnotetoHU(lostintheshuffle)"
PublishedinOrigin,no.4,Winter195152.
167the6'4"Negressstood
InTheChiasma,orLecturesintheNewSciencesofMan(noteswrittenin1953foraseriesoflecturesatBlackMountainCollege),Olsonreferstothesame
womanandherdefinitionofart,givinganexpandedsenseofhowheunderstandsthewords"ACTUAL"and"ONTIME."Undertheheading"CUPS,orDance
andWOMAN,orSculpture,"Olsonwrites:
Thecave,toCroMagnon,atleastitsrecesseswherethepaintingsandsuchclaysculptureasthetwobisonsofTucD'Audoubertare,wasnotlivedinnor
werethereburi

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alsinthem.Infact,eventhemouthsofthecavesmaynothavebeeninanycontinuoussense"dwellings"asIhavepointedout,manseemstohavelivedmost
oftheyearinhutsfollowingtheherds.Andthecaveswereonlyseasonalplaces,atthemouthsofwhichheworkedhisflintsandburiedhisdead,inthedepths
ofwhichheworkedhisartandcelebratedwhatcelebrationshisculturehadbroughthimto.ThatartoftherecessesIcannowcallwhatthe6foot6Negress
ofmyacquaintancecalledallart,inaWashingtondrawingroomonenightacoupleofyearsback:Art,shesaid,swayingamongtheliterati,isthecelebration
of,theactual.(OJ10:43)
TheemphasisonheightmayreflectOlson'sselfconsciousnessabouthisownstaturehestoodabout6foot7.
168"TheGateandtheCenter"
DevelopedintoanessayonthebasisoftwoletterstoRobertCreeley(of27Julyand4August1950)publishedintheinauguralissueofCidCorman'smagazine
Origin,Spring1951reprintedinHU.FromFrancesBoldereffOlson'sinterestinarchaichistoryreceivednewstimulus.ShesenthimSamuelNoahKramer's
translationsofSumerianpoetictextsinMayof1949,andinthesummerof1950,aftermeetingEdithPorada,thebookoncylindersealsquotedintheessay.
168Stefanssonondiets
VilhjalmurStefansson,arcticexplorerandauthorofseveralbooks,namedintheMaximuspoemsin"Letter,May2,1959"(MAX151).
168CarlSaueronstarchcrops
SauermailedOlsonanoffprintoftheessay"EnvironmentandCultureintheDeglaciation"on17November1949.AyearlaterOlsonwroteback,inaletterdated
25October1950:
MydearCarlSauer
Youhavebeenmuchonmymind.(Ihaveevenwrityouintoapieceanaggressivepieceonknowledge,asofnowwhich,ifiteverseesthelight(Boston
light,inthiscase,due,anewmag,abtmarch),iprayyoushallnotthinkididitinvain.)For,asItoldyou,thatday,Iwalkedinonyou,youareoneoftherare
&nativeforces.(WhatItriedtodo,inthislastjob,wastoremindthesehyaramurrikans,thattheirenergyhathexpresseditselfinmuchmoreimportantthings
thanengineers&machines,thatsuchmenasyouare,roundtheworld,rebasingknowledge,andthat,fromsuchknowledge,ifitsparticularityiscarefullyseen,
itsdriveforatotalbearingnotformeresanctionsofanolderhumanism,thereisplentyofreasontoexpectfreshculturefromsame.
...Shldlikeit,ifyou'ddropmeapennypostcardwheneveranyworkjumpsuptoyoureyes,inanyofthoseareasthatyrowncenteriscenterto.(Itisthis
conceptofCENTERasthethingknowledgegoesfor,orit[']snotworthitskeep,thatIwaspushing,oflate:THEGATE&THECENTER.)
Dowrite,whenyoucan.Andsend,osend!
CharlesOlson
(O/CS14445)

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168euhemerists
Thosewhotakemythsastraditionalaccountsofrealincidents.StanleyEdgarHymeninhisreviewofOlson'sCallMeIshmael("TheCriticasNarcissus,"
Accent,no.8,Spring1948)writes(p.190),"all[Olson]apparentlywantsofFreud,besidesthemelancholyeuhemerismofMosesandMonotheism,isthe
hardlynovelreadingofAhab'slossascastration."
168OldStinkSock
Socrates.
169Fenollosa
ErnestFenollosa,whoseChineseWrittenCharacterOlsoncitesinCallMeIshmael(p.19)andelsewhere.
169agglutinativelanguage
Anunpublishedprosepiecedated31July1954,"TheCrisisoftheThirdFoot,"developsthenotionfurther:"Eachpersondeclaresthesyntaxaccordingtothe
necessitiesofhisownprecisioninthemomentofwhatheisstatingortelling.Thepartsofspeechcanbefreelydisposedinanylanguagewhichisundeclined,the
socalledagglutinativelanguages.AndifItakeit'American'isagglutinative,thensuchsyntaxis,inexperience,morenaturaltoitthanEnglishsyntax"(Storrs,Prose
Series).
169StockpileSzilard...Merritt...TheodoreVann
PhysicistLeoSzilard,acolleagueofEinstein'sandrefugeefromNaziGermanyopponentoftheuseofatomicweapons.Hebeganresearchinmolecularbiology
in1948,openingalaboratoryattheUniversityofChicago.GeorgeButterickidentifiesMerrittasH.HoustonMerritt,"professorofneurologyatColumbia
College,aswellas(from1948on)directoroftheNeurologicalInstituteatPresbyterianHospitalinNewYork"(O/RC2:165n.55).Nofurtherinformationis
presentlyknownaboutTheodoreVann.
170addoneL.A.Waddell
LaurenceAustineWaddell.OlsonwrotetoCreeley,27July1950:
BeeninoneofthoseperiodswhichcomeupeverysooftenwhereIgetateethholdonsomething,andcan'tgiveoveruntilI'vebeatthedog.Thistimeit'sa
guyIstumbledonaccidentallyintheSumeriancatalogue,Lib.Cong.andwhosendsme:...L.A.Waddell....[R]ightorwrong,he'sgotapackage
wrappeduponhowcivilizationgotmovin,andwhomovedit,thatjibeswithalotIhavefoundinmyownarchaismsandpreviouslydocumented.(O/RC2:80
81)
170Berard...Strzygowski[Frobenius
VictorBrard,frequentlycitedbyOlson.Seeespecially"AppendixA"to"ABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn"(p.304)andnote.JosephStrzygowski,cited
moreextensivelyin"TheVinlandMapReview"(see,e.g.,p.328).
170Frobenius
LeoFrobenius,mentionedbyOlsonin"GrandPa,GoodBye"(p.150)andelsewhere.

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170Maspero
FrenchEgyptologistGastonMaspero,whosePopularTalesofAncientEgyptarecitedbyBrardinDidHomerLive?tr.BrianRhys(NewYork:E.P.Dutton,
1931).
171Phoenicianperiploi
Phoenicianaccountsofsailingvoyages,fromthepluraloftheGreekword"periploos,""theaccountofacoastingvoyage"(HenryGeorgeLiddellandRobert
Scott,AGreekEnglishLexicon)discussedatlengthbyBrardinDidHomerLive?
171suchalatethingasDuraEuropos
FrancesBoldereffwroteOlsonon10May1949:
IfyouareconnectedwithacollegeaskthelibrariantoborrowforyoufromtheLibraryofCongressFranzCumont'svolumeofplatesincoloronthefrescoes
foundatDuraEuropos....ThereisaparticularplatewhichIwishtotalkwithyouaboutwhichwilldriveyouwildapriestinceremonythelookinthe
eyestheChristianworldhasnotsofartouchedtheunworldbroughttoviewRostovtzeffsaysthisfrescoisthelongsoughtlinkbetweentheWesternand
Easternworlds.(O/FB152seealso160nn.34and35)
Seealso,inthisconnection,Olson's"Tutorial:TheGreeks"(1955)(OJ2:4348),andhispoem"Dura"(CP85),scribbledonthebackoftheenvelope
Boldereff'slettercamein.
174"TheResistance"
PublishedinFourWinds,no.4,Winter1953reprintedinSWandHU.
174JeanRiboud
AmemberoftheFrenchunderground,laterimprisonedintheconcentrationcampBuchenwald.OlsonwasthebestmanatRiboud'sweddingin1949.
174Bogomolets'researchesintothenatureofconnectivetissue
AlexanderA.Bogomelets,authorofTheProlongationofLife(NewYork:Duell,SloanandPearce,1946).Olsonalsociteshiminthe1948mask"Troilus":
"Bogomolets,andthetimeschemeofahumanlife:theclashoftworhythms,nature'sandman's"(FH44).
175"CyTwombly"
FirstpublishedinOJ8proposedbyOlsonforinclusioninHU.CyTwombly,anAmericanpainter,wasastudentatBlackMountainCollegealettertoRobert
Creeleyof29January1952relatesalong,complicatedtaleaboutTwombly'sswimmingintocoldwateratnighttosaveanotherBlackMountainstudent,Robert
Rauschenberg,fromdrowning.Asubsequentletter(31January1952)adds:
Crazypart,that,itallpassedintothesilenceofhistory,onthesurface,justasthoughhehadgoneforaswimandhadcomeout,withnohelp.Infact,except
forme,andmyquestionings,tofindoutmore,notknowing,whattheywhospendmoreoftheirtimesittingarounddoknow,orIthoughttheymight,noone
exceptthoseinvolvedwouldhaveknownthattheeventhadhappenedatall!...
Alsoalittlecrazywas,that,thesamenightofthedayIwroteyouIslammedouttheenclosedfirstgoataprefaceT[wombly]askedmethatdaytodofora
showofhiscomingupnextmonth.(O/RC9:65)

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ThesecrethistoryOlsonrecountsforCreeleyoffersanoddcounterpointtowhatOlson'sessaycalls"thetwinmethodology":"documentation,"and"penetrationof
therealitybearingonus."
175Mencius,astranslatedbyPound
AphraseOlsonborrowedfor"TheKingfishers,"whereweread,"soyoumust,and,inthatwhiteness,intothatface,withwhatcandor,look"(CP91).Pound's
versionappearsinaprefatorynotetohistranslationof"TheAnalects"(1951),publishednowinConfucius:TheUnwobblingPivot,TheGreatDigest,The
Analects(NewYork:NewDirections,1969),p.194.
175Therecameamanwhodealtwithwhiteness.
I.e.,Melville.Chapter42ofMobyDickiscalled"TheWhitenessoftheWhale."
176TaoYuanMing'seasthedge
See,e.g.,T'aotheHermit:SixtyPoemsbyT'aoCh'ien(365427),tr.WilliamAcker(London:ThamesandHudson,1952),p.66:
Ibuiltmyhousenearwhereothersdwell,
Andyetthereisnoclamourofcarriagesandhorses.
Youaskofme"Howcanthisbeso?"
"Whentheheartisfartheplaceofitselfisdistant."
Ipluckchrysanthemumsundertheeasternhedge,
Andgazeafartowardsthesouthernmountains.
Themountainairisfineateveningoftheday
Andflyingbirdsreturntogetherhomewards.
WithinthesethingsthereisahintofTruth,
ButwhenIstarttotellit,Icannotfindthewords.
YanMingisT'ao's"courtesyname,"andmeans"LightoftheAbyss"(p.23).
176PierreBoulez
TheFrenchcomposerandconductor.OlsonwroteRobertCreeley,20August1951:"PIERREBOULEZonlytwothingsofhisexist(2ndSonata,whichI
heardyesterdayimpeccablyplayed(piano)byDavidTudorandarecordinginNY)butforgod'ssake,gogethim,whenyouareinParisheis25,andIshall
trytofindouthisaddressforyouChrist,doeshecomestraightfromhimself,composeasaman,withnoneoftheshitof'music,'orexperiment"(O/RC7:111).
176aruthlessrealityontheothersideofdespair
Aphraseusedalsoin"TheMaterialsandWeightsofHermanMelville"(p.117),thereattributedtoRimbaud.
178themuralofthedeathofAdam...atArezzo
AfifteenthcenturyfrescobyPierodellaFrancesca,whichOlsonmayhaveseeninKennethClark'sPieroDellaFrancesca(London:PhaidonPress,1951),
plates3138.
179"Proprioception"
Inhis"ReadingatBerkeley,"Olsontoldthecrowd,"I'mhappythatthatbookProprioceptionispublished.Everyoneofthoseessays,bytheway,ispublished
byLeRoiJonesalone,

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inYugen,FloatingBear,andKulchur....And,youknow,Iwrotethoseessaysthey'reincongestibleorsomething.They'renotreadable.Ifthey'reinteresting,
theycanbedugupassigns"(MUTH1:133).Writtenovera2yearperiodfrom1959to1962,thesenine"incongestible...signs"archeologicalremains
avantlalettrewerefirstbroughtoutasagroupbytheFourSeasonsFoundationin1965reprintedinAP.ThededicationtoJones(AmiriBaraka)was
proposedinalettertoDonaldAllenof10September1969.Threeyearsbefore,OlsonhadinscribedthefollowinglinesinMaximus:
Ihavebeenanabilityamachineupto
now.Anactof"history",myown,andmyfather's,
..........................................
myfather
AndI
inthesamelandlikePilgrims
cometoshore
hepaid
withhislife...
myfatheraSwedish
waveof
migration...
likeNegroes
nowlikeLeroyandMalcolm
Xthefinalwave
ofwashuponthis
desperate
ugly
cruel
LandthisNation
whichnever
letsanyone
cometo
shore
(MAX49597)
TheextenttowhichOlson'saddeddedicationreflectsappreciationforBaraka'spolitics(thenBlackNationalist),andnotmerelythanksforBaraka'sworkas
editor,remainsamatterofspeculation.Nonetheless,thehistoricalprojectoutlinedinthefinalsectionsofProprioceptioncannilyforeshadowsthecontroversial
scholarshipofMartinBernal,whoseBlackAthenacombatstheracistandantiSemiticagendaof"theolddiscourse"(as"BridgeWork"putsit),onthebasisof
painstakinglinguisticanalysis.Olson'sownlinguisticanalysisisdictionarywork.HisdefinitionscomefromWebster'sCollegiateDictionary,5thed.his
etymologiesareliftedfromCharltonT.Lewis,AnElementaryLatinDictionary,andLiddellandScott'sGreekEnglishLexicon.
"Proprioception"and"Logography"originallyappearedinKulchur,no.1,Spring1960,underthetitle"PiecesofTime"(atitlesuppliedbytheeditor)"Postscript
toProprioceptionandLogography"followedinKulchur,no.2,1960''BridgeWork"inKulchur,no.3,1961"thehingesofcivilizationtobeputbackonthe
door,"inKulchur,no.5,Spring1962."GRAMMAR'ABook'"cameoutinFloatingBear,no.7,1961"A

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Plausible'Entry'for,likeman,"inFloatingBear,no.11,1961"AWork,"inFloatingBear,no.21,1962."TheoryofSocietyfirstappearedinYugen,no.7,
1961.Olsonthoughtofthesedisparatepiecesasasinglebookearlyon,asindicatedbya24August1961postcardtoJonathanWilliams:
Dohaveafunnyoffbookofprosewldenjoyhavingyouofferto[James]Laughlin[ofNewDirections]...maybetitledTheoryofSocietyor,forrealcome
on,Proprioception
Toincludethose2piecesplusLogography[,]theGrammar'book,'maybeBridgeWork
actualcontentverysmallinpagesbutsetrightwldatleastgiveallthatrecent'thinking'itsissueandmyownguessisit[']sabtover(maybeevenaletterto
DavidIgnatowonpoliticsandwritin[g](Buf.)
181"Proprioception"
Inthis"WORKING/'OUT'OF/'PROJECTION'"Olsonreturnsattentiontoseveralkeyideasfromhisearlierwork.Heretrievestheword"soul"(rejectedin
"ProjectiveVerse")andusesittoenlargeuponhisnotionof"body,''ledbyadecade'sreadingsinJungtoareappreciationof"theold'psychology'offeeling."An
unsentletterintendedforRobertCreeley,dated15July1951,showsOlson'searliestrecordedthoughtsonthetopic:"Butinanycase,itisthisbusinessof,the
seatoflifeasinsideman,andthebloodsystemoffeederandflushesoforgans,whichsettledhumanismveryearly.AndthatwhatIhavesooftenbeentalking
aboutassuchhumanismhas,ultimately,tobetakenbacktothispointofhistoricaltimethispointwhichisnotimeatall"(O/RC6:146).
181judicium,dotha:....allfeelingmayflow
JohnClarkeinhisnotesfromOlson'sFall1964MythologySeminarrecordsthefollowing:
OK,consider"thinking"functionthinkingisKnossos,knowingNous,themindasorganofclearimagesanaction,nota"function"atallasheredescribed
sinceitsPlatonicfallintostatic...
Firstsensation(Plato,buthethinksit'sperishingandonlytherational"eternal")and"Inspection"(ofDescartes)and"Intuition"(ofWhitehead),thenonto
Judgment(judicium),true"opinion,"andfinallyto....
yes,Dogma(dotha,doxa,decus),the"FirmPersuasion"thatathingisso,
anditallstartswiththeanimus,thevoiceoftheanimate,affectivecondition,whichwelostwiththePlatonicsplit,asWhiteheadhasdemonstrated...
onlythencanwespeakofhavingReason,...allisflow
TheLatin"iudicium"is"judgment"theGreek"doxa"is"opinion""decus"isLatinandmeans"glory"themeaningof"dotha"remainsunclear.SeealsoAlfred
NorthWhitehead,ProcessandReality.
184"Logography"
ThequotationscomefromI.J.Gelb,AStudyofWriting(1952Chicago:UniversityofChicagoPress,1963),Chapter3,"WorldSyllabicSystems"(inthe
subsection"SumerianSystem"),pp.62,64,and6667.InChapter11,TerminologyofWriting,"Gelbdefines

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"LogographyorWordWriting"(p.250)as"Awritinginwhichasignnormallystandsforoneormorewordsofthelanguage."
184"PostscripttoProprioception&Logography"
ThetwoquotedpassagesarefromtheWebster'sCollegiatedefinitionsof"Landscape"and"notional."
184GNA...VID
In"UndertheMushroom:TheGratwickHighlandsTape"(1963),Olsonannounceshis"beliefthatetymologyisevenbehindmythologyasthesecretofthe
universe":
Etymology.Andthere'sonlytwoformsofknowingthatIcanfigureoutexist.OneisGNAandtheotherisVID,andVIDisseeingandGNAisprajna
andisapprehensionthatIthinkyoucanonlycalloral,inthesenseofsounds,thereforelanguage.Yes,thereforelanguage,thereforeeyes,andthat'sall.
There'sadoublethere'sastapleortwooftheagents[of]thevision.Oneistheeyeandtheotherisaknowingwhichiswell,IwouldsayoralbutIdon't
wanttopressthepoint.ItisGNA,though.Leaveitjustinthegna,whichisthebasicrootof"knowing."Knoisgna,actually.Itsimplyslipped.Kna,
kno.AndVID.Becauseweallusethewordagainthisiswherethevocabularymatters,becauseweallusethewordvision.(MUTH1:36)
186"TheoryofSociety"
Reprisesseveraloftheideasfirstpublishedin"AgainstWisdomasSuch."Thequotedpassage("Godistheorganofnovelty")comesfromWhitehead'sProcess
andReality,p.104(inChapter2,"TheExtensiveContinuum'').
188"BridgeWork"
TheworksofFenollosa,Sauer,Waddell,Brard,andGordonweretouchstonesforOlsontheirnamesappearagainandagaininhislettersandessays(see,e.g.,
theeditors'notestopp.150,168,and170,andseealsoOlson's"HomerandBible,"pp.34548).SapirisquotedlaterinProprioception(in"GRAMMARa
'book'").OlsonreadCrowley'sBookofThothattheLibraryofCongressinthe1940s,borrowingimageryforhispoem"TheMoonIstheNumber18"(CP201
2seealso"TheMoon,"Nation46).G.R.S.Mead'sApolloniusofTyana:ThePhilosopherReformeroftheFirstCenturya.d.(1901NewHydePark,
N.Y.:UniversityBooks,1966)isasourceforOlson'sdanceofthesamename(reprintedinSWandFH)Mead'sPistisSophia,subtitled"AGnostic
Miscellany,"wasfirstpublishedin1896.OlsoncitesWhorfinthebibliographytoMayanLettersandinTheSpecialViewofHistory.AccordingtoMaud,
OlsonownedLang'stranslationofHomerandreadLang'sarticleoncrystalgazingintheEncyclopediaBritannica(11thed.)(Olson'sReading,pp.16263).A
citationfromEdwardHyamsservesasepigraphtothebibliographyinMayanLetters(SW125).Carpenter(afriendofWhitman's)andGarrett(publisherof
Tomorrowmagazine)arenowhereelsementionedbyOlsonandnoneoftheirworkssurvivedinhislibrary.
188GerritLansing
GloucesterpoetandparticipantinOlson's"ParisReviewInterview"(MUTH2:105153)hisconversationswithOlsoncontinueduntilOlson'sdeath.

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189"thehingesofcivilizationtobeputbackonthedoor":
JohnClarkeinhisnotesfromOlson'sFall1964MythologySeminarrecordsthefollowing:
Butourmappingisineffectualunless,
youhaveexperienceof,directexperience,phiexperience(physis)ofthe"condition"oftheuniversethereal"StructureofCondition"ofLifeand
Creation...
Mythologyissimplyaninventory(alexicon)ofthehighlycomplexcharactersofexistence,thequiteopaquestatesofbeingadooropenswithmyth,butthe
wholepointistotakethedooroffthehinges(orviceversa)andthisisonlydonethroughphiunitexperience....Wereadsolelytoacquirethecapacityfor
phiunitexperience(cf.Melvilleandhisvoyaginginthelibrariesoftheworld)....
190MissHarrisonclearestamongmodernsonPersian,
JaneEllenHarrison.ThreeofherbooksarecitedinABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn.
190HansJonasparticularlyuseful
SeeHansJonas,TheGnosticReligion:TheMessageoftheAlienGodandtheBeginningsofChristianity(1958Boston:BeaconPress,1963).
191"GRAMMARa'book'"
In"BridgeWork,"OlsonlistsCyrusGordonamongthe"menworthanyone'sstudy,"andcitesGordon's"identificationofLinearA''in"AWork."In"TheVinland
MapReview"hecreditsMichaelVentrisandJohnChadwickfortheirsimilarresearchintoLinearB.ForOlson,thedeciphermentofancientscriptwasa
necessarystepinfreeingup"theencumbranceuponmanashimselfauniverse"("AWork")inrecoveringknowledgeofaworldoverthrownby"thePlato
Socratesgeneralizationsystem"("ReviewofEricA.Havelock'sPrefacetoPlato").Nonetheless,thedirectionalityofOlson'sresearchin"GRAMMARa
'book'"differsmarkedlyfromthatofaGordon,Ventris,orChadwick.WhereGordonetal.beginwithpictographicscrawlandarriveatcleartranslation,Olson
("byasortofinvertedarcheology,"asheputsitin"CyTwombly")accomplishestheopposite:hebeginsclearly(withwordslike"why,""WHO,""how,""the,"
"LIKE!")andarrivesatscrawlatagraphicarrangementofinexplicitnotes.ThisperformativeaspectofOlson'slaterprose(crucialtoanunderstandingofhis
poetics)partlyexplainsthecommentthatProprioception'snineparts"canbedugupassigns."
194Sapir(Language)
Olson'squotationhereandthosebelowarefromEdwardSapir,Language:AnIntroductiontotheStudyofSpeech(NewYork:Harcourt,Brace,Jovanovich,
1949),pp.16364("Thefirst...objectiveforms")pp.11314("Itissomewhatventuresome...,""Thus,theof...,""Aninteresting...")andp.115("Every
noun...table.'").
195image(insteadofimages,inNicholasCalas(viaRobtKelly'sessay
InalettertoRobertKellyof3October1960,respondingtoKelly's"NotesonthePoetryofDeepImage,"Trobar,no.2,1960,pp.1416,Olsonwrites:
CalasiswrongthatthemovementoftheimagesconstitutestherhythmofthepoemTherearenopluralsinthisbusinessTheimageyouaretalkingaboutis
alwaysone

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"themovementoftheimage"
wldbecorrect,and"poems"
wldbe,tappedoffthemain
wiresotospeak.ButnotthemovementoftheimagesOratleastatthispoint
whichyouhavereachedorareproposingars,andpoetica,havetobehandledonly
underaguiseofdichtungandwahrheitasmixedasIbelieveyouknowwhenyoutalk
primamater[i]a.WeareindirecttouchwiththepowersofGod.(Buf.)
196"APlausible'Entry'for,like,man"
ThereferencesheretoAverroesandErictheRedaretheearliestindicationofOlson'sincreasing(andparallel)studyoftheArabsandtheNorse.(See,inthis
connection,hischronologyin"ContinuingAttempttoPulltheTaffyofftheRoofoftheMouth,"pp.37273.)
196"largerthanany..."
FromtheopeningparagraphofJonas,TheGnosticReligion,p.3.
197"AWork"
Thesocialandpoliticalimplicationsofhisinterestin"unwrittenhistory"werecleartoOlsonearlyon,especiallywithregardtothecategorizationofancient
societiesaccordingtomodernideasofrace.AlettertoRobertCreeleyfromMexico,dated22March1951,observes:
OfcourseIbalkatsame,oratleastresist,simplybecauseItakeit,racismhastobekeptattheendofastick.Orputitthisway:untilwehavecompletely
cleanedourselvesofthebiasesofwesternism,ofgreekism,untilwehavesquaredawayathistoricaltimeinsuchmannerthatweareabletoseeSumerasa
pointfromwhichall"races"(speakingofthemculturally,notbiologically)egressed,wedonothavepermissiontoweightthescaleonewayoranother(for
example,Jakeman,leaves,sofarasIhavereadhim,theinventionofmaizetotheMongoloids,aswellastheartsofceramica,weaving,andbaskets!And,
contra(contraalltheseprejudicedNordics,amongwhomIincludeHooton,whohassd,fromskullmeasurements,thatitistrue,therewereCaucasians
here),thereremainsChina,ancientandmodernChina.UntiltheladscanverifythattheChinese,aswellasthepeopleofIndia,comeofffromtheTigris
Euphratescomplex,theybetterlielowwiththeirjumpstoconcludethatonlytheCaucasiantypewasthecivilizingtypeofman).((Asyouknow,thiswhole
modernintellectualdemarchehas,atitsroots,anegativeimpulse,deeper,even,thantheantiAsiacolonialismofEurope:atroot,thesearchis,tounload,to
disburdenthemselvesofJudaism,ofSemitism))(O/RC5:90)
Thefocuson"Judaism"and"Semitism"followsfromanumberofOlson'sinterests,themostsignificantofwhich,inthepresentcontext,isrecordedinalaterletter
(19February1952),whereOlsontellsCreeley,"Judaism/Hebraism...represent[s]theonlyFORMULATIONofthearchaicfactwhich[comes]downtous,
duetoaseriesoferasuresbyGreekism,Hindooism,&ChristianityinbetweenusandtheOlderPeople"(O/RC9:139).Thecostoftheseerasuresisoneof
Olson'smostpersistentthemesin"AWork"heoffershismostexplicitstatementonthehistoricalterrainhehimselfsoughttorecover.

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197HansGterbock,hassuggested
HansGustavGterbock,"TheHittiteVersionoftheHurrianKumarbiMyths:OrientalForerunnersofHesod,"AmericanJournalofArchaeology52:1,January
March1948,pp.12334.
197PhyloBibliusquotingSanchuniathon
See,inthisconnection,Olson'sintroductiontoCharlesDoria'stranslationofSanchuniaton,"What'sBackThere"(p.363).
198theidentificationofLinearAbyCyrusGordon
FreshnewswhenOlsonwaswriting."See'"Cipher"GivesKeytoCretanTongue:BrandeisScholarSaysHisStudyofanAncientTextShowsItWas
Phoenician,"NewYorkTimes,4April1962,p.39also,similararticlesintheBostonGlobeandBostonHeraldforthatdayclippingsofallofwhichare
preservedamongthepoet'spapers."(GB,atAP89)
198thesocalled"SeaPeoples"
SeealsoMAX275:
wheredidtheSumerians
comefrom,intothePersian
Gulfseapeoples
whoraidedandimposedthemselves
onablackhairedpreviouspeople
dwellingamongreedhouses
onfloodedmarshes?
198TatianinhisaddresstotheGreeksquotesThallus,NotedbyRobertGravesinTheGreekMyths,p.42.
199onecanthenbegintoworkHesiodback
Anunpublishedprosepieceheaded"March14th1965"namestheroute:"Bythesemeansalone[archeology,philology,anddeciphermentaGreece]apast
backalongthelineofmanlanguageandnotationtransmissiontoourselveshasopenedupintheneighborhoodofafull1000yearsbeforeHomer&Hesiod,on
thegeneralGreekAegeanRhodesCyprusCreteSyrianPhilistineEgyptianAfricanline"(Storrs,ProseSeries,bracketsinoriginal).
200"Place&Names"
Written5January1962publishedinYugen,no.8(1962)reprintedARCH.OlsonreadsanddicussesthispiecewithRobertDuncan,AllenGinsberg,and
RobertCreeleyin"OnHistory,"thetranscriptofapaneldiscussionattheUniversityofBritishColumbiaPoetryConference,29July1963(MUTH119).
200theBrihadaranyakaUpanishad
Onthebackofan11September1960letterfromLeRoiJones(AmiriBaraka),Olsonhaswrittenamidaseriesofpencilednotes"GETtheBrihadaranyaka"and
"Hume,RobE

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(trans)TheThirteenPrincipalUpanishadsOxford1921"(Storrs,Correspondence).ThereferencemayhavecomefromseveraltextsOlsonisknowntohave
read,mostnotablyC.G.Jung'sSymbolsofTransformation,tr.R.F.C.Hull,TheCollectedWorksofC.G.Jung,vol.5,BollingenSeries20(Princeton,
N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1956),wheretheBrihadaranyakaUpanishadisdiscussedatlength.
200landschaft
German,"landscape."
201Duncan'sLaw
RobertDuncanhadwrittenOlson,18December1961:
..."history"?couldn'twethrowthatwordoutandestablish:
histology:thetissueandstructure,weaving,ofwhat[it]isweknow.
story:whatweknowfromthequestionweaskd.Thisthingismadeup,orananswerbutis,also,theonlythingweknowtoanswer:oracleorsphinx
demand.
202"'youcan'tusewords...'"
PublishedinTuftonian21:2,February1965reprintedinARCH.
ThePresentIsPrologue
205"ThePresentIsPrologue"
OriginallypublishedinTwentiethCenturyAuthors,FirstSupplement,1955reprintedinAP.AsGeorgeButtericknotes(quotinga23December1956letterto
MichaelRumaker),theessaywaswritten"electionday1952,inasortofswirl,thicknessoftheUnc[onscious]."Adecadelater,inhis"Readingat
Berkeley"(memoryjoggedbyacasualmentionofAdlaiStevenson,wholostthe'52election),Olsondescribestheessayas"aflagrantautobiographyofmyself,
imitatingEzraPound"(MUTH1:123).Poundianornot,theessayconcludeswithapostPoundianreferenceto"thepostmodern,theposthumanist,thepost
historical,"aswellaswithOlson'sbestknownselfcharacterization:''Ifinditawkwardtocallmyselfapoetorawriter....Thisisthemorning,afterthe
dispersion,andtheworkofthemorningismethodology:howtouseoneself,andonwhat.Thatismyprofession.Iamanarchaeologistofmorning."
205MymotherwasMaryHines,andYeatstoldme
OlsonmetYeatsinIrelandduringasummertriptoEurope,whichhewoninanoratorycompetitioninWashington,D.C.,in1928.Yeatshas,in"'DustHath
ClosedHelen'sEye,'"asectionofTheCelticTwilight:
Ihavebeenlatelytoalittlegroupofhouses,notmanyenoughtobecalledavillage,inthebaronyofKiltartaninCountyGalway,whosename,Ballylee,is
knownthroughallthewestofIreland....Ihavebeentherethissummer,andIshallbethereagainbeforeitisautumn,becauseMaryHynes,abeautiful
womanwhosenameisstillawonderbyturffires,diedtheresixtyyearsagoforourfeetwouldlingerwherebeautyhasliveditslifeofsorrowtomakeus
understandthatitisnotoftheworld.(EarlyPoemsandStories,pp.15960)
YeatspresentsatranslationofRaftery'ssongaboutMaryHynesatpp.16263.

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206thephenomenological'ragingapart'
FromLawrence'sTheEscapedCock,quotedinOlson'sessayonthatnovel,p.140.
207the"BeautifulThing"
FromWilliamCarlosWilliams,Paterson,asinBook3,Section1,p.101:
TheLibraryisdesolation,ithasasmellofitsown
ofstagnationanddeath
BeautifulThing!
thecostofdreams,
inwhichwesearch,afterasurgery
ofthewitsandmusttranslate,quickly
stepbysteporbedestroyed
208"StockingCap"
WritteninWashington,D.C.,andsubmittedtotheNewYorkerinFebruaryof1948firstpublishedinMontavalloReview,no.2,Summer1951reprintedin
1966bytheFourSeasonsFoundationasWriting13,andinPO.EarlyoninhiscorrespondencewithRobertCreeley,inaletterdated21June1950,Olson
wrote:"Iamnervousabtit,butinMR2,at[editorRobert]Payne'sinsistence,therewillappearmyonlypieceofproseoutsideISHMAEL,a'story,'iguess
you'dcallit(actuallyrecollectionwhichis,Isuppose,whyIamnervousabtit),titleSTOCKINGCAP"(OIRC1:12223).TomClarkprovidesawidercontext
for"StockingCap"andOlson'stwootherautobiographicalstories("Mr.Meyer"and"ThePostOffice")inhisbiography,CharlesOlson:TheAllegoryofa
Poet'sLife.
213"Mr.Meyer"
WritteninWashington,D.C.,earlyin1948firstpublishedinPO.
217"ThePostOffice"
WritteninWashington,D.C.,ataboutthesametimeas"StockingCap"and"Mr.Meyer"possiblysubmittedtoAtlanticMonthly.GeorgeButterickinhis1975
introductiontothismemoirquotesanotebookentryof8March1948:"Atleastonecourseiscleardothisbookonyrfatherwithoutreferencetoculturestyle,
manner,tricksdoitonthelevelofmediocrehumanitas.Ifyouarenotanartist,genius,&clever,letthismakeitclear.Andtaketheconsequences."First
publishedinPO.
219JosephAltsheler
MentionedalsoinMaximus:"Altsheler/taughtushowtofightIndians"(MAX58).
230GeorgeHarris'proposition
InthevoiceofSutLovingood,creationofnineteenthcenturySouthernhumoristGeorgeWashingtonHarris.
PoetryandPoets
239"ProjectiveVerse"
Olson'smostinfluentialessay,"ProjectiveVerse,"waswrittenandrewrittenincorrespondencewithFrancesBoldereffandRobertCreeley,andprintedinPoetry
NewYork,no.3,

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1950reprintedmanytimes,first(inpart)inTheAutobiographyofWilliamCarlosWilliams(NewYork:RandomHouse,1951),butalsointhepamphlet
ProjectiveVerse(NewYork:Totem,1959),inTheNewAmericanPoetry19451960,ed.DonaldAllen(NewYork:GrovePress,1960),inHU,andinSW.
Thetitledrawsonanumberofsources,including"projectivegeometry"(whichOlsonknewfromhisreadingsinBonola,Coxeter,andWeylsee"Equal,ThatIs,
totheRealItself"),andthe"projectiveart"oftheater(whichOlsontaughtin1952atBlackMountainCollegehiscoursedescriptionemphasized"theusagesof
thepoethistoricallyandagainnowastherootofdrama"[OJ2:27]).
"ProjectiveVerse"offersanearlycrystallizationofOlson'spoetics,butfollowingEdwardDahlberg'sdictum"ONEPERCEPTIONMUSTIMMEDIATELY
ANDDIRECTLYLEADTOAFURTHER,"Olsoncontinuedtopressforwardinhisresearch.Attemptsatasequelindudethe1959"LettertoElaineFeinstein"
andtwoseparateunpublishedessayscalled"ProjectiveVerseII,"onedated1956,theother1959.Intheearlierofthese,Olsonasks:
Haslanguageonlythatproperty,thatitenablesthepoettotrafficinbetweenhisselfandyourself,tradinghistermsforyours,andgettingnomorepowerout
ofitthanyourackowledgementthathespeaksforyou?Butdoeshe,evenathisbest?Canhe,whenyouareyourowninvolvement,andsoengaged,willy
nilly,poemsornopoems?Youwillspeakinthenextsecondbywordswhichare,Ipropose,priortoallyouare,andmorenecessarytoyou,ifyouare
properlyengagedwithwhatitistobehuman,thanyourtoes,oryouropposablethumb,thatifyoumoveasmanhassinceeitherheornatureraisedhimto
speech,tothecapacitytospeak,youmovewithoragainstyourselfyouhavemoreorlesslifeexactlytothedegreethatlanguageempowersyou.(Storrs,
ProseSeries)
Notwithstandinghisessay'spredominantlyliteraryfocus,Olson'sultimateinterestintheconceptof"ProjectiveVerse"isphenomenological,somethingthat
becomesespeciallyclearinanunpublishedprosepiecefrom1965,"TheProjective,inPoetryandinThoughtandtheParatactic."HereOlsondevelopsanotion
of"practice"thatfaroutstripstheemphasisonversemakingofthe1950essay:
myinterest,inaddingtheparatactictoanypreviousthoughtontheprojective(prospectiveprescriptiveeternal)istoassume,byexperience,thatthepoetry
andthethoughtcalledpurposivebehavior"practice"requiressomedifferentmodeofactionactivityliterally,livingroundtheclock,eatingeven,makinglove
differentlyfindingyourselfengagedinanimpossiblewarwiththerealistic,andwithrealisticpeople
...my...pointwouldbe...thatsyntax...ortheorderingofallmovement...hasanameforitselfparataxis
AristotlecalleditthewaybeadsarestrungonastringonebeadandthreadafteranotherAndthereisthatsensethatitisonefootafterthepreviousfootthat
nothingdoesn'thappenexceptassuccession,andwiththatorderofsuccessionintime...knownonlyifyoudoyourselfplaceonenextthingafteroneyou
havedefinitelyexpressedtheplacingof,likeyourfootthestepbeforeetcthesuccessionintimebeingsolelytheexperienceintermsofadifferent&known
&palpableorderphysical,literally,&temporal...
Somethinglikeitanywaywldbethedreamofthesuccessofwhatisalsotheusefulness,ofwhatIhavecalledtheProjective(Storrs,ProseSeries)

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239aFrenchcritic
IdentifiedbyRalphMaudasRenNelli,whoasksinPosieouverteposieferme,"Maisyatiluneposieouvertesurlereletuneposiefermesurles
mots?""Butisthereapoetryopenontherealandapoetryclosedonthewords?"(Olson'sReading,pp.84and277n.29).
239"theEgotisticalSublime"
Keats'sdescriptionofWordsworth,fromalettertoRichardWoodhouseof27October1818:
AstothepoeticalCharacteritself(Imeanthatsort,ofwhich,ifIamanything,IamamemberthatsortdistinguishedfromtheWordsworthian,oregotistical
Sublimewhichisathingperse,andstandsalone,)itisnotitselfithasnoselfItiseverythingandnothingIthasnocharacteritenjoyslightandshade
itlivesingusto,beitfoulorfair,highorlow,richorpoor,meanorelevatedIthasasmuchdelightinconceivinganlagoasanImogen.Whatshocksthe
virtuousphilosopherdelightsthechameleonpoet.(TheLettersofJohnKeats,p.184)
239revolutionoftheear,1910
Theyear1910(Olson'sownbirthyear)isinmanywaysamagnet,accruingfactsthewayamagnetgathersironfilings.Inhis1946poem"LaPrface,"Olson
drewthedatethus:
()1910(
Itisnotobscure.Wearethenewborn...
.....................................
Theclosedparenthesisreads:thedeadburythedead,
anditisnotveryinteresting.
Open,thefigurestandsatthedoor,horrorhis
andgone,possessed,onewOsiris,Odysseusship.
(CP47)
JohnClarkeinhisnotesforOlson'sFall1964MythologySeminarprovidesanalternativegloss:
Thenthepsychicawakeningcame:
1903 GertrudeStein,QuodEratDemonstrandum(pub.
1950asThingsasTheyAre)
1909 Stein,ThreeLives!
Pound,Exultations,Personae
ThePhenomenologyofPerceptionofthe20thc.endedtheNeolithicperiod,1910thereturnofthepossibilityofaparatacticpoetics,aswithPleistocene
man,whenpoetryandmythologywereone,mythoslogosintact.
239thetrochee'sheave
WritingRobertCreeleyon22June1950,Olsonhas:"THETROCHEE:withit,anewlanguage,forUSE,madeUSA(Where'dhegetit,thetrochee?hunch:out
ofMissSapphobySeafarer"(O/RC1:140).The"he"hereisPound,whohasinCanto81,"Tobreakthepentameter,thatwasthefirstheave."
240thekineticsofthething
Inanearlyversionofhisessay"HumanUniverse,"Olsonwrites:

Page426
Torepossessourselvesofamethodologyofexpressionwhichshallbetheequalofthelawswhichsorichlydeterminetheoriginalfunctionwhichwecall
humanlifethis,surely,isthetask.AndIhaveelsewherearguedthatthefirstprincipleis,thatifyouproposetotransferpoweryoumustmanageinthe
processofthetransferakineticatleasttheequalofthethingfromwhichyoubegin.Whichiswhywewilldonothinguntilwefrontwhatweare,precisely,the
conditionsofahumanbeing,whatis,exactly,thenatureofahumanlife.(Gloverdiss.,p.271)
240asPoundput,sowisely..."themusicalphrase,"
Inthethirdofthreeprinciplesgivenin"ARetrospect,"e.g.,"Asregardingrhythm:tocomposeinthesequenceofthemusicalphrase,notinsequenceofa
metronome"(TheLiteraryEssaysofEzraPound,ed.T.S.Eliot[NewYork:NewDirections,1968],p.3).
240Orsoitgotphrasedbyone,R.Creeley
Inaletterdated5June1950,bywayofdistinguishing"form"from"technicalwonder,"thelatterofwhichhedescribesas
absolutebull/shit.Thatis:theintelligencethathadtoutedAudenasbeingatechnicalwonder,etc.Lackingallgriponthewornanduselesscharacterofhis
essence:thought.Anattitudethatputsweight,first:onform/morethantosay:whatyouhaveabove:willnevergetto:content.Neveringod'sworld.
Anyhow,formhasnowbecomesouselessaterm/thatIblushtouseit.IwdimplyalittleofStevens'use(thethingscreatedinapoemandexistingthere...)
&too,gooverinto:thepossiblecastsormethodsforawayinto/a'subject':tomakeitclear:thatformisnevermorethananextensionofcontent.An
enactedorpossible'stasis'forthought.(O/RC1:7879)
240poundedintomyheadbyEdwardDahlberg
Apparentlyinconversation.JohnCechinCharlesOlsonandEdwardDahlberg:APortraitofaFriendship(Victoria,B.C.:EnglishLiteraryStudies,
UniversityofVictoria,1982)quotesanunpublishedloosemanuscriptnoteofOlson'sfrom1945,"Gototheextremeofyourimaginationandgoonfromthere:fail
large,neversucceedsmall.AgainEDmakessense:oneintuitionmustonlyleadtoanotherfartherplace"(pp.8889).
241Owesternwynd,whenwiltthoublow
Anonymouspoemofthesixteenthcentury.
242"Is"comesfromtheAryanroot
LiftedbyOlson(alongwithotherlines)from"MouthsBitingEmptyAir,"anunpublishedprosepiecedated27October1946,nowatStorrs.
244NewmanShea
AGloucesterfishermannamedalsoin"Letter20"oftheMaximuspoems(MAX89,91),in"TheMorningNews"(CP122),andinOlson's1936"Journalof
SwordfishingCruiseontheDorisM.Hawes"(OJ7:10,19).
244ButthereisalossinCraneofwhatFenollosaissorightabout,insyntaxHartCraneandErnestFenollosa(thelatterdiscussessyntaxinTheChineseWritten
Character).ThecriticismofCranewaslaterlodgedbyOlsonagainstRobinBlaseraswellto

Page427
wit,"I'dtrustyouanywherewithimage,butyou'vegotnosyntax."SeeMinutesoftheCharlesOlsonSociety,no.8("ASpecialIssuefortheRobinBlaser
Conference"),p.13.
245Ifmusicbethefoodoflove,playon
Shakespeare'sTwelfthNight1:1:17.
245Forthebreathhasadoublemeaningwhichlatinhadnotyetlost"Spiritus"bothbreathandspirit.
246Whatdoesnotchange/isthewilltochange
OpeninglineofOlson'spoem"TheKingfishers"(CP86).
246Sdhe:
FromOlson's"ThePraises"(CP98).
246Seami
AJapanesewriterofthelatefourteenthandearlyfifteenthcenturies,alsoknownasMotekiyo.In1961,afterreadingaversionofSeami'sYashimainOrigin,
OlsonwroteCidCorman,"IfyoufindanyonewhohastranslatedSeami'sAutobiographyliterally&entirelyIshdbeobligedtohearofit.Iremainconvincedof
itsimportance(readinghisnewplayyoupublishedemphasizesagainwhataflawlesspoetheis"(O/CC:173).
247"objectivism"
TheworkofalooselyaffiliatedgroupofpoetsfirstpublishedbyLouisZukofskyinaspecialissueofPoetrymagazinein1931.
248TheTrojanWomen
ByEuripides.
248Hagoromo
OneoftheNohplaystranslatedbyPound,whoseintroductorynotedeclares,"TheplayshowstherelationoftheearlyNohtotheGoddance"(EzraPound:
Translations[NewYork:NewDirections,1963],p.308).
248"Prufrock"
T.S.Eliot'spoem"TheLoveSongofJ.AlfredPrufrock."
250"LettertoElaineFeinstein"
Firstpublishedin1959inthepamphletProjectiveVerse,underthetitle"LetterfromCharlesOlsonReceivedbyE.B.Feinstein"reprintedinTheNew
AmericanPoetry,SW,andHU.FeinsteinisaBritishpoet,critic,andtranslator.
250Truth!(Wahrheit)...beauty(Schnheit)
Keats'sterms(from"OdeonaGrecianUrn")translatedintoGoethe'sGerman.
250dasDingJa!machtring
German,"thethingyes!makesnoise."
250Dante'ssenseInDeVulgariEloquentia.

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251ifthisallsoundsbloodyGerman
NotsimplybecauseoftheGermanwordscitedaboveOlsonisborrowingtermsfromOttoRank,ArtandArtist,tr.CharlesFrancisAtkinson(1932),
reprintedinRank,TheMythoftheBirthoftheHero,ed.PhilipFreund(NewYork:Vintage,1959).
251myfriendsfromtheAmericanUnderground
AreferencetotherecentseizurebythepoliceofChicagoReviewonchargesofobscenity,forhavingpublishedasectionofNakedLunch.Olsonpublishedhis
essay"Equal,ThatIs,totheRealItself"inChicagoReviewin1958.
251ifyoubisectaparabolayougetanenantiomorph
I.e.,"eachformbeingamirrorimageoftheother,likeleftandrighthands"(HermannWeyl,Symmetry[Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1952],p.29).
253"'OnPoetsandPoetry'"
AlettertotheeditorprintedinNewMexicoQuarterly24:1,Spring1954reprintedinHU.
254MissKoch'sbookonWilliams
VivienKoch,WilliamCarlosWilliams(Norfolk,Va.:NewDirections,1950).
256"NotesonLanguageandTheater"
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.3,Fall1954reprintedinHU.GeorgeButterickwritesinhisintroductiontoTheFieryHuntandOtherPlays,a
collectionofOlson'sperformancetexts:
Olson'sinterestinthetheaterextendsbacktoatleasthishighschoolandcollegedays,whenhewasasuccessfulschoolboyactor....Healsotookleading
rolesincommunitytheaterproductions,formallystudiedtheatricalskillsatawellrunsummertheaterinaspaciousoldsailloftinGloucester,andwashimself
assistantdramaticcoachinadditiontohisteachinganddebatecoachingdutiesatClarkUniversityinhishometownofWorcesterintheearly1930s....Asa
youngsterhesawthelegendaryBuffaloBillinhistravelingWildWestshow,and...ClydeBeattytheanimaltrainerincircusesatStageFortParklater,he
wenttotheburlesqueinBostonandinHartford...andafterhebeganhiscareerasapoethecontinuedtoreadconscientiouslyinthetheaterofthe
Greeks...andinShakespeare.
256Mimoswasn'tevenimitationsolateastheGrks.
JaneE.HarrisoninAncientArtandRitual(p.47)has:
Thewordmimesismeanstheactionordoingofapersoncalledamime.Nowamimewassimplyapersonwhodressedupandactedinapantomimeor
primitivedrama.Hewasroughlywhatweshouldcallanactor,anditissignificantthatinthewordactorwestressnotimitatingbutacting,doing,justwhatthe
Greekstressedinhiswordsdromenonanddrama.Theactordressesup,putsonamask,wearstheskinofabeastorthefeathersofabird,not,aswehave
seen,tocopysomethingorsomeonewhoisnothimself,buttoemphasize,enlarge,enhance,hisownpersonalityhemasquerades,hedoesnotmimic.
256therhabdians,...Berard...LaughtonandClaudeRains
Olson'ssourcefor"rhabdians"isuncertain,butJaneHarrison(inProlegomenatotheStudyofGreekReligion[1903NewYork:MeridianBooks,1966])
defines"rhabdos"as"magicwand"(p.44),linkingitsuseto"anecstaticdanceofgoathornedPanes"

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(pp.27778).VictorBrardinDidHomerLive?speaksofHomer'stwoepicsas"reallyplays,"noting(p.210n.1):"Ishouldlikeonedaytogivethegeneral
publicthestoryofthis"epicdrama"initsearlieststate.Nowthattheyoungergenerationaretryingtoenlistthefilmandphonographintheserviceofliteratureand
createthe'talkyplay'itis,Ithink,totheexampleofGreekeposthattheyshouldturn."
In195253,CharlesLaughtonstageda"roadshow"productionofStephenVincentBent'sepicpoemJohnBrown'sBody(theotheractorswereRaymond
Massey,JudithAnderson,andTyronePower)in1943,LaughtonandClaudeRainsappearedtogetherin"ForeverandaDay,"ahistoricaldramadirectedby
RenClairforRKOpictures.
257LaGuardia
FiorelloLaGuardia,mayorofNewYorkCity,famousforreadingtheSundayfunniesovertheradio.
257AnnCorio'sbelly,Ragland
JohnFinchinhismemoirofOlson,"DancerandClerk"(MassachusettsReview,Winter1971,p.36)remembersthat
BostonofferedtheOldHoward,NewYorktheIrvingPlace.Itwasinthosetwotemplesofburlesque'sGoldenErathatOlsonandIencounteredRags
RaglandandAnnCorio,GeorgiaSouthernandSlidingBillyWatson,andLedaandtheSwan.Yes,theimmortalbirdandthemortalLeda,intheflesh,nota
movin'pitcher.Forburlesque,inthethirties,washighbrow,notlowbrowandbelieveme,weweren'tslummingwhenwewent.Didn'tProfessorKenneth
MurdockfrequenttheOldHoward,andProfessorEllerySedgewick,too?Theydid.AndE.E.CummingsmadepicturesandpoemsofShargelandstrippers
fromtheIrvingPlace.
257HenryLuce
PublisherofTimemagazine.Thespecificreferenceisunclear.
258theGreatDictator
Chaplin's1940satireonHitler,inwhichChaplinplaysthelookalikerolesofJewishbarberandHitleresquedictator.JackOkieplaystheMussolinicharacter.
260"AgainstWisdomasSuch"
Originallywritten21December1953asalettertoRobertDuncanpublishedintheinauguralissueofBlackMountainReview,Spring1954reprintedinHU.
DuncanrecordedhisimmediateresponseinalettertoOlsonof8August1954."IpickedupBlackMt.ReviewatthePocketBookShopandreadthe'Wisdom
asSuch'piece.IfitreprimandsinpartIain'tgoingtoriseindefenseofmybewilderingsthismatterofclarificationistooimportant."
260Duncan'sgenuine"diary"
AvailablenowinRobertDuncan,ASelectedProse,ed.RobertBertholf(NewYork:NewDirections,1995).
260IsawoneinCirclein1947
ThetitlepoemofDuncan'sTheYearsasCatches:FirstPoems(19391946)(Berkeley,Calif.:OyezBooks,1966).

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260JackSpicer...RexrothandPatchen
SpiceristheonlyoneofDuncan'scontemporariesincludedinthelistafactthatmayhavegratedonOlson,hencehisreferencetoKennethRexrothand
KennethPatchen,twopoetsassociatedwiththeWestCoastnotnumberedamongDuncan'sforty.TheirmentionappearstohavegratedonDuncaninreturnhis
8AugustlettertoOlsonincludesthecomment,"PatchenorRexrothareinmyway."
261asDuncanhassofinelymadeConfuciussay,
NotintheArtist'sViewnotebookentriesthesourceremainsunidentified.
262ApolloniusofTyana
SeeG.R.S.Mead'sApolloniusofTyana,akeysourceforOlson'splayofthesamename,fromwhichthequotedlinesbelowaretaken(FH79[alsoSW155]
andMead,pp.125and138).
263LTungpin
AuthoroftheT'aiIChinHuaTsungChih,translatedintoGermanbyRichardWilhelm(EnglishtranslationbyCaryBaynes)asTheSecretoftheGolden
Flower:AChineseBookofLife(NewYork:Harcourt,Brace,1931),atextthatoccupiedOlson'sattentiontotheendofhisdays,witness"TheSecretofthe
BlackChrysanthemum,"Olson'sdeathbedtext(posthumouslypublishedinOJ3:6492reprintedinCharlesStein'sTheSecretoftheBlackChrysanthemum:
ThePoeticCosmologyofCharlesOlson&HisUseoftheWritingsofC.G.Jung[Barrytown,N.Y.:StationHillPress,1987]).
263Poe'sPoeticPrinciple
Titleofan1850lectureinwhich"thePoetryofwords"isdefined"asTheRhythmicalCreationofBeauty."EdgarAllanPoe,EssaysandReviews(NewYork:
LibraryofAmerica,1984),p.78.
263whateverisbornordonethismomentoftime
AnotionOlsonreiteratesinProprioception,inthesection"TheoryofSociety."
264howBillhasitin"ToaDogInjuredintheStreet,"
InTheDesertMusic,newlypublishedatthetime.ThepoemaddressestheFrenchpoetdirectly:"RenChar/youareapoetwhobelieves/inthepowerof
beautytorightallwrongs./Ibelieveitalso"(TheCollectedPoemsofWilliamCarlosWilliams,Volume2:19391962,ed.ChristopherMacGowan[New
York:NewDirections,1988],p.257).
264"itistime(love)isdifficult,Mr.Beardsley"
AnswertoalinePoundgivesinCanto75(adaptedfromYeats'sAutobiography,p.223),"beautyisdifficult'sd/Mr.Beardsley"(seealsoasimilarlineinCanto
80).
264"Hewhocontrolsrhythm,controls"
Inanunpublishedprosepiecefromca.195356,"ThePointatWhichAnalogiesAretheFactsofMythandScience,"Olsonhas:"...wegrow,asplantsdo,
becausethesunmakesitpossible.Sofireisthesourceoflife,andwespeakrightwhenwesay,asofthe

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lifeinus...thatitisfire....Andthusrhythmiswhatweareandhowwedocontroltheuniverse:therhythm,ofburning,whichislight,andhowearthandwater
produce,life"(Storrs,ProseSeries).
265"Theocritus"
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.4,Winter1954reprintedinHU.CormanmailedOlsonhistranslationon30August1954.Olsonwroteback5
November:
AndCidpleasealways,forgivemeanyharshness,likeIthinkyoumayfind[in]myreviewofyrSparrowEclogue.Itisneverthebackofmyhand.Itisthat
passion,thatallthingsbedoneright.Andtakeit,please,thatIwouldn'ttalkbackifIdidn'tlove.
Andhappened
topayattentionjustbecauseitwasyou!(O/CC2:126)
269"AFootIstoKickWith"
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.6,Spring1956reprintedinHU.
270"QuantityinVerseandShakespeare'sLatePlays"
Althoughhispublishedoutputoffersnohint,Olsonworkedassiduouslyinthe1950stoproduceabookonShakespearetenchaptersarepreservedinOlson's
papersatStorrs.Outofthatattemptcametheessayathand,"bangedout"in1956(O/CC2:155)firstpublishedinHUreprintedinSW.
270TassoorAriosto
TorquatoTassoandLodovicoAriosto,authorsofGerusalemmeLiberata(1575)andOrlandoFurioso(1532),respectively,longpoemswritteninItalian.
271Socomedyisacertainkindofpoeticnarration
RedactedfromparagraphtenofDante'sTenthEpistle(assubsequentlynoted),whichOlsoniscitingfromATranslationoftheLatinVerseofDanteAlighieri
(1904NewYork:GreenwoodPress,1969).Theextractbelowisfromparagraph15theitalicsareOlson's.
27172"Aswearemen,"saysTheseus
Theextractbelowcontinuesfromthesamepassage.SeeTwoNobleKinsmen1:1:23234.
272paradisn'estpasartificiel
French,"paradiseisnotartificial."
273(Ceres,mostbounteouslady,
ThisandthetwoquotesbelowarefromTheTempest4:1:6061,6466,94101.
273Wemayoutrun
HenryVIII1:1:14145.
274Dantecalledthem
InDeVulgariEloquentia,Book2,Chapter7.
276Comus,godhelpus,
AmaskbyMiltonfirstpresentedin1634.

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276''Metropolis"
FritzLang'ssilentfilmfrom1926.
276(hehadn'tgotthatfar),romanticalpastical
"He"beingPolonius,whoselistofdramaticformsinHamletincludes"tragedy,comedy,history,pastoral,pastoralcomical,historicalpastoral,tragicalhistorical,
tragicalcomicalhistoricalpastoral"(2:2:39699).
276Twentythreeyears,andsawmyselfunbreeched
Winter'sTale1:2:15558,41719.
277"Theflatnessofmymisery!"iswhatHermionecries
Winter'sTale3:2:122.
277Wewereastwinnedlambsthatdidfrisk
Winter'sTale1:2:6774.Thequotationbelow("Bythiswegather...")immediatelyfollows,atlines7576.
278YoutalkofPirithous'andTheseus'love....insexdividual.
TwoNobleKinsmen1:3:5561,6468,7172,7882.
279Donotgivedalliance
TheTempest4:1:5154.
279Apudencysorosythesweetviewonit
Cymbeline2:5:1113.
280Iwarrantyou,sir.
TheTempest4:1:5456.
280Chineseplay...Nessus'shirt
AJapaneseplaytheHagoromo,citedin"ProjectiveVerse,"p.248.NessustheCentaurwaskilledbyHerakleswhileattemptingtorapeDeianeirabefore
dying,NessusgaveDeianeiraatunicthatheclaimedwouldkeepHeraklesfaithful.WhenHeraklesputthetunicon,"itclungtohimsofastthathisfleshcame
awaywithit,layingbarethebones.Hisbloodhissedandbubbledlikespringwaterwhenredhotmetalisbeingtempered.Heplungedheadlongintothenearest
stream,butthepoisonburnedonlythefiercer"(Graves,TheGreekMyths,p.563).
281Extremity,thatsharpenssundrywits
TwoNobleKinsmen1:1:11819.
281Prospero'sanswertoMiranda'spleasure
TheTempest5:1:184.
283"IntroductiontoRobertCreeley"
PublishedinNewDirections13,1951reprintedinHU.Olson'sfriendshipwithCreeleybeganbymailinApril1950thefirsttwoyearsofthecorrespondence
nowfillninevolumes(withmanylettersmissing).DedicateeofthefirstbookofMaximus(whereheis

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named"theFigureofOutward"),Creeleyisalsoinscribedinthelast,inapoemthatspeaksof"Lovemadeknown."Listingthere"ThecarefulonesIcarefor,"
Olsonendswith"RobertCreeleyofcoursewholikeIistightwherelusimelesgoes"(MAX557).Greekfor''looselimbed,""lusimeles"isinHesiod'sTheogonyan
attributeoflove.Choosingtheword"tight,"OlsonmayhavebeenrecallingCreeley'srigorousstatementfromForLove,anotherversionoftheinsidenarrative
Olsonpraisesinthis"Introduction"
Mind'sheart,itmust
bethatsome
truthlieslocked
inyou.
Orelse,lies,all
lies,andnoman
trueenoughtoknow
thedifference.
(TheCollectedPoemsofRobertCreeley19451975
[Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1982],p.241)
284MR.BLUE
AshortstorybyCreeleyfirstpublishedinthesecondissueofOriginreprintedinTheCollectedProseofRobertCreeley(NewYork:MarionBoyers,1984),
pp.2026.
285"RobertCreeley'sForLove:Poems19501960"
PublishedinVillageVoice,13September1962reprintedinAP.ThepoemsOlsoncitesnowappearinCreeley'sCollectedPoems,p.215("TheSong")p.
132("IKnowaMan")pp.199201("TheDoor")andp.251("ThePeople").
288"WilliamCarlosWilliams:Paterson,BookV"
PublishedinEvergreenReview3:9,Summer1959reprintedinWilliamCarlosWilliams:TheCriticalHeritage,ed.CharlesDoyle(London:Routledgeand
KeganPaul,1980),pp.31922.OlsonwroteAllenGinsberg,21November1958:"AminthemidstoftryingtowriteareviewofPatVforEvergreen...it
putsmeintouchwithsomethingwhichIhavefeltandyouhaveknown:thatsometimearound1952(adateafterhispoemDesertMusic)ajumptookplace(of
whichyouareamarkforsure)ofwhichhisshiftof"Measure"wasn'tgoodenough:evidenceitisn'tisthesilverthreadsamongthesilkandwoolsideofPat
V"(SL).TheversionpublishedherefollowsOlson'stypescript(atSyracuseUniversityLibrary)ratherthanthemangledversioninEvergreenReview.
288theCloisters'tapestryonthehuntoftheUnicorn
InBook5,Sections1and3,ofPaterson.
288"Thereisawomaninourtown,"
Book5,Section2,p.216.
288"thelivingfiction,"
Book5,Section3,p.231.

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288the'dog'ofhismind.
InthePrefacetoBook1,Williamshas(p.3):
Tomakeastart,
outofparticulars
andmakethemgeneral,rolling
upthesum,bydefectivemeans
Sniffingthetrees,
justanotherdog
amongalotofdogs.
289"I,Paterson,theKingself"
Book5,Section3,p.231.
289whatheistalkingabout(incaps,InBook5,Section1,p.207:"AWORLDOFART/THATTHROUGHTHEYEARSHAS//SURVIVED!"
289Notinideasetc(NOTprophecy
Book5,Section1,p.206,"NOTprophecy!/butthethingitself"(recallingBook1,Section
1,p.9,"Noideasbutinthings").
289Iappendthesepassages
ThefirstisnotfromBook5ofPatersontherestappearonpp.206,226,229,232,and235.
291"EdSanders'Language"
IntroductorynoteforSanders'sPeaceEye(Buffalo,N.Y.:FrontierPress,1965)reprintedin
AP.
291ittakestheearthtomakeafeatherfall
JohnClarkehasthefollowinginhisnotesforOlson'sFall1964MythologySeminar(quotingHermannWeyl,PhilosophyofMathematicsandNatural
Science):
"Longago,"saysWeyl,"E.Machtriedtointerprettheinertialmassofabodyasaninductiveeffectoftheothermassesoftheuniverse,"p.289.Ifthisbetrue
thenitwouldindicatethatthegravitationalattractionoftwoparticlesdependsuponthetotalmassoftheuniverse,wow,
likeittakesthewholeearthtomakeafeatherfall!
anddothesesamepowersliftitupaswell?Theissueis,noless,thantheconstructionoftheuniverse!!!
SpaceandTime
295"IntroductiontoTheSutterMarshallLease"
PublishedbytheBookClubofCaliforniain1948aspartofits"KeepsakeSeries."OlsonvisitedCaliforniain1947togathermaterialsforaplannedsequelto
CallMeIshmael(OJ5presentsaselectionofnotesandpapersrelevanttothisproject).Olsondescribedhis

Page435
researchina10January1948lettertothesecretarygeneraloftheGuggenheimFoundation,HenryAllenMoe:
IstartedattheHuntingtontoinvestigatemanuscripts...andwhathashappenedsinceshouldnothappentoamanwithhomeandfamily.Ithasledmeupand
downthecoast.MostofthetimeIhavebeeninSacramento,attheSutterFortandtheStateLibraryCollections.AttheStateLibraryIturnedupthe
unsortedanduneditedpapersofGeorgeMcKinstry.HewastherecorderoftheDonnerstoryassheriffandoneofSutter'smanagers,andnewmaterialonit
andthewhole'46crossingisthere,Sutteristhere,thestoryoftheFortandthemill,thegolddiscoveryandagooddealofthewholestoryfrom1846to
1850.IamatthemomentpreparingsomeofthethingsforpublicationbytheCaliforniaHistoricalSocietyQuarterlyandtheBookClubofCalifornia.(SL)
297"ABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn"
Firstpublishedasapamphletin1964bytheFourSeasonsFoundationreprintedinAP.TheBibliographywaswritteninJanuary1955andcirculatedprivately
longbeforetheofficialpublication.Dorn,astudentofOlson'satBlackMountainCollege,describesthegenesisasfollows:"[It]cameoutofatutorialarrangement
thesecondtimeIwasatBlackMountain.Itold[Olson]IwantedtoreadabouttheWest,butIwasveryvagueandwantedhimtoguideme.Soonenighthe
deliveredthisthingtomywindow.HeworkedatnightandIalreadyhadawifeandchildrenatthetimeandkeptregularhours.Soitcametomefor
breakfast"(EdwardDorn,Interviews,ed.DonaldAllen[Bolinas,Calif.:FourSeasonsFoundation,1980],p.38).
TheBibliographyismuchmoreanessayonmethodologythanalistofbooks.Nonetheless,inthecourseofhisexpositionOlsonspecificallycitesthefollowing
texts:
BrooksAdams,TheLawofCivilizationandDecay:AnEssayonHistory(1898New
York:VintageBooks,1959)
BrooksAdams,TheNewEmpire(1902Cleveland:FrontierPress,1967)
AmericanWeekly
EdgarAnderson,Plants,ManandLife(1952Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1967)
VictorBrard,LesPhniciensetI'Odysse,2vols.(Paris:ArmandColin,1902and1903).(This,presumably,isthe"WORKONTHEODYSSEY"available
inFrench.UnnamedbutreliedoninthediscussionofBrardin"AppendixA"isDidHomerLive?)
TheBible(OlsonhimselfusedtheKingJames.)
KatherineComan,EconomicBeginningsoftheFarWest:HowWeWontheLandbeyondtheMississippi,2vols.(NewYork:Macmillan,1912)
EdwinCorle,DesertCountry(NewYork:Duell,SloanandPearce,1941)
BernardDeVoto,TheYearofDecision,1846(Boston:Little,Brown,1943)
ReginaldR.Gates,HumanAncestryfromaGeneticalPointofView(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1948)
HaroldSterlingGladwin,MenoutofAsia(NewYork:McGrawHill,1947)

Page436
JaneEllenHarrison,ProlegomenatotheStudyofGreekReligion
JaneEllenHarrison,Themis:AStudyoftheSocialOriginsofGreekReligion(1912reprintedwithHarrison'sEpilogemenatotheStudyofGreekReligion,
UniversityBooks,1962)
Herodotus(Olsonownedtwotranslations:ANewandLiteralVersion,Harper'sNewClassicalLibrary,tr.HenryCary[NewYork:HarperandBrothers,
1878],andTheHistories,tr.AubreydeSelincourtthelatterreviewedbyOlsonin"ItWas.ButItAin't.")
Homer(OlsonknewseveraltranslationsAndrewLang'sismentionedinProprioception.)
D.H.Lawrence,FantasiaoftheUnconscious(1922London:Heinemann,1961)
D.H.Lawrence,StudiesinClassicAmericanLiterature(1923London:Heinemann,1964)
A.K.Lobeck,PhysiographicDiagramoftheUnitedStates(NewYork:GeographicalPress,ColumbiaUniversityPress,1932)
HermanMelville,MobyDick(nevernamedbutalludedtoellipticallythreetimes,as"captainahab,"howtocookawhale,"andvia"chaptercalledTHETAIL'')
FrancisParkman,LaSalleandtheDiscoveryoftheGreatWest(alsomentionedinCallMeIshmael"Canada"and"Florida"refertothesevenvolumework
ofwhichLaSalleisalsopart,FranceandEnglandinNorthAmerica)
Pausanias(Olson'scopywasPausanias'DescriptionofGreece,Bohn'sClassicalLibrary,2vols.,tr.ArthurRichardShilleto[London:GeorgeBellandSons,
1886].)
Pausanias,Mythology&MonumentsofAncientAthens,beingatranslationofaPortionofthe'Attica'ofPausaniasbyMargaretdeG.Verrall,with
introductoryEssayandArchaeologicalCommentarybyJaneE.Harrison(LondonandNewYork:Macmillan,1890)
EzraPound,GuidetoKulchur
CarlO.Sauer,ConditionsofPioneerLifeintheUpperIllinoisValley(1916),"EnvironmentandCultureintheDeglaciation"(1948),TheMorphologyof
Landscape(1938),andRoadtoCibola(1932)(allfourtitlescollectedinLandandLife:ASelectionfromtheWritingsofCarlOrtwinSauer,ed.John
Leighly[Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1965])
Shakespeare,Hamlet
FrederickJacksonTurner,TheFrontierinAmericanHistory(1921NewYork:Holt,RinehartandWinston,1962)
StanleyVestal,QueenofCowtowns:DodgeCity,"TheWickedestCityinAmerica,"18721886(NewYork:PennantBooks,1954)
WalterPrescottWebb,TheGreatFrontier(1931Boston:HoughtonMifflin,1952)
WalterPrescottWebb,TheGreatPlains(1933Boston:GinnandCompany,1959)
AlfredNorthWhitehead,AdventuresofIdeas(NewYork:Macmillan,1933)

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AlfredNorthWhitehead,ProcessandReality:AnEssayinCosmologyWilliamCarlosWilliams,IntheAmericanGrain(1925NewYork:NewDirections,
1956).
Olsonfurthercites(withoutgivingspecifictitles)WilliamC.Boyd,MeisterEckhart,LeoFrobenius,H.RiderHaggard,CarlGustavJung,andWilliamE.
Woodwardhealsoreferstounnamed"Indiantextsonmigrations...alsocodices."MentionedoffhandedlyareCharlesChaplin,SergeiEisenstein,T.S.Eliot,
JamesJoyce,PabloPicasso,EdgarAllanPoe,MarcelProust,ArthurRimbaud,JonathanSauer,andArnoldToynbee.Butterickidentifies"50Familiesand
GustavusMyers"asFerdinandLundberg,America's60Families(NewYork:VanguardPress,1937),andGustavusMyers,HistoryoftheGreatAmerican
Fortunes(NewYork:ModernLibrary,1936).ThereferencestoFrederickMerk(Olson'steacheratHarvard)areidentifiedbyRalphMaudinChapter7of
Olson'sReading,"History62(WestwardMovement)and'West'"seealsothenotesbelow.
298"What'sontheothersideofdespair?"
Seenoteto"TheMaterialsandWeightsofHermanMelville,"p.398,above.
299aplayonEdgarAllanPoe...havinghimturnhiscoatinsideoutTheplay,asButtericknotes(atAP81),wasbyPeterSalt,"whopublishedunderthename
SydneySalt.WilliamCarlosWilliamswroteanintroductiontohisbookChristopherColumbusandOtherPoems(Boston:BruceHumphries,1937)."
299ThebestdefinitionofinversionIknowFromOlson'smuchannotatedWebster'sCollegiateDictionary,5thed.
299yoursecondstory(thewideone,notthe'local'one)
AccordingtoDorn(inconversationwithAlanGilbert),theBibliographywaspartlywrittenasanenthusiasticresponsetothisstory"C.B.&Q.,"adepictionof
theAmericanWestrecognizabletoOlsonfromhisowntravelsandresearch.OriginallypublishedinBlackMountainReview,"C.B.&Q."nowstandsasthe
openingshotinDorn'sWayWest:Stories,EssaysandVerseAccounts:19631993(SantaRosa,Calif.:BlackSparrowPress,1993).The"local"story(a
portraitoflifeinasmallIllinoistown)waswrittenforaworkshopatBlackMountainCollegeandneverpublished.
300TheNewEmpire(despitetheanalogical...precisionsonroots
OlsonusedtheselinesforhisshortprefacetotheFrontierPressreprint,withthefollowingnoteappendedinsmallertype:
Ishdn'twant
theabovestatement
tostand[atthisdate,
1966]withoutaddingthat

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B.Adamswas
hisownexampleof
greed[theavaricious
instanceof
inhiscasedeflectedto
&hisbrother[Henry,thelimp/fear
avidity
[asVonStroheimtitled
hismovieversionofFrankNorris's
novelMcTeague(theDentist)date
nottoofaroffBrooks'best
thought
301LikeIhavesaidelsewhere,
InMayanLetters,attheconclusionofthebibliography:
(Addendum,Attic,Annex,Any
hiddenplace:
forthosewhohavethewittotelltheUnconsciouswhentheyseeone,orforthelikesofme,whowasraisedontheAmericanWeekly,thereareatleasttwo
menIwanttomention(nottospeakofIgnatiusDonnellyonAtlantis,ChurchwardonMuor,forthatmatter,RiderHaggard!):
theFrenchman,VictorBerard,Mediterraneanexplorer,whowroteseveralbookstoshowthattheOdysseywasarewritefromaSemiticoriginalandaScot,
L.A.Waddell,alsoanexplorer,ofTibet,whowassurethattheSumeriansortheHittitesortheTrojansfoundedtheBritishHempire,andthatMenesthe
EgyptianwasMinostheCretanandendedupdead,fromthebiteofawasp,inIreland,atKnockMany,the"HillofMany,"inCountyTyrone.
Butnoonebutanherodoteanmayfoolaroundwithsuchfraudulence&fantasypracticedondocument(insteadofonthegalaxies),nomatterhowmuchsuch
storiesare,tomytaking,thebodyofnarrativewhichhasintervenedbetweenthegreattimeoffiction&drama(theCitytime)andthepresent(whichisno
timeforfantasy,dramaorCity).
Thetroubleis,itisverydifficult,tobebothapoetand,anhistorian.(SW12930)
301theSondleyLibrary
"SpecialCollectiondepartmentofthePackMemorialLibrary,Asheville,N.C."(GB,atAP82).
302thoseGrks(orthatChink)
Thevectorofthisslurispartlyilluminedbyaletterof9February1951,senttoCreeleyfromMexico,inwhichOlsonopposes"Maoandhisgang"to"theold
deal...(includingConfucius...)":
Ihavenodoubt...theAmericanwillmoreandmorerepossesshimselfoftheIndianpast.Morethanthat,alreadyMexicoissogoddamnedoriental...that,
ascontemporaries,theyseemsomuchclosertoMaoandhisgang,thatthefancystruckmethat,shortly,arevoltbyIndianshereinYucatan(aseparatist
movementliketheWaroftheTribesin1847whichhadallgovernments(US,British,aswellasMex)scaredthepiss

Page439
outof)wouldbeanexcellentdemarcheforanyfutureChinesemovementacrossthePacific.
...thepoint...isasimpleone,no?IfyouandIseetheolddealasdead(includingConfucius,say),atthesametimethatweadmitthatthenewisofthe
makingofourownlives&references,yet,thereisboundtobeatremendouspickupfromhistoryotherthanthatwhichhasbeenusableasreference,the
momenteitherthathistoryisrestored(Sumer,or,moredone,ChichenorUaxactun)orrisingpeople(theseIndians,ascamposinosripeforCommunistplay
asripeasweretheChinese,date1921,June30)
Ortakeitbythishandle:whenJoycecrowed,Iexpectmyreadertodevotehislifetomywork,orevenEzra,...eitherorbothofthemwerefloatinggenerally
onculturecurrentsgenerallyacceptedandtieddownbyChristianandGreekpegsof3000yearsduration.(O/RC4:132)
302ProfessorMerk,howpemmicanwasborn
IdentifiedbyMaudasFurTradeandEmpire:GeorgeSimpson'sJournal,ed.FrederickMerk,AppendixB,Part2,publishedasvol.31ofHarvard
HistoricalStudies(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1931).
302Freddie
AccordingtoDorn,afellowstudentwhohadbeenafarmworker.
302howtolive,byCharlesOlson
Olson's"PlanforaCurriculumoftheSoul,"firstpublishedinTheMagazineofFurtherStudiesinthelate1960s,includesintheupperleftcornerthestatement
"howtoliveasa/singlenaturalbeing/thedogmaticnatureof/(orderof)/experience."
302howtonotknowknowhow(byanAmerican,afterthedeluge)
See,inthisconnection,"Maximus,toGloucester,fromDogtown,aftertheflood,"written22March1959butpublishedonlyafterOlson'sdeath:
Mymankind,inyourdestruction,Iwillundoyou.
Iwillgivebacktothemotherfunction,perse.
Willleaveittohertofindoutthestructurehidden
............................................
...Iwillputbackthepeopleinsidethecity
awayfromtheState,themodernfilthynation.They
havetofindoutagainwheretheylive,wheretheir
housesare,andtheirvoicesreach,wheretheycanwalk
to,isthebusiness...
...Iwillteachthemtogivethemselvesbacksensation.
Theyshallhaveshade,asgodscouldtellthem,isnecessary
Howtoplaceahousesoitarraysitselfinthemorphology
ofitsownlandscape.Theearthistheplaceweliveon,
ithasitsice,andfire,andsedimentarysense...
...Verily,mymankind,theplacesofourdecisions
youwillfindandfoundinpureplaces,youwillknowtheordinance
ofyourownbeing,thatthisreverseDeluge,thisfloodofdryness,
ofpapermadeofacetate,ofcellsandsoulsfedbemonstering,
ofmindsandhearts,ballsandcuntsdriedup,shallbeover...
(OJ9:89)

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303todothechiasma
Titleforaseriesofnoteswrittenfor"TheNewSciencesofMan,"agatheringofscholarsatBlackMountainCollegeplannedforMarch1953thenoteswere
latereditedbyGeorgeButterickandpublishedasOJ10.
303mymanMerk...hisreprintsontheOregonTriangle
Maud:"representedinOlson'slibrarybyaninscribedoffprintof'TheGhostRiverCaledoniaintheOregonNegotiationof1818,'AmericanHistoricalReview
55(April1950):53031"(Olson'sReading,p.49).
304AppendixA:
In"LANGUAGEandMYTHOLOGY,"partofTheChiasma,Olsonwrites:
TheOdysseyhasthisseriesofplaceswhicharesignifiedbysinglefigures:Cyclops,Circe,Calypso,etc.AndwhatBrardhasshownisthattheseproper
nounswerenotinthelanguage(asAgamemnonwas,orAchilles,say,orOdysseushimself)beforethepoemwaswritten.Where,then,didtheycomefrom?
ThisismostBrard'scontribution.Hehasanalyzedthem,andshowsthatbehindeachisaSemiticwordwhich,ineachcase,isadescriptionofacoast
conditionofvitalimportaslandmarktoseamen.(OJ10:79)
305mefecit
Latin,"itwasdonebyme."
306Merk(HarvardPress)onWestwardMovement
IdentifiedbyMaudasFrederickJacksonTurnerandFrederickMerk,ListofReferencesontheHistoryoftheWest(1922Cambridge,Mass.:Harvard
UniversityPress,1930)."WestwardMovement"wasthenameofMerk'syearlongcourseatHarvard,History62.
307JustusGarage
"ServiceStationontheroadtoBlackMountain"(GB,atAP82).
307WhaleshipEssex:privatelyowned,PercBrown,oilman
SeeCallMeIshmael,p.31,andannotation.
308billWCW...SamoneHouston!
SamHoustonistakenupinIntheAmericanGrain,inthechapter"Descent."Williamsdoesn'tgoasfarbackas7000B.C.,buthedoesbeginwithErictheRed
andVinland.
308RedCloud
AphotographofRedCloud(suppliedbyKennethIrby)servesasfrontispiecetothe1966GoliardPresseditionofOlson'sWest(thetextisreprintedinCP593
600).
308theunwrittenbookbyFredJacksonMerkIhavebeentryingtoget
A24October1967letterfromMerktoOlson,preservedintheFrontierPresspapersatBuffalo,suggeststhatOlsonwaspushingforthisbookintothelate
1960s,andthatheenlistedHarveyBrownintheeffort.(Brown'sFrontierPressreprintedBrooksAdams'sTheNewEmpirethatveryyear.)

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3091875allthe"newsciences"began
InTheChiasmaOlsonhas:"Itisnotyetgaugedhowmuchthenatureofknowledgehaschangedsince1875.Aroundthatdatemenreappliedknowntechniques
oftheuniversetomanhimself,andthechangehasmademanasnonSocratic(ornonAristotelian)asgeometersoftheearly19thcenturymadetheuniversenon
Euclidean."(OJ10:107)
309eachthinghasitsefficientcause!
SeenotetoCallmeIshmael,p.390,above.
309DaveCorkran
"AspecialistinAmericanIndianhistory,hetaughtatBlackMountainCollegefrom1945to1950."(GB,atAP84)
309CongressmanJudd
"WalterH:Judd,ofMinnesota,chairmanoftheCommitteeofOneMillionagainsttheAdmissionofCommunistChinatotheUnitedNations."(GB,atAP84)
311"BillytheKid"
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.3,Fall1954reprintedinHU.
311Parkman...LaSalle
SeenotetoCallmeIshmael,p.381.
312StewartHolbrook
Authorofseveralbooksonthefrontier.
313StuartLake...Earp,FrontierMarshal
ABantampaperbackpublishedin1952.
315"BrooksAdams'TheNewEmpire"
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.2,Summer1954reprintedinHUexcerptedonthebackcoverofthe1967FrontierPressreprintpublishedby
HarveyBrownatOlson'sinstigation.
315"Americacompleted..."
TheNewEmpire,p.165,afactalsocitedin"TheVinlandMapReview"(p.327).
315Amongtheinventions
Fromp.3ofTheNewEmpire.Thesentencethatfollowsreads,"Smithshavemadefrommetalsuperiorweaponsandtools,andracesusingtheseimplements
have,intheend,enslavedorexterminatedneighborsadheringtowoodandstone,whereforeasupplyofmetalearlybecameessentialtoexistenceinthemore
activequartersoftheglobe."Olson'schartsbelowarederivedinpartfromthe"ChronologicalTables"inthebackofAdams'sbook.
318"CaptainJohnSmith"
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.1,Spring1954reprintedinHU.

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318JohnGouldFletchersays,Powhatanputheruptoit,
CitedbyBradfordSmithinCaptainJohnSmith:HisLifeandLegend(Philadelphia:J.B.Lippincott,1953),p.118.
318HartCrane...Williams
Section2ofCrane'sTheBridgeiscalled"Powhatan'sDaughter""Jacataqua"isachapterinWilliamCarlosWilliams'sIntheAmericanGrain.
318Appendix1
"CaptainJohnSmith'sHungaryandTransylvania,"pp.31142ofCaptainJohnSmith.Strikerquotes"threeTurkesheadsinashield"(p.328)fromTheTrue
Travels,Adventures,andObservationsofCaptainJohnSmith(1630).
319Parkman,ispairedwithPrescott
FrancisParkmanandWilliamH.Prescott(authorofthenineteenthcenturyclassicHistoryoftheConquestofMexico).InthebibliographytoMayanLetters
Olsonhas,"PrescottandParkmanareatriad:[JohnL]Stephens[authorofIncidentsofTravelinCentralAmerica,Chiapas,andYucatan(1841)and
IncidentsofTravelinYucatan(1843)]istheunacknowledgedthird"(SW127).
319Williams,isdamnedinLondon....whileRichardEberhartisraisedup!
G.S.Fraser's11April1953reviewofPaterson,BooksOneandTwoinTheNewStatesmanandNationisnotquitethedamningstatementOlsonrecalls("It
isanhonourablyambitiouspoemanduntilwehaveseenthelasttwobooksIthinkweshouldgiveitthependingbenefitofalargedoubt")norisFraser's21
November1953reviewofRichardEberhart'sUndercliff:Poems19461953anunqualifiedendorsement("Athisbest,heinvitescomparisonwithmajor
contemporarytalentsathisworsthewriteslikeaclumsyamateur").Afewyearsbefore,RobertCreeleyhadbeenmovedtowrite"ANoteontheObjective"in
responsetoFraser'seditorialinthesecondissueofNine(seeCollectedEssaysofRobertCreeley[Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1989],pp.463
64)Olson'scommentsmayreflectalingeringcrossAtlanticenmity.
319Anothersmith,Groverbyname
See"OnPoetsandPoetry"(pp.25355),Olson'sresponse.
319JuandelaCosa
CaptainoftheNiainColumbus'sfirstjourneytotheAmericasnamedintheMaximuspoems,in"OnfirstlookingoutthroughJuandelaCosa's
Eyes"(MAX8185).
319thetimeofcant
Olson's1958poem"BeingAltogetherLiteral,&Specific,/andSeekingattheSameTimetoBe/SuccesfullyEx/plicit"begins:
Cantfirstattackedassuch,1596,CountFrancescoCenci(source:
Stendahl)
Americaoutproducestheworldinsteel,PittsburghMarch14,1897(choiceofthesignificanceofthedate,BrooksAdams')TheAmeri

Page443
canizationoftheworldmaythenproceed,predictably,toconclusion.
Stillproceeding.Cant
uberalles.TheAmericanwordis
confidence.
Cocacolaismyname.
(CP472)
OlsonreferstoFrancescoCenciattheendofthisreview.
320ElbertHubbard
Editor,publisher,andauthorofthelatenineteenth,earlytwentiethcentury,bestknownforaseriesofbookscalledLittleJourneysbriefbiographiesoffamous
persons.
320ifNewport"hadburnthertoashes...theFalles."
Thisquotationandtheonebelow("thoughIbe...mylife")appearonp.139ofCaptainJohnSmith.
321Beyle...Stendhal...DonJuan...Cenci
TheFrenchauthorHenriBeyletookthenameoftheGermantownStendhalashisnomdeplume."TheCenci"isincludedinTheShorterNovelsofStendhal,tr.
C.K.ScottMoncrieff(NewYork:Liveright,1946),whereweread(atpp.16567):"TorenderaDonJuanpossible,theremustbehypocrisyinsociety.ADon
Juanwouldhavebeenaneffectwithoutacauseintheancientworld....ThusitistotheChristianreligionthatIascribethepossibilityoftheSatanicpartplayed
byDonJuan."
321"Thoughtherebefish...troublethem."
CaptainJohnSmith,pp.13940.
322"FiveFootFour,butSmithWasaGiant"
PublishedintheBostonGlobe,27August1964reprintedinAP.
322"BradfordSmith's...LauraPolyaniStrikerDiscussedbyOlsonin"CaptainJohnSmith."
322nohigher"thanan'untouchable"inAkbar'sIndia"
PhilipL.Barbour,TheThreeWorldsofCaptainJohnSmith(Boston:HoughtonMifflin,1964),p.x.
323quasiprofessionalsfromCharlesDeaneandHenryAdamsonSeeBarbour'sextensivebibliographyofprimaryandsecondarysources,whichincludesHenry
Adams,"CaptainJohnSmith,"NorthAmericanReview104,1867,pp.130(areviewofCaptainJohnSmith's"AtruerelationofVirginia,"ed.Charles
Deane).
323asIsaidtotheLadyPrizeWinnerPoetofCanada"MargaretAvison,recipientoftheGovernorGeneral'sAwardin1960"(GB,atAP96).
323hetoobelievesSmithhimselfwrote"TheSeaMarke"AsOlsondidquotingthepoemin"Maximus,toGloucester,Letter15"(MAX7374).

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323bringsotherpoets,...tobear.
Seepp.32728ofTheThreeWorlds.
324"TheContoursofAmericanHistory"
WrittenattheinstigationofAmiriBaraka(thenLeRoiJones)andpublishedinKulchur,no.10,Summer1963reprintedinHU.AFebruary1962postcardfrom
Jonesbegins,"Sirrrr,DidImentiontoyouabook,TheContoursofAmericanHistory?He'ssortofaneoMarxist,butthere'senoughgivetheretobevaluable.
Hisideasonthepoliticalmeaningsofcorporatecapitalism(&thelatterasvs.theoldantimercantileYanquis)issweet"(Storrs,Correspondence).Therequestfor
areviewcameinasubsequentletterof31December1962.
324anenormoussyllogismthreeAmericas
Olson'sremarksderivefromanunpublishedessaycalled"UNSTICKINGTHESUN,or,SOMETHING,PERHAPS,FORWALTWHITMAN"(1952)
(revisedas"History"andsubmitted,unsuccessfully,toTheFreemanthislaterversionappearswithRobertCreeley'scommentsinOIRC9:10226).Olsonhere
dividesAmericanhistoryintothreeperiods:"age1(JamestheFirst'sa[c]cessionto,theRevolution)"(aperiodmarkedby"thewealthofNewEngland''and"thep
[o]vertyoftheSouth")"age2(1830totheCivilWar)(identifiedas"thebeginningofmodernindustry")and"age3(theCivilWartoAugust,1945)"(i.e.,up
untiltheBombwasdroppedonJapan,anactthatcommenced"THEBATTLEFORASIA").Notingthat"THEMIDDLETERMOFTHATSYLLOGISM
ECONOMICSSWALLOWSUPTHEOTHERTWO,"Olsonismovedtoask(borrowingimageryfromtheRamayana):
why?whathappened,tothefunctionDISTRIBUTION,thatitshouldhavethisstomach,thatitshouldbethisAgastya,todigestboththeseaandtheland,and
leaveallpeopleathirst,andwithoutthesimplestsustenance?whatwasthiseater,toturnallintowind,tomakenothingofeverythingbutstinkingvapor?what
wasthisthatturnedthelaborofapeopleof40,000,000,and155,000,000(1945),theresourcesofacontinent,thefactoriesoftheseStates,theconsumption
ofallintounmeaningdeathontheskirtofAsia?
Nomanhasanylongerthepermissionofmaintainingthearmorofhisdistance.Thethingmustbedraggedintothelight.Thewheelsofthesunmustbeunstuck
fromtheirfreeze.Anymanmustbringhisheadtobreakthefalloftheriverofheaven,sothattheland&menshallhavewateragain.
Iwillnotsay,soeasily.Thewordwon'tdoit.Itwillslideoff.Noheadswithsufficienthairtostandthefallwillpresentthemselveswhenallheadsshouldbe
presented.Wait.Itisjustexactly100yearstoolatetohurry.Youwon'tundo100yearswithapointingfinger.Norwillthewordsoquicklycorrectthe
events.Whataretheeventswhyarethey?(Storrs,ProseSeriesseealsoOIRC9:1056,108,125)
324BetterthanHeilbroner
OlsonownedandreadRobertL.Heilbroner'sTheFutureasHistory(NewYork:Harper,1960).

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324Copley'spictures
NewEnglandpainterJohnSingletonCopley,citedbyWilliamAppletonWilliamsonp.98ofTheContoursofAmericanHistory(Cleveland,Ohio:World
Publishing,1961).
325FrederickMerk'spostulate(sdbooknowoughttobeavailablesoon,SeethenoteonMerkin"ABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn,"p.440.
325Berle...Galbraith
AdolfA.BerleandJohnKennethGalbraith,economistsreferredtoinWilliams'sbook.
326"TheVinlandMapReview"
TheimmediateoccasionforthisessaywaspublicationofTheVinlandMapandtheTartarRelation,ed.R.A.Skelton,ThomasE.Marston,andGeorgeD.
Painter(NewHaven,Conn.:YaleUniversityPress,1965),though,accordingtoRalphMaudinOlson'sReading,theYalebookwasnotacquireduntil
NovemberafterOlsonhadpostedhisnotestoAndrewCrozierforpublicationintheinauguralissueofTheWivenhoeParkReview,Winter1965(wherea
reproductionoftheVinlandmapgracesthecover).Olson'sincreasinginterestinNorthernmythandhistoryishereevidencedbyadenseoverlayoffactand
allusion.Citeddirectlyarethefollowing:BrooksAdams,TheNewEmpireandTheLawofCivilizationandDecayW.G.CollingwoodandF.YorkPowell,
ScandinavianBritain(London:SocietyforPromotingChristianKnowledge,1908)H.R.EllisDavidson,GodsandMythsofNorthernEurope(NewYork:
PenguinBooks,1964)SoniaChadwickHawkes,H.R.EllisDavidson,andChristopherHawkes,"TheFingleshamMan,"Antiquity39,March1965,pp.17
32JosefStrzygowski,OriginofChristianChurchArt:NewFactsandPrinciplesofResearch(Oxford,Eng.:ClarendonPress,1923)GabrielTurville
Petre,MythandReligionoftheNorth:TheAncientReligionofScandinavia(NewYork:Holt,RinehartandWinston,1964)ThorsteinVeblen,Theoryof
theLeisureClass(NewYork::Macmilan,1899).Othertextsconsultedforthereview(asdeterminedbyGeorgeButterickfromasurveyofOlson'spapersand
library)includeDanielAaron,"TheUnusableMan:AnEssayontheMindofBrooksAdams,"NewEnglandQuarterly21,March1948,pp.333Douglas
Dowd,ThorsteinVeblen(NewYork:WashingtonSquarePress,1964)MurrayFowler,''OldNorseReligion,"inAncientReligions,ed.VergiliusFerm(New
York:TheCitadelPress,1965)HelgaIngstad,"VinlandRuinsProveVikingsFoundtheNewWorld,"NationalGeographic126,November1964,pp.708
34GertrudeRachelLevy,TheGateofHorn:AStudyoftheReligiousConceptionsoftheStoneAge,andTheirInfluenceuponEuropeanThought
(London:FaberandFaber,1948)ErixOxiensterna,TheNorsemen,tr.CatherineHutter(Greenwich,Conn.:NewYorkGraphicSociety,1965)Julius
Pokorny,IndogermanischesetymologischesWrterbuch,vol.1(Bern:A.Francke,1959)MiltonHaightTurk,AnAngloSaxonReader(NewYork:
Scribner,1930)JamesA.Walker,"GothicLeikandGermanic*LikintheLightofGothicTranslationsofGreekOriginals,"PhilologicalQuarterly28,1949,
pp.27493.ReprintedinAP,withextensivenotesbyGeorgeButterick.

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326"Inthetenthcentury....DarkAges."Fromthe"ChronologicalTables"toBrooksAdams,TheNewEmpire,p.205.
326"FlandersandtheFairs....landfreights."
Alsofromthe"ChronologicalTables"toTheNewEmpire,atp.208,undertheheading"MigrationoftheSeatofEmpirefromtheMediterraneantotheAtlantic."
327Thencefroth
"ItshouldbenotedthatOlsonhasinstructionsontheoriginalmanuscript,preservedatthelibraryatSimonFraserUniversity,thatthistypingerroristobe
retained"(GB,atAP97).NotealsoOlson'sphoneticspellingofStrzygowskibelow.
327steelPittsburgh,Mar.,1897
AfactOlsonalsocites(p.315)inhisreviewofTheNewEmpireseealsothenoteon"cant"(pp.44243)inOlson'sreviewofBradfordSmith'sCaptainJohn
Smith.
327TheVinlandMap,Latincaptiontoit
Note67ontheYalemap,wherethetranslationofthecaptionreads(p.140):
ByGod'swill,afteralongvoyagefromtheislandofGreenlandtotheSouthtowardthemostdistantremainingpartsofthewesternoceansea,sailing
southwardamidsttheice,thecompanionsBjarniandLeifErickssondiscoveredanewland,extremelyfertileandevenhavingvines,thewhichislandthey
namedVinland.Eric[Henricus],legateoftheApostolicSeeandbishopofGreenlandandtheneighboringregions,arrivedinthistrulyvastandveryrichland,
inthenameofAlmightyGod,inthelastyearofourmostblessedfatherPascal,remainedalongtimeinbothsummerandwinter,andlaterreturned
northeastwardtowardGreenlandandthenproceeded[hometoEurope?]inmosthumbleobediencetothewillofhissuperiors.
Olson'ssourceforthecaptionbeforereceiptoftheYalevolumeremainsunclear.
328DerwentonTrent
"InreturningforapprovalatypescriptmadefromOlson'soriginalholographmanuscript,AndrewCrozierasked,'Where'sthis.Derwent'sontheDerwent.'Olson
responded,'I'mgladtoknow!Mypointwasonlytouseany(oneofthoseEnglish)placenames.Thatonewasmadeup&tolead(byirritation?)totheunsaid
nameofthe(stillunremembered)name'"(GB,atAP98).Choosingaplacenameatrandom,OlsonmayhavebeenguidedbyasilentmemoryofMelville's
Clarel,whereDerwentisthenameofanEnglishpilgrim,introducedinPart2,Canto1,"TheCavalcade"(lines2933):
Apriesthewasthoughbutinpart
ForastheTemplaroldcombined
Thecavalierandmonkinone
InDerwentlikewisemightyoufind
Thesecularandclerictone.
328asStrzegowskishows
InOriginofChristianChurchArt,Strzygowskiwrites(p.234):"ManyofthetowerssocharacteristicofEarlyEnglisharchitectureshowusthewooden
prototypetranslatedinto

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stone.ThebestexampleisEalsBarton...herethetower,whenseenfromadistance,haseveryappearanceofbeingtimberbuilt,butacloserinspection
revealsthesurprisingfactthatitreallyconsistsofrubbleconcretefacedwithstone'beams,'inwhichtheearlierwoodenformshavebeenpreservedwith
meticulouscare."
328Quote(BrooksAdams,TheLawofCivilizationandDecaySeep.347ofthe1943reprint.
329I'anseauxMeadows
SiteoftheruinsreportedonbyIngstadmentionedalsointhelateMaximuspoem"GeorgeDecker"(MAX444).
329CambridgeshireFENS
AllusiontoapoembyJohnTemple,"MeditationonaLandscape,"NiagaraFrontierReview,Fall1965,pp.1617:
...theyhavenosense
ofmovementintheirdeadlyhearts
andtheytalkofGodontheCambridgeshirefens
ontheedgeofthosefens...
330theLakeVanmeasure
OneofOlson'smostesotericformulations,drawnintotheMaximuspoemsinJune1966in"ANARTCALLEDGOTHONIC"(MAX55155).Olson'sfigureof
1to1200apparentlyderivesfromhisstudyofamap"oftheGloucesterwaterfront'CoppyedfromJMasonsSurveyrateOnehundredfeettoanInch'(1845)"
onehundredfeetequaling1,200inches(GB,atAP100)."LakeVan"isnamedinOriginofChristianChurchArt,whereStrzygowskireproducesseveral
imagesofatenthcenturychurchbuiltontheislandofAchthamar,LakeVan,inwesternTurkey.Strzygowski'sdiscussionprincipallyconcernsexteriordecoration
thereisnomentionofscale.
330ashipisachurchupsidedown
FromStrzygowski'sdiscussionofshipbuildingtechniquesandtheirarchitecturaladaptationinNorthernEurope,furtheraddressedinthatauthor'sEarlyChurch
ArtinNorthernEurope,withSpecialReferencetoTimberConstructionandDecoration(NewYork:HarperandBrothers,1928).
330KirchSantaClaraAssisi
DepictedinOriginofChristianChurchArt,"visitedbyOlsonwhilereadingatGianCarloMenotti'sFestivaloftheTwoWorldsinnearbySpoletoinJuly
1965"(GB,atAP101).
332Taliessin
"LatesixthcenturyBritishbardtowhomisattributedacollectionofpoemsknownastheBookofTaliessin"(GB,atAP101).
332"influxofEasterngoodsVenezia
AdaptedfromBrooksAdams,TheLawofCivilizationandDecay,p.346.

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333Ynglingatl,byThjodolfofHvin,Mrs.Davidsondates9thcenturySeeGodsandMythsofNorthernEurope,p.240.
333mag'(k)nutoftheNorth
"Asplitpun,onKnutorCanute(c.9941035),kingofDenmarkandEngland,andMagnus,asinMagnusBarefoot,Norsekingoftheeleventhcentury....In
theoriginal,plain'magnet'hasbeencrossedoutandthepunsubstituted"(GB,atAP103).
333'Wickings'
SeeScandinavianBritain,p.60.
333the"TeutonicMigration"[againtouseF.YorkPowell
SeeScandinavianBritain,p.7.
334deciphermentofLinearBbyMichaelVentris
AnnouncedoverBritishradioin1952.Ventrisdiedinacaraccidentfouryearslater,shortlyaftercompletingwithJohnChadwickDocumentsinMycenaeaen
Greek:ThreeHundredSelectedTabletsfromKnossos,Pylos,andMycenaewithCommentaryandVocabulary(Cambridge,Eng.:CambridgeUniversity
Press,1956).
334LinearA
SeenotetoProprioception,p.419.
334"Silver"man..."Goldbugs"
AntiSemiticpunsonSilvermanandGoldberg.Olson'sattentionwasdrawntothelatterphrasebyDanielAaron's"TheUnusableMan"(OlsonknewAaronfrom
Harvard),whereweread(p.11):"ThegoldbugorJeworbanker([Adams]usedthewordsinterchangeably)embodiedthespiritofthemodern,thegeniiof
money."Bringingthisterminologytobearonhisdiscussionoftheancientworld,Olsonbrazenlyremindsusoftheideologicalentanglementsthatthreaten
prosecutionofallnewknowledge.Theconnectionhedraws,moreover,betweenCyrusGordon'sidentificationofLinearAasSemitic,and"theshockingand
foulingeventsofthepresent"(i.e.,theHolocaust),onlyunderscorestheinsidiousness''behindtheessentiallyThucydideanhistoryprecedingusfor2500years
[Toynbeesandsuchpeople,includingmostAmericanhistorians]""HistoryasUsual,""[o]fwhichourevents,dreadfully,arestillapart."
OtherEssays,Notes,andReviews
339"ErnstRobertCurtius"
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.2,Summer1954reprintedinHU.
339TheyoungGermanpoetRainerM.Gerhardt
EditorofthemagazineFragmente.Gerhardt's"BriefanCreeleyundOlson"appearedinEnglishinOrigin,no.4,Winter195152,alongwithOlson's"To
Gerhardt,There,amongEurope'sThingsofWhichHeHasWrittenUsinHis'BriefanCreeleyundOlson'"(CP21222).SeealsoOlson's"TheDeathof
Europe,"amemorialpoemforGerhardtwrittenin1954(CP30816).

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339Frobenius
LeoFrobenius,mentionedbyOlsonin"GrandPa,GoodBye"andelsewhere.
339WalterPrescottWebb
HistorianalsomentionedinABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn.
339"Europeanizationofthehistoricalpicture"
Curtius,EuropeanLiteratureandtheLatinMiddleAges,BollingenSeries36,tr.WillardR.Trask(NewYork:PantheonBooks,1953),p.7.
339Troeltsch,Toynbee
ErnstTroeltschandArnoldToynbee.Troeltsch's"unfinished"DerHistorismusundseineProbleme(1922)ismuchcitedinCurtius'sfirstchapter.
340"intelligibleunit"
Curtius,EuropeanLiterature,p.4.
340ThegainCurtiushasalreadygivenme
InareviewofRainerGerhardt'smagazine,"EineneueZeitschrift:'Fragmente,'"DieTat(Zurich)21July1951,p.7.
340theNineboys...GavinDouglas
Nine:AMagazineofPoetryandCriticismwaseditedinLondonbyPeterRussell,whowroteanessayforissueno.5,Nov.1950,on"GavinDouglasandhis
'Enneados'"(Douglas'ssixteenthcenturytranslationofVirgilintoMiddleScots).OlsonexpatiatesatlengthonNineina3May1951lettertoCidCorman.
340StefanGeorge'sisthevision:
QuotedbyCurtiusonp.10.
340Bergsonwaswrong.Orhalfright.
HenriBergson,citedbyCurtius(atp.8)fromTheTwoSourcesofMoralityandReligion:
"'Onlyintelligentbeingsaresuperstitious.'Thefictionmakingfunction('fonctionfabulatrice')hasbecomenecessarytolife.Itisnourishedbytheresiduumof
instinctwhichsurroundstheintellectlikeanaura."
341That'sTroeltsch.AndToynbee?
QuotedbyCurtiusatpp.7and8,respectively.
341whatBlackburninsistsIcan't:think.
PoetPaulBlackburn,theaccusing"He"of"Maximus,toGloucester:Letter15"(MAX72).
341"SpecializationhasthusopenedthewayCurtius,p.13.
342"ItWas.ButItAin't."
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.5,Summer1955reprintedinHU.
342BulldogDrummond
Aseriesof"B"moviesbasedonthischaracterappearedbetween1929and1969.

Page450
342Idonotthinkthatonewillbefarwrong
FromBookOneofThucydides,HistoryofthePeloponnesianWar,tr.RexWarner(Baltimore,Md.:PenguinBooks,1954),p.24.
345"HomerandBible"
PublishedinBlackMountainReview,no.7,Autumn1957reprintedinHU.
346MichaelVentris
Mentionedalsoin"TheVinlandMapReview."Seeeditors'notetop.334.
346Kramer...Gterbock
OlsonownedseveralofSamuelNoahKramer'stranslations,manyofthemfromAncientNearEasternTextsRelatingtotheOldTestament,ed.JamesB.
Pritchard(Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1950)(abookOlsonacquiredatKramer'ssuggestionseealsoPritchard's1958revision,alsofrom
Princeton,TheAncientNearEast:AnAnthologyofTextsandPictures).HansGterbock's"TheSongofUllikummi:RevisedTextoftheHittiteVersionofa
HurrianMyth"(JournalofCuneiformStudies5,1951,pp.13561),isthebasisforOlson's"FromTheSongofUllikummi"(CP600602seealsoOlson's
commentsinthe1965lecture"CausalMythology"[MUTH1:7273,9193]).
347"Para.31.Homericdorp
Gordon'sbookconsistsof187numberedparagraphsandabriefforeword.Olsonreproducesthecompletetextofparagraph31,omittingabrieffootnote.
Gordondiscusses"theHebrew'staffofGod'"inparagraph19ofHomerandtheBible(Ventnor,N.J.:VentnorPublishers,1956).
348"NearEastcultures..."
Fromparagraph4ofHomerandtheBible.
348Gordon'sfootnote
Footnote26,whichcitesseveralofBrard'sbooks.The1927dateGordongivesforLesPhniciensetI'Odysse(abookOlsonrecommendstoEdDorninA
BibliographyonAmerica)isfortherevisededition.
348n.JaneHarrison
CitedbyOlsoninseveralessays,includingProprioceptionandABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorndedicateeofOlson's"ANewlyDiscovered'Homeric'
Hymn"(CP36364).
349"BillSnow"
GB,atAP90:"WritteninFebruary1961inresponsetoarequestbyWilbertSnowinaletterof31January1961forastatementbyOlsontoaccompanya
recordingofSnow'spoems.Subsequently,thestatementappearedonthebackofthejackettothelongplayingrecord,WilbertSnowMainePoet(Cambridge:
BertandIRecords,[1961])."ReprintedinAP.InCharlesOlsoninConnecticut(Chicago:SwallowPress,1975),CharlesBoerwrites(p.87):"Yousaidthat
youdidn'tlikebeinganonlychildandthatyoureallyhadfivefathers:WilbertSnow,yourfavoriteteacheratWesleyanLouDouglas,aGloucesterfishermanand
'theheroofmypoem'yourrealfatherEzraPoundandCarl

Page451
Sauer,thegeographer."Snow'smemoirofOlson,"ATeacher'sView,"appearedinMassachusettsReview12:1,Winter1971,pp.4044.
349BillSnow'sthirdcousin...hadapoetreadapoem
ThepoetwasRobertFrost,whorecited"TheGiftOutright"atJohnF.Kennedy'sinauguration,20January1961,afteranightofheavysnow.
349BillSnow'sDowneast
DownEast:Poems,byWilbertSnow(NewYork:GothamHouse,1932).
349excepttointroducemyfriendCreeley'sstories
See"IntroductiontoRobertCreeley."
349"TrickleDrops"
Inthe"Calamus"sectionofLeavesofGrass.
350ItwasRosieMcGraw
Snow'sletterexplainstherelationtoJ.F.K.asfollows:"Mygrandmother'ssisterRosieMcGraw,borninWaterford,Ireland,wenttoBostonandmarrieda
RichardFitzgerald.Theirgrandchildwas'HoneyFitz,'andHoneyFitz'sdaughteristhisboy'smother.Bestofallhisownmother,thatisKennedy'sownmother,
wasnamedRosieformygrandmother'ssister."
350Irememberhimasearlyas1904
The"Iremember"isrhetoricalOlsonwasbornin1910.VinalhavenisanislandoffthecoastofMaineSnowwasstillastudentin1904(atnearbyBowdoin
College,inBrunswick,Maine)thusOlson's"already."
350theCollectorofPortDutiesonWool
GeoffreyChaucer.
350Underthemushroom
Themushroomcloudthreatofnuclearwarbutalso,andperhapsprincipally,the"magicmushroom,"whichOlsontookwithTimothyLearyinDecember1960
andFebruary1961.SeeOlson'sextensivediscussionin"UndertheMushroom:TheGratwickHighlandsTape":
ImusthavebeeninvolvedinthefirstweekoftheactualuseofthemushroomasitwasderivedatSandozLaboratoriesintoPsilocybin39,Ithinkisactually
thenameofthesocalleddrug.Actually,it'ssimplyasynthetic,aboutthesizeofanoldplacebo,whichwasevensmallerthananaspirin,andlooksverymuch
likethosefakepillswealwaysweregivenasthoughweneededacure,likesaccharineintea,justalittlepinkthingaboutsobig.InfactwhenItookitIwas
sohighonbourbonthatItookitlikeasthoughitwasabunchofpeanuts.Ikeptthrowingthepeanutsandthemushroomintomymouth.(MUTH1:22)
350rollallupintotheballliketheweevilgettingthere
OlsonisapparentlydrawingaderisiveconnectionbetweenthecharismaticKennedy'sInauguralBallandthevulgarTexanL.B.J.(whohelpedtheKennedys"get
[]there")

Page452
bywayofanallusiontothe"BollWeevilSong,"lastiteminATreasuryofAmericanFolklore,ed.B.A.Botkin(NewYork:CrownPublishers,1944),abook
Olsonowned.Thefirstchorusofthesongreads:"Oh,debollweevil.../ComealldewaytoTexas,jus'alookin'fohaplacetostay,/Jus'alookin'fohahome."
351"AHouseBuiltbyCapt.JohnSomes1763"
FirstpublishedinAPamphlet3:7,12June1962reprintedinAP.Ina1968letterpoemtotheGloucesterDailyTimesprotesting"anotherthreatenederosionof
[Gloucester's]handsomeness"(M/G113)aplannedrazingoftheMansfieldHouseat15MainSt.Olsonwrites:
Mybuildingsare
theGloucesterHotel
(asitwas),the
nextbuildingtoitup
Washington,the
TownHallthe
Brookshouseitself,the
JohnSomes(now
Wm.Webber'setc.
Butifthe
Mansfieldhouse
goesalltheother
littleonesareeaten
away,forever.
(M/G119)
NotesPeterAnastas,theSomesWebberhouse,a"Colonialmansionat20MiddleStreetownedbyGloucesterstockbrokerWilliamWebberandbuiltbyhis
ancestorCaptainJohnSomes...,isafinetwostoryclapboardstructurewithagambrelroofandcenterchimneybearingthedate1770"(M/G122).
351Mendon'tfollowmen...
Inthemagazineversion,theselinesarefollowedwiththewords"epigraphtoAPamphlet
mimeographmagazinePocatelloIdaho(IdahoStateCollege)."
351GinoClays
"Youngpoet,oneoftheeditorsofAPamphletandlaterofWildDog.Anessaybyhim
entitled'OmniaMeaMecumPorto'appearedintheMarch19thissueofAPamphlet(reprintedinWildDog,17,8June1968,pp.1920).Thestatement,'Iam
goingtobereborninsidetheworld,'towardthecloseofOlson'sessay,isfromClays'piece"(GB,atAP91).
351ThecritiquebyCooper
OlsonhadperhapspickeduptherecentreissueofJamesFenimoreCooper,Homeas

Page453
Found:ANovelofSocialCriticismandObservation,introductionbyLewisLeary(NewYork:CapricornBooks,1961).
352ifwehadnowacompletelyIndoEuropeanizedAmericandictionary
AlongtimedesireofOlson's.DistinguishinghisowninterestinetymologyfromRobertDuncan's,Olsonwrote(inalettertoLarryEigner,dated20June1956):
WhatthatDuncanmeansbyarbitraryetymologiesisapartofhisdepartmentofmisinformation=s"invention."Notethatheincludesitwithpuns&note!
withprojectiveverse!
Hemeansetymologiesonemakesup!Wow!YouwillimaginehowIdon'tfigurethatone,being,asyousd(Gloucester)ahoundformeaning.
ComesanywordIgotheotherway,andwhat'smostneededrightnowisanIndoEuropeanDictionaryroots,soonecanfeelthatfarbackalongthelineof
thewordtoitsfirstuserswhattheymeant,ininventingit,notanyoneofusatthemostfreewheelingdragracetimeinman'sgasses.(SL)
Theprovocativeword"inventing"comesfromI.J.Gelb'sAStudyofWriting,p.63.
352asCreeleyhasrecentlypointedout
In"TheNewWorld,"a1961reviewofrecentbooksbyGarySnyder,MichaelMcClure,PhilipWhalen,andRonLoewinsohn.SeeCollectedEssaysofRobert
Creeley,pp.17076.
352forTedCrump
EditorofAPamphlet.
353"TheAdvantageofLiteracyIsThatWordsCanBeonthePage"
PublishedinCoyote'sJournal1,1964reprintedinAP.ThetitlerecallsasentencefromOlson's"LettertoElaineFeinstein,""Theonlyadvantageofspeech
rhythms...isilliteracy:thenonliterary,exactlyinDante'ssenseofthevernacular."
353ABibliography...forCharlesDoria
ThesubtitlemarksthispieceasasequeltoABibliographyonAmericaforEdDorn.Doria,likeDorn,wasoneofOlson'sstudentsatSUNYBuffalo,abouta
decadeafterDornattendedBlackMountainCollege.
353Schliemann'stoBlegen'sconfirmation
HeinrichSchliemann,discovererofTroy,andCarlW.Blegen,whosebookTheMycenaeanAge:TheTrojanWar,theDorianInvasion,andOtherProblems
(Cincinnati,Ohio:UniversityofCincinnati,1962)Olson's"borrowedfromLockwoodLibrary,Buffalo,"andneverreturned(Maud,Olson'sReading,p.155).
Olson's"March14th1965"makesthesamepointmoreexplicitly:"Itisjustabout100yearssinceSchliemannassumedtheliteralplaceaccuracyofHomer,and
provedit,assuccessfullyastheAmericanBlegen,ofCincinnati,hassorecentlyagaindonelikewiseasofthequestionofwhichPyloswasPylos"(Storrs,Prose
Series).
353VictorBerard,asearlyas1904(?)
InLesPhniciensetI'Odysse(1902and1903).

Page454
353fragmentofDausiepic
Gassire'sLute,"whichOlsonknewfromLeoFrobeniusandDouglasFox,AfricanGenesis(1937NewYork:BenjaminBlom,1966).Inhisintroduction(p.
30),Foxrelatesthis"epicstory...oftheSoninke"toa"heroicperiod...muchearlier"thantheDausi'sactualcomposition(between300and1100A.D.).
353logographyandthemuthologotic
OlsonwritesabouttheformerinProprioceptionhediscussesthelatterin"PoetryandTruth."Notinga"teeter"betweenthewords"muthos"and''logos,"Olson
says:
logos,inmymindrightnow,logicor/////[deliberatestutter]is///,islikesstststory,andis,like,onlystory....Muthosismouth.[sputters]Andindeed
logosissimplywordsinthemouth.AndinfactIcanevenbestifferanetymologistandtellyouthatifyourunthethingrighttothebackofthepanand
scrapedoffallthescrambledeggsandthere'sstillrustonitandyoucan'twashit,you'llfindthatwhatyouhavetosaymuthologosis,is"whatissaidofwhat
issaid"assuddenlythemouthissimplyacapability,aswellaswordsareacapability,theyarenottheultimatebackofitall.(MUTH2:3738)
Olson'sanalysisgrewoutofhisreadingofJ.A.K.Thomson'sTheArtoftheLogos(London:AllenandUnwin,1935).Seealso"Letter23"ofMaximus,where
Olsonwrites,"muthologoshaslostsuchground...//IwouldbeanhistorianasHerodotuswas,looking//foroneselffortheevidenceof//whatissaid"(MAX
1045).
354Maikop
"VillageinsouthernRussia,siteofaroyaltombfromEarlyKubanculture"(GB,atAP93).MentionedalsointhelateMaximuspoem"ANESSAYONQUEEN
TIY"(seeMAX525).
354genet:earthwasgenet
"Genet"(takenfromHesiod'sTheogony,line116,"chaosgenet")isanellidedformoftheGreekverbfor"cameintobeing"relatedtothelaternounform
"genesis."(See,inthisconnection,Olson'scommentsabout"sisingof...thesingleverb"inhis"ReviewofEricA.Havelock'sPrefacetoPlato,"p.358.)Inthe
MaximuspoemsOlsonhas:
themuses
toldHesiod
therewas
4thingsgot
genetthatbeforetheWorld
therewasheatormuspilliitiscalledinNorse
andmadeaboundofspacecertainly&probably
oftimeherselfbecausetheNorseorBavarianwordalsomeans
EndoftheWorld
(MAX546)

Page455
354Onewantsphenomenologyinplace
AconcernofOlson'ssincetheearly1950s.In"TheScienceof,Mythology,"asectionofTheChiasma,weread:
Thevirtueofmythisexactlytheresistancethatonlytheactofnarrativeholdsinitself:thatitcannotdepartfromhumanphenomenologywithoutceasingtobe.
AndbyhumanphenomenologyImeanphenomenology.Forhowisthere,finally,anyphenomenologyexceptasweexperienceitforwhoisknowinganything
exceptman?
Nature?Butsheisapropernounmaninventstocovertheorganicormaterialforceshebothis&experiences.
AndGod,asIsay,ishisbestguessatapropernountocoverthatbeingwhichheknowstobedistinctfromhisknowledgeofitbutwhich,becausehehasto
knowit,hehastoexpress...
Whatdelightsme,inanycase,aboutthemythologicalisthatitstatesrealityinexactlythosetermsbywhichahumanbeingexperiencesreality:personages,
events,&thingswho,what,how.Itdoesnotexplainorcompare(symbol:tothrowtogether[sym+ballein])itreenactsitassumesthatrealityhappens
oratleastthatsofarasahumanbeingknows,whatmakesrealitythemovingthingthatitis,isthatheorshehappens.(OJ10:6566)
354TantaluswasaHittite.YouatleastCharlesDoriaareaHittite.
Inhisessay"Pound,OlsonandtheClassicalTradition,"Boundary2,2:12,Fall1973/Winter1974,CharlesDoriarecallsOlsontellinghim(pp.13435):
"YouareaGreek,IamaHittite."Itookthistomeanthefollowing:IwassomewhereonthefurthershoresofEuropemovingawayfromthepreclassicalpast
towardsaEuropethatwasadreaminthemindbutwouldbecomeanightmareinreality.Hewasahostilepowerwhohadprecededmeandeveryoneelse
whohadassociatedthemselveswithHellenism.BecausehelivesinthedarknessbeyondthereachofEuropeanenlightenmentandsafety,hewas
incomprehensibleandclosedofftouslatterdayEuropeans.ButthehistoricalHittites,wenowknow,servedbothtocivilizethepreHomericGreeksand
providetheimpetusfortheirearliestpoetryandmythology.AndsoitwaswithCharles.
Rescindinghisearlierrebuke,OlsonhereidentifiesDoriaasthelivingfaceofaHittite"impetus,"arepresentative(likeTantalus)ofthe"preclassicalpast."
355"ReviewofEricA.Havelock'sPrefacetoPlato"
PublishedinNiagaraFrontierReview,no.1,Summer1964reprintedinAP.TomClarkinCharlesOlson:TheAllegoryofaPoet'sLifecallsPrefaceto
Plato(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1963)a"confirmation"ofthemethodOlsondiscoveredinwriting"TheGateandtheCenter"several
unpublishedessaysfurtherattesttothebook'sim

Page456
portanceforOlson,whobroughtHavelocktoBuffalofromYaleinDecember1964.Olson'scitationstoCollingwood,Fraenkel,Notopolous,andZielinskiareall
takenfromthefootnotestoChapter10ofHavelock'sbook,"TheContentandtheQualityofthePoetisedStatement."
355thephenomenologyofattention
InNovemberof1963,RichardSassoon,whometOlsoninVancouver,wrotealettercontainingexcerptsfromMauriceMerleauPonty'sPhenomenologyof
Perception,tr.ColinSmith(London:RoutledgeandKeganPaul,1962).TwodifferentcopiesofthelettersurviveamongOlson'spapersatStorrs,both
annotatedinOlson'sownhand.ThesecondisapparentlyatypescriptOlsonhimselfmadeasignofhowimportanttheexcerptsbecameforhim.Seealso
Olson'sdiscussionofMerleauPontyin"UndertheMushroom"(MUTH1:5559).
355episteme
Greekfor"understanding,""knowledge,""science."In"UndertheMushroom,"Olsondefinestherelatedword''epistemology"as"Howdoyouknow.Orthe
beliefthatwthatthereisknowing.AnditwasinventedbyamannamedPlato.Epistemeishisinventionandit'soneofthemostdangerousthingsinthe
worldistheideathatthereissuchathingasknowledge"(MUTH1:29).
355Aristotle(cf.thePoetics1457)
"Metaphoristheapplicationofastrangetermeithertransferredfromthegenusandappliedtothespeciesorfromthespeciesandappliedtothegenus,orfrom
onespeciestoanotherorelsebyanalogy"(Aristotle,ThePoetics"Longinus,"OntheSublimeDemitrius,OnStyle,tr.W.HamiltonFyfe,LoebClassical
Library[Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1965],p.81).
355Notopoulos(1949)...parataxis
JamesA.Notopoulos,"ParataxisinHomer:ANewApproachtoHomericLiteraryCriticism,"TransactionsoftheAmericanPhilologicalAssociation80,
1949,pp.123.HavelockliststwootherarticlesbyNotopolous,citingthisone(lateracquiredbyOlsoninphotocopy),atp.192n.25,tocorroboratethe
statement(p.183):
Thusthememorisedrecordconsistsofavastpluralityofactsandevents,notintegratedintochainedgroupsofcauseandeffect,butratherlinkedassociatively
inendlessseries.Inshort,therhythmicrecordinitsverynatureconstitutesa"many":itcannotsubmittothatabstractorganisationwhichgroups"manys"into
"one."Stylistically,thistruthcanbestatedasanoppositionbetweenthattypeofcompositionwhichisparatactic,asintheepic,andthatwhichisperiodic,or
beginningtobeso,asforexamplethespeechesofThucydides.
ThepassagebringstomindOlson'spreferenceofHerodotustoThucydides,recallingalsotheepigraphtotheopeningbookofMaximus,"AllmylifeI'veheardI
onemakesmany."

Page457
356Zielinski,907
ThaddeusZielinski,"DieBehandlunggleichzeitigerEreignisseimantikenEpos,"Philologus,suppl.8,1901,citedbyHavelockonthequestionoftimeatpp.193
94n.27.MaudreportsthatOlsonknewZielinski's"TheSybil:ThreeEssaysonAncientReligionandChristianity,"issuedasEdge(Melbourne),no.2,November
1956.
356Planck
MaxPlanck,"Germanphysicist,formulatorofthequantumtheoryinpapersonradiation
in1901"(GB,atAP94).
356Fraenkel's(2nded.1960)isanotherlovelyindication
HermannFerdinandFraenkel,WegeundFormenfruegriechischenDenken,2vols.(Munich:Beck,1960),citedbyHavelock(p.194n.27)totheeffectthat
"theHomericeposisinnocentofanyconceptoftimeintheabstractconcretely,theidiomsinwhichchronosappearsdenoteperiodsofwaitingordelayordoing
nothing."
356onequotedstatement(fromCollingwood)
CitedbyHavelockatp.193n.28.
357dotha...[doxa]
SeenotetoProprioception,p.417.
357plusDausitobesureanAfricanexample
Seenoteto"TheAdvantageofLiteracyIsThatWordsCanBeonthePage,"pp.45354.
357AddednotesSundayNovember25th1963
ThedateisthreedaysafterJ.F.K.'sassassination,adayafterthemurderofOswald,fourdaysbeforeappointmentoftheWarrenCommission.Arethese
"Addednotes"aresponsetoKennedy'sdeath,"somethinglikeripples"?Isthe"we"requiring"mapping"America?Is"the'order'whichdoesobtain''political?In
thenextandfinalsectionofthe"Review"("addedDecember6th...inanticipationofanythingfurther"),Olsondeclares:"Thereisnocolloquy.Societyis
inheritedorderis,entropyis..."
357dialexis
Greek,"adivisionbylot"(LiddellandScott).
358ethea
Greek,apluralfor"ethos,"whichmeans"custom,usage"(LiddellandScott).WritesHavelock(p.63):"'Originallythewordmayhavesignifiedthe'lair'or'haunt'
ofananimalinlaterGreekitdevelopsintothemeaningofpersonalbehaviorpatternorevenpersonalcharacterandsoinAristotlesuppliedthebasisfortheterm
'ethics'?"(citationomitted).
358astretchingneuterizingandsisingofprobablythesingleverb
Derivedfromp.193n.31ofPrefacetoPlato,whereHavelockdrawsonChapter10ofBrunoSnell'sDiscoveryoftheMind:TheGreekOriginsof
EuropeanThought,tr.T.G.Rosenmeyer(1953NewYork:Harper,1960),abookOlsonalreadykneworsoonac

Page458
quired.TheuseofsistoformabstractnounsoutofearlierverbformsdevelopedinthefifthcenturyB.C.
358Eranos...(agape)
"Respectively,Greek,'sharedmeal'and'lovefeast'(suchasthataccompanyingtheearlyChristianEucharisticcelebrations)"(GB,atAP95).
358Stephanites
Greek,"oforconsistingofacrown,""acrownedconqueror,victor"(LiddellandScott).
358theunholyAthenianThree
PresumablySocrates,Plato,andAristotle.
358Mrak
"l.e.,Marx,asitappearsinanearliermanuscriptversion.Alsointhatversion,interestingly,Olsontyped'manape,'whichhelaterchangedto'mangrape,'while
'nitsfromanotherplanet'wasalteredto'its'"(GB,atAP95).
358boul
Greek,"will,determination.Lat.consilium,esp.oftheGodsacounsel,pieceofadvice,plan,design"(LiddellandScott).
359"AFurtherNoteontheCriticalAdvantageofEricHavelock'sPrefacetoPlato"PublishedinNiagaraFrontierReview,no.2,SpringSummer1965reprinted
inAP.
359JosephNeedhamorMirceaEliade
Needham'smagisterialScienceandCivilizationinChinabeganappearingfromCambridgeUniversityPressin1954Olson'smentionof"Time"suggests
acquaintancewithNeedham'sTimeandEasternMan:TheHenryMyersLecture1964,RoyalAnthropologicalInstituteOccasionalPaperNo.21(Glasgow:
UniversityPress,1965).OlsonknewEliade'sessay"Shamanism"fromVergiliusFerm'sAncientReligions,thoughMaudquotesaletterinwhichOlsonremarks
thatEliadeis"best"read"undertheauspicesofthe'Eranos'yearlymeetings"(Olson'sReading,p.177).
360"StatementfortheCambridgeMagazine"
PublishedinGranta,February1964reprintedinAP.
361"Acomprehension(ameasure,that"
NotesButterick(atAP92),"Written1415August1966,judgingfromdatednotesinthepoet'scopiesofHavelock,PrefacetoPlatoKirk,TheCosmic
FragmentsandLiddellandScott,AGreekEnglishLexicon."FirstpublishedbyRobinBlaserintheinauguralissueofPacificNation,June1967reprintedin
AP.
362asSnellsays..."theeraofthelyric."
BrunoSnellinTheDiscoveryoftheMindhas(p.17):
ThefirstwritertofeaturethenewconceptofthesoulisHeraclitus.Hecallsthesouloflivingmanpsycheinhisviewmanconsistsofbodyandsoul,andthe
soulisendowed

Page459
withqualitieswhichdifferradicallyfromthoseofthebodyandthephysicalorgans.Wecansafelysaythatthesenewqualitiesareirreconcilablewiththe
categoriesofHomer'sthought....ThenewexpressionswerefashionedintheperiodwhichseparatesHeraclitusfromHomer,thatistosaytheeraofthe
lyric.
362bibliography:
KennethClark,TheNude,BollingenSeries25.2(NewYork:PantheonBooks,1956)reproducesasfigures22,23,and55,imagesofthesculpturesOlson
refersto.GeraldF.Else,TheOriginandEarlyFormofGreekTragedy(1965Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1967),atp.61discusses
tetrameter.Heraclitus,TheCosmicFragments,ed.G.S.Kirk(Cambridge,Eng.:CambridgeUniversityPress,1954),givesatp.3thedate480B.C.,which
OlsonassignstothedeathofHeraclitus.G.S.Kirk,TheHomericPoemsasHistory(Cambridge,Eng.:CambridgeUniversityPress,1965),atp.10givesthe
compositionoftheHomericepicsto"before700orattheverylatest675b.c."StuartPiggott,PrehistoricIndiato1000b.c.(Harmondsworth,Eng.:Penguin
Books,1952),atp.255givesthedate500B.C.forthedeathofBuddha.Snell,p.17,isquotedabove.
362fragments57,40&41ofHeraclitus
Fragment57reads,inKirk'sedition(p.155):"ThereforeHeraclitussaysthatneitherdarknessnorlightnorevilnorgoodaredifferent,butareoneand
thesamething.AtalleventshecensuresHesiod,onthegroundthathedoesnotknowdayandnightforday,hesays,andnightareone,insuchwords
asthese:TeacherofmostmenisHesiod:theyaresurethatheknowsmanythings,whocontinuallyfailtorecognizedayandnight:fortheyareone."Fragments40
and41areruntogether(p.386):"He[sc.Heraclitus]grewuptobeconceitedbeyondanyoneelse,asisplainalsofromhisbook,inwhichhesays,
"Learningofmanythingsdoesnotbringsense..."(=fr.40)forWisdomisonething:tobeskilledintruejudgement,howallthingsaresteeredthroughall."
362asL.J.D.RichardsondoessayoftheSophia
"FurtherObservationsonHomerandtheMycenaeanTablets,"Hermathena,86,1955,citedbyEricHavelockinPrefacetoPlato,p.161n.26.
363Epistamenos
Greekfor"skillfully,""expertly,"citedbyEricHavelockinPrefacetoPlato(p.162n.27)fromHesiod'sWorksandDays.OlsonownedtheLoebtranslationby
HughG.EvelynWhite,whichreads:"Iwillsumyouupanothertalewellandskillfully...howthegodsandmortalmensprangfromonesource."SeeThe
HomericHymnsandHomerica(Cambridge,Mass.:HarvardUniversityPress,1982),p.11.
364"'ClearShiningWater,'DeVriessays"
FirstpublishedbytheInstituteofFurtherStudies,Buffalo,1968reprintedinAP.Thetitlereferstothe"aurr"sprinkledonYggdrasill,theguardiantreeof
Northernmythology,alsoknownastheWorldTree.H.R.EllisDavidsonsaysofthis"aurr"(inGodsandMythsofNorthernEurope,p.195):"Themeaning
...isuncertain,butdeVriestakesittomeanclear,shiningwater.Wearetoldthatdewcomesfromthetree,andthatwhenthehart

Page460
feedsonitsbranches,hermilkbecomesshiningmeadwhichnevergivesout,andisusedtoprovidedrinkforthewarriorsinValhalla."Thebibliographicportionof
Olson'stitlecomesfromDavidson'sfootnote.ForOlson'sownversionofthemythsee"HotelSteinplatz,Berlin,December25(1966)"(MAX56970).
364ta'wil...Corbin...afootnoteinAvicenna
HenryCorbininAvicennaandtheVisionaryRecital,tr.WillardTrask,BollingenSeries66(1960Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1988),writes(p.
29):"Ta'wilis,etymologicallyandinversely,tocausetoreturn,toleadback,torestoretoone'soriginandtotheplacewhereonecomeshome,consequentlyto
returntothetrueandoriginalmeaningofatext."Itisn'tclearwhichfootnoteOlsonhasinmind,butanotherrelevantpassageisthefollowing,fromp.160:
wecanunderstandthattheSpringofLife,theAquapermanens,isdivinegnosis,thephilosophiaprima.Hewhopurifieshimselfthereinanddrinksofitwill
nevertastethebitternessofdeath.AsforthespringofrunningWaterhardbythepermanentspring,wemayseeinitatypificationofLogic....Butthison
anexpressconditionthatsafeguardsinsteadofdegradingsymbolicperception.Inotherwords:itisnotLogicthatistheta'wilofthespringofrunningWater
itis,conversely,thespringofrunningWaterthatistheta'wilofLogic,that,assuch,"leadsitback"toits"spring,"toitsmeaninganditstruth.
364AHistoricalGrammaroftheLanguageofPoeticMyth
SubtitletoRobertGraves's1958bookTheWhiteGoddess,whichOlsonownedinfourcopies.
365intheLatin
Olson'ssourceofinformationisCharltonT.Lewis,AnElementaryLatinDictionary.
365Icanreferyou...toTurvillePetreMythandReligionoftheNorthAbookusedfor"TheVinlandMapReview"aswell.Thepagenumbersallreferto"the
mysticalUroarbrunnr(WellofFate)"(p.246),andYggdrasill,whichTurvillePetrecalls"treeoffate"(p.277).Accordingtothelatetwelfthandearlythirteenth
centuryIcelandicpoetandhistorianSnorriSturlason,"threewellslayatthebaseoftheYggdrasill,oneundereachroot"(p.279).NotesTurvillePetre(onthesame
page),"Inthispassage,asinsomeothers,Snorrimaybetoosystematic,andprobablythethreenamesapplytoonewell,whichwasbasicallythewelloffate,and
hencethesourceofwisdom.''Thediscussionthenturns(stillp.279)to"Uror,thenameforfate,...commonlyidentifiedwithOldEnglishwyrd,saidultimatelytobe
relatedtotheLatinVertere(toturn),asifappliedtoagoddessspinningthethreadsoffate."Onp.280,TurvillePetrediscusses"theRagnark,meaning'fateofthe
gods,'"quotingfrom"theVlusp,theonlypoeminwhichthewholecourseoftheRagnarkistraced":
untilthreecame,
daughtersofgiants,
filledwithcruelmight
fromthedemonworld.

Page461
365dogmatic
NotatermofderisionforOlson,whotook"TheDogmaticNatureofExperience"ashismottoforthe1968lectureseries"PoetryandTruth"(MUTH2:7).
367"What'sBackThere"
Firstpublishedinlo,no.6,Summer1969(the"EthnoastronomyIssue"),asanintroductiontoCharlesDoria'stranslationofSanchuniathon'sPhoenicianHistory
reprintedinAP.OlsonhadwrittenaboutSanchuniathonintheMaximuspoemsin1962(MAX27475),andatgreaterlengthinanunpublishedprosepieceat
Storrstitled"1st'Essay'onthe/PhoenicianHistory//WednesdayFebruary5/1964//called/'1540,or,Santhunctiones.'"Doriaintroducedthetranslationinlo
as"partofaseriesonthehistoryofmythology,''noting:
[Olson]fairlycommissionedmeaboutfouryearsagotomakethistranslation,especiallyafterDuncanhookedhiminaletterwithsomecommentsabout
Sanchuniathonas"myteacher,""taughtmeallIknow"(Duncanthisis).Aftermanyfalsestartsthisistheresult.
Itispartofaseriesonthehistoryofmythology....Thewaythethingwassupposedtoworkgoessomethinglikethis:
1.Sanchuniathon'sHistoryBeginningsandDefinitionsinandaroundPhoeniciaintheSecondMillenniumB.C.ReappearanceamongtheGreeks.
2.ChroniclesofParosAseriesofinscriptionsfoundontheislandofParosintheAegean.TellsthecomingofthePhoenicianstoGreece(Cadmus,etc.)
Greekhistory,almostyearbyyeardowntothedeathofSocrates,399B.C.
3.Malalas'ChroniclesWhatthePhoeniciansweredoingallthistime(c.1500on).
4.DeaSyraAvisittoafamousandancientPhoeniciantemplebyaGreekdialecticianduringtheRomanImperium.
ThelastissueofNiagaraFrontierReview,Spring1966,listedasforthcomingfromFrontierPressacollectionofancienttexts,tobetitledParosChronicles,
translatedwithnotesbyCharlesDoria,introductionbyCharlesOlsonthebookneverappeared.WithHarrisLenowitz,however,DorialatereditedOrigins:
CreationTextsfromtheAncientMediterranean(NewYork:AMSPress,1976),acollectionthatincludesSanchuniathon.
367Albright
"WilliamFoxwellAlbright.OlsonownedandwrotenotesinseveralofAlbright'sbooks,includingTheEvidenceofLanguage(Cambridge:CambridgeUniversity
Press,1966)"(GB,atAP108).
367T.L.Webster
T.B.L.Webster,FromMycenaetoHomer(NewYork:BarnesandNoble,1960).
368"TheAnimateVersustheMechanical,andThought"
Firstpublishedinlo,no.6,Summer1969(the"EthnoastronomyIssue")reprintedinAP.AmongOlson'ssourcesherearethreefavoritetexts:EricHavelock,
PrefacetoPlatoHesiod,TheogeonyandAlfredNorthWhitehead,ProcessandReality.

Page462
368plants,bystarch(statoliths),turgorandageotropism
"FromadiscussionofthenervoussystemofplantsintheEncyclopediaBritannica,11thed.,vol.21,pp.75154"(GB,atAP106).
368event(inMerleauPonty'ssensenarrative)
SeeThePhenomenologyofPerception,pp.3031.OlsonknewthepassagefromRichardSassoon'sNovember1963letter(discussedinthenotetop.355)
wherethetextreads:
"Atthesametimeasit(theobject)setsattentioninmotion,theobjectisateverymomentrecapturedandplacedoncemoreinastateofdependenceonit
(attention).It(object)givesrisetothe'knowledgebringingevent,'whichistotransformit(object),onlybymeansofthestillambiguousmeaningwhichitrequires
thateventtoclarifyitisthereforethemotiveandnotthecauseoftheevent."TheitalicsareSassoon's,asarethewordsinparentheses.
368Dogtown,andHesiod,MaximusPoemsIVVVI
SeeMAX330332.
369Kierkegaard
GeorgeButterickinhisnotesfromOlson'sseminarsatBuffalo(publishedinTheMagazineofFurtherStudies,no.2,1966)hasthefollowingentryfor16
December1964:"Kierkegaardamiserablelittlewretch,theoriginalkillerofournoncivilization."
369'Ekatick'
"FromHekate(GreekEkarn),triplegoddessoftheearth,moon,andunderworld.Herstatues,Hecateia,weresetupatplaceswherethreeroadsmet,justas
Hermes'representations,orherms,weresetupasboundarystones"(GB,atAP107).
370'God''fromhis'HouseofMountain'
I.e.,ZeusfromOlympus.
370'kalpa'
"Sanskrit,'aeon'asingledaywhichisthelifeofBrahma:8,640,000,000mortalyears"(GB,atAP107).
370ElectromagneticEpoch
AnideadevelopedoutofChapter3ofWhitehead'sProcessandReality,"TheOrderofNature,"whereweread:"Ourpresentcosmicepochisformedbyan
'electromagneticsociety'..."(p.149).Seealso"UndertheMushroom,''whereOlsonremarks:"Eternalsimplymeansofanage.Allright?Ofanepoch.We
live,forexample,intheelectromagneticepoch.Thatsimplydefinesthisparticularuniversethatwearesuppliedasanobjectivetype,butithasnothingtodowith
eternaltime,forexample.Nothingwhatsoever.Itmaybestainedwitheternaltime,butit'ssimplyelectromagneticepoch.fufft,fufft.Imean,anoutertime,likean
outerspace?Unimaginable!"(MUTH1:60).

Page463
370idein
Greek,"tosee."
370sitio
"Latin,'tothirst,'akintoGreeksition,'grain,''food'"(GB,atAP108).
371alle
German,"all,"butalso"cosmos."
371Dr.ForwardortheHughespeopleorDr.Sinsky
"ResearchesonelectromagneticradiationconductedbyRobertL.Forward,workingattheHughesResearchLaboratoriesinMalibu,California,andJoelSinsky
attheUniversityofMaryland.SeeDietrickE.Thomsen,'SearchingforGravityWaves,'ScienceNews,XCIII(27March1968),pp.4089(aXeroxcopyof
whichisamongOlson'spapers)"(GB,atAP108).
372theiniaticcosmos,theworldofnatureandthecelestialworld
TheitalicizedphrasescomefromHenryCorbin's"CyclicalTimeinMazdaismandIsmailism,"tr.RalphManheim(1957),publishednowinCorbin'sCyclical
TimeandIsmailiGnosis(London:KeganPaulInternational,1983).
373"ContinuingAttempttoPulltheTaffyOfftheRoofoftheMouth"
PublishedinThePark,no.45,Summer1969.ThisdensereadingofthewrittenandarcheologicalevidenceofNorseexplorationofAmericaisitselfarecordof
exploration.Itstirsup,likemuchofOlson'slaterprose,thetreacherousdepthsbetweendocumentandcommentary.The"Attempt"is"Continuing"becauseOlson
hasworkedthisterrainseveraltimesbeforeinhis"VinlandMapReview,"thelateMaximuspoem''GeorgeDecker,"andinthemarginsofhisreading.The
immediateincentiveforrenewingtheattentionmayhavebeenreceiptofCarlO.Sauer'sNorthernMists(Berkeley:UniversityofCaliforniaPress,1968).
ReprintedinAP,withextensivenotesbyGeorgeButterick.
373Jibir
JabirlbnHayyam,eighthcenturyArabicalchemistcitedbyJungundertheLatinizednameGeberinPsychologyandAlchemy,tr.R.F.C.Hull,TheCollected
WorksofC.G.Jung,vol.12,1953,BollingenSeries20(Princeton,N.J.:PrincetonUniversityPress,1980).
373Ari
"AriThorgilssonorAritheLearned,earliestoftheIcelandicchroniclers,authorofthetwelfthcenturyIslendigabok"(GB,atAP105).
373SnorriSturlason
AuthoroftheProseEddaandHeimskringlamentionedbyOlsonin'"ClearShiningWater,'DeVriessays."
373Al'Araby'scircumvallum
Ibnal'Arabi,ArabmysticofthesameeraasSturlason."ForanaccountofhiscircumambulatiooftheKa'baatMecca,see...FritzMeier,'TheMysteryof
theKa'ba:Symboland

Page464
RealityinIslamicMysticism,'inTheMysteries:PapersfromtheEranosYearbooks,ed.JosephCampbell,BollingenSeriesXXX.2(NewYork,1955),esp.
pp.15556"(GB,atAP105).
374crossings,concealments&curtailmentsoftheseordersofsuch'timess'JohnClarkeinhisnotesforOlson'sFall1964MythologySeminarrecords:
Don'tgiveupreliefinsight:
Seethatothercountryoverthere,thatain'tnocountryoverthereontheothersideofyourdoormusttakethoseconceptualhingesrightoffthedoorinorder
tocleansesaiddoorsofperception,inordertogetclearofitall,allthatstandsinthewayofpossessingtheclearseeingorganofahumanbeing:thedoorof
mythopensonlyontothepast,whathasgonebeforeyou,whiletheeyeoftheSelflooksintotheunknownfuturenowrushingtowardsyouatspeedsfaster
thanthesquareoflight.

Page465
INDEX
Pagenumbersfrom379onwardrefertotheeditors'notes.
A
Adams,Brooks,300,308,31517,32628,332,43738
Adams,Henry,323
Adams,John,27
Aeschylus,257,259
Ahab(MobyDick)1718,39,41,5159,6366,7376,105,389
Albright,WilliamFoxwell,367,461
Alcaeus,362
AlexandertheGreat,196
AlfredtheGreat,196,331,332,373
Allen,Donald,416
AmericanWeekly300,438
Anastas,Peter,452
AncientArtandRitual(Harrison),389
Anderson,Edgar,309
Apollonius,262,430
Ariosto,Ludovico,270,431
Aristotle,156,355,424
AriThorgilsson,373,463
Arvin,Newton,113,396
Auden,W.H.,109,110,113,395,397,426
Averros,196,420
Avison,Margaret,443
B
Bacon,Francis,122
Baraka,Amiri(LeRoiJones),180,41516,444
Barbour,PhilipL.,32223
Barkov,150
Bathory,Sigismund,318
Beckwith,Jim,300,306
Bedford,Agnes,150,408
Bellows,HenryW.,391
Bennett,Charles,295
Berard,Victor:
onHomer,301,303,304,348,353,438,440
andOlson'spoetictheory,170,413
andOlson'stheoryoftheater,256,429
assourceforOlson,188,418
Bergson,Henri,340,449
Berle,AdolfA.,325,445
Bernal,Martin,416
Beyle,Henri(pseud.Stendahl),321,443
Bezanson,Walter,115,397
Bigler,296
BlackAntena(Bernal),416
Blackburn,Paul,341,449
Blake,William,141,143
Blaser,Robin,426,458
Blegen,CarlW.,353,453
Boer,Charles,45051
Bogomolets,AlexanderA.,174,414
Boldereff,Frances,380,412,414,423
Bolyai,Farkas,120,399
Bond,William,12
Boone,Daniel,19
Boulez,Pierre,415
Bowles,Samuel,393
BrihadaranyakaUpanishad,200,42122
Brooks,VanWyck,42,62,113,385,397
Brown,Harvey,440
Brown,Perc,31n,307
Buddha,189,361
Bulkington(MobyDick)41,5455,384
Bunker,ConstanceWilcockOlson,99,139,394,404
Burns,WalterNoble,31114,313
Butterick,George,413,422,423,428,437,445,458,462

Page466
C
"C.B.&Q."(Dorn),437
Calas,Nicholas,195,419
Carpenter,Edward,188,418
Carpini,GiovannidaPiandel,335
Cayley,Arthur,123,399
Cech,John,426
Cenci,Francesco,321,44243
Chace,Owen.SeeChase,Owen
Chadwick,John,334,419,448
Chaplin,Charles,258,301,429,437
Chapple,Thomas,12
Char,Ren,264,430
Charlemagne,196
CharlesMartel,196
CharlesOlson:
TheAllegoryofaPoet'sLife(Clark),xiv
Charters,Ann,381
Chase,Jack,46,84,111,386,396
Chase,Owen,1114,2933,379,381
Chase,Richard,109,113,396
Chaucer,Geoffrey,148,451
ChicagoReview428
ChineseWrittenCharacter(Fenollosa),413
Christ,18,5152,82,8788,91,135,137
Clair,Ren,429
Clark,SirKenneth,362,459
Clark,Tom,xiv,423,455
Clarke,John,381,407,411,417,419,425,434,464
Clays,Gino,351,352,452
Coffin,Owen,13
Coffin,Zimri,13
Cole,Isaac,13
Coleridge,SamuelTaylor,120,399
Collingwood,R.G.,356,456
Columbus,Christopher,19,103,105
Coman,Katherine,306
Comstock,SamuelB.,69
Comus(Milton),276,431
Confucius,189
Constance.SeeBunker,ConstanceWilcockOlson
Cooper,JamesFenimore,351,452
Copley,JohnSingleton,324,445
Corbin,Henry,364,372,460,463
Corio,Ann,257,429
Corkran,Dave,309,441
Corle,Edwin,306
Corman,Cid:
Olson'scorrespondencewith,397,408,409,410,411,427,449
Olson'sreviewofworkby,26568,431
andRobertCreeley,xi
Cosa,Juandela,319,442
Coxeter,H.S.M.,399
Crane,Hart:
andMelville,109,110,115
andOlson'spoetictheory,244,25355,319,426
andPocahontas,318,442
Creeley,Robert,115,116,352,421,442
Olsononworkof,28384,28587,349,43233
Olson'scorrespondencewith,381,397,403,409,410,411,412,413,41415,417,420,423,425,43839
andOlson'spoetictheory,240,426
Crosby,Caresse,3,380
Crowley,Aleister,188,418
Crozier,Andrew,445,446
Crozier,William,14
Crump,Ted,352,453
Cummings,E.E.,24546,429
Curtius,ErnstRobert,33941
TheCyclops(Euripides),257
D
Dahlberg,Edward,382
andDoTheseBonesLive115,146,38384,391,407
andMelville,39,115
andOlson'spoetictheory,240,424,426
relationshipwithOlson,79,379,391,397
Dana,RichardHenry,40,384
DanteAlighieri:
andDostoevsky,132,402
anddramatictheory,27172,431
andMelville,89
andPound,147
andUlysses,1045
andvernacular,250,27475,427
Davidson,H.R.Ellis,333,334,366,45960
Davies,John,323
Daylor,William,296
Deane,Charles,323
Delano,Amasa,395
DeSoto,Hernando,318
DeVoto,Bernard,303,306,307
deVries,364,45960
DeVulgareEloquentia(Dante),271
TheDiaryofaWriter(Dostoevsky),126
DichtungundWahrheit(Goethe),116
Dickinson,Emily,39293
Diderot,Denis,351
DidHomerLive?(Brard),42829
TheDivineComedy(Dante),1045,395
Donnelly,Ignatius,438
Donner,George,303
Donner,Jacob,303
DonQuixote(Cervantes),79,90n,391
Doria,Charles,353,354,367,453,455,461
Dorn,Edward,247,305,435,437
Dostoevsky,Fyodor,115,12634,146,207

Page467
DoTheseBonesLive(Dahlberg),115,146,38384,391,407
Douglas,CliffordHugh,143,14849,405
Douglas,Fred,234
Douglas,Gavin,340,449
Douglas,Lou,450
DownEast:
Poems(Snow),349,451
Dukes,Ashley,149
Duncan,Robert,286,421,453
onhistory,201,422
Olson'scorrespondencewith,26064,42930,461
onOlson'swork,xiv,xv
andPound,147,148
Duyckinck,Evert,39,42,43,385
Duyckinck,George,80,391
E
Earp,Wyatt,313
Eberhart,Richard,319,442
Edkhart,Meister,303
Edwards,Jonathan,74,390
Einstein,Albert,125
Eisenstein,Sergei,301,437
Eliade,Mircea,359,458
Eliot,T.S.,147,380
"TheLoveSongofJ.AlfredPrufrock,"248,427
andpoetictheory,24849,253
poetryof,141,301,312
andPound,143,149,151,408Else,G.,362,459
Emerson,RalphWaldo,124
Enceladus,74,88,390
ErictheRed,196,420
TheEscapedCock(Lawrence),13840,403
EtruscanPlaces(Lawrence),138,403
Euripides,135,246
Evans,George,408
EvelynWhite,HughG.,459
F
Fanning,Edmund,395
Feinstein,ElaineB.,xvi,250,427
Fenollosa,Ernest,19,169,188,244,382,413,418,426
Ferrini,Vincent,xi
Finch,John,429
Fitton,Mary,397
Fitzgerald,Richard,451
Fitzpatrick,Jim,303
Fletcher,JohnGould,318
Foley,Pat,227
Ford,FordMaddox,145,146,406
"ForeverandaDay"(film),429
Forward,RobertL.,371,463
Fowlie,Wallace,398
Fox,Douglas,45354
Fraenkel,HermannFerdinand,356,456,459
Fraser,G.S.,442
FrederickI(kingofPrussia),147
Fredin,Karl,234
Freeman,F.Barron,10912,114
Freeman,John,113
Freud,Sigmund,358
Friedlander,Benjamin,xixii
Frobenius,Leo,308,339
andAfricanGenesis353,453
Olson'sreadingof,170,300,409
andPound,146,150,408
Frost,Robert,451
G
Galbraith,JohnKenneth,325,445
GarcaLorca,Federico,287
Gardner,Will,31n,383
Gardner,Mrs.Will,31n,383
Garrett,Eileen,188,418
Garrett,Pat,313
GaudierBrzeska,Henri,148,149,408
Gelb,I.J.,41718
George,Stefan,340
Gerhardt,RainerM.,339,340,448
Gilgamesh,173
Ginsberg,Allen,421,433
Gladwin,HaroldSterling,300,306
GodsandMythsofNorthernEurope(Davidson),333,366
Goebbels,Joseph,128
Goethe,JohannWolfgangvon,56,118,136,142,403
Gordon,CyrusH.:
andLinearA,198,367,419,421,448
Olson'sreviewofworkby,xiii,188,34548,418
Graves,Robert,364,365,460
Grosseteste,Robert,147,407
Guda(kingoftheportLagash),173
Gurin,Maruicede,91,394
GuidetoKulchur(Pound),144,405
Gurty,Simon,306
Gterbock,HansGustav,197,346,421,450
Gutierrez,Celsa,313
H
Haggard,H.Rider,300,438
Hagoromo(play),248,427
Hakluyt,Richard,318
Harrison,JaneEllen,190,302,303,348n,389,419,428
Harrod,19
Hauptmann,Gerhart,146,151,406,408
Havelock,EricA.,35559,456,459,461
Hawkes,Christopher,334

Page468
Hawthorne,Nathaniel:
"TheBirthmark,"111
onMelville,81,89,393,395
Melvilleon,41
Melville'scorrespondencewith,51,121,400
"MonsieurduMiroir,"124,400
relationshipwithMelville,46,87,101,104,11112,386
Hegel,GeorgWilhelmFriedrich,120,358,400
Hehir,Paddy,222,224,233
Heilbroner,RobertL.,324,325,444
Heisenberg,Werner,162,411
Hendricks,Obed,12
Henry,John,20
Heraclitus,112,143,189,36162,396,45859
HermanMelville:
MarinerandMystic(Weaver),382
Herodotus,170,300,341,34244,454,456
Hesiod,137,197,199,206,345,36163,421,462
Hester,Martin,226
Hester,Minnie,226
Heyford,Harrison,114,397
Hines,Mary,205,422.
SeealsoOlsen,MaryHines
Hitler,Adolph,258,429
Holbrook,Stewart,312,441
Holmes,OliverWendell,80
Holmes,Pehr,234
Homer,104,117,137
inhistory,196,199,345
andOlson'spoetictheory,246,248
andtime,35657,36162
Hopkins,GerardManley,253
Houston,Sam,306,308,440
Howard,Leon,114,397
Hubbard,Elbert,320,443
Hudson,Henry,320
Hulme,ThomasErnest,149
Huston,John,146,406
Huxley,Aldous,135,403
Hymans,Edward,188,418
Hymen,StanleyEdgar,413
I
Ibnal'Arabi,373,46364
Ignatow,David,417
Ishmael(biblicalcharacter),379
Ishmael(MobyDick)55,73
J
JabirIbnHayyam,332,463
Jackson,Andrew,27,64
Jacataqua,300,318
Jefferson,Thomas,24,27
Jesus.SeeChrist
JohnBrown'sBody(Benet),429
Johnson,LyndonB.,451
Jolas,Eugene,399
Jonas,Hans,190,419
Jones,LeRoi(pseud.AmiriBaraka),180,41516,444
Joy,Matthew,1112
Joyce,James,143,15051,301,408,437
Judd,WalterH.,309,441
Jung,CarlGustav,118,300,301,398
K
Karlsefni,373
Keats,John,37,120,123,239,399,425
Kelly,Robert,195,419
Kennedy,JohnF.,451,459
Kierkegaard,Sren,369,462
Kirk,G.S.,362
Kittredge,GeorgeLyman,113,397
Klein,ChristianFelix,123,399
Kline,Franz,124,400,411
Koch,Vivien,254,428
Kramer,SamuelNoah,170,346,412,450
Kronos,73
L
LadyChatterley'sLover(Lawrence),13839,404
Lagarijo,382
LaGuardia,Fiorello,257,429
Lake,Stuart,313
Landreau,Anthony,122,400
Lang,Andrew,188
Lansing,Gerrit,188,418
LaSalle,RobertCavelier,sieurde,19
Laughlin,James,417
Laughton,Charles,256,429
Lawrence,Benjamin,1314
Lawrence,D.H.,xv,116,13540,144,207,300,308,382,404
Lawrence,Frieda,139,404
Leary,Timothy,451
Leed,Jacob,xi
Lenowitz,Harris,461
Lewis,Wyndham,143,14849,408
Leyda,Jay,114,380,383,397
Lincoln,Abraham,350
Lobatschewsky,NicolayIvanovich,120,399
Lobeck,A.K.,300
Lorca.SeeGarcaLorca,Federico

Page469
Lowell,Robert,145,406
Luce,Henry,25758,429
LTungpin,263,430
M
MagnusBarefoot(Norseking),443
Maikov,Appollon,127,401
Malalas,John,367
Malinowski,Bronislaw,409,410
Mansfield,LutherS.,113,116,118
TheManWhoDied(Lawrence),137,403.
SeealsoTheEscapedCock
Marlowe,Christopher,56
Marshall,JamesWilson,29596
Marx,Karl,27,143,358
Mason,Ronald,11315,118,380,396
Maspero,Gaston,170,414
Matthiessen,F.O.,113,379,396
Maud,Ralph,418,425,437,445
McCoon,Perry,296
McGraw,Rosie,350,451
McJunkin,George,381
McKinstry,George,435
Mead,G.R.S.,188,418
"MeditationonaLandscape"(Temple),447
Melville,Augusta,89
Melville,Elizabeth,391
Melville,Herman,11,1720,8091,311,351,381
andAhab,7376
andBillyBudd,Foretopman,10912
influenceof,xii,207,302,303
Olson'sreviewsofscholarshipon,11319,12025
Olson'sscholarshipon,37980
onOwenChase,2933
onPlato,157,409
andShakespeare,4344,4546,4750,5155,5659,6066
andwhalingindustry,2128.
Works:
"Bartleby,theScrivener,"124,400
"TheBellTower,"124,400
"BenitoCereno,"124,400,401
BillyBudd,Foretopman,10912
BillyBudd,Sailor,46,47,86,91,386
Clarel,86,9091,95,110,115,394
TheConfidenceMan,46,61,82,91,110,118,190,388
"TheEncantadas,"124,400
"HawthorneandHisMosses,"4142,384
JournalUptheStraits,82
Mardi,3940,53,8889
MobyDick,3942
Pierre,46,61,82,87,89,110,118,388,398
PoemandPilgrimageintheHolyland,86
Redburn,3940,47
Typee,39
WhiteJacket,3940
SeealsoMobyDick
Melville'sLog(Leyda),114
Melville'sMarginalia(Cowen),379,385,386
Melville'sQuarrelwithGod(Thompson),113
Melville'sReading:
AChecklistofBooksOwnedandBorrowed(Sealts),379
Merk,Frederick,302,303,305,308,325,437,440
MerleauPonty,Maurice,368
Merritt,H.Houston,169,413
Metcalf,EleanorMelville,42,109,385,391,396
Metcalf,HenryK.,42,385
Metcalf,Paul,383,391
"Metropolis"(film),276,432
Meyer(tailor),21316
Milton,John,241,431
MobyDick(Melville),3942,7376,46,381
andShakespeare,44,4750,5155,5659,6066
andMelville'stravel,8091
Olson'sreviewofscholarshipon,11319,12025
Olson'sscholarshipon,1720
andthePacific,1015
andwhalingindustry,2128
Moe,HenryAllen,435
Mohammed,196
Moore,Frank,406
Moore,Sturge,149
Morewood,Sarah,391
Moses,18
"Mr.Blue"(Creeley),284,433
Mrak,458.
SeealsoMarx,Karl
Murdock,Kenneth,429
Murray,HenryA.,114,380,397,398
Murray,HenryA.,Jr.,42,385
Muspilli(Bavarianpoem),333
Mussolini,Benito,258,429
Myers,Gustavus,310
MythandReligionoftheNorth(TurvillePetre),333
N
NarrativeoftheMostExtraordinaryandDistressingShipwreckoftheWhaleShipEssex,ofNantucket(Chase),30,381
TheNaturalHistoryoftheSpermWhale(Beale),39,384
Needham,Joseph,359,458
Nelli,Ren,425
Nelson,LordHoratio,119
Newton,SirIsaac,122,400
Nickerson,Thomas,1314

Page470
Nimirrud,173
Noah,18,103
Norman,Dorothy,401
Notopoulos,JamesA.,355,456
O
Odyssey104,304,440
Okie,Jack,258,429
Olsen,KarlJoseph(father),205,20812,21316,21735
Olsen,MaryHines(mother),210,213,215,21718,223
Olson,Charles:andCorman,431
andCreeley,43233
andDahlberg,79,379,382,38384,391,397
druguseby,451
andDuncan,429
familylifeof,2057,20812,21316,235
andHawthorne,46,87,101,104,11112,386
influenceson,418
andJudaismandantisemitism,420,448
andMobyDickmovie,4067
aspoet,380
andPound,3,14551,380,4046,450
andRiboud,414
RobertCreeleyon,xixvi
andSauer,412
scholarshipof,37980,385,389
andtheater,428
onWeaver,39596.Works:
"TheAdvantageofLiteracyisThatWordsCanBeonthePage,"381
"AnArtCalledGothonic,"447
"BeingAltogetherLiteral,&Specific,/andSeekingattheSameTimetoBe/SuccessfullyEx/plicit,"44243
CallMeIshmaelxi
"Cantos,"406
TheChiasma41112,440,441,455
"TheCrisisoftheThirdFoot,"413
"Demeter,"401
"GeorgeDecker,"463
TheGrowthofHermanMelville,ProseWriterandPoeticThinker379
"TheGulfofMaine,"xiii
"HumanUniverse,"xiii
"LetterforMelville1951,"xiii
"LettertoElaineFeinstein,"453
"March14th1965,"421,453
"Maximus,toGloucester,fromDogtown,aftertheflood,"439
Maximuspoems,xiii,395,416,421,439,454,45657,463
MayanLetters438
"MouthsBitingEmptyAir,"426
"PlanforaCurriculumoftheSoul,"439
PleistoceneMan381
"PoetryandTruth,"454
"ThePointatWhichAnalogiesAretheFactsofMythandScience,"43031
"LaPrface,"xiv,425
"ProjectiveVerse,"381
Proprioception390
"ReadingatBerkeley,"41516,422
"RufusWoodpecker,"410
TheSpecialViewofHistory399,409
"UndertheMushroom:TheGratwickHighlandsTape,"418,451,454,463
"UnstickingtheSun,or,Something,Perhaps,forWaltWhitman,"444
Y&X380
Olson,Kate(daughter),394
Olson/Melville:AStudyinAffinity(Charters),381
Origin(periodical),xi
OrtegayGasset,Jos,19,13537,382,403x
Ortiz,Juan,318
Osborne,Mrs.Francis,42,385
Osiris,103
P
Packer,Thomas,323
Parkman,Francis,17,306,311,319,381,442
Patchen,Kenneth,261,430
Pausanias,302,303
Payne,Robert,423
Peleg(MobyDick)57
Perry,MatthewCalbraith,104,395
Peterson,Richard,13
Picabia,Francis,146,406
Picasso,Pablo,301,437
PierodellaFrancesca,415
Piggott,Stuart,362,459
Pip(MobyDick)5254,5659
Planck,Max,356,459
Plato,13537,15657,35559,362,409,456
Pocahontas,318
Poe,EdgarAllan,17,18,263,430
Pollard,Capt.George,Jr.,11,14,3133,95,394
Pollock,Jackson,124,400
Polygnotus,137
PopularTalesofAncientEgypt(Maspero),414
Porada,Edith,169,170,412
Porphyry,105,395
ThePossessed(Dostoevsky),12634
Pound,Dorothy,146,149,150,408
Pound,Ezra,115,31920,391
influenceof,14144,301,308,4045,422
Jeffersonand/orMussolini144,390,405
andOlson'spoetictheory,240,245,247,25355,425,426,430
Olson'srelationshipwith,3,14551,380,4056,450
andWilliamCarlosWilliams
worksby,175,248,390,415
Powell,F.York,333

Page471
Powhatan,318,320
Prescott,WilliamH.,319,442
Pythagoras,189
R
Rachelwitz,Maryde,151,408
Raftery,205,422
Ragland,Rags,257,429
Rains,Claude,25657,429
Ramsdale,Charles,1314
Rank,Otto,428
Rauschenberg,Robert,414
Ray,Brazilla,13
RedCloud,308,440
Reed,Samuel,12
Reidy,Martin,226,228
Reidy,Nora,226,228
Rexroth,Kenneth,261,430
Riboud,Jean,174,414
Richardson,L.J.D.,362
Ridberg,366
Riemann,GeorgFriedrichBernhard,120,399,401
Rimbaud,Arthur,115,117,119,120,163,207,298,398
Riordan,Dinny,223,23334
Roosevelt,FranklinD.,379
Rouse,W.H.,265
Rousett,David,409
Rudge,Olga,408
Rumaker,Michael,422
Russell,Peter,340,406,449
S
Salt,Peter("Sydney"),437
Sanchuniathon,461
Sanders,Edward,291
Sapir,Edward,188,194,418,419
Sappho,362
Sassoon,Richard,456,462
Saturn(mythicfigure),73
Sauer,CarlO.:
andhistory,308,373,463
influenceonOlson,188,418,45051
Olson'srecommendationof,300,301,303,306
onstarchcrops,168,412
Sauer,Jonathan,309
Schliemann,Heinrich,353,453
Schopenhauer,Arthur,135,136
Sealts,Merton,114,380
Seami,246,427
Sedgewick,Ellery,429
Sedgwick,William,113,396
Shakespeare,William:
influenceonMobyDickof,5155,6066
Melvilleon,4142,4344,4546
Melville'suseof,18,379
Olson'sscholarshipon,27082,431.
Works:
AntonyandCleopatra4344,45,65
Coriolanus46
Cymbeline279
Hamlet45,6162
HenryVIII27374
KingLear44,45,4750,5659,27677
Macbeth52,390
"Sonnet129,"279,280
TheTempest45,273,27980,281
TimonofAthens4546
TroilusandCressida45
TheTwoNobleKinsmen271,273,278,281
Winter'sTale276,27778
Shaw,Justice,81
Shaw,Lemuel,384
Shaw,SamuelS.,391
Shea,Newman,244,426
Sheehan,Blocky,22223,233
Shepherd,Isaac,12
Shirley,James,323
Shorter,Charles,12
Sinsky,Joel,371,463
Smith,Bradford,31821,322
Smith,Grover,25355,319
Smith,Capt.John,31821,32223
Snell,Bruno,362,45859
Snow,Wilbert(Bill),34950,45051
Socrates,156,168,357,413
Somes,Capt.John,452
Spender,Stephen,151,408
Spicer,Jack,260,430
Stackpole,EdouardA.,383
Stalin,Joseph,150,408
Steffanson,Vilhjalmur,168,412
Stendhal(HenriBeyle),321,443
Stephens,JohnL.,442
Stern,Milton,120,121,124
Stevens,Wallace,426
Stevenson,Adlai,422
Stone,Geoffrey,114,397
Striker,LauraPolyani,318,322,442
Strzygowski,Josef,170,328,44647
Stubb(MobyDick)57
StudiesinClassicAmericanLiterature(Lawrence),116
Sturlason,Snorri,36566,373,460,463
Sutter,JohnAugustus,29596
Swift,Jonathan,144,405
Swinburne,AlgernonCharles,44,38586
Szilard,Leo,169,413
T
T'ailChinHuaTsungChih(LTungpin),263,430

Page472
Taliessin,332,447
T'ao(YanMing)Ch'ien,176,415
Tasso,Torquato,270,431
Tate,Alan,151,408
Tatian,198,421
Temple,John,447
Thallus,198,421
Theocritus,265
Thomas,Dylan,258
Thomas,Lawson,12
Thompson,J.EricS.,409
Thoreau,HenryDavid,124
Thucydides,34244,456
Toynbee,Arnold,163,308,339,341,411,449
"TrickleDrops"(Whitman),349
Tripp,WilliamH.,383
Troeltsch,Ernst,339,341,449
TheTrojanWomen(Euripides),248,427
Trygvasson,Olaf,373
Turner,FrederickJackson,308
TurvillePetre,E.O.,365,460
TwiceaYear(periodical),379
Twombly,Cy,17578,414
V
VanDoren,Carl,42,385
Vann,Theodore,169,413
Veblen,Thorstein,327
Ventris,Michael,334,346,419,448,450
Vestal,Stanley,302,304
Vincent,HowardP.,113,116,383
W
Waddell,LaurenceAustine,170,173,188,413,418,438
Walsh,DavidI.,234
Warner,Jack,146,406
Weaver,Raymond,42,82,10910,115,382,385,391,39596
Webb,WalterPrescott,299,306,308,316,339,341,449
Webber,Capt.,296
Webber,William,452
Webster,Noah,351
Webster,T.L.,367
Weeks,Seth,12
West,Joseph,12
Weyl,Hermann,399
Whitehead,AlfredNorth,3012,400,462
Whitman,Walt,19,20,124,188,349
Whorf,B.L.,188,418
Wilhelm,Richard,263,430
Wilkes,Charles,104,395
Williams,Jonathan,417
Williams,WilliamAppleton,32425
Williams,WilliamCarlos,115,319,442
andOlson'spoetictheory,245,247,25355,264,430
Olson'srecommendationofworkby,300,308
Olson'sreviewofworkby,28890
andPound,115,14849
worksby,318,424,434,440
Winters,Yvor,113,397
Winthrop,John,xvi
Wolpe,Stefan,399
Woodward,W.E.,308
Wordsworth,William,425
WorksandDays(Hesiod),36263
Wright,Nathalia,115,397
Wright,William,12
Y
Yeats,WilliamButler,88,14144,146,205,253,405,422
Z
Zielinski,Thaddeus,356,456,459
Designer:BarbaraJellow
Compositor:G&STypesetters,Inc.
Text:FrutigerLight
Display:Frutiger
PrinterandBinder:EdwardsBrothers,Inc.