Chapter 10

           "Hehadcatchedagreatcold,hadhehadnootherclothestowearthantheskinofabearnotyetkilled."—FULLER.

           YoungLadislawdidnotpaythatvisittowhichMr.Brookehadinvitedhim,andonlysixdaysafterwardsMr.CasaubonmentionedthathisyoungrelativehadstartedfortheContinent,seemingbythiscoldvaguenesstowaiveinquiry.Indeed,WillhaddeclinedtofixonanymoreprecisedestinationthantheentireareaofEurope.Genius,heheld,isnecessarilyintolerantoffetters:ontheonehanditmusthavetheutmostplayforitsspontaneity;ontheother,itmayconfidentlyawaitthosemessagesfromtheuniversewhichsummonittoitspeculiarwork,onlyplacingitselfinanattitudeofreceptivitytowardsallsublimechances.Theattitudesofreceptivityarevarious,andWillhadsincerelytriedmanyofthem.Hewasnotexcessivelyfondofwine,buthehadseveraltimestakentoomuch,simplyasanexperimentinthatformofecstasy;hehadfastedtillhewasfaint,andthensuppedonlobster;hehadmadehimselfillwithdosesofopium.Nothinggreatlyoriginalhadresultedfromthesemeasures;andtheeffectsoftheopiumhadconvincedhimthattherewasanentiredissimilaritybetweenhisconstitutionandDeQuincey’s.Thesuperaddedcircumstancewhichwouldevolvethegeniushadnotyetcome;theuniversehadnotyetbeckoned.EvenCaesar’sfortuneatonetimewas,butagrandpresentiment.Weknowwhatamasqueradealldevelopmentis,andwhateffectiveshapesmaybedisguisedinhelplessembryos.