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XXII. The Great Barn and the Sheep-Shearers

           Thedefenceandsalvationofthebodybydailybreadisstillastudy,areligion,andadesire.

           To-daythelargesidedoorswerethrownopentowardsthesuntoadmitabountifullighttotheimmediatespotoftheshearers’operations,whichwasthewoodthreshing-floorinthecentre,formedofthickoak,blackwithageandpolishedbythebeatingofflailsformanygenerations,tillithadgrownasslipperyandasrichinhueasthestate-roomfloorsofanElizabethanmansion.Heretheshearersknelt,thesunslantinginupontheirbleachedshirts,tannedarms,andthepolishedshearstheyflourished,causingthesetobristlewithathousandraysstrongenoughtoblindaweak-eyedman.Beneaththemacaptivesheeplaypanting,quickeningitspantsasmisgivingmergedinterror,tillitquiveredlikethehotlandscapeoutside.

           Thispictureofto-dayinitsframeoffourhundredyearsagodidnotproducethatmarkedcontrastbetweenancientandmodernwhichisimpliedbythecontrastofdate.Incomparisonwithcities,Weatherburywasimmutable.Thecitizen’sThenistherustic’sNow.InLondon,twentyorthirty-yearsagoareoldtimes;inParistenyears,orfive;inWeatherburythreeorfourscoreyearswereincludedinthemerepresent,andnothinglessthanacenturysetamarkonitsfaceortone.Fivedecadeshardlymodifiedthecutofagaiter,theembroideryofasmock-frock,bythebreadthofahair.Tengenerationsfailedtoaltertheturnofasinglephrase.IntheseWessexnooksthebusyoutsider’sancienttimesareonlyold;hisoldtimesarestillnew;hispresentisfuturity.

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