Мхи старої садиби
Drowne's Wooden Image
Copley,thecelebratedpainter,thenayoungmanandaresidentofBoston,cameonedaytovisitDrowne;forhehadrecognizedsomuchofmoderateabilityinthecarverastoinducehim,inthedearthofprofessionalsympathy,tocultivatehisacquaintance.Onenteringtheshop,theartistglancedattheinflexibleimageofking,commander,dame,andallegory,thatstoodaround,onthebestofwhichmighthavebeenbestowedthequestionablepraisethatitlookedasifalivingmanhadherebeenchangedtowood,andthatnotonlythephysical,buttheintellectualandspiritualpart,partookofthestolidtransformation.Butinnotasingleinstancediditseemasifthewoodwereimbibingtheetherealessenceofhumanity.Whatawidedistinctionishere!andhowfartheslightestportionofthelattermerithaveoutvaluedtheutmostdegreeoftheformer!
"MyfriendDrowne;"saidCopley,smilingtohimself,butalludingtothemechanicalandwoodenclevernessthatsoinvariablydistinguishedtheimages,"youarereallyaremarkableperson!Ihaveseldommetwithamaninyourlineofbusinessthatcoulddosomuch;foroneothertouchmightmakethisfigureofGeneralWolfe,forinstance,abreathingandintelligenthumancreature."
"Youwouldhavemethinkthatyouarepraisingmehighly,Mr.Copley,"answeredDrowne,turninghisbackuponWolfe’simageinapparentdisgust."Buttherehascomealightintomymind.Iknowwhatyouknowaswell,thattheonetouchwhichyouspeakofasdeficientistheonlyonethatwouldbetrulyvaluable,andthatwithoutittheseworksofminearenobetterthanworthlessabortions.
