第6章

Scott"sboyhoodwasspentinscenesthatremindedhimofthepowertheScripturehad。

Hewasdrilledfromhischildhoodintheknowledgeofitswordsandphrases，andwhilehiswritingasawholeshowsmoreoftheOldTestamentinfluencethanoftheNew，eveninhisstyleheisstronglyunderBibleinfluence。

[1]Morley，LifeofGladstone，vol。iii，p。424。

TheprefacetoGuyManneringtellsusitisbuiltaroundanoldstoryofafatherputtingaladtotestunderguidanceofanancientastrologer，shuttinghimupinabarrenroomtobetemptedbytheEvilOne，leavinghimonlyonesafeguard，aBible，lyingonthetableinthemiddleoftheroom。InhisintroductiontoTheHeartofMidlothian，Scottmakesoneofthetwomenthrownintothewaterbytheoverturnedcoachremindtheotherthatthey"cannotcomplain，likeCowley，thatGideon"sfleeceremainsdrywhileallaroundismoist；thisisthereverseofthemiracle。"AlittlelateraspeakerdescribesnovelsastheDelilahsthatseducewiseandgoodmenfrommoreseriousreading。InthedramaticscenewhenJeanieDeansfacesthewretchedGeorgeStaunton，whohassoshamedthehousehold，sheexclaims:

"Osir，didtheScripturenevercomeintoyourmind，"Vengeanceismine，andIwillrepayit?"""Scripture!"hesneers，"whyIhadnotopenedaBibleforfiveyears。""Wae"sme，sir，"saidJeanie——"andaminister"sson，too!"

AnthonyFoster，inKenilworth，looksdownonpoorAmy"sbodyinthevaultintowhichshehasfallen，inresponsetowhatshethoughtwasLeicester"swhistle，andexclaimstoVarney:

"Oh，iftherebejudgmentinheaven，thouhastdeservedit，andwillmeetit!Thouhastdestroyedherbymeansofherbestaffections——itistheseethingofthekidinthemother"smilk!"

Andwhen，nextmorning，Varneywasfounddeadofthesecretpoisonandwithasneeringsarcasmonhisghastlyface，Scottdismisseshimwiththephrase:"Thewickedman，saiththeScripture，hathnobondsinhisdeath。"

HischaractersusefreelythefamiliarBibleeventsandphrases。IntheFortunesofNigel，astoryoftheveryperiodwhenourKingJamesversionwasproduced，HildebroddeclaresthatifhehadhiswayCaptainPeppercullshouldhangashighasHamaneverdid。InKenilworth，whenLeicestergivesVarneyhissignet-

ring，hesays，significantly:"Whatthoudost，doquickly。"Ofcourse，Isaac，theJewinIvanhoe，exclaimsfrequentlyinOldTestamentterms。

Hewishesthewheelsofthechariotsofhisenemiesmaybetakenoff，likethoseofthehostofPharoah，thattheymaydriveheavily。HeexpectsthePalmer"slancetobeaspowerfulastherodofMoses，andsoon。

ScottwaswritingoftheperiodwhenmenstayedthemselveswithScripture，andhismenareallsureofGodandSatanandangelsandjudgmentandalleternalthings。Hisson-in-

lawvouchesfortheoldstorythatwhenSirWalterwasonhisdeath-bedheaskedLockharttoreadhimsomethingfromtheBook，andwhenLockhartasked，"Whatbook?"Scottreplied:

"Whydoyouask?Thereisbutonebook，theBible。"

AllthisisscantjusticetotheGeorgiangroup；

butitmaygiveahintofwhattheBiblemeantevenatthatperiod，theperiodwhenitsgriponmenwasmostlaxinallthelaterEnglishhistory。

ItisintheVictorianage(1840-1900)thatthefieldismostbewildering。Itistrue，asFrederickHarrisonsays，that"thisVictorianagehasnoShakespeareorMilton，noBaconorHume，noFieldingorScott——nosuprememasterinpoetry，philosophy，orromancewhoseworkisincorporatedwiththethoughtoftheworld，whoisdestinedtoformanepoch，toendureforcenturies。"[1]Thegeniusoftheperiodismorescientificthanliterary，yetwewouldbehelplessifwehadnotalreadyeliminatedfromourdiscussioneverythingbuttheworksandwritersofpureliterature。Theoutputofbookshasbeensotremendousthatitwouldbeimpossibletoanalyzetheinfluenceswhichhavemadethem。

ThereareinthisVictorianperiodatleasttwelvegreatEnglishwriterswhomustbeknown，whoseworkaffectsthecurrentofEnglishliterature。

Manyothernameswouldneedmentioninanyfullhistoryoranyminutestudy；butitisnotharshjudgmenttosaythatthemaincurrentofliteraturewouldbethesamewithoutthem。

Afewoftheselessernameswillcometomind，andinthecallingofthemonerealizestheinfluence，evenonthem，oftheEnglishBible。

AnthonyTrollopewrotesixtyvolumes，thetitlesofmostofwhicharenowpopularlyunknown。

HetoldGeorgeEliotthatitwasnotbrainsthatexplainedhiswritingsomuch，butratherwaxwhichheputintheseatofhischair，whichheldhimdowntohisdailystintofwork。Hecouldboast，anditwasworththeboasting，thathehadneverwrittenalinewhichapurewomancouldnotreadwithoutablush。HiswholeFramleyParsonageseriesaboundsinBiblereferencesandallusions。SoCharlotteBronteisinEnglishliterature，andJaneEyredoesprovewhatshewasmeanttoprove，thatacommonplacepersoncanbemadetheheroineofanovel；

butonallCharlotteBronte"sworkisthemarkoftherectoryinwhichshegrewup。SoThomasGreyhaslefthis"Elegy"andhis"HymntoAdversity，"andsomeotherwritingwhichmostofushaveforgottenorneverknew。ThenthereareMariaEdgeworthandJaneAusten。WemayevenrememberthatMacaulaythoughtJaneAustencouldbecomparedwithShakespeare，as，ofcourse，shecanbe，sinceanyonecanbe；butneitherofthesegoodwomenhasstronglyaffectedtheliterarycurrent。Manyotherscouldbenamed，butEnglishliteraturewouldbesubstantiallythesamewithoutthem；

and，thoughallmightshowBiblicalinfluence，theywouldnotillustratewhatwearetryingtodiscover。Sowecome，withoutapologytotheunnamed，tothetwelve，withoutwhomEnglishliteraturewouldbedifferent。Thisisthelistintheorderofthealphabet:MatthewArnold，RobertBrowning(Mrs。Browningbeinggroupedasonewithhim)，Carlyle，Dickens，GeorgeEliot，CharlesKingsley，Macaulay，Ruskin，RobertLouisStevenson，Swinburne，Tennyson，andThackeray。

[1]EarlyVictorianLiterature，p。9

Itisdangeroustomakesuchalist；butitcanbedefended。Literaryhistorywouldnotbethesamewithoutanyoneofthem，unlesspossiblySwinburne，whoseclaimtoplaceisratherbyhisworkascriticthanascreator。

Norisanynameomittedwhoseintroductionwouldchangeliteraryhistory。

BenjaminJowettthoughtArnoldtooflippantonreligiousthingstobearealprophet。Atanyrate，thismuchistrue，thatthebooksinwhichArnolddealtwiththefundamentalsofreligionarehisprofoundestwork。Inhispoetrythebestpieceofthewholeishis"RugbyChapel。"

HisReligionandDogmahehimselfcallsan"essaytowardabetterapprehensionoftheBible。"

AllthroughheurgesitastheoneBookwhichneedsrecovery。"AllthatthechurchescansayabouttheimportanceoftheBibleanditsreligionweconcurin。"ThebookthroughoutisanefforttojustifyhisownfaithintermsoftheBible。Theeffortissometimesamusing，becauseittakessuchalogicalandverbalagilitytogofromonetotheother；butheisalwaysatit。HeisafraidinhissoulthatEnglandwillswingawayfromtheBible。HefearsitmaycomeaboutthroughneglectoftheBibleononehand，orthroughwrongteachingaboutitontheother。Notinhisideasalone，butmarkedlyinhisstyle，ArnoldhasfelttheBiblicalinfluence。

HecameatatimewhentherewasstrongtemptationtofallintocumbrousGermanwaysofspeech。AgainstthatArnoldsetasimplephraseology，andheheldouttheEnglishBibleconstantlyasamodelbywhichthemenofEnglandoughttolearntowrite。HenevergainedthesimplicityoftheoldHebrewsentence，andsometimeshissecondaryclausesfollowoneanothersorapidlythatareaderisconfused；

buthiswordsasawholearesimpleanddirect。

ThereisnoneedofmuchwordonthespelloftheBibleoverRobertBrowningandMrs。

Browning。Itisnotoftenthattwosinging-

birdsmate；butthesetwosanginakeypitchedforthembytheScriptureasmuchasbyanyoneinfluence。ManyoftheirgreatestpoemshavedefiniteBiblicalthemes。InthemandinothersBiblicalallusionsareutterlybewilderingtomenwhodonotknowtheBiblewell。Forfiveyears(1841-1846)Browning"spoemsappearedunderthetitleBellsandPomegranates。Scoresofpeoplewonderedthen，andwonderstill，what"PippaPasses"and"ABlotintheScutcheon"

andtheothershavetodowithsuchatitle。

Theyhaveneverthought，asBrowningdid，oftheborderofthebeautifulrobeofthehighpriestdescribedintheBookofExodus。ThefinestpoemofitslengthintheEnglishlanguageisBrowning"s"Saul"；butitisonlythestoryofDaviddrivingtheevilspiritfromSaul，sweepingontotheverycomingofChrist。"TheDeathintheDesert"isthedeathofJohn，thebeloveddisciple。"Karshish，theArabPhysician"tellsinhisownwayoftheraisingofLazarus。Thetextof"CalibanuponSetebos"is，"ThouthoughtestthatIwasaltogethersuchanoneasthyself。"

Thetextof"Cleon"is，"Ascertainofyourownpoetshavesaid。"In"FifineattheFair"theCureexpoundstheexperienceofJacobandhisstone-pillowwithbetterinsightthansomebetter-

knownexpositorsshow。In"PippaPasses，"

whenBluphocks，theEnglishvagabond，isintroduced，Browningseemstojustifyhisappearancebythesinglefoot-note:"HemakethHissuntoriseontheevilandonthegood，andsendethrainonthejustandontheunjust"；andMr。

BluphocksshowshimselfamusinglyfamiliarwithBiblefactsandphrases。Mr。Sludge，"theMedium，"thinkstheBiblesaysthestarsare"setforsignswhenweshouldshearsheep，sowcorn，prunetrees，"anddescribestheskepticinthemagiccircleofspiritual"investigators"asthe"guestwithoutthewedding-garb，thedoubtingThomas。"SomeonehastakenthetroubletocountfivehundredBiblicalphrasesorallusionsin"TheRingandtheBook。"Mrs。Browning"s""DramaofExile"isthewoman"ssideofthefallofAdamandEve。Ruskinthoughther"AuroraLeigh"thegreatestpoemthecenturyhadproducedatthattime。ItaboundsinScripturalallusions。Browningcamebyallthisnaturally。RaisedintheChurchbyafatherwho"delightedtosurroundhimwithbooks，notablyoldandrareBibles，"andamotherCarlylecalled"atruetypeofaScottishgentlewoman，"

withalltheskillintheBiblethatthatimplies，heneverlosthissenseofthemajestyofthemovementofScriptureideasandphrases。

WeneedspendlittletimeindiscussingtheinfluenceoftheEnglishBibleonThomasCarlyle。

HedoesnotoftenusetheScriptureforhismaintheme；butheisconstantlymakingBiblicalallusions。OnarailwayjourneywhenIwasrereadingCarlyle"sHistoricalSketches，I

foundadirectBiblicalreferenceforeveryfivepages，andalmostnumberlessallusionsbeside。

The"EverlastingYea，"ofwhichhesaysmuch，hegets，asyouatoncerecognize，fromtheScripture。His"HeroesandHeroWorship"

isbasedonanideaofheroismwhichhelearnedfromtheBible。HeisanOldTestamentprophetofpresenttimes；and，whilehedegeneratedintoascoldbeforehewasthroughwithit，heyetspokewiththethunderousvoiceofatrueprophet，andmuchofthetimeinthelanguageoftheprophets。SomeonesaidoncethattheonlyrealreverenceCarlyleeverhadwasforthepersonofChrist。Certainlythereisnonoteofsneer，butoftheprofoundestregardfortheteaching，theideasandthehistoryoftheScripture。

ThenameofCharlesDickenssuggestsadifferentatmosphere。HeisaNewTestamentprophet。WhereCarlylehascaughtthespiritofruggedpowerintheOldTestament，DickenshascaughtthesenseofkindlyloveintheNewTestament。Dickens"sloveforthechild，thefactthathecoulddrawchildrenashecoulddrawnooneelseandmakethemlovable，suggeststhevaluetohimofthosefrequentreferenceswhichhemakestoChristsettingachildinthemidstofthedisciples。Itisnotable，too，howoftenDickensusesthegreatScripturephrasesforhismostdramaticclimaxes。TherearenotinliteraturemanyfinerusesofScripturethanthesceneinBleakHouse，wherethepoorwaifJoeisdying，andwhilehisfriendteacheshimtheLord"sPrayerheseesthelightcoming。AChristmasseasonwithoutDickens"sChristmasCarolwouldbeincomplete；butthereagainistheScriptureideapressedforward。

GeorgeEliotsurely，ifanywriter，wasunderthespelloftheScripture。Oneofhercriticscallsherthehistorianofconscience。Allofherheroesandheroinesknowthelashofthelaw。

SheknowsverylittleabouttheNewTestament，onewouldjudge；buttheonethingaboutwhichshehasnodoubtiscertainlythereignofmorallaw。Ifamanwillnotyieldtoitspower，itwillbreakhim。Thereisnosuchthingasbreakingthemorallaw；thereisnothingbutbeingbrokenbyit。HercharactersarealwaysquotingtheBible。Theypreachagreatdeal。ShetellsthatsheherselfwroteDinahMorris"ssermononthegreenwithtearsinhereyes。Shemeantitall。Whileherownreligiousfaithwasclouded，herfinestcharactersarenevercloudedintheirreligiousfaith，andshegroundstheirfaithquiteinvariablyontheirearlytrainingintheScripture。

ItisaninterestingfactthatGeorgeEliothasnoprincipalstorywhichhasnotinitachurch，andapriestorapreacher，withallthattheyinvolve。

CharlesKingsleyisgroupedhardlyfairlyinthislist，becausehewashimselfapreacher，andnaturallyallhisworkwouldfeelthepoweroftheBook，whichhechieflystudied。ProfessorMassonsaysthat"thereisnotoneofhisnovelswhichhasnotthepowerofChristianityforitstheme。"NovoicewasraisedmoreeffectivelyforthebeginningofthenewsocialerainEnglandthanhis。AltonLockeandYeastareepoch-

makingbooksinthelifeofthecommonpeopleofEngland。EvenHypatia，whichissupposedtohavebeenwrittentorepresententirelypagansurroundings，isfullofBiblephrasesandideas。

LordMacaulayhadbeenheldupformanyadayasoneofthemastersofstyle。Suchgreatwritingisnottobetracedtoanyoneinfluence。

ItcouldnothavebeeneasytowriteasMacaulaywrote。ThackeraymayhaveexaggeratedinsayingthatMacaulayreadtwentybookstowriteasentence，andtraveledahundredmilestomakeadescription；butallhiswritingshowsthepoweroftakinginfinitepains。Itbecomesthemoreimportant，therefore，thatMacaulayheldtheBibleinsuchestimateashedid。"IncallinguponLadyHollandoneday，LordMacaulaywasledtobringtheattentionofhisfairhostesstothefactthattheuseoftheword"talent"tomeangiftsorpowersofthemind，aswhenwespeakofmenoftalent，camefromtheuseofthewordinChrist"sparableofthetalents。InalettertohissisterHannahhedescribestheincident，andsaysthatLadyHollandwasevidentlyignorantoftheparable。"I

didnottellher，"headds，"thoughImighthavedoneso，thatapersonwhoprofessestobeacriticinthedelicaciesoftheEnglishlanguageoughttohavetheBibleathisfingers"ends。""

ThatMacaulaypractisedhisownpreachingyouwouldquicklyfindbyreferringtohisessays。

TakethreesentencesfromtheEssayonMilton:

"Theprinciplesoflibertywerethescoffofeverygrowingcourtier，andtheAnathemaMaranathaofeveryfawningdean。IneveryhighplaceworshipwaspaidtoCharlesandJames，BelialandMoloch，andEnglandpropitiatedtheseobsceneandcruelidolswiththebloodofherbestandbrightestchildren。Crimesucceededtocrime，anddisgracetodisgrace，untiltherace，accursedofGodandman，wasasecondtimedrivenforthtowanderonthefaceoftheearthandtobeaby-wordandashakingoftheheadtothenations。"InthreesentencesherearesixallusionstoScripture。Inthatsameessay，intheparagraphsonthePuritans，theallusionsareamultitude。Theyarenotevenquoted。

Theyaretakenforgranted。InhisEssayonMachiavelli，thoughthesubjectdoesnotsuggestit，hefallsintoScripturalphrasesoverandover。Listentothis，"AtimewasathandwhenallthesevenvialsoftheApocalypseweretobepouredforthandshakenoutoverthosepleasantcountries"；orthis，"AllthecursespronouncedofoldagainstTyreseemedtohavefallenonVenice。Hermerchantsalreadystoodafarofflamentingfortheirgreatcity"；orthis，"Intheenergeticlanguageoftheprophet，Machiavelliwasmadforthesightofhiseyeswhichhesaw。"

AndifMacaulayisbafflingintheabundanceofmaterial，surelyJohnRuskinisworse。Carlyle"sEnglishstyleranintoexcessofroughness；

Macaulay"sranintoexcessofbalanceanddelicacy。

JohnRuskin"scontinuedtobethesmoothest，easieststyleinourEnglishliterature。HealsowasaHebraicspirit，butofthegentlertype。

Mr。ChapmancallshimtheElishatoCarlyle"s，Elijah，acapitalcomparison。[1]Ruskinisoneofthefewwriterswhohavetolduswhatformedtheirstyle。InthefirstchapterofPraeteritahepaystributetohismother。HehimselfchosetoreadWalterScottandPope"sHomer；buthesays:"MymotherforcedmebysteadydailytoiltolearnlongchaptersoftheBiblebyheart，aswellastoreadit，everysyllablealoud，hardnamesandall，fromGenesistotheApocalypseaboutonceayear；andtothatdiscipline——

patient，accurate，andresolute——IowenotonlyaknowledgeoftheBookwhichIfindoccasionallyserviceable，butmuchofmygeneralpoweroftakingpainsandthebestpartofmytasteinliterature。"HethinksreadingScottmighthaveledtoothernovelsofapoorersort。

ReadingPopemighthaveledtoJohnson"sorGibbon"sEnglish；but"itwasimpossibletowriteentirelysuperficialandformalEnglish"

whileheknew"byheartthethirty-

secondofDeuteronomy，thefifteenthofI

Corinthians，theOnehundredandnineteenthPsalm，ortheSermonontheMount。"InthesecondchapterofPraeteritaheisevenmoreexplicit。"IhavenextwithdeepergratitudetochroniclewhatIowedtomymotherfortheresolutepersistentlessonswhichsoexercisedmeintheScripture，astomakeeverywordofthemfamiliarinmyearashabitualmusic，yetinthatfamiliarityreverencedastranscendingallthoughtandorderingallconduct。"Hetellshowhismotherdrilledhim。AssoonashecouldreadshebeganacourseofBibleworkwithhim。

TheyreadalternateversesfromtheGenesistotheRevelation，namesandall。DailyhehadtocommitversesoftheScripture。HehatedtheOnehundredandnineteenthPsalmmost；buthelivedtocherishitmost。InhisoldBiblehefoundthelistoftwenty-sixchapterstaughtbyhismother。

[1]EnglishLiteratureinAccountwithReligion。

NotonlywasRuskinwelltrainedintheBible，buthewasagreatteacherofit。InhisprefacetotheCrownofWildOlivesheanswershiscriticsbysayinghehasusedtheBookforsomefortyyears。"Myendeavorhasbeenuniformlytomakemenreaditmoredeeplythantheydo；

trustit，notintheirownfavoriteversesonly，butinthesumofitall；treatitnotasafetishoratalismanwhichtheyaretobesavedbydailyrepetitionof，butasaCaptain"sorder，tobeheldandobeyedattheirperil。"IntheintroductiontotheSevenLampsofArchitectureheurgesthatweareinnodangeroftoomuchuseoftheBible。

"Weuseitmostreverentlywhenmosthabitually。"

ManyofRuskin"smoststrikingtitlescomestraightoutoftheScripture。CrownofWildOlives，SevenLamps，UntothisLast——allthesearesuggestedbytheBible。

ItisalmostsuperfluoustospeakofRobertLouisStevenson。JohnKelmanhaswrittenawholebookonthereligionofStevenson，anditisavailableforallreaders。HewasraisedbyCummy，hisnurse，whoselibrarywaschieflytheBible，theshortercatechism，andtheLifeofRobertMurrayMcCheyne。Hesaidthatthefifty-eighthchapterofIsaiahwashisspecialchapter，becauseitsorepudiatedcantanddemandedaself-denyingbeneficence。HelovedBunyan"sPilgrim"sProgress；but"theBiblemoststoodhiminhand。"Everygreatstoryoressayshowsitsinfluence。Hewasnotcriticalwithit；hedidnotunderstandit；hedidnotinterpretitfairly；buthefeltit。HisDr。JekyllandMr。HydeisonlyhiswayofputtingintomodernspeechPaul"solddistinctionbetweenthetwomenwhoabideineachofus。TheytoldhimheoughtnottoworkinSamoa，andherepliedthathecouldnototherwisebetruetothegreatBookbywhichheandallmenwhomeanttodogreatworkmustlive。OvertheshoulderofourbelovedRobertLouisStevensonyoucanseethegreatcharactersofScripturepressinghimforwardtohisbestwork。

NotsomuchcanbesaidofSwinburne。Therewasastronginfusionofacidinhisnature，whichnoinfluenceentirelydestroyed。Heisapttoliveasaliterarycriticandessayist，thoughhesupposedhimselfchieflyapoet。HisownthoughtofpoetrycanbeseeninhisprotestinbehalfofMeredith。Whenhehadbeenaccusedofwritingonasubjectonwhichhehadnoconvictiontoexpress("ModernLove")，Swinburnedeniedthatpoetsoughttopreachanyway。

"Therearepulpitsenoughforallpreachersofprose，andthebusinessofversewritingishardlytoexpressconvictions。"YetitisimpossibletoforgetMiltonandhispurposeto"assertEternalProvidence，andjustifythewaysofGodtomen。"Naturally，mostpoetsdopreachandpreachwell。Wordsworthdeclaredbewantedtobeconsideredateacherornothing。

Mrs。Browningthoughtthatpoetsweretheonlytruth-tellerslefttoGod。ButSwinburnecouldnothelpalittlepreachingatanyrate。His"MasqueonQueenBersaba"isanoldmiracleplayofDavidandNathan。His"ChristmasAntiphones"arehardlyChristian，thoughtheyareabundantintheirallusionstoScripture。

ThefirstisaprayerforpeaceandrestinthecomingofthenewdayofthebirthofChrist。

ThesecondisaprotestthatneitherGodnormanhasbefriendedmanasheshould，andthethirdisanassurancethatmenwilldoformanevenifGodwillnot。Now，thatisnotChristian，buttheBiblephrasesareallthroughit。

SowhenhewriteshispoembemoaningPoland，heneedsmustheadit"Rizpah。"AtthesametimeitmustbesaidthatSwinburneshowslessoftheinfluenceoftheBibleinhisstyleandinhisspiritthananyotherofourgreatEnglishwriters。

WecomebackagainintotheatmosphereofstrongBibleinfluencewhenwenameAlfredTennyson。WhenByrondied，andthewordcametohisfather"srectoryatSomersby，youngAlfredTennysonfeltthatthesunhadfallenfromtheheavens。Hewentoutaloneinthefieldsandcarvedinthesandstone，asthoughitwereamonument:"Byronisdead。"Thatwasintheearlystageofhispoeticallife。AtfirstCarlylecouldnotabideTennyson。Hecountedhimonlyanechoofthepast，withnosenseforthefuture；butwhenhereadTennyson"s"TheRevenge，"heexclaimed，"Eh，he"sgotthegripo"it"；andwhenRichardMoncktonMilnesexcusedhimselffornotgettingTennysonapensionbysayinghisconstituentshadnouseforpoetryanyway，Carlylesaid，"RichardMilnes，inthedayofjudgmentwhenyouareaskedwhyyoudidnotgetthatpension，youmaylaytheblameonyourconstituents，butitwillbeyouwhowillbedamned!"Dr。HenryvanDykestudiedTennysontobesteffectatjustthispoint。Inhischapteron"TheBibleinTennyson"aremanysuchsayingsasthese:"ItissafetosaythatthereisnootherbookwhichhashadsogreataninfluenceupontheliteratureoftheworldastheBible。Weheartheechoesofitsspeecheverywhere，andthemusicofitsfamiliarphraseshauntsallthefieldandgroveofourfineliterature。AtleastonecauseofhispopularityisthatthereissomuchBibleinTennyson。WecannothelpseeingthatthepoetowesalargedebttotheChristianScriptures，notonlyfortheirformativeinfluenceonhismindandforthepurelyliterarymaterialinthewayofillustrationsandallusionswhichtheyhavegivenhim，butalsoforthecreationofamoralatmosphere，amediumofthoughtandfeelinginwhichhecanspeakfreelyandwithanassuranceofsympathytoaverywidecircleofreaders。"

IneednotstoptoindicatethegreatpoemsinwhichTennysonhassooftenusedScripture。

Themindrunsquicklytothelittlemaidin"Guinevere，"whosesong，"Late，Late，soLate，"

isonlyaparaphraseoftheparableofthefoolishvirgins。"InMemoriam"cameintotheskepticaleraofEngland，withitsnewchallengetofaith，andstoppedthedriftofyoungmentowardmaterialism。Recallthefineusehemakes，intheheartofit，oftheresurrectionofLazarus，andotherBiblicalscenes。Dr。vanDyke"s"fourhundreddirectreferencestotheBible"donotexhaustthepoems。NoonecangetTennyson"sstylewithouttheEnglishBible，andnoonecanreadTennysonintelligentlywithoutafairlyaccurateknowledgeoftheBible。

InthisVictoriangroupthelastnameisThackeray"s。HeisanotherwhosemothertrainedhimintheEnglishBible。ThetitleofVanityFairisfromPilgrim"sProgress，butthemottoisfromtheScripture；andhewrotehismotherregardingthebook:"WhatIwantistomakeasetofpeoplelivingwithoutGodintheworld(onlythatisacantphrase。)"Itiscertainhismotherdidnotcountitacantphrase，forhelearneditfromtheScripture。ThesubtitleofhisAdventuresofPhilipsaysheistoshowwhorobbedhim，whohelpedhim，andwhopassedhimby。ThackeraygotthoseexpressionsfromtheBible。SomewhereveryearlyinanyofhisworksherevealstheinfluenceofhischildhoodandmanhoodknowledgeoftheEnglishBible。

AllthisabouttheVictoriangroupismeanttobeveryfamiliartoanywhoarefreshfromthereadingofliterature。Theyaregreatnames，andtheyhavedifferencesaswideasthepoles；buttheyhavethisincommon，thattheyhavedrunklightlyordeeplyfromthesamefountain；theyhavedrawnfromitideas，allusions，literarystyle。Eachofthemhasweakenedashehasgottenfartherfromit，andloyaltytoithasstrengthenedanyoneofthem。

TurnnowtotheAmericangroupofwriters。

IfweexcepttheologicalwriterswithJonathanEdwards，HoraceBushnell，HenryWardBeecher，andtheirlike，andpoliticalwriterswithJefferson，Webster，andtheirlike，thelistneednotbealongone。Onlyonewriterinournarrowersenseofliteraturemustbenamedintheearlierday——BenjaminFranklin。IntheperiodbeforetheCivilWarmustbenamedEdgarAllanPoe(died1849)andWashingtonIrving(died1859)。

TheCivilWargroupisthelargeone，anditsnamesarethoseofthelatergroupaswell。Letthembealphabetical，forconvenience:WilliamCullenBryant，poetandcritic；GeorgeWilliamCurtis，essayistandeditor；Emerson，ournoblestnameinthesphereofpureessayliterature；

Hawthorne，thenovelistofconscience，asSocrateswasitsphilosopher；OliverWendellHolmes，whose"twochiefhatredswereorthodoxyinreligionandheterodoxyinmedicine"；

JamesRussellLowell，essayistandpoet，apttolivebyhisessaysratherthanbyhispoetry；

Longfellow，whose"PsalmofLife"and"Hiawatha"

havelivedthroughasmuchparodyandridiculeasanytwobitsofliteratureextant，andhavelivedbecausetheyarepredestinedtolive；Thoreau，whoseWaldenmayshow，asLowellsaid，howmuchcanbedoneonlittlecapital，butwhichhastherealliterarytangtoit；

andWhittier，whosepoetryissungtheworldaround。

ThatmakesonlytwelvenamesfromFranklintoWhittier。Otherscouldbeincluded；buttheyarenotsogreatasthese。Nooneofthesecouldbetakenoutofourliteraturewithoutaffectingitand，insomedegreeatleast，changingthecurrentofit。ThisisnottoforgetBretHartenorSamuelL。Clemens。Buteachisdependentforhissurvivalonatasteforacertainkindofhumor，notdelicatelikeIrving"sandHolmes"s，butstrongandsuddenandabitsharp。Ifweshouldforgetthe"LuckofRoaringCamp，""TruthfulJames，"andthe"HeathenChinee，"wewouldalsoforgetBretHarte。WearenotapttoforgetTomSawyer，norperhapsTheInnocentsAbroad，butweareforgettingmuchelseofMarkTwain。Whitmanisnotnamed。

Hisclaimsarefamiliar，butinspiteofhisadmirersheseemssochargedwithasensuousegotismthatheisnotapttobeaformativeinfluenceinliteraryhistory。Itisstillinteresting，however，torememberhowfrequentlyherevealshisreadingofScripture。

Fortunately，allthesewritersaresonear，andtheirworkissofamiliar，thatdetailsregardingthemarenotneeded。Twoorthreegeneralwordscanbesaid。Inthefirstplace，observethehighmoraltoneofallthesefirst-gradewriters，and，indeed，oftheotherswhomaybespokenofasinsecondrank。Thereisnotameretriciousorhumiliatingbookinthewholecollection。ThereisnotonebookwhichhaslivedinAmericanliteraturewhichhasthetoneofFielding"sTomJones。WhetheritisthatthePuritanstraincontinuesinusornot，itistruethattheAmericanliterarypublichasnottakenhappilytostoriesthatwouldbringablushinpublicreading。ProfessorRichardson，ofDartmouth，givessomecluetothereasonofthat。

Hesaysthat"since1870or1880inAmericatherehasbeenamarkedincreaseofstrengthoftheisticandspiritualbeliefandargumentamongscientificmen，studentsofphilosophy，religious"radicals，"andothers。"HeaddsthatwhilemuchcontemporaryAmericanliteratureandthoughtisoutsidetheacceptedorthodoxlines，yet"itisnothostiletoChristianity；totheprinciplesofitsFounderitisforthemostpartsincerelyattached。Ontheotherhand，materialismhasscarcelyanyholduponit。"

Thenfollowsaverynotablesentencewhichissustainedbythefacts:"NotanAmericanbookofthefirstclasshaseverbeenwrittenbyanatheistordenierofimmortality。"ThatsentenceneednotoffendanadmirerofWaltWhitman，forhe"acceptsboththeismandthedoctrineofthefuturelife。"AmericanthoughthasremainedloyaltothegreatTrinity，God，Freedom，andImmortality。Soitcomesaboutthatwhilethereareanumberofthesewriterswhocouldbeputunderthebanofthestronglyorthodoxinreligion，everyoneofthemshowstheeffectofearlytraininginreligionandintheScripture。[1]

[1]ThisisfullyworkedoutinProfessorRichardson"sAmericanLiterature，withampleillustrationandargument。

AnotherthingtobesaidisthatAmericahasauniquehistoryamonggreatnationsinthatithasneverbeenaffectedbyanygreatreligiousinfluenceexceptthatwhichhasissuedfromtheScriptures。NoreligionhaseverbeeninfluentialinAmericaexceptChristianity。FormanyyearstherehavebeensporadicandspasmodiceffortstoextendtheinfluenceofBuddhismorotherIndiancults。Theyhaveneverbeensuccessful，becausetheAmericanspiritispractical，andnotmeditative。Wearenotanintrospectivepeople。Wedonotlookwithinourselvesforourreligion。WhatevermoralandreligiousinfluenceourliteratureshowsgetsbackfirstorlasttoourScriptures。ThepointofviewofnaturethatistakenbyourwriterslikeBryantandThoreauisthatoftheNineteenthPsalm。

Moreover，wehavebeenstronglyundertheEnglishinfluence。Irvinginsistedthatweoughttobe，thatwewereayoungnation，thatweoughtfranklytofollowtheleadershipofmoreexperiencedwriters。Longfellowthoughtwehadgonetoofarthatway，andthatourpoets，atleast，oughttobemoreindependent，oughttowriteinthespiritofAmericaandnotoftraditionalpoetry。Whetherweoughttohaveyieldedtoitornot，itistruethatEnglishinfluencehastoldverystronglyuponus，andthewriterswhohaveinfluencedourwritersmosthavebeenthosewhomwehavenamedasbeingthemselvesundertheBibleinfluence。

Weneednotgointodetailaboutthesewriters，thoughtheyaremostattractive。BryantdidforuswhatWordsworthdidforEngland。Hemadenatureseemvocal。"Thanatopsis"isnotaChristianpoeminthenarrowsenseoftheword，andyetitcouldhardlyhavebeenwrittenexceptunderChristianinfluence。Hisowngenial，beautifulcharacterwasitselfatributetoChristiancivilization，andhislife，ascriticandessayist，hasleftanimpressionwhichweshallnotsoonlose。ProfessorRichardsonthinksthatthethreeproblematicalcharactersinAmericanliteratureareEmerson，Hawthorne，andPoe。TheshrewdestestimateofPoethathaseverbeengivenusisinLowell"sFableforCritics:

"TherecomesPoewithhisravenlikeBarnabyRudge，Three-fifthsofhimgenius，andtwo-fifthssheerfudge，Whohaswrittensomethingsquitethebestoftheirkind，Buttheheartsomehowseemsallsqueezedoutbythemind。"

Thatsaysitexactly。Poeknewmanyhorriblesituations，buthedidnotknowthewayout；

andofallourAmericanwriterslayingclaimtoplaceinthefirstclassPoeshowsleastinfluenceoftheBible，andapparentlyneedsitmost。

IrvingwasthefirstAmericanwriterwhostoodhighenoughtobeseenacrossthewater。

Thackeray"smostbeautifulessayisonIrvingandMacaulay，whodiedjustonemonthapart。InithedescribesIrvingasthebestintermediarybetweenthenations，tellingusAmericansthattheEnglisharestillhuman，andassuringtheEnglishthatAmericansarealreadyhuman。

IrvingwastrainedearlyandthoroughlyintheBible。Allhislifehewasanold-fashionedEpiscopalianwithnoconcernfornewreligiousideasandwithnoroughedgesanywhere。

CharlesDudleyWarner，speakingofIrving"smoralquality，says:"Icannotbringmyselftoexcludeitfromaliteraryestimate，eveninthefaceofthecurrentgospelofartforart"ssake。"[1]

LikeScott，he"recognizedtheabidingvalueinliteratureofintegrity，sincerity，purity，charity，faith。Thesearebeneficences，andIrving"sliterature，walkarounditandmeasureitbywhatevercriticalinstrumentsyouwill，isabeneficentliterature。"

[1]AmericanMenofLettersSeries，WashingtonIrving，p。302。

ThenthereisEmerson，asonofthemanseandonceaministerhimself。Hewas，therefore，perfectlyfamiliarwiththeEnglishBible。Hedidnotacceptitinallitsreligiousteaching。

Indeed，wehaveneverhadamoremarkedindividualistinourAmericanpubliclifethanEmerson。Ateverypointhewassimplyhimself。

Thereisverylittlequotationinhiswriting，verylittlevisibleinfluenceofanyoneelse。

HewasnotafollowerofCarlyle，thoughhewashisfriend。Ifthereisanyprecedentfortheconstructionofhissentences，andevenofhisessays，itistobefoundintheHebrewprophets。

Assomeoneputsit，"heutteredsayings。"Inmanyofhisessaysthereisnoparticularreasonwhytheparagraphsshouldrunone，two，three，andnotthree，two，one，ortwo，one，three，orinanyotherorder。ButMr。Emersonwasjusthimself。Itisyettruethat"hisvaluefortheworldatlargeliesinthefactthatafterallheisincurablyreligious。"Itistruethathecouldnotseeanyimportanceinforms，orinordinarydeclarationsoffaith。"Hewouldfightnobattleforprelacy，norfortheWestminsterconfession，norfortheTrinity，butasagainstatheism，pessimism，andmaterialism，hewasanallyofChristianity。"TheinfluenceoftheBibleonEmersonismoremarkedinhisspiritthaninanythingelse。Onceinawhile，asinthatfamiliaraddressatConcord(1873)，yourunacrossScripturephrases:"Shallnottheywhoreceivethelargeststreamsspreadabroadthehealingwaters?"ThatfigureappearsinliteratureonlyintheBible，andthereareotherslikeitinhiswritings。

AsforLongfellow，heisshotthroughwithScripture。NomanwhodidnotknowScriptureinmorethanapassingwaycouldhavewrittensuchasentenceasthis:"Therearetimeswhenthegrasshopperisaburden，andthirstywiththeheatoflaborthespiritlongsforthewatersofShiloah，thatgosoftly。"TherearetwostrikinglybeautifulexpressionsfromScripture。Takeanotherfamiliarsayinginthesameessaywhenhesaystheprospectforpoetryisbrightening，sincebutashorttimeagonotapoet"movedthewingoropenedthemouthorpeeped。"Hedidnotrunacrossthatingeneralcurrentwriting。

HegotthatdirectlyfromtheBible。InhispoemsisanamazingamountofreferencetotheBible。Onewouldexpectmuchinthe"CourtshipofMilesStandish，"forthatisastoryofthePuritans，andtheyspoke，naturally，intermsoftheBible；yet，ofcourse，theycouldnotdoitinLongfellow"spoem，ifLongfellowdidnotknowthelanguageoftheBibleverywell。

Onemightnotexpecttofinditsomuchin"Evangeline，"butitistherefrombeginningtoend。In"Acadia，"thecockcrowed"Withtheself-sameVoicethatinagesofoldhadstartledthepenitentPeter。"

And，"WildwiththewindsofSeptember，Wrestledthetreesoftheforest，asJacobofoldwiththeangel。"