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AsIcamehomethroughthewoodswithmystringoffish,trailingmypole,itbeingnowquitedark,Icaughtaglimpseofawoodchuckstealingacrossmypath,andfeltastrangethrillofsavagedelight,andwasstronglytemptedtoseizeanddevourhimraw;notthatIwashungrythen,exceptforthatwildnesswhichherepresented.
Onceortwice,however,whileIlivedatthepond,Ifoundmyselfrangingthewoods,likeahalf–starvedhound,withastrangeabandonment,seekingsomekindofvenisonwhichImightdevour,andnomorselcouldhavebeentoosavageforme.
Thewildestsceneshadbecomeunaccountablyfamiliar.
Ifoundinmyself,andstillfind,aninstincttowardahigher,or,asitisnamed,spirituallife,asdomostmen,andanothertowardaprimitiverankandsavageone,andIreverencethemboth.Ilovethewildnotlessthanthegood.
Thewildnessandadventurethatareinfishingstillrecommendedittome.
Ilikesometimestotakerankholdonlifeandspendmydaymoreastheanimalsdo.
PerhapsIhaveowedtothisemploymentandtohunting,whenquiteyoung,myclosestacquaintancewithNature.
Theyearlyintroduceustoanddetainusinscenerywithwhichotherwise,atthatage,weshouldhavelittleacquaintance.
Fishermen,hunters,woodchoppers,andothers,spendingtheirlivesinthefieldsandwoods,inapeculiarsenseapartofNaturethemselves,areofteninamorefavorablemoodforobservingher,intheintervalsoftheirpursuits,thanphilosophersorpoetseven,whoapproachherwithexpectation.
Sheisnotafraidtoexhibitherselftothem.
Thetravellerontheprairieisnaturallyahunter,ontheheadwatersoftheMissouriandColumbiaatrapper,andattheFallsofSt.Maryafisherman.
Hewhoisonlyatravellerlearnsthingsatsecond–handandbythehalves,andispoorauthority.
Wearemostinterestedwhensciencereportswhatthosemenalreadyknowpracticallyorinstinctively,forthataloneisatruehumanity,oraccountofhumanexperience.
TheymistakewhoassertthattheYankeehasfewamusements,becausehehasnotsomanypublicholidays,andmenandboysdonotplaysomanygamesastheydoinEngland,forherethemoreprimitivebutsolitaryamusementsofhunting,fishing,andthelikehavenotyetgivenplacetotheformer.
AlmosteveryNewEnglandboyamongmycontemporariesshoulderedafowling–piecebetweentheagesoftenandfourteen;andhishuntingandfishinggroundswerenotlimited,likethepreservesofanEnglishnobleman,butweremoreboundlesseventhanthoseofasavage.
Nowonder,then,thathedidnotoftenerstaytoplayonthecommon.
Butalreadyachangeistakingplace,owing,nottoanincreasedhumanity,buttoanincreasedscarcityofgame,forperhapsthehunteristhegreatestfriendoftheanimalshunted,notexceptingtheHumaneSociety.
Moreover,whenatthepond,Iwishedsometimestoaddfishtomyfareforvariety.
Ihaveactuallyfishedfromthesamekindofnecessitythatthefirstfishersdid.
WhateverhumanityImightconjureupagainstitwasallfactitious,andconcernedmyphilosophymorethanmyfeelings.
Ispeakoffishingonlynow,forIhadlongfeltdifferentlyaboutfowling,andsoldmygunbeforeIwenttothewoods.
NotthatIamlesshumanethanothers,butIdidnotperceivethatmyfeelingsweremuchaffected.
Ididnotpitythefishesnortheworms.Thiswashabit.
Asforfowling,duringthelastyearsthatIcarriedagunmyexcusewasthatIwasstudyingornithology,andsoughtonlyneworrarebirds.
ButIconfessthatIamnowinclinedtothinkthatthereisafinerwayofstudyingornithologythanthis.
Itrequiressomuchcloserattentiontothehabitsofthebirds,that,ifforthatreasononly,Ihavebeenwillingtoomitthegun.
Yetnotwithstandingtheobjectiononthescoreofhumanity,Iamcompelledtodoubtifequallyvaluablesportsareeversubstitutedforthese;andwhensomeofmyfriendshaveaskedmeanxiouslyabouttheirboys,whethertheyshouldletthemhunt,Ihaveanswered,yes—rememberingthatitwasoneofthebestpartsofmyeducation—makethemhunters,thoughsportsmenonlyatfirst,ifpossible,mightyhuntersatlast,sothattheyshallnotfindgamelargeenoughfortheminthisoranyvegetablewilderness—huntersaswellasfishersofmen.
ThusfarIamoftheopinionofChaucer'snun,who
"yavenotofthetextapulledhen
Thatsaiththathuntersbennotholymen."
Thereisaperiodinthehistoryoftheindividual,asoftherace,whenthehuntersarethe"bestmen,"astheAlgonquinscalledthem.
Wecannotbutpitytheboywhohasneverfiredagun;heisnomorehumane,whilehiseducationhasbeensadlyneglected.
Thiswasmyanswerwithrespecttothoseyouthswhowerebentonthispursuit,trustingthattheywouldsoonoutgrowit.
Nohumanebeing,pastthethoughtlessageofboyhood,willwantonlymurderanycreaturewhichholdsitslifebythesametenurethathedoes.
Thehareinitsextremitycrieslikeachild.
Iwarnyou,mothers,thatmysympathiesdonotalwaysmaketheusualphilanthropicdistinctions.
Suchisoftenesttheyoungman'sintroductiontotheforest,andthemostoriginalpartofhimself.
Hegoesthitheratfirstasahunterandfisher,untilatlast,ifhehastheseedsofabetterlifeinhim,hedistinguisheshisproperobjects,asapoetornaturalistitmaybe,andleavesthegunandfish–polebehind.
Themassofmenarestillandalwaysyounginthisrespect.
Insomecountriesahuntingparsonisnouncommonsight.
Suchaonemightmakeagoodshepherd'sdog,butisfarfrombeingtheGoodShepherd.
Ihavebeensurprisedtoconsiderthattheonlyobviousemployment,exceptwood–chopping,ice–cutting,orthelikebusiness,whichevertomyknowledgedetainedatWaldenPondforawholehalf–dayanyofmyfellow–citizens,whetherfathersorchildrenofthetown,withjustoneexception,wasfishing.
Commonlytheydidnotthinkthattheywerelucky,orwellpaidfortheirtime,unlesstheygotalongstringoffish,thoughtheyhadtheopportunityofseeingthepondallthewhile.
Theymightgothereathousandtimesbeforethesedimentoffishingwouldsinktothebottomandleavetheirpurposepure;butnodoubtsuchaclarifyingprocesswouldbegoingonallthewhile.
TheGovernorandhisCouncilfaintlyrememberthepond,fortheywenta–fishingtherewhentheywereboys;butnowtheyaretoooldanddignifiedtogoa–fishing,andsotheyknowitnomoreforever.
Yeteventheyexpecttogotoheavenatlast.
Ifthelegislatureregardsit,itischieflytoregulatethenumberofhookstobeusedthere;buttheyknownothingaboutthehookofhookswithwhichtoanglefortheponditself,impalingthelegislatureforabait.
Thus,evenincivilizedcommunities,theembryomanpassesthroughthehunterstageofdevelopment.
Ihavefoundrepeatedly,oflateyears,thatIcannotfishwithoutfallingalittleinself–respect.Ihavetrieditagainandagain.
Ihaveskillatit,and,likemanyofmyfellows,acertaininstinctforit,whichrevivesfromtimetotime,butalwayswhenIhavedoneIfeelthatitwouldhavebeenbetterifIhadnotfished.IthinkthatIdonotmistake.
Itisafaintintimation,yetsoarethefirststreaksofmorning.
Thereisunquestionablythisinstinctinmewhichbelongstothelowerordersofcreation;yetwitheveryyearIamlessafisherman,thoughwithoutmorehumanityorevenwisdom;atpresentIamnofishermanatall.
ButIseethatifIweretoliveinawildernessIshouldagainbetemptedtobecomeafisherandhunterinearnest.
Beside,thereissomethingessentiallyuncleanaboutthisdietandallflesh,andIbegantoseewherehouseworkcommences,andwhencetheendeavor,whichcostssomuch,towearatidyandrespectableappearanceeachday,tokeepthehousesweetandfreefromallillodorsandsights.
Havingbeenmyownbutcherandscullionandcook,aswellasthegentlemanforwhomthedisheswereservedup,Icanspeakfromanunusuallycompleteexperience.
Thepracticalobjectiontoanimalfoodinmycasewasitsuncleanness;andbesides,whenIhadcaughtandcleanedandcookedandeatenmyfish,theyseemednottohavefedmeessentially.
Itwasinsignificantandunnecessary,andcostmorethanitcameto.
Alittlebreadorafewpotatoeswouldhavedoneaswell,withlesstroubleandfilth.
Likemanyofmycontemporaries,Ihadrarelyformanyyearsusedanimalfood,ortea,orcoffee,etc.;notsomuchbecauseofanyilleffectswhichIhadtracedtothem,asbecausetheywerenotagreeabletomyimagination.
Therepugnancetoanimalfoodisnottheeffectofexperience,butisaninstinct.
Itappearedmorebeautifultolivelowandfarehardinmanyrespects;andthoughIneverdidso,Iwentfarenoughtopleasemyimagination.
Ibelievethateverymanwhohaseverbeenearnesttopreservehishigherorpoeticfacultiesinthebestconditionhasbeenparticularlyinclinedtoabstainfromanimalfood,andfrommuchfoodofanykind.
Itisasignificantfact,statedbyentomologists—IfinditinKirbyandSpence—that"someinsectsintheirperfectstate,thoughfurnishedwithorgansoffeeding,makenouseofthem";andtheylayitdownas"ageneralrule,thatalmostallinsectsinthisstateeatmuchlessthaninthatoflarvae.
Thevoraciouscaterpillarwhentransformedintoabutterfly...andthegluttonousmaggotwhenbecomeafly"contentthemselveswithadroportwoofhoneyorsomeothersweetliquid.
Theabdomenunderthewingsofthebutterflystillrepresentsthelarva.
Thisisthetidbitwhichtemptshisinsectivorousfate.
Thegrossfeederisamaninthelarvastate;andtherearewholenationsinthatcondition,nationswithoutfancyorimagination,whosevastabdomensbetraythem.
Itishardtoprovideandcooksosimpleandcleanadietaswillnotoffendtheimagination;butthis,Ithink,istobefedwhenwefeedthebody;theyshouldbothsitdownatthesametable.Yetperhapsthismaybedone.
Thefruitseatentemperatelyneednotmakeusashamedofourappetites,norinterrupttheworthiestpursuits.
Butputanextracondimentintoyourdish,anditwillpoisonyou.
Itisnotworththewhiletolivebyrichcookery.
Mostmenwouldfeelshameifcaughtpreparingwiththeirownhandspreciselysuchadinner,whetherofanimalorvegetablefood,asiseverydaypreparedforthembyothers.
Yettillthisisotherwisewearenotcivilized,and,ifgentlemenandladies,arenottruemenandwomen.
Thiscertainlysuggestswhatchangeistobemade.
Itmaybevaintoaskwhytheimaginationwillnotbereconciledtofleshandfat.Iamsatisfiedthatitisnot.
Isitnotareproachthatmanisacarnivorousanimal?
True,hecananddoeslive,inagreatmeasure,bypreyingonotheranimals;butthisisamiserableway—asanyonewhowillgotosnaringrabbits,orslaughteringlambs,maylearn—andhewillberegardedasabenefactorofhisracewhoshallteachmantoconfinehimselftoamoreinnocentandwholesomediet.
Whatevermyownpracticemaybe,Ihavenodoubtthatitisapartofthedestinyofthehumanrace,initsgradualimprovement,toleaveoffeatinganimals,assurelyasthesavagetribeshaveleftoffeatingeachotherwhentheycameincontactwiththemorecivilized.
Ifonelistenstothefaintestbutconstantsuggestionsofhisgenius,whicharecertainlytrue,heseesnottowhatextremes,oreveninsanity,itmayleadhim;andyetthatway,ashegrowsmoreresoluteandfaithful,hisroadlies.
Thefaintestassuredobjectionwhichonehealthymanfeelswillatlengthprevailovertheargumentsandcustomsofmankind.
Nomaneverfollowedhisgeniustillitmisledhim.
Thoughtheresultwerebodilyweakness,yetperhapsnoonecansaythattheconsequencesweretoberegretted,forthesewerealifeinconformitytohigherprinciples.
Ifthedayandthenightaresuchthatyougreetthemwithjoy,andlifeemitsafragrancelikeflowersandsweet–scentedherbs,ismoreelastic,morestarry,moreimmortal—thatisyoursuccess.
Allnatureisyourcongratulation,andyouhavecausemomentarilytoblessyourself.
Thegreatestgainsandvaluesarefarthestfrombeingappreciated.Weeasilycometodoubtiftheyexist.Wesoonforgetthem.Theyarethehighestreality.
Perhapsthefactsmostastoundingandmostrealarenevercommunicatedbymantoman.
Thetrueharvestofmydailylifeissomewhatasintangibleandindescribableasthetintsofmorningorevening.
Itisalittlestar–dustcaught,asegmentoftherainbowwhichIhaveclutched.
Yet,formypart,Iwasneverunusuallysqueamish;Icouldsometimeseatafriedratwithagoodrelish,ifitwerenecessary.
Iamgladtohavedrunkwatersolong,forthesamereasonthatIpreferthenaturalskytoanopium–eater'sheaven.
Iwouldfainkeepsoberalways;andthereareinfinitedegreesofdrunkenness.
Ibelievethatwateristheonlydrinkforawiseman;wineisnotsonoblealiquor;andthinkofdashingthehopesofamorningwithacupofwarmcoffee,orofaneveningwithadishoftea!
Ah,howlowIfallwhenIamtemptedbythem!Evenmusicmaybeintoxicating.
SuchapparentlyslightcausesdestroyedGreeceandRome,andwilldestroyEnglandandAmerica.
Ofallebriosity,whodoesnotprefertobeintoxicatedbytheairhebreathes?
Ihavefoundittobethemostseriousobjectiontocoarselaborslongcontinued,thattheycompelledmetoeatanddrinkcoarselyalso.
Buttotellthetruth,Ifindmyselfatpresentsomewhatlessparticularintheserespects.
Icarrylessreligiontothetable,asknoblessing;notbecauseIamwiserthanIwas,but,Iamobligedtoconfess,because,howevermuchitistoberegretted,withyearsIhavegrownmorecoarseandindifferent.
Perhapsthesequestionsareentertainedonlyinyouth,asmostbelieveofpoetry.
Mypracticeis"nowhere,"myopinionishere.
NeverthelessIamfarfromregardingmyselfasoneofthoseprivilegedonestowhomtheVedreferswhenitsays,that"hewhohastruefaithintheOmnipresentSupremeBeingmayeatallthatexists,"thatis,isnotboundtoinquirewhatishisfood,orwhopreparesit;andevenintheircaseitistobeobserved,asaHindoocommentatorhasremarked,thattheVedantlimitsthisprivilegeto"thetimeofdistress."
Whohasnotsometimesderivedaninexpressiblesatisfactionfromhisfoodinwhichappetitehadnoshare?
IhavebeenthrilledtothinkthatIowedamentalperceptiontothecommonlygrosssenseoftaste,thatIhavebeeninspiredthroughthepalate,thatsomeberrieswhichIhadeatenonahillsidehadfedmygenius.
"Thesoulnotbeingmistressofherself,"saysThseng–tseu,"onelooks,andonedoesnotsee;onelistens,andonedoesnothear;oneeats,andonedoesnotknowthesavoroffood."
Hewhodistinguishesthetruesavorofhisfoodcanneverbeaglutton;hewhodoesnotcannotbeotherwise.
Apuritanmaygotohisbrown–breadcrustwithasgrossanappetiteaseveranaldermantohisturtle.
Notthatfoodwhichenterethintothemouthdefilethaman,buttheappetitewithwhichitiseaten.
Itisneitherthequalitynorthequantity,butthedevotiontosensualsavors;whenthatwhichiseatenisnotaviandtosustainouranimal,orinspireourspirituallife,butfoodforthewormsthatpossessus.
Ifthehunterhasatasteformud–turtles,muskrats,andothersuchsavagetidbits,thefineladyindulgesatasteforjellymadeofacalf'sfoot,orforsardinesfromoverthesea,andtheyareeven.
Hegoestothemill–pond,shetoherpreserve–pot.
Thewonderishowthey,howyouandI,canlivethisslimy,beastlylife,eatinganddrinking.
Ourwholelifeisstartlinglymoral.Thereisneveraninstant'strucebetweenvirtueandvice.
Goodnessistheonlyinvestmentthatneverfails.
Inthemusicoftheharpwhichtremblesroundtheworlditistheinsistingonthiswhichthrillsus.
TheharpisthetravellingpattererfortheUniverse'sInsuranceCompany,recommendingitslaws,andourlittlegoodnessisalltheassessmentthatwepay.
Thoughtheyouthatlastgrowsindifferent,thelawsoftheuniversearenotindifferent,butareforeveronthesideofthemostsensitive.
Listentoeveryzephyrforsomereproof,foritissurelythere,andheisunfortunatewhodoesnothearit.
Wecannottouchastringormoveastopbutthecharmingmoraltransfixesus.
Manyanirksomenoise,goalongwayoff,isheardasmusic,aproud,sweetsatireonthemeannessofourlives.
Weareconsciousofananimalinus,whichawakensinproportionasourhighernatureslumbers.
Itisreptileandsensual,andperhapscannotbewhollyexpelled;likethewormswhich,eveninlifeandhealth,occupyourbodies.
Possiblywemaywithdrawfromit,butneverchangeitsnature.
Ifearthatitmayenjoyacertainhealthofitsown;thatwemaybewell,yetnotpure.
TheotherdayIpickedupthelowerjawofahog,withwhiteandsoundteethandtusks,whichsuggestedthattherewasananimalhealthandvigordistinctfromthespiritual.
Thiscreaturesucceededbyothermeansthantemperanceandpurity.
"Thatinwhichmendifferfrombrutebeasts,"saysMencius,"isathingveryinconsiderable;thecommonherdloseitverysoon;superiormenpreserveitcarefully."
Whoknowswhatsortoflifewouldresultifwehadattainedtopurity?
IfIknewsowiseamanascouldteachmepurityIwouldgotoseekhimforthwith.
"Acommandoverourpassions,andovertheexternalsensesofthebody,andgoodacts,aredeclaredbytheVedtobeindispensableinthemind'sapproximationtoGod."
Yetthespiritcanforthetimepervadeandcontroleverymemberandfunctionofthebody,andtransmutewhatinformisthegrossestsensualityintopurityanddevotion.
Thegenerativeenergy,which,whenweareloose,dissipatesandmakesusunclean,whenwearecontinentinvigoratesandinspiresus.
Chastityisthefloweringofman;andwhatarecalledGenius,Heroism,Holiness,andthelike,arebutvariousfruitswhichsucceedit.
ManflowsatoncetoGodwhenthechannelofpurityisopen.
Byturnsourpurityinspiresandourimpuritycastsusdown.
Heisblessedwhoisassuredthattheanimalisdyingoutinhimdaybyday,andthedivinebeingestablished.
Perhapsthereisnonebuthascauseforshameonaccountoftheinferiorandbrutishnaturetowhichheisallied.
Ifearthatwearesuchgodsordemigodsonlyasfaunsandsatyrs,thedivinealliedtobeasts,thecreaturesofappetite,andthat,tosomeextent,ourverylifeisourdisgrace.—
"Howhappy'shewhohathdueplaceassigned
Tohisbeastsanddisafforestedhismind!
.......
Canusethishorse,goat,wolf,andev'rybeast,
Andisnotasshimselftoalltherest!
Elsemannotonlyistheherdofswine,
Buthe'sthosedevilstoowhichdidincline
Themtoaheadlongrage,andmadethemworse."
Allsensualityisone,thoughittakesmanyforms;allpurityisone.
Itisthesamewhetheramaneat,ordrink,orcohabit,orsleepsensually.
Theyarebutoneappetite,andweonlyneedtoseeapersondoanyoneofthesethingstoknowhowgreatasensualistheis.
Theimpurecanneitherstandnorsitwithpurity.
Whenthereptileisattackedatonemouthofhisburrow,heshowshimselfatanother.
Ifyouwouldbechaste,youmustbetemperate.Whatischastity?Howshallamanknowifheischaste?Heshallnotknowit.
Wehaveheardofthisvirtue,butweknownotwhatitis.
Wespeakconformablytotherumorwhichwehaveheard.
Fromexertioncomewisdomandpurity;fromslothignoranceandsensuality.
Inthestudentsensualityisasluggishhabitofmind.
Anuncleanpersonisuniversallyaslothfulone,onewhositsbyastove,whomthesunshinesonprostrate,whoreposeswithoutbeingfatigued.
Ifyouwouldavoiduncleanness,andallthesins,workearnestly,thoughitbeatcleaningastable.
Natureishardtobeovercome,butshemustbeovercome.
WhatavailsitthatyouareChristian,ifyouarenotpurerthantheheathen,ifyoudenyyourselfnomore,ifyouarenotmorereligious?
Iknowofmanysystemsofreligionesteemedheathenishwhosepreceptsfillthereaderwithshame,andprovokehimtonewendeavors,thoughitbetotheperformanceofritesmerely.
Ihesitatetosaythesethings,butitisnotbecauseofthesubject—Icarenothowobscenemywordsare—butbecauseIcannotspeakofthemwithoutbetrayingmyimpurity.
Wediscoursefreelywithoutshameofoneformofsensuality,andaresilentaboutanother.
Wearesodegradedthatwecannotspeaksimplyofthenecessaryfunctionsofhumannature.
Inearlierages,insomecountries,everyfunctionwasreverentlyspokenofandregulatedbylaw.
NothingwastootrivialfortheHindoolawgiver,howeveroffensiveitmaybetomoderntaste.
Heteacheshowtoeat,drink,cohabit,voidexcrementandurine,andthelike,elevatingwhatismean,anddoesnotfalselyexcusehimselfbycallingthesethingstrifles.
Everymanisthebuilderofatemple,calledhisbody,tothegodheworships,afterastylepurelyhisown,norcanhegetoffbyhammeringmarbleinstead.
Weareallsculptorsandpainters,andourmaterialisourownfleshandbloodandbones.
Anynoblenessbeginsatoncetorefineaman'sfeatures,anymeannessorsensualitytoimbrutethem.
JohnFarmersatathisdooroneSeptemberevening,afterahardday'swork,hismindstillrunningonhislabormoreorless.
Havingbathed,hesatdowntore–createhisintellectualman.
Itwasarathercoolevening,andsomeofhisneighborswereapprehendingafrost.
Hehadnotattendedtothetrainofhisthoughtslongwhenheheardsomeoneplayingonaflute,andthatsoundharmonizedwithhismood.
Stillhethoughtofhiswork;buttheburdenofhisthoughtwas,thatthoughthiskeptrunninginhishead,andhefoundhimselfplanningandcontrivingitagainsthiswill,yetitconcernedhimverylittle.
Itwasnomorethanthescurfofhisskin,whichwasconstantlyshuffledoff.
Butthenotesoftheflutecamehometohisearsoutofadifferentspherefromthatheworkedin,andsuggestedworkforcertainfacultieswhichslumberedinhim.
Theygentlydidawaywiththestreet,andthevillage,andthestateinwhichhelived.
Avoicesaidtohim—Whydoyoustayhereandlivethismeanmoilinglife,whenagloriousexistenceispossibleforyou?
Thosesamestarstwinkleoverotherfieldsthanthese.
—Buthowtocomeoutofthisconditionandactuallymigratethither?
Allthathecouldthinkofwastopractisesomenewausterity,tolethisminddescendintohisbodyandredeemit,andtreathimselfwitheverincreasingrespect.
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