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ucks； but a few lines further on； in this book where moral indignation is unknown； i read； sometimes when i go into a cottage； i find all the women of the place down on their knees plucking the feathers from live ducks and geese。
he loves all that has edge； all that is salt in the mouth； all that is rough to the hand； all that heightens the emotions by contest； all that stings into life the sense of tragedy； and in this book； unlike the plays where nearness to his audience moves him to mischief； he shows it without thought of other taste than his。 it is so constant； it is all set out so simply； so naturally； that it suggests a correspondence between a lasting mood of the soul and this life that shares the harshness of rocks and wind。 the food of the spiritual？minded is sweet； an indian scripture says； but passionate minds love bitter food。 yet he is no indifferent observer； but is certainly kind and sympathetic to all about him。 when an old and ailing man； dreading the ing winter； cries at his leaving； not thinking to see him again； and he notices that the old mans mitten has a hole in it where the palm is accustomed to the stick； one knows that it is with eyes full of interested affection as befits a simple man and not in the curiosity of study。 when he had left the blaskets for the last time； he travelled with a lame pensioner who had drifted there； why heaven knows； and one morning having missed him from the inn where they were staying； he believed he had gone back to the island and searched everywhere and questioned everybody； till he understood of a sudden that he was jealous as though the island were a woman。
the book seems dull if you read much at a time； as the later kerry essays do not； but nothing that he has written recalls so pletely to my senses the man as he was in daily life； and as i read； there are moments when every line of his face； every inflection of his voice； grows so clear in memory that i cannot realize that he is dead。 he was no nearer when we walked and talked than now while i read these unarranged； unspeculating pages； wherein the only life he loved with his whole heart reflects itself as in the still water of a pool。 thought es to him slowly； and only after long seemingly unmeditative watching； and when it es； （and he had the same character in matters of business） it is spoken without hesitation and never changed。 his conversation was not an experimental thing； an instrument of research； and this made him silent； while his essays recall events； on which one feels that he pronounces no judgment even in the depth of his own mind； because the labour of life itself had not yet brought the philosophic generalization； which was almost as much his object as the emotional generalization of beauty。 a mind that generalizes rapidly； continually prevents the experience that would have made it feel and see deeply； just as a man whose character is too plete in youth seldom grows into any energy of moral beauty。 synge had indeed no obvious ideals； as these are understood by young men； and even as i think disliked them； for he once plained to me that our modern poetry was but the poetry of the lyrical boy； and this lack makes his art have a strange wildness and coldness； as of a man born in some far？off spacious land and time。
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Synge And The Ireland Of His TimeXI
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there are artists like byron； like goethe； like shelley； who have impressive personalities； active wills and all their faculties at the service of the will； but he belonged to those who like wordsworth； like coleridge； like goldsmith； like keats； have little personality； so far as the casual eye can see； little personal will； but fiery and brooding imagination。 i cannot imagine him anxious to impress； or convince in any pany； or saying more than was sufficient to keep the talk circling。 such men have the advantage that all they write is a part of knowledge； but they are powerless before events and have often but one visible strength； the strength to reject from life and thought all that would mar their work； or deafen them in the doing of it； and only this so long as it is a passive act。 if synge had married young or taken some profession； i doubt if he would have written books or been greatly interested in a movement like ours； but he refused various opportunities of making money in what must have been an almost unconscious preparation。 he had no life outside his imagination； little interest in anything that was not its chosen subject。 he hardly seemed aware of the existence of other writers。 i never knew if he cared for work of mine； and do not remember that i had from him even a conventional pliment； and yet he had the most perfect modesty and simplicity in daily intercourse； self？assertion was impossible to him。 on the other hand； he was useless amidst sudden events。 he was much shaken by the playboy riot； on the first night confused and excited； knowing not what to do； and ill before many days； but it made no difference in his work。 he neither exaggerated out of defiance nor softened out of timidity。 he wrote on as if nothing had happened； altering the tinkers wedding to a more unpopular form； but writing a beautiful serene deirdre； with； for the first time since his riders to the sea； no touch of sarcasm or defiance。 misfortune shook his physical nature while it left his intellect and his moral nature untroubled。 the external self； the mask； the persona was a shadow； character was all。
。d 。
Synge And The Ireland Of His TimeXII
he was a drifting silent man full of hidden passion； and loved wild islands； because there； set out in the light of day； he saw what lay hidden in himself。 there is passage after passage in which he dwells upon some moment of excitement。 he describes the shipping of pigs at kilronan on the north island for the english market： when the steamer was getting near； the whole drove was moved down upon the slip and the curraghs were carried out close to the sea。 then each beast was caught in its turn and thrown on its side； while its legs were hitched together in a single knot； with a tag of rope remaining； by which it could be carried。
probably the pain inflicted was not great； yet the animals shut their eyes and shrieked with almost human intonations； till the suggestion of the noise became so intense that the men and women who were merely looking on grew wild with excitement； and the pigs waiting their turn foamed at the mouth and tore each other with their teeth。
after a while there was a pause。 the whole slip was covered with amass of sobbing animals； with here and there a terrified woman crouching among the bodies and patting some special favourite； to keep it quiet while the curraghs were being launched。 then the screaming began again while the pigs were carried out and laid in their places； with a waistcoat tied round their feet to keep them from damaging the canvas。 they seemed to know where they were going； and looked up at me over the gunnel with an ignoble desperation that made me shudder to think that i had eaten this whimpering flesh。 when the last curragh went out； i was left on the slip with a band of women and children； and one old boar who sat looking out over the sea。