theyhadmuddledthepigeon-holesperhaps.
ThereisintheBritishMuseumanenormousmind.ConsiderthatPlatoistherecheekbyjowlwithAristotleandShakespearewithMarlowe.Thisgreatmindishoardedbeyondthepowerofanysinglemindtopossessit.Nevertheless(astheytakesolongfindingone'swalking-stick)onecan'thelpthinkinghowonemightcomewithanotebook,sitatadesk,andreaditallthrough.Alearnedmanisthemostvenerableofall—amanlikeHuxtableofTrinity,whowritesallhislettersinGreek,theysay,andcouldhavekepthisendupwithBentley.Andthenthereisscience,pictures,architecture,—anenormousmind.
Theypushedthewalking-stickacrossthecounter.JacobstoodbeneaththeporchoftheBritishMuseum.Itwasraining.GreatRussellStreetwasglazedandshining—hereyellow,here,outsidethechemist's,redandpaleblue.Peoplescuttledquicklyclosetothewallcarriagesrattledratherhelter-skelterdownthestreets.Well,butalittlerainhurtsnobody.Jacobwalkedoffmuchasifhehadbeeninthecountryandlatethatnighttherehewassittingathistablewithhispipeandhisbook.
Therainpoureddown.TheBritishMuseumstoodinonesolidimmensemound,verypale,verysleekintherain,notaquarterofamilefromhim.Thevastmindwassheetedwithstoneandeachcompartmentinthedepthsofitwassafeanddry.Thenight-watchmen,flashingtheirlanternsoverthebacksofPlatoandShakespeare,sawthatonthetwenty-secondofFebruaryneitherflame,rat,norburglarwasgoingtoviolatethesetreasures—poor,highlyrespectablemen,withwivesandfamiliesatKentishTown,dotheirbestfortwentyyearstoprotectPlatoandShakespeare,andthenareburiedatHighgate.
StoneliessolidovertheBritishMuseum,asboneliescooloverthevisionsandheatofthebrain.OnlyherethebrainisPlato'sbrainandShakespeare'sthebrainhasmadepotsandstatues,greatbullsandlittlejewels,andcrossedtheriverofdeaththiswayandthatincessantly,seekingsomelanding,nowwrappingthebodywellforitslongsleepnowlayingapennypieceontheeyesnowturningthetoesscrupulouslytotheEast.Meanwhile,PlatocontinueshisdialogueinspiteoftheraininspiteofthecabwhistlesinspiteofthewomaninthemewsbehindGreatOrmondStreetwhohascomehomedrunkandcriesallnightlong,"Letmein!Letmein!"
InthestreetbelowJacob'sroomvoiceswereraised.
Buthereadon.ForafterallPlatocontinuesimperturbably.AndHamletuttershissoliloquy.AndtheretheElginMarbleslie,allnightlong,oldJones'slanternsometimesrecallingUlysses,orahorse'sheadorsometimesaflashofgold,oramummy'ssunkyellowcheek.PlatoandShakesp