asbreakinguponme:acityunderthebroadsunshine,thatseemedtomeasifitwerethesummersunshineofalong-pastcenturyarrestedinitscourse—unrefreshedforagesbydewsofnight,ortherushingrain-cloudscorchingthedusty,weary,time-eatengrandeurofapeopledoomedtoliveoninthestalerepetitionofmemories,likedeposedandsuperannuatedkingsintheirregalgold-inwoventatters.Thecitylookedsothirstythatthebroadriverseemedtomeasheetofmetalandtheblackenedstatues,asIpassedundertheirblankgaze,alongtheunendingbridge,withtheirancientgarmentsandtheirsaintlycrowns,seemedtometherealinhabitantsandownersofthisplace,whilethebusy,trivialmenandwomen,hurryingtoandfro,wereaswarmofephemeralvisitantsinfestingitforaday.Itissuchgrim,stonybeingsasthese,Ithought,whoarethefathersofancientfadedchildren,inthosetannedtime-fretteddwellingsthatcrowdthesteepbeforemewhopaytheircourtinthewornandcrumblingpompofthepalacewhichstretchesitsmonotonouslengthontheheightwhoworshipwearilyinthestiflingairofthechurches,urgedbynofearorhope,butcompelledbytheirdoomtobeeveroldandundying,toliveonintherigidityofhabit,astheyliveoninperpetualmidday,withoutthereposeofnightorthenewbirthofmorning.
Astunningclangofmetalsuddenlythrilledthroughme,andIbecameconsciousoftheobjectsinmyroomagain:oneofthefire-ironshadfallenasPierreopenedthedoortobringmemydraught.Myheartwaspalpitatingviolently,andIbeggedPierretoleavemydraughtbesidemeIwouldtakeitpresently.
AssoonasIwasaloneagain,IbegantoaskmyselfwhetherIhadbeensleeping.Wasthisadream—thiswonderfullydistinctvision—minuteinitsdistinctnessdowntoapatchofrainbowlightonthepavement,transmittedthroughacolouredlampintheshapeofastar—ofastrangecity,quiteunfamiliartomyimagination?IhadseennopictureofPrague:itlayinmymindasamerename,withvaguely-rememberedhistoricalassociations—ill-definedmemoriesofimperialgrandeurandreligiouswars.
Nothingofthissorthadeveroccurredinmydreamingexperiencebefore,forIhadoftenbeenhumiliatedbecausemydreamswereonlysavedfrombeingutterlydisjointedandcommonplacebythefrequentterrorsofnightmare.ButIcouldnotbelievethatIhadbeenasleep,forIremembereddistinctlythegradualbreaking-inofthevisionuponme,likethenewimagesinadissolvingview,orthegrowingdistinctnessofthelandscapeasthesunliftsuptheveilofthemorningmist.AndwhileIwasconsciousofthisincipientvision,IwasalsoconsciousthatPierrecametotellmyfatherMr.Filmorewaswaitingforhim,andthatmyfatherhurriedoutoftheroom.No,itwasnotadreamwasit—thethoughtwasfulloftremulousexultation—wasitthepoet’snatureinme,hithertoonlyatroubledyearningsensibility,nowmanifestingitselfsuddenlyasspontaneouscreation?SurelyitwasinthiswaythatHomersawtheplainofTroy,thatDantesawtheabodesofthedeparted,thatMiltonsawtheearthwardflightoftheTempter.Wasitthatmyillnesshadwroughtsomehappychangeinmyorganization—givenafirmertensiontomynerves—carriedoffsomedullobstruction?Ihadoftenreadofsucheffects—inworksoffictionatleast.NayingenuinebiographiesIhadreadofthesubtilizingorexaltinginfluenceofsomediseasesonthementalpowers.DidnotNovalisfeelhisinspirationintensifiedundertheprogressofconsumption?
Whenmymindhaddweltforsometimeonthisblissfulidea,itseemedtomethatImightperhapstestitbyanexertionofmywill.ThevisionhadbegunwhenmyfatherwasspeakingofourgoingtoPrague.IdidnotforamomentbelieveitwasreallyarepresentationofthatcityIbelieved—Ihopeditwasapicturethatmynewlyliberatedgeniushadpaintedinfieryhaste,withthecolourssnatchedfromlazymemory.SupposeIweretofixmymindonsomeotherplace—Venice,forexample,whichwasfarmorefamiliartomyimaginationthanPrague:perhapsthesamesortofresultwouldfollow.IconcentratedmythoughtsonVeniceIstimulatedmyimaginationwithpoeticmemories,andstrovetofeelmyselfpresentinVenice,asIhadfeltmyselfpresentinPrague.Butinvain.IwasonlycolouringtheCanalettoengravingsthathunginmyoldbedroomathomethepicturewasashiftingone,mymindwanderinguncertainlyinsearchofmorevividimagesIcouldseenoaccidentofformorshadowwithoutconsciouslabourafterthenecessaryconditions.Itwasallprosaiceffort,notraptpassivity,suchasIhadexperiencedhalfanhourbefore.IwasdiscouragedbutIrememberedthatinspirationwasfitful.
ForseveraldaysIwasinastateofexcitedexpectation,watchingforarecurrenceofmynewgift.Isentmythoughtsrangingovermyworldofknowledge,inthehopethattheywouldfindsomeobjectwhichwouldsendareawakeningvibrationthroughmyslumberi