Page 230 (1/1)

What he called "reality" and believed he understood thoroughly and estimated correctly, now disclosed many a secret which had previously remained concealed

How defective his visual perception had been! how necessary it now seement to a new test! Doubtless a wealth of artistic subjects had come to him from the world of reality which he had placed far above everything else, but a greater and nobler one fro

As if by ic, the world of ideality opened before hiain found in his own soul the joyous creative forces of Nature, and the surrounding stillness increased tenfold his capacity of perceiving it; nay, he felt as if creative energy dwelt in solitude itself

His reatness The desire to i power had carried hi Maenads

Nohen he sought for subjects, beside the shty and her poould at so hands this battle of the Alow of victory, conquering the dragons of darkness!

Arachne, too, returned to his mind, and also Demeter But she did not hover before his, the preserver of peace, but as the hter Proserpina How varied inwas this myth!--and he strove to follow it in every direction

Nothing more could come to the blind artist from Nature by the aid of his physical vision The realm of reality was closed to him; but he had found the key to that of the ideal, and what he found in it proved to be no less true than the objects the other had offered

How rich in forination! He who, a short time before, had believed whatever could not be touched by the hands was useless for his art, now had the choice a life, which were attainable by no organ of the senses He need fear to undertake none, if only it orthy of representation; for he was sure of his ability, and difficulty did not alar for the first time its true charm

And, besides, without the interest of aniarlanded head and intoxicating pleasure soaring upward from the dust of earth, existence had seemed to him shallow and not worth the trouble it imposed upon mortals, solitude now offered hi with gay companions