The Moon And Sixpence 19.8

Dirk Stroevetook off his spectacles and wiped them. His flushed face was shining withexcitement.

"Whyshould you think that beauty, which is the most precious thing in the world,lies like a stone on the beach for the careless passer-by to pick up idly?Beauty is something wonderful and strange that the artist fashions out of thechaos of the world in the torment of his soul. And when he has made it, it isnot given to all to know it. To recognize it you must repeat the adventure ofthe artist. It is a melody that he sings to you, and to hear it again in yourown heart you want knowledge and sensitiveness and imagination. "

"Why didI always think your pictures beautiful, Dirk? I admired them the very firsttime I saw them. "

Stroeve'slips trembled a little.

"Go tobed, my precious. I will walk a few steps with our friend, and then I will comeback. "

戴尔克·施特略夫摘下眼镜来，擦了擦。他的一张通红的面孔因为兴奋而闪着亮光。

“为什么你认为美——世界上最宝贵的财富——会同沙滩上的石头一样，一个漫不经心的过路人随随便便地就能够捡起来？美是一种美妙、奇异的东西，艺术家只有通过灵魂的痛苦折磨才能从宇宙的混沌中塑造出来。在美被创造出以后，它也不是为了叫每个人都能认出来的。要想认识它，一个人必须重复艺术家经历过的一番冒险。他唱给你的是一个美的旋律，要是想在自己心里重新听一遍就必须有知识、有敏锐的感觉和想象力。”

“为什么我总觉得你的画很美呢，戴尔克？你的画我第一次看到就觉得好得了不得。”

施特略夫的嘴唇颤抖了一会儿。

“去睡觉吧，宝贝儿。我要陪我的朋友走几步路，一会儿就回来。”