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Cambridge Pieces
by Samuel Butler
Contents：
On English Composition and Other Matters
Our Tour
Translation from an Unpublished Work of Herodotus
The shield of Achilles； with variations
Prospectus of the Great Split Society
Powers
A skit on examinations
An Eminent Person
Napoleon at St。 Helena
THE TWO DEANS
The Battle of Alma Mater
On the Italian Priesthood
Samuel Butler and the Simeonites
ON ENGLISH COMPOSITION AND OTHER MATTERS
This essay is believed to be the first composition by Samuel Butler
that appeared in print。 It was published in the first number of the
EAGLE； a magazine written and edited by members of St。 John's
College； Cambridge； in the Lent Term； 1858； when Butler was in his
fourth and last year of residence。
＇From the Eagle； Vol。 1； No。 1； Lent Term； 1858； p。 41。＇
I sit down scarcely knowing how to grasp my own meaning； and give it
a tangible shape in words； and yet it is concerning this very
expression of our thoughts in words that I wish to speak。 As I muse
things fall more into their proper places； and； little fit for the
task as my confession pronounces me to be； I will try to make clear
that which is in my mind。
I think； then； that the style of our authors of a couple of hundred
years ago was more terse and masculine than that of those of the
present day； possessing both more of the graphic element； and more
vigour； straightforwardness； and conciseness。 Most readers will
have anticipated me in admitting that a man should be clear of his
meaning before he endeavours to give to it any kind of utterance；
and that having made up his mind what to say； the less thought he
takes how to say it； more than briefly； pointedly； and plainly； the
better； for instance； Bacon tells us； 〃Men fear death as children
fear to go in the dark〃； he does not say； what I can imagine a last
century writer to have said； 〃A feeling somewhat analogous to the
dread with which children are affected upon entering a dark room； is
that which most men entertain at the contemplation of death。〃
Jeremy Taylor says； 〃Tell them it is as much intemperance to weep
too much as to laugh too much〃； he does not say； 〃All men will
acknowledge that laughing admits of intemperance； but some men may
at first sight hesitate to allow that a similar imputation may be at
times attached to weeping。〃
I incline to believe that as irons support the rickety child； whilst
they impede the healthy one； so rules； for the most part； are but
useful to the weaker among us。 Our greatest masters in language；
whether prose or verse； in painting； music； architecture； or the
like； have been those who preceded the rule and whose excellence
gave rise thereto； men who preceded； I should rather say； not the
rule； but the discovery of the rule； men whose intuitive perception
led them to the right practice。 We cannot imagine Homer to have
studied rules； and the infant genius of those giants of their art；
Handel； Mozart； and Beethoven； who composed at the ages of seven；
five； and ten； must certainly have been unfettered by them： to the
less brilliantly endowed； however； they have a use as being
compendious safeguards against error。 Let me then lay down as the
best of all rules for writing； 〃forgetfulness of self； and
carefulness of the matter in hand。〃 No simile is out of place that
illustrates the subject； in fact a simile as showing the symmetry of
this world's arrangement； is always； if a fair one； interesting；
every simile is amiss that leads the mind from the contemplation of
its object to the contemplation of its author。 This will apply
equally to the heaping up of unnecessary illustrations： it is as
great a fault to supply the reader with too many as with too few；
having given him at most two； it is better to let him read slowly
and think out the rest for himself than to surfeit him with an
abundance of explanation。 Hood says well；
And thus upon the public mind intrude it；
As if I thought； like Otaheitan cooks；
No food was fit to eat till I had chewed it。
A book that is worth reading will be worth reading thoughtfully； and
there are but few good books； save certain novels； that it is well
to read in an arm…chair。 Most will bear standing to。 At the
present time we seem to lack the impassiveness and impartiality
which was so marked among the writings of our forefathers； we are
seldom content with the simple narration of fact； but must rush off
into an almost declamatory description of them； my meaning will be
plain to all who have studied Thucydides。 The dignity of his
simplicity is； I think； marred by those who put in the accessories
which seem thought necessary in all present histories。 How few
writers of the present day would not； instead of ＇Greek text which
cannot be reproduced＇ rather write； 〃Night fell upon this horrid
scene of bloodshed。〃 ｛1｝ This is somewhat a matter of taste； but I
think I shall find some to agree with me in preferring for plain
narration （of course I exclude oratory） the unadorned gravity of
Thucydides。 There are； indeed； some writers of the present day who
seem returning to the statement of facts rather than their
adornment； but these are not the most generally admired。 This
simplicity； however； to be truly effective must be unstudied； it
will not do to write with affected terseness； a charge which； I
think； may be fairly preferred against Tacitus； such a style if ever
effective must be so from excess of artifice and not from that
artlessness of simplicity which I should wish to see prevalent among
us。
Neither again is it well to write and go over the ground again with
the pruning knife； though this fault is better than the other； to
take care of the matter； and let the words take care of themselves；
is the best safeguard。
To this I shall be answered； 〃Yes； but is not a diamond cut and
polished a more beautiful object than when rough？〃 I grant it； and
more valuable； inasmuch as it has run chance of spoliation in the
cutting； but I maintain that the thinking man； the man whose
thoughts are great and worth the consideration of others； will 〃deal
in proprieties；〃 and will from the mine of his thoughts produce
ready…cut diamonds； or rather will cut them there spontaneously； ere
ever they see the light of day。
There are a few points still which it were well we should consider。
We are all too apt when we sit down to study a subject to have
already formed our opinion； and to weave all matter to the warp of
our preconceived judgment； to fall in with the received idea； and；
with biassed minds； unconsciously to follow in the wake of public
opinion； while professing to lead it。 To the best of my belief half
the dogmatism of those we daily meet is in consequence of the
unwitting practices of this self…deception。 Simply let us not talk
about what we do not understand； save as learners； and we shall not
by writing mislead others。
There is no shame in being obliged to others for opinions； the shame
is not being honest enough to acknowledge it： I would have no one
omit to put down a useful thought because it was not his own；
provided it tended to the better expression of his matter； and he
did not conceal its source； let him； however； set out the borrowed
capital to interest。 One word more and I have done。 With regard to
our subject； the best rule is not to write concerning that about
which we cannot at our present age know anything save by a process
which is commonly called cram： on all such matters there are abler
writers than ourselves； the men； in fact； from whom we cram。 Never
let us hunt after a subject； unless we have something which we feel
urged on to say； it is better to say nothing； who are so ridiculous
as those who talk for the sake of talking； save only those who write
for the sake of writing？ But there are subjects which all young men
think about。 Who can take a walk in our streets and not think？ The
most trivial incident has ramifications； to whose guidance if we
surrender our thoughts； we are oft…times led upon a gold mine
unawares； and no man whether old or young is worse for reading the
ingenuous and unaffected statement of a young man's thoughts。 There
are some things in which experience blunts the mental vision； as
well as others in which it sharpens it。 The former are best
described by younger men； our province is not to lead public
opinion； is not in fact to ape our seniors； and transport ourselves
from our proper sphere； it is rather to show ourselves as we are； to
throw our thoughts before the public as they rise； without requiring
it to imagine that we are right and others wrong； but hoping for the
forbearance which I must beg the reader to concede to myself； and
trusting to the genuineness and vigour of our design to attract it
may be more than a passing attention。
I am aware that I have digressed from the original purpose of my
essay； but I hope for pardon； if； believing the digression to be of
more value than the original matter； I have not checked my pen； but
let it run on even as my heart directed it。
CELLARIUS。
OUR TOUR
This essay was published