THE ART-PRINCIPLE IN POETRY 19I 



said to be an end in. itself, to be its own end. 

 Now, art is art only as it creates the beautiful, 

 that is, only as it sets the beautiful into actual 

 existence, or, what is the same thing, transforms 

 the actual into the beautiful which is its proper 

 truth and higher reality. To be itself, art must 

 generate that which in its necessary correlation 

 with the ideal of human nature is an end, and not 

 a means ; and hence, just to be itself, to be at all, 

 art must be its own end. 



We need, however, to keep clearly in mind what 

 this rather magisterial expression really signifies. 

 It is liable to great and even gross misunderstand- 

 ing. It seems to challenge the most sacred con- 

 victions of the Puritan spirit, — which, as a genuine 

 historic spirit, has a real authority, — and it does 

 challenge, mortally, the Puritan's one-sided con- 

 ception of human life. But it might seem also to 

 justify or excuse the sensual spirit, as much as to 

 say, " Qicicquid libet licet — art is its own law, it 

 may do as it will. If it please, it may clothe 

 license and sensuality in the enticing garb of 

 colour and fair form and melodious sound and rav- 

 ishing words ; its only condition is that its product 

 shall be beautiful." 



Now, this its sole condition, a sufficing beaicty, 

 we may fearlessly accept ; but we must also as 

 fearlessly apply it. When applied with rigour, it 



