CHAPTER X 



THE NATURE OF NATURE 



The Artist is now in )a position to take stock of 

 Nature as a whole, of her nature, methods, and 

 manner of working, of the motives which actuate 

 her — of what, in short, she really is at heart. And 

 having thus reviewed her, he will have to determine 

 whether his wider and deeper knowledge of Nature 

 confirms or detracts from the impression of her 

 which he had gained from a contemplation of the 

 forest's innumerable life. Upon this decision will' 

 depend his final attitude towards her. And upon 

 his attitude towards her depends his capacity for 

 enjoying Natural Beauty. For if he has any doubt 

 in his mind as to the goodness of Nature or any 

 hesitation about giving himself out to her, there 

 is little prospect of his seeing Beauty in her. He 

 will remain cold and unresponsive to her calls and 

 enjoyment of Natural Beauty will not be for him. 

 And each of us — each for himself — ^just as much 

 as the Artist will have to make up his mind on this 

 fundamental question. If we are to get the full 

 enjoyment we should expect out of Natural Beauty 

 we must have a clear and firm conception in our 

 minds of what Nature really is, what is her essential 

 character, whether at heart she is cold and callous 

 or warm and loving. So far as we were justified in 



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