33/58 Mr.John Davidson, a remarkable poet, is so passionately excited about it that he is obliged to write prose. He publishes a short play with several long prefaces. This is natural enough in Mr.Shaw, for all his plays are prefaces: Mr.Shaw is (I suspect) the only man on earth who has never written any poetry. But that Mr.Davidson (who can write excellent poetry) should write instead laborious metaphysics in defence of this doctrine of will, does show that the doctrine of will has taken hold of men. Even Mr.H.G.Wells has half spoken in its language; saying that one should test acts not like a thinker, but like an artist, saying, "I _feel_ this curve is right," or "that line _shall_ go thus." They are all excited; and well they may be. |