The whimsicality of Kwang's bird-like hoppings through the peat-bogs of chance assumes sometimes an enchanting picturesqueness; but this picturesqueness always seems to float and drift like moon-lit sea-weed upon a bottomless ocean of mystery. The following passage, for example, is almost word for word a parallel to William Blake's famous distinction between the power that creates and the eye that records. It is interesting to note, however, the difference between Blake’s tempestuous anger with the unimaginative and the querulous, supercilious little sigh with which Kwang dismisses the subject:
"He who uses only the sight of the eyes is acted on by what he sees; it is the intuition of the spirit that gives the assurance of certainty. And yet stupid people rely on what they see, and will have it to be the sentiment of all men;—all their success being with what is external—is it not sad?"
There are many passages in these volumes that compel us to think of Nietzsche's Zarathustra; but the terror of that silver bow is always grandiose and Olympian; whereas the rogueries of Kwang remain rusticated, quizzical, irresponsible, as if Pan himself were scratching little moral vignettes on the bark of the beech-trees, indulging now and again in a skip of his goat-shanks when his mischiefs especially tickle his fancy.
"Tung-kwo asked Kwang, saying, "Where is what you call the Tao to be found? Kwang replied, 'Everywhere.' The other said, 'Specify an instance of it—that will be more satisfactory.' 'It is here in this ant.' 'Give a lower instance.' 'It is in this panic-grass.' 'Give a still lower instance.' 'It is in this earthenware tile.' 'Surely that is the lowest instance?' 'It is in that excrement!' To this Tung-kwo gave no reply."
But there are passages too, where, as in some piece of discordant Russian music, we grow conscious of a singular trembling of the veil of Isis:
"Starlight asked Non-entity, saying, 'Master, do you exist? Or do you not exist?' He got no answer to his question, however, and looked steadfastly to the appearance of the other, which was that
