THE HARMONY OF VIRTUE

IV. 2.Vyasa: Some Characteristics163just as the mild and delicately moral temper of the more easternKoshalas has realised itself in Valmiki and through the Ramayanaso largely dominated Hindu character. Steeped in the heroicideals of the Bharata, attuned to their profound and daring thoughtand temperament, Vyasa has made himself the poet of the highmindedKshatriya caste, voices their resonant speech, breathestheir aspiring and unconquerable spirit, mirrors their rich and variedlife with a loving detail and moves through his subject with aswift yet measured movement like the march of an army towardsbattle.A comparison with Valmiki is instructive of the varying geniusof these great masters. Both excel in epical rhetoric, if such aterm as rhetoric can be applied to Vyasa's direct and severestyle, but Vyasa's has the air of a more intellectual, reflectiveand experienced stage of poetical advance. The longer speechesin the Ramayana, those even which have most the appearanceof set, argumentative oration, proceed straight from theheart, the thoughts, words, reasonings come welling up fromthe dominant emotion or conflicting feeling of the speaker; theypalpitate and are alive with the vital force from which they havesprung. Though belonging to a more thoughtful, gentle andcultured civilisation than Homer's, they have, like his, the largeutterance which is not of primitive times, but of the primal emotions.Vyasa's have a powerful but austere force of intellectuality.In expressing character they firmly expose it rather than springhalf-unconsciously from it; their bold and finely planned consistencywith the original conception reveals rather the conscientiouspainstaking of an inspired but reflective artist than themore primary and impetuous creative impulse. In their managementof emotion itself a similar difference becomes prominent.Valmiki, when giving utterance to a mood or passion simple orcomplex, surcharges every line, every phrase, turn of words ormovement of verse with it; there are no lightning flashes but agreat depth of emotion swelling steadily, inexhaustibly and increasinglyin a wonder of sustained feeling, like a continuallyrising wave with low crests of foam. Vyasa has a high levelof style with a subdued emotion behind it occasionally breakinginto poignant outbursts. It is by sudden beauties that