05-behavior-第4部分

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vulgar　tone。　　The　novels　used　to　lead　us　on　to　a　foolish　interest　in

the　fortunes　of　the　boy　and　girl　they　described。　　The　boy　was　to　be

raised　from　a　humble　to　a　high　position。　　He　was　in　want　of　a　wife

and　a　castle；　and　the　object　of　the　story　was　to　supply　him　with　one

or　both。　　We　watched　sympathetically；　step　by　step；　his　climbing；

until；　at　last；　the　point　is　gained；　the　wedding　day　is　fixed；　and　we

follow　the　gala　procession　home　to　the　castle；　when　the　doors　are

slammed　in　our　face；　and　the　poor　reader　is　left　outside　in　the　cold；

not　enriched　by　so　much　as　an　idea；　or　a　virtuous　impulse。



　　　　　　　　But　the　victories　of　character　are　instant；　and　victories　for

all。　　Its　greatness　enlarges　all。　　We　are　fortified　by　every　heroic

anecdote。　　The　novels　are　as　useful　as　Bibles；　if　they　teach　you　the

secret；　that　the　best　of　life　is　conversation；　and　the　greatest

success　is　confidence；　or　perfect　understanding　between　sincere

people。　　'Tis　a　French　definition　of　friendship；　_rien　que

s'entendre_；　good　understanding。　　The　highest　compact　we　can　make

with　our　fellow；　is；　　‘Let　there　be　truth　between　us　two

forevermore。'　That　is　the　charm　in　all　good　novels；　as　it　is　the

charm　in　all　good　histories；　that　the　heroes　mutually　understand；

from　the　first；　and　deal　loyally；　and　with　a　profound　trust　in　each

other。　　It　is　sublime　to　feel　and　say　of　another；　I　need　never　meet；

or　speak；　or　write　to　him：　we　need　not　reinforce　ourselves；　or　send

tokens　of　remembrance：　I　rely　on　him　as　on　myself：　if　he　did　thus　or

thus；　I　know　it　was　right。



　　　　　　　　In　all　the　superior　people　I　have　met；　I　notice　directness；

truth　spoken　more　truly；　as　if　everything　of　obstruction；　of

malformation；　had　been　trained　away。　　What　have　they　to　conceal？

What　have　they　to　exhibit？　　Between　simple　and　noble　persons；　there

is　always　a　quick　intelligence：　they　recognize　at　sight；　and　meet　on

a　better　ground　than　the　talents　and　skills　they　may　chance　to

possess；　namely；　on　sincerity　and　uprightness。　　For；　it　is　not　what

talents　or　genius　a　man　has；　but　how　he　is　to　his　talents；　that

constitutes　friendship　and　character。　　The　man　that　stands　by

himself；　the　universe　stands　by　him　also。　　It　is　related　of　the　monk

Basle；　that；　being　excommunicated　by　the　Pope；　he　was；　at　his　death；

sent　in　charge　of　an　angel　to　find　a　fit　place　of　suffering　in　hell：

but；　such　was　the　eloquence　and　good…humor　of　the　monk；　that；

wherever　he　went　he　was　received　gladly；　and　civilly　treated；　even　by

the　most　uncivil　angels：　and；　when　he　came　to　discourse　with　them；

instead　of　contradicting　or　forcing　him；　they　took　his　part；　and

adopted　his　manners：　and　even　good　angels　came　from　far；　to　see　him；

and　take　up　their　abode　with　him。　　The　angel　that　was　sent　to　find　a

place　of　torment　for　him；　attempted　to　remove　him　to　a　worse　pit；　but

with　no　better　success；　for　such　was　the　contented　spirit　of　the

monk；　that　he　found　something　to　praise　in　every　place　and　company；

though　in　hell；　and　made　a　kind　of　heaven　of　it。　　At　last　the

escorting　angel　returned　with　his　prisoner　to　them　that　sent　him；

saying；　that　no　phlegethon　could　be　found　that　would　burn　him；　for

that；　in　whatever　condition；　Basle　remained　incorrigibly　Basle。　　The

legend　says；　his　sentence　was　remitted；　and　he　was　allowed　to　go　into

heaven；　and　was　canonized　as　a　saint。



　　　　　　　　There　is　a　stroke　of　magnanimity　in　the　correspondence　of

Bonaparte　with　his　brother　Joseph；　when　the　latter　was　King　of　Spain；

and　complained　that　he　missed　in　Napoleon's　letters　the　affectionate

tone　which　had　marked　their　childish　correspondence。　　〃I　am　sorry；〃

replies　Napoleon；　〃you　think　you　shall　find　your　brother　again　only

in　the　Elysian　Fields。　　It　is　natural；　that　at　forty；　he　should　not

feel　towards　you　as　he　did　at　twelve。　　But　his　feelings　towards　you

have　greater　truth　and　strength。　　His　friendship　has　the　features　of

his　mind。〃



　　　　　　　　How　much　we　forgive　to　those　who　yield　us　the　rare　spectacle　of

heroic　manners！　　We　will　pardon　them　the　want　of　books；　of　arts；　and

even　of　the　gentler　virtues。　　How　tenaciously　we　remember　them！　　Here

is　a　lesson　which　I　brought　along　with　me　in　boyhood　from　the　Latin

School；　and　which　ranks　with　the　best　of　Roman　anecdotes。　　Marcus

Scaurus　was　accused　by　Quintus　Varius　Hispanus；　that　he　had　excited

the　allies　to　take　arms　against　the　Republic。　　But　he；　full　of

firmness　and　gravity；　defended　himself　in　this　manner：　〃Quintus

Varius　Hispanus　alleges　that　Marcus　Scaurus；　President　of　the　Senate；

excited　the　allies　to　arms：　Marcus　Scaurus；　President　of　the　Senate；

denies　it。　　There　is　no　witness。　　Which　do　you　believe；　Romans？〃

_〃Utri　creditis；　Quirites？〃_　When　he　had　said　these　words；　he　was

absolved　by　the　assembly　of　the　people。



　　　　　　　　I　have　seen　manners　that　make　a　similar　impression　with

personal　beauty；　that　give　the　like　exhilaration；　and　refine　us　like

that；　and；　in　memorable　experiences；　they　are　suddenly　better　than

beauty；　and　make　that　superfluous　and　ugly。　　But　they　must　be　marked

by　fine　perception；　the　acquaintance　with　real　beauty。　　They　must

always　show　self…control：　you　shall　not　be　facile；　apologetic；　or

leaky；　but　king　over　your　word；　and　every　gesture　and　action　shall

indicate　power　at　rest。　　Then　they　must　be　inspired　by　the　good

heart。　　There　is　no　beautifier　of　complexion；　or　form；　or　behavior；

like　the　wish　to　scatter　joy　and　not　pain　around　us。　　'Tis　good　to

give　a　stranger　a　meal；　or　a　night's　lodging。　　'Tis　better　to　be

hospitable　to　his　good　meaning　and　thought；　and　give　courage　to　a

companion。　　We　must　be　as　courteous　to　a　man　as　we　are　to　a　picture；

which　we　are　willing　to　give　the　advantage　of　a　good　light。　　Special

precepts　are　not　to　be　thought　of：　the　talent　of　well…doing　contains

them　all。　　Every　hour　will　show　a　duty　as　paramount　as　that　of　my

whim　just　now；　and　yet　I　will　write　it；　　that　there　is　one　topic

peremptorily　forbidden　to　all　well…bred；　to　all　rational　mortals；

namely；　their　distempers。　　If　you　have　not　slept；　or　if　you　have

slept；　or　if　you　have　headache；　or　sciatica；　or　leprosy；　or

thunder…stroke；　I　beseech　you；　by　all　angels；　to　hold　your　peace；　and

not　pollute　the　morning；　to　which　all　the　housemates　bring　serene　and

pleasant　thoughts；　by　corruption　and　groans。　　Come　out　of　the　azure。

Love　the　day。　　Do　not　leave　the　sky　out　of　your　landscape。　　The


oldest　and　the　most　deserving　person　should　come　very　modestly　into

any　newly　awaked　company；　respecting　the　divine　communications；　out

of　which　all　must　be　presumed　to　have　newly　come。　　An　old　man　who

added　an　elevating　culture　to　a　large　experience　of　life；　said　to　me；

〃When　you　come　into　the　room；　I　think　I　will　study　how　to　make

humanity　beautiful　to　you。〃



　　　　　　　　As　respects　the　delicate　question　of　culture；　I　do　not　think

that　any　other　than　negative　rules　can　be　laid　down。　　For　positive

rules；　for　suggestion；　Nature　alone　inspires　it。　　Who　dare　assume　to

guide　a　youth；　a　maid；　to　perfect　manners？　　the　golden　mean　is　so

delicate；　difficult；　　say　frankly；　unattainable。　　What　finest　hands

would　not　be　clumsy　to　sketch　the　genial　precepts　of　the　young　girl's

demeanor？　　The　chances　seem　infinite　against　success；　and　yet　success

is　continually　attained。　　There　must　not　be　secondariness；　and　'tis　a

thousand　to　one　that　her　air　and　manner　will　at　once　betray　that　she

is　not　primary；　but　that　there　is　some　other　one　or　many　of　her

class；　to　whom　she　habitually　postpones　herself。　　But　Nature　lifts

her　easily；　and　without　knowing　it；　over　these　impossibilities；　and

we　are　continually　surprised　with　graces　and　felicities　not　only

unteachable；　but　undescribable。