letters to his son, 1750-第15部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


　as　are　above　mentioned；　consult　Mezeray；　and　other　of　the　best　and　minutest　historians；　as　well　as　political　treatises　upon　those　subjects。　　In　later　times；　memoirs；　from　those　of　Philip　de　Commines；　down　to　the　innumerble　ones　in　the　reign　of　Louis　the　Fourteenth；　have　been　of　great　use；　and　thrown　great　light　upon　particular　parts　of　history。

Conversation　in　France；　if　you　have　the　address　and　dexterity　to　turn　it　upon　useful　subjects；　will　exceedingly　improve　your　historical　knowledge；　for　people　there；　however　classically　ignorant　they　may　be；　think　it　a　shame　to　be　ignorant　of　the　history　of　their　own　country：　they　read　that；　if　they　read　nothing　else；　and　having　often　read　nothing　else；　are　proud　of　having　read　that；　and　talk　of　it　willingly；　even　the　women　are　well　instructed　in　that　sort　of　reading。　　I　am　far　from　meaning　by　this　that　you　should　always　be　talking　wisely　in　company；　of　books；　history；　and　matters　of　knowledge。　　There　are　many　companies　which　you　will；　and　ought　to　keep；　where　such　conversations　would　be　misplaced　and　ill…timed；　your　own　good　sense　must　distinguish　the　company　and　the　time。　　You　must　trifle　only　with　triflers；　and　be　serious　only　with　the　serious；　but　dance　to　those　who　pipe。　　'Cur　in　theatrum　Cato　severs　venisti？'　　was　justly　said　to　an　old　man：　how　much　more　so　would　it　be　to　one　of　your　age？　　From　the　moment　that　you　are　dressed　and　go　out；　pocket　all　your　knowledge　with　your　watch；　and　never　pull　it　out　in　company　unless　desired：　the　producing　of　the　one　unasked；　implies　that　you　are　weary　of　the　company；　and　the　producing　of　the　other　unrequired；　will　make　the　company　weary　of　you。　　Company　is　a　republic　too　jealous　of　its　liberties；　to　suffer　a　dictator　even　for　a　quarter　of　an　hour；　and　yet　in　that；　as　in　republics；　there　are　some　few　who　really　govern；　but　then　it　is　by　seeming　to　disclaim；　instead　of　attempting　to　usurp　the　power；　that　is　the　occasion　in　which　manners；　dexterity；　address；　and　the　undefinable　'je　ne　sais　quoi'　triumph；　if　properly　exerted；　their　conquest　is　sure；　and　the　more　lasting　for　not　being　perceived。　　Remember；　that　this　is　not　only　your　first　and　greatest；　but　ought　to　be　almost　your　only　object；　while　you　are　in　France。

I　know　that　many　of　your　countrymen　are　apt　to　call　the　freedom　and　vivacity　of　the　French　petulancy　and　illbreeding；　but；　should　you　think　so；　I　desire　upon　many　accounts　that　you　will　not　say　so；　I　admit　that　it　may　be　so　in　some　instances　of　'petits　maitres　Etourdis'；　and　in　some　young　people　unbroken　to　the　world；　but　I　can　assure　you；　that　you　will　find　it　much　otherwise　with　people　of　a　certain　rank　and　age；　upon　whose　model　you　will　do　very　well　to　form　yourself。　　We　call　their　steady　assurance；　impudence　why？　　Only　because　what　we　call　modesty　is　awkward　bashfulness　and　'mauvaise　honte'。　　For　my　part；　I　see　no　impudence；　but；　on　the　contrary；　infinite　utility　and　advantage　in　presenting　one's　self　with　the　same　coolness　and　unconcern　in　any　and　every　company。　　Till　one　can　do　that；　I　am　very　sure　that　one　can　never　present　one's　self　well。　Whatever　is　done　under　concern　and　embarrassment；　must　be　ill　done；　and；　till　a　man　is　absolutely　easy　and　unconcerned　in　every　company；　he　will　never　be　thought　to　have　kept　good　company；　nor　be　very　welcome　in　it。　A　steady　assurance；　with　seeming　modesty；　is　possibly　the　most　useful　qualification　that　a　man　can　have　in　every　part　of　life。　　A　man　would　certainly　make　a　very　considerable　fortune　and　figure　in　the　world；　whose　modesty　and　timidity　should　often；　as　bashfulness　always　does　（put　him　in　the　deplorable　and　lamentable　situation　of　the　pious　AEneas；　when　'obstupuit；　steteruntque　comae；　et　vox　faucibus　haesit！）。　　Fortune　（as　well　as　women）

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃…born　to　be　controlled；　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Stoops　to　the　forward　and　the　bold。〃

Assurance　and　intrepidity；　under　the　white　banner　of　seeming　modesty；　clear　the　way　for　merit；　that　would　otherwise　be　discouraged　by　difficulties　in　its　journey；　whereas　barefaced　impudence　is　the　noisy　and　blustering　harbinger　of　a　worthless　and　senseless　usurper。

You　will　think　that　I　shall　never　have　done　recommending　to　you　these　exterior　worldly　accomplishments；　and　you　will　think　right；　for　I　never　shall；　they　are　of　too　great　consequence　to　you　for　me　to　be　indifferent　or　negligent　about　them：　the　shining　part　of　your　future　figure　and　fortune　depends　now　wholly　upon　them。　　These　are　the　acquisitions　which　must　give　efficacy　and　success　to　those　you　have　already　made。　　To　have　it　said　and　believed　that　you　are　the　most　learned　man　in　England；　would　be　no　more　than　was　said　and　believed　of　Dr。　Bentley；　but　to　have　it　said；　at　the　same　time；　that　you　are　also　the　best…bred；　most　polite；　and　agreeable　man　in　the　kingdom；　would　be　such　a　happy　composition　of　a　character　as　I　never　yet　knew　any　one　man　deserve；　and　which　I　will　endeavor；　as　well　as　ardently　wish；　that　you　may。　　Absolute　perfection　is；　I　well　know；　unattainable；　but　I　know　too；　that　a　man　of　parts　may　be　unweariedly　aiming　at　it；　and　arrive　pretty　near　it。　　Try；　labor；　persevere。　　Adieu。




LETTER　CXXI

LONDON；　November　8；　O。　S。　　1750

MY　DEAR　FRIEND：　　Before　you　get　to　Paris；　where　you　will　soon　be　left　to　your　own　discretion；　if　you　have　any；　it　is　necessary　that　we　should　understand　one　another　thoroughly；　which　is　the　most　probable　way　of　preventing　disputes。　　Money；　the　cause　of　much　mischief　in　the　world；　is　the　cause　of　most　quarrels　between　fathers　and　sons；　the　former　commonly　thinking　that　they　cannot　give　too　little；　and　the　latter；　that　they　cannot　have　enough；　both　equally　in　the　wrong。　　You　must　do　me　the　justice　to　acknowledge；　that　I　have　hitherto　neither　stinted　nor　grudged　any　expense　that　could　be　of　use　or　real　pleasure　to　you；　and　I　can　assure　you；　by　the　way；　that　you　have　traveled　at　a　much　more　considerable　expense　than　I　did　myself；　but　I　never　so　much　as　thought　of　that；　while　Mr。　Harte　was　at　the　head　of　your　finances；　being　very　sure　that　the　sums　granted　were　scrupulously　applied　to　the　uses　for　which　they　were　intended。　　But　the　case　will　soon　be　altered；　and　you　will　be　your　own　receiver　and　treasurer。　　However；　I　promise　you；　that　we　will　not　quarrel　singly　upon　the　quantum；　which　shall　be　cheerfully　and　freely　granted：　the　application　and　appropriation　of　it　will　be　the　material　point；　which　I　am　now　going　to　clear　up　and　finally　settle　with　you。　I　will　fix；　or　even　name；　no　settled　allowance；　though　I　well　know　in　my　own　mind　what　would　be　the　proper　one；　but　I　will　first　try　your　draughts；　by　which　I　can　in　a　good　degree　judge　of　your　conduct。　　This　only　I　tell　you　in　general；　that　if　the　channels　through　which　my　money　is　to　go　are　the　proper　ones；　the　source　shall　not　be　scanty；　but　should　it　deviate　into　dirty；　muddy；　and　obscure　ones　（which　by　the　bye；　it　cannot　do　for　a　week　without　my　knowing　it）；　I　give　you　fair　and　timely　notice；　that　the　source　will　instantly　be　dry。　　Mr。　Harte；　in　establishing　you　at　Paris；　will　point　out　to　you　those　proper　channels；　he　will　leave　you　there　upon　the　foot　of　a　man　of　fashion；　and　I　will　continue　you　upon　the　same；　you　will　have　your　coach；　your　valet　de　chambre；　your　own　footman；　and　a　valet　de　place；　which；　by　the　way；　is　one　servant　more　than　I　had。　　I　would　have　you　very　well　dressed；　by　which　I　mean　dressed　as　the　generality　of　people　of　fashion　are；　that　is；　not　to　be　taken　notice　of；　for　being　either　more　or　less　fine　than　other　people：　it　is　by　being　well　dressed；　not　finely　dressed；　that　a　gentleman　should　be　distinguished。　　You　must　frequent　'les　spectacles'；　which　expense　I　shall　willingly　supply。　　You　must　play　'a　des　petits　jeux　de　commerce'　in　mixed　companies；　that　article　is　trifling；　I　shall　pay　it　cheerfully。　　All　the　other　articles　of　pocket…money　are　very　inconsiderable　at　Paris；　in　comparison　of　what　they　are　here；　the　silly　custom　of　giving　money　wherever　one　dines　or　sups；　and　the　expensive　importunity　of　subscriptions；　not　being　yet　introduced　there。　　Having　thus　reckoned　up　all　the　decent　expenses　of　a　gentleman；　which　I　will　most　readily　defray；　I　come　now　to　those　which　I　will　neither　bear　nor　supply。　　The　first　of　these　is　gaming；　of　which；　though　I　have　not　the　least　reason　to　suspect　you；　I　think　it　necessary　eventually　to　assure　you；　that　no　consideration　in　the　world　shall　ever　make　me　pay　your　play　debts；　should　you　ever　urge　to　me　that　your　honor　is　pawned；　I　should　most　immovably　answer　you；　that　it　was　your　honor；　not　mine；　that　was　pawned；　and　that　your　creditor　might　e'en　take　the　pawn　for　the　debt。

Low　company；　and　low　pleasures；　are　always　much　more　costly　than　liberal　and　elegant　ones。　　The　disgraceful　riots　of　a　tavern　are　much　more　expensive；　as　well　as　dishonorable；　than　the　sometimes　pardonable　excesses　in　good　company。　　I　must　absolutely　hear　of　no　tavern　scrapes　and　squabbles。

I　come　now　to　another　and　very　material　point；　I　mean　women；　and　I　will　not　address　myself　to　you　upon　this　subject；　either　in　a　religious；　a　moral；　or　a　parental　style。　　I　will　even　lay　aside　my　age；　remember　yours；　and　speak　to　you　as　one　man　of　pleasure；　if　he　had　parts　too；　would　speak　to　another。　　I　will　by　no　means　pay　for　whores；　and　their　never…failing　consequences；　surgeons；　nor　will　I；　upon　any　account；　keep　singers；　dancers；　actresses；　and　'id　genus　omne'；　and；　independently　of　the　expense；　I　must　tell　you；　that　such　connections　would　give　me；　and　all　sensible　people；　the　utmost　contempt　for　your　parts　and　address；　a　young　fellow　must　have　as　little　sense　as　address；　to　venture；　or　more　properly　to　sacrifice；　his　health　and　ruin　his　fortune；　with　such　sort　of　creatures；　in　such　a　place　as　Paris　especially；　where　gallantry　is　both　the　profession　and　the　practice　of　every　woman　of　fashion。　　To　speak　plainly；　I　will　not　forgive　your　understanding　cs　and　p…s；　nor　will　your　constitution　forgive　them　you。　　These　distempers；　as　well　as　their　cures；　fall　nine　times　in　ten　upon　the　lungs。　　This　argument；　I　am　sure；　ought　to　have　weight　with　you：　for　I　protest　to　you；　that　if　you　meet　with　any　such　accident；　I　would　not　give　one　year's　purchase　for　your　life。　　Lastly；　there　is　another　sort　of　expense　that　I　will　not　allow；　only　because　it　is　a　silly　one；　I　mean　the　fooling　away　you