letters on literature(关于文学)-第18章
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Miss Broughton's case。 Cling to the fair and witty Jane； if you get a
chance。 Beware of illustrated modern books in which 〃processes〃 are
employed。 Amateurs will never really value mechanical reproductions；
which can be copied to any extent。 The old French copper…plate
engravings and the best English mezzo…tints are so valuable because good
impressions are necessarily so rare。
One more piece of advice。 Never （or 〃hardly ever〃） buy an imperfect
book。 It is a constant source of regret； an eyesore。 Here have I
Lovelace's 〃Lucasta；〃 1649； without the engraving。 It is deplorable； but I
never had a chance of another 〃Lucasta。〃 This is not a case of invenies
aliam。 However you fare； you will have the pleasure of Hope and the
consolation of books quietem inveniendam in abditis recessibus et
libellulis。
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ROCHEFOUCAULD
To the Lady Violet Lebas。
Dear Lady Violet；I am not sure that I agree with you in your
admiration of Rochefoucauldof the Reflexions； ou Sentences et Maximes
Morales； I mean。 At least； I hardly agree when I have read many of them
at a stretch。 It is not fair to read them in that way； of course； for there are
more than five hundred pensees； and so much esprit becomes fatiguing。 I
doubt if people study them much。 Five or six of them have become
known even to writers in the newspapers； and we all copy them from each
other。
Rochefoucauld says that a man may be too dull to be duped by a very
clever person。 He himself was so clever that he was often duped； first by
the general honest dulness of mankind； and then by his own acuteness。
He thought he saw more than he did see； and he said even more than he
thought he saw。 If the true motive of all our actions is self…love； or vanity；
no man is a better proof of the truth than the great maxim…maker。 His
self…love took the shape of a brilliancy that is sometimes false。 He is
tricked out in paste for diamonds； now and then； like a vain； provincial
beauty at a ball。 〃A clever man would frequently be much at a loss；〃 he
says； 〃in stupid company。〃 One has seen this embarrassment of a wit in a
company of dullards。 It is Rochefoucauld's own position in this world of
men and women。 We are all； in the mass； dullards compared with his
cleverness； and so he fails to understand us； is much at a loss among us。
〃People only praise others in hopes of being praised in turn；〃 he says。
Mankind is not such a company of 〃log…rollers〃 as he avers。
There is more truth in a line of Tennyson's about
〃The praise of those we love； Dearer to true young hearts than their
own praise。〃
I venture to think we need not be young to prefer to hear the praise of
others rather than our own。 It is not embarrassing in the first place； as all
praise of ourselves must be。 I doubt if any man or woman can flatter so
discreetly as not to make us uncomfortable。 Besides； if our own
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performances be lauded； we are uneasy as to whether the honour is
deserved。 An artist has usually his own doubts about his own doings； or
rather he has his own certainties。 About our friends' work we need have no
such misgivings。 And our self…love is more delicately caressed by the
success of our friends than by our own。 It is still self…love； but it is
filtered； so to speak； through our affection for another。
What are human motives； according to Rochefoucauld？
Temperament； vanity； fear； indolence； self…love； and a grain of natural
perversity； which somehow delights in evil for itself。 He neglects that
other element； a grain of natural worth； which somehow delights in good
for itself。 This taste； I think； is quite as innate； and as active in us； as that
other taste for evil which causes there to be something not wholly
displeasing in the misfortunes of our friends。
There is a story which always appears to me a touching proof of this
grain of goodness； as involuntary； as fatal as its opposite。 I do not
remember in what book of travels I found this trait of native excellence。
The black fellows of Australia are very fond of sugar； and no wonder； if it
be true that it has on them an intoxicating effect。 Well； a certain black
fellow had a small parcel of brown sugar which was pilfered from his lair
in the camp。 He detected the thief； who was condemned to be punished
according to tribal law； that is to say； the injured man was allowed to have
a whack at his enemy's head with a waddy； a short club of heavy hard
wood。 The whack was duly given； and then the black who had suffered
the loss threw down his club； burst into tears； embraced the thief and
displayed every sign of a lively regret for his revenge。
That seems to me an example of the human touch that Rochefoucauld
never allows for； the natural goodness； pity； kindness； which can assert
itself in contempt of the love of self； and the love of revenge。 This is that
true clemency which is a real virtue； and not 〃the child of Vanity； Fear；
Indolence； or of all three together。〃 Nor is it so true that 〃we have all
fortitude enough to endure the misfortunes of others。〃 Everybody has
witnessed another's grief that came as near him as his own。
How much more true； and how greatly poetical is that famous maxim：
〃Death and the Sun are two things not to be looked on with a steady eye。〃
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This version is from the earliest English translation of 1698。 The
Maximes were first published in Paris in 1665。 ｛8｝ 〃Our tardy apish
nation〃 took thirty…three years in finding them out and appropriating them。
This； too； is good： 〃If we were faultless； we would observe with less
pleasure the faults of others。〃 Indeed； to observe these with pleasure is
not the least of our faults。 Again； 〃We are never so happy； nor so
wretched； as we suppose。〃 It is our vanity； perhaps； that makes us think
ourselves miserrimi。
Do you rememberno； you don'tthat meeting in 〃Candide〃 of the
unfortunate Cunegonde and the still more unfortunate old lady who was
the daughter of a Pope？ 〃You lament your fate；〃 said the old lady； 〃alas；
you have known no such sorrows as mine！〃 〃What！ my good woman！〃
says Cunegonde。 〃Unless you have been maltreated by two Bulgarians；
received two stabs from a knife； had two of your castles burned over your
head； seen two fathers and two mothers murdered before your eyes； and
two of your lovers flogged at two autos…da…fe
