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第27章

letters to his son, 1752-第27章

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 them who had them not; though many have enjoyed them merely by desiring; and without deserving them。  You do not imagine; I believe; that I mean by this public love the sentimental love of either lovers or intimate friends; no; that is of another nature; and confined to a very narrow circle; but I mean that general good…will which a man may acquire in the world; by the arts of pleasing respectively exerted according to the rank; the situation; and the turn of mind of those whom he hath to do with。  The pleasing impressions which he makes upon them will engage their affections and their good wishes; and even their good offices as far (that is) as they are not inconsistent with their own interests; for further than that you are not to expect from three people in the course of your life; even were it extended to the patriarchal term。  Could I revert to the age of twenty; and carry back with me all the experience that forty years more have taught me; I can assure you; that I would employ much the greatest part of my time in engaging the good…will; and in insinuating myself into the predilection of people in general; instead of directing my endeavors to please (as I was too apt to do) to the man whom I immediately wanted; or the woman I wished for; exclusively of all others。  For if one happens (and it will sometimes happen to the ablest man) to fail in his views with that man or that woman; one is at a loss to know whom to address one's self to next; having offended in general; by that exclusive and distinguished particular application。 I would secure a general refuge in the good…will of the multitude; which is a great strength to any man; for both ministers and mistresses choose popular and fashionable favorites。  A man who solicits a minister; backed by the general good…will and good wishes of mankind; solicits with great weight and great probability of success; and a woman is strangely biassed in favor of a man whom she sees in fashion; and hears everybody speak well of。 This useful art of insinuation consists merely of various little things。  A graceful motion; a significant look; a trifling attention; an obliging word dropped 'a propos'; air; dress; and a thousand other undefinable things; all severally little ones; joined together; make that happy and inestimable composition; THE ART OF PLEASING。  I have in my life seen many a very handsome woman who has not pleased me; and many very sensible men who have disgusted me。  Why? only for want of those thousand little means to please; which those women; conscious of their beauty; and those men of their sense; have been grossly enough mistaken to neglect。  I never was so much in love in my life; as I was with a woman who was very far from being handsome; but then she was made up of graces; and had all the arts of pleasing。  The following verses; which I have read in some congratulatory poem prefixed to some work; I have forgot which; express what I mean in favor of what pleases preferably to what is generally called mare solid and instructive:

               〃I would an author like a mistress try;                Not by a nose; a lip; a cheek; or eye;                But by some nameless power to give me joy。〃

Lady Chesterfield bids me make you many compliments; she showed me your letter of recommendation of La Vestres; with which I was very well pleased: there is a pretty turn in it; I wish you would always speak as genteelly。  I saw another letter from a lady at Paris; in which there was a high panegyrical paragraph concerning you。  I wish it were every word of it literally true; but; as it comes from a very little; pretty; white hand; which is suspected; and I hope justly; of great partiality to you: 'il en faut rabattre quelque chose; et meme en le faisant it y aura toujours d'assez beaux restes'。  Adieu。










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