letters to his son, 1752-第5章
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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
nd bring out the one； and bring up the other； entirely crude and undigested。 You will find in Lord Bolingbroke's book an infallible specific against that epidemical complaint。 ＇It is important to remember that at this time Lord Bolingbroke's philosophical works had not appeared； which accounts for Lord Chesterfield's recommending to his son； in this； as well as in some foregoing passages； the study of Lord Bolingbroke's writings。＇
I remember a gentleman who had read history in this thoughtless and undistinguishing manner； and who； having traveled； had gone through the Valtelline。 He told me that it was a miserable poor country； and therefore it was； surely； a great error in Cardinal Richelieu to make such a rout； and put France to so much expense about it。 Had my friend read history as he ought to have done； he would have known that the great object of that great minister was to reduce the power of the House of Austria； and in order to that； to cut off as much as he could the communication between the several parts of their then extensive dominions； which reflections would have justified the Cardinal to him； in the affair of the Valtelline。 But it was easier to him to remember facts； than to combine and reflect。
One observation I hope you will make in reading history； for it is an obvious and a true one。 It is； that more people have made great figures and great fortunes in courts by their exterior accomplishments； than by their interior qualifications。 Their engaging address； the politeness of their manners； their air； their turn； hath almost always paved the way for their superior abilities； if they have such； to exert themselves。 They have been favorites before they have been ministers。 In courts； an universal gentleness and 'douceur dans les manieres' is most absolutely necessary： an offended fool； or a slighted valet de chambre； may very possibly do you more hurt at court； than ten men of merit can do you good。 Fools； and low people； are always jealous of their dignity； and never forget nor forgive what they reckon a slight： on the other hand； they take civility and a little attention as a favor； remember； and acknowledge it： this； in my mind； is buying them cheap； and therefore they are worth buying。 The prince himself； who is rarely the shining genius of his court； esteems you only by hearsay but likes you by his senses； that is； from your air； your politeness； and your manner of addressing him； of which alone he is a judge。 There is a court garment； as well as a wedding garment； without which you will not be received。 That garment is the 'volto sciolto'； an imposing air； an elegant politeness； easy and engaging manners； universal attention； an insinuating gentleness； and all those 'je ne sais quoi' that compose the GRACES。
I am this moment disagreeably interrupted by a letter； not from you； as I expected； but from a friend of yours at Paris； who informs me that you have a fever which confines you at home。 Since you have a fever； I am glad you have prudence enough in it to stay at home； and take care of yourself； a little more prudence might probably have prevented it。 Your blood is young； and consequently hot； and you naturally make a great deal by your good stomach and good digestion； you should； therefore； necessarily attenuate and cool it； from time to time； by gentle purges； or by a very low diet； for two or three days together； if you would avoid fevers。 Lord Bacon； who was a very great physician in both senses of the word； hath this aphorism in his 〃Essay upon Health；〃 'Nihil magis ad Sanitatem tribuit quam crebrae et domesticae purgationes'。 By 'domesticae'； he means those simple uncompounded purgatives which everybody can administer to themselves； such as senna…tea； stewed prunes and senria； chewing a little rhubarb； or dissolving an ounce and a half of manna in fair water； with the juice of a lemon to make it palatable。 Such gentle and unconfining evacuations would certainly prevent those feverish attacks to which everybody at your age is subject。
By the way； I do desire； and insist； that whenever； from any indisposition； you are not able to write to me upon the fixed days； that Christian shall； and give me a TRUE account how you are。 I do not expect from him the Ciceronian epistolary style； but I will content myself with the Swiss simplicity and truth。
I hope you extend your acquaintance at Paris； and frequent variety of companies； the only way of knowing the world； every set of company differs in some particulars from another； and a man of business must； in the course of his life； have to do with all sorts。 It is a very great advantage to know the languages of the several countries one travels in； and different companies may； in some degree； be considered as different countries； each hath its distinctive language； customs； and manners： know them all； and you will wonder at none。
Adieu； child。 Take care of your health； there are no pleasures without it。
LETTER CLX
LONDON； February 20； O。 S。 1752。
MY DEAR FRIEND： In all systems whatsoever； whether of religion； government； morals； etc。； perfection is the object always proposed； though possibly unattainable； hitherto； at least； certainly unattained。 However； those who aim carefully at the mark itself； will unquestionably come nearer it； than those who from despair； negligence； or indolence； leave to chance the work of skill。 This maxim holds equally true in common life； those who aim at perfection will come infinitely nearer it than those desponding or indolent spirits； who foolishly say to themselves： Nobody is perfect； perfection is unattainable； to attempt it is chimerical； I shall do as well as others； why then should I give myself trouble to be what I never can； and what； according to the common course of things； I need not be； PERFECT？
I am very sure that I need not point out to you the weakness and the folly of this reasoning； if it deserves the name of reasoning。 It would discourage and put a stop to the exertion of any one of our faculties。 On the contrary； a man of sense and spirit says to himself： Though the point of perfection may （considering the imperfection of our nature） be unattainable； my care； my endeavors； my attention； shall not be wanting to get as near it as I can。 I will approach it every day； possibly； I may arrive at it at last； at least； what I ；am sure is in my own power； I will not be distanced。 Many fools （speaking of you） say to me： What！ would you have him perfect？ I answer： Why not？ What hurt would it do him or me？ O； but that is impossible； say they； I reply； I am not sure of that： perfection in the abstract； I admit to be unattainable； but what is commonly called perfection in a character I maintain to be attainable； and not only that； but in every man's power。 He hath； continue they； a good head； a good heart； a good fund of knowledge； which would increase daily： What would you have more？ Why； I would have everything more that can adorn and complete a character。 Will it do his head； his heart； or his knowledge any harm； to have the utmost delicacy of manners； the most shining advantages of air and address； the most endearing attentions； and the most engaging graces？ But as he is； say they； he is loved wherever he is known。 I am very glad of it； say I ； but I would have him be liked before he is known； and loved afterward。 I would have him； by his first abord and address； make people wish to know him； and inclined to love him： he will save a great deal of time by it。 Indeed； reply they； you are too nice； too exact； and lay too much stress upon things that are of very little consequence。 Indeed； rejoin I； you know very little of the nature of mankind； if you take those things to be of little consequence： one cannot be too attentive to them； it is they that always engage the heart； of which the understanding is commonly the bubble。 And I would much rather that he erred in a point of grammar； of history； of philosophy； etc。； than in point of manners and address。 But consider； he is very young； all this will come in time。 I hope so； but that time must be when he is young； or it will never be at all； the right 'pli' must be taken young； or it will never be easy or seem n
