letters to his son, 1750-第15章
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he rank we hold。
〃The third is； that those things which honor forbids are more rigorously forbidden； when the laws do not concur in the prohibition； and those it commands are more strongly insisted upon； when they happen not to be commanded by law。〃
Though our government differs considerably from the French； inasmuch as we have fixed laws and constitutional barriers for the security of our liberties and properties； yet the President's observations hold pretty near as true in England as in France。 Though monarchies may differ a good deal； kings differ very little。 Those who are absolute desire to continue so； and those who are not； endeavor to become so； hence the same maxims and manners almost in all courts： voluptuousness and profusion encouraged； the one to sink the people into indolence； the other into povertyconsequently into dependence。 The court is called the world here as well as at Paris； and nothing more is meant by saying that a man knows the world； than that he knows courts。 In all courts you must expect to meet with connections without friendship； enmities without hatred； honor without virtue； appearances saved； and realities sacrificed； good manners with bad morals； and all vice and virtues so disguised； that whoever has only reasoned upon both would know neither when he first met them at court。 It is well that you should know the map of that country； that when you come to travel in it； you may do it with greater safety。
From all this you will of yourself draw this obvious conclusion： That you are in truth but now going to the great and important school； the world； to which Westminster and Leipsig were only the little preparatory schools； as Marylebone； Windsor； etc。； are to them。 What you have already acquired will only place you in the second form of this new school； instead of the first。 But if you intend； as I suppose you do； to get into the shell； you have very different things to learn from Latin and Greek： and which require much more sagacity and attention than those two dead languages； the language of pure and simple nature； the language of nature variously modified and corrupted by passions； prejudices； and habits； the language of simulation and dissimulation： very hard； but very necessary to decipher。 Homer has not half so many； nor so difficult dialects； as the great book of the school you are now going to。 Observe； therefore； progressively； and with the greatest attention； what the best scholars in the form immediately above you do； and so on； until you get into the shell yourself。 Adieu。
Pray tell Mr。 Harte that I have received his letter of the 27th May； N。 S。； and that I advise him never to take the English newswriters literally； who never yet inserted any one thing quite right。 I have both his patent and his mandamus； in both which he is Walter； let the newspapers call him what they please。
LETTER CXVII
LONDON； July 9； O。 S。 1750。
MY DEAR FRIEND： I should not deserve that appellation in return from you； if I did not freely and explicitly inform you of every corrigible defect which I may either hear of； suspect； or at any time discover in you。 Those who； in the common course of the world； will call themselves your friends； or whom； according to the common notions of friendship； you may possibly think such； will never tell you of your faults； still less of your weaknesses。 But； on the contrary； more desirous to make you their friend； than to prove themselves yours； they will flatter both； and； in truth； not be sorry for either。 Interiorly； most people enjoy the inferiority of their best friends。 The useful and essential part of friendship； to you； is reserved singly for Mr。 Harte and myself： our relations to you stand pure and unsuspected of all private views。 In whatever we say to you； we can have no interest but yours。 We are therefore authorized to represent； advise； and remonstrate； and your reason must tell you that you ought to attend to and believe us。
I am credibly informed； that there is still a considerable hitch or hobble in your enunciation； and that when you speak fast you sometimes speak unintelligibly。 I have formerly and frequently laid my thoughts before you so fully upon this subject； that I can say nothing new upon it now。 I must therefore only repeat； that your whole depends upon it。 Your trade is to speak well； both in public and in private。 The manner of your speaking is full as important as the matter； as more people have ears to be tickled； than understandings to judge。 Be your productions ever so good； they will be of no use； if you stifle and strangle them in their birth。 The best compositions of Corelli； if ill executed and played out of tune； instead of touching； as they do when well performed； would only excite the indignation of the hearer's； when murdered by an unskillful performer。 But to murder your own productions； and that 'coram Populo'； is a MEDEAN CRUELTY； which Horace absolutely forbids。 Remember of what importance Demosthenes； and one of the Gracchi； thought ENUNCIATION； and read what stress Cicero and Quintilian lay upon it； even the herb…women at Athens were correct judges of it。 Oratory； with all its graces； that of enunciation in particular； is full as necessary in our government as it ever was in Greece or Rome。 No man can make a fortune or a figure in this country； without speaking； and speaking well in public。 If you will persuade； you must first please； and if you will please； you must tune your voice to harmony； you must articulate every syllable distinctly； your emphasis and cadences must be strongly and properly marked； and the whole together must be graceful and engaging： If you do not speak in that manner； you had much better not speak at all。 All the learning you have； or ever can have； is not worth one groat without it。 It may be a comfort and an amusement to you in your closet； but can be of no use to you in the world。 Let me conjure you； therefore； to make this your only object； till you have absolutely conquered it； for that is in your power； think of nothing else； read and speak for nothing else。 Read aloud； though alone； and read articulately and distinctly； as if you were reading in public； and on the most important occasion。 Recite pieces of eloquence； declaim scenes of tragedies to Mr。 Harte； as if he were a numerous audience。 If there is any particular consonant which you have a difficulty in articulating； as I think you had with the R； utter it millions and millions of times； till you have uttered it right。 Never speak quick； till you have first learned to speak well。 In short； lay aside every book； and every thought； that does not directly tend to this great object； absolutely decisive of your future fortune and figure。
The next thing necessary in your destination； is writing correctly； elegantly； and in a good hand too； in which three particulars； I am sorry to tell you； that you hitherto fail。 Your handwriting is a very bad one； and would make a scurvy figure in an office…book of letters； or even in a lady's pocket…book。 But that fault is easily cured by care； since every man； who has the use of his eyes and of his right hand； can write whatever hand he pleases。 As to the correctness and elegance of your writing； attention to grammar does the one； and to the best authors the other。 In your letter to me of the 27th June； N。 S。； you omitted the date of the place； so that I only conjectured from the contents that you were at Rome。
Thus I have； with the truth and freedom of the tenderest affection； told you all your defects； at least all that I know or have heard of。 Thank God； they are all very curable； they must be cured； and I am sure； you will cure them。 That once done； nothing remains for you to acquire； or for me to wish you； but the turn； the manners； the address； and the GRACES； of the polite world； which experience； observation； and good company； will insensibly give you。 Few people at your age have read； seen； and known； so much as you have； and consequently few are so near as yourself to what I call perfection； by which I only； mean being very near as well as the best。 Far； therefore； from being discouraged by what you still want； what you already have shoul
