misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第22章
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in his poems。 It is amusing to observe with what labour critics have
attempted to glean from the poems of Homer； some hints as to his
situation and feelings。 According to one hypothesis； he intended to
describe himself under the name of Demodocus。 Others maintain that he
was the identical Phemius whose life Ulysses spared。 This propensity of
the human mind explains； I think； in a great degree； the extensive
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popularity of a poet whose works are little else than the expression of his
personal feelings。
In the second place； Petrarch was not only an egotist； but an amatory
egotist。 The hopes and fears； the joys and sorrows； which he described；
were derived from the passion which of all passions exerts the widest
influence； and which of all passions borrows most from the imagination。
He had also another immense advantage。 He was the first eminent
amatory poet who appeared after the great convulsion which had changed；
not only the political； but the moral； state of the world。 The Greeks； who；
in their public institutions and their literary tastes； were diametrically
opposed to the oriental nations； bore a considerable resemblance to those
nations in their domestic habits。 Like them； they despised the intellects
and immured the persons of their women； and it was among the least of
the frightful evils to which this pernicious system gave birth； that all the
accomplishments of mind； and all the fascinations of manner； which； in a
highly cultivated age； will generally be necessary to attach men to their
female associates； were monopolised by the Phrynes and the Lamais。
The indispensable ingredients of honourable and chivalrous love were
nowhere to be found united。 The matrons and their daughters confined in
the harem；insipid； uneducated； ignorant of all but the mechanical arts；
scarcely seen till they were married；could rarely excite interest；
afterwards their brilliant rivals； half Graces； half Harpies； elegant and
informed； but fickle and rapacious； could never inspire respect。 The state
of society in Rome was； in this point； far happier； and the Latin literature
partook of the superiority。 The Roman poets have decidedly surpassed
those of Greece in the delineation of the passion of love。 There is no
subject which they have treated with so much success。 Ovid； Catullus；
Tibullus； Horace； and Propertius； in spite of all their faults； must be
allowed to rank high in this department of the art。 To these I would add
my favourite Plautus； who； though he took his plots from Greece； found； I
suspect； the originals of his enchanting female characters at Rome。
Still many evils remained： and； in the decline of the great empire； all
that was pernicious in its domestic institutions appeared more strongly。
Under the influence of governments at once dependent and tyrannical；
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which purchased； by cringing to their enemies； the power of trampling on
their subjects； the Romans sunk into the lowest state of effeminacy and
debasement。 Falsehood； cowardice； sloth； conscious and unrepining
degradation； formed the national character。 Such a character is totally
incompatible with the stronger passions。 Love； in particular； which； in
the modern sense of the word； implies protection and devotion on the one
side； confidence on the other； respect and fidelity on both； could not exist
among the sluggish and heartless slaves who cringed around the thrones of
Honorius and Augustulus。 At this period the great renovation
commenced。 The warriors of the north； destitute as they were of
knowledge and humanity； brought with them； from their forests and
marshes； those qualities without which humanity is a weakness and
knowledge a curse；energyindependencethe dread of shamethe
contempt of danger。 It would be most interesting to examine the manner
in which the admixture of the savage conquerors and the effeminate slaves；
after many generations of darkness and agitation； produced the modern
European character；to trace back； from the first conflict to the final
amalgamation； the operation of that mysterious alchemy which； from
hostile and worthless elements； has extracted the pure gold of human
nature to analyse the mass； and to determine the proportion in which the
ingredients are mingled。 But I will confine myself to the subject to
which I have more particularly referred。 The nature of the passion of
love had undergone a complete change。 It still retained； indeed； the
fanciful and voluptuous character which it had possessed among the
southern nations of antiquity。 But it was tinged with the superstitious
veneration with which the northern warriors had been accustomed to
regard women。 Devotion and war had imparted to it their most solemn
and animating feelings。 It was sanctified by the blessings of the Church；
and decorated with the wreaths of the tournament。 Venus； as in the
ancient fable； was again rising above the dark and tempestuous waves
which had so long covered her beauty。 But she rose not now； as of old； in
exposed and luxurious loveliness。 She still wore the cestus of her ancient
witchcraft； but the diadem of Juno was on her brow； and the aegis of
Pallas in her hand。 Love might； in fact； be called a new passion； and it is
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not astonishing that the first poet of eminence who wholly devoted his
genius to this theme should have excited an extraordinary sensation。 He
may be compared to an adventurer who accidentally lands in a rich and
unknown island； and who； though he may only set up an ill…shaped cross
upon the shore； acquires possession of its treasures； and gives it his name。
The claim of Petrarch was indeed somewhat like that of Amerigo Vespucci
to the continent which should have derived its appellation from Columbus。
The Provencal poets were unquestionably the masters of the Florentine。
But they wrote in an age which could not appreciate their merits； and their
imitator lived at the very period when composition in the vernacular
language began to attract general attention。 Petrarch was in literature
what a Valentine is in love。 The public preferred him； not because his
merits were of a transcendent order； but because he was the first person
whom they saw after they awoke from their long sleep。
