misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第42章
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separately the remains of Lysias； of Aeschines； of Demosthenes； and of
Isocrates； who； though strictly speaking he was rather a pamphleteer than
an orator； deserves； on many accounts； a place in such a disquisition。
The length of my prolegomena and digressions compels me to postpone
this part of the subject to another occasion。 A Magazine is certainly a
delightful invention for a very idle or a very busy man。 He is not
compelled to complete his plan or to adhere to his subject。 He may
ramble as far as he is inclined； and stop as soon as he is tired。 No one
takes the trouble to recollect his contradictory opinions or his unredeemed
pledges。 He may be as superficial； as inconsistent； and as careless as he
chooses。 Magazines resemble those little angels； who； according to the
pretty Rabbinical tradition； are generated every morning by the brook
which rolls over the flowers of Paradise；whose life is a song；who
warble till sunset； and then sink back without regret into nothingness。
Such spirits have nothing to do with the detecting spear of Ithuriel or the
victorious sword of Michael。 It is enough for them to please and be
forgotten。
。。。
A PROPHETIC ACCOUNT OF A GRAND NATIONAL EPIC
POEM； TO BE ENTITLED 〃THE WELLINGTONIAD；〃 AND TO BE
PUBLISHED A。D。 2824。
（November 1824。）
How I became a prophet it is not very important to the reader to know。
Nevertheless I feel all the anxiety which； under similar circumstances；
troubled the sensitive mind of Sidrophel； and； like him； am eager to
vindicate myself from the suspicion of having practised forbidden arts； or
held intercourse with beings of another world。 I solemnly declare；
therefore； that I never saw a ghost； like Lord Lyttleton； consulted a gipsy；
like Josephine； or heard my name pronounced by an absent person； like Dr
Johnson。 Though it is now almost as usual for gentlemen to appear at the
moment of their death to their friends as to call on them during their life；
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THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
none of my acquaintance have been so polite as to pay me that customary
attention。 I have derived my knowledge neither from the dead nor from
the living； neither from the lines of a hand； nor from the grounds of a tea…
cup； neither from the stars of the firmament； nor from the fiends of the
abyss。 I have never； like the Wesley family； heard 〃that mighty leading
angel；〃 who 〃drew after him the third part of heaven's sons；〃 scratching in
my cupboard。 I have never been enticed to sign any of those delusive
bonds which have been the ruin of so many poor creatures； and； having
always been an indifferent horse man； I have been careful not to venture
myself on a broomstick。
My insight into futurity； like that of George Fox the quaker； and that of
our great and philosophic poet； Lord Byron； is derived from simple
presentiment。 This is a far less artificial process than those which are
employed by some others。 Yet my predictions will； I believe； be found
more correct than theirs； or； at all events； as Sir Benjamin Back bite says
in the play； 〃more circumstantial。〃
I prophesy then； that； in the year 2824； according to our present
reckoning； a grand national Epic Poem； worthy to be compared with the
Iliad； the Aeneid； or the Jerusalem； will be published in London。
Men naturally take an interest in the adventures of every eminent
writer。 I will； therefore； gratify the laudable curiosity； which； on this
occasion； will doubtless be universal； by pre fixing to my account of the
poem a concise memoir of the poet。
Richard Quongti will be born at Westminster on the 1st of July； 2786。
He will be the younger son of the younger branch of one of the most
respectable families in England。 He will be linearly descended from
Quongti； the famous Chinese liberal； who； after the failure of the heroic
attempt of his party to obtain a constitution from the Emperor Fim Fam；
will take refuge in England； in the twenty…third century。 Here his
descendants will obtain considerable note； and one branch of the family
will be raised to the peerage。
Richard； however； though destined to exalt his family to distinction far
nobler than any which wealth or titles can bestow； will be born to a very
scanty fortune。 He will display in his early youth such striking talents as
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will attract the notice of Viscount Quongti； his third cousin； then secretary
of state for the Steam Department。 At the expense of this eminent
nobleman； he will be sent to prosecute his studies at the university of
Tombuctoo。 To that illustrious seat of the muses all the ingenuous youth
of every country will then be attracted by the high scientific character of
Professor Quashaboo； and the eminent literary attainments of Professor
Kissey Kickey。 In spite of this formidable competition； however；
Quongti will acquire the highest honours in every department of
knowledge； and will obtain the esteem of his associates by his amiable and
unaffected manners。 The guardians of the young Duke of Carrington；
premier peer of England； and the last remaining scion of the ancient and
illustrious house of Smith； will be desirous to secure so able an instructor
for their ward。 With the Duke； Quongti will perform the grand tour； and
visit the polished courts of Sydney and Capetown。 After prevailing on
his pupil； with great difficulty； to subdue a violent and imprudent passion
which he had conceived for a Hottentot lady； of great beauty and
accomplishments indeed； but of dubious character； he will travel with him
to the United States of America。 But that tremendous war which will be
fatal to American liberty will； at that time； be raging through the whole
federation。 At New York the travellers will hear of the final defeat and
death of the illustrious champion of freedom； Jonathon Higginbottom； and
of the elevation of Ebenezer Hogsflesh to the perpetual Presidency。 They
will not choose to proceed in a journey which would expose them to the
insults of that brutal soldiery； whose cruelty and rapacity will have
devastated Mexico and Colombia； and now； at length； enslaved their own
country。
On their return to England； A。D。 2810； the death of the Duke will
compel his preceptor to seek for a subsistence by literary labours。 His
fame will be raised by many small productions of considerable merit； and
he will at last obtain a permanent place in the highest class of writers by
his great epic poem。
The celebrated work will become； with unexampled rapidity； a popular
favourite。 The sale will be so beneficial to the author that； instead of
going about the dirty streets on his velocipede； he will be enabled
