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the origins of contemporary france-5-第42章

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of the fourth century; that of the seignories is Gothic and of the

ninth century; one structure dates from the Capetians; another from

the Valois; and each bears the character of its date。 Because each has

been built for itself and with no regard to the others; adapted to an

urgent service according to the exigencies or requirements of time;

place; and circumstance ; afterward; when circumstances changed; it

had to adapt itself to other services; and this constantly from

century to century; under Philippe le Bel; under Louis XI。; under

Francis I。; under Richelieu; under Louis XIV。; through constant

revision which never consists of entire destruction; through a series

of partial demolitions and of partial reconstructions; in such a way

as to maintain itself; during the transformation; in conciliating;

well or ill; new demands and rooted habits; in reconciling the work of

the passing generation with the works of generations gone before。 …

The central seignory itself is merely a donjon of the tenth century; a

military tower of which the enclosure has extended so as to embrace

the entire territory; and of which the other buildings; more or less

incorporated with it; have become prolongations。 … A similar medley of

constructions … disfigured by such mutilations; adjuncts; and patches;

a pell…mell so complicated with such incongruous bits and fragments …

can be comprehended only by antiquaries and historians; ordinary

spectators… … the public … pronounce it absurd; it finds no favor with

that class of reasoners who; in social architecture as in physical

architecture; repudiate disorder; posit theories; deduce consequences;

and require that every work shall proceed from the application of a

simple idea。



And worse still; not only is good taste offended but; again; good

sense often murmurs。 Practically; the edifice fails in its object;

for; erected for men to dwell in; it is in many places scarcely

habitable。 Because it endures it is found superannuated; ill…adapted

to prevailing customs ; it formerly suited; and still suits; the

feudal; scattered; and militant way of living; hence it no longer

suits the unity and repose of modern life。 New…born rights obtain no

place in it alongside of established rights; it is either not

sufficiently transformed or it has been transformed in an opposite

sense; in such a way as to be inconvenient or unhealthy; badly

accommodating people who are useful and giving good accommodations to

useless people; costing too much to keep up and causing discomfort and

discontent to nearly all its occupants。 … In France; in particular;

the best apartments; especially that of the King; are for a century

past too high and too large; too sumptuous and too expensive。 Since

Louis XIV。 these have imperceptibly ceased to be government and

business bureaus; they have become in their disposition; decoration;

and furnishing; saloons for pomp and conversation; the occupants of

which; for lack of other employment; delight in discussing

architecture and in tracing plans on paper for an imaginary edifice in

which everybody will find himself comfortable。 Now; underneath these;

everybody finds himself uncomfortable; the bourgeoisie in its small

scanty lodgings on the ground…floor and the people in their holes in

the cellar; which are low and damp; wherein light and air never

penetrate。 Innumerable vagabonds and vagrants are still worse off;

for; with no shelter or fireside; they sleep under the stars; and as

they are without anything to care for; they are disposed to pull

everything down。 … Under the double pressure of insurrection and

theory the demolition begins; while the fury of destruction goes on

increasing until nothing is left of the razed edifice but the soil it

stood on。



The new one rises on this cleared ground and; historically as well as

structurally; it differs from all the others。 … In less than ten years

it springs up and is finished according to a plan which; from the

first day; is definite and complete。 It forms one unique; vast;

monumental block; in which all branches of the service are lodged

under one roof; in addition to the national and general services

belonging to the public power; we find here others also; local and

special; which do not belong to it; such as worship; education;

charity; fine arts; literature; departmental and communal interests;

each installed in a distinct compartment。 All the compartments are

ordered and arranged alike; forming a circle around the magnificent

central apartment; with which each is in communication by a bell; as

soon as the bell rings and the sound spreads from division to sub…

division; the entire service; from the chief clerk down to the lowest

employee; is instantly in motion; in this respect the arrangement; as

regards despatch; co…ordination; exactitude; and working facilities;

is admirable。'28'



On the other hand; its advantages and attractions for employees and

aspirants of every kind and degree are not mediocre。 There is no

separation between the stories; no insurmountable barrier or enclosure

between large and small apartments; all; from the least to the finest;

from the outside as well as from the inside; have free access。

Spacious entrances around the exterior terminate in broad; well…

lighted staircases open to the public; everybody can clamber up that

pleases; and to mount these one must clamber; from top to bottom there

is no other communication than that which they present。 There is no

concealed and privileged passage; no private stairway or false door;

glancing along the whole rectilinear; uniform flight; we behold the

innumerable body of clerks; functionaries; supernumeraries; and

postulants; an entire multitude; ranged tier beyond tier and

attentive; nobody advances except at the word and in his turn。 …

Nowhere in Europe are human lives so well regulated; within lines of

demarcation so universal; so simple; and so satisfactory to the eye

and to logic: the edifice in which Frenchmen are henceforth to move

and act is regular from top to bottom; in its entirety as well as in

its details; outside as well as inside; its stories; one above the

other; are adjusted with exact symmetry; its juxtaposed masses form

pendants and counterpoise; all its lines and forms; every dimension

and proportion; all its props and buttresses combine; through their

mutual dependencies; to compose a harmony and to maintain an

equilibrium。 In this respect the structure is classic; belonging to

the same family of productions which the same spirit; guided by the

same method; had produced in Europe for the previous one hundred and

fifty years。'29' Its analogues; in the physical order of things; are

the architectural productions of Mansard; Le Notre; and their

successors; from the structures and gardens of Versailles down to and

embracing the Madeleine and the Rue de Rivoli。 In the intellectual

order; its analogues consist of the literary forms of the seventeenth

and eighteenth centuries; the superb oratorical prose and correct;

eloquent poetry; especially epics and tragedies; including those still

manufactured according to rule about the year 1810。 It corresponds to

these and forms their pendant in the political and social order of

things; because it emanates from the same deliberate purpose。 Four

constitutions; in the same style; preceded it; but these were good

only on paper; while this one stands firm on the ground。 For the first

time in modern history we see a society due to ratiocination and; at

the same time; substantial; the new France; under these two heads; is

the masterpiece of the classic spirit。



V。 Modeled after Rome。



Its analogue in the antique world。 … The Roman State from Diocletian

to Constantine。 … Causes and bearing of this analogy。 … Survival of

the Roman idea in Napoleon's mind。 … The new Empire of the West。



Nevertheless; if we go back in time; beyond modern times; beyond the

Middle Ages; as far as the antique world; we encounter during the

Roman emperors Diocletian's and Constantine's era another monument

whose architecture; equally regular; is developed on a still grander

scale: back then we are in the natal atmosphere and stand on the natal

soil of the classic spirit。 … At this time; the human material; more

reduced and better prepared than in France; existed similarly in the

requisite condition。 At this date; we likewise see at work the

prearranging reasoning…faculty



* which simplifies in order to deduce;

* which leaves out historic customs and local diversities;

* which considers the basic human being;

* which treats individuals as units and the people as totals;

* which forcibly applies its general outlines to all special lives;

and

* which glories in constituting; legislating; and administering by

rule according to the measurements of square and compass。



At this date; in effect; the turn of mind; the talent; the ways of the

Roman archite
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