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thoughts on man-第72章

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But upon the whole; with a small number of exceptions; it is creditable to human nature; that we take this period of our new powers and immunities with so much sobriety as we do。

The young man then; calls to mind all that he imagined at an earlier season; and that he promised himself。  He adds to this the new lights that he has since obtained; and the nearer and more distinct view that he has reached; of the realities of life。

He recollects the long noviciate that he served to reach this period; the twenty years that he passed in ardent and palpitating expectation; and he resolves to do something worthy of all he had vowed and had imagined。  He takes a full survey of his stores and endowments; and to the latter; from his enthusiasm and his self…love; he is morally sure to do justice。  He says to himself; 〃What I purpose to do will not be achieved to…day。  No; it shall be copious; and worthy of men's suffrage and approbation。  But I will meditate it; I will sketch a grand outline; I will essay my powers in secret; and ascertain what I may be able to effect。〃  The youth; whose morning of life is not utterly abortive; palpitates with the desire to promote the happiness of others; and with the desire of glory。

We have an apt specimen of this in the first period of the reign of Nero。  The historians; Tacitus in particular; have treated this with too much incredulity。  It was the passion of that eminent man to indulge in subtleties; and to find hidden meanings in cases where in reality every thing is plain。  We must not regard the panegyric of Seneca; and the devotion of Lucan to the imperial stripling; as unworthy of our attention。  He was declared emperor before he had completed the eighteenth year of his age。  No occasion for the exhibition of liberality; clemency; courtesy or kindness escaped him。  He called every one by his name; and saluted all orders of men。  When the senate shewed a disposition to confer on him peculiar honours; he interposed; he said; 〃Let them be bestowed when I have deserved them'83'。〃  Seneca affirms; that in the first part of his reign; and to the time in which the philosopher dedicated to him his treatise of Clemency; he had 〃shed no drop of blood'84'。〃  He adds; 〃If the Gods were this day to call thee to a hearing; thou couldst account to them for every man that had been intrusted to thy rule。  Not an individual has been lost from the number; either by secret practices; or by open violence。  This could scarcely have been; if thy good dispositions had not been natural; but assumed。

No one can long personate a character。  A pretended goodness will speedily give place to the real temper; while a sincere mind; and acts prompted by the heart; will not fail to go on from one stage of excellence to another'85'。〃

'83' Suetonius; Nero; cap。 10。

'84' De Clementia; Lib。 I; cap。 II。

'85' De Clementia; cap。 I。


The philosopher expresses himself in raptures on that celebrated phrase of Nero; WOULD I HAD NEVER LEARNED TO WRITE!  〃An exclamation;〃 he says; 〃not studied; not uttered for the purpose of courting popularity; but bursting insuppressibly from thy lips; and indicating the vehemence of the struggle between the kindness of thy disposition and the duties of thy office'86'。〃

'86' Ibid。; Lib。 II; cap。 I。

How many generous purposes; what bright and heart…thrilling visions of beneficence and honour; does the young man; just starting in the race of life; conceive!  There is no one in that period of existence; who has received a reasonable education; and has not in his very nonage been trod down in the mire of poverty and oppression; that does not say to himself; 〃Now is the time; and I will do something worthy to be remembered by myself and by others。〃  Youth is the season of generosity。  He calls over the catalogue of his endowments; his attainments; and his powers; and exclaims; 〃To that which I am; my contemporaries are welcome; it shall all be expended for their service and advantage。〃

With what disdain he looks at the temptations of selfishness; effeminate indulgence; and sordid gain!  He feels within himself that he was born for better things。  His elders; and those who have already been tamed down and emasculated by the corrupt commerce of the world; tell him; 〃All this is the rhapsody of youth; fostered by inexperience; you will soon learn to know better; in no long time you will see these things in the same light in which we see them。〃  But he despises the sinister prognostic that is held out to him; and feels proudly conscious that the sentiments that now live in his bosom; will continue to animate him to his latest breath。

Youth is necessarily ingenuous in its thoughts; and sanguine in its anticipations of the future。  But the predictions of the seniors I have quoted; are unfortunately in too many cases fulfilled。  The outline of the scheme of civil society is in a high degree hostile to the growth and maturity of human virtue。  Its unavoidable operation; except in those rare cases where positive institutions have arrested its tendency; has been to divide a great portion of its members; especially in large and powerful states; into those who are plentifully supplied with the means of luxury and indulgence; and those who are condemned to suffer the rigours of indigence。

The young man who is born to the prospect of hereditary wealth; will not unfrequently feel as generous emotions; and as much of the spirit of self…denial; as the bosom of man is capable of conceiving。  He will say; What am I; that I should have a monopoly of those things; which; if 〃well dispensed; in unsuperfluous; even proportion;〃 would supply the wants of all?  He is ready; agreeably to the advice of Christ to the young man in the Gospel; to 〃sell all that he has; and give to the poor;〃 if he could be shewn how so generous a resolution on his part could be encountered with an extensive conspiracy of the well…disposed; and rendered available to the real melioration of the state of man in society。  Who is there so ignorant; or that has lived in so barren and unconceiving a tract of the soil of earth; that has not his tale to tell of the sublime emotions and the generous purposes he has witnessed; which so often mark this beautiful era of our sublunary existence?

But this is in the dawn of life; and the first innocence of the human heart。  When once the young man of 〃great possessions〃 has entered the gardens of Alcina; when he has drunk of the cup of her enchantments; and seen all the delusive honour and consideration that; in the corruptness of modern times; are the lot of him who is the owner of considerable wealth; the dreams of sublime virtue are too apt to fade away。  He was willing before; to be nourished with the simplest diet; and clad with the plainest attire。  He knew that he was but a man like the rest of his species; and was in equity entitled to no more than they。  But he presently learns a very different lesson。  He believes that he cannot live without splendour and luxury; he regards a noble mansion; elegant vesture; horses; equipage; and an ample establishment; as things without which he must be hopelessly miserable。  That income; which he once thought; if divided; would have secured the happiness and independence of many; he now finds scarcely sufficient to supply his increased and artificial cravings。

But; if the rich are seduced and led away from the inspirations of virtue; it may easily be conceived how much more injurious; and beyond the power of control; are the effects on the poor。  The mysterious source from which the talents of men are derived; cannot be supposed in their distribution to be regulated by the artificial laws of society; and to have one measure for those which are bestowed upon the opulent; and another for the destitute。  It will therefore not seldom happen that powers susceptible of the noblest uses may be cast; like 〃seed sown upon stony places;〃 where they have scarcely any chance to be unfolded and matured。  In a few instances they may attract the attention of persons both able and willing to contribute to their being brought to perfection。  In a few instances the principle may be so vigorous; and the tendency to excel so decisive; as to bid defiance to and to conquer every obstacle。  But in a vast majority the promise will be made vain; and the hopes that might have been entertained will prove frustrate。  What can be expected from the buds of the most auspicious infancy; if encountered in their earliest stage with the rigorous blasts of a polar climate?

And not only will the germs of excellence be likely to be extinguished in the members of the lower class of the community; but the temptations to irregular acts and incroachments upon the laws for the security of property will often be so great; as to be in a manner irresistible。  The man who perceives that; with all his industry; he cannot provide for the bare subsistence of himself and those dependent upon him; while his neighbour revels in boundless profusion; cannot but sometimes feel himself goaded to an attempt to correct this crying evil。  What must be expected to become of that general good…will which is the natural inheritance of a well…constituted mind; when urged by so bitter oppression and such 
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