按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
tongue； and that； as Le Sage 〃had embraced all that belonged to man in his
composition； he dared to prescribe to himself to embrace the whole French
language in his work。〃 It has been the parent of a whole school of
literaturethe Bible of tens of thousands； with admiring commentators in
plenty； on whose souls may God have mercy！
And no wonder。 The book has a solid value； and will always have；
not merely from its perfect art （according to its own measure and
intention）； but from its perfect truthfulness。 It is the Ancien Regime itself。
It set forth to the men thereof； themselves； without veil or cowardly
reticence of any kind； and inasmuch as every man loves himself； the
40
… Page 41…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
Ancien Regime loved 〃Gil Blas；〃 and said； 〃The problem of humanity is
solved at last。〃 But； ye long…suffering powers of heaven； what a solution！
It is beside the matter to call the book ungodly； immoral； base。 Le Sage
would have answered： 〃Of course it is； for so is the world of which it is a
picture。〃 No； the most notable thing about the book is its intense
stupidity； its dreariness； barrenness； shallowness； ignorance of the human
heart； want of any human interest。 If it be an epos； the actors in it are not
men and women； but ferretswith here and there； of course； a stray rabbit；
on whose brains they may feed。 It is the inhuman mirror of an inhuman
age； in which the healthy human heart can find no more interest than in a
pathological museum。
That last； indeed； 〃Gil Blas〃 is； a collection of diseased specimens。
No man or woman in the book； lay or clerical； gentle or simple； as far as I
can remember； do their duty in any wise； even if they recollect that they
have any duty to do。 Greed； chicane； hypocrisy； uselessness are the
ruling laws of human society。 A new book of Ecclesiastes； crying；
〃Vanity of vanity； all is vanity；〃 the 〃conclusion of the whole matter〃
being left out； and the new Ecclesiastes rendered thereby diabolic； instead
of like that old one； divine。 For； instead of 〃Fear God and keep his
commandments； for that is the whole duty of main；〃 Le Sage sends forth
the new conclusion； 〃Take care of thyself； and feed on thy neighbours； for
that is the whole duty of man。〃 And very faithfully was his advice （easy
enough to obey at all times） obeyed for nearly a century after 〃Gil Blas〃
appeared。
About the same time there appeared； by a remarkable coincidence；
another work； like it the child of the Ancien Regime； and yet as opposite to
it as light to darkness。 If Le Sage drew men as they were； Fenelon tried
at least to draw them as they might have been and still might be； were they
governed by sages and by saints； according to the laws of God。
〃Telemaque〃 is an idealimperfect； doubtless； as all ideals must be in a
world in which God's ways and thoughts are for ever higher than man's；
but an ideal nevertheless。 If its construction is less complete than that of
〃Gil Blas；〃 it is because its aim is infinitely higher； because the form has
to be subordinated； here and there； to the matter。 If its political economy
41
… Page 42…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
be imperfect； often chimerical； it is because the mind of one man must
needs have been too weak to bring into shape and order the chaos； social
and economic； which he saw around him。 M。 de Lamartine； in his
brilliant little life of Fenelon； does not hesitate to trace to the influence of
〃Telemaque；〃 the Utopias which produced the revolutions of 1793 and
1848。 〃The saintly poet was；〃 he says； 〃without knowing it； the first
Radical and the first communist of his century。〃 But it is something to
have preached to princes doctrines till then unknown； or at least forgotten
for many a generationfree trade； peace； international arbitration； and the
〃carriere ouverte aux talents〃 for all ranks。 It is something to have
warned his generation of the dangerous overgrowth of the metropolis； to
have prophesied； as an old Hebrew might have done； that the despotism
which he saw around him would end in a violent revolution。 It is
something to have combined the highest Christian morality with a hearty
appreciation of old Greek life； of its reverence for bodily health and
prowess； its joyous and simple country society； its sacrificial feasts；
dances； games； its respect for the gods； its belief that they helped； guided；
inspired the sons of men。 It is something to have himself believed in
God； in a living God； who； both in this life and in all lives to come；
rewarded the good and punished the evil by inevitable laws。 It is
something to have warned a young prince； in an age of doctrinal bigotry
and practical atheism； that a living God still existed； and that his laws were
still in force； to have shown him Tartarus crowded with the souls of
wicked monarchs； while a few of kingly race rested in Elysium； and
among them old pagansInachus； Cecrops； Erichthon； Triptolemus； and
Sesostrisrewarded for ever for having done their duty； each according to
his light； to the flocks which the gods had committed to their care。 It is
something to have spoken to a prince； in such an age； without servility；
and without etiquette； of the frailties and the dangers which beset arbitrary
rulers； to have told him that royalty； 〃when assumed to content oneself； is
a monstrous tyranny； when assumed to fulfil its duties； and to conduct an
innumerable people as a father conducts his children； a crushing slavery；
which demands an heroic courage and patience。〃
Let us honour the courtier who dared speak such truths； and still more
42
… Page 43…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
the saintly celibate who had sufficient catholicity of mind to envelop them
in old Grecian dress； and； without playing false for a moment to his own
Christianity； seek in the writings of heathen sages a wider and a healthier
view of humanity than was afforded by an ascetic creed。
No wonder that the appearance of 〃Telemaque；〃 published in Holland
without the permission of Fenelon； delighted throughout Europe that
public which is always delighted with new truths； as long as it is not
required to practise them。 To read 〃Telemaque〃 was the right and the
enjoyment of everyone。 To obey it； the duty only of princes。 No
wonder that； on the other hand； this 〃Vengeance de peuples； lecon des
rois；〃 as M。 de Lamartine calls it； was taken for the bitterest satire by
Louis XIV。； and completed the disgrace of one who had dared to teach the
future king of France that he must show himself； in all things； the opposite
of his grandfather。 No wonder if Madame de Maintenon and the court
looked on its portraits of wicked ministers and courtiers as caricatures of
themselves； portraits too； which； 〃composed thus in the palace of
Versailles； under the auspices of that confidence which the king had placed
in the preceptor of his heir； seemed a domestic treason。〃 No wonder； also；
if the foolish and envious world outside was of the same opinion； and after
enjoying for awhile this exposure of the great ones of the earth； left
〃Telemaque〃 as an Utopia with which private folks had no concern； and
betook themselves to the easier and more practical model of 〃Gil Blas。〃
But there are solid defects in 〃Telemaque〃indicating corresponding
defects in the author's mindwhich would have； in any case； prevented its
doing the good work which Fenelon desired； defects which are natural； as
it seems to me； to his position as a Roman Catholic priest； however saintly
and pure； however humane and liberal。