queen victoria-第55节
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meeting upon Bulgarian atrocities。 The complex and delicate principles of the Constitution cannot be said to have come within the compass of her mental faculties； and in the actual developments which it underwent during her reign she played a passive part。 From 1840 to 1861 the power of the Crown steadily increased in England； from 1861 to 1901 it steadily declined。 The first process was due to the influence of the Prince Consort； the second to that of a series of great Ministers。 During the first Victoria was in effect a mere accessory； during the second the threads of power； which Albert had so laboriously collected； inevitably fell from her hands into the vigorous grasp of Mr。 Gladstone； Lord Beaconsfield； and Lord Salisbury。 Perhaps； absorbed as she was in routine； and difficult as she found it to distinguish at all clearly between the trivial and the essential； she was only dimly aware of what was happening。 Yet； at the end of her reign； the Crown was weaker than at any other time in English history。 Paradoxically enough； Victoria received the highest eulogiums for assenting to a political evolution； which； had she completely realised its import； would have filled her with supreme displeasure。
Nevertheless it must not be supposed that she was a second George III。 Her desire to impose her will； vehement as it was； and unlimited by any principle； was yet checked by a certain shrewdness。 She might oppose her Ministers with extraordinary violence； she might remain utterly impervious to arguments and supplications； the pertinacity of her resolution might seem to be unconquerable； but； at the very last moment of all； her obstinacy would give way。 Her innate respect and capacity for business； and perhaps； too； the memory of Albert's scrupulous avoidance of extreme courses； prevented her from ever entering an impasse。 By instinct she understood when the facts were too much for her； and to them she invariably yielded。 After all； what else could she do？
But if； in all these ways； the Queen and her epoch were profoundly separated； the points of contact between them also were not few。 Victoria understood very well the meaning and the attractions of power and property； and in such learning the English nation； too； had grown to be more and more proficient。 During the last fifteen years of the reignfor the short Liberal Administration of 1892 was a mere interlude imperialism was the dominant creed of the country。 It was Victoria's as well。 In this direction； if in no other； she had allowed her mind to develop。 Under Disraeli's tutelage the British Dominions over the seas had come to mean much more to her than ever before； and； in particular； she had grown enamoured of the East。 The thought of India fascinated her； she set to； and learnt a little Hindustani； she engaged some Indian servants； who became her inseparable attendants； and one of whom； Munshi Abdul Karim； eventually almost succeeded to the position which had once been John Brown's。 At the same time； the imperialist temper of the nation invested her office with a new significance exactly harmonising with her own inmost proclivities。 The English polity was in the main a common…sense structure； but there was always a corner in it where common…sense could not enterwhere； somehow or other； the ordinary measurements were not applicable and the ordinary rules did not apply。 So our ancestors had laid it down； giving scope； in their wisdom； to that mystical element which； as it seems； can never quite be eradicated from the affairs of men。 Naturally it was in the Crown that the mysticism of the English polity was concentratedthe Crown； with its venerable antiquity； its sacred associations； its imposing spectacular array。 But； for nearly two centuries； common…sense had been predominant in the great building； and the little； unexplored； inexplicable corner had attracted small attention。 Then； with the rise of imperialism； there was a change。 For imperialism is a faith as well as a business； as it grew； the mysticism in English public life grew with it； and simultaneously a new importance began to attach to the Crown。 The need for a symbola symbol of England's might； of England's worth； of England's extraordinary and mysterious destinybecame felt more urgently than ever before。 The Crown was that symbol： and the Crown rested upon the head of Victoria。 Thus it happened that while by the end of the reign the power of the sovereign had appreciably diminished； the prestige of the sovereign had enormously grown。
Yet this prestige was not merely the outcome of public changes； it was an intensely personal matter； too。 Victoria was the Queen of England； the Empress of India； the quintessential pivot round which the whole magnificent machine was revolvingbut how much more besides！ For one thing； she was of a great agean almost indispensable qualification for popularity in England。 She had given proof of one of the most admired characteristics of the racepersistent vitality。 She had reigned for sixty years； and she was not out。 And then； she was a character。 The outlines of her nature were firmly drawn； and； even through the mists which envelop royalty； clearly visible。 In the popular imagination her familiar figure filled； with satisfying ease； a distinct and memorable place。 It was； besides； the kind of figure which naturally called forth the admiring sympathy of the great majority of the nation。 Goodness they prized above every other human quality； and Victoria； who had said that she would be good at the age of twelve； had kept her word。 Duty； conscience； moralityyes！ in the light of those high beacons the Queen had always lived。 She had passed her days in work and not in pleasurein public responsibilities and family cares。 The standard of solid virtue which had been set up so long ago amid the domestic happiness of Osborne had never been lowered for an instant。 For more than half a century no divorced lady had approached the precincts of the Court。 Victoria； indeed； in her enthusiasm for wifely fidelity； had laid down a still stricter ordinance： she frowned severely upon any widow who married again。 Considering that she herself was the offspring of a widow's second marriage； this prohibition might be regarded as an eccentricity； but； no doubt； it was an eccentricity on the right side。 The middle classes； firm in the triple brass of their respectability； rejoiced with a special joy over the most respectable of Queens。 They almost claimed her； indeed； as one of themselves； but this would have been an exaggeration。 For； though many of her characteristics were most often found among the middle classes； in other respectsin her manners； for instanceVictoria was decidedly aristocratic。 And； in one important particular； she was neither aristocratic nor middle…class： her attitude toward herself was simply regal。
Such qualities were obvious and important； but； in the impact of a personality； it is something deeper； something fundamental and common to all its qualities； that really tells。 In Victoria； it is easy to discern the nature of this underlying element： it was a peculiar sincerity。 Her truthfulness； her single…mindedness； the vividness of her emotions and her unrestrained expression of them； were the varied forms which this central characteristic assumed。 It was her sincerity which gave her at once her impressiveness； her charm； and her absurdity。 She moved through life with the imposing certitude of one to whom concealment was impossibleeither towards her surroundings or towards herself。 There she was； all of herthe Queen of England； complete and obvious； the world might take her or leave her； she had nothing more to show； or to explain； or to modify； and； with her peerless carriage； she swept along her path。 And not only was concealment out of the question； reticence； reserve； even dignity itself； as it sometimes seemed； might be very well dispensed with。 As Lady Lyttelton said： 〃There is a transparency in her truth that is very strikingnot a shade of exaggeration in describing feelings or facts； like very few other people I ever knew。 Many may be as true； but I think it goes often along with some reserve。 She talks all out； just as it is； no more and no less。〃 She talked all out； and she wrote all out； too。 Her letters； in the surprising jet of their expression； remind one of a turned…on tap。 What is within pours forth in an immediate； spontaneous rush。 Her utterly unliterary style has at least the merit of being a vehicle exactly suited to her thoughts and feelings； and even the platitude of her phraseology carries with it a curiously personal flavour。 Undoubtedly it was through her writings that she touched the heart of the public。 Not only in her 〃Highland Journals〃 where the mild chronicle of her private proceedings was laid bare without a trace either of affectation or of embarrassment； but also in those remarkable messages to the nation which； from time to time； she published in the newspapers； her people found her very close to them indeed。 They felt instinctively Victoria's irresistible sincerity； and they responded。 And in truth it was an endearing trait。
The personality and the position； toothe wonderful combination of themthat； perhaps； was what was finally fascinating in the case
