the miscellaneous writings and speeches-1-第25节
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！
cause many hearts which had been alienated thence by the turbulence of factions； for； if I know aught of history； or of the heart of man； he will soon learn that the last champion of the people was not destroyed when he murdered Vane； nor seduced when he beguiled Fairfax。〃
Mr Cowley seemed to me not to take much amiss what Mr Milton had said touching that thankless court； which had indeed but poorly requited his own good service。 He only said； therefore； 〃Another rebellion！ Alas！ alas！ Mr Milton！ If there be no choice but between despotism and anarchy； I prefer despotism。〃
〃Many men；〃 said Mr Milton； 〃have floridly and ingeniously compared anarchy and despotism； but they who so amuse themselves do but look at separate parts of that which is truly one great whole。 Each is the cause and the effect of the other； the evils of either are the evils of both。 Thus do states move on in the same eternal cycle； which； from the remotest point； brings them back again to the same sad starting…post： and； till both those who govern and those who obey shall learn and mark this great truth； men can expect little through the future； as they have known little through the past； save vicissitudes of extreme evils； alternately producing and produced。
〃When will rulers learn that； where liberty is not； security end order can never be？ We talk of absolute power； but all power hath limits； which； if not fixed by the moderation of the governors； will be fixed by the force of the governed。 Sovereigns may send their opposers to dungeons； they may clear out a senate…house with soldiers； they may enlist armies of spies； they may hang scores of the disaffected in chains at every cross road； but what power shall stand in that frightful time when rebellion hath become a less evil than endurance？ Who shall dissolve that terrible tribunal； which； in the hearts of the oppressed； denounces against the oppressor the doom of its wild justice？ Who shall repeal the law of selfdefence？ What arms or discipline shall resist the strength of famine and despair？ How often were the ancient Caesars dragged from their golden palaces； stripped of their purple robes； mangled； stoned； defiled with filth； pierced with hooks； hurled into Tiber？ How often have the Eastern Sultans perished by the sabres of their own janissaries； or the bow…strings of their own mutes！ For no power which is not limited by laws can ever be protected by them。 Small； therefore； is the wisdom of those who would fly to servitude as if it were a refuge from commotion； for anarchy is the sure consequence of tyranny。 That governments may be safe； nations must be free。 Their passions must have an outlet provided； lest they make one。
〃When I was at Naples； I went with Signor Manso； a gentleman of excellent parts and breeding； who had been the familiar friend of that famous poet Torquato Tasso； to see the burning mountain Vesuvius。 I wondered how the peasants could venture to dwell so fearlessly and cheerfully on its sides； when the lava was flowing from its summit； but Manso smiled； and told me that when the fire descends freely they retreat before it without haste or fear。 They can tell how fast it will move； and how far； and they know； moreover； that； though it may work some little damage； it will soon cover the fields over which it hath passed with rich vineyards and sweet flowers。 But； when the flames are pent up in the mountain； then it is that they have reason to fear； then it is that the earth sinks and the sea swells； then cities are swallowed up； and their place knoweth them no more。 So it is in politics： where the people is most closely restrained； there it gives the greatest shocks to peace and order； therefore would I say to all kings； let your demagogues lead crowds； lest they lead armies； let them bluster； lest they massacre； a little turbulence is； as it were； the rainbow of the state； it shows indeed that there is a passing shower； but it is a pledge that there shall be no deluge。〃
〃This is true；〃 said Mr Cowley； 〃yet these admonitions are not less needful to subjects than to sovereigns。〃
〃Surely；〃 said Mr Milton； 〃and； that I may end this long debate with a few words in which we shall both agree； I hold that； as freedom is the only safeguard of governments； so are order and moderation generally necessary to preserve freedom。 Even the vainest opinions of men are not to be outraged by those who propose to themselves the happiness of men for their end； and who must work with the passions of men for their means。 The blind reverence for things ancient is indeed so foolish that it might make a wise man laugh； if it were not also sometimes so mischievous that it would rather make a good man weep。 Yet； since it may not be wholly cured it must be discreetly indulged； and therefore those who would amend evil laws should consider rather how much it may be safe to spare； than how much it may be possible to change。 Have you not heard that men who have been shut up for many years in dungeons shrink if they see the light； and fall down if their irons be struck off？ And so； when nations have long been in the house of bondage； the chains which have crippled them are necessary to support them； the darkness which hath weakened their sight is necessary to preserve it。 Therefore release them not too rashly； lest they curse their freedom and pine for their prison。
〃I think indeed that the renowned Parliament； of which we have talked so much； did show； until it became subject to the soldiers； a singular and admirable moderation； in such times scarcely to be hoped； and most worthy to be an example to all that shall come after。 But on this argument I have said enough： and I will therefore only pray to Almighty God that those who shall； in future times stand forth in defence of our liberties； as well civil as religious； may adorn the good cause by mercy； prudence； and soberness； to the glory of his name and the happiness and honour of the English people。〃
And so ended that discourse； and not long after we were set on shore again at the Temple Gardens； and there parted company： and the same evening I took notes of what had been said； which I have here more fully set down； from regard both to the fame of the men； and the importance of the subject…matter。
。。。
ON THE ATHENIAN ORATORS。
（August 1824。）
〃To the famous orators repair； Those ancient； whose resistless eloquence Wielded at will that fierce democratie； Shook the arsenal； and fulmined over Greece To Macedon and Artaxerxes' throne。〃Milton。
The celebrity of the great classical writers is confined within no limits； except those which separate civilised from savage man。 Their works are the common property of every polished nation。 They have furnished subjects for the painter； and models for the poet。 In the minds of the educated classes throughout Europe； their names are indissolubly associated with the endearing recollections of childhood；the old school…room；the dog…eared grammar；the first prize；the tears so often shed and so quickly dried。 So great is the veneration with which they are regarded； that even the editors and commentators who perform the lowest menial offices to their memory； are considered； like the equerries and chamberlains of sovereign princes； as entitled to a high rank in the table of literary precedence。 It is； therefore； somewhat singular that their productions should so rarely have been examined on just and philosophical principles of criticism。
The ancient writers themselves afford us but little assistance。 When they particularise； they are commonly trivial： when they would generalise； they become indistinct。 An exception must； indeed； be made in favour of Aristotle。 Both in analysis and in combination； that great man was without a rival。 No philosopher has ever possessed； in an equal degree； the talent either of separating established systems into their primary elements； or of connecting detached phenomena in harmonious systems。 He was the great fashioner of the intellectual chaos； he changed its darkness into light； and its discord into order。 He brought to literary researches the same vigour and amplitude of mind to which both physical and metaphysical science are so greatly indebted。 His fundamental principles of criticism are excellent。 To cite only a single instance：the doctrine which he established； that poetry is an imitative art； when justly understood； is to the critic what the compass is to the navigator。 With it he may venture upon the most extensive excursions。 Without it he must creep cautiously along the coast； or lose himself in a trackless expanse； and trust； at best； to the guidance of an occasional star。 It is a discovery which changes a caprice into a science。
The general propositions of Aristotle are valuable。 But the merit of the superstructure bears no proportion to that of the foundation。 This is partly to be ascribed to the character of the philosopher； who； though qualified to do all that could be done by the resolving and combining powers of the understanding； seems not to have possessed much of sensibility or imagination。 Partly； also； it may be attributed to the deficiency of materials。 The great works of genius which then existed were not eit
