letters to his son, 1750-第21节

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During　almost　the　whole　reign　of　Lewis　XIV。；　true　taste　remained　in　its　purity；　until　it　received　some　hurt；　although　undesignedly；　from　a　very　fine　genius；　I　mean　Monsieur　de　Fontenelle；　who；　with　the　greatest　sense　and　the　most　solid　learning；　sacrificed　rather　too　much　to　the　Graces；　whose　most　favorite　child　and　pupil　he　was。　　Admired　with　reason；　others　tried　to　imitate　him；　but；　unfortunately　for　us；　the　author　of　the　〃Pastorals；〃　of　the　〃History　of　Oracles；〃　and　of　the　〃French　Theatre；〃　found　fewer　imitators　than　the　Chevalier　d'Her　did　mimics。　　He　has　since　been　taken　off　by　a　thousand　authors：　but　never　really　imitated　by　anyone　that　I　know　of。

At　this　time；　the　seat　of　true　taste　in　France　seems　to　me　not　well　established。　　It　exists；　but　torn　by　factions。　　There　is　one　party　of　petits　maitres；　one　of　half…learned　women；　another　of　insipid　authors　whose　works　are　'verba　et　voces；　et　praeterea　nihil'；　and；　in　short；　a　numerous　and　very　fashionable　party　of　writers；　who；　in　a　metaphysical　jumble；　introduce　their　false　and　subtle　reasonings　upon　the　movements　and　the　sentiments　of　THE　SOUL；　THE　HEART；　and　THE　MIND。

Do　not　let　yourself　be　overpowered　by　fashion；　nor　by　particular　sets　of　people　with　whom　you　may　be　connected；　but　try　all　the　different　coins　before　you　receive　any　in　payment。　　Let　your　own　good　sense　and　reason　judge　of　the　value　of　each；　and　be　persuaded；　that　NOTHING　CAN　BE　BEAUTIFUL　UNLESS　TRUE：　whatever　brilliancy　is　not　the　result　of　the　solidity　and　justness　of　a　thought；　it　is　but　a　false　glare。　　The　Italian　saying　upon　a　diamond　is　equally　just　with　regard　to　thoughts；　'Quanto　Piu　sodezza；　tanto　piu　splendore'。

All　this　ought　not　to　hinder　you　from　conforming　externally　to　the　modes　and　tones　of　the　different　companies　in　which　you　may　chance　to　be。　　With　the　'petits　maitres'　speak　epigrams；　false　sentiments；　with　frivolous　women；　and　a　mixture　of　all　these　together；　with　professed　beaux　esprits。　I　would　have　you　do　so；　for　at　your　age　you　ought　not　to　aim　at　changing　the　tone　of　the　company；　but　conform　to　it。　　Examine　well；　however；　weigh　all　maturely　within　yourself；　and　do　not　mistake　the　tinsel　of　Tasso　for　the　gold　of　Virgil。

You　will　find　at　Paris　good　authors；　and　circles　distinguished　by　the　solidity　of　their　reasoning。　　You　will　never　hear　TRIFLING；　AFFECTED；　and　far…sought　conversations；　at　Madame　de　Monconseil's；　nor　at　the　hotels　of　Matignon　and　Coigni；　where　she　will　introduce　you。　　The　President　Montesquieu　will　not　speak　to　you　in　the　epigrammatic　style。　　His　book；　the　〃Spirit　of　the　Laws；〃　written　in　the　vulgar　tongue；　will　equally　please　and　instruct　you。

Frequent　the　theatre　whenever　Corneille；　Racine；　and　Moliere's　pieces　are　played。　　They　are　according　to　nature　and　to　truth。　　I　do　not　mean　by　this　to　give　an　exclusion　to　several　admirable　modern　plays；　particularly　〃Cenie；〃　＇Imitated　in　English　by　Mr。　Francis；　in　a　play　called　〃Eugenia。〃＇　　replete　with　sentiments　that　are　true；　natural；　and　applicable　to　one's　self。　　If　you　choose　to　know　the　characters　of　people　now　in　fashion；　read　Crebillon　the　younger；　and　Marivaux's　works。　　The　former　is　a　most　excellent　painter；　the　latter　has　studied；　and　knows　the　human　heart；　perhaps　too　well。　　Crebillon's　'Egaremens　du　Coeur　et　de　l'Esprit　is　an　excellent　work　in　its　kind；　it　will　be　of　infinite　amusement　to　you；　and　not　totally　useless。　　The　Japanese　history　of　〃Tanzar　and　Neadarne；〃　by　the　same　author；　is　an　amiable　extravagancy；　interspersed　with　the　most　just　reflections。　　In　short；　provided　you　do　not　mistake　the　objects　of　your　attention；　you　will　find　matter　at　Paris　to　form　a　good　and　true　taste。

As　I　shall　let　you　remain　at　Paris　without　any　person　to　direct　your　conduct；　I　flatter　myself　that　you　will　not　make　a　bad　use　of　the　confidence　I　repose　in　you。　　I　do　not　require　that　you　should　lead　the　life　of　a　Capuchin　friar；　quite　the　contrary：　I　recommend　pleasures　to　you；　but　I　expect　that　they　shall　be　the　pleasures　of　a　gentleman。　　Those　add　brilliancy　to　a　young　man's　character；　but　debauchery　vilifies　and　degrades　it。　　I　shall　have　very　true　and　exact　accounts　of　your　conduct；　and；　according　to　the　informations　I　receive；　shall　be　more；　or　less；　or　not　at　all；　yours。　　Adieu。

P。　S。　　Do　not　omit　writing　to　me　once　a…week；　and　let　your　answer　to　this　letter　be　in　French。　　Connect　yourself　as　much　as　possible　with　the　foreign　ministers；　which　is　properly　traveling　into　different　countries；　without　going　from　one　place。　　Speak　Italian　to　all　the　Italians；　and　German　to　all　the　Germans　you　meet；　in　order　not　to　forget　those　two　languages。

I　wish　you；　my　dear　friend；　as　many　happy　new　years　as　you　deserve；　and　not　one　more。　　May　you　deserve　a　great　number！









End