historical lectures and essays(查尔斯金斯利历史讲座)-第33节
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all； slight and indirect； and； moreover； superfluous altogether； seeing that
Mary's guilt was open and palpable； before the supposed discovery of the
letters； to every person at home and abroad who had any knowledge of the
facts。 As for the alleged inconsistency of the letters with proven facts：
the answer is； that whosoever wrote the letters would be more likely to
know facts which were taking place around them than any critic could be
one hundred or three hundred years afterwards。 But if these mistakes as
to facts actually exist in them； they are only a fresh argument for their
authenticity。 Mary； writing in agony and confusion； might easily make a
mistake： forgers would only take too good care to make none。
But the strongest evidence in favour of the letters and sonnets； in spite
of the arguments of good Dr。 Whittaker and other apologists for Mary； is
to be found in their tone。 A forger in those coarse days would have made
Mary write in some Semiramis or Roxana vein； utterly alien to the
tenderness； the delicacy； the pitiful confusion of mind； the conscious
weakness； the imploring and most feminine trust which makes the letters；
to those whoas I dobelieve in them； more pathetic than any fictitious
sorrows which poets could invent。 More than one touch； indeed； of utter
self…abasement； in the second letter； is so unexpected； so subtle； and yet so
true to the heart of woman； thatas has been well saidif it was invented
there must have existed in Scotland an earlier Shakespeare； who yet has
died without leaving any other sign； for good or evil； of his dramatic
genius。
As for the theory （totally unsupported） that Buchanan forged the poem
usually called the 〃Sonnets；〃 it is paying old Geordie's genius； however
versatile it may have been； too high a pliment to believe that he could
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have written both them and the Detection； while it is paying his
shrewdness too low a pliment to believe that he could have put into
them； out of mere carelessness or stupidity； the well…known line； which
seems inpatible with the theory both of the letters and of his own
Detection； and which has ere now been brought forward as a fresh proof
of Mary's innocence。
And； as with the letters； so with the sonnets： their delicacy； their
grace； their reticence； are so many arguments against their having been
forged by any Scot of the sixteenth century； and least of all by one in
whose characterwhatever his other virtues may have beendelicacy was
by no means the strongest point。
As for the plaint that Buchanan was ungrateful to Mary； it must be
said： That even if she； and not Murray； had bestowed on him the
temporalities of Crossraguel Abbey four years before； it was merely fair
pay for services fairly rendered； and I am not aware that payment； or even
favours； however gracious； bind any man's soul and conscience in
questions of highest morality and highest public importance。 And the
importance of that question cannot be exaggerated。 At a moment when
Scotland seemed struggling in death… throes of anarchy； civil and religious；
and was in danger of being a prey either to England or to France； if
there could not be formed out of the heart of her a people； steadfast； trusty；
united； strong politically because strong in the fear of God and the desire
of righteousnessat such a moment as this； a crime had been mitted；
the like of which had not been heard in Europe since the tragedy of Joan
of Naples。 All Europe stood aghast。 The honour of the Scottish nation
was at stake。 More than Mary or Bothwell were known to be implicated
in the deed； andas Buchanan puts it in the opening of his 〃De Jure
Regni〃〃The fault of some few was charged upon all； and the mon
hatred of a particular person did redound to the whole nation； so that even
such as were remote from any suspicion were inflamed by the infamy of
men's crimes。〃 ｛17｝
To vindicate the national honour； and to punish the guilty； as well as to
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save themselves from utter anarchy； the great majority of the Scotch nation
had taken measures against Mary which required explicit justification in
the sight of Europe； as Buchanan frankly confesses in the opening of his
〃De Jure Regni。〃 The chief authors of those measures had been
summoned； perhaps unwisely and unjustly； to answer for their conduct to
the Queen of England。 Queen Elizabetha fact which was notorious
enough then； though it has been forgotten till the last few yearswas doing
her utmost to shield Mary。 Buchanan was deputed； it seems； to speak out
for the people of Scotland； and certainly never people had an abler
apologist。 If he spoke fiercely； savagely； it must be remembered that he
spoke of a fierce and savage matter； if he usedand it may be abusedall
the arts of oratory； it must be remembered that he was fighting for the
honour； and it may be for the national life； of his country； and strikingas
men in such cases have a right to strikeas hard as he could。 If he makes
no secret of his indignation； and even contempt； it must be remembered
that indignation and contempt may well have been real with him； while
they were real with the soundest part of his countrymen； with that
reforming middle class； paratively untainted by French profligacy；
paratively undebauched by feudal subservience； which has been the
leaven which has leavened the whole Scottish people in the last three
centuries with the elements of their greatness。 If； finally； he heaps up
against the unhappy Queen charges which Mr。 Burton thinks incredible； it
must be remembered that； as he well says； these charges give the popular
feeling about Queen Mary； and it must be remembered also； that that
popular feeling need not have been altogether unfounded。 Stories which
are incredible； thank God； in these milder days； were credible enough then；
because； alas！ they were so often true。 Things more ugly than any related
of poor Mary were possible enoughas no one knew better than
Buchananin that very French court in which Mary had been brought up；
things as ugly were possible in Scotland then； and for at least a century
later； and while we may hope that Buchanan has overstated his case； we
must not blame him too severely for yielding to a temptation mon to
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all men of genius when their creative power is roused to its highest energy
by a great cause and a great indignation。
And that the genius was there； no man can doubt； one cannot read that
〃hideously eloquent〃 description of Kirk o' Field； which Mr。 Burton has
well chosen as a specimen of Buchanan's style； without seeing that we are
face to face with a genius of a very lofty order： not； indeed； of the loftiest
for there is always in Buchanan's work； it seems to me； a want of
unconsciousness； and a want of tendernessbut still a genius worthy to be
placed beside those ancient writers from whom he took his manner。
Whether or not we agree with his contemporaries； who say that he
equalled Virgil in Latin poetry； we may place him fairly as a prose writer
by the side of Demosthenes； Cicero； or Tacitus。 And so I pass from this
painful subject； only quotingif I may be permitted to quoteMr。 Burton's
wise and gentle verdict on the whole。 〃Buchanan；〃 he says； 〃though a
zealous Protestant； had a good deal of the Catholic and sceptical spirit of
Erasmus； and an admiring eye for everything that was great and beautiful。
Like the rest of his countrymen； he bowed himself in presence of the lustre
t
