letters to his son, 1749-第11章

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！


soured　by　misfortunes；　and　tempted　by　their　necessities；　they　are　as　incapable　of　reasoning　rightly；　as　they　have　hitherto　been　of　acting　wisely。　　The　late　Lord　Pembroke　never　would　know　anything　that　he　had　not　a　mind　to　know；　and；　in　this　case；　I　advise　you　to　follow　his　example。　　Never　know　either　the　father　or　the　two　sons；　any　otherwise　than　as　foreigners；　and　so；　not　knowing　their　pretensions；　you　have　no　occasion　to　dispute　them。

I　can　never　help　recommending　to　you　the　utmost　attention　and　care；　to　acquire　'les　Manieres；　la　Tournure；　et　les　Graces；　d'un　galant　homme；　et　d'un　homme　de　cour'。　　They　should　appear　in　every　look；　in　every　action；　in　your　address；　and　even　in　your　dress；　if　you　would　either　please　or　rise　in　the　world。　　That　you　may　do　both　（and　both　are　in　your　power）　is　most　ardently　wished　you；　by　Yours。

P。　S。　　I　made　Comte　Lascaris　show　me　your　letter；　which　I　liked　very　well；　the　style　was　easy　and　natural；　and　the　French　pretty　correct。　There　were　so　few　faults　in　the　orthography；　that　a　little　more　observation　of　the　best　French　authors　would　make　you　a　correct　master　of　that　necessary　language。

I　will　not　conceal　from　you；　that　I　have　lately　had　extraordinary　good　accounts　of　you；　from　an　unexpected　and　judicious　person；　who　promises　me　that；　with　a　little　more　of　the　world；　your　manners　and　address　will　equal　your　knowledge。　　This　is　the　more　pleasing　to　me；　as　those　were　the　two　articles　of　which　I　was　the　most　doubtful。　　These　commendations　will　not；　I　am　persuaded；　make　you　vain　and　coxcomical；　but　only　encourage　you　to　go　on　in　the　right　way。




LETTER　LXXXI

LONDON；　September　12；　O。　S。　　1749。

DEAR　BOY：　It　seems　extraordinary；　but　it　is　very　true；　that　my　anxiety　for　you　increases　in　proportion　to　the　good　accounts　which　I　receive　of　you　from　all　hands。　　I　promise　myself　so　much　from　you；　that　I　dread　the　least　disappointment。　　You　are　now　so　near　the　port；　which　I　have　so　long　wished　and　labored　to　bring　you　safe　into；　that　my　concern　would　be　doubled；　should　you　be　shipwrecked　within　sight　of　it。　　The　object；　therefore；　of　this　letter　is　（laying　aside　all　the　authority　of　a　parent）　to　conjure　you　as　a　friend；　by　the　affection　you　have　for　me　（and　surely　you　have　reason　to　have　some）；　and　by　the　regard　you　have　for　yourself；　to　go　on；　with　assiduity　and　attention；　to　complete　that　work　which；　of　late；　you　have　carried　on　so　well；　and　which　is　now　so　near　being　finished。　　My　wishes　and　my　plan　were　to　make　you　shine　and　distinguish　yourself　equally　in　the　learned　and　the　polite　world。　　Few　have　been　able　to　do　it。　　Deep　learning　is　generally　tainted　with　pedantry；　or　at　least　unadorned　by　manners：　as；　on　the　other　hand；　polite　manners　and　the　turn　of　the　world　are　too　often　unsupported　by　knowledge；　and　consequently　end　contemptibly；　in　the　frivolous　dissipation　of　drawing…rooms　and　ruelles。　You　are　now　got　over　the　dry　and　difficult　parts　of　learning；　what　remains　requires　much　more　time　than　trouble。　　You　have　lost　time　by　your　illness；　you　must　regain　it　now　or　never。　　I　therefore　most　earnestly　desire；　for　your　own　sake；　that　for　these　next　six　months；　at　least　six　hours　every　morning；　uninterruptedly；　may　be　inviolably　sacred　to　your　studies　with　Mr。　Harte。　　I　do　not　know　whether　he　will　require　so　much；　but　I　know　that　I　do；　and　hope　you　will；　and　consequently　prevail　with　him　to　give　you　that　time；　I　own　it　is　a　good　deal：　but　when　both　you　and　he　consider　that　the　work　will　be　so　much　better；　and　so　much　sooner　done；　by　such　an　assiduous　and　continued　application；　you　will；　neither　of　you；　think　it　too　much；　and　each　will　find　his　account　in　it。　　So　much　for　the　mornings；　which　from　your　own　good　sense；　and　Mr。　Harte's　tenderness　and　care　of　you；　will；　I　am　sure；　be　thus　well　employed。　It　is　not　only　reasonable；　but　useful　too；　that　your　evenings　should　be　devoted　to　amusements　and　pleasures：　and　therefore　I　not　only　allow；　but　recommend；　that　they　should　be　employed　at　assemblies；　balls；　SPECTACLES；　and　in　the　best　companies；　with　this　restriction　only；　that　the　consequences　of　the　evening's　diversions　may　not　break　in　upon　the　morning's　studies；　by　breakfastings；　visits；　and　idle　parties　into　the　country。　　At　your　age；　you　need　not　be　ashamed；　when　any　of　these　morning　parties　are　proposed；　to　say　that　you　must　beg　to　be　excused；　for　you　are　obliged　to　devote　your　mornings　to　Mr。　Harte；　that　I　will　have　it　so；　and　that　you　dare　not　do　otherwise。　　Lay　it　all　upon　me；　though　I　am　persuaded　it　will　be　as　much　your　own　inclination　as　it　is　mine。　　But　those　frivolous；　idle　people；　whose　time　hangs　upon　their　own　hands；　and　who　desire　to　make　others　lose　theirs　too；　are　not　to　be　reasoned　with：　and　indeed　it　would　be　doing　them　too　much　honor。　　The　shortest　civil　answers　are　the　best；　I　CANNOT；　I　DARE　NOT；　instead　of　I　WILL　NOT；　for　if　you　were　to　enter　with　them　into　the　necessity　of　study　end　the　usefulness　of　knowledge；　it　would　only　furnish　them　with　matter　for　silly　jests；　which；　though　I　would　not　have　you　mind；　I　would　not　have　you　invite。　　I　will　suppose　you　at　Rome　studying　six　hours　uninterruptedly　with　Mr。　Harte；　every　morning；　and　passing　your　evenings　with　the　best　company　of　Rome；　observing　their　manners　and　forming　your　own；　and　I　will　suppose　a　number　of　idle；　sauntering；　illiterate　English；　as　there　commonly　is　there；　living　entirely　with　one　another；　supping；　drinking；　and　sitting　up　late　at　each　other's　lodgings；　commonly　in　riots　and　scrapes　when　drunk；　and　never　in　good　company　when　sober。　　I　will　take　one　of　these　pretty　fellows；　and　give　you　the　dialogue　between　him　and　yourself；　such　as；　I　dare　say；　it　will　be　on　his　side；　and　such　as；　I　hope；　it　will　be　on　yours：

Englishman。　　Will　you　come　and　breakfast　with　me　tomorrow？　　there　will　be　four　or　five　of　our　countrymen；　we　have　provided　chaises；　and　we　will　drive　somewhere　out　of　town　after　breakfast。

Stanhope。　　I　am　very　sorry　I　cannot；　but　I　am　obliged　to　be　at　home　all　morning。

Englishman。　　Why；　then；　we　will　come　and　breakfast　with　you。

Stanhope。　　I　can't　do　that　neither；　I　am　engaged。

Englishman。　　Well；　then；　let　it　be　the　next　day。

Stanhope。　　To　tell　you　the　truth；　it　can　be　no　day　in　the　morning；　for　I　neither　go　out；　nor　see　anybody　at　home　before　twelve。

Englishman。　　And　what　the　devil　do　you　do　with　yourself　till　twelve　o'clock？

Stanhope。　　I　am　not　by　myself；　I　am　with　Mr。　Harte。

Englishman。　　Then　what　the　devil　do　you　do　with　him？

Stanhope。　　We　study　different　things；　we　read；　we　converse。

Englishman。　　Very　pretty　amusement　indeed！　Are　you　to　take　orders　then？

Stanhope。　　Yes；　my　father's　orders；　I　believe　I　must　take。

Englishman。　　Why　hast　thou　no　more　spirit；　than　to　mind　an　old　fellow　a　thousand　miles　off？

Stanhope。　　If　I　don't　mind　his　orders　he　won't　mind　my　draughts。

Englishman。　　What；　does　the　old　prig　threaten　then？　threatened　folks　live　long；　never　mind　threats。

Stanhope。　　No；　I　can't　say　that　he　has　ever　threatened　me　in　his　life；　but　I　believe　I　had　best　not　provoke　him。

Englishman。　　Pooh！　you　would　have　one　angry　letter　from　the　old　fellow；　and　there　would　be　an　end　of　it。

Stanhope。　　You　mistake　him　mightily；　he　always　does　more　than　he　says。　He　has　never　been　angry　with　me　yet；　that　I　remember；　in　his　life；　but　if　I　were　to　provoke　him；　I　am　sure　he　would　never　forgive　me；　he　would　be　coolly　immovable；　and　I　might　beg　and　pray；　and　write　my　heart　out　to　no　purpose。

Englishman。　　Why；　then；　he　is　an　old　dog；　that's　all　I　can　say；　and　pray　are　you　to　obey　your　dry…nurse　too；　this　same；　and　what's　his　nameMr。　Harte？

Stanhope。　　Yes。

Englishman。　　So　he　stuffs　you　all　morning　with　Greek；　and　Latin；　and　Logic；　and　all　that。　　Egad　I　have　a　dry…nurse　too；　but　I　never　looked　into　a　book　with　him　in　my　life；　I　have　not　so　much　as　seen　the　face　of　him　this　week；　and　don't　care　a　louse　if　I　never　see　it　again。

Stanhope。　　My　dry…nurse　never　desires　anything　of　me　that　is　not　reasonable；　and　for　my　own　good；　and　therefore　I　like　to　be　with　him。

Englishman。　　Very　sententious　and　edifying；　upon　my　word！　at　this　rate　you　will　be　reckoned　a　very　good　young　man。

Stanhope。　　Why；　that　will　do　me　no　harm。

Englishman。　　Will　you　be　with　us　to…morrow　in　the　evening；　then？　　We　shall　be　ten　with　you；　and　I　have　got　some　excellent　good　wine；　and　we'll　be　very　merry。

Stanhope。　　I　am　very　much　obliged　to　you；　but　I　am　engaged　for　all　the　evening；　to…morrow；　first　at　Cardinal　Albani's；　and　then　to　sup　at　the　Venetian　Ambassadress's。

Englishman。　　How　the　devil　can　you　like　being　always　with　these　foreigners？　　I　never　go　among　them　with　all　their　formalities　and　ceremonies。　　I　am　never　easy　in　company　with　them；　and　I　don't　know　why；　but　I　am　ashamed。

Stanhope。　　I　am　neither　ashamed　nor　afraid；　I　am　very；　easy　with　them；　they　are　very　easy　with　me；　I　get　the　language；　and　I　see　their　characters；　by　conversing　with　them；　and　that　is　what　we　are　sent　abroad　for；　is　it　not？

Englishman。　　I　hate　your　modest　women's　company；　your　women　of　fashion　as　they　call　'em；　I　don't　know　what　to　say　to　them；　for　my　part。

Stanhope。　　Have　you　ever　conversed　with　them？

Englishman。　　No；　I　never　conversed　with　them；　but　have　been　sometimes　in　their　company；　though　much　against　my　will。

Stanhope。　　But　at　least　they　have　done　you　no　hurt；　which　is；　probably；　more　than　you　can　say　of　the　women　you　do　converse　with。

Englishman。　　That's　true；　I　own；　but　for　all　that；　I　would　rather　keep　company　with　my　surgeon　half　the　year；　than　with　your　women　of　fashion　the　year　round。

Stanhope。　　Tastes　are　different；　you　know；　and　every　man　follows　his　own。

Englishman。　　That's　true；　but　thine's　a　devilish　odd　one；　Stanhope。　　All　morning　with　thy　dry…nurse；　all　the　evening　in　formal　fine　company；　and　all　day　long　afraid　of　Old　Daddy　in　England。　　Thou　art　a　queer　fellow；　and　I　am　afraid　there　is　nothing　to　be　made　of　thee。

Stanhope。　　I　am　afraid　so　too。

Englishman。　　Well；　then；　good　night　to　you；　you　have　no　objection；　I　hope；　to　my　being　drunk　to…night；　which　I　certainly　will　be。

Stanhope。　　Not　in　the　least；　nor　to　your　being　sick　tomorrow；　which　you　as　certainly　will　be；　and　so　good　night；　too。


You　will　observe；　that　I　have　not　put　into　your　mouth　those　good　arguments　which　upon　such　an　occasion　would；　I　am　sure；　occur　to　you；　as　piety　and　affection　toward　me；　regard　and　friendship　for　Mr。　Harte；　respect　for　your　own　moral　character；　and　for　all　the　relative　duties　of　man；　son；　pupil；　and　citizen。　　Such　solid　arguments　would　be　thrown　away　upon　such　shallow　puppies。　　Leave　them　to　their　ignorance　and　to　their　dirty；　disgraceful　vices。　　They　will　severely　feel　the　effects　of　them；　when　it　will　be　too　late。　　Without　the　comfortable　refuge　of　learning；　and　with　all　the　sickness　and　pains　of　a　ruined　stomach；　and　a　rotten　carcass；　if　they　happen　to　arrive　at　old　age；　it　is　an　uneasy　and　ignominious　one。　　The　ridicule　which　such　fellows　endeavor　to　throw　upon　those　who　are　not　like　them；　is；　in　the　opinion　of　all　men　of　sense；　the　most　authentic　panegyric。　　Go　on；　then；　my　dear　child；　in　the　way　you　are　in；　only　for　a　year　and　a　half　more：　that　is　all　I　ask　of　you。　　After　that；　I　promise　that　you　shall　be　your　own　master；　and　that　I　will　pretend　to　no　other　t