character-第15章
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Charles stooped and picked it up； saying； 〃You deserve to be
served by an emperor。〃 Leo X。 threatened with excommunication
whoever should print and sell the poems of Ariosto without the
author's consent。 The same pope attended the deathbed of Raphael；
as Francis I。 did that of Leonardo da Vinci。
Though Haydn once archly observed that he was loved and esteemed
by everybody except professors of music； yet all the greatest
musicians were unusually ready to recognise each other's
greatness。 Haydn himself seems to have been entirely free from
petty jealousy。 His admiration of the famous Porpora was such；
that he resolved to gain admission to his house； and serve him as
a valet。 Having made the acquaintance of the family with whom
Porpora lived； he was allowed to officiate in that capacity。
Early each morning he took care to brush the veteran's coat；
polish his shoes； and put his rusty wig in order。 At first
Porpora growled at the intruder； but his asperity soon softened；
and eventually melted into affection。 He quickly discovered his
valet's genius； and； by his instructions； directed it into the
line in which Haydn eventually acquired so much distinction。
Haydn himself was enthusiastic in his admiration of Handel。 〃He
is the father of us all；〃 he said on one occasion。 Scarlatti
followed Handel in admiration all over Italy； and； when his name
was mentioned； be crossed himself in token of veneration。
Mozart's recognition of the great composer was not less hearty。
〃When he chooses；〃 said he； 〃Handel strikes like the thunderbolt。〃
Beethoven hailed him as 〃The monarch of the musical kingdom。〃
When Beethoven was dying； one of his friends sent him a present of
Handel's works； in forty volumes。 They were brought into his
chamber； and； gazing on them with reanimated eye； be exclaimed；
pointing at them with his finger； 〃Therethere is the truth！〃
Haydn not only recognised the genius of the great men who had
passed away； but of his young contemporaries； Mozart and
Beethoven。 Small men may be envious of their fellows； but really
great men seek out and love each other。 Of Mozart； Haydn wrote 〃I
only wish I could impress on every friend of music； and on great
men in particular； the same depth of musical sympathy； and
profound appreciation of Mozart's inimitable music； that I myself
feel and enjoy； then nations would vie with each other to possess
such a jewel within their frontiers。 Prague ought not only to
strive to retain this precious man； but also to remunerate him；
for without this the history of a great genius is sad indeed。。。。
It enrages me to think that the unparalleled Mozart is not yet
engaged by some imperial or royal court。 Forgive my excitement；
but I love the man so dearly！〃
Mozart was equally generous in his recognition of the merits of
Haydn。 〃Sir；〃 said he to a critic； speaking of the latter； 〃if
you and I were both melted down together； we should not furnish
materials for one Haydn。〃 And when Mozart first heard Beethoven；
he observed： 〃Listen to that young man； be assured that he will
yet make a great name in the world。〃
Buffon set Newton above all other philosophers； and admired him so
highly that he had always his portrait before him while he sat at
work。 So Schiller looked up to Shakspeare； whom he studied
reverently and zealously for years； until he became capable of
comprehending nature at first…hand； and then his admiration became
even more ardent than before。
Pitt was Canning's master and hero； whom he followed and admired
with attachment and devotion。 〃To one man； while he lived；〃 said
Canning； 〃I was devoted with all my heart and all my soul。 Since
the death of Mr。 Pitt I acknowledge no leader； my political
allegiance lies buried in his grave。〃 （11）
A French physiologist； M。 Roux； was occupied one day in lecturing
to his pupils； when Sir Charles Bell； whose discoveries were even
better known and more highly appreciated abroad than at home；
strolled into his class…room。 The professor； recognising his
visitor； at once stopped his exposition； saying： 〃MESSIEURS； C'EST
ASSEZ POUR AUJOURD'HUI； VOUS AVEZ VU SIR CHARLES BELL！〃
The first acquaintance with a great work of art has usually proved
an important event in every young artist's life。 When Correggio
first gazed on Raphael's 'Saint Cecilia；' he felt within himself
an awakened power； and exclaimed； 〃And I too am a painter〃 So
Constable used to look back on his first sight of Claude's picture
of 'Hagar；' as forming an epoch in his career。 Sir George
Beaumont's admiration of the same picture was such that he always
took it with him in his carriage when he travelled from home。
The examples set by the great and good do not die； they continue
to live and speak to all the generations that succeed them。 It
was very impressively observed by Mr。 Disraeli； in the House of
Commons； shortly after the death of Mr。 Cobden：〃There is this
consolation remaining to us； when we remember our unequalled and
irreparable losses； that those great men are not altogether lost
to usthat their words will often be quoted in this Housethat
their examples will often be referred to and appealed to； and that
even their expressions will form part of our discussions and
debates。 There are now； I may say； some members of Parliament
who； though they may not be present； are still members of this
Housewho are independent of dissolutions； of the caprices of
constituencies； and even of the course of time。 I think that Mr。
Cobden was one of those men。〃
It is the great lesson of biography to teach what man can be and
can do at his best。 It may thus give each man renewed strength
and confidence。 The humblest； in sight of even the greatest； may
admire； and hope； and take courage。 These great brothers of ours
in blood and lineage； who live a universal life； still speak to us
from their graves； and beckon us on in the paths which they have
trod。 Their example is still with us； to guide； to influence；
and to direct us。 For nobility of character is a perpetual
bequest； living from age to age； and constantly tending to
reproduce its like。
〃The sage；〃 say the Chinese； 〃is the instructor of a hundred ages。
When the manners of Loo are heard of； the stupid become
intelligent； and the wavering determined。〃 Thus the acted life of
a good man continues to be a gospel of freedom and emancipation to
all who succeed him：
〃To live in hearts we leave behind；
is not to die。〃
The golden words that good men have uttered； the examples they
have set； live through all time： they pass into the thoughts and
hearts of their successors； help them on the road of life； and
often console them in the hour of death。 〃And the most miserable
or most painful of deaths；〃 said Henry Marten； the Commonwealth
man； who died in prison； 〃is as nothing compared with the memory
of a well…spent life； and great alone is he who has earned the
glorious privilege of bequeathing such a lesson and example to his
successors！
NOTES。
（1） 'Letters of Sir Charles Bell；' p。 10。
（2） 'Autobiography of Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck；' p。 179。
（3） Dean Stanley's 'Life of Dr。 Arnold；' i。 151 （Ed。 1858）。
（4） Lord Cockburn's 'Memorials；' pp。 25…6。
（5） From a letter of Canon Moseley； read at a Memorial Meeting held
shortly after the death of the late Lord Herbert of Lea。
（6） Izaak Walton's 'Life of George Herbert。'
（7） Stanley's 'Life and Letters of Dr。 Arnold；' i。 33。
（8） Philip de Comines gives a curious illustration of the subservient；
though enforced； imitation of Philip； Duke of Burgundy； by his
courtiers。 When that prince fell ill； and had his head shaved； he
ordered that all his nobles； five hundred in number； should in
like manner shave their heads； and one of them； Pierre de
Hagenbach； to prove his devotion； no sooner caught sight of an
unshaven nobleman； than he forthwith had him seized and carried
off to the barber！Philip de Comines （Bohn's Ed。）； p。 243。
（9） 'Life；' i。 344。
（10） Introduction to 'The Principal Speeches and Addresses of H。R。H。
the Prince Consort；' p。 33。
（11） Speech at Liverpool； 1812。
CHAPTER IV。WORK。
〃Arise therefore； and be doing； and the Lord be with thee。〃
l CHRONICLES xxii。 16。
〃Work as if thou hadst to live for aye；
Worship as if thou wert to die to…day。〃TUSCAN PROVERB。
〃C'est par le travail qu'on regne。〃LOUIS XIV
〃Blest work！ if ever thou wert curse of God；
What must His blessing be！〃J。 B。 SELKIRK。
〃Let every man be OCCUPIED； and occupied in the highest employment
of which his nature is capable； and die with the consciousness
that he has done his best〃Sydney Smith。
WORK is one of the best educators of practical character。 It
evokes and disciplines obedience； self…control； attention；
application； and perseverance； giving a man deftness and skill in
his special calling； and aptitude and dexterity in dealing with
the affairs of ordinary life。
Work is the law of our beingthe living principle that carries
men and nations onward。 The greater number of men have to work
with their hands； as a matter of necessity； in order to live； but
all must work in one way or another； if they would enjoy life as
it ought to be enjoyed。
Labour may be a burden and a chastisement； but it is also an
honour and a glory。 Without it； nothing can be accomplished。 All
that is great in man comes through work； and civilisation is its
product。 Were labour abolished； the race of Adam were at once
stricken by moral death。
It is idleness that is the curse of mannot labour。 Idleness
eats the heart out of men as of nations； and consumes them as rust
does iron。 When Alexander conquered the Persians； and had an
opportunity of observing their manners； he remarked that they did
not seem conscious that there could be anything more servile than
a life of pleasure； or more princely than a life of toil。
When the Emperor Severus lay on his deathbed at York； whither he
had been borne on a litter from the foot of the Grampians； his
final watchword to his soldiers was； 〃LABOREMUS〃 （we must work）；
and nothing but constant toil maintained the power and extended
the authority of the Roman generals。
In describing the earlier social condition of Italy； when the
ordinary occupations of rural life were considered compatible with
the highest civic dignity； Pliny speaks of the triumphant generals
and their men； returning contentedly to the plough。 In those days
the lands were tilled by the hands even of generals； the soil
exulting beneath a ploughshare crowned with laurels； and guided by
a husbandman graced with triumphs： 〃IPSORUM TUNC MANIBUS
IMPERATORUM COLEBANTUR AGRI： UT FAS EST CREDERE； GAUDENT
