The Tinker’s Wedding

第7章

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第7章

The Tinker’s Wedding John M。 Synge

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The Tinker’s Wedding
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  Itisthesamecasewiththosepassionswehavebeenjustnowconsidering。Theirimmediateeffectsaresodisagreeable,thatevenwhentheyaremostjustlyprovoked,thereisstillsomethingaboutthemwhichdisgustsus。These,therefore,aretheonlypassionsofwhichtheexpressions,asIformerlyobserved,donotdisposeandprepareustosympathizewiththem,beforeweareinformedofthecausewhichexcitesthem。Theplaintivevoiceofmisery,whenheardatadistance,willnotallowustobeindifferentaboutthepersonfromwhomitcomes。Assoonasitstrikesourear,itinterestsusinhisfortune,and,ifcontinued,forcesusalmostinvoluntarilytoflytohisassistance。Thesightofasmilingcountenance,inthesamemanner,elevateseventhepensiveintothatgayandairymood,whichdisposeshimtosympathizewith,andsharethejoywhichitexpresses;andhefeelshisheart,whichwiththoughtandcarewasbeforethatshrunkanddepressed,instantlyexpandedandelated。Butitisquiteotherwisewiththeexpressionsofhatredandresentment。Thehoarse,boisterous,anddiscordantvoiceofanger,whenheardatadistance,inspiresuseitherwithfearoraversion。Wedonotflytowardsit,astoonewhocriesoutwithpainandagony。Women,andmenofweaknerves,trembleandareovercomewithfear,thoughsensiblethatthemselvesarenottheobjectsoftheanger。Theyconceivefear,however,byputtingthemselvesinthesituationofthepersonwhoisso。Eventhoseofstouterheartsaredisturbed;notindeedenoughtomakethemafraid,butenoughtomakethemangry;forangeristhepassionwhichtheywouldfeelinthesituationoftheotherperson。Itisthesamecasewithhatred。Mereexpressionsofspiteinspireitagainstnobody,butthemanwhousesthem。Boththesepassionsarebynaturetheobjectsofouraversion。Theirdisagreeableandboisterousappearanceneverexcites,neverprepares,andoftendisturbsoursympathy。Griefdoesnotmorepowerfullyengageandattractustothepersoninwhomweobserveit,thanthese,whileweareignorantoftheircause,disgustanddetachusfromhim。

  Itwas,itseems,theintentionofNature,thatthoserougherandmoreunamiableemotions,whichdrivemenfromoneanother,shouldbelesseasilyandmorerarelycommunicated。

  Whenmusicimitatesthemodulationsofgrieforjoy,iteitheractuallyinspiresuswiththosepassions,oratleastputsusinthemoodwhichdisposesustoconceivethem。Butwhenitimitatesthenotesofanger,itinspiresuswithfear。Joy,grief,love,admiration,devotion,areallofthempassionswhicharenaturallymusical。Theirnaturaltonesareallsoft,clear,andmelodious;andtheynaturallyexpressthemselvesinperiodswhicharedistinguishedbyregularpauses,andwhichuponthataccountareeasilyadaptedtotheregularreturnsofthecorrespondentairsofatune。Thevoiceofanger,onthecontrary,andofallthepassionswhichareakintoit,isharshanddiscordant。Itsperiodstooareallirregular,sometimesverylong,andsometimesveryshort,anddistinguishedbynoregularpauses。Itiswithdifficulty,therefore,thatmusiccanimitateanyofthosepassions;andthemusicwhichdoesimitatethemisnotthemostagreeable。Awholeentertainmentmayconsist,withoutanyimpropriety,oftheimitationofthesocialandagreeablepassions。Itwouldbeastrangeentertainmentwhichconsistedaltogetheroftheimitationsofhatredandresentment。

  Ifthosepassionsaredisagreeabletothespectator,theyarenotlesssotothepersonwhofeelsthem。Hatredandangerarethegreatestpoisontothehappinessofagoodmind。Thereis,intheveryfeelingofthosepassions,somethingharsh,jarring,andconvulsive,somethingthattearsanddistractsthebreast,andisaltogetherdestructiveofthatcomposureandtranquillityofmindwhichissonecessarytohappiness,andwhichisbestpromotedbythecontrarypassionsofgratitudeandlove。Itisnotthevalueofwhattheylosebytheperfidyandingratitudeofthosetheylivewith,whichthegenerousandhumanearemostapttoregret。

  Whatevertheymayhavelost,theycangenerallybeveryhappywithoutit。Whatmostdisturbsthemistheideaofperfidyandingratitudeexercisedtowardsthemselves;andthediscordantanddisagreeablepassionswhichthisexcites,constitute,intheirownopinion,thechiefpartoftheinjurywhichtheysuffer。

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