第10章
加入书架 A- A+

  Themanofrankanddistinction,onthecontrary,isobservedbyalltheworld。Everybodyiseagertolookathim,andtoconceive,atleastbysympathy,thatjoyandexultationwithwhichhiscircumstancesnaturallyinspirehim。Hisactionsaretheobjectsofthepubliccare。Scarceaword,scarceagesture,canfallfromhimthatisaltogetherneglected。Inagreatassemblyheisthepersonuponwhomalldirecttheireyes;itisuponhimthattheirpassionsseemalltowaitwithexpectation,inordertoreceivethatmovementanddirectionwhichheshallimpressuponthem;andifhisbehaviourisnotaltogetherabsurd,hehas,everymoment,anopportunityofinterestingmankind,andofrenderinghimselftheobjectoftheobservationandfellow-feelingofeverybodyabouthim。Itisthis,which,notwithstandingtherestraintitimposes,notwithstandingthelossoflibertywithwhichitisattended,rendersgreatnesstheobjectofenvy,andcompensates,intheopinionofallthosemortificationswhichmustmankind,allthattoil,allthatanxiety,beundergoneinthepursuitofit;andwhatisofyetmoreconsequence,allthatleisure,allthatease,allthatcarelesssecurity,whichareforfeitedforeverbytheacquisition。

  Whenweconsidertheconditionofthegreat,inthosedelusivecoloursinwhichtheimaginationisapttopaintit。itseemstobealmosttheabstractideaofaperfectandhappystate。Itistheverystatewhich,inallourwakingdreamsandidlereveries,wehadsketchedouttoourselvesasthefinalobjectofallourdesires。Wefeel,therefore,apeculiarsympathywiththesatisfactionofthosewhoareinit。Wefavouralltheirinclinations,andforwardalltheirwishes。Whatpity,wethink,thatanythingshouldspoilandcorruptsoagreeableasituation!Wecouldevenwishthemimmortal;anditseemshardtous,thatdeathshouldatlastputanendtosuchperfectenjoyment。Itiscruel,wethink,inNaturetocompelthemfromtheirexaltedstationstothathumble,buthospitablehome,whichshehasprovidedforallherchildren。GreatKing,liveforever!

  isthecompliment,which,afterthemannerofeasternadulation,weshouldreadilymakethem,ifexperiencedidnotteachusitsabsurdity。Everycalamitythatbefalsthem,everyinjurythatisdonethem,excitesinthebreastofthespectatortentimesmorecompassionandresentmentthanhewouldhavefelt,hadthesamethingshappenedtoothermen。ItisthemisfortunesofKingsonlywhichaffordthepropersubjectsfortragedy。Theyresemble,inthisrespect,themisfortunesoflovers。Thosetwosituationsarethechiefwhichinterestusuponthetheatre;because,inspiteofallthatreasonandexperiencecantellustothecontrary,theprejudicesoftheimaginationattachtothesetwostatesahappinesssuperiortoanyother。Todisturb,ortoputanendtosuchperfectenjoyment,seemstobethemostatrociousofallinjuries。Thetraitorwhoconspiresagainstthelifeofhismonarch,isthoughtagreatermonsterthananyothermurderer。

  Alltheinnocentbloodthatwasshedinthecivilwars,provokedlessindignationthanthedeathofCharlesI。Astrangertohumannature,whosawtheindifferenceofmenaboutthemiseryoftheirinferiors,andtheregretandindignationwhichtheyfeelforthemisfortunesandsufferingsofthoseabovethem,wouldbeapttoimagine,thatpainmustbemoreagonizing,andtheconvulsionsofdeathmoreterribletopersonsofhigherrank,thantothoseofmeanerstations。

  Uponthisdispositionofmankind,togoalongwithallthepassionsoftherichandthepowerful,isfoundedthedistinctionofranks,andtheorderofsociety。Ourobsequiousnesstooursuperiorsmorefrequentlyarisesfromouradmirationfortheadvantagesoftheirsituation,thanfromanyprivateexpectationsofbenefitfromtheirgood-will。Theirbenefitscanextendbuttoafew。buttheirfortunesinterestalmosteverybody。Weareeagertoassistthemincompletingasystemofhappinessthatapproachessoneartoperfection;andwedesiretoservethemfortheirownsake,withoutanyotherrecompensebutthevanityorthehonourofobligingthem。Neitherisourdeferencetotheirinclinationsfoundedchiefly,oraltogether,uponaregardtotheutilityofsuchsubmission,andtotheorderofsociety,whichisbestsupportedbyit。Evenwhentheorderofsocietyseemstorequirethatweshouldopposethem,wecanhardlybringourselvestodoit。Thatkingsaretheservantsofthepeople,tobeobeyed,resisted,deposed,orpunished,asthepublicconveniencymayrequire,isthedoctrineofreasonandphilosophy;butitisnotthedoctrineofNature。Naturewouldteachustosubmittothemfortheirownsake,totrembleandbowdownbeforetheirexaltedstation,toregardtheirsmileasarewardsufficienttocompensateanyservices,andtodreadtheirdispleasure,thoughnootherevilweretofollowfromit,astheseverestofallmortifications。Totreattheminanyrespectasmen,toreasonanddisputewiththemuponordinaryoccasions,requiressuchresolution,thattherearefewmenwhosemagnanimitycansupporttheminit,unlesstheyarelikewiseassistedbyfamiliarityandacquaintance。Thestrongestmotives,themostfuriouspassions,fear,hatred,andresentment,arescarcesufficienttobalancethisnaturaldispositiontorespectthem:andtheirconductmust,eitherjustlyorunjustly,haveexcitedthehighestdegreeofallthosepassions,beforethebulkofthepeoplecanbebroughttoopposethemwithviolence,ortodesiretoseethemeitherpunishedordeposed。Evenwhenthepeoplehavebeenbroughtthislength,theyareapttorelenteverymoment,andeasilyrelapseintotheirhabitualstateofdeferencetothosewhomtheyhavebeenaccustomedtolookuponastheirnaturalsuperiors。Theycannotstandthemortificationoftheirmonarch。Compassionsoontakestheplaceofresentment,theyforgetallpastprovocations,theiroldprinciplesofloyaltyrevive,andtheyruntore-establishtheruinedauthorityoftheiroldmasters,withthesameviolencewithwhichtheyhadopposedit。ThedeathofCharlesIbroughtabouttheRestorationoftheroyalfamily。

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