第 66 节
作者:
片片 更新:2022-08-21 16:31 字数:9322
tends to grow suspicious and ungenerous。 The best corrective of
such influences is always the domestic; by withdrawing the mind
from thoughts that are wholly gainful; by taking it out of its
daily rut; and bringing it back to the sanctuary of home for
refreshment and rest:
〃That truest; rarest light of social joy;
Which gleams upon the man of many cares。〃
〃Business;〃 says Sir Henry Taylor; 〃does but lay waste the
approaches to the heart; whilst marriage garrisons the fortress。〃
And however the head may be occupied; by labours of ambition or of
businessif the heart be not occupied by affection for others
and sympathy with themlife; though it may appear to the outer
world to be a success; will probably be no success at all;
but a failure。 (4)
A man's real character will always be more visible in his
household than anywhere else; and his practical wisdom will be
better exhibited by the manner in which he bears rule there; than
even in the larger affairs of business or public life。 His whole
mind may be in his business; but; if he would be happy; his whole
heart must be in his home。 It is there that his genuine qualities
most surely display themselvesthere that he shows his
truthfulness; his love; his sympathy; his consideration for
others; his uprightness; his manlinessin a word; his character。
If affection be not the governing principle in a household;
domestic life may be the most intolerable of despotisms。 Without
justice; also; there can be neither love; confidence; nor respect;
on which all true domestic rule is founded。
Erasmus speaks of Sir Thomas More's home as 〃a school and exercise
of the Christian religion。〃 〃No wrangling; no angry word was
heard in it; no one was idle; every one did his duty with
alacrity; and not without a temperate cheerfulness。〃 Sir Thomas
won all hearts to obedience by his gentleness。 He was a man
clothed in household goodness; and he ruled so gently and wisely;
that his home was pervaded by an atmosphere of love and duty。 He
himself spoke of the hourly interchange of the smaller acts of
kindness with the several members of his family; as having a claim
upon his time as strong as those other public occupations of his
life which seemed to others so much more serious and important。
But the man whose affections are quickened by home…life; does not
confine his sympathies within that comparatively narrow sphere。
His love enlarges in the family; and through the family it expands
into the world。 〃Love;〃 says Emerson; 〃is a fire that; kindling
its first embers in the narrow nook of a private bosom; caught
from a wandering spark out of another private heart; glows and
enlarges until it warms and beams upon multitudes of men and
women; upon the universal heart of all; and so lights up the whole
world and nature with its generous flames。〃
It is by the regimen of domestic affection that the heart of man
is best composed and regulated。 The home is the woman's kingdom;
her state; her worldwhere she governs by affection; by
kindness; by the power of gentleness。 There is nothing which so
settles the turbulence of a man's nature as his union in life with
a highminded woman。 There he finds rest; contentment; and
happinessrest of brain and peace of spirit。 He will also often
find in her his best counsellor; for her instinctive tact will
usually lead him right when his own unaided reason might be apt to
go wrong。 The true wife is a staff to lean upon in times of trial
and difficulty; and she is never wanting in sympathy and solace
when distress occurs or fortune frowns。 In the time of youth; she
is a comfort and an ornament of man's life; and she remains a
faithful helpmate in maturer years; when life has ceased to be an
anticipation; and we live in its realities。
What a happy man must Edmund Burke have been; when he could say of
his home; 〃Every care vanishes the moment I enter under my own
roof!〃 And Luther; a man full of human affection; speaking of his
wife; said; 〃I would not exchange my poverty with her for all the
riches of Croesus without her。〃 Of marriage he observed: 〃The
utmost blessing that God can confer on a man is the possession of
a good and pious wife; with whom he may live in peace and
tranquillityto whom he may confide his whole possessions; even
his life and welfare。〃 And again he said; 〃To rise betimes; and
to marry young; are what no man ever repents of doing。〃
For a man to enjoy true repose and happiness in marriage; he must
have in his wife a soul…mate as well as a helpmate。 But it is not
requisite that she should be merely a pale copy of himself。 A man
no more desires in his wife a manly woman; than the woman desires
in her husband a feminine man。 A woman's best qualities do not
reside in her intellect; but in her affections。 She gives
refreshment by her sympathies; rather than by her knowledge。 〃The
brain…women;〃 says Oliver Wendell Holmes; 〃never interest us like
the heart…women。〃 (5) Men are often so wearied with themselves;
that they are rather predisposed to admire qualities and tastes in
others different from their own。 〃If I were suddenly asked;〃 says
Mr。 Helps; 〃to give a proof of the goodness of God to us; I think
I should say that it is most manifest in the exquisite difference
He has made between the souls of men and women; so as to create
the possibility of the most comforting and charming companionship
that the mind of man can imagine。〃 (6) But though no man may love
a woman for her understanding; it is not the less necessary for
her to cultivate it on that account。 (7) There may be difference
in character; but there must be harmony of mind and sentiment
two intelligent souls as well as two loving hearts:
〃Two heads in council; two beside the hearth;
Two in the tangled business of the world;
Two in the liberal offices of life。〃
There are few men who have written so wisely on the subject of
marriage as Sir Henry Taylor。 What he says about the influence of
a happy union in its relation to successful statesmanship; applies
to all conditions of life。 The true wife; he says; should possess
such qualities as will tend to make home as much as may be a place
of repose。 To this end; she should have sense enough or worth
enough to exempt her husband as much as possible from the troubles
of family management; and more especially from all possibility of
debt。 〃She should be pleasing to his eyes and to his taste: the
taste goes deep into the nature of all menlove is hardly apart
from it; and in a life of care and excitement; that home which is
not the seat of love cannot be a place of repose; rest for the
brain; and peace for the spirit; being only to be had through the
softening of the affections。 He should look for a clear
understanding; cheerfulness; and alacrity of mind; rather than
gaiety and brilliancy; and for a gentle tenderness of disposition
in preference to an impassioned nature。 Lively talents are too
stimulating in a tired man's housepassion is too disturbing。。。。
〃Her love should be
A love that clings not; nor is exigent;
Encumbers not the active purposes;
Nor drains their source; but profers with free grace
Pleasure at pleasure touched; at pleasure waived;
A washing of the weary traveller's feet;
A quenching of his thirst; a sweet repose;
Alternate and preparative; in groves
Where; loving much the flower that loves the shade;
And loving much the shade that that flower loves;
He yet is unbewildered; unenslaved;
Thence starting light; and pleasantly let go
When serious service calls。 (8)
Some persons are disappointed in marriage; because they expect too
much from it; but many more; because they do not bring into the
co…partnership their fair share of cheerfulness; kindliness;
forbearance; and common sense。 Their imagination has perhaps
pictured a condition never experienced on this side Heaven; and
when real life comes; with its troubles and cares; there is a
sudden waking…up as from a dream。 Or they look for something
approaching perfection in their chosen companion; and discover by
experience that the fairest of characters have their weaknesses。
Yet it is often the very imperfection of human nature; rather than
its perfection; that makes the strongest claims on the forbearance
and sympathy of others; and; in affectionate and sensible natures;
tends to produce the closest unions。
The golden rule of married life is; 〃Bear and forbear。〃 Marriage;
like government; is a series of compromises。 One must give and
take; refrain and restrain; endure and be patient。 One may not be
blind to another's failings; but they may be borne with good…
natured forbearance。 Of all qualities; good temper is the one
that wears and works the best in married