第 32 节
作者:指环王      更新:2024-01-24 16:00      字数:9322
  liberal opinions; which served to fan the flame of insurrection in
  the new world; and eventually lost for Spain her transatlantic
  empire。
  We have said that he left behind him a favourable impression
  amongst the generality of his countrymen; by which we mean the
  great body found in every nation; who neither think nor reason; …
  for there are amongst the Spaniards not a few who deny that any of
  his actions entitle him to the gratitude of the nation。  'All his
  thoughts;' say they; 'were directed to hunting … and hunting alone;
  and all the days of the year he employed himself either in hunting
  or in preparation for the sport。  In one expedition; in the parks
  of the Pardo; he spent several millions of reals。  The noble
  edifices which adorn Spain; though built by his orders; are less
  due to his reign than to the anterior one; … to the reign of
  Ferdinand the Sixth; who left immense treasures; a small portion of
  which Carlos Tercero devoted to these purposes; squandering away
  the remainder。  It is said that Carlos Tercero was no friend to
  superstition; yet how little did Spain during his time gain in
  religious liberty!  The great part of the nation remained
  intolerant and theocratic as before; the other and smaller section
  turned philosophic; but after the insane manner of the French
  revolutionists; intolerant in its incredulity; and believing more
  in the ENCYCLOPEDIE than in the Gospel of the Nazarene。' (41)
  We should not have said thus much of Carlos Tercero; whose
  character has been extravagantly praised by the multitude; and
  severely criticised by the discerning few who look deeper than the
  surface of things; if a law passed during his reign did not connect
  him intimately with the history of the Gitanos; whose condition to
  a certain extent it has already altered; and over whose future
  destinies there can be no doubt that it will exert considerable
  influence。  Whether Carlos Tercero had anything farther to do with
  its enactment than subscribing it with his own hand; is a point
  difficult to determine; the chances are that he had not; there is
  damning evidence to prove that in many respects he was a mere
  Nimrod; and it is not probable that such a character would occupy
  his thoughts much with plans for the welfare of his people;
  especially such a class as the Gitanos; however willing to build
  public edifices; gratifying to his vanity; with the money which a
  provident predecessor had amassed。
  The law in question is dated 19th September 1783。  It is entitled;
  'Rules for repressing and chastising the vagrant mode of life; and
  other excesses; of those who are called Gitanos。'  It is in many
  respects widely different from all the preceding laws; and on that
  account we have separated it from them; deeming it worthy of
  particular notice。  It is evidently the production of a
  comparatively enlightened spirit; for Spain had already begun to
  emerge from the dreary night of monachism and bigotry; though the
  light which beamed upon her was not that of the Gospel; but of
  modern philosophy。  The spirit; however; of the writers of the
  ENCYCLOPEDIE is to be preferred to that of TORQUEMADA AND MONCADA;
  and however deeply we may lament the many grievous omissions in the
  law of Carlos Tercero (for no provision was made for the spiritual
  instruction of the Gitanos); we prefer it in all points to that of
  Philip the Third; and to the law passed during the reign of that
  unhappy victim of monkish fraud; perfidy; and poison; Charles the
  Second。
  Whoever framed the law of Carlos Tercero with respect to the
  Gitanos; had sense enough to see that it would be impossible to
  reclaim and bring them within the pale of civilised society by
  pursuing the course invariably adopted on former occasions … to see
  that all the menacing edicts for the last three hundred years;
  breathing a spirit of blood and persecution; had been unable to
  eradicate Gitanismo from Spain; but on the contrary; had rather
  served to extend it。  Whoever framed this law was; moreover; well
  acquainted with the manner of administering justice in Spain; and
  saw the folly of making statutes which were never put into effect。
  Instead; therefore; of relying on corregidors and alguazils for the
  extinction of the Gypsy sect; the statute addresses itself more
  particularly to the Gitanos themselves; and endeavours to convince
  them that it would be for their interest to renounce their much
  cherished Gitanismo。  Those who framed the former laws had
  invariably done their best to brand this race with infamy; and had
  marked out for its members; in the event of abandoning their Gypsy
  habits; a life to which death itself must have been preferable in
  every respect。  They were not to speak to each other; nor to
  intermarry; though; as they were considered of an impure caste; it
  was scarcely to be expected that the other Spaniards would form
  with them relations of love or amity; and they were debarred the
  exercise of any trade or occupation but hard labour; for which
  neither by nature nor habit they were at all adapted。  The law of
  Carlos Tercero; on the contrary; flung open to them the whole
  career of arts and sciences; and declared them capable of following
  any trade or profession to which they might please to addict
  themselves。  Here follow extracts from the above…mentioned law:…
  'Art。 1。  I declare that those who go by the name of Gitanos are
  not so by origin or nature; nor do they proceed from any infected
  root。
  '2。  I therefore command that neither they; nor any one of them
  shall use the language; dress; or vagrant kind of life which they
  have followed unto the present time; under the penalties here below
  contained。
  '3。  I forbid all my vassals; of whatever state; class; and
  condition they may be; to call or name the above…mentioned people
  by the names of Gitanos; or new Castilians; under the same
  penalties to which those are subject who injure others by word or
  writing。
  '5。  It is my will that those who abandon the said mode of life;
  dress; language; or jargon; be admitted to whatever offices or
  employments to which they may apply themselves; and likewise to any
  guilds or communities; without any obstacle or contradiction being
  offered to them; or admitted under this pretext within or without
  courts of law。
  '6。  Those who shall oppose and refuse the admission of this class
  of reclaimed people to their trades and guilds shall be mulcted ten
  ducats for the first time; twenty for the second; and a double
  quantity for the third; and during the time they continue in their
  opposition they shall be prohibited from exercising the same trade;
  for a certain period; to be determined by the judge; and
  proportioned to the opposition which they display。
  '7。  I grant the term of ninety days; to be reckoned from the
  publication of this law in the principal town of every district; in
  order that all the vagabonds of this and any other class may retire
  to the towns and villages where they may choose to locate
  themselves; with the exception; for the present; of the capital and
  the royal residences; in order that; abandoning the dress;
  language; and behaviour of those who are called Gitanos; they may
  devote themselves to some honest office; trade; or occupation; it
  being a matter of indifference whether the same be connected with
  labour or the arts。
  '8。  It will not be sufficient for those who have been formerly
  known to follow this manner of life to devote themselves solely to
  the occupation of shearing and clipping animals; nor to the traffic
  of markets and fairs; nor still less to the occupation of keepers
  of inns and ventas in uninhabited places; although they may be
  innkeepers within towns; which employment shall be considered as
  sufficient; provided always there be no well…founded indications of
  their being delinquents themselves; or harbourers of such people。
  '9。  At the expiration of ninety days; the justices shall proceed
  against the disobedient in the following manner:… Those who; having
  abandoned the dress; name; language or jargon; association; and
  manners of Gitanos; and shall have moreover chosen and established
  a domicile; but shall not have devoted themselves to any office or
  employment; though it be only that of day…labourers; shall be
  considered as vagrants; and be apprehended and punished according
  to the laws in force against such people without any distinction
  being made between them and the other vassals。
  '10。  Those who henceforth shall commit any crimes; havi