第 5 节
作者:
淘气 更新:2021-02-24 22:18 字数:8990
between the sexes; which; even in the fiercest and most rapacious
animals; is not merely confined to the satisfaction of the bodily
appetite; but begets a friendship and mutual sympathy; which runs
through the whole tenor of their lives。 Nay; even in those
species; where nature limits the indulgence of this appetite to
one season and to one object; and forms a kind of marriage or
association between a single male and female; there is yet a
visible complacency and benevolence; which extends farther; and
mutually softens the affections of the sexes towards each other。
How much more must this have place in man; where the confinement
of the appetite is not natural; but either is derived
accidentally from some strong charm of love; or arises from
reflections on duty and convenience? Nothing; therefore; can
proceed less from affectation than the passion of gallantry。 It
is in the highest degree。 Art and education; in the
most elegant courts; make no more alteration on it; than on all
the other laudable passions。 They only turn the mind more towards
it; they refine it; they polish it; and give it a proper grace
and expression。
But gallantry is as as it is 。 To
correct such gross vices; as lead us to commit real injury on
others; is the part of morals; and the object of the most
ordinary education。 Where is not attended to; in some
degree; no human society can subsist。 But in order to render
conversation; and the intercourse of minds more easy and
agreeable; good…manners have been invented; and have carried the
matter somewhat farther。 Wherever nature has given the mind a
propensity to any vice; or to any passion disagreeable to others;
refined breeding has taught men to throw the biass on the
opposite side; and to preserve; in all their behaviour; the
appearance of sentiments different from those to which they
naturally incline。 Thus; as we are commonly proud and selfish;
and apt to assume the preference above others; a polite man
learns to behave with deference towards his companions; and to
yield the superiority to them in all the common incidents of
society。 In like manner; wherever a person's situation may
naturally beget any disagreeable suspicion in him; it is the part
of good…manners to prevent it; by a studied display of
sentiments; directly contrary to those of which he is apt to be
jealous。 Thus; old men know their infirmities; and naturally
dread contempt from the youth: Hence; well…educated youth
redouble the instances of respect and deference to their elders。
Strangers and foreigners are without protection: Hence; in all
polite countries; they receive the highest civilities; and are
entitled to the first place in every company。 A man is lord in
his own family; and his guests are; in a manner; subject to his
authority: Hence; he is always the lowest person in the company;
attentive to the wants of every one; and giving himself all the
trouble; in order to please; which may not betray too visible an
affectation; or impose too much constraint on his guests。'16'
Gallantry is nothing but an instance of the same generous
attention。 As nature has given the superiority above
; by endowing him with greater strength both of mind and
body; it is his part to alleviate that superiority; as much as
possible; by the generosity of his behaviour; and by a studied
deference and complaisance for all her inclinations and opinions。
Barbarous nations display this superiority; by reducing their
females to the most abject slavery; by confining them; by beating
them; by selling them; by killing them。 But the male sex; among a
polite people; discover their authority in a more generous;
though not a less evident manner; by civility; by respect; by
complaisance; and; in a word; by gallantry。 In good company; you
need not ask; Who is the master of the feast? The man; who sits
in the lowest place; and who is always industrious in helping
every one; is certainly the person。 We must either condemn all
such instances of generosity; as foppish and affected; or admit
of gallantry among the rest。 The ancient Muscovites wedded their
wives with a whip; instead of a ring。 The same people; in their
own houses; took always the precedency above foreigners; even'17'
foreign ambassadors。 These two instances of their generosity and
politeness are much of a piece。
Gallantry is not less compatible with and
; than with and ; and when under
proper regulations; contributes more than any other invention; to
the and of the youth of both sexes。
Among every species of animals; nature has founded on the love
between the sexes their sweetest and best enjoyment。 But the
satisfaction of the bodily appetite is not alone sufficient to
gratify the mind; and even among brute…creatures; we find; that
their play and dalliance; and other expressions of fondness; form
the greatest part of the entertainment。 In rational beings; we
must certainly admit the mind for a considerable share。 Were we
to rob the feast of all its garniture of reason; discourse;
sympathy; friendship; and gaiety; what remains would scarcely be
worth acceptance; in the judgment of the truly elegant and
luxurious。
What better school for manners; than the company of virtuous
women; where the mutual endeavour to please must insensibly
polish the mind; where the example of the female softness and
modesty must communicate itself to their admirers; and where the
delicacy of that sex puts every one on his guard; lest he give
offence by any breach of decency。
Among the ancients; the character of the fair…sex was
considered as altogether domestic; nor were they regarded as part
of the polite world or of good company。 This; perhaps; is the
true reason why the ancients have not left us one piece of
pleasantry that is excellent; (unless one may except the Banquet
of Xenophon; and the Dialogues of Lucian) though many of their
serious compositions are altogether inimitable。 Horace condemns
the coarse railleries and cold jests of Plautus: But; though the
most easy; agreeable; and judicious writer in the world; is his
own talent for ridicule very striking or refined? This;
therefore; is one considerable improvement; which the polite arts
have received from gallantry; and from courts; where it first
arose。
But; to return from this digression; I shall advance it as a
observation on this subject; of the rise and progress of
the arts and sciences; 。
It must be confessed; that this maxim; though conformable to
experience; may; at first sight; be esteemed contrary to reason。
If the natural genius of mankind be the same in all ages; and in
almost all countries; (as seems to be the truth) it must very
much forward and cultivate this genius; to be possessed of
patterns in every art; which may regulate the taste; and fix the
objects of imitation。 The models left us by the ancients gave
birth to all the arts about 200 years ago; and have mightily
advanced their progress in every country of Europe: Why had they
not a like effect during the reign of Trajan and his successors;
when they were much more entire; and were still admired and
studied by the whole world? So late as the emperor Justinian; the
Poet; by way of distinction; was understood; among the Greeks; to
be Homer; among the Romans; Virgil。 Such admiration still
remained for these divine geniuses; though no poet had appeared
for many centuries; who could justly pretend to have imitated
them。
A man's genius is always; in the beginning of life; as much
unknown to himself as to others; and it is only after frequent
trials; attended with success; that he dares think himself equal
to those undertakings; in which those; who have succeeded; have
fixed the admiration of mankind。 If his own nation be already
possessed of many models of eloquence; he naturally compares his
own juvenile exercises with these; and being sensible of the
great disproportion; is discouraged from any farther attempts;
and never aims at a rivalship with those authors; whom he so much
admires。 A noble emulation is the source of every excellence。
Admiration and modesty naturally extinguish this emulation。 And
no one is so liable to an excess of admiration and modesty; as a
truly great genius。
Next to emulation; the greatest encourager of the noble arts
is praise and glory。 A writer is animated with new force; when he
hears the applauses of the world for his former productions; and;
being roused by such a motive; he often reaches a pitch of
perfection; which is equally surprizing to himself and to his
readers。 But when the posts of honour are all occupied; his first
attempts are but coldly received by the public; being compared to
productions; which are both in themselves more