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