登陆注册
4613800000075

第75章 DUTY--TRUTHFULNESS.(10)

However correct, they differ too much from what is usually said and asserted at home. I should wish some enlightened and unprejudiced Frenchmen to come to Prussia and make this country their study. They would soon discover that they were living in the midst of a strong, earnest, and intelligent nation, entirely destitute, it is true, of noble and delicate feelings, of all fascinating charms, but endowed with every solid virtue, and alike distinguished for untiring industry, order, and economy, as well as for patriotism, a strong sense of duty, and that consciousness of personal dignity which in their case is so happily blended with respect for authority and obedience to the law. They would see a country with firm, sound, and moral institutions, whose upper classes are worthy of their rank, and, by possessing the highest degree of culture, devoting themselves to the service of the State, setting an example of patriotism, and knowing how to preserve the influence legitimately their own. They would find a State with an excellent administration where everything is in its right place, and where the most admirable order prevails in every branch of the social and political system. Prussia may be well compared to a massive structure of lofty proportions and astounding solidity, which, though it has nothing to delight the eye or speak to the heart, cannot but impress us with its grand symmetry, equally observable in its broad foundations as in its strong and sheltering roof.

"And what is France? What is French society in these latter days?

A hurly-burly of disorderly elements, all mixed and jumbled together; a country in which everybody claims the right to occupy the highest posts, yet few remember that a man to be employed in a responsible position ought to have a well-balanced mind, ought to be strictly moral, to know something of the world, and possess certain intellectual powers; a country in which the highest offices are frequently held by ignorant and uneducated persons, who either boast some special talent, or whose only claim is social position and some versatility and address. What a baneful and degrading state of things! And how natural that, while it lasts, France should be full of a people without a position, without a calling, who do not know what to do with themselves, but are none the less eager to envy and malign every one who does....

"The French do not possess in any very marked degree the qualities required to render general conscription acceptable, or to turn it to account. Conceited and egotistic as they are, the people would object to an innovation whose invigorating force they are unable to comprehend, and which cannot be carried out without virtues which they do not possess--self-abnegation, conscientious recognition of duty, and a willingness to sacrifice personal interests to the loftier demands of the country. As the character of individuals is only improved by experience, most nations require a chastisement before they set about reorganising their political institutions. So Prussia wanted a Jena to make her the strong and healthy country she is."(8) Yet even in De Tocqueville's benevolent nature, there was a pervading element of impatience. In the very letter in which the above passage occurs, he says: "Some persons try to be of use to men while they despise them, and others because they love them.

In the services rendered by the first, there is always something incomplete, rough, and contemptuous, that inspires neither confidence nor gratitude. I should like to belong to the second class, but often I cannot. I love mankind in general, but Iconstantly meet with individuals whose baseness revolts me. Istruggle daily against a universal contempt for my fellow, creatures."--MEMOIRS AND REMAINS OF DE TOCQUEVILLE, vol. i. p.

813. (Letter to Kergorlay, Nov. 13th, 1833).

(9) Gleig's 'Life of Wellington,' pp. 314, 315.

(10) 'Life of Arnold,' i. 94.

(11) See the 'Memoir of George Wilson, M.D., F.R.S.E.' By his sister (Edinburgh, 1860).

(12) Such cases are not unusual. We personally knew a young lady, a countrywoman of Professor Wilson, afflicted by cancer in the breast, who concealed the disease from her parents lest it should occasion them distress. An operation became necessary; and when the surgeons called for the purpose of performing it, she herself answered the door, received them with a cheerful countenance, led them upstairs to her room, and submitted to the knife; and her parents knew nothing of the operation until it was all over.

But the disease had become too deeply seated for recovery, and the noble self-denying girl died, cheerful and uncomplaining to the end.

(13) "One night, about eleven o'clock, Keats returned home in a state of strange physical excitement--it might have appeared, to those who did not know him, one of fierce intoxication. He told his friend he had been outside the stage-coach, had received a severe chill, was a little fevered, but added, 'I don't feel it now.' He was easily persuaded to go to bed, and as he leapt into the cold sheets, before his head was on the pillow, he slightly coughed and said, 'That is blood from my mouth; bring me the candle; let me see this blood' He gazed steadfastly for some moments at the ruddy stain, and then, looking in his friend's face with an expression of sudden calmness never to be forgotten, said, 'I know the colour of that blood--it is arterial blood. I cannot be deceived in that colour; that drop is my death-warrant. I must die!'"--Houghton's LIFE OF KEATS, Ed. 1867, p. 289.

In the case of George Wilson, the bleeding was in the first instance from the stomach, though he afterwards suffered from lung haemorrhage like Keats. Wilson afterwards, speaking of the Lives of Lamb and Keats, which had just appeared, said he had been reading them with great sadness. "There is," said he, "something in the noble brotherly love of Charles to brighten, and hallow, and relieve that sadness; but Keats's deathbed is the blackness of midnight, unmitigated by one ray of light!"(14) On the doctors, who attended him in his first attack, mistaking the haemorrhage from the stomach for haemorrhage from the lungs, he wrote: "It would have been but poor consolation to have had as an epitaph:-"Here lies George Wilson, Overtaken by Nemesis;He died not of Haemoptysis, But of Haematemesis."(15) 'Memoir,' p. 427.

同类推荐
  • 孟秋纪

    孟秋纪

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 晚春

    晚春

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS

    TOM SWIFT IN THE LAND OF WONDERS

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 皱水轩词筌

    皱水轩词筌

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 斩鬼传

    斩鬼传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 盛夏初冬

    盛夏初冬

    上一世,你是盛夏,我是初冬。这一世,换我来做盛夏,温暖你的冬,可好?
  • 东方缘墨录

    东方缘墨录

    一个带着残破记忆和人格的灵魂于无意间飘落到距幻想乡建立前的世界。那是一个百怪横行的时代,人,神,妖,怪,相互并立。且看这个独立独行的异乡者,在这个世界漫步旅行,缘起缘落。直白版:啊哈哈,简单来说这就是一个东方同人啦。即使没了解东方系列的童鞋也可以看的明白的哦。虽然可能更新不会很快,但是保证稳定,只要有人看,就会一直坚持下去,直至完结。(觉得有趣的童鞋可以先收藏一个,等养肥了再割也行啊,人品保证,直至完结。书友群,484831318)
  • 脑控K208

    脑控K208

    一名普通大一新生董风和五位室友去大学一座快要爆破的实验楼里试胆,然而无限的恐怖和背叛在他的生命中展开。拥有强大科技和自我意识的最强电脑和董风之间创造出了一场跨越星球的文明保护战争,究竟鹿死谁手,最后获胜的是人类的七情六欲还是电脑的冷酷无情呢?
  • 球魂附体

    球魂附体

    “球进了!球进了这一刻他不是一个人在战斗,他不是一个人!球王贝利、马拉多纳灵魂附体!”我能够成为绿茵巨星,因为我热爱足球,这源自于兴趣成长于灵魂,至于怎么成长的,这就要从我莫名其妙的会了神打术,又莫名其妙的请来了一位踢足球的祖师爷上身说起了...
  • 我的绝代王妃

    我的绝代王妃

    她是将军府的大小姐,从小受宠,娇纵放肆他是一国皇子,同样也极受皇上的宠爱一份圣旨,将两个原本素不相识的人绑在了一起云逸,我根本不爱你忆南,本王爱你就足够了一次误会,让两人原本平静的关系彻底走向决裂“我不会老老实实的待在王府,我可是有特权的”“就算你去了天涯海角,本王也愿陪着你”“随便你。”她女扮男装?还被公主看上了?这个女人着实不让人省心在战场上,她是风华绝代的战神在战场上,他亲眼看着她将敌方的大将斩于马下他也亲眼看着她被设计陷害被带到了他国忆南,你在他国过的还好吗?等我,我会去找你她扮做男人做了他国的驸马“公主,”她邪魅的笑着,“今夜,你是我的人。”两人历经磨难,终于发现彼此才是真正的归宿云逸,这次我心甘情愿嫁给你忆南,没有什么事情能把我们分开在突如其来的困难降临到他们身上时他们,又会做怎样的选择?
  • 文化难题(走进科学)

    文化难题(走进科学)

    本套书全面而系统地介绍了当今世界各种各样的难解之谜和科学技术,集知识性、趣味性、新奇性、疑问性与科普性于一体,深入浅出,生动可读,通俗易懂,目的是使广大读者在兴味盎然地领略世界难解之谜和科学技术的同时,能够加深思考,启迪智慧,开阔视野,增加知识,能够正确了解和认识这个世界,激发求知的欲望和探索的精神,激起热爱科学和追求科学的热情,不断掌握开启人类世界的金钥匙,不断推动人类社会向前发展,使我们真正成为人类社会的主人。
  • 总裁王妃:皇子王爷追着跑

    总裁王妃:皇子王爷追着跑

    本文半价,一次性订阅全文,享受半价优惠!穿越了?<p>郁闷,没见过这样穿越的,她真的倒霉到极点了,自己的亲妈逼婚下药,逃跑跳楼掉进自家游泳池,腿抽筋挂掉了。醒来以后竟然穿越来到古代。偶的神,这是什么世道?竟然让她一个堂堂第一才女嫁个傻瓜。不嫁就要砍头,谁让人家是当朝王爷,皇上的儿子呢?<p>那姑奶奶嫁了!<p>看我怎么把你儿子整死,把你的王府搅个鸡犬不宁。<p>沐梓杺,一个俏皮可爱,喜爱恶搞,却又不失睿智的美女总裁,穿越到古代,被迫嫁给三王爷天启炎。聪明如她,却整不到这个傻瓜王爷,真是没天理,他奶奶的,这小子到底是真傻还是假傻。<p>天启炎,一个傻王爷,却处处透着聪明,把他狡猾的王妃整的一塌糊涂,到底他真的是痴儿还是为了掩人耳目而扮成傻瓜。<p>天启烈天封国的大皇子亦是皇太子,生性阴险毒辣,却独独对这个是她弟妹的女人下不了手,弟媳妇又怎么样,待他登上皇位之时,定要立她为后。<p>天启夜天封国的二王爷,风流倜傥,年少轻狂,一次邂逅,心就停留在这个女子身上,辗转几回,她竟是自己的弟媳妇,这也阻隔不了他爱她之心,三弟,二哥只能对不起你了。<p>“杺儿,跟本殿下在一起吧,那个傻子怎么能够给你幸福呢?”阴险如他,也有温柔。<p>“杺儿,虽然你是三弟的王妃,可本王是真的爱你!”风流如他,却也如此专一。<p>“杺杺,你不是永远和我在一起吗?不许骗人噢!”刁蛮任性的他,却对她百依百顺。<p>三兄弟情归一处,是皇位之争?爱人之争?到底为何?使得他们手足相残。<p>紫宸枫,淡雅如风的江湖豪侠,与她结识,只为寻找师父丢失的灵丹,到最后却情不自禁的爱上她。<p>关偌谦,她的师兄,一个默默守候她多年的男子,一直等待她归来。<p>
  • 淋湿的翅膀

    淋湿的翅膀

    艾叶出了村庄,想找个地方静一会儿。她不想回家,家里到处是赵美红的影子,到处是赵美红的气息。可眼睛还没揉干,那个巨大的白色建筑便如一柄利剑刺在艾叶心上。那是去年才建成的造纸厂,离村也就二里左右。黄村周围是平坦的原野,站在村外任何地方都能看见醒目的造纸厂。艾叶想把它挤出眼眶,可不管她站着坐着,始终在那儿晃。后来,她索性找个地方躺下去。黄村土地碱性大,高大的树木种不活,只长一丛一丛的枸杞。枸杞掩映着,艾叶眼前只剩下一片湛蓝的天空。偶有风吹过,耳边奏出沙沙的声响。艾叶脑子依然乱着,一边是杜智,一边是赵美红。
  • 歌王

    歌王

    新书《歌王2》已经发布! …… 在我心中,曾经有一个梦,要用歌声让你忘了所有的痛。灿烂星空,谁是真的英雄,平凡的人们给我最多感动。……重生平行世界,缔造歌王传奇!
  • 空间小医女之将军来种田

    空间小医女之将军来种田

    新文已开,《锦鲤农女有慧眼》某天白汐问,“凤奕辰,你喜欢我吗?”“忘了。”“如果你忘了喜欢我,我会提醒你的!”她霸气侧漏的宣布。“不是喜欢,我对你是爱。”某人深情的凝望。她眨了眨眼,这土得掉渣的情话对胃口,又控诉他,“别人送定情信物都是玉佩、手镯什么的,你为何送我一头奶牛?”……1V1、成长型、颜控小萝莉与冷面将军的故事!