登陆注册
5362600000163

第163章

The way by which our laws attempt to regulate idle and vain expenses in meat and clothes, seems to be quite contrary to the end designed. The true way would be to beget in men a contempt of silks and gold, as vain, frivolous, and useless; whereas we augment to them the honours, and enhance the value of such things, which, sure, is a very improper way to create a disgust. For to enact that none but princes shall eat turbot, shall wear velvet or gold lace, and interdict these things to the people, what is it but to bring them into a greater esteem, and to set every one more agog to eat and wear them? Let kings leave off these ensigns of grandeur; they have others enough besides; those excesses are more excusable in any other than a prince. We may learn by the example of several nations better ways of exterior distinction of quality (which, truly, I conceive to be very requisite in a state) enough, without fostering to this purpose such corruption and manifest inconvenience.

'Tis strange how suddenly and with how much ease custom in these indifferent things establishes itself and becomes authority. We had scarce worn cloth a year, in compliance with the court, for the mourning of Henry II., but that silks were already grown into such contempt with every one, that a man so clad was presently concluded a citizen: silks were divided betwixt the physicians and surgeons, and though all other people almost went in the same habit, there was, notwithstanding, in one thing or other, sufficient distinction of the several conditions of men.

How suddenly do greasy chamois and linen doublets become the fashion in our armies, whilst all neatness and richness of habit fall into contempt?

Let kings but lead the dance and begin to leave off this expense, and in a month the business will be done throughout the kingdom, without edict or ordinance; we shall all follow. It should be rather proclaimed, on the contrary, that no one should wear scarlet or goldsmiths' work but courtesans and tumblers.

Zeleucus by the like invention reclaimed the corrupted manners of the Locrians. His laws were, that no free woman should be allowed any more than one maid to follow her, unless she was drunk: nor was to stir out of the city by night, wear jewels of gold about her, or go in an embroidered robe, unless she was a professed and public prostitute; that, bravos excepted, no man was to wear a gold ring, nor be seen in one of those effeminate robes woven in the city of Miletus. By which infamous exceptions he discreetly diverted his citizens from superfluities and pernicious pleasures, and it was a project of great utility to attract then by honour and ambition to their duty and obedience.

Our kings can do what they please in such external reformations; their own inclination stands in this case for a law:

"Quicquid principes faciunt, praecipere videntur."

["What princes themselves do, they seem to prescribe."--Quintil., Declam., 3.]

Whatever is done at court passes for a rule through the rest of France.

Let the courtiers fall out with these abominable breeches, that discover so much of those parts should be concealed; these great bellied doublets, that make us look like I know not what, and are so unfit to admit of arms; these long effeminate locks of hair; this foolish custom of kissing what we present to our equals, and our hands in saluting them, a ceremony in former times only due to princes. Let them not permit that a gentleman shall appear in place of respect without his sword, unbuttoned and untrussed, as though he came from the house of office; and that, contrary to the custom of our forefathers and the particular privilege of the nobles of this kingdom, we stand a long time bare to them in what place soever, and the same to a hundred others, so many tiercelets and quartelets of kings we have got nowadays and other like vicious innovations: they will see them all presently vanish and cried down.

These are, 'tis true, but superficial errors; but they are of ill augury, and enough to inform us that the whole fabric is crazy and tottering, when we see the roughcast of our walls to cleave and split.

Plato in his Laws esteems nothing of more pestiferous consequence to his city than to give young men the liberty of introducing any change in their habits, gestures, dances, songs, and exercises, from one form to another; shifting from this to that, hunting after novelties, and applauding the inventors; by which means manners are corrupted and the old institutions come to be nauseated and despised. In all things, saving only in those that are evil, a change is to be feared; even the change of seasons, winds, viands, and humours. And no laws are in their true credit, but such to which God has given so long a continuance that no one knows their beginning, or that there ever was any other.

同类推荐
  • 玉台新案

    玉台新案

    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。
  • 比丘尼传

    比丘尼传

    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。
  • 海琼白真人语录

    海琼白真人语录

    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。
  • 佛说新岁经

    佛说新岁经

    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。
  • 太上感应篇

    太上感应篇

    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
  • 锦绣农庄

    锦绣农庄

    唢呐声声声作响,锣鼓声声声冲天。向阳眉头紧皱着,怎么这么吵?“这可怎么办啊?玉娘就这么死了,我们怎么向肖家交代?”“呜呜呜,我的命怎么这么苦啊?我们可是收了人家好多聘礼的,这该怎么还啊?”向阳被吵得不耐烦了,又发现有人在她的脸上大做文章,不由怒了,猛地睁开双眼。然而,入眼的不是熟悉的环境,而是……黑漆漆的屋顶……瓦片屋顶。……
  • 暖风不再归

    暖风不再归

    苏暖脏了,艾辞安只能眼看着这一切无能为力,待他日强大,注定让他付出代价!
  • 穿越之舞倾天下

    穿越之舞倾天下

    二十一世纪的天才少女龙炫舞在一场蓄意的谋杀中,穿到了古代的南月国成为一个刚出世的小宝宝,看她如何运用现代智商玩转古代,倾倒众家美男.她多情而不滥情,腹黑但不恶毒,聪明而不矫情,她的一切的一切让无数优秀男子为其倾倒,到底谁才是她心目中的唯一....."爱情就像握在手中的流沙,攥的越紧就流的越快,所以我只有轻轻的捧住她,不让流沙从手中溜走!"他是当朝左相,拥有绝世文才,但是仍旧孑然一身......她说“你是我的哥哥,也是这个世界上第一个对我好的人,但是我带给你的只有痛心和伤害,除此之外,我什么都不能给你,所以请你放手!因为我不忍心看到你痛苦!”他说“我不怕受伤,只怕你不幸福,你是我在这世上唯一的牵挂!”她哭着说“为什么你总是喜欢受伤......”他是当朝的太子,一次意外的相遇,成为他心中的牵挂他说“为什么我不早些遇到你,现在我又如何能放手?”她说“既然错过了,就是错过,我们之间只是错误的相遇!”他说“即使是错的,我也要拼一下!”他是东辰国的太子,一次落魄的遭遇让他遇见此生的挚爱,他说“只要是为了你,就算抛弃我的灵魂和生命也在所不惜”她说“我分不清是该爱你还是恨你,请你让我走吧!”他说“不管怎样都好,只要不要忘了我!”他是南月国的南昭王,在他眼中从没有任何人或事可以令他动容;而她却这么突然的闯入他的生活,令他的世界充满了色彩!他说“你这个小妖精,为什么不肯说爱我!”她说“爱这个字,太沉重,我怕负担不起!”他说“难道你害怕就离开吗?你知道我的心有多痛吗?”还有他,他,他......一个个都被她深深地吸引着,到底谁才是她心目中的唯一,谁才能与她执子之手与子偕老......本文坚持一对一,男主个个专情,女主也有自己的原则,女主不是万能,但是却有些小聪明,本文有些慢热,但是继续看下去会越来越有意思请大家喜欢的话就多多收藏和投票票给我,有什么意见给我留言,我看到会回复的,最后谢谢各位的支持!推荐下好友的文小妖叶叶的《独爱杀手夫君》凌格格的《小爹爹!》最后感谢大家长久以来对我的支持,谢谢你们的钻石和鲜花还有就是请多多收藏,给我投票票哦!我会继续努力的!
  • 幸福会降临

    幸福会降临

    新人作者,文笔不好,请亲们多多包含!
  • 翻译名义集

    翻译名义集

    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。
  • 孽缘之爱上傲娇女

    孽缘之爱上傲娇女

    一个女人在社会大环境下的生存描写。女主角因为特殊原因初入社会从被责骂奚落压抑到自己逆势生长,最终得到属于自己幸福的故事。
  • 落英缤纷谁细数

    落英缤纷谁细数

    本小说故事主要讲新文化运动期间,民国时期的中国青年慢慢把旧思想、旧文化摈弃,很多人为提升女性的地位而不懈努力,很多青年女性有了自主意识、越来越独立自信,努力提升自我价值,不再任人摆布,把“女子无才便是德”视为错误思想,努力学习新文化,传播新思想。本故事重点讲长辈与晚辈们相互关心,无论年轻人怎么折腾总有最温暖的的港湾为他们遮风挡雨,长辈总是无条件赋予晚辈们力量,教会他们做人处事,让谈他们切身体会和谐的家庭关系更有利于成事。小说的背景是1921年至1923年间旧上海几大家受新文化思潮的青年一代与老年一代斗智斗勇,在“争斗”的过程中,晚辈逐渐体会到家的温暖。本文情节纯属虚构,背景不偏离历史,带有一定教育意义;以芩菥两人的爱情故事为主要线索,主要讲述民国上海滩江·陆·苏三大家兴衰。主人公是一位弱小的女子,身为商贾千金,却要面临和商品一样因利益而被置换的命运,她深受新文化运动的影响,她心有不甘想要反抗命运,可自己的力量很渺小,充满商业味道的婚姻,两家人该如何宛转?
  • 截教巨兽

    截教巨兽

    历经三皇与五帝,遨游四海求道一。搬山倒海神通大,水火奥妙无人及。真身修的千万丈,乾坤等闲手中析。若问玄门哪一个?截教仙家玉玄机。
  • HALO秋叶

    HALO秋叶

    基于FPS游戏HALO的同人作品,以陆战队员的角度叙述发生在2552年的地球战役以及05环带战役,方舟战役。用微观的角度阐述真实的战场与人性(滑稽)注意,这是同人作品,阅读之前请先接触HALO有关的东西
  • 才子佳人一杯酒

    才子佳人一杯酒

    以两个人对话、问答的方式来表达。以迷茫青年的眼光,对历史和现实进行另类而深刻的思考。风格独特,幽默智慧,中间有嬉笑怒骂,也有完全颠覆的理解。朋友们从梦蝶的文字里面,会看到古代文人墨客的内心、看到他们的不一样的喜怒哀愁。