登陆注册
5406800000217

第217章 FRANCIS BACON(17)

Considered as men of the world, as courtiers, as politicians, as associates, as allies, as enemies, they had nearly the same merits, and the same defects.They were not malignant.They were not tyrannical.But they wanted warmth of affection and elevation of sentiment.There were many things which they loved better than virtue, and which they feared more than guilt.Yet, even after they had stooped to acts of which it is impossible to read the account in the most partial narratives without strong disapprobation and contempt, the public still continued to regard them with a feeling not easily to be distinguished from esteem.The hyperbole of Juliet seemed to be verified with respect to them."Upon their brows shame was ashamed to sit."Everybody seemed as desirous to throw a veil over their misconduct as if it had been his own.Clarendon, who felt, and who had reason to feel, strong personal dislike towards Waller, speaks of him thus: "There needs no more to be said to extol the excellence and power of his wit and pleasantness of his conversation, than that it was of magnitude enough to cover a world of very great faults, that is, so to cover them that they were not taken notice of to his reproach, viz., a narrowness in his nature to the lowest degree, an abjectness and want of courage to support him in any virtuous undertaking, an insinuation and servile flattery to the height the vainest and most imperious nature could be contented with....It had power to reconcile him to those whom he had most offended and provoked, and continued to his age with that rare felicity, that his company was acceptable where his spirit was odious, and he was at least pitied where he was most detested." Much of this, with some softening, might, we fear, be applied to Bacon.The influence of Waller's talents, manners, and accomplishments, died with him;and the world has pronounced an unbiassed sentence on his character.A few flowing lines are not bribe sufficient to pervert the judgment of posterity.But the influence of Bacon is felt and will long be felt over the whole civilised world.

Leniently as he was treated by his contemporaries, posterity has treated him more leniently still.Turn where we may, the trophies of that mighty intellect are full in few.We are judging Manlius in sight of the Capitol.

同类推荐
  • 女聊斋志异

    女聊斋志异

    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。
  • 花前有感,兼呈崔相

    花前有感,兼呈崔相

    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。
  • 上清道宝经

    上清道宝经

    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。
  • 砚史

    砚史

    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。
  • 修文

    修文

    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
  • 看破,瞬间天晴

    看破,瞬间天晴

    这是一本教你看破万象,放下烦恼的都市身心灵修行悟本。将“正能量”真正实践。什么是幸福?幸福就是没有烦恼的自在。看破才能放下,放下才能淡定。唯有平静对待世事,才能跳出患得患失的心态。世间种种烦恼、困惑,全部都是因为执迷、执着,困顿其中,所以不得其解。倘若看透了烦恼的本质、困惑的根源,自然豁然开朗、心如天晴。
  • 离无韵

    离无韵

    一生中总会遇见那么两个人,一个惊艳了时光,一个温暖了岁月。春秋战国,诸侯争霸,百家争鸣。墨门孤女离无韵,满门被灭之时为楚国令尹习仁君所救,自幼在越国小贤庄由当世大儒简况抚养长大。楚公子柯、吴公子皙,青梅竹马与年少初遇,情窦初开与情有独钟,小小女子兰心慧质,却逃不过命运多舛,终是在没顶绝望中削肉还越、削骨还楚……“离儿,古人常说:凡天下大事,分久必合合久必分,这宿命就没法解开?”“有啊!民为贵,社稷次之,君为轻。诛一独夫纣,未闻臣弑君。君有大过则谏,谏之不听则易其位!”
  • 温暖的弦2

    温暖的弦2

    一场离别后,让两个相爱的人再一次遇见了。一个是霸道总裁,一个是热情助理,却产生了一样的感情...
  • 我在最远的距离

    我在最远的距离

    我看见你靠在围栏边上抽烟,吐出的烟圈在你头顶慢慢消失,到底是什么让你这么难做决定呢?
  • 有钱人赚钱的习惯

    有钱人赚钱的习惯

    有钱绝对不是偶然的!没有什么力量比习惯更能左右命运。有人曾仔细研究过美国数百名百万富翁,发现他们的成功,并不像人们一般认为的那样,有显赫的家庭背景或良好的教育程度。其中有80%的人出生于普通家庭,50%的人并没有接受过完整的大学教育。这些人之所以成功,都有着各自不同的原因,但有一个共同的特点:他们都有一套良好的个人习惯。
  • 他眼中有星光盛开

    他眼中有星光盛开

    重生前的宓清浅拼命抵抗席爷,作天作地,识人不清,伤了别人也害了自己。重生后的宓清浅打算从头再来,那些踩她上位的人,她一定要一一偿还回来。可是某人却说:一切有他,别怕。霎时间,星光盛放。
  • 销售三十六计(大全集)

    销售三十六计(大全集)

    本书融《三十六计》的原文翻译、兵法导读、典故介绍、精彩案例、活学活用于一体.内容丰富,解析到位,让读者在领略“三十六计”的精髓同时,更能掌握高超的销售技巧,成为无往不胜的赚钱高手。
  • 天道逍遥录

    天道逍遥录

    七界在混沌开始之后的数万年中,终于是走向了混乱的道路,一场以人界为起点的动乱逐渐走向无法控制的边缘。上古始祖盘留下轮回天道,为天地万物划定规则。无人知晓轮回天道到底是什么,但必定和七界中心人界有关,于是无数秘密势力在人界展开残酷的斗争。传闻:得天道者,掌六道轮回!主人公颜天,从一个孕育千年的鬼胎,一步步走向力量的巅峰,最后探索出何为天道轮回!
  • 龙舞九天

    龙舞九天

    (不废材,不天才,也没有大大的金手指,不乱拉仇恨,也不胡乱踩人。有的,只是一个正常的主角。致力于情节,人物,桥段,世界,恩怨情仇,跌宕起伏,意料之外,情理之中的一个故事。点进去看看,不合胃口可以点嚓嚓嚓嘛~走过路过,不要错过)有激情,有热血,有豪迈,有狂野,也有温柔。这是一本不同以往风格和味道的东方玄幻小说,希望让你在满是雷同的小说之中,找到一丝丝新意。发布个书友群:123292144
  • XX千金(完)

    XX千金(完)

    一句话引发的‘桃花案’!一夜之间变成XX皇帝的独生女儿,在无数XX枭雄碾转彷徨。到底是谁才是她厮守终身的那个男子?他,冷斯宇,野心勃勃的一方霸主,邪魅狡诈,温柔地接近,究竟是爱还是利用?他,华小无,一个聪明而又玩世不恭的少年,自问没有那个女人可以栓得住他的心,挑逗她,究竟是玩笑,还是真心?他,慕容泽,温柔多金的他,淡然微笑的他,只有他能够给她最安全的幸福,然而,他们的身份……