登陆注册
5406800000284

第284章 THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF ADDISON(6)

It is remarkable that in a neighbouring country, we have recently seen similar effects follow from similar causes.The revolution of July 1830 established representative government in France.The men of letters instantly rose to the highest importance in the State.At the present moment most of the persons whom we see at the head both of the Administration and of the Opposition have been professors, historians, journalists, poets.The influence of the literary class in England, during the generation which followed the Revolution, was great, but by no means so great as it has lately been in France.For in England, the aristocracy of intellect had to contend with a powerful and deeply-rooted aristocracy of a very different kind.France had no Somersets and Shrewsburys to keep down her Addisons and Priors.

It was in the year 1699, when Addison had just completed his twenty-seventh year, that the course of his life was finally determined.Both the great chiefs of the Ministry were kindly disposed towards him.In political opinions he already was what he continued to be through life, a firm, though a moderate Whig.

He had addressed the most polished and vigorous of his early English lines to Somers, and had dedicated to Montague a Latin poem, truly Virgilian, both in style and rhythm, on the peace of Ryswick.The wish of the young poet's great friends was, it should seem, to employ him in the service of the Crown abroad.

But an intimate knowledge of the French language was a qualification indispensable to a diplomatist; and this qualification Addison had not acquired.It was, therefore, thought desirable that he should pass some time on the Continent in preparing himself for official employment.His own means were not such as would enable him to travel: but a pension of three hundred pounds a year was procured for him by the interest of the Lord Chancellor.It seems to have been apprehended that some difficulty might be started by the rulers of Magdalen College.

But the Chancellor of the Exchequer wrote in the strongest terms to Hough.The State--such was the purport of Montague's letter--could not, at that time spare to the Church such a man as Addison.Too many high civil posts were already occupied by adventurers, who, destitute of every liberal art and sentiment, at once pillaged and disgraced the country which they pretended to serve.It had become necessary to recruit for the public service from a very different class, from that class of which Addison was the representative.The close of the Minister's letter was remarkable."I am called," he said, "an enemy of the Church.But I will never do it any other injury than keeping Mr.

Addison out of it."

This interference was successful; and, in the summer of 1699, Addison, made a rich man by his pension, and still retaining his fellowship, quitted his beloved Oxford, and set out on his travels.He crossed from Dover to Calais, proceeded to Paris, and was received there with great kindness and politeness by a kinsman of his friend Montague, Charles Earl of Manchester, who had just been appointed Ambassador to the Court of France.The Countess, a Whig and a toast, was probably as gracious as her lord; for Addison long retained an agreeable recollection of the impression which she at this time made on him, and in some lively lines written on the glasses of the Kit-Cat Club, described the envy which her cheeks, glowing with the genuine bloom of England, had excited among the painted beauties of Versailles.

Lewis the Fourteenth was at this time expiating the vices of his youth by a devotion which had no root in reason, and bore no fruit of charity.The servile literature of France had changed its character to suit the changed character of the prince.No book appeared that had not an air of sanctity.Racine, who was just dead, had passed the close of his life in writing sacred dramas; and Dacier was seeking for the Athanasian mysteries in Plato.Addison described this state of things in a short but lively and graceful letter to Montague.Another letter, written about the same time to the Lord Chancellor, conveyed the strongest assurances of gratitude and attachment."The only return I can make to your Lordship," said Addison, "will be to apply myself entirely to my business." With this view he quitted Paris and repaired to Blois, a place where it was supposed that the French language was spoken in its highest purity, and where not a single Englishman could be found.Here he passed some months pleasantly and profitably.Of his way of life at Blois, one of his associates, an Abbe named Philippeaux, gave an account to Joseph Spence.If this account is to be trusted, Addison studied much, mused much, talked little, had fits of absence, and either had no love affairs, or was too discreet to confide them to the Abbe.A man who, even when surrounded by fellow-countrymen and fellow-students, had always been remarkably shy and silent, was not likely to be loquacious in a foreign tongue, and among foreign companions.But it is clear from Addison's letters, some of which were long after published in the Guardian, that, while he appeared to be absorbed in his own meditations, he was really observing French society with that keen and sly, yet not ill-natured side glance, which was peculiarly his own.

From Blois he returned to Paris; and, having now mastered the French language, found great pleasure in the society of French philosophers and poets.He gave an account, in a letter to Bishop Hough, of two highly interesting conversations, one with Malbranche, the other with Boileau.Malbranche expressed great partiality for the English, and extolled the genius of Newton, but shook his head when Hobbes was mentioned, and was indeed so unjust as to call the author of the Leviathan a poor, silly creature.Addison's modesty restrained him from fully relating, in his letter, the circumstances of his introduction to Boileau.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 简单学之资本密码

    简单学之资本密码

    本书是作者在投资、生活、学习、研究、创业过程中领悟并自创、集生活与投资为一体的一门哲学类书籍。是一本能透析生活、市场、人文等世间所有一切规律的书箱。是一本不得不看的书籍,无论你是哪个行业、哪个年龄阶段,都适合阅读,通过对生活常理、资本市场进行分析解读,能让你更近一步的了解世界与未来,了解世间的一切演变规律,让你看清未来,进而把握未来。
  • 每天一个好寓言大全集

    每天一个好寓言大全集

    《每天一个好寓言大全集》是一本奇特的书,它以日记的形式,把全书 分为365天,每天均有反映同一主题的寓言,包括《智慧寓言》《幸福寓言 》《亲情寓言》《友情寓言》《心态寓言》《爱的寓言》《成功寓言》《做 人寓言》《事业寓言》《财富寓言》《管理寓言》《销售寓言》等,每篇寓 言后均以“寓言者说”形式予以点评。从做人、成功、财富、管理等诸多方 面告诉你生活道理,使你可以轻松领悟到财富的真谛,学习获取财富的方法 ,把握好人生的财富;解答你的心灵困惑,督促你的阅读进度,养成读书的 好习惯。
  • 快穿之逆袭女

    快穿之逆袭女

    无cp【全书免费,更新随缘】注:女主绝不傻白甜强者之路——注孤生。且看她快穿之路之茫茫。打得了怪兽,捉得了鬼,虐得了渣渣,踢得了渣男:装得了萝莉(暴力萝莉)扮得了蜀黍:卖得了萌,耍得了帅:……脸…可要可不要是终身代语.永远耍酷永远装嫩永远不知好歹。
  • 江城名迹

    江城名迹

    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。
  • 荔枝

    荔枝

    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。
  • 在土耳其合唱

    在土耳其合唱

    小说讲述五个中国人游历土耳其时的所见所思所感以及与导游彭亮之间所发生的故事。彭亮是一个阳光的土耳其男孩,曾不远万里来中国学习中文,但又极其维护本民族的历史文化,他的人生经历,折射了两种文化的融合与碰撞,他对祖国的热爱,对历史的迷思,引起了五个中国人的共鸣。
  • 觉醒者的狂欢

    觉醒者的狂欢

    世界崩坏,秩序不在,一切都将推到重来。像是两个文明的碰撞,又像是破茧成蝶般的飞跃,旧世界中开花,新世界中成长,奔向未知的远方。世界发生了异变,和平在天灾中葬去,各种不知名的力量突兀的出现,原本的秩序规则全部被打破,所有的一切都将重新洗牌。
  • 漫漫婚途:陆少宠妻入骨

    漫漫婚途:陆少宠妻入骨

    为了利益,沉浸在爱情中的乔安颜被未婚夫亲手送进监狱,本以为余生就要这样度过,却没想竟然在狱中见到那个深不可测的男人。“嫁给我。”陆慕凡的声音中带着他特有的蛊惑力,深邃的眸子像是能看透她一般:“我会让所有害你的人付出代价。”多年之后,乔安颜终于明白,原来这个男人也是害她的人中的一个。
  • 大唐风云之公主姐妹

    大唐风云之公主姐妹

    李隆基的两个妹妹玉真公主、金仙公主因宫廷血腥争斗,决心出家修道;其母亲德妃被害,下落不明,二位公主踏上江湖路去寻找,发生了许多不可思议的故事……本作品两条线索,一文一武,互相交叉;文线是李隆基昭告天下,孝敬父母,和谐共处;武线是江湖争霸;故事描述了安史之乱的必然发生的过程……精彩情节,正在一步步展开哟!
  • 宠宠欲动:总裁,夫人又出逃

    宠宠欲动:总裁,夫人又出逃

    在线咨询:怎么报复一个男人,求方法。 网友一:恐吓,恶整他。 穆绵绵:结果我被他绑架,恶整。 网友二:追上他,到手后,甩了他。 穆绵绵:我追上了,我失身了! 网友三:怀上他的孩子,然后带球跑,扳回一局。 穆绵绵:我怀孕了,没跑成,被逼婚,怎么办! 沈擎生:老婆别闹,咱们现在就谈谈二胎计划。 穆绵绵:……