登陆注册
5406800000295

第295章 THE LIFE AND WRITINGS OF ADDISON(17)

Wharton and Addison had nothing in common but Whiggism.The Lord-Lieutenant was not only licentious and corrupt, but was distinguished from other libertines and jobbers by a callous impudence which presented the strongest contrast to the Secretary's gentleness and delicacy.Many parts of the Irish administration at this time appear to have deserved serious blame.But against Addison there was not a murmur.He long afterwards asserted, what all the evidence which we have ever seen tends to prove, that his diligence and integrity gained the friendship of all the most considerable persons in Ireland.

The parliamentary career of Addison in Ireland has, we think, wholly escaped the notice of all his biographers.He was elected member for the borough of Cavan in the summer of 1709; and in the journals of two sessions his name frequently occurs.Some of the entries appear to indicate that he so far overcame his timidity as to make speeches.Nor is this by any means improbable; for the Irish House of Commons was a far less formidable audience than the English House; and many tongues which were tied by fear in the greater assembly became fluent in the smaller.Gerard Hamilton, for example, who, from fear of losing the fame gained by his single speech, sat mute at Westminster during forty years, spoke with great effect at Dublin when he was Secretary to Lord Halifax.

While Addison was in Ireland, an event occurred to which he owes his high and permanent rank among British writers.As yet his fame rested on performances which, though highly respectable, were not built for duration, and which would, if he had produced nothing else, have now been almost forgotten, on some excellent Latin verses, on some English verses which occasionally rose above mediocrity, and on a book of travels, agreeably written, but not indicating any extraordinary powers of mind.These works showed him to be a man of taste, sense, and learning.The time had come when he was to prove himself a man of genius, and to enrich our literature with compositions which will live as long as the English language.

In the spring of 1709 Steele formed a literary project, of which he was far indeed from foreseeing the consequences.Periodical papers had during many years been published in London.Most of these were political; but in some of them questions of morality, taste, and love casuistry had been discussed.The literary merit of these works was small indeed; and even their names are now known only to the curious.

Steele had been appointed Gazetteer by Sunderland, at the request, it is said, of Addison, and thus had access to foreign intelligence earlier and more authentic than was in those times within the reach of an ordinary news-writer.This circumstance seems to have suggested to him the scheme of publishing a periodical paper on a new plan.It was to appear on the days on which the post left London for the country, which were, in that generation, the Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.It was to contain the foreign news, accounts of theatrical representations, and the literary gossip of Will's and of the Grecian.It was also to contain remarks on the fashionable topics of the day, compliments to beauties, pasquinades on noted sharpers, and criticisms on popular preachers.The aim of Steele does not appear to have been at first higher than this.He was not ill qualified to conduct the work which he had planned.His public intelligence he drew from the best sources.He knew the town, and had paid dear for his knowledge.He had read much more than the dissipated men of that time were in the habit of reading.He was a rake among scholars, and a scholar among rakes.His style was easy and not incorrect; and, though his wit and humour were of no high order, his gay animal spirits imparted to his compositions an air of vivacity which ordinary readers could hardly distinguish from comic genius.His writings have been well compared to those light wines which, though deficient in body and flavour, are yet a pleasant small drink, if not kept too long, or carried too far.

Isaac Bickerstaff, Esquire, Astrologer, was an imaginary person, almost as well known in that age as Mr.Paul Pry or Mr.Samuel Pickwick in ours.Swift had assumed the name of Bickerstaff in a satirical pamphlet against Partridge, the maker of almanacks.

Partridge had been fool enough to publish a furious reply.

Bickerstaff had rejoined in a second pamphlet still more diverting than the first.All the wits had combined to keep up the joke, and the town was long in convulsions of laughter.

Steele determined to employ the name which this controversy had made popular; and, in 1709, it was announced that Isaac Bickerstaff, Esquire, Astrologer, was about to publish a paper called the Tatler.

Addison had not been consulted about this scheme: but as soon as he heard of it, he determined to give his assistance.The effect of that assistance cannot be better described than in Steele's own words."I fared," he said, "like a distressed prince who calls in a powerful neighbour to his aid.I was undone by my auxiliary.When I had once called him in, I could not subsist without dependence on him." "The paper," he says elsewhere, "was advanced indeed.It was raised to a greater thing than I intended it."It is probable that Addison, when he sent across St.George's channel his first contributions to the Tatler, had no notion of the extent and variety of his own powers.He was the possessor of a vast mine, rich with a hundred ores.But he had been acquainted only with the least precious part of his treasures, and had hitherto contented himself with producing sometimes copper and sometimes lead, intermingled with a little silver.All at once, and by mere accident, he had lighted on an inexhaustible vein of the finest gold.

同类推荐
  • The Original Peter Rabbit Books

    The Original Peter Rabbit Books

    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。
  • On the Track

    On the Track

    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。
  • 春答

    春答

    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。
  • The Vision Spendid

    The Vision Spendid

    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。
  • 鬼谷四友志

    鬼谷四友志

    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
  • 到了南半球一切都变了

    到了南半球一切都变了

    南半球的季节和北半球是相反的,我在南半球过完了冬天,回到国内又要继续过冬天,这恐怕是我人生中最长的一个冬天。但不管冬天多长,春天总归是要来的,就像不管旅行得多久,家总归是要回的一样。
  • 相门庶女:弃妃有毒

    相门庶女:弃妃有毒

    一次不寻常的穿越,死去又重生,是恐怖,是悲剧,还是庆幸?这个男人为尊的万恶旧社会,徒有一个白富美空壳的原主,生前却为何被亲生父亲抛弃、娘亲家人的各种不待见,屡屡遭挫,不堪一击?不!既然我的灵魂已经住进这柔弱的身体,我就要改变这一切,我要变强,俯瞰天下,变成最强的弃女!神马拉风的王爷、世子、大少爷,不怕本姑娘有毒的话,也不是不可以迁就一下.....
  • 十不二门义

    十不二门义

    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。
  • Lion's Honey
  • 工作再苦也要笑一笑

    工作再苦也要笑一笑

    这是一本让你从心理走向成熟和强大的读物。如果你能够笑看职场风云,笑对人际纷争,那么你不仅能够做到真正的超然物外,而且还能获得意想不到的成功。《工作再苦也要笑一笑(最新实用版)》总结了让职场人士感觉痛苦的八个来源。并分别给出了解决的方案和正确应对的方法:职业规划缺失带来的痛苦、求职技巧匮乏带来的痛苦、职场经验不足带来的痛苦、薪酬待遇不如意带来的痛苦、不善于应对人际关系带来的痛苦、职场“过劳”带来的痛苦、跳槽转型带来的痛苦、维护工作权利带来的痛苦
  • 张果星宗

    张果星宗

    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。
  • 弃妇太妖媚

    弃妇太妖媚

    一朝穿越,居然是个坐了回头轿的新娘?失贞?天大的罪名安在了自己的头上,左胳膊上的守宫砂述说着她的委屈,可惜那个应该得到怜惜的人儿,不会是她!为救妹妹,楚蝶飞意外的来到了瑞国,面对着陌生的国度,知道了身体原主的委屈不平,她只是摇头浅笑。不是她硬要上门的,是对方的父母与自己父母定下的姻缘,可惜,一个堂堂正正的千金大小姐比不上青楼一个卖笑的的女子!他要她,所以,污蔑了自己!东方珏,看着自己的新娘,虽有些愧疚,但为了心中的那一株雪莲,自己留她不得!“来人啊,将这个不贞之人送回家去!本王不屑要别人用过的破鞋!”在父母亲到来之前,楚蝶飞被扔回家去。回头轿,一路上大家的指指点点,叽叽喳喳的声音她不是没有听到,满心的委屈想要回家倾诉,不料——“滚!这个不是你的家,若是敢在来,给我打死扔出去!”父亲连门都没有让她进,轻易打发一个人便将她给打发了!父亲的冰冷更是霎时冻结了她的心、、、、、、、身边的人,一个一个的走,她自己一人面对着大家的指责、、、、、、“没有料到楚家庄的小姐竟然是这样的一个姑娘家啊,你说说,嫁给了王爷,若不是真的太过分了,皇家岂会抖出这样的丑事来?”无处可去,不如归去、、、、、、楚蝶飞傻眼了,为何自己偏偏是那个坐了回头轿,又被逼到跳水自尽的无辜新娘?悄悄的叹息,算了,现在的是自己,以前的事情,可不干自己的事!为了帮助救命恩人,楚蝶飞开始了她的古代之旅,且看她如何赚个满盆钵,勾得一个个美男心动、、、、、、黯然的东方珏,面对着浅笑嫣然的的女子,心里苦涩。失去了,错过了,便不再了?不,我决不放弃!是我的便只能是我的!冷漠的冰残,带着一丝的庆幸一丝的后悔,那样的姑娘家原本该是用来呵护的,若不是自己随意的一句话,现在的她便是那高高在上的王妃了,可是,现在的自己又是多么的庆幸自己开口了,这样一来,现在的蝶儿,还不是珏的妻!翩翩雅的公子楚鹰飞,不近女色,原因无它,心里已经藏着一个妙人儿了。妹妹啊,为何你是我的亲妹妹?心心念念的可人儿,却永远也不可触摸、、、、、、“蝶儿?”欧阳修小心翼翼的低唤,暗藏着多少的柔情,傻傻的人儿,每每因为她而动怒。太多的情,她如何承受?太过耀眼的她,他如何放心?爱恨交织之间,谁是谁的一生,谁是谁的劫?原名《不贞新娘》,现在改为《弃妇太妖媚》本文过程美男多多,结局一对一,一生一世一双人。
  • 网店捞钱的100个精细化绝招

    网店捞钱的100个精细化绝招

    《网上捞钱的100个精细化绝招》根据网上开店的一般流程,循序渐进地介绍了为网店寻找货源与进货、店铺开张与装修、拍摄与修饰商品图片、商品发布与展示、与买家交流、网店推广与经营、网店资金与账目管理、发货与物流、提升网店信誉、保障网店安全过程中的100种操作技巧。阅读完本书,能够让您从一个买家一步一步地成为一个优秀、成功、赚钱的卖家。
  • 将门毒女

    将门毒女

    一朝穿越,素问成为将军府上被丢弃在外的嫡女。她的父亲遗弃她,祖母厌恶她,姨娘设计她,母亲被逼疯,兄长被践踏。素问涅槃重生,既然你们今日无情,就别怪我从此无意。面对这个冰冷无情的家族,她誓要护母亲,保兄长,惩贱人,拿回属于自己的一切,挣得自己的一片天。庶兄为非作歹,她打断他的腿,毁他一世前程。庶姐妹伪善,她撕开她的美人皮,让她们无脸再见世人。姨娘歹毒,她亲手送她上黄泉路。父亲冷漠,她要他亲自下跪当众认错。她运筹帷幄,步步紧逼,誓将那些歹人全部打倒,她要他们知道,她的地盘,她做主!
  • 重生之绝世大小姐

    重生之绝世大小姐

    重生前的欧阳夏莎也曾经跟同龄人一样喜欢疯,喜欢玩,一次偶然的机会,她听到了父母心里的话,于是在愧疚的心情下,她变的中规中矩,压抑了自己的本性,安安分分的做着父母心中的乖乖女,只是不愿意看到为了她含辛茹苦的父母眼中流露出失望!所以她学习好,考上全国第一的X大本硕连读;修养好,典型的淑女;一副好相貌,好身材;就连毕业,也直接被留任在X大!25岁之前的欧阳夏莎,一直是父母心中的骄傲,亲戚心中的自豪,众女生拿来嫉妒的对象,众男生追逐的高不可攀的女神!所以欧阳夏莎并没有太多真正的朋友,但是好在她有付新宇,一个宠她,爱她的男人,她们算的上青梅竹马,相恋十三年,如今已经到了谈婚论嫁的地步;还有一个沐清池,她唯一愿意谈心的好友闺蜜!她觉得她这一生已经很满足了!如果不发生那天的事情,也许欧阳夏莎也不会跟悲剧划上等号,父母亲友一起发现了,她唯一的朋友和爱人,双双的背叛了自己!欧阳夏莎第一次感觉到了天塌了!原来她的太过优秀,伤了他的男人尊严,她的淑女气质,是所谓的没情调!…父母压下心中的愤怒,心疼的拉着女儿回家,可是祸不单行,一辆卡车逆向行驶闯过红灯冲向他们,最后父亲母亲只能尽到最后的努力,拔动方向盘,保住了她!伤心愧疚,又发现父母的死很是蹊跷,最终她决定代着父母的那一份好好活下去,并查明父母遇害的真相,可是下定决心的欧阳夏莎,刚走出医院的大门,一辆保时捷迎面超速的撞来!…重生后欧阳夏莎回到了十二岁,她开始改变性格的那一年,重来一次她决定只做自己!只靠自己!还要有足够的实力,保护自己所爱的家人!“这个世界上真正能靠得住的只有自己!”她一样要让父母以自己为荣,要站在更高的顶点!还有自己父母上世的仇,自己也一定要亲手去报!也许是老天看不过她前世的‘好人没好报’,重生一世居然附送一个超级无敌大空间,外加所谓的‘阴阳眼’!她就是想平凡都难!可是为什么,打算抱着不婚主义的自己,后面追逐的桃花越来越多,前世拒绝自己的初恋,高傲的校草,渣男付新宇.为什么连那个神一样的男子,也加入了桃花的队伍,姐姐不是大叔控啊!男人太可怕!我躲还不行吗?这是一个现代优质女,死去又活来,带着空间异能,找回本性,风生水起的故事!这是一个现代伤透心的优质女,决定远离爱情,结果却被桃花包围的故事!好吧!子懿的简介向来无能,请君跳坑!重生前有点小虐,重生后坚决不虐女主!