misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写3)-第31章
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degree of the Master of Arts。 But he continued during some years to reside
at college； and to apply himself vigorously； under Pretyman's direction； to
the studies of the place； while mixing freely in the best academic society。
The stock of learning which Pitt laid in during this part of his life was
certainly very extraordinary。 In fact； it was all that he ever possessed； for
he very early became too busy to have any spare time for books。 The work
in which he took the greatest delight was Newton's Principia。 His liking
for mathematics； indeed； amounted to a passion； which； in the opinion of
his instructors； themselves distinguished mathematicians； required to be
checked rather than encouraged。 The acuteness and readiness with which
he solved problems was pronounced by one of the ablest of the moderators；
who in those days presided over the disputations in the schools； and
conducted the examinations of the Senate House； to be unrivalled in the
university。 Nor was the youth's proficiency in classical learning less
remarkable。 In one respect； indeed； he appeared to disadvantage when
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compared with even second…rate and third…rate men from public schools。
He had never； while under Wilson's care； been in the habit of composing in
the ancient languages： and he therefore never acquired that knack of
versification which is sometimes possessed by clever boys whose
knowledge of the language and literature of Greece and Rome is very
superficial。 It would have been utterly out of his power to produce such
charming elegiac lines as those in which Wellesley bade farewell to Eton；
or such Virgilian hexameters as those in which Canning described the
pilgrimage to Mecca。 But it may be doubted whether any scholar has ever；
at twenty； had a more solid and profound knowledge of the two great
tongues of the old civilised world。 The facility with which he penetrated
the meaning of the most intricate sentences in the Attic writers astonished
veteran critics。 He had set his heart on being intimately acquainted with all
the extant poetry of Greece； and was not satisfied till he had mastered
Lycophron's Cassandra； the most obscure work in the whole range of
ancient literature。 This strange rhapsody； the difficulties of which have
perplexed and repelled many excellent scholars； 〃he read；〃 says his
preceptor； 〃with an ease at first sight； which； if I had not witnessed it； I
should have thought beyond the compass of human intellect。〃
To modern literature Pitt paid comparatively little attention。 He knew
no living language except French； and French he knew very imperfectly。
With a few of the best English writers he was intimate； particularly with
Shakspeare and Milton。 The debate in Pandemonium was； as it well
deserved to be； one of his favourite passages； and his early friends used to
talk； long after his death； of the just emphasis and the melodious cadence
with which they had heard him recite the incomparable speech of Belial。
He had indeed been carefully trained from infancy in the art of managing
his voice； a voice naturally clear and deep…toned。 His father； whose oratory
owed no small part of its effect to that art； had been a most skilful and
judicious instructor。 At a later period； the wits of Brookes's； irritated by
observing； night after night； how powerfully Pitt's sonorous elocution
fascinated the rows of country gentlemen； reproached him with having
been 〃taught by his dad on a stool。〃
His education； indeed； was well adapted to form a great parliamentary
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speaker。 One argument often urged against those classical studies which
occupy so large apart of the early life of every gentleman bred in the south
of our island is； that they prevent him from acquiring a command of his
mother tongue； and that it is not unusual to meet with a youth of excellent
parts； who writes Ciceronian Latin prose and Horatian Latin Alcaics； but
who would find it impossible to express his thoughts in pure； perspicuous；
and forcible English。 There may perhaps be some truth in this observation。
But the classical studies of Pitt were carried on in a peculiar manner； and
had the effect of enriching his English vocabulary； and of making him
wonderfully expert in the art of constructing correct English sentences。
His practice was to look over a page or two of a Greek or Latin author； to
make himself master of the meaning； and then to read the passage
straightforward into his own language。 This practice； begun under his first
teacher Wilson； was continued under Pretyman。 It is not strange that a
young man of great abilities； who had been exercised daily in this way
during ten years； should have acquired an almost unrivalled power of
putting his thoughts； without premeditation； into words well selected and
well arranged。
Of all the remains of antiquity； the orations were those on which he
bestowed the most minute examination。 His favourite employment was to
compare harangues on opposite sides of the same question； to analyse
them； and to observe which of the arguments of the first speaker were
refuted by the second； which were evaded； and which were left untouched。
Nor was it only in books that he at this time studied the art of
parliamentary fencing。 When he was at home； he had frequent
opportunities of hearing important debates at Westminster； and he heard
them； not only with interest and enjoyment； but with a close scientific
attention resembling that with which a diligent pupil at Guy's Hospital
watches every turn of the hand of a great surgeon through a difficult
operation。 On one of these occasions； Pitt； a youth whose abilities were as
yet known only to his own family and to a small knot of college friends；
was introduced on the steps of the throne in the House of Lords to Fox；
who was his senior by eleven years； and who was already the greatest
debater； and one of the greatest orators； that had appeared in England。 Fox
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used afterwards to relate that； as the discussion proceeded； Pitt repeatedly
turned to him； and said； 〃But surely； Mr Fox； that might be met thus；〃 or；
〃Yes； but he lays himself open to this retort。〃 What the particular
criticisms were Fox had forgotten； but he said that he was much struck at
the time by the precocity of the lad who； through the whole sitting； seemed
to be thinking only how all the speeches on both sides could be answered。
One of the young man's visits to the House of Lords was a sad and
memorable era in his life。 He had not quite completed his nineteenth year；
when； on the 7th of April 1778； he attended his father to Westminster。 A
great debate was expected。 It was known that France had recognised the
ind
