letters to his son, 1748-第15章
按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
w years； prior to the Teutonic； and owes its foundation to the same causes。 These' knights were first called Knights Hospitaliers of St。 John。 of Jerusalem； then Knights of Rhodes； and in the year 1530； Knights of Malta； the Emperor Charles V。 having granted them that island； upon condition of their defending his island of Sicily against the Turks； which they effectually did。 L'Abbe de Vertot has written the history of Malta； but it is the least valuable of all his works； and moreover； too long for you to read。 But there is a short history； of all the military orders whatsoever； which I would advise you to get； as there is also of all the religious orders； both which。 are worth your having and consulting； whenever you meet with any of them in your way； as； you will very frequently in Catholic countries。 For my own part； I find that I remember things much better； when I recur； to my books for them； upon some particular occasion； than by reading them 'tout de suite'。 As； for example； if I were to read the history of all the military or religious orders； regularly one after another； the latter puts the former out of my head； but when I read the history of any one； upon account； of its having been the object of conversation or dispute； I remember it much better。 It is the same in geography； where； looking for any particular place in the map； upon some particular account； fixes it in one's memory forever。 I hope you have worn out your maps by frequent； use of that sort。 Adieu。
A SHORT ACCOUNT OF THE TEUTONIC ORDER
In the ages of ignorance； which is always the mother of superstition； it was thought not only just； but meritorious； to propagate religion by fire and sword； and to； take away； the； lives and properties of unbelievers。 This enthusiasm produced the several crusades； in the 11th； 12th； and following centuries； the object of which was； to recover the Holy Land out of； the hands of the Infidels； who； by the way； were the lawful possessors。 Many honest enthusiasts engaged in those crusades； from a mistaken principle of religion； and from the pardons granted by the Popes for all the sins of those pious adventurers； but many more knaves adopted these holy wars； in hopes of conquest and plunder。 After Godfrey of Bouillon； at the head of these knaves and fools； had taken Jerusalem； in the year 1099； Christians of various nations remained in that city； among the rest； one good honest German； that took particular care of his countrymen who came thither in pilgrimages。 He built a house for their reception； and an hospital dedicated to the Virgin。 This little establishment soon became a great one； by the enthusiasm of many considerable people who engaged in it； in order to drive the Saracens out of the Holy Land。 This society then began to take its first form； and its members were called Marian Teutonic Knights。 Marian； from their chapel sacred to the Virgin Mary； Teutonic； from the German； or Teuton； who was the author of it； and Knights from the wars which they were to carry on against the Infidels。
These knights behaved themselves so bravely； at first； that Duke Frederick of Swabia； who was general of the German army in the Holy Land； sent； in the year 1191； to the Emperor Henry VI。 and Pope Celestine III。 to desire that this brave and charitable fraternity might be incorporated into a regular order of knighthood； which was accordingly done； and rules and a particular habit were given them。 Forty knights； all of noble families； were at first created by the King of Jerusalem and other princes then in the army。 The first grand master of this order was Henry Wallpot； of a noble family upon the Rhine。 This order soon began to operate in Europe； drove all the Pagans out of Prussia； and took possession of it。 Soon after； they got Livonia and Courland； and invaded even Russia； where they introduced the Christian religion。 In 1510； they elected Albert； Marquis of Bradenburg； for their grand master； who； turning Protestant； soon afterward took Prussia from the order； and kept it for himself； with the consent of Sigismund； King of Poland； of whom it was to hold。 He then quitted his grand mastership and made himself hereditary Duke of that country； which is thence called Ducal Prussia。 This order now consists of twelve provinces； viz。； Alsatia； Austria； Coblentz； and Etsch； which are the four under the Prussian jurisdiction； Franconia； Hesse； Biessen； Westphalia； Lorraine； Thuringia； Saxony； and Utrecht； which eight are of the German jurisdiction。 The Dutch now possess all that the order had in Utrecht。 Every one of the provinces have their particular Commanderies； and the most ancient of these Commandeurs is called the Commandeur Provincial。 These twelve Commandeurs are all subordinate to the Grand Master of Germany as their chief； and have the right of electing the grand master。 The elector of Cologne is at present 'Grand Maitre'。
This order； founded by mistaken Christian zeal； upon the anti…Christian principles of violence and persecution； soon grew strong by the weakness and ignorance of the time； acquired unjustly great possessions； of which they justly lost the greatest part by their ambition and cruelty； which made them feared and hated by all their neighbors。
I have this moment received your letter of the 4th； N。 S。； and have only time to tell you that I can by no means agree to your cutting off your hair。 I am very sure that your headaches cannot proceed from thence。 And as for the pimples upon your head； they are only owing to the heat of the season； and consequently will not last long。 But your own hair is； at your age； such an ornament； and a wig； however well made； such a disguise； that I will upon no account whatsoever have you cut off your hair。 Nature did not give it to you for nothing； still less to cause you the headache。 Mr。 Eliot's hair grew so ill and bushy； that he was in the right to cut it off。 But you have not the same reason。
LETTER XLVII
LONDON； August 23； O。 S。 1748。
DEAR BOY： Your friend； Mr。 Eliot； has dined with me twice since I returned here； and I can say with truth that while I had the seals； I never examined or sifted a state prisoner with so much care and curiosity as I did him。 Nay； I did more； for； contrary to the laws of this country； I gave him in some manner； the QUESTION ordinary and extraordinary； and I have infinite pleasure in telling you that the rack which I put him to； did not extort from him one single word that was not such as I wished to hear of you。 I heartily congratulate you upon such an advantageous testimony； from so creditable a witness。 'Laudati a laudato viro'； is one of the greatest pleasures and honors a rational being can have； may you long continue to deserve it！ Your aversion to drinking and your dislike to gaming； which Mr。 Eliot assures me are both very strong； give me； the greatest joy imaginable； for your sake： as the former would ruin both your constitution and understanding； and the latter your fortune and character。 Mr。 Harte wrote me word some time ago； and Mr。 Eliot confirms it now； that you employ your pin money in a very different manner； from that in which pin money is commonly lavished： not in gew…gaws and baubles； but in buying good and useful books。 This is an excellent symptom； and gives me very good hopes。 Go on thus； my dear boy； but for these next two years； and I ask no more。 You must then make such a figure and such a fortune in the world as I wish you； and as I have taken all these pains to enable you to do。 After that time I allow you to be as idle as ever you please； because I am sure that you will not then please to be so at all。 The ignorant and the weak are only idle； but those who have once acquired a good stock of knowledge； always desire to increase it。 Knowledge is like power in this respect； that those who have the most； are most desirous of having more。 It does not clog； by possession； but increases desire； which is the case of very few pleasures。
Upon receiving this congratulatory letter； and reading your own praises； I am sure that it must naturally occur to you； how great a share of them you owe to Mr。 Harte's care and attention； and； consequently； that your
