letters to his son, 1748-第20章
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The later orders of knighthood； such as the Garter in England； the Elephant in Denmark； the Golden Fleece in Burgundy； the St。 Esprit； St。 Michel； St。 Louis； and St。 Lazare； in France etc。； are of a very different nature and were either the invitations to； or the rewards of； brave actions in fair war； and are now rather the decorations of the favor of the prince； than the proofs of the merit of the subject。 However； they are worth your inquiries to a certain degree； and conversation will give you frequent opportunities for them。 Wherever you are； I would advise you to inquire into the respective orders of that country； and to write down a short account of them。 For example； while you are in Saxony； get an account of l'Aigle Blanc and of what other orders there may be； either Polish or Saxon； and； when you shall be at Berlin； inform yourself of three orders； l'Aigle Noir； la Generosite et le Vrai Merite； which are the only ones that I know of there。 But whenever you meet with straggling ribands and stars； as you will with a thousand in Germany； do ；not fail to inquire what they are； and to take a minute of them in your memorandum book； for it is a sort of knowledge that costs little to acquire； and yet it is of some use。 Young people have frequently an incuriousness about them； arising either from laziness； or a contempt of the object； which deprives them of several such little parts of knowledge； that they afterward wish they had acquired。 If you will put conversation to profit； great knowledge may be gained by it； and is it not better （since it is full as easy） to turn it upon useful than upon useless subjects？ People always talk best upon what they know most； and it is both pleasing them and improving one's self； to put them upon that subject。 With people of a particular profession； or of a distinguished eminency in any branch of learning； one is not at a loss； but with those； whether men or women； who properly constitute what is called the beau monde； one must not choose deep subjects； nor hope to get any knowledge above that of orders； ranks； families； and court anecdotes； which are therefore the proper （and not altogether useless） subjects of that kind of conversation。 Women； especially； are to be talked to as below men and above children。 If you talk to them too deep； you only confound them； and lose your own labor； if you talk to them too frivolously； they perceive and resent the contempt。 The proper tone for them is； what the French call the 'Entregent'； and is； in truth； the polite jargon of good company。 Thus； if you are a good chemist； you may extract something out of everything。
A propos of the beau monde； I must again and again recommend the Graces to you： There is no doing without them in that world； and； to make a good figure in that world； is a great step toward making one in the world of business； particularly that part of it for which you are destined。 An ungraceful manner of speaking； awkward motions； and a disagreeable address； are great clogs to the ablest man of business； as the opposite qualifications are of infinite advantage to him。 I am told there is a very good dancing…master at Leipsig。 I would have you dance a minuet very well； not so much for the sake of the minuet itself （though that； if danced at all； ought to be danced； well）； as that it will give you a habitual genteel carriage and manner of presenting yourself。
Since I am upon little things； I must mention another； which； though little enough in itself； yet as it occurs at； least once in every day； deserves some attention； I mean Carving。 Do you use yourself to carve ADROITLY and genteelly； without hacking half an hour across a bone； without bespattering the company with the sauce； and without overturning the glasses into your neighbor's pockets？ These awkwardnesses are extremely disagreeable； and； if often repeated； bring ridicule。 They are very easily avoided by a little attention and use。
How trifling soever these things may seem； or really be in themselves； they are no longer so when above half the world thinks them otherwise。 And； as I would have you 'omnibus ornatumexcellere rebus'； I think nothing above or below my pointing out to you； or your excelling in。 You have the means of doing it； and time before you to make use of them。 Take my word for it； I ask nothing now but what you will； twenty years hence； most heartily wish that you had done。 Attention to all these things； for the next two or three years； will save you infinite trouble and endless regrets hereafter。 May you； in the whole course of your life； have no reason for any one just regret！ Adieu。
Your Dresden china is arrived； and I have sent it to your Mamma。
LETTER LII
LONDON； September 27； O。 S。 1748。
DEAR BOY： I have received your Latin 〃Lecture upon War；〃 which though it is not exactly the same Latin that Caesar； Cicero； Horace； Virgil； and Ovid spoke； is； however； as good Latin as the erudite Germans speak or write。 I have always observed that the most learned people； that is； those who have read the most Latin； write the worst； and that distinguishes the Latin of gentleman scholar from that of a pedant。 A gentleman has； probably； read no other Latin than that of the Augustan age； and therefore can write no other； whereas the pedant has read much more bad Latin than good； and consequently writes so too。 He looks upon the best classical books； as books for school…boys； and consequently below him； but pores over fragments of obscure authors； treasures up the obsolete words which he meets with there； and uses them upon all occasions to show his reading at the expense of his judgment。 Plautus is his favorite author； not for the sake of the wit and the vis comica of his comedies； but upon account of the many obsolete words； and the cant of low characters； which are to be met with nowhere else。 He will rather use 'olli' than 'illi'； 'optume' than 'optima'； and any bad word rather than any good one； provided he can but prove； that strictly speaking； it is Latin； that is； that it was written by a Roman。 By this rule； I might now write to you in the language of Chaucer or Spenser； and assert that I wrote English； because it was English in their days； but I should be a most affected puppy if I did so； and you would not understand three words of my letter。 All these； and such like affected peculiarities； are the characteristics of learned coxcombs and pedants； and are carefully avoided by all men of sense。
I dipped accidentally； the other day； into Pitiscus's preface to his 〃Lexicon；〃 where I found a word that puzzled me； and which I did not remember ever to have met with before。 It is the adverb 'praefiscine'； which means； IN A GOOD HOUR； an expression which； by the superstition of it； appears to be low and vulgar。 I looked for it： and at last I found that it is once or twice made use of in Plautus； upon the strength of which this learned pedant thrusts it into his preface。 Whenever you write Latin； remember that every word or phrase which you make use of； but cannot find in Caesar； Cicero； Livy； Horace； Virgil； and Ovid； is bad； illiberal Latin； though it may have been written by a Roman。
I must now say something as to the matter of the 〃Lecture；〃 in which I confess there is one doctrine laid down that surprises me： It is this； 'Quum vero hostis sit lenta citave morte omnia dira nobis minitans quocunque bellantibus negotium est； parum sane interfuerit quo modo eum obruere et interficere satagamus； si ferociam exuere cunctetur。 Ergo veneno quoque uti fas est'； etc。； whereas I cannot conceive that the use of poison can； upon any account； come within the lawful means of self… defense。 Force may； without doubt； be justly repelled by force； but not by treachery and fraud； for I do not call the stratagems of war； such as ambuscades； masked batteries； false attacks； etc。； frauds or treachery： They are mutually to be expected and guarded against； but poisoned arrows； poisoned waters； or poison administered to your enemy （which can only be done by treachery）； I have always heard； read； and thought； to be unlawful and infamous means of defense； be your danger ever so great： But 'si ferociam exuere cunctetur'； must I rather die than
