letters to his son, 1749-第7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！
of all others； the most disgraceful and unpardonable。 There are degrees in vices； as well as in virtues； and I must do my countrymen the justice to say； that they generally take their vices in the lower degree。 Their gallantry is the infamous mean debauchery of stews； justly attended and rewarded by the loss of their health； as well as their character。 Their pleasures of the table end in beastly drunkenness； low riot； broken windows； and very often （as they well deserve）； broken bones。 They game for the sake of the vice； not of the amusement； and therefore carry it to excess； undo； or are undone by their companions。 By such conduct； and in such company abroad； they come home； the unimproved； illiberal； and ungentlemanlike creatures that one daily sees them； that is； in the park and in the streets； for one never meets them in good company； where they have neither manners to present themselves； nor merit to be received。 But； with the manners of footmen and grooms； they assume their dress too； for you must have observed them in the streets here； in dirty blue frocks； with oaken sticks in their ends； and their hair greasy and unpowdered； tucked up under their hats of an enormous size。 Thus finished and adorned by their travels； they become the disturbers of play…houses； they break the windows； and commonly the landlords； of the taverns where they drink； and are at once the support； the terror； and the victims； of the bawdy…houses they frequent。 These poor mistaken people think they shine； and so they do indeed； but it is as putrefaction shines in the dark。
I am not now preaching to you； like an old fellow； upon their religious or moral texts； I am persuaded that you do not want the best instructions of that kind： but I am advising you as a friend； as a man of the world； as one who would not have you old while you are young； but would have you to take all the pleasures that reason points out； and that decency warrants。 I will therefore suppose； for argument's sake （for upon no other account can it be supposed）； that all the vices above mentioned were perfectly innocent in themselves： they would still degrade； vilify； and sink those who practiced them； would obstruct their rising in the world by debasing their characters； and give them low turn of mind； and manners absolutely inconsistent with their making any figure in upper life and great business。
What I have now said； together with your own good sense； is； I hope； sufficient to arm you against the seduction； the invitations； or the profligate exhortations （for I cannot call them temptations） of those unfortunate young people。 On the other hand； when they would engage you in these schemes； content yourself with a decent but steady refusal； avoid controversy upon such plain points。 You are too young to convert them； and； I trust； too wise to be converted by them。 Shun them not only in reality； but even in appearance； if you would be well received in good company； for people will always be shy of receiving a man who comes from a place where the plague rages； let him look ever so healthy。 There are some expressions； both in French and English； and some characters； both in those two and in other countries； which have； I dare say； misled many young men to their ruin。 'Une honnete debauche； une jolie debauche； 〃An agreeable rake； a man of pleasure。〃 Do not think that this means debauchery and profligacy； nothing like it。 It means； at most； the accidental and unfrequent irregularities of youth and vivacity； in opposition to dullness； formality； and want of spirit。 A 'commerce galant'； insensibly formed with a woman of fashion； a glass of wine or two too much； unwarily taken in the warmth and joy of good company； or some innocent frolic； by which nobody is injured； are the utmost bounds of that life of pleasure； which a man of sense and decency； who has a regard for his character； will allow himself； or be allowed by others。 Those who transgress them in the hopes of shining； miss their aim； and become infamous； or at least； contemptible。
The length or shortness of your stay at Turin will sufficiently inform me （even though Mr。 Harte should not） of your conduct there； for； as I have told you before； Mr。 Harte has the strictest orders to carry you away immediately from thence； upon the first and least symptom of infection that he discovers about you； and I know him to be too conscientiously scrupulous； and too much your friend and mine not to execute them exactly。 Moreover； I will inform you； that I shall have constant accounts of your behavior from Comte Salmour； the Governor of the Academy； whose son is now here； and my particular friend。 I have； also； other good channels of intelligence； of which I do not apprise you。 But； supposing that all turns out well at Turin； yet； as I propose your being at Rome for the jubilee； at Christmas； I desire that you will apply yourself diligently to your exercises of dancing； fencing； and riding at the Academy； as well for the sake of your health and growth； as to fashion and supple you。 You must not neglect your dress neither； but take care to be 'bien mis'。 Pray send for the best operator for the teeth at Turin； where I suppose there is some famous one； and let him put yours in perfect order； and then take care to keep them so； afterward； yourself。 You had very good teeth； and I hope they are so still； but even those who have bad ones； should keep them clean； for a dirty mouth is； in my mind； ill manners。 In short； neglect nothing that can possibly please。 A thousand nameless little things； which nobody can describe； but which everybody feels； conspire to form that WHOLE of pleasing； as the several pieces of a Mosaic work though； separately； of little beauty or value； when properly joined； form those beautiful figures which please everybody。 A look； a gesture； an attitude； a tone of voice； all bear their parts in the great work of pleasing。 The art of pleasing is more particularly necessary in your intended profession than perhaps in any other； it is； in truth； the first half of your business； for if you do not please the court you are sent to； you will be of very little use to the court you are sent from。 Please the eyes and the ears； they will introduce you to the heart； and nine times in ten； the heart governs the understanding。
Make your court particularly； and show distinguished attentions to such men and women as are best at court； highest in the fashion； and in the opinion of the public； speak advantageously of them behind their backs； in companies whom you have reason to believe will tell them again。 Express your admiration of the many great men that the House of Savoy has produced； observe that nature； instead of being exhausted by those efforts； seems to have redoubled them； in the person of the present King； and the Duke of Savoy； wonder； at this rate； where it will end； and conclude that it must end in the government of all Europe。 Say this； likewise； where it will probably be repeated； but say it unaffectedly； and； the last especially； with a kind of 'enjouement'。 These little arts are very allowable； and must be made use of in the course of the world； they are pleasing to one party； useful to the other； and injurious to nobody。
What I have said with regard to my countrymen in general； does not extend to them all without exception； there are some who have both merit and manners。 Your friend； Mr。 Stevens； is among the latter； and I approve of your connection with him。 You may happen to meet with some others； whose friendship may be of great use to you hereafter； either from their superior talents； or their rank and fortune； cultivate them； but then I desire that Mr。 Harte may be the judge of those persons。
Adieu my dear child！ Consider seriously the importance of the two next years to your character； your figure； and your fortune。
LETTER LXXI
LONDON； May 22； O。 S。 1749。
DEAR BOY： I recommended to you； in my last； an innocent piece of art； that of flattering people behind their backs； in presence of those who； to make their own court； much more than for your sake； will not fail to repeat and even amplify the praise to the party concerned。 This is； of all flattery； the most pleasing
