louis lambert-第17章
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things has led even monarchs to indulge！
And perhaps； too； he went back to solitude to carry out some great
work that was floating inchoate in his brain。 We would gladly believe
it as we read this fragment of his thoughts； betraying the struggle of
his soul at the time when youth was ending and the terrible power of
production was coming into being； to which we might have owed the
works of the man。
This letter connects itself with the adventure at the theatre。 The
incident and the letter throw light on each other； body and soul were
tuned to the same pitch。 This tempest of doubts and asseverations； of
clouds and of lightnings that flash before the thunder； ending by a
starved yearning for heavenly illumination； throws such a light on the
third phase of his education as enables us to understand it perfectly。
As we read these lines； written at chance moments； taken up when the
vicissitudes of life in Paris allowed； may we not fancy that we see an
oak at that stage of its growth when its inner expansion bursts the
tender green bark； covering it with wrinkles and cracks； when its
majestic stature is in preparationif indeed the lightnings of heaven
and the axe of man shall spare it？
This letter； then； will close； alike for the poet and the philosopher；
this portentous childhood and unappreciated youth。 It finishes off the
outline of this nature in its germ。 Philosophers will regret the
foliage frost…nipped in the bud； but they will； perhaps； find the
flowers expanding in regions far above the highest places of the
earth。
〃PARIS； September…October 1819。
〃DEAR UNCLE；I shall soon be leaving this part of the world；
where I could never bear to live。 I find no one here who likes
what I like； who works at my work； or is amazed at what amazes me。
Thrown back on myself； I eat my heart out in misery。 My long and
patient study of Society here has brought me to melancholy
conclusions； in which doubt predominates。
〃Here； money is the mainspring of everything。 Money is
indispensable； even for going without money。 But though that dross
is necessary to any one who wishes to think in peace； I have not
courage enough to make it the sole motive power of my thoughts。 To
make a fortune； I must take up a profession； in two words； I must；
by acquiring some privilege of position or of self…advertisement；
either legal or ingeniously contrived； purchase the right of
taking day by day out of somebody else's purse a certain sum
which； by the end of the year； would amount to a small capital；
and this； in twenty years； would hardly secure an income of four
or five thousand francs to a man who deals honestly。 An advocate；
a notary； a merchant； any recognized professional； has earned a
living for his later days in the course of fifteen or sixteen
years after ending his apprenticeship。
〃But I have never felt fit for work of this kind。 I prefer thought
to action； an idea to a transaction； contemplation to activity。 I
am absolutely devoid of the constant attention indispensable to
the making of a fortune。 Any mercantile venture； any need for
using other people's money would bring me to grief； and I should
be ruined。 Though I have nothing； at least at the moment； I owe
nothing。 The man who gives his life to the achievement of great
things in the sphere of intellect； needs very little； still；
though twenty sous a day would be enough； I do not possess that
small income for my laborious idleness。 When I wish to cogitate；
want drives me out of the sanctuary where my mind has its being。
What is to become of me？
〃I am not frightened at poverty。 If it were not that beggars are
imprisoned； branded； scorned； I would beg； to enable me to solve
at my leisure the problems that haunt me。 Still； this sublime
resignation； by which I might emancipate my mind； through
abstracting it from the body； would not serve my end。 I should
still need money to devote myself to certain experiments。 But for
that； I would accept the outward indigence of a sage possessed of
both heaven and heart。 A man need only never stoop； to remain
lofty in poverty。 He who struggles and endures； while marching on
to a glorious end； presents a noble spectacle； but who can have
the strength to fight here？ We can climb cliffs； but it is
unendurable to remain for ever tramping the mud。 Everything here
checks the flight of the spirit that strives towards the future。
〃I should not be afraid of myself in a desert cave； I am afraid of
myself here。 In the desert I should be alone with myself；
undisturbed； here man has a thousand wants which drag him down。
You go out walking； absorbed in dreams； the voice of the beggar
asking an alms brings you back to this world of hunger and thirst。
You need money only to take a walk。 Your organs of sense；
perpetually wearied by trifles； never get any rest。 The poet's
sensitive nerves are perpetually shocked； and what ought to be his
glory becomes his torment； his imagination is his cruelest enemy。
The injured workman； the poor mother in childbed； the prostitute
who has fallen ill； the foundling； the infirm and agedeven vice
and crime here find a refuge and charity； but the world is
merciless to the inventor； to the man who thinks。 Here everything
must show an immediate and practical result。 Fruitless attempts
are mocked at； though they may lead to the greatest discoveries；
the deep and untiring study that demands long concentrations of
every faculty is not valued here。 The State might pay talent as it
pays the bayonet； but it is afraid of being taken in by mere
cleverness； as if genius could be counterfeited for any length of
time。
〃Ah； my dear uncle； when monastic solitude was destroyed； uprooted
from its home at the foot of mountains； under green and silent
shade； asylums ought to have been provided for those suffering
souls who； by an idea； promote the progress of nations or prepare
some new and fruitful development of science。
〃September 20th。
〃The love of study brought me hither； as you know。 I have met
really learned men； amazing for the most part； but the lack of
unity in scientific work almost nullifies their efforts。 There is
no Head of instruction or of scientific research。 At the Museum a
professor argues to prove that another in the Rue Saint…Jacques
talks nonsense。 The lecturer at the College of Medicine abuses him
of the College de France。 When I first arrived； I went to hear an
old Academician who taught five hundred youths that Corneille was
a haughty and powerful genius； Racine； elegiac and graceful；
Moliere； inimitable； Voltaire； supremely witty； Bossuet and
Pascal； incomparable in argument。 A professor of philosophy may
make a name by explaining how Plato is Platonic。 Another
discourses on the history of words； without troubling himself
about ideas。 One explains Aeschylus； another tells you that
communes were communes； and neither more nor less。 These original
and brilliant discoveries； diluted to last several hours；
constitute the higher education which is to lead to giant strides
in human knowledge。
〃If the Government could have an idea； I should suspect it of
being afraid of any real superiority； which； once roused； might
bring Society under the yoke of an intelligent rule。 Then nations
would go too far and too fast； so professors are appointed to
produce simpletons。 How else can we account for a scheme devoid of
method or any notion of the future？
〃The /Institut/ might be the central government of the moral and
intellectual world； but it has been ruined lately by its
subdivision into separate academies。 So human science marches on；
without a guide； without a system； and floats haphazard with no
road traced out。
〃This vagueness and uncertainty prevails in politics as well as in
science。 In the order of nature means are simple； the end is grand
and marvelous； here in science as in government； the means are
stupendous； the end is mean。 The force which in nature proceeds at
an equal pace； and of which the s
