the ancien regime(古兵团)-第13章
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Greeks； or what not； to set free the serfs； and exterminate Jesuits； Jews；
and nobles； throughout Podolia； Volhynia； Red Russia； to desecrate the
altars of God； and slay his servants； to destroy the nobles by lingering
tortures； to strip noble ladies and maidens； and hunt them to death with the
whips of his Cossacks； and after defeating the nobles in battle after battle；
to inaugurate an era of misery and anarchy from which Poland never
recovered。
Thus did the masses of Southern Poland discover； for one generation at
least； that they were not many things； but one thing； a class； capable of
brotherhood and unity； though； alas！ only of such as belongs to a pack of
wolves。 But such outbursts as this were rare exceptions。 In general；
feudalism kept the people divided； and therefore helpless。 And as
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
feudalism died out； and with it the personal self…respect and loyalty which
were engendered by the old relations of master and servant； the division
still remained； and the people； in France especially； became merely masses；
a swarm of incoherent and disorganised things intent on the necessaries of
daily bread； like mites crawling over each other in a cheese。
Out of this mass were struggling upwards perpetually； all who had a
little ambition； a little scholarship； or a little money； endeavouring to
become members of the middle class by obtaining a Government
appointment。 〃A man；〃 says M。 de Tocqueville； 〃endowed with some
education and small means； thought it not decorous to die without having
been a Government officer。〃 〃Every man； according to his condition；〃
says a contemporary writer； 〃wants to be something by command of the
king。〃
It was not merely the 〃natural vanity〃 of which M。 de Tocqueville
accuses his countrymen； which stirred up in them this eagerness after
place； for we see the same eagerness in other nations of the Continent；
who cannot be accused （as wholes） of that weakness。 The fact is； a
Government place； or a Government decoration； cross； ribbon； or what not；
is； in a country where self…government is unknown or dead； the only
method； save literary fame； which is left to men in order to assert
themselves either to themselves or their fellow…men。
A British or American shopkeeper or farmer asks nothing of his
Government。 He can； if he chooses； be elected to some local office
（generally unsalaried） by the votes of his fellow…citizens。 But that is his
right； and adds nothing to his respectability。 The test of that latter； in a
country where all honest callings are equally honourable； is the amount of
money he can make； and a very sound practical test that is； in a country
where intellect and capital are free。 Beyond that； he is what he is； and
wishes to be no more； save what he can make himself。 He has his rights；
guaranteed by law and public opinion； and as long as he stands within
them； and （as he well phrases it） behaves like a gentleman； he considers
himself as good as any man； and so he is。 But under the bureaucratic
Regime of the Continent； if a man had not 〃something by command of the
king；〃 he was nothing； and something he naturally wished to be； even by
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THE ANCIEN REGIME
means of a Government which he disliked and despised。 So in France；
where innumerable petty posts were regular articles of sale； anyone； it
seems； who had saved a little money； found it most profitable to invest it
in a beadledom of some kindto the great detriment of the country； for he
thus withdrew his capital from trade； but to his own clear gain； for he
thereby purchased some immunity from public burdens； and； as it were；
compounded once and for all for his taxes。 The petty German princes； it
seems； followed the example of France； and sold their little beadledoms
likewise； but even where offices were not sold； they must be obtained by
any and every means； by everyone who desired not to be as other men
were； and to become Notables； as they were called in France； so he
migrated from the country into the nearest town； and became a member of
some small body…guild； town council； or what not； bodies which were
infinite in number。 In one small town M。 de Tocqueville discovers thirty…
six such bodies； 〃separated from each other by diminutive privileges； the
least honourable of which was still a mark of honour。〃 Quarrelling
perpetually with each other for precedence； despising and oppressing the
very menu peuple from whom they had for the most part sprung； these
innumerable small bodies； instead of uniting their class； only served to
split it up more and more； and when the Revolution broke them up； once
and for all； with all other privileges whatsoever； no bond of union was left；
and each man stood alone； proud of his 〃individuality〃his complete
social isolation； till he discovered that； in ridding himself of superiors； he
had rid himself also of fellows； fulfilling； every man in his own person；
the old fable of the bundle of sticks； and had to submit； under the
Consulate and the Empire； to a tyranny to which the Ancien Regime was
freedom itself。
For； in France at least； the Ancien Regime was no tyranny。 The
middle and upper classes had individual libertyit may be； only too much；
the liberty of disobeying a Government which they did not respect。
〃However submissive the French may have been before the Revolution to
the will of the king； one sort of obedience was altogether unknown to them。
They knew not what it was to bow before an illegitimate and contested
powera power but little honoured； frequently despised； but willingly
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endured because it may be serviceable； or because it may hurt。 To that
degrading form of servitude they were ever strangers。 The king inspired
them with feelings 。 。 。 which have become incomprehensible to this
generation 。 。 。 They loved him with the affection due to a father； they
revered him with the respect due to God。 In submitting to the most
arbitrary of his commands； they yielded less to compulsion than to loyalty；
and thus they frequently preserved great freedom of mind； even in the
most complete dependence。 This liberty； irregular； intermittent；〃 says M。
de Tocqueville； 〃helped to form those vigorous characters； those proud and
daring spirits； which were to make the French Revolution at once the
object of the admiration and the terror of succeeding generations。〃
This libertytoo much akin to anarchy； in which indeed it issu
