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！
en burned in the cheek； and who； from that mark； cannot afterward get an honest livelihood if he would； but must continue a thief。
Lord Bacon； very justly； makes a distinction between simulation and dissimulation； and allows the latter rather than the former； but still observes； that they are the weaker sort of politicians who have recourse to either。 A man who has strength of mind and strength of parts； wants neither of them。 Certainly （says he） the ablest men that ever were； have all had an openness and frankness of dealing； and a name of certainty and veracity； but then； they were like horses well managed； for they could tell； passing well； when to stop or turn； and at such times； when they thought the case indeed required some dissimulation； if then they used it； it came to pass that the former opinion spread abroad of their good faith and clearness of dealing； made them almost invisible。
There are people who indulge themselves in a sort of lying； which they reckon innocent； and which in one sense is so； for it hurts nobody but themselves。 This sort of lying is the spurious offspring of vanity； begotten upon folly： these people deal in the marvelous； they have seen some things that never existed； they have seen other things which they never really saw； though they did exist； only because they were thought worth seeing。 Has anything remarkable been said or done in any place； or in any company？ they immediately present and declare themselves eye or ear witnesses of it。 They have done feats themselves； unattempted； or at least unperformed by others。 They are always the heroes of their own fables； and think that they gain consideration； or at least present attention； by it。 Whereas； in truth； all that they get is ridicule and contempt； not without a good degree of distrust； for one must naturally conclude； that he who will tell any lie from idle vanity； will not scruple telling a greater for interest。 Had I really seen anything so very extraordinary as to be almost incredible I would keep it to myself； rather than by telling it give anybody room to doubt； for one minute； of my veracity。 It is most certain； that the reputation of chastity is not so necessary for a women； as that of veracity is for a man； and with reason； for it is possible for a woman to be virtuous； though not strictly chaste； but it is not possible for a man to be virtuous without strict veracity。 The slips of the poor women are sometimes mere bodily frailties； but a lie in a man is a vice of the mind and of the heart。 For God's sake be scrupulously jealous of the purity of your moral character； keep it immaculate； unblemished； unsullied； and it will be unsuspected。 Defamation and calumny never attack； where there is no weak place； they magnify； but they do not create。
There is a very great difference between the purity of character； which I so earnestly recommend to you； and the stoical gravity and austerity of character； which I do by no means recommend to you。 At your； age； I would no more wish you to be a Cato than a Clodius。 Be； and be reckoned； a man of pleasure as well as a man of business。 Enjoy this happy and giddy time of your life； shine in the pleasures； and in the company of people of your own age。 This is all to be done； and indeed only can be done； without the least taint to the purity of your moral character； for those mistaken young fellows； who think to shine by an impious or immoral licentiousness； shine only from their stinking； like corrupted flesh； in the dark。 Without this purity； you can have no dignity of character； and without dignity of character it is impossible to rise in the world。 You must be respectable； if you will be respected。 I have known people slattern away their character； without really polluting it； the consequence of which has been； that they have become innocently contemptible； their merit has been dimmed； their pretensions unregarded； and all their views defeated。 Character must be kept bright； as well as clean。 Content yourself with mediocrity in nothing。 In purity of character and in politeness of manners labor to excel all； if you wish to equal many。 Adieu。
LETTER CI
LONDON； January 11； O。 S。 1750
MY DEAR FRIEND： Yesterday I received a letter from Mr。 Harte； of the 31st December； N。 S。； which I will answer soon； and for which I desire you to return him my thanks now。 He tells me two things that give me great satisfaction： one is that there are very few English at Rome； the other is； that you frequent the best foreign companies。 This last is a very good symptom； for a man of sense is never desirous to frequent those companies； where he is not desirous to please； or where he finds that he displeases； it will not be expected in those companies； that； at your age； you should have the 'Garbo'； the 'Disinvoltura'； and the 'Leggiadria' of a man of five…and…twenty； who has been long used to keep the best companies； and therefore do not be discouraged； and think yourself either slighted or laughed at； because you see others； older and more used to the world； easier； more familiar； and consequently rather better received in those companies than yourself。 In time your turn will come； and if you do but show an inclination； a desire to please； though you should be embarrassed or even err in the means； which must necessarily happen to you at first； yet the will （to use a vulgar expression） will be taken for the deed； and people； instead of laughing at you； will be glad to instruct you。 Good sense can only give you the great outlines of good…breeding； but observation and usage can alone give you the delicate touches； and the fine coloring。 You will naturally endeavor to show the utmost respect to people of certain ranks and characters； and consequently you will show it； but the proper； the delicate manner of showing that respect； nothing but observation and time can give。
I remember that when； with all the awkwardness and rust of Cambridge about me； I was first introduced into good company； I was frightened out of my wits。 I was determined to be； what I thought； civil； I made fine low bows； and placed myself below everybody； but when I was spoken to； or attempted to speak myself； 'obstupui； steteruntque comae； et vox faucibus haesit'。 If I saw people whisper； I was sure it was at me； and I thought myself the sole object of either the ridicule or the censure of the whole company； who； God knows； did not trouble their heads about me。 In this way I suffered； for some time； like a criminal at the bar； and should certainly have renounced all polite company forever； if I had not been so convinced of the absolute necessity of forming my manners upon those of the best companies； that I determined to persevere and suffer anything； or everything； rather than not compass that point。 Insensibly it grew easier to me； and I began not to bow so ridiculously low； and to answer questions without great hesitation or stammering： if； now and then； some charitable people； seeing my embarrassment； and being 'desoevre' themselves； came and spoke to me； I considered them as angels sent to comfort me； and that gave me a little courage。 I got more soon afterward； and was intrepid enough to go up to a