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the origins of contemporary france-1-第107章

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vein of talent; however meager; peers forth above the ground it is for

the propagation and carrying forward of the new doctrine; scarcely can

we find two or three little streams that run in a contrary direction;

like the journal of Freron; a comedy by Palissot; or a satire by

Gilbert。  Philosophy winds through and overflows all channels public

and private; through manuals of impiety; like the 〃Théologies

portatives;〃 and in the lascivious novels circulated secretly; through

epigrams and songs; through daily novelties; through the amusements of

fairs;'42' and the harangues of the Academy; through tragedy and the

opera; from the beginning to the end of the century; from the 〃OEdipe〃

of Voltaire; to the 〃Tarare〃 of Beaumarchais。  It seems as if there

was nothing else in the world。  At least it is found everywhere and it

floods all literary efforts; nobody cares whether it deforms them;

content in making them serve as a conduit。  In 1763; in the tragedy of

Manco…Capac'43' the 〃principal part;〃 writes a contemporary; 〃is that

of a savage who utters in verse all that we have read; scattered

through ' Emile' and the 'Contrat Social;' concerning kings; liberty;

the rights of man and the inequality of conditions。〃 This virtuous

savage saves a king's son over whom a high…priest raises a poniard;

and then; designating the high…priest and himself by turns; he cries;



〃Behold the civilized man; here is the savage man!〃



At this line the applause breaks forth; and the success of the

piece is such that it is demanded at Versailles and played before the

court。



The same ideas have to be expressed with skill; brilliancy; gaiety;

energy and scandal; and this is accomplished in 〃The Marriage of

Figaro。〃 Never were the ideals of the age displayed under a more

transparent disguise; nor in an attire that rendered them more

attractive。  Its title is the 〃 Folle journee;〃 and indeed it is an

evening of folly; an after…supper like those occurring in the

fashionable world; a masquerade of Frenchmen in Spanish costumes; with

a parade of dresses; changing scenes; couplets; a ballet; a singing

and dancing village; a medley of odd characters; gentlemen; servants;

duennas; judges; notaries; lawyers; music…masters; gardeners;

pastoureaux; in short; a spectacle for the eyes and the ears; for all

the senses; the very opposite of the prevailing drama in which three

pasteboard characters; seated on classic chairs; exchange didactic

arguments in an abstract saloon。  And still better; it is an imbroglio

displaying a superabundance of action; amidst intrigues that cross;

interrupt and renew each other; through a pêle…mêle of travesties;

exposures; surprises; mistakes; leaps from windows; quarrels and

slaps; and all in sparkling style; each phrase flashing on all sides;

where responses seem to be cut out by a lapidary; where the eyes would

forget themselves in contemplating the multiplied brilliants of the

dialogue if the mind were not carried along by its rapidity and the

excitement of the action。  But here is another charm; the most welcome

of all in a society passionately fond of Parny; according to an

expression of the Comte d'Artois; which I dare not quote; this appeals

to the senses; the arousing of which constitutes the spiciness and

savor of the piece。  The fruit that hangs ripening and savory on the

branch never falls but always seems on the point of falling; all hands

are extended to catch it; its voluptuousness somewhat veiled but so

much the more provoking; declaring itself from scene to scene; in the

Count's gallantry; in the Countess's agitation; in the simplicity of

Fanchette; in the jestings of Figaro; in the liberties of Susanne; and

reaching its climax in the precocity of Cherubino。  Add to this a

continual double sense; the author hidden behind his characters; truth

put into the mouth of a clown; malice enveloped in simple utterances;

the master duped but saved from being ridiculous by his deportment;

the valet rebellious but preserved from acrimony by his gaiety; and

you can comprehend how Beaumarchais could have the ancient regime

played before its head; put political and social satire on the stage;

publicly attach an expression to each wrong so as to become a by…word;

and ever making a loud report;'44' gather up into a few traits the

entire polemics of the philosophers against the prisons of the State;

against the censorship of literature; against the venality of office;

against the privileges of birth; against the arbitrary power of

ministers; against the incapacity of people in office; and still

better; to sum up in one character every public demand; give the

leading part to a commoner; bastard; bohemian and valet; who; by dint

of dexterity; courage and good…humor; keeps himself up; swims with the

tide; and shoots ahead in his little skiff; avoiding contact with

larger craft and even supplanting his master; accompanying each pull

on the oar with a shower of wit cast broadside at all his rivals。



After all; in France at least; the chief power is intellect。

Literature in the service of philosophy is all…sufficient。  The public

opposes but a feeble resistance to their complicity; the mistress

finding no trouble in convincing those who have already been won over

by the servant



___________________________________________________________



Notes:



'1' How right Taine was。  The 20th century should see a rebirth of

violent Jacobinism in Russia; China; Cambodia; Korea; Cuba; Germany;

Italy; Yugoslavia and Albania and of soft and creeping Jacobinism in

the entire Western world。  (SR。)



'2'。  〃Who; born within the last forty years; ever read a word of

Collins; and Toland; and Tindal; or of that whole race who called

themselves freethinkers?〃 (Burke; 〃Reflexions on the French

Revolutions;〃 1790)。



'3'。  The 〃Oedipe;〃 by Voltaire; belongs to the year 1718; and his

〃Lettres sur les Anglais;〃 to the year 1728。  The 〃Lettres Persanes;〃

by Montesquieu; published in 1721; contain the germs of all the

leading ideas of the century。



'4'。  〃Raison〃 (cult of)。  Cult proposed by the Hébertists and

aimed at replacing Christianity under the French Revolution。  The Cult

of Reason was celebrated in the church of Notre Dame de Paris on the

10th of November 1793。  The cult disappeared with the Hébertists

(March 1794) and Robespierre replaced it with the cult of the Superior

Being。  (SR。)



'5'。  Joseph de Maistre; Oeuvres inédites;〃 pp。  8; 11。



'6'。  Diderot's letters on the Blind and on the Deaf and Dumb are

addressed in whole or in part to women。



'7'。  〃Correspondence of Gouverneur Morris;〃 (in English); II; 89。

(Letter of January 24; 1790)



'8'。  John Andrews in 〃A comparative view;〃 etc。  (1785)。  … Arthur

Young; I。  123。  〃I should pity the man who expected; without other

advantages of a very different nature; to be well received in a

brilliant circle in London; because he was a fellow of the Royal

Soc
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