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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