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the origins of contemporary france-1-第110章

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Where; accordingly; would conversation be if people abstained from

philosophy? What circle is that in which serious political problems

and profound criticism are not admitted? And what motive brings

intellectual people together if not the desire to debate questions of

the highest importance?  …  For two centuries in France the

conversation has been related to all that; and hence its great charm。

Strangers find it irresistible; nothing like it is found at home; Lord

Chesterfield sets it forth as an example:



〃It always turns; he says; on some point in history; on criticism

or even philosophy which is much better suited to rational beings than

our English discussions about the weather and whist。〃



Rousseau; so querulous; admits 〃that a moral subject could not be

better discussed in a society of philosophers than in that of a pretty

woman in Paris。〃 Undoubtedly there is a good deal of idle talk; but

with all the chattering 〃let a man of any authority make a serious

remark or start a grave subject and the attention is immediately fixed

on this point; men and women; the old and the young; all give

themselves up to its consideration on all its sides; and it is

surprising what an amount of reason and good sense issues; as if in

emulation; from these frolicsome brains。〃 The truth is that; in this

constant holiday which this brilliant society gives itself philosophy

is the principal amusement。   Without philosophy the ordinary ironical

chit…chat would be vapid。   It is a sort of superior opera in which

every grand conception that can interest a reflecting mind passes

before it; now in comic and now in sober attire; and each in conflict

with the other。   The tragedy of the day scarcely differs from it

except in this respect; that it always bears a solemn aspect and is

performed only in the theaters; the other assumes all sorts of

physiognomies and is found everywhere because conversation is

everywhere carried on。   Not a dinner nor a supper is given at which

it does not find place。   One sits at a table amidst refined luxury;

among agreeable and well…dressed women and pleasant and well…informed

men; a select company; in which comprehension is prompt and the

company trustworthy。   After the second course the inspiration breaks

out in the liveliest sallies; all minds flashing and scintillating。

When the dessert comes on what is to prevent the gravest of subjects

from being put into witticisms? On the appearance of the coffee

questions on the immortality of the soul and on the existence of God

come up。



To form any idea of this attractive and bold conversation we must

consult the correspondence of the day; the short treatises and

dialogues of Diderot and Voltaire; whatever is most animated; most

delicate; most piquant and most profound in the literature of the

century; and yet this is only a residuum; a lifeless fragment。   The

whole of this written philosophy was uttered in words; with the

accent; the impetuosity; the inimitable naturalness of improvisation;

with the versatility of malice and of enthusiasm。   Even to day;

chilled and on paper; it still excites and seduces us。   What must it

have been then when it gushed forth alive and vibrant from the lips of

Voltaire and Diderot? Daily; in Paris; suppers took place like those

described by Voltaire;'4' 。at which 〃two philosophers; three clever

intellectual ladies;M。 Pinto the famous Jew; the chaplain of the

Batavian ambassador of the reformed church; the secretary of the

Prince de Galitzin of the Greek church; and a Swiss Calvinist

captain;〃 seated around the same table; for four hours interchanged

their anecdotes; their flashes of wit; their remarks and their

decisions 〃on all subjects of interest relating to science and taste。〃

The most learned and distinguished foreigners daily visited; in turn;

the house of the Baron d'Holbach;  …  Hume; Wilkes; Sterne; Beccaria;

Veri; the Abbé Galiani; Garrick; Franklin; Priestley; Lord Shelburne;

the Comte de Creutz; the Prince of Brunswick and the future Elector of

Mayence。   With respect to society in general the Baron entertained

Diderot; Rousseau; Helvétius; Duclos; Saurin; Raynal; Suard;

Marmontel; Boulanger; the Chevalier de Chastellux; the traveler La

Condamine; the physician Barthèz; and Rouelle; the chemist。   Twice a

week; on Sundays and Thursdays; 〃without prejudice to other days;〃

they dine at his house; according to custom; at two o'clock; a

significant custom which thus leaves to conversation and gaiety a

man's best powers and the best hours of the day。   Conversation; in

those days; was not relegated to night and late hours; a man was not

forced; as at the present day; to subordinate it to the exigencies of

work and money; of the Assembly and the Exchange。   Talking is the

main business。   〃Entering at two o'clock;〃 says Morellet;'5' 〃we

almost all remained until seven or eight o'clock in the evening。   。

。   。   Here could be heard the most liberal; the most animated; the

most instructive conversation that ever took place。   。   。   。

There was no political or religious temerity which was not brought

forward and discussed pro and con。   。   。   。   Frequently some one

of the company would begin to speak and state his theory in full;

without interruption。   At other times it would be a combat of one

against one; of which the rest remained silent spectators。   Here I

heard Roux and Darcet expose their theory of the earth; Marmontel the

admirable principles he collected together in his 'Elements de La

Littérature;' Raynal; telling us in livres; sous and deniers; the

commerce of the Spaniards with Vera…Crux and of the English with their

colonies。〃 Diderot improvises on the arts and on moral and

metaphysical subjects; with that incomparable fervor and wealth of

expression; that flood of logic and of illustration; those happy hits

of style and that mimetic power which belonged to him alone; and of

which but two or three of his works preserve even the feeblest image。

In their midst Galiani; secretary of the Neapolitan Embassy; a clever

dwarf; a genius; 〃a sort of Plato or Machiavelli with the spirit and

action of a harlequin;〃 inexhaustible in stories; an admirable

buffoon; and an accomplished skeptic; 〃having no faith in anything; on

anything or about anything;〃'6' not even in the new philosophy; braves

the atheists of the drawing…room; beats down their dithyrambs with

puns; and; with his perruque in his hand; sitting cross…legged on the

chair on which he is perched; proves to them in a comic apologia that

they raisonnent (reason) or résonnent (resound or echo) if not as

cruches (blockheads) at least as cloches (bells);〃 in any event almost

as poorly as theologians。   One of those present says; 〃It was the

most diverting thing possible and worth the best of plays。〃



How can the nobles; who pass their lives in talking; refrain from

the society of people who talk so well? They might as well expect

their wives; who frequ
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