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！
with new…fledged specialist in public law。〃 Hundreds of details show
us that it is in every hand like a catechism。 In 1784＇29＇ certain
magistrates' sons； on taking their first lesson in jurisprudence of an
assistant professor； M。 Saveste； have the 〃Contrat Social〃 placed in
their hands as a manual。 Those who find this new political geometry
too difficult learn at least its axioms； and if these repel them they
discover at least their palpable consequences； so many handy
comparisons； the trifling common practice in the literature in vogue；
whether drama； history； or romance＇30＇。 Through the 〃Eloges〃 by
Thomas； the pastorals of Bernadin de Saint…Pierre； the compilation of
Raynal； the comedies of Beaumarchais and even the 〃Young Anarcharsis〃
and the literature of the resuscitated Greek and Roman antiquity； the
dogmas of equality and liberty infiltrate and penetrate the class able
to read＇31＇。 〃A few days ago；〃 says Métra；＇32＇ 〃a dinner of forty
ecclesiastics from the country took place at the house of curate of
Orangis； five leagues from Paris。 At the dessert； and in the truth
which came out over their wine； they all admitted that they came to
Paris to see the 'Marriage of Figaro。' 。 。 Up to the present time it
seems as if comic authors intended to make sport for the great at the
expense of the little； but here； on the contrary； it is the little who
laugh at the expense of the great。〃 Hence the success of the piece。
Hence a steward of a chateau has found a Raynal in the library；
the furious declamation of which so delights him that he can repeat it
thirty years later without stumbling； or a sergeant in the French
guards embroiders waistcoats during the night to earn the money with
which to purchase the latest books。 After the gallant picture
of the boudoir comes the austere and patriotic picture； 〃Belisarious〃
and the 〃Horatii〃 of David reflect the new attitude both of the public
and of the studios＇33＇ The spirit is that of Rousseau； 〃the republican
spirit；〃＇34＇ the entire middle class； artists； employees； curates；
physicians； attorneys； advocates； the lettered and the journalists；
all are won over to it； and it is fed by the worst as well as the best
passions； ambition； envy； desire for freedom； zeal for the public
welfare and the consciousness of right。
V。 REVOLUTIONARY PASSIONS。
Its effects therein。 … The formation of revolutionary passions。
… Leveling instincts。 … The craving for dominion。 … The Third…Estate
decides and constitutes the nation。 … Chimeras； ignorance；
exaltation。
All these passions intensify each other。 There is nothing like
a wrong to quicken the sentiment of justice。 There is nothing like
the sentiment of justice to quicken the injury proceeding from a
wrong＇35＇。 The Third…Estate； considering itself deprived of the place
to which it is entitled； finds itself uncomfortable in the place it
occupies and； accordingly； suffers through a thousand petty grievances
it would not； formerly； have noticed。 On discovering that he is a
citizen a man is irritated at being treated as a subject； no one
accepting an inferior position alongside of one of whom he believes
himself the equal。 Hence； during a period of twenty years； the
ancient régime while attempting to grow easier； appear to be still
more burdensome； and its pinpricks exasperate as if they were so many
wounds。 Countless instances might be quoted instead of one。 At
the theater in Grenoble； Barnave；＇36＇ a child； is with his mother in a
box which the Duc de Tonnerre； governor of the province； had assigned
to one of his satellites。 The manager of the theater； and next an
officer of the guard； request Madame Barnave to withdraw。 She
refuses； whereupon the governor orders four fusiliers to force her
out。 The audience in the stalls had already taken the matter up； and
violence was feared； when M。 Barnave； advised of the affront； entered
and led his wife away； exclaiming aloud； 〃I leave by order of the
governor。〃 The indignant public； all the bourgeoisie； agreed among
themselves not to enter the theater again without an apology being
made； the theater； in fact； remaining empty several months； until
Madame Barnave consented to reappear there。 This outrage afterwards
recurred to the future deputy； and he then swore 〃to elevate the caste
to which he belonged out of the humiliation to which it seemed
condemned。〃 In like manner Lacroix； the future member of the
Convention；＇37＇ on leaving a theater； and jostled by a gentleman who
was giving his arm to a lady； utters a loud complaint。 〃Who are you？
〃 says the person。 Still the provincial； he is simple enough to give
his name； surname； and qualifications in full。 〃Very well；〃 says the
other man； 〃good for you I am the Comte de Chabannes； and I am in
a hurry；〃 saying which； 〃laughing heartily；〃 he jumps into his
vehicle。 〃Ah； sir； exclaimed Lacroix； still much excited by his
misadventure； 〃pride and prejudice establish an awful gulf between man
and man ！〃 We may rest assured that； with Marat； a veterinary surgeon
in the Comte d'Artois's stables； with Robespierre； a protégé of the
bishop of Arras； with Danton； an insignificant lawyer in Mery…sur…
Seine； and with many others beside； self…esteem； in frequent
encounters； bled in the same fashion。 The concentrated bitterness
with which Madame Roland's memoirs are imbued has no other cause。
〃She could not forgive society＇38＇ for the inferior position she had
so long occupied in it。〃＇39＇ Thanks to Rousseau； vanity； so natural to
man； and especially sensitive with a Frenchman； becomes still more
sensitive。 The slightest discrimination； a tone of the voice； seems a
mark of disdain。 〃One day；＇40＇ on alluding； before the minister of
war； to a general officer who had obtained his rank through his merit；
he exclaimed； 'Oh； yes； an officer of luck。' This expression； being
repeated and commented on； does much mischief。〃 In vain do the
grandees show their condescending spirit； 〃welcoming with equal
kindness and gentleness all who are presented to them。〃 In the mansion
of the Due de Penthièvre the nobles eat at the table of the master of
the house； the commoners dine with his first gentleman and only enter
the drawing room when coffee is served。 There they find 〃in full
force and with a superior tone〃 the others who had the honor of dining
with His Highness； and 〃who do not fail to salute the new arrivals
with an obliging civility indicating patronage。〃＇41＇ No more is
required； in vain does the Duke 〃carry his attentions to an extreme；〃
Beugnot； so pliable； has no desire to return。 They bear them ill…
will； not only on account of their slight bows but again on account of
their over…politeness。 Champfort acrimoniously relates that
d'Alembert； at the height of his reputation； being in Madame du
Deffant's drawing room with President Hénault and M。 de Pont…de…Veyle；
a physician enters named Fournier； and he； addressing