misc writings and speeches(米斯克说与写)-第25章
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！
was that of Diomedes； who was devoured by those horses whom he had
himself taught to feed on the flesh and blood of men？ How could they
hope that others would respect laws which they had themselves insulted；
that swords which had been drawn against the prerogatives of the king
would be put up at an ordinance of the Commons？ It was believed； of
old； that there were some devils easily raised but never to be laid；
insomuch that； if a magician called them up； he should be forced to find
them always some employment； for； though they would do all his bidding；
yet； if he left them but for one moment without some work of evil to
perform； they would turn their claws against himself。 Such a fiend is an
army。 They who evoke it cannot dismiss it。 They are at once its
masters and its slaves。 Let them not fail to find for it task after task of
blood and rapine。 Let them not leave it for a moment in repose； lest it tear
them in pieces。
〃Thus was it with that famous assembly。 They formed a force which
they could neither govern nor resist。 They made it powerful。 They
97
… Page 98…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
made it fanatical。 As if military insolence were not of itself sufficiently
dangerous； they heightened it with spiritual pride；they encouraged their
soldiers to rave from the tops of tubs against the men of Belial； till every
trooper thought himself a prophet。 They taught them to abuse popery； till
every drummer fancied that he was as infallible as a pope。
〃Then it was that religion changed her nature。 She was no longer the
parent of arts and letters； of wholesome knowledge； of innocent pleasures；
of blessed household smiles。 In their place came sour faces； whining
voices； the chattering of fools； the yells of madmen。 Then men fasted
from meat and drink； who fasted not from bribes and blood。 Then men
frowned at stage…plays； who smiled at massacres。 Then men preached
against painted faces； who felt no remorse for their own most painted lives。
Religion had been a pole…star to light and to guide。 It was now more like
to that ominous star in the book of the Apocalypse； which fell from heaven
upon the fountains and rivers and changed them into wormwood； for even
so did it descend from its high and celestial dwelling…place to plague this
earth； and to turn into bitterness all that was sweet； and into poison all that
was nourishing。
〃Therefore it was not strange that such things should follow。 They who
had closed the barriers of London against the king could not defend them
against their own creatures。 They who had so stoutly cried for privilege；
when that prince； most unadvisedly no doubt； came among them to
demand their members； durst not wag their fingers when Oliver filled their
hall with soldiers； gave their mace to a corporal； put their keys in his
pocket； and drove them forth with base terms； borrowed half from the
conventicle and half from the ale…house。 Then were we； like the trees of
the forest in holy writ； given over to the rule of the bramble； then from the
basest of the shrubs came forth the fire which devoured the cedars of
Lebanon。 We bowed down before a man of mean birth； of ungraceful
demeanour； of stammering and most vulgar utterance； of scandalous and
notorious hypocrisy。 Our laws were made and unmade at his pleasure；
the constitution of our Parliaments changed by his writ and proclamation；
our persons imprisoned； our property plundered； our lands and houses
overrun with soldiers； and the great charter itself was but argument for a
98
… Page 99…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
scurrilous jest； and for all this we may thank that Parliament； for never；
unless they had so violently shaken the vessel； could such foul dregs have
risen to the top。〃
Then answered Mr Milton： 〃What you have now said comprehends
so great a number of subjects； that it would require； not an evening's sail
on the Thames； but rather a voyage to the Indies； accurately to treat of all：
yet； in as few words as I may； I will explain my sense of these matters。
〃First； as to the army。 An army； as you have well set forth； is always
a weapon dangerous to those who use it； yet he who falls among thieves
spares not to fire his musquetoon； because he may be slain if it burst in his
hand。 Nor must states refrain from defending themselves； lest their
defenders should at last turn against them。 Nevertheless； against this
danger statesmen should carefully provide； and； that they may do so； they
should take especial care that neither the officers nor the soldiers do forget
that they are also citizens。 I do believe that the English army would have
continued to obey the parliament with all duty； but for one act； which； as it
was in intention； in seeming； and in immediate effect； worthy to be
compared with the most famous in history； so was it； in its final
consequence； most injurious。 I speak of that ordinance called the 〃self…
denying〃； and of the new model of the army。 By those measures the
Commons gave up the command of their forces into the hands of men who
were not of themselves。 Hence； doubtless； derived no small honour to
that noble assembly； which sacrificed to the hope of public good the
assurance of private advantage。 And； as to the conduct of the war； the
scheme prospered。 Witness the battle of Naseby； and the memorable
exploits of Fairfax in the west。 But thereby the Parliament lost that hold
on the soldiers and that power to control them； which they retained while
every regiment was commanded by their own members。 Politicians there
be； who would wholly divide the legislative from the executive power。
In the golden age this may have succeeded； in the millennium it may
succeed again。 But； where great armies and great taxes are required；
there the executive government must always hold a great authority； which
authority； that it may not oppress and destroy the legislature； must be in
some manner blended with it。 The leaders of foreign mercenaries have
99
… Page 100…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
always been most dangerous to a country。 The officers of native armies；
deprived of the civil privileges of other men； are as much to be feared。
This was the great error of that Parliament： and； though an error it were；
it was an error generous； virtuous； and more to be deplored than censured。
〃Hence came the power of the army and its leaders； and especially of
that most famous leader； whom both in our conversation to…day； and in
that discourse whereon I before touched； you have； in my poor opinion； far
too roughly handled。 Wherefore you speak contemptibly of his parts I
know not； but I suspect that you are not free from the error common to
studious and speculative men。 Because Oliver was an ungraceful orator；
and never said； either in public or private； anything memorable； you will
have it that he was of a mean capacity。 Sure this is unjust。 Many men
have there been ignorant of letters； without wit； without eloquence； who
yet had the wisdom to devise； and the courage to perform； that which they
lacked language to explain。 Such men often； in troubled times； have
worked out the deliverance of nations and their own greatness； not by
logic； not by rhetoric； but by wariness in success； by calmness in danger；
by fierce and stubborn resolution in all adversity。 The hearts of men are
their books； events are their tutors； great actions are their eloquence： and
such an one； in my judgment； was his late Highness； who； if none were to
treat his name scornfully now shook not at the sound of it while he lived；
would； by very few； be mentioned otherwise than with reverence。 His
own deeds shall avouch him for a great statesman； a great soldier； a true
lover of his country； a merciful and generous conqueror。
〃For his faults； let us reflect that they who seem to lead are oftentimes
most constrained to follow。 They who will mix with men； and especially
they who will govern them； must in many things obey them。 They who
will yield to no such conditions may be hermits； but cannot be generals
and statesmen。 If a man will walk straight forward without turning to the
right or the left； he must walk in a desert； and not in Cheapside。 Thus
was he enforced to do many things which jumped not with his inclination
nor made for his honour； because the army； on which alone he could
depend for power and life； might not otherwise be contented。 And I； for
mine own part； marvel less that he sometimes was fain to indulge their
100
… Page 101…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
violence than that he could so often restrain it。
〃In that he dissolved the Parliament； I praise him。 It then was so
diminished in numbers； as well by the death as by the exclusion of
members； that it was no longer the same assembly； and； if at that time it
had made itself perpetual； we should have been governed； not by an
English House of Commons； but by a Venetian Council。
〃If in his following rule he overstepped the laws； I pity rather than
condemn him。 He may be compared to that Maeandrius of Samos； of
whom Herodotus saith； in his Thalia； th
