latter-day pamphlets-第11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！


bly　teasing　oakum；　or　fear　except　of　a　temporary　loss　of　dinner；　he　was　to　guide　these　men；　and　wisely　constrain　them；whitherward？　　No…whither：　　that　was　his　goal；　if　you　will　think　well　of　it；　that　was　a　second　fundamental　falsity　in　his　problem。　　False　in　the　warp　and　false　in　the　woof；　thought　one　of　us；　about　as　false　a　problem　as　any　I　have　seen　a　good　man　set　upon　lately！　To　guide　scoundrels　by　〃love；〃　that　is　a　false　woof；　I　take　it；　a　method　that　will　not　hold　together；　hardly　for　the　flower　of　men　will　love　alone　do；　and　for　the　sediment　and　scoundrelism　of　men　it　has　not　even　a　chance　to　do。　　And　then　to　guide　any　class　of　men；　scoundrel　or　other；　_No…whither_；　which　was　this　poor　Captain's　problem；　in　this　Prison　with　oakum　for　its　one　element　of　hope　or　outlook；　how　can　that　prosper　by　〃love〃　or　by　any　conceivable　method？　　That　is　a　warp　wholly　false。　　Out　of　which　false　warp；　or　originally　false　condition　to　start　from；　combined　and　daily　woven　into　by　your　false　woof；　or　methods　of　〃love〃　and　such　like；　there　arises　for　our　poor　Captain　the　falsest　of　problems；　and　for　a　man　of　his　faculty　the　unfairest　of　situations。　　His　problem　was；　not　to　command　good　men　to　do　something；　but　bad　men　to　do　（with　superficial　disguises）　nothing。


On　the　whole；　what　a　beautiful　Establishment　here　fitted　up　for　the　accommodation　of　the　scoundrel…world；　male　and　female！　　As　I　said；　no　Duke　in　England　is；　for　all　rational　purposes　which　a　human　being　can　or　ought　to　aim　at；　lodged；　fed；　tended；　taken　care　of；　with　such　perfection。　　Of　poor　craftsmen　that　pay　rates　and　taxes　from　their　day's　wages；　of　the　dim　millions　that　toil　and　moil　continually　under　the　sun；　we　know　what　is　the　lodging　and　the　tending。　　Of　the　Johnsons；　Goldsmiths；　lodged　in　their　squalid　garrets；　working　often　enough　amid　famine；　darkness；　tumult；　dust　and　desolation；　what　work　_they_　have　to　do：of　these　as　of　〃spiritual　backwoodsmen；〃　understood　to　be　preappointed　to　such　a　life；　and　like　the　pigs　to　killing；　〃quite　used　to　it；〃　I　say　nothing。　　But　of　Dukes；　which　Duke；　I　could　ask；　has　cocoa；　soup；　meat；　and　food　in　general　made　ready；　so　fit　for　keeping　him　in　health；　in　ability　to　do　and　to　enjoy？　　Which　Duke　has　a　house　so　thoroughly　clean；　pure　and　airy；　lives　in　an　element　so　wholesome；　and　perfectly　adapted　to　the　uses　of　soul　and　body　as　this　same；　which　is　provided　here　for　the　Devil's　regiments　of　the　line？　　No　Duke　that　I　have　ever　known。　　Dukes　are　waited　on　by　deleterious　French　cooks；　by　perfunctory　grooms　of　the　chambers；　and　expensive　crowds　of　eye…servants；　more　imaginary　than　real：　　while　here；　Science；　Human　Intellect　and　Beneficence　have　searched　and　sat　studious；　eager　to　do　their　very　best；　they　have　chosen　a　real　Artist　in　Governing　to　see　their　best；　in　all　details　of　it；　done。　　Happy　regiments　of　the　line；　what　soldier　to　any　earthly　or　celestial　Power　has　such　a　lodging　and　attendance　as　you　here？　No　soldier　or　servant　direct　or　indirect　of　God　or　of　man；　in　this　England　at　present。　　Joy　to　you；　regiments　of　the　line。　　Your　Master；　I　am　told；　has　his　Elect；　and　professes　to　be　〃Prince　of　the　Kingdoms　of　this　World；〃　and　truly　I　see　he　has　power　to　do　a　good　turn　to　those　he　loves；　in　England　at　least。　　Shall　we　say；　May　_he_；　may　the　Devil　give　you　good　of　it；　ye　Elect　of　Scoundrelism？　　I　will　rather　pass　by；　uttering　no　prayer　at　all；　musing　rather　in　silence　on　the　singular　〃worship　of　God；〃　or　practical　〃reverence　done　to　Human　Worth〃　（which　is　the　outcome　and　essence　of　all　real　〃worship〃　whatsoever）　among　the　Posterity　of　Adam　at　this　day。

For　all　round　this　beautiful　Establishment；　or　Oasis　of　Purity；　intended　for　the　Devil's　regiments　of　the　line；　lay　continents　of　dingy　poor　and　dirty　dwellings；　where　the　unfortunate　not　_yet_　enlisted　into　that　Force　were　struggling　manifoldly；in　their　workshops；　in　their　marble…yards　and　timber…yards　and　tan…yards；　in　their　close　cellars；　cobbler…stalls；　hungry　garrets；　and　poor　dark　trade…shops　with　red…herrings　and　tobacco…pipes　crossed　in　the　window；to　keep　the　Devil　out…of…doors；　and　not　enlist　with　him。　　And　it　was　by　a　tax　on　these　that　the　Barracks　for　the　regiments　of　the　line　were　kept　up。　　Visiting　Magistrates；　impelled　by　Exeter　Hall；　by　Able…Editors；　and　the　Philanthropic　Movement　of　the　Age；　had　given　orders　to　that　effect。　　Rates　on　the　poor　servant　of　God　and　of　her　Majesty；　who　still　serves　both　in　his　way；　painfully　selling　red…herrings；　rates　on　him　and　his　red…herrings　to　boil　right　soup　for　the　Devil's　declared　Elect！　Never　in　my　travels；　in　any　age　or　clime；　had　I　fallen　in　with　such　Visiting　Magistrates　before。　　Reserved　they；　I　should　suppose；　for　these　ultimate　or　penultimate　ages　of　the　world；　rich　in　all　prodigies；　political；　spiritual；ages　surely　with　such　a　length　of　ears　as　was　never　paralleled　before。

If　I　had　a　commonwealth　to　reform　or　to　govern；　certainly　it　should　not　be　the　Devil's　regiments　of　the　line　that　I　would　first　of　all　concentrate　my　attention　on！　　With　them　I　should　be　apt　so　make　rather　brief　work；　to　them　one　would　apply　the　besom；　try　to　sweep　_them_；　with　some　rapidity　into　the　dust…bin；　and　well　out　of　one's　road；　I　should　rather　say。　　Fill　your　thrashing…floor　with　docks；　ragweeds；　mugworths；　and　ply　your　flail　upon　them；that　is　not　the　method　to　obtain　sacks　of　wheat。　　Away；　you；　begone　swiftly；　_ye_　regiments　of　the　line：　　in　the　name　of　God　and　of　His　poor　struggling　servants；　sore　put　to　it　to　live　in　these　bad　days；　I　mean　to　rid　myself　of　you　with　some　degree　of　brevity。　　To　feed　you　in　palaces；　to　hire　captains　and　schoolmasters　and　the　choicest　spiritual　and　material　artificers　to　expend　their　industries　on　you；　No；　by　the　Eternal！　　I　have　quite　other　work　for　that　class　of　artists；　Seven…and…twenty　Millions　of　neglected　mortals　who　have　not　yet　quite　declared　for　the　Devil。　　Mark　it；　my　diabolic　friends；　I　mean　to　lay　leather　on　the　backs　of　you；　collars　round　the　necks　of　you；　and　will　teach　you；　after　the　example　of　the　gods；　that　this　world　is　_not_　your　inheritance；　or　glad　to　see　you　in　it。　　You；　ye　diabolic　canaille；　what　has　a　Governor　much　to　do　with　you？　　You；　I　think；　he　will　rather　swiftly　dismiss　from　his　thoughts；which　have　the　whole　celestial　and　terrestrial　for　their　scope；　and　not　the　subterranean　of　scoundreldom　alone。　　You；　I　consider；　he　will　sweep　pretty　rapidly　into　some　Norfolk　Island；　into　some　special　Convict　Colony　or　remote　domestic　Moorland；　into　some　stone…walled　Silent…System；　under　hard　drill…sergeants；　just　as　Rhadamanthus；　and　inflexible　as　he；　and　there　leave　you　to　reap　what　you　have　sown；　he　meanwhile　turning　his　endeavors　to　the　thousand…fold　immeasurable　interests　of　men　and　gods；dismissing　the　one　extremely　contemptible　interest　of　scoundrels；　sweeping　that　into　the　cesspool；　tumbling　that　over　London　Bridge；　in　a　very　brief　manner；　if　needful！　　Who　are　you；　ye　thriftless　sweepings　of　Creation；　that　we　should　forever　be　pestered　with　you？　　Have　we　no　work　to　do　but　drilling　Devil's　regiments　of　the　line？

If　I　had　schoolmasters；　my　benevolent　friend；　do　you　imagine　I　would　set　them　on　teaching　a　set　of　unteachables；　who　as　you　perceive　have　already　made　up　their　mind　that　black　is　white；that　the　Devil　namely　is　the　advantageous　Master　to　serve　in　this　world？　　My　esteemed　Benefactor　of　Humanity；　it　shall　be　far　from　me。　　Minds　open　to　that　particular　conviction　are　not　the　material　I　like　to　work　upon。　　When　once　my　schoolmasters　have　gone　over　all　the　other　classes　of　society　from　top　to　bottom；　and　have　no　other　soul　to　try　with　teaching；　all　being　thoroughly　taught；I　will　then　send　them　to　operate　on　_these_　regiments　of　the　line：　then；　and；　assure　yourself；　never　till　then。　　The　truth　is；　I　am　sick　of　scoundreldom；　my　esteemed　Benefactor；　it　always　was　detestable　to　me；　and　here　where　I　find　it　lodged　in　palaces　and　waited　on　by　the　benevolent　of　the　world；　it　is　more　detestable；　not　to　say　insufferable　to　me　than　ever。

Of　Beneficence；　Benevolence；　and　the　people　that　come　together　to　talk　on　platforms　and　subscribe　five　pounds；　I　will　say　nothing　here；　indeed　there　is　not　room　here　for　the　twentieth　part　of　what　were　to　be　said　of　them。　The　beneficence；　benevolence；　and　sublime　virtue　which　issues　in　eloquent　talk　reported　in　the　Newspapers；　with　the　subscription　of　five　pounds；　and　the　feeling　that　one　is　a　good　citizen　and　ornament　to　society；concerning　this；　there　were　a　great　many　unexpected　remarks　to　be　made；　but　let　this　one；　for　the　present　occasion；　suffice：

My　sublime　benevolent　friends；　don't　you　perceive；　for　one　thing；　that　here　is　a　shockingly　unfruitful　investment　for　your　capital　of　Benevolence；　precisely　the　worst；　indeed；　which　human　ingenuity　could　select　for　you？　〃Laws　are　unjust；　temptations　great；〃　&c。　&c。：　　alas；　I　know　it；　and　mourn　for　it；　and　passionately　call　on　all　men　to　help　in　altering　it。　　But　according　to　every　hypothesis　as　to　the　law；　and　the　temptations　and　pressures　towards　vice；　here　are　the　individuals　who；　of　all　the　society；　have　yielded　to　said　pressure。　　These　are　of　the　worst　substance　for　enduring　pressure！　　The　others　yet　stand　and　make　resistance　to　temptation；　to　the　law's　injustice；　under　all　the　perversities　and　strangling　impediments　there　are；　the　rest　of　the　society　still　keep　their　feet；　and　struggle　forward；　marching　under　the　banner　of　Cosmos；　of　God　and　Human　Virtue；　these　select　Few；　as　I　explain　to　you；　are　they　who　have　fallen　to　Chaos；　and　are　sworn　into　certain　regiments　of　the　line。　　A　superior　proclivity　to　Chaos　is　declared　in　these；　by　the　very　fact　of　their　being　here！　　Of　all　the　generation　we　live　in；　these　are　the　worst　stuff。　　These；　I　say；　are　the　Elixir　of　the　Infatuated　among　living　mortals：　　if　you　want　the　worst　investment　for　your　Benevolence；　here　you　accurately　have　it。　　O　my　surprising　friends！　　Nowhere　so　as　here　can　you　be　certain　that　a　given　quantity　of　wise　teaching　bestowed；　of　benevolent　trouble　taken；　will　yield　zero；　or　the　net　_Minimum_　of　return。　　It　is　sowing　of　your　wheat　upon　Irish　quagmires；　laboriously　harrowing　it　in　upon　the　sand　of　the　seashore。　O　my　astonishing　benevolent　friends！

Yonder；　in　those　dingy　habitations；　and　shops　of　red　herring　and　tobacco…pipes；　where　men　have　not　yet　quite　declared　for　the　Devil；　there；　I　say；　is　land：　　here　is　mere　sea…beach。　　Thither　go　with　your　benevolence；　thither　to　those　dingy　caverns　of　the　poor；　and　there　instruct　and　drill　and　manage；　there　where　some　fruit　may　come　from　it。　　And；　above　all　and　inclusive　of　all；　cannot　you　go　to　those　Solemn　human　Shams；　Phantasm　Captains；　and　Supreme　Quacks　that　ride　prosperously　in　every　thoroughfare；　and　with　severe　benevolence；　ask　them；　What　they　are　doing　here？　　They　are　the　men　whom　it　would　behoove　you　to　drill　a　little；　and　tie　to　the　halberts　in　a　benevolent　manner；　if　you　could！　　〃We　cannot；〃　say　you？　　Yes；　my　friends；　to　a　certain　extent　you　can。　　By　many　well…known　active　methods；　and　by　all　manner　of　passive　methods；　you　can。　　Strive　thitherward；　I　advise　you；　thither；　with　whatever　social　effort　there　may　lie　in　you！　　The　well…head　and　〃consecrated〃　thrice…accursed　chief　fountain　of　all　those　waters　of　bitterness；it　is　they；　those　Solemn　Shams　and　Supreme

Quacks　of　yours；　little　as　they　or　you　imag