the ancien regime(古兵团)-第10章
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（generally unsalaried） by the votes of his fellow…citizens。 But that is his
right； and adds nothing to his respectability。 The test of that latter； in a
country where all honest callings are equally honourable； is the amount of
money he can make； and a very sound practical test that is； in a country
where intellect and capital are free。 Beyond that； he is what he is； and
wishes to be no more； save what he can make himself。 He has his rights；
guaranteed by law and public opinion； and as long as he stands within
them； and （as he well phrases it） behaves like a gentleman； he considers
himself as good as any man； and so he is。 But under the bureaucratic
Regime of the Continent； if a man had not 〃something by command of the
king；〃 he was nothing； and something he naturally wished to be； even by
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means of a Government which he disliked and despised。 So in France；
where innumerable petty posts were regular articles of sale； anyone； it
seems； who had saved a little money； found it most profitable to invest it
in a beadledom of some kindto the great detriment of the country； for he
thus withdrew his capital from trade； but to his own clear gain； for he
thereby purchased some immunity from public burdens； and； as it were；
compounded once and for all for his taxes。 The petty German princes； it
seems； followed the example of France； and sold their little beadledoms
likewise； but even where offices were not sold； they must be obtained by
any and every means； by everyone who desired not to be as other men
were； and to become Notables； as they were called in France； so he
migrated from the country into the nearest town； and became a member of
some small body…guild； town council； or what not； bodies which were
infinite in number。 In one small town M。 de Tocqueville discovers thirty…
six such bodies； 〃separated from each other by diminutive privileges； the
least honourable of which was still a mark of honour。〃 Quarrelling
perpetually with each other for precedence； despising and oppressing the
very menu peuple from whom they had for the most part sprung； these
innumerable small bodies； instead of uniting their class； only served to
split it up more and more； and when the Revolution broke them up； once
and for all； with all other privileges whatsoever； no bond of union was left；
and each man stood alone； proud of his 〃individuality〃his complete
social isolation； till he discovered that； in ridding himself of superiors； he
had rid himself also of fellows； fulfilling； every man in his own person；
the old fable of the bundle of sticks； and had to submit； under the
Consulate and the Empire； to a tyranny to which the Ancien Regime was
freedom itself。
For； in France at least； the Ancien Regime was no tyranny。 The
middle and upper classes had individual libertyit may be； only too much；
the liberty of disobeying a Government which they did not respect。
〃However submissive the French may have been before the Revolution to
the will of the king； one sort of obedience was altogether unknown to them。
They knew not what it was to bow before an illegitimate and contested
powera power but little honoured； frequently despised； but willingly
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endured because it may be serviceable； or because it may hurt。 To that
degrading form of servitude they were ever strangers。 The king inspired
them with feelings 。 。 。 which have become incomprehensible to this
generation 。 。 。 They loved him with the affection due to a father； they
revered him with the respect due to God。 In submitting to the most
arbitrary of his commands； they yielded less to compulsion than to loyalty；
and thus they frequently preserved great freedom of mind； even in the
most complete dependence。 This liberty； irregular； intermittent；〃 says M。
de Tocqueville； 〃helped to form those vigorous characters； those proud and
daring spirits； which were to make the French Revolution at once the
object of the admiration and the terror of succeeding generations。〃
This libertytoo much akin to anarchy； in which indeed it issued for
awhileseems to have asserted itself in continual petty resistance to
officials whom they did not respect； and who； in their turn； were more than
a little afraid of the very men out of whose ranks they had sprung。
The French Governmentone may say； every Government on the
Continent in those dayshad the special weakness of all bureaucracies；
namely； that want of moral force which compels them to fall back at last
on physical force； and transforms the ruler into a bully； and the soldier into
a policeman and a gaoler。 A Government of parvenus； uncertain of its
own position； will be continually trying to assert itself to itself； by
vexatious intermeddling and intruding pretensions； and then； when it
meets with the resistance of free and rational spirits； will either recoil in
awkward cowardice； or fly into a passion； and appeal to the halter and the
sword。 Such a Government can never take itself for granted； because it
knows that it is not taken for granted by the people。 It never can possess
the quiet assurance； the courteous dignity； without swagger； yet without
hesitation； which belongs to hereditary legislators； by which term is to be
understood； not merely kings； not merely noblemen； but every citizen of a
free nation； however democratic； who has received from his forefathers
the right； the duty； and the example of self…government。
Such was the political and social state of the Ancien Regime； not only
in France； but if we are to trust （as we must trust） M。 de Tocqueville； in
almost every nation in Europe； except Britain。
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And as for its moral state。 We must look for thatif we have need；
which happily all have notin its lighter literature。
I shall not trouble you with criticisms on French memoirsof which
those of Madame de Sevigne are on the whole； the most painful （as
witness her comments on the Marquise de Brinvilliers's execution）；
because written by a woman better and more human than ordinary。 Nor
with 〃Menagiana；〃 or other 'ana'sas vain and artificial as they are often
foul； nor with novels and poems； long since deservedly forgotten。 On the
first perusal of this lighter literature； you will be charmed with the ease；
grace； lightness with which everything is said。 On the second； you will
be somewhat cured of your admiration； as you perceive how little there is
to say。 The head proves to be nothing but a cunning mask； with no brains
inside。 Especially is this true of a book； which I must beg those who have
read it already； to recollect。 To read it I recommend no human being。
We may consider it； as it was considered in its time； the typical novel of
the Ancien Regime。 A picture of Spanish society； written by a
Frenchman； it was held to beand doubtless with reasona picture of the
whole European world。 Its French editor （of 1836） calls it a grande
epopee； 〃one of the most prodigious efforts of intelligence； exhausting all
forms of humanity〃in fact； a second Shakespeare； according to the lights
of the year 1715。 I mean； of course； 〃Gil Blas。〃 So picturesque is the
book； that it has furnished inexhaustible motifs to the draughtsman。 So
excellent is its workmanship； that the enthusiastic editor of 1836 tells us
and doubtless he knows bestthat it is the classic model of the French
tongue； and that； as Le Sage 〃had embraced all that belonged to man in his
composition； he dared to prescribe to himself to embrace the whole French
language in his work。〃 It has been the parent of a whole school of
literaturethe Bible of tens of thousands； with admiring commentators in
plenty； on whose souls may God have mercy！
And no wonder。 The book has a solid value； and will always have；
not merely from its perfect art （according to its own measure and
intention）； but from its perfect truthfulness。 It is the Ancien Regime itself。
It set forth to the men thereof； themselves； without veil or cowardly
reticence of any kind； and inasmuch as every man loves himself； the
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Ancien Regime loved 〃Gil Blas；〃 and said； 〃The problem of humanity is
solved at last。〃 But； ye long…suffering powers of heaven； what a solution！
It is beside the matter to call the book ungodly； immoral； base。 Le Sage
would have answered： 〃Of course it is； for so is the world of which it is a
picture。〃 No； the most notable thing about the book is its intense
stupidity； its dreariness； barrenness； shallowness； ignorance of the human
heart； want of any human interest。 If it be an epos； the actors in it are not
men and women； but ferretswith here and there； of course； a stray rabbit；
on whose brains they may feed。 It is the inhuman mirror of an inhuman
age； in which the healthy human heart can find no more interest than in a
pathological museum。
That last； indeed； 〃Gil Blas〃 is； a collection of diseased specimens。
No man or woman in the book； lay or clerical； gentle or simple； as far as I
can remember； do their duty in any wise； even if they recollect t
