the ancien regime(古兵团)-第11章
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can remember； do their duty in any wise； even if they recollect that they
have any duty to do。 Greed； chicane； hypocrisy； uselessness are the
ruling laws of human society。 A new book of Ecclesiastes； crying；
〃Vanity of vanity； all is vanity；〃 the 〃conclusion of the whole matter〃
being left out； and the new Ecclesiastes rendered thereby diabolic； instead
of like that old one； divine。 For； instead of 〃Fear God and keep his
commandments； for that is the whole duty of main；〃 Le Sage sends forth
the new conclusion； 〃Take care of thyself； and feed on thy neighbours； for
that is the whole duty of man。〃 And very faithfully was his advice （easy
enough to obey at all times） obeyed for nearly a century after 〃Gil Blas〃
appeared。
About the same time there appeared； by a remarkable coincidence；
another work； like it the child of the Ancien Regime； and yet as opposite to
it as light to darkness。 If Le Sage drew men as they were； Fenelon tried
at least to draw them as they might have been and still might be； were they
governed by sages and by saints； according to the laws of God。
〃Telemaque〃 is an idealimperfect； doubtless； as all ideals must be in a
world in which God's ways and thoughts are for ever higher than man's；
but an ideal nevertheless。 If its construction is less complete than that of
〃Gil Blas；〃 it is because its aim is infinitely higher； because the form has
to be subordinated； here and there； to the matter。 If its political economy
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be imperfect； often chimerical； it is because the mind of one man must
needs have been too weak to bring into shape and order the chaos； social
and economic； which he saw around him。 M。 de Lamartine； in his
brilliant little life of Fenelon； does not hesitate to trace to the influence of
〃Telemaque；〃 the Utopias which produced the revolutions of 1793 and
1848。 〃The saintly poet was；〃 he says； 〃without knowing it； the first
Radical and the first communist of his century。〃 But it is something to
have preached to princes doctrines till then unknown； or at least forgotten
for many a generationfree trade； peace； international arbitration； and the
〃carriere ouverte aux talents〃 for all ranks。 It is something to have
warned his generation of the dangerous overgrowth of the metropolis； to
have prophesied； as an old Hebrew might have done； that the despotism
which he saw around him would end in a violent revolution。 It is
something to have combined the highest Christian morality with a hearty
appreciation of old Greek life； of its reverence for bodily health and
prowess； its joyous and simple country society； its sacrificial feasts；
dances； games； its respect for the gods； its belief that they helped； guided；
inspired the sons of men。 It is something to have himself believed in
God； in a living God； who； both in this life and in all lives to come；
rewarded the good and punished the evil by inevitable laws。 It is
something to have warned a young prince； in an age of doctrinal bigotry
and practical atheism； that a living God still existed； and that his laws were
still in force； to have shown him Tartarus crowded with the souls of
wicked monarchs； while a few of kingly race rested in Elysium； and
among them old pagansInachus； Cecrops； Erichthon； Triptolemus； and
Sesostrisrewarded for ever for having done their duty； each according to
his light； to the flocks which the gods had committed to their care。 It is
something to have spoken to a prince； in such an age； without servility；
and without etiquette； of the frailties and the dangers which beset arbitrary
rulers； to have told him that royalty； 〃when assumed to content oneself； is
a monstrous tyranny； when assumed to fulfil its duties； and to conduct an
innumerable people as a father conducts his children； a crushing slavery；
which demands an heroic courage and patience。〃
Let us honour the courtier who dared speak such truths； and still more
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the saintly celibate who had sufficient catholicity of mind to envelop them
in old Grecian dress； and； without playing false for a moment to his own
Christianity； seek in the writings of heathen sages a wider and a healthier
view of humanity than was afforded by an ascetic creed。
No wonder that the appearance of 〃Telemaque；〃 published in Holland
without the permission of Fenelon； delighted throughout Europe that
public which is always delighted with new truths； as long as it is not
required to practise them。 To read 〃Telemaque〃 was the right and the
enjoyment of everyone。 To obey it； the duty only of princes。 No
wonder that； on the other hand； this 〃Vengeance de peuples； lecon des
rois；〃 as M。 de Lamartine calls it； was taken for the bitterest satire by
Louis XIV。； and completed the disgrace of one who had dared to teach the
future king of France that he must show himself； in all things； the opposite
of his grandfather。 No wonder if Madame de Maintenon and the court
looked on its portraits of wicked ministers and courtiers as caricatures of
themselves； portraits too； which； 〃composed thus in the palace of
Versailles； under the auspices of that confidence which the king had placed
in the preceptor of his heir； seemed a domestic treason。〃 No wonder； also；
if the foolish and envious world outside was of the same opinion； and after
enjoying for awhile this exposure of the great ones of the earth； left
〃Telemaque〃 as an Utopia with which private folks had no concern； and
betook themselves to the easier and more practical model of 〃Gil Blas。〃
But there are solid defects in 〃Telemaque〃indicating corresponding
defects in the author's mindwhich would have； in any case； prevented its
doing the good work which Fenelon desired； defects which are natural； as
it seems to me； to his position as a Roman Catholic priest； however saintly
and pure； however humane and liberal。 The king； with him； is to be
always the father of his people； which is tantamount to saying； that the
people are to be always children； and in a condition of tutelage； voluntary；
if possible： if not； of tutelage still。 Of self…government； and education
of human beings into free manhood by the exercise of self… government；
free will； free thoughtof this Fenelon had surely not a glimpse。 A
generation or two passed by； and then the peoples of Europe began to
suspect that they were no longer children； but come to manhood； and
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determined （after the example of Britain and America） to assume the
rights and duties of manhood； at whatever risk of excesses or mistakes：
and then 〃Telemaque〃 was relegated half unjustlyas the slavish and
childish dream of a past age； into the schoolroom； where it still remains。
But there is a defect in 〃Telemaque〃 which is perhaps deeper still。 No
woman in it exercises influence over man； except for evil。 Minerva； the
guiding and inspiring spirit； assumes of course； as Mentor； a male form；
but her speech and thought is essentially masculine； and not feminine。
Antiope is a mere lay…figure； introduced at the end of the book because
Telemachus must needs be allowed to have hope of marrying someone or
other。 Venus plays but the same part as she does in the Tannenhauser
legends of the Middle Age。 Her hatred against Telemachus is an integral
element of the plot。 She； with the other women or nymphs of the
romance； in spite of all Fenelon's mercy and courtesy towards human
frailties； really rise no higher than the witches of the Malleus Maleficanum。
Woman as the old monk held who derived femina from fe； faith； and
minus； less； because women have less faith than menis； in 〃Telemaque；〃
whenever she thinks or acts； the temptress； the enchantress； the victim
（according to a very ancient calumny） of passions more violent； often
more lawless； than man's。
Such a conception of women must make 〃Telemaque；〃 to the end of
time； useless as a wholesome book of education。 It must have crippled
its influence； especially in France； in its own time。 For there； for good
and for evil； woman was asserting more and more her power； and her right
to power； over the mind and heart of man。 Rising from the long
degradation of the Middle Ages； which had really respected her only when
unsexed and celibate； the French woman had assumed； often lawlessly；
always triumphantly； her just freedom； her true place as the equal； the
coadjutor； the counsellor of man。 Of all problems connected with the
education of a young prince； that of the influence of woman was； in the
France of the Ancien Regime； the most important。 And it was just that
which Fenelon did not； perhaps dared not； try to touch； and which he most
certainly could not have solved。 Meanwhile； not only Madame de
Maintenon； but women whose names it were a shame to couple with hers；
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must have smiled at； while they hated； the saint who attempted to dispense
not only with them； but with the ideal queen who should have been the
he
