the ancien regime(古兵团)-第3章
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just God； such great power as is palpably theirs at present is entrusted to
them； save that they may do more work； and not less； than other men；
under the penalties pronounced against those to whom much is given； and
of whom much is required。 It may lead them to discover that they are in
a world where it is not safe to sit under the tree； and let the ripe fruit drop
into your mouth； where the 〃competition of species〃 works with ruthless
energy among all ranks of being； from kings upon their thrones to the
weeds upon the waste； where 〃he that is not hammer； is sure to be anvil；〃
and he who will not work； neither shall he eat。 It may lead them to
devote that energy （in which they surpass so far the continental
aristocracies） to something better than outdoor amusements or indoor
dilettantisms。 There are those among them who； like one section of the
old French noblesse； content themselves with mere complaints of 〃the
revolutionary tendencies of the age。〃 Let them beware in time； for when
the many are on the march； the few who stand still are certain to be walked
over。 There are those among them who； like another section of the
French noblesse； are ready； more generously than wisely； to throw away
their own social and political advantages； and play （for it will never be
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really more than playing） at democracy。 Let them； too； beware。 The
penknife and the axe should respect each other； for they were wrought
from the same steel： but the penknife will not be wise in trying to fell
trees。 Let them accept their own position； not in conceit and arrogance；
but in fear and trembling； and see if they cannot play the man therein； and
save their own class； and with it； much which it has needed many
centuries to accumulate and to organise； and without which no nation has
yet existed for a single century。 They are no more like the old French
noblesse； than are the commercial class like the old French bourgeoisie； or
the labouring like the old French peasantry。 Let them prove that fact by
their deeds during the next generation； or sink into the condition of mere
rich men； exciting； by their luxury and laziness； nothing but envy and
contempt。
Meanwhile； behind all classes and social forcesI had almost said；
above them allstands a fourth estate； which will； ultimately； decide the
form which English society is to take： a Press as different from the
literary class of the Ancien Regime as is everything else English； and
different in thisthat it is free。
The French Revolution； like every revolution （it seems to me） which
has convulsed the nations of Europe for the last eighty years； was caused
immediatelywhatever may have been its more remote causes by the
suppression of thought； or； at least； by a sense of wrong among those who
thought。 A country where every man； be he fool or wise； is free to speak
that which is in him； can never suffer a revolution。 The folly blows itself
off like steam； in harmless noise； the wisdom becomes part of the general
intellectual stock of the nation； and prepares men for gradual； and
therefore for harmless； change。
As long as the press is free； a nation is guaranteed against sudden and
capricious folly； either from above or from below。 As long as the press is
free； a nation is guaranteed against the worse evil of persistent and
obstinate folly； cloaking itself under the venerable shapes of tradition and
authority。 For under a free press； a nation must ultimately be guided not
by a caste； not by a class； not by mere wealth； not by the passions of a mob：
but by mind； by the net result of all the common…sense of its members； and
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in the present default of genius； which is un…common sense； common…
sense seems to be the only； if not the best； safeguard for poor humanity。
1867
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LECTURE ICASTE
＇Delivered at the Royal Institution； London； 1867。＇
These Lectures are meant to be comments on the state of France
before the French Revolution。 To English society； past or present； I do
not refer。 For reasons which I have set forth at length in an introductory
discourse； there never was any Ancien Regime in England。
Therefore； when the Stuarts tried to establish in England a system
which might have led to a political condition like that of the Continent； all
classes combined and exterminated them； while the course of English
society went on as before。
On the contrary； England was the mother of every movement which
undermined； and at last destroyed； the Ancien Regime。
From England went forth those political theories which； transmitted
from America to France； became the principles of the French Revolution。
From England went forth the philosophy of Locke； with all its immense
results。 It is noteworthy； that when Voltaire tries to persuade people； in a
certain famous passage； that philosophers do not care to trouble the world…
…of the ten names to whom he does honour； seven names are English。 〃It
is；〃 he says； 〃neither Montaigne； nor Locke； nor Boyle； nor Spinoza； nor
Hobbes； nor Lord Shaftesbury； nor Mr。 Collins； nor Mr。 Toland； nor Fludd；
nor Baker； who have carried the torch of discord into their countries。〃 It
is worth notice； that not only are the majority of these names English； but
that they belong not to the latter but to the former half of the eighteenth
century； and indeed； to the latter half of the seventeenth。
So it was with that Inductive Physical Science； which helped more
than all to break up the superstitions of the Ancien Regime； and to set man
face to face with the facts of the universe。 From England； towards the
end of the seventeenth century； it was promulgated by such men as
Newton； Boyle； Sydenham； Ray； and the first founders of our Royal
Society。
In England； too； arose the great religious movements of the
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seventeenth and eighteenth centuriesand especially that of a body which
I can never mention without most deep respectthe Society of Friends。
At a time when the greater part of the Continent was sunk in spiritual sleep；
these men were reasserting doctrines concerning man； and his relation to
his Creator； which； whether or not all believe them （as I believe them） to
be founded on eternal fact； all must confess to have been of incalculable
benefit to the cause of humanity and civilisation。
From England； finally； about the middle of the eighteenth century；
went forthpromulgated by English noblementhat freemasonry which
seems to have been the true parent of all the secret societies of Europe。
Of this curious question； more hereafter。 But enough has been said to
show that England； instead of falling； at any period； into the stagnation of
the Ancien Regime； was； from the middle of the seventeenth century； in a
state of intellectual growth and ferment which communicated itself finally
to the continental nations。 This is the special honour of England；
universally confessed at the time。 It was to England that the slowly…
awakening nations looked； as the source of all which was noble； true； and
free； in the dawning future。
It will be seen； from what I have said； that I consider the Ancien
Regime to begin in the seventeenth century。 I should date its
commencementas far as that of anything so vague； unsystematic； indeed
anarchic； can be definedfrom the end of the Thirty Years' War； and the
peace of Westphalia in 1648。
For by that time the mighty spiritual struggles and fierce religious
animosities of the preceding century had worn themselves out。 And； as
always happens； to a period of earnest excitement had succeeded one of
weariness； disgust； half…unbelief in the many questions for which so much
blood had been shed。 No man had come out of the battle with altogether
clean hands； some not without changing sides more than once。 The war
had ended as one； not of nations； not even of zealots； but of mercenaries。
The body of Europe had been pulled in pieces between them all； and the
poor soul thereofas was to be expectedhad fled out through the gaping
wounds。 Life； mere existence； was the most pressing need。 If men
couldin the old prophet's wordsfind the life of their hand； they were
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content。 High and low only asked to be let live。 The poor asked it
slaughtered on a hundred battle…fields； burnt out of house and home： vast
tracts of the centre of Europe were lying desert； the population was
diminished for several generations。 The trading classes； ruined by the
long war； only asked to be let live； and make a little money。 The nobility；
too； only asked to be let live。 They had lost； in the long struggle； not
only often lands and power； but their ablest and bravest men； and a weaker
and meaner generation was left behind； to do the governing of the world。
Let them live； and keep what they had。 If signs of vigour still appeared
in France； in the wars of Louis XIV。 they were feverish； factitious；
temporary
