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！
72
… Page 73…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
and his pulvilio。 It would have been more difficult to enact Sir Harry
Wildair。
Before I quit this subject I must defend Petrarch from one accusation
which is in the present day frequently brought against him。 His sonnets
are pronounced by a large sect of critics not to possess certain qualities
which they maintain to be indispensable to sonnets； with as much
confidence； and as much reason； as their prototypes of old insisted on the
unities of the drama。 I am an exotericutterly unable to explain the
mysteries of this new poetical faith。 I only know that it is a faith； which
except a man do keep pure and undefiled； without doubt he shall be called
a blockhead。 I cannot； however； refrain from asking what is the
particular virtue which belongs to fourteen as distinguished from all other
numbers。 Does it arise from its being a multiple of seven？ Has this
principle any reference to the sabbatical ordinance？ Or is it to the order
of rhymes that these singular properties are attached？ Unhappily the
sonnets of Shakspeare differ as much in this respect from those of Petrarch；
as from a Spenserian or an octave stanza。 Away with this unmeaning
jargon！ We have pulled down the old regime of criticism。 I trust that
we shall never tolerate the equally pedantic and irrational despotism；
which some of the revolutionary leaders would erect upon its ruins。 We
have not dethroned Aristotle and Bossu for this。
These sonnet…fanciers would do well to reflect that； though the style of
Petrarch may not suit the standard of perfection which they have chosen；
they lie under great obligations to these very poems；that； but for Petrarch
the measure； concerning which they legislate so judiciously； would
probably never have attracted notice； and that to him they owe the
pleasure of admiring； and the glory of composing； pieces； which seem to
have been produced by Master Slender； with the assistance of his man
Simple。
I cannot conclude these remarks without making a few observations on
the Latin writings of Petrarch。 It appears that； both by himself and by his
contemporaries； these were far more highly valued than his compositions
in the vernacular language。 Posterity； the supreme court of literary appeal；
has not only reversed the judgment； but； according to its general practice；
73
… Page 74…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
reversed it with costs； and condemned the unfortunate works to pay； not
only for their own inferiority； but also for the injustice of those who had
given them an unmerited preference。 And it must be owned that； without
making large allowances for the circumstances under which they were
produced； we cannot pronounce a very favourable judgment。 They must
be considered as exotics； transplanted to a foreign climate； and reared in
an unfavourable situation； and it would be unreasonable to expect from
them the health and the vigour which we find in the indigenous plants
around them； or which they might themselves have possessed in their
native soil。 He has but very imperfectly imitated the style of the Latin
authors； and has not compensated for the deficiency by enriching the
ancient language with the graces of modern poetry。 The splendour and
ingenuity； which we admire； even when we condemn it； in his Italian
works； is almost totally wanting； and only illuminates with rare and
occasional glimpses the dreary obscurity of the African。 The eclogues
have more animation； but they can only be called poems by courtesy。 They
have nothing in common with his writings in his native language； except
the eternal pun about Laura and Daphne。 None of these works would
have placed him on a level with Vida or Buchanan。 Yet； when we
compare him with those who preceded him； when we consider that he
went on the forlorn hope of literature； that he was the first who perceived；
and the first who attempted to revive； the finer elegancies of the ancient
language of the world； we shall perhaps think more highly of him than of
those who could never have surpassed his beauties if they had not
inherited them。
He has aspired to emulate the philosophical eloquence of Cicero； as
well as the poetical majesty of Virgil。 His essay on the Remedies of
Good and Evil Fortune is a singular work in a colloquial form； and a most
scholastic style。 It seems to be framed upon the model of the Tusculan
Questions；with what success those who have read it may easily
determine。 It consists of a series of dialogues： in each of these a person
is introduced who has experienced some happy or some adverse event： he
gravely states his case； and a reasoner； or rather Reason personified；
confutes him； a task not very difficult； since the disciple defends his
74
… Page 75…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
position only by pertinaciously repeating it； in almost the same words at
the end of every argument of his antagonist。 In this manner Petrarch
solves an immense variety of cases。 Indeed； I doubt whether it would be
possible to name any pleasure or any calamity which does not find a place
in this dissertation。 He gives excellent advice to a man who is in
expectation of discovering the philosopher's stone；to another； who has
formed a fine aviary；to a third； who is delighted with the tricks of a
favourite monkey。 His lectures to the unfortunate are equally singular。
He seems to imagine that a precedent in point is a sufficient consolation
for every form of suffering。 〃Our town is taken；〃 says one complainant；
〃So was Troy；〃 replies his comforter。 〃My wife has eloped；〃 says another；
〃If it has happened to you once