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！
The Duke raised him； and bade him live。
But we must hasten to the close。 Napoleon rushes to encounter
Wellington。 Both armies stand in mute amaze。 The heroes fire their
pistols； that of Napoleon misses； but that of Wellington； formed by the
hand of Vulcan； and primed by the Cyclops； wounds the Emperor in the
thigh。 He flies； and takes refuge among his troops。 The flight becomes
promiscuous。 The arrival of the Prussians； from a motive of patriotism；
the poet completely passes over。
134
… Page 135…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
BOOK XII。
Things are now hastening to the catastrophe。 Napoleon flies to
London； and； seating himself on the hearth of the Regent； embraces the
household gods and conjures him； by the venerable age of George III。； and
by the opening perfections of the Princess Charlotte； to spare him。 The
Prince is inclined to do so； when； looking on his breast； he sees there the
belt of the Duke of Brunswick。 He instantly draws his sword； and is
about to stab the destroyer of his kinsman。 Piety and hospitality；
however； restrain his hand。 He takes a middle course； and condemns
Napoleon to be exposed on a desert island。 The King of France re…enters
Paris； and the poem concludes。
。。。
135
… Page 136…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
ON MITFORD'S HISTORY OF
GREECE。
（November 1824。）
This is a book which enjoys a great and increasing popularity： but；
while it has attracted a considerable share of the public attention； it has
been little noticed by the critics。 Mr Mitford has almost succeeded in
mounting； unperceived by those whose office it is to watch such aspirants；
to a high place among historians。 He has taken a seat on the dais without
being challenged by a single seneschal。 To oppose the progress of his
fame is now almost a hopeless enterprise。 Had he been reviewed with
candid severity； when he had published only his first volume； his work
would either have deserved its reputation； or would never have obtained it。
〃Then；〃 as Indra says of Kehama； 〃then was the time to strike。〃 The time
was neglected； and the consequence is that Mr Mitford like Kehama； has
laid his victorious hand on the literary Amreeta； and seems about to taste
the precious elixir of immortality。 I shall venture to emulate the courage
of the honest Glendoveer 〃When now He saw the Amreeta in Kehama's
hand； An impulse that defied all self…command； In that extremity； Stung
him； and he resolved to seize the cup； And dare the Rajah's force in
Seeva's sight； Forward he sprung to tempt the unequal fray。〃
In plain words； I shall offer a few considerations； which may tend to
reduce an overpraised writer to his proper level。
The principal characteristic of this historian； the origin of his
excellencies and his defects； is a love of singularity。 He has no notion of
going with a multitude to do either good or evil。 An exploded opinion； or
an unpopular person； has an irresistible charm for him。 The same
perverseness may be traced in his diction。 His style would never have
been elegant； but it might at least have been manly and perspicuous； and
nothing but the most elaborate care could possibly have made it so bad as
it is。 It is distinguished by harsh phrases； strange collocations； occasional
solecisms； frequent obscurity； and； above all； by a peculiar oddity； which
can no more be described than it can be overlooked。 Nor is this all。 Mr
136
… Page 137…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
Mitford piques himself on spelling better than any of his neighbours； and
this not only in ancient names； which he mangles in defiance both of
custom and of reason； but in the most ordinary words of the English
language。 It is； in itself； a matter perfectly indifferent whether we call a
foreigner by the name which he bears in his own language； or by that
which corresponds to it in ours； whether we say Lorenzo de Medici； or
Lawrence de Medici； Jean Chauvin； or John Calvin。 In such cases
established usage is considered as law by all writers except Mr Mitford。
If he were always consistent with himself； he might be excused for
sometimes disagreeing with his neighbours； but he proceeds on no
principle but that of being unlike the rest of the world。 Every child has
heard of Linnaeus； therefore Mr Mitford calls him Linne： Rousseau is
known all over Europe as Jean Jacques； therefore Mr Mitford bestows on
him the strange appellation of John James。
Had Mr Mitford undertaken a History of any other country than
Greece； this propensity would have rendered his work useless and absurd。
His occasional remarks on the affairs of ancient Rome and of modern
Europe are full of errors： but he writes of times with respect to which
almost every other writer has been in the wrong； and； therefore； by
resolutely deviating from his predecessors； he is often in the right。
Almost all the modern historians of Greece have shown the grossest
ignorance of the most obvious phenomena of human nature。 In their
representations the generals and statesmen of antiquity are absolutely
divested of all individuality。 They are personifications； they are passions；
talents； opinions； virtues； vices； but not men。 Inconsistency is a thing of
which these writers have no notion。 That a man may have been liberal in
his youth and avaricious in his age； cruel to one enemy and merciful to
another； is to them utterly inconceivable。 If the facts be undeniable； they
suppose some strange and deep design； in order to explain what； as every
one who has observed his own mind knows； ne