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one who has observed his own mind knows； needs no explanation at all。
This is a mode of writing very acceptable to the multitude who have
always been accustomed to make gods and daemons out of men very little
better or worse than themselves； but it appears contemptible to all who
have watched the changes of human characterto all who have observed
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the influence of time； of circumstances； and of associates； on mankindto
all who have seen a hero in the gout； a democrat in the church； a pedant in
love； or a philosopher in liquor。 This practice of painting in nothing but
black and white is unpardonable even in the drama。 It is the great fault of
Alfieri； and how much it injures the effect of his compositions will be
obvious to every one who will compare his Rosmunda with the Lady
Macbeth of Shakspeare。 The one is a wicked woman； the other is a fiend。
Her only feeling is hatred； all her words are curses。 We are at once
shocked and fatigued by the spectacle of such raving cruelty； excited by no
provocation； repeatedly changing its object； and constant in nothing but in
its in… extinguishable thirst for blood。
In history this error is far more disgraceful。 Indeed； there is no fault
which so completely ruins a narrative in the opinion of a judicious reader。
We know that the line of demarcation between good and bad men is so
faintly marked as often to elude the most careful investigation of those
who have the best opportunities for judging。 Public men； above all； are
surrounded with so many temptations and difficulties that some doubt
must almost always hang over their real dispositions and intentions。 The
lives of Pym； Cromwell； Monk； Clarendon； Marlborough； Burnet； Walpole；
are well known to us。 We are acquainted with their actions； their
speeches； their writings； we have abundance of letters and well…
authenticated anecdotes relating to them： yet what candid man will venture
very positively to say which of them were honest and which of them were
dishonest men？ It appears easier to pronounce decidedly upon the great
characters of antiquity； not because we have greater means of discovering
truth； but simply because we have less means of detecting error。 The
modern historians of Greece have forgotten this。 Their heroes and
villains are as consistent in all their sayings and doings as the cardinal
virtues and the deadly sins in an allegory。 We should as soon expect a
good action from giant Slay…good in Bunyan as from Dionysius； and a
crime of Epaminondas would seem as incongruous as a faux…pas of the
grave and comely damsel called Discretion； who answered the bell at the
door of the house Beautiful。
This error was partly the cause and partly the effect of the high
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estimation in which the later ancient writers have been held by modern
scholars。 Those French and English authors who have treated of the
affairs of Greece have generally turned with contempt from the simple and
natural narrations of Thucydides and Xenophon to the extravagant
representations of Plutarch； Diodorus； Curtius； and other romancers of the
same class；men who described military operations without ever having
handled a sword； and applied to the seditions of little republics
speculations formed by observation on an empire which covered half the
known world。 Of liberty they knew nothing。 It was to them a great
mysterya superhuman enjoyment。 They ranted about liberty and
patriotism； from the same cause which leads monks to talk more ardently
than other men about love and women。 A wise man values political
liberty； because it secures the persons and the possessions of citizens；
because it tends to prevent the extravagance of rulers； and the corruption
of judges； because it gives birth to useful sciences and elegant arts；
because it excites the industry and increases the comforts of all classes of
society。 These theorists imagined that it possessed something eternally
and intrinsically good； distinct from the blessings which it generally
produced。 They considered it not as a means but as an end； an end to be
attained at any cost。 Their favourite heroes are those who have sacrificed；
for the mere name of freedom； the prosperitythe securitythe justice
from which freedom derives its value。
There is another remarkable characteristic of these writers； in which
their modern worshippers have carefully imitated thema great fondness
for good stories。 The most established facts； dates； and characters are
never suffered to come into competition with a splendid saying； or a
romantic exploit。 The early historians have left us natural and simple
descriptions of the great events which they witnessed； and the great men
with whom they associated。 When we read the account which Plutarch
and Rollin have given of the same period； we scarcely know our old
acquaintance again； we are utterly confounded by the melo… dramatic
effect of the narration； and the sublime coxcombry of the characters。
These are the principal errors into which the predecessors of Mr
Mitford have fallen； and from most of these he is free。 His faults are of a
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completely different description。 It is to be hoped that the students of
history may now be saved； like Dorax in Dryden's play； by swallowing
two conflicting poisons； each of which may serve as an antidote to the
other。
The first and most important difference between Mr Mitford and those
who have preceded him is in his narration。 Here the a