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！
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；
44
… Page 45…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
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
helpmeet of the ideal king。
To those who believe that the world is governed by a living God； it
may seem strange； at first sight； that this moral anarchy was allowed to
endure； that the avenging； and yet most purifying storm of the French
Revolution； inevitable from Louis XIV。's latter years； was not allowed to
burst two generations sooner than it did。 Is not the answerthat the
question always is not of destroying the world； but of amending it？ And
that amendment must always come from within； and not from without？
That men must be taught to become men； and mend their world
themselves？ To educate men into self… governmentthat is the purpose
of the government of God； and some of the men of the eighteenth century
did not learn that lesson。 As the century rolled on； the human mind arose
out of the slough in which Le Sage found it； into manifold and beautiful
activity； increasing hatred of shams and lies； increasing hunger after truth
and usefulness。 With mistakes and confusions innumerable they worked：
but still they worked； planting good seed； and when the fire of the French
Revolution swept over the land； it burned up the rotten and the withered；
only to let the fresh herbage spring up from underneath。
But that purifying fire was needed。 If we inquire why the many
attempts to reform the Ancien Regime； which the eighteenth century
witnessed； were failures one and all； why Pombal failed in Portugal；
Aranda in Spain； Joseph II。 in Austria； Ferdinand and Caroline in Naples
for these last； be it always remembered； began as humane and enlightened
sovereigns； patronising liberal opinions； and labouring to ameliorate the
condition of the poor； till they were driven by the murder of Marie
Antoinette into a paroxysm of rage and terror why； above all； Louis XVI。；
who attempted deeper and wiser reforms than any other sovereign； failed
more disastrously than anyis not the answer this； that all these reforms
would but have cleansed the outside of the cup and the platter； while they
left the inside full of extortion and excess？ It was not merely institutions
which required to be reformed； but men and women。 The spirit of 〃Gil
Blas〃 had to be cast out。 The deadness； selfishness； isolation of men's
45
… Page 46…
THE ANCIEN REGIME
souls； their unbelief in great duties； great common causes； great self…
sacrificesin a word； their unbelief in God； and themselves； and mankind…
…all that had to be reformed； and till that was done all outward reform
would but have left them； at best； in brute ease and peace； to that soulless
degradation； which （as in the Byzantine empire of old； and seeming in the
Chinese empire of to… day） hides the reality of barbarism under a varnish
of civilisation。 Men had to be awakened； to be taught to think for
themselves； act for themselves； to dare and suffer side by side for their
country and for their children； in a word； to arise and become men once
more。
And； what is more； men had to punishto avenge。 Those are fearful
words。 But there is； in this God…guided universe； a law of retribution；
which will find men out； whether men choose to find it out or not； a law of
retribution； of vengeance inflicted justly； though not necessarily by just
men。 The public executioner was seldom a very estimable personage； at
least under the old Regime； and those who have been the scourges of God
have been； in general； mere scourges； and nothing better； smiting blindly；
rashly； confusedly； confounding too often the innocent with the guilty； till
they have seemed only to punish crime by crime； and replace old sins by
new。 But； however insoluble； however saddening that puzzle be； I must
believeas long as I believe in any God at allthat such men as
Robespierre were His instruments； even in their crimes。
In the case of the French Revolution； indeed； the wickedness of certain
of its leaders was part of the retribution itself。 For the noblesse existed
surely to make men better。 It did； by certain classes； the very opposite。
Therefore it was destroyed by wicked men； whom it itself had made
wicked。 For over and above all political； economic； social wrongs； there
were wrongs personal；