第 18 节
作者:片片      更新:2022-08-21 16:31      字数:9322
  defects which he was only enabled to overcome by diligent study
  and invincible determination。  But; with all his practice; he
  never became a ready speaker; all his orations; especially the
  most famous of them; exhibiting indications of careful
  elaboration;the art and industry of the orator being visible in
  almost every sentence。
  Similar illustrations of character imitating character; and
  moulding itself by the style and manner and genius of great men;
  are to be found pervading all history。  Warriors; statesmen;
  orators; patriots; poets; and artistsall have been; more or
  less unconsciously; nurtured by the lives and actions of others
  living before them or presented for their imitation。
  Great men have evoked the admiration of kings; popes; and
  emperors。  Francis de Medicis never spoke to Michael Angelo
  without uncovering; and Julius III。 made him sit by his side while
  a dozen cardinals were standing。  Charles V。 made way for Titian;
  and one day; when the brush dropped from the painter's hand;
  Charles stooped and picked it up; saying; 〃You deserve to be
  served by an emperor。〃  Leo X。 threatened with excommunication
  whoever should print and sell the poems of Ariosto without the
  author's consent。  The same pope attended the deathbed of Raphael;
  as Francis I。 did that of Leonardo da Vinci。
  Though Haydn once archly observed that he was loved and esteemed
  by everybody except professors of music; yet all the greatest
  musicians were unusually ready to recognise each other's
  greatness。  Haydn himself seems to have been entirely free from
  petty jealousy。  His admiration of the famous Porpora was such;
  that he resolved to gain admission to his house; and serve him as
  a valet。  Having made the acquaintance of the family with whom
  Porpora lived; he was allowed to officiate in that capacity。
  Early each morning he took care to brush the veteran's coat;
  polish his shoes; and put his rusty wig in order。  At first
  Porpora growled at the intruder; but his asperity soon softened;
  and eventually melted into affection。  He quickly discovered his
  valet's genius; and; by his instructions; directed it into the
  line in which Haydn eventually acquired so much distinction。
  Haydn himself was enthusiastic in his admiration of Handel。  〃He
  is the father of us all;〃 he said on one occasion。  Scarlatti
  followed Handel in admiration all over Italy; and; when his name
  was mentioned; be crossed himself in token of veneration。
  Mozart's recognition of the great composer was not less hearty。
  〃When he chooses;〃 said he; 〃Handel strikes like the thunderbolt。〃
  Beethoven hailed him as 〃The monarch of the musical kingdom。〃
  When Beethoven was dying; one of his friends sent him a present of
  Handel's works; in forty volumes。  They were brought into his
  chamber; and; gazing on them with reanimated eye; be exclaimed;
  pointing at them with his finger; 〃Therethere is the truth!〃
  Haydn not only recognised the genius of the great men who had
  passed away; but of his young contemporaries; Mozart and
  Beethoven。  Small men may be envious of their fellows; but really
  great men seek out and love each other。  Of Mozart; Haydn wrote 〃I
  only wish I could impress on every friend of music; and on great
  men in particular; the same depth of musical sympathy; and
  profound appreciation of Mozart's inimitable music; that I myself
  feel and enjoy; then nations would vie with each other to possess
  such a jewel within their frontiers。  Prague ought not only to
  strive to retain this precious man; but also to remunerate him;
  for without this the history of a great genius is sad indeed。。。。
  It enrages me to think that the unparalleled Mozart is not yet
  engaged by some imperial or royal court。  Forgive my excitement;
  but I love the man so dearly!〃
  Mozart was equally generous in his recognition of the merits of
  Haydn。  〃Sir;〃 said he to a critic; speaking of the latter; 〃if
  you and I were both melted down together; we should not furnish
  materials for one Haydn。〃  And when Mozart first heard Beethoven;
  he observed: 〃Listen to that young man; be assured that he will
  yet make a great name in the world。〃
  Buffon set Newton above all other philosophers; and admired him so
  highly that he had always his portrait before him while he sat at
  work。  So Schiller looked up to Shakspeare; whom he studied
  reverently and zealously for years; until he became capable of
  comprehending nature at first…hand; and then his admiration became
  even more ardent than before。
  Pitt was Canning's master and hero; whom he followed and admired
  with attachment and devotion。  〃To one man; while he lived;〃 said
  Canning; 〃I was devoted with all my heart and all my soul。  Since
  the death of Mr。 Pitt I acknowledge no leader; my political
  allegiance lies buried in his grave。〃 (11)
  A French physiologist; M。 Roux; was occupied one day in lecturing
  to his pupils; when Sir Charles Bell; whose discoveries were even
  better known and more highly appreciated abroad than at home;
  strolled into his class…room。  The professor; recognising his
  visitor; at once stopped his exposition; saying: 〃MESSIEURS; C'EST
  ASSEZ POUR AUJOURD'HUI; VOUS AVEZ VU SIR CHARLES BELL!〃
  The first acquaintance with a great work of art has usually proved
  an important event in every young artist's life。  When Correggio
  first gazed on Raphael's 'Saint Cecilia;' he felt within himself
  an awakened power; and exclaimed; 〃And I too am a painter〃 So
  Constable used to look back on his first sight of Claude's picture
  of 'Hagar;' as forming an epoch in his career。  Sir George
  Beaumont's admiration of the same picture was such that he always
  took it with him in his carriage when he travelled from home。
  The examples set by the great and good do not die; they continue
  to live and speak to all the generations that succeed them。  It
  was very impressively observed by Mr。 Disraeli; in the House of
  Commons; shortly after the death of Mr。 Cobden:〃There is this
  consolation remaining to us; when we remember our unequalled and
  irreparable losses; that those great men are not altogether lost
  to usthat their words will often be quoted in this Housethat
  their examples will often be referred to and appealed to; and that
  even their expressions will form part of our discussions and
  debates。  There are now; I may say; some members of Parliament
  who; though they may not be present; are still members of this
  Housewho are independent of dissolutions; of the caprices of
  constituencies; and even of the course of time。  I think that Mr。
  Cobden was one of those men。〃
  It is the great lesson of biography to teach what man can be and
  can do at his best。  It may thus give each man renewed strength
  and confidence。  The humblest; in sight of even the greatest; may
  admire; and hope; and take courage。  These great brothers of ours
  in blood and lineage; who live a universal life; still speak to us
  from their graves; and beckon us on in the paths which they have
  trod。  Their example is still with us; to guide; to influence;
  and to direct us。  For nobility of character is a perpetual
  bequest; living from age to age; and constantly tending to
  reproduce its like。
  〃The sage;〃 say the Chinese; 〃is the instructor of a hundred ages。
  When the manners of Loo are heard of; the stupid become
  intelligent; and the wavering determined。〃  Thus the acted life of
  a good man continues to be a gospel of freedom and emancipation to
  all who succeed him:
  〃To live in hearts we leave behind;
  is not to die。〃
  The golden words that good men have uttered; the examples they
  have set; live through all time: they pass into the thoughts and
  hearts of their successors; help them on the road of life; and
  often console them in the hour of death。  〃And the most miserable
  or most painful of deaths;〃 said Henry Marten; the Commonwealth
  man; who died in prison; 〃is as nothing compared with the memory
  of a well…spent life; and great alone is he who has earned the
  glorious privilege of bequeathing such a lesson and example to his
  successors!
  NOTES。
  (1) 'Letters of Sir Charles Bell;' p。 10。
  (2) 'Autobiography of Mary Anne Schimmelpenninck;' p。 179。
  (3) Dean Stanley's 'Life of Dr。 Arnold;' i。 151 (Ed。 1858)。
  (4) Lord Cockburn's 'Memorials;' pp。 25…6。
  (5) From a letter of Canon Moseley; read at a Memorial Meeting held
  shortly after the death of the late Lord Herbert of Lea。
  (6) Izaak Walton's 'Life of George Herbert。'
  (7) Stanley's 'Life and Letters of Dr。 Arnold;' i。 33。
  (8) Philip de Comines gives a curious illustration of the subservient;
  though enforced; imitation of Philip; Duke of Burgundy; by his
  courtiers。  When that prince fell ill; and had his head shaved; he
  ordered that all his nobles; five hundred in number; should in
  like manner shave their heads; and one of them; Pierre de
  Hagenbach; to prove his devotion; no sooner c