第 31 节
作者:片片      更新:2022-08-21 16:31      字数:9322
  groundall except two; a young man and a middle…aged one; who
  hung on to a narrow ledge; which trembled under their weight; and
  was evidently on the point of giving way。  〃Pierre;〃 cried the
  elder of the two; 〃let go; I am the father of a family。〃  〃C'EST
  JUSTE!〃 said Pierre; and; instantly letting go his hold; he fell
  and was killed on the spot。  The father of the family was saved。
  The brave man is magnanimous as well as gentle。  He does not take
  even an enemy at a disadvantage; nor strike a man when he is down
  and unable to defend himself。  Even in the midst of deadly strife
  such instances of generosity have not been uncommon。  Thus; at the
  Battle of Dettingen; during the heat of the action; a squadron of
  French cavalry charged an English regiment; but when the young
  French officer who led them; and was about to attack the English
  leader; observed that he had only one arm; with which he held his
  bridle; the Frenchman saluted him courteously with his sword;
  and passed on。 (11)
  It is related of Charles V。; that after the siege and capture of
  Wittenburg by the Imperialist army; the monarch went to see the
  tomb of Luther。  While reading the inscription on it; one of the
  servile courtiers who accompanied him proposed to open the grave;
  and give the ashes of the 〃heretic〃 to the winds。  The monarch's
  cheek flushed with honest indignation: 〃I war not with the dead;〃
  said he; 〃let this place be respected。〃
  The portrait which the great heathen; Aristotle; drew of the
  Magnanimous Man; in other words the True Gentleman; more than two
  thousand years ago; is as faithful now as it was then。  〃The
  magnanimous man;〃 he said; 〃will behave with moderation under both
  good fortune and bad。  He will know how to be exalted and how to
  be abased。  He will neither be delighted with success nor grieved
  by failure。  He will neither shun danger nor seek it; for there
  are few things which he cares for。  He is reticent; and somewhat
  slow of speech; but speaks his mind openly and boldly when
  occasion calls for it。  He is apt to admire; for nothing is great
  to him。  He overlooks injuries。  He is not given to talk about
  himself or about others; for he does not care that he himself
  should be praised; or that other people should be blamed。  He does
  not cry out about trifles; and craves help from none。〃
  On the other hand; mean men admire meanly。  They have neither
  modesty; generosity; nor magnanimity。  They are ready to take
  advantage of the weakness or defencelessness of others; especially
  where they have themselves succeeded; by unscrupulous methods; in
  climbing to positions of authority。  Snobs in high places are
  always much less tolerable than snobs of low degree; because they
  have more frequent opportunities of making their want of manliness
  felt。  They assume greater airs; and are pretentious in all that
  they do; and the higher their elevation; the more conspicuous is
  the incongruity of their position。  〃The higher the monkey
  climbs;〃 says the proverb; 〃the more he shows his tail。〃
  Much depends on the way in which a thing is done。  An act which
  might be taken as a kindness if done in a generous spirit; when
  done in a grudging spirit; may be felt as stingy; if not harsh and
  even cruel。  When Ben Jonson lay sick and in poverty; the king
  sent him a paltry message; accompanied by a gratuity。  The sturdy
  plainspoken poet's reply was: 〃I suppose he sends me this because
  I live in an alley; tell him his soul lives in an alley。〃
  From what we have said; it will be obvious that to be of an
  enduring and courageous spirit; is of great importance in the
  formation of character。  It is a source not only of usefulness in
  life; but of happiness。  On the other hand; to be of a timid and;
  still more; of a cowardly nature is one of the greatest
  misfortunes。  A。 wise man was accustomed to say that one of the
  principal objects he aimed at in the education of his sons and
  daughters was to train them in the habit of fearing nothing so
  much as fear。  And the habit of avoiding fear is; doubtless;
  capable of being trained like any other habit; such as the habit
  of attention; of diligence; of study; or of cheerfulness。
  Much of the fear that exists is the offspring of imagination;
  which creates the images of evils which MAY happen; but perhaps
  rarely do; and thus many persons who are capable of summoning up
  courage to grapple with and overcome real dangers; are paralysed
  or thrown into consternation by those which are imaginary。  Hence;
  unless the imagination be held under strict discipline; we are
  prone to meet evils more than halfwayto suffer them by
  forestalment; and to assume the burdens which we ourselves create。
  Education in courage is not usually included amongst the branches
  of female training; and yet it is really of greater importance
  than either music; French; or the use of the globes。  Contrary to
  the view of Sir Richard Steele; that women should be characterised
  by a 〃tender fear;〃 and 〃an inferiority which makes her lovely;〃
  we would have women educated in resolution and courage; as a means
  of rendering them more helpful; more self…reliant; and vastly more
  useful and happy。
  There is; indeed; nothing attractive in timidity; nothing loveable
  in fear。  All weakness; whether of mind or body; is equivalent to
  deformity; and the reverse of interesting。  Courage is graceful
  and dignified; whilst fear; in any form; is mean and repulsive。
  Yet the utmost tenderness and gentleness are consistent with
  courage。  Ary Scheffer; the artist; once wrote to his daughter:…
  〃Dear daughter; strive to be of good courage; to be gentle…
  hearted; these are the true qualities for woman。  'Troubles'
  everybody must expect。  There is but one way of looking at fate
  whatever that be; whether blessings or afflictionsto behave
  with dignity under both。  We must not lose heart; or it will be
  the worse both for ourselves and for those whom we love。
  To struggle; and again and again to renew the conflict
  THIS is life's inheritance。〃 (12)
  In sickness and sorrow; none are braver and less complaining
  sufferers than women。  Their courage; where their hearts are
  concerned; is indeed proverbial:
  〃Oh! femmes c'est a tort qu'on vous nommes timides;
  A la voix de vos coeurs vous etes intrepides。〃
  Experience has proved that women can be as enduring as men; under
  the heaviest trials and calamities; but too little pains are taken
  to teach them to endure petty terrors and frivolous vexations with
  fortitude。  Such little miseries; if petted and indulged; quickly
  run into sickly sensibility; and become the bane of their life;
  keeping themselves and those about them in a state of chronic
  discomfort。
  The best corrective of this condition of mind is wholesome moral
  and mental discipline。  Mental strength is as necessary for the
  development of woman's character as of man's。  It gives her
  capacity to deal with the affairs of life; and presence of mind;
  which enable her to act with vigour and effect in moments of
  emergency。  Character; in a woman; as in a man; will always be
  found the best safeguard of virtue; the best nurse of religion;
  the best corrective of Time。  Personal beauty soon passes; but
  beauty of mind and character increases in attractiveness
  the older it grows。
  Ben Jonson gives a striking portraiture of a noble woman in
  these lines:…
  〃I meant she should be courteous; facile; sweet;
  Free from that solemn vice of greatness; pride;
  I meant each softed virtue there should meet;
  Fit in that softer bosom to abide。
  Only a learned and a manly soul;
  I purposed her; that should with even powers;
  The rock; the spindle; and the shears control
  Of destiny; and spin her own free hours。'
  The courage of woman is not the less true because it is for the
  most part passive。  It is not encouraged by the cheers of the
  world; for it is mostly exhibited in the recesses of private life。
  Yet there are cases of heroic patience and endurance on the part
  of women which occasionally come to the light of day。  One of the
  most celebrated instances in history is that of Gertrude Von der
  Wart。  Her husband; falsely accused of being an accomplice in the
  murder of the Emperor Albert; was condemned to the most frightful
  of all punishmentsto be broken alive on the wheel。  With most
  profound conviction of her husband's innocence the faithful woman
  stood by his side to the last; watching over him during two
  days and nights; braving the empress's anger and the inclemency
  of the weather; in the hope of contributing to soothe his
  dying agonies。 (13)
  But women have not only distinguished themselves for their passive
  courage: impelled by affection; or the sense of duty; they have
  occasionally become heroic。  When the band of conspirators; who
  sought the life of James II。 of Scotland; burst into his lodgings
  at Perth; the ki