Purityofstyle，andaneasyflowofnumbers，arecommontoallAddison’sLatinpoems。OurfavouritepieceistheBattleoftheCranesandPigmies;forinthatpiecewediscernagleamofthefancyandhumourwhichmanyyearslaterenlivenedthousandsofbreakfasttables。Swiftboastedthathewasneverknowntostealahint;andhecertainlyowedaslittletohispredecessorsasanymodernwriter。Yetwecannothelpsuspectingthatheborrowed，perhapsunconsciously，oneofthehappiesttouchesinhis"VoyagetoLilliput"fromAddison’sverses。Letourreadersjudge。
"TheEmperor，"saysGulliver，"isTatlerbyaboutthebreadthofmynailthananyofhiscourt，whichaloneisenoughtostrikeanaweintothebeholders。"
AboutthirtyyearsbeforeGulliver’sTravelsappeared，Addisonwrotetheselines:
"JamqueaciesintermediassesearduusinfertPygmeadumductor，qui，majestateverendus，Incessuquegravis，reliquossupereminetomnesMolegigantea，mediamqueexsurgitinulnam。"
TheLatinpoemsofAddisonweregreatlyandjustlyadmiredbothatOxfordandCambridge，beforehisnamehadeverbeenheardbythewitswhothrongedthecoffee—housesroundDruryLaneTheatre。
Inhistwenty—secondyear，heventuredtoappearbeforethepublicasawriterofEnglishverse。HeaddressedsomecomplimentarylinestoDryden，who，aftermanytriumphsandmanyreverses，hadatlengthreachedasecureandlonelyeminenceamongtheliterarymenofthatage。Drydenappearstohavebeenmuchgratifiedbytheyoungscholar’spraise;andaninterchangeofcivilitiesandgoodofficesfollowed。AddisonwasprobablyintroducedbyDrydentoCongreve，andwascertainlypresentedbyCongrevetoCharlesMontague，whowasthenChancelloroftheExchequer，andleaderoftheWhigpartyintheHouseofCommons。
AtthistimeAddisonseemedinclinedtodevotehimselftopoetry。
HepublishedatranslationofpartofthefourthGeorgic，LinesonKingWilliam，andotherperformancesofequalvalue，thatistosay，ofnovalueatall。Butinthosedays，thepublicwasinthehabitofreceivingwithapplausepieceswhichwouldnowhavelittlechanceofobtainingtheNewdigateprizeortheSeatonianprize。Andthereasonisobvious。Theheroiccoupletwasthenthefavouritemeasure。Theartofarrangingwordsinthatmeasure，sothatthelinesmayflowsmoothly，thattheaccentsmayfallcorrectly，thattherhymesmaystriketheearstrongly，andthattheremaybeapauseattheendofeverydistich，isanartasmechanicalasthatofmendingakettleorshoeingahorse，andmaybelearnedbyanyhumanbeingwhohassenseenoughtolearnanything。But，likeothermechanicalarts，itwasgraduallyimprovedbymeansofmanyexperimentsandmanyfailures。ItwasreservedforPopetodiscoverthetrick，tomakehimselfcompletemasterofit，andtoteachittoeverybodyelse。FromthetimewhenhisPastoralsappeared，heroicversificationbecamematterofruleandcompass;and，beforelong，allartistswereonalevel。Hundredsofdunceswhoneverblunderedononehappythoughtorexpressionwereabletowritereamsofcoupletswhich，asfaraseuphonywasconcerned，couldnotbedistinguishedfromthoseofPopehimself，andwhichverycleverwritersofthereignofCharlestheSecond，Rochester，forexample，orMarvel，orOldham，wouldhavecontemplatedwithadmiringdespair。
BenJonsonwasagreatman，Hooleaverysmallman。ButHoolecomingafterPope，hadlearnedhowtomanufacturedecasyllableverses，andpouredthemforthbythousandsandtensofthousands，allaswellturned，assmooth，andaslikeeachotherastheblockswhichhavepassedthroughMr。Brunel’smillinthedockyardatPortsmouth。Ben’sheroiccoupletsresembleblocksrudelyhewnoutbyanunpractisedhand，withablunthatchet。
TakeasaspecimenhistranslationOfacelebratedpassageintheAeneid:
"Thischildourparentearth，stirr’dupwithspiteOfallthegods，broughtforth，and，assomewrite，ShewaslastsisterofthatgiantraceThatsoughttoscaleJove’scourt，rightswiftofpace，Andswifterfarofwing，amonstervastAnddreadful。Look，howmanyplumesareplacedOnherhugecorpse，somanywakingeyesStickunderneath，and，whichmaystrangerriseInthereport，asmanytonguesshewears。"
ComparewiththesejaggedmisshapendistichstheneatfabricwhichHoole’smachineproducesinunlimitedabundance。WetakethefirstlinesonwhichweopeninhisversionofTasso。TheyareneitherbetternorworsethantherestOthou，whoe’erthouart，whosestepsareled，Bychoiceorfate，theselonelyshorestotread，NogreaterwonderseastorwestcanboastThanyonsmallislandonthepleasingcoast。
Ife’erthysightwouldblissfulscenesexplore，Thecurrentpass，andseekthefurthershore。"
EversincethetimeofPopetherehadbeenaglutoflinesofthissort;andwearenowaslittledisposedtoadmireamanforbeingabletowritethem，asforbeingabletowritehisname。
ButinthedaysofWilliamtheThirdsuchversificationwasrare;
andarhymerwhohadanyskillinitpassedforagreatpoet，justasinthedarkagesapersonwhocouldwritehisnamepassedforagreatclerk。Accordingly，Duke，Stepney，Granville，Walsh，andotherswhoseonlytitletofamewasthattheysaidintolerablemetrewhatmighthavebeenaswellsaidinprose，orwhatwasnotworthsayingatall，werehonouredwithmarksofdistinctionwhichoughttobereservedforgenius。WiththeseAddisonmusthaveranked，ifhehadnotearnedtrueandlastingglorybyperformanceswhichverylittleresembledhisjuvenilepoems。
DrydenwasnowbusiedwithVirgil，andobtainedfromAddisonacriticalprefacetotheGeorgics。Inreturnforthisservice，andforotherservicesofthesamekind，theveteranpoet，inthepostscripttothetranslationoftheAeniadcomplimentedhisyoungfriendwithgreatliberality，andindeedwithmoreliberalitythansincerity。HeaffectedtobeafraidthathisownperformancewouldnotsustainacomparisonwiththeversionofthefourthGeorgic，by"themostingeniousMr。AddisonofOxford。""Afterhisbees，"addedDryden，"mylatterswarmisscarcelyworththehiving。"
ThetimehadnowarrivedwhenitwasnecessaryforAddisontochooseacalling。Everythingseemedtopointhiscoursetowardstheclericalprofession。Hishabitswereregular，hisopinionsorthodox。Hiscollegehadlargeecclesiasticalprefermentinitsgift，andboaststhatithasgivenatleastonebishoptoalmosteveryseeinEngland。Dr。LancelotAddisonheldanhonourableplaceintheChurch，andhadsethisheartonseeinghissonaclergyman。itisclear，fromsomeexpressionsintheyoungman’srhymes，thathisintentionwastotakeorders。ButCharlesMontagueinterfered。Montaguehadfirstbroughthimselfintonoticebyverseswell—timedandnotcontemptiblywritten，butnever，wethink，risingabovemediocrity。Fortunatelyforhimselfandforhiscountry，heearlyquittedpoetry，inwhichhecouldneverhaveattainedarankashighasthatofDorsetorRochester，andturnedhismindtoofficialandparliamentarybusiness。ItiswrittenthattheingeniouspersonwhoundertooktoinstructRasselas，princeofAbyssinia，intheartofflying，ascendedaneminence，wavedhiswings，sprangintotheair，andinstantlydroppedintothelake。Butitisaddedthatthewings，whichwereunabletosupporthimthroughthesky，borehimupeffectuallyassoonashewasinthewater。ThisisnobadtypeofthefateofCharlesMontagueandofmenlikehim。Whenheattemptedtosoarintotheregionsofpoeticalinvention，healtogetherfailed;but，assoonashehaddescendedfromthatetherealelevationintoalowerandgrosserelement，histalentsinstantlyraisedhimabovethemass。Hebecameadistinguishedfinancier，debater，courtier，andpartyleader。Hestillretainedhisfondnessforthepursuitsofhisearlydays;butheshowedthatfondnessnotbywearyingthepublicwithhisownfeebleperformances，butbydiscoveringandencouragingliteraryexcellenceinothers。Acrowdofwitsandpoets，whowouldeasilyhavevanquishedhimasacompetitor，reveredhimasajudgeandapatron。Inhisplansfortheencouragementoflearning，hewascordiallysupportedbytheablestandmostvirtuousofhiscolleagues，theLordChancellorSomers。Thoughboththesegreatstatesmenhadasincereloveofletters，itwasnotsolelyfromaloveoflettersthattheyweredesiroustoenlistyouthsofhighintellectualqualificationsinthepublicservice。TheRevolutionhadalteredthewholesystemofgovernment。Beforethateventthepresshadbeencontrolledbycensors，andtheParliamenthadsatonlytwomonthsineightyears。Nowthepresswasfree，andhadbeguntoexerciseunprecedentedinfluenceonthepublicmind。
Parliamentmetannuallyandsatlong。ThechiefpowerintheStatehadpassedtotheHouseofCommons。Atsuchaconjuncture，itwasnaturalthatliteraryandoratoricaltalentsshouldriseinvalue。Therewasdangerthatagovernmentwhichneglectedsuchtalentsmightbesubvertedbythem。Itwas，therefore，aprofoundandenlightenedpolicywhichledMontagueandSomerstoattachsuchtalentstotheWhigparty，bythestrongesttiesbothofinterestandofgratitude。
Itisremarkablethatinaneighbouringcountry，wehaverecentlyseensimilareffectsfollowfromsimilarcauses。TherevolutionofJuly1830establishedrepresentativegovernmentinFrance。ThemenoflettersinstantlyrosetothehighestimportanceintheState。AtthepresentmomentmostofthepersonswhomweseeattheheadbothoftheAdministrationandoftheOppositionhavebeenprofessors，historians，journalists，poets。TheinfluenceoftheliteraryclassinEngland，duringthegenerationwhichfollowedtheRevolution，wasgreat，butbynomeanssogreatasithaslatelybeeninFrance。ForinEngland，thearistocracyofintellecthadtocontendwithapowerfulanddeeply—rootedaristocracyofaverydifferentkind。FrancehadnoSomersetsandShrewsburystokeepdownherAddisonsandPriors。
Itwasintheyear1699，whenAddisonhadjustcompletedhistwenty—seventhyear，thatthecourseofhislifewasfinallydetermined。BoththegreatchiefsoftheMinistrywerekindlydisposedtowardshim。Inpoliticalopinionshealreadywaswhathecontinuedtobethroughlife，afirm，thoughamoderateWhig。
HehadaddressedthemostpolishedandvigorousofhisearlyEnglishlinestoSomers，andhaddedicatedtoMontagueaLatinpoem，trulyVirgilian，bothinstyleandrhythm，onthepeaceofRyswick。Thewishoftheyoungpoet’sgreatfriendswas，itshouldseem，toemployhimintheserviceoftheCrownabroad。
ButanintimateknowledgeoftheFrenchlanguagewasaqualificationindispensabletoadiplomatist;andthisqualificationAddisonhadnotacquired。Itwas，therefore，thoughtdesirablethatheshouldpasssometimeontheContinentinpreparinghimselfforofficialemployment。Hisownmeanswerenotsuchaswouldenablehimtotravel:butapensionofthreehundredpoundsayearwasprocuredforhimbytheinterestoftheLordChancellor。ItseemstohavebeenapprehendedthatsomedifficultymightbestartedbytherulersofMagdalenCollege。
ButtheChancelloroftheExchequerwroteinthestrongesttermstoHough。TheState——suchwasthepurportofMontague’sletter——
couldnot，atthattimesparetotheChurchsuchamanasAddison。Toomanyhighcivilpostswerealreadyoccupiedbyadventurers，who，destituteofeveryliberalartandsentiment，atoncepillagedanddisgracedthecountrywhichtheypretendedtoserve。Ithadbecomenecessarytorecruitforthepublicservicefromaverydifferentclass，fromthatclassofwhichAddisonwastherepresentative。ThecloseoftheMinister’sletterwasremarkable。"Iamcalled，"hesaid，"anenemyoftheChurch。ButIwillneverdoitanyotherinjurythankeepingMr。
Addisonoutofit。"
Thisinterferencewassuccessful;and，inthesummerof1699，Addison，madearichmanbyhispension，andstillretaininghisfellowship，quittedhisbelovedOxford，andsetoutonhistravels。HecrossedfromDovertoCalais，proceededtoParis，andwasreceivedtherewithgreatkindnessandpolitenessbyakinsmanofhisfriendMontague，CharlesEarlofManchester，whohadjustbeenappointedAmbassadortotheCourtofFrance。TheCountess，aWhigandatoast，wasprobablyasgraciousasherlord;forAddisonlongretainedanagreeablerecollectionoftheimpressionwhichsheatthistimemadeonhim，andinsomelivelylineswrittenontheglassesoftheKit—CatClub，describedtheenvywhichhercheeks，glowingwiththegenuinebloomofEngland，hadexcitedamongthepaintedbeautiesofVersailles。
LewistheFourteenthwasatthistimeexpiatingthevicesofhisyouthbyadevotionwhichhadnorootinreason，andborenofruitofcharity。TheservileliteratureofFrancehadchangeditscharactertosuitthechangedcharacteroftheprince。Nobookappearedthathadnotanairofsanctity。Racine，whowasjustdead，hadpassedthecloseofhislifeinwritingsacreddramas;andDacierwasseekingfortheAthanasianmysteriesinPlato。AddisondescribedthisstateofthingsinashortbutlivelyandgracefullettertoMontague。Anotherletter，writtenaboutthesametimetotheLordChancellor，conveyedthestrongestassurancesofgratitudeandattachment。"TheonlyreturnIcanmaketoyourLordship，"saidAddison，"willbetoapplymyselfentirelytomybusiness。"WiththisviewhequittedParisandrepairedtoBlois，aplacewhereitwassupposedthattheFrenchlanguagewasspokeninitshighestpurity，andwherenotasingleEnglishmancouldbefound。Herehepassedsomemonthspleasantlyandprofitably。OfhiswayoflifeatBlois，oneofhisassociates，anAbbenamedPhilippeaux，gaveanaccounttoJosephSpence。Ifthisaccountistobetrusted，Addisonstudiedmuch，musedmuch，talkedlittle，hadfitsofabsence，andeitherhadnoloveaffairs，orwastoodiscreettoconfidethemtotheAbbe。Amanwho，evenwhensurroundedbyfellow—countrymenandfellow—students，hadalwaysbeenremarkablyshyandsilent，wasnotlikelytobeloquaciousinaforeigntongue，andamongforeigncompanions。ButitisclearfromAddison’sletters，someofwhichwerelongafterpublishedintheGuardian，that，whileheappearedtobeabsorbedinhisownmeditations，hewasreallyobservingFrenchsocietywiththatkeenandsly，yetnotill—
naturedsideglance，whichwaspeculiarlyhisown。
FromBloishereturnedtoParis;and，havingnowmasteredtheFrenchlanguage，foundgreatpleasureinthesocietyofFrenchphilosophersandpoets。Hegaveanaccount，inalettertoBishopHough，oftwohighlyinterestingconversations，onewithMalbranche，theotherwithBoileau。MalbrancheexpressedgreatpartialityfortheEnglish，andextolledthegeniusofNewton，butshookhisheadwhenHobbeswasmentioned，andwasindeedsounjustastocalltheauthoroftheLeviathanapoor，sillycreature。Addison’smodestyrestrainedhimfromfullyrelating，inhisletter，thecircumstancesofhisintroductiontoBoileau。
Boileau，havingsurvivedthefriendsandrivalsofhisyouth，old，deaf，andmelancholy，livedinretirement，seldomwenteithertoCourtortotheAcademy，andwasalmostinaccessibletostrangers。OftheEnglishandofEnglishliteratureheknewnothing。HehadhardlyheardthenameofDryden。Someofourcountrymen，inthewarmthoftheirpatriotism，haveassertedthatthisignorancemusthavebeenaffected。Weownthatweseenogroundforsuchasupposition。EnglishliteraturewastotheFrenchoftheageofLewistheFourteenthwhatGermanliteraturewastoourowngrandfathers。Veryfew，wesuspect，oftheaccomplishedmenwho，sixtyorseventyyearsago，usedtodineinLeicesterSquarewithSirJoshua，oratStreatham。withMrs。
Thrale，hadtheslightestnotionthatWielandwasoneofthefirstwitsandpoets，andLessing，beyondalldispute，thefirstcriticinEurope。BoileauknewjustaslittleabouttheParadiseLost，andaboutAbsalomandAchitophel;buthehadreadAddison’sLatinpoems，andadmiredthemgreatly。Theyhadgivenhim，hesaid，quiteanewnotionofthestateoflearningandtasteamongtheEnglish。Johnsonwillhaveitthatthesepraiseswereinsincere。"Nothing，"sayshe，"isbetterknownofBoileauthanthathehadaninjudiciousandpeevishcontemptofmodernLatin;
andthereforehisprofessionofregardwasprobablytheeffectofhiscivilityratherthanapprobation。"Now，nothingisbetter...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：