hecrossesthewoodofRavennawithoutrecollectingtheSpectreHuntsman，andwandersupanddownRiminiwithoutonethoughtofFrancesca。AtParis，hehadeagerlysoughtanintroductiontoBoileau;butheseemsnottohavebeenatallawarethatatFlorencehewasinthevicinityofapoetwithwhomBoileaucouldnotsustainacomparison，ofthegreatestlyricpoetofmoderntimes，VincenzioFilicaja。Thisisthemoreremarkable，becauseFilicajawasthefavouritepoetoftheaccomplishedSomers，underwhoseprotectionAddisontravelled，andtowhomtheaccountoftheTravelsisdedicated。Thetruthis，thatAddisonknewlittle，andcaredless，abouttheliteratureofmodernItaly。HisfavouritemodelswereLatin，hisfavouritecriticswereFrench。
HalftheTuscanpoetrythathehadreadseemedtohimmonstrous，andtheotherhalftawdry。
HisTravelswerefollowedbythelivelyoperaofRosamond。Thispiecewasillsettomusic，andthereforefailedonthestage，butitcompletelysucceededinprint，andisindeedexcellentinitskind。Thesmoothnesswithwhichtheversesglide，andtheelasticitywithwhichtheybound，is，toourearsatleast，verypleasing。WeareinclinedtothinkthatifAddisonhadleftheroiccoupletstoPope，andblankversetoRowe，andhademployedhimselfinwritingairyandspiritedsongs，hisreputationasapoetwouldhavestoodfarhigherthanitnowdoes。Someyearsafterhisdeath，RosamondwassettonewmusicbyDoctorArne;andwasperformedwithcompletesuccess。Severalpassageslongretainedtheirpopularity，andweredailysung，duringthelatterpartofGeorgetheSecond’sreign，atalltheharpsichordsinEngland。
WhileAddisonthusamusedhimself，hisprospects，andtheprospectsofhisparty，wereconstantlybecomingbrighterandbrighter。Inthespringof1705，theMinisterswerefreedfromtherestraintimposedbyaHouseofCommonsinwhichToriesofthemostperverseclasshadtheascendency。TheelectionswerefavourabletotheWhigs。Thecoalitionwhichhadbeentacitlyandgraduallyformedwasnowopenlyavowed。TheGreatSealwasgiventoCowper。SomersandHalifaxwereswornoftheCouncil。HalifaxwassentinthefollowingyeartocarrythedecorationsoftheOrderoftheGartertotheElectoralPrinceofHanover，andwasaccompaniedonthishonourablemissionbyAddison，whohadjustbeenmadeUnder—SecretaryofState。TheSecretaryofStateunderwhomAddisonfirstservedwasSirCharlesHedges，aTory。ButHedgeswassoondismissed，tomakeroomforthemostvehementofWhigs，Charles，EarlofSunderland。IneverydepartmentoftheState，indeed，theHighChurchmenwerecompelledtogiveplacetotheiropponents。Atthecloseof1707，theTorieswhostillremainedinofficestrovetorally，withHarleyattheirhead。
Buttheattempt，thoughfavouredbytheQueen，whohadalwaysbeenaToryatheart，andwhohadnowquarrelledwiththeDuchessofMarlborough，wasunsuccessful。Thetimewasnotyet。TheCaptain—Generalwasattheheightofpopularityandglory。TheLowChurchpartyhadamajorityinParliament。Thecountrysquiresandrectors，thoughoccasionallyutteringasavagegrowl，wereforthemostpartinastateoftorpor，whichlastedtilltheywererousedintoactivity，andindeedintomadness，bytheprosecutionofSacheverell。Harleyandhisadherentswerecompelledtoretire。ThevictoryoftheWhigswascomplete。Atthegeneralelectionof1708，theirstrengthintheHouseofCommonsbecameirresistible;and，beforetheendofthatyear，SomerswasmadeLordPresidentoftheCouncil，andWhartonLord—
LieutenantofIreland。
AddisonsatforMalmsburyintheHouseofCommonswhichwaselectedin1708。ButtheHouseofCommonswasnotthefieldforhim。Thebashfulnessofhisnaturemadehiswitandeloquenceuselessindebate。Heoncerose，butcouldnotovercomehisdiffidence，andeverafterremainedsilent。Nobodycanthinkitstrangethatagreatwritershouldfailasaspeaker。Butmany，probably，willthinkitstrangethatAddison’sfailureasaspeakershouldhavehadnounfavourableeffectonhissuccessasapolitician。Inourtime，amanofhighrankandgreatfortunemight，thoughspeakingverylittleandveryill，holdaconsiderablepost。Butitwouldnowbeinconceivablethatamereadventurer，amanwho，whenoutofoffice，mustlivebyhispen，shouldinafewyearsbecomesuccessivelyUnder—SecretaryofState，ChiefSecretaryforIreland，andSecretaryofState，withoutsomeoratoricaltalent。Addison，withouthighbirth，andwithlittleproperty，rosetoapostwhichDukestheheadsofthegreatHousesofTalbot，Russell，andBentinck，havethoughtitanhonourtofill。Withoutopeninghislipsindebate，herosetoapost，thehighestthatChathamorFoxeverreached。AndthishedidbeforehehadbeennineyearsinParliament。Wemustlookfortheexplanationofthisseemingmiracletothepeculiarcircumstancesinwhichthatgenerationwasplaced。DuringtheintervalwhichelapsedbetweenthetimewhentheCensorshipofthePressceased，andthetimewhenparliamentaryproceedingsbegantobefreelyreported，literarytalentswere，toapublicman，ofmuchmoreimportance，andoratoricaltalentsofmuchlessimportance，thaninourtime。Atpresent，thebestwayofgivingrapidandwidepublicitytoafactoranargumentistointroducethatfactorargumentintoaspeechmadeinParliament。IfapoliticaltractweretoappearsuperiortotheConductoftheAllies，ortothebestnumbersoftheFreeholder，thecirculationofsuchatractwouldbelanguidindeedwhencomparedwiththecirculationofeveryremarkablewordutteredinthedeliberationsofthelegislature。AspeechmadeintheHouseofCommonsatfourinthemorningisonthirtythousandtablesbeforeten。AspeechmadeontheMondayisreadontheWednesdaybymultitudesinAntrimandAberdeenshire。Theorator，bythehelpoftheshorthandwriter，hastoagreatextentsupersededthepamphleteer。ItwasnotsointhereignofAnne。Thebestspeechcouldthenproducenoeffectexceptonthosewhoheardit。Itwasonlybymeansofthepressthattheopinionofthepublicwithoutdoorscouldbeinfluenced:andtheopinionofthepublicwithoutdoorscouldnotbutbeofthehighestimportanceinacountrygovernedbyparliaments，andindeedatthattimegovernedbytriennialparliaments。Thepenwasthereforeamoreformidablepoliticalenginethanthetongue。Mr。PittandMr。FoxcontendedonlyinParliament。ButWalpoleandPulteney，thePittandFoxofanearlierperiod，hadnotdonehalfofwhatwasnecessary，whentheysatdownamidsttheacclamationsoftheHouseofCommons。
Theyhadstilltopleadtheircausebeforethecountry，andthistheycoulddoonlybymeansofthepress。Theirworksarenowforgotten。ButitiscertainthattherewereinGrubStreetfewmoreassiduousscribblersofThoughts，Letters，Answers，Remarks，thanthesetwogreatchiefsofparties。Pulteney，whenleaderoftheOpposition，andpossessedofthirtythousandayear，editedtheCraftsman。Walpole，thoughnotamanofliteraryhabits，wastheauthorofatleasttenpamphlets，andretouchedandcorrectedmanymore。Thesefactssufficientlyshowofhowgreatimportanceliteraryassistancethenwastothecontendingparties。St。Johnwas，certainly，inAnne’sreign，thebestToryspeaker;CowperwasprobablythebestWhigspeaker。ButitmaywellbedoubtedwhetherSt。JohndidsomuchfortheToriesasSwift，andwhetherCowperdidsomuchfortheWhigsasAddison。Whenthesethingsaredulyconsidered，itwillnotbethoughtstrangethatAddisonshouldhaveclimbedhigherintheStatethananyotherEnglishmanhasever，bymeansmerelyofliterarytalents，beenabletoclimb。Swiftwould，inallprobability，haveclimbedashigh，ifhehadnotbeenencumberedbyhiscassockandhispuddingsleeves。Asfarasthehomageofthegreatwent，SwifthadasmuchofitasifhehadbeenLordTreasurer。
TotheinfluencewhichAddisonderivedfromhisliterarytalentswasaddedalltheinfluencewhicharisesfromcharacter。Theworld，alwaysreadytothinktheworstofneedypoliticaladventurers，wasforcedtomakeoneexception。Restlessness，violence，audacity，laxityofprinciple，arethevicesordinarilyattributedtothatclassofmen。ButfactionitselfcouldnotdenythatAddisonhad，throughallchangesoffortune，beenstrictlyfaithfultohisearlyopinions，andtohisearlyfriends;thathisintegritywaswithoutstain;thathiswholedeportmentindicatedafinesenseofthebecoming;that，intheutmostheatofcontroversy，hiszealwastemperedbyaregardfortruth，humanity，andsocialdecorum;thatnooutragecouldeverprovokehimtoretaliationunworthyofaChristianandagentleman;andthathisonlyfaultswereatoosensitivedelicacy，andamodestywhichamountedtobashfulness。
Hewasundoubtedlyoneofthemostpopularmenofhistime;andmuchofhispopularityheowed，webelieve，tothatverytimiditywhichhisfriendslamented。Thattimidityoftenpreventedhimfromexhibitinghistalentstothebestadvantage。ButitpropitiatedNemesis。Itavertedthatenvywhichwouldotherwisehavebeenexcitedbyfamesosplendidandbysorapidanelevation。NomanissogreatafavouritewiththePublicashewhoisatonceanobjectofadmiration，ofrespectandofpity;
andsuchwerethefeelingswhichAddisoninspired。Thosewhoenjoyedtheprivilegeofhearinghisfamiliarconversation，declaredwithonevoicethatitwassuperioreventohiswritings。ThebrilliantMaryMontaguesaid，thatshehadknownallthewits，andthatAddisonwasthebestcompanyintheworld。
ThemalignantPopewasforcedtoown，thattherewasacharminAddison’stalk，whichcouldbefoundnowhereelse。Swift，whenburningwithanimosityagainsttheWhigs，couldnotbutconfesstoStellathat，afterall，hehadneverknownanyassociatesoagreeableasAddison。Steele，anexcellentjudgeoflivelyconversation，saidthattheconversationofAddisonwasatoncethemostpolite，andthemostmirthful，thatcouldbeimagined;
thatitwasTerenceandCatullusinone，heightenedbyanexquisitesomethingwhichwasneitherTerencenorCatullus，butAddisonalone。Young，anexcellentjudgeofseriousconversation，said，thatwhenAddisonwasathisease，hewentoninanoblestrainofthoughtandlanguage，soastochaintheattentionofeveryhearer。NorwereAddison’sgreatcolloquialpowersmoreadmirablethanthecourtesyandsoftnessofheartwhichappearedinhisconversation。Atthesametime，itwouldbetoomuchtosaythathewaswhollydevoidofthemalicewhichis，perhaps，inseparablefromakeensenseoftheludicrous。HehadonehabitwhichbothSwiftandStellaapplauded，andwhichwehardlyknowhowtoblame。Ifhisfirstattemptstosetapresumingduncerightwereillreceived，hechangedhistone，"assentedwithcivilleer，"andluredtheflatteredcoxcombdeeperanddeeperintoabsurdity。Thatsuchwashispractice，weshould，wethink，haveguessedfromhisworks。TheTatler’scriticismsonMr。
Softly’ssonnetandtheSpectator’sdialoguewiththepoliticianwhoissozealousforthehonourofLadyQ——p——t——s，areexcellentspecimensofthisinnocentmischief。
SuchwereAddison’stalentsforconversation。Buthisraregiftswerenotexhibitedtocrowdsortostrangers。Assoonasheenteredalargecompany，assoonashesawanunknownface，hislipsweresealedandhismannersbecameconstrained。Nonewhomethimonlyingreatassemblieswouldhavebeenabletobelievethathewasthesamemanwhohadoftenkeptafewfriendslisteningandlaughingroundatable，fromthetimewhentheplayended，tilltheclockofSt。Paul’sinCoventGardenstruckfour。Yet，evenatsuchatable，hewasnotseentothebestadvantage。Toenjoyhisconversationinthehighestperfection，itwasnecessarytobealonewithhim，andtohearhim，inhisownphrase，thinkaloud。"Thereisnosuchthing，"heusedtosay，"asrealconversation，butbetweentwopersons。"
Thistimidity，atimiditysurelyneitherungracefulnorunamiable，ledAddisonintothetwomostseriousfaultswhichcanwithjusticebeimputedtohim。Hefoundthatwinebrokethespellwhichlayonhisfineintellect，andwasthereforetooeasilyseducedintoconvivialexcess。Suchexcesswasinthatageregarded，evenbygravemen，asthemostvenialofallpeccadilloes，andwassofarfrombeingamarkofill—breeding，thatitwasalmostessentialtothecharacterofafinegentleman。Butthesmallestspeckisseenonawhiteground;andalmostallthebiographersofAddisonhavesaidsomethingaboutthisfailing。OfanyotherstatesmanorwriterofQueenAnne’sreign，weshouldnomorethinkofsayingthathesometimestooktoomuchwine，thanthatheworealongwigandasword。
TotheexcessivemodestyofAddison’snature，wemustascribeanotherfaultwhichgenerallyarisesfromaverydifferentcause。
Hebecamealittletoofondofseeinghimselfsurroundedbyasmallcircleofadmirers，towhomhewasasaKingorratherasaGod。Allthesemenwerefarinferiortohiminability，andsomeofthemhadveryseriousfaults。Nordidthosefaultsescapehisobservation;for，ifevertherewasaneyewhichsawthroughandthroughmen，itwastheeyeofAddison。But，withthekeenestobservation，andthefinestsenseoftheridiculous，hehadalargecharity。Thefeelingwithwhichhelookedonmostofhishumblecompanionswasoneofbenevolence，slightlytincturedwithcontempt。Hewasatperfectcaseintheircompany;hewasgratefulfortheirdevotedattachment;andheloadedthemwithbenefits。TheirvenerationforhimappearstohaveexceededthatwithwhichJohnsonwasregardedbyBoswell，orWarburtonbyHurd。
Itwasnotinthepowerofadulationtoturnsuchahead，ordepravesuchaheart，asAddison’s。Butitmustincandourbeadmittedthathecontractedsomeofthefaultswhichcanscarcelybeavoidedbyanypersonwhoissounfortunateastobetheoracleofasmallliterarycoterie。
OnememberofthislittlesocietywasEustaceBudgell，ayoungTemplarofsomeliterature，andadistantrelationofAddison。
TherewasatthistimenostainonthecharacterofBudgell，anditisnotimprobablethathiscareerwouldhavebeenprosperousandhonourable，ifthelifeofhiscousinhadbeenprolonged。Butwhenthemasterwaslaidinthegrave，thedisciplebrokeloosefromallrestraint，descendedrapidlyfromonedegreeofviceandmiserytoanother，ruinedhisfortunebyfollies，attemptedtorepairitbycrimes，andatlengthclosedawickedandunhappylifebyself—murder。Yet，tothelast，thewretchedman，gambler，lampooner，cheat，forger，ashewas，retainedhisaffectionandvenerationforAddison，andrecordedthosefeelingsinthelastlineswhichhetracedbeforehehidhimselffrominfamyunderLondonBridge。
AnotherofAddison’sfavouritecompanionswasAmbrosePhillips，agoodWhigandamiddlingpoet，whohadthehonourofbringingintofashionaspeciesofcompositionwhichhasbeencalled，afterhisname，NambyPamby。Butthemostremarkablemembersofthelittlesenate，asPopelongafterwardscalledit，wereRichardSteeleandThomasTickell。
SteelehadknownAddisonfromchildhood。TheyhadbeentogetherattheCharterhouseandatOxford;butcircumstanceshadthen，foratime，separatedthemwidely。Steelehadleftcollegewithouttakingadegree，hadbeendisinheritedbyarichrelation，hadledavagrantlife，hadservedinthearmy，hadtriedtofindthephilosopher’sstone，andhadwrittenareligioustreatiseandseveralcomedies。Hewasoneofthosepeoplewhomitisimpossibleeithertohateortorespect。Histemperwassweet，hisaffectionswarm，hisspiritslively，hispassionsstrong，andhisprinciplesweak。Hislifewasspentinsinningandrepenting;ininculcatingwhatwasright，anddoingwhatwaswrong。Inspeculation，hewasamanofpietyandhonour;
inpractice，hewasmuchoftherakeandalittleoftheswindler。Hewas，however，sogood—naturedthatitwasnoteasytobeseriouslyangrywithhim，andthatevenrigidmoralistsfeltmoreinclinedtopitythantoblamehim，whenhedicedhimselfintoaspunging—houseordrankhimselfintoafever。
AddisonregardedSteelewithkindnessnotunmingledwithscorn，tried，withlittlesuccess，tokeephimoutofscrapes，introducedhimtothegreat，procuredagoodplaceforhim，correctedhisplays，and，thoughbynomeansrich，lenthimlargesumsofmoney。Oneoftheseloansappears，fromaletterdatedinAugust1708，toh...完整阅读请扫描二维码下载丁香书院APP免费看：