the lily of the valley(幽谷百合)-第26部分

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　　whole；　it　is　concise；　for　to　you　a　few　words　are　sufficient。

　　I　do　not　know　whether　societies　are　of　divine　origin　or　whether
　　they　were　invented　by　man。　I　am　equally　ignorant　of　the　direction
　　in　which　they　tend。　What　I　do　know　certainly　is　the　fact　of　their
　　existence。　No　sooner　therefore　do　you　enter　society；　instead　of
　　living　a　life　apart；　than　you　are　bound　to　consider　its　conditions
　　binding；　a　contract　is　signed　between　you。　Does　society　in　these
　　days　gain　more　from　a　man　than　it　returns　to　him？　I　think　so；　but
　　as　to　whether　the　individual　man　finds　more　cost　than　profit；　or
　　buys　too　dear　the　advantages　he　obtains；　concerns　the　legislator
　　only；　I　have　nothing　to　say　to　that。　In　my　judgment　you　are　bound
　　to　obey　in　all　things　the　general　law；　without　discussion；　whether
　　it　injures　or　benefits　your　personal　interests。　This　principle　may
　　seem　to　you　a　very　simple　one；　but　it　is　difficult　of　application；
　　it　is　like　sap；　which　must　infiltrate　the　smallest　of　the
　　capillary　tubes　to　stir　the　tree；　renew　its　verdure；　develop　its
　　flowers；　and　ripen　fruit。　Dear；　the　laws　of　society　are　not　all
　　written　in　a　book；　manners　and　customs　create　laws；　the　more
　　important　of　which　are　often　the　least　known。　Believe　me；　there
　　are　neither　teachers；　nor　schools；　nor　text…books　for　the　laws
　　that　are　now　to　regulate　your　actions；　your　language；　your　visible
　　life；　the　manner　of　your　presentation　to　the　world；　and　your　quest
　　of　fortune。　Neglect　those　secret　laws　or　fail　to　understand　them；
　　and　you　stay　at　the　foot　of　the　social　system　instead　of　looking
　　down　upon　it。　Even　though　this　letter　may　seem　to　you　diffuse；
　　telling　you　much　that　you　have　already　thought；　let　me　confide　to
　　you　a　woman's　ethics。

　　To　explain　society　on　the　theory　of　individual　happiness　adroitly
　　won　at　the　cost　of　the　greater　number　is　a　monstrous　doctrine；
　　which　in　its　strict　application　leads　men　to　believe　that　all　they
　　can　secretly　lay　hold　of　before　the　law　or　society　or　other
　　individuals　condemn　it　as　a　wrong　is　honestly　and　fairly　theirs。
　　Once　admit　that　claim　and　the　clever　thief　goes　free；　the　woman
　　who　violates　her　marriage　vow　without　the　knowledge　of　the　world
　　is　virtuous　and　happy；　kill　a　man；　leaving　no　proof　for　justice；
　　and　if；　like　Macbeth；　you　win　a　crown　you　have　done　wisely；　your
　　selfish　interests　become　the　higher　law；　the　only　question　then　is
　　how　to　evade；　without　witnesses　or　proof；　the　obstacles　which　law
　　and　morality　place　between　you　and　your　self…indulgence。　To　those
　　who　hold　this　view　of　society；　the　problem　of　making　their
　　fortune；　my　dear　friend；　resolves　itself　into　playing　a　game　where
　　the　stakes　are　millions　or　the　galleys；　political　triumphs　or
　　dishonor。　Still；　the　green　cloth　is　not　long　enough　for　all　the
　　players；　and　a　certain　kind　of　genius　is　required　to　play　the
　　game。　I　say　nothing　of　religious　beliefs；　nor　yet　of　feelings；
　　what　concerns　us　now　is　the　running…gear　of　the　great　machine　of
　　gold　and　iron；　and　its　practical　results　with　which　men's　lives
　　are　occupied。　Dear　child　of　my　heart；　if　you　share　my　horror　at
　　this　criminal　theory　of　the　world；　society　will　present　to　your
　　mind；　as　it　does　to　all　sane　minds；　the　opposite　theory　of　duty。
　　Yes；　you　will　see　that　man　owes　himself　to　man　in　a　thousand
　　differing　ways。　To　my　mind；　the　duke　and　peer　owe　far　more　to　the
　　workman　and　the　pauper　than　the　pauper　and　the　workman　owe　to　the
　　duke。　The　obligations　of　duty　enlarge　in　proportion　to　the
　　benefits　which　society　bestows　on　men；　in　accordance　with　the
　　maxim；　as　true　in　social　politics　as　in　business；　that　the　burden
　　of　care　and　vigilance　is　everywhere　in　proportion　to　profits。　Each
　　man　pays　his　debt　in　his　own　way。　When　our　poor　toiler　at　the
　　Rhetoriere　comes　home　weary　with　his　day's　work　has　he　not　done
　　his　duty？　Assuredly　he　has　done　it　better　than　many　in　the　ranks
　　above　him。

　　If　you　take　this　view　of　society；　in　which　you　are　about　to　seek　a
　　place　in　keeping　with　your　intellect　and　your　faculties；　you　must
　　set　before　you　as　a　generating　principle　and　mainspring；　this
　　maxim：　never　permit　yourself　to　act　against　either　your　own
　　conscience　or　the　public　conscience。　Though　my　entreaty　may　seem
　　to　you　superfluous；　yet　I　entreat；　yes；　your　Henriette　implores
　　you　to　ponder　the　meaning　of　that　rule。　It　seems　simple　but；　dear；
　　it　means　that　integrity；　loyalty；　honor；　and　courtesy　are　the
　　safest　and　surest　instruments　for　your　success。　In　this　selfish
　　world　you　will　find　many　to　tell　you　that　a　man　cannot　make　his
　　way　by　sentiments；　that　too　much　respect　for　moral　considerations
　　will　hinder　his　advance。　It　is　not　so；　you　will　see　men　ill…
　　trained；　ill…taught；　incapable　of　measuring　the　future；　who　are
　　rough　to　a　child；　rude　to　an　old　woman；　unwilling　to　be　irked　by
　　some　worthy　old　man　on　the　ground　that　they　can　do　nothing　for
　　him；　later；　you　will　find　the　same　men　caught　by　the　thorns　which
　　they　might　have　rendered　pointless；　and　missing　their　triumph　for
　　some　trivial　reason；　whereas　the　man　who　is　early　trained　to　a
　　sense　of　duty　does　not　meet　the　same　obstacles；　he　may　attain
　　success　less　rapidly；　but　when　attained　it　is　solid　and　does　not
　　crumble　like　that　of　others。

　　When　I　show　you　that　the　application　of　this　doctrine　demands　in
　　the　first　place　a　mastery　of　the　science　of　manners；　you　may　think
　　my　jurisprudence　has　a　flavor　of　the　court　and　of　the　training　I
　　received　as　a　Lenoncourt。　My　dear　friend；　I　do　attach　great
　　importance　to　that　training；　trifling　as　it　seems。　You　will　find
　　that　the　habits　of　the　great　world　are　as　important　to　you　as　the
　　wide　and　varied　knowledge　that　you　possess。　Often　they　take　the
　　place　of　such　knowledge；　for　some　really　ignorant　men；　born　with
　　natural　gifts　and　accustomed　to　give　connection　to　their　ideas；
　　have　been　known　to　attain　a　grandeur　never　reached　by　others　far
　　more　worthy　of　it。　I　have　studied　you　thoroughly；　Felix；　wishing
　　to　know　if　your　education；　derived　wholly　from　schools；　has
　　injured　your　nature。　God　knows　the　joy　with　which　I　find　you　fit
　　for　that　further　education　of　which　I　speak。

　　The　manners　of　many　who　are　brought　up　in　the　traditions　of　the
　　great　world　are　purely　external；　true　politeness；　perfect　manners；
　　come　from　the　heart；　and　from　a　deep　sense　of　personal　dignity。
　　This　is　why　some　men　of　noble　birth　are；　in　spite　of　their
　　training；　ill…mannered；　while　others；　among　the　middle　classes；
　　have　instinctive　good　taste　and　only　need　a　few　lessons　to　give
　　them　excellent　manners　without　any　signs　of　awkward　imitation。
　　Believe　a　poor　woman　who　no　longer　leaves　her　valley　when　she
　　tells　you　that　this　dignity　of　tone；　this　courteous　simplicity　in
　　words；　in　gesture；　in　bearing；　and　even　in　the　character　of　the
　　home；　is　a　living　and　material　poem；　the　charm　of　which　is
　　irresistible；　imagine　therefore　what　it　is　when　it　takes　its
　　inspiration　from　the　heart。　Politeness；　dear；　consists　in　seeming
　　to　forget　ourselves　for　others；　with　many　it　is　social　cant；　laid
　　aside　when　personal　self…interest　shows　its　cloven…foot；　a　noble
　　then　becomes　ignoble。　Butand　this　is　what　I　want　you　to
　　practise；　Felixtrue　politeness　involves　a　Christian　principle；
　　it　is　the　flower　of　Love；　it　requires　that　we　forget　ourselves
　　really。　In　memory　of　your　Henriette；　for　her　sake；　be　not　a
　　fountain　without　water；　have　the　essence　and　the　form　of　true　
　　courtesy。　Never　fear　to　be　the　dupe　and　victim　of　this　social
　　virtue；　you　will　some　day　gather　the　fruit　of　seeds　scattered
　　apparently　to　the　winds。

　　My　father　used　to　say　that　one　of　the　great　offences　of　sham
　　politeness　was　the　neglect　of　promises。　When　anything　is　demanded
　　of　you　that　you　cannot　do；　refuse　positively　and　leave　no
　　loopholes　for　false　hopes；　on　the　other　hand；　grant　at　once
　　whatever　you　are　willing　to　bestow。　Your　prompt　refusal　will　make
　　you　friends　as　well　as　your　prompt　benefit；　and　your　character
　　will　stand　the　higher；　for　it　is　hard　to　say　whether　a　promise
　　forgotten；　a　hope　deceived　does　not　make　us　more　enemies　than　a
　　favor　granted　brings　us　friends。

　　Dear　friend；　there　are　certain　little　matters　on　which　I　may
　　dwell；　for　I　know　them；　and　it　comes　within　my　province　to　impart
　　them。　Be　not　too　confiding；　nor　frivolous；　nor　over　enthusiastic；
　　three　rocks　on　which　youth　often　strikes。　Too　confiding　a　nature
　　loses　respect；　frivolity　brings　contempt；　and　others　take
　　advantage　of　excessive　enthusiasm。　In　the　first　place；　Felix；　you
　　will　never　have　more　than　two　or　three　friends　in　the　course　of
　　your　life。　Your　entire　confidence　is　their　right；　to　give　it　to
　　many　is　to　betray　your　real　friends。　If　you　are　more　intimate　with
　　some　men　than　with　others　keep　guard　over　yourself；　be　as　cautious
　　as　though　you　knew　they　would　one　day　be　your　rivals；　or　your
　　enemies；　the　chances　and　changes　of　life　require　this。　Maintain　an
　　attitude　which　is　neither　cold　nor　hot；　find　the　medium　point　at
　　which　a　man　can　safely　hold　intercourse　with　others　without
　　compromising　himself。　Yes；　believe　me；　the　honest　man　is　as　far
　　from　the　base　cowardice　of　Philinte　as　he　is　from　the　harsh　virtue
　　of　Alceste。　The　genius　of　the　poet　is　displayed　in　the　mind　of
　　this　true　medium；　certainly　all　minds　do　enjoy　more　the　ridicule
　　of　virtue　than　the　sovereign　contempt　of　easy…going　selfishness
　　which　underlies　that　picture　of　it；　but　all；　nevertheless；　are
　　prompted　to　keep　themselves　from　either　extreme。

　　As　to　frivolity；　if　it　causes　fools　to　proclaim　you　a　charming
　　man；　others　who　are　accustomed　to　judge　of　men's　capacities　and
　　fathom　character；　will　winnow　out　your　tare　and　bring　you　to
　　disrepute；　for　frivolity　is　the　resource　of　weak　natures；　and
　　weakness　is　soon　appraised　in　a　society　which　regards　its　members
　　as　nothing　more　than　organsand　perhaps　justly；　for　nature
　　herself　puts　to　death　imperfect　beings。　A　woman's　protecting
　　instincts　may　be　roused　by　the　pleasure　she　feels　in　supporting
　　the　weak　against　the　strong；　and　in　leading　the　int