登陆注册
15429000000138

第138章 LETTER XCV(1)

LONDON;December 12,O.S.1749.

DEAR BOY:Lord Clarendon in his history says of Mr.John Hampden THAT HEHAD A HEAD TO CONTRIVE,A TONGUE TO PERSUADE,AND A HAND TO EXECUTEANY

MISCHIEF.I shall not now enter into the justness of this character of Mr.Hampden,to whose brave stand against the illegal demand of ship-money we owe our present liberties;but I mention it to you as the character,which with the alteration of one single word,GOOD,instead of MISCHIEF,I would have you aspire to,and use your utmost endeavors to deserve.The head to contrive,God must to a certain degree have given you;but it is in your own power greatly to improve it,by study,observation,and reflection.As for the TONGUE TO PERSUADE,it wholly depends upon yourself;and without it the best head will contrive to very little purpose.The hand to execute depends likewise,in my opinion,in a great measure upon yourself.Serious reflection will always give courage in a good cause;and the courage arising from reflection is of a much superior nature to the animal and constitutional courage of a foot soldier.The former is steady and unshaken,where the 'nodus'is 'dignus vindice';the latter is oftener improperly than properly exerted,but always brutally.

The second member of my text (to speak ecclesiastically)shall be the subject of my following discourse;THE TONGUE TO PERSUADE--as judicious,preachers recommend those virtues,which they think their several audiences want the most;such as truth and continence,at court;disinterestedness,in the city;and sobriety,in the country.

You must certainly,in the course of your little experience,have felt the different effects of elegant and inelegant speaking.Do you not suffer,when people accost you in a stammering or hesitating manner,in an untuneful voice,with false accents and cadences;puzzling and blundering through solecisms,barbarisms,and vulgarisms;misplacing even their bad words,and inverting all method?Does not this prejudice you against their matter,be it what it will;nay,even against their persons?I am sure it does me.On the other hand,do you not feel yourself inclined,prepossessed,nay,even engaged in favor of those who address you in the direct contrary manner?The effects of a correct and adorned style of method and perspicuity,are incredible toward persuasion;they often supply the want of reason and argument,but,when used in the support of reason and argument,they are irresistible.The French attend very much to the purity and elegance of their style,even in common conversation;insomuch that it is a character to say of a man 'qu'il narre bien'.Their conversations frequently turn upon the delicacies of their language,and an academy is employed in fixing it.

The 'Crusca',in Italy,has the same object;and I have met with very few Italians,who did not speak their own language correctly and elegantly.

How much more necessary is it for an Englishman to do so,who is to speak it in a public assembly,where the laws and liberties of his country are the subjects of his deliberation?The tongue that would persuade there,must not content itself with mere articulation.You know what pains Demosthenes took to correct his naturally bad elocution;you know that he declaimed by the seaside in storms,to prepare himself for the noise of the tumultuous assemblies he was to speak to;and you can now judge of the correctness and elegance of his style.He thought all these things of consequence,and he thought right;pray do you think so too?It is of the utmost consequence to you to be of that opinion.If you have the least defect in your elocution,take the utmost care and pains to correct it.Do not neglect your style,whatever language you speak in,or whoever you speak to,were it your footman.Seek always for the best words and the happiest expressions you can find.Do not content yourself with being barely understood;but adorn your thoughts,and dress them as you would your person;which,however well proportioned it might be,it would be very improper and indecent to exhibit naked,or even worse dressed than people of your sort are.

同类推荐
热门推荐
  • 诺贝尔文学课

    诺贝尔文学课

    本书为读者介绍了莫言、川端康成、福克纳、萨特、贝克特、罗曼·罗兰、泰戈尔等23个获得诺贝尔文学奖的具有广泛影响力的作家。对每位作家的介绍包括作家小传和作品赏析两个部分。让广大读者能够通过了解这些作家的生平更准确地把握他们的作品,领悟他们文学创作的动机与创作的灵感。
  • 巅峰骄阳

    巅峰骄阳

    他虽是一个普通的小人物,却有着一颗骄阳一般的心,快乐而开朗,他誓言帮助遇见的所有冤魂,让他们顺利投胎,直到某一天,当他遇见地府六臂,引领他踏入了无限神奇的世界,一步步,踏上世界的顶峰,成为世间的骄阳。
  • 南仙

    南仙

    今生不作地狱鬼,便为世间第一人。跳下山崖的那一刻,林凡心中浮现出这样一句话。
  • 温解道德经

    温解道德经

    《道德经》是一本怎样的书,不同的人眼中有不同的答案,同样我的眼中,他也是一种属于我的样子。心中有所感,自然是要与人分享的,这是一本注解《道德经》的书,却是古往今来,和他人注解截然不同的一本。是我本人的所感所想所悟,接下来,就进入正文吧。
  • 商业银行风险管理实务

    商业银行风险管理实务

    “风险”一词的由来,最为普遍的说法是,在远古时期,渔民们每次出海前都要祈祷,祈求神灵保佑自己能够平安归来;他们在长期的捕捞实践中,深深地体会到“风”给他们带来的无法预测无法确定的危险,他们认识到,在出海捕捞打鱼的生活中,“风”即意味着“险”,因此有了“风险”一词的由来。而另一种据说经过多位学者论证的“风险”一词的“源出说”称,风险(Risk)一词是舶来品,源于拉丁文Risicare一词。Risi之意是由希腊文中的Cliff(山崖)派生出来的,Risicare一词被解释为“在山崖中航行”,意为害怕。从一般意义而言,风险具有普遍性、客观性、损失性、不确定性和社会性。
  • 无上宝座

    无上宝座

    无上宝界,传说有灵宝千万,与三千太初道宝争夺那执掌大千天道的鸿蒙宝座。魂穿此界的林寒化身某个小宗门被废的大师兄,看他如何利用伴他而来的神秘宝物,镇压诸宝,从一蹶不振的废物一路逆袭。终将此界的无数天之骄子尽情地踩在脚下,成就那万古唯一的不朽之名。
  • 月光皎皎

    月光皎皎

    家庭穷苦,父亲为了生活出去打工赚钱,却一去不返,直到二月才得知去世!妈妈为了养大孩子,独自撑起家庭......
  • 阿閦如来念诵供养法

    阿閦如来念诵供养法

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。
  • 幻想逍遥行

    幻想逍遥行

    系统又见系统,造个无限玩养成,开个小店通时空!逆战中带领僵尸纵横星空;天龙中,玩转仙侠建天庭;《粉红西游之万神传》,我去这个又是什么鬼?《超侠》《萌萌坦克炮》一切尽在不言中!群号码:29086565
  • 囚梦魔

    囚梦魔

    平凡人界女孩,被选中的命运。可望不可即的守护神,温柔深情的鬼族殿下,神秘的鬼面,妖媚迷离的狐妖,扑朔迷离的故事。三界即将大乱,看她如何挣脱命运,从弱小变得更强!