CHAPTER VII
THEPRICEOFPOWERANDTHEWORTHOFFAME
Sunday,July1st.
YesterdaythemonthdedicatedtoJuno(Junius,June)bytheRomansended.
To-dayweenteronJuly.
InancientRomethislattermonthwascalledQuintiles(thefifth),becausetheyear,whichwasthendividedintoonlytenparts,beganinMarch.WhenNumaPompiliusdivideditintotwelvemonthsthisnameofQuintileswaspreserved,aswellasthosethatfollowed——Sexteles,September,October,November,December——althoughthesedesignationsdidnotaccordwiththenewlyarrangedorderofthemonths.Atlast,afteratimethemonthQuintiles,inwhichJuliusCaesarwasborn,wascalledJulius,whencewehaveJuly.Thusthisname,placedinthecalendar,isbecometheimperishablerecordofagreatman;itisanimmortalepitaphonTimeshighway,engravedbytheadmirationofman.
Howmanysimilarinscriptionsarethere!Seas,continents,mountains,stars,andmonuments,haveallinsuccessionservedthesamepurpose!WehaveturnedthewholeworldintoaGoldenBook,likethatinwhichthestateofVeniceusedtoenrollitsillustriousnamesanditsgreatdeeds.
Itseemsthatmankindfeelsanecessityforhonoringitselfinitselectones,andthatitraisesitselfinitsowneyesbychoosingheroesfromamongitsownrace.Thehumanfamilylovetopreservethememory;oftheparvenusofglory,aswecherishthatofagreatancestor,orofabenefactor.
Infact,thetalentsgrantedtoasingleindividualdonotbenefithimselfalone,butaregiftstotheworld;everyonesharesthem,foreveryonesuffersorbenefitsbyhisactions.Geniusisalighthouse,meanttogivelightfromafar;themanwhobearsitisbuttherockuponwhichthislighthouseisbuilt.
Ilovetodwelluponthesethoughts;theyexplaintomeinwhatconsistsouradmirationforglory.Whengloryhasbenefitedmen,thatadmirationisgratitude;whenitisonlyremarkableinitself,itistheprideofrace;asmen,welovetoimmortalizethemostshiningexamplesofhumanity.
Whoknowswhetherwedonotobeythesameinstinctinsubmittingtothehandofpower?Apartfromtherequirementsofagradationofranks,ortheconsequencesofaconquest,themultitudedelighttosurroundtheirchiefswithprivileges——whetheritbethattheirvanitymakesthemthustoaggrandizeoneoftheirowncreations,orwhethertheytrytoconcealthehumiliationofsubjectionbyexaggeratingtheimportanceofthosewhorulethem.Theywishtohonorthemselvesthroughtheirmaster;theyelevatehimontheirshouldersasonapedestal;theysurroundhimwithahalooflight,inorderthatsomeofitmaybereflecteduponthemselves.
Itisstillthefableofthedogwhocontentshimselfwiththechainandcollar,sothattheyareofgold.
Thisservilevanityisnotlessnaturalorlesscommonthanthevanityofdominion.Whoeverfeelshimselfincapableofcommand,atleastdesirestoobeyapowerfulchief.Serfshavebeenknowntoconsiderthemselvesdishonoredwhentheybecamethepropertyofamerecountafterhavingbeenthatofaprince,andSaint-Simonmentionsavaletwhowouldonlywaituponmarquises.
July7th,sevenoclockP.M——IhavejustnowbeenuptheBoulevards;itwastheoperanight,andtherewasacrowdofcarriagesintheRueLepelletier.Thefoot-passengerswhowerestoppedatacrossingrecognizedthepersonsinsomeoftheseaswewentby,andmentionedtheirnames;theywerethoseofcelebratedorpowerfulmen,thesuccessfulonesoftheday.
Nearmetherewasamanlookingonwithhollowcheeksandeagereyes,whosethinblackcoatwasthreadbare.Hefollowedwithenviouslooksthesepossessorsoftheprivilegesofpoweroroffame,andIreadonhislips,whichcurledwithabittersmile,allthatpassedinhismind.
"Lookatthem,theluckyfellows!"thoughthe;"allthepleasuresofwealth,alltheenjoymentsofpride,aretheirs.Theirnamesarerenowned,alltheirwishesfulfilled;theyarethesovereignsoftheworld,eitherbytheirintellectortheirpower;andwhileI,poorandunknown,toilpainfullyalongtheroadbelow,theywingtheirwayoverthemountain-topsgildedbythebroadsunshineofprosperity."
Ihavecomehomeindeepthought.Isittruethattherearetheseinequalities,Idonotsayinthefortunes,butinthehappinessofmen?
Dogeniusandauthorityreallywearlifeasacrown,whilethegreaterpartofmankindreceiveitasayoke?Isthedifferenceofrankbutadifferentuseofmensdispositionsandtalents,orarealinequalityintheirdestinies?Asolemnquestion,asitregardstheverificationofGodsimpartiality.
July8th,noon——Iwentthismorningtocalluponafriendfromthesameprovinceasmyself,whoisthefirstusher-in-waitingtooneofourministers.Itookhimsomelettersfromhisfamily,leftforhimbyatravellerjustcomefromBrittany.Hewishedmetostay.
"To-day,"saidhe,"theMinistergivesnoaudience:hetakesadayofrestwithhisfamily.Hisyoungersistersarearrived;hewilltakethemthismorningtoSt.Cloud,andintheeveninghehasinvitedhisfriendstoaprivateball.Ishallbedismisseddirectlyfortherestoftheday.Wecandinetogether;readthenewswhileyouarewaitingforme."
Isatdownatatablecoveredwithnewspapers,allofwhichIlookedoverbyturns.Mostofthemcontainedseverecriticismsonthelastpoliticalactsoftheminister;someofthemaddedsuspicionsastothehonoroftheministerhimself.
JustasIhadfinishedreading,asecretarycameforthemtotakethemtohismaster.
Hewasthenabouttoreadtheseaccusations,tosuffersilentlytheabuseofallthosetongueswhichwereholdinghimuptoindignationortoscorn!LiketheRomanvictorinhistriumph,hehadtoenduretheinsultsofhimwhofollowedhiscar,relatingtothecrowdhisfollies,hisignorance,orhisvices.
But,amongthearrowsshotathimfromeveryside,wouldnoonebefoundpoisoned?Wouldnotonereachsomespotinhisheartwherethewoundwouldbeincurable?Whatistheworthofalifeexposedtotheattacksofenvioushatredorfuriousconviction?TheChristiansyieldedonlythefragmentsoftheirfleshtothebeastsoftheamphitheatres;themaninpowergivesuphispeace,hisaffections,hishonor,tothecruelbitesofthepen.
WhileIwasmusinguponthesedangersofgreatness,theusherenteredhastily.Importantnewshadbeenreceived:theministerisjustsummonedtothecouncil;hewillnotbeabletotakehissisterstoSt.Cloud.
Isaw,throughthewindows,theyoungladies,whowerewaitingatthedoor,sorrowfullygoupstairsagain,whiletheirbrotherwentofftothecouncil.Thecarriage,whichshouldhavegonefilledwithsomuchfamilyhappiness,isjustoutofsight,carryingonlythecaresofastatesmaninit.
Theushercamebackdiscontentedanddisappointed.Themoreorlessoflibertywhichheisallowedtoenjoy,ishisbarometerofthepoliticalatmosphere.Ifhegetsleave,allgoeswell;ifheiskeptathispost,thecountryisindanger.Hisopiniononpublicaffairsisbutacalculationofhisowninterest.Myfriendisalmostastatesman.
Ihadsomeconversationwithhim,andhetoldmeseveralcuriousparticularsofpubliclife.
Thenewministerhasoldfriendswhoseopinionsheopposes,thoughhestillretainshispersonalregardforthem.Thoughseparatedfromthembythecolorshefightsunder,theyremainunitedbyoldassociations;buttheexigenciesofpartyforbidhimtomeetthem.Iftheirintercoursecontinued,itwouldawakensuspicion;peoplewouldimaginethatsomedishonorablebargainwasgoingon;hisfriendswouldbeheldtobetraitorsdesiroustosellthemselves,andhethecorruptministerpreparedtobuythem.Hehas,therefore,beenobligedtobreakofffriendshipsoftwentyyearsstanding,andtosacrificeattachmentswhichhadbecomeasecondnature.
Sometimes,however,theministerstillgiveswaytohisoldfeelings;hereceivesorvisitshisfriendsprivately;heshutshimselfupwiththem,andtalksofthetimeswhentheycouldbeopenfriends.Bydintofprecautionstheyhavehithertosucceededinconcealingthisblotoffriendshipagainstpolicy;butsoonerorlaterthenewspaperswillbeinformedofit,andwilldenouncehimtothecountryasanobjectofdistrust.
Forwhetherhatredbehonestordishonest,itnevershrinksfromanyaccusation.Sometimesitevenproceedstocrime.Theusherassuredmethatseveralwarningshadbeengiventheministerwhichhadmadehimfearthevengeanceofanassassin,andthathenolongerventuredoutonfoot.
Then,fromonethingtoanother,Ilearnedwhattemptationscameintomisleadorovercomehisjudgment;howhefoundhimselffatallyledintoobliquitieswhichhecouldnotbutdeplore.Misledbypassion,over-persuadedbyentreaties,orcompelledforreputationssake,hehasmanytimesheldthebalancewithanunsteadyhand.Howsadtheconditionofhimwhoisinauthority!Notonlyarethemiseriesofpowerimposeduponhim,butitsvicesalso,which,notcontentwithtorturing,succeedincorruptinghim.
Weprolongedourconversationtillitwasinterruptedbytheministersreturn.Hethrewhimselfoutofthecarriagewithahandfulofpapers,andwithananxiousmannerwentintohisownroom.Aninstantafterwardhisbellwasheard;hissecretarywascalledtosendoffnoticestoallthoseinvitedfortheevening;theballwouldnottakeplace;theyspokemysteriouslyofbadnewstransmittedbythetelegraph,andinsuchcircumstancesanentertainmentwouldseemtoinsultthepublicsorrow.
Itookleaveofmyfriend,andhereIamathome.WhatIhavejustseenisananswertomydoubtstheotherday.NowIknowwithwhatpangsmenpayfortheirdignities;nowIunderstandThatFortunesellswhatwebelieveshegives.
ThisexplainstomethereasonwhyCharlesVaspiredtothereposeofthecloister.
AndyetIhaveonlyglancedatsomeofthesufferingsattachedtopower.
WhatshallIsayofthefallsinwhichitspossessorsareprecipitatedfromtheheightsofheaventotheverydepthsoftheearth?ofthatpathofpainalongwhichtheymustforeverbeartheburdenoftheirresponsibility?ofthatchainofdecorumsandennuiswhichencompasseseveryactoftheirlives,andleavesthemsolittleliberty?
Thepartisansofdespotismadherewithreasontoformsandceremonies.
Ifmenwishtogiveunlimitedpowertotheirfellow-man,theymustkeephimseparatedfromordinaryhumanity;theymustsurroundhimwithacontinualworship,and,byaconstantceremonial,keepupforhimthesuperhumanparttheyhavegrantedhim.Ourmasterscannotremainabsolute,exceptonconditionofbeingtreatedasidols.
But,afterall,theseidolsaremen,and,iftheexclusivelifetheymustleadisaninsulttothedignityofothers,itisalsoatormenttothemselves.EveryoneknowsthelawoftheSpanishcourt,whichusedtoregulate,hourbyhour,theactionsofthekingandqueen;"sothat,"
saysVoltaire,"byreadingitonecantellallthatthesovereignsofSpainhavedone,orwilldo,fromPhilipIItothedayofjudgment."ItwasbythislawthatPhilipIII,whensick,wasobligedtoenduresuchanexcessofheatthathediedinconsequence,becausetheDukeofUzeda,whoalonehadtherighttoputoutthefireintheroyalchamber,happenedtobeabsent.
WhenthewifeofCharlesIIwasrunawaywithonaspiritedhorse,shewasabouttoperishbeforeanyonedaredtosaveher,becauseetiquetteforbadethemtotouchthequeen.Twoyoungofficersendangeredtheirlivesforherbystoppingthehorse.Theprayersandtearsofherwhomtheyhadjustsnatchedfromdeathwerenecessarytoobtainpardonfortheircrime.EveryoneknowstheanecdoterelatedbyMadameCampanofMarieAntoinette,wifeofLouisXVI.Oneday,beingathertoilet,whenthechemisewasabouttobepresentedtoherbyoneoftheassistants,aladyofveryancientfamilyenteredandclaimedthehonor,asshehadtherightbyetiquette;but,atthemomentshewasabouttofulfilherduty,aladyofhigherrankappeared,andinherturntookthegarmentshewasabouttooffertothequeen;whenathirdladyofstillhighertitlecameinherturn,andwasfollowedbyafourth,whowasnootherthanthekingssister.Thechemisewasinthismannerpassedfromhandtohand,withceremonies,courtesies,andcompliments,beforeitcametothequeen,who,halfnakedandquiteashamed,wasshiveringwithcoldforthegreathonorofetiquette.
12th,sevenoclock,P.M——Oncominghomethisevening,Isaw,standingatthedoorofahouse,anoldman,whoseappearanceandfeaturesremindedmeofmyfather.Therewasthesamebeautifulsmile,thesamedeepandpenetratingeye,thesamenoblebearingofthehead,andthesamecarelessattitude.
Ibeganlivingoveragainthefirstyearsofmylife,andrecallingtomyselftheconversationsofthatguidewhomGodinhismercyhadgivenme,andwhominhisseverityhehadtoosoonwithdrawn.
Whenmyfatherspoke,itwasnotonlytobringourtwomindstogetherbyaninterchangeofthought,buthiswordsalwayscontainedinstruction.
Notthatheendeavoredtomakemefeelitso:myfatherfearedeverythingthathadtheappearanceofalesson.Heusedtosaythatvirtuecouldmakeherselfdevotedfriends,butshedidnottakepupils:thereforehewasnotdesiroustoteachgoodness;hecontentedhimselfwithsowingtheseedsofit,certainthatexperiencewouldmakethemgrow.
Howoftenhasgoodgrainfallenthusintoacorneroftheheart,and,whenithasbeenlongforgotten,allatonceputforththebladeandcomeintoear!Itisatreasurelaidasideinatimeofignorance,andwedonotknowitsvaluetillwefindourselvesinneedofit.
Amongthestorieswithwhichheenlivenedourwalksorourevenings,thereisonewhichnowreturnstomymemory,doubtlessbecausethetimeiscometoderiveitslessonfromit.
Myfather,whowasapprenticedattheageoftwelvetooneofthosetradingcollectorswhocallthemselvesnaturalists,becausetheyputallcreationunderglassesthattheymaysellitbyretail,hadalwaysledalifeofpovertyandlabor.Obligedtorisebeforedaybreak,byturnsshop-boy,clerk,andlaborer,hewasmadetobearalonealltheworkofatradeofwhichhismasterreapedalltheprofits.Intruth,thislatterhadapeculiartalentformakingthemostofthelaborofotherpeople.
Thoughunfithimselffortheexecutionofanykindofwork,nooneknewbetterhowtosellit.Hiswordswereanet,inwhichpeoplefoundthemselvestakenbeforetheywereaware.Andsincehewasdevotedtohimselfalone,andlookedontheproducerashisenemy,andthebuyerasprey,heusedthembothwiththatobstinateperseverancewhichavariceteaches.
Myfatherwasaslavealltheweek,andcouldcallhimselfhisownonlyonSunday.Themasternaturalist,whousedtospendthedayatthehouseofanoldfemalerelative,thengavehimhislibertyonconditionthathedinedout,andathisownexpense.Butmyfatherusedsecretlytotakewithhimacrustofbread,whichhehidinhisbotanizing-box,and,leavingParisassoonasitwasday,hewouldwanderfarintothevalleyofMontmorency,thewoodofMeudon,oramongthewindingsoftheMarne.
Excitedbythefreshair,thepenetratingperfumeofthegrowingvegetation,orthefragranceofthehoneysuckles,hewouldwalkonuntilhungerorfatiguemadeitselffelt.Thenhewouldsitunderahedge,orbythesideofastream,andwouldmakearusticfeast,byturnsonwatercresses,woodstrawberries,andblackberriespickedfromthehedges;hewouldgatherafewplants,readafewpagesofFlorian,theningreatestvogue,ofGessner,whowasjusttranslated,orofJeanJacques,ofwhomhepossessedthreeoldvolumes.Thedaywasthuspassedalternatelyinactivityandrest,inpursuitandmeditation,untilthedecliningsunwarnedhimtotakeagaintheroadtoParis,wherehewouldarrive,hisfeettornanddusty,buthismindinvigoratedforawholeweek.
Oneday,ashewasgoingtowardthewoodofViroflay,hemet,closetoit,astrangerwhowasoccupiedinbotanizingandinsortingtheplantshehadjustgathered.Hewasanelderlymanwithanhonestface;buthiseyes,whichwereratherdeep-setunderhiseyebrows,hadasomewhatuneasyandtimidexpression.Hewasdressedinabrownclothcoat,agraywaistcoat,blackbreeches,andworstedstockings,andheldanivory-headedcaneunderhisarm.Hisappearancewasthatofasmallretiredtradesmanwhowaslivingonhismeans,andratherbelowthegoldenmeanofHorace.
Myfather,whohadgreatrespectforage,civillyraisedhishattohimashepassed.Indoingso,aplantheheldfellfromhishand;thestrangerstoopedtotakeitup,andrecognizedit.
"ItisaDeutariaheptaphyllos,"saidhe;"Ihavenotyetseenanyoftheminthesewoods;didyoufinditnearhere,sir?"
Myfatherrepliedthatitwastobefoundinabundanceonthetopofthehill,towardSevres,aswellasthegreatLaserpitium.
"That,too!"repeatedtheoldmanmorebriskly."Ah!Ishallgoandlookforthem;IhavegatheredthemformerlyonthehillsideofRobaila."
Myfatherproposedtotakehim.Thestrangeracceptedhisproposalwiththanks,andhastenedtocollecttogethertheplantshehadgathered;butallofasuddenheappearedseizedwithascruple.Heobservedtohiscompanionthattheroadhewasgoingwashalfwayupthehill,andledinthedirectionofthecastleoftheDamesRoyalesatBellevue;thatbygoingtothetophewouldconsequentlyturnoutofhisroad,andthatitwasnotrightheshouldtakethistroubleforastranger.
Myfatherinsisteduponitwithhishabitualgood-nature;but,themoreeagernessheshowed,themoreobstinatelytheoldmanrefused;itevenseemedtomyfatherthathisgoodintentionatlastexcitedhissuspicion.Hethereforecontentedhimselfwithpointingouttheroadtothestranger,whomhesaluted,andhesoonlostsightofhim.
Manyhourspassedby,andhethoughtnomoreofthemeeting.HehadreachedthecopsesofChaville,where,stretchedonthegroundinamossyglade,hereadoncemorethelastvolumeofEmile.Thedelightofreadingithadsocompletelyabsorbedhimthathehadceasedtoseeorhearanythingaroundhim.Withhischeeksflushedandhiseyesmoist,herepeatedaloudapassagewhichhadparticularlyaffectedhim.
Anexclamationutteredclosebyhimawokehimfromhisecstasy;heraisedhishead,andperceivedthetradesman-lookingpersonhehadmetbeforeonthecrossroadatViroflay.
Hewasloadedwithplants,thecollectionofwhichseemedtohaveputhimintohighgood-humor.
"Athousandthanks,sir,"saidhetomyfather."Ihavefoundallthatyoutoldmeof,andIamindebtedtoyouforacharmingwalk."
Myfatherrespectfullyrose,andmadeacivilreply.Thestrangerhadgrownquitefamiliar,andevenaskedifhisyoung"brotherbotanist"didnotthinkofreturningtoParis.Myfatherrepliedintheaffirmative,andopenedhistinboxtoputhisbookbackinit.
Thestrangeraskedhimwithasmileifhemightwithoutimpertinenceaskthenameofit.MyfatheransweredthatitwasRousseausEmile.
Thestrangerimmediatelybecamegrave.
Theywalkedforsometimesidebyside,myfatherexpressing,withthewarmthofaheartstillthrobbingwithemotion,allthatthisworkhadmadehimfeel;hiscompanionremainingcoldandsilent.TheformerextolledthegloryofthegreatGenevesewriter,whosegeniushadmadehimacitizenoftheworld;heexpatiatedonthisprivilegeofgreatthinkers,whoreigninspiteoftimeandspace,andgathertogetherapeopleofwillingsubjectsoutofallnations;butthestrangersuddenlyinterruptedhim:
"Andhowdoyouknow,"saidhe,mildly,"whetherJeanJacqueswouldnotexchangethereputationwhichyouseemtoenvyforthelifeofoneofthewood-cutterswhosechimneyssmokewesee?Whathasfamebroughthimexceptpersecution?Theunknownfriendswhomhisbooksmayhavemadeforhimcontentthemselveswithblessinghimintheirhearts,whilethedeclaredenemiesthattheyhavedrawnuponhimpursuehimwithviolenceandcalumny!Hispridehasbeenflatteredbysuccess:howmanytimeshasitbeenwoundedbysatire?AndbeassuredthathumanprideisliketheSybaritewhowaspreventedfromsleepingbyacreaseinaroseleaf.Theactivityofavigorousmind,bywhichtheworldprofits,almostalwaysturnsagainsthimwhopossessesit.Heexpectsmorefromitashegrowsolder;theidealhepursuescontinuallydisgustshimwiththeactual;heislikeamanwho,withatoo-refinedsight,discernsspotsandblemishesinthemostbeautifulface.Iwillnotspeakofstrongertemptationsandofdeeperdownfalls.Genius,youhavesaid,isakingdom;butwhatvirtuousmanisnotafraidofbeingaking?Hewhofeelsonlyhisgreatpowers,is——withtheweaknessesandpassionsofournature——preparingforgreatfailures.Believeme,sir,theunhappymanwhowrotethisbookisnoobjectofadmirationorofenvy;but,ifyouhaveafeelingheart,pityhim!"
Myfather,astonishedattheexcitementwithwhichhiscompanionpronouncedtheselastwords,didnotknowwhattoanswer.
JustthentheyreachedthepavedroadwhichledfromMeudonCastletothatofVersailles;acarriagewaspassing.
Theladieswhowereinitperceivedtheoldman,utteredanexclamationofsurprise,andleaningoutofthewindowrepeated:
"ThereisJeanJacques——thereisRousseau!"
Thenthecarriagedisappearedinthedistance.
Myfatherremainedmotionless,confounded,andamazed,hiseyeswideopen,andhishandsclasped.
Rousseau,whohadshudderedonhearinghisnamespoken,turnedtowardhim:
"Yousee,"saidhe,withthebittermisanthropywhichhislatermisfortuneshadproducedinhim,"JeanJacquescannotevenhidehimself:
heisanobjectofcuriositytosome,ofmalignitytoothers,andtoallheisapublicthing,atwhichtheypointthefinger.Itwouldsignifylessifhehadonlytosubmittotheimpertinenceoftheidle;but,assoonasamanhashadthemisfortunetomakehimselfaname,hebecomespublicproperty.Everyonerakesintohislife,relateshismosttrivialactions,andinsultshisfeelings;hebecomeslikethosewalls,whicheverypasser-bymaydefacewithsomeabusivewriting.PerhapsyouwillsaythatIhavemyselfencouragedthiscuriositybypublishingmyConfessions.Buttheworldforcedmetoit.Theylookedintomyhousethroughtheblinds,andtheyslanderedme;Ihaveopenedthedoorsandwindows,sothattheyshouldatleastknowmesuchasIam.Adieu,sir.
Wheneveryouwishtoknowtheworthoffame,rememberthatyouhaveseenRousseau."
Nineoclock——Ah!nowIunderstandmyfathersstory!ItcontainstheanswertooneofthequestionsIaskedmyselfaweekago.Yes,Inowfeelthatfameandpoweraregiftsthataredearlybought;andthat,whentheydazzlethesoul,bothareoftenest,asMadamedeStaelsays,butundeuileclatantdebonheur!
Tisbettertobelowlyborn,Andrangewithhumbleliversincontent,Thantobeperkdupinaglisteringgrief,Andwearagoldensorrow.
[HenryVIII.,ActII.,Scene3.]