England is the best of actual nations. It is no ideal framework, it is an old pile built in different ages, with repairs, additions, and makeshifts; but you see the poor best you have got. London is the epitome1 of our times, and the Rome of to-day. Broad-fronted broad-bottomed Teutons, they stand in solid phalanx foursquare to the points of compass; they constitute the modern world, they have earned their vantage-ground, and held it through ages of adverse2 possession. They are well marked and differing from other leading races. England is tender-hearted. Rome was not. England is not so public in its bias3; private life is its place of honor. Truth in private life, untruth in public, marks these home-loving men. Their political conduct is not decided4 by general views, but by internal intrigues5 and personal and family interest. They cannot readily see beyond England. The history of Rome and Greece, when written by their scholars, degenerates6 into English party pamphlets. They cannot see beyond England, nor in England can they transcend7 the interests of the governing classes. “English principles” mean a primary regard to the interests of property. England, Scotland, and Ireland combine to check the colonies. England and Scotland combine to check Irish manufactures and trade. England rallies at home to check Scotland. In England, the strong classes check the weaker. In the home population of near thirty millions, there are but one million voters. The Church punishes dissent8, punishes education. Down to a late day, marriages performed by dissenters9 were illegal. A bitter class-legislation gives power to those who are rich enough to buy a law. The game-laws are a proverb of oppression. Pauperism10 incrusts and clogs11 the state, and in hard times becomes hideous12. In bad seasons, the porridge was diluted13. Multitudes lived miserably14 by shell-fish and sea-ware. In cities, the children are trained to beg, until they shall be old enough to rob. Men and women were convicted of poisoning scores of children for burial-fees. In Irish districts, men deteriorated15 in size and shape, the nose sunk, the gums were exposed, with diminished brain and brutal16 form. During the Australian emigration, multitudes were rejected by the commissioners17 as being too emaciated18 for useful colonists19. During the Russian war, few of those that offered as recruits were found up to the medical standard, though it had been reduced.
The foreign policy of England, though ambitious and lavish20 of money, has not often been generous or just. It has a principal regard to the interest of trade, checked however by the aristocratic bias of the ambassador, which usually puts him in sympathy with the continental21 Courts. It sanctioned the partition of Poland, it betrayed Genoa, Sicily, Parga, Greece, Turkey, Rome, and Hungary.
Some public regards they have. They have abolished slavery in the West Indies, and put an end to human sacrifices in the East. At home they have a certain statute22 hospitality. England keeps open doors, as a trading country must, to all nations. It is one of their fixed23 ideas, and wrathfully supported by their laws in unbroken sequence for a thousand years. In Magna Charta it was ordained24, that all “merchants shall have safe and secure conduct to go out and come into England, and to stay there, and to pass as well by land as by water, to buy and sell by the ancient allowed customs, without any evil toll25, except in time of war, or when they shall be of any nation at war with us.” It is a statute and obliged hospitality, and peremptorily26 maintained. But this shop-rule had one magnificent effect. It extends its cold unalterable courtesy to political exiles of every opinion, and is a fact which might give additional light to that portion of the planet seen from the farthest star. But this perfunctory hospitality puts no sweetness into their unaccommodating manners, no check on that puissant27 nationality which makes their existence incompatible28 with all that is not English.
What we must say about a nation is a superficial dealing29 with symptoms. We cannot go deep enough into the biography of the spirit who never throws himself entire into one hero, but delegates his energy in parts or spasms30 to vicious and defective31 individuals. But the wealth of the source is seen in the plenitude of English nature. What variety of power and talent; what facility and plenteousness of knighthood, lordship, ladyship, royalty32, loyalty33; what a proud chivalry34 is indicated in “Collins’s Peerage,” through eight hundred years! What dignity resting on what reality and stoutness35! What courage in war, what sinew in labor36, what cunning workmen, what inventors and engineers, what seamen37 and pilots, what clerks and scholars! No one man and no few men can represent them. It is a people of myriad38 personalities39. Their many-headedness is owing to the advantageous40 position of the middle class, who are always the source of letters and science. Hence the vast plenty of their aesthetic41 production. As they are many-headed, so they are many-nationed: their colonization42 annexes43 archipelagoes and continents, and their speech seems destined44 to be the universal language of men. I have noted45 the reserve of power in the English temperament46. In the island, they never let out all the length of all the reins47, there is no Berserkir rage, no abandonment or ecstasy48 of will or intellect, like that of the Arabs in the time of Mahomet, or like that which intoxicated49 France in 1789. But who would see the uncoiling of that tremendous spring, the explosion of their well-husbanded forces, must follow the swarms50 which pouring now for two hundred years from the British islands, have sailed, and rode, and traded, and planted, through all climates, mainly following the belt of empire, the temperate51 zones, carrying the Saxon seed, with its instinct for liberty and law, for arts and for thought, — acquiring under some skies a more electric energy than the native air allows, — to the conquest of the globe. Their colonial policy, obeying the necessities of a vast empire, has become liberal. Canada and Australia have been contented52 with substantial independence. They are expiating53 the wrongs of India, by benefits; first, in works for the irrigation of the peninsula, and roads and telegraphs; and secondly54, in the instruction of the people, to qualify them for self-government, when the British power shall be finally called home.
Their mind is in a state of arrested development, — a divine cripple like Vulcan; a blind savant like Huber and Sanderson. They do not occupy themselves on matters of general and lasting55 import, but on a corporeal56 civilization, on goods that perish in the using. But they read with good intent, and what they learn they incarnate57. The English mind turns every abstraction it can receive into a portable utensil58, or a working institution. Such is their tenacity59, and such their practical turn, that they hold all they gain. Hence we say, that only the English race can be trusted with freedom, — freedom which is double-edged and dangerous to any but the wise and robust60. The English designate the kingdoms emulous of free institutions, as the sentimental61 nations. Their culture is not an outside varnish62, but is thorough and secular63 in families and the race. They are oppressive with their temperament, and all the more that they are refined. I have sometimes seen them walk with my countrymen when I was forced to allow them every advantage, and their companions seemed bags of bones.
There is cramp64 limitation in their habit of thought, sleepy routine, and a tortoise’s instinct to hold hard to the ground with his claws, lest he should be thrown on his back. There is a drag of inertia65 which resists reform in every shape; — law-reform, army-reform, extension of suffrage66, Jewish franchise67, Catholic emancipation68, — the abolition69 of slavery, of impressment, penal70 code, and entails71. They praise this drag, under the formula, that it is the excellence72 of the British constitution, that no law can anticipate the public opinion. These poor tortoises must hold hard, for they feel no wings sprouting73 at their shoulders. Yet somewhat divine warms at their heart, and waits a happier hour. It hides in their sturdy will. “Will,” said the old philosophy, “is the measure of power,” and personality is the token of this race. Quid vult valde vult. What they do they do with a will. You cannot account for their success by their Christianity, commerce, charter, common law, Parliament, or letters, but by the contumacious74 sharptongued energy of English naturel, with a poise75 impossible to disturb, which makes all these its instruments. They are slow and reticent76, and are like a dull good horse which lets every nag77 pass him, but with whip and spur will run down every racer in the field. They are right in their feeling, though wrong in their speculation78.
The feudal79 system survives in the steep inequality of property and privilege, in the limited franchise, in the social barriers which confine patronage80 and promotion81 to a caste, and still more in the submissive ideas pervading82 these people. The fagging of the schools is repeated in the social classes. An Englishman shows no mercy to those below him in the social scale, as he looks for none from those above him: any forbearance from his superiors surprises him, and they suffer in his good opinion. But the feudal system can be seen with less pain on large historical grounds. It was pleaded in mitigation of the rotten borough83, that it worked well, that substantial justice was done. Fox, Burke, Pitt, Erskine, Wilberforce, Sheridan, Romilly, or whatever national man, were by this means sent to Parliament, when their return by large constituencies would have been doubtful. So now we say, that the right measures of England are the men it bred; that it has yielded more able men in five hundred years than any other nation; and, though we must not play Providence84, and balance the chances of producing ten great men against the comfort of ten thousand mean men, yet retrospectively we may strike the balance, and prefer one Alfred, one Shakspeare, one Milton, one Sidney, one Raleigh, one Wellington, to a million foolish democrats85.
The American system is more democratic, more humane86; yet the American people do not yield better or more able men, or more inventions or books or benefits, than the English. Congress is not wiser or better than Parliament. France has abolished its suffocating87 old regime, but is not recently marked by any more wisdom or virtue88.
The power of performance has not been exceeded, — the creation of value. The English have given importance to individuals, a principal end and fruit of every society. Every man is allowed and encouraged to be what he is, and is guarded in the indulgence of his whim89. “Magna Charta,” said Rushworth, “is such a fellow that he will have no sovereign.” By this general activity, and by this sacredness of individuals, they have in seven hundred years evolved the principles of freedom. It is the land of patriots90, martyrs91, sages92, and bards93, and if the ocean out of which it emerged should wash it away, it will be remembered as an island famous for immortal94 laws, for the announcements of original right which make the stone tables of liberty.
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epitome
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| n.典型，梗概 | |
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adverse
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| adj.不利的；有害的；敌对的，不友好的 | |
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bias
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| n.偏见，偏心，偏袒；vt.使有偏见 | |
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decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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intrigues
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| n.密谋策划( intrigue的名词复数 )；神秘气氛；引人入胜的复杂情节v.搞阴谋诡计( intrigue的第三人称单数 )；激起…的好奇心 | |
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degenerates
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| 衰退，堕落，退化( degenerate的第三人称单数 ) | |
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transcend
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| vt.超出，超越(理性等)的范围 | |
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dissent
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| n./v.不同意，持异议 | |
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dissenters
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| n.持异议者，持不同意见者( dissenter的名词复数 ) | |
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pauperism
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| n.有被救济的资格，贫困 | |
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clogs
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| 木屐； 木底鞋，木屐( clog的名词复数 ) | |
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hideous
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| adj.丑陋的，可憎的，可怕的，恐怖的 | |
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diluted
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| 无力的，冲淡的 | |
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miserably
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| adv.痛苦地；悲惨地；糟糕地；极度地 | |
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deteriorated
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| 恶化，变坏( deteriorate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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brutal
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| adj.残忍的，野蛮的，不讲理的 | |
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commissioners
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| n.专员( commissioner的名词复数 )；长官；委员；政府部门的长官 | |
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emaciated
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| adj.衰弱的，消瘦的 | |
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colonists
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| n.殖民地开拓者，移民，殖民地居民( colonist的名词复数 ) | |
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lavish
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| adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍 | |
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continental
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| adj.大陆的，大陆性的，欧洲大陆的 | |
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statute
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| n.成文法，法令，法规；章程，规则，条例 | |
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fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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ordained
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| v.任命（某人）为牧师( ordain的过去式和过去分词 )；授予（某人）圣职；（上帝、法律等）命令；判定 | |
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toll
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| n.过路(桥)费；损失，伤亡人数；v.敲(钟) | |
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peremptorily
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| adv.紧急地，不容分说地，专横地 | |
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puissant
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| adj.强有力的 | |
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incompatible
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| adj.不相容的，不协调的，不相配的 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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spasms
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| n.痉挛( spasm的名词复数 )；抽搐；（能量、行为等的）突发；发作 | |
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defective
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| adj.有毛病的，有问题的，有瑕疵的 | |
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royalty
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| n.皇家，皇族 | |
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loyalty
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| n.忠诚，忠心 | |
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chivalry
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| n.骑士气概，侠义；（男人）对女人彬彬有礼，献殷勤 | |
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stoutness
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| 坚固，刚毅 | |
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labor
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| n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦 | |
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seamen
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| n.海员 | |
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myriad
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| adj.无数的；n.无数，极大数量 | |
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personalities
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| n. 诽谤，（对某人容貌、性格等所进行的）人身攻击； 人身攻击；人格, 个性, 名人( personality的名词复数 ) | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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aesthetic
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| adj.美学的，审美的，有美感 | |
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colonization
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| 殖民地的开拓，殖民，殖民地化； 移殖 | |
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annexes
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| 并吞( annex的名词复数 )； 兼并； 强占； 并吞（国家、地区等）； 附加物，附属建筑( annexe的名词复数 ) | |
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destined
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| adj.命中注定的；(for)以…为目的地的 | |
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noted
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| adj.著名的，知名的 | |
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temperament
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| n.气质，性格，性情 | |
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reins
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| 感情，激情； 缰( rein的名词复数 )； 控制手段； 掌管； （成人带着幼儿走路以防其走失时用的）保护带 | |
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ecstasy
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| n.狂喜，心醉神怡，入迷 | |
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intoxicated
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| 喝醉的，极其兴奋的 | |
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swarms
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| 蜂群，一大群( swarm的名词复数 ) | |
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temperate
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| adj.温和的，温带的，自我克制的，不过分的 | |
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contented
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| adj.满意的，安心的，知足的 | |
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expiating
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| v.为（所犯罪过）接受惩罚，赎（罪）( expiate的现在分词 ) | |
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secondly
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| adv.第二，其次 | |
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lasting
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| adj.永久的，永恒的；vbl.持续，维持 | |
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corporeal
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| adj.肉体的，身体的；物质的 | |
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incarnate
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| adj.化身的，人体化的，肉色的 | |
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utensil
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| n.器皿，用具 | |
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tenacity
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| n.坚韧 | |
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robust
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| adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的 | |
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sentimental
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| adj.多愁善感的，感伤的 | |
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varnish
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| n.清漆；v.上清漆；粉饰 | |
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secular
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| n.牧师，凡人；adj.世俗的，现世的，不朽的 | |
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cramp
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| n.痉挛；[pl.](腹)绞痛；vt.限制，束缚 | |
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inertia
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| adj.惰性，惯性，懒惰，迟钝 | |
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suffrage
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| n.投票，选举权，参政权 | |
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franchise
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| n.特许，特权，专营权，特许权 | |
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emancipation
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| n.（从束缚、支配下）解放 | |
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abolition
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| n.废除，取消 | |
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penal
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| adj.刑罚的；刑法上的 | |
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entails
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| 使…成为必要( entail的第三人称单数 )； 需要； 限定继承； 使必需 | |
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excellence
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| n.优秀，杰出，(pl.)优点，美德 | |
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sprouting
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| v.发芽( sprout的现在分词 )；抽芽；出现；（使）涌现出 | |
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contumacious
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| adj.拒不服从的，违抗的 | |
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poise
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| vt./vi. 平衡，保持平衡；n.泰然自若，自信 | |
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reticent
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| adj.沉默寡言的；言不如意的 | |
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nag
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| v.(对…)不停地唠叨；n.爱唠叨的人 | |
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speculation
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| n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机 | |
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feudal
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| adj.封建的，封地的，领地的 | |
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patronage
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| n.赞助，支援，援助；光顾，捧场 | |
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promotion
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| n.提升，晋级；促销，宣传 | |
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pervading
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| v.遍及，弥漫( pervade的现在分词 ) | |
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borough
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| n.享有自治权的市镇；(英)自治市镇 | |
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providence
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| n.深谋远虑，天道，天意；远见；节约；上帝 | |
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democrats
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| n.民主主义者，民主人士( democrat的名词复数 ) | |
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humane
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| adj.人道的，富有同情心的 | |
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suffocating
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| a.使人窒息的 | |
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virtue
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| n.德行，美德；贞操；优点；功效，效力 | |
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whim
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| n.一时的兴致，突然的念头；奇想，幻想 | |
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90
patriots
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| 爱国者，爱国主义者( patriot的名词复数 ) | |
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91
martyrs
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| n.martyr的复数形式；烈士( martyr的名词复数 )；殉道者；殉教者；乞怜者（向人诉苦以博取同情） | |
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92
sages
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| n.圣人( sage的名词复数 )；智者；哲人；鼠尾草（可用作调料） | |
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93
bards
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| n.诗人( bard的名词复数 ) | |
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94
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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