In all lives, the highest and the humblest, there is a crisis in the formation of character, and in the bent1 of the disposition2. It comes from many causes, and from some which on the surface are apparently3 even trivial. It may be a book, a speech, a sermon; a man or a woman; a great misfortune or a burst of prosperity. But the result is the same; a sudden revelation to ourselves of our secret purpose, and a recognition of our perhaps long shadowed, but now masterful convictions.
A crisis of this kind occurred to Endymion the day when he returned to his chambers4, after having taken the oaths and his seat in the House of Commons. He felt the necessity of being alone. For nearly the last three months he had been the excited actor in a strange and even mysterious drama. There had been for him no time to reflect; all he could aim at was to comprehend, and if possible control, the present and urgent contingency5; he had been called upon, almost unceasingly, to do or to say something sudden and unexpected; and it was only now, when the crest6 of the ascent7 had been reached, that he could look around him and consider the new world opening to his gaze.
The greatest opportunity that can be offered to an Englishman was now his—a seat in the House of Commons. It was his almost in the first bloom of youth, and yet after advantageous8 years of labour and political training, and it was combined with a material independence on which he never could have counted. A love of power, a passion for distinction, a noble pride, which had been native to his early disposition, but which had apparently been crushed by the enormous sorrows and misfortunes of his childhood, and which had vanished, as it were, before the sweetness of that domestic love which had been the solace9 of his adversity, now again stirred their dim and mighty10 forms in his renovated12, and, as it were, inspired consciousness. “If this has happened at twenty-two,” thought Endymion, “what may not occur if the average life of man be allotted13 to me? At any rate, I will never think of anything else. I have a purpose in life, and I will fulfil it. It is a charm that its accomplishment14 would be the most grateful result to the two beings I most love in the world.”
So when Lady Montfort shortly after opened her views to Endymion as to his visiting Paris, and his purpose in so doing, the seeds were thrown on a willing soil, and he embraced her counsels with the deepest interest. His intimacy15 with the Count of Ferroll was the completing event of this epoch16 of his life.
Their acquaintance had been slight in England, for after the Montfort Tournament the Count had been appointed to Paris, where he was required; but he received Endymion with a cordiality which contrasted with his usual demeanour, which, though frank, was somewhat cynical17.
“This is not a favourable18 time to visit Paris,” he said, “so far as society is concerned. There is some business stirring in the diplomatic world, which has reassembled the fraternity for the moment, and the King is at St. Cloud, but you may make some acquaintances which may be desirable, and at any rate look about you and clear the ground for the coming season. I do not despair of our dear friend coming over in the winter. It is one of the hopes that keep me alive. What a woman! You may count yourself fortunate in having such a friend. I do. I am not particularly fond of female society. Women chatter19 too much. But I prefer the society of a first-rate woman to that of any man; and Lady Montfort is a first-rate woman—I think the greatest since Louise of Savoy; infinitely20 beyond the Princess d’Ursins.”
The “business that was then stirring in the diplomatic world,” at a season when the pleasures of Parisian society could not distract him, gave Endymion a rare opportunity of studying that singular class of human beings which is accustomed to consider states and nations as individuals, and speculate on their quarrels and misunderstandings, and the remedies which they require, in a tongue peculiar21 to themselves, and in language which often conveys a meaning exactly opposite to that which it seems to express. Diplomacy22 is hospitable23, and a young Englishman of graceful24 mien25, well introduced, and a member of the House of Commons—that awful assembly which produces those dreaded26 blue books which strike terror in the boldest of foreign statesmen—was not only received, but courted, in the interesting circle in which Endymion found himself.
There he encountered men grey with the fame and wisdom of half a century of deep and lofty action, men who had struggled with the first Napoleon, and had sat in the Congress of Vienna; others, hardly less celebrated27, who had been suddenly borne to high places by the revolutionary wave of 1830, and who had justly retained their exalted28 posts when so many competitors with an equal chance had long ago, with equal justice, subsided29 into the obscurity from which they ought never to have emerged. Around these chief personages were others not less distinguished30 by their abilities, but a more youthful generation, who knew how to wait, and were always prepared or preparing for the inevitable31 occasion when it arrived—fine and trained writers, who could interpret in sentences of graceful adroitness32 the views of their chiefs; or sages33 in precedents34, walking dictionaries of diplomacy, and masters of every treaty; and private secretaries reading human nature at a glance, and collecting every shade of opinion for the use and guidance of their principals.
Whatever their controversies35 in the morning, their critical interviews and their secret alliances, all were smiles and graceful badinage36 at the banquet and the reception; as if they had only come to Paris to show their brilliant uniforms, their golden fleeces, and their grand crosses, and their broad ribbons with more tints37 than the iris38.
“I will not give them ten years,” said the Count of Ferroll, lighting39 his cigarette, and addressing Endymion on their return from one of these assemblies; “I sometimes think hardly five.”
“But where will the blow come from?”
“Here; there is no movement in Europe except in France, and here it will always be a movement of subversion40.”
“The sooner you realise it the better. The system here is supported by journalists and bankers; two influential42 classes, but the millions care for neither; rather, I should say, dislike both.”
“Will the change affect Europe?”
“Inevitably. You rightly say Europe, for that is a geographical43 expression. There is no State in Europe; I exclude your own country, which belongs to every division of the globe, and is fast becoming more commercial than political, and I exclude Russia, for she is essentially44 oriental, and her future will be entirely45 the East.”
“But there is Germany!”
“Where? I cannot find it on the maps. Germany is divided into various districts, and when there is a war, they are ranged on different sides. Notwithstanding our reviews and annual encampments, Germany is practically as weak as Italy. We have some kingdoms who are allowed to play at being first-rate powers; but it is mere46 play. They no more command events than the King of Naples or the Duke of Modena.”
“Then is France periodically to overrun Europe?”
“So long as it continues to be merely Europe.”
A close intimacy occurred between Endymion and the Count of Ferroll. He not only became a permanent guest at the official residence, but when the Conference broke up, the Count invited Endymion to be his companion to some celebrated baths, where they would meet not only many of his late distinguished colleagues, but their imperial and royal masters, seeking alike health and relaxation47 at this famous rendezvous48.
“You will find it of the first importance in public life,” said the Count of Ferroll, “to know personally those who are carrying on the business of the world; so much depends on the character of an individual, his habits of thought, his prejudices, his superstitions49, his social weaknesses, his health. Conducting affairs without this advantage is, in effect, an affair of stationery50; it is pens and paper who are in communication, not human beings.”
The brother-in-law of Lord Roehampton was a sort of personage. It was very true that distinguished man was no longer minister, but he had been minister for a long time, and had left a great name. Foreigners rarely know more than one English minister at a time, but they compensated51 for their ignorance of the aggregate52 body by even exaggerating the qualities of the individual with whom they are acquainted. Lord Roehampton had conducted the affairs of his country always in a courteous53, but still in a somewhat haughty54 spirit. He was easy and obliging, and conciliatory in little matters, but where the credit, or honour, or large interests of England were concerned, he acted with conscious authority. On the continent of Europe, though he sometimes incurred55 the depreciation56 of the smaller minds, whose self-love he may not have sufficiently57 spared, by the higher spirits he was feared and admired, and they knew, when he gave his whole soul to an affair, that they were dealing58 with a master.
Endymion was presented to emperors and kings, and he made his way with these exalted personages. He found them different from what he had expected. He was struck by their intimate acquaintance with affairs, and by the serenity59 of their judgment60. The life was a pleasant as well as an interesting one. Where there are crowned heads, there are always some charming women. Endymion found himself in a delightful61 circle. Long days and early hours, and a beautiful country, renovate11 the spirit as well as the physical frame. Excursions to romantic forests, and visits to picturesque62 ruins, in the noon of summer, are enchanting63, especially with princesses for your companions, bright and accomplished64. Yet, notwithstanding some distractions65, Endymion never omitted writing to Lady Montfort every day.
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1
bent
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| n.爱好，癖好；adj.弯的；决心的，一心的 | |
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disposition
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| n.性情，性格；意向，倾向；排列，部署 | |
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apparently
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| adv.显然地；表面上，似乎 | |
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chambers
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| n.房间( chamber的名词复数 )；（议会的）议院；卧室；会议厅 | |
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contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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crest
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| n.顶点；饰章；羽冠；vt.达到顶点；vi.形成浪尖 | |
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ascent
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| n.(声望或地位)提高；上升，升高；登高 | |
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advantageous
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| adj.有利的；有帮助的 | |
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solace
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| n.安慰；v.使快乐；vt.安慰(物)，缓和 | |
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mighty
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| adj.强有力的；巨大的 | |
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renovate
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| vt.更新，革新，刷新 | |
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renovated
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| 翻新，修复，整修( renovate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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accomplishment
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| n.完成，成就，（pl.）造诣，技能 | |
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intimacy
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| n.熟悉，亲密，密切关系，亲昵的言行 | |
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epoch
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| n.(新)时代；历元 | |
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cynical
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| adj.(对人性或动机)怀疑的，不信世道向善的 | |
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favourable
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| adj.赞成的，称赞的，有利的，良好的，顺利的 | |
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chatter
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| vi.／n.喋喋不休；短促尖叫；(牙齿)打战 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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peculiar
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| adj.古怪的，异常的；特殊的，特有的 | |
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diplomacy
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| n.外交；外交手腕，交际手腕 | |
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hospitable
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| adj.好客的；宽容的；有利的，适宜的 | |
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graceful
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| adj.优美的，优雅的；得体的 | |
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mien
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| n.风采；态度 | |
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dreaded
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| adj.令人畏惧的；害怕的v.害怕，恐惧，担心( dread的过去式和过去分词) | |
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celebrated
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| adj.有名的，声誉卓著的 | |
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exalted
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| adj.(地位等)高的，崇高的；尊贵的，高尚的 | |
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subsided
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| v.（土地）下陷（因在地下采矿）( subside的过去式和过去分词 )；减弱；下降至较低或正常水平；一下子坐在椅子等上 | |
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distinguished
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| adj.卓越的，杰出的，著名的 | |
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inevitable
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| adj.不可避免的，必然发生的 | |
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adroitness
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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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precedents
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| 引用单元； 范例( precedent的名词复数 )； 先前出现的事例； 前例； 先例 | |
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35
controversies
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| 争论 | |
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badinage
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| n.开玩笑，打趣 | |
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tints
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| 色彩( tint的名词复数 )； 带白的颜色； （淡色）染发剂； 痕迹 | |
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iris
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| n.虹膜，彩虹 | |
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39
lighting
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| n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光 | |
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40
subversion
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| n.颠覆，破坏 | |
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41
prospect
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| n.前景，前途；景色，视野 | |
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42
influential
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| adj.有影响的，有权势的 | |
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43
geographical
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| adj.地理的；地区(性)的 | |
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essentially
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| adv.本质上，实质上，基本上 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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mere
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| adj.纯粹的；仅仅，只不过 | |
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relaxation
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| n.松弛，放松；休息；消遣；娱乐 | |
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rendezvous
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| n.约会，约会地点，汇合点；vi.汇合，集合；vt.使汇合，使在汇合地点相遇 | |
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49
superstitions
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| 迷信，迷信行为( superstition的名词复数 ) | |
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50
stationery
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| n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封 | |
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51
compensated
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| 补偿，报酬( compensate的过去式和过去分词 )； 给（某人）赔偿（或赔款） | |
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52
aggregate
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| adj.总计的，集合的；n.总数；v.合计；集合 | |
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courteous
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| adj.彬彬有礼的，客气的 | |
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haughty
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| adj.傲慢的，高傲的 | |
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incurred
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| [医]招致的，遭受的； incur的过去式 | |
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depreciation
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| n.价值低落，贬值，蔑视，贬低 | |
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sufficiently
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| adv.足够地，充分地 | |
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dealing
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| n.经商方法，待人态度 | |
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serenity
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| n.宁静，沉着，晴朗 | |
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judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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62
picturesque
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| adj.美丽如画的，（语言）生动的，绘声绘色的 | |
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enchanting
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| a.讨人喜欢的 | |
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accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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distractions
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| n.使人分心的事[人]( distraction的名词复数 )；娱乐，消遣；心烦意乱；精神错乱 | |
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