按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
large sums for the service or the amusement of the public； and that they
were sometimes harassed by vexatious informers。 Whenever such cases
occur； Mr Mitford's scepticism vanishes。 The 〃if；〃 the 〃but；〃 the 〃it is
said；〃 the 〃if we may believe；〃 with which he qualifies every charge
against a tyrant or an aristocracy； are at once abandoned。 The blacker the
story； the firmer is his belief； and he never fails to inveigh with hearty
bitterness against democracy as the source of every species of crime。
The Athenians； I believe； possessed more liberty than was good for
them。 Yet I will venture to assert that； while the splendour； the
intelligence； and the energy of that great people were peculiar to
themselves； the crimes with which they are charged arose from causes
which were common to them with every other state which then existed。
The violence of faction in that age sprung from a cause which has always
been fertile in every political and moral evil； domestic slavery。
The effect of slavery is completely to dissolve the connection which
naturally exists between the higher and lower classes of free citizens。
The rich spend their wealth in purchasing and maintaining slaves。 There
is no demand for the labour of the poor； the fable of Menenius ceases to be
applicable； the belly communicates no nutriment to the members； there is
148
… Page 149…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
an atrophy in the body politic。 The two parties； therefore； proceed to
extremities utterly unknown in countries where they have mutually need
of each other。 In Rome the oligarchy was too powerful to be subverted
by force； and neither the tribunes nor the popular assemblies； though
constitutionally omnipotent； could maintain a successful contest against
men who possessed the whole property of the state。 Hence the necessity
for measures tending to unsettle the whole frame of society； and to take
away every motive of industry； the abolition of debts； and the agrarian
lawspropositions absurdly condemned by men who do not consider the
circumstances from which they sprung。 They were the desperate
remedies of a desperate disease。 In Greece the oligarchical interest was
not in general so deeply rooted as at Rome。 The multitude； therefore；
often redressed by force grievances which； at Rome； were commonly
attacked under the forms of the constitution。 They drove out or
massacred the rich； and divided their property。 If the superior union or
military skill of the rich rendered them victorious； they took measures
equally violent； disarmed all in whom they could not confide； often
slaughtered great numbers； and occasionally expelled the whole
commonalty from the city； and remained； with their slaves； the sole
inhabitants。
From such calamities Athens and Lacedaemon alone were almost
completely free。 At Athens the purses of the rich were laid under regular
contribution for the support of the poor； and this； rightly considered； was
as much a favour to the givers as to the receivers； since no other measure
could possibly have saved their houses from pillage and their persons from
violence。 It is singular that Mr Mitford should perpetually reprobate a
policy which was the best that could be pursued in such a state of things；
and which alone saved Athens from the frightful outrages which were
perpetrated at Corcyra。
Lacedaemon； cursed with a system of slavery more odious than has
ever existed in any other country； avoided this evil by almost totally
annihilating private property。 Lycurgus began by an agrarian law。 He
abolished all professions except that of arms； he made the whole of his
community a standing army； every member of which had a common right
149
… Page 150…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
to the services of a crowd of miserable bondmen； he secured the state from
sedition at the expense of the Helots。 Of all the parts of his system this is
the most creditable to his head； and the most disgraceful to his heart。
These considerations； and many others of equal importance； Mr
Mitford has neglected； but he has yet a heavier charge to answer。 He has
made not only illogical inferences； but false statements。 While he never
states； without qualifications and objections； the charges which the earliest
and best historians have brought against his favourite tyrants； Pisistratus；
Hippias； and Gelon； he transcribes； without any hesitation； the grossest
abuse of the least authoritative writers against every democracy and every
demagogue。 Such an accusation should not be made without being
supported； and I will therefore select one out of many passages which will
fully substantiate the charge； and convict Mr Mitford of wilful
misrepresentation； or of negligence scarcely less culpable。 Mr Mitford is
speaking of one of the greatest men that ever lived； Demosthenes； and
comparing him with his rival； Aeschines。 Let him speak for himself。
〃In earliest youth Demosthenes earned an opprobrious nickname by
the effeminacy of his dress and manner。〃 Does Mr Mitford know that
Demosthenes denied this charge； and explained the nickname in a
perfectly different manner？ （See the speech of Aeschines against
Timarchus。） And； if he knew it； should he not have stated it？ He
proceeds thus： 〃On emerging from minority； by the Athenian law； at
five…and…twenty； he earned another opprobrious nickname by a
prosecution of his guardians； which was considered as a dishonourable
attempt to extort money from them。〃 In the first place Demosthenes was
not five…and…twenty years of age。 Mr Mitford might have learned； from
so common a book as the Archaeologia of Archbishop Potter； that at
twenty Athenian citizens were freed from the control of their guardians；
and began to manage their own property。 The very speech of
Demosthenes against his guardians proves most satisfactorily that he was
under twenty。 In his speech against Midias； he says that when he
undertook that prosecution he was quite a boy。 （Meirakullion on komide。）
His youth might； therefore； excuse the step； even if it had been considered；
as Mr Mitford says； a dishonourable attempt to extort money。 But who
150
… Page 151…
THE MISCELLANEOUS WRITINGS AND SPEECHES OF LORD MACAULAY
considered it as such？ Not the judges who condemned the guardians。
The Athenian courts of justice were not the purest in the world； but their
decisions were at least as likely to be just as the abuse of a deadly enemy。
Mr Mitford refers for confirmation of his statement to Aeschines and
Plutarch。 Aeschines by no means bears him out； and Plutarch directly
contradicts him。 〃Not long after；〃 says Mr Mitford； 〃he took blows
publicly in the theater〃 （I preserve the orthography； if it can be so called；
of this historian） 〃from a petulant youth of rank； named Meidias。〃 Here
are two disgraceful mistakes。 In the first place； it was long after； eight
years at the very least； probably much more。 In the next place the
petulant youth； of whom Mr Mitford speaks； was fifty years old。
（Whoever will read the speech of Demosthenes against Midias will find
the statements in the text confirmed； and will have； moreover； th