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problem of humanity is solved at last。〃 But； ye long…suffering
powers of heaven； what a solution！ It is beside the matter to call
the book ungodly； immoral； base。 Le Sage would have answered： 〃Of
course it is； for so is the world of which it is a picture。〃 No；
the most notable thing about the book is its intense stupidity； its
dreariness； barrenness； shallowness； ignorance of the human heart；
want of any human interest。 If it be an epos； the actors in it are
not men and women； but ferretswith here and there； of course； a
stray rabbit； on whose brains they may feed。 It is the inhuman
mirror of an inhuman age； in which the healthy human heart can find
no more interest than in a pathological museum。
That last； indeed； 〃Gil Blas〃 is； a collection of diseased
specimens。 No man or woman in the book； lay or clerical； gentle or
simple； as far as I can remember； do their duty in any wise； even if
they recollect that they have any duty to do。 Greed； chicane；
hypocrisy； uselessness are the ruling laws of human society。 A new
book of Ecclesiastes； crying； 〃Vanity of vanity； all is vanity；〃 the
〃conclusion of the whole matter〃 being left out； and the new
Ecclesiastes rendered thereby diabolic； instead of like that old
one； divine。 For； instead of 〃Fear God and keep his commandments；
for that is the whole duty of main；〃 Le Sage sends forth the new
conclusion； 〃Take care of thyself； and feed on thy neighbours； for
that is the whole duty of man。〃 And very faithfully was his advice
（easy enough to obey at all times） obeyed for nearly a century after
〃Gil Blas〃 appeared。
About the same time there appeared； by a remarkable coincidence；
another work； like it the child of the Ancien Regime； and yet as
opposite to it as light to darkness。 If Le Sage drew men as they
were； Fenelon tried at least to draw them as they might have been
and still might be； were they governed by sages and by saints；
according to the laws of God。 〃Telemaque〃 is an idealimperfect；
doubtless； as all ideals must be in a world in which God's ways and
thoughts are for ever higher than man's； but an ideal nevertheless。
If its construction is less complete than that of 〃Gil Blas；〃 it is
because its aim is infinitely higher； because the form has to be
subordinated； here and there； to the matter。 If its political
economy be imperfect； often chimerical； it is because the mind of
one man must needs have been too weak to bring into shape and order
the chaos； social and economic； which he saw around him。 M。 de
Lamartine； in his brilliant little life of Fenelon； does not
hesitate to trace to the influence of 〃Telemaque；〃 the Utopias which
produced the revolutions of 1793 and 1848。 〃The saintly poet was；〃
he says； 〃without knowing it； the first Radical and the first
communist of his century。〃 But it is something to have preached to
princes doctrines till then unknown； or at least forgotten for many
a generationfree trade； peace； international arbitration； and the
〃carriere ouverte aux talents〃 for all ranks。 It is something to
have warned his generation of the dangerous overgrowth of the
metropolis； to have prophesied； as an old Hebrew might have done；
that the despotism which he saw around him would end in a violent
revolution。 It is something to have combined the highest Christian
morality with a hearty appreciation of old Greek life； of its
reverence for bodily health and prowess； its joyous and simple
country society； its sacrificial feasts； dances； games； its respect
for the gods； its belief that they helped； guided； inspired the sons
of men。 It is something to have himself believed in God； in a
living God； who； both in this life and in all lives to come；
rewarded the good and punished the evil by inevitable laws。 It is
something to have warned a young prince； in an age of doctrinal
bigotry and practical atheism； that a living God still existed； and
that his laws were still in force； to have shown him Tartarus
crowded with the souls of wicked monarchs； while a few of kingly
race rested in Elysium； and among them old pagansInachus； Cecrops；
Erichthon； Triptolemus； and Sesostrisrewarded for ever for having
done their duty； each according to his light； to the flocks which
the gods had committed to their care。 It is something to have
spoken to a prince； in such an age； without servility； and without
etiquette； of the frailties and the dangers which beset arbitrary
rulers； to have told him that royalty； 〃when assumed to content
oneself； is a monstrous tyranny； when assumed to fulfil its duties；
and to conduct an innumerable people as a father conducts his
children； a crushing slavery； which demands an heroic courage and
patience。〃
Let us honour the courtier who dared speak such truths； and still
more the saintly celibate who had sufficient catholicity of mind to
envelop them in old Grecian dress； and； without playing false for a
moment to his own Christianity； seek in the writings of heathen
sages a wider and a healthier view of humanity than was afforded by
an ascetic creed。
No wonder that the appearance of 〃Telemaque；〃 published in Holland
without the permission of Fenelon； delighted throughout Europe that
public which is always delighted with new truths； as long as it is
not required to practise them。 To read 〃Telemaque〃 was the right
and the enjoyment of everyone。 To obey it； the duty only of
princes。 No wonder that； on the other hand； this 〃Vengeance de
peuples； lecon des rois；〃 as M。 de Lamartine calls it； was taken for
the bitterest satire by Louis XIV。； and completed the disgrace of
one who had dared to teach the future king of France that he must
show himself； in all things； the opposite of his grandfather。 No
wonder if Madame de Maintenon and the court looked on its portraits
of wicked ministers and courtiers as caricatures of themselves；
portraits too； which； 〃composed thus in the palace of Versailles；
under the auspices of that confidence which the king had placed in
the preceptor of his heir； seemed a domestic treason。〃 No wonder；
also； if the foolish and envious world outside was of the same
opinion； and after enjoying for awhile this exposure of the great
ones of the earth； left 〃Telemaque〃 as an Utopia with which private
folks had no concern； and betook themselves to the easier and more
practical model of 〃Gil Blas。〃
But there are solid defects in 〃Telemaque〃indicating corresponding
defects in the author's mindwhich would have； in any case；
prevented its doing the good work which Fenelon desired； defects
which are natural； as it seems to me； to his position as a Roman
Catholic priest； however saintly and pure； however humane and
liberal。 The king； with him； is to be always the father of his
people； which is tantamount to saying； that the people are to be
always children； and in a condition of tutelage； voluntary； if
possible： if not； of tutelage still。 Of self…government； and
education of human beings into free manhood by the exercise of self…
government； free will； free thoughtof this Fenelon had surely not
a glimpse。 A generation or two passed by； and then the peoples of
Europe began to suspect that they were no longer children； but come
to manhood； and determined （after the example of Britain and
America） to assume the rights and duties of manhood； at whatever
risk of excesses or mistakes： and then 〃Telemaque〃 was relegated
half unjustlyas the slavish and childish dream of a past age； into
the schoolroom； where it still remains。
But there is a defect in 〃Telemaque〃 which is perhaps deeper still。
No woman in it exercises influence over man； except for evil。
Minerva； the guiding and inspiring spirit； assumes of course； as
Mentor； a male form； but her speech and thought is essentially
masculine； and not feminine。 Antiope is a mere lay…figure；
introduced at the end of the book because Telemachus must needs be
allowed to have hope of marrying someone or other。 Venus plays but
the same part as she does in the Tannenhauser legends of the Middle
Age。 Her hatred against Telemachus is an integral element of the
plot。 She； with the other women or nymphs of the romance； in spite
of all Fenelon's mercy and courtesy towards human frailties； really
rise no higher than the witches of the Malleus Maleficanum。 Woman
as the old monk held who derived femina from fe； faith； and minus；
less； because women have less faith than menis； in 〃Telemaque；〃
whenever she thinks or acts； the temptress； the enchantress； the
victim （according to a very ancient calumny） of passions more
violent； often more lawless； than man's。
Such a conception of women must make 〃Telemaque；〃 to the end of
time； useless as a wholesome book of education。 It must have
crippled its influence； especially in France； in its own time。 For
there； for good and for evil； woman was asserting more and more her
power； and her right to power； over the mind and heart of ma