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letters to his son, 1748-第26部分

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cially frequent speaking; therefore; when you shall be at Berlin; and afterward at Turin; where you will meet many Germans; pray take all opportunities of conversing in German; in order not only to keep what you have got of that language; but likewise to improve and perfect yourself in it。  As to the characters; you form them very well; and as you yourself own; better than your English ones; but then let me ask you this question: Why do you not form your Roman characters better? for I maintain; that it is in every man's power to write what hand he pleases; and; consequently; that he ought to write a good one。  You form; particularly; your ee and your ll in zigzag; instead of making them straight; as thus; ee; ll; a fault very easily mended。  You will not; I believe; be angry with this little criticism; when I tell you; that by all the accounts I have had of late from Mr。 Harte and others; this is the only criticism that you give me occasion to make。  Mr。 Harte's last letter; of the 14th; N。 S。; particularly; makes me extremely happy; by assuring me that; in every respect; you do exceedingly well。  I am not afraid; by what I now say; of making you too vain; because I do not think that a just consciousness and an honest pride of doing well; can be called vanity; for vanity is either the silly affectation of good qualities which one has not; or the sillier pride of what does not deserve commendation in itself。  By Mr。 Harte's account; you are got very near the goal of Greek and Latin; and therefore I cannot suppose that; as your sense increases; your endeavors and your speed will slacken in finishing the small remains of your course。  Consider what lustre and 'eclat' it will give you; when you return here; to be allowed to be the best scholar; for a gentleman; in England; not to mention the real pleasure and solid comfort which such knowledge will give you throughout your whole life。  Mr。 Harte tells me another thing; which; I own; I did not expect: it is; that when you read aloud; or repeat parts of plays; you speak very properly and distinctly。  This relieves me from great uneasiness; which I was under upon account of your former bad enunciation。  Go on; and attend most diligently to this important article。  It is; of all Graces (and they are all necessary); the most necessary one。

Comte Pertingue; who has been here about a fortnight; far from disavowing; confirms all that Mr。 Harte has said to your advantage。 He thinks that he shall be at Turin much about the time of your arrival there; and pleases himself with the hopes of being useful to you。 Though; should you get there before him; he says that Comte du Perron; with whom you are a favorite; will take that care。  You see; by this one instance; and in the course of your life you will see by a million of instances; of what use a good reputation is; and how swift and advantageous a harbinger it is; wherever one goes。  Upon this point; too; Mr。 Harte does you justice; and tells me that you are desirous of praise from the praiseworthy。  This is a right and generous ambition; and without which; I fear; few people would deserve praise。

But here let me; as an old stager upon the theatre of the world; suggest one consideration to you; which is; to extend your desire of praise a little beyond the strictly praiseworthy; or else you may be apt to discover too much contempt for at least three parts in five of the world; who will never forgive it you。  In the mass of mankind; I fear; there is too great a majority of fools and; knaves; who; singly from their number; must to a certain degree be respected; though they are by no means respectable。  And a man who will show every knave or fool that he thinks him such; will engage in a most ruinous war; against numbers much superior to those that he and his allies can bring into the field。  Abhor a knave; and pity a fool in your heart; but let neither of them; unnecessarily; see that you do so。  Some complaisance and attention to fools is prudent; and not mean; as a silent abhorrence of individual knaves is often necessary and not criminal。

As you will now soon part with Lord Pulteney; with whom; during your stay together at Leipsig; I suppose you have formed a connection; I imagine that you will continue it by letters; which I would advise you to do。 They tell me that he is good…natured; and does not want parts; which are of themselves two good reasons for keeping it up; but there is also a third reason; which; in the course of the world; is not to be despised: His father cannot live long; and will leave him an immense fortune; which; in all events will make him of some consequence; and; if he has parts into the bargain; of very great consequence; so that his friendship; may be extremely well worth your cultivating; especially as it will not cost you above one letter in one month。

I do not know whether this letter will find you at Leipsig: at least; it is the last that I shall direct there。  My; next to either you or Mr。 Harte will be directed to Berlin; but as I do not know to what house or street there; I suppose it will remain at the posthouse till you send for it。  Upon your arrival at Berlin you will send me your particular direction; and also; pray be minute in your accounts of your reception there; by those whom I recommend you to; as well as by those to whom they present you。  Remember; too; that you are going to a polite and literate court; where the Graces will best introduce you。

Adieu。  God bless you; and may you continue to deserve my love; as much as you now enjoy it!

P。 S。  Lady Chesterfield bids me tell you; that she decides entirely in your favor against Mr。 Grevenkop; and even against herself; for she does not think that she could; at this time; write either so good a character or so good German。  Pray write her a German letter upon that subject; in which you may tell her; that; like the rest of the world; you approve of her judgment; because it is in your favor; and that you true Germans cannot allow Danes to be competent judges of your language; etc。




LETTER LXI

LONDON; December 30; O。 S。  1748。

DEAR BOY: I direct this letter to Berlin; where; I suppose; it will either find you; or at least wait but a very little time for you。  I cannot help being anxious for your success; at this your first appearance upon the great stage of the world; for; though the spectators are always candid enough to give great allowances; and to show great indulgence to a new actor; yet; from the first impressions which he makes upon them; they are apt to decide; in their own minds; at least; whether he will ever be a good one; or not。  If he seems to understand what he says; by speaking it properly; if he is attentive to his part; instead of staring negligently about him; and if; upon the whole; he seems ambitious to please; they willingly pass over little awkwardnesses and inaccuracies; which they ascribe to a commendable modesty in a young and inexperienced actor。  They pronounce that he will be a good one in time; and; by the encouragement which they give him; make him so the sooner。  This; I hope; will be your case: you have sense enough to understand your part; a constant attention; and ambition to excel in it; with a careful observation of the best actors; will inevitably qualify you; if not for the first; at least for considerable parts。

Your dress (as insignificant a thing as dress is in itself) is now become an object worthy of some attention; for; I confess; I cannot help forming some opinion of a man's sense and character from his dress; and I believe most people do as well as myself。  Any affectation whatsoever in dress implies; in my mind; a flaw in the understanding。  Most of our young fellows here display some character or other by their dress; some affect the tremendous; and wear a great and fiercely cocked hat; an enormous sword; a short waistcoat and a black cravat; these I should be almost tempted to swear the peace against; in my own defense; if I were not convinced that they are but meek asses in lions' skins。  Others go in brown frocks; leather breeches; great oaken cudgels in their hands; their hats uncocked; and their hair unpowdered; and imitate grooms; stage… coachmen; and country bumpkins so well in their outsides; that I do not make the least doubt of their resembling them equally in their insides。 A man of sense carefully avoids any particular character in his dress; he is accurately clean for his own sake; but all the rest is for other people's。  He dresses as well; and in the same manner; as the people of sense and fashion of the place where he is。  If he dresses better; as he thinks; that is; more than they; he is a fop; if he dresses worse; he is unpardonably negligent。  But; of the two; I would rather have a young fellow too much than too little dressed; the excess on that side will wear off; with a little age and reflection; but if he is negligent at twenty; he will be a sloven at forty; and stink at fifty years old。 Dress yourself fine; where others are fine; and plain where others are plain; but take care always that your clothes are well made; and fit you; for otherwise they will give you a very awkward air。  When you are once well dressed for the day think no more of it afterward; and; wi
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