the grey room(灰房间)-第44节
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waves； brisk breezes and terrific tempests； but all are moulded of like
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substance。 In the one case art； in the other； the ocean； remains unchanged。
I shall plan your instruction for you； if you please； and send you to the
primitives first … the mighty ones who laid the foundations。 I lived five
years at Siena … for love of the beginnings； and you must also learn to love
and reverence the beginnings； if you would understand that light in the
darkness men call the Renaissance。〃
He broke from Mary presently； strove to interest Sir Walter； and
succeeded。
〃A benevolent autocracy is the ideal government； my friend … the ideal
of all supreme thinkers … a Machiavelli； a Nietzsche； a Stendhal； a
Gobineau。 Liberty and equality are terms mutually destructive； they
cannot exist together； for； given liberty； the strong instantly look to it that
equality shall perish。 And rightly so。 Equality is a war cry for fools … a
negation of nature； an abortion。 The very ants know better。 Doubtless
you view with considerable distrust the growing spirit of democracy； or
what is called by that name？〃
〃I do；〃 admitted Sir Walter。
〃Your monarch and mine are a little bitten by this tarantula。 I am
concerned for them。 We must not pander to the mob's leaders； for they
are not； and never have been； the many…headed thing itself。 They； not the
mob； are 'out to kill；' as you say。 But that State will soon perish that
thinks to prosper under the rule of the proletariat。 Such a constitution
would be opposed to natural law and； therefore； contain the seeds of its
own dissolution。 And its death would be inconceivably horrible； for the
death of huge； coarse organisms is always horrible。 Only distinguished
creatures are beautiful in death； or know how to die like gentlemen。〃
〃Who are on your side to…day； siguor？〃 asked Henry Lennox。
〃More than I know； I hope。 Gobineau is my lighthouse in the storm。
You must read him； if you have not done so。 He was the incarnate spirit
of the Renaissance。 He radiated from his bosom its effulgence and shot it
forth； like the light of a pharos over dark waters； he； best of all men；
understood it； and； most of all men； mourned to see its bright hope and
glory perish out of the earth under the unconquerable superstition of
mankind and the lamentable infliction of the Jewish race。 Alas！ The
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Jews have destroyed many other things besides the Saviour of us all。〃
They found the Renaissance to be the favorite theme of Signor
Mannetti。 He returned again and again to it； and it was typical of him
that he could combine assurances of being a devout Catholic with
sentiments purely pagan。
〃Christianity has operated in the making of many slaves and
charlatans；〃 he said。 〃One mourns the fact； but must be honest。 It has too
often scourged the only really precious members of society from the
temple of life。 It has cast the brave and clean and virile into outer
darkness； and exalted the staple of humanity； which is never brave； or
virile； and seldom really clean。 A hideous wave submerges everything
that matters。 The proud； the beautiful … the only beings that justify the
existence of mankind … will soon be on the hills with the hawks and
leopards； and hunted like them … outcast； pariah； unwanted； hated。〃
〃The spirit of christianity is socialistic； I fear；〃 said Sir Walter。 〃It is
one of those things I do not pretend to understand； but the modern clergy
speak with a clear voice on the subject。〃
〃Do your clergy indeed speak with a clear voice？〃
〃They do； and we must； of course； listen。 Truth is apt to be painful。
And how can we reconcile our aristocratic instincts with our faith？ I ask
for information and you will forgive the personality。 I find myself in
almost entire agreement with your noble sentiments。 But； as a good
Christian； ought I to be so？ How do you stand with the one true faith in
your heart and these opinions in your head； signor？〃
The old man twinkled and a boyish smile lighted his aged
countenance。
〃A good question…a shrewd thrust； Sir Walter。 There can be only one
answer to that； my friend。 With God all things are possible。〃
Henry laughed； his uncle was puzzled。
〃You think that is no answer；〃 continued the Italian。 〃But reason also
must have a place in the sun； though we have to hide it in our pocket
sometimes。 So many great men would not extinguish their light … and
had it extinguished for them。 A difficult subject。 Let us continue to think
in compartments。 It is safer so。 If you are over eighty years old； you
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love safety。 But I love joy and romance also； and is not religion almost
the only joy and romance left to us？ It is affirmation remember； not
negation； that makes the world go round！ The 'intellectuals' forget that；
and they are sterile accordingly。〃
Signor Mannetti's wits were something too nimble for his hearers。 He
talked and talked … about everything but the matter in their minds … until
half…past ten o'clock； when his man came after him。 Thereupon he rose；
like an obedient child； and wished them 〃Good…night。〃
〃Stephano is my guardian angel；〃 he said … 〃a being of painful
punctuality。 But he adds years to my life。 He forgets nothing。 I wish
you a kind farewell until to…morrow and offer grateful thanks for your
welcome。 I breakfast in my room； if you please； and shall be ready at
eleven o'clock to put myself at your service。 Then you will be so
gracious as to answer me some questions； and I shall； please God； try to
help you。〃
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CHAPTER XI
PRINCE DJEM
The master of Chadlands was both drawn and repelled by his guest。
Signor Mannetti revealed a type of mind entirely beyond the other's
experience； and while he often uttered sentiments with which Sir Walter
found himself in cordial agreement； he also committed himself to a great
many opinions that surprised and occasionally shocked the listener。 Sir
Walter was also conscious that many words uttered flew above his
understanding。 The old Italian could juggle with English almost as
perfectly as he was able to do with his own language。 He had his
country's mastery of the phrase； the ironies； the double meanings； half
malicious； half humorous； the outlook on humanity that delights to
surprise … the compliment that； on closer examination； proves really to be
the reverse。 Mary's father voiced his emotions when the visitor had gone
to bed。
〃If it didn't seem impossible；〃 he told Henry； 〃I could almost imagine
that Signor Mannetti was trying to pull my leg sometimes。〃
〃He tries； and succeeds；〃 answered young Lennox。 〃He is built that
way。 His mind is as agile as a monkey； despite his age。 He's a sly old
bird； his thoughts move a thousand times faster than ours； and they're a
thousand times more subtle。〃
〃But he's very fascinating；〃 declared Mary。
〃He's a gentleman；〃 answered Henr
