世界上最优美的散文--人生短篇-第6章
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so that； if i say that the greatest picture is that which conveys to the min d of the spectator the greatest number of the greatest ideas； i have a definitio n which will include as subjects of comparison every pleasure which art is capab le of conveying。 if i were to say； on the contrary； that the best picture was th at which most closely imitated nature； i should assume that art could only pleas e by imitating nature； and i should cast out of the pale of criticism those part s of works of art which are not imitative； that is to say； intrinsic beauties of color and form； and those works of art wholly； which； like the arabesques of ra ffaelle in the loggias； are not imitative at all。 now； i want a definition of ar t wide enough to include all its varieties of aim。 i do not say； therefore； that the art is greatest which gives most pleasure； because perhaps there is some ar t whose end is to teach； and not to please。 i do not say that the art is greates t which teaches us most； because perhaps there is some art whose end is to pleas e； and not to teach。 i do not say that the art is greatest which imitates best； because perhaps there is some art whose end is to create and not to imitate。 but i say that the art is greatest which conveys to the mind of the spectator； by a ny means whatsoever； the greatest number of the greatest ideas； and i call an id ea great in proportion as it is received by a higher faculty of the mind； and as it mere fully ocomupies； and in ocomupying； exercises and exalts； the faculty by which it is received。
if this； then； be the definition of great art； that of a great artist natura lly follows。 he is the greatest artist who has embodied； in the sum of his works ； the greatest number of the greatest ideas。
第1卷 第三章
小小伟人
奥利弗。哥尔德斯密斯
奥利弗。哥尔德斯密斯（1730—1774），英国剧作家、诗人、散文家。主要作品有小说 《威克菲尔德牧师》，喜剧《曲身求爱》，诗歌《荒村》等。其散文风格平易近人，风趣幽 默，本篇文章正体现了这种风格。
在翻阅本地报纸的时候，我计算了一下，在不到半年的时间里，这里至少出了25名伟人 ，17名非常伟大的人，9名非常杰出的人。报上说，这些人都会受到后人的敬仰；他们显赫 的名字将为世世代代所惊叹。让我想想——如果半年出46名伟人，那一年下来就有92 名。 我不知道后来的人怎么可能记住这么多的伟人，也不知道将来人们除了背诵伟人名册之外， 还有没有其他的事情要『操』心。
公司的总裁开始演讲了，他马上被当成伟人记录下来；平庸的学者压缩他的著作出对开 本了，很快也成为伟人；诗人用押韵的形式把陈旧的感伤串连起来，一时间也成为伟人。无 论受到仰慕的对象多么渺小，身后总会有一群更加渺小的仰慕者跟随。随行的人们一声欢呼 ，他便大步走向伟大，得意洋洋地回头看看那群追随者，一路领略各式各样古怪、离奇、荒 诞和自命不凡的渺小者。
昨天，有位先生请我吃饭，他保证请我吃一块鹿的腰胴肉、一只甲鱼，并且晋见—位伟 人。我如约而至。鹿肉味道不错，甲鱼也很好，但是，那个伟人却让人难以忍受。我刚一开 口说话，立刻就遭到他的厉声驳斥。为了挽回些面子，我试图接二连三地发起进攻，却又被 稀里糊涂地击退。我决定再次从战壕发起冲锋，把谈论的焦点转到中国『政府』上来。即使在这 个问题上，他还是一如既往地断言、斥责、反驳。天啊，我想，这个人竟然装作比我还了解 中国！我朝四下里望望，想看看有谁站在我这一边，但是，每只眼睛都敬慕地凝视着这位伟 人。因此，我想自己还是安安静静地坐着，在其后的谈话里当个好好先生才是上策。
一个人一旦拥有了一批仰慕者，他就会做出自认为合理其实非常荒唐的事；别人还以为 他的言行都是感情的升华或者是大智若愚。假如他违背了常识，就算把茶壶当成烟盒，也会 有人辩解说，那是因为他在专心致志地思考大事：要是他们的言谈举止跟常人无异，那他们 就跟常人一样算不上伟人了。伟大这个概念涵盖了某种奇特的东西，因为对于跟我们非常相 似的事物，我们很少会感到惊讶。
鞑靼人立喇嘛，最先考虑的是把他放在寺庙里的阴暗角落，让他若隐若现地坐在那里， 调整手、嘴唇和眼睛的活动；但最重要的是，他必须做到庄严和肃静。然而这只是把他奉为 神明的序曲：一批使者被派到民间去，称赞他是非常虔诚、庄严、热爱混沌未开的众生；人 们听信了使者的话，就把喇嘛当作偶像顶礼膜拜；他一动不动地接受人们的称颂，于是成为 神，从此由下面的僧人用那不朽的勺子喂养。这个国家也可以使用相同的办法制造伟人。偶 像只需把自己藏起来，然后派出手下的小使者为他高唱赞歌，不管是政治家还是作家，都会 立即被列入伟人名单；如果时兴赞美，如果他对公众谨小慎微地掩盖了自身的渺小，他会一 直受到赞美。
我游历过许多国家，也去过无数的城市，但没有诞生过十一二位这种小伟人的城市，我 还从来没有见识过。他们都认为自己是世界闻名的，并且互相恭维对方的伟大。如果有两个 这样的人相互客套、相互吹捧的时候，是非常有趣的。我曾见到过这样一件事：一位德国医 生把一位修道士大肆赞扬了一番，在场的人们都把他当作了世上最有智慧的人；然后，修道 士又反过来把医生恭维了一番，跟他平分了这份美誉。于是，这两人在众人的掌声中阔步离 去。
过分的赞美不仅仅陪伴着我们伟人的生前，甚至也会不多不少地伴随他进入坟墓。经常 会有下面事情发生：他的一个小小的崇拜者因为他这个大人物而取得成功，于是把他的生平 和著作编成年表。把这称之为炉火边和安乐椅之间的人生革命，可能是恰当的。我们从这份 年表中可以知道，这位伟人是哪年出生的，早年什么时候就表现出了不同寻常的天分和勤奋 的迹象，以及他的伯母和母亲所收集的他小时候说过的一些妙语。第二本书会介绍他上大学 时的情况，书中告诉我们，他在学业上取得了非常惊人进步，补袜子的技术非常高超，而且 有用纸包书保护封面的新发明。紧接着，他又在文学界崭『露』头角，出版了对开本的书。现在 ，伟人成熟了，他的作品被所有喜欢收藏珍本的人争相购买，各种学术团体竞相邀请他参加 ；他跟某位拉丁名字很长的外国人辩论并战胜对手，得到几位严肃的大作家的赞扬；他特别 喜欢吃猪肉蘸鸡蛋沙司，他成为一家文学俱乐部的『主席』并在荣誉到达巅峰时去世。他们是多 么幸福啊，因为某个小小的忠实随从，不仅不会抛弃他们，而且准备与每个反对者辩论，当 着反对者的面歌颂他们；同时准备在他们生前渲染他们的骄傲，在他们死后美化他们的品行 。至于你跟我，朋友，因为没有谦恭的追随者相伴，我们现在不是伟人，将来也不可能成为 伟人，而且也不在乎自己是否是个伟人，但是，我们至少可以争取做一个拥有平常心的老实 人。
a little great man
oliver goldsmith
in reading the newspapers here； i have reckoned up not less than twentyfiv e great men； seventeen very great men； and nine very extraordinary men in less t han the compass of half a year。 these； say the gazettes； are the men that poster ity are to gaze at with admiration； these the names that fame will be employed i n holding up for the astonishment of sucomeeding ages。 let me see — fortysix g reat men in half a year； amounts to just ninetytwo in a year。 — i wonder how posterity will be able to remember them all； or whether the people； in future ti mes； will have any other business to mind； but that of getting the catalogue by heart。
does the mayor of a corporation make a speech。 he is instantly set down for a great man。 does a pedant digest his common place book into a folio。 he quickly becomes great： does a poet siring up trite sentiments in rhyme。 he also becomes the great man of the hour。 how diminutive soever the object of adminition， eac h is followed by a erowd of still more diminutive adminers。 the shout begins in his train； onward he marches towards immortality； looks back at the pursuing cro wd with selfsatisfaction； catching all the oddities； the whimsies； the absurdi ties； and the littlenesses of conscious greatness； by the way。
i was yesterday invited by a gentleman to dinner；who promised that our ente rtainment should consist of an haunch of venison； a turtle； and a great man。 i c ame； acomording to appointment。 the venison was fine； the turtle good； but the gr eat man insupportable。 the moment i ventured to speak； i was at once contradicte d with a snap。 i attempted； by a second and a third assault； to retrieve my lost reputation； but was still beat back with confusion。 i was resolved to attack hi m once more from entrenchment； and turned the conversation upon the government o f china： but even here he asserted； snapped； and contradicted as before。 heavens ； thought i； this man pretends to know china even better than myself！ i looked r ound to see who was on my side； but every eye was fixed in admiration on the gre at man； i therefore； at last thought proper to sit silent； and act the pretty ge ntleman during the ensuing conversation。
when a man has once secured a circle of admirers； he may be as ridiculous he re as he thinks proper； and it all passes for elevation of sentiment； or learned absence。 if he transgresses the common forms of breeding； mistakes even a teapo t for a tobacomobox； it is said； that his thoughts are fixed on more important objects：to speak and act like the rest of mankind is to be no greater than they 。 there is something of oddity in the very idea of greatness； for we are seldom astonished at a thing very much resembling ourselves。
when the tartars make a lama； their first care is to place him in a dark cor ner of the temple； here he is to sit half concealed from view； to regulate the m otion of his hands； lips； and eyes； but； above ail； he is enjoined gravity and s ilence。 this； however； is but the prelude to his apotheosis： a set of emissaries are dispatched among the people to cry up his piety； gravity； and love of raw f lesh； the people take them at their word； approach the lama； now become an idol； with the most humble prostration： he receives their addresses without motion； c ommences a god； and is ever after fed by his priests with the spoon of immortali ty。 the same receipt in this country serves to make a great man。 the idol only k eeps close； sends out his little emissaries to be hearty in his praise； and stra ight； whether statesman or author； he is set down in the list of fame； continuin g to be praised while it is fashionable to praise； or while he prudently keeps h is minuteness； concealed from the public。
i have visited many countries； and have been in cities without number； yet n ever did i enter a town which could not produce ten or twelve of those little gr eat men； all fancying themselves known to the rest of the world； and complimenti ng each other upon their extensive reputation。 it is amusing enough when two of those domestic prodigies of learning mount the stage of ceremony； and give and t ake praise from each other。 i have been present when a german doctor； for having pronounced a panegyric upon a certain monk； was thought the most ingenious man in the world； till the monk soon after divided this reputation by returning the compliment； by which means they both marched off with univ
