第一小说网

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第8部分（第2页）

a　train　of　circumstances　not　directly　included　in　it；　taken　abstractedly。　In　itself　it　consisted　in　merely

presenting　a　small　flame　to　a　small　portion　of　a　beam。　Events　not　involved　in　that　simple　act　follow

of　themselves。　The　part　of　the　beam　which　was　set　fire　to　is　connected　with　its　remote　portions；

the　beam　itself　is　united　with　the　woodwork　of　the　house　generally；　and　this　with　other　houses；　so

that　a　wide　conflagration　ensues；　which　destroys　the　goods　and　chattels　of　many　other　persons

besides　his　against　whom　the　act　of　revenge　was　first　directed；　perhaps　even　costs　not　a　few　men

their　lives。　This　lay　neither　in　the　deed　abstractedly；　nor　in　the　design　of　the　man　who　mitted　it。

But　the　action　has　a　further　general　bearing。　In　the　design　of　the　doer　it　was　only　revenge　executed

against　an　individual　in　the　destruction　of　his　property；　but　it　is　moreover　a　crime；　and　that　involves

punishment　also。　This　may　not　have　been　present　to　the　mind　of　the　perpetrator；　still　less　in　his

intention；　but　his　deed　itself；　the　general　principles　it　calls　into　play；　its　substantial　content　entails　it。

By　this　example　I　wish　only　to　impress　on　you　the　consideration；　that　in　a　simple　act；　something

farther　may　be　implicated　than　lies　in　the　intention　and　consciousness　of　the　agent。　The　example

before　us　involves；　however；　this　additional　consideration；　that　the　substance　of　the　act；

consequently　we　may　say　the　act　itself；　recoils　upon　the　perpetrator；　—　reacts　upon　him　with

destructive　tendency。　This　union　of　the　two　extremes　—　the　embodiment　of　a　general　idea　in　the

form　of　direct　reality；　and　the　elevation　of　a　speciality　into　connection　with　universal　truth　—　is

brought　to　pass；　at　first　sight；　under　the　conditions　of　an　utter　diversity　of　nature　between　the　two；

and　an　indifference　of　the　one　extreme　towards　the　other。　The　aims　which　the　agent　set　before

them　are　limited　and　special；　but　it　must　be　remarked　that　the　agents　themselves　are　intelligent

thinking　beings。　The　purport　of　their　desires　is　interwoven　with　general；　essential　considerations

of　justice；　good；　duty；　&c；　for　mere　desire　—　volition　in　its　rough　and　savage　forms　—　falls　not

within　the　scene　and　sphere　of　Universal　History。　Those　general　considerations；　which　form　at　the

same　time　a　norm　for　directing　aims　and　actions；　have　determinate　purport；　for　such　an　abstraction

as　“good　for　its　own　sake；”　has　no　place　in　living　reality。　If　men　are　to　act；　they　must　not　only

intend　the　Good；　but　must　have　decided　for　themselves　whether　this　or　that　particular　thing　is　a

Good。　What　special　course　of　action；　however；　is　good　or　not；　is　determined；　as　regards　the

ordinary　contingencies　of　private　life；　by　the　laws　and　customs　of　a　State；　and　here　no　great

difficulty　is　presented。　Each　individual　has　his　position；　he　knows　on　the　whole　what　a　just；

honourable　course　of　conduct　is。　As　to　ordinary；　private　relations；　the　assertion　that　it　is　difficult　to

choose　the　right　and　good；　—　the　regarding　it　as　the　mark　of　an　exalted　morality　to　find　difficulties

and　raise　scruples　on　that　score　—　may　be　set　down　to　an　evil　or　perverse　will；　which　seeks　to

evade　duties　not　in　themselves　of　a　perplexing　nature；　or；　at　any　rate；　to　an　idly　reflective　habit　of

mind　—　where　a　feeble　will　affords　no　sufficient　exercise　to　the　faculties；　—　leaving　them　therefore

to　find　occupation　within　themselves；　and　to　expend　themselves　on　moral　self…adulation。

§　31

It　is　quite　otherwise　with　the　prehensive　relations　that　History　has　to　do　with。　In　this　sphere　are

presented　those　momentous　collisions　between　existing；　acknowledged　duties；　laws；　and　rights；

and　those　contingencies　which　are　adverse　to　this　fixed　system；　—　which　assail　and　even　destroy

its　foundations　and　existence；　whose　tenor　may　nevertheless　seem　good；…　on　the　large　scale