In the first sense, sir, the charge is too trifling to be confuted, and deserves to be mentioned only that it may be despised. I am at liberty, like every other man, to use my own language; and though I may perhaps have some ambition to please this gentleman, I shall not lay myself under any restraint, nor very solicitously copy his diction or his mien, however matured by age, or modeled by experience.

But if any man shall, by charging me with theatrical behavior, imply that I utter any sentiments but my own, I shall treat him as a calumniator and a villain; nor shall any protection shelter him from the treatment which he deserves. I shall, on such an occasion, without scruple, trample upon all those forms with which wealth and dignity intrench themselves; nor shall anything but age restrain my resentment; age, which always brings with it one privilege, that of being insolent and supercilious without punishment.

But with regard, sir, to those whom I have offended, I am of opinion that if I had acted a borrowed part, I should have avoided their censure. The heat which offended them is the ardor of conviction, and that zeal for the service of my country which neither hope nor fear shall influence me to suppress. I will not sit unconcerned while my liberty is invaded, nor look in silence upon public robbery. I will exert my endeavors, at whatever hazard, to repel the aggressor, and drag the thief to justice, whoever may protect him in his villainy, and whoever may partake of his plunder.

1 mien, manner, demeanor.

80. The Fruits of Liberty.

This brilliant exposition of "The Fruits of Liberty" is an extract from Macaulay's celebrated essay on Milton, the essay which first revealed Macaulay's dazzling style.

Ariosto1 tells a pretty story of a fairy, who, by some mysterious law of her nature, was condemned to appear at certain seasons in the form of a foul and poisonous snake. Those who injured her during the period of her disguise were for ever excluded from participation in the blessings which she bestowed. But to those who, in spite of her loathsome aspect, pitied and protected her, she afterwards revealed herself in the beautiful and celestial form which was natural to her, accompanied their steps, granted all their wishes, filled their houses with wealth, made them happy in love and victorious in war.

Such a spirit is Liberty. At times she takes the form of a hateful reptile. She grovels, she hisses, she stings. But woe to those who in disgust shall venture to crush her! And happy are those who, having dared to receive her in her degraded and frightful shape, shall at length be rewarded by her in the time of her beauty and her glory!

There is only one cure for the evils which newly acquired freedom produces, and that cure is freedom. When a prisoner first leaves his cell, he can not bear the light of day he is unable to discriminate colors, or recognize

1 Ariosto (1474-1533), one of the "Orlando Furioso," in which poem greatest of Italian poets. His prin- the story referred to by Macaulay cipal work is a long poem called occurs.

faces. But the remedy is, not to remand him into his dungeon, but to accustom him to the rays of the sun.

The blaze of truth and liberty may at first dazzle and bewilder nations which have become half blind in the house of bondage. But let them gaze on, and they will soon be able to bear it. In a few years men learn to reason. The extreme violence of opinions subsides. Hostile theories correct each other. The scattered elements of truth cease to contend, and begin to coalesce. And, at length, a system of justice and order is educed out of the chaos.

Many politicians of our time are in the habit of laying it down as a self-evident proposition, that no people ought to be free till they are fit to use their freedom. The maxim is worthy of the fool in the old story, who resolved not to go into the water till he had learned to swim. If men are to wait for liberty till they become wise and good in slavery, they may indeed wait for ever.

81.-The Spirit of Liberty in the American Colonies.

The following is an extract from one of the most celebrated speeches ("On Conciliation with America") of Edmund Burke (1730-1797), the most eloquent of British orators. This speech was delivered in the House of Commons, in 1775, at the time when Lord North was urging his insidious measures for the division of the American colonies.

1

These, sir, are my reasons for not entertaining that high opinion of untried force, by which many gentlemen,

1 These ... reasons. In a previous part of his speech, Burke had shown, from minute consideration of the state and circumstances of

America, that force was an inadequate instrument for holding such a people in subjection to the mother country.

for whose sentiments in other particulars I have great respect, seem to be so greatly captivated. But there is still behind a third consideration concerning this object, which serves to determine my opinion on the sort of policy which ought to be pursued in the management of America, even more than its population and its commerce: I mean its temper and character.

In this character of the Americans, a love of freedom is the predominating feature which marks and distinguishes the whole; and, as an ardent is always a jealous affection, your colonies become suspicious, restive, and untractable,1 whenever they see the least attempt to wrest from them by force, or shuffle from them by chicane,2 what they think the only advantage worth living for. This fierce spirit of liberty is stronger in the English colonies, probably, than in any other people of the earth: and this from a great variety of powerful causes; which, to understand the true temper of their minds, and the direction which this spirit takes, it will not be amiss to lay open somewhat more largely.

The people of the colonies are descendants of Eng lishmen. England, sir, is a nation, which still, I hope, respects, and formerly adored, her freedom. The colonists emigrated from you when this part of your character was most predominant; and they took this bias

=

1 untractable intractable. 2 chicane, fraudulent craft.

...

3 which largely. Change from the rhetorical to the direct order of words.

4 this part. . . predominant. The reference here is to the fact that

the early emigrations to New England took place at a time when the Puritan revolt against the tyranny of the Stuarts was preparing the civil war which resulted in the dethronement and beheading of Charles I.

and direction the moment they parted from your hands. They are therefore not only devoted to liberty, but to liberty according to English ideas, and on English principles. Their governments are popular1 in a high degree; some are merely popular; 2 in all, the popular representative is the most weighty; and this share of the people in their ordinary government never fails to inspire them with lofty sentiments, and with a strong aversion from whatever tends to deprive them of their chief importance.

Permit me, sir, to add another circumstance in our colonies, which contributes no mean part towards the growth and effect of this untractable spirit. I mean their education.

4

In no country, perhaps, in the world, is the law so general a study. The profession itself is numerous and powerful, and in most provinces it takes the lead. The great number of the deputies sent to the Congress were lawyers. This study renders men acute, inquisitive, dexterous, prompt in attack, ready in defense, full of resources. In other countries, the people, more simple, and of a less mercurial cast, judge of an ill principle in government only by an actual grievance: here they anticipate.

5

1 popular; that is, springing from the people.

3 contributes no mean part; i.e., contributes a great part. This 2 merely popular. In some of figure (which, by denying the conthe colonies, all the officers of gov-trary, has the force of a positive ernment were chosen directly by assertion) is called litotes. the people: in others, the governor and some of the magistrates were appointed by the Crown, but were unable to act without the cooperation of the local assemblies.

4 the Congress; that is, the first Continental Congress, which met in 1774.

5 mercurial, lively, quick-witted. See Webster for etymology.