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allowed to have hope of marrying someone or other。 Venus plays but
the same part as she does in the Tannenhauser legends of the Middle
Age。 Her hatred against Telemachus is an integral element of the
plot。 She； with the other women or nymphs of the romance； in spite
of all Fenelon's mercy and courtesy towards human frailties； really
rise no higher than the witches of the Malleus Maleficanum。 Woman
as the old monk held who derived femina from fe； faith； and minus；
less； because women have less faith than menis； in 〃Telemaque；〃
whenever she thinks or acts； the temptress； the enchantress； the
victim （according to a very ancient calumny） of passions more
violent； often more lawless； than man's。
Such a conception of women must make 〃Telemaque；〃 to the end of
time； useless as a wholesome book of education。 It must have
crippled its influence； especially in France； in its own time。 For
there； for good and for evil； woman was asserting more and more her
power； and her right to power； over the mind and heart of man。
Rising from the long degradation of the Middle Ages； which had
really respected her only when unsexed and celibate； the French
woman had assumed； often lawlessly； always triumphantly； her just
freedom； her true place as the equal； the coadjutor； the counsellor
of man。 Of all problems connected with the education of a young
prince； that of the influence of woman was； in the France of the
Ancien Regime； the most important。 And it was just that which
Fenelon did not； perhaps dared not； try to touch； and which he most
certainly could not have solved。 Meanwhile； not only Madame de
Maintenon； but women whose names it were a shame to couple with
hers； must have smiled at； while they hated； the saint who attempted
to dispense not only with them； but with the ideal queen who should
have been the helpmeet of the ideal king。
To those who believe that the world is governed by a living God； it
may seem strange； at first sight； that this moral anarchy was
allowed to endure； that the avenging； and yet most purifying storm
of the French Revolution； inevitable from Louis XIV。's latter years；
was not allowed to burst two generations sooner than it did。 Is not
the answerthat the question always is not of destroying the world；
but of amending it？ And that amendment must always come from
within； and not from without？ That men must be taught to become
men； and mend their world themselves？ To educate men into self…
governmentthat is the purpose of the government of God； and some
of the men of the eighteenth century did not learn that lesson。 As
the century rolled on； the human mind arose out of the slough in
which Le Sage found it； into manifold and beautiful activity；
increasing hatred of shams and lies； increasing hunger after truth
and usefulness。 With mistakes and confusions innumerable they
worked： but still they worked； planting good seed； and when the
fire of the French Revolution swept over the land； it burned up the
rotten and the withered； only to let the fresh herbage spring up
from underneath。
But that purifying fire was needed。 If we inquire why the many
attempts to reform the Ancien Regime； which the eighteenth century
witnessed； were failures one and all； why Pombal failed in Portugal；
Aranda in Spain； Joseph II。 in Austria； Ferdinand and Caroline in
Naplesfor these last； be it always remembered； began as humane and
enlightened sovereigns； patronising liberal opinions； and labouring
to ameliorate the condition of the poor； till they were driven by
the murder of Marie Antoinette into a paroxysm of rage and terror
why； above all； Louis XVI。； who attempted deeper and wiser reforms
than any other sovereign； failed more disastrously than anyis not
the answer this； that all these reforms would but have cleansed the
outside of the cup and the platter； while they left the inside full
of extortion and excess？ It was not merely institutions which
required to be reformed； but men and women。 The spirit of 〃Gil
Blas〃 had to be cast out。 The deadness； selfishness； isolation of
men's souls； their unbelief in great duties； great common causes；
great self…sacrificesin a word； their unbelief in God； and
themselves； and mankindall that had to be reformed； and till that
was done all outward reform would but have left them； at best； in
brute ease and peace； to that soulless degradation； which （as in the
Byzantine empire of old； and seeming in the Chinese empire of to…
day） hides the reality of barbarism under a varnish of civilisation。
Men had to be awakened； to be taught to think for themselves； act
for themselves； to dare and suffer side by side for their country
and for their children； in a word； to arise and become men once
more。
And； what is more； men had to punishto avenge。 Those are fearful
words。 But there is； in this God…guided universe； a law of
retribution； which will find men out； whether men choose to find it
out or not； a law of retribution； of vengeance inflicted justly；
though not necessarily by just men。 The public executioner was
seldom a very estimable personage； at least under the old Regime；
and those who have been the scourges of God have been； in general；
mere scourges； and nothing better； smiting blindly； rashly；
confusedly； confounding too often the innocent with the guilty； till
they have seemed only to punish crime by crime； and replace old sins
by new。 But； however insoluble； however saddening that puzzle be； I
must believeas long as I believe in any God at allthat such men
as Robespierre were His instruments； even in their crimes。
In the case of the French Revolution； indeed； the wickedness of
certain of its leaders was part of the retribution itself。 For the
noblesse existed surely to make men better。 It did； by certain
classes； the very opposite。 Therefore it was destroyed by wicked
men； whom it itself had made wicked。 For over and above all
political； economic； social wrongs； there were wrongs personal；
human； dramatic； which stirred not merely the springs of
covetousness or envy； or even of a just demand for the freedom of
labour and enterprise： but the very deepest springs of rage；
contempt； and hate； wrongs which caused； as I believe； the horrors
of the Revolution。
It is notorious how many of the men most deeply implicated in those
horrors were of the artist classby which I signify not merely
painters and sculptorsas the word artist has now got； somewhat
strangely； to signify； at least in Englandbut what the French
meant by ARTISTESproducers of luxuries and amusements； play…
actors； musicians； and suchlike； down to that 〃distracted peruke…
maker with two fiery torches；〃 who； at the storm of the Bastile；
〃was for burning the saltpetres of the Arsenal； had not a woman run
screaming； had not a patriot； with some tincture of natural
philosophy； instantly struck the wind out of him； with butt of
musket on pit of stomach； overturned the barrels； and stayed