华兹华斯“变节”再考
2021-03-03谢海长
内容摘要:以他对法国革命态度转变为主要说辞的诸种华兹华斯“变节”说深刻影响了两百余年的华兹华斯批评实践。但深入考察表明,华兹华斯并没有因为“害怕革命暴力”而反对法国革命本身,正是秉持“自由”原则让他发生了从支持法国革命到反对拿破仑征服战争的态度转变。同样,他在1818年威斯特摩兰郡选举中支持朗斯代尔家族候选人、反对1829年《天主教解放法案》、反对1832年《改革法案》等事件都是他信守早年“原则”的力证,而非所谓“变节”或“保守”的证据。
关键词:威廉·华兹华斯;变节;法国革命;拿破仑战争;原则
基金项目:本文为国家社会科学基金重大招标项目《华兹华斯全集翻译与研究》(21&ZD283)的阶段性成果。
作者简介:谢海长,江西财经大学外国语学院副教授,主要从事英国浪漫主义诗歌和西方文学理论研究。
Title: A Reexamination of Wordsworths “Apostasy”
Abstract: The various charges of “apostasy” against Wordsworth, of his changing attitudes towards the French Revolution in particular, have profoundly impacted the Wordsworth criticism for more than two centuries. However, an in-depth reexamination reveals that Wordsworth did not oppose to the French Revolution per se for “fear of violence”. It is his adherence to the principle of “Liberty” that has caused his attitudes shifting from supporting the French Revolution to opposing the Napoleonic wars of conquest. Similarly, his support of the Lansdale candidates in the 1818 Westmorland election, his disapproval of the 1829 Catholic Emancipation Act, and his opposition to the 1832 Reform Act, were all cases of his sticking to “principles” held in early years, rather than proofs of his alleged “apostasy” or “conservatism”.
Key words: William Wordsworth; apostasy; French Revolution; Napoleonic wars; principles
Author: Xie Haichang is associate professor at the School of Foreign Languages, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics (Nanchang 330013, China). His major academic interests include British romantic poetry and western literary theories. E-mail: haichang001@sina.com
華兹华斯“变节”说几乎都是他同时代评论的产物,但却深刻影响了二百余年的华兹华斯批评实践。随着1813年9月骚塞受封“桂冠诗人”而率先被利·亨特(Leigh Hunt)称为“变节者”(Mahoney 15-16),华兹华斯1813年5月就任“印花税征收官”也被雪莱指责为抛弃了“真理和自由”的“自然诗人”(Reiman 39)。华兹华斯对法国革命的态度转变成为他“变节”指责的主要说辞,以至于他1821年复信友人专此回应。他在1818年威斯特摩兰郡选举中支持朗斯代尔家族候选人、反对1829年《天主教解放法案》(The Catholic Emancipation Act)、反对1832年《改革法案》(The Reform Act)等事件成为他“变节”或“保守”指责的重要说辞(Mason 20)。与骚塞遭遇一样,他在1843年受封“桂冠诗人”也被指责为“迷失的领袖”(Woolford 207-208)。……
