DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52059#0038
[ 36 ]
It is very hard for a poor gentleman to undergo all these
grievous disasters.” Thirdly, if the young gentleman
“ perceives in himself a natural disposition to study
[divinity, the laws, or medicine], he ought to apply
himself thereto.” The fourth profession, which the
“Man of Honour” recommends quite seriously, is—
gambling! He says (on p. 225): “So soon as we have
gathered together a considerable stock of money, let us
get into the greatest gaming-houses, and hold for a
maxime always to attaque the best purses.” On p. 227 :
“ Cheating is somewhat (!) infamous, and unworthy
of a gentleman, and is not to be endured by any gallant
men.” On p. 228: “ Cheating is very dangerous, and
therefore ought always to be avoided.”
The comparatively very modern meaning of the word,
when used to denote a man of a generous heart, quite
irrespective of birth as well as station of life, is pointed
out in the Tatler (of June 16th) : “The courtier, the
trader, and the scholar,” Steele observes, “ should all
have an equal pretension to the denomination of a
gentleman. That tradesman who deals with me in a
commodity which I do not understand, with upright-
ness, has much more right to that character than the
courtier who gives me false hopes, or the scholar who
laughs at my ignorance.” Probably there are few
earlier passages where the word has that noblest of
its meanings, than this in Dekker’s tragedies:
“ The best of men
That e’er wore earth about him was a sufferer,
A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit;
The first true gentleman that ever breathed.”
It seems to me that such passages are not only
It is very hard for a poor gentleman to undergo all these
grievous disasters.” Thirdly, if the young gentleman
“ perceives in himself a natural disposition to study
[divinity, the laws, or medicine], he ought to apply
himself thereto.” The fourth profession, which the
“Man of Honour” recommends quite seriously, is—
gambling! He says (on p. 225): “So soon as we have
gathered together a considerable stock of money, let us
get into the greatest gaming-houses, and hold for a
maxime always to attaque the best purses.” On p. 227 :
“ Cheating is somewhat (!) infamous, and unworthy
of a gentleman, and is not to be endured by any gallant
men.” On p. 228: “ Cheating is very dangerous, and
therefore ought always to be avoided.”
The comparatively very modern meaning of the word,
when used to denote a man of a generous heart, quite
irrespective of birth as well as station of life, is pointed
out in the Tatler (of June 16th) : “The courtier, the
trader, and the scholar,” Steele observes, “ should all
have an equal pretension to the denomination of a
gentleman. That tradesman who deals with me in a
commodity which I do not understand, with upright-
ness, has much more right to that character than the
courtier who gives me false hopes, or the scholar who
laughs at my ignorance.” Probably there are few
earlier passages where the word has that noblest of
its meanings, than this in Dekker’s tragedies:
“ The best of men
That e’er wore earth about him was a sufferer,
A soft, meek, patient, humble, tranquil spirit;
The first true gentleman that ever breathed.”
It seems to me that such passages are not only