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日不落帝国的衰落:维多利亚女王统治下的英国
编辑:柔情似水 识别码:23-958255 14号文库 发布时间: 2024-03-23 01:06:07 来源:网络

第一篇:日不落帝国的衰落:维多利亚女王统治下的英国

日不落帝国的衰落:维多利亚女王统治下的英国

日不落帝国的衰落:维多利亚女王统治下的英国维多利亚女王维多利亚女王夫妇和孩子们

岳东晓先生曾言“美国是盎格鲁萨克逊文明的最高阶段”。而在小生看来,“盎格鲁萨克逊文明的最高阶段”不是今天的美国,而是一百多年前的英国维多利亚时期。当今美国的技术水平当然远远超过当年的英国;但无论是文化艺术的造诣还是“帝国的手腕”,却只能说“如今传到徒子徒孙手里,实在是没剩下几成。”

维多利亚女王与帕默斯顿勋爵

一八三七年,年仅十八岁的肯特郡主维多利亚登基为英国女王,直到她在一九○一年逝世。维多利亚女王在位的六十多年当中,英国控制全球海权,主宰世界贸易,其广阔的殖民地遍布各大洲,“日不落帝国”俨然“可以与世界抗衡”。在维多利亚时期,英国涌现出牛顿以来最伟大的科学家

麦克斯韦,莎士比亚以来最杰出的文学家狄更斯,自由主义政策的先锋格莱斯顿和大名鼎鼎的外交家帕默斯顿,可谓人才济济。

帕默斯顿这个名字中国人可能有些陌生,不过很多中国人都知道他的那句名言:“大英帝国既没有永恒的盟友,也没有永恒的仇

敌,只有永恒的利益。”在十九世纪中叶的欧洲,帕默斯顿勋爵可以说是无人不晓。此公于一八三○年首次出任英国外交大臣,先后担任外相长达十六年之久;又在

一八五五年和一八五九年两次出任英国首相,直到他于一八六五年去世。在这三十五年当中,维多利亚帝国的对外政策深受帕默斯顿的左右。其谋略之深远、手法之

高妙、算度之精密,纵观几百年来世界外交史,除了中国大外交家周恩来,再无人能与之相提并论。

让中国人永世不忘的鸦片战争,正是当时担任外交大臣的帕默斯顿所发动的。一九九七年香港回归之际,著名导演谢晋拍摄的巨片《鸦片战争》真实的记录了这段历史。正如这部传世之作片首的题词所言,“只有当一个民族真正站起来的时候,才能正视和反思她曾经屈辱的历史。”

一八三九年林则徐虎门销烟乃是挽狂澜于既倒的英雄气概,更是知其不可而为之的精忠报国。不过,以林则徐的精明强干,只要

他对海外的局势有起码的了解,就决不会选择一八三九年来查禁鸦片。林则徐的失败就在于他没有认识到,他真正的对手不是广州的那群鸦片贩子,而是远在伦敦的 帕默斯顿。

历史是必然性和偶然性的混合体。英国步步东来直至用坚船利炮打破清朝的大门是必然要发生的事情,但这场战争在一八三九年

爆发却又有其偶然性。对西方缺乏最起码了解的大清王朝误打误撞的选择了一个最糟糕的时机。恰恰正是在一八三九年,帕默斯顿办成了一件在欧洲外交史上影响深 远的大事:他创建了一个国家。

法国东北部和荷兰南部沿海地区是一片无险可守的平原,任何控制了这里的敌对势力都会构成对英伦三岛的巨大压力。一八一五

年,正是在这片平原上的滑铁卢,威灵顿公爵击败拿破仑,解除了有史以来对英国最大的威胁。自此之后,确保这片土地不落入任何欧洲大陆强权之手便一直是英国 的目标。英国的第一次尝试失败了。维也纳和会把这片土地划归荷兰的结果是一八三○年革命爆发。一时间,法国、普鲁士、俄罗斯和奥地利各国军队云集,眼看一 场大战就要到来。

刚刚出任外相的帕默斯顿清醒的认识到,要想确保这片平原不成为反英势力的跳板,唯一的办法就是让它成为一个独立的国家。

这个国家不仅要独立,而且要中立,而她的中立必须得到欧洲的一致承认。经过整整九年坚持不懈的奔走斡旋连横合纵,在关键时刻几次动用英国主力舰队在英吉利

海峡陈兵示威,帕默斯顿终于成为奇迹的创造者。一八三九年,英法普奥俄五大欧洲强国签署了承认比利时独立的公约,并庄严的宣誓公认比利时为永久中立国。未经比利时的请求,缔约国军队不得踏入比利时一步。

倘若林则徐禁烟是在一八三○年,全力周旋比利时事务的帕默斯顿就很可能无暇东顾,被集中在本土的英国舰队也根本抽不出兵

力开赴远东。而一八三九年比利时公约刚刚签署,整个欧洲听到帕默斯顿勋爵的大名都在发抖。在讨论“广州事件”的内阁会议上,外交大臣用拳头锤着桌子咆哮

道:“这不仅关系到英国商人的利益,而且关系到女王陛下的尊严。”战争的决策就这么定下来了。

比利时公约对于俄奥两家关系不大,乐得做顺水人情;法德却都受到了这片缓冲带的限制;占了大便宜的只有英国一家。帕默斯

顿的成功一举奠定了英国“欧洲大陆势力均衡”的外交政策,大英帝国的国家利益变成了欧洲的“正义与公理”。一八七○年普法战争期间,英国首相格莱斯顿即援

引这项公约要求交战双方不得侵犯比利时的中立,俨然是欧洲秩序维护者的派头。一九一四年英国对德宣战同样是援引比利时公约,劳合乔治在演说中公开斥责德国

背信弃义入侵比利时是“不折不扣的恶棍”。相比美国当年在“上海公报”中全盘接受中国的条件,如今又拿着恶棍的帽子到处乱扣,不能不反衬出不列颠绅士“帝 国的手腕”是何等的老辣!

倘若是以帕默斯顿一流的手法,海湾战争之后必然是在优势地位下和萨达姆签署和约,随即恢复和伊拉克的贸易;同时和沙特阿

拉伯与科威特签署条约,从法律上确定美国驻军的权利;再抓住机会压以色列让步,按照当年美国自己制订的联合国决议实现以巴分治。如果以色列不放心,那可以

正式签署美以共同防御条约,甚至安排以色列加入北约。现在回头看,那是和平解决以巴争端,从而使美国摆脱中东负担唯一的机会。倘若当年走出这三步棋,中东

早就全成了美国的势力范围,何至于如今搞得如此被动!

维多利亚女王逝世时的英国及殖民地 维多利亚帝国的衰落

“帝国的手腕”再厉害,也必须建立在实力基础之上。帕默斯顿敢于发动鸦片战争,还不是因为英国海军部告诉他:“只要英国一艘战舰,半个夏天就能消灭

清朝的全部水师。”维多利亚帝国的统治地位在一八六五年帕默斯顿逝世之际达到了顶峰“:北美和俄罗斯的平原是我们的谷仓;芝加哥和敖德萨是我们的矿区;加

拿大和北欧半岛为我们种树;澳大利亚为我们牧羊;还有阿根廷为我们养牛;仳鲁送来白银,南非进贡黄金;印度人和中国人为我们种茶,地中海是我们的果园;至

于我们的棉花种植园正在从美国南部向地球一切温暖的地方扩展。”

把这些用词稍加改动,就可以立即用来形容美国人以当今世界主人自居的感受:欧洲各国是美国的小兄弟;俄国人是美国的手下败将;印度人给美国编写电脑

程序;中国人给美国制造日用百货;被打趴下了的日本则是美国领导下的仆从国家;欧佩克进贡石油,台湾人求赐军火;联合国是美国的传声筒;北约是美国的御用

打手;世界银行是美国的慈善机构;从格鲁吉亚到菲律宾,美国大兵正在充当保护人;从东亚到非洲,绿色的美元是财富的象征;至于山姆大叔不大方便出手的事

情,自有土耳其以色列澳大利亚巴基斯坦等无数小伙计鞍前马后......现在的时光是美国的“维多利亚时期”,美国甚至比当年的维多利亚帝国更加强大。然而,当维多利亚女王在一九○一年逝世时,又有多少英国人能意识到大

英帝国百年的全盛时期即将随她而去,预见到了即将到来的那两场可怕的战争?事实上,维多利亚帝国兴盛的缘由恰恰正是其必然衰落之所在。大国的兴衰又岂是人 力可以强求的?

英格兰占据压倒优势的制造业、英格兰坚不可摧的海上优势和英格兰无与伦比的金融体系构成了维多利亚帝国兴盛的三大支柱。一八六○年的英国以全世界区

区百分之二的人口,却生产了全球百分之五十三的钢铁和百分之五十的煤炭,消耗了世界一半的原棉,控制着三分之一的世界海运。大英帝国一年的能源消耗竟然是

俄罗斯的一百五十五倍!经济学界估计,当时英国一国的工业在欧洲占约百分之六十,全世界约百分之四十五,可谓不折不扣的“世界工场”。

强大的生产能力和英国得天独厚的地理条件给予了她海上霸权的地位。作为岛国,英国的安全不象欧洲大陆国家那样依赖强大的陆军。当拿破仑的大军所向披

靡之际,近乎于疯狂的造舰运动使得皇家海军的实力比其主要对手的总和还远为强大。克里米亚战争中英国参战之前俄国舰队的耀武扬威和英国参战之后俄国人在远

程大炮轰击下的东躲西藏,在整个欧洲都留下了深刻的印象。海权的垄断让英国人得以放手扩展自己的殖民地。大英帝国的“海外属地”在维多利亚时期以每年十万

平方英里的速度增加。当英国第一枚邮票发行时,凡是太阳升起的地方,都有维多利亚女王的肖像。

海权保护下的英伦三岛成了欧洲的安全天堂,发达的工商业和广阔的殖民地提供了理想的投资场所,议会又制订出一项项法律保护投资者的权益。十九世纪中

叶起,伦敦的金融业进入空前的繁荣时期,英国成为制造业、贸易和资本流动的中心。可以看出,英国这三大优势相辅相成,组成周而复始的良性循环,支撑着日不 落帝国的太阳。

然而,太阳也有落山的时候。一八七三年的全球大萧条之后,大英帝国的三大支柱迅速动摇,其速度之快和似乎也和英国不可一世的统治地位成正比。

在大萧条的冲击下,自由贸易体系全面崩溃。新兴的美国和德国筑起关税壁垒,严重打击了英国的出口;而美德企业却迅速的吸收最新的技术和管理而后来居

上。一九一三年,英国的工业产值已经下降到全世界的百分之十三点六,落到了美德两国之后。在技术领域,英国也已优势不再。欧洲人最先发明的汽车却是在美国

实现了大规模生产;以严谨认真著称的德国人则在化学工业上占据了领导地位。技术进步迅速扩展到了军事领域,空军和潜艇的投入战场对英格兰的海权构成致命打

击。过去以长长的一支舰队维持英国的安全,犹如千钧系之于一发。现在,欧洲大陆上的强权既可以从空中威胁英伦三岛,也可以从水下攻击英国的海上生命线。英

国人欧洲安全天堂的日子到头了。本土“绝对安全”和制造业优势地位的丧失不可避免的冲击到英国的金融体系,大批资金从欧洲流向北美。后起的德国要求重新瓜

分世界,严重威胁了英国的殖民利益。一连串的连锁反应把大英帝国推进了危险的下坠螺旋。邱吉尔打赢了两场对德国的大战,却无法挽回英国跌落成一个不多不少 的中等强国。

当年欧洲发明的汽车技术在地域广阔的美国得到全面发展,而今天美国推出的网络技术同样是在亚洲更有前途。用导弹防御维护本土的“绝对安全”是一个遥

远的梦想,而人们却已经发现美国人的假账原来比谁做得都大。这难道不和维多利亚时期的往事惊人的相似吗?难道不值得那些口头反美内心崇美的“爱国者”们深

思吗?林则徐在鸦片战争中失败了,可今天的香港又是属于谁的呢?谁笑到最后,谁才笑的最好。

传说当年吴王称霸大赏功臣,不料功劳最大的孙武却坚辞相国之任,固请还山。吴王请伍子胥力挽,孙子答曰:“暑往则寒来,春还则秋至。今四境无忧,王恃其强盛,骄乐必生。吾非欲自全,并欲全子。”即使是深谙春秋手法的帕默斯顿勋爵恐怕也悟不到这一层上。

西方文明解放人的欲望,并从中产生惊人的力量。于是人们便总是迷信力量的强大,以为强大就能带来永恒。可是从罗马到苏联,西方历史上一个又一个强盛

无比的帝国又有哪一个能传到千秋万载?有哪一个能逃避先上升后下坠的“马鞍型曲线”?不,他们不会明白这是为什么,他们不会明白林则徐为什么会写下他生平

最得意的对子:海纳百川,有容乃大;壁立千仞,无欲则刚。

第二篇:维多利亚女王

维多利亚女王:我的生活比蜜甜

道光开始研究英吉利。当然以他当时的视野,就是“上穷碧落下黄泉”也想不出个道道来,我们今天姑且替古人操操心。看看他们各自生活在什么样的政治环境和社会环境中?是不是因为这些显而易见的差别造成了如此迥然不同的两国命运?而两位君王也在历史的长河中留下他们各自的脸谱。

维多利亚1837年等上王位,就是我们现在女生的大学年代,直到1901年去世,在位64年。幸运的维多利亚见证了“日不落帝国”的全部辉煌,同时也看到了我大清帝国是如何步步日暮途穷的。维多利亚与道光有质的不同,她登上王位,受英国1701年《王位继承法》的制约,既不偷偷摸摸,更不自我标榜正大光明。法令规定王位继承者必须是新教徒,还有长子继承原则和男性优于女性原则。王位根据年长顺序传给已故国王的儿子,如无子,则传给女儿;如无子女或后裔相隔很远,则传给旁系亲属或其后裔。一句话,英国没有儒家文化,没有宗法制度,不但女儿可以继承王位,就是女婿都行。只要跟王室血统沾一点边,就有希望。而且一切都是公开的,在大家可以监督的程序下进行。只有一点不好,英国国王们实行的是一夫一妻制。这一点,不仅道光当时全中国人都感到愤慨。在中国做皇帝,也不容易,光应付娘子军就够呛。周礼明确规定,天子后宫的规模应该是:一后,三夫人,九嫔,二十七世妇,八十一御妻。这个数字,估计能把英国的维多利亚吓傻,何况,中国的天子在后宫建制方面老喜欢超标呢。比如说晋武帝,后宫万女,看得老小儿头晕眼花,就坐着羊拉的车子,四处游逛,跟网络漫游似的,游到哪儿算哪儿。比如隋炀帝,建个迷楼,里面藏了无数的美女,然后他老兄在里面玩找朋友捉迷藏过家家等游戏。再比如唐玄宗,后宫女人三万多。我给他算了算,他一天接待一位女人的话,这三万女人得他老兄接待一百年,要不咋会出现“白发宫女在,闲坐说玄宗”的中国奇观呢?这里说这么多,是想说明,道光确实算是一位好领导,女人不多,能数得上名字、排上名号的,仅有16位,大家公认,大清的皇帝中,道光可能是最不好色的皇帝。

英国那边,不但一夫一妻,一夫一妻还大都是近亲结婚,导致两口子生养不多甚至不生养或者生养了但孩子有些毛病。有那风流国王,在外面和情妇倒是生养颇多,孩子个个聪明,可英国的王位继承没有私生子女的份。因此,英国的王位继承人不但候选人稀缺,且资质平平。很难出现英明领袖康熙、人民的好领导乾隆这样的角色。维多利亚是英王乔治三世的孙女,英王乔治三世患有间歇性神经病,与我乾隆爷同时代,但要让道光理解英国的王位继承法,应该是“对牛弹琴”。

道光关心的第二个问题是维多利亚有没有婆家。有,丫头刚刚结婚,正幸福得发晕呢。1840年2月,维多利亚女王穿上洁白的婚纱(新娘的洁白婚纱从此流行)与自己的表兄阿尔伯特结婚。阿尔伯特乃是维多利亚舅舅家的孩子,来自德国的萨克森•科堡•哥达公国。根据英国《王位继承位》,阿尔伯特娶了英国的女王,就自动加入英国籍。根据英国法律,女王的丈夫无权参与政治,连去下议院旁听议员辩论都不行。所以,道光关心他担任何种领导职务,就没有意思了。1856年,维多利亚利用自己的女王地位,又是央求,又是逼迫,硬要首相让议会通过一个决议,破格封阿尔伯特为王夫(Prince Consort)。议会拖了一年后才同意。所谓的王夫,就是“现任英国女王的丈夫”,我们不知道是否算以权谋私,也不知道道光会不会把饭喷出来?

当然,阿尔伯特本人并不关心政治,他的职责,就是做一位五好男人、模范丈夫。阿尔伯特被誉为“流动的百科全书”,其外在的风度与内在的学识令维多利亚为之着迷。小女王在自己的日记里感谢上帝,说她“知道了什么是真正的幸福”!她给自己的舅舅写信,向她显摆自己是“多么的开心、多么的幸运、多么的骄傲…拥有了阿尔伯特这么完美的丈夫!”。她说:“我从来没有经历过如此良宵!我最最亲爱的阿尔伯特和我肩并肩地坐在脚凳上,他那激情洋溢的爱恋和柔情让我感到无比的爱意和幸福,这一切我想都没想过。他的双臂紧紧地拥抱着我,我们一次次地亲吻!他英俊的容貌和甜蜜的柔情让我陶醉……有夫如此,我复何求!”她说:“他的爱情和温柔比一切都重要,每次亲吻他柔滑的脸颊,或是吻上他的双唇都是一种无上的快乐……哦!我真是天底下最幸福的女人!”

小女王的日记,要是能给道光看看就好了,好歹知道这个世界上,国王还有另一活法。小女人做了国王,嫁了男人,业余生活丰富。她和墨尔本首相出外骑马(这个时候,首相的妻子正和英国著名的大诗人拜伦风流呢,老首相虽然对自己的老婆已构不成魅力,但是他的绅士风度却让小女王着迷);她在宫廷里开办舞会,邀请贵族青年,搞生日party;她与丈夫在晚餐前做小游戏,打板球或羽毛球,跟孩子们嬉闹;阿尔伯特有时跑到外面搭猪圈,回来给她朗诵《苏格兰宗教史》,或者在她面前掂着脚尖学跳芭蕾…总之,所有的一切都令她开心不已,所有的开心最后都影响到了她的工作情绪,她在日记里诉说自己每天需要看好多公文,需要签好多字,但是她喜欢,她乐意做这样的事。这就是君主立宪制度下的女王生活。当然,所谓的君主立宪,在后来的战争中,英方给大清官员解释过,官员们愣是听不懂。比如义律拒绝给钦差大臣林则徐签那个甘结(写保证书),理由就是:英国的规矩,每个人只对自己的行为负责,别人不能包办他人的事情。即使是英国国王,也无权干涉英商的贸易自由。林则徐气坏了:国王不能替商人作主,这不是扯淡吗?明明是你不忠国主,反诬国主号令不行,白脸奸臣哪!该凌迟处死。

君王还会有现代意义上的爱情生活?而且爱得如醉如痴,幸福得是在人间天堂,一点也不亚于琼瑶笔下和当今韩剧中的女主人公。没有三宫六院还得一夫一妻,唐宗宋祖能理解吗?道光皇帝能理解吗?林则徐能理解吗?魏源能理解吗?答案是明白的。那为什么会是这样?一句话,不同的政治导引着不同的生活,国王也概莫能外。

英国的君主立宪,用大白话解释,就是君王没有实际政治权力,首相领导内阁做事,让那些人民的代表-—议员、内阁、首相们去忙乎。按易中天先生的观点,就是虚君共和。这就不难理解为什么英王乔治三世患有神经病,依然能当国王,国家机器依然照常运转。而没有出现我们的或外戚干政或宦官专权或朝臣跋扈这种周期性的王朝政治病。英王仅是名义上和荣誉上的最高政府首脑。用英国学者沃尔特•白芝浩的话来讲,英国宪法分作两部分,一是富于尊严的部分,一是富于效率的部分。英王处于宪法中富于尊严部分的首位,首相处于宪法中富于效率部分的首位。国家政治生活中,英王得遵守两条原则:王在议会和王在法下。

王在议会是什么?英国学者沃尔特•白芝浩半开玩笑半认真地说,如果英国的上下两院全体一致向维多利亚女王发出一份对她的死刑执行令的话,女王也只好在该执行令上签字。可见英国国王属于议会,在议会里有个签字权-—凡议会通过的议案,英王就得毫无例外的签字。那么英国女王到底是吃什么饭的?沃尔特•白芝浩说,英国没有任何真正的蓝皮书说过女王是干什么的,但是从理论上,我们可以知道,女王有三项权利-—商量权、奖励权和警告权。说来说去,英国国王,略相当于现代中国政府的一个名誉主席而已。针对大清帝国,女王最大的一次国务活动就是1840年1月16日,她在国会发表了一个演说,她宣称:“我已经并将继续对此深为影响我国臣民利益和我的荣誉尊严的事件,予以严重的注意。” 这次演说,被一些中国史学家称作“侵华演说”。看来,这些史学家像大清国民一样不懂英国的政治制度。女王所谓的“严重注意”,最严重的算是执行了她的警告权。

王在法下是什么?那就是英国国王不能制定法律、更不能践踏法律。英王一切活动均需符合法律,绝没有“朕即法律”那回事。这点一定宛如让道光皇帝坐上了奔驰车,不仅不明就里而且惊恐不安!早在1215年英国的《自由宪章》和1689年英国《权利法案》就对王权作出了限制,里面有太多的国王不能这样不能那样的规定。比如说国王不得干涉法律,不得私自征税,不得剥夺他人私有财产,不得招募军队维持常备军;臣民有向国王请愿的权利,国王不得对其控告和判罪;国会议员选举自由;议员在国会内有演说、辩论和议事的自由。1701年,作为《权利法案》的补充,英国又通过了《王位继承法》,两个法案进一步确立了“议会至上”原则,王权及王室受到了进一步的限制,议员和百姓的自由和权利得到了保障。这一点,不仅对于英国,而且是人类历史的伟大进步,“国王由选举产生”,它标志着一个人统治一个国家的时代结束了。直白地说就是:在英国,做君王很潇洒;做大臣,很舒坦;做老百姓,还发财。

看罢英国的这些新花样,这些做国王的规矩,做首相的职责,做人的痛快,别说道光皇上不知道,就是知道了,他也不理解。试想中国皇上,哪个不是金口玉言出口成法?皇上想要谁的小命,就要谁的小命,皇上想要谁的财产,直接抄家。明朝江南巨富沈万山出钱帮朱元璋修建了今南京中华门,这位当过小和尚的洪武大帝愣是看见这巨额财富,这志得意满的沈先生不顺眼,管他三七二十一,找个理由,就将沈富豪充军发配云南。将近两个半世纪之后,1896年,李鸿章出访英国,他在代表西方民主制度的议会里旁听了议员的辩论,老人家觉得那是一窝蜂似的吵架,评价说:“无甚可观”!明白了吧,这就是并不保守,还算与时俱进的李鸿章大人。大清君臣即使亲眼目睹了英国的政治生活,也绝对超不过一头猪对性感美女丰臀肥乳的理解。

所以我们看到的道光朱批,根本没有提及英国女王的政事,他最关心的,倒是女王的丈夫在国内身居何职?这位帝国的“第一家属”是否端坐深宫,“父仪天下”呢?如果说女王处于宪法中尊严与荣誉的位置,那么她的丈夫阿尔伯特应该是处于尊严与荣誉的边缘位置。比如女王要签字,阿尔伯特笔墨侍候;女王签字吸水过多,阿尔伯特负责为之揩干。道光听了之后,会不会再次喷饭?

阿尔伯特作为好丈夫,是他让维多利亚拥有了平凡女人才能拥有的那种幸福。有一次,女王跟丈夫阿尔伯特亲王吵了架,想要和好,但丈夫闭门不出,不见女王。女王主动道歉,去敲丈夫的门。丈夫问是谁,维多利亚回答说是女王。门没有打开,又敲了几次,里面没有反应。女王明白了,马上换了温柔的腔调说:“对不起,亲爱的,我是你的妻子。”于是,门立刻打开了。1861年12月,阿尔伯特因伤寒而去世。女王“永失我爱”,这成为女王的致命伤痛。以后每逢丈夫的祭日,她都会在自己的日记中写下相同的话语:“你的去世是一个巨大的悲剧,我的人生从此支离破碎。”她给亲戚写信说:“世界已经死去了”。她说:“他的观点就是我的法律”。

阿尔伯特作为好父亲,他最大的乐趣就是跟孩子在皇宫走廊中捉迷藏。阿尔伯特与维多利亚生了九个孩子,捉起迷藏来,阵容可够庞大的。中国的隋炀帝喜欢在迷宫中与妃子宫女们捉迷藏,不能与阿尔伯特同日而语。道光帝虽然用不着和老婆捉迷藏,但后妃之间的争风吃醋也够他受的,他曾经为此勒令一个吃皇后醋的妃子自尽。

阿尔伯特爱好机械和科技。正是亲王对科学技术的热爱改变了女王对各种新发明的偏见。比如,当时英国北部铺设了火车轨道,但女王害怕坐火车,是亲王的鼓励使她认识到铁路运输无可限量的前途,使她成为在国内推行工业化的坚定倡导者。第一届世博会就是阿尔伯特亲王组织举办的。

说到这里,我们不能不为远在大西洋那边的古人排案叫好,人家没有“一人得道,仙及鸡犬”的裙带风,国王的家属没有特权,更不敢肆意妄为侵害百姓。当然他们也毫无可能上演明崇祯皇帝在歪脖树下,手持利剑杀死自己女儿时的哀嚎:“你为何生在帝王家呢?”

摘自《被你征服》——鸦片战争新说(正在连载)

第三篇:汉英对照:林则徐致英国维多利亚女王信

林则徐 致英国维多利亚女王信

Commissioner Lin: Letter to Queen Victoria, 1839

【Lin, high imperial commissioner, a president of the Board of War, viceroy of the two Keäng provinces, &c., Tang, a president of the Board of War, viceroy of the two Kwang provinces, &c., and E., a vice-president of the Board of War, lieut.-governor of Kwangtung, &c., hereby conjointly address this public dispatch to the queen of England for the purpose of giving her clear and distinct information(on the state of affairs)&c.From Ssuyu Teng and John Fairbank, China's Response to the West,(Cambridge MA: Harvard University Press, 1954), repr.in Mark A.Kishlansky, ed., Sources of World History, Volume II,(New York: HarperCollins CollegePublishers, 1995), pp.266-69

Lin Tse-Hsu(1785-1850)was the Chinese Commissioner in Canton whose actions precipitated the Opium Wars(1839-1842).Although opium was used in China for centuries, it was not until the opening of the tea trade to Dutch and British merchants that China was able to import large quantities of the drug.By the early nineteenth century opium was the principal product that the English East India Company traded in China and opium addiction was becoming a widespread social problem.When the emperor's own son died of an overdose, he decided to put an end to the trade.Lin Tse-Hs? was sent.to Canton, the chief trading port of the East India Company, with instructions to negoiate an end to the importation of opium into China.The English merchants were uncooperative, so he seized their stores of opium.This led to immediate military action.The Chinese were decisively defeated and had to cede to a humiliating treaty that legalized the opium trade.As a result commissioner Lin was dismissed from office and sent into exile.】

1洪惟我大皇帝抚绥中外,一视同仁,利则与天下公之,害则为天下去之。盖以天地之心为心也。贵国王累世相传,皆称恭顺。

It is only our high and mighty emperor, who alike supports and cherishes those of the Inner Land, and those from beyond the seas-who looks upon all mankind with equal benevolence---who, if a source of profit exists anywhere, diffuses it over the whole world---who, if the tree of evil takes root anywhere, plucks it up for the benefit of all nations;---who, in a word, hath implanted in his breast that heart(by which beneficent nature herself)

governs the heavens and the earth!You, the queen of your honorable nation, sit upon a throne occupied through successive generations by predecessors, all of whom have been styled respectful and obedient.观历次进贡表文云:凡本国人到中国贸易,均蒙大皇帝一体公平恩待等语。窃喜贵国王深明大义,感激天恩,是以天朝柔远绥怀,倍加优礼。贸易之利,垂二百年。该国所由以富庶称者,赖有此也。

Looking over the public documents accompanying the tribute sent(by your predecessors)on various occasions, we find the following: “All the people of my country, arriving at the Central Land for purposes of trade, have to feel grateful to the great emperor for the most perfect justice, for the kindest treatment,” and other words to that effect.Delighted did we feel that the kings of your honorable nation so clearly understood the great principles of propriety, and were so deeply grateful for the heavenly goodness(of our emperor):---therefore, it was that we of the heavenly dynasty nourished and cherished your people from afar, and bestowed upon them redoubled proofs of our urbanity and kindness.It is merely from these circumstances, that your country---deriving immense advantage from its commercial intercourse with us, which has endured now two hundred years---has become the rich and flourishing kingdom that it is said to be!

2唯是通商已久,众夷良莠不齐,遂有夹带,诱惑华民,以致毒流各省者。似此但知利己,不顾害人,乃天理所不容,人情所共愤。大皇帝闻而震怒。特遣本大臣来至广东,与本总督部堂巡抚部院,会同查办。

But, during the commercial intercourse which has existed so long, among the numerous foreign merchants resorting hither, are wheat and tares, good and bad;and of these latter are some, who, by means of introducing opium by stealth, have seduced our Chinese people, and caused every province of the land to overflow with that poison.These then know merely to advantage themselves, they care not about injuring others!This is a principle which heaven's Providence repaginates;and which mankind conjointly look upon with abhorrence!Moreover, the great emperor hearing of it, actually quivered with indignation, and especially dispatched me, the commissioner, to Canton, that in conjunction with the viceroy and lieut.-governor of the province, means might be taken for its suppression!

凡内地民人贩食者,皆应处死。若追究夷人历年贩卖之罪,则其贻害深而攫利重,本为法所当诛。惟念众夷尚知悔罪乞诚,将趸船二万二百八十三

箱,由领事官义律,禀请缴收,全行毁化。叠经本大臣等据实具奏。幸蒙大皇帝格外施恩,以自首者,情尚可原,姑宽免罪。

Every native of the Inner Land who sells opium, as also all who smoke it, are alike adjudged to death.Were we then to go back and take up the crimes of the foreigners, who, by selling it for many years have induced dreadful calamity and robbed us of enormous wealth, and punish them with equal severity, our laws could not but award to them absolute annihilation!But, considering that these said foreigners did yet repent of their crime, and with a sincere heart beg for mercy;that they took 20,283 chests of opium piled up in their store-ships, and through Elliot, the superintendent of the trade of your said country, petitioned that they might be delivered up to us, when the same were all utterly destroyed, of which we, the imperial commissioner and colleagues, made a duly prepared memorial to his majesty;---considering these circumstances, we have happily received a fresh proof of the extraordinary goodness of the great emperor, inasmuch as he who voluntarily comes forward, may yet be deemed a fit subject for mercy, and his crimes be graciously remitted him.再犯者法难屡贷,立定新章。谅贵国王向化倾心,定能谕令众夷,兢兢奉法。但必晓以利害,乃知天朝法度,断不可以不懔遵也。

But as for him who again knowingly violates the laws, difficult indeed will it be thus to go on repeatedly pardoning!He or they shall alike be doomed to the penalties of the new statute.We presume that you, the sovereign of your honorable nation, on pouring out your heart before the altar of eternal justice, cannot but command all foreigners with the deepest respect to reverence our laws!If we only lay clearly before your eyes, what is profitable and what is destructive, you will then know that the statutes of the heavenly dynasty cannot but be obeyed with fear and trembling!

3查该国距内地六七万里,而夷船争来贸易者,为获利之厚故耳。以中国之利利外夷,是夷人所获之厚利,皆从华民分去。岂有反以毒物害华民之理。即夷人未必有心为害,而贪利之极,不顾害人,试问天良安在?

We find that your country is distant from us about sixty or seventy thousand miles, that your foreign ships come hither striving the one with the other for our trade, and for the simple reason of their strong desire to reap a profit.Now, out of the wealth of our Inner Land, if we take a part to bestow upon foreigners from afar, it follows, that the immense wealth which the said foreigners amass, ought properly speaking to be portion of our own native Chinese people.By what principle of reason then, should these foreigners send in return a poisonous drug, which involves in

destruction those very natives of China? Without meaning to say that the foreigners harbor such destructive intentions in their hearts, we yet positively assert that from their inordinate thirst after gain, they are perfectly careless about the injuries they inflict upon us!And such being the case, we should like to ask what has become of that conscience which heaven has implanted in the breasts of all men? 闻该国禁食甚严,是固明知之为害也。既不使为害于该国,则他国尚不可移害,况中国乎?

We have heard that in your own country opium is prohibited with the utmost strictness and severity:---this is a strong proof that you know full well how hurtful it is to mankind.Since then you do not permit it to injure your own country, you ought not to have the injurious drug transferred to another country, and above all others, how much less to the Inner Land!4中国所行于外国者,无一非利人之物。利于食,利于用,并利于转卖,皆利也。中国曾有一物为害外国否?况如茶叶大黄,外国所不可一日无也。中国若靳其利而不恤其害,则夷人何以为生?又外国之呢羽哔叽,非得中国丝斤不能成织。若中国亦靳其利,夷人何利可图?其余食物,自糖料姜桂而外,用物自绸缎磁器而外,外国所必需者,曷可胜数。而外来之物,皆不过以供玩好,可有可无。既非中国要需,何难闭关绝市。乃天朝于茶丝诸货,悉任其贩运流通,绝不靳惜。无他,利与天下公之也。

Of the products which China exports to your foreign countries, there is not one which is not beneficial to mankind in some shape or other.There are those which serve for food, those which are useful, and those which are calculated for re-sale;but all are beneficial.Has China(we should like to ask)ever yet sent forth a noxious article from its soil? Not to speak of our tea and rhubarb, things which your foreign countries could not exist a single day without, if we of the Central Land were to grudge you what is beneficial, and not to compassionate your wants, then wherewithal could you foreigners manage to exist? And further, as regards your woolens, camlets, and longells, were it not that you get supplied with our native raw silk, you could not get these manufactured!If China were to grudge you those things which yield a profit, how could you foreigners scheme after any profit at all? Our other articles of food, such as sugar, ginger, cinnamon, &c., and our other articles for use, such as silk piece-goods, chinaware, &c., are all so many necessaries of life to you;how can we reckon up their number!On the other hand, the things that come from your foreign countries are only calculated to make presents of, or serve for mere amusement.It is quite the same to us if we have them, or if we have them

not.If then these are of no material consequence to us of the Inner Land, what difficulty would there be in prohibiting and shutting our market against them? It is only that our heavenly dynasty most freely permits you to take off her tea, silk, and other commodities, and convey them for consumption everywhere, without the slightest stint or grudge, for no other reason, but that where a profit exists, we wish that it be diffused abroad for the benefit of all the earth!该国带去内地货物,不特自资食用,且得以分售各国,获利三倍。即不卖,而其三倍之利自在。何忍更以害人之物,恣无厌之求乎?设使别国有人贩至英国,诱人买食;当亦贵国王所深恶而痛绝之也。

Your honorable nation takes away the products of our central land, and not only do you thereby obtain food and support for yourselves, but moreover, by re-selling these products to other countries you reap a threefold profit.Now if you would only not sell opium, this threefold profit would be secured to you: how can you possibly consent to forgo it for a drug that is hurtful to men, and an unbridled craving after gain that seems to know no bounds!Let us suppose that foreigners came from another country, and brought opium into England, and seduced the people of your country to smoke it, would not you, the sovereign of the said country, look upon such a procedure with anger, and in your just indignation endeavor to get rid of it?

5向闻贵国王存心仁厚,自不肯以己所不欲者,施之于人。并闻来粤之船,皆经颁给条约,有不许携带禁物之语。是贵国王之政令本属严明。只因商船众多,前此或未加察。今行文照会,明知天朝禁令之严,定必使之不敢再犯。

Now we have always heard that your highness possesses a most kind and benevolent heart, surely then you are incapable of doing or causing to be done unto another, that which you should not wish another to do unto you!We have at the same time heard that your ships which come to Canton do each and every of them carry a document granted by your highness' self, on which are written these words “you shall not be permitted to carry contraband goods;” this shows that the laws of your highness are in their origin both distinct and severe, and we can only suppose that because the ships coming here have been very numerous, due attention has not been given to search and examine;and for this reason it is that we now address you this public document, that you may clearly know how stern and severe are the laws of the central dynasty, and most certainly you will cause that they be not again rashly violated!

且闻贵国王所邻之兰顿,及嘶噶兰、嗳伦等处,本皆不产。惟所辖印度地方,如孟啊啦、曼哒啦萨、孟买、叭哒拏默拏、嘛尔洼数处,连山栽种,开池制造。累月经年,以厚其毒。臭秽上达,天怒神恫。贵国王诚能于此等处拔尽根株,尽锄其地,改种五谷。有敢再图种造者,重治其罪。此真兴利除害之大仁政,天所佑而神所福,延年寿,长子孙,必在此举矣。Moreover, we have heard that in London the metropolis where you dwell, as also in Scotland, Ireland, and other such places, no opium whatever is produced.It is only in sundry parts of your colonial kingdom of Hindostan, such as Bengal, Madras, Bombay, Patna, Malwa, Benares, Malacca, and other places where the very hills are covered with the opium plant, where tanks are made for the preparing of the drug;month by month, and year by year, the volume of the poison increases, its unclean stench ascends upwards, until heaven itself grows angry, and the very gods thereat get indignant!You, the queen of the said honorable nation, ought immediately to have the plant in those parts plucked up by the very root!Cause the land there to be hoed up afresh, sow in its stead the five grains, and if any man dare again to plant in these grounds a single poppy, visit his crime with the most severe punishment.By a truly benevolent system of government such as this, will you indeed reap advantage, and do away with a source of evil.Heaven must support you, and the gods will crown you with felicity!This will get for yourself the blessing of long life, and from this will proceed the security and stability of your descendants!

6至夷商来至内地,饮食居处,无非天朝之恩膏,积聚丰盈,无非天朝之乐利。其在该国之日犹少,而在粤东之日转多。弼教明刑,古今通义。

In reference to the foreign merchants who come to this our central land, the food that they eat, and the dwellings that they abide in, proceed entirely from the goodness of our heavenly dynasty: the profits which they reap, and the fortunes which they amass, have their origin only in that portion of benefit which our heavenly dynasty kindly allots them: and as these pass but little of their time in your country, and the greater part of their time in ours, it is a generally received maxim of old and of modern times, that we should conjointly admonish, and clearly make known the punishment that awaits them.譬如别国人到英国贸易,尚须遵英国法度,况天朝乎?今定华民之例,卖者死,食者亦死。试思夷人若无带来,则华民何由转卖,何由吸食?是奸夷实陷华民于死,岂能独予以生?彼害人一命者,尚须以命抵之,况之害人,岂止一命已乎?故新例于带来内地之夷人,定以斩绞之罪。所谓为天

下去害者此也。

Suppose the subject of another country were to come to England to trade, he would certainly be required to comply with the laws of England, then how much more does this apply to us of the celestial empire!Now it is a fixed statute of this empire, that any native Chinese who sells opium is punishable with death, and even he who merely smokes it, must not less die.Pause and reflect for a moment: if you foreigners did not bring the opium hither, where should our Chinese people get it to re-sell? It is you foreigners who involve our simple natives in the pit of death, and are they alone to be permitted to escape alive? If so much as one of those deprive one of our people of his life, he must forfeit his life in requital for that which he has taken: how much more does this apply to him who by means of opium destroys his fellow-men? Does the havoc which he commits stop with a single life? Therefore it is that those foreigners who now import opium into the Central Land are condemned to be beheaded and strangled by the new statute, and this explains what we said at the beginning about plucking up the tree of evil, wherever it takes root, for the benefit of all nations.7复查本年二月间,据该国领事义律,以禁令森严,禀求宽限。凡印度港脚属地,请限五月,英国本地,请限十月。然后即以新例遵行等语。今本大臣等奏蒙大皇帝,格外天恩,倍加体恤。

We further find that during the second month of this present year, the superintendent of your honorable country, Elliot, viewing the law in relation to the prohibiting of opium as excessively severe, duly petitioned us, begging for “an extension of the term already limited, say five months for Hindostan and the different parts of India, and ten for England, after which they would obey and act in conformity with the new statute,” and other words to the same effect.Now we, the high commissioner and colleagues, upon making a duly prepared memorial to the great emperor, have to feel grateful for his extraordinary goodness, for his redoubled compassion.凡在一年六个月之内,误带,但能自首全缴者,免其治罪。若过此限期,仍有带来,则是明知故犯,即行正法,断不宽宥。可谓仁之至义之尽矣。Any one who within the next year and a half may by mistake bring opium to this country, if he will but voluntarily come forward, and deliver up the entire quantity, he shall be absolved from all punishment for his crime.If, however, the appointed term shall have expired, and there are still persons who continue to bring it, then such shall be accounted as knowingly violating the laws, and shall most assuredly be put to death!On no account 7

shall we show mercy or clemency!This then may be called truly the extreme of benevolence, and the very perfection of justice!我天朝君临万国,尽有不测神威,然不忍不教而诛。故特明宣定例。该国夷商欲图长久贸易,必当懔遵宪典,将永断来源,切勿以身试法。

Our celestial empire rules over ten thousand kingdoms!Most surely do we possess a measure of godlike majesty which ye cannot fathom!Still we cannot bear to slay or exterminate without previous warning, and it is for this reason that we now clearly make known to you the fixed laws of our land.If the foreign merchants of your said honorable nation desire to continue their commercial intercourse, they then must tremblingly obey our recorded statutes, they must cut off for ever the source from which the opium flows, and on no account make an experiment of our laws in their own persons!

王其诘奸除慝,以保乂尔有邦,益昭恭顺之忱,共享太平之福,幸甚,幸甚!

Let then your highness punish those of your subjects who may be criminal, do not endeavor to screen or conceal them, and thus you will secure peace and quietness to your possessions, thus will you more than ever display a proper sense of respect and obedience, and thus may we unitedly enjoy the common blessings of peace and happiness.What greater joy!What more complete felicity than this!接到此文之后,即将杜绝缘由,速行移覆,切勿诿延。

Let your highness immediately, upon the receipt of this communication, inform us promptly of the state of matters, and of the measure you are pursuing utterly to put a stop to the opium evil.Please let your reply be speedy.Do not on any account make excuses or procrastinate.A most important communication.P.S.We annex an abstract of the new law, now about to be put in force.“Any foreigner or foreigners bringing opium to the Central Land, with design to sell the same, the principals shall most assuredly be decapitated, and the accessories strangled;and all property(found on board the same ship)shall be confiscated.The space of a year and a half is granted, within the which, if any one bringing opium by mistake, shall voluntarily step forward and deliver it up, he shall be absolved from all consequences of his crime.”

This said imperial edict was received on the 9th day of the 6th month of the 19th year of Taoukwang, at which the period of grace begins, and runs on to the 9th day of the 12th month of the 20th year of Taoukwang, when it is completed.Source: From: Chinese Repository, Vol.8(February 1840), pp.497-503;reprinted in William H.McNeil and Mitsuko Iriye, eds., Modern Asia and Africa, Readings in World History Vol.9,(New York: Oxford University Press, 1971), pp.111-118.Scanned by Jerome S.Arkenberg, Cal.State Fullerton.The text has been modernized by Prof.Arkenberg.

第四篇:202_翻译硕士百科知识:维多利亚女王时代的英国

凯程考研辅导班,中国最权威的考研辅导机构

202_翻译硕士百科知识:维多利亚女王

时代的英国

1、狄更斯——长篇小说《大卫•科波菲尔》,为幽默连环画配写的故事《匹克威克外传》,讽刺小说《董贝父子》,长篇小说《艰难时世》,历史小说《双城记》,小说《远大前程》(即《孤星血泪》)

2、萨克雷——长篇小说《名利场》,历史小说《亨利•艾斯蒙德》,自传体小说《潘登尼斯》

3、女作家夏洛蒂•勃朗特——长篇小说《简•爱》(作家与萨克雷同时代,她十分崇拜他,《简•爱》第二版题辞就是“献给萨克雷”)

4、夏洛蒂•勃朗特的妹妹艾米丽•勃朗特——长篇小说《呼啸山庄》

5、夏洛蒂•勃朗特和艾米丽•勃朗特的妹妹安妮•勃朗特——小说《野岗庄园房客》,记述了三姐妹的家事。

6、女作家盖斯凯尔夫人——《夏洛蒂•勃朗特传》《南与北》《露丝》

7、哈代——长篇小说《还乡》《德伯家的苔丝》《卡斯特桥市长》《无名的裘德》

8、1932年诺贝尔文学奖获得者现实主义小说家高尔斯华绥——《天涯海角》,《福尔赛世家》三部曲(《有产者》《骑虎》《出租》),《现代喜剧》三部曲(《白猿》《银匙》《天鹅之歌》)

9、女作家伏尼契——《牛虻》

10、主张“为艺术而艺术”的唯美主义者王尔德——童话代表作《快乐王子》,小说《格雷的画像》 11、1925年诺贝尔文学奖获得者萧伯纳——戏剧集《不愉快的戏剧集》《愉快的戏剧集》,戏剧杰作《巴巴拉少校》,著名剧本《英国佬的另一个岛》《伤心之家》《苹果车》

12、毛姆——剧本《腓特烈夫人》,长篇小说《人生的枷锁》《月亮和六便士》

13、史蒂文生——传奇小说《宝岛》,《绑架》《卡特琳娜》,短篇故事集《新天方夜谭》,《化身博士》

14、科幻小说家威尔斯——《时间机器》《星际大战》《空中战争》《未来事物的面貌》《莫洛博士岛》《隐身人》《月球上的第一批人》

15、侦探小说家柯南道尔——《血字的研究》《四签名》《波希米亚丑闻》《五彩带》《红发会》《巴丝克维尔猎犬》„„(福尔摩斯)

16、意识流小说家乔伊斯——现代派作品的经典《尤利西斯》(模仿《奥德修记》)

17、现代派大诗人艾略特(注:十九世纪英国文学里,有两个艾略特,艾略特•G是位女作家,著有《弗洛斯河上的磨房》《织工马南》《米德尔马奇》等小说)艾略特•T•S是个男作家——著名长篇《荒原》,被推为现代派诗歌划时代的里程碑。1948年,诗作《四个四重奏》使诗人获诺贝尔文学奖。

(现代派文学的鼻祖:乔伊斯,艾略特,法国的普鲁斯特,奥地利卡夫卡)

第五篇:读《维多利亚女王》有感

读《维多利亚女王》有感

亚利山德里娜·维多利亚(1819-1901),18岁登基,在位64年,是英国历史上统治时间最长的一位君主,正是在她执政期间,大英帝国辉煌到极点,“统御七海”,称霸世界,米字旗插遍了世界每一个角落,英国被称为了“日不落”帝国,她创造了一个繁荣昌盛的时代,史称“维多利亚时代”。

维多利亚是为王位而生的。乔治三世晚年精神失常,由其长子乔治四世摄政,乔治四世的独生女,王位继承人夏洛特公主难产而死,按英国王位继承制度,乔治三世的七个儿子中只有肯特公爵有机会成为合法继承人,此人便是维多利亚的父亲。肯特公爵在一个吉普赛巫师的预言下,决心为王嗣的延续而结婚,有计划地娶妻,生下了维多利亚。维多利亚是王位计划下的产物,她生下来就是要做女王的。

维多利亚的幸运让人羡慕,然而女王的成长历程并非一帆风顺。2岁的时候维多利亚失去了父亲——那个无论在生活上还是在知识品德情感上将为她精心设计的父亲。同时,维多利亚的伯父,乔治四世和威廉四世,似乎并不十分喜爱这个小公主,其母肯特公爵夫人与时任国王的威廉四世水火不容。

女王的成功除了幸运之外,女王自己后天的努力也起了关键作用。维多利亚丧父后一直按母亲所设计好的教育模式努力地向着女王的宝座积蓄力量。如果没有维多利亚自己的努力,即使她登上王位也不会有所成就,也只能是一位平庸的女王。所以,即使是上天为你铺好了道路,最后的成就依然取决于自己的努力。

肯特公爵夫人为了把小维多利亚培养成一个完美的英国公主,进行了周密的计划。11岁时,小维多利亚就掌握了一定的基督教义经典著作、历史、政治、语言文字和各细密的自然科学知识,并且掌握了德语、英语、法语和意大利语,对拉丁文也略知一二。严谨的教育使小维多利亚的知识储备丰富而合理,为未来对于国事的处理打下了坚实的基础。公爵夫人决心让自己的女儿从尽可能早的时刻就做好身居高位的准备,这种准备除了广博的知识储备,更重要的在于培养出一种足以博得人们尊敬的风范,朴素、守矩、讲礼、诚实而不失高贵。公爵夫人把对于基督教的虔诚的皈依看作养成这种风范的唯一途径。公爵夫人把将维多利亚培养成一个基督教女王看作自己一生的最高义务。日后,维多利亚登基时高贵的气质,君临天下的王者风范征服了英国民众与政府各界人士,人们无不为之叹服,拜倒在女王脚下。

女王幼年的成长经历让我感受到了教育与环境的影响力。维多利亚有一个伟大的母亲。

维多利亚女王也有固执、任性、专横的一面,一有机会她便毫不犹豫地维护、巩固甚至企图扩大自己的王权,加强王权的专制,但维多利亚从整体上是识时务的。对于上升时期的英国资产阶级而言,她基本上还是顺应了时代的潮流,这是最令我佩服的一点,在自己的欲望与现实之间,她能很好地作出选择,她战胜了自己。作为一个君王,维多利亚渴望权力,渴望至高无上,但当矛盾尖锐时,她也会选择让步,以顺应时代潮流,同时女王也有十分出众的社交能力,女王十分重视与首相的沟通交流,正是这两点使她让君主立宪制的英国在资产

阶级自由民主运动逐渐高涨的时期保持了繁荣,使王室的地位岿然不动,缔造了日不落帝国,把英国带到了一个辉煌的顶峰。

维多利亚是一个复杂体,她有时温柔、天真、善良,有时又强硬、狡猾、冷酷,读过这本书后,我深深地被维多利亚女王所折服,也许维多利亚称不上是一位伟人,但她是一个有内涵,有魅力的成功的女王。

日不落帝国的衰落:维多利亚女王统治下的英国
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