Charles Phillips，1787—1859，an eminent barrister and orator，was born in Sligo，Ireland，and died in London.He gained much of his reputation as an advocate in criminal cases.In his youth he published some verses；later in life he became the author of several works，chiefly of biography.
He is fallen！We may now pause before that splendid prodigy，which towered among us like some ancient ruin，whose power terrified the glance its magnificence attracted.Grand，gloomy，and peculiar，he sat upon the throne a sceptered hermit，wrapt in the solitude of his own originality.A mind，bold，independent，and decisive；a will，despotic in its dictates；an energy that distanced expedition；and a conscience，pliable to every touch of interest，marked the outlines of this extraordinary character——the most extraordinary，perhaps，that in the annals of this world ever rose，or reigned，or fell.
Flung into life in the midst of a revolution that quickened every energy of a people who acknowledged no superior，he commenced his course，a stranger by birth，and a scholar by charity.With no friend but his sword，and no fortune but his talents，he rushed into the lists where rank，and wealth，and genius had arrayed themselves，and competition fled from him，as from the glance of destiny.
He knew no motive but interest；acknowledged no criterion but success；he worshiped no God but ambition；and，with an eastern devotion，he knelt at the shrine of his idolatry.Subsidiary to this，there was no creed that he did not profess，there was no opinion that he did not promulgate: in the hope of a dynasty，he upheld the crescent；for the sake of a divorce，he bowed before the cross；the orphan of St.Louis，he became the adopted child of the Republic；and，with a parricidal ingratitude，on the ruins both of the throne and the tribune，he reared the throne of his despotism.A professed Catholic，he imprisoned the Pope；a pretended patriot，he impoverished the country；and in the name of Brutus，he grasped without remorse，and wore without shame，the diadem of the Caesars.
The whole continent trembled at beholding the audacity of his designs，and the miracle of their execution.Skepticism bowed to the prodigies of his performance；romance assumed the air of history；nor was there aught too incredible for belief，or too fanciful for expectation，when the world saw a subaltern of Corsica waving his imperial flag over her most ancient capitals.All the visions of antiqui-ty became commonplace in his contemplation: kings were his people；nations were his outposts；and he disposed of courts，and crowns，and camps，and churches，and cabinets，as if they were the titular dignitaries of the chessboard！Amid all these changes，he stood immutable as adamant.It mattered little whether in the field，or in the drawing-room；with the mob，or the levee；wearing the Jacobin bonnet，or the iron crown；banishing a Braganza，or espousing a Hapsburg；dictating peace on a raft to the Czar of Russia，or contemplating defeat at the gallows of Leipsic he was still the same military despot.
In this wonderful combination，his affectations of literature must not be omitted.The jailer of the press，he affected the patronage of letters；the proscriber of books，he encouraged philosophy；the persecutor of authors，and the murderer of printers，he yet pretended to the protection of learning；the assassin of Palm，the silencer of De Stael，and the denouncer of Kotzebue，he was the friend of David，the benefactor of De Lille，and sent his academic prize to the philosopher of England.
Such a medley of contradictions，and，at the same time，such an individual consistency，were never united in the same character.A royalist，a republican，and an emperor；a Mohammedan，a Catholic，and a patron of the synagogue；a subaltern and a sovereign；a traitor and a tyrant；a Christian and an infidel；he was，through all his vicissitudes，the same stern，impatient，inflexible original；the same mysterious，incomprehensible self；the man without a model，and without a shadow.
译文 TRANSLATION
查尔斯·菲利普斯（1787—1859）是著名的大律师和演说家。他出生于爱尔兰斯莱戈，卒于伦敦。作为律师，查尔斯·菲利普斯尤其擅长刑事辩护。年轻时，他曾发表过一些诗，后期，则转向传记写作。
他败落了！而今，我们在这伟大的奇才前踟蹰低回，他像古代的废墟傲立在我们当中，他的辉煌令我们侧目，而他的力量则让侧目的我们畏惧。高傲、阴郁、孤僻，他是御座上手执权杖的隐士，陷入他特有的孤独。他的精神，那样大胆、独立、果敢；他的意志，像暴君一样独断专横；他的精力，让远征不足挂齿；他的良知，总是屈从于利益，如是，我们勾勒出了这一不同凡响的人物的大致轮廓——也许是历史上最异乎寻常的人物，从寒微中崛起，君临天下，又悲剧地败落。
法国大革命让一个不认同特权的民族焕发了活力；而他，这个异乡人，这个依靠资助清贫度日的学子，当时刚刚开启生命的旅程。没有朋友，但有利剑；没有财富，但有才华。他匆匆闯入这场以地位、财富、才能为赌注的竞争。当他脱颖而出时，命运的眷顾亦离他而去。
他只知利益而不识动机；他只认同成功而承认准则。他膜拜的不是上帝而是雄心；以东方式的虔诚，他跪拜在他的偶像前。并且，没有什么信条他不可以信奉，没有什么观点他不可以传播。为建立王朝，他支持伊斯兰；为离婚，他改信基督教。作为圣路易的遗孤，他成为共和国的养子；在御座与讲坛的废墟上，他以弑父者的不义建立起他的专制统治。作为一位已立誓信教的天主教徒，他囚禁了教皇；作为一名自诩的爱国者，他使国家满目疮痍。以布鲁图的名义，他毫无悔恨地攘夺了恺撒的王冠并厚颜无耻地戴在自己头上。
他大胆的筹划及其奇迹般的实施令整个欧洲大陆为之战栗。怀疑者折服于他天才的执行力；传奇俨然有了历史的氛围；当人们看到这位来自科西嘉的庶民挥舞着庄严的旗帜君临众多的古都，再没有什么不可置信、不可期许。在他的凝视下，古代的幻象在他的注视下变得那么寻常：诸王是他的臣民；万国是他的边塞；他要应对朝臣、藩王、将帅、教士和阁僚，那些人就像他手中的棋子。任风云变幻，他自岿然不动。而无论在疆场还是在客厅；无论面对暴徒还是早朝的人；无论戴着雅各宾派的贝雷帽还是戴着铁制的王冠；无论是废黜布拉甘扎还是支持哈布斯堡王朝；无论是在木筏上向沙皇宣布和平还是在莱比锡绞刑架前沉思着失利，都无关紧要，他都是那个军事独裁者。
在这绝妙的组合中，他对文学的影响不能不提。作为新闻出版业的狱卒，他影响了文学赞助人制度；他查禁过很多书，却又鼓励哲学；他迫害作家、谋杀出版者，却又扬言保护学术；他指使人谋杀帕姆，让德·斯塔尔消声并抨击科茨布，但又把学术奖金颁发给英国哲学家。
他的性格既是矛盾的大杂烩又是独特的统一体，而这是从未有过的。他是保皇党、他是共和派、他是皇帝；他是伊斯兰教徒、天主教徒及犹太教堂的赞助者；他是庶民和帝王；他是叛国者和暴君；他是基督徒和不信者；但渡尽劫波，他依旧冷峻、急躁、固执、特立独行；一个神秘、难以理解的人物，他没有楷模，也没有身影。
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