Agostino (fl. 1755)] paying for Johann Christian Bach’s [1735-82] studies
at Bologna, Joseph Black [1728-99] advancing money repeatedly to James
Watt [1736-1819], Puchberg [Puchberg, Michael (fl. 1788)] patiently
lending and lending to Mozart [Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus (1756-91)].
Who will dare to write a history of human goodness?
So we cannot be sure that the moral laxity of our times is a herald of
decay rather than a painful or delightful transition between a moral code
that has lost its agricultural basis and another that our industrial civilization
has yet to forge into social order and normality. Meanwhile history assures
us that civilizations decay quite leisurely. For 250 years after moral
weakening began in Greece with the Sophists, Hellenic civilization
continued to produce masterpieces of literature and art. Roman morals
began to “decay” soon after the conquered Greeks passed into Italy (146
B.C.), but Rome continued to have great statesmen, philosophers, poets,
and artists until the death of Marcus Aurelius (A.D. 180) [Marcus Aurelius
Antoninus, Emperor of Rome (r. 161-180)]. Politically Rome was at nadir
when Caesar came (60 B.C.); yet it did not quite succumb to the barbarians
till A.D. 465. May we take as long to fall as did Imperial Rome!
Perhaps discipline will be restored in our civilization through the military
training required by the challenges of war. The freedom of the part varies
with the security of the whole; individualism will diminish in America and
England as geographical protection ceases. Sexual license may cure itself
through its own excess; our unmoored children may live to see order and
modesty become fashionable; clothing will be more stimulating than
nudity. Meanwhile much of our moral freedom is good: it is pleasant to be
relieved of theological terrors, to enjoy without qualm the pleasures that
harm neither others nor ourselves, and to feel the tang of the open air upon
our liberated flesh.
