Последний из Могикан
Chapter 27
Hecommencedbyflatteringtheself-loveofhisauditors;anever-failingmethodofcommandingattention.WhenhehadenumeratedthemanydifferentoccasionsonwhichtheHuronshadexhibitedtheircourageandprowess,inthepunishmentofinsults,hedigressedinahighencomiumonthevirtueofwisdom.Hepaintedthequality,asformingthegreatpointofdifferencebetweenthebeaverandotherbrutes;betweenbrutesandmen;and,finally,betweentheHurons,inparticular,andtherestofthehumanrace.Afterhehadsufficientlyextolledthepropertyofdiscretion,heundertooktoexhibitinwhatmanneritsusewasapplicabletothepresentsituationoftheirtribe.Ontheonehand,hesaid,wastheirgreatpalefather,thegovernoroftheCanadas,whohadlookeduponhischildrenwithahardeyesincetheirtomahawkshadbeensored;ontheother,apeopleasnumerousasthemselves,whospokeadifferentlanguage,possesseddifferentinterests,andlovedthemnot,andwhowouldbegladofanypretencetobringthemindisgracewiththegreatwhitechief.Thenhespokeoftheirnecessities;ofthegiftstheyhadarighttoexpectfortheirpastservices;oftheirdistancefromtheirproperhunting-groundsandnativevillages;andofthenecessityofconsultingprudencemore,andinclinationless,insocriticalcircumstances.Whenheperceivedthat,whiletheoldmenapplaudedhismoderation,manyofthefiercestandmostdistinguishedofthewarriorslistenedtothesepoliticplanswithloweringlooks,hecunninglyledthembacktothesubjectwhichtheymostloved.
