《旧制度与大革命·卷二·第十一章·旧制度下所享有的那种自由及其影响》第2节
Nor did the Government of that day dispose as yet of that countless multitude of favours, assistances, honours, and moneys which it has now to distribute; it was therefore far less able to seduce as well as to compel. The Government moreover was imperfectly acquainted with the exact limits of its power. None of its rights were regularly acknowledged or firmly established; its range of action was already immense, but that action was still hesitating and uncertain, as one who gropes along a dark and unknown track. This formidable obscurity, which at that time concealed the limits of every power and enshrouded every right, though it might be favourable to the designs of princes against the freedom of their subjects, was frequently not less favourable to the defence of it. The administrative power, conscious of the novelty of its origin and of its low extraction, was ever timid in its action when any obstacle crossed its path. It is striking to observe, in reading the correspondence of the French Ministers and Intendants of the eighteenth century, how this Government, which was so absolute and so encroaching as long as its authority is not contested, stood aghast at the aspect of the least resistance; agitated by the slightest criticism, alarmed by the slightest noise, ready on all such occasions to stop, to hesitate, to parley, to treat, and often to fall considerably below the natural limits of its power. The nerveless egotism of Louis XV., and the mild benevolence of his successor, contributed to this state of things. It never occurred to these sovereigns that they could be dethroned. They had nothing of that harsh and restless temper which fear has since often imparted to those who govern. They trampled on none but those whom they did not see. Several of the privileges, of the prejudices, of the false notions most opposed to the establishment of a regular and salutary free government, kept alive amongst many persons a spirit of independence, and disposed them to hold their ground against the abuses of authority.
注释摘要
托克维尔在这一段里，从旧制度政府的自我限制和心理软弱来解释自由的残余空间。他先指出了一个关键的物质事实：那时候的政府还没有学会用我们今天熟悉的那种方式去“收买”臣民。他没有说旧制度下的国王权力小，而是说，尽管那个权力在法理上已经是绝对且完整的，它在实际运作中却缺乏足够的“恩惠”——包括金钱、职位和荣誉——来广泛地贿赂或驯服各个阶层。因此，它强制的能力固然在…