the essays of montaigne, v17-第12章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


and　adapt　itself　to　human　frailty；　mixed　and　artificial；　not　straight；
clear；　constant；　nor　purely　innocent。　　Our　annals　to　this　very　day
reproach　one　of　our　kings　for　suffering　himself　too　simply　to　be　carried
away　by　the　conscientious　persuasions　of　his　confessor：　affairs　of　state
have　bolder　precepts；

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Exeat　aula；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Qui　vult　esse　pius。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Let　him　who　will　be　pious　retire　from　the　court。〃
　　　　　　　　　　Lucan；　viii。　493＇

I　formerly　tried　to　employ　in　the　service　of　public　affairs　opinions　and
rules　of　living；　as　rough；　new；　unpolished　or　unpolluted；　as　they　were
either　born　with　me；　or　brought　away　from　my　education；　and　wherewith　I
serve　my　own　turn；　if　not　so　commodiously；　at　least　securely；　in　my　own
particular　concerns：　a　scholastic　and　novice　virtue；　but　I　have　found
them　unapt　and　dangerous。　　He　who　goes　into　a　crowd　must　now　go　one　way
and　then　another；　keep　his　elbows　close；　retire　or　advance；　and　quit　the
straight　way；　according　to　what　he　encounters；　and　must　live　not　so　much
according　to　his　own　method　as　to　that　of　others；　not　according　to　what
he　proposes　to　himself；　but　according　to　what　is　proposed　to　him；
according　to　the　time；　according　to　the　men；　according　to　the　occasions。
Plato　says；　that　whoever　escapes　from　the　world's　handling　with　clean
breeches；　escapes　by　miracle：　and　says　withal；　that　when　he　appoints　his
philosopher　the　head　of　a　government；　he　does　not　mean　a　corrupt　one　like
that　of　Athens；　and　much　less　such　a　one　as　this　of　ours；　wherein　wisdom
itself　would　be　to　seek。　　A　good　herb；　transplanted　into　a　soil　contrary
to　its　own　nature；　much　sooner　conforms　itself　to　the　soil　than　it
reforms　the　soil　to　it。　　I　found　that　if　I　had　wholly　to　apply　myself　to
such　employments；　it　would　require　a　great　deal　of　change　and　new
modelling　in　me　before　I　could　be　any　way　fit　for　it：　And　though　I　could
so　far　prevail　upon　myself　（and　why　might　I　not　with　time　and　diligence
work　such　a　feat）；　I　would　not　do　it。　　The　little　trial　I　have　had　of
public　employment　has　been　so　much　disgust　to　me；　I　feel　at　times
temptations　toward　ambition　rising　in　my　soul；　but　I　obstinately　oppose
them：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃At　tu；　Catulle；　obstinatus　obdura。〃

　　　　　＇〃But　thou；　Catullus；　be　obstinately　firm。〃Catullus；　viii。　19。＇

I　am　seldom　called　to　it；　and　as　seldom　offer　myself　uncalled；　liberty
and　laziness；　the　qualities　most　predominant　in　me；　are　qualities
diametrically　contrary　to　that　trade。　　We　cannot　well　distinguish　the
faculties　of　men；　they　have　divisions　and　limits　hard　and　delicate　to
choose；　to　conclude　from　the　discreet　conduct　of　a　private　life　a
capacity　for　the　management　of　public　affairs　is　to　conclude　ill；　a　man
may　govern　himself　well　who　cannot　govern　others　so；　and　compose　Essays
who　could　not　work　effects：　men　there　may　be　who　can　order　a　siege　well；
who　would　ill　marshal　a　battle；　who　can　speak　well　in　private；　who　would
ill　harangue　a　people　or　a　prince；　nay；　'tis　peradventure　rather　a
testimony　in　him　who　can　do　the　one　that　he　cannot　do　the　other；　than
otherwise。　　I　find　that　elevated　souls　are　not　much　more　proper　for　mean
things　than　mean　souls　are　for　high　ones。　　Could　it　be　imagined　that
Socrates　should　have　administered　occasion　of　laughter；　at　the　expense　of
his　own　reputation；　to　the　Athenians　for：　having　never　been　able　to　sum
up　the　votes　of　his　tribe；　to　deliver　it　to　the　council？　　Truly；　the
veneration　I　have　for　the　perfections　of　this　great　man　deserves　that　his
fortune　should　furnish；　for　the　excuse　of　my　principal　imperfections；　so
magnificent　an　example。　　Our　sufficiency　is　cut　out　into　small　parcels；
mine　has　no　latitude；　and　is　also　very　contemptible　in　number。
Saturninus；　to　those　who　had　conferred　upon　him　the　command　in　chief：
〃Companions；〃　said　he；　〃you　have　lost　a　good　captain；　to　make　of　him　a
bad　general。〃

Whoever　boasts；　in　so　sick　a　time　as　this；　to　employ　a　true　and　sincere
virtue　in　the　world's　service；　either　knows　not　what　it　is；　opinions
growing　corrupt　with　manners　（and；　in　truth；　to　hear　them　describe　it；　to
hear　the　most　of　them　glorify　themselves　in　their　deportments；　and　lay
down　their　rules；　instead　of　painting　virtue；　they　paint　pure　vice　and
injustice；　and　so　represent　it　false　in　the　education　of　princes）；　or　if
he　does　know　it；　boasts　unjustly　and　let　him　say　what　he　will；　does　a
thousand　things　of　which　his　own　conscience　must　necessarily　accuse　him。
I　should　willingly　take　Seneca's　word　on　the　experience　he　made　upon　the
like　occasion；　provided　he　would　deal　sincerely　with　me。　　The　most
honourable　mark　of　goodness　in　such　a　necessity　is　freely　to　confess　both
one's　own　faults　and　those　of　others；　with　the　power　of　its　virtue　to
stay　one's　inclination　towards　evil；　unwillingly　to　follow　this
propension；　to　hope　better；　to　desire　better。　　I　perceive　that　in　these
divisions　wherein　we　are　involved　in　France；　every　one　labours　to　defend
his　cause；　but　even　the　very　best　of　them　with　dissimulation　and
disguise：　he　who　would　write　roundly　of　the　true　state　of　the　quarrel；
would　write　rashly　and　wrongly。　　The　most　just　party　is　at　best　but　a
member　of　a　decayed　and　worm…eaten　body；　but　of　such　a　body；　the　member
that　is　least　affected　calls　itself　sound；　and　with　good　reason；
forasmuch　as　our　qualities　have　no　title　but　in　comparison；　civil
innocence　is　measured　according　to　times　and　places。　　Imagine　this　in
Xenophon；　related　as　a　fine　commendation　of　Agesilaus：　that；　being
entreated　by　a　neighbouring　prince　with　whom　he　had　formerly　had　war；　to
permit　him　to　pass　through　his　country；　he　granted　his　request；　giving
him　free　passage　through　Peloponnesus；　and　not　only　did　not　imprison　or
poison　him；　being　at　his　mercy；　but　courteously　received　him　according　to
the　obligation　of　his　promise；　without　doing　him　the　least　injury　or
offence。　　To　such　ideas　as　theirs　this　were　an　act　of　no　especial　note；
elsewhere　and　in　another　age；　the　frankness　and　unanimity　of　such　an
action　would　be　thought　wonderful；　our　monkeyish　capets

　　　　　＇Capets；　so　called　from　their　short　capes；　were　the　students　of
　　　　　Montaigne　College　at　Paris；　and　were　held　in　great　contempt。＇

would　have　laughed　at　it；　so　little　does　the　Spartan　innocence　resemble
that　of　France。　　We　are　not　without　virtuous　men；　but　'tis　according　to
our　notions　of　virtue。　　Whoever　has　his　manners　established　in　regularity
above　the　standard　of　the　age　he　lives　in；　let　him　either　wrest　or　blunt
his　rules；　or；　which　I　would　rather　advise　him　to；　let　him　retire；　and
not　meddle　with　us　at　all。　　What　will　he　get　by　it？

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Egregium　sanctumque　virum　si　cerno；　bimembri
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Hoc　monstrum　puero；　et　miranti　jam　sub　aratro
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Piscibus　inventis；　et　foetae　comparo　mulae。〃

　　　　　＇〃If　I　see　an　exemplary　and　good　man；　I　liken　it　to　a　two…headed
　　　　　boy；　or　a　fish　turned　up　by　the　plough；　or　a　teeming　mule。〃
　　　　　Juvenal；　xiii。　64。＇

One　may　regret　better　times；　but　cannot　fly　from　the　present；　we　may　wish
for　other　magistrates；　but　we　must；　notwithstanding；　obey　those　we　have；
and；　peradventure；　'tis　more　laudable　to　obey　the　bad　than　the　good。　　So
long　as　the　image　of　the　ancient　and　received　laws　of　this　monarchy　shall
shine　in　any　corner　of　the　kingdom；　there　will　I　be。　　If　they
unfortunately　happen　to　thwart　and　contradict　one　another；　so　as　to
produce　two　parts；　of　doubtful　and　difficult　choice；　I　will　willingly
choose　to　withdraw　and　escape　the　tempest；　in　the　meantime　nature　or　the
hazards　of　war　may　lend　me　a　helping　hand。　　Betwixt　Caesar　and　Pompey；
I　should　frankly　have　declared　myself；　but；　as　amongst　the　three　robbers
who　came　after；　＇Octavius；　Mark　Antony；　and　Lepidus。＇　a　man　must　have
been　necessitated　either　to　hide　himself；　or　have　gone　along　with　the
current　of　the　time；　which　I　think　one　may　fairly　do　when　reason　no
longer　guides：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Quo　diversus　abis？〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Whither　dost　thou　run　wandering？〃AEneid；　v。　166。＇

This　medley　is　a　little　from　my　theme；　I　go　out　of　my　way；　but　'tis
rather　by　licence　than　oversight；　my　fancies　follow　one　another；　but
sometimes　at　a　great　distance；　and　look　towards　one　another；　but　'tis
with　an　oblique　glance。　　I　have　read　a　dialogue　of　Plato；＇The
Phaedrus。＇　of　the　like　motley　and　fantastic　composition；　the　beginning
about　love；　and　all　the　rest　to　the　end　about　rhetoric；　they　fear　not
these　variations；　and　have　a　marvellous　grace　in　letting　themselves　be
carried　away　at　the　pleasure　of　the　wind；　or　at　least　to　seem　as　if　they
were。　　The　titles　of　my　chapters　do　not　always　comprehend　the　whole
matter；　they　often　denote　it　by　some　mark　only；　as　these　others；　Andria；
Eunuchus；　or　these；　Sylla；　Cicero；　Toyquatus。　　I　love　a　poetic　progress；
by　leaps　and　skips；　'tis　an　art；　as　Plato　says；　light；　nimble；　demoniac。
There　are　pieces　in　Plutarch　where　he　forgets　his　theme；　where　the
proposition　of　his　argument　is　only　found　by　incidence；　stuffed　and　half
stifled　in　foreign　matter。　　Observe　his　footsteps　in　the　Daemon　of
Socrates。　　O　God！　　how　beautiful　are　these　frolicsome　sallies；　those
variations　and　digressions；　and　all　the　more　when　they　seem　most
fortuitous　and　careless。　　'Tis　the　indiligent　reader　who　loses　my
subject；　and　not　I；　there　will　always　be　found　some　word　or　other　in　a
corner　that　is　to　the　purpose；　though　it　lie　very　close。　　I　ramble
indiscreetly　and　tumultuously；　my　style　and　my　wit　wander　at　the　same
rate。　　He　must　fool　it　a　little　who　would　not　be　deemed　wholly　a　fool；
say　both　the　precepts；　and；　still　more；　the　examples　of　our　masters。　　A
thousand　poets　flag　and　languish　after　a　prosaic　manner；　but　the　best　old
prose　（and　I　strew　it　here　up　and　down　indifferently　for　verse）　shines
throughout　with　the　lustre；　vigour；　and　boldness　of　poetry；　and　not
without　some　air　of　its　fury。　　And　certainly　prose　ought　to　have　the　pre…
eminence　in　speaking。　　The　poet；　says　Plato；　seated　upon　the　muses
tripod；　pours　out　with　fury　whatever　comes　into　his　mouth；　like　the　pipe
of　a　fountain；　without　considering　and　weighing　it；　and　things　escape　him
of　various　colours；　of　contrary　substance；　and　with　an　irregular　torrent。
Plato　himself　is　throughout　poetical；　and　the　old　theology；　as　the
learned　tell　us；　is　all　poetry；　and　the　first　philosophy　is　the　original
language　of　the　gods。　　I　would　have　my　matter　distinguish　itself；　it
sufficiently　shows　where　it　changes；　where　it　concludes；　where　it　begins；
and　where　it　rejoins；　without　interlacing　it　with　words　of　connection
introduced　for　the　relief　of　weak　or　negligent　ears；　and　without
explaining　myself。　　Who　is　he　that　had　not　rather　not　be　read　at　all　than
after　a　drowsy　or　cursory　manner？

　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Nihil　est　tam　utile；　quod　intransitu　prosit。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Nothing　is　so　useful　as　that　which　is　cursorily　so。〃
　　　　　　　　　　Seneca；　Ep。；　2。＇

If　to　take　books　in　hand　were　to　learn　them：　to　look　upon　them　were　to
consider　them：　and　to　run　these　slightly　over　were　to　grasp　them；　I　were
then　to　blame　to　make　myself　out　so　ignorant　as　I　say　I　am。　　Seeing　I
cannot　fix　the　attention　of　my　reader　by　the　weight　of　what　I　write；
'manco　male'；　if　I　should　chance　to