the essays of montaigne, v10-第6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！


peradventure；　an　impiety　in　St。　Augustin；　if；　on　the　one　hand；　it　had
been　proposed　to　him　to　bury　his　writings；　from　which　religion　has
received　so　great　fruit；　or　on　the　other　to　bury　his　children；　had　he　had
them；　had　he　not　rather　chosen　to　bury　his　children。　　And　I　know　not
whether　I　had　not　much　rather　have　begot　a　very　beautiful　one；　through
society　with　the　Muses；　than　by　lying　with　my　wife。　　To　this；　such　as　it
is；　what　I　give　it　I　give　absolutely　and　irrevocably；　as　men　do　to　their
bodily　children。　　That　little　I　have　done　for　it；　is　no　more　at　my　own
disposal；　it　may　know　many　things　that　are　gone　from　me；　and　from　me　hold
that　which　I　have　not　retained；　and　which；　as　well　as　a　stranger；　I
should　borrow　thence；　should　I　stand　in　need。　　If　I　am　wiser　than　my
book；　it　is　richer　than　I。　　There　are　few　men　addicted　to　poetry；　who
would　not　be　much　prouder　to　be　the　father　to　the　AEneid　than　to　the
handsomest　youth　of　Rome；　and　who　would　not　much　better　bear　the　loss　of
the　one　than　of　the　other。　　For　according　to　Aristotle；　the　poet；　of　all
artificers；　is　the　fondest　of　his　work。　　'Tis　hard　to　believe　that
Epaminondas；　who　boasted　that　in　lieu　of　all　posterity　he　left　two
daughters　behind　him　that　would　one　day　do　their　father　honour　（meaning
the　two　victories　he　obtained　over　the　Lacedaemonians）；　would　willingly
have　consented　to　exchange　these　for　the　most　beautiful　creatures　of　all
Greece；　or　that　Alexander　or　Caesar　ever　wished　to　be　deprived　of　the
grandeur　of　their　glorious　exploits　in　war；　for　the　convenience　of
children　and　heirs；　how　perfect　and　accomplished　soever。　　Nay；　I　make　a
great　question；　whether　Phidias　or　any　other　excellent　sculptor　would　be
so　solicitous　of　the　preservation　and　continuance　of　his　natural
children；　as　he　would　be　of　a　rare　statue；　which　with　long　labour　and
study　he　had　perfected　according　to　art。　　And　to　those　furious　and
irregular　passions　that　have　sometimes　inflamed　fathers　towards　their　own
daughters；　and　mothers　towards　their　own　sons；　the　like　is　also　found　in
this　other　sort　of　parentage：　witness　what　is　related　of　Pygmalion　who；
having　made　the　statue　of　a　woman　of　singular　beauty；　fell　so
passionately　in　love　with　this　work　of　his；　that　the　gods　in　favour　of
his　passion　inspired　it　with　life。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Tentatum　mollescit　ebur；　positoque　rigore；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Subsidit　digitis。〃

　　　　　＇〃The　ivory　grows　soft　under　his　touch　and　yields　to　his　fingers。〃
　　　　　Ovid；　Metam。；　x。　283。＇




CHAPTER　IX

OF　THE　ARMS　OF　THE　PARTHIANS

'Tis　an　ill　custom　and　unmanly　that　the　gentlemen　of　our　time　have　got；
not　to　put　on　arms　but　just　upon　the　point　of　the　most　extreme　necessity；
and　to　lay　them　by　again；　so　soon　as　ever　there　is　any　show　of　the　danger
being　over；　hence　many　disorders　arise；　for　every　one　bustling　and
running　to　his　arms　just　when　he　should　go　to　charge；　has　his　cuirass　to
buckle　on　when　his　companions　are　already　put　to　rout。　　Our　ancestors
were　wont　to　give　their　head…piece；　lance　and　gauntlets　to　be　carried；
but　never　put　off　the　other　pieces　so　long　as　there　was　any　work　to　be
done。　　Our　troops　are　now　cumbered　and　rendered　unsightly　with　the
clutter　of　baggage　and　servants　who　cannot　be　from　their　masters；　by
reason　they　carry　their　arms。　　Titus　Livius　speaking　of　our　nation：

　　　　　〃Intolerantissima　laboris　corpora　vix　arma　humeris　gerebant。〃

　　　　　＇〃Bodies　most　impatient　of　labour　could　scarce　endure　to　wear
　　　　　their　arms　on　their　shoulders。〃Livy；　x。　28。＇

Many　nations　do　yet；　and　did　anciently；　go　to　war　without　defensive　arms；
or　with　such；　at　least；　as　were　of　very　little　proof：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Tegmina　queis　capitum；　raptus　de　subere　cortex。〃

　　　　　＇〃To　whom　the　coverings　of　the　heads　were　the　bark　of　the
　　　　　cork…tree。〃AEneid；　vii。　742。＇

Alexander；　the　most　adventurous　captain　that　ever　was；　very　seldom　wore
armour；　and　such　amongst　us　as　slight　it；　do　not　by　that　much　harm　to　the
main　concern；　for　if　we　see　some　killed　for　want　of　it；　there　are　few
less　whom　the　lumber　of　arms　helps　to　destroy；　either　by　being
overburthened；　crushed；　and　cramped　with　their　weight；　by　a　rude　shock；
or　otherwise。　　For；　in　plain　truth；　to　observe　the　weight　and　thickness
of　the　armour　we　have　now　in　use；　it　seems　as　if　we　only　sought　to　defend
ourselves；　and　are　rather　loaded　than　secured　by　it。　　We　have　enough　to
do　to　support　its　weight；　being　so　manacled　and　immured；　as　if　we　were
only　to　contend　with　our　own　arms；　and　as　if　we　had　not　the　same
obligation　to　defend　them；　that　they　have　to　defend　us。　　Tacitus　gives　a
pleasant　description　of　the　men…at…arms　among　our　ancient　Gauls；　who　were
so　armed　as　only　to　be　able　to　stand；　without　power　to　harm　or　to　be
harmed；　or　to　rise　again　if　once　struck　down。　　Lucullus；　seeing　certain
soldiers　of　the　Medes；　who　formed　the　van　of　Tigranes'　army；　heavily
armed　and　very　uneasy；　as　if　in　prisons　of　iron；　thence　conceived　hopes
with　great　ease　to　defeat　them；　and　by　them　began　his　charge　and　victory。
And　now　that　our　musketeers　are　in　credit；　I　believe　some　invention　will
be　found　out　to　immure　us　for　our　safety；　and　to　draw　us　to　the　war　in
castles；　such　as　those　the　ancients　loaded　their　elephants　withal。

This　humour　is　far　differing　from　that　of　the　younger　Scipio；　who　sharply
reprehended　his　soldiers　for　having　planted　caltrops　under　water；　in　a
ditch　by　which　those　of　the　town　he　held　besieged　might　sally　out　upon
him；　saying；　that　those　who　assaulted　should　think　of　attacking；　and　not
to　fear；　suspecting；　with　good　reason；　that　this　stop　they　had　put　to　the
enemies；　would　make　themselves　less　vigilant　upon　their　guard。　　He　said
also　to　a　young　man；　who　showed　him　a　fine　buckler　he　had；　that　he　was
very　proud　of；　〃It　is　a　very　fine　buckler　indeed；　but　a　Roman　soldier
ought　to　repose　greater　confidence　in　his　right　hand　than　in　his　left。〃

Now　'tis　nothing　but　the　not　being　used　to　wear　it　that　makes　the　weight
of　our　armour　so　intolerable：

　　　　　　　　　〃L'usbergo　in　dosso　haveano；　et　l'elmo　in　testa；
　　　　　　　　　　Due　di　questi　guerrier；　de'　quali　io　canto；
　　　　　　　　　　Ne　notte　o　di；　d'　appoi　ch'　entraro　in　questa
　　　　　　　　　　Stanza；　gl'haveano　mai　messi　da　canto；
　　　　　　　　　　Che　facile　a　portar　come　la　vesta
　　　　　　　　　　Era　lor；　perche　in　uso　l'havean　tanto：〃

　　　　　＇〃Two　of　the　warriors；　of　whom　I　sing；　had　on　their　backs　their
　　　　　cuirass　and　on　their　heads　their　casque；　and　never　had　night　or　day
　　　　　once　laid　them　by；　whilst　here　they　were；　those　arms；　by　long
　　　　　practice；　were　grown　as　light　to　bear　as　a　garment〃
　　　　　Ariosto；　Cant。；　MI。　30。＇

the　Emperor　Caracalla　was　wont　to　march　on　foot；　completely　armed；　at　the
head　of　his　army。　　The　Roman　infantry　always　carried　not　only　a　morion；　a
sword；　and　a　shield　（for　as　to　arms；　says　Cicero；　they　were　so　accustomed
to　have　them　always　on；　that　they　were　no　more　trouble　to　them　than　their
own　limbs：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Arma　enim　membra　militis　esse　dicunt。〃

but；　moreover；　fifteen　days'　provision；　together　with　a　certain　number　of
stakes；　wherewith　to　fortify　their　camp；　sixty　pounds　in　weight。　　And
Marius'　soldiers；　laden　at　the　same　rate；　were　inured　to　march　in　order
of　battle　five　leagues　in　five　hours；　and　sometimes；　upon　any　urgent
occasion；　six。

Their　military　discipline　was　much　ruder　than　ours；　and　accordingly
produced　much　greater　effects。　　The　younger　Scipio；　reforming　his　army　in
Spain；　ordered　his　soldiers　to　eat　standing；　and　nothing　that　was　drest。
The　jeer　that　was　given　a　Lacedaemonian　soldier　is　marvellously　pat　to
this　purpose；　who；　in　an　expedition　of　war；　was　reproached　for　having
been　seen　under　the　roof　of　a　house：　they　were　so　inured　to　hardship
that；　let　the　weather　be　what　it　would；　it　was　a　shame　to　be　seen　under
any　other　cover　than　the　roof　of　heaven。　　We　should　not　march　our　people
very　far　at　that　rate。

As　to　what　remains；　Marcellinus；　　a　man　bred　up　in　the　Roman　wars；
curiously　observes　the　manner　of　the　Parthians　arming　themselves；　and　the
rather；　for　being　so　different　from　that　of　the　Romans。　　〃They　had；〃　says
he；　〃armour　so　woven　as　to　have　all　the　scales　fall　over　one　another　like
so　many　little　feathers；　which　did　nothing　hinder　the　motion　of　the　body；
and　yet　were　of　such　resistance；　that　our　darts　hitting　upon　them；　would
rebound〃　（these　were　the　coats　of　mail　our　forefathers　were　so　constantly
wont　to　use）。　　And　in　another　place：　〃they　had；〃　says　he；　〃strong　and
able　horses；　covered　with　thick　tanned　hides　of　leather；　and　were
themselves　armed　'cap…a…pie'　with　great　plates　of　iron；　so　artificially
ordered；　that　in　all　parts　of　the　limbs；　which　required　bending；　they
lent　themselves　to　the　motion。　　One　would　have　said；　that　they　had　been
men　of　iron；　having　armour　for　the　head　so　neatly　fitted；　and　so
naturally　representing　the　form　of　a　face；　that　they　were　nowhere
vulnerable；　save　at　two　little　round　holes；　that　gave　them　a　little
light；　corresponding　with　their　eyes；　and　certain　small　chinks　about
their　nostrils；　through　which　they；　with　great　difficulty；　breathed；〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Flexilis　inductis　animatur　lamina　membris；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Horribilis　visu；　credas　simulacra　moveri
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Ferrea；　cognatoque　viros　spirare　metallo。
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Par　vestitus　equis：　ferrata　fronte　minantur；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Ferratosque　movent；　securi　vulneris；　armos。〃

　　　　　＇〃Plates　of　steel　are　placed　over　the　body；　so　flexible　that；
　　　　　dreadful　to　be　seen；　you　would　think　these　not　living　men；　but
　　　　　moving　images。　　The　horses　are　similarly　armed；　and；　secured　from
　　　　　wounds；　move　their　iron　shoulders。〃Claud；　In　Ruf。；　ii。　358。＇

'Tis　a　description　drawing　very　near　resembling　the　equipage　of　the　men…
at…arms　in　France；　with　their　barded　horses。　　Plutarch　says；　that
Demetrius　caused　two　complete　suits　of　armour　to　be　made　for　himself　and
for　Alcimus；　a　captain　of　the　greatest　note　and　authority　about　him；　of
six　score　pounds　weight　each；　whereas　the　ordinary　suits　weighed　but　half
as　much。




CHAPTER　X

OF　BOOKS

I　make　no　doubt　but　that　I　often　happen　to　speak　of　things　that　are　much
better　and　more　truly　handled　by　those　who　are　masters　of　the　trade。　　You
have　here　purely　an　essay　of　my　natural　parts；　and　not　of　those　acquired：
and　whoever　shall　catch　me　tripping　in　ignorance；　will　not　in　any　sort
get　the　better　of　me；　for　I　should　be　very　unwilling　to　become
responsible　to　another　for　my　writings；　who　am　not　so　to　myself；　nor
satisfied　with　them。　　Whoever　goes　in　quest　of　knowledge；　let　him　fish
for　it　where　it　is　to　be　found；　there　is　nothing　I　so　little　profess。
These　are　fancies　of　my　own；　by　which　I　do　not　pretend　to　discover　things
but　to　lay　open　myself；　they　may；　peradventure；　one　day　be　known　to　me；
or　have　formerly　been；　according　as　fortune　has　been　able　to　bring　me　in
place　where　they　have　been　explained；　but　I　have　utterly　forgotten　it；
and　if　I　am　a　man　of　some　reading；　I　am　a　man　of　no　retention；　so　that　I
can　promise　no　certainty；　more　than　to　make　known　to　what　point　the
knowledge　I　now　have　has　risen。　　Therefore；　let　none　lay　stress　upon　the
matter　I　write；　but　upon　my　method　in　writing　it。　　Let　them　observe；　in
what　I　borrow；　if　I　have　known　how　to　choose　w