the essays of montaigne, v3-第4章

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and　disputes　of　the　philosophical　sects　upon　this　point　are　merely
verbal：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Transcurramus　solertissimas　nugas〃

　　　　　＇〃Let　us　skip　over　those　subtle　trifles。〃Seneca；　Ep。；　117。＇

there　is　more　in　them　of　opposition　and　obstinacy　than　is　consistent
with　so　sacred　a　profession；　but　whatsoever　personage　a　man　takes　upon
himself　to　perform；　he　ever　mixes　his　own　part　with　it。

Let　the　philosophers　say　what　they　will；　the　thing　at　which　we　all　aim；
even　in　virtue　is　pleasure。　　It　amuses　me　to　rattle　in　ears　this　word；
which　they　so　nauseate　to　and　if　it　signify　some　supreme　pleasure　and
contentment；　it　is　more　due　to　the　assistance　of　virtue　than　to　any　other
assistance　whatever。　　This　pleasure；　for　being　more　gay；　more　sinewy；
more　robust　and　more　manly；　is　only　the　more　seriously　voluptuous；　and　we
ought　give　it　the　name　of　pleasure；　as　that　which　is　more　favourable；
gentle；　and　natural；　and　not　that　from　which　we　have　denominated　it。　　The
other　and　meaner　pleasure；　if　it　could　deserve　this　fair　name；　it　ought
to　be　by　way　of　competition；　and　not　of　privilege。　　I　find　it　less　exempt
from　traverses　and　inconveniences　than　virtue　itself；　and；　besides　that
the　enjoyment　is　more　momentary；　fluid；　and　frail；　it　has　its　watchings；
fasts；　and　labours；　its　sweat　and　its　blood；　and；　moreover；　has
particular　to　itself　so　many　several　sorts　of　sharp　and　wounding
passions；　and　so　dull　a　satiety　attending　it；　as　equal　it　to　the　severest
penance。　　And　we　mistake　if　we　think　that　these　incommodities　serve　it
for　a　spur　and　a　seasoning　to　its　sweetness　（as　in　nature　one　contrary　is
quickened　by　another）；　or　say；　when　we　come　to　virtue；　that　like
consequences　and　difficulties　overwhelm　and　render　it　austere　and
inaccessible；　whereas；　much　more　aptly　than　in　voluptuousness；　they
ennoble；　sharpen；　and　heighten　the　perfect　and　divine　pleasure　they
procure　us。　　He　renders　himself　unworthy　of　it　who　will　counterpoise　its
cost　with　its　fruit；　and　neither　understands　the　blessing　nor　how　to　use
it。　　Those　who　preach　to　us　that　the　quest　of　it　is　craggy；　difficult；
and　painful；　but　its　fruition　pleasant；　what　do　they　mean　by　that　but　to
tell　us　that　it　is　always　unpleasing？　　For　what　human　means　will　ever
attain　its　enjoyment？　　The　most　perfect　have　been　fain　to　content
themselves　to　aspire　unto　it；　and　to　approach　it　only；　without　ever
possessing　it。　　But　they　are　deceived；　seeing　that　of　all　the　pleasures
we　know；　the　very　pursuit　is　pleasant。　　The　attempt　ever　relishes　of　the
quality　of　the　thing　to　which　it　is　directed；　for　it　is　a　good　part　of；
and　consubstantial　with；　the　effect。　　The　felicity　and　beatitude　that
glitters　in　Virtue；　shines　throughout　all　her　appurtenances　and　avenues；
even　to　the　first　entry　and　utmost　limits。

Now；　of　all　the　benefits　that　virtue　confers　upon　us；　the　contempt　of
death　is　one　of　the　greatest；　as　the　means　that　accommodates　human　life
with　a　soft　and　easy　tranquillity；　and　gives　us　a　pure　and　pleasant　taste
of　living；　without　which　all　other　pleasure　would　be　extinct。　　Which　is
the　reason　why　all　the　rules　centre　and　concur　in　this　one　article。　　And
although　they　all　in　like　manner；　with　common　accord；　teach　us　also　to
despise　pain；　poverty；　and　the　other　accidents　to　which　human　life　is
subject；　it　is　not；　nevertheless；　with　the　same　solicitude；　as　well　by
reason　these　accidents　are　not　of　so　great　necessity；　the　greater　part　of
mankind　passing　over　their　whole　lives　without　ever　knowing　what　poverty
is；　and　some　without　sorrow　or　sickness；　as　Xenophilus　the　musician；　who
lived　a　hundred　and　six　years　in　a　perfect　and　continual　health；　as　also
because；　at　the　worst；　death　can；　whenever　we　please；　cut　short　and　put
an　end　to　all　other　inconveniences。　　But　as　to　death；　it　is　inevitable：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Omnes　eodem　cogimur；　omnium
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Versatur　urna　serius　ocius
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Sors　exitura；　et　nos　in　aeternum
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Exilium　impositura　cymbae。〃

　　　　　＇〃We　are　all　bound　one　voyage；　the　lot　of　all；　sooner　or　later；　is
　　　　　to　come　out　of　the　urn。　　All　must　to　eternal　exile　sail　away。〃
　　　　　Hor。；　Od。；　ii。　　3；　25。＇

and；　consequently；　if　it　frights　us；　'tis　a　perpetual　torment；　for　which
there　is　no　sort　of　consolation。　　There　is　no　way　by　which　it　may　not
reach　us。　　We　may　continually　turn　our　heads　this　way　and　that；　as　in　a
suspected　country：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Quae；　quasi　saxum　Tantalo；　semper　impendet。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Ever；　like　Tantalus　stone；　hangs　over　us。〃
　　　　　　　　　　Cicero；　De　Finib。；　i。　　18。＇

Our　courts　of　justice　often　send　back　condemned　criminals　to　be　executed
upon　the　place　where　the　crime　was　committed；　but；　carry　them　to　fine
houses　by　the　way；　prepare　for　them　the　best　entertainment　you　can

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Non　Siculae　dapes
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Dulcem　elaborabunt　saporem：
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Non　avium　cyatheaceae　cantus
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Somnum　reducent。〃

　　　　　＇〃Sicilian　dainties　will　not　tickle　their　palates；　nor　the　melody　of
　　　　　birds　and　harps　bring　back　sleep。〃Hor。；　Od。；　iii。　　1；　18。＇

Do　you　think　they　can　relish　it？　and　that　the　fatal　end　of　their　journey
being　continually　before　their　eyes；　would　not　alter　and　deprave　their
palate　from　tasting　these　regalios？

　　　　　　　　　〃Audit　iter；　numeratque　dies；　spatioque　viarum
　　　　　　　　　　Metitur　vitam；　torquetur　peste　futura。〃

　　　　　＇〃He　considers　the　route；　computes　the　time　of　travelling；　measuring
　　　　　his　life　by　the　length　of　the　journey；　and　torments　himself　by
　　　　　thinking　of　the　blow　to　come。〃Claudianus；　in　Ruf。；　ii。　　137。＇

The　end　of　our　race　is　death；　'tis　the　necessary　object　of　our　aim；
which；　if　it　fright　us；　how　is　it　possible　to　advance　a　step　without　a
fit　of　ague？　　The　remedy　the　vulgar　use　is　not　to　think　on't；　but　from
what　brutish　stupidity　can　they　derive　so　gross　a　blindness？　　They　must
bridle　the　ass　by　the　tail：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Qui　capite　ipse　suo　instituit　vestigia　retro；〃

　　　　　＇〃Who　in　his　folly　seeks　to　advance　backwards〃Lucretius；　iv。　474＇

'tis　no　wonder　if　he　be　often　trapped　in　the　pitfall。　　They　affright
people　with　the　very　mention　of　death；　and　many　cross　themselves；　as　it
were　the　name　of　the　devil。　　And　because　the　making　a　man's　will　is　in
reference　to　dying；　not　a　man　will　be　persuaded　to　take　a　pen　in　hand　to
that　purpose；　till　the　physician　has　passed　sentence　upon　and　totally
given　him　over；　and　then　betwixt　and　terror；　God　knows　in　how　fit　a
condition　of　understanding　he　is　to　do　it。

The　Romans；　by　reason　that　this　poor　syllable　death　sounded　so　harshly　to
their　ears　and　seemed　so　ominous；　found　out　a　way　to　soften　and　spin　it
out　by　a　periphrasis；　and　instead　of　pronouncing　such　a　one　is　dead；
said；　〃Such　a　one　has　lived；〃　or　〃Such　a　one　has　ceased　to　live〃
＇Plutarch；　Life　of　Cicero；　c。　　22：＇　for；　provided　there　was　any　mention
of　life　in　the　case；　though　past；　it　carried　yet　some　sound　of
consolation。　　And　from　them　it　is　that　we　have　borrowed　our　expression；
〃The　late　Monsieur　such　and　such　a　one。〃＇〃feu　Monsieur　un　tel。〃＇
Peradventure；　as　the　saying　is；　the　term　we　have　lived　is　worth　our
money。　　I　was　born　betwixt　eleven　and　twelve　o'clock　in　the　forenoon　the
last　day　of　February　1533；　according　to　our　computation；　beginning　the
year　the　1st　of　January；＇This　was　in　virtue　of　an　ordinance　of　Charles
IX。　in　1563。　　Previously　the　year　commenced　at　Easter；　so　that　the　1st
January　1563　became　the　first　day　of　the　year　1563。＇and　it　is　now　but
just　fifteen　days　since　I　was　complete　nine…and…thirty　years　old；　I　make
account　to　live；　at　least；　as　many　more。　　In　the　meantime；　to　trouble　a
man's　self　with　the　thought　of　a　thing　so　far　off　were　folly。　　But　what？
Young　and　old　die　upon　the　same　terms；　no　one　departs　out　of　life
otherwise　than　if　he　had　but　just　before　entered　into　it；　neither　is　any
man　so　old　and　decrepit；　who；　having　heard　of　Methuselah；　does　not　think
he　has　yet　twenty　good　years　to　come。　　Fool　that　thou　art！　　who　has
assured　unto　thee　the　term　of　life？　　Thou　dependest　upon　physicians'
tales：　rather　consult　effects　and　experience。　　According　to　the　common
course　of　things；　'tis　long　since　that　thou　hast　lived　by　extraordinary
favour；　thou　hast　already　outlived　the　ordinary　term　of　life。　　And　that
it　is　so；　reckon　up　thy　acquaintance；　how　many　more　have　died　before　they
arrived　at　thy　age　than　have　attained　unto　it；　and　of　those　who　have
ennobled　their　lives　by　their　renown；　take　but　an　account；　and　I　dare　lay
a　wager　thou　wilt　find　more　who　have　died　before　than　after　five…and…
thirty　years　of　age。　　It　is　full　both　of　reason　and　piety；　too；　to　take
example　by　the　humanity　of　Jesus　Christ　Himself；　now；　He　ended　His　life
at　three…and…thirty　years。　　The　greatest　man；　that　was　no　more　than　a
man；　Alexander；　died　also　at　the　same　age。　　How　many　several　ways　has
death　to　surprise　us？

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Quid　quisque；　vitet；　nunquam　homini　satis
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cautum　est　in　horas。〃

　　　　　＇〃Be　as　cautious　as　he　may；　man　can　never　foresee　the　danger　that
　　　　　may　at　any　hour　befal　him。〃　　Hor。　　O。　ii。　　13；　13。＇

To　omit　fevers　and　pleurisies；　who　would　ever　have　imagined　that　a　duke
of　Brittany；　＇Jean　II。　died　1305。＇should　be　pressed　to　death　in　a
crowd　as　that　duke　was　at　the　entry　of　Pope　Clement；　my　neighbour；　into
Lyons？　＇Montaigne　speaks　of　him　as　if　he　had　been　a　contemporary
neighbour；　perhaps　because　he　was　the　Archbishop　of　Bordeaux。　　Bertrand
le　Got　was　Pope　under　the　title　of　Clement　V。；　1305…14。＇　Hast　thou　not
seen　one　of　our　kings　＇Henry　II。；　killed　in　a　tournament；　July　10；
1559＇　killed　at　a　tilting；　and　did　not　one　of　his　ancestors　die　by
jostle　of　a　hog？　＇Philip；　eldest　son　of　Louis　le　Gros。＇　AEschylus；
threatened　with　the　fall　of　a　house；　was　to　much　purpose　circumspect　to
avoid　that　danger；　seeing　that　he　was　knocked　on　the　head　by　a　tortoise
falling　out　of　an　eagle's　talons　in　the　air。　　Another　was　choked　with　a
grape…stone；　＇Val。　　Max。；　ix。　　12；　ext。　2。＇　an　emperor　killed　with
the　scratch　of　a　comb　in　combing　his　head。　　AEmilius　Lepidus　with　a
stumble　at　his　own　threshold；＇Pliny；　Nat。　　Hist。；　vii。　　33。＇　and
Aufidius　with　a　jostle　against　the　door　as　he　entered　the　council…
chamber。　　And　betwixt　the　very　thighs　of　women；　Cornelius　Gallus　the
proctor；　Tigillinus；　captain　of　the　watch　at　Rome；　Ludovico；　son　of　Guido
di　Gonzaga；　Marquis　of　Mantua；　and　（of　worse　example）　Speusippus；　a
Platonic　philosopher；　and　one　of　our　Popes。〃　　The　poor　judge　Bebius　gave
adjournment　in　a　case　for　eight　days；　but　he　himself；　meanwhile；　was
condemned　by　death；　and　his　own　stay　of　life　expired。　　Whilst　Caius
Julius；　the　physician；　was　anointing　the　eyes　of　a　patient；　death　closed
his　own；　and；　if　I　may　bring　in　an　example　of　my　own　blood；　a　brother　of
mine；　Captain　St。　Martin；　a　young　man；　three…and…twenty　years　old；　who
had　already　given　sufficient　testimony　of　his　valour；　playing　a　match　at
tennis；　received　a　blow　of　a　ball　a　little　above　his　right　ear；　which；　as
it　gave　no　manner　of　sign　of　wound　or　contusion；　he　took　no　notice　of　it；
nor　so　much　as　sat　down　to　repose　himself；　but；　nevertheless；　died　within
five　or　six　hours　after　of　an　apoplexy　occasioned　by　that　blow。

These　so　frequent　and　common　examples　passing　every　day　before　o