the essays of montaigne, v19-第11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！


soever　he　sat；　and　she　said　it　when；　the　wine　having　made　all　his
companions　drunk；　he　found　no　alteration　in　himself　at　all；　it　may　have
been　said　of　me　from　my　infancy；　that　I　had　either　folly　or　quicksilver
in　my　feet；　so　much　stirring　and　unsettledness　there　is　in　them；　wherever
they　are　placed。

'Tis　indecent；　besides　the　hurt　it　does　to　one's　health；　and　even　to　the
pleasure　of　eating；　to　eat　greedily　as　I　do；　I　often　bite　my　tongue；　and
sometimes　my　fingers；　in　my　haste。　　Diogenes；　meeting　a　boy　eating　after
that　manner；　gave　his　tutor　a　box　on　the　ear！　　There　were　men　at　Rome
that　taught　people　to　chew；　as　well　as　to　walk；　with　a　good　grace。　　I
lose　thereby　the　leisure　of　speaking；　which　gives　great　relish　to　the
table；　provided　the　discourse　be　suitable；　that　is；　pleasant　and　short。

There　is　jealousy　and　envy　amongst　our　pleasures；　they　cross　and　hinder
one　another。　　Alcibiades；　a　man　who　well　understood　how　to　make　good
cheer；　banished　even　music　from　the　table；　that　it　might　not　disturb　the
entertainment　of　discourse；　for　the　reason；　as　Plato　tells　us；　〃that　it
is　the　custom　of　ordinary　people　to　call　fiddlers　and　singing　men　to
feasts；　for　want　of　good　discourse　and　pleasant　talk；　with　which　men　of
understanding　know　how　to　entertain　one　another。〃　　Varro　requires　all
this　in　entertainments：　〃Persons　of　graceful　presence　and　agreeable
conversation；　who　are　neither　silent　nor　garrulous；　neatness　and
delicacy；　both　of　meat　and　place；　and　fair　weather。〃　　The　art　of　dining
well　is　no　slight　art；　the　pleasure　not　a　slight　pleasure；　neither　the
greatest　captains　nor　the　greatest　philosophers　have　disdained　the　use　or
science　of　eating　well。　　My　imagination　has　delivered　three　repasts　to
the　custody　of　my　memory；　which　fortune　rendered　sovereignly　sweet　to　me；
upon　several　occasions　in　my　more　flourishing　age；　my　present　state
excludes　me；　for　every　one；　according　to　the　good　temper　of　body　and　mind
wherein　he　then　finds　himself；　furnishes　for　his　own　share　a　particular
grace　and　savour。　　I；　who　but　crawl　upon　the　earth；　hate　this　inhuman
wisdom；　that　will　have　us　despise　and　hate　all　culture　of　the　body；　I
look　upon　it　as　an　equal　injustice　to　loath　natural　pleasures　as　to　be
too　much　in　love　with　them。　　Xerxes　was　a　blockhead；　who；　environed　with
all　human　delights；　proposed　a　reward　to　him　who　could　find　out　others；
but　he　is　not　much　less　so　who　cuts　off　any　of　those　pleasures　that
nature　has　provided　for　him。　　A　man　should　neither　pursue　nor　avoid　them；
but　receive　them。　　I　receive　them；　I　confess；　a　little　too　warmly　and
kindly；　and　easily　suffer　myself　to　follow　my　natural　propensions。　　We
have　no　need　to　exaggerate　their　inanity；　they　themselves　will　make　us
sufficiently　sensible　of　it；　thanks　to　our　sick　wet…blanket　mind；　that
puts　us　out　of　taste　with　them　as　with　itself；　it　treats　both　itself　and
all　it　receives；　one　while　better；　and　another　worse；　according　to　its
insatiable；　vagabond；　and　versatile　essence：

　　　　　　　　　〃Sincerum　est　nisi　vas；　quodcunque　infundis；　acescit。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Unless　the　vessel　be　clean；　it　will　sour　whatever
　　　　　　　　　　you　put　into　it。〃Horace；　Ep。；　i。　2；　54。＇

I；　who　boast　that　I　so　curiously　and　particularly　embrace　the
conveniences　of　life；　find　them；　when　I　most　nearly　consider　them；　very
little　more　than　wind。　　But　what？　　We　are　all　wind　throughout；　and；
moreover；　the　wind　itself；　more　discreet　than　we；　loves　to　bluster　and
shift　from　corner　to　corner；　and　contents　itself　with　its　proper　offices
without　desiring　stability　and　solidity…qualities　not　its　own。

The　pure　pleasures；　as　well　as　the　pure　displeasures；　of　the　imagination；
say　some；　are　the　greatest；　as　was　expressed　by　the　balance　of
Critolaiis。　　'Tis　no　wonder；　it　makes　them　to　its　own　liking；　and　cuts
them　out　of　the　whole　cloth；　of　this　I　every　day　see　notable　examples；
and；　peradventure；　to　be　desired。　　But　I；　who　am　of　a　mixed　and　heavy
condition；　cannot　snap　so　soon　at　this　one　simple　object；　but　that　I
negligently　suffer　myself　to　be　carried　away　with　the　present　pleasures
of　the；　general　human　law；　intellectually　sensible；　and　sensibly
intellectual。　　The　Cyrenaic　philosophers　will　have　it　that　as　corporal
pains；　so　corporal　pleasures　are　more　powerful；　both　as　double　and　as
more　just。　　There　are　some；　as　Aristotle　says；　who　out　of　a　savage　kind
of　stupidity　dislike　them；　and　I　know　others　who　out　of　ambition　do　the
same。　　Why　do　they　not；　moreover；　forswear　breathing？　　why　do　they　not
live　of　their　own？　　why　not　refuse　light；　because　it　is　gratuitous；　and
costs　them　neither　invention　nor　exertion？　　Let　Mars；　Pallas；　or　Mercury
afford　them　their　light　by　which　to　see；　instead　of　Venus；　Ceres；　and
Bacchus。　　These　boastful　humours　may　counterfeit　some　content；　for　what
will　not　fancy　do？　　But　as　to　wisdom；　there　is　no　touch　of　it。　　Will　they
not　seek　the　quadrature　of　the　circle；　even　when　on　their　wives？　　I　hate
that　we　should　be　enjoined　to　have　our　minds　in　the　clouds；　when　our
bodies　are　at　table；　I　would　not　have　the　mind　nailed　there；　nor　wallow
there；　I　would　have　it　take　place　there　and　sit；　but　not　lie　down。
Aristippus　maintained　nothing　but　the　body；　as　if　we　had　no　soul；　Zeno
comprehended　only　the　soul；　as　if　we　had　no　body：　both　of　them　faultily。
Pythagoras；　they　say；　followed　a　philosophy　that　was　all　contemplation；
Socrates　one　that　was　all　conduct　and　action；　Plato　found　a　mean　betwixt
the　two；　but　they　only　say　this　for　the　sake　of　talking。　　The　true
temperament　is　found　in　Socrates；　and；　Plato　is　much　more　Socratic　than
Pythagoric；　and　it　becomes　him　better。　　When　I　dance；　I　dance；　when　I
sleep；　I　sleep。　　Nay；　when　I　walk　alone　in　a　beautiful　orchard；　if　my
thoughts　are　some　part　of　the　time　taken　up　with　external　occurrences；
I　some　part　of　the　time　call　them　back　again　to　my　walk；　to　the　orchard；
to　the　sweetness　of　that　solitude；　and　to　myself。

Nature　has　mother…like　observed　this；　that　the　actions　she　has　enjoined
us　for　our　necessity　should　be　also　pleasurable　to　us；　and　she　invites　us
to　them；　not　only　by　reason；　but　also　by　appetite；　and　'tis　；injustice　to
infringe　her　laws。　　When　I　see　alike　Caesar　and　Alexander；　in　the　midst
of　his　greatest　business；　so　fully　enjoy　human　and　corporal　pleasures；　I
do　not　say　that　he　relaxed　his　mind：　I　say　that　he　strengthened　it；　by
vigour　of　courage　subjecting　those　violent　employments　and　laborious
thoughts　to　the　ordinary　usage　of　life：　wise；　had　he　believed　the　last
was　his　ordinary；　the　first　his　extraordinary；　vocation。　　We　are　great
fools。　　〃He　has　passed　his　life　in　idleness；〃　say　we：　〃I　have　done
nothing　to…day。〃　　What？　have　you　not　lived？　　that　is　not　only　the
fundamental；　but　the　most　illustrious；　of　your　occupations。　　〃Had　I　been
put　to　the　management　of　great　affairs；　I　should　have　made　it　seen　what　I
could　do。〃　　〃Have　you　known　how　to　meditate　and　manage　your　life？　　you
have　performed　the　greatest　work　of　all。〃　　In　order　to　shew　and　develop
herself；　nature　needs　only　fortune；　she　equally　manifests　herself　in　all
stages；　and　behind　a　curtain　as　well　as　without　one。　　Have　you　known　how
to　regulate　your　conduct；　you　have　done　a　great　deal　more　than　he　who　has
composed　books。　　Have　you　known　how　to　take　repose；　you　have　done　more
than　he　who　has　taken　empires　and　cities。

The　glorious　masterpiece　of　man　is　to　live　to　purpose；　all　other　things：
to　reign；　to　lay　up　treasure；　to　build；　are　but　little　appendices　and
props。　　I　take　pleasure　in　seeing　a　general　of　an　army；　at　the　foot　of　a
breach　he　is　presently　to　assault；　give　himself　up　entire　and　free　at
dinner；　to　talk　and　be　merry　with　his　friends。　　And　Brutus；　when　heaven
and　earth　were　conspired　against　him　and　the　Roman　liberty；　stealing　some
hour　of　the　night　from　his　rounds　to　read　and　scan　Polybius　in　all
security。　　'Tis　for　little　souls；　buried　under　the　weight　of　affairs；　not
from　them　to　know　how　clearly　to　disengage　themselves；　not　to　know　how　to
lay　them　aside　and　take　them　up　again：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃O　fortes；　pejoraque　passi
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Mecum　saepe　viri！　　nunc　vino　pellite　curas
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cras　ingens　iterabimus　aequor。〃

　　　　　＇〃O　brave　spirits；　who　have　often　suffered　sorrow　with　me；　drink
　　　　　cares　away；　tomorrow　we　will　embark　once　more　on　the　vast　sea。〃
　　　　　Horace；　Od。；　i。　7；　30。＇

Whether　it　be　in　jest　or　earnest；　that　the　theological　and　Sorbonnical
wine；　and　their　feasts；　are　turned　into　a　proverb；　I　find　it　reasonable
they　should　dine　so　much　more　commodiously　and　pleasantly；　as　they　have
profitably　and　seriously　employed　the　morning　in　the　exercise　of　their
schools。　　The　conscience　of　having　well　spent　the　other　hours；　is　the
just　and　savoury　sauce　of　the　dinner…table。　　The　sages　lived　after　that
manner；　and　that　inimitable　emulation　to　virtue；　which　astonishes　us　both
in　the　one　and　the　other　Cato；　that　humour　of　theirs；　so　severe　as　even
to　be　importunate；　gently　submits　itself　and　yields　to　the　laws　of　the
human　condition；　of　Venus　and　Bacchus；　according　to　the　precepts　of　their
sect；　that　require　the　perfect　sage　to　be　as　expert　and　intelligent　in
the　use　of　natural　pleasures　as　in　all　other　duties　of　life：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Cui　cor　sapiat；　ei　et　sapiat　palatus。〃

Relaxation　and　facility；　methinks；　wonderfully　honour　and　best　become　a
strong　and　generous　soul。　　Epaminondas　did　not　think　that　to　take　part；
and　that　heartily；　in　songs　and　sports　and　dances　with　the　young　men　of
his　city；　were　things　that　in　any　way　derogated　from　the　honour　of　his
glorious　victories　and　the　perfect　purity　of　manners　that　was　in　him。
And　amongst　so　many　admirable　actions　of　Scipio　the　grandfather；　a　person
worthy　to　be　reputed　of　a　heavenly　extraction；　there　is　nothing　that
gives　him　a　greater　grace　than　to　see　him　carelessly　and　childishly
trifling　at　gathering　and　selecting　cockle　shells；　and　playing　at　quoits；

　　　　　＇This　game；　as　the　〃Dictionnaire　de　Trevoux〃　describes　it；　is　one
　　　　　wherein　two　persons　contend　which　of　them　shall　soonest　pick　up　some
　　　　　object。＇

amusing　and　tickling　himself　in　representing　by　writing　in　comedies　the
meanest　and　most　popular　actions　of　men。　　And　his　head　full　of　that
wonderful　enterprise　of　Hannibal　and　Africa；　visiting　the　schools　in
Sicily；　and　attending　philosophical　lectures；　to　the　extent　of　arming　the
blind　envy　of　his　enemies　at　Rome。　　Nor　is　there　anything　more　remarkable
in　Socrates　than　that；　old　as　he　was；　he　found　time　to　make　himself
taught　dancing　and　playing　upon　instruments；　and　thought　it　time　well
spent。　　This　same　man　was　seen　in　an　ecstasy；　standing　upon　his　feet　a
whole　day　and　a　night　together；　in　the　presence　of　all　the　Grecian　army；
surprised　and　absorbed　by　some　profound　thought。　　He　was　the　first；
amongst　so　many　valiant　men　of　the　army；　to　run　to　the　relief　of
Alcibiades；　oppressed　with　the　enemy；　to　shield　him　with　his　own　body；
and　disengage　him　from　the　crowd　by　absolute　force　of　arms。　　It　was　he
who；　in　the　Delian　battle；　raised　and　saved　Xenophon　when　fallen　from　his
horse；　and　who；　amongst　all　the　people　of　Athens；　enraged　as　he　was　at　so
unworthy　a　spectacle；　first　presented　himself　to　rescue　Theramenes；　whom
the　thirty　tyrants　were　leading　t