the essays of montaigne, v19-第8章

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consider　the　strict　alliance　betwixt　pain　and　pleasure；　how　they　are
linked　together　by　a　necessary　connection；　so　that　by　turns　they　follow
and　mutually　beget　one　another；　and　cried　out　to　good　AEsop；　that　he
ought　out　of　this　consideration　to　have　taken　matter　for　a　fine　fable。

The　worst　that　I　see　in　other　diseases　is；　that　they　are　not　so　grievous
in　their　effect　as　they　are　in　their　issue：　a　man　is　a　whole　year　in
recovering；　and　all　the　while　full　of　weakness　and　fear。　　There　is　so
much　hazard；　and　so　many　steps　to　arrive　at　safety；　that　there　is　no　end
on't　before　they　have　unmuffled　you　of　a　kerchief；　and　then　of　a　cap；
before　they　allow　you　to　walk　abroad　and　take　the　air；　to　drink　wine；　to
lie　with　your　wife；　to　eat　melons；　'tis　odds　you　relapse　into　some　new
distemper。　　The　stone　has　this　privilege；　that　it　carries　itself　clean
off：　whereas　the　other　maladies　always　leave　behind　them　some　impression
and　alteration　that　render　the　body　subject　to　a　new　disease；　and　lend　a
hand　to　one　another。　　Those　are　excusable　that　content　themselves　with
possessing　us；　without　extending　farther　and　introducing　their　followers；
but　courteous　and　kind　are　those　whose　passage　brings　us　any　profitable
issue。　　Since　I　have　been　troubled　with　the　stone；　I　find　myself　freed
from　all　other　accidents；　much　more；　methinks；　than　I　was　before；　and
have　never　had　any　fever　since；　I　argue　that　the　extreme　and　frequent
vomitings　that　I　am　subject　to　purge　me：　and；　on　the　other　hand；　my
distastes　for　this　and　that；　and　the　strange　fasts　I　am　forced　to　keep；
digest　my　peccant　humours；　and　nature；　with　those　stones；　voids　whatever
there　is　in　me　superfluous　and　hurtful。　　Let　them　never　tell　me　that　it
is　a　medicine　too　dear　bought：　for　what　avail　so　many　stinking　draughts；
so　many　caustics；　incisions；　sweats；　setons；　diets；　and　so　many　other
methods　of　cure；　which　often；　by　reason　we　are　not　able　to　undergo　their
violence　and　importunity；　bring　us　to　our　graves？　　So　that　when　I　have
the　stone；　I　look　upon　it　as　physic；　when　free　from　it；　as　an　absolute
deliverance。

And　here　is　another　particular　benefit　of　my　disease；　which　is；　that　it
almost　plays　its　game　by　itself；　and　lets　'me　play　mine；　if　I　have　only
courage　to　do　it；　for；　in　its　greatest　fury；　I　have　endured　it　ten　hours
together　on　horseback。　　Do　but　endure　only；　you　need　no　other　regimen
play；　run；　dine；　do　this　and　t'other；　if　you　can；　your　debauch　will　do
you　more　good　than　harm；　say　as　much　to　one　that　has　the　pox；　the　gout；
or　hernia！　　The　other　diseases　have　more　universal　obligations；　rack　our
actions　after　another　kind　of　manner；　disturb　our　whole　order；　and　to
their　consideration　engage　the　whole　state　of　life：　this　only　pinches　the
skin；　it　leaves　the　understanding　and　the　will　wholly　at　our　own
disposal；　and　the　tongue；　the　hands；　and　the　feet；　it　rather　awakens　than
stupefies　you。　　The　soul　is　struck　with　the　ardour　of　a　fever；
overwhelmed　with　an　epilepsy；　and　displaced　by　a　sharp　megrim；　and；　in
short；　astounded　by　all　the　diseases　that　hurt　the　whole　mass　and　the
most　noble　parts；　this　never　meddles　with　the　soul；　if　anything　goes
amiss　with　her；　'tis　her　own　fault；　she　betrays；　dismounts；　and　abandons
herself。　　There　are　none　but　fools　who　suffer　themselves　to　be　persuaded
that　this　hard　and　massive　body　which　is　baked　in　our　kidneys　is　to　be
dissolved　by　drinks；　wherefore；　when　it　is　once　stirred；　there　is　nothing
to　be　done　but　to　give　it　passage；　and；　for　that　matter；　it　will　itself
make　one。

I　moreover　observe　this　particular　convenience　in　it；　that　it　is　a
disease　wherein　we　have　little　to　guess　at：　we　are　dispensed　from　the
trouble　into　which　other　diseases　throw　us　by　the　uncertainty　of　their
causes；　conditions；　and　progress；　a　trouble　that　is　infinitely　painful：
we　have　no　need　of　consultations　and　doctoral　interpretations；　the　senses
well　enough　inform　us　both　what　it　is　and　where　it　is。

By　suchlike　arguments；　weak　and　strong；　as　Cicero　with　the　disease　of　his
old　age；　I　try　to　rock　asleep　and　amuse　my　imagination；　and　to　dress　its
wounds。　　If　I　find　them　worse　tomorrow；　I　will　provide　new　stratagems。
That　this　is　true：　I　am　come　to　that　pass　of　late；　that　the　least　motion
forces　pure　blood　out　of　my　kidneys：　what　of　that？　　I　move　about；
nevertheless；　as　before；　and　ride　after　my　hounds　with　a　juvenile　and
insolent　ardour；　and　hold　that　I　have　very　good　satisfaction　for　an
accident　of　that　importance；　when　it　costs　me　no　more　but　a　dull
heaviness　and　uneasiness　in　that　part；　'tis　some　great　stone　that　wastes
and　consumes　the　substance　of　my　kidneys　and　my　life；　which　I　by　little
and　little　evacuate；　not　without　some　natural　pleasure；　as　an　excrement
henceforward　superfluous　and　troublesome。　　Now　if　I　feel　anything
stirring；　do　not　fancy　that　I　trouble　myself　to　consult　my　pulse　or　my
urine；　thereby　to　put　myself　upon　some　annoying　prevention；　I　shall　soon
enough　feel　the　pain；　without　making　it　more　and　longer　by　the　disease　of
fear。　　He　who　fears　he　shall　suffer；　already　suffers　what　he　fears。　　To
which　may　be　added　that　the　doubts　and　ignorance　of　those　who　take　upon
them　to　expound　the　designs　of　nature　and　her　internal　progressions；　and
the　many　false　prognostics　of　their　art；　ought　to　give　us　to　understand
that　her　ways　are　inscrutable　and　utterly　unknown；　there　is　great
uncertainty；　variety；　and　obscurity　in　what　she　either　promises　or
threatens。　　Old　age　excepted；　which　is　an　indubitable　sign　of　the
approach　of　death；　in　all　other　accidents　I　see　few　signs　of　the　future；
whereon　we　may　ground　our　divination。　　I　only　judge　of　myself　by　actual
sensation；　not　by　reasoning：　to　what　end；　since　I　am　resolved　to　bring
nothing　to　it　but　expectation　and　patience？　　Will　you　know　how　much　I　get
by　this？　observe　those　who　do　otherwise；　and　who　rely　upon　so　many
diverse　persuasions　and　counsels；　how　often　the　imagination　presses　upon
them　without　any　bodily　pain。　　I　have　many　times　amused　myself；　being
well　and　in　safety；　and　quite　free　from　these　dangerous　attacks　in
communicating　them　to　the　physicians　as　then　beginning　to　discover
themselves　in　me；　I　underwent　the　decree　of　their　dreadful　conclusions；
being　all　the　while　quite　at　my　ease；　and　so　much　the　more　obliged　to　the
favour　of　God　and　better　satisfied　of　the　vanity　of　this　art。

There　is　nothing　that　ought　so　much　to　be　recommended　to　youth　as
activity　and　vigilance　our　life　is　nothing　but　movement。　　I　bestir　myself
with　great　difficulty；　and　am　slow　in　everything；　whether　in　rising；
going　to　bed；　or　eating：　seven　of　the　clock　in　the　morning　is　early　for
me；　and　where　I　rule；　I　never　dine　before　eleven；　nor　sup　till　after　six。
I　formerly　attributed　the　cause　of　the　fevers　and　other　diseases　I　fell
into　to　the　heaviness　that　long　sleeping　had　brought　upon　me；　and　have
ever　repented　going　to　sleep　again　in　the　morning。　　Plato　is　more　angry
at　excess　of　sleeping　than　at　excess　of　drinking。　　I　love　to　lie　hard　and
alone；　even　without　my　wife；　as　kings　do；　pretty　well　covered　with
clothes。　　They　never　warm　my　bed；　but　since　I　have　grown　old　they　give　me
at　need　cloths　to　lay　to　my　feet　and　stomach。　　They　found　fault　with　the
great　Scipio　that　he　was　a　great　sleeper；　not；　in　my　opinion；　for　any
other　reason　than　that　men　were　displeased　that　he　alone　should　have
nothing　in　him　to　be　found　fault　with。　　If　I　am　anything　fastidious　in　my
way　of　living　'tis　rather　in　my　lying　than　anything　else；　but　generally
I　give　way　and　accommodate　myself　as　well　as　any　one　to　necessity。
Sleeping　has　taken　up　a　great　part　of　my　life；　and　I　yet　continue；　at　the
age　I　now　am；　to　sleep　eight　or　nine　hours　at　one　breath。　　I　wean　myself
with　utility　from　this　proneness　to　sloth；　and　am　evidently　the　better
for　so　doing。　　I　find　the　change　a　little　hard　indeed；　but　in　three　days
'tis　over；　and　I　see　but　few　who　live　with　less　sleep；　when　need
requires；　and　who　more　constantly　exercise　themselves；　or　to　whom　long
journeys　are　less　troublesome。　　My　body　is　capable　of　a　firm；　but　not　of
a　violent　or　sudden　agitation。　　I　escape　of　late　from　violent　exercises；
and　such　as　make　me　sweat：　my　limbs　grow　weary　before　they　are　warm。
I　can　stand　a　whole　day　together；　and　am　never　weary　of　walking；　but　from
my　youth　I　have　ever　preferred　to　ride　upon　paved　roads；　on　foot；　I　get
up　to　the　haunches　in　dirt；　and　little　fellows　as　I　am　are　subject　in　the
streets　to　be　elbowed　and　jostled　for　want　of　presence；　I　have　ever　loved
to　repose　myself；　whether　sitting　or　lying；　with　my　heels　as　high　or
higher　than　my　seat。

There　is　no　profession　as　pleasant　as　the　military；　a　profession　both
noble　in　its　execution　（for　valour　is　the　stoutest；　proudest；　and　most
generous　of　all　virtues）；　and　noble　in　its　cause：　there　is　no　utility
either　more　universal　or　more　just　than　the　protection　of　the　peace　and
greatness　of　one's　country。　　The　company　of　so　many　noble；　young；　and
active　men　delights　you；　the　ordinary　sight　of　so　many　tragic　spectacles；
the　freedom　of　the　conversation；　without　art；　a　masculine　and
unceremonious　way　of　living；　please　you；　the　variety　of　a　thousand
several　actions；　the　encouraging　harmony　of　martial　music　that　ravishes
and　inflames　both　your　ears　and　souls；　the　honour　of　this　occupation；
nay；　even　its　hardships　and　difficulties；　which　Plato　holds　so　light　that
in　his　Republic　he　makes　women　and　children　share　in　them；　are　delightful
to　you。　　You　put　yourself　voluntarily　upon　particular　exploits　and
hazards；　according　as　you　judge　of　their　lustre　and　importance；　and；　a
volunteer；　find　even　life　itself　excusably　employed：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Pulchrumque　mori　succurrit　in　armis。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃'Tis　fine　to　die　sword　in　hand。〃　（〃And　he　remembers　that　it
　　　　　　　　　　is　honourable　to　die　in　arms。〃）AEneid；　ii。　317。＇


To　fear　common　dangers　that　concern　so　great　a　multitude　of　men；　not　to
dare　to　do　what　so　many　sorts　of　souls；　what　a　whole　people　dare；　is　for
a　heart　that　is　poor　and　mean　beyond　all　measure：　company　encourages　even
children。　　If　others　excel　you　in　knowledge；　in　gracefulness；　in
strength；　or　fortune；　you　have　alternative　resources　at　your　disposal；
but　to　give　place　to　them　in　stability　of　mind；　you　can　blame　no　one　for
that　but　yourself。　Death　is　more　abject；　more　languishing　and
troublesome；　in　bed　than　in　a　fight：　fevers　and　catarrhs　as　painful　and
mortal　as　a　musket…shot。　　Whoever　has　fortified　himself　valiantly　to　bear
the　accidents　of　common　life　need　not　raise　his　courage　to　be　a　soldier：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Vivere；　mi　Lucili；　militare　est。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃To　live；　my　Lucilius；　is　（to　make　war）　to　be　a　soldier。〃
　　　　　　　　　　Seneca；　Ep。；　96。＇

I　do　not　remember　that　I　ever　had　the　itch；　and　yet　scratching　is　one　of
nature's　sweetest　gratifications；　and　so　much　at　hand；　but　repentance
follows　too　near。　　I　use　it　most　in　my　ears；　which　are　at　intervals　apt
to　itch。

I　came　into　the　world　with　all　my　senses　entire；　even　to　perfection。　　My
stomach　is　commodiously　good；　as　also　is　my　head　and　my　breath；　and；　for
the　most　part；　uphold　themselves　so　in　the　height　of　fevers。　　I　have
passed　the　age　to　which　some　nations；　not　without　reason；　have　prescribed
so　just　a　term　of　life　that　t