the essays of montaigne, v19-第9章

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passed　the　age　to　which　some　nations；　not　without　reason；　have　prescribed
so　just　a　term　of　life　that　they　would　not　suffer　men　to　exceed　it；　and
yet　I　have　some　intermissions；　though　short　and　inconstant；　so　clean　and
sound　as　to　be　little　inferior　to　the　health　and　pleasantness　of　my
youth。　　I　do　not　speak　of　vigour　and　sprightliness；　'tis　not　reason　they
should　follow　me　beyond　their　limits：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Non　hoc　amplius　est　liminis；　aut　aquae
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Coelestis；　patiens　latus。〃

　　　　　＇〃I　am　no　longer　able　to　stand　waiting　at　a　door　in　the　rain。〃
　　　　　Horace；　Od。；　iii。　10；　9。＇

My　face　and　eyes　presently　discover　my　condition；　all　my　alterations
begin　there；　and　appear　somewhat　worse　than　they　really　are；　my　friends
often　pity　me　before　I　feel　the　cause　in　myself。　　My　looking…glass　does
not　frighten　me；　for　even　in　my　youth　it　has　befallen　me　more　than　once
to　have　a　scurvy　complexion　and　of　ill　augury；　without　any　great
consequence；　so　that　the　physicians；　not　finding　any　cause　within
answerable　to　that　outward　alteration；　attributed　it　to　the　mind　and　to
some　secret　passion　that　tormented　me　within；　but　they　were　deceived。
If　my　body　would　govern　itself　as　well；　according　to　my　rule；　as　my　mind
does；　we　should　move　a　little　more　at　our　ease。　　My　mind　was　then　not
only　free　from　trouble；　but；　moreover；　full　of　joy　and　satisfaction；
as　it　commonly　is；　half　by　its　complexion；　half　by　its　design：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Nec　vitiant　artus　aegrae　contagia　mentis。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Nor　do　the　troubles　of　the　body　ever　affect　my　mind。〃
　　　　　　　　　　Ovid；　Trist。；　iii。　8；　25。＇

I　am　of　the　opinion　that　this　temperature　of　my　soul　has　often　raised　my
body　from　its　lapses；　this　is　often　depressed；　if　the　other　be　not　brisk
and　gay；　'tis　at　least　tranquil　and　at　rest。　　I　had　a　quartan　ague　four
or　five　months；　that　made　me　look　miserably　ill；　my　mind　was　always；　if
not　calm；　yet　pleasant。　　If　the　pain　be　without　me；　the　weakness　and
languor　do　not　much　afflict　me；　I　see　various　corporal　faintings；　that
beget　a　horror　in　me　but　to　name；　which　yet　I　should　less　fear　than　a
thousand　passions　and　agitations　of　the　mind　that　I　see　about　me。　　I　make
up　my　mind　no　more　to　run；　'tis　enough　that　I　can　crawl　along；　nor　do　I
more　complain　of　the　natural　decadence　that　I　feel　in　myself：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Quis　tumidum　guttur　miratur　in　Alpibus？〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Who　is　surprised　to　see　a　swollen　goitre　in　the　Alps？〃
　　　　　　　　　　Juvenal；　xiii。　162。＇

than　I　regret　that　my　duration　shall　not　be　as　long　and　entire　as　that　of
an　oak。

I　have　no　reason　to　complain　of　my　imagination；　I　have　had　few　thoughts
in　my　life　that　have　so　much　as　broken　my　sleep；　except　those　of　desire；
which　have　awakened　without　afflicting　me。　　I　dream　but　seldom；　and　then
of　chimaeras　and　fantastic　things；　commonly　produced　from　pleasant
thoughts；　and　rather　ridiculous　than　sad；　and　I　believe　it　to　be　true
that　dreams　are　faithful　interpreters　of　our　inclinations；　but　there　is
art　required　to　sort　and　understand　them

　　　　〃Res；　quae　in　vita　usurpant　homines；　cogitant；　curant；　vident；
　　　　　Quaeque　agunt　vigilantes；　agitantque；　ea　si　cui　in　somno　accidunt；
　　　　　Minus　mirandum　est。〃

　　　　　＇〃'Tis　less　wonder；　what　men　practise；　think；　care　for；　see；　and　do
　　　　　when　waking；　（should　also　run　in　their　heads　and　disturb　them　when
　　　　　they　are　asleep）　and　which　affect　their　feelings；　if　they　happen　to
　　　　　any　in　sleep。〃Attius；　cited　in　Cicero；　De　Divin。；　i。　22。＇

Plato；　moreover；　says；　that　'tis　the　office　of　prudence　to　draw
instructions　of　divination　of　future　things　from　dreams：　I　don't　know
about　this；　but　there　are　wonderful　instances　of　it　that　Socrates；
Xenophon；　and　Aristotle；　men　of　irreproachable　authority；　relate。
Historians　say　that　the　Atlantes　never　dream；　who　also　never　eat　any
animal　food；　which　I　add；　forasmuch　as　it　is；　peradventure；　the　reason
why　they　never　dream；　for　Pythagoras　ordered　a　certain　preparation　of
diet　to　beget　appropriate　dreams。　　Mine　are　very　gentle；　without　any
agitation　of　body　or　expression　of　voice。　　I　have　seen　several　of　my　time
wonderfully　disturbed　by　them。　　Theon　the　philosopher　walked　in　his
sleep；　and　so　did　Pericles　servant；　and　that　upon　the　tiles　and　top　of
the　house。

I　hardly　ever　choose　my　dish　at　table；　but　take　the　next　at　hand；　and
unwillingly　change　it　for　another。　　A　confusion　of　meats　and　a　clatter　of
dishes　displease　me　as　much　as　any　other　confusion：　I　am　easily　satisfied
with　few　dishes：　and　am　an　enemy　to　the　opinion　of　Favorinus；　that　in　a
feast　they　should　snatch　from　you　the　meat　you　like；　and　set　a　plate　of
another　sort　before　you；　and　that　'tis　a　pitiful　supper；　if　you　do　not
sate　your　guests　with　the　rumps　of　various　fowls；　the　beccafico　only
deserving　to　be　all　eaten。　　I　usually　eat　salt　meats；　yet　I　prefer　bread
that　has　no　salt　in　it；　and　my　baker　never　sends　up　other　to　my　table；
contrary　to　the　custom　of　the　country。　　In　my　infancy；　what　they　had　most
to　correct　in　me　was　the　refusal　of　things　that　children　commonly　best
love；　as　sugar；　sweetmeats；　and　march…panes。　　My　tutor　contended　with
this　aversion　to　delicate　things；　as　a　kind　of　over…nicety；　and　indeed
'tis　nothing　else　but　a　difficulty　of　taste；　in　anything　it　applies
itself　to。　　Whoever　cures　a　child　of　an　obstinate　liking　for　brown　bread；
bacon；　or　garlic；　cures　him　also　of　pampering　his　palate。　　There　are　some
who　affect　temperance　and　plainness　by　wishing　for　beef　and　ham　amongst
the　partridges；　'tis　all　very　fine；　this　is　the　delicacy　of　the　delicate；
'tis　the　taste　of　an　effeminate　fortune　that　disrelishes　ordinary　and
accustomed　things。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Per　qux　luxuria　divitiarum　taedio　ludit。〃

　　　　　＇〃By　which　the　luxury　of　wealth　causes　tedium。〃Seneca；　Ep。；　18。＇

Not　to　make　good　cheer　with　what　another　is　enjoying；　and　to　be　curious
in　what　a　man　eats；　is　the　essence　of　this　vice：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Si　modica　coenare　times　olus　omne　patella。〃

　　　　　＇〃If　you　can't　be　content　with　herbs　in　a　small　dish　for　supper。〃
　　　　　Horace；　Ep。；　i。　5；　2。＇

There　is　indeed　this　difference；　that　'tis　better　to　oblige　one's
appetite　to　things　that　are　most　easy　to　be　had；　but　'tis　always　vice　to
oblige　one's　self。　　I　formerly　said　a　kinsman　of　mine　was　overnice；　who；
by　being　in　our　galleys；　had　unlearned　the　use　of　beds　and　to　undress
when　he　went　to　sleep。

If　I　had　any　sons；　I　should　willingly　wish　them　my　fortune。　　The　good
father　that　God　gave　me　（who　has　nothing　of　me　but　the　acknowledgment　of
his　goodness；　but　truly　'tis　a　very　hearty　one）　sent　me　from　my　cradle　to
be　brought　up　in　a　poor　village　of　his；　and　there　continued　me　all　the
while　I　was　at　nurse；　and　still　longer；　bringing　me　up　to　the　meanest　and
most　common　way　of　living：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Magna　pars　libertatis　est　bene　moratus　venter。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃A　well…governed　stomach　is　a　great　part　of　liberty。〃
　　　　　　　　　　Seneca；Ep。；　123。＇

Never　take　upon　yourselves；　and　much　less　give　up　to　your　wives；　the　care
of　their　nurture；　leave　the　formation　to　fortune；　under　popular　and
natural　laws；　leave　it　to　custom　to　train　them　up　to　frugality　and
hardship；　that　they　may　rather　descend　from　rigour　than　mount　up　to　it。
This　humour　of　his　yet　aimed　at　another　end；　to　make　me　familiar　with　the
people　and　the　condition　of　men　who　most　need　our　assistance；　considering
that　I　should　rather　regard　them　who　extend　their　arms　to　me；　than　those
who　turn　their　backs　upon　me；　and　for　this　reason　it　was　that　he　provided
to　hold　me　at　the　font　persons　of　the　meanest　fortune；　to　oblige　and
attach　me　to　them。

Nor　has　his　design　succeeded　altogether　ill；　for；　whether　upon　the
account　of　the　more　honour　in　such　a　condescension；　or　out　of　a　natural
compassion　that　has　a　very　great　power　over　me；　I　have　an　inclination
towards　the　meaner　sort　of　people。　　The　faction　which　I　should　condemn　in
our　wars；　I　should　more　sharply　condemn；　flourishing　and　successful；　it
will　somewhat　reconcile　me　to　it；　when　I　shall　see　it　miserable　and
overwhelmed。　　How　willingly　do　I　admire　the　fine　humour　of　Cheilonis；
daughter　and　wife　to　kings　of　Sparta。　　Whilst　her　husband　Cleombrotus；　in
the　commotion　of　her　city；　had　the　advantage　over　Leonidas　her　father；
she；　like　a　good　daughter；　stuck　close　to　her　father　in　all　his　misery
and　exile；　in　opposition　to　the　conqueror。　　But　so　soon　as　the　chance　of
war　turned；　she　changed　her　will　with　the　change　of　fortune；　and　bravely
turned　to　her　husband's　side；　whom　she　accompanied　throughout；　where　his
ruin　carried　him：　admitting；　as　it　appears　to　me；　no　other　choice　than　to
cleave　to　the　side　that　stood　most　in　need　of　her；　and　where　she　could
best　manifest　her　compassion。　　I　am　naturally　more　apt　to　follow　the
example　of　Flaminius；　who　rather　gave　his　assistance　to　those　who　had
most　need　of　him　than　to　those　who　had　power　to　do　him　good；　than　I　do　to
that　of　Pyrrhus；　who　was　of　an　humour　to　truckle　under　the　great　and　to
domineer　over　the　poor。

Long　sittings　at　table　both　trouble　me　and　do　me　harm；　for；　be　it　that　I
was　so　accustomed　when　a　child；　I　eat　all　the　while　I　sit。　　Therefore　it
is　that　at　my　own　house；　though　the　meals　there　are　of　the　shortest；　I
usually　sit　down　a　little　while　after　the　rest；　after　the　manner　of
Augustus；　but　I　do　not　imitate　him　in　rising　also　before　the　rest；　on　the
contrary；　I　love　to　sit　still　a　long　time　after；　and　to　hear　them　talk；
provided　I　am　none　of　the　talkers：　for　I　tire　and　hurt　myself　with
speaking　upon　a　full　stomach；　as　much　as　I　find　it　very　wholesome　and
pleasant　to　argue　and　to　strain　my　voice　before　dinner。

The　ancient　Greeks　and　Romans　had　more　reason　than　we　in　setting　apart
for　eating；　which　is　a　principal　action　of　life；　if　they　were　not
prevented　by　other　extraordinary　business；　many　hours　and　the　greatest
part　of　the　night；　eating　and　drinking　more　deliberately　than　we　do；　who
perform　all　our　actions　post…haste；　and　in　extending　this　natural
pleasure　to　more　leisure　and　better　use；　intermixing　with　profitable
conversation。

They　whose　concern　it　is　to　have　a　care　of　me；　may　very　easily　hinder　me
from　eating　anything　they　think　will　do　me　harm；　for　in　such　matters　I
never　covet　nor　miss　anything　I　do　not　see；　but　withal；　if　it　once　comes
in　my　sight；　'tis　in　vain　to　persuade　me　to　forbear；　so　that　when　I
design　to　fast　I　must　be　kept　apart　from　the　suppers；　and　must　have　only
so　much　given　me　as　is　required　for　a　prescribed　collation；　for　if　to
table；　I　forget　my　resolution。　　When　I　order　my　cook　to　alter　the　manner
of　dressing　any　dish；　all　my　family　know　what　it　means；　that　my　stomach
is　out　of　order；　and　that　I　shall　not　touch　it。

I　love　to　have　all　meats；　that　will　endure　it；　very　little　boiled　or
roasted；　and　prefer　them　very　high；　and　even；　as　to　several；　quite　gone。
Nothing　but　hardness　generally　offends　me　（of　any　other　quality　I　am　as
patient　and　indifferent　as　any　man　I　have　known）；　so　that；　contrary　to
the　common　humour；　even　in　fish　it　often　happens　that　I　find　them　both
too　fresh　and　too　firm；　not　for　want　of　teeth；　which　I　ever　had　good；
even　to　excellence；　and　which　age　does　not　now　begin　to　threaten；　I　have
always　been　used　every　morning　to　rub　them　with　a　napkin；　and