the essays of montaigne, v6-第9章

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had　not　a　people　wholly　at　their　mercy；　they　make　it　manifestly　enough
appear；　what　it　is　to　take　two　sorts　of　grist　out　of　the　same　sack；　and
with　the　same　mouth　to　blow　hot　and　cold。　　It　were　better　to　possess　the
vulgar　with　the　solid　and　real　foundations　of　truth。　　'Twas　a　fine　naval
battle　that　was　gained　under　the　command　of　Don　John　of　Austria　a　few
months　since＇That　of　Lepanto；　October　7；　1571。＇　against　the　Turks；
but　it　has　also　pleased　God　at　other　times　to　let　us　see　as　great
victories　at　our　own　expense。　　In　fine；　'tis　a　hard　matter　to　reduce
divine　things　to　our　balance；　without　waste　and　losing　a　great　deal　of
the　weight。　　And　who　would　take　upon　him　to　give　a　reason　that　Arius　and
his　Pope　Leo；　the　principal　heads　of　the　Arian　heresy；　should　die；　at
several　times；　of　so　like　and　strange　deaths　（for　being　withdrawn　from
the　disputation　by　a　griping　in　the　bowels；　they　both　of　them　suddenly
gave　up　the　ghost　upon　the　stool）；　and　would　aggravate　this　divine
vengeance　by　the　circumstances　of　the　place；　might　as　well　add　the　death
of　Heliogabalus；　who　was　also　slain　in　a　house　of　office。　　And；　indeed；
Irenaeus　was　involved　in　the　same　fortune。　　God；　being　pleased　to　show
us；　that　the　good　have　something　else　to　hope　for　and　the　wicked
something　else　to　fear；　than　the　fortunes　or　misfortunes　of　this　world；
manages　and　applies　these　according　to　His　own　occult　will　and　pleasure；
and　deprives　us　of　the　means　foolishly　to　make　thereof　our　own　profit。
And　those　people　abuse　themselves　who　will　pretend　to　dive　into　these
mysteries　by　the　strength　of　human　reason。　　They　never　give　one　hit　that
they　do　not　receive　two　for　it；　of　which　St。　Augustine　makes　out　a　great
proof　upon　his　adversaries。　　'Tis　a　conflict　that　is　more　decided　by
strength　of　memory　than　by　the　force　of　reason。　　We　are　to　content
ourselves　with　the　light　it　pleases　the　sun　to　communicate　to　us；　by
virtue　of　his　rays；　and　who　will　lift　up　his　eyes　to　take　in　a　greater；
let　him　not　think　it　strange；　if　for　the　reward　of　his　presumption；　he
there　lose　his　sight。

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Quis　hominum　potest　scire　consilium　Dei？
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Aut　quis　poterit　cogitare　quid　velit　Dominus？〃

　　　　　＇〃Who　of　men　can　know　the　counsel　of　God？　or　who　can　think　what　the
　　　　　will　of　the　Lord　is。〃Book　of　Wisdom；　ix。　13。＇




CHAPTER　XXXII

THAT　WE　ARE　TO　AVOID　PLEASURES；　EVEN　AT　THE　EXPENSE　OF　LIFE

I　had　long　ago　observed　most　of　the　opinions　of　the　ancients　to　concur　in
this；　that　it　is　high　time　to　die　when　there　is　more　ill　than　good　in
living；　and　that　to　preserve　life　to　our　own　torment　and　inconvenience　is
contrary　to　the　very　rules　of　nature；　as　these　old　laws　instruct　us。

　　　　　＇〃Either　tranquil　life；　or　happy　death。　　It　is　well　to　die　when　life
　　　　　is　wearisome。　　It　is　better　to　die　than　to　live　miserable。〃
　　　　　Stobaeus；　Serm。　xx。＇

But　to　push　this　contempt　of　death　so　far　as　to　employ　it　to　the　removing
our　thoughts　from　the　honours；　riches；　dignities；　and　other　favours　and
goods；　as　we　call　them；　of　fortune；　as　if　reason　were　not　sufficient　to
persuade　us　to　avoid　them；　without　adding　this　new　injunction；　I　had
never　seen　it　either　commanded　or　practised；　till　this　passage　of　Seneca
fell　into　my　hands；　who　advising　Lucilius；　a　man　of　great　power　and
authority　about　the　emperor；　to　alter　his　voluptuous　and　magnificent　way
of　living；　and　to　retire　himself　from　this　worldly　vanity　and　ambition；
to　some　solitary；　quiet；　and　philosophical　life；　and　the　other　alleging
some　difficulties：　〃I　am　of　opinion；〃　says　he；　〃either　that　thou　leave
that　life　of　thine；　or　life　itself；　I　would；　indeed；　advise　thee　to　the
gentle　way；　and　to　untie；　rather　than　to　break；　the　knot　thou　hast
indiscreetly　knit；　provided；　that　if　it　be　not　otherwise　to　be　untied；
thou　resolutely　break　it。　　There　is　no　man　so　great　a　coward；　that　had
not　rather　once　fall　than　to　be　always　falling。〃　　I　should　have　found
this　counsel　conformable　enough　to　the　Stoical　roughness：　but　it　appears
the　more　strange；　for　being　borrowed　from　Epicurus；　who　writes　the　same
thing　upon　the　like　occasion　to　Idomeneus。　　And　I　think　I　have　observed
something　like　it；　but　with　Christian　moderation；　amongst　our　own　people。

St。　Hilary；　Bishop　of　Poictiers；　that　famous　enemy　of　the　Arian　heresy；
being　in　Syria；　had　intelligence　thither　sent　him；　that　Abra；　his　only
daughter；　whom　he　left　at　home　under　the　eye　and　tuition　of　her　mother；
was　sought　in　marriage　by　the　greatest　noblemen　of　the　country；　as　being
a　virgin　virtuously　brought　up；　fair；　rich；　and　in　the　flower　of　her　age；
whereupon　he　wrote　to　her　（as　appears　upon　record）；　that　she　should
remove　her　affection　from　all　the　pleasures　and　advantages　proposed　to
her；　for　that　he　had　in　his　travels　found　out　a　much　greater　and　more
worthy　fortune　for　her；　a　husband　of　much　greater　power　and　magnificence；
who　would　present　her　with　robes　and　jewels　of　inestimable　value；　wherein
his　design　was　to　dispossess　her　of　the　appetite　and　use　of　worldly
delights；　to　join　her　wholly　to　God；　but　the　nearest　and　most　certain　way
to　this；　being；　as　he　conceived；　the　death　of　his　daughter；　he　never
ceased；　by　vows；　prayers；　and　orisons；　to　beg　of　the　Almighty；　that　He
would　please　to　call　her　out　of　this　world；　and　to　take　her　to　Himself；
as　accordingly　it　came　to　pass；　for　soon　after　his　return；　she　died；　at
which　he　expressed　a　singular　joy。　　This　seems　to　outdo　the　other；
forasmuch　as　he　applies　himself　to　this　means　at　the　outset；　which　they
only　take　subsidiarily；　and；　besides；　it　was　towards　his　only　daughter。
But　I　will　not　omit　the　latter　end　of　this　story；　though　it　be　for　my
purpose；　St。　Hilary's　wife；　having　understood　from　him　how　the　death　of
their　daughter　was　brought　about　by　his　desire　and　design；　and　how　much
happier　she　was　to　be　removed　out　of　this　world　than　to　have　stayed　in
it；　conceived　so　vivid　an　apprehension　of　the　eternal　and　heavenly
beatitude；　that　she　begged　of　her　husband；　with　the　extremest
importunity；　to　do　as　much　for　her；　and　God；　at　their　joint　request；
shortly　after　calling　her　to　Him；　it　was　a　death　embraced　with　singular
and　mutual　content。




CHAPTER　XXXIII

THAT　FORTUNE　IS　OFTENTIMES　OBSERVED　TO　ACT　BY　THE　RULE　OF　REASON

The　inconstancy　and　various　motions　of　Fortune

　　　　　＇The　term　Fortune；　so　often　employed　by　Montaigne；　and　in　passages
　　　　　where　he　might　have　used　Providence；　was　censured　by　the　doctors　who
　　　　　examined　his　Essays　when　he　was　at　Rome　in　1581。　　See　his　Travels；
　　　　　i。　35　and　76。＇

may　reasonably　make　us　expect　she　should　present　us　with　all　sorts　of
faces。　　Can　there　be　a　more　express　act　of　justice　than　this？　　The　Duc　de
Valentinois；　＇Caesar　Borgia。＇　having　resolved　to　poison　Adrian；
Cardinal　of　Corneto；　with　whom　Pope　Alexander　VI。；　his　father　and
himself；　were　to　sup　in　the　Vatican；　he　sent　before　a　bottle　of　poisoned
wine；　and　withal；　strict　order　to　the　butler　to　keep　it　very　safe。
The　Pope　being　come　before　his　son；　and　calling　for　drink；　the　butler
supposing　this　wine　had　not　been　so　strictly　recommended　to　his　care；
but　only　upon　the　account　of　its　excellency；　presented　it　forthwith　to
the　Pope；　and　the　duke　himself　coming　in　presently　after；　and　being
confident　they　had　not　meddled　with　his　bottle；　took　also　his　cup；　so
that　the　father　died　immediately　upon　the　spot　＇Other　historians　assign
the　Pope　several　days　of　misery　prior　to　death。　　D。W。＇；　and　the　son；
after　having　been　long　tormented　with　sickness；　was　reserved　to　another
and　a　worse　fortune。

Sometimes　she　seems　to　play　upon　us；　just　in　the　nick　of　an　affair；
Monsieur　d'Estrees；　at　that　time　ensign　to　Monsieur　de　Vendome；　and
Monsieur　de　Licques；　lieutenant　in　the　company　of　the　Duc　d'Ascot；　being
both　pretenders　to　the　Sieur　de　Fougueselles'　sister；　though　of　several
parties　（as　it　oft　falls　out　amongst　frontier　neighbours）；　the　Sieur　de
Licques　carried　her；　but　on　the　same　day　he　was　married；　and　which　was
worse；　before　he　went　to　bed　to　his　wife；　the　bridegroom　having　a　mind　to
break　a　lance　in　honour　of　his　new　bride；　went　out　to　skirmish　near　St。
Omer；　where　the　Sieur　d'Estrees　proving　the　stronger；　took　him　prisoner；
and　the　more　to　illustrate　his　victory；　the　lady　was　fain

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Conjugis　ante　coacta　novi　dimittere　collum；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Quam　veniens　una　atque　altera　rursus　hyems
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Noctibus　in　longis　avidum　saturasset　amorem；〃

　　　　　＇〃Compelled　to　abstain　from　embracing　her　new　spouse　in　her　arms
　　　　　before　two　winters　pass　in　succession；　during　their　long　nights　had
　　　　　satiated　her　eager　love。〃Catullus；　lxviii。　　81。＇

to　request　him　of　courtesy；　to　deliver　up　his　prisoner　to　her；　as　he
accordingly　did；　the　gentlemen　of　France　never　denying　anything　to
ladies。

Does　she　not　seem　to　be　an　artist　here？　　Constantine；　son　of　Helena；
founded　the　empire　of　Constantinople；　and　so　many　ages　after；
Constantine；　the　son　of　Helen；　put　an　end　to　it。　　Sometimes　she　is
pleased　to　emulate　our　miracles　we　are　told；　that　King　Clovis　besieging
Angouleme；　the　walls　fell　down　of　themselves　by　divine　favour　and　Bouchet
has　it　from　some　author；　that　King　Robert　having　sat　down　before　a　city；
and　being　stolen　away　from　the　siege　to　go　keep　the　feast　of　St。　Aignan
at　Orleans；　as　he　was　in　devotion　at　a　certain　part　of　the　Mass；　the
walls　of　the　beleaguered　city；　without　any　manner　of　violence；　fell　down
with　a　sudden　ruin。　　But　she　did　quite　contrary　in　our　Milan　wars；　for；
le　Capitaine　Rense　laying　siege　for　us　to　the　city　Arona；　and　having
carried　a　mine　under　a　great　part　of　the　wall；　the　mine　being　sprung；　the
wall　was　lifted　from　its　base；　but　dropped　down　again　nevertheless；　whole
and　entire；　and　so　exactly　upon　its　foundation；　that　the　besieged
suffered　no　inconvenience　by　that　attempt。

Sometimes　she　plays　the　physician。　　Jason　of　Pheres　being　given　over　by
the　physicians；　by　reason　of　an　imposthume　in　his　breast；　having　a　mind
to　rid　himself　of　his　pain；　by　death　at　least；　threw　himself　in　a　battle
desperately　into　the　thickest　of　the　enemy；　where　he　was　so　fortunately
wounded　quite　through　the　body；　that　the　imposthume　broke；　and　he　was
perfectly　cured。　　Did　she　not　also　excel　the　painter　Protogenes　in　his
art？　who　having　finished　the　picture　of　a　dog　quite　tired　and　out　of
breath；　in　all　the　other　parts　excellently　well　to　his　own　liking；　but
not　being　able　to　express；　as　he　would；　the　slaver　and　foam　that　should
come　out　of　its　mouth；　vexed　and　angry　at　his　work；　he　took　his　sponge；
which　by　cleaning　his　pencils　had　imbibed　several　sorts　of　colours；　and
threw　it　in　a　rage　against　the　picture；　with　an　intent　utterly　to　deface
it；　when　fortune　guiding　the　sponge　to　hit　just　upon　the　mouth　of　the
dog；　it　there　performed　what　all　his　art　was　not　able　to　do。　　Does　she
not　sometimes　direct　our　counsels　and　correct　them？　　Isabel；　Queen　of
England；　having　to　sail　from　Zealand　into　her　own　kingdom；　＇in　1326＇
with　an　army；　in　favour　of　her　son　against　her　husband；　had　been　lost；
had　she　come　into　the　port　she　intended；　being　there　laid　wait　for　by　the
enemy；　but　fortune；　against　her　will；　threw　her　into　another　haven；　where
she　landed　in　safety。　　And　that　man　of　old　who；　throwin