the essays of montaigne, v13-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！
spring from his soldiers； leaving the world； at his death； divided
amongst four successors； simple captains of his army； whose posterity so
long continued and maintained that vast possession； so many excellent
virtues as he was master of； justice； temperance； liberality； truth in
his word； love towards his own people； and humanity towards those he
overcame； for his manners； in general； seem in truth incapable of any
manner of reproach； although some particular and extraordinary actions of
his may fall under censure。 But it is impossible to carry on such great
things as he did within the strict rules of justice； such as he are to be
judged in gross by the main end of their actions。 The ruin of Thebes and
Persepolis； the murder of Menander and of Ephistion's physician； the
massacre of so many Persian prisoners at one time； of a troop of Indian
soldiers not without prejudice to his word； and of the Cossians； so much
as to the very children； are indeed sallies that are not well to be
excused。 For； as to Clytus； the fault was more than redeemed； and that
very action； as much as any other whatever； manifests the goodness of his
nature； a nature most excellently formed to goodness； and it was
ingeniously said of him； that he had his virtues from Nature； his vices
from Fortune。 As to his being a little given to bragging； a little too
impatient of hearing himself ill…spoken of； and as to those mangers；
arms； and bits he caused to be strewed in the Indies； all those little
vanities； methinks； may very well be allowed to his youth； and the
prodigious prosperity of his fortune。 And who will consider withal his
so many military virtues； his diligence； foresight； patience； discipline；
subtlety； magnanimity； resolution； and good fortune； wherein （though we
had not had the authority of Hannibal to assure us） he was the first of
men； the admirable beauty and symmetry of his person； even to a miracle；
his majestic port and awful mien； in a face so young； ruddy； and radiant：
〃Qualis； ubi Oceani perfusus Lucifer unda；
Quem Venus ante alios astrorum diligit ignes；
Extulit os sacrum coelo； tenebrasque resolvit；〃
＇〃As when； bathed in the waves of Ocean； Lucifer； whom Venus loves
beyond the other stars； has displayed his sacred countenance to the
heaven； and disperses the darkness〃AEneid； iii。 589。＇
the excellence of his knowledge and capacity； the duration and grandeur
of his glory； pure； clean； without spot or envy； and that long after his
death it was a religious belief that his very medals brought good fortune
to all who carried them about them； and that more kings and princes have
written his actions than other historians have written the actions of any
other king or prince whatever； and that to this very day the Mohammedans；
who despise all other histories； admit of and honour his alone； by a
special privilege： whoever； I say； will seriously consider these
particulars； will confess that； all these things put together； I had
reason to prefer him before Caesar himself； who alone could make me
doubtful in my choice： and it cannot be denied that there was more of his
own in his exploits； and more of fortune in those of Alexander。 They
were in many things equal； and peradventure Caesar had some greater
qualities they were two fires； or two torrents； overrunning the world by
several ways；
〃Ac velut immissi diversis partibus ignes
Arentem in silvam； et virgulta sonantia lauro
Aut ubi decursu rapido de montibus altis
Dant sonitum spumosi amnes； et in aequora currunt；
Quisque suum populatus iter：〃
＇〃And as fires applied in several parts to a dry wood and crackling
shrubs of laurel； or as with impetuous fall from the steep
mountains； foaming torrents pour down to the ocean； each clearing a
destructive course。〃AEneid； xii。 521。＇
but though Caesar's ambition had been more moderate； it would still be so
unhappy； having the ruin of his country and universal mischief to the
world for its abominable object； that； all things raked together and put
into the balance； I must needs incline to Alexander's side。
The third and in my opinion the most excellent； is Epaminondas。 Of glory
he has not near so much as the other two （which； for that matter； is but
a part of the substance of the thing）： of valour and resolution； not of
that sort which is pushed on by ambition； but of that which wisdom and
reason can plant in a regular soul； he had all that could be imagined。
Of this virtue of his； he has； in my idea； given as ample proof as
Alexander himself or Caesar： for although his warlike exploits were
neither so frequent nor so full； they were yet； if duly considered in all
their circumstances； as important； as bravely fought； and carried with
them as manifest testimony of valour and military conduct； as those of
any whatever。 The Greeks have done him the honour； without
contradiction； to pronounce him the greatest man of their nation； and to
be the first of Greece； is easily to be the first of the world。 As to
his knowledge； we have this ancient judgment of him； 〃That never any man
knew so much； and spake so little as he〃；＇Plutarch； On the Demon of
Socrates； c。 23。＇ for he was of the Pythagorean sect； but when he did
speak； never any man spake better； an excellent orator； and of powerful
persuasion。 But as to his manners and conscience； he infinitely
surpassed all men who ever undertook the management of affairs； for in
this one thing； which ought chiefly to be considered； which alone truly
denotes us for what we are； and which alone I make counterbalance all the
rest put together； he comes not short of any philosopher whatever； not
even of Socrates himself。 Innocence； in this man； is a quality peculiar；
sovereign； constant； uniform； incorruptible； compared with which； it
appears in Alexander subject to something else subaltern； uncertain；
variable； effeminate； and fortuitous。
Antiquity has judged that in thoroughly sifting all the other great
captains； there is found in every one some peculiar quality that
illustrates his name： in this man only there is a full and equal virtue
throughout； that leaves nothing to be wished for in him； whether in
private or public employment； whether in peace or war； whether to live
gloriously and grandly； and to die： I do not know any form or fortune of
man that I so much honour and love。
'Tis true that I look upon his obstinate poverty； as it is set out by his
best friends； as a little too scrupulous and nice； and this is the only
feature； though high in itself and well worthy of admiration； that I find
so rugged as not to desire to imitate； to the degree it was in him。
Scipio AEmilianus alone； could one attribute to him as brave and
magnificent an end； and as profound and universal a knowledge； might be
put into the other scale of the balance。 Oh； what an injury has time
done me to deprive me of the sight of two of the most noble lives which；
by the common consent of all the world； one of the greatest of the
Greeks； and the other of the Romans； were in all Plutarch。 What a
matter！ what a workman！
For a man that was no saint； but； as we say； a gentleman； of civilian and
ordinary manners； and of a moderate ambition； the richest life that I
know； and full of the richest and most to be desired parts； all things
considered； is； in my opinion； that of Alcibiades。
But as to what concerns Epaminondas； I will here； for the example of an
excessive goodness； add some of his opinions： he declared； that the
greatest satisfaction he ever had in his whole life； was the contentment
he gave his father and mother by his victory at Leuctra； wherein his
deference is great； preferring their pleasure before his own； so dust and
so full of so glorious an action。 He did not think it lawful； even to
restore the liberty of his country； to kill a man without knowing a
cause： which made him so cold in the enterprise of his companion
Pelopidas for the relief of Thebes。 He was also of opinion that men in
battle ought to avoid the encounter of a friend who was on the co
