the essays of montaigne, v13-第12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！
battle ought to avoid the encounter of a friend who was on the contrary
side； and to spare him。 And his humanity； even towards his enemies
themselves； having rendered him suspected to the Boeotians； for that；
after he had miraculously forced the Lacedaemonians to open to him the
pass which they had undertaken to defend at the entrance into the Morea；
near Corinth； he contented himself with having charged through them；
without pursuing them to the utmost； he had his commission of general
taken from him； very honourably upon such an account； and for the shame
it was to them upon necessity afterwards to restore him to his command；
and so to manifest how much upon him depended their safety and honour；
victory like a shadow attending him wherever he went； and indeed the
prosperity of his country； as being from him derived； died with him。
CHAPTER XXXVII
OF THE RESEMBLANCE OF CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERS
This faggoting up of so many divers pieces is so done that I never set
pen to paper but when I have too much idle time； and never anywhere but
at home； so that it is compiled after divers interruptions and intervals；
occasions keeping me sometimes many months elsewhere。 As to the rest；
I never correct my first by any second conceptions； I； peradventure； may
alter a word or so； but 'tis only to vary the phrase； and not to destroy
my former meaning。 I have a mind to represent the progress of my
humours； and that every one may see each piece as it came from the forge。
I could wish I had begun sooner； and had taken more notice of the course
of my mutations。 A servant of mine whom I employed to transcribe for me；
thought he had got a prize by stealing several pieces from me； wherewith
he was best pleased； but it is my comfort that he will be no greater a
gainer than I shall be a loser by the theft。 I am grown older by seven
or eight years since I began； nor has it been without same new
acquisition： I have； in that time； by the liberality of years； been
acquainted with the stone： their commerce and long converse do not well
pass away without some such inconvenience。 I could have been glad that
of other infirmities age has to present long…lived men withal； it had
chosen some one that would have been more welcome to me； for it could not
possibly have laid upon me a disease for which； even from my infancy； I
have had so great a horror； and it is； in truth； of all the accidents of
old age； that of which I have ever been most afraid。 I have often
thought with myself that I went on too far； and that in so long a voyage
I should at last run myself into some disadvantage； I perceived； and have
often enough declared； that it was time to depart； and that life should
be cut off in the sound and living part； according to the surgeon's rule
in amputations； and that nature made him pay very strict usury who did
not in due time pay the principal。 And yet I was so far from being
ready； that in the eighteen months' time or thereabout that I have been
in this uneasy condition； I have so inured myself to it as to be content
to live on in it； and have found wherein to comfort myself； and to hope：
so much are men enslaved to their miserable being； that there is no
condition so wretched they will not accept； provided they may live！ Hear
Maecenas：
〃Debilem facito manu；
Debilem pede； coxa；
Lubricos quate dentes；
Vita dum superest； bene est。〃
＇〃Cripple my hand； foot； hip； shake out my loose teeth： while
there's life； 'tis well。〃Apud Seneca； Ep。； 101。＇
And Tamerlane； with a foolish humanity； palliated the fantastic cruelty
he exercised upon lepers； when he put all he could hear of to death； to
deliver them； as he pretended； from the painful life they lived。 For
there was not one of them who would not rather have been thrice a leper
than be not。 And Antisthenes the Stoic； being very sick； and crying out；
〃Who will deliver me from these evils？〃 Diogenes； who had come to visit
him； 〃This；〃 said he； presenting him a knife； 〃soon enough； if thou
wilt。〃〃I do not mean from my life；〃 he replied； 〃but from my
sufferings。〃 The sufferings that only attack the mind； I am not so
sensible of as most other men； and this partly out of judgment； for the
world looks upon several things as dreadful or to be avoided at the
expense of life； that are almost indifferent to me： partly； through a
dull and insensible complexion I have in accidents which do not point…
blank hit me； and that insensibility I look upon as one of the best parts
of my natural condition； but essential and corporeal pains I am very
sensible of。 And yet； having long since foreseen them； though with a
sight weak and delicate and softened with the long and happy health and
quiet that God has been pleased to give me the greatest part of my time；
I had in my imagination fancied them so insupportable； that； in truth； I
was more afraid than I have since found I had cause： by which I am still
more fortified in this belief； that most of the faculties of the soul； as
we employ them； more trouble the repose of life than they are any way
useful to it。
I am in conflict with the worst； the most sudden； the most painful； the
most mortal； and the most irremediable of all diseases； I have already
had the trial of five or six very long and very painful fits； and yet I
either flatter myself； or there is even in this state what is very well
to be endured by a man who has his soul free from the fear of death； and
of the menaces； conclusions； and consequences which physic is ever
thundering in our ears； but the effect even of pain itself is not so
sharp and intolerable as to put a man of understanding into rage and
despair。 I have at least this advantage by my stone； that what I could
not hitherto prevail upon myself to resolve upon； as to reconciling and
acquainting myself with death； it will perfect； for the more it presses
upon and importunes me； I shall be so much the less afraid to die。 I had
already gone so far as only to love life for life's sake； but my pain
will dissolve this intelligence； and God grant that in the end； should
the sharpness of it be once greater than I shall be able to bear； it does
not throw me into the other no less vicious extreme to desire and wish to
die！
〃Summum nec metuas diem； nec optes：〃
＇〃Neither to wish； nor fear to die。〃 （Or：）
〃Thou shouldest neither fear nor desire the last day。〃
Martial； x。 7。＇
they are two passions to be feared； but the one has its remedy much
nearer at hand than the other。
As to the rest； I have always found the precept that so rigorously
enjoins a resolute countenance and disdainful and indifferent comportment
in the toleration of infirmities to be ceremonial。 Why should
philosophy； which only has respect to life and effects； trouble itself
about these external appearances？ Let us leave that care to actors and
masters of rhetoric； who set so great a value upon our gestures。 Let her
allow this vocal frailty to disease； if it be neither cordial nor
stomachic； and permit the ordinary ways of expressing grief by sighs；
sobs； palpitations； and turning pale； that nature has put out of our
power； provided the courage be undaunted； and the tones not expressive
of despair； let her be satisfied。 What matter the wringing of our hands；
if we do not wring our thoughts？ She forms us for ourselves； not for
others； to be； not to seem； let her be satisfied with governing our
understanding； which she has taken upon her the care of instructing；
that； in the fury of the colic； she maintain the soul in a condition to
know itself； and to follow its accustomed way； contending with； and
enduring； not meanly truckling under pain； moved and heated； not subdued
and conquered； in the contention； capable of discourse and other things；
to a certain degree。 In such extreme accidents； 'tis cruelty to require
so exact a composedness。 'Tis no great matter that we make a wry face；
if the mind plays its part well： if the body find itself relieved by
complaining let it complain： if agitation ease it； let
