the essays of montaigne, v13-第5章
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interpreting this humour a mad ambition！ Is there any form from which
vice cannot； if it will； extract occasion to exercise itself； one way or
another？ It had been more just； and also more noble； to have made of
these gifts of God a subject of exemplary regularity and virtue。
They who retire themselves from the common offices； from that infinite
number of troublesome rules that fetter a man of exact honesty in civil
life； are in my opinion very discreet； what peculiar sharpness of
constraint soever they impose upon themselves in so doing。 'Tis in some
sort a kind of dying to avoid the pain of living well。 They may have
another reward； but the reward of difficulty I fancy they can never have；
nor； in uneasiness； that there can be anything more or better done than
the keeping oneself upright amid the waves of the world； truly and
exactly performing all parts of our duty。 'Tis； peradventure； more easy
to keep clear of the sex than to maintain one's self aright in all points
in the society of a wife； and a man may with less trouble adapt himself
to entire abstinence than to the due dispensation of abundance。 Use；
carried on according to reason； has in it more of difficulty than
abstinence； moderation is a virtue that gives more work than suffering；
the well living of Scipio has a thousand fashions； that of Diogenes but
one； this as much excels the ordinary lives in innocence as the most
accomplished excel them in utility and force。
CHAPTER XXXIV
OBSERVATION ON THE MEANS TO CARRY ON A WAR ACCORDING TO JULIUS CAESAR
'Tis related of many great leaders that they have had certain books in
particular esteem； as Alexander the Great； Homer； Scipio Africanus；
Xenophon； Marcus Brutus； Polybius； Charles V。； Philip'de Comines； and
'tis said that； in our times； Machiavelli is elsewhere still in repute；
but the late Marshal Strozzi； who had taken Caesar for his man； doubtless
made the best choice； seeing that it indeed ought to be the breviary of
every soldier； as being the true and sovereign pattern of the military
art。 And； moreover； God knows with that grace and beauty he has
embellished that rich matter； with so pure； delicate； and perfect
expression； that； in my opinion； there are no writings in the world
comparable to his； as to that business。
I will set down some rare and particular passages of his wars that remain
in my memory。
His army； being in some consternation upon the rumour that was spread of
the great forces that king Juba was leading against him； instead of
abating the apprehension which his soldiers had conceived at the news and
of lessening to them the forces of the enemy； having called them all
together to encourage and reassure them； he took a quite contrary way to
what we are used to do； for he told them that they need no more trouble
themselves with inquiring after the enemy's forces； for that he was
certainly informed thereof； and then told them of a number much
surpassing both the truth and the report that was current in his army；
following the advice of Cyrus in Xenophon； forasmuch as the deception is
not of so great importance to find an enemy weaker than we expected； than
to find him really very strong； after having been made to believe that he
was weak。
It was always his use to accustom his soldiers simply to obey； without
taking upon them to control； or so much as to speak of their captain's
designs； which he never communicated to them but upon the point of
execution； and he took a delight； if they discovered anything of what he
intended； immediately to change his orders to deceive them； and to that
purpose； would often； when he had assigned his quarters in a place； pass
forward and lengthen his day's march； especially if it was foul and rainy
weather。
The Swiss； in the beginning of his wars in Gaul； having sent to him to
demand a free passage over the Roman territories； though resolved to
hinder them by force； he nevertheless spoke kindly to the messengers； and
took some respite to return an answer； to make use of that time for the
calling his army together。 These silly people did not know how good a
husband he was of his time： for he often repeats that it is the best part
of a captain to know how to make use of occasions； and his diligence in
his exploits is； in truth； unheard of and incredible。
If he was not very conscientious in taking advantage of an enemy under
colour of a treaty of agreement； he was as little so in this； that he
required no other virtue in a soldier but valour only； and seldom
punished any other faults but mutiny and disobedience。 He would often
after his victories turn them loose to all sorts of licence； dispensing
them for some time from the rules of military discipline； saying withal
that he had soldiers so well trained up that； powdered and perfumed； they
would run furiously to the fight。 In truth； he loved to have them richly
armed； and made them wear engraved； gilded； and damasked armour； to the
end that the care of saving it might engage them to a more obstinate
defence。 Speaking to them； he called them by the name of fellow…
soldiers； which we yet use； which his successor； Augustus； reformed；
supposing he had only done it upon necessity； and to cajole those who
merely followed him as volunteers：
〃Rheni mihi Caesar in undis
Dux erat； hic socius； facinus quos inquinat； aequat：〃
＇〃In the waters of the Rhine Caesar was my general； here at Rome he
is my fellow。 Crime levels those whom it polluted。〃
Lucan； v。 289。＇
but that this carriage was too mean and low for the dignity of an emperor
and general of an army； and therefore brought up the custom of calling
them soldiers only。
With this courtesy Caesar mixed great severity to keep them in awe； the
ninth legion having mutinied near Placentia； he ignominiously cashiered
them； though Pompey was then yet on foot； and received them not again to
grace till after many supplications； he quieted them more by authority
and boldness than by gentle ways。
In that place where he speaks of his； passage over the Rhine to Germany；
he says that； thinking it unworthy of the honour of the Roman people to
waft over his army in vessels； he built a bridge that they might pass
over dry…foot。 There it was that he built that wonderful bridge of which
he gives so particular a description； for he nowhere so willingly dwells
upon his actions as in representing to us the subtlety of his inventions
in such kind of handiwork。
I have also observed this； that he set a great value upon his
exhortations to the soldiers before the fight； for where he would show
that he was either surprised or reduced to a necessity of fighting； he
always brings in this； that he had not so much as leisure to harangue his
army。 Before that great battle with those of Tournay； 〃Caesar；〃 says he；
〃having given order for everything else； presently ran where fortune
carried him to encourage his people； and meeting with the tenth legion；
had no more time to say anything to them but this； that they should
remember their wonted valour； not to be astonished； but bravely sustain
the enemy's encounter； and seeing the enemy had already approached within
a dart's cast； he gave the signal for battle； and going suddenly thence
elsewhere； to encourage others； he found that they were already engaged。〃
Here is what he tells us in that place。 His tongue； indeed； did him
notable service upon several occasions； and his military eloquence was；
in his own time； so highly reputed； that many of his army wrote down his
harangues as he spoke them； by which means there were volumes of them
collected that existed a long time after him。 He had so particular a
grace in speaking； that his intimates； and Augustus amongst others；
hearing those orations read； could distinguish even to the phrases and
words that were not his。
The first time that he went out of Rome with any public command； he
arrived in eight days at the river Rhone； having with him in his coach a
secretary or two before him who were continually writing； and him who
carried his sword behind him。 And certainly； though a man did nothing
but go on； h
