the essays of montaigne, v5-第12章
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discontinuance I have since lost all manner of use； so that this new way
of education served me to no other end； than only at my first coming to
prefer me to the first forms； for at thirteen years old； that I came out
of the college； I had run through my whole course （as they call it）； and；
in truth； without any manner of advantage； that I can honestly brag of；
in all this time。
The first taste which I had for books came to me from the pleasure in
reading the fables of Ovid's Metamorphoses； for； being about seven or
eight years old； I gave up all other diversions to read them； both by
reason that this was my own natural language； the easiest book that I was
acquainted with； and for the subject； the most accommodated to the
capacity of my age： for as for the Lancelot of the Lake； the Amadis of
Gaul； the Huon of Bordeaux； and such farragos； by which children are most
delighted with； I had never so much as heard their names； no more than I
yet know what they contain； so exact was the discipline wherein I was
brought up。 But this was enough to make me neglect the other lessons
that were prescribed me； and here it was infinitely to my advantage；
to have to do with an understanding tutor； who very well knew discreetly
to connive at this and other truantries of the same nature； for by this
means I ran through Virgil's AEneid； and then Terence； and then Plautus；
and then some Italian comedies； allured by the sweetness of the subject；
whereas had he been so foolish as to have taken me off this diversion；
I do really believe； I had brought away nothing from the college but a
hatred of books； as almost all our young gentlemen do。 But he carried
himself very discreetly in that business； seeming to take no notice； and
allowing me only such time as I could steal from my other regular
studies； which whetted my appetite to devour those books。 For the chief
things my father expected from their endeavours to whom he had delivered
me for education； were affability and good…humour； and； to say the truth；
my manners had no other vice but sloth and want of metal。 The fear was
not that I should do ill； but that I should do nothing； nobody
prognosticated that I should be wicked； but only useless； they foresaw
idleness； but no malice； and I find it falls out accordingly：
The complaints I hear of myself are these： 〃He is idle； cold in the
offices of friendship and relation； and in those of the public； too
particular； too disdainful。〃 But the most injurious do not say； 〃Why has
he taken such a thing？ Why has he not paid such an one？〃 but； 〃Why does
he part with nothing？ Why does he not give？〃 And I should take it for a
favour that men would expect from me no greater effects of supererogation
than these。 But they are unjust to exact from me what I do not owe； far
more rigorously than they require from others that which they do owe。
In condemning me to it； they efface the gratification of the action； and
deprive me of the gratitude that would be my due for it； whereas the
active well…doing ought to be of so much the greater value from my hands；
by how much I have never been passive that way at all。 I can the more
freely dispose of my fortune the more it is mine； and of myself the more
I am my own。 Nevertheless； if I were good at setting out my own actions；
I could； peradventure； very well repel these reproaches； and could give
some to understand； that they are not so much offended； that I do not
enough； as that I am able to do a great deal more than I do。
Yet for all this heavy disposition of mine； my mind； when retired into
itself； was not altogether without strong movements； solid and clear
judgments about those objects it could comprehend； and could also；
without any helps； digest them； but； amongst other things； I do really
believe； it had been totally impossible to have made it to submit by
violence and force。 Shall I here acquaint you with one faculty of my
youth？ I had great assurance of countenance； and flexibility of voice
and gesture； in applying myself to any part I undertook to act： for
before
〃Alter ab undecimo tum me vix ceperat annus；〃
＇〃I had just entered my twelfth year。〃Virgil； Bucol。； 39。＇
I played the chief parts in the Latin tragedies of Buchanan； Guerente；
and Muret； that were presented in our College of Guienne with great
dignity： now Andreas Goveanus； our principal； as in all other parts of
his charge； was； without comparison； the best of that employment in
France； and I was looked upon as one of the best actors。 'Tis an
exercise that I do not disapprove in young people of condition； and I
have since seen our princes； after the example of some of the ancients；
in person handsomely and commendably perform these exercises； it was even
allowed to persons of quality to make a profession of it in Greece。
〃Aristoni tragico actori rem aperit： huic et genus et
fortuna honesta erant： nec ars； quia nihil tale apud
Graecos pudori est； ea deformabat。〃
＇〃He imparted this matter to Aristo the tragedian； a man of good
family and fortune； which neither of them receive any blemish by
that profession； nothing of this kind being reputed a disparagement
in Greece。〃Livy； xxiv。 24。＇
Nay； I have always taxed those with impertinence who condemn these
entertainments； and with injustice those who refuse to admit such
comedians as are worth seeing into our good towns； and grudge the people
that public diversion。 Well…governed corporations take care to assemble
their citizens； not only to the solemn duties of devotion； but also to
sports and spectacles。 They find society and friendship augmented by it；
and besides； can there possibly be allowed a more orderly and regular
diversion than what is performed m the sight of every one； and very often
in the presence of the supreme magistrate himself？ And I； for my part；
should think it reasonable； that the prince should sometimes gratify his
people at his own expense； out of paternal goodness and affection； and
that in populous cities there should be theatres erected for such
entertainments； if but to divert them from worse and private actions。
To return to my subject； there is nothing like alluring the appetite and
affections； otherwise you make nothing but so many asses laden with
books； by dint of the lash； you give them their pocketful of learning to
keep； whereas； to do well you should not only lodge it with them； but
make them espouse it。
CHAPTER XXVI
THAT IT IS FOLLY TO MEASURE TRUTH AND ERROR BY OUR OWN CAPACITY
'Tis not； perhaps； without reason； that we attribute facility of belief
and easiness of persuasion to simplicity and ignorance： for I fancy I
have heard belief compared to the impression of a seal upon the soul；
which by how much softer and of less resistance it is； is the more easy
to be impressed upon。
〃Ut necesse est； lancem in Libra； ponderibus impositis；
deprimi； sic animum perspicuis cedere。〃
＇〃As the scale of the balance must give way to the weight that
presses it down； so the mind yields to demonstration。〃
Cicero； Acad。； ii。 12。＇
By how much the soul is more empty and without counterpoise； with so much
greater facility it yields under the weight of the first persuasion。 And
this is the reason that children； the common people； women； and sick
folks； are most apt to be led by the ears。 But then； on the other hand；
'tis a foolish presumption to slight and condemn all things for false
that do not appear to us probable； which is the ordinary vice of such as
fancy themselves wiser than their neighbours。 I was myself once one of
those； and if I heard talk of dead folks walking； of prophecies；
enchantments； witchcrafts； or any other story I had no mind to believe：
〃Somnia； terrores magicos； miracula； sagas；
Nocturnos lemures； portentaque Thessala；〃
＇〃Dreams； magic terrors； marvels； sorceries； Thessalian prodigies。〃
Horace。 Ep。 ii。 3； 208。＇
I presently pitied the poor people that were abused by these follies。
Whereas I now find； that I myself was to be pitied as much； at least；
as they； not
