the essays of montaigne, v4-第11章
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productions of wit； such as may rival the greatest effect of art
whatever。 In relation to what I am now speaking of； the Gascon proverb；
derived from a cornpipe； is very quaint and subtle：
〃Bouha prou bouha； mas a remuda lous dits quem。〃
＇〃You may blow till your eyes start out； but if once you offer to
stir your fingers； it is all over。〃＇
We can say； Cicero says thus； these were the manners of Plato； these are
the very words of Aristotle： but what do we say ourselves？ What do we
judge？ A parrot would say as much as that。
And this puts me in mind of that rich gentleman of Rome；＇Calvisius
Sabinus。 Seneca； Ep。； 27。＇ who had been solicitous； with very great
expense； to procure men that were excellent in all sorts of science； whom
he had always attending his person； to the end； that when amongst his
friends any occasion fell out of speaking of any subject whatsoever； they
might supply his place； and be ready to prompt him； one with a sentence
of Seneca； another with a verse of Homer； and so forth； every one
according to his talent； and he fancied this knowledge to be his own；
because it was in the heads of those who lived upon his bounty； as they
also do； whose learning consists in having noble libraries。 I know one；
who； when I question him what he knows； he presently calls for a book to
shew me； and dares not venture to tell me so much； as that he has piles
in his posteriors； till first he has consulted his dictionary； what piles
and what posteriors are。
We take other men's knowledge and opinions upon trust； which is an idle
and superficial learning。 We must make it our own。 We are in this very
like him； who having need of fire； went to a neighbour's house to fetch
it； and finding a very good one there； sat down to warm himself without
remembering to carry any with him home。＇Plutarch； How a Man should
Listen。＇ What good does it do us to have the stomach full of meat； if
it do not digest； if it be not incorporated with us； if it does not
nourish and support us？ Can we imagine that Lucullus； whom letters；
without any manner of experience； made so great a captain； learned to be
so after this perfunctory manner？ ＇Cicero； Acad。； ii。 I。＇ We suffer
ourselves to lean and rely so strongly upon the arm of another； that we
destroy our own strength and vigour。 Would I fortify myself against the
fear of death； it must be at the expense of Seneca： would I extract
consolation for myself or my friend； I borrow it from Cicero。 I might
have found it in myself； had I been trained to make use of my own reason。
I do not like this relative and mendicant understanding； for though we
could become learned by other men's learning； a man can never be wise but
by his own wisdom：
＇〃I hate the wise man； who in his own concern is not wise。〃
Euripides； ap。 Cicero； Ep。 Fam。； xiii。 15。＇
Whence Ennius：
〃Nequidquam sapere sapientem； qui ipse sibi prodesse non quiret。〃
＇〃That wise man knows nothing； who cannot profit himself by his
wisdom。〃Cicero； De Offic。； iii。 15。＇
〃Si cupidus； si
Vanus； et Euganea quantumvis mollior agna。〃
＇〃If he be grasping； or a boaster； and something softer than an
Euganean lamb。〃Juvenal； Sat。； viii。 14。＇
〃Non enim paranda nobis solum； sed fruenda sapientia est。〃
＇〃 For wisdom is not only to be acquired； but to be utilised。〃
Cicero； De Finib。； i。 I。＇
Dionysius ＇It was not Dionysius； but Diogenes the cynic。 Diogenes
Laertius； vi。 27。＇ laughed at the grammarians； who set themselves to
inquire into the miseries of Ulysses； and were ignorant of their own；
at musicians； who were so exact in tuning their instruments； and never
tuned their manners； at orators； who made it a study to declare what is
justice； but never took care to do it。 If the mind be not better
disposed； if the judgment be no better settled； I had much rather my
scholar had spent his time at tennis； for； at least； his body would by
that means be in better exercise and breath。 Do but observe him when he
comes back from school； after fifteen or sixteen years that he has been
there； there is nothing so unfit for employment； all you shall find he
has got； is； that his Latin and Greek have only made him a greater
coxcomb than when he went from home。 He should bring back his soul
replete with good literature； and he brings it only swelled and puffed up
with vain and empty shreds and patches of learning； and has really
nothing more in him than he had before。＇Plato's Dialogues： Protagoras。＇
These pedants of ours； as Plato says of the Sophists； their cousin…
germans； are； of all men； they who most pretend to be useful to mankind；
and who alone； of all men； not only do not better and improve that which
is committed to them； as a carpenter or a mason would do； but make them
much worse； and make us pay them for making them worse； to boot。 If the
rule which Protagoras proposed to his pupils were followedeither that
they should give him his own demand； or make affidavit upon oath in the
temple how much they valued the profit they had received under his
tuition； and satisfy him accordinglymy pedagogues would find themselves
sorely gravelled； if they were to be judged by the affidavits of my
experience。 My Perigordin patois very pleasantly calls these pretenders
to learning； 'lettre…ferits'； as a man should say； letter…markedmen on
whom letters have been stamped by the blow of a mallet。 And； in truth；
for the most part； they appear to be deprived even of common sense； for
you see the husbandman and the cobbler go simply and fairly about their
business； speaking only of what they know and understand； whereas these
fellows； to make parade and to get opinion； mustering this ridiculous
knowledge of theirs； that floats on the superficies of the brain； are
perpetually perplexing； and entangling themselves in their own nonsense。
They speak fine words sometimes； 'tis true； but let somebody that is
wiser apply them。 They are wonderfully well acquainted with Galen； but
not at all with the disease of the patient； they have already deafened
you with a long ribble…row of laws； but understand nothing of the case in
hand； they have the theory of all things； let who will put it in
practice。
I have sat by； when a friend of mine； in my own house； for sport…sake；
has with one of these fellows counterfeited a jargon of Galimatias；
patched up of phrases without head or tail； saving that he interlarded
here and there some terms that had relation to their dispute； and held
the coxcomb in play a whole afternoon together； who all the while thought
he had answered pertinently and learnedly to all his objections； and yet
this was a man of letters； and reputation； and a fine gentleman of the
long robe：
〃Vos； O patricius sanguis； quos vivere par est
Occipiti caeco； posticae occurrite sannae。〃
＇〃O you； of patrician blood； to whom it is permitted to live
with（out） eyes in the back of your head； beware of grimaces at you
from behind。〃Persius； Sat。； i。 61。＇
Whosoever shall narrowly pry into and thoroughly sift this sort of
people； wherewith the world is so pestered； will； as I have done； find；
that for the most part； they neither understand others； nor themselves；
and that their memories are full enough； but the judgment totally void
and empty； some excepted； whose own nature has of itself formed them into
better fashion。 As I have observed； for example； in Adrian Turnebus； who
having never made other profession than that of mere learning only； and
in that； in my opinion； he was the greatest man that has been these
thousand years； had nothing at all in him of the pedant； but the wearing
of his gown； and a little exterior fashion； that could not be civilised
to courtier ways； which in themselves are nothing。 I hate our people；
who can worse endure an ill…contrived robe than an ill…contrived mind；
and take their measure by the leg a man makes； by his behaviour； and so
much as the very fashion of his boots； what kind of man he is。 For
within there was not a more polished soul upon earth。 I have often
purposely put
