the essays of montaigne, v4-第8章

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furies　in　their　deliberations；　that　for　the　most　part　prompt　them　to
follow　the　worst　grounded　counsels；　and　swell　their　courage　beyond　the
limits　of　reason。　　Whence　it　happened　that　several　of　the　great　captains
of　old；　to　justify　those　rash　resolutions；　have　been　fain　to　tell　their
soldiers　that　they　were　invited　to　such　attempts　by　some　inspiration；
some　sign　and　prognostic。

Wherefore；　in　this　doubt　and　uncertainty；　that　the　shortsightedness　of
human　wisdom　to　see　and　choose　the　best　（by　reason　of　the　difficulties
that　the　various　accidents　and　circumstances　of　things　bring　along　with
them）　perplexes　us　withal；　the　surest　way；　in　my　opinion；　did　no　other
consideration　invite　us　to　it；　is　to　pitch　upon　that　wherein　is　the
greatest　appearance　of　honesty　and　justice；　and　not；　being　certain　of　the
shortest；　to　keep　the　straightest　and　most　direct　way；　as　in　the　two
examples　I　have　just　given；　there　is　no　question　but　it　was　more　noble
and　generous　in　him　who　had　received　the　offence；　to　pardon　it；　than　to
do　otherwise。　　If　the　former　＇The　Duc　de　Guise。＇　miscarried　in　it；　he
is　not；　nevertheless；　to　be　blamed　for　his　good　intention；　neither　does
any　one　know　if　he　had　proceeded　otherwise；　whether　by　that　means　he　had
avoided　the　end　his　destiny　had　appointed　for　him；　and　he　had；　moreover；
lost　the　glory　of　so　humane　an　act。

You　will　read　in　history；　of　many　who　have　been　in　such　apprehension；
that　the　most　part　have　taken　the　course　to　meet　and　anticipate
conspiracies　against　them　by　punishment　and　revenge；　but　I　find　very　few
who　have　reaped　any　advantage　by　this　proceeding；　witness　so　many　Roman
emperors。　　Whoever　finds　himself　in　this　danger；　ought　not　to　expect　much
either　from　his　vigilance　or　power；　for　how　hard　a　thing　is　it　for　a　man
to　secure　himself　from　an　enemy；　who　lies　concealed　under　the　countenance
of　the　most　assiduous　friend　we　have；　and　to　discover　and　know　the　wills
and　inward　thoughts　of　those　who　are　in　our　personal　service。　　'Tis　to
much　purpose　to　have　a　guard　of　foreigners　about　one；　and　to　be　always
fenced　about　with　a　pale　of　armed　men；　whosoever　despises　his　own　life；
is　always　master　of　that　of　another　man。＇Seneca；　Ep。；　4。＇　　And
moreover；　this　continual　suspicion；　that　makes　a　prince　jealous　of　all
the　world；　must　of　necessity　be　a　strange　torment　to　him。　　Therefore　it
was；　that　Dion；　being　advertised　that　Callippus　watched　all　opportunities
to　take　away　his　life；　had　never　the　heart　to　inquire　more　particularly
into　it；　saying；　that　he　had　rather　die　than　live　in　that　misery；　that　he
must　continually　stand　upon　his　guard；　not　only　against　his　enemies；　but
his　friends　also；＇Plutarch；　Apothegms。＇　which　Alexander　much　more
vividly　and　more　roundly　manifested　in　effect；　when；　having　notice　by　a
letter　from　Parmenio；　that　Philip；　his　most　beloved　physician；　was　by
Darius'　money　corrupted　to　poison　him；　at　the　same　time　he　gave　the
letter　to　Philip　to　read；　drank　off　the　potion　he　had　brought　him。　　Was
not　this　to　express　a　resolution；　that　if　his　friends　had　a　mind　to
despatch　him　out　of　the　world；　he　was　willing　to　give　them　opportunity　to
do　it？　　This　prince　is；　indeed；　the　sovereign　pattern　of　hazardous
actions；　but　I　do　not　know　whether　there　be　another　passage　in　his　life
wherein　there　is　so　much　firm　courage　as　in　this；　nor　so　illustrious　an
image　of　the　beauty　and　greatness　of　his　mind。

Those　who　preach　to　princes　so　circumspect　and　vigilant　a　jealousy　and
distrust；　under　colour　of　security；　preach　to　them　ruin　and　dishonour：
nothing　noble　can　be　performed　without　danger。　　I　know　a　person；
naturally　of　a　very　great　daring　and　enterprising　courage；　whose　good
fortune　is　continually　marred　by　such　persuasions；　that　he　keep　himself
close　surrounded　by　his　friends；　that　he　must　not　hearken　to　any
reconciliation　with　his　ancient　enemies；　that　he　must　stand　aloof；　and
not　trust　his　person　in　hands　stronger　than　his　own；　what　promises　or
offers　soever　they　may　make　him；　or　what　advantages　soever　he　may　see
before　him。　　And　I　know　another；　who　has　unexpectedly　advanced　his
fortunes　by　following　a　clear　contrary　advice。

Courage；　the　reputation　and　glory　of　which　men　seek　with　so　greedy　an
appetite；　presents　itself；　when　need　requires；　as　magnificently　in
cuerpo；　as　in　full　armour；　in　a　closet；　as　in　a　camp；　with　arms　pendant；
as　with　arms　raised。

This　over…circumspect　and　wary　prudence　is　a　mortal　enemy　to　all　high　and
generous　exploits。　　Scipio；　to　sound　Syphax's　intention；　leaving　his
army；　abandoning　Spain；　not　yet　secure　nor　well　settled　in　his　new
conquest；　could　pass　over　into　Africa　in　two　small　ships；　to　commit
himself；　in　an　enemy's　country；　to　the　power　of　a　barbarian　king；　to　a
faith　untried　and　unknown；　without　obligation；　without　hostage；　under　the
sole　security　of　the　grandeur　of　his　own　courage；　his　good　fortune；　and
the　promise　of　his　high　hopes。＇　Livy；　xxviii。　17。＇

　　　　　　　　　　〃Habita　fides　ipsam　plerumque　fidem　obligat。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Trust　often　obliges　fidelity。〃Livy；　xxii。　22。＇

In　a　life　of　ambition　and　glory；　it　is　necessary　to　hold　a　stiff　rein
upon　suspicion：　fear　and　distrust　invite　and　draw　on　offence。　　The　most
mistrustful　of　our　kings　＇　Louis　XI。＇　established　his　affairs
principally　by　voluntarily　committing　his　life　and　liberty　into　his
enemies'　hands；　by　that　action　manifesting　that　he　had　absolute
confidence　in　them；　to　the　end　they　might　repose　as　great　an　assurance　in
him。　　Caesar　only　opposed　the　authority　of　his　countenance　and　the
haughty　sharpness　of　his　rebukes　to　his　mutinous　legions　in　arms　against
him：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Stetit　aggere　fulti
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cespitis；　intrepidus　vultu：　meruitque　timeri；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Nil　metuens。〃

　　　　　＇〃He　stood　on　a　mound；　his　countenance　intrepid；　and　merited　to　be
　　　　　feared；　he　fearing　nothing。〃Lucan；　v。　316。＇

But　it　is　true；　withal；　that　this　undaunted　assurance　is　not　to　be
represented　in　its　simple　and　entire　form；　but　by　such　whom　the
apprehension　of　death；　and　the　worst　that　can　happen；　does　not　terrify
and　affright；　for　to　represent　a　pretended　resolution　with　a　pale　and
doubtful　countenance　and　trembling　limbs；　for　the　service　of　an　important
reconciliation；　will　effect　nothing　to　purpose。　　'Tis　an　excellent　way　to
gain　the　heart　and　will　of　another；　to　submit　and　intrust　one's　self　to
him；　provided　it　appear　to　be　freely　done；　and　without　the　constraint　of
necessity；　and　in　such　a　condition；　that　a　man　manifestly　does　it　out　of
a　pure　and　entire　confidence　in　the　party；　at　least；　with　a　countenance
clear　from　any　cloud　of　suspicion。　　I　saw；　when　I　was　a　boy；　a　gentleman；
who　was　governor　of　a　great　city；　upon　occasion　of　a　popular　commotion
and　fury；　not　knowing　what　other　course　to　take；　go　out　of　a　place　of
very　great　strength　and　security；　and　commit　himself　to　the　mercy　of　the
seditious　rabble；　in　hopes　by　that　means　to　appease　the　tumult　before　it
grew　to　a　more　formidable　head；　but　it　was　ill　for　him　that　he　did　so；
for　he　was　there　miserably　slain。　　But　I　am　not；　nevertheless；　of
opinion；　that　he　committed　so　great　an　error　in　going　out；　as　men
commonly　reproach　his　memory　withal；　as　he　did　in　choosing　a　gentle　and
submissive　way　for　the　effecting　his　purpose；　and　in　endeavouring　to
quiet　this　storm；　rather　by　obeying　than　commanding；　and　by　entreaty
rather　than　remonstrance；　and　I　am　inclined　to　believe；　that　a　gracious
severity；　with　a　soldierlike　way　of　commanding；　full　of　security　and
confidence；　suitable　to　the　quality　of　his　person；　and　the　dignity　of　his
command；　would　have　succeeded　better　with　him；　at　least；　he　had　perished
with　greater　decency　and；　reputation。　　There　is　nothing　so　little　to　be
expected　or　hoped　for　from　this　many…headed　monster；　in　its　fury；　as
humanity　and　good　nature；　it　is　much　more　capable　of　reverence　and　fear。
I　should　also　reproach　him；　that　having　taken　a　resolution　（in　my
judgment　rather　brave　than　rash）　to　expose　himself；　weak　and　naked；　in
this　tempestuous　sea　of　enraged　madmen；　he　ought　to　have　stuck　to　his
text；　and　not　for　an　instant　to　have　abandoned　the　high　part　he　had
undertaken；　whereas；　coming　to　discover　his　danger　nearer　hand；