the essays of montaigne, v17-第13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！
time to turn my back to company。
〃But； in these travels； you will be taken ill in some wretched place；
where nothing can be had to relieve you。〃 I always carry most things
necessary about me； and besides； we cannot evade Fortune if she once
resolves to attack us。 I need nothing extraordinary when I am sick。
I will not be beholden to my bolus to do that for me which nature cannot。
At the very beginning of my fevers and sicknesses that cast me down；
whilst still entire； and but little； disordered in health； I reconcile
myself to Almighty God by the last Christian； offices； and find myself by
so doing less oppressed and more easy； and have got； methinks； so much
the better of my disease。 And I have yet less need of a notary or
counsellor than of a physician。 What I have not settled of my affairs
when I was in health； let no one expect I should do it when I am sick。
What I will do for the service of death is always done； I durst not so
much as one day defer it； and if nothing be done； 'tis as much as to say
either that doubt hindered my choice （and sometimes 'tis well chosen not
to choose）； or that I was positively resolved not to do anything at all。
I write my book for few men and for few years。 Had it been matter of
duration； I should have put it into firmer language。 According to the
continual variation that ours has been subject to； up to this day； who
can expect that its present form should be in use fifty years hence？
It slips every day through our fingers； and since I was born； it is
altered above one…half。 We say that it is now perfect； and every age
says the same of its own。 I shall hardly trust to that； so long as it
varies and changes as it does。 'Tis for good and useful writings to
rivet it to them； and its reputation will go according to the fortune of
our state。 For which reason I am not afraid to insert in it several
private articles； which will spend their use amongst the men that are now
living； and that concern the particular knowledge of some who will see
further into them than every common reader。 I will not； after all； as I
often hear dead men spoken of； that men should say of me： 〃He judged； he
lived so and so； he would have done this or that； could he have spoken
when he was dying； he would have said so or so； and have given this thing
or t'other； I knew him better than any。〃 Now； as much as decency
permits； I here discover my inclinations and affections； but I do more
willingly and freely by word of mouth to any one who desires to be
informed。 So it is that in these memoirs； if any one observe； he will
find that I have either told or designed to tell all； what I cannot
express； I point out with my finger：
〃Verum animo satis haec vestigia parva sagaci
Sunt； per quae possis cognoscere caetera tute〃
＇〃By these footsteps a sagacious mind many easily find all other
matters （are sufficient to enable one to learn the rest well。）〃
Lucretius； i。 403。＇
I leave nothing to be desired or to be guessed at concerning me。 If
people must be talking of me； I would have it to be justly and truly； I
would come again； with all my heart； from the other world to give any one
the lie who should report me other than I was； though he did it to honour
me。 I perceive that people represent； even living men； quite another
thing than what they really are； and had I not stoutly defended a friend
whom I have lost；＇De la Boetie。＇ they would have torn him into a
thousand contrary pieces。
To conclude the account of my poor humours； I confess that in my travels
I seldom reach my inn but that it comes into my mind to consider whether
I could there be sick and dying at my ease。 I desire to be lodged in
some private part of the house； remote from all noise； ill scents； and
smoke。 I endeavour to flatter death by these frivolous circumstances；
or； to say better； to discharge myself from all other incumbrances； that
I may have nothing to do； nor be troubled with anything but that which
will lie heavy enough upon me without any other load。 I would have my
death share in the ease and conveniences of my life； 'tis a great part of
it； and of great importance； and I hope it will not in the future
contradict the past。 Death has some forms that are more easy than
others； and receives divers qualities； according to every one's fancy。
Amongst the natural deaths； that which proceeds from weakness and stupor
I think the most favourable； amongst those that are violent； I can worse
endure to think of a precipice than of the fall of a house that will
crush me in a moment； and of a wound with a sword than of a harquebus
shot； I should rather have chosen to poison myself with Socrates； than
stab myself with Cato。 And； though it； be all one； yet my imagination
makes as great a difference as betwixt death and life； betwixt throwing
myself into a burning furnace and plunging into the channel of a river：
so idly does our fear more concern itself in the means than the effect。
It is but an instant； 'tis true； but withal an instant of such weight；
that I would willingly give a great many days of my life to pass it over
after my own fashion。 Since every one's imagination renders it more or
less terrible； and since every one has some choice amongst the several
forms of dying； let us try a little further to find some one that is
wholly clear from all offence。 Might not one render it even voluptuous；
like the Commoyientes of Antony and Cleopatra？ I set aside the brave and
exemplary efforts produced by philosophy and religion； but； amongst men
of little mark there have been found some； such as Petronius and
Tigellinus at Rome； condemned to despatch themselves； who have； as it
were； rocked death asleep with the delicacy of their preparations； they
have made it slip and steal away in the height of their accustomed
diversions amongst girls and good fellows； not a word of consolation； no
mention of making a will； no ambitious affectation of constancy； no talk
of their future condition； amongst sports； feastings； wit； and mirth；
common and indifferent discourses； music； and amorous verses。 Were it
not possible for us to imitate this resolution after a more decent
manner？ Since there are deaths that are good for fools； deaths good for
the wise； let us find out such as are fit for those who are betwixt both。
My imagination suggests to me one that is easy； and； since we must die；
to be desired。 The Roman tyrants thought they did； in a manner； give a
criminal life when they gave him the choice of his death。 But was not
Theophrastus； that so delicate； so modest； and so wise a philosopher；
compelled by reason； when he durst say this verse； translated by Cicero：
〃Vitam regit fortuna； non sapientia？〃
＇〃Fortune； not wisdom； sways human life。〃
Cicero； Tusc。 Quaes。； V。 31。＇
Fortune assists the facility of the bargain of my life； having placed it
in such a condition that for the future it can be neither advantage nor
hindrance to those who are concerned in me； 'tis a condition that I would
have accepted at any time of my life； but in this occasion of trussing up
my baggage； I am particularly pleased that in dying I shall neither do
them good nor harm。 She has so ordered it； by a cunning compensation；
that they who may pretend to any considerable advantage by my death will；
at the same time； sustain a material inconvenience。 Death sometimes is
more grievous to us； in that it is grievous to others； and interests us
in their interest as much as in our own； and sometimes more。
In this conveniency of lodging that I desire； I mix nothing of pomp and
amplitudeI hate it rather； but a certain plain neatness； which is
oftenest found in places where there is less of art； and that Nature has
adorned with some grace that is all her own：
〃Non ampliter； sea munditer convivium。〃
＇〃To eat not largely； but cleanly。〃Nepos； Life of Atticus； c。 13＇
〃Plus salis quam sumptus。〃
＇〃Rather enough than costly （More wit than cost）〃Nonius； xi。 19。＇
And besides； 'tis for those whose affairs compel them to travel in the
depth
