the essays of montaigne, v17-第2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！
the meadows：
〃Aut nimiis torret fervoribus aetherius sol；
Aut subiti perimunt imbres； gelidoeque pruinae；
Flabraque ventorum violento turbine vexant；〃
＇〃Either the scorching sun burns up your fields； or sudden rains or
frosts destroy your harvests； or a violent wind carries away all
before it。〃Lucretius； V。 216。＇
to which may be added the new and neat…made shoe of the man of old； that
hurts your foot；
＇Leclerc maliciously suggests that this is a sly hit at Montaigne's
wife； the man of old being the person mentioned in Plutarch's Life
of Paulus Emilius； c。 3； who； when his friends reproached him for
repudiating his wife； whose various merits they extolled； pointed to
his shoe； and said； 〃That looks a nice well…made shoe to you； but I
alone know where it pinches。〃＇
and that a stranger does not understand how much it costs you； and what
you contribute to maintain that show of order that is seen in your
family； and that peradventure you buy too dear。
I came late to the government of a house： they whom nature sent into the
world before me long eased me of that trouble； so that I had already
taken another bent more suitable to my humour。 Yet； for so much as I
have seen； 'tis an employment more troublesome than hard； whoever is
capable of anything else； will easily do this。 Had I a mind to be rich；
that way would seem too long； I had served my kings； a more profitable
traffic than any other。 Since I pretend to nothing but the reputation of
having got nothing or dissipated nothing； conformably to the rest of my
life； improper either to do good or ill of any moment； and that I only
desire to pass on； I can do it； thanks be to God； without any great
endeavour。 At the worst； evermore prevent poverty by lessening your
expense； 'tis that which I make my great concern； and doubt not but to do
it before I shall be compelled。 As to the rest； I have sufficiently
settled my thoughts to live upon less than I have； and live contentedly：
〃Non aestimatione census； verum victu atque cultu；
terminantur pecunix modus。〃
＇〃'Tis not by the value of possessions； but by our daily subsistence
and tillage； that our riches are truly estimated。〃
Cicero； Paradox； vi。 3。＇
My real need does not so wholly take up all I have； that Fortune has not
whereon to fasten her teeth without biting to the quick。 My presence；
heedless and ignorant as it is； does me great service in my domestic
affairs； I employ myself in them； but it goes against the hair； finding
that I have this in my house； that though I burn my candle at one end by
myself； the other is not spared。
Journeys do me no harm but only by their expense； which is great； and
more than I am well able to bear； being always wont to travel with not
only a necessary； but a handsome equipage； I must make them so much
shorter and fewer； I spend therein but the froth； and what I have
reserved for such uses； delaying and deferring my motion till that be
ready。 I will not that the pleasure of going abroad spoil the pleasure
of being retired at home； on the contrary； I intend they shall nourish
and favour one another。 Fortune has assisted me in this； that since my
principal profession in this life was to live at ease； and rather idly
than busily； she has deprived me of the necessity of growing rich to
provide for the multitude of my heirs。 If there be not enough for one；
of that whereof I had so plentifully enough； at his peril be it： his
imprudence will not deserve that I should wish him any more。 And every
one； according to the example of Phocion； provides sufficiently for his
children who so provides for them as to leave them as much as was left
him。 I should by no means like Crates' way。 He left his money in the
hands of a banker with this conditionthat if his children were fools；
he should then give it to them； if wise； he should then distribute it to
the most foolish of the people； as if fools； for being less capable of
living without riches； were more capable of using them。
At all events； the damage occasioned by my absence seems not to deserve；
so long as I am able to support it； that I should waive the occasions of
diverting myself by that troublesome assistance。
There is always something that goes amiss。 The affairs； one while of one
house； and then of another； tear you to pieces； you pry into everything
too near； your perspicacity hurts you here； as well as in other things。
I steal away from occasions of vexing myself； and turn from the knowledge
of things that go amiss； and yet I cannot so order it； but that every
hour I jostle against something or other that displeases me； and the
tricks that they most conceal from me； are those that I the soonest come
to know； some there are that； not to make matters worse； a man must
himself help to conceal。 Vain vexations； vain sometimes； but always
vexations。 The smallest and slightest impediments are the most piercing：
and as little letters most tire the eyes； so do little affairs most
disturb us。 The rout of little ills more offend than one； how great
soever。 By how much domestic thorns are numerous and slight； by so much
they prick deeper and without warning； easily surprising us when least we
suspect them。
＇Now Homer shews us clearly enough how surprise gives the advantage；
who represents Ulysses weeping at the death of his dog； and not
weeping at the tears of his mother； the first accident； trivial as
it was； got the better of him； coming upon him quite unexpectedly；
he sustained the second； though more potent； because he was prepared
for it。 'Tis light occasions that humble our lives。 ＇
I am no philosopher； evils oppress me according to their weight； and they
weigh as much according to the form as the matter； and very often more。
If I have therein more perspicacity than the vulgar； I have also more
patience； in short； they weigh with me； if they do not hurt me。 Life is
a tender thing； and easily molested。 Since my age has made me grow more
pensive and morose；
〃Nemo enim resistit sibi； cum caeperit impelli；〃
＇〃For no man resists himself when he has begun to be driven
forward。〃Seneca； Ep。； 13。＇
for the most trivial cause imaginable； I irritate that humour； which
afterwards nourishes and exasperates itself of its own motion； attracting
and heaping up matter upon matter whereon to feed：
〃Stillicidi casus lapidem cavat：〃
＇〃The ever falling drop hollows out a stone。〃Lucretius； i。 314。＇
these continual tricklings consume and ulcerate me。 Ordinary
inconveniences are never light； they are continual and inseparable；
especially when they spring from the members of a family； continual and
inseparable。 When I consider my affairs at distance and in gross； I
find； because perhaps my memory is none of the best； that they have gone
on hitherto improving beyond my reason or expectation； my revenue seems
greater than it is； its prosperity betrays me： but when I pry more
narrowly into the business； and see how all things go：
〃Tum vero in curas animum diducimus omnes；〃
＇〃Indeed we lead the mind into all sorts of cares。〃
AEneid； v。 720。＇
I have a thousand things to desire and to fear。 To give them quite over；
is very easy for me to do： but to look after them without trouble； is
very hard。 'Tis a miserable thing to be in a place where everything you
see employs and concerns you； and I fancy that I more cheerfully enjoy
the pleasures of another man's house； and with greater and a purer
relish； than those of my own。 Diogenes answered according to my humour
him who asked him what sort of wine he liked the best： 〃That of another；〃
said he。 ＇Diogenes Laertius； vi。 54。＇
My father took a delight in building at Montaigne； where he was born； and
in all the government of domestic affairs I love to follow his example
and rules； and I shall engage those who are to succeed me； as much as in
me lies； to do the same。 Could I do better for him； I would； and am
proud that his will is still perform
