the essays of montaigne, v17-第5章
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in a republic； or another sort of government in monarchy than that
already established； is both vice and folly：
〃Ayme l'estat； tel que to le veois estre
S'il est royal ayme la royaute；
S'il est de peu； ou biers communaute；
Ayme l'aussi； car Dieu t'y a faict naistre。〃
＇〃Love the government； such as you see it to be。 If it be royal；
love royalty； if it is a republic of any sort； still love it； for
God himself created thee therein。〃＇
So wrote the good Monsieur de Pibrac； whom we have lately lost； a man of
so excellent a wit； such sound opinions； and such gentle manners。 This
loss； and that at the same time we have had of Monsieur de Foix； are of
so great importance to the crown； that I do not know whether there is
another couple in France worthy to supply the places of these two Gascons
in sincerity and wisdom in the council of our kings。 They were both
variously great men； and certainly； according to the age； rare and great；
each of them in his kind： but what destiny was it that placed them in
these times； men so remote from and so disproportioned to our corruption
and intestine tumults？
Nothing presses so hard upon a state as innovation： change only gives
form to injustice and tyranny。 When any piece is loosened； it may be
proper to stay it； one may take care that the alteration and corruption
natural to all things do not carry us too far from our beginnings and
principles： but to undertake to found so great a mass anew； and to change
the foundations of so vast a building； is for them to do； who to make
clean； efface； who reform particular defects by an universal confusion；
and cure diseases by death：
〃Non tam commutandarum quam evertendarum rerum cupidi。〃
＇〃Not so desirous of changing as of overthrowing things。〃
Cicero； De 0ffic。； ii。 i。＇
The world is unapt to be cured； and so impatient of anything that presses
it； that it thinks of nothing but disengaging itself at what price
soever。 We see by a thousand examples； that it ordinarily cures itself
to its cost。 The discharge of a present evil is no cure； if there be not
a general amendment of condition。 The surgeon's end is not only to cut
away the dead flesh； that is but the progress of his cure； he has a care；
over and above； to fill up the wound with better and more natural flesh；
and to restore the member to its due state。 Whoever only proposes to
himself to remove that which offends him； falls short： for good does not
necessarily succeed evil； another evil may succeed； and a worse； as it
happened to Caesar's murderers； who brought the republic to such a pass；
that they had reason to repent the meddling with the matter。 The same
has since happened to several others； even down to our own times： the
French； my contemporaries； know it well enough。 All great mutations
shake and disorder a state。
Whoever would look direct at a cure； and well consider of it before he
began； would be very willing to withdraw his hands from meddling in it。
Pacuvius Calavius corrected the vice of this proceeding by a notable
example。 His fellow…citizens were in mutiny against their magistrates；
he being a man of great authority in the city of Capua； found means one
day to shut up the Senators in the palace； and calling the people
together in the market…place； there told them that the day was now come
wherein at full liberty they might revenge themselves on the tyrants by
whom they had been so long oppressed； and whom he had now； all alone and
unarmed； at his mercy。 He then advised that they should call these out；
one by one； by lot； and should individually determine as to each； causing
whatever should be decreed to be immediately executed； with this proviso；
that they should； at the same time； depute some honest man in the place
of him who was condemned； to the end there might be no vacancy in the
Senate。 They had no sooner heard the name of one senator but a great cry
of universal dislike was raised up against him。 〃I see；〃 says Pacuvius；
〃that we must put him out； he is a wicked fellow； let us look out a good
one in his room。〃 Immediately there was a profound silence； every one
being at a stand whom to choose。 But one； more impudent than the rest；
having named his man； there arose yet a greater consent of voices against
him； an hundred imperfections being laid to his charge； and as many just
reasons why he should not stand。 These contradictory humours growing
hot； it fared worse with the second senator and the third； there being as
much disagreement in the election of the new； as consent in the putting
out of the old。 In the end； growing weary of this bustle to no purpose；
they began； some one way and some another； to steal out of the assembly：
every one carrying back this resolution in his mind； that the oldest and
best known evil was ever more supportable than one that was； new and
untried。
Seeing how miserably we are agitated （for what have we not done！）
〃Eheu！ cicatricum； et sceleris pudet；
Fratrumque： quid nos dura refugimus
AEtas？ quid intactum nefasti
Liquimus？ Unde manus inventus
Metu Deorum continuit？ quibus
Pepercit aris。〃
＇〃Alas！ our crimes and our fratricides are a shame to us！ What
crime does this bad age shrink from？ What wickedness have we left
undone？ What youth is restrained from evil by the fear of the gods？
What altar is spared？〃Horace； Od。； i。 33； 35＇
I do not presently conclude；
〃Ipsa si velit Salus；
Servare prorsus non potest hanc familiam；〃
＇〃If the goddess Salus herself wish to save this family； she
absolutely cannot〃Terence； Adelph。； iv。 7； 43。＇
we are not； peradventure； at our last gasp。 The conservation of states
is a thing that； in all likelihood； surpasses our understanding；a civil
government is； as Plato says； a mighty and puissant thing； and hard to be
dissolved； it often continues against mortal and intestine diseases；
against the injury of unjust laws； against tyranny； the corruption and
ignorance of magistrates； the licence and sedition of the people。 In all
our fortunes； we compare ourselves to what is above us； and still look
towards those who are better： but let us measure ourselves with what is
below us： there is no condition so miserable wherein a man may not find a
thousand examples that will administer consolation。 'Tis our vice that
we more unwillingly look upon what is above； than willingly upon what is
below； and Solon was used to say； that 〃whoever would make a heap of all
the ills together； there is no one who would not rather choose to bear
away the ills he has than to come to an equal division with all other men
from that heap； and take his share。〃 Our government is； indeed； very
sick； but there have been others more sick without dying。 The gods play
at ball with us and bandy us every way：
〃Enimvero Dii nos homines quasi pilas habent。〃
The stars fatally destined the state of Rome for an example of what they
could do in this kind： in it are comprised all the forms and adventures
that concern a state： all that order or disorder； good or evil fortune；
can do。 Who； then； can despair of his condition； seeing the shocks and
commotions wherewith Rome was tumbled and tossed； and yet withstood them
all？ If the extent of dominion be the health of a state （which I by no
means think it is； and Isocrates pleases me when he instructs Nicocles
not to envy princes who have large dominions； but those who know how to
preserve those which have fallen into their hands）； that of Rome was
never so sound； as when it was most sick。 The worst of her forms was the
most fortunate； one can hardly discern any image of government under the
first emperors； it is the most horrible and tumultuous confusion that can
be imagined； it endured it； notwithstanding； and therein continued；
preserving not a monarchy limited within its own bounds； but so many
nations so differing； so remote； so disaffected； so confusedly commanded；
and so unjustly conquere
