the essays of montaigne, v2-第4章
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own master； and stretching his commendation to the utmost extent of
virtue and sovereign grandeur。〃 Some may condemn the freedom of those
two soldiers who so roundly answered Nero to his beard； the one being
asked by him why he bore him ill…will？ 〃I loved thee；〃 answered he；
〃whilst thou wert worthy of it； but since thou art become a parricide； an
incendiary； a player； and a coachman； I hate thee as thou dost deserve。〃
And the other； why he should attempt to kill him？ 〃Because；〃 said he；
〃I could think of no other remedy against thy perpetual mischiefs。〃
＇Tacitus； Annal。； xv。 67。＇ But the public and universal testimonies
that were given of him after his death （and so will be to all posterity；
both of him and all other wicked princes like him）； of his tyrannies and
abominable deportment； who； of a sound judgment； can reprove them？
I am scandalised； that in so sacred a government as that of the
Lacedaemonians there should be mixed so hypocritical a ceremony at the
interment of their kings； where all their confederates and neighbours；
and all sorts and degrees of men and women； as well as their slaves； cut
and slashed their foreheads in token of sorrow； repeating in their cries
and lamentations that that king （let him have been as wicked as the
devil） was the best that ever they had；＇Herodotus； vi。 68。＇ by this
means attributing to his quality the praise that only belongs to merit；
and that of right is due to supreme desert； though lodged in the lowest
and most inferior subject。
Aristotle； who will still have a hand in everything； makes a 'quaere'
upon the saying of Solon； that none can be said to be happy until he is
dead： 〃whether； then； he who has lived and died according to his heart's
desire； if he have left an ill repute behind him； and that his posterity
be miserable； can be said to be happy？〃 Whilst we have life and motion；
we convey ourselves by fancy and preoccupation； whither and to what we
please； but once out of being； we have no more any manner of
communication with that which is； and it had therefore been better said
by Solon that man is never happy； because never so； till he is no more。
〃Quisquam
Vix radicitus e vita se tollit； et eicit；
Sed facit esse sui quiddam super inscius ipse；
Nec removet satis a projecto corpore sese； et
Vindicat。〃
＇〃Scarcely one man can； even in dying； wholly detach himself from
the idea of life； in his ignorance he must needs imagine that there
is in him something that survives him； and cannot sufficiently
separate or emancipate himself from his remains〃
Lucretius； iii。 890。＇
Bertrand de Guesclin； dying at the siege of the Castle of Rancon； near
unto Puy； in Auvergne； the besieged were afterwards； upon surrender；
enjoined to lay down the keys of the place upon the corpse of the dead
general。 Bartolommeo d'Alviano； the Venetian General； happening to die
in the service of the Republic in Brescia； and his corpse being to be
carried through the territory of Verona； an enemy's country； most of the
army were inclined to demand safe…conduct from the Veronese； but Theodoro
Trivulzio opposed the motion； rather choosing to make his way by force of
arms； and to run the hazard of a battle； saying it was by no means fit
that he who in his life was never afraid of his enemies should seem to
apprehend them when he was dead。 In truth； in affairs of the same
nature； by the Greek laws； he who made suit to an enemy for a body to
give it burial renounced his victory； and had no more right to erect a
trophy； and he to whom such suit was made was reputed victor。 By this
means it was that Nicias lost the advantage he had visibly obtained over
the Corinthians； and that Agesilaus； on the contrary； assured that which
he had before very doubtfully gained over the Boeotians。 ＇Plutarch；
Life of Nicias； c。 ii。； Life of Agesilaus； c。 vi。＇
These things might appear strange； had it not been a general practice in
all ages not only to extend the concern of ourselves beyond this life；
but； moreover； to fancy that the favour of Heaven does not only very
often accompany us to the grave； but has also； even after life； a concern
for our ashes。 Of which there are so many ancient examples （to say
nothing of those of our own observation）； that it is not necessary I
should longer insist upon it。 Edward I。； King of England； having in the
long wars betwixt him and Robert； King of Scotland； had experience of how
great importance his own immediate presence was to the success of his
affairs； having ever been victorious in whatever he undertook in his own
person； when he came to die； bound his son in a solemn oath that； so soon
as he should be dead he should boil his body till the flesh parted from
the bones； and bury the flesh； reserving the bones to carry continually
with him in his army； so often as he should be obliged to go against the
Scots； as if destiny had inevitably attached victory； even to his
remains。 John Zisca； the same who； to vindication of Wicliffe's
heresies； troubled the Bohemian state； left order that they should flay
him after his death； and of his skin make a drum to carry in the war
against his enemies； fancying it would contribute to the continuation of
the successes he had always obtained in the wars against them。 In like
manner certain of the Indians； in their battles with the Spaniards；
carried with them the bones of one of their captains； in consideration of
the victories they had formerly obtained under his conduct。 And other
people of the same New World carry about with them； in their wars； the
relics of valiant men who have died in battle； to incite their courage
and advance their fortune。 Of which examples the first reserve nothing
for the tomb but the reputation they have acquired by their former
achievements； but these attribute to them a certain present and active
power。
The proceeding of Captain Bayard is of a better composition； who finding
himself wounded to death with an harquebuss shot； and being importuned to
retire out of the fight； made answer that he would not begin at the last
gasp to turn his back to the enemy； and accordingly still fought on； till
feeling himself too faint and no longer able to sit on his horse； he
commanded his steward to set him down at the foot of a tree； but so that
he might die with his face towards the enemy； which he did。
I must yet add another example； equally remarkable for the present
consideration with any of the former。 The Emperor Maximilian； great…
grandfather to the now King Philip；＇Philip II。 of Spain。＇ was a
prince endowed throughout with great and extraordinary qualities； and
amongst the rest with a singular beauty of person； but had withal a
humour very contrary to that of other princes； who for the despatch of
their most important affairs convert their close…stool into a chair of
State； which was； that he would never permit any of his bedchamber； how
familiar soever； to see him in that posture； and would steal aside to
make water as religiously as a virgin； shy to discover to his physician
or any other whomsoever those parts that we are accustomed to conceal。
I myself； who have so impudent a way of talking； am； nevertheless；
naturally so modest this way； that unless at the importunity of necessity
or pleasure； I scarcely ever communicate to the sight of any either those
parts or actions that custom orders us to conceal； wherein I suffer more
constraint than I conceive is very well becoming a man； especially of my
profession。 But he nourished this modest humour to such a degree of
superstition as to give express orders in his last will that they should
put him on drawers so soon as he should be dead； to which； methinks； he
would have done well to have added that he should be blindfolded； too；
that put them on。 The charge that Cyrus left with his children； that
neither they； nor any other； should either see or touch his body after
the soul was departed from it；＇Xenophon； Cyropedia； viii。 7。＇ I
attribute to some superstitious devotion of his； for both his historian
and himself； amongst their great qualities； marked the wh
