the essays of montaigne, v2-第5章
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and himself； amongst their great qualities； marked the whole course of
their lives with a singular respect and reverence to religion。
I was by no means pleased with a story； told me by a man of very great
quality of a relation of mine； and one who had given a very good account
of himself both in peace and war； that； coming to die in a very old age；
of excessive pain of the stone； he spent the last hours of his life in an
extraordinary solicitude about ordering the honour and ceremony of his
funeral； pressing all the men of condition who came to see him to engage
their word to attend him to his grave： importuning this very prince； who
came to visit him at his last gasp； with a most earnest supplication that
he would order his family to be there； and presenting before him several
reasons and examples to prove that it was a respect due to a man of his
condition； and seemed to die content； having obtained this promise； and
appointed the method and order of his funeral parade。 I have seldom
heard of so persistent a vanity。
Another； though contrary curiosity （of which singularity； also； I do not
want domestic example）； seems to be somewhat akin to this； that a man
shall cudgel his brains at the last moments of his life to contrive his
obsequies to so particular and unusual a parsimony as of one servant with
a lantern； I see this humour commended； and the appointment of Marcus。
Emilius Lepidus； who forbade his heirs to bestow upon his hearse even the
common ceremonies in use upon such occasions。 Is it yet temperance and
frugality to avoid expense and pleasure of which the use and knowledge
are imperceptible to us？ See； here； an easy and cheap reformation。 If
instruction were at all necessary in this case； I should be of opinion
that in this； as in all other actions of life； each person should
regulate the matter according to his fortune； and the philosopher Lycon
prudently ordered his friends to dispose of his body where they should
think most fit； and as to his funeral； to order it neither too
superfluous nor too mean。 For my part； I should wholly refer the
ordering of this ceremony to custom； and shall； when the time comes；
accordingly leave it to their discretion to whose lot it shall fall to do
me that last office。 〃Totus hic locus est contemnendus in nobis； non
negligendus in nostris；〃＇〃The place of our sepulture is to be contemned
by us； but not to be neglected by our friends。〃Cicero； Tusc。 i。 45。＇
and it was a holy saying of a saint； 〃Curatio funeris； conditio
sepultura：； pompa exequiarum； magis sunt vivorum solatia； quam subsidia
mortuorum。〃 ＇〃The care of death； the place of sepulture； the pomps of
obsequies； are rather consolations to the living than succours to the
dead。 〃August。 De Civit。 Dei； i。 12。＇ Which made Socrates answer
Crito； who； at death； asked him how he would be buried： 〃How you will；〃
said he。 〃If I were to concern myself beyond the present about this
affair； I should be most tempted； as the greatest satisfaction of this
kind； to imitate those who in their lifetime entertain themselves with
the ceremony and honours of their own obsequies beforehand； and are
pleased with beholding their own dead countenance in marble。 Happy are
they who can gratify their senses by insensibility； and live by their
death！
I am ready to conceive an implacable hatred against all popular
domination； though I think it the most natural and equitable of all； so
oft as I call to mind the inhuman injustice of the people of Athens； who；
without remission； or once vouchsafing to hear what they had to say for
themselves； put to death their brave captains newly returned triumphant
from a naval victory they had obtained over the Lacedaemonians near the
Arginusian Isles； the most bloody and obstinate engagement that ever the
Greeks fought at sea； because （after the victory） they followed up the
blow and pursued the advantages presented to them by the rule of war；
rather than stay to gather up and bury their dead。 And the execution is
yet rendered more odious by the behaviour of Diomedon； who； being one of
the condemned； and a man of most eminent virtue； political and military；
after having heard the sentence； advancing to speak； no audience till
then having been allowed； instead of laying before them his own cause；
or the impiety of so cruel a sentence； only expressed a solicitude for
his judges' preservation； beseeching the gods to convert this sentence to
their good； and praying that； for neglecting to fulfil the vows which he
and his companions had made （with which he also acquainted them） in
acknowledgment of so glorious a success； they might not draw down the
indignation of the gods upon them； and so without more words went
courageously to his death。
Fortune； a few years after； punished them in the same kind； for Chabrias；
captain…general of their naval forces； having got the better of Pollis；
Admiral of Sparta； at the Isle of Naxos； totally lost the fruits of his
victory； one of very great importance to their affairs； in order not to
incur the danger of this example； and so that he should not lose a few
bodies of his dead friends that were floating in the sea； gave
opportunity to a world of living enemies to sail away in safety； who
afterwards made them pay dear for this unseasonable superstition：
Quaeris； quo jaceas； post obitum； loco？
Quo non nata jacent。〃
＇〃Dost ask where thou shalt lie after death？
Where things not born lie； that never being had。〃＇
Seneca； Tyoa。 Choro ii。 30。
This other restores the sense of repose to a body without a soul：
〃Neque sepulcrum； quo recipiatur； habeat： portum corporis； ubi；
remissa human； vita； corpus requiescat a malis。〃
＇〃Nor let him have a sepulchre wherein he may be received； a haven
for his body； where； life being gone； that body may rest from its
woes。〃Ennius； ap。 Cicero； Tusc。 i。 44。＇
As nature demonstrates to us that several dead things retain yet an
occult relation to life； wine changes its flavour and complexion in
cellars； according to the changes and seasons of the vine from whence it
came； and the flesh ofvenison alters its condition in the powdering…
tub； and its taste according to the laws of the living flesh of its kind；
as it is said。
CHAPTER IV
THAT THE SOUL EXPENDS ITS PASSIONS UPON FALSE OBJECTS； WHERE THE TRUE ARE
WANTING
A gentleman of my country； marvellously tormented with the gout； being
importuned by his physicians totally to abstain from all manner of salt
meats； was wont pleasantly to reply； that in the extremity of his fits he
must needs have something to quarrel with； and that railing at and
cursing； one while the Bologna sausages； and another the dried tongues
and the hams； was some mitigation to his pain。 But； in good earnest； as
the arm when it is advanced to strike； if it miss the blow； and goes by
the wind； it pains us； and as also； that； to make a pleasant prospect；
the sight should not be lost and dilated in vague air； but have some
bound and object to limit and circumscribe it at a reasonable distance；
〃Ventus ut amittit vires； nisi robore densa
Occurrant sylvae； spatio diffusus inani。〃
＇〃As the wind loses its force diffused in void space； unless it in
its strength encounters the thick wood。〃Lucan； iii。 362。＇
So it seems that the soul； being transported and discomposed； turns its
violence upon itself； if not supplied with something to oppose it； and
therefore always requires an object at which to aim； and whereon to act。
Plutarch says of those who are delighted with little dogs and monkeys；
that the amorous part that is in us； for want of a legitimate object；
rather than lie idle； does after that manner forge and create one false
and frivolous。 And we see that the soul； in its passions； inclines
rather to deceive itself； by creating a false and fantastical a subject；
even contrary to its own belief； than not to have something to work upon。
After this manner brute beasts direct their fury to fall upon the stone
or weapon that has hurt them； and with their teeth a even exe
