the essays of montaigne, v16-第14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！
Obstinacy of opinion and heat in argument are the surest proofs of folly；
is there anything so assured； resolute； disdainful； contemplative；
serious and grave as the ass？
May we not include under the title of conference and communication the
quick and sharp repartees which mirth and familiarity introduce amongst
friends； pleasantly and wittily jesting and rallying with one another？
'Tis an exercise for which my natural gaiety renders me fit enough； and
which； if it be not so tense and serious as the other I spoke of but now；
is； as Lycurgus thought； no less smart and ingenious； nor of less
utility。 For my part； I contribute to it more liberty than wit； and have
therein more of luck than invention； but I am perfect in suffering； for I
endure a retaliation that is not only tart； but indiscreet to boot；
without being moved at all； and whoever attacks me； if I have not a brisk
answer immediately ready； I do not study to pursue the point with a
tedious and impertinent contest； bordering upon obstinacy； but let it
pass； and hanging down cheerfully my ears； defer my revenge to another
and better time： there is no merchant that always gains： Most men change
their countenance and their voice where their wits fail； and by an
unseasonable anger； instead of revenging themselves； accuse at once their
own folly and impatience。 In this jollity； we sometimes pinch the secret
strings of our imperfections which； at another and graver time； we cannot
touch without offence； and so profitably give one another a hint of our
defects。 There are other jeux de main；＇practical jokes＇ rude and
indiscreet； after the French manner； that I mortally hate； my skin is
very tender and sensible： I have in my time seen two princes of the blood
buried upon that very account。 'Tis unhandsome to fight in play。 As to
the rest； when I have a mind to judge of any one； I ask him how far he is
contented with himself； to what degree his speaking or his work pleases
him。 I will none of these fine excuses； 〃I did it only in sport：
'Ablatum mediis opus est incudibus istud。'
＇〃That work was taken from the anvil half finished。〃
Ovid； Trist。； i。 6； 29。＇
I was not an hour about it： I have never looked at it since。〃 Well；
then； say I； lay these aside； and give me a perfect one； such as you
would be measured by。 And then； what do you think is the best thing in
your work？ is it this part or that？ is it grace or the matter； the
invention； the judgment； or the learning？ For I find that men are；
commonly； as wide of the mark in judging of their own works； as of those
of others； not only by reason of the kindness they have for them； but for
want of capacity to know and distinguish them： the work； by its own force
and fortune； may second the workman； and sometimes outstrip him； beyond
his invention and knowledge。 For my part； I judge of the value of other
men's works more obscurely than of my own； and place the Essays； now
high； or low； with great doubt and inconstancy。 There are several books
that are useful upon the account of their subjects； from which the author
derives no praise； and good books； as well as good works； that shame the
workman。 I may write the manner of our feasts； and the fashion of our
clothes； and may write them ill； I may publish the edicts of my time； and
the letters of princes that pass from hand to hand； I may make an
abridgment of a good book （and every abridgment of a good book is a
foolish abridgment）； which book shall come to be lost； and so on：
posterity will derive a singular utility from such compositions： but what
honour shall I have unless by great good fortune？ Most part of the
famous books are of this condition。
When I read Philip de Commines； doubtless a very good author； several
years ago； I there took notice of this for no vulgar saying； 〃That a man
must have a care not to do his master so great service； that at last he
will not know how to give him his just reward〃； but I ought to commend
the invention； not him； because I met with it in Tacitus； not long since：
〃Beneficia ea usque lxta sunt； dum videntur exsolvi posse；
ubi multum antevenere； pro gratis odium redditur；〃
＇〃Benefits are so far acceptable as they appear to be capable of
recompense； where they much exceed that point； hatred is returned
instead of thanks。〃Tacitus； Annal。； iv。 18。＇
and Seneca vigorously says：
〃Nam qui putat esse turpe non reddere；
non vult esse cui reddat：〃
＇〃For he who thinks it a shame not to requite； does not wish to
have the man live to whom he owes return。〃Seneca； Ep。； 81。＇
Q。 Cicero says with less directness。：
〃Qui se non putat satisfacere；
amicus esse nullo modo potest。〃
＇〃Who thinks himself behind in obligation； can by no
means be a friend。〃Q。 Cicero； De Petitione Consul； c。 9。＇
The subject； according to what it is； may make a man looked upon as
learned and of good memory； but to judge in him the parts that are most
his own and the most worthy； the vigour and beauty of his soul； one must
first know what is his own and what is not； and in that which is not his
own； how much we are obliged to him for the choice； disposition；
ornament； and language he has there presented us with。 What if he has
borrowed the matter and spoiled the form； as it often falls out？ We； who
are little read in books； are in this strait； that when we meet with a
high fancy in some new poet； or some strong argument in a preacher； we
dare not； nevertheless； commend it till we have first informed ourselves；
through some learned man； if it be the writer's wit or borrowed from some
other； until that I always stand upon my guard。
I have lately been reading the history of Tacitus quite through； without
interrupting it with anything else （which but seldom happens with me； it
being twenty years since I have kept to any one book an hour together）；
and I did it at the instance of a gentleman for whom France has a great
esteem； as well for his own particular worth； as upon the account of a
constant form of capacity and virtue which runs through a great many
brothers of them。 I do not know any author in a public narrative who
mixes so much consideration of manners and particular inclinations： and I
am of a quite contrary opinion to him； holding that； having especially to
follow the lives of the emperors of his time； so various and extreme in
all sorts of forms； so many notable actions as their cruelty especially
produced in their subjects； he had a stronger and more attractive matter
to treat of than if he had had to describe battles and universal
commotions； so that I often find him sterile； running over those brave
deaths as if he feared to trouble us with their multitude and length。
This form of history is by much the most useful； public movements depend
most upon the conduct of fortune； private ones upon our own。 'Tis rather
a judgment than a narration of history； there are in it more precepts
than stories： it is not a book to read； 'tis a book to study and learn；
'tis full of sententious opinions； right or wrong； 'tis a nursery of
ethic and politic discourses； for the use and ornament of those who have
any place in the government of the world。 He always argues by strong and
solid reasons； after a pointed and subtle manner； according to the
affected style of that age； which was so in love with an inflated manner；
that where point and subtlety were wanting in things it supplied these
with lofty and swelling words。 'Tis not much unlike the style of Seneca：
I look upon Tacitus as more sinewy； and Seneca as more sharp。 His pen
seems most proper for a troubled and sick state； as ours at present is；
you would often say that he paints and pinches us。
They who doubt his good faith sufficiently accuse themselves of being his
enemy upon some other account。 His opinions are sound； and lean to the
right side in the Roman affairs。 And yet I am angry at him for judging
more severely of Pompey than consists with the opinion of those worthy
men who lived in the same time； and had dealings
