the essays of montaigne, v16-第2章
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soldiers in a place of danger when marching to the field； or to cover a
post； and fortify it in haste。 In my time； a gentleman on one of our
frontiers； unwieldy of body； and finding no horse able to carry his
weight； having a quarrel； rode through the country in a chariot of this
fashion； and found great convenience in it。 But let us leave these
chariots of war。
As if their effeminacy ＇Which Cotton translates： 〃as if the
insignificancy of coaches。〃 ＇had not been sufficiently known by better
proofs； the last kings of our first race travelled in a chariot drawn by
four oxen。 Marc Antony was the first at Rome who caused himself to be
drawn in a coach by lions； and a singing wench with him。
＇Cytheris； the Roman courtezan。Plutarch's Life of Antony； c。 3。
This； was the same person who is introduced by Gallus under the name
of Lycoris。 Gallus doubtless knew her personally。＇
Heliogabalus did since as much； calling himself Cybele； the mother of the
gods； and also drawn by tigers； taking upon him the person of the god
Bacchus； he also sometimes harnessed two stags to his coach； another time
four dogs； and another four naked wenches； causing himself to be drawn by
them in pomp； stark naked too。 The Emperor Firmus caused his chariot to
be drawn by ostriches of a prodigious size； so that it seemed rather to
fly than roll。
The strangeness of these inventions puts this other fancy in my head：
that it is a kind of pusillanimity in monarchs； and a testimony that they
do not sufficiently understand themselves what they are； when they study
to make themselves honoured and to appear great by excessive expense： it
were indeed excusable in a foreign country； but amongst their own
subjects； where they are in sovereign command； and may do what they
please； it derogates from their dignity the most supreme degree of honour
to which they can arrive： just as； methinks； it is superfluous in a
private gentleman to go finely dressed at home； his house； his
attendants； and his kitchen sufficiently answer for him。 The advice that
Isocrates gives his king seems to be grounded upon reason： that he should
be splendid in plate and furniture； forasmuch as it is an expense of
duration that devolves on his successors； and that he should avoid all
magnificences that will in a short time be forgotten。 I loved to go fine
when I was a younger brother； for want of other ornament； and it became
me well： there are some upon whom their rich clothes weep： We have
strange stories of the frugality of our kings about their own persons and
in their gifts： kings who were great in reputation； valour； and fortune。
Demosthenes vehemently opposes the law of his city that assigned the
public money for the pomp of their public plays and festivals： he would
that their greatness should be seen in numbers of ships well equipped；
and good armies well provided for； and there is good reason to condemn
Theophrastus； who； in his Book on Riches； establishes a contrary opinion；
and maintains that sort of expense to be the true fruit of abundance。
They are delights； says Aristotle； that a only please the baser sort of
the people； and that vanish from the memory as soon as the people are
sated with them； and for which no serious and judicious man can have any
esteem。 This money would； in my opinion； be much more royally； as more
profitably； justly； and durably； laid out in ports； havens； walls； and
fortifications； in sumptuous buildings； churches； hospitals； colleges；
the reforming of streets and highways： wherein Pope Gregory XIII。 will
leave a laudable memory to future times： and wherein our Queen Catherine
would to long posterity manifest her natural liberality and munificence；
did her means supply her affection。 Fortune has done me a great despite
in interrupting the noble structure of the Pont…Neuf of our great city；
and depriving me of the hope of seeing it finished before I die。
Moreover； it seems to subjects； who are spectators of these triumphs；
that their own riches are exposed before them； and that they are
entertained at their own expense： for the people are apt to presume of
kings； as we do of our servants； that they are to take care to provide us
all things necessary in abundance； but not touch it themselves； and
therefore the Emperor Galba； being pleased with a musician who played to
him at supper； called for his money…box； and gave him a handful of crowns
that he took out of it； with these words： 〃This is not the public money；
but my own。〃 Yet it so falls out that the people； for the most part；
have reason on their side； and that the princes feed their eyes with what
they have need of to fill their bellies。
Liberality itself is not in its true lustre in a sovereign hand： private
men have therein the most right； for； to take it exactly； a king has
nothing properly his own； he owes himself to others： authority is not
given in favour of the magistrate； but of the people； a superior is never
made so for his own profit； but for the profit of the inferior； and a
physician for the sick person； and not for himself： all magistracy； as
well as all art； has its end out of itself wherefore the tutors of young
princes； who make it their business to imprint in them this virtue of
liberality； and preach to them to deny nothing and to think nothing so
well spent as what they give （a doctrine that I have known in great
credit in my time）； either have more particular regard to their own
profit than to that of their master； or ill understand to whom they
speak。 It is too easy a thing to inculcate liberality on him who has as
much as he will to practise it with at the expense of others； and； the
estimate not being proportioned to the measure of the gift but to the
measure of the means of him who gives it； it comes to nothing in so
mighty hands； they find themselves prodigal before they can be reputed
liberal。 And it is but a little recommendation； in comparison with other
royal virtues： and the only one； as the tyrant Dionysius said； that suits
well with tyranny itself。 I should rather teach him this verse of the
ancient labourer：
＇〃That whoever will have a good crop must sow with his hand； and not
pour out of the sack。〃Plutarch； Apothegms； Whether the Ancients
were more excellent in Arms than in Learning。＇
he must scatter it abroad； and not lay it on a heap in one place： and
that； seeing he is to give； or； to say better； to pay and restore to so
many people according as they have deserved； he ought to be a loyal and
discreet disposer。 If the liberality of a prince be without measure or
discretion； I had rather he were covetous。
Royal virtue seems most to consist in justice； and of all the parts of
justice that best denotes a king which accompanies liberality； for this
they have particularly reserved to be performed by themselves； whereas
all other sorts of justice they remit to the administration of others。
An immoderate bounty is a very weak means to acquire for them good will；
it checks more people than it allures：
〃Quo in plures usus sis； minus in multos uti possis。。。。
Quid autem est stultius； quam； quod libenter facias；
curare ut id diutius facere non possis；〃
＇〃By how much more you use it to many； by so much less will you be
in a capacity to use it to many more。 And what greater folly can
there be than to order it so that what you would willingly do； you
cannot do longer。〃Cicero； De Offic。； ii。 15。＇
and if it be conferred without due respect of merit； it puts him out of
countenance who receives it； and is received ungraciously。 Tyrants have
been sacrificed to the hatred of the people by the hands of those very
men they have unjustly advanced； such kind of men as buffoons； panders；
fiddlers； and such ragamuffins； thinking to assure to themselves the
possession of benefits unduly received； if they manifest to have him in
hatred and disdain of whom they hold them； and in this associate
themselves to the common judgment and opinion。
The subjects of a prince excessive in gifts grow excessive in asking；
and regulate their demands； not by reason； but by example。 We have；
