the essays of montaigne, v15-第1章
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The Essays of Montaigne； V15
by Michel de Montaigne
Translated by Charles Cotton
Edited by William Carew Hazilitt
1877
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 15。
V。 Upon Some verses of Virgil。
CHAPTER V
UPON SOME VERSES OF VIRGIL
CHAPTER V。
By how much profitable thoughts are more full and solid； by so much are
they also more cumbersome and heavy： vice； death； poverty； diseases； are
grave and grievous subjects。 A man should have his soul instructed in
the means to sustain and to contend with evils； and in the rules of
living and believing well： and often rouse it up； and exercise it in this
noble study； but in an ordinary soul it must be by intervals and with
moderation； it will otherwise grow besotted if continually intent upon
it。 I found it necessary； when I was young； to put myself in mind and
solicit myself to keep me to my duty； gaiety and health do not； they say；
so well agree with those grave and serious meditations： I am at present
in another state： the conditions of age but too much put me in mind； urge
me to wisdom； and preach to me。 From the excess of sprightliness I am
fallen into that of severity； which is much more troublesome； and for
that reason I now and then suffer myself purposely a little to run into
disorder； and occupy my mind in wanton and youthful thoughts； wherewith
it diverts itself。 I am of late but too reserved； too heavy； and too
ripe； years every day read to me lectures of coldness and temperance。
This body of mine avoids disorder and dreads it； 'tis now my body's turn
to guide my mind towards reformation； it governs； in turn； and more
rudely and imperiously than the other； it lets me not an hour alone；
sleeping or waking； but is always preaching to me death； patience； and
repentance。 I now defend myself from temperance； as I have formerly done
from pleasure； it draws me too much back； and even to stupidity。 Now I
will be master of myself； to all intents and purposes； wisdom has its
excesses； and has no less need of moderation than folly。 Therefore； lest
I should wither； dry up； and overcharge myself with prudence； in the
intervals and truces my infirmities allow me：
〃Mens intenta suis ne seit usque malis。〃
＇〃That my mind may not eternally be intent upon my ills。〃
Ovid。； Trist。； iv。 i； 4。＇
I gently turn aside； and avert my eyes from the stormy and cloudy sky I
have before me； which； thanks be to God； I regard without fear； but not
without meditation and study； and amuse myself in the remembrance of my
better years：
〃Animus quo perdidit； optat；
Atque in praeterita se totus imagine versat。〃
＇〃The mind wishes to have what it has lost； and throws itself
wholly into memories of the past。〃Petronius； c。 128。＇
Let childhood look forward and age backward； was not this the
signification of Janus' double face？ Let years draw me along if they
will； but it shall be backward； as long as my eyes can discern the
pleasant season expired； I shall now and then turn them that way； though
it escape from my blood and veins； I shall not； however； root the image
of it out of my memory：
〃Hoc est
Vivere bis； vita posse priore frui。〃
＇〃'Tis to live twice to be able to enjoy one's former life again。〃
Martial； x。 23； 7。＇
Plato ordains that old men should be present at the exercises； dances；
and sports of young people； that they may rejoice in others for the
activity and beauty of body which is no more in themselves； and call to
mind the grace and comeliness of that flourishing age； and wills that in
these recreations the honour of the prize should be given to that young
man who has most diverted the company。 I was formerly wont to mark
cloudy and gloomy days as extraordinary； these are now my ordinary days；
the extraordinary are the clear and bright； I am ready to leap for joy；
as for an unwonted favour； when nothing happens me。 Let me tickle
myself； I cannot force a poor smile from this wretched body of mine；
I am only merry in conceit and in dreaming； by artifice to divert the
melancholy of age； but； in faith； it requires another remedy than a
dream。 A weak contest of art against nature。 'Tis great folly to
lengthen and anticipate human incommodities； as every one does； I had
rather be a less while old than be old before I am really so。' I seize on
even the least occasions of pleasure I can meet。 I know very well； by
hearsay； several sorts of prudent pleasures； effectually so； and glorious
to boot； but opinion has not power enough over me to give me an appetite
to them。 I covet not so much to have them magnanimous； magnificent； and
pompous； as I do to have them sweet； facile； and ready：
〃A natura discedimus； populo nos damus；
nullius rei bono auctori。〃
＇〃We depart from nature and give ourselves to the people； who
understand nothing。〃Seneca； Ep。； 99。＇
My philosophy is in action； in natural and present practice； very little
in fancy： what if I should take pleasure in playing at cob…nut or to whip
a top！
〃Non ponebat enim rumores ante salutem。〃
＇〃He did not sacrifice his health even to rumours： Ennius； apud
Cicero； De Offic。； i。 24＇
Pleasure is a quality of very little ambition； it thinks itself rich
enough of itself without any addition of repute； and is best pleased
where most retired。 A young man should be whipped who pretends to a
taste in wine and sauces； there was nothing which； at that age； I less
valued or knew： now I begin to learn； I am very much ashamed on't； but
what should I do？ I am more ashamed and vexed at the occasions that put
me upon't。 'Tis for us to dote and trifle away the time； and for young
men to stand upon their reputation and nice punctilios； they are going
towards the world and the world's opinion； we are retiring from it：
〃Sibi arma； sibi equos； sibi hastas； sibi clavam； sibi pilam；
sibi natationes； et cursus habeant： nobis senibus； ex lusionibus
multis； talos relinquant et tesseras；〃
＇〃Let them reserve to themselves arms； horses； spears； clubs；
tennis； swimming； and races； and of all the sports leave to us old
men cards and dice。〃Cicero； De Senec。； c。 16。＇
the laws themselves send us home。 I can do no less in favour of this
wretched condition into which my age has thrown me than furnish it with
toys to play withal； as they do children； and； in truth； we become such。
Both wisdom and folly will have enough to do to support and relieve me by
alternate services in this calamity of age：
〃Misce stultitiam consiliis brevem。〃
＇〃Mingle with counsels a brief interval of folly。〃
Horace； Od。； iv。 12； 27。＇
I accordingly avoid the lightest punctures； and those that formerly would
not have rippled the skin； now pierce me through and through： my habit of
body is now so naturally declining to ill：
〃In fragili corpore odiosa omnis offensio est；〃
＇〃In a fragile body every shock is obnoxious。〃
Cicero； De Senec。； c。 18。＇
〃Mensque pati durum sustinet aegra nihil。〃
＇〃And the infirm mind can bear no difficult exertion。〃
Ovid； De Ponto。； i。 5； 18。＇
I have ever been very susceptibly tender as to offences： I am much more
tender now； and open throughout。
〃Et minimae vires frangere quassa valent。〃
＇〃And little force suffices to break what was cracked before。〃
Ovid； De Tris。； iii。 11； 22。＇
My judgment restrains me from kicking against and murmuring at the
inconveniences that nature orders me to endure； but it does not take away
my feeling them： I； who have no other thing in my aim but to live and be
merry； would run from one end of the world to the other to seek out one
good year of pleasant and jocund tranquillity。 A melancholic and dull
tranquillity may be enough for me； but it benumbs and stupefies me； I am
not contented with it。 If there be any person； any knot of good company
in country or city； in France or elsewhere； resident or in motion； who
