the essays of montaigne, v15-第16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！
moment so congealed and extinguished。 This appetite ought to appertain
only to the flower of beautiful youth： trust not to its seconding that
indefatigable； full； constant； magnanimous ardour you think in you； for
it will certainly leave you in a pretty corner； but rather transfer it to
some tender； bashful； and ignorant boy； who yet trembles at the rod； and
blushes：
〃Indum sanguineo veluti violaverit ostro
Si quis ebur； vel mista rubent ubi lilia multa
Alba rosa。〃
＇〃As Indian ivory streaked with crimson； or white lilies mixed
with the damask rose。〃AEneid； xii。 67。＇
Who can stay till the morning without dying for shame to behold the
disdain of the fair eyes of her who knows so well his fumbling
impertinence；
〃Et taciti fecere tamen convicia vultus；〃
＇〃Though she nothing say； her looks betray her anger。〃
Ovid； Amor。； i。 7； 21。＇
has never had the satisfaction and the glory of having cudgelled them
till they were weary； with the vigorous performance of one heroic night。
When I have observed any one to be vexed with me； I have not presently
accused her levity； but have been in doubt； if I had not reason rather to
complain of nature； she has doubtless used me very uncivilly and
unkindly：
〃Si non longa satis； si non bene mentula crassa
Nimirum sapiunt； videntque parvam
Matronae quoque mentulam illibenter：〃
＇The first of these verses is the commencement of an epigram of the
Veterum Poetayurra Catalecta； and the two others are from an epigram
in the same collection （Ad Matrones）。 They describe untranslatably
Montaigne's charge against nature； indicated in the previous
passage。＇
and done me a most enormous injury。 Every member I have； as much one as
another； is equally my own； and no other more properly makes me a man
than this。
I universally owe my entire picture to the public。 The wisdom of my
instruction consists in liberty； in truth； in essence： disdaining to
introduce those little； feigned； common； and provincial rules into the
catalogue of its real duties； all natural； general； and constant；
of which civility and ceremony are daughters indeed； but illegitimate。
We are sure to have the vices of appearance； when we shall have had those
of essence： when we have done with these； we run full drive upon the
others； if we find it must be so； for there is danger that we shall fancy
new offices； to excuse our negligence towards the natural ones； and to
confound them： and to manifest this； is it not seen that in places where
faults are crimes； crimes are but faults； that in nations where the laws
of decency are most rare and most remiss； the primitive laws of common
reason are better observed： the innumerable multitude of so many duties
stifling and dissipating our care。 The application of ourselves to light
and trivial things diverts us from those that are necessary and just。
Oh； how these superficial men take an easy and plausible way in
comparison of ours！ These are shadows wherewith we palliate and pay one
another； but we do not pay； but inflame the reckoning towards that great
judge； who tucks up our rags and tatters above our shameful parts； and
suckles not to view us all over； even to our inmost and most secret
ordures： it were a useful decency of our maidenly modesty； could it keep
him from this discovery。 In fine； whoever could reclaim man from so
scrupulous a verbal superstition； would do the world no great disservice。
Our life is divided betwixt folly and prudence： whoever will write of it
but what is reverend and canonical； will leave above the one…half behind。
I do not excuse myself to myself； and if I did； it should rather be for
my excuses that I would excuse myself than for any other fault； I excuse
myself of certain humours； which I think more strong in number than those
that are on my side。 In consideration of which； I will further say this
（for I desire to please every one； though it will be hard to do）：
〃Esse unum hominem accommodatum ad tantam morum
ac sermonum et voluntatum varietatem；〃
＇〃For a man to conform to such a variety of manners；
discourses； and will。〃Q。 Cicero； De Pet。 Consul； c。 14。＇
that they ought not to condemn me for what I make authorities； received
and approved by so many ages； to utter： and that there is no reason that
for want of rhyme they should refuse me the liberty they allow even to
churchmen of our nation and time； and these amongst the most notable； of
which here are two of their brisk verses：
〃Rimula； dispeream； ni monogramma tua est。〃
〃Un vit d'amy la contente et bien traicte：〃
＇St。 Gelais； （Euvres Poetiques； p。 99； ed。 of Lyons； 1574。＇
besides how many others。 I love modesty； and 'tis not out of judgment
that I have chosen this scandalous way of speaking； 'tis nature that has
chosen it for me。 I commend it not； no more than other forms that are
contrary to common use： but I excuse it； and by circumstances both
general and particular； alleviate its accusation。
But to proceed。 Whence； too； can proceed that usurpation of sovereign
authority you take upon you over the women； who favour you at their own
expense；
〃Si furtiva dedit mira munuscula nocte；〃
＇〃If； in the stealthy night； she has made strange gifts。〃
Catullus； lxviii。 145。＇
so that you presently assume the interest； coldness； and authority of a
husband？ 'Tis a free contract why do you not then keep to it； as you
would have them do？ there is no prescription upon voluntary things。
'Tis against the form； but it is true withal； that I in my time have
conducted this bargain as much as the nature of it would permit； as
conscientiously and with as much colour of justice； as any other
contract； and that I never pretended other affection than what I really
had； and have truly acquainted them with its birth； vigour； and
declination； its fits and intermissions： a man does not always hold on
at the same rate。 I have been so sparing of my promises； that I think
I have been better than my word。 They have found me faithful even to
service of their inconstancy； a confessed and sometimes multiplied
inconstancy。 I never broke with them； whilst I had any hold at all； and
what occasion soever they have given me； never broke with them to hatred
or contempt； for such privacies； though obtained upon never so scandalous
terms； do yet oblige to some good will： I have sometimes； upon their
tricks and evasions； discovered a little indiscreet anger and impatience；
for I am naturally subject to rash emotions； which； though light and
short； often spoil my market。 At any time they have consulted my
judgment； I never stuck to give them sharp and paternal counsels； and to
pinch them to the quick。 If I have left them any cause to complain of
me； 'tis rather to have found in me； in comparison of the modern use； a
love foolishly conscientious than anything else。 I have kept my； word in
things wherein I might easily have been dispensed； they sometimes
surrendered themselves with reputation； and upon articles that they were
willing enough should be broken by the conqueror： I have； more than once；
made pleasure in its greatest effort strike to the interest of their
honour； and where reason importuned me； have armed them against myself；
so that they ordered themselves more decorously and securely by my rules；
when they frankly referred themselves to them； than they would have done
by their own。 I have ever； as much as I could； wholly taken upon myself
alone the hazard of our assignations； to acquit them； and have always
contrived our meetings after the hardest and most unusual manner； as less
suspected； and； moreover； in my opinion； more accessible。 They are
chiefly more open； where they think they are most securely shut； things
least feared are least interdicted and observed； one may more boldly dare
what nobody thinks you dare； which by its difficulty becomes easy。 Never
had any man his approaches more impertinently generative； this way of
loving is more according to discipline
