the essays of montaigne, v15-第6章
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Polemon the philosopher was justly by his wife brought before the judge
for sowing in a barren field the seed that was due to one that was
fruitful: if; on the other hand; they take a decayed fellow; they are in
a worse condition in marriage than either maids or widows。 We think them
well provided for; because they have a man to lie with; as the Romans
concluded Clodia Laeta; a vestal nun; violated; because Caligula had
approached her; though it was declared he did no more but approach her:
but; on the contrary; we by that increase their necessity; forasmuch as
the touch and company of any man whatever rouses their desires; that in
solitude would be more quiet。 And to the end; 'tis likely; that they
might render their chastity more meritorious by this circumstance and
consideration; Boleslas and Kinge his wife; kings of Poland; vowed it by
mutual consent; being in bed together; on their very wedding day; and
kept their vow in spite of all matrimonial conveniences。
We train them up from their infancy to the traffic of love; their grace;
dressing; knowledge; language; and whole instruction tend that way: their
governesses imprint nothing in them but the idea of love; if for nothing
else but by continually representing it to them; to give them a distaste
for it。 My daughter; the only child I have; is now of an age that
forward young women are allowed to be married at; she is of a slow; thin;
and tender complexion; and has accordingly been brought up by her mother
after a retired and particular manner; so that she but now begins to be
weaned from her childish simplicity。 She was reading before me in a
French book where the word 'fouteau'; the name of a tree very well known;
occurred; 'The beech…tree; the name resembles in sound an obscene
French word。' the woman; to whose conduct she is committed; stopped her
short a little roughly; and made her skip over that dangerous step。 I
let her alone; not to trouble their rules; for I never concern myself in
that sort of government; feminine polity has a mysterious procedure; we
must leave it to them; but if I am not mistaken the commerce of twenty
lacquies could not; in six months' time; have so imprinted in her memory
the meaning; usage; and all the consequence of the sound of these wicked
syllables; as this good old woman did by reprimand and interdiction。
〃Motus doceri gaudet Ionicos
Matura virgo; et frangitur artibus;
Jam nunc et incestos amores
De tenero; meditatur ungui。〃
'〃The maid ripe for marriage delights to learn Ionic dances; and to
imitate those lascivious movements。 Nay; already from her infancy
she meditates criminal amours。〃Horace; Od。; iii。 6; 21。; the text
has 'fingitur'。'
Let them but give themselves the rein a little; let them but enter into
liberty of discourse; we are but children to them in this science。 Hear
them but describe our pursuits and conversation; they will very well make
you understand that we bring them nothing they have not known before; and
digested without our help。
'This sentence refers to a conversation between some young women in
his immediate neighbourhood; which the Essayist just below informs
us that he overheard; and which was too shocking for him to repeat。
It must have been tolerably bad。Remark by the editor of a later
edition。'
Is it; perhaps; as Plato says; that they have formerly been debauched
young fellows? I happened one day to be in a place where I could hear
some of their talk without suspicion; I am sorry I cannot repeat it。
By'rlady; said I; we had need go study the phrases of Amadis; and the
tales of Boccaccio and Aretin; to be able to discourse with them: we
employ our time to much purpose indeed。 There is neither word; example;
nor step they are not more perfect in than our books; 'tis a discipline
that springs with their blood;
〃Et mentem ipsa Venus dedit;〃
'〃 Venus herself made them what they are;〃
Virg。; Georg。; iii。 267。'
which these good instructors; nature; youth; and health; are continually
inspiring them with; they need not learn; they breed it:
〃Nec tantum niveo gavisa est ulla columbo;
Compar; vel si quid dicitur improbius;
Oscula mordenti semper decerpere rostro;
Quantum praecipue multivola est mulier。〃
'〃No milk…white dove; or if there be a thing more lascivious;
takes so much delight in kissing as woman; wishful for every man
she sees。〃Catullus; lxvi。 125。'
So that if the natural violence of their desire were not a little
restrained by fear and honour; which were wisely contrived for them; we
should be all shamed。 All the motions in the world resolve into and tend
to this conjunction; 'tis a matter infused throughout: 'tis a centre to
which all things are directed。 We yet see the edicts of the old and wise
Rome made for the service of love; and the precepts of Socrates for the
instruction of courtezans:
〃Noncon libelli Stoici inter sericos
Jacere pulvillos amant:〃
'〃There are writings of the Stoics which we find lying upon
silken cushions。〃Horace; Epod。; viii。 15。'
Zeno; amongst his laws; also regulated the motions to be observed in
getting a maidenhead。 What was the philosopher Strato's book Of Carnal
Conjunction?' Diogenes Laertius; v。 59。' And what did Theophrastus
treat of in those he intituled; the one 'The Lover'; and the other 'Of
Love?' Of what Aristippus in his 'Of Former Delights'? What do the so
long and lively descriptions in Plato of the loves of his time pretend
to? and the book called 'The Lover'; of Demetrius Phalereus? and
'Clinias'; or the 'Ravished Lover'; of Heraclides; and that of
Antisthenes; 'Of Getting Children'; or; 'Of Weddings'; and the other;
'Of the Master or the Lover'? And that of Aristo: 'Of Amorous Exercises'
What those of Cleanthes: one; 'Of Love'; the other; 'Of the Art of
Loving'? The amorous dialogues of Sphaereus? and the fable of Jupiter
and Juno; of Chrysippus; impudent beyond all toleration? And his fifty
so lascivious epistles? I will let alone the writings of the
philosophers of the Epicurean sect; protectress of voluptuousness。 Fifty
deities were; in time past; assigned to this office; and there have been
nations where; to assuage the lust of those who came to their devotion;
they kept men and women in their temples for the worshippers to lie with;
and it was an act of ceremony to do this before they went to prayers:
〃Nimirum propter continentiam incontinentia necessaria est;
incendium ignibus extinguitur。〃
'〃Forsooth incontinency is necessary for continency's sake; a
conflagration is extinguished by fire。〃'
In the greatest part of the world; that member of our body was deified;
in the same province; some flayed off the skin to offer and consecrate a
piece; others offered and consecrated their seed。 In another; the young
men publicly cut through betwixt the skin and the flesh of that part in
several places; and thrust pieces of wood into the openings as long and
thick as they would receive; and of these pieces of wood afterwards made
a fire as an offering to their gods; and were reputed neither vigorous
nor chaste; if by the force of that cruel pain they seemed to be at all
dismayed。 Elsewhere the most sacred magistrate was reverenced and
acknowledged by that member and in several ceremonies the effigy of it
was carried in pomp to the honour of various divinities。 The Egyptian
ladies; in their Bacchanalia; each carried one finely…carved of wood
about their necks; as large and heavy as she could so carry it; besides
which; the statue of their god presented one; which in greatness
surpassed all the rest of his body。 'Herodotus; ii。 48; says 〃nearly
as large as the body itself。〃' The married women; near the place where
I live; make of their kerchiefs the figure of one upon their foreheads;
to glorify themselves in the enjoyment they have of it; and coming to be
widows; they throw