the essays of montaigne, v15-第9章
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＇〃No enmities are bitter； save that of love。〃
（Or：） 〃No hate is implacable except the hatred of love〃
Propertius； ii。 8； 3。＇
This fever defaces and corrupts all they have of beautiful and good
besides； and there is no action of a jealous woman； let her be how chaste
and how good a housewife soever； that does not relish of anger and
wrangling； 'tis a furious agitation； that rebounds them to an extremity
quite contrary to its cause。 This held good with one Octavius at Rome。
Having lain with Pontia Posthumia； he augmented love with fruition； and
solicited with all importunity to marry her： unable to persuade her； this
excessive affection precipitated him to the effects of the most cruel and
mortal hatred： he killed her。 In like manner； the ordinary symptoms of
this other amorous disease are intestine hatreds； private conspiracies；
and cabals：
〃Notumque furens quid faemina possit；〃
＇〃And it is known what an angry woman is capable of doing。〃
AEneid； V。 21。＇
and a rage which so much the more frets itself； as it is compelled to
excuse itself by a pretence of good…will。
Now； the duty of chastity is of a vast extent； is it the will that we
would have them restrain？ This is a very supple and active thing； a
thing very nimble； to be stayed。 How？ if dreams sometimes engage them so
far that they cannot deny them： it is not in them； nor； peradventure； in
chastity itself； seeing that is a female； to defend itself from lust and
desire。 If we are only to trust to their will； what a case are we in；
then？ Do but imagine what crowding there would be amongst men in
pursuance of the privilege to run full speed； without tongue or eyes；
into every woman's arms who would accept them。 The Scythian women put
out the eyes of all their slaves and prisoners of war； that they might
have their pleasure of them； and they never the wiser。 O； the furious
advantage of opportunity！ Should any one ask me； what was the first
thing to be considered in love matters； I should answer that it was how
to take a fitting time； and so the second； and so the third'tis a point
that can do everything。 I have sometimes wanted fortune； but I have also
sometimes been wanting to myself in matters of attempt。 God help him；
who yet makes light of this！ There is greater temerity required in this
age of ours； which our young men excuse under the name of heat； but
should women examine it more strictly； they would find that it rather
proceeds from contempt。 I was always superstitiously afraid of giving
offence； and have ever had a great respect for her I loved： besides； he
who in this traffic takes away the reverence； defaces at the same time
the lustre。 I would in this affair have a man a little play the child；
the timorous； and the servant。 If not this； I have in other bashfulness
whereof altogether in things some air of the foolish Plutarch makes
mention； and the course of my life has been divers ways hurt and
blemished with it； a quality very ill suiting my universal form： and；
indeed； what are we but sedition and discrepancy？ I am as much out of
countenance to be denied as I am to deny； and it so much troubles me to
be troublesome to others that on occasion when duty compels me to try the
good…will of any one in a thing that is doubtful and that will be
chargeable to him； I do it very faintly； and very much against my will：
but if it be for my own particular （whatever Homer truly says； that
modesty is a foolish virtue in an indigent person）； I commonly commit it
to a third person to blush for me； and deny those who employ me with the
same difficulty： so that it has sometimes befallen me to have had a mind
to deny； when I had not the power to do it。
'Tis folly； then； to attempt to bridle in women a desire that is so
powerful in them； and so natural to them。 And when I hear them brag of
having so maidenly and so temperate a will； I laugh at them： they retire
too far back。 If it be an old toothless trot； or a young dry consumptive
thing； though it be not altogether to be believed； at least they say it
with more similitude of truth。 But they who still move and breathe； talk
at that ridiculous rate to their own prejudice； by reason that
inconsiderate excuses are a kind of self…accusation； like a gentleman； a
neighbour of mine； suspected to be insufficient：
〃Languidior tenera cui pendens sicula beta；
Numquam se mediam sustulit ad tunicam；〃
＇Catullus； lxvii。 2； i。 The sense is in the context。＇
who three or four days after he was married； to justify himself； went
about boldly swearing that he had ridden twenty stages the night before：
an oath that was afterwards made use of to convict him of his ignorance
in that affair； and to divorce him from his wife。 Besides； it signifies
nothing； for there is neither continency nor virtue where there are no
opposing desires。 It is true； they may say； but we will not yield；
saints themselves speak after that manner。 I mean those who boast in
good gravity of their coldness and insensibility； and who expect to be
believed with a serious countenance； for when 'tis spoken with an
affected look； when their eyes give the lie to their tongue； and when
they talk in the cant of their profession； which always goes against the
hair； 'tis good sport。 I am a great servant of liberty and plainness；
but there is no remedy； if it be not wholly simple or childish； 'tis
silly； and unbecoming ladies in this commerce； and presently runs into
impudence。 Their disguises and figures only serve to cosen fools； lying
is there in its seat of honour； 'tis a by…way； that by a back…door leads
us to truth。 If we cannot curb their imagination； what would we have
from them。 Effects？ There are enough of them that evade all foreign
communication； by which chastity may be corrupted：
〃Illud saepe facit； quod sine teste facit；〃
＇〃He often does that which he does without a witness。〃
Martial； vii。 62； 6。＇
and those which we fear the least are； peradventure； most to be feared；
their sins that make the least noise are the worst：
〃Offendor maecha simpliciore minus。〃
＇〃I am less offended with a more professed strumpet。〃
Idem； vi。 7；6。＇
There are ways by which they may lose their virginity without
prostitution； and； which is more； without their knowledge：
〃Obsterix； virginis cujusdam integritatem manu velut explorans； sive
malevolentia； sive inscitia； sive casu； dum inspicit； perdidit。〃
＇〃By malevolence； or unskilfulness； or accident； the midwife；
seeking with the hand to test some maiden's virginity； has sometimes
destroyed it。〃St。 Augustine； De Civit。 Dei； i。 18。＇
Such a one； by seeking her maidenhead； has lost it； another by playing
with it has destroyed it。 We cannot precisely circumscribe the actions；
we interdict them； they must guess at our meaning under general and
doubtful terms； the very idea we invent for their chastity is ridiculous：
for； amongst the greatest patterns that I have is Fatua； the wife of
Faunus： who never； after her marriage； suffered herself to be seen by any
man whatever； and the wife of Hiero； who never perceived her husband's
stinking breath； imagining that it was common to all men。 They must
become insensible and invisible to satisfy us。
Now let us confess that the knot of this judgment of duty principally
lies in the will； there have been husbands who have suffered cuckoldom；
not only without reproach or taking offence at their wives； but with
singular obligation to them and great commendation of their virtue。
Such a woman has been； who prized her honour above her life； and yet has
prostituted it to the furious lust of a mortal enemy； to save her
husband's life； and who； in so doing； did that for him she would not have
done for herself！ This is not the place wherein we are to multiply these
examples； they are too high and rich to be set off with so poor a foil as
I can give them here； let us reserve them for a nobler place； but for
examples of ordinary lustre； do we not every day see women amongst u
