the essays of montaigne, v8-第7章
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nothing in him above the ordinary writers of his time； so far is he from
approaching the ancient divinity。 And we make nothing of giving the
surname of great to princes who have nothing more than ordinary in them。
CHAPTER LII
OF THE PARSIMONY OF THE ANCIENTS
Attilius Regulus； general of the Roman army in Africa； in the height of
all his glory and victories over the Carthaginians； wrote to the Republic
to acquaint them that a certain hind he had left in trust with his
estate； which was in all but seven acres of land； had run away with all
his instruments of husbandry； and entreating therefore； that they would
please to call him home that he might take order in his own affairs； lest
his wife and children should suffer by this disaster。 Whereupon the
Senate appointed another to manage his business； caused his losses to be
made good； and ordered his family to be maintained at the public expense。
The elder Cato； returning consul from Spain； sold his warhorse to save
the money it would have cost in bringing it back by sea into Italy； and
being Governor of Sardinia； he made all his visits on foot； without other
train than one officer of the Republic who carried his robe and a censer
for sacrifices； and for the most part carried his trunk himself。 He
bragged that he had never worn a gown that cost above ten crowns； nor had
ever sent above tenpence to the market for one day's provision； and that
as to his country houses； he had not one that was rough…cast on the
outside。
Scipio AEmilianus； after two triumphs and two consulships； went an
embassy with no more than seven servants in his train。 'Tis said that
Homer had never more than one； Plato three； and Zeno； founder of the sect
of Stoics； none at all。 Tiberius Gracchus was allowed but fivepence
halfpenny a day when employed as public minister about the public
affairs； and being at that time the greatest man of Rome。
CHAPTER LIII
OF A SAYING OF CAESAR
If we would sometimes bestow a little consideration upon ourselves； and
employ the time we spend in prying into other men's actions； and
discovering things without us； in examining our own abilities we should
soon perceive of how infirm and decaying material this fabric of ours is
composed。 Is it not a singular testimony of imperfection that we cannot
establish our satisfaction in any one thing； and that even our own fancy
and desire should deprive us of the power to choose what is most proper
and useful for us？ A very good proof of this is the great dispute that
has ever been amongst the philosophers； of finding out man's sovereign
good； that continues yet； and will eternally continue； without solution
or accord：
〃Dum abest quod avemus； id exsuperare videtur
Caetera； post aliud； quum contigit illud； avemus；
Et sitis aequa tenet。〃
＇〃While that which we desire is wanting； it seems to surpass all the
rest； then； when we have got it； we want something else； 'tis ever
the same thirst〃Lucretius； iii。 1095。
Whatever it is that falls into our knowledge and possession； we find that
it satisfies not； and we still pant after things to come and unknown；
inasmuch as those present do not suffice for us； not that； in my
judgment； they have not in them wherewith to do it； but because we seize
them with an unruly and immoderate haste：
〃Nam quum vidit hic； ad victum qux flagitat usus；
Et per quae possent vitam consistere tutam；
Omnia jam ferme mortalibus esse parata；
Divitiis homines； et honore； et laude potentes
Aflluere； atque bona natorum excellere fama；
Nec minus esse domi cuiquam tamen anxia corda；
Atque animi ingratis vitam vexare querelis
Causam； quae infestis cogit saevire querelis；
Intellegit ibi； vitium vas efficere ipsum；
Omniaque； illius vitio； corrumpier intus；
Qux collata foris et commoda quomque venirent。〃
＇〃For when he saw that almost all things necessarily required for
subsistence； and which may render life comfortable； are already
prepared to their hand； that men may abundantly attain wealth；
honour； praise； may rejoice in the reputation of their children； yet
that； notwithstanding； every one has none the less in his heart and
home anxieties and a mind enslaved by wearing complaints； he saw
that the vessel itself was in fault； and that all good things which
were brought into it from without were spoilt by its own
imperfections。〃Lucretius； vi。 9。＇
Our appetite is irresolute and fickle； it can neither keep nor enjoy
anything with a good grace： and man concluding it to be the fault of the
things he is possessed of； fills himself with and feeds upon the idea of
things he neither knows nor understands； to which he devotes his hopes
and his desires； paying them all reverence and honour； according to the
saying of Caesar：
〃Communi fit vitio naturae； ut invisis； latitantibus
atque incognitis rebus magis confidamas；
vehementiusque exterreamur。〃
＇〃'Tis the common vice of nature； that we at once repose most
confidence； and receive the greatest apprehensions； from things
unseen； concealed； and unknown。〃De Bello Civil； xi。 4。＇
CHAPTER LIV
OF VAIN SUBTLETIES
There are a sort of little knacks and frivolous subtleties from which men
sometimes expect to derive reputation and applause： as poets； who compose
whole poems with every line beginning with the same letter； we see the
shapes of eggs； globes； wings； and hatchets cut out by the ancient Greeks
by the measure of their verses； making them longer or shorter； to
represent such or such a figure。 Of this nature was his employment who
made it his business to compute into how many several orders the letters
of the alphabet might be transposed； and found out that incredible number
mentioned in Plutarch。 I am mightily pleased with the humour of him；
＇〃Alexander； as may be seen in Quintil。； Institut。 Orat。； lib。
ii。； cap。 20； where he defines Maratarexvia 'to be a certain
unnecessary imitation of art； which really does neither good nor
harm； but is as unprofitable and ridiculous as was the labour of
that man who had so perfectly learned to cast small peas through the
eye of a needle at a good distance that he never missed one； and was
justly rewarded for it； as is said； by Alexander； who saw the
performance； with a bushel of peas。〃Coste。
who having a man brought before him that had learned to throw a grain of
millet with such dexterity and assurance as never to miss the eye of a
needle； and being afterwards entreated to give something for the reward
of so rare a performance； he pleasantly； and in my opinion justly；
ordered a certain number of bushels of the same grain to be delivered to
him； that he might not want wherewith to exercise so famous an art。 'Tis
a strong evidence of a weak judgment when men approve of things for their
being rare and new； or for their difficulty； where worth and usefulness
are not conjoined to recommend them。
I come just now from playing with my own family at who could find out the
most things that hold by their two extremities； as Sire； which is a title
given to the greatest person in the nation； the king； and also to the
vulgar； as merchants； but never to any degree of men between。 The women
of great quality are called Dames； inferior gentlewomen； Demoiselles； and
the meanest sort of women； Dames； as the first。 The cloth of state over
our tables is not permitted but in the palaces of princes and in taverns。
Democritus said； that gods and beasts had sharper sense than men； who are
of a middle form。 The Romans wore the same habit at funerals and feasts。
It is most certain that an extreme fear and an extreme ardour of courage
equally trouble and relax the belly。 The nickname of Trembling with
which they surnamed Sancho XII。； king of Navarre； tells us that valour
will cause a trembling in the limbs as well as fear。 Those who were
arming that king； or some other person； who upon the like occasion was
