the essays of montaigne, v6-第13章
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break a lance in honour of his new bride； went out to skirmish near St。
Omer； where the Sieur d'Estrees proving the stronger； took him prisoner；
and the more to illustrate his victory； the lady was fain
〃Conjugis ante coacta novi dimittere collum；
Quam veniens una atque altera rursus hyems
Noctibus in longis avidum saturasset amorem；〃
＇〃Compelled to abstain from embracing her new spouse in her arms
before two winters pass in succession； during their long nights had
satiated her eager love。〃Catullus； lxviii。 81。＇
to request him of courtesy； to deliver up his prisoner to her； as he
accordingly did； the gentlemen of France never denying anything to
ladies。
Does she not seem to be an artist here？ Constantine； son of Helena；
founded the empire of Constantinople； and so many ages after；
Constantine； the son of Helen； put an end to it。 Sometimes she is
pleased to emulate our miracles we are told； that King Clovis besieging
Angouleme； the walls fell down of themselves by divine favour and Bouchet
has it from some author； that King Robert having sat down before a city；
and being stolen away from the siege to go keep the feast of St。 Aignan
at Orleans； as he was in devotion at a certain part of the Mass； the
walls of the beleaguered city； without any manner of violence； fell down
with a sudden ruin。 But she did quite contrary in our Milan wars； for；
le Capitaine Rense laying siege for us to the city Arona； and having
carried a mine under a great part of the wall； the mine being sprung； the
wall was lifted from its base； but dropped down again nevertheless； whole
and entire； and so exactly upon its foundation； that the besieged
suffered no inconvenience by that attempt。
Sometimes she plays the physician。 Jason of Pheres being given over by
the physicians； by reason of an imposthume in his breast； having a mind
to rid himself of his pain； by death at least； threw himself in a battle
desperately into the thickest of the enemy； where he was so fortunately
wounded quite through the body； that the imposthume broke； and he was
perfectly cured。 Did she not also excel the painter Protogenes in his
art？ who having finished the picture of a dog quite tired and out of
breath； in all the other parts excellently well to his own liking； but
not being able to express； as he would； the slaver and foam that should
come out of its mouth； vexed and angry at his work； he took his sponge；
which by cleaning his pencils had imbibed several sorts of colours； and
threw it in a rage against the picture； with an intent utterly to deface
it； when fortune guiding the sponge to hit just upon the mouth of the
dog； it there performed what all his art was not able to do。 Does she
not sometimes direct our counsels and correct them？ Isabel； Queen of
England； having to sail from Zealand into her own kingdom； ＇in 1326＇
with an army； in favour of her son against her husband； had been lost；
had she come into the port she intended； being there laid wait for by the
enemy； but fortune； against her will； threw her into another haven； where
she landed in safety。 And that man of old who； throwing a stone at a
dog； hit and killed his mother…in…law； had he not reason to pronounce
this verse：
＇〃Fortune has more judgement than we。〃Menander＇
Icetes had contracted with two soldiers to kill Timoleon at Adrana in
Sicily。＇Plutarch； Life of Timoleon； c。 7。＇ They took their time to do
it when he was assisting at a sacrifice； and thrusting into the crowd；
as they were making signs to one another； that now was a fit time to do
their business； in steps a third； who； with a sword takes one of them
full drive over the pate； lays him dead upon the place and runs away；
which the others see； and concluding himself discovered and lost； runs to
the altar and begs for mercy； promising to discover the whole truth；
which as he was doing； and laying open the full conspiracy； behold the
third man； who being apprehended； was； as a murderer； thrust and hauled
by the people through the press； towards Timoleon； and the other most
eminent persons of the assembly； before whom being brought； he cries out
for pardon； pleading that he had justly slain his father's murderer；
which he； also； proving upon the spot； by sufficient witnesses； whom his
good fortune very opportunely supplied him withal； that his father was
really killed in the city of Leontini； by that very man on whom he had
taken his revenge； he was presently awarded ten Attic minae； for having
had the good fortune； by designing to revenge the death of his father；
to preserve the life of the common father of Sicily。 Fortune； truly； in
her conduct surpasses all the rules of human prudence。
But to conclude： is there not a direct application of her favour； bounty；
and piety manifestly discovered in this action？ Ignatius the father and
Ignatius the son being proscribed by the triumvirs of Rome； resolved upon
this generous act of mutual kindness； to fall by the hands of one
another； and by that means to frustrate and defeat the cruelty of the
tyrants； and accordingly with their swords drawn； ran full drive upon one
another； where fortune so guided the points； that they made two equally
mortal wounds； affording withal so much honour to so brave a friendship；
as to leave them just strength enough to draw out their bloody swords；
that they might have liberty to embrace one another in this dying
condition； with so close and hearty an embrace； that the executioner cut
off both their heads at once； leaving the bodies still fast linked
together in this noble bond； and their wounds joined mouth to mouth；
affectionately sucking in the last blood and remainder of the lives of
each other。
CHAPTER XXXIV
OF ONE DEFECT IN OUR GOVERNMENT
My late father； a man that had no other advantages than experience and
his own natural parts； was nevertheless of a very clear judgment；
formerly told me that he once had thoughts of endeavouring to introduce
this practice； that there might be in every city a certain place assigned
to which such as stood in need of anything might repair； and have their
business entered by an officer appointed for that purpose。 As for
example： I want a chapman to buy my pearls； I want one that has pearls to
sell； such a one wants company to go to Paris； such a one seeks a servant
of such a quality； such a one a master； such a one such an artificer；
some inquiring for one thing； some for another； every one according to
what he wants。 And doubtless； these mutual advertisements would be of no
contemptible advantage to the public correspondence and intelligence： for
there are evermore conditions that hunt after one another； and for want
of knowing one another's occasions leave men in very great necessity。
I have heard； to the great shame of the age we live in； that in our very
sight two most excellent men for learning died so poor that they had
scarce bread to put in their mouths： Lilius Gregorius Giraldus in Italy
and Sebastianus Castalio in Germany： and I believe there are a thousand
men would have invited them into their families； with very advantageous
conditions； or have relieved them where they were； had they known their
wants。 The world is not so generally corrupted； but that I know a man
that would heartily wish the estate his ancestors have left him might be
employed； so long as it shall please fortune to give him leave to enjoy
it； to secure rare and remarkable persons of any kind； whom misfortune
sometimes persecutes to the last degree； from the dangers of necessity；
and at least place them in such a condition that they must be very hard
to please； if they are not contented。
My father in his domestic economy had this rule （which I know how to
commend； but by no means to imitate）； namely； that besides the day…book
or memorial of household affairs； where the small accounts； payments； and
disbursements； which do not require a secretary's hand； were entered； and
which a steward always had in custody； he ordered him whom he employed to
write for him； to keep a journal； and in it to set down all the
remarkable occurrences； and daily me
