the essays of montaigne, v6-第7章
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them； and be real afflictions indeed； and not fall out as it once did to
one Gallio； who having been sent an exile into the isle of Lesbos； news
was not long after brought to Rome； that he there lived as merry as the
day was long； and that what had been enjoined him for a penance； turned
to his pleasure and satisfaction： whereupon the Senate thought fit to
recall him home to his wife and family； and confine him to his own house；
to accommodate their punishment to his feeling and apprehension。 For to
him whom fasting would make more healthful and more sprightly； and to him
to whose palate fish were more acceptable than flesh； the prescription of
these would have no curative effect； no more than in the other sort of
physic； where drugs have no effect upon him who swallows them with
appetite and pleasure： the bitterness of the potion and the abhorrence of
the patient are necessary circumstances to the operation。 The nature
that would eat rhubarb like buttered turnips； would frustrate the use and
virtue of it； it must be something to trouble and disturb the stomach；
that must purge and cure it； and here the common rule； that things are
cured by their contraries； fails； for in this one ill is cured by
another。
This belief a little resembles that other so ancient one； of thinking to
gratify the gods and nature by massacre and murder： an opinion
universally once received in all religions。 And still； in these later
times wherein our fathers lived； Amurath at the taking of the Isthmus；
immolated six hundred young Greeks to his father's soul； in the nature of
a propitiatory sacrifice for his sins。 And in those new countries
discovered in this age of ours； which are pure and virgin yet； in
comparison of ours； this practice is in some measure everywhere received：
all their idols reek with human blood； not without various examples of
horrid cruelty： some they burn alive； and take； half broiled； off the
coals to tear out their hearts and entrails； some； even women； they flay
alive； and with their bloody skins clothe and disguise others。 Neither
are we without great examples of constancy and resolution in this affair
the poor souls that are to be sacrificed； old men； women； and children；
themselves going about some days before to beg alms for the offering of
their sacrifice； presenting themselves to the slaughter； singing and
dancing with the spectators。
The ambassadors of the king of Mexico； setting out to Fernando Cortez the
power and greatness of their master； after having told him； that he had
thirty vassals； of whom each was able to raise an hundred thousand
fighting men； and that he kept his court in the fairest and best
fortified city under the sun； added at last； that he was obliged yearly
to offer to the gods fifty thousand men。 And it is affirmed； that he
maintained a continual war； with some potent neighbouring nations； not
only to keep the young men in exercise； but principally to have
wherewithal to furnish his sacrifices with his prisoners of war。 At a
certain town in another place； for the welcome of the said Cortez； they
sacrificed fifty men at once。 I will tell you this one tale more； and I
have done； some of these people being beaten by him； sent to acknowledge
him； and to treat with him of a peace； whose messengers carried him three
sorts of gifts； which they presented in these terms： 〃Behold； lord； here
are five slaves： if thou art a furious god that feedeth upon flesh and
blood； eat these； and we will bring thee more； if thou art an affable
god； behold here incense and feathers； but if thou art a man； take these
fowls and these fruits that we have brought thee。〃
CHAPTER XXX
OF CANNIBALS
When King Pyrrhus invaded Italy； having viewed and considered the order
of the army the Romans sent out to meet him； 〃I know not；〃 said he；
〃what kind of barbarians〃 （for so the Greeks called all other nations）
〃these may be； but the disposition of this army that I see has nothing of
barbarism in it。〃 ＇Plutarch； Life of Pyrrhus； c。 8。＇ As much said the
Greeks of that which Flaminius brought into their country； and Philip；
beholding from an eminence the order and distribution of the Roman camp
formed in his kingdom by Publius Sulpicius Galba； spake to the same
effect。 By which it appears how cautious men ought to be of taking
things upon trust from vulgar opinion； and that we are to judge by the
eye of reason； and not from common report。
I long had a man in my house that lived ten or twelve years in the New
World； discovered in these latter days； and in that part of it where
Villegaignon landed；＇At Brazil； in 1557。＇ which he called Antarctic
France。 This discovery of so vast a country seems to be of very great
consideration。 I cannot be sure； that hereafter there may not be
another； so many wiser men than we having been deceived in this。 I am
afraid our eyes are bigger than our bellies； and that we have more
curiosity than capacity； for we grasp at all； but catch nothing but wind。
Plato brings in Solon； ＇In Timaeus。＇ telling a story that he had
heard from the priests of Sais in Egypt； that of old； and before the
Deluge； there was a great island called Atlantis； situate directly at the
mouth of the straits of Gibraltar； which contained more countries than
both Africa and Asia put together； and that the kings of that country；
who not only possessed that Isle； but extended their dominion so far into
the continent that they had a country of Africa as far as Egypt； and
extending in Europe to Tuscany； attempted to encroach even upon Asia； and
to subjugate all the nations that border upon the Mediterranean Sea； as
far as the Black Sea； and to that effect overran all Spain； the Gauls；
and Italy； so far as to penetrate into Greece； where the Athenians
stopped them： but that some time after； both the Athenians； and they and
their island； were swallowed by the Flood。
It is very likely that this extreme irruption and inundation of water
made wonderful changes and alterations in the habitations of the earth；
as 'tis said that the sea then divided Sicily from Italy
〃Haec loca； vi quondam et vasta convulsa ruina；
Dissiluisse ferunt； quum protenus utraque tellus
Una foret〃
＇〃These lands； they say； formerly with violence and vast desolation
convulsed； burst asunder； where erewhile were。〃AEneid； iii。 414。＇
Cyprus from Syria； the isle of Negropont from the continent of Beeotia；
and elsewhere united lands that were separate before； by filling up the
channel betwixt them with sand and mud：
〃Sterilisque diu palus； aptaque remis；
Vicinas urbes alit； et grave sentit aratrum。〃
＇〃That which was once a sterile marsh； and bore vessels on its
bosom； now feeds neighbouring cities； and admits the plough。〃
Horace； De Arte Poetica； v。 65。＇
But there is no great appearance that this isle was this New World so
lately discovered： for that almost touched upon Spain； and it were an
incredible effect of an inundation； to have tumbled back so prodigious a
mass； above twelve hundred leagues： besides that our modern navigators
have already almost discovered it to be no island； but terra firma； and
continent with the East Indies on the one side； and with the lands under
the two poles on the other side； or； if it be separate from them； it is
by so narrow a strait and channel； that it none the more deserves the
name of an island for that。
It should seem； that in this great body； there are two sorts of motions；
the one natural and the other febrific； as there are in ours。 When I
consider the impression that our river of Dordogne has made in my time on
the right bank of its descent； and that in twenty years it has gained so
much； and undermined the foundations of so many houses； I perceive it to
be an extraordinary agitation： for had it always followed this course；
or were hereafter to do it； the aspect of the world would be totally
changed。 But rivers alter their course； sometimes beating against the
one side； and sometimes the other； and some times quietly keeping the
channel。 I do not speak of sudden inundations； the causes of which
everyb
