the essays of montaigne, v17-第18章
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sight of places which we know to have been frequented and inhabited by
persons whose memories are recommended in story； moves us in some sort
more than to hear a recital of theiracts or to read their writings？
〃Tanta vis admonitionis inest in locis。。。。Et id quidem in hac urbe
infinitum； quacumque enim ingredimur； in aliquam historiam vestigium
ponimus。〃
＇〃So great a power of reminiscence resides in places； and that truly
in this city infinite； for which way soever we go； we find the
traces of some story。〃Cicero； De Fin。； v。 I； 2。＇
It pleases me to consider their face； bearing； and vestments： I pronounce
those great names betwixt my teeth； and make them ring in my ears：
〃Ego illos veneror； et tantis nominibus semper assurgo。〃
＇〃I reverence them； and always rise to so great names。〃
Seneca； Ep。； 64。＇
Of things that are in some part great and admirable； I admire even the
common parts： I could wish to see them in familiar relations； walk； and
sup。 It were ingratitude to contemn the relics and images of so many
worthy and valiant men as I have seen live and die； and who； by their
example； give us so many good instructions； knew we how to follow them。
And； moreover； this very Rome that we now see； deserves to be beloved； so
long and by so many titles allied to our crown； the only common and
universal city； the sovereign magistrate that commands there is equally
acknowledged elsewhere 'tis the metropolitan city of all the Christian
nations the Spaniard and Frenchman is there at home： to be a prince of
that state； there needs no more but to be of Christendom wheresoever。
There is no place upon earth that heaven has embraced with such an
influence and constancy of favour； her very ruins are grand and glorious；
〃Laudandis pretiosior ruinis。〃
＇〃More precious from her glorious ruins。〃
Sidonius Apollinaris； Carm。； xxiii。； Narba； v。 62。＇
she yet in her very tomb retains the marks and images of empire：
〃Ut palam sit； uno in loco gaudentis opus esse naturx。〃
＇〃That it may be manifest that there is in one place the work of
rejoicing nature。〃Pliny； Nat。 Hist。； iii。 5。＇
Some would blame and be angry at themselves to perceive themselves
tickled with so vain a pleasure our humours are never too vain that are
pleasant let them be what they may； if they constantly content a man of
common understanding； I could not have the heart to blame him。
I am very much obliged to Fortune； in that； to this very hour； she has
offered me no outrage beyond what I was well able to bear。 Is it not her
custom to let those live in quiet by whom she is not importuned？
〃Quanto quisque sibi plum negaverit；
A diis plum feret： nil cupientium
Nudus castra peto 。 。 。 。
Multa petentibus
Desunt multa。〃
＇〃The more each man denies himself； the more the gods give him。
Poor as I am； I seek the company of those who ask nothing； they who
desire much will be deficient in much。〃
Horace； Od。； iii。 16；21；42。＇
If she continue her favour； she will dismiss me very well satisfied：
〃Nihil supra
Deos lacesso。〃
＇〃I trouble the gods no farther。〃Horace； Od。； ii。 18； 11。＇
But beware a shock： there are a thousand who perish in the port。
I easily comfort myself for what shall here happen when I shall be gone；
present things trouble me enough：
〃Fortunae caetera mando。〃
＇〃I leave the rest to fortune。〃Ovid； Metam。； ii。 140。＇
Besides； I have not that strong obligation that they say ties men to the
future； by the issue that succeeds to their name and honour； and
peradventure； ought less to covet them； if they are to be so much
desired。 I am but too much tied to the world； and to this life； of
myself： I am content to be in Fortune's power by circumstances properly
necessary to my being； without otherwise enlarging her jurisdiction over
me； and have never thought that to be without children was a defect that
ought to render life less complete or less contented： a sterile vocation
has its conveniences too。 Children are of the number of things that are
not so much to be desired； especially now that it would be so hard to
make them good：
〃Bona jam nec nasci licet； ita corrupta Bunt semina；〃
＇〃Nothing good can be born now； the seed is so corrupt。〃
Tertullian； De Pudicita。＇
and yet they are justly to be lamented by such as lose them when they
have them。
He who left me my house in charge； foretold that I was like to ruin it；
considering my humour so little inclined to look after household affairs。
But he was mistaken； for I am in the same condition now as when I first
entered into it； or rather somewhat better； and yet without office or any
place of profit。
As to the rest； if Fortune has never done me any violent or extraordinary
injury； neither has she done me any particular favour； whatever we derive
from her bounty； was there above a hundred years before my time： I have；
as to my own particular； no essential and solid good； that I stand
indebted for to her liberality。 She has； indeed； done me some airy
favours； honorary and titular favours； without substance； and those in
truth she has not granted； but offered me； who； God knows； am all
material； and who take nothing but what is real； and indeed massive too；
for current pay： and who； if I durst confess so much； should not think
avarice much less excusable than ambition： nor pain less to be avoided
than shame； nor health less to be coveted than learning； or riches than
nobility。
Amongst those empty favours of hers； there is none that so much pleases
vain humour natural to my country； as an authentic bull of a Roman
burgess…ship； that was granted me when I was last there； glorious in
seals and gilded letters； and granted with all gracious liberality。 And
because 'tis couched in a mixt style； more or less favourable； and that I
could have been glad to have seen a copy of it before it had passed the
seal。
Being before burgess of no city at all； I am glad to be created one of
the most noble that ever was or ever shall be。 If other men would
consider themselves at the rate I do； they would； as I do； discover
themselves to be full of inanity and foppery； to rid myself of it； I
cannot； without making myself away。 We are all steeped in it； as well
one as another； but they who are not aware on't； have somewhat the better
bargain； and yet I know not whether they have or no。
This opinion and common usage to observe others more than ourselves has
very much relieved us that way： 'tis a very displeasing object： we can
there see nothing but misery and vanity： nature； that we may not be
dejected with the sight of our own deformities； has wisely thrust the
action of seeing outward。 We go forward with the current； but to turn
back towards ourselves is a painful motion； so is the sea moved and
troubled when the waves rush against one another。 Observe； says every
one； the motions of the heavens； of public affairs； observe the quarrel
of such a person； take notice of such a one's pulse； of such another's
last will and testament； in sum； be always looking high or low； on one
side； before or behind you。 It was a paradoxical command anciently given
us by that god of Delphos： 〃Look into yourself； discover yourself； keep
close to yourself； call back your mind and will； that elsewhere consume
themselves into yourself； you run out； you spill yourself； carry a more
steady hand： men betray you； men spill you； men steal you from yourself。
Dost thou not see that this world we live in keeps all its sight confined
within； and its eyes open to contemplate itself？ 'Tis always vanity for
thee； both within and without； but 'tis less vanity when less extended。
Excepting thee； O man； said that god； everything studies itself first；
and has bounds to its labours and desires； according to its need。 There
is nothing so empty and necessitous as thou； who embracest the universe；
thou a
