the essays of montaigne, v17-第9章
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great trouble or care （for I have declared mortal war against all care）；
I am very ready to do every one the best service I can。 I have been very
willing to seek occasion to do people a good turn； and to attach them to
me； and methinks there is no more agreeable employment for our means。
But I have yet more avoided receiving than sought occasions of giving；
and moreover； according to Aristotle； it is more easy。； My fortune has
allowed me but little to do others good withal； and the little it can
afford； is put into a pretty close hand。 Had I been born a great person；
I should have been ambitious to have made myself beloved； not to make
myself feared or admired： shall I more plainly express it？ I should more
have endeavoured to please than to profit others。 Cyrus very wisely； and
by the mouth of a great captain； and still greater philosopher； prefers
his bounty and benefits much before his valour and warlike conquests；
and the elder Scipio； wherever he would raise himself in esteem； sets a
higher value upon his affability and humanity； than on his prowess and
victories； and has always this glorious saying in his mouth： 〃That he has
given his enemies as much occasion to love him as his friends。〃 I will
then say； that if a man must； of necessity； owe something； it ought to be
by a more legitimate title than that whereof I am speaking； to which the
necessity of this miserable war compels me； and not in so great a debt as
that of my total preservation both of life and fortune： it overwhelms me。
I have a thousand times gone to bed in my own house with an apprehension
that I should be betrayed and murdered that very night； compounding with
fortune； that it might be without terror and with quick despatch； and；
after my Paternoster； I have cried out；
〃Impius haec tam culta novalia miles habebit！〃
＇〃Shall impious soldiers have these new…ploughed grounds？〃
Virgil； Ecl。； i。 71。＇
What remedy？ 'tis the place of my birth； and that of most of my
ancestors； they have here fixed their affection and name。 We inure
ourselves to whatever we are accustomed to； and in so miserable a
condition as ours is； custom is a great bounty of nature； which benumbs
out senses to the sufferance of many evils。 A civil war has this with it
worse than other wars have； to make us stand sentinels in our own houses。
〃Quam miserum； porta vitam muroque tueri；
Vixque suae tutum viribus esse domus！〃
＇〃'Tis miserable to protect one's life by doors and walls； and to be
scarcely safe in one's own house。〃Ovid； Trist。； iv。 I； 69。＇
'Tis a grievous extremity for a man to be jostled even in his own house
and domestic repose。 The country where I live is always the first in
arms and the last that lays them down； and where there is never an
absolute peace：
〃Tunc quoque； cum pax est； trepidant formidine belli。。。。
Quoties Romam fortuna lacessit；
Hac iter est bellis。。。。 Melius； Fortuna； dedisses
Orbe sub Eoo sedem； gelidaque sub Arcto；
Errantesque domos。〃
＇〃Even when there's peace； there is here still the dear of war when
Fortune troubles peace； this is ever the way by which war passes。〃
Ovid； Trist。； iii。 10； 67。＇
＇〃We might have lived happier in the remote East or in the icy
North； or among the wandering tribes。〃Lucan； i。 255。＇
I sometimes extract the means to fortify myself against these
considerations from indifference and indolence； which； in some sort；
bring us on to resolution。 It often befalls me to imagine and expect
mortal dangers with a kind of delight： I stupidly plunge myself headlong
into death； without considering or taking a view of it； as into a deep
and obscure abyss which swallows me up at one leap； and involves me in an
instant in a profound sleep； without any sense of pain。 And in these
short and violent deaths； the consequence that I foresee administers more
consolation to me than the effect does fear。 They say； that as life is
not better for being long； so death is better for being not long。 I do
not so much evade being dead； as I enter into confidence with dying。 I
wrap and shroud myself into the storm that is to blind and carry me away
with the fury of a sudden and insensible attack。 Moreover； if it should
fall out that； as some gardeners say； roses and violets spring more
odoriferous near garlic and onions； by reason that the last suck and
imbibe all the ill odour of the earth； so； if these depraved natures
should also attract all the malignity of my air and climate； and render
it so much better and purer by their vicinity； I should not lose all。
That cannot be： but there may be something in this； that goodness is more
beautiful and attractive when it is rare； and that contrariety and
diversity fortify and consolidate well…doing within itself； and inflame
it by the jealousy of opposition and by glory。 Thieves and robbers； of
their special favour； have no particular spite at me； no more have I to
them： I should have my hands too full。 Like consciences are lodged under
several sorts of robes； like cruelty； disloyalty； rapine； and so much the
worse； and more falsely； when the more secure and concealed under colour
of the laws。 I less hate an open professed injury than one that is
treacherous； an enemy in arms； than an enemy in a gown。 Our fever has
seized upon a body that is not much the worse for it； there was fire
before； and now 'tis broken out into a flame； the noise is greater； not
the evil。 I ordinarily answer such as ask me the reason of my travels；
〃That I know very well what I fly from； but not what I seek。〃 If they
tell me that there may be as little soundness amongst foreigners； and
that their manners are no better than ours： I first reply； that it is
hard to be believed；
〃Tam multa： scelerum facies！〃
＇〃There are so many forms of crime。〃Virgil； Georg。； i。 506。＇
secondly； that it is always gain to change an ill condition for one that
is uncertain； and that the ills of others ought not to afflict us so much
as our own。
I will not here omit； that I never mutiny so much against France； that I
am not perfectly friends with Paris； that city has ever had my heart from
my infancy； and it has fallen out； as of excellent things； that the more
beautiful cities I have seen since； the more the beauty of this still
wins upon my affection。 I love her for herself； and more in her own
native being； than in all the pomp of foreign and acquired
embellishments。 I love her tenderly； even to her warts and blemishes。
I am a Frenchman only through this great city； great in people； great in
the felicity of her situation； but； above all； great and incomparable in
variety and diversity of commodities： the glory of France； and one of the
most noble ornaments of the world。 May God drive our divisions far from
her。 Entire and united； I think her sufficiently defended from all other
violences。 I give her caution that； of all sorts of people； those will
be the worst that shall set her in discord； I have no fear for her； but
of herself； and； certainly； I have as much fear for her as for any other
part of the kingdom。 Whilst she shall continue； I shall never want a
retreat； where I may stand at bay； sufficient to make me amends for
parting with any other retreat。
Not because Socrates has said so； but because it is in truth my own
humour； and peradventure not without some excess； I look upon all men as
my compatriots； and embrace a Polander as a Frenchman； preferring the
universal and common tie to all national ties whatever。 I am not much
taken with the sweetness of a native air： acquaintance wholly new and
wholly my own appear to me full as good as the other common and
fortuitous ones with Four neighbours： friendships that are purely of our
own acquiring ordinarily carry it above those to which the communication
of climate or of blood oblige us。 Nature has placed us in the world free
and unbound； we imprison ourselves in certain straits； like the kings of
Persia； who obliged themselves to drink no other water but that of the
river Choaspes； foolishly quitted
