the essays of montaigne, v2-第3章
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of so rare a valour。 The body being brought off； and the count； with the
common curiosity coming to view it； the armour was no sooner taken off
but he immediately knew him to be his own son； a thing that added a
second blow to the compassion of all the beholders； only he； without
uttering a word； or turning away his eyes from the woeful object； stood
fixedly contemplating the body of his son； till the vehemency of sorrow
having overcome his vital spirits； made him sink down stone…dead to the
ground。
〃Chi puo dir com' egli arde； a in picciol fuoco；〃
＇〃He who can say how he burns with love； has little fire〃
Petrarca； Sonetto 137。＇
say the Innamoratos； when they would represent an 'insupportable passion。
〃Misero quod omneis
Eripit sensus mihi： nam simul te；
Lesbia； aspexi； nihil est super mi；
Quod loquar amens。
Lingua sed torpet： tenuis sub artus
Flamma dimanat； sonitu suopte
Tintinant aures； gemina teguntur
Lumina nocte。〃
＇〃Love deprives me of all my faculties： Lesbia； when once in thy
presence； I have not left the power to tell my distracting passion：
my tongue becomes torpid； a subtle flame creeps through my veins； my
ears tingle in deafness； my eyes are veiled with darkness。〃
Catullus； Epig。 li。 5＇
Neither is it in the height and greatest fury of the fit that we are in a
condition to pour out our complaints or our amorous persuasions； the soul
being at that time over…burdened； and labouring with profound thoughts；
and the body dejected and languishing with desire； and thence it is that
sometimes proceed those accidental impotencies that so unseasonably
surprise the lover； and that frigidity which by the force of an
immoderate ardour seizes him even in the very lap of fruition。
＇The edition of 1588 has here； 〃An accident not unknown to myself。〃＇
For all passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are
but moderate：
〃Curae leves loquuntur； ingentes stupent。〃
＇〃Light griefs can speak： deep sorrows are dumb。〃
Seneca； Hippolytus； act ii。 scene 3。＇
A surprise of unexpected joy does likewise often produce the same effect：
〃Ut me conspexit venientem； et Troja circum
Arma amens vidit； magnis exterrita monstris；
Diriguit visu in medio； calor ossa reliquit；
Labitur； et longo vix tandem tempore fatur。〃
＇〃When she beheld me advancing； and saw； with stupefaction； the
Trojan arms around me； terrified with so great a prodigy； she
fainted away at the very sight： vital warmth forsook her limbs： she
sinks down； and； after a long interval； with difficulty speaks。〃…
AEneid； iii。 306。＇
Besides the examples of the Roman lady； who died for joy to see her son
safe returned from the defeat of Cannae； and of Sophocles and of
Dionysius the Tyrant； ＇Pliny； vii。 53。 Diodorus Siculus； however （xv。
c。 20）； tells us that Dionysius 〃was so overjoyed at the news that he
made a great sacrifice upon it to the gods； prepared sumptuous feasts； to
which he invited all his friends； and therein drank so excessively that
it threw him into a very bad distemper。〃＇who died of joy； and of
Thalna； who died in Corsica； reading news of the honours the Roman Senate
had decreed in his favour； we have； moreover； one in our time； of Pope
Leo X。； who upon news of the taking of Milan； a thing he had so ardently
desired； was rapt with so sudden an excess of joy that he immediately
fell into a fever and died。 ＇Guicciardini； Storia d'Italia； vol。
xiv。＇ And for a more notable testimony of the imbecility of human
nature； it is recorded by the ancients ＇Pliny； 'ut supra'＇ that
Diodorus the dialectician died upon the spot； out of an extreme passion
of shame； for not having been able in his own school； and in the presence
of a great auditory； to disengage himself from a nice argument that was
propounded to him。 I； for my part； am very little subject to these
violent passions； I am naturally of a stubborn apprehension； which also；
by reasoning； I every day harden and fortify。
CHAPTER III
THAT OUR AFFECTIONS CARRY THEMSELVES BEYOND US
Such as accuse mankind of the folly of gaping after future things； and
advise us to make our benefit of those which are present； and to set up
our rest upon them； as having no grasp upon that which is to come； even
less than that which we have upon what is past； have hit upon the most
universal of human errors； if that may be called an error to which nature
herself has disposed us； in order to the continuation of her own work；
prepossessing us； amongst several others； with this deceiving
imagination； as being more jealous of our action than afraid of our
knowledge。
We are never present with； but always beyond ourselves： fear； desire；
hope； still push us on towards the future； depriving us； in the meantime；
of the sense and consideration of that which is to amuse us with the
thought of what shall be； even when we shall be no more。 ＇Rousseau；
Emile； livre ii。＇
〃Calamitosus est animus futuri auxius。〃
＇〃The mind anxious about the future is unhappy。〃
Seneca； Epist。； 98。＇
We find this great precept often repeated in Plato； 〃Do thine own work；
and know thyself。〃 Of which two parts； both the one and the other
generally； comprehend our whole duty； and do each of them in like manner
involve the other； for who will do his own work aright will find that his
first lesson is to know what he is； and that which is proper to himself；
and who rightly understands himself will never mistake another man's work
for his own； but will love and improve himself above all other things；
will refuse superfluous employments； and reject all unprofitable thoughts
and propositions。 As folly； on the one side； though it should enjoy all
it desire； would notwithstanding never be content； so； on the other；
wisdom； acquiescing in the present； is never dissatisfied with itself。
＇Cicero； Tusc。 Quae。； 57； v。 18。＇ Epicurus dispenses his sages from
all foresight and care of the future。
Amongst those laws that relate to the dead； I look upon that to be very
sound by which the actions of princes are to be examined after their
decease。 ＇Diodorus Siculus； i。 6。＇ They are equals with； if not
masters of the laws； and； therefore； what justice could not inflict upon
their persons； 'tis but reason should be executed upon their reputations
and the estates of their successorsthings that we often value above
life itself。 'Tis a custom of singular advantage to those countries
where it is in use； and by all good princes to be desired； who have
reason to take it ill； that the memories of the wicked should be used
with the same reverence and respect with their own。 We owe subjection
and obedience to all our kings； whether good or bad； alike； for that has
respect unto their office； but as to esteem and affection； these are only
due to their virtue。 Let us grant to political government to endure them
with patience； however unworthy； to conceal their vices； and to assist
them with our recommendation in their indifferent actions； whilst their
authority stands in need of our support。 But； the relation of prince and
subject being once at an end； there is no reason we should deny the
expression of our real opinions to our own liberty and common justice；
and especially to interdict to good subjects the glory of having
reverently and faithfully served a prince； whose imperfections were to
them so well known； this were to deprive posterity of a useful example。
And such as； out of respect to some private obligation； unjustly espouse
and vindicate the memory of a faulty prince； do private right at the
expense of public justice。 Livy does very truly say； ＇xxxv。 48。＇
〃That the language of men bred up in courts is always full of vain
ostentation and false testimony； every one indifferently magnifying his
own master； and stretching his commendation to the utmost extent of
virtue and sovereign grandeur。〃 Some may condemn the
