the essays of montaigne, v16-第4章
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editor calls him 〃a noted thief；〃 another： 〃He was a literary
amateur of no ability； who expressed his critical opinions with too
great a freedom to please the poets of his day。〃 D。W。＇
The network also that was set before the people to defend them from the
violence of these turned…out beasts was woven of gold：
〃Auro quoque torts refulgent
Retia。〃
＇〃The woven nets are refulgent with gold。〃
Calpurnius； ubi supra。＇
If there be anything excusable in such excesses as these； it is where the
novelty and invention create more wonder than the expense； even in these
vanities we discover how fertile those ages were in other kind of wits
than these of ours。 It is with this sort of fertility； as with all other
products of nature： not that she there and then employed her utmost
force： we do not go； we rather run up and down； and whirl this way and
that； we turn back the way we came。 I am afraid our knowledge is weak in
all senses； we neither see far forward nor far backward； our
understanding comprehends little； and lives but a little while； 'tis
short both in extent of time and extent of matter：
〃Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona
Mufti； sed omnes illacrymabiles
Urgentur； ignotique longs
Nocte。〃
＇ Many brave men lived before Agamemnon； but all are pressed by the
long night unmourned and unknown。〃Horace； Od。； iv。 9； 25。＇
〃Et supra bellum Thebanum et funera Trojae
Non alias alii quoque res cecinere poetae？〃
＇〃Why before the Theban war and the destruction of Troy； have not
other poets sung other events？〃Lucretius； v。 327。 Montaigne here
diverts himself m giving Lucretius' words a construction directly
contrary to what they bear in the poem。 Lucretius puts the
question； Why if the earth had existed from all eternity； there had
not been poets； before the Theban war； to sing men's exploits。
Coste。＇
And the narrative of Solon； of what he had learned from the Egyptian
priests； touching the long life of their state； and their manner of
learning and preserving foreign histories； is not； methinks； a testimony
to be refused in this consideration：
〃Si interminatam in omnes partes magnitudinem regionum videremus et
temporum； in quam se injiciens animus et intendens； ita late
longeque peregrinatur； ut nullam oram ultimi videat； in qua possit
insistere： in haec immensitate 。 。 。 infinita vis innumerabilium
appareret fomorum。〃
＇〃Could we see on all parts the unlimited magnitude of regions and
of times； upon which the mind being intent； could wander so far and
wide； that no limit is to be seen； in which it can bound its eye； we
should； in that infinite immensity； discover an infinite force of
innumerable atoms。〃 Here also Montaigne puts a sense quite
different from what the words bear in the original； but the
application he makes of them is so happy that one would declare they
were actually put together only to express his own sentiments。 〃Et
temporum〃 is an addition by Montaigne。Coste。＇
Though all that has arrived； by report； of our knowledge of times past
should be true； and known by some one person； it would be less than
nothing in comparison of what is unknown。 And of this same image of the
world； which glides away whilst we live upon it； how wretched and limited
is the knowledge of the most curious； not only of particular events；
which fortune often renders exemplary and of great concern； but of the
state of great governments and nations； a hundred more escape us than
ever come to our knowledge。 We make a mighty business of the invention
of artillery and printing； which other men at the other end of the world；
in China； had a thousand years ago。 Did we but see as much of the world
as we do not see； we should perceive； we may well believe； a perpetual
multiplication and vicissitude of forms。 There is nothing single and
rare in respect of nature； but in respect of our knowledge； which is a
wretched foundation whereon to ground our rules； and that represents to
us a very false image of things。 As we nowadays vainly conclude the
declension and decrepitude of the world； by the arguments we extract from
our own weakness and decay：
〃Jamque adeo est affecta aetas effoet aque tellus；〃
＇〃Our age is feeble； and the earth less fertile。〃
Lucretius； ii。 1151。＇
so did he vainly conclude as to its birth and youth； by the vigour he
observed in the wits of his time； abounding in novelties and the
invention of divers arts：
〃Verum； ut opinor； habet novitatem summa； recensque
Natura est mundi； neque pridem exordia coepit
Quare etiam quaedam nunc artes expoliuntur；
Nunc etiam augescunt； nunc addita navigiis sunt
Multa。〃
＇〃But； as I am of opinion； the whole of the world is of recent
origin； nor had its commencement in remote times； wherefore it is
that some arts are still being refined； and some just on the
increase； at present many additions are being made to shipping。〃
Lucretius； v。 331。＇
Our world has lately discovered another （and who will assure us that it
is the last of its brothers； since the Daemons； the Sybils； and we
ourselves have been ignorant of this till now？）； as large； well…peopled；
and fruitful as this whereon we live and yet so raw and childish； that we
are still teaching it it's a B C： 'tis not above fifty years since it
knew neither letters； weights； measures； vestments； corn； nor vines： it
was then quite naked in the mother's lap； and only lived upon what she
gave it。 If we rightly conclude of our end； and this poet of the
youthfulness of that age of his； that other world will only enter into
the light when this of ours shall make its exit； the universe will fall
into paralysis； one member will be useless； the other in vigour。 I am
very much afraid that we have greatly precipitated its declension and
ruin by our contagion； and that we have sold it opinions and our arts at
a very dear rate。 It was an infant world； and yet we have not whipped
and subjected it to our discipline by the advantage of our natural worth
and force； neither have we won it by our justice and goodness； nor
subdued it by our magnanimity。 Most of their answers； and the
negotiations we have had with them； witness that they were nothing behind
us in pertinency and clearness of natural understanding。 The astonishing
magnificence of the cities of Cusco and Mexico； and； amongst many other
things； the garden of the king； where all the trees； fruits； and plants；
according to the order and stature they have in a garden； were
excellently formed in gold； as； in his cabinet； were all the animals bred
upon his territory and in its seas； and the beauty of their manufactures；
in jewels； feathers； cotton； and painting； gave ample proof that they
were as little inferior to us in industry。 But as to what concerns
devotion； observance of the laws； goodness； liberality； loyalty； and
plain dealing； it was of use to us that we had not so much as they； for
they have lost； sold； and betrayed themselves by this advantage over us。
As to boldness and courage； stability； constancy against pain； hunger；
and death； I should not fear to oppose the examples I find amongst them
to the most famous examples of elder times that we find in our records on
this side of the world。 Far as to those who subdued them； take but away
the tricks and artifices they practised to gull them； and the just
astonishment it was to those nations to see so sudden and unexpected an
arrival of men with beards； differing in language； religion； shape； and
countenance； from so remote a part of the world； and where they had never
heard there was any habitation； mounted upon great unknown monsters；
against those who had not only never seen a horse； but had never seen any
other beast trained up to carry a man or any other loading； shelled in a
hard and shining skin； with a cu
