the essays of montaigne, v13-第16部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


not　with　miracles）；　and　also　the　proofs　which　are　drawn　from　things　that；
upon　some　other　account；　often　fall　into　use　amongst　us；　as　if　in　the
wool；　wherewith　we　are　wont　to　clothe　ourselves；　there　has　accidentally
some　occult　desiccative　property　been　found　out　of　curing　kibed　heels；　or
as　if　in　the　radish　we　eat　for　food　there　has　been　found　out　some
aperitive　operation。　　Galen　reports；　that　a　man　happened　to　be　cured　of　a
leprosy　by　drinking　wine　out　of　a　vessel　into　which　a　viper　had　crept　by
chance。　　In　this　example　we　find　the　means　and　a　very　likely　guide　and
conduct　to　this　experience；　as　we　also　do　in　those　that　physicians
pretend　to　have　been　directed　to　by　the　example　of　some　beasts。　　But　in
most　of　their　other　experiments　wherein　they　affirm　they　have　been
conducted　by　fortune；　and　to　have　had　no　other　guide　than　chance；　I　find
the　progress　of　this　information　incredible。　　Suppose　man　looking　round
about　him　upon　the　infinite　number　of　things；　plants；　animals；　metals；
I　do　not　know　where　he　would　begin　his　trial；　and　though　his　first　fancy
should　fix　him　upon　an　elk's　horn；　wherein　there　must　be　a　very　pliant
and　easy　belief；　he　will　yet　find　himself　as　perplexed　in　his　second
operation。　　There　are　so　many　maladies　and　so　many　circumstances
presented　to　him；　that　before　he　can　attain　the　certainty　of　the　point　to
which　the　perfection　of　his　experience　should　arrive；　human　sense　will　be
at　the　end　of　its　lesson：　and　before　he　can；　amongst　this　infinity　of
things；　find　out　what　this　horn　is；　amongst　so　many　diseases；　what　is
epilepsy；　the　many　complexions　in　a　melancholy　person；　the　many　seasons
in　winter；　the　many　nations　in　the　French；　the　many　ages　in　age；　the　many
celestial　mutations　in　the　conjunction　of　Venus　and　Saturn；　the　many
parts　in　man's　body；　nay；　in　a　finger；　and　being；　in　all　this；　directed
neither　by　argument；　conjecture；　example；　nor　divine　inspirations；　but
merely　by　the　sole　motion　of　fortune；　it　must　be　by　a　perfectly
artificial；　regular　and　methodical　fortune。　　And　after　the　cure　is
performed；　how　can　he　assure　himself　that　it　was　not　because　the　disease
had　arrived　at　its　period　or　an　effect　of　chance？　　or　the　operation　of
something　else　that　he　had　eaten；　drunk；　or　touched　that　day？　or　by
virtue　of　his　grandmother's　prayers？　　And；　moreover；　had　this　experiment
been　perfect；　how　many　times　was　it　repeated；　and　this　long　bead…roll　of
haps；　and　concurrences　strung　anew　by　chance　to　conclude　a　certain　rule？
And　when　the　rule　is　concluded；　by　whom；　I　pray　you？　　Of　so　many
millions；　there　are　but　three　men　who　take　upon　them　to　record　their
experiments：　must　fortune　needs　just　hit　one　of　these？　　What　if　another；
and　a　hundred　others；　have　made　contrary　experiments？　　We　might；
peradventure；　have　some　light　in　this；　were　all　the　judgments　and
arguments　of　men　known　to　us；　but　that　three　witnesses；　three　doctors；
should　lord　it　over　all　mankind；　is　against　reason：　it　were　necessary
that　human　nature　should　have　deputed　and　chosen　them　out；　and　that　they
were　declared　our　comptrollers　by　express　procuration：


〃TO　MADAME　DE　DURAS。

　　　　　＇Marguerite　de　Grammont；　widow　of　Jean　de　Durfort；　Seigneur　de
　　　　　Duras；　who　was　killed　near　Leghorn；　leaving　no　posterity。　　Montaigne
　　　　　seems　to　have　been　on　terms　of　considerable　intimacy　with　her；　and
　　　　　to　have　tendered　her　some　very　wholesome　and　frank　advice　in　regard
　　　　　to　her　relations　with　Henry　IV。＇

MADAME；The　last　time　you　honoured　me　with　a　visit；　you　found　me　at　work
upon　this　chapter；　and　as　these　trifles　may　one　day　fall　into　your　hands；
I　would　also　that　they　testify　in　how　great　honour　the　author　will　take
any　favour　you　shall　please　to　show　them。　　You　will　there　find　the　same
air　and　mien　you　have　observed　in　his　conversation；　and　though　I　could
have　borrowed　some　better　or　more　favourable　garb　than　my　own；　I　would
not　have　done　it：　for　I　require　nothing　more　of　these　writings；　but　to
present　me　to　your　memory　such　as　I　naturally　am。　　The　same　conditions
and　faculties　you　have　been　pleased　to　frequent　and　receive　with　much
more　honour　and　courtesy　than　they　deserve；　I　would　put　together　（but
without　alteration　or　change）　in　one　solid　body；　that　may　peradventure
continue　some　years；　or　some　days；　after　I　am　gone；　where　you　may　find
them　again　when　you　shall　please　to　refresh　your　memory；　without　putting
you　to　any　greater　trouble；　neither　are　they　worth　it。　　I　desire　you
should　continue　the　favour　of　your　friendship　to　me；　by　the　same
qualities　by　which　it　was　acquired。

〃I　am　not　at　all　ambitious　that　any　one　should　love　and　esteem　me　more
dead　than　living。　　The　humour　of　Tiberius　is　ridiculous；　but　yet　common；
who　was　more　solicitous　to　extend　his　renown　to　posterity　than　to　render
himself　acceptable　to　men　of　his　own　time。　　If　I　were　one　of　those　to
whom　the　world　could　owe　commendation；　I　would　give　out　of　it　one…half　to
have　the　other　in　hand；　let　their　praises　come　quick　and　crowding　about
me；　more　thick　than　long；　more　full　than　durable；　and　let　them　cease；　in
God's　name；　with　my　own　knowledge　of　them；　and　when　the　sweet　sound　can
no　longer　pierce　my　ears。　　It　were　an　idle　humour　to　essay；　now　that　I　am
about　to　forsake　the　commerce　of　men；　to　offer　myself　to　them　by　a　new
recommendation。　　I　make　no　account　of　the　goods　I　could　not　employ　in　the
service　of　my　life。　　Such　as　I　am；　I　will　be　elsewhere　than　in　paper：　my
art　and　industry　have　been　ever　directed　to　render　myself　good　for
something；　my　studies；　to　teach　me　to　do；　and　not　to　write。　　I　have　made
it　my　whole　business　to　frame　my　life：　this　has　been　my　trade　and　my
work；　I　am　less　a　writer　of　books　than　anything　else。　　I　have　coveted
understanding　for　the　service　of　my　present　and　real　conveniences；　and
not　to　lay　up　a　stock　for　my　posterity。　　He　who　has　anything　of　value　in
him；　let　him　make　it　appear　in　his　conduct；　in　his　ordinary　discourses；
in　his　courtships；　and　his　quarrels：　in　play；　in　bed；　at　table；　in　the
management　of　his　affairs；　in　his　economics。　　Those　whom　I　see　make　good
books　in　ill　breeches；　should　first　have　mended　their　breeches；　if　they
would　have　been　ruled　by　me。　　Ask　a　Spartan　whether　he　had　rather　be　a
good　orator　or　a　good　soldier：　and　if　I　was　asked　the　same　question；　I
would　rather　choose　to　be　a　good　cook；　had　I　not　one　already　to　serve　me。
My　God！　　Madame；　how　should　I　hate　such　a　recommendation　of　being　a
clever　fellow　at　writing；　and　an　ass　and　an　inanity　in　everything　else！
Yet　I　had　rather　be　a　fool　both　here　and　there　than　to　have　made　so　ill　a
choice　wherein　to　employ　my　talent。　　And　I　am　so　far　from　expecting　to
gain　any　new　reputation　by　these　follies；　that　I　shall　think　I　come　off
pretty　well　if　I　lose　nothing　by　them　of　that　little　I　had　before。　　For
besides　that　this　dead　and　mute　painting　will　take　from　my　natural　being；
it　has　no　resemblance　to　my　better　condition；　but　is　much　lapsed　from　my
former　vigour　and　cheerfulness；　growing　faded　and　withered：　I　am　towards
the　bottom　of　the　barrel；　which　begins　to　taste　of　the　lees。

〃As　to　the　rest；　Madame；　I　should　not　have　dared　to　make　so　bold　with　the
mysteries　of　physic；　considering　the　esteem　that　you　and　so　many　others
have　of　it；　had　I　not　had　encouragement　from　their　own　authors。　　I　think
there　are　of　these　among　the　old　Latin　writers　but　two；　Pliny　and　Celsus
if　these　ever　fall　into　your　hands；　you　will　find　that　they　speak　much
more　rudely　of　their　art　than　I　do；　I　but　pinch　it；　they　cut　its　throat。
Pliny；　amongst　other　things；　twits　them　with　this；　that　when　they　are　at
the　end　of　their　rope；　they　have　a　pretty　device　to　save　themselves；　by
recommending　their　patients；　whom　they　have　teased　and　tormented　with
their　drugs　and　diets　to　no　purpose；　some　to　vows　and　miracles；　others　to
the　hot　baths。　　（Be　not　angry；　Madame；　he　speaks　not　of　those　in　our
parts；　which　are　under　the　protection　of　your　house；　and　all　Gramontins。）
They　have　a　third　way　of　saving　their　own　credit；　of　ridding　their　hands
of　us　and　securing　themselves　from　the　reproaches　we　might　cast　in　their
teeth　of　our　little　amendment；　when　they　have　had　us　so　long　in　their
hands　that　they　have　not　one　more　invention　left　wherewith　to　amuse　us；
which　is　to　send　us　to　the　better　air　of　some　other　country。　　This；
Madame；　is　enough；　I　hope　you　will　give　me　leave　to　return　to　my
discourse；　from　which　I　have　so　far　digressed；　the　better　to　divert　you。〃

It　was；　I　think；　Pericles；　who　being　asked　how　he　did：　〃You　may　judge；〃
says　he；　〃by　these；〃　showing　some　little　scrolls　of　parchment　he　had　tied
about　his　neck　and　arms。　　By　which　he　would　infer　that　he　must　needs　be
very　sick　when　he　was　reduced　to　a　necessity　of　having　recourse　to　such
idle　and　vain　fopperies；　and　of　suffering　himself　to　be　so　equipped。
I　dare　not　promise　but　that　I　may　one　day　be　so　much　a　fool　as　to　commit
my　life　and　death　to　the　mercy　and　government　of　physicians；　I　may　fall
into　such　a　frenzy；　I　dare　not　be　responsible　for　my　future　constancy：
but　then；　if　any　one　ask　me　how　I　do；　I　may　also　answer；　as　Pericles　did；
〃You　may　judge　by　this；〃　shewing　my　hand　clutching　six　drachms　of　opium。
It　will　be　a　very　evident　sign　of　a　violent　sickness：　my　judgment　will　be
very　much　out　of　order；　if　once　fear　and　impatience　get　such　an　advantage
over　me；　it　may　very　well　be　concluded　that　there　is　a　dreadful　fever　in
my　mind。

I　have　taken　the　pains　to　plead　this　cause；　which　I　understand
indifferently；　a　little　to　back　and　support　the　natural　aversion　to　drugs
and　the　practice　of　physic　I　have　derived　from　my　ancestors；　to　the　end
it　may　not　be　a　mere　stupid　and　inconsiderate　aversion；　but　have　a　little
more　form；　and　also；　that　they　who　shall　see　me　so　obstinate　in　my
resolution　against　all　exhortations　and　menaces　that　shall　be　given　me；
when　my　infirmity　shall　press　hardest　upon　me；　may　not　think　'tis　mere
obstinacy　in　me；　or　any　one　so　ill…natured　as　to　judge　it　to　be　any
motive　of　glory：　for　it　would　be　a　strange　ambition　to　seek　to　gain
honour　by　an　action　my　gardener　or　my　groom　can　perform　as　well　as　I。
Certainly；　I　have　not　a　heart　so　tumorous　and　windy；　that　I　should
exchange　so　solid　a　pleasure　as　health　for　an　airy　and　im