the essays of montaigne, v8-第7部分

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whence　I　so　vainly　attempted　to　advance。

Popular　and　purely　natural　poesy

　　　　　＇〃The　term　poesie　populaire　was　employed；　for　the　first　time；　in　the
　　　　　French　language　on　this　occasion。　　Montaigne　created　the　expression；
　　　　　and　indicated　its　nature。〃Ampere。＇

has　in　it　certain　artless　graces；　by　which　she　may　come　into　comparison
with　the　greatest　beauty　of　poetry　perfected　by　art：　as　we　see　in　our
Gascon　villanels　and　the　songs　that　are　brought　us　from　nations　that　have
no　knowledge　of　any　manner　of　science；　nor　so　much　as　the　use　of　writing。
The　middle　sort　of　poesy　betwixt　these　two　is　despised；　of　no　value；
honour；　or　esteem。

But　seeing　that　the　path　once　laid　open　to　the　fancy；　I　have　found；　as　it
commonly　falls　out；　that　what　we　have　taken　for　a　difficult　exercise　and
a　rare　subject；　prove　to　be　nothing　so；　and　that　after　the　invention　is
once　warm；　it　finds　out　an　infinite　number　of　parallel　examples。　　I　shall
only　add　this　onethat；　were　these　Essays　of　mine　considerable　enough　to
deserve　a　critical　judgment；　it　might　then；　I　think；　fall　out　that　they
would　not　much　take　with　common　and　vulgar　capacities；　nor　be　very
acceptable　to　the　singular　and　excellent　sort　of　men；　the　first　would　not
understand　them　enough；　and　the　last　too　much；　and　so　they　may　hover　in
the　middle　region。



CHAPTER　LV

OF　SMELLS

It　has　been　reported　of　some；　as　of　Alexander　the　Great；　that　their　sweat
exhaled　an　odoriferous　smell；　occasioned　by　some　rare　and　extraordinary
constitution；　of　which　Plutarch　and　others　have　been　inquisitive　into　the
cause。　　But　the　ordinary　constitution　of　human　bodies　is　quite　otherwise；
and　their　best　and　chiefest　excellency　is　to　be　exempt　from　smell。　　Nay；
the　sweetness　even　of　the　purest　breath　has　nothing　in　it　of　greater
perfection　than　to　be　without　any　offensive　smell；　like　those　of
healthful　children；　which　made　Plautus　say　of　a　woman：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Mulier　tum　bene　olet；　ubi　nihil　olet。〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃She　smells　sweetest；　who　smells　not　at　all。
　　　　　　　　　　Plautus；　Mostel；　i。　3；　116。＇

And　such　as　make　use　of　fine　exotic　perfumes　are　with　good　reason　to　be
suspected　of　some　natural　imperfection　which　they　endeavour　by　these
odours　to　conceal。　　To　smell；　though　well；　is　to　stink：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Rides　nos；　Coracine；　nil　olentes
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Malo；　quam　bene　olere；　nil　olere。〃

　　　　　＇〃You　laugh　at　us；　Coracinus；　because　we　are　not　scented；　I　would；
　　　　　rather　than　smell　well；　not　smell　at　all。〃Martial；　vi。　55；　4。＇

And　elsewhere：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Posthume；　non　bene　olet；　qui　bene　semper　olet。〃

　　　　　＇〃Posthumus；　he　who　ever　smells　well　does　not　smell　well。〃
　　　　　Idem；　ii。　12；　14。＇

I　am　nevertheless　a　great　lover　of　good　smells；　and　as　much　abominate　the
ill　ones；　which　also　I　scent　at　a　greater　distance；　I　think；　than　other
men：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Namque　sagacius　unus　odoror；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Polypus；　an　gravis　hirsutis　cubet　hircus　in　aliis
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Quam　canis　acer；　ubi　latest　sus。〃

　　　　　＇〃My　nose　is　quicker　to　scent　a　fetid　sore　or　a　rank　armpit；　than　a
　　　　　dog　to　smell　out　the　hidden　sow。〃Horace；　Epod。；　xii。　　4。＇

Of　smells；　the　simple　and　natural　seem　to　me　the　most　pleasing。　　Let　the
ladies　look　to　that；　for　'tis　chiefly　their　concern：　amid　the　most
profound　barbarism；　the　Scythian　women；　after　bathing；　were　wont　to
powder　and　crust　their　faces　and　all　their　bodies　with　a　certain
odoriferous　drug　growing　in　their　country；　which　being　cleansed　off；　when
they　came　to　have　familiarity　with　men　they　were　found　perfumed　and
sleek。　　'Tis　not　to　be　believed　how　strangely　all　sorts　of　odours　cleave
to　me；　and　how　apt　my　skin　is　to　imbibe　them。　　He　that　complains　of
nature　that　she　has　not　furnished　mankind　with　a　vehicle　to　convey　smells
to　the　nose　had　no　reason；　for　they　will　do　it　themselves；　especially　to
me；　my　very　mustachios；　which　are　full；　perform　that　office；　for　if　I
stroke　them　but　with　my　gloves　or　handkerchief；　the　smell　will　not　out　a
whole　day；　they　manifest　where　I　have　been；　and　the　close；　luscious；
devouring；　viscid　melting　kisses　of　youthful　ardour　in　my　wanton　age　left
a　sweetness　upon　my　lips　for　several　hours　after。　　And　yet　I　have　ever
found　myself　little　subject　to　epidemic　diseases；　that　are　caught；　either
by　conversing　with　the　sick　or　bred　by　the　contagion　of　the　air；　and　have
escaped　from　those　of　my　time；　of　which　there　have　been　several　sorts　in
our　cities　and　armies。　　We　read　of　Socrates；　that　though　he　never
departed　from　Athens　during　the　frequent　plagues　that　infested　the　city；
he　only　was　never　infected。

Physicians　might；　I　believe；　extract　greater　utility　from　odours　than
they　do；　for　I　have　often　observed　that　they　cause　an　alteration　in　me
and　work　upon　my　spirits　according　to　their　several　virtues；　which　makes
me　approve　of　what　is　said；　that　the　use　of　incense　and　perfumes　in
churches；　so　ancient　and　so　universally　received　in　all　nations　and
religions；　was　intended　to　cheer　us；　and　to　rouse　and　purify　the　senses；
the　better　to　fit　us　for　contemplation。

I　could　have　been　glad；　the　better　to　judge　of　it；　to　have　tasted　the
culinary　art　of　those　cooks　who　had　so　rare　a　way　of　seasoning　exotic
odours　with　the　relish　of　meats；　as　it　was　particularly　observed　in　the
service　of　the　king　of　Tunis；　who　in　our　days　＇Muley…Hassam；　in　1543。＇
landed　at　Naples　to　have　an　interview　with　Charles　the　Emperor。　　His
dishes　were　larded　with　odoriferous　drugs；　to　that　degree　of　expense　that
the　cookery　of　one　peacock　and　two　pheasants　amounted　to　a　hundred　ducats
to　dress　them　after　their　fashion；　and　when　the　carver　came　to　cut　them
up；　not　only　the　dining…room；　but　all　the　apartments　of　his　palace　and
the　adjoining　streets　were　filled　with　an　aromatic　vapour　which　did　not
presently　vanish。

My　chiefest　care　in　choosing　my　lodgings　is　always　to　avoid　a　thick　and
stinking　air；　and　those　beautiful　cities；　Venice　and　Paris；　very　much
lessen　the　kindness　I　have　for　them；　the　one　by　the　offensive　smell　of
her　marshes；　and　the　other　of　her　dirt。




CHAPTER　LVI

OF　PRAYERS

I　propose　formless　and　undetermined　fancies；　like　those　who　publish
doubtful　questions；　to　be　after　a　disputed　upon　in　the　schools；　not　to
establish　truth　but　to　seek　it；　and　I　submit　them　to　the　judgments　of
those　whose　office　it　is　to　regulate；　not　my　writings　and　actions　only；
but　moreover　my　very　thoughts。　　Let　what　I　here　set　down　meet　with
correction　or　applause；　it　shall　be　of　equal　welcome　and　utility　to　me；
myself　beforehand　condemning　as　absurd　and　impious；　if　anything　shall　be
found；　through　ignorance　or　inadvertency；　couched　in　this　rhapsody；
contrary　to　the　holy　resolutions　and　prescriptions　of　the　Catholic
Apostolic　and　Roman　Church；　into　which　I　was　born　and　in　which　I　will
die。　　And　yet；　always　submitting　to　the　authority　of　their　censure；　which
has　an　absolute　power　over　me；　I　thus　rashly　venture　at　everything；　as　in
treating　upon　this　present　subject。

I　know　not　if　or　no　I　am　wrong；　but　since；　by　a　particular　favour　of　the
divine　bounty；　a　certain　form　of　prayer　has　been　prescribed　and　dictated
to　us；　word　by　word；　from　the　mouth　of　God　Himself；　I　have　ever　been　of
opinion　that　we　ought　to　have　it　in　more　frequent　use　than　we　yet　have；
and　if　I　were　worthy　to　advise；　at　the　sitting　down　to　and　rising　from
our　tables；　at　our　rising　from　and　going　to　bed；　and　in　every　particular
action　wherein　prayer　is　used；　I　would　that　Christians　always　make　use　of
the　Lord's　Prayer；　if　not　alone；　yet　at　least　always。　　The　Church　may
lengthen　and　diversify　prayers；　according　to　the　necessity　of　our
instruction；　for　I　know　very　well　that　it　is　always　the　same　in　substance
and　the　same　thing：　but　yet　such　a　privilege　ought　to　be　given　to　that
prayer；　that　the　people　should　have　it　continually　in　their　mouths；　for
it　is　most　certain　that　all　necessary　petitions　are　comprehended　in　it；
and　that　it　is　infinitely　proper　for　all　occasions。　　'Tis　the　only　prayer
I　use　in　all　places　and　conditions；　and　which　I　still　repeat　instead　of
changing；　whence　it　also　happens　that　I　have　no　other　so　entirely　by
heart　as　that。

It　just　now　came　into　my　mind；　whence　it　is　we　should　derive　that　error
of　having　recourse　to　God　in　all　our　designs　and　enterprises；　to　call　Him
to　our　assistance　in　all　sorts　of　affairs；　and　in　all　places　where　our
weakness　stands　in　need　of　support；　without　considering　whether　the
occasion　be　just　or　otherwise；　and　to　invoke　His　name　and　power；　in　what
state　soever　we　are；　or　action　we　are　engaged　in；　howsoever　vicious。　　He
is　indeed；　our　sole　and　unique　protector；　and　can　do　all　things　for　us：
but　though　He　is　pleased　to　honour　us　with　this　sweet　paternal　alliance；
He　is；　notwithstanding；　as　just　as　He　is　good　and　mighty；　and　more　often
exercises　His　justice　than　His　power；　and　favours　us　according　to　that；
and　not　according　to　our　petitions。

Plato　in　his　Laws；　makes　three　sorts　of　belief　injurious　to　the　gods；　〃
that　there　are　none；　that　they　concern　not　themselves　about　our　affairs；
that　they　never　refuse　anything　to　our　vows；　offerings；　and　sacrifices。〃
The　first　of　these　errors　（according　to　his　opinion；　never　continued
rooted　in　any　man　from　his　infancy　to　his　old　age；　the　other　two；　he
confesses；　men　might　be　obstinate　in。

God's　justice　and　His　power　are　inseparable；　'tis　in　vain　we　invoke　His
power　in　an　unjust　cause。　　We　are　to　have　our　souls　pure　and　clean；　at
that　moment　at　least　wherein　we　pray　to　Him；　and　purified　from　all
vicious　passions；　otherwise　we　ourselves　present　Him　the　rods　wherewith
to　chastise　us；　instead　of　repairing　anything　we　have　done　amiss；　we
double　the　wickedness　and　the　offence　when　we　offer　to　Him；　to　whom　we
are　to　sue　for　pardon；　an　affection　full　of　irreverence　and　hatred。
Which　makes　me　not　very　apt　to　applaud　those　whom　I　observe　to　be　so
frequent　on　their　knees；　if　the　actions　nearest　to　the　prayer　do　not　give
me　some　evidence　of　amendment　and　reformation：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Si；　nocturnus　adulter；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Tempora　Santonico　velas　adoperta　cucullo。〃

　　　　　＇〃If　a　night　adulterer；　thou　coverest　thy　head　with　a　Santonic
　　　　　cowl。〃Juvenal；　Sat。；　viii。　　144。　　The　Santones　were　the　people