the essays of montaigne, v1-第7部分

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chamber　being　full；　he　asked　me　if　it　would　hurt　him　to　talk。　　I
answered；　that　it　would　not；　if　he　did　not　speak　too　loud。　　He　then
summoned　Mademoiselle　de　Saint　Quentin；　his　niece；　to　him；　and　addressed
her　thus：　〃Dear　niece；　since　my　earliest　acquaintance　with　thee；　I　have
observed　the　marks　of；　great　natural　goodness　in　thee；　but　the　services
which　thou　rendered　to　me；　with　so　much　affectionate　diligence；　in　my
present　and　last　necessity；　inspire　me　with　high　hopes　of　thee；　and　I　am
under　great　obligations　to　thee；　and　give　thee　most　affectionate　thanks。
Let　me　relieve　my　conscience　by　counselling　thee　to　be；　in　the　first
place；　devout；　to　God：　for　this　doubtless　is　our　first　duty；　failing
which　all　others　can　be　of　little　advantage　or　grace；　but　which；　duly
observed；　carries　with　it　necessarily　all　other　virtues。　　After　God；　thou
shouldest　love　thy　father　and　motherthy　mother；　my　sister；　whom　I
regard　as　one　of　the　best　and　most　intelligent　of　women；　and　by　whom　I
beg　of　thee　to　let　thy　own　life　be　regulated。　　Allow　not　thyself　to　be
led　away　by　pleasures；　shun；　like　the　plague；　the　foolish　familiarities
thou　seest　between　some　men　and　women；　harmless　enough　at　first；　but
which　by　insidious　degrees　corrupt　the　heart；　and　thence　lead　it　to
negligence；　and　then　into　the　vile　slough　of　vice。　　Credit　me；　the
greatest　safeguard　to　female　chastity　is　sobriety　of　demeanour。　　I
beseech　and　direct　that　thou　often　call　to　mind　the　friendship　which　was
betwixt　us；　but　I　do　not　wish　thee　to　mourn　for　me　too　muchan
injunction　which；　so　far　as　it　is　in　my　power；　I　lay　on　all　my　friends；
since　it　might　seem　that　by　doing　so　they　felt　a　jealousy　of　that　blessed
condition　in　which　I　am　about　to　be　placed　by　death。　　I　assure　thee；　my
dear；　that　if　I　had　the　option　now　of　continuing　in　life　or　of　completing
the　voyage　on　which　I　have　set　out；　I　should　find　it　very　hard　to　choose。
Adieu；　dear　niece。〃

Mademoiselle　d'Arsat；　his　stepdaughter；　was　next　called。　　He　said　to　her：
〃Daughter；　you　stand　in　no　great　need　of　advice　from　me；　insomuch　as　you
have　a　mother；　whom　I　have　ever　found　most　sagacious；　and　entirely　in
conformity　with　my　own　opinions　and　wishes；　and　whom　I　have　never　found
faulty；　with　such　a　preceptress；　you　cannot　fail　to　be　properly
instructed。　　Do　not　account　it　singular　that　I；　with　no　tie　of　blood　to
you；　am　interested　in　you　；　for；　being　the　child　of　one　who　is　so　closely
allied　to　me；　I　am　necessarily　concerned　in　what　concerns　you；　and
consequently　the　affairs　of　your　brother；　M。　d'Arsat；　have　ever　been
watched　by　me　with　as　much　care　as　my　own；　nor　perhaps　will　it　be　to　your
disadvantage　that　you　were　my　step…daughter。　　You　enjoy　sufficient　store
of　wealth　and　beauty；　you　are　a　lady　of　good　family；　it　only　remains　for
you　to　add　to　these　possessions　the　cultivation　of　your　mind；　in　which　I
exhort　you　not　to　fail。　　I　do　not　think　necessary　to　warn　you　against
vice；　a　thing　so　odious　in　women；　for　I　would　not　even　suppose　that　you
could　harbour　any　inclination　for　itnay；　I　believe　that　you　hold　the
very　name　in　abhorrence。　　Dear　daughter；　farewell。〃

All　in　the　room　were　weeping　and　lamenting；　but　he　held　without
interruption　the　thread　of　his　discourse；　which　was　pretty　long。　　But
when　he　had　done；　he　directed　us　all　to　leave　the　room；　except　the　women
attendants；　whom　he　styled　his　garrison。　　But　first；　calling　to　him　my
brother；　M。　de　Beauregard；　he　said　to　him：　〃　M。　de　Beauregard；　you　have
my　best　thanks　for　all　the　care　you　have　taken　of　me。　　I　have　now　a　thing
which　I　am　very　anxious　indeed　to　mention　to　you；　and　with　your
permission　I　will　do　so。〃　　As　my　brother　gave　him　encouragement　to
proceed；　he　added：　〃I　assure　you　that　I　never　knew　any　man　who　engaged　in
the　reformation　of　our　Church　with　greater　sincerity；　earnestness；　and
single…heartedness　than　yourself。　　I　consider　that　you　were　led　to　it　by
observing　the　vicious　character　of　our　prelates；　which　no　doubt　much
requires　setting　in　order；　and　by　imperfections　which　time　has　brought
into　our　Church。　　It　is　not　my　desire　at　present　　discourage　you　from
this　course；　for　I　would　have　no　one　act　in　opposition　to　his　conscience；
but　I　wish；　having　regard　to　the　good　repute　acquired　by　your　family　from
its　enduring　concorda　family　than　which　none　can　be　dearer　to　me；　a
family；　thank　God！　　no　member　of　which　has　ever　been　guilty　of　dishonour…
…in　regard；　further；　to　the　will　of　your　good　father　to　whom　you　owe　so
much；　and　of　your；　uncle；　I　wish　you　to　avoid　extreme　means；　avoid
harshness　and　violence：　be　reconciled　with　your　relatives；　do　not　act
apart；　but　unite。　　You　perceive　what　disasters　our　quarrels　have　brought
upon　this　kingdom；　and　I　anticipate　still　worse　mischiefs；　and　in　your
goodness　and　wisdom；　beware　of　involving　your　family　in　such　broils；　let
it　continue　to　enjoy　its　former　reputation　and　happiness。　　M。　de
Beauregard；　take　what　I　say　in　good　part；　and　as　a　proof　of　the
friendship　I　feel　for　you。　　I　postponed　till　now　any　communication　with
you　on　the　subject；　and　perhaps　the　condition　in　which　you　see　me　address
you；　may　cause　my　advice　and　opinion　to　carry　greater　authority。〃　　My
brother　expressed　his　thanks　to　him　cordially。

On　the　Monday　morning　he　had　become　so　ill　that　he　quite　despaired　of
himself；　and　he　said　to　me　very　pitifully：　〃Brother；　do　not　you　feel　pain
for　all　the　pain　I　am　suffering？　　Do　you　not　perceive　now　that　the　help
you　give　me　has　no　other　effect　than　that　of　lengthening　my　suffering？〃

Shortly　afterwards　he　fainted；　and　we　all　thought　him　gone；　but　by　the
application　of　vinegar　and　wine　he　rallied。　　But　he　soon　sank；　and　when
he　heard　us　in　lamentation；　he　murmured；　〃O　God！　　who　is　it　that　teases
me　so？　　Why　did　you　break　the　agreeable　repose　I　was　enjoying？　　I　beg　of
you　to　leave　me。〃　　And　then；　when　he　caught　the　sound　of　my　voice；　he
continued：　〃And　art　thou；　my　brother；　likewise　unwilling　to　see　me　at
peace？　　O；　how　thou　robbest　me　of　my　repose！〃　　After　a　while；　he　seemed
to　gain　more　strength；　and　called　for　wine；　which　he　relished；　and
declared　it　to　be　the　finest　drink　possible。　　I；　in　order　to　change　the
current　of　his　thoughts；　put　in；　〃Surely　not；　water　is　the　best。〃　　〃Ah；
yes；〃　he　returned；　〃　doubtless　so；　（Greek）…。〃　　He　had　now　become；
icy…cold　at　his　extremities；　even　to　his　face；　a　deathly　perspiration　was
upon　him；　and　his　pulse　was　scarcely　perceptible。

This　morning　he　confessed；　but　the　priest　had　omitted　to　bring　with　him
the　necessary　apparatus　for　celebrating　Mass。　　On　the　Tuesday；　however；
M。　de　la　Boetie　summoned　him　to　aid　him；　as　he　said；　in　discharging　the
last　office　of　a　Christian。　　　After　the　conclusion　of　Mass；　he　took　the
sacrament；　when　the　priest　was　about　to　depart；　he　said　to　him：
〃Spiritual　father；　I　implore　you　humbly；　as　well　as　those　over　whom　you
are　set；　to　pray　to　the　Almighty　on　my　behalf；　that；　if　it　be　decreed　in
heaven　that　I　am　now　to　end　my　life；　He　will　take　compassion　on　my　soul；
and　pardon　me　my　sins；　which　are　manifold；　it　not　being　possible　for　so
weak　and　poor　a　creature　as　I　to　obey　completely　the　will　of　such　a
Master；　or；　if　He　think　fit　to　keep　me　longer　here；　that　it　may　please
Him　to　release　my　present　extreme　anguish；　and　to　direct　my　footsteps　in
the　right　path；　that　I　may　become　a　better　man　than　I　have　been。　　He
paused　to　recover　breath　a　little；　priest　was　about　to　go　away；　he　called
him　back　and　proceeded：　〃I　desire　to　say；　besides；　in　your　hearing　this：
I　declare　that　I　was　christened　and　I　have　lived；　and　that　so　I　wish　to
die；　in　the　faith　which　Moses　preached　in　Egypt；　which　afterwards　the
Patriarchs　accepted　and　professed　in　Judaea；　and　which；　in　the　course　of
time；　has　been　transmitted　to　France　and　to　us。〃　　He　seemed　desirous　of
adding　something　more；　but　he　ended　with　a　request　to　his　uncle　and　me　to
send　up　prayers　for　him；　〃for　those　are；〃　he　said；　〃the　best　duties　that
Christians　can　fulfil　one　for　another。〃　　In　the　course　of　talking；　his
shoulder　was　uncovered；　and　although　a　man…servant　stood　near　him；　he
asked　his　uncle　to　re…adjust　the　clothes。　　Then；　turning　his　eyes　towards
me；　he　said；　〃Ingenui　est；　cui　multum　debeas；　ei　plurimum　velle　debere。〃

M。　de　Belot　called　in　the　afternoon　to　see　him；　and　M。　de　la　Boetie；
taking　his　hand；　said　to　him：　〃I　was　on　the　point　of　discharging　my　debt；
but　my　kind　creditor　has　given　me　a　little　further　time。〃　　A　little　while
after；　appearing　to　wake　out　of　a　sort　of　reverie；　he　uttered　words　which
he　had　employed　once　or　twice　before　in　the　course　of　his　sickness：
〃Ah　well；　ah　well；　whenever　the　hour　comes；　I　await　it　with　pleasure　and
fortitude。〃　　And　then；　as　they　were　holding　his　mouth　open　by　force　to
give　him　a　draught；　he　observed　to　M。　de　Belot：　〃An　vivere　tanti　est？〃

As　the　evening　approached；　he　began　perceptibly　to　sink；　and　while　I
supped；　he　sent　for　me　to　come；　being　no　more　than　the　shadow　of　a　man；
or；　as　he　put　it　himself；　'non　homo；　sed　species　hominis'；　and　he　said　to
me　with　the　utmost　difficulty：　〃My　brother；　my　friend；　please　God　I　may
realise　the　imaginations　I　have　just　enjoyed。〃　　Afterwards；　having　waited
for　some　time　while　he　remained　silent；　and　by　painful　efforts　was
drawing　long　sighs　（for　his　tongue　at　this　point　began　to　refuse　its
functions）；　I　said；　〃What　are　they？〃　　〃Grand；　grand！〃　　he　replied。　　〃I
have　never　yet　failed；〃　returned　I；　〃to　have　the　honour　of　hearing　your
conceptions　and　imaginations　communicated　to　me；　will　you　not　now　still
let　me　enjoy　them？〃　　〃I　would　indeed；〃　he　answered；　〃but；　my　brother；
I　am　not　able　to　do　so；　they　are　admirable；　infinite；　and　unspeakable。〃
We　stopped　short　there；　for　he　could　not　go　on。　　A　little　before；　indeed；
he　had　shown　a　desire　to　speak　to　his　wife；　and　had　told　her；　with　as　gay
a　countenance　as　he　could　contrive　to　assume；　that　he　had　a　story　to　tell
her。　　And　it　seemed　as　if　he　was　making　an　attempt　to　gain　utterance；
but；　his　strength　failing　him；　he　begged　a　little　wine　to　resuscitate　it。
It　was　of　no　avail；　for　he　fainted　away　suddenly；　and　was　for　some　time
insensible。　　Having　become　so　near　a　neighbour　to　death；　and　hearing　the
sobs　of　Mademoiselle　de　la　Boetie；　he　called　her；　and　said　t