the essays of montaigne, v17-第10章

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people　must　be　talking　of　me；　I　would　have　it　to　be　justly　and　truly；　I
would　come　again；　with　all　my　heart；　from　the　other　world　to　give　any　one
the　lie　who　should　report　me　other　than　I　was；　though　he　did　it　to　honour
me。　　I　perceive　that　people　represent；　even　living　men；　quite　another
thing　than　what　they　really　are；　and　had　I　not　stoutly　defended　a　friend
whom　I　have　lost；＇De　la　Boetie。＇　they　would　have　torn　him　into　a
thousand　contrary　pieces。

To　conclude　the　account　of　my　poor　humours；　I　confess　that　in　my　travels
I　seldom　reach　my　inn　but　that　it　comes　into　my　mind　to　consider　whether
I　could　there　be　sick　and　dying　at　my　ease。　　I　desire　to　be　lodged　in
some　private　part　of　the　house；　remote　from　all　noise；　ill　scents；　and
smoke。　　I　endeavour　to　flatter　death　by　these　frivolous　circumstances；
or；　to　say　better；　to　discharge　myself　from　all　other　incumbrances；　that
I　may　have　nothing　to　do；　nor　be　troubled　with　anything　but　that　which
will　lie　heavy　enough　upon　me　without　any　other　load。　　I　would　have　my
death　share　in　the　ease　and　conveniences　of　my　life；　'tis　a　great　part　of
it；　and　of　great　importance；　and　I　hope　it　will　not　in　the　future
contradict　the　past。　　Death　has　some　forms　that　are　more　easy　than
others；　and　receives　divers　qualities；　according　to　every　one's　fancy。
Amongst　the　natural　deaths；　that　which　proceeds　from　weakness　and　stupor
I　think　the　most　favourable；　amongst　those　that　are　violent；　I　can　worse
endure　to　think　of　a　precipice　than　of　the　fall　of　a　house　that　will
crush　me　in　a　moment；　and　of　a　wound　with　a　sword　than　of　a　harquebus
shot；　I　should　rather　have　chosen　to　poison　myself　with　Socrates；　than
stab　myself　with　Cato。　　And；　though　it；　be　all　one；　yet　my　imagination
makes　as　great　a　difference　as　betwixt　death　and　life；　betwixt　throwing
myself　into　a　burning　furnace　and　plunging　into　the　channel　of　a　river：
so　idly　does　our　fear　more　concern　itself　in　the　means　than　the　effect。
It　is　but　an　instant；　'tis　true；　but　withal　an　instant　of　such　weight；
that　I　would　willingly　give　a　great　many　days　of　my　life　to　pass　it　over
after　my　own　fashion。　　Since　every　one's　imagination　renders　it　more　or
less　terrible；　and　since　every　one　has　some　choice　amongst　the　several
forms　of　dying；　let　us　try　a　little　further　to　find　some　one　that　is
wholly　clear　from　all　offence。　　Might　not　one　render　it　even　voluptuous；
like　the　Commoyientes　of　Antony　and　Cleopatra？　　I　set　aside　the　brave　and
exemplary　efforts　produced　by　philosophy　and　religion；　but；　amongst　men
of　little　mark　there　have　been　found　some；　such　as　Petronius　and
Tigellinus　at　Rome；　condemned　to　despatch　themselves；　who　have；　as　it
were；　rocked　death　asleep　with　the　delicacy　of　their　preparations；　they
have　made　it　slip　and　steal　away　in　the　height　of　their　accustomed
diversions　amongst　girls　and　good　fellows；　not　a　word　of　consolation；　no
mention　of　making　a　will；　no　ambitious　affectation　of　constancy；　no　talk
of　their　future　condition；　amongst　sports；　feastings；　wit；　and　mirth；
common　and　indifferent　discourses；　music；　and　amorous　verses。　　Were　it
not　possible　for　us　to　imitate　this　resolution　after　a　more　decent
manner？　　Since　there　are　deaths　that　are　good　for　fools；　deaths　good　for
the　wise；　let　us　find　out　such　as　are　fit　for　those　who　are　betwixt　both。
My　imagination　suggests　to　me　one　that　is　easy；　and；　since　we　must　die；
to　be　desired。　　The　Roman　tyrants　thought　they　did；　in　a　manner；　give　a
criminal　life　when　they　gave　him　the　choice　of　his　death。　　But　was　not
Theophrastus；　that　so　delicate；　so　modest；　and　so　wise　a　philosopher；
compelled　by　reason；　when　he　durst　say　this　verse；　translated　by　Cicero：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Vitam　regit　fortuna；　non　sapientia？〃

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Fortune；　not　wisdom；　sways　human　life。〃
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Cicero；　Tusc。　　Quaes。；　V。　31。＇

Fortune　assists　the　facility　of　the　bargain　of　my　life；　having　placed　it
in　such　a　condition　that　for　the　future　it　can　be　neither　advantage　nor
hindrance　to　those　who　are　concerned　in　me；　'tis　a　condition　that　I　would
have　accepted　at　any　time　of　my　life；　but　in　this　occasion　of　trussing　up
my　baggage；　I　am　particularly　pleased　that　in　dying　I　shall　neither　do
them　good　nor　harm。　　She　has　so　ordered　it；　by　a　cunning　compensation；
that　they　who　may　pretend　to　any　considerable　advantage　by　my　death　will；
at　the　same　time；　sustain　a　material　inconvenience。　　Death　sometimes　is
more　grievous　to　us；　in　that　it　is　grievous　to　others；　and　interests　us
in　their　interest　as　much　as　in　our　own；　and　sometimes　more。

In　this　conveniency　of　lodging　that　I　desire；　I　mix　nothing　of　pomp　and
amplitudeI　hate　it　rather；　but　a　certain　plain　neatness；　which　is
oftenest　found　in　places　where　there　is　less　of　art；　and　that　Nature　has
adorned　with　some　grace　that　is　all　her　own：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Non　ampliter；　sea　munditer　convivium。〃

　　　　　＇〃To　eat　not　largely；　but　cleanly。〃Nepos；　Life　of　Atticus；　c。　13＇

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Plus　salis　quam　sumptus。〃

　　　　　＇〃Rather　enough　than　costly　（More　wit　than　cost）〃Nonius；　xi。　19。＇

And　besides；　'tis　for　those　whose　affairs　compel　them　to　travel　in　the
depth　of　winter　through　the　Grisons　country　to　be　surprised　upon　the　way
with　great　inconveniences。　　I；　who；　for　the　most　part；　travel　for　my
pleasure；　do　not　order　my　affairs　so　ill。　　If　the　way　be　foul　on　my　right
hand；　I　turn　on　my　left；　if　I　find　myself　unfit　to　ride；　I　stay　where　I
am；　and；　so　doing；　in　earnest　I　see　nothing　that　is　not　as　pleasant　and
commodious　as　my　own　house。　　'Tis　true　that　I　always　find　superfluity
superfluous；　and　observe　a　kind　of　trouble　even　in　abundance　itself。
Have　I　left　anything　behind　me　unseen；　I　go　back　to　see　it；　'tis　still　on
my　way；　I　trace　no　certain　line；　either　straight　or　crooked。　＇Rousseau
has　translated　this　passage　in　his　Emile；　book　v。＇　Do　I　not　find　in　the
place　to　which　I　go　what　was　reported　to　meas　it　often　falls　out　that
the　judgments　of　others　do　not　jump　with　mine；　and　that　I　have　found
their　reports　for　the　most　part　falseI　never　complain　of　losing　my
labour：　I　have；　at　least；　informed　myself　that　what　was　told　me　was　not
true。

I　have　a　constitution　of　body　as　free；　and　a　palate　as　indifferent；　as
any　man　living：　the　diversity　of　manners　of　several　nations　only　affects
me　in　the　pleasure　of　variety：　every　usage　has　its　reason。　　Let　the　plate
and　dishes　be　pewter；　wood；　or　earth；　my　meat　be　boiled　or　roasted；　let
them　give　me　butter　or　oil；　of　nuts　or　olives；　hot　or　cold；　'tis　all　one
to　me；　and　so　indifferent；　that　growing　old；　I　accuse　this　generous
faculty；　and　would　wish　that　delicacy　and　choice　should　correct　the
indiscretion　of　my　appetite；　and　sometimes　soothe　my　stomach。　　When　I
have　been　abroad　out　of　France　and　that　people；　out　of　courtesy；　have
asked　me　if　I　would　be　served　after　the　French　manner；　I　laughed　at　the
question；　and　always　frequented　tables　the　most　filled　with　foreigners。
I　am　ashamed　to　see　our　countrymen　besotted　with　this　foolish　humour　of
quarrelling　with　forms　contrary　to　their　own；　they　seem　to　be　out　of
their　element　when　out　of　their　own　village：　wherever　they　go；　they　keep
to　their　own　fashions　and　abominate　those　of　strangers。　　Do　they　meet
with　a　compatriot　in　Hungary？　　O　the　happy　chance！　　They　are　henceforward
inseparable；　they　cling　together；　and　their　whole　discourse　is　to　condemn
the　barbarous　manners　they　see　about　them。　　Why　barbarous；　because　they
are　not　French？　　And　those　have　made　the　best　use　of　their　travels　who
have　observed　most　to　speak　against。　　Most　of　them　go　for　no　other　end
but　to　come　back　again；　they　proceed　in　their　travel　with　vast　gravity
and　circumspection；　with　a　silent　and　incommunicable　prudence；　preserving
themselves　from　the　contagion　of　an　unknown　air。　　What　I　am　saying　of
them　puts　me　in　mind　of　something　like　it　I　have　at　times　observed　in
some　of　our　young　courtiers；　they　will　not　mix　with　any　but　men　of　their
own　sort；　and　look　upon　us　as　men　of　another　world；　with　disdain　or　pity。
Put　them　upon　any　discourse　but　the　intrigues　of　the　court；　and　they　are
utterly　at　a　loss；　as　very　owls　and　novices　to　us　as　we　are　to　them。
'Tis　truly　said　that　a　well…bred　man　is　a　compound　man。　　I；　on　the
contrary；　travel　very　much　sated　with　our　own　fashions；　I　do　not　look　for
Gascons　in　Sicily；　I　have　left　enough　of　them　at　home；　I　rather　seek　for
Greeks　and　Persians；　they　are　the　men　I　endeavour　to　be　acquainted　with
and　the　men　I　study；　'tis　there　that　I　bestow　and　employ　myself。　　And
which　is　more；　I　fancy　that　I　have　met　but　with　few　customs　that　are　not
as　good　as　our　own；　I　have　not；　I　confess；　travelled　very　far；　scarce　out
of　the　sight　of　the　vanes　of　my　own　house。

As　to　the　rest；　most　of　the　accidental　company　a　man　falls　into　upon　the
road　beget　him　more　trouble　than　pleasure；　I　waive　them　as　much　as　I
civilly　can；　especially　now　that　age　seems　in　some　sort　to　privilege　and
sequester　me　from　the　common　forms。　　You　suffer　for　others　or　others
suffer　for　you；　both　of　them　inconveniences　of　importance　enough；　but　the
latter　appears　to　me　the　greater。　　'Tis　a　rare　fortune；　but　of
inestimable　solace；　to　have　a　worthy　man；　one　of　a　sound　judgment　and　of
manners　conformable　to　your　own；　who　takes　a　delight　to　bear　you　company。
I　have　been　at　an　infinite　loss　for　such　upon　my　travels。　　But　such　a
companion　should　be　chosen　and　acquired　from　your　first　setting　out。
There　can　be　no　pleasure　to　me　without　communication：　there　is　not　so
much　as　a　sprightly　thought　comes　into　my　mind；　that　it　does　not　grieve
me　to　have　produced　alone；　and　that　I　have　no　one　to　communicate　it　to：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Si　cum　hac　exceptione　detur　sapientia；
　　　　　　　　　　ut　illam　inclusam　teneam；　nec　enuntiem；　rejiciam。〃

　　　　　＇〃If　wisdom　be　conferred　with　this　reservation；　that　I　must　keep　it
　　　　　to　myself；　and　not　communicate　it　to　others；　I　would　none　of　it。〃
　　　　　〃Seneca；　Ep。；　6。＇

This　other　has　strained　it　one　note　higher：

　　　　　〃Si　contigerit　ea　vita　sapienti；　ut　ommum　rerum　afliuentibus　copiis；
　　　　　quamvis　omnia；　quae　cognitione　digna　sunt；　summo　otio　secum　ipse
　　　　　consideret　et　contempletur；　tamen；　si　solitudo　tanta　sit；　ut　hominem
　　　　　videre　non　possit；　excedat　a　vita。〃

　　　　　＇〃If　such　a　condition　of　life　should　happen　to　a　wise　man；　that　in
　　　　　the　greatest　plenty　of　all　conveniences　he　might；　at　the　most
　　　　　undisturbed　leisure；　consider　and　contemplate　all　things　worth　the
　　　　　knowing；　yet　if　his　solitude　be　such　that　he　must　not　see　a　man；　let
　　　　　him　depart　from　life。〃Cicero；　De　Offic。；　i。　43。＇

Architas　pleases　me　when　he　says；　〃that　it　would　be　unpleasant；　even　in
heaven　itself；　to　wander　in　those　great　and　divine　celestial　bodies
without　a　companion。　　But　yet　'tis　much　better　to　be　alone　than　in
foolish　and　troublesome　company。　　Aristippus　loved　to　live　as　a　stranger
in　all　places：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Me　si　fata　meis　paterentur　ducere　vitam
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Auspiciis；〃

　　　　　＇〃If　the　fates　would　let　me　live　in　my　own　way。〃AEneid；　iv。　340。＇

I　should　choose　to　pass　away　the　greatest　part　of　my　life　on　horseback：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Visere　gestiens；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Qua　pane　debacchentur　ignes；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Qua　nebula；　pluviique　rores。〃

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