the essays of montaigne, v17-第2章

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ready。　　I　will　not　that　the　pleasure　of　going　abroad　spoil　the　pleasure
of　being　retired　at　home；　on　the　contrary；　I　intend　they　shall　nourish
and　favour　one　another。　　Fortune　has　assisted　me　in　this；　that　since　my
principal　profession　in　this　life　was　to　live　at　ease；　and　rather　idly
than　busily；　she　has　deprived　me　of　the　necessity　of　growing　rich　to
provide　for　the　multitude　of　my　heirs。　　If　there　be　not　enough　for　one；
of　that　whereof　I　had　so　plentifully　enough；　at　his　peril　be　it：　his
imprudence　will　not　deserve　that　I　should　wish　him　any　more。　　And　every
one；　according　to　the　example　of　Phocion；　provides　sufficiently　for　his
children　who　so　provides　for　them　as　to　leave　them　as　much　as　was　left
him。　　I　should　by　no　means　like　Crates'　way。　　He　left　his　money　in　the
hands　of　a　banker　with　this　conditionthat　if　his　children　were　fools；
he　should　then　give　it　to　them；　if　wise；　he　should　then　distribute　it　to
the　most　foolish　of　the　people；　as　if　fools；　for　being　less　capable　of
living　without　riches；　were　more　capable　of　using　them。

At　all　events；　the　damage　occasioned　by　my　absence　seems　not　to　deserve；
so　long　as　I　am　able　to　support　it；　that　I　should　waive　the　occasions　of
diverting　myself　by　that　troublesome　assistance。

There　is　always　something　that　goes　amiss。　　The　affairs；　one　while　of　one
house；　and　then　of　another；　tear　you　to　pieces；　you　pry　into　everything
too　near；　your　perspicacity　hurts　you　here；　as　well　as　in　other　things。
I　steal　away　from　occasions　of　vexing　myself；　and　turn　from　the　knowledge
of　things　that　go　amiss；　and　yet　I　cannot　so　order　it；　but　that　every
hour　I　jostle　against　something　or　other　that　displeases　me；　and　the
tricks　that　they　most　conceal　from　me；　are　those　that　I　the　soonest　come
to　know；　some　there　are　that；　not　to　make　matters　worse；　a　man　must
himself　help　to　conceal。　　Vain　vexations；　vain　sometimes；　but　always
vexations。　　The　smallest　and　slightest　impediments　are　the　most　piercing：
and　as　little　letters　most　tire　the　eyes；　so　do　little　affairs　most
disturb　us。　　The　rout　of　little　ills　more　offend　than　one；　how　great
soever。　　By　how　much　domestic　thorns　are　numerous　and　slight；　by　so　much
they　prick　deeper　and　without　warning；　easily　surprising　us　when　least　we
suspect　them。

　　　　　＇Now　Homer　shews　us　clearly　enough　how　surprise　gives　the　advantage；
　　　　　who　represents　Ulysses　weeping　at　the　death　of　his　dog；　and　not
　　　　　weeping　at　the　tears　of　his　mother；　the　first　accident；　trivial　as
　　　　　it　was；　got　the　better　of　him；　coming　upon　him　quite　unexpectedly；
　　　　　he　sustained　the　second；　though　more　potent；　because　he　was　prepared
　　　　　for　it。　　'Tis　light　occasions　that　humble　our　lives。　＇

I　am　no　philosopher；　evils　oppress　me　according　to　their　weight；　and　they
weigh　as　much　according　to　the　form　as　the　matter；　and　very　often　more。
If　I　have　therein　more　perspicacity　than　the　vulgar；　I　have　also　more
patience；　in　short；　they　weigh　with　me；　if　they　do　not　hurt　me。　　Life　is
a　tender　thing；　and　easily　molested。　　Since　my　age　has　made　me　grow　more
pensive　and　morose；

　　　　　　　　　　〃Nemo　enim　resistit　sibi；　cum　caeperit　impelli；〃

　　　　　＇〃For　no　man　resists　himself　when　he　has　begun　to　be　driven
　　　　　forward。〃Seneca；　Ep。；　13。＇

for　the　most　trivial　cause　imaginable；　I　irritate　that　humour；　which
afterwards　nourishes　and　exasperates　itself　of　its　own　motion；　attracting
and　heaping　up　matter　upon　matter　whereon　to　feed：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Stillicidi　casus　lapidem　cavat：〃

　　　　　＇〃The　ever　falling　drop　hollows　out　a　stone。〃Lucretius；　i。　314。＇

these　continual　tricklings　consume　and　ulcerate　me。　　Ordinary
inconveniences　are　never　light；　they　are　continual　and　inseparable；
especially　when　they　spring　from　the　members　of　a　family；　continual　and
inseparable。　　When　I　consider　my　affairs　at　distance　and　in　gross；　I
find；　because　perhaps　my　memory　is　none　of　the　best；　that　they　have　gone
on　hitherto　improving　beyond　my　reason　or　expectation；　my　revenue　seems
greater　than　it　is；　its　prosperity　betrays　me：　but　when　I　pry　more
narrowly　into　the　business；　and　see　how　all　things　go：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Tum　vero　in　curas　animum　diducimus　omnes；〃

　　　　　　　　　　＇〃Indeed　we　lead　the　mind　into　all　sorts　of　cares。〃
　　　　　　　　　　AEneid；　v。　720。＇

I　have　a　thousand　things　to　desire　and　to　fear。　　To　give　them　quite　over；
is　very　easy　for　me　to　do：　but　to　look　after　them　without　trouble；　is
very　hard。　　'Tis　a　miserable　thing　to　be　in　a　place　where　everything　you
see　employs　and　concerns　you；　and　I　fancy　that　I　more　cheerfully　enjoy
the　pleasures　of　another　man's　house；　and　with　greater　and　a　purer
relish；　than　those　of　my　own。　　Diogenes　answered　according　to　my　humour
him　who　asked　him　what　sort　of　wine　he　liked　the　best：　〃That　of　another；〃
said　he。　＇Diogenes　Laertius；　vi。　54。＇

My　father　took　a　delight　in　building　at　Montaigne；　where　he　was　born；　and
in　all　the　government　of　domestic　affairs　I　love　to　follow　his　example
and　rules；　and　I　shall　engage　those　who　are　to　succeed　me；　as　much　as　in
me　lies；　to　do　the　same。　　Could　I　do　better　for　him；　I　would；　and　am
proud　that　his　will　is　still　performing　and　acting　by　me。　　God　forbid
that　in　my　hands　I　should　ever　suffer　any　image　of　life；　that　I　am　able
to　render　to　so　good　a　father；　to　fail。　　And　wherever　I　have　taken　in
hand　to　strengthen　some　old　foundations　of　walls；　and　to　repair　some
ruinous　buildings；　in　earnest　I　have　done　it　more　out　of　respect　to　his
design；　than　my　own　satisfaction；　and　am　angry　at　myself　that　I　have　not
proceeded　further　to　finish　the　beginnings　he　left　in　his　house；　and　so
much　the　more　because　I　am　very　likely　to　be　the　last　possessor　of　my
race；　and　to　give　the　last　hand　to　it。　　For；　as　to　my　own　particular
application；　neither　the　pleasure　of　building；　which　they　say　is　so
bewitching；　nor　hunting；　nor　gardens；　nor　the　other　pleasures　of　a
retired　life；　can　much　amuse　me。　　And　'tis　what　I　am　angry　at　myself　for；
as　I　am　for　all　other　opinions　that　are　incommodious　to　me；　which　I　would
not　so　much　care　to　have　vigorous　and　learned；　as　I　would　have　them　easy
and　convenient　for　life；　they　are　true　and　sound　enough；　if　they　are
useful　and　pleasing。　　Such　as　hear　me　declare　my　ignorance　in　husbandry；
whisper　in　my　ear　that　it　is　disdain；　and　that　I　neglect　to　know　its
instruments；　its　seasons；　its　order；　how　they　dress　my　vines；　how　they
graft；　and　to　know　the　names　and　forms　of　herbs　and　fruits；　and　the
preparing　the　meat　on　which　I　live；　the　names　and　prices　of　the　stuffs　I
wear；　because；　say　they；　I　have　set　my　heart　upon　some　higher　knowledge；
they　kill　me　in　saying　so。　　It　is　not　disdain；　it　is　folly；　and　rather
stupidity　than　glory；　I　had　rather　be　a　good　horseman　than　a　good
logician：

　　　　　　　　　〃Quin　to　aliquid　saltem　potius；　quorum　indiget　usus；
　　　　　　　　　　Viminibus　mollique　paras　detexere　junco。〃

　　　　　＇〃'Dost　thou　not　rather　do　something　which　is　required；　and　make
　　　　　osier　and　reed　basket。〃Virgil；　Eclog。；　ii。　71。＇

We　occupy　our　thoughts　about　the　general；　and　about　universal　causes　and
conducts；　which　will　very　well　carry　on　themselves　without　our　care；　and
leave　our　own　business　at　random；　and　Michael　much　more　our　concern　than
man。　　Now　I　am；　indeed；　for　the　most　part　at　home；　but　I　would　be　there
better　pleased　than　anywhere　else：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Sit　meae　sedes　utinam　senectae；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Sit　modus　lasso　maris；　et　viarum；
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Militiaeque。〃

　　　　　＇〃Let　my　old　age　have　a　fixed　seat；　let　there　be　a　limit　to　fatigues
　　　　　from　the　sea；　journeys；　warfare。〃Horace；　Od。；　ii。　6；　6。＇

I　know　not　whether　or　no　I　shall　bring　it　about。　　I　could　wish　that；
instead　of　some　other　member　of　his　succession；　my　father　had　resigned　to
me　the　passionate　affection　he　had　in　his　old　age　to　his　household
affairs；　he　was　happy　in　that　he　could　accommodate　his　desires　to　his
fortune；　and　satisfy　himself　with　what　he　had；　political　philosophy　may
to　much　purpose　condemn　the　meanness　and　sterility　of　my　employment；　if　I
can　once　come　to　relish　it；　as　he　did。　　I　am　of　opinion　that　the　most
honourable　calling　is　to　serve　the　public；　and　to　be　useful　to　many；

　　　　　〃Fructus　enim　ingenii　et　virtutis；　omnisque　praestantiae；
　　　　　tum　maximus　capitur；　quum　in　proximum　quemque　confertur：〃

　　　　　＇〃For　the　greatest　enjoyment　of　evil　and　virtue；　and　of　all
　　　　　excellence；　is　experienced　when　they　are　conferred　on　some　one
　　　　　nearest。〃Cicero；　De　Amicil。；　c。＇

for　myself；　I　disclaim　it；　partly　out　of　conscience　（for　where　I　see　the
weight　that　lies　upon　such　employments；　I　perceive　also　the　little　means
I　have　to　supply　it；　and　Plato；　a　master　in　all　political　government
himself；　nevertheless　took　care　to　abstain　from　it）；　and　partly　out　of
cowardice。　　I　content　myself　with　enjoying　the　world　without　bustle；
only…to　live　an　excusable　life；　and　such　as　may　neither　be　a　burden　to
myself　nor　to　any　other。

Never　did　any　man　more　fully　and　feebly　suffer　himself　to　be　governed　by
a　third　person　than　I　should　do；　had　I　any　one　to　whom　to　entrust　myself。
One　of　my　wishes　at　this　time　should　be；　to　have　a　son…in…law　that　knew
handsomely　how　to　cherish　my　old　age；　and　to　rock　it　asleep；　into　whose
hands　I　might　deposit；　in　full　sovereignty；　the　management　and　use　of　all
my　goods；　that　he　might　dispose　of　them　as　I　do；　and　get　by　them　what　I
get；　provided　that　he　on　his　part　were　truly　acknowledging；　and　a　friend。
But　we　live　in　a　world　where　loyalty　of　one's　own　children　is　unknown。

He　who　has　the　charge　of　my　purse　in　his　travels；　has　it　purely　and
without　control；　he　could　cheat　me　thoroughly；　if　he　came　to　reckoning；
and；　if　he　is　not　a　devil；　I　oblige　him　to　deal　faithfully　with　me　by　so
entire　a　trust：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Multi　fallere　do　cuerunt；　dum　timent　falli；
　　　　　　　　　　et　aliis　jus　peccandi　suspicando　fecerunt。〃

　　　　　＇〃Many　have　taught　others　to　deceive；　while　they　fear　to　be
　　　　　deceived；　and；　by　suspecting　them；　have　given　them　a　title　to　do
　　　　　ill。〃Seneca；　Epist。；　3。＇

The　most　common　security　I　take　of　my　people　is　ignorance；　I　never
presume　any　to　be　vicious　till　I　have　first　found　them　so；　and　repose　the
most　confidence　in　the　younger　sort；　that　I　think　are　least　spoiled　by
ill　example。　　I　had　rather　be　told　at　two　months'　end　that　I　have　spent
four　hundred　crowns；　than　to　have　my　ears　battered　every　night　with
three；　five；　seven：　and　I　have　been；　in　this　way；　as　little　robbed　as
another。　　It　is　true；　I　am　willing　enough　not　to　see　it；　I；　in　some　sort；
purposely；　harbour　a　kind　of　perplexed；　uncertain　knowledge　of　my　money：
up　to　a　certain　point；　I　am　content　to　doubt。　　One　must　leave　a　little
room　for　the　infidelity　or　indiscretion　of　a　servant；　if　you　have　left
enough；　in　gross；　to　do　your　business；　let　the　overplus　of　Fortune's
liberality　run　a　little　more　freely　at　her　mercy；　'tis　the　gleaner's
portion。　　After　all；　I　do　not　so　much　value　the　fidelity　of　my　people　as
I　contemn　their　injury。　　What　a　mean　and　ridiculous　thing　it　is　for　a　man
to　study　his　money；　to　delight　in　handling　and　telling　it　over　and　over
again！　　'Tis　by　this　avarice　makes　its　approaches。

In　eighteen　years　that　I　have　had　my　estate　in　my；　own　hands；　I　could
never　prevail　with　myself　either