the essays of montaigne, v17-第6章

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！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


will　lies　at　pawn　under　the　title　of　gratitude；　and　more　willingly　accept
of　services　that　are　to　be　sold；　I　feel　that　for　the　last　I　give　nothing
but　money；　but　for　the　other　I　give　myself。

The　knot　that　binds　me　by　the　laws　of　courtesy　binds　me　more　than　that　of
civil　constraint；　I　am　much　more　at　ease　when　bound　by　a　scrivener；　than
by　myself。　　Is　it　not　reason　that　my　conscience　should　be　much　more
engaged　when　men　simply　rely　upon　it？　　In　a　bond；　my　faith　owes　nothing；
because　it　has　nothing　lent　it；　let　them　trust　to　the　security　they　have
taken　without　me。　　I　had　much　rather　break　the　wall　of　a　prison　and　the
laws　themselves　than　my　own　word。　　I　am　nice；　even　to　superstition；　in
keeping　my　promises；　and；　therefore；　upon　all　occasions　have　a　care　to
make　them　uncertain　and　conditional。　　To　those　of　no　great　moment；　I　add
the　jealousy　of　my　own　rule；　to　make　them　weight；　it　wracks　and　oppresses
me　with　its　own　interest。　　Even　in　actions　wholly　my　own　and　free；　if　I
once　say　a　thing；　I　conceive　that　I　have　bound　myself；　and　that
delivering　it　to　the　knowledge　of　another；　I　have　positively　enjoined　it
my　own　performance。　　Methinks　I　promise　it；　if　I　but　say　it：　and
therefore　am　not　apt　to　say　much　of　that　kind。　　The　sentence　that　I　pass
upon　myself　is　more　severe　than　that　of　a　judge；　who　only　considers　the
common　obligation；　but　my　conscience　looks　upon　it　with　a　more　severe　and
penetrating　eye。　　I　lag　in　those　duties　to　which　I　should　be　compelled　if
I　did　not　go：

　　　　　〃Hoc　ipsum　ita　justum　est；　quod　recte　fit；　si　est　voluntarium。〃

　　　　　＇〃This　itself　is　so　far　just；　that　it　is　rightly　done；　if　it　is
　　　　　voluntary。〃Cicero；　De　Offic。；　i。　9。＇

If　the　action　has　not　some　splendour　of　liberty；　it　has　neither　grace　nor
honour：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Quod　vos　jus　cogit；　vix　voluntate　impetrent：〃

　　　　　＇〃That　which　the　laws　compel　us　to　do；　we　scarcely　do　with　a　will。〃
　　　　　Terence；　Adelph。；　iii。　3；　44。

where　necessity　draws　me；　I　love　to　let　my　will　take　its　own　course：

　　　　　　　　　　〃Quia　quicquid　imperio　cogitur；　exigenti　magis；
　　　　　　　　　　quam　praestanti；　acceptum　refertur。〃

　　　　　＇〃For　whatever　is　compelled　by　power；　is　more　imputed　to　him　that
　　　　　exacts　than　to　him　that　performs。〃Valerius　Maximus；　ii。　2；　6。＇

I　know　some　who　follow　this　rule；　even　to　injustice；　who　will　sooner　give
than　restore；　sooner　lend　than　pay；　and　will　do　them　the　least　good　to
whom　they　are　most　obliged。　　I　don't　go　so　far　as　that；　but　I'm　not　far
off。

I　so　much　love　to　disengage　and　disobligate　myself；　that　I　have　sometimes
looked　upon　ingratitudes；　affronts；　and　indignities　which　I　have　received
from　those　to　whom　either　by　nature　or　accident　I　was　bound　in　some　way
of　friendship；　as　an　advantage　to　me；　taking　this　occasion　of　their　ill…
usage；　for　an　acquaintance　and　discharge　of　so　much　of　my　debt。　　And
though　I　still　continue　to　pay　them　all　the　external　offices　of　public
reason；　I；　notwithstanding；　find　a　great　saving　in　doing　that　upon　the
account　of　justice　which　I　did　upon　the　score　of　affection；　and　am　a
little　eased　of　the　attention　and　solicitude　of　my　inward　will：

　　　　　〃Est　prudentis　sustinere；　ut　currum；　sic　impetum　benevolentia；〃

　　　　　＇〃'Tis　the　part　of　a　wise　man　to　keep　a　curbing　hand　upon　the
　　　　　impetus　of　friendship；　as　upon　that　of　his　horse。〃
　　　　　Cicero；　De　Amicit。；　c。　17。＇

'tis　in　me；　too　urging　and　pressing　where　I　take；　at　least；　for　a　man　who
loves　not　to　be　strained　at　all。　　And　this　husbanding　my　friendship
serves　me　for　a　sort　of　consolation　in　the　imperfections　of　those　in　whom
I　am　concerned。　　I　am　very　sorry　they　are　not　such　as　I　could　wish　they
were；　but　then　I　also　am　spared　somewhat　of　my　application　and　engagement
towards　them。　　I　approve　of　a　man　who　is　the　less　fond　of　his　child　for
having　a　scald　head；　or　for　being　crooked；　and　not　only　when　he　is　ill…
conditioned；　but　also　when　he　is　of　unhappy　disposition；　and　imperfect　in
his　limbs　（God　himself　has　abated　so　much　from　his　value　and　natural
estimation）；　provided　he　carry　himself　in　this　coldness　of　affection　with
moderation　and　exact　justice：　proximity；　with　me；　lessens　not　defects；
but　rather　aggravates　them。

After　all；　according　to　what　I　understand　in　the　science　of　benefit　and
acknowledgment；　which　is　a　subtle　science；　and　of　great　use；　I　know　no
person　whatever　more　free　and　less　indebted　than　I　am　at　this　hour。　　What
I　do　owe　is　simply　to　foreign　obligations　and　benefits；　as　to　anything
else；　no　man　is　more　absolutely　clear：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃Nec　sunt　mihi　nota　potentum
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Munera。〃

　　　　　＇〃The　gifts　of　great　men　are　unknown　to　me。〃AEneid；　xii。　529。＇

Princes　give　me　a　great　deal　if　they　take　nothing　from　me；　and　do　me　good
enough　if　they　do　me　no　harm；　that's　all　I　ask　from　them。　　O　how　am　I
obliged　to　God；　that　he　has　been　pleased　I　should　immediately　receive
from　his　bounty　all　I　have；　and　specially　reserved　all　my　obligation　to
himself。　　How　earnestly　do　I　beg　of　his　holy　compassion　that　I　may　never
owe　essential　thanks　to　any　one。　　O　happy　liberty　wherein　I　have　thus　far
lived。　　May　it　continue　with　me　to　the　last。　　I　endeavour　to　have　no
express　need　of　any　one：

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　〃In　me　omnis　spec　est　mihi。〃

　　　　　＇〃All　my　hope　is　in　myself。〃Terence；　Adelph。；　iii。　5；　9。＇

'Tis　what　every　one　may　do　in　himself；　but　more　easily　they　whom　God　has
placed　in　a　condition　exempt　from　natural　and　urgent　necessities。　　It　is
a　wretched　and　dangerous　thing　to　depend　upon　others；　we　ourselves；　in
whom　is　ever　the　most　just　and　safest　dependence；　are　not　sufficiently
sure。

I　have　nothing　mine　but　myself；　and　yet　the　possession　is；　in　part；
defective　and　borrowed。　　I　fortify　myself　both　in　courage；　which　is　the
strongest　assistant；　and　also　in　fortune；　therein　wherewith　to　satisfy
myself；　though　everything　else　should　forsake　me。　　Hippias　of　Elis　not
only　furnished　himself　with　knowledge；　that　he　might；　at　need；　cheerfully
retire　from　all　other　company　to　enjoy　the　Muses：　nor　only　with　the
knowledge　of　philosophy；　to　teach　his　soul　to　be　contented　with　itself；
and　bravely　to　subsist　without　outward　conveniences；　when　fate　would　have
it　so；　he　was；　moreover；　so　careful　as　to　learn　to　cook；　to　shave
himself；　to　make　his　own　clothes；　his　own　shoes　and　drawers；　to　provide
for　all　his　necessities　in　himself；　and　to　wean　himself　from　the
assistance　of　others。　　A　man　more　freely　and　cheerfully　enjoys　borrowed
conveniences；　when　it　is　not　an　enjoyment　forced　and　constrained　by　need；
and　when　he　has；　in　his　own　will　and　fortune；　the　means　to　live　without
them。　　I　know　myself　very　well；　but　'tis　hard　for　me　to　imagine　any　so
pure　liberality　of　any　one　towards　me；　any　so　frank　and　free　hospitality；
that　would　not　appear　to　me　discreditable；　tyrannical；　and　tainted　with
reproach；　if　necessity　had　reduced　me　to　it。　　As　giving　is　an　ambitious
and　authoritative　quality；　so　is　accepting　a　quality　of　submission；
witness　the　insulting　and　quarrelsome　refusal　that　Bajazet　made　of　the
presents　that　Tamerlane　sent　him；　and　those　that　were　offered　on　the　part
of　the　Emperor　Solyman　to　the　Emperor　of　Calicut；　so　angered　him；　that　he
not　only　rudely　rejected　them；　saying　that　neither　he　nor　any　of　his
predecessors　had　ever　been　wont　to　take；　and　that　it　was　their　office　to
give；　but；　moreover；　caused　the　ambassadors　sent　with　the　gifts　to　be　put
into　a　dungeon。　　When　Thetis；　says　Aristotle；　flatters　Jupiter；　when　the
Lacedaemonians　flatter　the　Athenians；　they　do　not　put　them　in　mind　of　the
good　they　have　done　them；　which　is　always　odious；　but　of　the　benefits
they　have　received　from　them。　　Such　as　I　see　so　frequently　employ　every
one　in　their　affairs；　and　thrust　themselves　into　so　much　obligation；
would　never　do　it；　did　they　but　relish　as　I　do　the　sweetness　of　a　pure
liberty；　and　did　they　but　weigh；　as　wise：　men　should；　the　burden　of
obligation：　'tis　sometimes；　peradventure；　fully　paid；　but　'tis　never
dissolved。　　'Tis　a　miserable　slavery　to　a　man　who　loves　to　be　at　full
liberty　in　all　reapects。　　Such　as　know　me；　both　above　and　below　me　in
station；　are　able　to　say　whether　they　have　ever　known　a　man　less
importuning；　soliciting；　entreating；　and　pressing　upon　others　than　I。
If　I　am　so；　and　a　degree　beyond　all　modern　example；　'tis　no　great　wonder；
so　many　parts　of　my　manners　contributing　to　it：　a　little　natural　pride；
an　impatience　at　being　refused；　the　moderation　of　my　desires　and　designs；
my　incapacity　for　business；　and　my　most　beloved　qualities；　idleness　and
freedom；　by　all　these　together　I　have　conceived　a　mortal　hatred　to　being
obliged　to　any　other；　or　by　any　other　than　myself。　　I　leave　no　stone
unturned；　to　do　without　it；　rather　than　employ　the　bounty　of　another　in
any　light　or　important　occasion　or　necessity　whatever。　　My　friends
strangely　trouble　me　when　they　ask　me　to　ask　a　third　person；　and　I　think
it　costs　me　little　less　to　disengage　him　who　is　indebted　to　me；　by　making
use　of　him；　than　to　engage　myself　to　him　who　owes　me　nothing。　　These
conditions　being　removed；　and　provided　they　require　of　me　nothing　if　any
great　trouble　or　care　（for　I　have　declared　mortal　war　against　all　care）；
I　am　very　ready　to　do　every　one　the　best　service　I　can。　　I　have　been　very
willing　to　seek　occasion　to　do　people　a　good　turn；　and　to　attach　them　to
me；　and　methinks　there　is　no　more　agreeable　employment　for　our　means。
But　I　have　yet　more　avoided　receiving　than　sought　occasions　of　giving；
and　moreover；　according　to　Aristotle；　it　is　more　easy。；　My　fortune　has
allowed　me　but　little　to　do　others　good　withal；　and　the　little　it　can
afford；　is　put　into　a　pretty　close　hand。　　Had　I　been　born　a　great　person；
I　should　have　been　ambitious　to　have　made　myself　beloved；　not　to　make
myself　feared　or　admired：　shall　I　more　plainly　express　it？　　I　should　more
have　endeavoured　to　please　than　to　profit　others。　　Cyrus　very　wisely；　and
by　the　mouth　of　a　great　captain；　and　still　greater　philosopher；　prefers
his　bounty　and　benefits　much　before　his　valour　and　warlike　conquests；
and　the　elder　Scipio；　wherever　he　would　raise　himself　in　esteem；　sets　a
higher　value　upon　his　affability　and　humanity；　than　on　his　prowess　and
victories；　and　has　always　this　glorious　saying　in　his　mouth：　〃That　he　has
given　his　enemies　as　much　occasion　to　love　him　as　his　friends。〃　　I　will
then　say；　that　if　a　man　must；　of　necessity；　owe　something；　it　ought　to　be
by　a　more　legitimate　title　than　that　whereof　I　am　speaking；　to　which　the
necessity　of　this　miserable　war　compels　me；　and　not　in　so　great　a　debt　as
that　of　my　total　preservation　both　of　life　and　fortune：　it　overwhelms　me。

I　have　a　thousand　times　gone　to　bed　in　my　own　house　with　an　apprehension
that　I　should　be　betrayed　and　murdered　that　very　night；　compounding　with
fortune；　that　it　might　be　without　terror　and　with　quick　despatch；　and；
after　my　Paternoster；　I　have　cried　out；

　　　　　　　　　　〃Impius　haec　tam　culta　novalia　miles　habebit！〃

　　　　　＇〃Shall　impious　soldiers　have　these　new…ploughed　grounds？〃
　　　　　Virgil；　Ecl。；　i。　71。＇

What　remedy？　　'tis　the　place　of　my　birth；　and　that　of　most　of　my
ancestors；　they　have　here　fixed　their　affection　and　name。　　We　inure
ourselves　to　whatever　we　are　accustomed　to；　and　in　so　mis