the advancement of learning-第12部分
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d to reduce custom of speech to congruity of speech; and took; as it were; the picture of words from the life of reason。
23。 So we receive from him; as a monument both of his power and learning; the then reformed computation of the year; well expressing that he took it to be as great a glory to himself to observe and know the law of the heavens; as to give law to men upon the earth。
24。 So likewise in that book of his; ANTI…CATO; it may easily appear that he did aspire as well to victory of wit as victory of war: undertaking therein a conflict against the greatest champion with the pen that then lived; Cicero the Orator。
25。 So again in his book of Apophthegms; which he collected; we see that he esteemed it more honour to make himself but a pair of tables to take the wise and pithy words of others; than to have every word of his own to be made an apophthegm or an oracle; as vain princes; by custom of flattery; pretend to do。 And yet if I should enumerate divers of his speeches; as I did those of Alexander; they are truly such as Solomon noteth; when he saith; VERBA SAPIENTUM TANQUAM ACULEI; ET TANQUAM CLAVI IN ALTUM DEFIXI: whereof I will only recite three; not so delectable for elegancy; but admirable for vigour and efficacy。
26。 As; first; it is reason he be thought a master of words; that could with one word appease a mutiny in his army; which was thus: The Romans; when their generals did speak to their army; did use the word milites; but when the magistrates spake to the people; they did use the word QUIRITES。 The soldiers were in tumult; and seditiously prayed to be cashiered; not that they so meant; but by expostulation thereof to draw Caesar to other conditions; wherein he being resolute not to give way; after some silence; he began his speech; EGO; QUIRITES; which did admit them already cashiered; wherewith they were so surprised; crossed; and confused; as they would not suffer him to go on in his speech; but relinquished their demands; and made it their suit to be again called by the name of MILITES。
27。 The second speech was thus: Caesar did extremely affect the name of king; and some were set on as he passed by in popular acclamation to salute him king: whereupon; finding the cry weak and poor; he put it off thus; in a kind of jest; as if they had mistaken his surname; NON REX SUM; SED CAESAR; a speech that if it be searched the life and fulness of it can scarce be expressed。 For; first; it was a refusal of the name; but yet not serious: again; it did signify an infinite confidence and magnanimity; as if he presumed Caesar was the greater title; as by his worthiness it is come to pass till this day: but chiefly it was a speech of great allurement toward his own purpose; as if the state did strive with him but for a name; whereof mean families were vested; for REX was a surname with the Romans; as well as KING is with us。
28。 The last speech which I will mention; was used to Metellus; when Caesar after war declared did possess himself of the city of Rome; at which time entering into the inner treasury to take the money there accumulated; Metellus being tribune forbade him: whereto Caesar said; THAT IF HE DID NOT DESIST; HE WOULD LAY HIM DEAD IN THE PLACE。 And presently taking himself up; he added; ADOLESCENS; DURIUS EST MIHI HOC DICERE QU繫 FACERE。 YOUNG MAN; IT IS HARDER FOR ME TO SPEAK THAN TO DO IT。 A speech compounded of the greatest terror and greatest clemency that could proceed out of the mouth of man。
29。 But to return and conclude with him; it is evident; himself knew well his own perfection in learning; and took it upon him; as appeared when; upon occasion that some spake what a strange resolution it was in Lucius Sylla to resign his dictature; he scoffing at him to his own advantage answered。 THAT SYLLA COULD NOT SKILL OF LETTERS; AND THEREFORE KNEW NOT HOW TO DICTATE。
30。 And here it were fit to leave this point; touching the concurrence of military virtue and learning; (for what example would come with any grace after those two of Alexander and Caesar?) were it not in regard of the rareness of circumstances that I find in one other particular; as that which did so suddenly pass from extreme scorn to extreme wonder; and it is of Xenophon the philosopher; who went from Socrates' school into Asia; in the expedition of Cyrus the younger; against King Artaxerxes。 This Xenophon at that time was very young; and never had seen the wars before; neither had any command in the army; but only followed the war as a voluntary; for the love and conversation of Proxenus his friend。 He was present when Phalynus came in message from the great king to the Grecians; after that Cyrus was slain in the field; and they a handful of men left to themselves in the midst of the king's territories; cut off from their country by many navigable rivers; and many hundred miles。 The message imported; that they should deliver up '20' their arms; and submit themselves to the king's mercy。 To which message before answer was made; divers of the army conferred familiarly with Phalynus; and amongst the rest Xenophon happened to say; WHY; PHALYNUS; WE HAVE NOW BUT THESE TWO THINGS LEFT; OUR ARMS AND OUR VIRTUE; AND IF WE YIELD UP OUR ARMS; HOW SHALL WE MAKE USE OF OUR VIRTUE ? Whereto Phalynus smiling on him; said; IF I BE NOT DECEIVED; YOUNG GENTLEMAN; YOU ARE AN ATHENIAN: AND; I BELIEVE YOU STUDY PHILOSOPHY; AND IT IS PRETTY THAT YOU SAY: BUT YOU ARE MUCH ABUSED; IF YOU THINK YOUR VIRTUE CAN WITHSTAND THE KING'S POWER。 Here was the scorn; the wonder followed: which was; that this young scholar or philosopher; after all the captains were murdered in parley by treason; conducted those ten thousand foot through the heart of all the king's high countries from Babylon to Graecia in safety; in despite of all the king's forces; to the astonishment of the world; and the encouragement of the Grecians in time succeeding to make invasion upon the kings of Persia: as was after purposed by Jason the Thessalian; attempted by Agesilaus the Spartan; and achieved by Alexander the Macedonian; all upon the ground of the act of that young scholar。
VIII。 1。 To proceed now from imperial and military virtue to moral and private virtue: first; it is an assured truth; which is contained in the verses:
Scilicet ingenuas didicisse fideliter artes; Emollit mores; nec sinit esse feros。
It taketh away the wildness and barbarism and fierceness of men's minds; but indeed the accent had need be upon FIDELITER: for a little superficial learning doth rather work a contrary effect。 It taketh away all levity; temerity; and insolency; by copious suggestion of all doubts and difficulties; and acquainting the mind to balance reasons on both sides; and to turn back the first offers and conceits of the mind; and to accept of nothing but examined and tried。 It taketh away vain admiration of anything; which is the root of all weakness: for all things are admired either because they are new; or because they are great。 For novelty; no man that wadeth in learning or contemplation thoroughly; but will find that printed in his heart NIL NOVI SUPER TERRAM。 Neither can any man marvel at the play of puppets; that goeth behind the curtain; and adviseth well of the motion。 And for magnitude; as Alexander the Great; after that he was used to great armies; and the great conquests of the spacious provinces in Asia; when he received letters out of Greece; of some fights and services there; which were commonly for a passage or a fort; or some walled town at the most; he said; IT SEEMED TO HIM THAT HE WAS ADVERTISED OF THE BATTLE OF THE FROGS AND THE MICE; THAT THE OLD TALES WENT OF。 So certainly; if a man meditate much upon the universal frame of nature; the earth with men upon it (the divineness of souls except;) will not seem much other than an ant…hill; whereas some ants carry corn; and some carry their young; and some go empty; and all to…and…fro a little heap of dust。 It taketh away or mitigateth fear of death; or adverse fortune; which is one of the greatest impediments of virtue; and imperfections of manners。 For if a man's mind be deeply seasoned with the consideration of the mortality and corruptible nature of things; he will easily concur with Epictetus; who went forth one day and saw a woman weeping for her pitcher of earth that was broken; and went forth the next day and saw a woman weeping for her son that was dead; and thereupon said: HERI VIDI FRAGILEM FRANGI; HODIE VIDI MORTALEM MORI。 And therefore Virgil did excellently and profoundly couple the knowledge of causes and the conquest of all fears; together; as concomitantia:
Felix; qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas; Quique metus omnes; et inexorabile fatum Subjecit pedibus; strepitumque Acherontis avari。
2。 It were too long to go over the particular remedies which learning doth minister to all the diseases of the mind; sometimes purging the ill…humours; sometimes opening the obstructions; sometimes helping digestion; sometimes increasing appetite; sometimes healing the wounds and exulcerations thereof; and the like; and; therefore; I will conclude with that which hath RATIONEM TOTIUS; which is; that it disposeth the constitution of the mind not to be fixed or settled in the defects thereof; but still to be capable and susceptible of growth and reformation。 For the unlearned man knows not what it is to descend into himself; or to call himself to account; nor the pleasure of that SUAVISSIMA VITA; INDIES SENTIRE SE FIERI MELIOREM。 The good parts he hath he will learn to show to the full; and use them dexterously; but not much to increase them: the faults he hath he will learn how to hide and colour them; but not much to amend them: like an ill mower; that mows on still; and never whets his scythe: whereas with the learned man it fares otherwise; that he doth ever intermix the correction and amendment of his mind with the use and employment thereof。 Nay; further; in general and in sum; certain it is that VERITAS and BONITAS differ but as the seal and the print: for Truth prints Goodness; and they be the clouds of error which descend in the storms of passions and perturbations。
3。 From moral virtue let us pass on to matter of power and commandment; and consider whether in right reason there be any comparable with