the essays of montaigne, v17-第15部分

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necessary　to　my　being；　without　otherwise　enlarging　her　jurisdiction　over
me；　and　have　never　thought　that　to　be　without　children　was　a　defect　that
ought　to　render　life　less　complete　or　less　contented：　a　sterile　vocation
has　its　conveniences　too。　　Children　are　of　the　number　of　things　that　are
not　so　much　to　be　desired；　especially　now　that　it　would　be　so　hard　to
make　them　good：

　　　　　　〃Bona　jam　nec　nasci　licet；　ita　corrupta　Bunt　semina；〃

　　　　　＇〃Nothing　good　can　be　born　now；　the　seed　is　so　corrupt。〃
　　　　　Tertullian；　De　Pudicita。＇

and　yet　they　are　justly　to　be　lamented　by　such　as　lose　them　when　they
have　them。

He　who　left　me　my　house　in　charge；　foretold　that　I　was　like　to　ruin　it；
considering　my　humour　so　little　inclined　to　look　after　household　affairs。
But　he　was　mistaken；　for　I　am　in　the　same　condition　now　as　when　I　first
entered　into　it；　or　rather　somewhat　better；　and　yet　without　office　or　any
place　of　profit。

As　to　the　rest；　if　Fortune　has　never　done　me　any　violent　or　extraordinary
injury；　neither　has　she　done　me　any　particular　favour；　whatever　we　derive
from　her　bounty；　was　there　above　a　hundred　years　before　my　time：　I　have；
as　to　my　own　particular；　no　essential　and　solid　good；　that　I　stand
indebted　for　to　her　liberality。　　She　has；　indeed；　done　me　some　airy
favours；　honorary　and　titular　favours；　without　substance；　and　those　in
truth　she　has　not　granted；　but　offered　me；　who；　God　knows；　am　all
material；　and　who　take　nothing　but　what　is　real；　and　indeed　massive　too；
for　current　pay：　and　who；　if　I　durst　confess　so　much；　should　not　think
avarice　much　less　excusable　than　ambition：　nor　pain　less　to　be　avoided
than　shame；　nor　health　less　to　be　coveted　than　learning；　or　riches　than
nobility。

Amongst　those　empty　favours　of　hers；　there　is　none　that　so　much　pleases
vain　humour　natural　to　my　country；　as　an　authentic　bull　of　a　Roman
burgess…ship；　that　was　granted　me　when　I　was　last　there；　glorious　in
seals　and　gilded　letters；　and　granted　with　all　gracious　liberality。　　And
because　'tis　couched　in　a　mixt　style；　more　or　less　favourable；　and　that　I
could　have　been　glad　to　have　seen　a　copy　of　it　before　it　had　passed　the
seal。

Being　before　burgess　of　no　city　at　all；　I　am　glad　to　be　created　one　of
the　most　noble　that　ever　was　or　ever　shall　be。　　If　other　men　would
consider　themselves　at　the　rate　I　do；　they　would；　as　I　do；　discover
themselves　to　be　full　of　inanity　and　foppery；　to　rid　myself　of　it；　I
cannot；　without　making　myself　away。　　We　are　all　steeped　in　it；　as　well
one　as　another；　but　they　who　are　not　aware　on't；　have　somewhat　the　better
bargain；　and　yet　I　know　not　whether　they　have　or　no。

This　opinion　and　common　usage　to　observe　others　more　than　ourselves　has
very　much　relieved　us　that　way：　'tis　a　very　displeasing　object：　we　can
there　see　nothing　but　misery　and　vanity：　nature；　that　we　may　not　be
dejected　with　the　sight　of　our　own　deformities；　has　wisely　thrust　the
action　of　seeing　outward。　　We　go　forward　with　the　current；　but　to　turn
back　towards　ourselves　is　a　painful　motion；　so　is　the　sea　moved　and
troubled　when　the　waves　rush　against　one　another。　　Observe；　says　every
one；　the　motions　of　the　heavens；　of　public　affairs；　observe　the　quarrel
of　such　a　person；　take　notice　of　such　a　one's　pulse；　of　such　another's
last　will　and　testament；　in　sum；　be　always　looking　high　or　low；　on　one
side；　before　or　behind　you。　　It　was　a　paradoxical　command　anciently　given
us　by　that　god　of　Delphos：　〃Look　into　yourself；　discover　yourself；　keep
close　to　yourself；　call　back　your　mind　and　will；　that　elsewhere　consume
themselves　into　yourself；　you　run　out；　you　spill　yourself；　carry　a　more
steady　hand：　men　betray　you；　men　spill　you；　men　steal　you　from　yourself。
Dost　thou　not　see　that　this　world　we　live　in　keeps　all　its　sight　confined
within；　and　its　eyes　open　to　contemplate　itself？　　'Tis　always　vanity　for
thee；　both　within　and　without；　but　'tis　less　vanity　when　less　extended。
Excepting　thee；　O　man；　said　that　god；　everything　studies　itself　first；
and　has　bounds　to　its　labours　and　desires；　according　to　its　need。　　There
is　nothing　so　empty　and　necessitous　as　thou；　who　embracest　the　universe；
thou　art　the　investigator　without　knowledge；　the　magistrate　without
jurisdiction；　and；　after　all；　the　fool　of　the　farce。










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