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！
my manners had no other vice but sloth and want of metal。 The fear was
not that I should do ill； but that I should do nothing； nobody
prognosticated that I should be wicked； but only useless； they foresaw
idleness； but no malice； and I find it falls out accordingly：
The complaints I hear of myself are these： 〃He is idle； cold in the
offices of friendship and relation； and in those of the public； too
particular； too disdainful。〃 But the most injurious do not say； 〃Why has
he taken such a thing？ Why has he not paid such an one？〃 but； 〃Why does
he part with nothing？ Why does he not give？〃 And I should take it for a
favour that men would expect from me no greater effects of supererogation
than these。 But they are unjust to exact from me what I do not owe； far
more rigorously than they require from others that which they do owe。
In condemning me to it； they efface the gratification of the action； and
deprive me of the gratitude that would be my due for it； whereas the
active well…doing ought to be of so much the greater value from my hands；
by how much I have never been passive that way at all。 I can the more
freely dispose of my fortune the more it is mine； and of myself the more
I am my own。 Nevertheless； if I were good at setting out my own actions；
I could； peradventure； very well repel these reproaches； and could give
some to understand； that they are not so much offended； that I do not
enough； as that I am able to do a great deal more than I do。
Yet for all this heavy disposition of mine； my mind； when retired into
itself； was not altogether without strong movements； solid and clear
judgments about those objects it could comprehend； and could also；
without any helps； digest them； but； amongst other things； I do really
believe； it had been totally impossible to have made it to submit by
violence and force。 Shall I here acquaint you with one faculty of my
youth？ I had great assurance of countenance； and flexibility of voice
and gesture； in applying myself to any part I undertook to act： for
before
〃Alter ab undecimo tum me vix ceperat annus；〃
＇〃I had just entered my twelfth year。〃Virgil； Bucol。； 39。＇
I played the chief parts in the Latin tragedies of Buchanan； Guerente；
and Muret； that were presented in our College of Guienne with great
dignity： now Andreas Goveanus； our principal； as in all other parts of
his charge； was； without comparison； the best of that employment in
France； and I was looked upon as one of the best actors。 'Tis an
exercise that I do not disapprove in young people of condition； and I
have since seen our princes； after the example of some of the ancients；
in person handsomely and commendably perform these exercises； it was even
allowed to persons of quality to make a profession of it in Greece。
〃Aristoni tragico actori rem aperit： huic et genus et
fortuna honesta erant： nec ars； quia nihil tale apud
Graecos pudori est； ea deformabat。〃
＇〃He imparted this matter to Aristo the tragedian； a man of good
family and fortune； which neither of them receive any blemish by
that profession； nothing of this kind being reputed a disparagement
in Greece。〃Livy； xxiv。 24。＇
Nay； I have always taxed those with impertinence who condemn these
entertainments； and with injustice those who refuse to admit such
comedians as are worth seeing into our good towns； and grudge the people
that public diversion。 Well…governed corporations take care to assemble
their citizens； not only to the solemn duties of devotion； but also to
sports and spectacles。 They find society and friendship augmented by it；
and besides； can there possibly be allowed a more orderly and regular
diversion than what is performed m the sight of every one； and very often
in the presence of the supreme magistrate himself？ And I； for my part；
should think it reasonable； that the prince should sometimes gratify his
people at his own expense； out of paternal goodness and affection； and
that in populous cities there should be theatres erected for such
entertainments； if but to divert them from worse and private actions。
To return to my subject； there is nothing like alluring the appetite and
affections； otherwise you make nothing but so many asses laden with
books； by dint of the lash； you give them their pocketful of learning to
keep； whereas； to do well you should not only lodge it with them； but
make them espouse it。
CHAPTER XXVI
THAT IT IS FOLLY TO MEASURE TRUTH AND ERROR BY OUR OWN CAPACITY
'Tis not； perhaps； without reason； that we attribute facility of belief
and easiness of persuasion to simplicity and ignorance： for I fancy I
have heard belief compared to the impression of a seal upon the soul；
which by how much softer and of less resistance it is； is the more easy
to be impressed upon。
〃Ut necesse est； lancem in Libra； ponderibus impositis；
deprimi； sic animum perspicuis cedere。〃
＇〃As the scale of the balance must give way to the weight that
presses it down； so the mind yields to demonstration。〃
Cicero； Acad。； ii。 12。＇
By how much the soul is more empty and without counterpoise； with so much
greater facility it yields under the weight of the first persuasion。 And
this is the reason that children； the common people； women； and sick
folks； are most apt to be led by the ears。 But then； on the other hand；
'tis a foolish presumption to slight and condemn all things for false
that do not appear to us probable； which is the ordinary vice of such as
fancy themselves wiser than their neighbours。 I was myself once one of
those； and if I heard talk of dead folks walking； of prophecies；
enchantments； witchcrafts； or any other story I had no mind to believe：
〃Somnia； terrores magicos； miracula； sagas；
Nocturnos lemures； portentaque Thessala；〃
＇〃Dreams； magic terrors； marvels； sorceries； Thessalian prodigies。〃
Horace。 Ep。 ii。 3； 208。＇
I presently pitied the poor people that were abused by these follies。
Whereas I now find； that I myself was to be pitied as much； at least；
as they； not that experience has taught me anything to alter my former
opinions； though my curiosity has endeavoured that way； but reason has
instructed me； that thus resolutely to condemn anything for false and
impossible； is arrogantly and impiously to circumscribe and limit the
will of God； and the power of our mother nature； within the bounds of my
own capacity； than which no folly can be greater。 If we give the names
of monster and miracle to everything our reason cannot comprehend； how
many are continually presented before our eyes？ Let us but consider
through what clouds； and as it were groping in the dark； our teachers
lead us to the knowledge of most of the things about us； assuredly we
shall find that it is rather custom than knowledge that takes away their
strangeness
〃Jam nemo； fessus saturusque videndi；
Suspicere in coeli dignatur lucida templa；〃
＇〃Weary of the sight； now no one deigns to look up to heaven's lucid
temples。〃Lucretius； ii。 1037。 The text has 'statiate videnai'＇
and that if those things were now newly presented to us； we should think
them as incredible； if not more； than any others。
〃Si nunc primum mortalibus adsint
Ex improviso； si sint objecta repente；
Nil magis his rebus poterat mirabile dici；
Aute minus ante quod auderent fore credere gentes。〃
＇Lucretius； ii。 1032。 The sense of the passage is in the preceding
sentence。＇
He that had never seen a river； imagined the first he met with to be the
sea； and the greatest things that have fallen within our knowledge； we
conclude the extremes that nature makes of the kind。
〃Scilicet et fluvius qui non est maximus； ei'st
Qui non ante aliquem majorem vidit； et ingens
Arbor； homoque videtur； et omnia de genere omni
Maxima quae vidit quisque； haec ingentia fingit。〃
＇〃A little river seems to him； who has never seen a larger river； a
mighty stream； and so with other thingsa tree； a mananything
appears greatest to him that never knew a greater。〃Idem； vi。 674。＇
〃Consuetudine oculorum assuescunt animi； neque admirantur；
neque requirunt rationes earum rerum； quas semper vident。〃
＇〃Things grow familiar to men's minds by being often seen； so that
they neither admire nor are they inquisitive about things they daily
see。〃 Cicero； De Natura Deor。； lib。 ii。 38。＇
The novelty； rather than the greatness of things； tempts us to inquire
into their causes。 We are to judge with more reverence； and with greater
acknowledgment of our own ignorance and infirmity； of the infinite power
of nature。 How many unlikely things are there testified by people worthy
of faith； which； if we cannot persuade ourselves absolutely to believe；
we ought at least to leave them in suspense； for； to condemn them as
impossible； is by a temerarious presumption to pretend to know the utmost
bounds of possibility。 Did we r