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！
〃that we must put him out； he is a wicked fellow； let us look out a good
one in his room。〃 Immediately there was a profound silence； every one
being at a stand whom to choose。 But one； more impudent than the rest；
having named his man； there arose yet a greater consent of voices against
him； an hundred imperfections being laid to his charge； and as many just
reasons why he should not stand。 These contradictory humours growing
hot； it fared worse with the second senator and the third； there being as
much disagreement in the election of the new； as consent in the putting
out of the old。 In the end； growing weary of this bustle to no purpose；
they began； some one way and some another； to steal out of the assembly：
every one carrying back this resolution in his mind； that the oldest and
best known evil was ever more supportable than one that was； new and
untried。
Seeing how miserably we are agitated （for what have we not done！）
〃Eheu！ cicatricum； et sceleris pudet；
Fratrumque： quid nos dura refugimus
AEtas？ quid intactum nefasti
Liquimus？ Unde manus inventus
Metu Deorum continuit？ quibus
Pepercit aris。〃
＇〃Alas！ our crimes and our fratricides are a shame to us！ What
crime does this bad age shrink from？ What wickedness have we left
undone？ What youth is restrained from evil by the fear of the gods？
What altar is spared？〃Horace； Od。； i。 33； 35＇
I do not presently conclude；
〃Ipsa si velit Salus；
Servare prorsus non potest hanc familiam；〃
＇〃If the goddess Salus herself wish to save this family； she
absolutely cannot〃Terence； Adelph。； iv。 7； 43。＇
we are not； peradventure； at our last gasp。 The conservation of states
is a thing that； in all likelihood； surpasses our understanding；a civil
government is； as Plato says； a mighty and puissant thing； and hard to be
dissolved； it often continues against mortal and intestine diseases；
against the injury of unjust laws； against tyranny； the corruption and
ignorance of magistrates； the licence and sedition of the people。 In all
our fortunes； we compare ourselves to what is above us； and still look
towards those who are better： but let us measure ourselves with what is
below us： there is no condition so miserable wherein a man may not find a
thousand examples that will administer consolation。 'Tis our vice that
we more unwillingly look upon what is above； than willingly upon what is
below； and Solon was used to say； that 〃whoever would make a heap of all
the ills together； there is no one who would not rather choose to bear
away the ills he has than to come to an equal division with all other men
from that heap； and take his share。〃 Our government is； indeed； very
sick； but there have been others more sick without dying。 The gods play
at ball with us and bandy us every way：
〃Enimvero Dii nos homines quasi pilas habent。〃
The stars fatally destined the state of Rome for an example of what they
could do in this kind： in it are comprised all the forms and adventures
that concern a state： all that order or disorder； good or evil fortune；
can do。 Who； then； can despair of his condition； seeing the shocks and
commotions wherewith Rome was tumbled and tossed； and yet withstood them
all？ If the extent of dominion be the health of a state （which I by no
means think it is； and Isocrates pleases me when he instructs Nicocles
not to envy princes who have large dominions； but those who know how to
preserve those which have fallen into their hands）； that of Rome was
never so sound； as when it was most sick。 The worst of her forms was the
most fortunate； one can hardly discern any image of government under the
first emperors； it is the most horrible and tumultuous confusion that can
be imagined； it endured it； notwithstanding； and therein continued；
preserving not a monarchy limited within its own bounds； but so many
nations so differing； so remote； so disaffected； so confusedly commanded；
and so unjustly conquered：
〃Nec gentibus ullis
Commodat in populum； terra pelagique potentem；
Invidiam fortuna suam。〃
＇〃Fortune never gave it to any nation to satisfy its hatred against
the people； masters of the seas and of the earth。〃Lucan； i。 32。＇
Everything that totters does not fall。 The contexture of so great a body
holds by more nails than one； it holds even by its antiquity； like old
buildings； from which the foundations are worn away by time； without
rough…cast or mortar； which yet live and support themselves by their own
weight：
〃Nec jam validis radicibus haerens；
Pondere tuta suo est。〃
Moreover； it is not rightly to go to work； to examine only the flank and
the foss； to judge of the security of a place； we must observe which way
approaches can be made to it； and in what condition the assailant is： few
vessels sink with their own weight； and without some exterior violence。
Now； let us everyway cast our eyes； everything about us totters； in all
the great states； both of Christendom and elsewhere； that are known to
us； if you will but look； you will there see evident menace of alteration
and ruin：
〃Et sua sunt illis incommoda； parque per omnes
Tempestas。〃
＇〃They all share in the mischief； the tempest rages
everywhere。〃AEneid； ii。＇
Astrologers may very well； as they do； warn us of great revolutions and
imminent mutations： their prophecies are present and palpable； they need
not go to heaven to foretell this。 There is not only consolation to be
extracted from this universal combination of ills and menaces； but；
moreover； some hopes of the continuation of our state； forasmuch as；
naturally； nothing falls where all falls： universal sickness is
particular health： conformity is antagonistic to dissolution。 For my
part； I despair not； and fancy that I discover ways to save us：
〃Deus haec fortasse benigna
Reducet in sedem vice。〃
＇〃The deity will perchance by a favourable turn restore us to our
former position。〃Horace； Epod。； xiii。 7。＇
Who knows but that God will have it happen； as in human bodies that purge
and restore themselves to a better state by long and grievous maladies；
which render them more entire and perfect health than that they took from
them？ That which weighs the most with me is； that in reckoning the
symptoms of our ill； I see as many natural ones； and that Heaven sends
us； and properly its own； as of those that our disorder and human
imprudence contribute to it。 The very stars seem to declare that we have
already continued long enough； and beyond the ordinary term。 This also
afflicts me； that the mischief which nearest threatens us； is not an
alteration in the entire and solid mass； but its dissipation and
divulsion； which is the most extreme of our fears。
I； moreover； fear； in these fantasies of mine； the treachery of my
memory； lest； by inadvertence； it should make me write the same thing
twice。 I hate to examine myself； and never review； but very unwillingly；
what has once escaped my pen。 I here set down nothing new。 These are
common thoughts； and having； peradventure； conceived them an hundred
times； I am afraid I have set them down somewhere else already。
Repetition is everywhere troublesome； though it were in Homer； but 'tis
ruinous in things that have only a superficial and transitory show。 I do
not love over…insisting； even in the most profitable things； as in
Seneca； and the usage of his stoical school displeases me； to repeat；
upon every subject； at full length and width the principles and
presuppositions that serve in general； and always to realledge anew
common and universal reasons。
My memory grows cruelly worse every day：
〃Pocula Lethaeos ut si ducentia somnos；
Arente fauce traxerim；〃
＇〃As if my dry throat had drunk seducing cups of Lethaean
oblivion。〃Horace； Epod。； xiv。 3。＇
I must be fain for the time to come （for hitherto； thanks be to God；
nothing has happened much amiss）； whereas others seek time and
opportunity to think of what they have to say； to avoid all preparation；
for fear of tying myself to some obligation upon which I must insist。 To
be tied and bound to a thing puts me quite out； and to depend upon so
weak an instrument as my memory。 I never read this following story that
I am not offended at it with a personal and natural resentment：
Lyncestes； accused of conspiracy against Alexander； the day that he was
brought out before the army； according to the custom； to be heard as to
what he could say for himself； had learned a studied speech； of which；
hesitating and stammering； he pronounced some words。 Whilst growing more
and more perplexed； whilst struggling with his memory； and trying to
recollect what he had to say； the soldiers nearest to him charged their
pikes against him and killed him； looking upon him as convict； his
confusion and silence served them for a confession； for ha