第 6 节
作者:着凉      更新:2021-02-27 01:59      字数:9322
  but were turned into baboons。  What impressions will not the weakness of
  human belief admit?  After the death of this fourth sun; the world was
  twenty…five years in perpetual darkness: in the fifteenth of which a man
  and a woman were created; who restored the human race: ten years after;
  upon a certain day; the sun appeared newly created; and since the account
  of their year takes beginning from that day: the third day after its
  creation the ancient gods died; and the new ones were since born daily。
  After what manner they think this last sun shall perish; my author knows
  not; but their number of this fourth change agrees with the great
  conjunction of stars which eight hundred and odd years ago; as
  astrologers suppose; produced great alterations and novelties in the
  world。
  As to pomp and magnificence; upon the account of which I engaged in this
  discourse; neither Greece; Rome; nor Egypt; whether for utility;
  difficulty; or state; can compare any of their works with the highway to
  be seen in Peru; made by the kings of the country; from the city of Quito
  to that of Cusco (three hundred leagues); straight; even; five…and…twenty
  paces wide; paved; and provided on both sides with high and beautiful
  walls; and close by them; and all along on the inside; two perennial
  streams; bordered with beautiful plants; which they call moly。  In this
  work; where they met with rocks and mountains; they cut them through; and
  made them even; and filled up pits and valleys with lime and stone to
  make them level。  At the end of every day's journey are beautiful
  palaces; furnished with provisions; vestments; and arms; as well for
  travellers as for the armies that are to pass that way。  In the estimate
  of this work I have reckoned the difficulty which is especially
  considerable in that place; they did not build with any stones less than
  ten feet square; and had no other conveniency of carriage but by drawing
  their load themselves by force of arm; and knew not so much as the art of
  scaffolding; nor any other way of standing to their work; but by throwing
  up earth against the building as it rose higher; taking it away again
  when they had done。
  Let us here return to our coaches。  Instead of these; and of all other
  sorts of carriages; they caused themselves to be carried upon men's
  shoulders。  This last king of Peru; the day that he was taken; was thus
  carried betwixt two upon staves of gold; and set in a chair of gold in
  the middle of his army。  As many of these sedan…men as were killed to
  make him fall (for they would take him alive); so many others (and they
  contended for it) took the place of those who were slain; so that they
  could never beat him down; what slaughter soever they made of these
  people; till a horseman; seizing upon him; brought him to the ground。
  CHAPTER VII
  OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF GREATNESS
  Since we cannot attain unto it; let us revenge our selves by railing at
  it; and yet it is not absolutely railing against anything to proclaim its
  defects; because they are in all things to be found; how beautiful or how
  much to be coveted soever。  Greatness has; in general; this manifest
  advantage; that it can lower itself when it pleases; and has; very near;
  the choice of both the one and the other condition; for a man does not
  fall from all heights; there are several from which one may descend
  without falling down。  It does; indeed; appear to me that we value it at
  too high a rate; and also overvalue the resolution of those whom we have
  either seen or heard have contemned it; or displaced themselves of their
  own accord: its essence is not so evidently commodious that a man may
  not; with out a miracle; refuse it。  I find it a very hard thing to
  undergo misfortunes; but to be content with a moderate measure of
  fortune; and to avoid greatness; I think a very easy matter。  'Tis;
  methinks; a virtue to which I; who am no conjuror; could without any
  great endeavour arrive。  What; then; is to be expected from them that
  would yet put into consideration the glory attending this refusal;
  wherein there may lurk worse ambition than even in the desire itself;
  and fruition of greatness?  Forasmuch as ambition never comports itself
  better; according to itself; than when it proceeds by obscure and
  unfrequented ways。
  I incite my courage to patience; but I rein it as much as I can towards
  desire。  I have as much to wish for as another; and allow my wishes as
  much liberty and indiscretion; but yet it never befell me to wish for
  either empire or royalty; or the eminency of those high and commanding
  fortunes: I do not aim that way; I love myself too well。  When I think to
  grow greater; 'tis but very moderately; and by a compelled and timorous
  advancement; such as is proper for me in resolution; in prudence; in
  health; in beauty; and even in riches too; but this supreme reputation;
  this mighty authority; oppress my imagination; and; quite contrary to
  that other;'Julius Caesar。' I should; peradventure; rather choose to
  be the second or third in Perigord than the first at Paris at least;
  without lying; rather the third at Paris than the first。  I would neither
  dispute with a porter; a miserable unknown; nor make crowds open in
  adoration as I pass。  I am trained up to a moderate condition; as well by
  my choice as fortune; and have made it appear; in the whole conduct of my
  life and enterprises; that I have rather avoided than otherwise the
  climbing above the degree of fortune wherein God has placed me by my
  birth; all natural constitution is equally just and easy。  My soul is
  such a poltroon; that I measure not good fortune by the height; but by
  the facility。
  But if my heart be not great enough; 'tis open enough to make amends; at
  any one's request; freely to lay open its weakness。  Should any one put
  me upon comparing the life of L。 Thorius Balbus; a brave man; handsome;
  learned; healthful; understanding; and abounding in all sorts of
  conveniences and pleasures; leading a quiet life; and all his own; his
  mind well prepared against death; superstition; pain; and other
  incumbrances of human necessity; dying; at last; in battle; with his
  sword in his hand; for the defence of his country; on the one part; and
  on the other part; the life of M。 Regulus; so great and high as is known
  to every one; and his end admirable; the one without name and without
  dignity; the other exemplary and glorious to a wonder。  I should
  doubtless say; as Cicero did; could I speak as well as he。
  'Cicero; De Finibus; ii。 20; gives the preference to Regulus; and
  proclaims him the happier man。'
  But if I was to compare them with my own; I should then also say that the
  first is as much according to my capacity; and from desire; which I
  conform to my capacity; as the second is far beyond it; that I could not
  approach the last but with veneration; the other I could readily attain
  by use。
  Let us return to our temporal greatness; from which we are digressed。  I
  disrelish all dominion; whether active or passive。  Otanes; one of the
  seven who had right to pretend to the kingdom of Persia; did as I should
  willingly have done; which was; that he gave up to his competitors his
  right of being promoted to it; either by election or by lot; provided
  that he and his might live in the empire out of all authority and
  subjection; those of the ancient laws excepted; and might enjoy all
  liberty that was not prejudicial to these; being as impatient of
  commanding as of being commanded。
  The most painful and difficult employment in the world; in my opinion; is
  worthily to discharge the office of a king。  I excuse more of their
  mistakes than men commonly do; in consideration of the intolerable weight
  of their function; which astounds me。  'Tis hard to keep measure in so
  immeasurable a power; yet so it is that it is; even to those who are not
  of the best nature; a singular incitement to virtue to be seated in a
  place where you cannot do the least good that shall not be put upon
  record; and where the least benefit redounds to so many men; and where
  your talent of administration; like that of preachers; principally
  addresses itself to the people; no very exact judge; easy to deceive; and
  easily content。  There are few things wherein we can give a sincere
  judgment; by reason that there are few wherein we have not; in some sort;
  a private interest。  Superiority and inferiority; dominion and subjection
  are bound to a natural envy and contest; and must of necessity
  perpetually intrench upon one another。  I believe neither the one nor the
  other touching the rights of the other party; let reason therefore; which
  is inflexible and without passion; determine when we can avail ourselves
  of it。  'Tis not above a month ago that I read over; two Scottish authors
  contending upon this subject; of whom he who stands for the people makes
  the king to be in a worse condition than a carter; he who writes for
  monarchy places him some degrees above God in power and sovereignty。
  Now; the incommodity of greatness that I have taken to remark in this
  place; upon some occasion that has lately put it into my head; is this:
  there is not; peradventure; anything more pleasant in the commerce of
  many th