第 14 节
作者:乐乐陶陶      更新:2021-08-28 17:12      字数:9322
  the writings of the ancients; that he who speaks what he thinks; strikes
  much more home than he who only feigns。  Hear Cicero speak of the love of
  liberty: hear Brutus speak of it; the mere written words of this man
  sound as if he would purchase it at the price of his life。  Let Cicero;
  the father of eloquence; treat of the contempt of death; let Seneca do
  the same: the first languishingly drawls it out so you perceive he would
  make you resolve upon a thing on which he is not resolved himself; he
  inspires you not with courage; for he himself has none; the other
  animates and inflames you。  I never read an author; even of those who
  treat of virtue and of actions; that I do not curiously inquire what kind
  of a man he was himself; for the Ephori at Sparta; seeing a dissolute
  fellow propose a wholesome advice to the people; commanded him to hold
  his peace; and entreated a virtuous man to attribute to himself the
  invention; and to propose it。  Plutarch's writings; if well understood;
  sufficiently bespeak their author; and so that I think I know him even
  into his soul; and yet I could wish that we had some fuller account of
  his life。  And I am thus far wandered from my subject; upon the account
  of the obligation I have to Aulus Gellius; for having left us in writing
  this story of his manners; that brings me back to my subject of anger。
  A slave of his; a vicious; ill…conditioned fellow; but who had the
  precepts of philosophy often ringing in his ears; having for some offence
  of his been stript by Plutarch's command; whilst he was being whipped;
  muttered at first; that it was without cause and that he had done nothing
  to deserve it; but at last falling in good earnest to exclaim against and
  rail at his master; he reproached him that he was no philosopher; as he
  had boasted himself to be: that he had often heard him say it was
  indecent to be angry; nay; had written a book to that purpose; and that
  the causing him to be so cruelly beaten; in the height of his rage;
  totally gave the lie to all his writings; to which Plutarch calmly and
  coldly answered; 〃How; ruffian;〃 said he; 〃by what dost thou judge that
  I am now angry?  Does either my face; my colour; or my voice give any
  manifestation of my being moved?  I do not think my eyes look fierce;
  that my countenance appears troubled; or that my voice is dreadful: am I
  red; do I foam; does any word escape my lips I ought to repent?  Do I
  start?  Do I tremble with fury?  For those; I tell thee; are the true
  signs of anger。〃  And so; turning to the fellow that was whipping him;
  〃Ply on thy work;〃 said he; 〃whilst this gentleman and I dispute。〃  This
  is his story。
  Archytas Tarentinus; returning from a war wherein he had been captain…
  general; found all things in his house in very great disorder; and his
  lands quite out of tillage; through the ill husbandry of his receiver;
  and having caused him to be called to him; 〃Go;〃 said he; 〃if I were not
  in anger I would soundly drub your sides。〃  Plato likewise; being highly
  offended with one of his slaves; gave Speusippus order to chastise him;
  excusing himself from doing it because he was in anger。  And Carillus; a
  Lacedaemonian; to a Helot; who carried himself insolently towards him:
  〃By the gods;〃 said he; 〃if I was not angry; I would immediately cause
  thee to be put to death。〃
  'Tis a passion that is pleased with and flatters itself。  How often;
  being moved under a false cause; if the person offending makes a good
  defence and presents us with a just excuse; are we angry against truth
  and innocence itself?  In proof of which; I remember a marvellous example
  of antiquity。
  Piso; otherwise a man of very eminent virtue; being moved against a
  soldier of his; for that returning alone from forage he could give him no
  account where he had left a companion of his; took it for granted that he
  had killed him; and presently condemned him to death。  He was no sooner
  mounted upon the gibbet; but; behold; his wandering companion arrives; at
  which all the army were exceedingly glad; and after many embraces of the
  two comrades; the hangman carried both the one and the other into Piso's
  presence; all those present believing it would be a great pleasure even
  to himself; but it proved quite contrary; for through shame and spite;
  his fury; which was not yet cool; redoubled; and by a subtlety which his
  passion suddenly suggested to him; he made three criminals for having
  found one innocent; and caused them all to be despatched: the first
  soldier; because sentence had passed upon him; the second; who had lost
  his way; because he was the cause of his companion's death; and the
  hangman; for not having obeyed the order which had been given him。
  Such as have had to do with testy and obstinate women; may have
  experimented into what a rage it puts them to oppose silence and coldness
  to their fury; and that a man disdains to nourish their anger。  The
  orator Celius was wonderfully choleric by nature; and to one who supped
  in his company; a man of a gentle and sweet conversation; and who; that
  he might not move him; approved and consented to all he said; he;
  impatient that his ill…humour should thus spend itself without aliment:
  〃For the love of the gods deny me something;〃 said he; 〃that we may be
  two。〃  Women; in like manner; are only angry that others may be angry
  again; in imitation of the laws of love。  Phocion; to one who interrupted
  his speaking by injurious and very opprobrious words; made no other
  return than silence; and to give him full liberty and leisure to vent his
  spleen; which he having accordingly done; and the storm blown over;
  without any mention of this disturbance; he proceeded in his discourse
  where he had left off before。  No answer can nettle a man like such a
  contempt。
  Of the most choleric man in France (anger is always an imperfection; but
  more excusable in; a soldier; for in that trade it cannot sometimes be
  avoided) I often say; that he is the most patient man that I know; and
  the most discreet in bridling his passions; which rise in him with so
  great violence and fury;
  〃Magno veluti cum flamma sonore
  Virgea suggeritur costis undantis ahem;
  Exsultantque aatu latices; furit intus aquae vis。
  Fumidus atque alte spumis exuberat amnis;
  Nec jam se capit unda; volat vapor ater ad auras;〃
  '〃When with loud crackling noise; a fire of sticks is applied to the
  boiling caldron's side; by the heat in frisky bells the liquor
  dances; within the water rages; and high the smoky fluid in foam
  overflows。  Nor can the wave now contain itself; the black steam
  flies all abroad。〃AEneid; vii。 462。'
  that he must of necessity cruelly constrain himself to moderate it。  And
  for my part; I know no passion which I could with so much violence to
  myself attempt to cover and conceal; I would not set wisdom at so high a
  price; and do not so much consider what a man does; as how much it costs
  him to do no worse。
  Another boasted himself to me of the regularity and gentleness of his
  manners; which are to truth very singular; to whom I replied; that it was
  indeed something; especially m persons of so eminent a quality as
  himself; upon whom every one had their eyes; to present himself always
  well…tempered to the world; but that the principal thing was to make
  provision for within and for himself; and that it was not in my opinion
  very well to order his business outwardly well; and to grate himself
  within; which I was afraid he did; in putting on and maintaining this
  mask and external appearance。
  A man incorporates anger by concealing it; as Diogenes told Demosthenes;
  who; for fear of being seen in a tavern; withdrew himself the more
  retiredly into it: 〃The more you retire backward; the farther you enter
  in。〃  I would rather advise that a man should give his servant a box of
  the ear a little unseasonably; than rack his fancy to present this grave
  and composed countenance; and had rather discover my passions than brood
  over them at my own expense; they grow less inventing and manifesting
  themselves; and 'tis much better their point should wound others without;
  than be turned towards ourselves within:
  〃Omnia vitia in aperto leviora sunt: et tunc perniciosissima;
  quum simulata sanitate subsident。〃
  '〃All vices are less dangerous when open to be seen; and then most
  pernicious when they lurk under a dissembled good nature。〃
  Seneca; Ep。 56'
  I admonish all those who have authority to be angry in my family; in the
  first place to manage their anger and not to lavish it upon every
  occasion; for that both lessens the value and hinders the effect: rash
  and incessant scolding runs into custom; and renders itself despised; and
  what you lay out upon a servant for a theft is not felt; because it is
  the same he has seen you a hundred times employ against him for having
  ill washed a glass; or set a stool out of place。  Secondly; that they be
  not angry to no purpose; but make sure that their reprehension reach him
  with whom they are offended; for; ordinarily; they rail and bawl before
  he comes into their presence; and continue scolding an age after he is
  gone