第52章

Iincitemycouragetopatience，butIreinitasmuchasIcantowardsdesire。Ihaveasmuchtowishforasanother，andallowmywishesasmuchlibertyandindiscretion;butyetitneverbefellmetowishforeitherempireorroyalty，ortheeminencyofthosehighandcommandingfortunes:Idonotaimthatway;Ilovemyselftoowell。WhenIthinktogrowgreater，’tisbutverymoderately，andbyacompelledandtimorousadvancement，suchasisproperformeinresolution，inprudence，inhealth，inbeauty，andeveninrichestoo;butthissupremereputation，thismightyauthority，oppressmyimagination;and，quitecontrarytothatother，——[JuliusCaesar。]——Ishould，peradventure，ratherchoosetobethesecondorthirdinPerigordthanthefirstatParisatleast，withoutlying，ratherthethirdatParisthanthefirst。Iwouldneitherdisputewithaporter，amiserableunknown，normakecrowdsopeninadorationasIpass。Iamtraineduptoamoderatecondition，aswellbymychoiceasfortune;andhavemadeitappear，inthewholeconductofmylifeandenterprises，thatIhaveratheravoidedthanotherwisetheclimbingabovethedegreeoffortunewhereinGodhasplacedmebymybirth;allnaturalconstitutionisequallyjustandeasy。Mysoulissuchapoltroon，thatImeasurenotgoodfortunebytheheight，butbythefacility。

Butifmyheartbenotgreatenough，’tisopenenoughtomakeamends，atanyone’srequest，freelytolayopenitsweakness。ShouldanyoneputmeuponcomparingthelifeofL。ThoriusBalbus，abraveman，handsome，learned，healthful，understanding，andaboundinginallsortsofconveniencesandpleasures，leadingaquietlife，andallhisown，hismindwellpreparedagainstdeath，superstition，pain，andotherincumbrancesofhumannecessity，dying，atlast，inbattle，withhisswordinhishand，forthedefenceofhiscountry，ontheonepart;andontheotherpart，thelifeofM。Regulus，sogreatandhighasisknowntoeveryone，andhisendadmirable;theonewithoutnameandwithoutdignity，theotherexemplaryandglorioustoawonder。Ishoulddoubtlesssay，asCicerodid，couldIspeakaswellashe。

[Cicero，DeFinibus，ii。20，givesthepreferencetoRegulus，andproclaimshimthehappierman。]

ButifIwastocomparethemwithmyown，Ishouldthenalsosaythatthefirstisasmuchaccordingtomycapacity，andfromdesire，whichI

conformtomycapacity，asthesecondisfarbeyondit;thatIcouldnotapproachthelastbutwithveneration，theotherIcouldreadilyattainbyuse。

Letusreturntoourtemporalgreatness，fromwhichwearedigressed。I

disrelishalldominion，whetheractiveorpassive。Otanes，oneofthesevenwhohadrighttopretendtothekingdomofPersia，didasIshouldwillinglyhavedone，whichwas，thathegaveuptohiscompetitorshisrightofbeingpromotedtoit，eitherbyelectionorbylot，providedthatheandhismightliveintheempireoutofallauthorityandsubjection，thoseoftheancientlawsexcepted，andmightenjoyalllibertythatwasnotprejudicialtothese，beingasimpatientofcommandingasofbeingcommanded。

Themostpainfulanddifficultemploymentintheworld，inmyopinion，isworthilytodischargetheofficeofaking。Iexcusemoreoftheirmistakesthanmencommonlydo，inconsiderationoftheintolerableweightoftheirfunction，whichastoundsme。’Tishardtokeepmeasureinsoimmeasurableapower;yetsoitisthatitis，eventothosewhoarenotofthebestnature，asingularincitementtovirtuetobeseatedinaplacewhereyoucannotdotheleastgoodthatshallnotbeputuponrecord，andwheretheleastbenefitredoundstosomanymen，andwhereyourtalentofadministration，likethatofpreachers，principallyaddressesitselftothepeople，noveryexactjudge，easytodeceive，andeasilycontent。Therearefewthingswhereinwecangiveasincerejudgment，byreasonthattherearefewwhereinwehavenot，insomesort，aprivateinterest。Superiorityandinferiority，dominionandsubjectionareboundtoanaturalenvyandcontest，andmustofnecessityperpetuallyintrenchupononeanother。Ibelieveneithertheonenortheothertouchingtherightsoftheotherparty;letreasontherefore，whichisinflexibleandwithoutpassion，determinewhenwecanavailourselvesofit。’TisnotaboveamonthagothatIreadover，twoScottishauthorscontendinguponthissubject，ofwhomhewhostandsforthepeoplemakesthekingtobeinaworseconditionthanacarter;hewhowritesformonarchyplaceshimsomedegreesaboveGodinpowerandsovereignty。

Now，theincommodityofgreatnessthatIhavetakentoremarkinthisplace，uponsomeoccasionthathaslatelyputitintomyhead，isthis:

thereisnot，peradventure，anythingmorepleasantinthecommerceofmanythanthetrialsthatwemakeagainstoneanother，outofemulationofhonourandworth，whetherintheexercisesofthebodyorinthoseofthemind，whereinsovereigngreatnesscanhavenotruepart。And，inearnest，Ihaveoftenthoughtthatbyforceofrespectitselfmenuseprincesdisdainfullyandinjuriouslyinthatparticular;forthethingI

wasinfinitelyoffendedatinmychildhood，thattheywhoexercisedwithmeforboretodotheirbestbecausetheyfoundmeunworthyoftheirutmostendeavour，iswhatweseehappentothemdaily，everyonefindinghimselfunworthytocontendwiththem。Ifwediscoverthattheyhavetheleastdesiretogetthebetterofus，thereisnoonewhowillnotmakeithisbusinesstogiveitthem，andwhowillnotratherbetrayhisownglorythanoffendtheirs;andwillthereinemploysomuchforceonlyasisnecessarytosavetheirhonour。Whatsharehavethey，then，intheengagement，whereeveryoneisontheirside？MethinksIseethosepaladinsofancienttimespresentingthemselvestojoustsandbattlewithenchantedarmsandbodies。Brisson，[Plutarch，OnSatisfactionorTranquillityoftheMind。Butinhisessay，HowaManmayDistinguishaFlattererfromaFriend，hecallshimChriso。]

runningagainstAlexander，purposelymissedhisblow，andmadeafaultinhiscareer;Alexanderchidhimforit，butheoughttohavehadhimwhipped。UponthisconsiderationCarneadessaid，that"thesonsofprinceslearnednothingrightbuttomanagehorses;byreasonthat，inalltheirotherexercises，everyonebendsandyieldstothem;butahorse，thatisneitheraflatterernoracourtier，throwsthesonofakingwithnomoreceremonythanhewouldthrowthatofaporter。"

HomerwasfaintoconsentthatVenus，sosweetanddelicateagoddessasshewas，shouldbewoundedatthebattleofTroy，therebytoascribecourageandboldnesstoherqualitiesthatcannotpossiblybeinthosewhoareexemptfromdanger。Thegodsaremadetobeangry，tofear，torunaway，tobejealous，togrieve，tobetransportedwithpassions，tohonourthemwiththevirtuesthat，amongstus，arebuiltupontheseimperfections。Whodoesnotparticipateinthehazardanddifficulty，canclaimnointerestinthehonourandpleasurethataretheconsequentsofhazardousactions。’Tispityamanshouldbesopotentthatallthingsmustgivewaytohim;fortunethereinsetsyoutooremotefromsociety，andplacesyouintoogreatasolitude。Thiseasinessandmeanfacilityofmakingallthingsbowunderyou，isanenemytoallsortsofpleasure:

’tistoslide，nottogo;’tistosleep，andnottolive。Conceivemanaccompaniedwithomnipotence:youoverwhelmhim;hemustbegdisturbanceandoppositionasanalms:hisbeingandhisgoodareinindigence。Eviltomanisinitsturngood，andgoodevil。Neitherispainalwaystobeshunned，norpleasurealwaystobepursued。

Theirgoodqualitiesaredeadandlost;fortheycanonlybeperceivedbycomparison，andweputthemoutofthis:theyhavelittleknowledgeoftruepraise，havingtheirearsdeafenedwithsocontinualanduniformanapprobation。Havetheytodowiththestupidestofalltheirsubjects？

theyhavenomeanstotakeanyadvantageofhim;ifhebutsay:"’Tisbecauseheismyking，"hethinkshehassaidenoughtoexpressthathethereforesufferedhimselftobeovercome。Thisqualitystiflesandconsumestheothertrueandessentialqualities:theyaresunkintheroyalty，andleavethemnothingtorecommendthemselveswithbutactionsthatdirectlyconcernandservethefunctionoftheirplace;’tissomuchtobeaking，thatthisaloneremainstothem。Theouterglarethatenvironshimconcealsandshroudshimfromus;oursightisthererepelledanddissipated，beingfilledandstoppedbythisprevailinglight。ThesenateawardedtheprizeofeloquencetoTiberius;herefusedit，esteemingthatthoughithadbeenjust，hecouldderivenoadvantagefromajudgmentsopartial，andthatwassolittlefreetojudge。

Aswegivethemalladvantagesofhonour，sodowesootheandauthorisealltheirvicesanddefects，notonlybyapprobation，butbyimitationalso。EveryoneofAlexander’sfollowerscarriedhisheadononeside，ashedid;andtheflatterersofDionysiusranagainstoneanotherinhispresence，andstumbledatandoverturnedwhateverwasunderfoot，toshewtheywereaspurblindashe。Herniaitselfhasalsoservedtorecommendamantofavour;Ihaveseendeafnessaffected;andbecausethemasterhatedhiswife，Plutarch——[who，however，onlygivesoneinstance;andinthishetellsusthatthemanvisitedhiswifeprivately。]——hasseenhiscourtiersrepudiatetheirs，whomtheyloved;and，whichisyetmore，uncleanlinessandallmannerofdissolutenesshavesobeeninfashion;asalsodisloyalty，blasphemy，cruelty，heresy，superstition，irreligion，effeminacy，andworse，ifworsetherebe;andbyanexampleyetmoredangerousthanthatofMithridates’flatterers，who，astheirmasterpretendedtothehonourofagoodphysician，cametohimtohaveincisionsandcauteriesmadeintheirlimbs;fortheseotherssufferedthesoul，amoredelicateandnoblepart，tobecauterised。

ButtoendwhereIbegan:theEmperorAdrian，disputingwiththephilosopherFavorinusabouttheinterpretationofsomeword，Favorinussoonyieldedhimthevictory;forwhichhisfriendsrebukinghim，"Youtalksimply，"saidhe;"wouldyounothavehimwiserthanI，whocommandsthirtylegions？"AugustuswroteversesagainstAsiniusPollio，and"I，"

saidPollio，"saynothing，foritisnotprudencetowriteincontestwithhimwhohaspowertoproscribe。"Andtheywereright。ForDionysius，becausehecouldnotequalPhiloxenusinpoesyandPlatoindiscourse，condemnedtheonetothequarries，andsenttheothertobesoldforaslaveintotheislandofAEgina。

CHAPTERVIII

OFTHEARTOFCONFERENCE

’Tisacustomofourjusticetocondemnsomeforawarningtoothers。Tocondemnthemforhavingdoneamiss，werefolly，asPlatosays，[DiogenesLaertius，however，inhisLifeofPlato，iii。181，saysthatPlato’soffencewasthespeakingtoofreelytothetyrant。]

forwhatisdonecanneverbeundone;but’tistotheendtheymayoffendnomore，andthatothersmayavoidtheexampleoftheiroffence:wedonotcorrectthemanwehang;wecorrectothersbyhim。Idothesame;myerrorsaresometimesnatural，incorrigible，andirremediable:butthegoodwhichvirtuousmendotothepublic，inmakingthemselvesimitated，I，peradventure，maydoinmakingmymannersavoided:

"Nonnevides，Albiutmalevivatfilius？utqueBarrusinops？magnumdocumentum，nepatriamreinPerdereguisvelit;"

["DostthounotseehowillthesonofAlbuslives？andhowtheindigentBarrus？agreatwarninglestanyoneshouldinclinetodissipatehispatrimony。"——Horace，Sat。，i。4，109。]

publishingandaccusingmyownimperfections，someonewilllearntobeafraidofthem。ThepartsthatImostesteeminmyself，derivemorehonourfromdecrying，thanforcommendingmyselfwhichisthereasonwhyIsooftenfallinto，andsomuchinsistuponthatstrain。But，whenallissummedup，amanneverspeaksofhimselfwithoutloss;aman’saccusationsofhimselfarealwaysbelieved;hispraisesnever:Theremay，peradventure，besomeofmyowncomplexionwhobetterinstructmyselfbycontrarietythanbysimilitude，andbyavoidingthanbyimitation。TheelderCatowasregardingthissortofdiscipline，whenhesaid，"thatthewisemaylearnmoreoffools，thanfoolscanofthewise";andPausaniastellsusofanancientplayerupontheharp，whowaswonttomakehisscholarsgotohearonewhoplayedveryill，wholivedoveragainsthim，thattheymightlearntohatehisdiscordsandfalsemeasures。Thehorrorofcrueltymoreinclinesmetoclemency，thananyexampleofclemencycouldpossiblydo。Agoodriderdoesnotsomuchmendmyseat，asanawkwardattorneyoraVenetian，onhorseback;andaclownishwayofspeakingmorereformsminethanthemostcorrect。Theridiculousandsimplelookofanotheralwayswarnsandadvisesme;thatwhichpricks，rousesandincitesmuchbetterthanthatwhichtickles。Thetimeisnowproperforustoreformbackward;morebydissentingthanbyagreeing;bydifferingmorethanbyconsent。Profitinglittlebygoodexamples，I

makeuseofthosethatareill，whichareeverywheretobefound:I

endeavourtorendermyselfasagreeableasIseeothersoffensive;asconstantasIseeothersfickle;asaffableasIseeothersrough;asgoodasIseeothersevil:butIproposetomyselfimpracticablemeasures。

Themostfruitfulandnaturalexerciseofthemind，inmyopinion，isconversation;Ifindtheuseofitmoresweetthanofanyotheractionoflife;andforthatreasonitisthat，ifIwerenowcompelledtochoose，Ishouldsooner，Ithink，consenttolosemysight，thanmyhearingandspeech。TheAthenians，andalsotheRomans，keptthisexerciseingreathonourintheiracademies;theItaliansretainsometracesofittothisday，totheirgreatadvantage，asismanifestbythecomparisonofourunderstandingswiththeirs。Thestudyofbooksisalanguishingandfeeblemotionthatheatsnot，whereasconversationteachesandexercisesatonce。IfIconversewithastrongmindandaroughdisputant，hepressesuponmyflanks，andpricksmerightandleft;hisimaginationsstirupmine;jealousy，glory，andcontention，stimulateandraisemeuptosomethingabovemyself;andacquiescenceisaqualityaltogethertediousindiscourse。But，asourmindfortifiesitselfbythecommunicationofvigorousandregularunderstandings，’tisnottobeexpressedhowmuchitlosesanddegeneratesbythecontinualcommerceandfamiliaritywehavewi