the essays of montaigne, v12-第15节
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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:
〃Et secum petulans amentia certat:〃
'〃And petulant madness contends with itself。〃
Claudian in Eutrop。; i。 237。'
they attack his shadow; and drive the storm in a place where no one is
either chastised or concerned; but in the clamour of their voice。
I likewise in quarrels condemn those who huff and vapour without an
enemy: those rhodomontades should be reserved to discharge upon the
offending party:
〃Mugitus veluti cum prima in praelia taurus
Terrificos ciet; atque irasci in cornua tentat;
Arboris obnixus trunco; ventospue lacessit
Ictibus; et sparsa ad pugnum proludit arena。〃
'〃As when a bull to usher in the fight; makes dreadful bellowings;
and whets his horns against the trunk of a tree; with blows he beats
the air; and rehearses the fight by scattering the sand。〃
AEneid; xii。 103。'
When I am angry; my anger is very sharp but withal very short; and as
private as I can; I lose myself indeed in promptness and violence; but
not in trouble; so that I throw out all sorts of injurious words at
random; and without choice; and never consider pertinently to dart my
language where I think it will deepest wound; for I commonly make use of
no other weapon than my tongue。
My servants have a better bargain of me in great occasions than in
little; the little ones surprise me; and the misfortune is; that when you
are once upon the precipice; 'tis no matter who gave you the push; you
always go to the bottom; the fall urges; moves; and makes haste of
itself。 In great occasions this satisfies me; that they are so just
every one expects a reasonable indignation; and then I glorify myself in
deceiving their expectation; against these; I fortify and prepare myself;
they disturb my head; and threaten to transport me very far; should I
follow them。 I can easily contain myself from entering into one of these
passions; and am strong enough; when I expect them; to repel their
violence; be the cause never so great; but if a passion once prepossess
and seize me; it carries me away; be the cause never so small。 I bargain
thus with those who may contend with me when you see me moved first; let
me alone; right or wrong; I'll do the same for you。 The storm is only
begot by a concurrence of angers; which easily spring from one another;
and are not born together。 Let every one have his own way; and we shall
be always at peace。 A profitable advice; but hard to execute。 Sometimes
also it falls out that I put on a seeming anger; for the better governing
of my house; without any real emotion。 As age renders my humours more
sharp; I study to oppose them; and will; if I can; order it so; that for
the future I may be so much the less peevish and hard to please; as I
have more excuse and inclination to be so; although I have heretofore
been reckoned amongst those who have the greatest patience。
A word more to conclude this argument。 Aristotle says; that anger
sometimes serves for arms to virtue and valour。 That is probable;
nevertheless; they who contradict him pleasantly answer; that 'tis a
weapon of novel use; for we move all other arms; this moves us; our hand
guides it not; 'tis it that guides our hand; it holds us; we hold not it。
End