登陆注册
5362600000309

第309章

They are not by the dozen, as every one knows, and especially in the duties of marriage, for that is a bargain full of so many nice circumstances that 'tis hard a woman's will should long endure such a restraint; men, though their condition be something better under that tie, have yet enough to do. The true touch and test of a happy marriage have respect to the time of the companionship, if it has been constantly gentle, loyal, and agreeable. In our age, women commonly reserve the publication of their good offices, and their vehement affection towards their husbands, until they have lost them, or at least, till then defer the testimonies of their good will; a too slow testimony and unseasonable. By it they rather manifest that they never loved them till dead: their life is nothing but trouble; their death full of love and courtesy. As fathers conceal their affection from their children, women, likewise, conceal theirs from their husbands, to maintain a modest respect. This mystery is not for my palate; 'tis to much purpose that they scratch themselves and tear their hair. I whisper in a waiting-woman's or secretary's ear: " How were they, how did they live together?"

I always have that good saying m my head:

"Jactantius moerent, quae minus dolent."

["They make the most ado who are least concerned." (Or:)

"They mourn the more ostentatiously, the less they grieve."--Tacitus, Annal., ii. 77, writing of Germanicus.]

Their whimpering is offensive to the living and vain to the dead. We should willingly give them leave to laugh after we are dead, provided they will smile upon us whilst we are alive. Is it not enough to make a man revive in pure spite, that she, who spat in my face whilst I was in being, shall come to kiss my feet when I am no more? If there be any honour in lamenting a husband, it only appertains to those who smiled upon them whilst they had them; let those who wept during their lives laugh at their deaths, as well outwardly as within. Therefore, never regard those blubbered eyes and that pitiful voice; consider her deportment, her complexion, the plumpness of her cheeks under all those formal veils; 'tis there she talks plain French. There are few who do not mend upon't, and health is a quality that cannot lie. That starched and ceremonious countenance looks not so much back as forward, and is rather intended to get a new husband than to lament the old. When I was a boy, a very beautiful and virtuous lady, who is yet living, the widow of a prince, wore somewhat more ornament in her dress than our laws of widowhood allow, and being reproached with it, she made answer that it was because she was resolved to have no more love affairs, and would never marry again.

I have here, not at all dissenting from our customs, made choice of three women, who have also expressed the utmost of their goodness and affection about their husbands' deaths; yet are they examples of another kind than are now m use, and so austere that they will hardly be drawn into imitation.

The younger Pliny' had near a house of his in Italy a neighbour who was exceedingly tormented with certain ulcers in his private parts. His wife seeing him so long to languish, entreated that he would give her leave to see and at leisure to consider of the condition of his disease, and that she would freely tell him what she thought. This permission being obtained, and she having curiously examined the business, found it impossible he could ever be cured, and that all he had to hope for or expect was a great while to linger out a painful and miserable life, and therefore, as the most sure and sovereign remedy, resolutely advised him to kill himself. But finding him a little tender and backward in so rude an attempt: "Do not think, my friend," said she, "that the torments I see thee endure are not as sensible to me as to thyself, and that to deliver myself from them, I will not myself make use of the same remedy I have prescribed to thee. I will accompany thee in the cure as I have done in the disease; fear nothing, but believe that we shall have pleasure in this passage that is to free us from so many miseries, and we will go happily together." Which having said, and roused up her husband's courage, she resolved that they should throw themselves headlong into the sea out of a window that overlooked it, and that she might maintain to the last the loyal and vehement affection wherewith she had embraced him during his life, she would also have him die in her arms; but lest they should fail, and should quit their hold in the fall through fear, she tied herself fast to him by the waist, and so gave up her own life to procure her husband's repose. This was a woman of mean condition; and, amongst that class of people, 'tis no very new thing to see some examples of rare virtue:

"Extrema per illos Justitia excedens terris vestigia fecit."

["Justice, when she left the earth, took her last steps among them." --Virgil, Georg., ii. 473.]

The other two were noble and rich, where examples of virtue are rarely lodged.

同类推荐
  • 医理真传

    医理真传

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 两湖麈谈录

    两湖麈谈录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 归田录

    归田录

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Natural History of Religion

    The Natural History of Religion

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 谗书

    谗书

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 逆女成凤:弃妃惊天下

    逆女成凤:弃妃惊天下

    上一世凌若儿含恨而死。这一世卷土重来。继母?姨娘?妹妹?你们都算个狗屁。亲爹,算了吧,你装一副可怜巴巴的样子,是给谁看的?渣男,哪儿远你滚哪儿去,别脏了我的眼。那个帅帅的三皇子:“嘿,你站住,有个恋爱要找你谈谈……”
  • 不可重来的时代

    不可重来的时代

    回顾萧红传奇一生,期待汤唯《黄金时代》 。腾讯大家联手汤唯新片《黄金时代》,从传奇女作家萧红颠簸的一生,到风云际会中一代弄潮儿的群像,重现动乱年代中年轻人的热血、天真,以及他们面对的困境与挣扎。天才辈出的时代还会重来吗?我们能拥有属于自己的黄金时代吗?《不可重来的时代》,在讲述往事的同时,也来谈谈我们身处的现在。
  • 金光明经文句

    金光明经文句

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 情凝晟夏

    情凝晟夏

    “菡儿,做我女人可好。”“夏菡,你知不知道你真的很残忍。”“菡菡,离开他,我愿给你更好。”红尘嚣嚣终抵不过她固执的坚持“我爱了你这么久为什么不肯看我一眼!”“她哪里配得上你!”“晟睿,你只可以是我的。”繁世佳人终比不上他执着的信念她是他的白月光心头肉他都认了,因为他自愿宠她爱她呵护她。他是她的朱砂痣意中人她都认了,因为她自愿等他陪他依赖他。他用十年编织的红绳只为牵绊她一生。她用十年追逐的脚印只为陪伴他一生。十年的时光,彼此的认定。
  • 母亲河

    母亲河

    迎来新中国解放的年轻知识分子贺文雍被打成右派,妻子凌芬以柔弱之躯与儿子贺庆生在屈辱和磨难的社会底层中生存。
  • 18岁前应该体验的18种经历

    18岁前应该体验的18种经历

    人生的历程就像攀登一座高山,所有的人生经历仿佛在铺就一条通向山巅的道路,其中的每一种经历都好比是人生的一道台阶,如果我们没有经历过什么,就只能永远在山脚下徘徊。体验我们应该体验的经历,会让我们的人生变得厚重、深刻,也会启发我们更理性地思考人生。只有经历过,我们才能睿智,才能练达,才能有所发现。只有睿智、练达的人才会拥有卓越的人生,生命才会因此而不同凡响。
  • 丑颜弃妇闯情关

    丑颜弃妇闯情关

    现代某都市:“林夷如,我喜欢你,我们交往吧。”穿越千年庆云国:“平凡,激不起本王的半点兴趣,”她早就火冒三丈,正想一掌打过去,他靠近她的耳畔说的下一句话让她彻底呆了,“也不看看自己是什么货色,还想用这招;如果是个美人,本王还可以勉强,不过,你让我无比厌恶。”--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 瞬间感悟·爱的智慧

    瞬间感悟·爱的智慧

    当一个人走到爱的时节,就觉得自身变成了舒展的绿叶,一种类似仙境的幸福来到你的身上。你可知道为什么?你可知道那种无边的幸福感是从哪儿来的?那都是因为想到自身已经不再是孤零零的……
  • 北君道

    北君道

    多少年来,我走过了多少光阴走过了多少年华。虽我已老但却不曾忘怀昔日的好友昔日又有多少呢
  • 假凤惊鸾:一见惊情

    假凤惊鸾:一见惊情

    “凤惊鸾,不贞不洁,人尽可夫,不配为妻!”千年药毒世家第一传人,一朝穿越,竟被绑上花轿代姐出嫁,刚进喜堂,就被一纸休书狠狠砸脸。凤惊鸾不怒反笑,很好!不贞不洁?那就勾来一枚忠犬王爷,整死这群如狼似虎的渣渣!