登陆注册
5362600000059

第59章

Cicero says --[Tusc., i. 31.]-- "that to study philosophy is nothing but to prepare one's self to die." The reason of which is, because study and contemplation do in some sort withdraw from us our soul, and employ it separately from the body, which is a kind of apprenticeship and a resemblance of death; or, else, because all the wisdom and reasoning in the world do in the end conclude in this point, to teach us not to fear to die. And to say the truth, either our reason mocks us, or it ought to have no other aim but our contentment only, nor to endeavour anything but, in sum, to make us live well, and, as the Holy Scripture says, at our ease. All the opinions of the world agree in this, that pleasure is our end, though we make use of divers means to attain it: they would, otherwise, be rejected at the first motion; for who would give ear to him that should propose affliction and misery for his end? The controversies and disputes of the philosophical sects upon this point are merely verbal:

"Transcurramus solertissimas nugas"

["Let us skip over those subtle trifles."--Seneca, Ep., 117.]--there is more in them of opposition and obstinacy than is consistent with so sacred a profession; but whatsoever personage a man takes upon himself to perform, he ever mixes his own part with it.

Let the philosophers say what they will, the thing at which we all aim, even in virtue is pleasure. It amuses me to rattle in ears this word, which they so nauseate to and if it signify some supreme pleasure and contentment, it is more due to the assistance of virtue than to any other assistance whatever. This pleasure, for being more gay, more sinewy, more robust and more manly, is only the more seriously voluptuous, and we ought give it the name of pleasure, as that which is more favourable, gentle, and natural, and not that from which we have denominated it. The other and meaner pleasure, if it could deserve this fair name, it ought to be by way of competition, and not of privilege. I find it less exempt from traverses and inconveniences than virtue itself; and, besides that the enjoyment is more momentary, fluid, and frail, it has its watchings, fasts, and labours, its sweat and its blood; and, moreover, has particular to itself so many several sorts of sharp and wounding passions, and so dull a satiety attending it, as equal it to the severest penance. And we mistake if we think that these incommodities serve it for a spur and a seasoning to its sweetness (as in nature one contrary is quickened by another), or say, when we come to virtue, that like consequences and difficulties overwhelm and render it austere and inaccessible; whereas, much more aptly than in voluptuousness, they ennoble, sharpen, and heighten the perfect and divine pleasure they procure us. He renders himself unworthy of it who will counterpoise its cost with its fruit, and neither understands the blessing nor how to use it. Those who preach to us that the quest of it is craggy, difficult, and painful, but its fruition pleasant, what do they mean by that but to tell us that it is always unpleasing? For what human means will ever attain its enjoyment? The most perfect have been fain to content themselves to aspire unto it, and to approach it only, without ever possessing it. But they are deceived, seeing that of all the pleasures we know, the very pursuit is pleasant. The attempt ever relishes of the quality of the thing to which it is directed, for it is a good part of, and consubstantial with, the effect. The felicity and beatitude that glitters in Virtue, shines throughout all her appurtenances and avenues, even to the first entry and utmost limits.

Now, of all the benefits that virtue confers upon us, the contempt of death is one of the greatest, as the means that accommodates human life with a soft and easy tranquillity, and gives us a pure and pleasant taste of living, without which all other pleasure would be extinct. Which is the reason why all the rules centre and concur in this one article. And although they all in like manner, with common accord, teach us also to despise pain, poverty, and the other accidents to which human life is subject, it is not, nevertheless, with the same solicitude, as well by reason these accidents are not of so great necessity, the greater part of mankind passing over their whole lives without ever knowing what poverty is, and some without sorrow or sickness, as Xenophilus the musician, who lived a hundred and six years in a perfect and continual health; as also because, at the worst, death can, whenever we please, cut short and put an end to all other inconveniences. But as to death, it is inevitable:--"Omnes eodem cogimur; omnium Versatur urna serius ocius Sors exitura, et nos in aeternum Exilium impositura cymbae."

["We are all bound one voyage; the lot of all, sooner or later, is to come out of the urn. All must to eternal exile sail away."--Hor., Od., ii. 3, 25.] and, consequently, if it frights us, 'tis a perpetual torment, for which there is no sort of consolation. There is no way by which it may not reach us. We may continually turn our heads this way and that, as in a suspected country:

"Quae, quasi saxum Tantalo, semper impendet."

["Ever, like Tantalus stone, hangs over us."--Cicero, De Finib., i. 18.]

Our courts of justice often send back condemned criminals to be executed upon the place where the crime was committed; but, carry them to fine houses by the way, prepare for them the best entertainment you can--"Non Siculae dapes Dulcem elaborabunt saporem:

Non avium cyatheaceae cantus Somnum reducent."

["Sicilian dainties will not tickle their palates, nor the melody of birds and harps bring back sleep."--Hor., Od., iii. 1, 18.]

Do you think they can relish it? and that the fatal end of their journey being continually before their eyes, would not alter and deprave their palate from tasting these regalios?

"Audit iter, numeratque dies, spatioque viarum Metitur vitam; torquetur peste futura."

同类推荐
  • 浪迹丛谈

    浪迹丛谈

    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。
  • 山窗余稿

    山窗余稿

    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。
  • 辨惑编

    辨惑编

    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。
  • 诸佛境界摄真实经

    诸佛境界摄真实经

    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。
  • 襄阳记

    襄阳记

    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
  • 兽王·雪原狼王

    兽王·雪原狼王

    一个在瘟疫中幸存的男孩兰虎,因为彰显出不同寻常的能力而被路过的一对善良的夫妇给救出带走。兰虎被带到一个温暖的家庭,还有一个可爱的小妹妹,这对夫妇告诉兰虎,他其实并非普通的人类,而是拥有暗能量的新人类少年。一年后,年满十五岁的兰虎被送到古亚洲大陆的宠兽学校去学习。这是一所与普通人的学校绝不相同的新人类学校,在这里老师们将会教新人类孩子们怎么善用自己的力量,发挥自己的专长,驾御各种动物,摹仿它们的能力,一个崭新的世界出现在兰虎面前……然而,一个巨大的危机正悄悄逼近宠兽学校,黑暗势力试图控制这所新人类学校,进而借助学校的力量实现他们称霸世界的野心。
  • 中国应用运动心理学家的理论与实践

    中国应用运动心理学家的理论与实践

    本书对应用运动心理学进行研究,全书共分为七章,内容包括对理想竞技表现的重新定义及心理训练凡事变革、运动心理学临场支持服务等。
  • 倦寻芳

    倦寻芳

    视她如珠似宝的南朝皇室,在兵临城下时,将她当作了和亲的祭品。少年时那场青山翠竹间的纯真恋曲,竟是一段无可挽回的情错。当她被迫成为北朝宫妃时,曾经的海誓山盟,换来他轻蔑一笑,袖手旁观。她指天立誓:她受的所有折辱,将要他十倍偿还!
  • 巅峰造诣的科学家(4)

    巅峰造诣的科学家(4)

    科学一个神圣的词,一个让众多人前仆后继的领域,在这个充满神秘色彩的领域里涌现出多少巅峰造诣的科学家。希波克拉特斯一个被柏拉图称为“科斯岛的神医”、被亚里士多德称为“伟大的医生”,有多少人知道他的存在呢?阅读本书,走进那些巅峰造诣科学家们的成长历程,让我们于他们的成长中寻到属于自己的人生之路。
  • 西游记(下)

    西游记(下)

    本书的故事对人们来说是非常熟悉的,其中*精彩的章节,如孙悟空大闹天宫、猪八戒高老庄娶媳妇、打白骨精、借芭蕉扇等等,更是家喻户晓,妇孺皆知。几百年来,它以其强烈的艺术魅力,吸引着一代又一代人,从而使它成为中国人民*喜爱的古典名著之一。《西游记》主要描写的是孙悟空保唐僧西天取经,历经九九八十一难的故事。
  • 重生之二次元女神

    重生之二次元女神

    被忽如其来的陨石砸死,灵魂穿越到了另一个星球。天冥星,这里的科技发达,就连传说中的异能者也多如繁星,这里有神秘的遗迹,大的可以联通一个世界!也有让人望而生畏的恐兽和可以让【神】也有来无回的险地!作为广大偷渡者的一员,他就没那么幸运了,阴差阳错之下重生成了美女,罗修鸣从此告别了男身T^T,以新身份周雅生活。当然罗,不,是周雅。她也是众多星球幸运者的一员,虽然他的能力不强但是她发现自己穿越后自己的灵之中居然有系统!不只能变身强大的二次元美女战斗,还可以在个个世界中穿梭!甚至她还有机会回到她的家乡,地球……
  • 茅盾的青少年时代

    茅盾的青少年时代

    青年茅盾的人生旅程,可以称得上是有声有色。亦文学亦政治,他都满腔热忱,也都有过精彩时刻。但在进入而立之年的时候,一茅盾的生活轨迹发生了一次很大的变化,他拉开了与政治的距离,专心进入文学创作领域。
  • 基因狼人

    基因狼人

    怪人那天的黄昏与往日并没有什么不同,来自洛基山脉的冰冷的风卷走了怀俄明州的生气,大街上行人寥寥,即使偶尔有一两个行人,也竖起厚厚大衣领口走得飞快。在这样见鬼的天气里,就连平日汪汪乱叫以欺负小孩子为乐的,那只叫做“俄罗斯来的”的狗都缩着头,溜进屋里不肯出声。雪已经下了两天,看样子还会没完没了地下下去。芬叹了一口气,看来今天是不会有人来陪自己了,这样一个漫长的寒假真是让人难以忍受。即使自己能够遇见传说中的鬼也好,芬想,至少不会像现在这样无聊,这样寂寞。
  • 重生之媳妇有点凶

    重生之媳妇有点凶

    前世,白素曼活的糊涂,死的委屈,因为撞破丈夫跟掏心掏肺相待的妹妹在床上的丑事,被逼到跌落而死,一尸两命。重活在世,白素曼发誓,她要拿回,她失去的一切,她要让他们,知道什么叫报应不爽。湛问天说:我从未想过伤害你。重生的白素曼浅笑道,“那就用你的命,来证明吧。”
  • 槿色流年醉

    槿色流年醉

    那些不欲人知的青春往事;那些不安岁月里的人情冷暖;那些旧时光里狼狈不堪,却又义无反顾的故人们!还那个年少意气的自己!