PERSONNE n’est exempt de dire des fadaises: le malheur est, de les dire curieusement: Næ iste magno conatu magnas nugas dixerit.
No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the misfortune is to talk it with great care: Indeed, this man will have taken great pains to say great trifles.
Cela ne me touche pas; les miennes m’eschappent aussi nonchallamment qu’elles le valent. D’où bien leur prend. Ie les quitterois soudain, à peu de coust qu’il y eust. Et ne les achette, ny ne les vends, que ce qu’elles poisent. Ie parle au papier, comme ie parle au premier que ie rencontre. Qu’il soit vray, voicy dequoy.
That does not concern me. My trifles slip out of me as carelessly as they deserve, which is lucky for them. I would drop them at once if they cost me anything at all. I neither buy nor sell them for more than they weigh. I speak to paper as I speak to the first person I meet. To prove this is true, here is an example.
A qui ne doit estre la perfidie detestable, puis que Tybere la refusa à si grand interest? On luy manda d’Allemaigne, que s’il le trouuoit bon, on le defferoit d’Arminius par poison. C’estoit le plus puissant ennemy que les Romains eussent, qui les auoit si vilainement traictez soubs Varus, et qui seul empeschoit l’accroissement de sa domination en ces contrees là. Il fit responce, que le peuple Romain auoit accoustumé de se venger de ses ennemis par voye ouuerte, les armes en main, non par fraude, et en cachette: il quitta l’vtile pour l’honeste. C’estoit, me direz-vous, vn affronteur. Ie le croy: ce n’est pas grand miracle, à gens de sa profession.
Who could fail to find treachery detestable, since Tiberius refused it when so much was at stake? Word was sent to him from Germany that, if he approved, Arminius could be got rid of for him by poison. Arminius was the most powerful enemy the Romans had; he had treated them so shamefully under Varus, and he alone was blocking the growth of Tiberius’s dominion in those regions. Tiberius replied that the Roman people were accustomed to take vengeance on their enemies openly, weapons in hand, not by fraud and in secret: he gave up the useful for the honorable. He was a hypocrite, you will tell me. I believe it: that is no great miracle in people of his profession.
Mais la confession de la vertu, ne porte pas moins en la bouche de celuy qui la hayt: d’autant que la verité la luy arrache par force, et que s’il ne la veult receuoir en soy, aumoins il s’en couure, pour s’en parer.
But the confession of virtue carries no less weight in the mouth of one who hates it, since truth wrests it from him by force, and if he will not take virtue into himself, at least he cloaks himself in it as an ornament.
Necessary vices
Society needs treachery and lying, but those tasks should be left to others more pliable.
Nostre bastiment et public et priué, est plein d’imperfection: mais il n’y a rien d’inutile en Nature, non pas l’inutilité mesmes, rien ne s’est ingeré en cet vniuers, qui n’y tienne place opportune. Nostre estre est simenté de qualitez maladiues: l’ambition, la ialousie, l’enuie, la vengeance, la superstition, le desespoir, logent en nous, d’vne si naturelle possession, que l’image s’en recognoist aussi aux bestes.
Our structure, both public and private, is full of imperfection. But there is nothing useless in nature, not even uselessness itself. Nothing has worked its way into this universe that does not hold a fitting place in it. Our being is cemented with sickly qualities: ambition, jealousy, envy, vengeance, superstition, despair dwell in us with so natural a possession that their image can be recognized in the beasts as well.
Voire et la cruauté, vice si desnaturé: car au milieu de la compassion, nous sentons dedans, ie ne sçay quelle aigre-douce poincte de volupté maligne, à voir souffrir autruy: et les enfans la sentent: Suaue, mari magno, turbantibus æquora ventis, / E terra magnum alterius spectare laborem. Desquelles qualitez, qui osteroit les semences en l’homme, destruiroit les fondamentales conditions de nostre vie. De mesme, en toute police: il y a des offices necessaires, non seulement abiects, mais encores vicieux. Les vices y trouuent leur rang, et s’employent à la cousture de nostre liaison: comme les venins à la conseruation de nostre santé.
Even cruelty, so unnatural a vice: for in the midst of compassion we feel within us some bittersweet prick of malicious pleasure at seeing others suffer, and children feel it too: It is sweet, when the winds are churning the waters of the great sea, / To watch from land another’s great struggle. Whoever removed the seeds of these qualities from man would destroy the fundamental conditions of our life. Likewise, in every government there are necessary offices that are not only abject but even vicious. Vices find their place there and are put to work stitching our society together, as poisons are used to preserve our health.
S’ils deuiennent excusables, d’autant qu’ils nous font besoing, et que la necessité commune efface leur vraye qualité: il faut laisser iouer cette partie, aux citoyens plus vigoureux, et moins craintifs, qui sacrifient leur honneur et leur conscience, comme ces autres anciens sacrifierent leur vie, pour le salut de leur pays. Nous autres plus foibles prenons des rolles et plus aysez et moins hazardeux. Le bien public requiert qu’on trahisse, et qu’on mente, et qu’on massacre: resignons cette commission à gens plus obeissans et plus soupples.
If they become excusable because we need them and common necessity wipes out their true quality, we must leave this part to be played by the more vigorous and less fearful citizens, who sacrifice their honor and their conscience as those men of old sacrificed their lives for the safety of their country. We weaker ones take roles that are both easier and less risky. The public good requires that men betray, and lie, and massacre: let us hand over that commission to people more obedient and more pliable.
Certes i’ay eu souuent despit, de voir des iuges, attirer par fraude et fauces esperances de faueur ou pardon, le criminel à descouurir son fait, et y employer la piperie et l’impudence. Il seruiroit bien à la iustice, et à Platon mesme, qui fauorise cet vsage, de me fournir d’autres moyens plus selon moy. C’est vne iustice malicieuse: et ne l’estime pas moins blessee par soy-mesme, que par autruy.
Truly, I have often been vexed to see judges lure a criminal into revealing his deed by fraud and false hopes of favor or pardon, using trickery and impudence to do it. It would be of good service to justice, and to Plato himself, who favors this practice, to supply me with other means more to my liking. It is a malicious kind of justice, and I consider it no less wounded by itself than by others.
An honest negotiator
Montaigne describes his own open, uncommitted way of dealing between hostile princes.
Ie respondy, n’y a pas long temps, qu’à peine trahirois-ie le Prince pour vn particulier, qui serois tres-marry de trahir aucun particulier, pour le Prince. Et ne hay pas seulement à piper, mais ie hay aussi qu’on se pipe en moy: ie n’y veux pas seulement fournir de matiere et d’occasion. En ce peu que i’ay eu à negocier entre nos Princes, en ces diuisions, et subdiuisions, qui nous deschirent auiourd’huy: i’ay curieusement euité, qu’ils se mesprinssent en moy, et s’enferrassent en mon masque. Les gens du mestier se tiennent les plus couuerts, et se presentent et contrefont les plus moyens, et les plus voysins qu’ils peuuent: moy, ie m’offre par mes opinions les plus viues, et par la forme plus mienne.
Not long ago I answered that I would hardly betray my prince for a private individual, I who would be very sorry to betray any private individual for my prince. And I do not only hate deceiving; I also hate people deceiving themselves about me. I do not want even to supply the material or the occasion for it. In the little I have had to negotiate between our princes, in these divisions and subdivisions that are tearing us apart today, I have carefully avoided letting them be mistaken about me and impale themselves on my mask. People in the trade keep themselves as covered as they can, and present and disguise themselves as being as moderate and as close to the other side’s views as possible. I offer myself with my most lively opinions and in the form most my own.
Tendre negotiateur et nouice: qui ayme mieux faillir à l’affaire, qu’à moy. Ç’a esté pourtant iusques à cette heure, auec tel heur, car certes Fortune y a la principalle part, que peu ont passé de main à autre, auec moins de soupçon, plus de faueur et de priuauté. I’ay vne façon ouuerte, aisee à s’insinuer, et à se donner credit, aux premieres accointances. La naifueté et la verité pure, en quelque siecle que ce soit, trouuent encore leur opportunité et leur mise. Et puis de ceux-là est la liberté peu suspecte, et peu odieuse, qui besongnent sans aucun leur interest.
A tender and novice negotiator, who would rather fail in the business than fail myself! Yet up to now it has gone with such luck (for Fortune certainly has the principal share in it) that few have passed from one side to the other with less suspicion, and with more favor and intimacy. I have an open manner, quick to make its way in and win trust at first acquaintance. Naturalness and pure truth, in whatever century, still find their opening and their currency. And then, the freedom of those who work with no interest of their own is little suspected and little resented.
Et peuuent veritablement employer la responce de Hipperides aux Atheniens, se plaignans de l’aspreté de son parler: Messieurs, ne considerez pas si ie suis libre, mais si ie le suis, sans rien prendre, et sans amender par là mes affaires. Ma liberté m’a aussi aiséement deschargé du soupçon de faintise, par sa vigueur (n’espargnant rien à dire pour poisant et cuisant qu’il fust: ie n’eusse peu dire pis absent) et en ce, qu’elle a vne montre apparente de simplesse et de nonchalance. Ie ne pretens autre fruict en agissant, que d’agir, et n’y attache longues suittes et propositions. Chasque action fait particulierement son ieu: porte s’il peut.
They can truly use the reply of Hyperides to the Athenians, who complained of the harshness of his speech: “Gentlemen, do not consider whether I am outspoken, but whether I am so without taking anything and without bettering my own affairs by it.” My outspokenness has also easily cleared me of any suspicion of pretense, by its vigor (I spared nothing I had to say, however weighty and stinging; I could not have said worse behind their backs) and by its evident look of simplicity and nonchalance. I seek no other fruit from acting than the acting itself, and I attach no long sequels and proposals to it. Each action plays its own game separately: let it hit home if it can.
Au demeurant, ie ne suis pressé de passion, ou hayneuse, ou amoureuse, enuers les grands: ny n’ay ma volonté garrotee d’offence, ou d’obligation particuliere. Ie regarde nos Roys d’vne affection simplement legitime et ciuile, ny emeuë ny demeuë par interest priué, dequoy ie me sçay bon gré. La cause generale et iuste ne m’attache non plus, que moderément et sans fiéure. Ie ne suis pas subiet à ces hypoteques et engagemens penetrans et intimes. La cholere et la hayne sont au delà du deuoir de la iustice: et sont passions seruans seulement à ceux, qui ne tiennent pas assez à leur deuoir, par la raison simple: Vtatur motu animi, qui vti ratione non potest.
For the rest, I am not driven by any passion, either of hatred or of love, toward the great, nor is my will tied by any particular offense or obligation. I regard our kings with an affection that is simply lawful and civil, neither moved toward them nor moved away by private interest, and I am pleased with myself for it. Nor does the general and just cause bind me except moderately and without fever. I am not subject to those penetrating and intimate mortgages and pledges. Anger and hatred go beyond the duty of justice; they are passions useful only to those who are not held firmly enough to their duty by plain reason: Let him use the impulse of passion who cannot use reason.
Toutes intentions legitimes sont d’elles mesmes temperees: sinon, elles s’alterent en seditieuses et illegitimes. C’est ce qui me faict marcher par tout, la teste haute, le visage, et le cœur ouuert. A la verité, et ne crains point de l’aduouer, ie porterois facilement au besoing, vne chandelle à Sainct Michel, l’autre à son serpent, suiuant le dessein de la vieille. Ie suiuray le bon party iusques au feu, mais exclusiuement si ie puis. Que Montaigne s’engouffre quant et la ruyne publique, si besoing est: mais s’il n’est pas besoing, ie sçauray bon gré à la Fortune qu’il se sauue: et autant que mon deuoir me donne de corde, ie l’employe à sa conseruation.
All legitimate intentions are temperate in themselves; otherwise they turn seditious and illegitimate. That is what makes me walk everywhere with my head high, my face and my heart open. In truth—and I am not afraid to admit it—I would readily, if need be, carry one candle to Saint Michael and the other to his serpent, like the old woman in the story. I will follow the right side up to the fire, but not into it, if I can. Let Montaigne be swallowed up along with the public ruin, if need be; but if there is no need, I will be grateful to Fortune for saving him, and all the rope my duty allows me I use to preserve him.
Fut-ce pas Atticus, lequel se tenant au iuste party, et au party qui perdit, se sauua par sa moderation, en cet vniuersel naufrage du monde, parmy tant de mutations et diuersitez? Aux hommes, comme luy priuez, il est plus aisé. Et en telle sorte de besongne, ie trouue qu’on peut iustement n’estre pas ambitieux à s’ingerer et conuier soy-mesmes.
Was it not Atticus who, holding to the just side, and to the side that lost, saved himself by his moderation in that universal shipwreck of the world, amid so many changes and upheavals? For men who, like him, are private persons, it is easier. And in that kind of business I find that one may rightly lack the ambition to thrust oneself forward and invite oneself in.
De se tenir chancelant et mestis, de tenir son affection immobile, et sans inclination aux troubles de son pays, et en vne diuision publique, ie ne le trouue ny beau, ny honneste: Ea non media, sed nulla via est, velut euentum expectantium, quò fortunæ consilia sua applicent. Cela peut estre permis enuers les affaires des voysins: et Gelon tyran de Syracuse, suspendoit ainsi son inclination en la guerre des Barbares contre les Grecs, tenant vne Ambassade à Delphes, auec des presents pour estre en eschauguette, à veoir de quel costé tomberoit la fortune, et prendre l’occasion à poinct, pour le concilier aux victorieux.
To stay wavering and half-and-half, to keep one’s affection unmoved and leaning nowhere in the troubles of one’s country and in a public division—this I find neither handsome nor honorable: That is not a middle way, but no way at all, like those who wait on the outcome in order to fit their plans to fortune. That may be permitted in the affairs of neighbors. Gelon, tyrant of Syracuse, thus held back his leanings in the war of the barbarians against the Greeks: he kept an embassy at Delphi with presents, to be on the lookout to see which way fortune would fall, and to seize the right moment to win the victors over to him.
Ce seroit vne espece de trahison, de le faire aux propres et domestiques affaires, ausquels necessairement il faut prendre party: mais de ne s’embesongner point, à homme qui n’a ny charge, ny commandement exprez qui le presse, ie le trouue plus excusable (et si ne practique pour moy cette excuse) qu’aux guerres estrangeres: desquelles pourtant, selon nos loix, ne s’empesche qui ne veut. Toutesfois ceux encore qui s’y engagent tout à faict, le peuuent, auec tel ordre et attrempance, que l’orage debura couler par dessus leur teste, sans offence. N’auions nous pas raison de l’esperer ainsi du feu Euesque d’Orleans, sieur de Moruilliers?
It would be a kind of treason to do this in one’s own domestic affairs, in which one must necessarily take sides. But for a man who has no office or express command pressing him, staying out of it I find more excusable (though I do not use this excuse for myself) than in foreign wars—in which, however, by our laws, no one need take part who does not wish to. Yet even those who commit themselves wholly can do so with such order and moderation that the storm will pass over their heads without harm. Were we not right to hope so in the case of the late Bishop of Orléans, the sieur de Morvilliers?
Et i’en cognois entre ceux qui y ouurent valeureusement à cette heure, de mœurs ou si equables, ou si douces, qu’ils seront, pour demeurer debout, quelque iniurieuse mutation et cheute que le ciel nous appreste. Ie tiens que c’est aux Roys proprement, de s’animer contre les Roys: et me moque de ces esprits, qui de gayeté de cœur se presentent à querelles si disproportionnees. Car on ne prend pas querelle particuliere auec vn Prince, pour marcher contre luy ouuertement et courageusement, pour son honneur, et selon son deuoir: s’il n’aime vn tel personnage, il fait mieux, il l’estime.
And I know some of those working valiantly at it now whose characters are so even or so gentle that they will remain standing, whatever damaging upheaval and fall heaven may be preparing for us. I hold that it is properly for kings to take up arms against kings, and I laugh at those minds who light-heartedly throw themselves into such disproportionate quarrels. For marching against a prince openly and courageously, for one’s honor and according to one’s duty, is not picking a private quarrel with him. If he does not love such a man, he does better: he esteems him.
Et notamment la cause des loix, et defence de l’ancien estat, a tousiours cela, que ceux mesmes qui pour leur dessein particulier le troublent, en excusent les defenseurs, s’ils ne les honorent.
In particular, the cause of the laws and the defense of the established order always have this about them: even those who disturb that order for their own designs excuse its defenders, if they do not honor them.
Mais il ne faut pas appeller deuoir, comme nous faisons tous les iours, vne aigreur et vne intestine aspreté, qui naist de l’interest et passion priuee, ny courage, vne conduitte traistresse et malitieuse. Ils nomment zele, leur propension vers la malignité, et violence. Ce n’est pas la cause qui les eschauffe, c’est leur interest. Ils attisent la guerre, non par ce qu’elle est iuste: mais par ce que c’est guerre.
But we must not call duty, as we do every day, a sourness and inner harshness born of private interest and passion; nor call courage a treacherous and malicious way of acting. They call their propensity to malice and violence zeal. It is not the cause that inflames them, it is their interest. They stir up war not because it is just but because it is war.
Rien n’empesche qu’on ne se puisse comporter commodément entre des hommes qui se sont ennemis, et loyalement: conduisez vous y d’vne, sinon par tout esgale affection (car elle peut souffrir differentes mesures) au moins temperee, et qui ne vous engage tant à l’vn, qu’il puisse tout requerir de vous. Et vous contentez aussi d’vne moienne mesure de leur grace: et de couler en eau trouble, sans y vouloir pescher.
Nothing prevents one from conducting oneself agreeably and loyally among men who are enemies to one another. Conduct yourself there with an affection which, if not equal everywhere (for it can admit different measures), is at least temperate, and does not commit you so much to one side that he can demand everything of you. Content yourself, too, with a moderate measure of their favor, and with gliding through troubled waters without trying to fish in them.
L’autre maniere de s’offrir de toute sa force aux vns et aux autres, a encore moins de prudence que de conscience. Celuy enuers qui vous en trahissez vn, duquel vous estes pareillement bien venu: sçait-il pas, que de soy vous en faites autant à son tour? Il vous tient pour vn meschant homme: ce pendant il vous oit, et tire de vous, et fait ses affaires de vostre desloyauté. Car les hommes doubles sont vtiles, en ce qu’ils apportent: mais il se faut garder, qu’ils n’emportent que le moins qu’on peut.
The other way, offering oneself with all one’s strength to both sides, shows even less prudence than conscience. The man for whom you betray another, by whom you are equally welcome—does he not know that you do as much to him in his turn? He holds you for a wicked man; meanwhile he listens to you, draws information from you, and does his business by your disloyalty. For double-dealers are useful in what they bring, but one must take care that they carry away as little as possible.
Ie ne dis rien à l’vn, que ie ne puisse dire à l’autre, à son heure, l’accent seulement vn peu changé: et ne rapporte que les choses ou indifferentes, ou cogneuës, ou qui seruent en commun. Il n’y a point d’vtilité, pour laquelle ie me permette de leur mentir. Ce qui a esté fié à mon silence, ie le cele religieusement: mais ie prens à celer le moins que ie puis. C’est vne importune garde, du secret des Princes, à qui n’en a que faire. Ie presente volontiers ce marché, qu’ils me fient peu: mais qu’ils se fient hardiment, de ce que ie leur apporte. I’en ay tousiours plus sceu que ie n’ay voulu.
I say nothing to one side that I could not say to the other at the proper time, with only the tone a little changed; and I report only things that are either indifferent, or already known, or of common use. There is no advantage for which I allow myself to lie to them. What has been entrusted to my silence I keep religiously hidden; but I take on as little to hide as I can. Guarding the secrets of princes is a tiresome duty for someone who has no use for them. I readily offer this bargain: let them confide little to me, but let them boldly trust what I bring them. I have always known more than I wanted to.
Vn parler ouuert, ouure vn autre parler, et le tire hors, comme fait le vin et l’amour. Philippides respondit sagement à mon gré, au Roy Lysimachus, qui luy disoit, Que veux-tu que ie te communique de mes biens? Ce que tu voudras, pourueu que ce ne soit de tes secrets. Ie voy que chacun se mutine, si on luy cache le fonds des affaires ausquels on l’employe, et si on luy en a desrobé quelque arriere-sens. Pour moy, ie suis content qu’on ne m’en die non plus, qu’on veut que i’en mette en besoigne: et ne desire pas, que ma science outrepasse et contraigne ma parole. Si ie dois seruir d’instrument de tromperie, que ce soit aumoins sauue ma conscience.
Open speech opens up another’s speech and draws it out, as wine and love do. Philippides, to my mind, answered wisely when King Lysimachus asked him, “What would you like me to share with you of my possessions?” “Whatever you like, so long as it is not your secrets.” I see that everyone bristles if the heart of the business he is employed in is hidden from him, and if some ulterior meaning has been kept from him. For my part, I am content to be told no more than they want me to put to use, and I do not want my knowledge to outrun and constrain my speech. If I must serve as an instrument of deception, let it at least be with my conscience safe.
Ie ne veux estre tenu seruiteur, ny si affectionné, ny si loyal, qu’on me treuue bon à trahir personne. Qui est infidelle à soy-mesme, l’est excusablement à son maistre. Mais ce sont Princes, qui n’acceptent pas les hommes à moytié, et mesprisent les seruices limitez et conditionnez. Il n’y a remede: ie leur dis franchement mes bornes: car esclaue, ie ne le doibs estre que de la raison, encore n’en puis-ie bien venir à bout. Et eux aussi ont tort, d’exiger d’vn homme libre, telle subiection à leur seruice, et telle obligation, que de celuy, qu’ils ont faict et achetté: ou duquel la fortune tient particulierement et expressement à la leur.
I do not want to be thought a servant so devoted or so loyal that I would be found fit to betray anyone. A man who is unfaithful to himself is excusably so to his master. But these are princes who do not accept men by halves and who despise limited and conditional services. There is no help for it: I tell them frankly where my limits lie. For a slave I should be only to reason, and even that I cannot quite manage. And they too are wrong to demand of a free man the same subjection to their service, and the same obligation, as of a man they have made and bought, or whose fortune is particularly and expressly bound up with theirs.
Les loix m’ont osté de grand peine, elles m’ont choisi party, et donné vn maistre: toute autre superiorité et obligation doibt estre relatiue à celle-là, et retranchee. Si n’est-ce pas à dire, quand mon affection me porteroit autrement, qu’incontinent i’y portasse la main: la volonté et les desirs se font loy eux mesmes, les actions ont à la receuoir de l’ordonnance publique.
The laws have relieved me of great trouble: they have chosen my side for me and given me a master. Every other authority and obligation must be relative to that one and subordinate to it. That is not to say that if my affection carried me another way, I would at once lend a hand to it. Will and desires make a law for themselves; actions must receive theirs from public ordinance.
Tout ce mien proceder, est vn peu bien dissonant à nos formes: ce ne seroit pas pour produire grands effets, ny pour y durer: l’innocence mesme ne sçauroit à cette heure ny negotier sans dissimulation, ny marchander sans menterie. Aussi ne sont aucunement de mon gibier, les occupations publiques: ce que ma profession en requiert, ie l’y fournis, en la forme que ie puis la plus priuee. Enfant, on m’y plongea iusques aux oreilles, et il succedoit: si m’en desprins ie de belle heure.
All this way of proceeding of mine is rather out of tune with our customs. It would not be the way to produce great effects, nor to last long: innocence itself could not today negotiate without dissimulation or bargain without lying. So public occupations are by no means my game. What my profession requires of them I supply, in the most private form I can. As a youth I was plunged into them up to my ears, and it was going well; yet I got myself out of them early.
I’ay souuent depuis éuité de m’en mesler, rarement accepte, iamais requis, tenant le dos tourné à l’ambition: mais sinon comme les tireurs d’auiron, qui s’auancent ainsin à reculons: tellement toutesfois, que de ne m’y estre poinct embarqué, i’en suis moins obligé à ma resolution, qu’à ma bonne fortune. Car il y a des voyes moins ennemyes de mon goust, et plus conformes à ma portee, par lesquelles si elle m’eust appellé autrefois au seruice public, et à mon auancement vers le credit du monde, ie sçay que i’eusse passé par dessus la raison de mes discours, pour la suyure.
Since then I have often avoided getting involved, rarely accepted, never asked, keeping my back turned to ambition—if not exactly like rowers, who move forward that way, backwards—yet in such a way that for not having embarked on it I owe less to my resolution than to my good luck. For there are paths less hostile to my taste and better suited to my capacity by which, had fortune once called me to public service and to advancement in the world’s esteem, I know I would have overridden the reasoning of my reflections to follow it.
Ceux qui disent communement contre ma profession, que ce que i’appelle franchise, simplesse, et naifueté, en mes mœurs, c’est art et finesse: et plustost prudence, que bonté: industrie, que nature: bon sens, que bonheur: me font plus d’honneur qu’ils ne m’en ostent.
Those who commonly say, against what I profess, that what I call frankness, simplicity and naturalness in my ways is art and cunning—prudence rather than goodness, contrivance rather than nature, good sense rather than good luck—do me more honor than they take away.
Mais certes ils font ma finesse trop fine. Et qui m’aura suyui et espié de pres, ie luy donray gaigné, s’il ne confesse, qu’il n’y a point de regle en leur escole, qui sçeust rapporter ce naturel mouuement, et maintenir vne apparence de liberté, et de licence, si pareille, et inflexible, parmy des routes si tortues et diuerses: et que toute leur attention et engin, ne les y sçauroit conduire. La voye de la verité est vne et simple, celle du profit particulier, et de la commodité des affaires, qu’on a en charge, double, inegale, et fortuite. I’ay veu souuent en vsage, ces libertez contrefaites, et artificielles, mais le plus souuent, sans succez.
But they certainly make my cunning too cunning. Whoever has followed me and watched me closely, I will grant him the game if he does not admit that there is no rule in their school that could reproduce this natural movement, and keep up an appearance of freedom and license so consistent and so unbending along such twisting and varied paths; and that all their attention and ingenuity could not bring them to it. The way of truth is one and simple; the way of private profit and of convenience in the affairs one has in hand is double, uneven and haphazard. I have often seen these counterfeit and artificial freedoms in use, but most often without success.
Elles sentent volontiers leur asne d’Esope: lequel par emulation du chien, vint à se ietter tout gayement, à deux pieds, sur les espaules de son maistre: mais autant que le chien receuoit de caresses, de pareille feste, le pauure asne, en reçeut deux fois autant de bastonnades. Id maximè quemque decet, quod est cuiusque suum maximè. Ie ne veux pas priuer la tromperie de son rang, ce seroit mal entendre le monde: ie sçay qu’elle a seruy souuent profitablement, et qu’elle maintient et nourrit la plus part des vacations des hommes. Il y a des vices legitimes, comme plusieurs actions, ou bonnes, ou excusables, illegitimes.
They tend to smack of Aesop’s ass, which, in emulation of the dog, gaily threw itself with both forefeet onto its master’s shoulders; but for the same welcome for which the dog received caresses, the poor ass received twice as many blows of the stick. What best becomes each man is what is most his own. I do not want to deprive deception of its rank; that would be to misunderstand the world. I know that it has often served profitably, and that it maintains and feeds most of men’s occupations. There are lawful vices, just as there are many actions, either good or excusable, that are unlawful.
La iustice en soy, naturelle et vniuerselle, est autrement reglee, et plus noblement, que n’est cette autre iustice speciale, nationale, contrainte au besoing de nos polices: Veri iuris germanæque iustitiæ solidam et expressam effigiem nullam tenemus: vmbra et imaginibus vtimur. Si que le sage Dandamys, oyant reciter les vies de Socrates, Pythagoras, Diogenes, les iugea grands personnages en toute autre chose, mais trop asseruis à la reuerence des loix. Pour lesquelles auctoriser, et seconder, la vraye vertu a beaucoup à se desmettre de sa vigueur originelle: et non seulement par leur permission, plusieurs actions vitieuses ont lieu, mais encores à leur suasion.
Justice in itself, natural and universal, is regulated otherwise, and more nobly, than that other special, national justice, which is bound to the needs of our governments: We possess no solid and exact likeness of true law and genuine justice; we make use of shadows and images. So that the sage Dandamis, hearing the lives of Socrates, Pythagoras and Diogenes recounted, judged them great men in every other respect, but too enslaved to reverence for the laws. To give the laws authority and support, true virtue has to give up much of its original vigor; and many vicious actions take place not only with their permission but even at their urging.
Ex Senatusconsultis plebisquescitis scelera exercentur. Ie suy le langage commun, qui fait difference entre les choses vtiles, et les honnestes: si que d’aucunes actions naturelles, non seulement vtiles, mais necessaires, il les nomme deshonnestes et sales.
Crimes are committed by decrees of the Senate and of the people. I follow common language, which distinguishes between useful things and honorable ones, so that some natural actions, not only useful but necessary, it calls dishonorable and dirty.
Traitors betrayed
Rulers who profit from treachery often punish the traitors they have used.
Mais continuons nostre exemple de la trahison. Deux pretendans au royaume de Thrace, estoient tombez en debat de leurs droicts, l’Empereur les empescha de venir aux armes: mais l’vn d’eux, sous couleur de conduire vn accord amiable, par leur entreueuë, ayant assigné son compagnon, pour le festoyer en sa maison, le fit emprisonner et tuer. La iustice requeroit, que les Romains eussent raison de ce forfaict: la difficulté en empeschoit les voyes ordinaires. Ce qu’ils ne peurent legitimement, sans guerre, et sans hazard, ils entreprindrent de le faire par trahison: ce qu’ils ne peurent honnestement, ils le firent vtilement. A quoy se trouua propre vn Pomponius Flaccus.
But let us continue with our example of treachery. Two claimants to the kingdom of Thrace had fallen into dispute over their rights. The emperor prevented them from taking up arms; but one of them, under color of arranging a friendly settlement at a meeting, invited his rival to a feast at his house and had him imprisoned and killed. Justice required that the Romans obtain satisfaction for this crime, but the difficulty blocked the ordinary ways. What they could not do lawfully, without war and without risk, they undertook to do by treachery: what they could not do honorably, they did usefully. A certain Pomponius Flaccus proved fit for the job.
Cettuy-cy, soubs feintes parolles, et asseurances, ayant attiré cest homme dans ses rets: au lieu de l’honneur et faueur qu’il luy promettoit, l’enuoya pieds et poings liez à Rome. Vn traistre y trahit l’autre, contre l’vsage commun. Car ils sont pleins de desfiance, et est mal-aisé de les surprendre par leur art: tesmoing la poisante experience, que nous venons d’en sentir.
By false words and assurances he drew the man into his nets, and instead of the honor and favor he had promised him, sent him to Rome bound hand and foot. Here one traitor betrayed another, contrary to the usual practice; for traitors are full of distrust, and it is hard to catch them by their own art—witness the painful experience we have just had of it.
Sera Pomponius Flaccus qui voudra, et en est assez qui le voudront. Quant à moy, et ma parolle et ma foy, sont, comme le demeurant, pieces de ce commun corps: leur meilleur effect, c’est le seruice public: ie tiens cela pour presupposé. Mais comme si on me commandoit, que ie prinse la charge du Palais, et des plaids, ie respondroy, Ie n’y entens rien: ou la charge de conducteur de pionniers, ie diroy, Ie suis appellé à vn rolle plus digne: de mesmes, qui me voudroit employer, à mentir, à trahir, et à me pariurer, pour quelque seruice notable, non que d’assassiner ou empoisonner: ie diroy, Si i’ay volé ou desrobé quelqu’vn, enuoyez moy plustost en gallere.
Let whoever wants be Pomponius Flaccus, and there are plenty who will want to. As for me, both my word and my faith are, like the rest of me, parts of this common body; their best use is public service; I take that for granted. But if I were ordered to take charge of the law courts and lawsuits, I would reply, “I know nothing about it”; or the post of leader of sappers, I would say, “I am called to a worthier role.” In the same way, if someone wanted to employ me to lie, to betray and to perjure myself for some notable service—not to mention assassinating or poisoning—I would say, “If I have robbed or stolen from anyone, send me to the galleys instead.”
Car il est loysible à vn homme d’honneur, de parler ainsi que les Lacedemoniens, ayants esté deffaicts par Antipater, sur le poinct de leurs accords: Vous nous pouuez commander des charges poisantes et dommageables, autant qu’il vous plaira: mais de honteuses, et deshonnestes, vous perdrez vostre temps de nous en commander. Chacun doit auoir iuré à soy mesme, ce que les Roys d’Ægypte faisoient solennellement iurer à leurs iuges, qu’ils ne se desuoyeroient de leur conscience, pour quelque commandement qu’eux mesmes leur en fissent. A telles commissions il y a note euidente d’ignominie, et de condemnation. Et qui vous la donne, vous accuse, et vous la donne, si vous l’entendez bien, en charge et en peine.
For a man of honor may speak as the Spartans did when, defeated by Antipater, they were about to come to terms: “You may impose on us burdens as heavy and damaging as you please; but as for shameful and dishonorable ones, you will be wasting your time ordering them.” Each of us should have sworn to himself what the kings of Egypt made their judges solemnly swear: that they would not stray from their conscience for any command the kings themselves might give them. In such commissions there is an evident mark of ignominy and condemnation. Whoever gives you one is accusing you, and, if you understand it rightly, gives it to you as a burden and a penalty.
Autant que les affaires publiques s’amendent de vostre exploict, autant s’en empirent les vostres: vous y faictes d’autant pis, que mieux vous y faictes. Et ne sera pas nouueau, ny à l’auanture sans quelque air de iustice, que celuy mesmes vous ruïne, qui vous aura mis en besongne.
As much as public affairs improve through your exploit, so much do your own grow worse: the better you do the job, the worse you do for yourself. And it will be nothing new, nor perhaps without some air of justice, if the very man who put you to work ruins you.
Si la trahison doit estre en quelque cas excusable: lors seulement elle l’est, qu’elle s’employe à chastier et trahir la trahison. Il se trouue assez de perfidies, non seulement refusees, mais punies, par ceux en faueur desquels elles auoient esté entreprises. Qui ne sçait la sentence de Fabritius, à l’encontre du medecin de Pyrrhus?
If treachery can be excusable in any case, it is so only when it is used to punish and betray treachery. There are plenty of perfidies that were not only refused but punished by those in whose favor they had been undertaken. Who does not know the sentence Fabricius passed on Pyrrhus’s physician?
Mais cecy encore se trouue: que tel l’a commandee, qui par apres l’a vengee rigoureusement, sur celuy qu’il y auoit employé: refusant vn credit et pouuoir si effrené, et desaduouant vn seruage et vne obeïssance si abandonnee, et si lasche. Iaropelc Duc de Russie, practiqua vn Gentil-homme de Hongrie, pour trahir le Roy de Poulongne Boleslaus, en le faisant mourir, ou donnant aux Russiens moyen de luy faire quelque notable dommage. Cettuy-cy s’y porta en galand homme: s’addonna plus que deuant au seruice de ce Roy, obtint d’estre de son conseil, et de ses plus feaux.
But this is also found: a man has ordered treachery and afterward avenged it harshly on the one he had used for it, rejecting so unbridled an authority and power, and disowning so abject and abandoned a servitude and obedience. Yaropolk, Duke of Russia, suborned a Hungarian gentleman to betray King Bolesław of Poland, either by having him killed or by giving the Russians the means to do him some notable damage. This fellow went about it like a smart man: he devoted himself more than before to the king’s service, and won a place on his council and among his most trusted men.
Auec ces aduantages, et choisissant à point l’opportunité de l’absence de son maistre, il trahit aux Russiens Visilicie, grande et riche cité: qui fut entierement saccagee, et arse par eux, auec occision totale, non seulement des habitans d’icelle, de tout sexe et aage, mais de grand nombre de noblesse de là autour, qu’il y auoit assemblé à ces fins.
With these advantages, and choosing just the right moment when his master was away, he betrayed to the Russians Wiślica, a great and rich city, which they sacked and burned completely, slaughtering not only all its inhabitants, of every sex and age, but a great number of the nobility from the surrounding area, whom he had gathered there for that purpose.
Iaropelc assouuy de sa vengeance, et de son courroux, qui pourtant n’estoit pas sans tiltre, (car Boleslaus l’auoit fort offencé, et en pareille conduitte) et saoul du fruict de cette trahison, venant à en considerer la laideur nuë et seule, et la regarder d’vne veuë saine, et non plus troublee par sa passion, la print à vn tel remors, et contre-cœur, qu’il en fit creuer les yeux, et couper la langue, et les parties honteuses, à son executeur.
Yaropolk had sated his vengeance and his anger, which was not without grounds (for Bolesław had greatly offended him, and by similar conduct), and was glutted with the fruit of this treachery. But when he came to consider its ugliness, bare and by itself, and to look at it with a sound eye no longer clouded by passion, he was seized with such remorse and revulsion that he had his agent’s eyes put out and his tongue and private parts cut off.
Antigonus persuada les soldats Argyraspides, de luy trahir Eumenes, leur capitaine general, son aduersaire. Mais l’eut-il faict tuer, apres qu’ils le luy eurent liuré, il desira luy mesme estre commissaire de la iustice diuine, pour le chastiment d’vn forfaict si detestable: et les consigna entre les mains du gouuerneur de la prouince, luy donnant tres-expres commandement, de les perdre, et mettre à male fin, en quelque maniere que ce fust. Tellement que de ce grand nombre qu’ils estoient, aucun ne vit onques puis, l’air de Macedoine. Mieux il en auoit esté seruy, d’autant le iugea il auoir esté plus meschamment et punissablement.
Antigonus persuaded the soldiers of the Silver Shields to betray to him Eumenes, their commander-in-chief and his adversary. But no sooner had he had Eumenes killed, after they handed him over, than he wished to act himself as the agent of divine justice in punishing so detestable a crime. He consigned them to the governor of the province, with the most express order to destroy them and bring them to a bad end by any means whatsoever. So that of all their great number, not one ever saw the air of Macedonia again. The better he had been served by them, the more wicked and punishable he judged the service to have been.
L’esclaue qui trahit la cachette de P. Sulpicius son maistre, fut mis en liberté, suiuant la promesse de la proscription de Sylla: mais suiuant la promesse de la raison publique, tout libre, il fut precipité du roc Tarpeien.
The slave who betrayed the hiding place of his master, P. Sulpicius, was set free, in keeping with the promise of Sulla’s proscription; but in keeping with the promise of public reason, once free, he was thrown from the Tarpeian Rock.
Et nostre Roy Clouis, au lieu des armes d’or qu’il leur auoit promis, fit pendre les trois seruiteurs de Cannacre, apres qu’ils luy eurent trahy leur maistre, à quoy il les auoit pratiquez. Ils les font pendre auec la bourse de leur payement au col. Ayant satisfaict à leur seconde foy, et speciale, ils satisfont à la generale et premiere.
And our King Clovis, instead of the golden arms he had promised them, had the three servants of Cannacre hanged after they had betrayed their master to him, as he had suborned them to do. They have such men hanged with the purse of their payment around their necks. Having honored their second and special pledge, they honor the general and first one.
Mahomed second, se voulant deffaire de son frere, pour la ialousie de la domination, suiuant le stile de leur race, y employa l’vn de ses officiers: qui le suffoqua, l’engorgeant de quantité d’eau, prinse trop à coup. Cela faict, il liura, pour l’expiation de ce meurtre, le meurtrier entre les mains de la mere du trespassé (car ils n’estoient freres que de pere): elle, en sa presence, ouurit à ce meurtrier l’estomach: et tout chaudement de ses mains, fouillant et arrachant son cœur, le ietta manger aux chiens.
Mehmed II, wanting to get rid of his brother out of jealousy for power, as is the custom of their dynasty, used one of his officers for the purpose, who suffocated the boy by making him swallow a great quantity of water too fast. That done, to expiate the murder, he delivered the murderer into the hands of the dead boy’s mother (for they were brothers only on the father’s side). In Mehmed’s presence she cut open the murderer’s belly and, while it was still warm, groped with her hands, tore out his heart and threw it to the dogs to eat.
Et à ceux mesmes qui ne valent rien, il est si doux, ayant tiré l’vsage d’vne action vicieuse, y pouuoir hormais coudre en toute seureté, quelque traict de bonté, et de iustice: comme par compensation, et correction conscientieuse. Ioint qu’ils regardent les ministres de tels horribles malefices, comme gents, qui les leur reprochent: et cherchent par leur mort d’estouffer la cognoissance et tesmoignage de telles menees.
Even to worthless men it is so sweet, once they have drawn the profit from a vicious action, to be able henceforth to stitch onto it, in complete safety, some touch of goodness and justice, as a kind of compensation and correction of conscience. Besides, they regard the agents of such horrible crimes as people who reproach them with those crimes, and they seek by their death to stifle the knowledge and evidence of such dealings.
Or si par fortune on vous en recompence, pour ne frustrer la necessité publique, de cet extreme et desesperé remede: celuy qui le fait, ne laisse pas de vous tenir, s’il ne l’est luy-mesme, pour vn homme maudit et execrable: et vous tient plus traistre, que ne faict celuy, contre qui vous l’estes: car il touche la malignité de vostre courage, par voz mains, sans desadueu, sans obiect. Mais il vous employe, tout ainsi qu’on faict les hommes perdus, aux executions de la haute iustice: charge autant vtile, comme elle est peu honneste. Outre la vilité de telles commissions, il y a de la prostitution de conscience.
Now if by chance you are rewarded for it, so as not to cheat the public need of this extreme and desperate remedy, the man who rewards you still holds you, unless he is one himself, for an accursed and execrable man. He holds you more a traitor than does the man you betray; for he touches the wickedness of your heart with his own hands, with nothing to deny it, nothing to stand in the way. But he employs you just as desperate men are employed to carry out sentences of death: a post as useful as it is dishonorable. Besides the baseness of such commissions, there is a prostitution of conscience in them.
La fille à Seïanus ne pouuant estre punie à mort, en certaine forme de iugement à Rome, d’autant qu’elle estoit vierge, fut, pour donner passage aux loix, forcee par le bourreau, auant qu’il l’estranglast. Non sa main seulement, mais son ame, est esclaue à la commodité publique.
The daughter of Sejanus could not be put to death under a certain form of judgment in Rome, because she was a virgin; so, to let the laws take their course, she was raped by the executioner before he strangled her. Not only his hand but his soul is a slave to public convenience.
Quand le premier Amurath, pour aigrir la punition contre ses subiects, qui auoient donné support à la parricide rebellion de son fils, ordonna, que leurs plus proches parents presteroient la main à cette execution: ie trouue tres-honeste à aucuns d’iceux, d’auoir choisi plustost, d’estre iniustement tenus coulpables du parricide d’vn autre, que de seruir la iustice de leur propre parricide. Et où en quelques bicoques forcees de mon temps, i’ay veu des coquins, pour garantir leur vie, accepter de pendre leurs amis et consorts, ie les ay tenus de pire condition que les pendus.
When Murad I, to sharpen the punishment of his subjects who had supported his son’s parricidal rebellion, ordered that their nearest relatives should lend a hand in the execution, I find it most honorable in some of them to have chosen to be unjustly held guilty of another’s parricide rather than serve justice by a parricide of their own. And where, in some small forts taken by storm in my time, I have seen scoundrels agree to hang their friends and comrades to save their own lives, I have held them to be in a worse condition than the men they hanged.
On dit que Vuitolde Prince de Lituanie, introduisit en cette nation, que le criminel condamné à mort, eust luy mesme de sa main, à se deffaire: trouuant estrange, qu’vn tiers innocent de la faute, fust employé et chargé d’vn homicide.
They say that Vytautas, Prince of Lithuania, introduced into that nation the rule that a criminal condemned to death should do away with himself with his own hand, finding it strange that a third party, innocent of the offense, should be employed and burdened with a homicide.
When necessity overrides faith
A prince forced to break his word acts from misfortune, not virtue, and should grieve over it.
Le Prince, quand vne vrgente circonstance, et quelque impetueux et inopiné accident, du besoing de son estat, luy fait gauchir sa parolle et sa foy, ou autrement le iette hors de son deuoir ordinaire, doibt attribuer cette necessité, à vn coup de la verge diuine. Vice n’est-ce pas, car il a quitté sa raison, à vne plus vniuerselle et puissante raison: mais certes c’est malheur. De maniere qu’à quelqu’vn qui me demandoit: Quel remede? nul remede, fis-ie, s’il fut veritablement gehenné entre ces deux extremes (sed videat ne quæratur latebra periurio) il le falloit faire: mais s’il le fit, sans regret, s’il ne luy greua de le faire, c’est signe que sa conscience est en mauuais termes.
When an urgent circumstance, some violent and unforeseen event arising from the needs of his state, makes a prince bend his word and his faith, or otherwise throws him out of his ordinary duty, he must attribute that necessity to a stroke of the divine rod. It is not vice, for he has given up his own reason for a more universal and powerful reason; but it is certainly misfortune. So when someone asked me, “What remedy?” “No remedy,” I said. “If he was truly racked between these two extremes (but let him take care not to seek a pretext for perjury), he had to do it. But if he did it without regret, if it did not grieve him to do it, that is a sign that his conscience is in a bad way.”
Quand il s’en trouueroit quelqu’vn de si tendre conscience, à qui nulle guarison ne semblast digne d’vn si poisant remede, ie ne l’en estimeroy pas moins. Il ne se sçauroit perdre plus excusablement et decemment. Nous ne pouuons pas tout. Ainsi comme ainsi nous faut-il souuent, comme à la derniere anchre, remettre la protection de nostre vaisseau à la pure conduitte du ciel. A quelle plus iuste necessité se reserue il? Que luy est-il moins possible à faire que ce qu’il ne peut faire, qu’aux despens de sa foy et de son honneur? choses, qui à l’auenture luy doiuent estre plus cheres que son propre salut, et que le salut de son peuple.
If there were someone of so tender a conscience that no cure seemed to him worth so heavy a remedy, I would not esteem him the less for it. He could not be ruined more excusably and decently. We cannot do everything. Be that as it may, we must often, as with our last anchor, commit the protection of our ship to the guidance of heaven alone. For what more just necessity is he saving himself? What is less possible for him to do than what he can do only at the expense of his faith and his honor—things that perhaps ought to be dearer to him than his own safety, and than the safety of his people?
Quand les bras croisez il appellera Dieu simplement à son aide, n’aura-il pas à esperer, que la diuine bonté n’est pour refuser la faueur de sa main extraordinaire à vne main pure et iuste? Ce sont dangereux exemples, rares, et maladifues exceptions, à nos regles naturelles: il y faut ceder, mais auec grande moderation et circonspection. Aucune vtilité priuee, n’est digne pour laquelle nous facions cet effort à nostre conscience: la publique bien, lors qu’elle est et tres-apparente, et tres-importante.
When, with folded arms, he simply calls on God for help, may he not hope that divine goodness will not refuse the favor of its extraordinary hand to a hand that is pure and just? These are dangerous examples, rare and sickly exceptions to our natural rules. We must yield to them, but with great moderation and circumspection. No private advantage is worth our doing this violence to our conscience; the public advantage is, when it is both very evident and very important.
Timoleon se garantit à propos, de l’estrangeté de son exploit, par les larmes qu’il rendit, se souuenant que c’estoit d’vne main fraternelle qu’il auoit tué le tyran. Et cela pinça iustement sa conscience, qu’il eust esté necessité d’achetter l’vtilité publique, à tel prix de l’honnesteté de ses mœurs. Le Senat mesme deliuré de seruitude par son moyen, n’osa rondement decider d’vn si haut faict, et deschiré en deux si poisants et contraires visages.
Timoleon fittingly cleared himself of the strangeness of his deed by the tears he shed, remembering that it was with a brother’s hand that he had killed the tyrant. And it rightly pricked his conscience that he had been forced to buy the public good at such a cost to the integrity of his conduct. Even the Senate, freed from servitude by his means, dared not decide outright on so lofty a deed, torn between two such weighty and contrary aspects.
Mais les Syracusains ayans tout à point, à l’heure mesme, enuoyé requerir les Corinthiens de leur protection, et d’vn chef digne de restablir leur ville en sa premiere dignité, et nettoyer la Sicile de plusieurs tyranneaux, qui l’oppressoient: il y deputa Timoleon, auec cette nouuelle deffaitte et declaration: Que selon qu’il se porteroit bien ou mal en sa charge, leur arrest prendroit party, à la faueur du liberateur de son païs, ou à la desfaueur du meurtrier de son frere. Cette fantastique conclusion, a quelque excuse, sur le danger de l’exemple et importance d’vn faict si diuers. Et feirent bien, d’en descharger leur iugement, ou de l’appuier ailleurs, et en des considerations tierces.
But the Syracusans, at that very moment and most opportunely, had sent to ask the Corinthians for their protection and for a leader fit to restore their city to its former dignity and to rid Sicily of several petty tyrants who were oppressing it. The Senate sent Timoleon there, with this novel evasion and declaration: that according to whether he conducted himself well or badly in his charge, their verdict would come down in favor of the liberator of his country or against the murderer of his brother. This fanciful conclusion has some excuse, given the danger of the example and the weight of so ambiguous a deed. And they did well to relieve their judgment of it, or to rest it elsewhere, on outside considerations.
Or les deportements de Timoleon en ce voyage rendirent bien tost sa cause plus claire, tant il s’y porta dignement et vertueusement, en toutes façons. Et le bon heur qui l’accompagna aux aspretez qu’il eut à vaincre en cette noble besongne, sembla luy estre enuoyé par les Dieux conspirants et fauorables à sa iustification.
Now Timoleon’s conduct on this expedition soon made his cause clearer, so worthily and virtuously did he bear himself in every way. And the good fortune that attended him through the hardships he had to overcome in this noble task seemed to have been sent to him by the gods, conspiring and favorable to his justification.
La fin de cettuy cy est excusable, si aucune le pouuoit estre. Mais le profit de l’augmentation du reuenu publique, qui seruit de pretexte au Senat Romain à cette orde conclusion, que ie m’en vay reciter, n’est pas assez fort pour mettre à garand vne telle iniustice. Certaines citez s’estoient rachetees à prix d’argent, et remises en liberté, auec l’ordonnance et permission du Senat, des mains de L. Sylla. La chose estant tombee en nouueau iugement, le Senat les condamna à estre taillables comme auparauant: et que l’argent qu’elles auoyent employé pour se rachetter, demeureroit perdu pour elles. Les guerres ciuiles produisent souuent ces vilains exemples: Que nous punissons les priuez, de ce qu’ils nous ont creu, quand nous estions autres.
This man’s aim is excusable, if any could be. But the profit of increasing the public revenue, which served the Roman Senate as a pretext for the foul decision I am about to relate, is not strong enough to warrant such an injustice. Certain cities had bought back their freedom for money from L. Sulla, by order and with the permission of the Senate. When the matter came up for judgment again, the Senate condemned them to pay tribute as before, and ruled that the money they had spent to buy themselves back would remain lost to them. Civil wars often produce these vile examples: we punish private persons for having believed us when we were different.
Et vn mesme magistrat fait porter la peine de son changement, à qui n’en peut mais. Le maistre foitte son disciple de docilité, et la guide son aueugle. Horrible image de iustice.
And the same magistrate makes those who can do nothing about it bear the penalty for his change. The master whips his pupil for being docile, and the guide his blind man for following. A horrible image of justice.
Il y a des regles en la philosophie et faulses et molles. L’exemple qu’on nous propose, pour faire preualoir l’vtilité priuee, à la foy donnee, ne reçoit pas assez de poids par la circonstance qu’ils y meslent. Des voleurs vous ont prins, ils vous ont remis en liberté, ayans retiré de vous serment du paiement de certaine somme. On a tort de dire, qu’vn homme de bien, sera quitte de sa foy, sans payer, estant hors de leurs mains. Il n’en est rien. Ce que la crainte m’a fait vne fois vouloir, ie suis tenu de le vouloir encore sans crainte. Et quand elle n’aura forcé que ma langue, sans la volonté: encore suis ie tenu de faire la maille bonne de ma parole.
There are rules in philosophy that are both false and soft. The example put to us to make private advantage prevail over a pledged word does not gain enough weight from the circumstance they mix into it. Robbers have captured you; they have set you free after extracting an oath from you to pay a certain sum. It is wrong to say that a good man will be released from his word without paying, once he is out of their hands. Not at all. What fear once made me will, I am bound to will still without fear. And even if fear forced only my tongue, without my will, I am still bound to make good my word to the last penny.
Pour moy, quand par fois ell’a inconsiderément deuancé ma pensee, i’ay faict conscience de la desaduoüer pourtant. Autrement de degré en degré, nous viendrons à abolir tout le droit qu’vn tiers prend de nos promesses. Quasi verò forti viro vis possit adhiberi. En cecy seulement a loy, l’interest priué, de nous excuser de faillir à nostre promesse, si nous auons promis chose meschante, et inique de soy. Car le droit de la vertu doibt preualoir le droit de nostre obligation.
For my part, when my tongue has sometimes thoughtlessly run ahead of my thought, I have still made it a matter of conscience not to disown it. Otherwise, step by step, we will come to abolish all the right a third party gains from our promises. As if indeed force could be applied to a brave man. Private interest has the right to excuse us for failing in our promise in this case only: if we have promised something wicked and unjust in itself. For the right of virtue must prevail over the right of our obligation.
Epaminondas again
Epaminondas shows that even in war some things remain unlawful against an enemy.
I’ay autrefois logé Epaminondas au premier rang des hommes excellens: et ne m’en desdy pas. Iusques où montoit-il la consideration de son particulier deuoir? qui ne tua iamais homme qu’il eust vaincu: qui pour ce bien inestimable, de rendre la liberté à son païs, faisoit conscience de tuer vn tyran, ou ses complices, sans les formes de la iustice: et qui iugeoit meschant homme, quelque bon citoyen qu’il fust, celuy qui entre les ennemis, et en la bataille, n’espargnoit son amy et son hoste. Voyla vne ame de riche composition. Il marioit aux plus rudes et violentes actions humaines, la bonté et l’humanité, voire la plus delicate, qui se treuue en l’escole de la philosophie.
I once placed Epaminondas in the first rank of excellent men, and I do not take it back. To what heights did he carry his regard for his own personal duty? He never killed a man he had defeated. Even for that inestimable good, giving his country back its freedom, he scrupled to kill a tyrant or his accomplices without the forms of justice. And he judged a wicked man, however good a citizen he might be, anyone who, among the enemy and in battle, did not spare his friend and his host. There is a soul of rich composition. He wedded to the roughest and most violent of human actions goodness and humanity—indeed the most delicate kind to be found in the school of philosophy.
Ce courage si gros, enflé, et obstiné contre la douleur, la mort, la pauureté, estoit-ce nature, ou art, qui l’eust attendry, iusques au poinct d’vne si extreme douceur, et debonnaireté de complexion? Horrible de fer et de sang, il va fracassant et rompant vne nation inuincible contre tout autre, que contre luy seul: et gauchit au milieu d’vne telle meslee, au rencontre de son hoste et de son amy. Vrayment celuy là proprement commandoit bien à la guerre, qui luy faisoit souffrir le mors de la benignité, sur le point de sa plus forte chaleur: ainsin enflammee qu’elle estoit, et toute escumeuse de fureur et de meurtre.
That courage, so great, so swollen and stubborn against pain, death and poverty—was it nature or art that had softened it to the point of such extreme gentleness and kindness of temperament? Terrible with iron and blood, he goes smashing and shattering a nation invincible against anyone but him alone; and in the midst of such a fray he swerves aside when he meets his host and his friend. Truly, that man was properly in command of war who made it bear the bit of kindness at the moment of its greatest heat, inflamed as it was and all foaming with fury and slaughter.
C’est miracle, de pouuoir mesler à telles actions quelque image de iustice: mais il n’appartient qu’à la roideur d’Epaminondas, d’y pouuoir mesler la douceur et la facilité des mœurs les plus molles, et la pure innocence. Et où l’vn dit aux Mammertins, que les statuts n’auoient point de mise enuers les hommes armez: l’autre, au Tribun du peuple, que le temps de la iustice, et de la guerre estoient deux: le tiers, que le bruit des armes l’empeschoit d’entendre la voix des loix: cettuy-cy n’estoit pas seulement empesché d’entendre celles de la ciuilité, et pure courtoisie. Auoit-il pas emprunté de ses ennemis, l’vsage de sacrifier aux Muses, allant à la guerre, pour destremper par leur douceur et gayeté, cette furie et aspreté martiale?
It is a miracle to be able to mix some image of justice into such actions; but it belongs only to the firmness of Epaminondas to be able to mix into them the gentleness and ease of the mildest manners, and pure innocence. One man told the Mamertines that statutes had no currency with armed men; another told the tribune of the people that the time for justice and the time for war were two different things; a third said that the din of arms kept him from hearing the voice of the laws. This man was not even kept from hearing the voice of civility and pure courtesy. Had he not borrowed from his enemies the custom of sacrificing to the Muses when going to war, to temper that martial fury and harshness with their sweetness and gaiety?
Ne craignons point apres vn si grand precepteur, d’estimer qu’il y a quelque chose illicite contre les ennemys mesmes: que l’interest commun ne doibt pas tout requerir de tous, contre l’interest priué: manente memoria, etiam in dissidio publicorum fœderum, priuati iuris: Et nulla potentia vires / Præstandi, ne quid peccet amicus, habet: et que toutes choses ne sont pas loisibles à vn homme de bien, pour le seruice de son Roy, ny de la cause generale et des loix. Non enim patria præstat omnibus officijs, et ipsi conducit pios habere ciues in parentes. C’est vne instruction propre au temps.
After so great a teacher, let us not be afraid to hold that there is something unlawful even against enemies; that the common interest must not demand everything of everyone against private interest: the memory of private right remaining even amid the rupture of public treaties: And no power has the strength / To warrant a friend in doing wrong; and that not everything is permissible to a good man in the service of his king, or of the general cause and of the laws. For our country does not take precedence over all other duties, and it is to its own advantage to have citizens who are dutiful toward their parents. This is a lesson suited to our times.
Nous n’auons que faire de durcir nos courages par ces lames de fer, c’est assez que nos espaules le soyent: c’est assez de tramper nos plumes en ancre, sans les tramper en sang. Si c’est grandeur de courage, et l’effect d’vne vertu rare et singuliere, de mespriser l’amitié, les obligations priuees, sa parolle, et la parenté, pour le bien commun, et obeïssance du magistrat: c’est assez vrayement pour nous en excuser, que c’est vne grandeur, qui ne peut loger en la grandeur du courage d’Epaminondas.
We have no need to harden our hearts with these iron plates; it is enough that our shoulders are armored. It is enough to dip our pens in ink without dipping them in blood. If it is greatness of courage, and the effect of a rare and singular virtue, to despise friendship, private obligations, one’s word and kinship for the common good and obedience to the magistrate, truly it is excuse enough for us that this is a greatness that could find no room in the greatness of Epaminondas’s courage.
I’abomine les exhortemens enragez, de cette autre ame desreglee, Dum tela micant, non vos pietatis imago / Vlla, nec aduersa conspecti fronte parentes / Commoueant, vultus gladio turbate verendos. Ostons aux meschants naturels, et sanguinaires, et traistres, ce pretexte de raison: laissons là cette iustice enorme, et hors de soy: et nous tenons aux plus humaines imitations. Combien peut le temps et l’exemple? En vne rencontre de la guerre ciuile contre Cinna, vn soldat de Pompeius, ayant tué sans y penser son frere, qui estoit au party contraire, se tua sur le champ soy-mesme, de honte et de regret. Et quelques annees apres, en vne autre guerre ciuile de ce mesme peuple, vn soldat, pour auoir tué son frere, demanda recompense à ses capitaines.
I abhor the frenzied exhortations of that other unruly soul: While the weapons flash, let no image of filial love, / Nor the sight of your fathers facing you in the opposing line, / Move you: slash with the sword those faces you should revere. Let us take this pretext of reason away from wicked, bloodthirsty and treacherous natures. Let us leave aside that monstrous justice, which is out of its mind, and hold to the most humane models. How much time and example can do! In one engagement of the civil war against Cinna, a soldier of Pompeius who had unwittingly killed his brother, who was on the other side, killed himself on the spot from shame and grief. And some years later, in another civil war of this same people, a soldier demanded a reward from his captains for having killed his brother.
On argumente mal l’honneur et la beauté d’vne action, par son vtilité: et conclud-on mal, d’estimer que chacun y soit obligé, et qu’elle soit honeste à chacun, si elle est vtile. Omnia non pariter rerum sunt omnibus apta. Choisissons la plus necessaire et plus vtile de l’humaine societé, ce sera le mariage. Si est-ce que le conseil des saincts, trouue le contraire party plus honeste, et en exclut la plus venerable vacation des hommes: comme nous assignons au haras, les bestes qui sont de moindre estime.
It is bad reasoning to argue the honor and beauty of an action from its usefulness. It is also a bad conclusion to think that everyone is obliged to it, and that it is honorable for everyone, if it is useful. All things are not equally fitting for all. Let us choose the most necessary and most useful institution of human society: that will be marriage. And yet the counsel of the saints finds the opposite course more honorable, and excludes from marriage the most venerable calling among men, just as we put the animals of least value out to stud.