pour lors ètoient plus puissans que luy, quelques uns prirent sa
retraite pour une fuite; mais il leur dit qu’il ne fuyoit point &
qu’il alloit seulement où étoit son profit & son utilité.
185
The same Prince being ask’d how one might overcome his Enemies,
answered, by Strength and Policy: _And that if the Lions Skin would
not do, it must be ek’d out by the Fox’s Case_.
185
Ce même Prince interrogé de quelle maniere on pouvoit vaincre ses
Ennemis, repondit que c’étoit, _par la force & par la ruse_; _& que
si la peau du Lion n’étoit pas suffisante, il faloit y coudre celle
du Renard_.
186
A young Man, who was a very great Talker, making a Bargain with
_Isocrates_ to be taught by him, _Isocrates_ ask’d double the Price
his other Scholars gave him; _and the reason_, said he, _is, that I
must teach you two Sciences, the one to hold your Tongue, and the
other to speak_.
186
Un jeune homme, fort grand parleur, voulant convenir du prix avec
_Isocrate_ pour être enseigné; _Isocrate_ lui demanda le double de
ce que lui donnoient ses autres Ecoliers: _Et la raison_, dit-il,
_est qu’il faut que je t’enseigne deux Sciences, l’une de te taire,
& l’autre de parler_.
187
The Philosopher _Anacreon_ having received a Present of ten
thousand Crowns of _Policrates_ King of _Samos_, was taken with
so great a fear of being robbed, that he could not sleep for
three Nights and Days, which made him carry back the Present to
that Prince, telling him that he prefer’d his Repose before the
Disquiets which attend Riches.
187
Le Philosophe _Anacreon_ ayant receu de _Polycrate_ Roy de
_Samos_ un Present de dix mille écus, il entra dans de si grandes
apprehensions d’être volé, qu’il fut trois jours & trois nuits sans
dormir; ce qui l’obligea à rapporter le Present à ce Prince, lui
disant qu’il preferoit son repos aux inquietudes que les Richesses
trainent après elles.
188
One asked _Chrisippus_ why he would not apply himself to the
Government of the Common-wealth? _Because_, answered he, _if I do
ill, I shall displease God, and if I do well, I shall displease
Men_. But Sidonius, his Disciple, turned cunningly that Argument
upon him, and told him: _You ought on the contrary, by all manner
of Reasons, to take upon you the Administration of Affairs_; _for
if you do well, you will please God, and if ill, you will please
Men_.
188
On demandoit à Chrisippe pourquoi il ne se donnoit pas au
gouvernemeur de la Republique? _Parceque_, repondit-il, _si je
fais mal je deplairai à Dieu, & si je fais bien je deplairai
aux hommes_; mais _Sidonius_ son Disciple retourna finement cêt
Argument & lui dit, _vous devez au contraire par toutes sortes de
Raisons entrer dans le Ministere, car si vous faites bien vous
plairez à Dieu, & si vous faites mal vous plairez aux Hommes._
189
_Solon_ being in Company, and holding his Peace, according to his
Custom, there was a young Giddy-brain’d Fellow who told him he
was silent because he was a Fool: _Solon_, without any concern,
answered him wisely, _That there never was a Fool that could hold
his Tongue_.
189
_Solon_ étant en Compagnie, & se taisant, selon sa Coûtume, il y
eut un jeune Etourdi qui lui dit qu’il se taisoit parce qu’il ètoit
fou; _Solon_, sans s’émouvoir, lui repondit sagement, _qu’il ne
s’ètoit jamais trouvé de Fou qui pût se taire_.
190
_Cambyses_ a very severe and rigorous King, caus’d a Judge, tho’
his Friend, to be flead alive, because he took Bribes, and did
not administer Justice according to Law and Equity: And having
afterwards order’d the Judgment-Seat to be cover’d with his Skin,
he placed his Son upon it, to succeed his Father in his Employment.
190
_Cambyse_ Roy fort severe & rigoureux, fit écorcher tout vif un
Juge, quoy que son Ami, parce qu’il se laissoit corrompre par
Presens, & qu’il n’administroit pas la Justice selon les Loix &
l’Equité: Et ayant fait ensuite couvrir le Tribunal de sa Peau, il
y fit asseoir son Fils, pour succeder à la charge de son Pere.
191
_Irene_ repairs with great cost and charge to _Epidaurus_, visits
_Æsculapius_ in his Temple, and consults with him about all her
Ailments. First of all she complains, _That she is weary, and spent
with Fatigue_: And the God declares, _This is befallen her by the
length of her Journey_. She says, _She has no Stomach at Night_;
the Oracle prescribes her, _To eat but little at Dinner_. She asks
him, _What makes her so heavy, and what Remedy for it?_ The Oracle
answers, _She must rise early in the Morning, and use Exercise_.
She tells him, _That Wine is hurtful to her_; so the Oracle bids
her, _To drink Water. That she cannot digest what she eats_, and
he adds, _she must keep a strict Diet_. _My Sight decays_, says
Irene; _use then Spectacles_, says _Æsculapius_. _I grow weak_,
says she farther, _neither am I so healthful as I have been_; _the
reason of it_, says the God, _is because you grow old_. _But which
way shall I recover my self?_ _The best way_, Irene, _is to dye,
as did your Mother and Grandmother._ _Is this_, answered _Irene_,
_all that Wisdom which Mankind proclaims, and which makes you to be
reverenced by all the World? What a rare Mystery you learn me? Did
I not know before all those Remedies you prescribe?_ _Why then did
not you use them_, answers the God, _Without coming so far to me,
and shortning your Days by so long a Journey?_
191
_Irene_ se transporte à grands frais en _Epidaure_, void _Esculape_
dans son Temple, & le consulte sur tous ses maux. D’abord elle
se plaint, _Qu’elle est lasse, & recreuë de fatigue_; & le
Dieu prononce, _que cela lui arrive par la longueur du Chemin
qu’elle vient de faire_. Elle dit, _qu’elle est le soir sans
appetit_. L’Oracle lui ordonne, _de diner peu_. Elle lui demande,
_pourquoy elle devient pesante, & quel remede?_ L’Oracle repond,
_qu’elle doit se lever de bon matin & prendre de l’exercice_.
Elle lui declare, _que le Vin lui est nuisible_; & l’Oracle luî
dit, _de boire de l’eau_. _Qu’elle a des indigestions_, & il
ajoûte, _qu’elle fasse Diete. Ma veuë s’affoiblit_, dit _Irene_,
_Prenez donc des Lunettes_, dit _Esculape_. _Je deviens foible_,
_continuë-t-elle_, _& je ne suis plus si saine que j’ai été_.
_C’est_, dit le Dieu, _que vous vieillissez_. _Mais quel moyen
de guerir de cette Langueur?_ _Le plus court_, Irene, _C’est de
mourir, comme ont fait vôtre mere, & vôtre ayeule._ _Est ce-là_,
repondit _Irene_, _toute cette Science que les hommes publient, &
qui vous fait reverer de toute la Terre? que m’apprenez vous de
rare & de mysterieux? & ne savois-je pas tous ces remedes que vous
m’enseignez?_ _Que n’en usiez vous donc_, repondit le Dieu, _sans
venir me chercher de si loin, & abbreger vos jours par un si long
voyage?_
The _Ephesian_ Matron.
192
There was at _Ephesus_ a Lady in so great repute for Chastity,
that the Women of the neighbouring Parts flock’d thither out of
curiosity to see her. This discreet Lady upon the Death of her
Husband, was not contented to assist at the Funeral, according to
Custom, with dishevelled Hair, and beating her Breast before the
Assistants, but she must needs follow the deceas’d to the very
Monument, and having laid him in a Sepulcher according to the
_Grecian_ Manner, watch’d the Corps; and wept over it Night and
Day, she was in such Desolation, and so fully resolved to starve
her self, that neither Relations nor Friends could persuade her
from it. The Magistrates themselves us’d also their endeavours to
no purpose, and so gave her over. And now so illustrious a Woman
lamented by all, as one that’s dead and gone, had been five Days
without tasting any Food. A faithful and affectionate Maid waited
still upon this wretched Creature, mingling her Tears with hers,
and repairing the light of a Lamp, as often as it happen’d to go
out. She was therefore the only Discourse of the City, and every
Body confest that this was the greatest instance of Love and
Chastity that ever they heard of.
_La Matrone d’_Ephese.
192
Il y avoit une Dame à _Ephese_ en si grande reputation de Chasteté,
que les Femmes mêmes des Païs Voisins venoient en foule la voir
par curiosité. Cette prude ayant perdu son mary ne se contenta
pas, selon la coûtume, d’assister au convoy toute échevelée, &
de se battre la Poitrine devant le Peuple, elle voulut suivre le
défunt jusqu’au Monument, & après l’avoir mis dans un Sepulcre,
à la maniere des _Grecs_, gardé le Corps, & pleuré Nuit & jour
auprès de lui, se desolant de la sorte, & resoluë à se laisser
mourir de Faim, les Parens ni les Amis ne l’en purent detourner:
Les Magistrats rebutez les derniers l’abandonnerent: Et une Femme
si illustre, pleurée de tous comme une Personne morte passoit déja
le cinquieme jour sans manger. Une Servante fidelle & affectionnée
ètoit toûjours auprés de la miserable, meloit ses larmes aux
siennes, & renouvelloit la lumiere d’une Lampe toutes les fois
qu’elle venoit à s’éteindre. On ne parloit donc d’autre chose dans
la Ville, & tout le Monde demeuroit d’accord que c’ètoit le plus
grand Exemple d’Amour & de Chasteté qu’on eût jamais veu.
It happened at that very time that the Governour of the Province
caus’d certain Thieves to be crucified near that Vault where the
virtuous Lady kept such desperate Mourning over the Corps of her
dear Husband. The Night following a Soldier who was set to guard
the Crosses, for fear the Bodies should be stollen away, having
seen a light in the Tomb, and hearing the Sighs and Complaints
of one in Sorrow, out of a curiosity incident to all Men, grew
desirous to know what this might be, and what passed there;
thereupon he descends into the Monument, and beholding a very
beautiful Woman, he stood both amaz’d and frighted, as if it had
been a Phantom: But then viewing a dead Body stretched before her,
and observing her Face bathed with Tears, and injured by her Nails,
with all the other marks of solemn Woe, he judged of the Matter as
it was, that an afflicted and disconsolate Woman that was not able
to bear her loss, had abandoned her self to Grief and Despair. A
moment after he brought his small Supper to the Tomb, and begins
to exhort her not to persevere any longer in fruitless Groans
and an unprofitable Sorrow; adding withal, that all Men have one
common Exit; that we must all come at last to that long Home, and
such other Reasons with which we generally use to cure the most
distempered Minds. But she still more exasperated by so unexpected
a Consolation, redoubles her Grief; tears her Breast with more
violence, and pulls off her Hair, which she throws on that woeful
Corps. The Soldier is not in the least discouraged by all this, but
repeats still the same Exhortations, and endeavours to perswade her
to take some Meat, till the Waiting-woman wrought upon, as ’tis
probable, as much by the smell of the Wine, as by his Discourse,
reach’d her Hand to him who so obligingly invited them, and having
recovered some strength with Meat and Drink, began her self to
attempt upon her Mistresses obstinacy. And what will your Ladiship
get, said she, by starving your self to Death, burying your self
alive, and giving up to Destiny that Breath which she does not
demand from you?
Il arriva qu’en ce même tems le Gouverneur de la Province fit
attacher en croix quelques voleurs tout proche de cette même Cave,
où la vertueuse Dame se desoloit sur le Corps de son cher Epoux.
La Nuit suivante, comme un Soldat qui gardoit les Croix de peur
que les Corps ne fussent enlevez, eût apperceu de la lumiere dans
le Monument, & entendu les soupirs & les Plaintes d’une Personne
affligée, par un esprit de curiosité commun à tous les hommes, il
voulut savoir ce que ce pouvoit être, & ce qu’on y faisoit. Il
descend donc au Sepulcre, & surpris de la veüe d’une fort belle
Femme, il demeure d’abord épouvanté, comme si c’eût été un Fantôme:
Puis ayant veu un Corps mort étendu devant ses yeux, consideré ses
larmes, un visage dechiré avec les ongles, & toutes les autres
marques de desolation, il s’imagina à la fin ce que c’ètoit;
qu’une paure affligée s’abandonnoit aux regrets, & ne pouvoit
souffrir sans desespoir la Mort de celui qu’elle avoit perdu. Un
Moment après il apporte son petit Souper au Monument, & commence à
l’exhorter de ne perseverer pas davantage dans une douleur inutile
& des gemissemens superflus; que la sortie de ce Monde ètoit la
même pour tous les Hommes; qu’il falloit tous aller en même lieu;
& les autres raisons dont on a de coûtume de guerir les Esprits
les plus Malades. Mais elle, irritée encore par une consolation
si peu attenduë, redouble son deuil: se dechire l’estomac avec
plus de violence, & s’arrache les Cheveux qu’elle jette sur ce
miserable Corps. Le Soldat ne se rebute point pour cela, & avec
les mêmes exhortations il essaye de lui faire prendre quelque
nourriture, jusqu’à ce que la Suivante gagnée sans doute par
l’odeur du Vin, autant que par son discours, tendit la main à celui
qui les invitoit si obligeamment, & comme elle eût repris quelque
vigueur par le boire & le manger, elle vint à combattre elle même
l’opiniatreté de sa Maitresse. Et que vous servira, dit-elle, de
vous laisser mourir de faim, de vous ensevelir toute vive, & de
rendre à la Destinée un Ame qu’elle ne redemande pas encore.
_Think you the Ghosts or Ashes of the Dead,
Regard what Tears their Supervivers shed?_
What! Do you expect to restore a dead Body to life again, contrary
to the Decrees of Nature? Believe me, give over a weakness which
Women alone are capable of, and enjoy the sweets of Life as long
as you can. This Corps that lies here before you, shews you too
too well how precious Life is, and bids you to be more tender of
it: Every Body is willing to lend an Ear to one that presses him
to eat upon such occasions; and so this Woman, faint and weak by
so long an Abstinence, suffer’d her obstinacy to be prevail’d
upon, and filled her self with Meat with as greedy an Appetite
as the Waiting-woman, who had yielded before. Now, you know that
Temptations come generally upon a full Stomach, and those Arms
which the Soldier had employ’d to combate her Despair, the same
he us’d to attack her Chastity: And the young Widow seeing he was
neither disagreeable nor without Wit, the Waiting-woman still
playing her Part to further his design, and then repeating to her
Mistress ever and anon,
_What will you still a pleasing Love withstand?_
What makes me keep you any longer in suspence? The good Lady us’d
the same Abstinence as to the other Part of her Body, and the
Soldier fully satisfied, remained conquerour of both. Thus they
continued together not only the first Night, but also the next Day,
and the Day after that; the entrance of the Tomb being all this
while so well closed, that had any body come to it, they must needs
have supposed that the most honest Woman in the World had expired
over her dear Husband.
_Pensez vous que des Morts les insensibles Cendres,
Vous demandent des Pleurs & des Regrets si tendres?_
Quoi! vous voulez ressusciter un Mort contre l’ordre de la Nature?
croyez moi, defaites vous d’une foiblesse dont les seules Femmes
sont capables & jouïssez des avantages de la lumiere tant qu’il
vous sera permis. Ce Corps que vous voyez devant vous, montre
assez le prix de la Vie, & vous avertit que vous devez mieux la
menager. Personne n’écoute à regret quand on le presse de manger
en de pareilles occasions. Ainsi cette Femme extenüée par une si
longue astinence, laissa vaincre son obstination, & se remplit de
viande avec la même avidité que la suivante, qui s’ètoit renduë
auparavant. Au reste vous savez que les Tentations viennent
d’ordinaire après le repas: Avec les mêmes Armes qu’employa le
Soldat pour combattre son desespoir, avec les mêmes il attaqua
sa Pudicité, & la jeune Veuve ne le trouvant ni desagréable, ni
sans esprit, la suivante n’oubliant rien pour lui rendre de bons
Offices, & disant ensuite à sa Maîtresse.
_Songez, songez, à vous: voyez vôtre intérêt,
Et ne combattez, pas un Amour qui vous plait._
Qui m’arrête davantage? la bonne Dame eût la même Abstinence en
ce qui regarde cette Partie de son Corps, & le Soldat pleinement
satisfait vint à bout de l’un & de l’autre. Ils demeurerent
ensemble non seulement la premiere nuit de leur jouïssance, mais
encore le lendemain, & le jour d’après, les portes si bien fermées,
que quiconque fut venu au monument, soit connu ou inconnu, auroit
cru, sans doute, que la plus honnête Femme du Monde avoit expiré
sur le Corps de son Mari.
The Soldier charm’d with the Beauty of his Lady, and the secrecy
of his amourous Intreague, bought Provisions as far his small
stock would let him, and brought them to the Tomb assoon as Night
begun to approach. In the mean time the Relations of one of those
that hang’d on the Gibbets, perceiving that there was no Guard to
look after them, took down the Corps one Night and buried it. As
for the poor Soldier detain’d from his Duty by the Allurements
of his Pleasure, seeing the next day one of those Crosses with
out its Carcase, he went to his Mistress full of apprehension of
Punishment, and told her what had happened: That for his part he
would not wait his Condemnation, but was resolv’d to do himself
Justice, and punish immediately his neglect with his own Hand: That
the only favour he begg’d of her was to take care of his Burial,
and bestow it upon him in the same Sepulcher, equally fatal to
her Husband and her Lover. The good Dame no less charitable than
discreet: _Oh! may the Gods forbid_, said she, _that I should live
to see at once the Funeral of two Persons so very dear to me, I
have rather hang the Dead than be the ruin of the Living._ Then
according to this fine Speech, she takes the Corps out of the
Coffin, and having disfigur’d its Face, gives it him, in order to
fix it to the empty Cross. The Soldier was so wise as to improve
the ingenious Advice of so prudent a Woman: And the next Day all
the People admired which way the dead Thief was got again upon his
Cross,
Le Soldat charmé de la beauté de sa Dame, & du secret de sa
bonne Fortune, achetoit tout ce que son peu de bien lui pouvoit
permettre, & à peine la nuit ètoit elle venuë, qu’il l’apportoit
dans le monument. Cependant les Parens d’un de ces Pendus, comme
ils s’apperceurent qu’il n’y avoit plus de Garde, enleverent
le Corps une nuit, & lui rendirent les derniers devoirs. Mais
le pauvre Soldat qui s’ètoit laissé abuser pour demeurer trop
long tems attaché à son plaisir, voyant le lendemain une de ces
Croix sans cadavre, alla trouver sa Maîtresse dans la crainte du
supplice, & lui conta tout ce qui ètoit arrivé: quant au reste, il
ètoit resolu de ne point attendre sa condamnation, & que se faisant
justice lui même, il alloit punir sa negligence de sa propre main;
Pour toute grace, qu’il la supplioit d’avoir soin de sa Sepulture
& de la lui preparer en ce même tombeau fatal à son Epoux & à son
Amant. Cette Femme aussi charitable que Prude, & aux Dieux ne
plaise, dit-elle, que je voye en même tems les funerailles de deux
personnes qui me sont si cheres; j’aime mieux pendre le Mort, que
de faire perir le vivant. Selon ce beau discours elle tire le Corps
de la Biere, lui defigure le visage, & le donne au Soldat pour
l’attacher à cette croix où il n’y avoit plus rien. Le Soldat seut
profiter du conseil ingenieux d’une Femme si avisée: & le lendemain
tout le Peuple s’étonna de quelle maniere le Voleur mort avoit pu
retourner au Gibet.
_A Story taken out of_ Apuleius_’s Golden Ass._
193
A Labouring Man that workt hard for his Livelyhood at the Forges,
had a very handsom Wife, tho’ none of the most virtuous. This Poor
wretch going out one Morning as he us’d to do, gave opportunity to
an extravagant young Blade to slip into his House, where being in
close conflict with his Wife, the Husband unexpectedly return’d,
but finding the door fast, little suspected what had been done in
his absence; he therefore within himself began to extol his Wives
Chastity, and by a Whistle gave her notice of his coming. She in
Cases of this Nature, being not a little Politick, soon disengaged
her self from her Sparks embraces, and with a great deal of
unconcern, hid him in an old empty Tub that stood in the corner of
the Room; which done, opening the Door in a fury, she accosted her
Cuckold after this manner.
_Conte tiré de l’Ane d’Or d’_Apulée.
193
Un Ouvrier qui gagnoit sa vie à travailler aux Forges, avoit
une Femme fort belle, mais qui n’ètoit pas des plus vertueuses.
Ce pauvre malheureux ètant un jour sorti de bon matin, selon sa
coûtume, donna occasion à un jeune Gaillard de se glisser dans
sa Maison, où êtant aux prises avec sa femme, le Mari survint
contre leur attente, mais trouvant la porte fermée, il ne se douta
guere de ce qui s’ètoit passé en son absence. La dessus il loüa
en soi même la chasteté de sa Femme, & avec un siflet l’avertit
de son arrivée Elle, qui en pareilles occasions ne manquoit pas
de Politique, se degagea bientôt des bras de son Amant, & sans
s’émouvoir le cacha dans un vieux cuvier vuide, qui ètoit dans un
coin de la chambre: cela fait, ouvrant la porte avec furie, elle
parla à son mari de cette maniere.
Is it thus, thou senseless Drone, that thou providest for the wants
of thy Family? thus sauntering with Arms across, whilst I must
labour both Day and Night to supply the wants occasion’d by thy
Idleness: Oh! how much happier is my Neighbour _Daphne_, who has
nothing else to do but be merry with her Lovers?
To which the frighted Husband reply’d, What great harm is there,
poor Chicken? tho’ our Master has no work for me to Day, by reason
of attending his Law-business, yet I have provided for thy Dinner?
Do’st thou see that old Tub there, that serves for nothing but to
encumber our Room, why I have sold it, Honey, for Fifteen-pence,
and the Man that bought it will be here presently to fetch it away.
Come, lay aside thy Work and help me to cleanse it, for I would not
by any means but deliver it sweet and wholsom into his Hands.
Est-ce ainsi, sot lendore, que tu pourvois aux besoins de ta
famille? Et que pendant que tu vas de la sorte les bras croisez
il faut que je travaille jour & nuit pour supléer aux besoins où
nous sommes réduits par ta paresse? Oh! combien plus heureuse que
moy, est ma Voisine _Daphné_, qui n’a autre chose à faire qu’à se
divertir avec ses Amans.
A quoi le mari tout craintif repliqua: & quel grand mal y a-t-il,
m’Amie? quoi que mon Maître n’ait point d’ouvrage pour moy
d’aujourd’huy, je ne laisse pas d’avoir pourveu à ton Diner.
Vois-tu ce vieux cuvier, qui ne sert à rien qu’à embarrasser la
chambre? je viens, ma poupone, de le vendre pour quinze Sols
& l’homme qui l’a acheté, va venir ici tout presentement pour
l’emporter. Allons, laisse là un peu ton ouvrage, & aide moi à le
nettoyer, car je ne voudrois pas pour quoi que ce soit, le lui
livrer avant qu’il soit net & en bon état.
Hereat the Wife began to laugh heartily, and being furnish’d with
a Stratagem from the occasion, cry’d out, bless me! what a rare
Stock-jobber have I got to my Husband, that could find in his Heart
to let that go for 15 Pence, which I, tho’ a Woman, that never
stirs abroad, have made shift to get half a Crown for. The Husband
not a little pleased with his Wife’s Bargain, forthwith demanded
what Sot it was that had offer’d so much? A Codshead you may be
sure, reply’d the Wife, and to prove him such, he is just now got
into it to see what Profit he is like to make. Here the Gallant
finding his Cue, peep’d out, and cry’d, good Woman, would you have
me tell you the Truth? this Tub is exceeding old, and very full of
Cracks, you ought not in Conscience to have so much for it as I
bid you. Then turning to her Husband, quoth he cunningly, and you,
honest Man, whosoever you are, Prythee lend me a Candle a little,
that I may scrape out the filth, and know whether it be for my
turn or no, before I pay my Money, if you think I come honestly by
it. Hereupon our subtile _Vulcan_, little dreaming of the design
upon him, presently fetch’d a Candle, and coming up to him said,
Prythee stand aside a little, Friend, and let me see what I can do,
for ’tis but reason you should have it as clean as may be: Then
stripping himself, and delivering the Candle to his Wife, he crept
into the Tub, and begun to work amain on the dry’d Lees, whilst the
crafty Lover did as much on his Confort, whom he had laid athwart
the Vessel.