arises,contradictory ideas;whether it be that I am another self, that no man ever penetrated more deeply into his matter,nor or that I grasp a subject in different circumstances and see it more minutely analysed its parts and consequences,nor more from a different point of view.So it may be that I contradict fully and exactly reached the goal he had made it his business to myself,but,as Demades said,the truth I never contradict.If set up.To accomplish it I need only bring fidelity to it;and that my mind could find a firm footing,I should not speak is here,as pure and sincere as may be found. tentatively,I should decide;it is always in a state of I speak the truth,not enough to satisfy myself,but as apprenticeship,and on trial. much as I dare to speak.And I become a little more daring as I I am holding up to view a humble and lustreless life;that is grow older;for it would seem that custom allows this age more all one.Moral philosophy,in any degree,may apply to an freedom to prate,and more indiscretion in speaking of oneself. ordinary and secluded life as well as to one of riches stuff;every It cannot be the case here,as I often see elsewhere,that the man carries within him the entire form of the human craftsman and his work contradict each other.'How could a constitution. man who shows to such advantage in company write so foolish a Authors communicate themselves to the world by some book?'or,'Are these learned writings the work of a man of special and extrinsic mark;I am the first to do so by my general such feeble conversation?' being,as Michel de Montaigne,not as a grammarian or a poet When a man of ordinary conversation writes uncommon or a lawyer.If the world finds fault with me for speaking too things,it means that his talent lies in the place from which he much of myself,I find fault with the world for not even borrows them,and not in himself.A learned man is not learned thinking of itself. at all things;but the accomplished man is accomplished in all But is it reasonable that I,who am so retired in actual life, things,even in ignorance. should aspire to make myself known to the public?And is it Here,my book and I go hand in hand together,and keep reasonable that I should show up to the world,where artifice one pace.In other cases we may commend or censure the work and ceremony enjoy so much credit and authority,the crude and apart from the workman;.not so here.He who touches the one simple results of nature,and of a nature besides very feeble?Is touches the other.He who judges the one without knowing the it not like making a wall without stone or a similar material, other will wrong himself more than he does me;he who has thus to build a book without learning or art?The ideas of music come to know the work will completely satisfy me.Happy are guided by art,mine by chance.This I have at least in beyond my deserts if I have only this share of public approval, conformity with rules,that no man ever treated of a subject that that intelligent persons will be made to feel that I was capable of he knew and understood better than I do this that I have taken profiting by learning,if I had any;and that I deserved more up;and that in this I am the most learned man alive.Secondly, assistance from my memory! 158 159 牛阿
In this place let me offer an excuse for what I often repeat, boldly wicked soul may perhaps arm itself with assurance;but that I seldom repent,and that my conscience is satisfied with with that complacency and satisfaction it cannot provide itself. itself,not as the conscience of an angel or a horse,but as the There is no small pleasure in feeling oneself preserved from conscience of a man;always with the addition of this refrain, the contagion of so corrupt an age,and saying to oneself, not a formal or conventional refrain,but prompted by a real and "Should any one look into my very soul,he would yet not find natural modesty,"that I speak as an inquirer and an ignoramus, me guilty of the affliction or ruin of any man,or of revenge or leaving the decision purely and simply to the common and envy,of publicly offending against the laws,of innovation or authorized beliefs".I do not teach,I relate. disturbance,or of failing to keep my word.And whatever the There is no vice,that is really a vice,which is not hurtful licence of the times may permit or suggest to any man,I have and which a sound judgement does not condemn;for its ugliness laid hands on no Frenchman's property nor dived into his purse. and evil consequences are so apparent that they are perhaps right I have never lived but on what is my own,either in war or peace who say that it is chiefly begotten of stupidity and ignorance.So time;and have never used another man's labour without hire". hard it is to imagine that a man may know it and not hate it! These testimonies of a good conscience please;and this natural Wickedness sucks in the great part of its own venom,and satisfaction as a great boon to us,and the only payment that will poisons itself with it. never fail us. Vice,like an ulcer in the flesh,leaves a repentance in the soul,which is always scratching itself and drawing blood.For 2.Renaissance in Spain Reason blots out all other grief and sorrow,but begets that of repentance,which is the more hard to bear since it is born from a.Historical Background within;as the chill and heat of a fever are more acutely felt than By 1479,Various Kingdoms in Spain had merged in the union those which are external.I regard as vices (but each according of Castile and Aragon.In 1492 the Moors that had ruled Spain for to its measure),not only those which are condemned by reason four centuries were driven out from their last stronghold.In the same and Nature,but those too which have been created by human year Columbus discovered America and claimed America for Spain. opinion,even false and erroneous opinion,if it is authorized by This began the age of exploration for Spain.It explored much of laws and custom. Mexico,Central America,building up a vast empire and entered its There is likewise no goodness in which a well-born nature golden age.The 16th century saw the beginning of the Golden age of does not delight.We feel indeed a certain self-congratulation Spanish literature,crowned by Cervantes. when we do a good deed,which gives us inward satisfaction, Meanwhile Cardinal and statesman Jimenez de Cisneros, and that generous pride which accompanies a good conscience.A Francisco (1436-1517)had promoted humanism,classical and 160 161 广一二：于节了，甜对等添粥
scientific studies,introduced church reforms and supervised the editing of Polyglot Bible,in which texts in several languages are Of the good fortune which the valorous Don Quixote had in printed in parallel columns. the terrifying and never-before-imagined adventure of the windmills,along with other events that deserve to be suitably b.Literature recorded. Miguel de Cervantes (1547-1616) At this point they caught sight of thirty or forty windmills Cervantes was a novelist,a 'dramatist and a poet.As a young which were standing on the plain there,and no sooner had Don man,he went to Italy (1569)where he worked in service of a Quixote laid eyes upon them than he turned to his squire and cardinal and found time to study Italian literature and philosophy. said,"Fortune is guiding our affairs better than we could have Before he started writing,he was a soldier,a slave and a government wished;for you see there before you,friend Sancho Panza, purchasing agent.He began writing Don Quixote in 1602,and it some thirty or more lawless giants with whom I mean to do was published in 1605.Within a year after the publication,it was battle.I shall deprive them of their lives,and with the spoils reprinted six times.With the publication of this book,the European from this encounter we shall begin to enrich ourselves;for this is novel entered a new stage. righteous warfare,and it is a great service to God to remove so Don Quixote was a parody satirizing a very popular type of accursed a breed from the face of the earth. literature at the time,the romance of chivalry.Its sources are “What giants?”said Sancho Panza. romantic as well as realistic,truthful and imaginative. "Those that you see there,"replied his master,"those with Don Quixote was a poor country gentleman who has read too the long arms some of which are as much as two leagues in many chivalric romances.He and the peasant Sancho Panza,as his length." squire,set forth on a series of extravagant adventures.The whole "But look,your Grace,those are not giants but windmills, adventure was put against the reality of 17th century Spain,with and what appear to be arms are their wings which,when more than 700 characters from different strata in Spain and varying whirled in the breeze,cause the millstone to go." landscapes.In the book there is the language and colour of the world “It is plain to be seen,”said Quixote,.“that you have had of chivalry and the colour and language of the peasants,innkeepers little experience in this matter of adventures.If you are afraid, and robbers. go off to one side and say your prayers while I am engaging them It is recognized as the father of the modern European novel,and in fierce,unequal combat." has had great impact on world literature.Here is Chapter 8 of the Saying this,he gave spurs to his steed Rocinante,without book: paying any heed to Sancho's warning that these were truly windmills and not giants that he was riding forth to attack.Now 162 even when he was close upon them did he perceive what they 163 ·工一-·1”宁流得商 不