On the Firmness of the Wise Person Chapter 14

Tanta quosdam dementia tenet, ut sibi contumeliam fieri putent posse a muliere. Quid refert quam habeant, quot lecticarios habentem, quam oneratas aures, quam laxam sellam ? Aeque inprudens animal est et, nisi scientia accessit ac multa eruditio, ferum, cupiditatium incontinens. Quidam se a cinerario impulsos moleste ferunt et contumeliam vocant ostiari difficultatem, nomenculatoris superbiam, cubiculari supercilium. O quantus risus inter ista tollendus est ! quanta voluptate implendus animus ex alienorum errorum tumultu contemplanti quietem suam ! " Quid ergo ? Sapiens non accedet ad fores, quas durus ianitor obsidet ? " Ille vero, si res necessaria vocabit, experietur et illum, quisquis erit, tanquam canem acrem obiecto cibo leniet nec indignabitur aliquid impendere, ut limen transeat, cogitans et in pontibus quibusdam pro transitu dari. Itaque illi quoque, quisquis erit, qui hoc salutationum publicum exerceat, donabit ; scit emi aere venalia. Ille pusilli animi est, qui sibi placet, quod ostiario libere respondit, quod virgam eius fregit, quod ad dominum accessit et petit corium. Facit se adver- sarium qui contendit, et ut vincat, par fuit. " At sapiens colapho percussus quid faciet ? " Quod Cato, cum illi os percussum esset ; non excanduit, non vindicavit iniuriam, ne remisit quidem, sed factam negavit ; maiore animo non agnovit quam ignovisset. Non diu in hoc haerebimus ; quis enim nescit nihil ex his, quae creduntur mala aut bona, ita videri sapienti ut omnibus ? Non respicit, quid homines turpe iudicent aut miserum, non it qua populus, sed ut sidera contrarium mundo iter intendunt, ita hic adversus opinionem omnium vadit.

Such madness possesses some men that they imagine it possible for an affront to be put upon them by a woman. What matters it who she may be, how many slaves bear her litter, how heavily her ears are laden, how soft her seat? she is always the same thoughtless creature, and unless she possesses acquired knowledge and much learning, she is fierce and passionate in her desires. Some are annoyed at being jostled by a heater of curling-tongs, and call the reluctance of a great man’s porter to open the door, the pride of his nomenclator, or the disdainfulness of his chamberlain, insults. O! what laughter is to be got out of such things, with what amusement the mind may be filled when it contrasts the frantic follies of others with its own peace! “How then? will the wise man not approach doors which are kept by a surly porter?” Nay, if any need calls him thither, he will make trial of him, however fierce he may be, will tame him as one tames a dog by offering it food, and will not be enraged at having to expend entrance-money, reflecting that on certain bridges also one has to pay toll; in like fashion he will pay his fee to whoever farms this revenue of letting in visitors, for he knows that men are wont to buy whatever is offered for sale. A man shows a poor spirit if he is pleased with himself for having answered the porter cavalierly, broken his staff, forced his way into his master’s presence, and demanded a whipping for him. He who strives with a man makes himself that man’s rival, and must be on equal terms with him before he can overcome him. But what will the wise man do when he receives a cuff? He will do as Cato did when he was struck in the face; he did not flare up and revenge the outrage, he did not even pardon it, but ignored it, showing more magnanimity in not acknowledging it than if he had forgiven it. We will not dwell long upon this point; for who is there who knows not that none of those things which are thought to be good or evil are looked upon by the wise man and by mankind in general in the same manner? He does not regard what all men think low or wretched; he does not follow the people’s track, but as the stars move in a path opposite to that of the earth, so he proceeds contrary to the prejudices of all.

Il y a des gens assez déraisonnables pour croire qu’une femme peut les offenser. Qu’importent ses richesses, le nombre de ses porteurs, les bijoux qui chargent ses oreilles, l’ampleur de sa litière ? Ce n’en est pas moins un être peu éclairé ; et si de saines doctrines, si un long enseignement n’ont retrempé cette âme, elle reste intraitable, et esclave de ses passions Quelques-uns ne peuvent souffrir qu’un friseur les coudoie, prennent pour offenses les difficultés d’un portier, la morgue d’un nomenclateur , les hauteurs d’un valet de chambre. Oh ! que tout cela doit faire rire de pitié et doit remplir d’une douce satisfaction celui qui, du fracas des erreurs d’autrui, ramène ses regards sur sa propre tranquillité ! « Qu’est-ce à dire ? Le sage n’approchera pas d’une porte que défend un gardien brutal ? » Assurément il en tentera l’accès, si c’est chose essentielle qui l’appelle ; cet homme, quel qu’il soit, il le traitera comme un chien hargneux, qu’on apaise en lui jetant de la pâture. Il ne s’indignera pas d’une légère dépense pour franchir le seuil d’une maison, en pensant qu’il y a des ponts où le passage se paye. Il payera donc aussi cet homme, si brutal qu’il soit, qui lève un impôt sur les visites : il sait acheter ce qui se vend. Il n’y a qu’un petit esprit qui s’applaudisse d’avoir dit son fait à un portier, de lui avoir brisé sa baguette , d’avoir été droit au maître et demandé satisfaction sur les épaules de l’esclave. On descend, dans la lutte, au niveau de l’adversaire ; l’eut-on vaincu, on s’est fait son égal . « Mais si le sage reçoit des soufflets, comment agira-t-il ? » Comme Caton quand on le frappa au visage : il ne prit point feu, il ne vengea point son injure, il n’eut pas même besoin de pardonner ; il la nia. Il y avait plus de grandeur à nier qu’à pardonner. Nous n’insisterons pas longtemps ; qui ne sait en effet que nulle de ces choses qui passent pour des biens ou des maux n’apparaît au sage sous la même face qu’aux autres hommes ? Il ne s’inquiète pas de savoir ce qu’ils appellent honte et misère ; il ne fait point route avec la foule : mais de même que les astres, dont la marche est en sens contraire à celle des cieux, lui il avance au rebours des préjugés de tous.