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from this world to the next-第11部分

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greater。  However; I comforted myself against this reflection by

an assurance that they would increase daily:  on which head my

hopes were so extensive that I may say with Virgil

       'His  ego nec metas rerum nec tempora pono。'

Indeed I am convinced that; had I possessed the whole globe of

earth; save one single drachma; which I had been certain never to

be master of I am convinced; I say; that single drachma would

have given me more uneasiness than all the rest could afford me

pleasure。



〃To say the truth; between my solicitude in contriving schemes to

procure money and my extreme anxiety in preserving it; I never

had one moment of ease while awake nor of quiet when in my sleep。



In all the characters through which I have passed; I have never

undergone half the misery I suffered in this; and; indeed; Minos

seemed to be of the same opinion; for while I stood trembling and

shaking in expectation of my sentence he bid me go back about my

business; for that nobody was to be dn'd in more worlds than

one。  And; indeed; I have since learned that the devil will not

receive a miser。〃





CHAPTER XII



What happened to Julian in the characters of a general; an heir;

a carpenter; and a beau。



〃The next step I took into the world was at Apollonia; in Thrace;

where I was born of a beautiful Greek slave; who was the mistress

of Eutyches; a great favorite of the emperor Zeno。  That prince;

at his restoration; gave me the command of a cohort; I being then

but fifteen years of age; and a little afterwards; before I had

even seen an army; preferred me; over the heads of all the old

officers; to be a tribune。



〃As I found an easy access to the emperor; by means of my

father's intimacy with him; he being a very good courtieror; in

other words; a most prostitute flattererso I soon ingratiated

myself with Zeno; and so well imitated my father in flattering

him; that he would never part with me from about his person。  So

that the first armed force I ever beheld was that with which

Marcian surrounded the palace; where I was then shut up with the

rest of the court。



〃I was afterwards put at the head of a legion and ordered to

march into Syria with Theodoric the Goth; that is; I mean my

legion was so ordered; for; as to myself; I remained at court;

with the name and pay of a general; without the labor or the

danger。



 〃As nothing could be more gay; i。 e。; debauched; than Zeno's

court; so the ladies of gay disposition had great sway in it;

particularly one; whose name was Fausta; who; though not

extremely handsome; was by her wit and sprightliness very

agreeable to the emperor。  With her I lived in good

correspondence; and we together disposed of all kinds of

commissions in the army; not to those who had most merit; but who

would purchase at the highest rate。  My levee was now

prodigiously thronged by officers who returned from the

campaigns; who; though they might have been convinced by daily

example how ineffectual a recommendation their services were;

still continued indefatigable in attendance; and behaved to me

with as much observance and respect as I should have been

entitled to for making their fortunes; while I suffered them and

their families to starve。  



〃Several poets; likewise; addressed verses to me; in which they

celebrated my achievements; and what; perhaps; may seem strange

to us at present; I received all this incense with most greedy

vanity; without once reflecting that; as I did not deserve these

compliments; they should rather put me in mind of my defects。



〃My father was now dead; and I became so absolute in the

emperor's grace that one unacquainted with courts would scarce

believe the servility with which all kinds of persons who entered

the walls of the palace behaved towards me。  A bow; a smile; a

nod from me; as I passed through cringing crowds; were esteemed

as signal favors; but a gracious word made any one happy; and;

indeed; had this real benefit attending it; that it drew on the

person on whom it was bestowed a very great degree of respect

from all others; for these are of current value in courts; and;

like notes in trading communities; are assignable from one to the

other。  The smile of a court favorite immediately raises the

person who receives it; and gives a value to his smile when

conferred on an inferior:  thus the smile is transferred from one

to the other; and the great man at last is the person to discount

it。  For instance; a very low fellow hath a desire for a place。 

To whom is he to apply?  Not to the great man; for to him he hath

no access。  He therefore applies to A; who is the creature of B;

who is the tool of C; who is the flatterer of D; who is the

catamite of E; who is the pimp of F; who is the bully of G; who

is the buffoon of I; who is the husband of K; who is the whore of

L; who is the bastard of M; who is the instrument of the great

man。  Thus the smile descending regularly from the great man to

A; is discounted back again; and at last paid by the great man。



〃It is manifest that a court would subsist as difficultly without

this kind of coin as a trading city without paper credit。 

Indeed; they differ in this; that their value is not quite so

certain; and a favorite may protest his smile without the danger

of bankruptcy。



〃In the midst of all this glory the emperor died; and Anastasius

was preferred to the crown。  As it was yet uncertain whether I

should not continue in favor; I was received as usual at my

entrance into the palace to pay my respects to the new emperor;

but I was no sooner rumped by him than I received the same

compliment from all the rest; the whole room; like a regiment of

soldiers; turning their backs to me all at once:  my smile now

was become of equal value with the note of a broken banker; and

every one was as cautious not to receive it。



〃I made as much haste as possible from the court; and shortly

after from the city; retreating to the place of my nativity;

where I spent the remainder of my days in a retired life in

husbandry; the only amusement for which I was qualified; having

neither learning nor virtue。  



〃When I came to the gate Minos again seemed at first doubtful;

but at length dismissed me; saying though I had been guilty of

many heinous crimes; in as much as I had; though a general; never

been concerned in spilling human blood; I might return again to

earth。



〃I was now again born in Alexandria; and; by great accident;

entering into the womb of my daughter…in…law; came forth my own

grandson; inheriting that fortune which I had before amassed。



〃Extravagance was now as notoriously my vice as avarice had been

formerly; and I spent in a very short life what had cost me the

labor of a very long one to rake together。  Perhaps you will

think my present condition was more to be envied than my former:

but upon my word it was very little so; for; by possessing

everything almost before I desired it; I could hardly ever say I

enjoyed my wish:  I scarce ever knew the delight of satisfying a

craving appetite。  Besides; as I never once thought; my mind was

useless to me; and I was an absolute stranger to all the

pleasures arising from it。  Nor; indeed; did my education qualify

me for any delicacy in other enjoyments; so that in the midst of

plenty I loathed everything。  Taste for elegance I had none; and

the greatest of corporeal blisses I felt no more from than the

lowest animal。  In a word; as while a miser I had plenty without

daring to use it; so now I had it without appetite。



〃But if I was not very happy in the height of my enjoyment; so I

afterwards became perfectly miserable; being soon overtaken by

disease; and reduced to distress; till at length; with a broken

constitution and broken heart; I ended my wretched days in a

jail:  nor can I think the sentence of Minos too mild; who

condemned me; after having taken a large dose of avarice; to

wander three years on the banks of Cocytus; with the knowledge of

having spent the fortune in the person of the grandson which I

had raised in that of the grandfather。



〃The place of my birth; on my return to the world; was

Constantinople; where my father was a carpenter。  The first thing

I remember was; the triumph of Belisarius; which was; indeed;

most noble show; but nothing pleased me so much as the figure of

Gelimer; king of the African Vandals; who; being led captive on

this occasion; reflecting with disdain on the mutation of his own

fortune; and on the ridiculous empty pomp of the conqueror; cried

out; VANITY; VANITY; ALL IS MERE VANITY。'



〃I was bred up to my father's trade; and you may easily believe

so low a sphere could produce no adventures worth your notice。 

However; I married a woman I liked; and who proved a very

tolerable wife。  My days were passed in hard labor; but this

procured me health; and I enjoyed a homely supper at night with

my wife with more pleasure than I apprehend greater persons find

at their luxurious meals。  My life had scarce any variety in it;

and at my death I advanced to Minos with great confidence of

entering the gate:  but I was unhappily obliged to discover some

frauds I had been guilty of in the measure of my work when I

worked by the foot; as well as my laziness when I was employed by

the day。  On which account; when I attempted to pass; the angry

judge laid hold on me by the shoulders; and turned me back so

violently; that; had I had a neck of flesh and bone; I believe he

would have broke it。〃





CHAPTER XIII 



Julian passes into a fop。  



〃My scene of action was Rome。  I was born into a noble family;

and heir to a considerable fortune。  On which my parents;

thinking I should not want any talents; resolved very kindly and

wisely to throw none away upon me。  The only instructors of my

youth were therefore one Saltator; who taught me several motions

f

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