Thursday, March 08, 2007

 

Growing Older

Montaigne, Essais 3.9 (tr. Donald M. Frame):
My first edition was in the year 1580. Since then I have grown older by a long stretch of time; but certainly I have not grown an inch wiser. Myself now and myself a while ago are indeed two; but when better, I simply cannot say. It would be fine to be old if we traveled only toward improvement. It is a drunkard's motion, staggering, dizzy, wobbling, or that of reeds that the wind stirs haphazardly as it pleases.

Je suis euvieilly de nombre d'ans, depuis mes premiers publications, qui furent l'an mille cinq cens quatre vingts. Mais je fais doute que je sois assagi d'un pouce. Moy à cette heure, et moy tantost, sommes bien deux. Quand meilleur, je n'en puis rien dire. Il feroit bel estre vieil, si nous ne marchions, que vers l'amendement. C'est un mouvement d'yvroigne, titubant, vertigineux, informe: ou des jonchez, que l'air manie casuellement selon soy.



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