Common sense is solid, illusion is yielding, also illusion never issues victorious2 from a combat with it; during a struggle illusion endeavors vainly to display its subterfuges3 and cunning; illusions disappear one by one, crusht by the powerful arms of their terrible adversary—common sense.
"The worship of illusion," says Yoritomo, "presents certain dangers to the integrity of judgment4, which, under such influence, falsifies the comparative faculty5, and sways decision to the side of neutrality.
"This kind of mental half-sleep is extremely detrimental6 to manifestations7 of reason, because this torpor8 excludes it from imaginary conceptions.
"Little by little the lethargy caused by this intellectual paralysis9 produces the effect of fluidic contagion10 over all our faculties11.
"Energy, which ought to be the principle factor in our resolutions, becomes feeble and powerless at the point where we no longer care to feel its influence.
"The sentiment of effort exists no longer, since we are pleased to resolve all difficulties without it.
"In this inconstant state of mind, common sense, after wandering a moment withdraws itself, and we find that we are delivered over to all the perils12 of imagination.
"Nothing that we see thus confusedly is found on the plane which belongs to common sense; the ideas, associated by a capricious tie, bind13 and unbind themselves, without imposing14 the necessity of a solution.
"The man who allows himself to be influenced by vague dreams," adds the Shogun, "must, if he does not react powerfully, bid farewell to common sense and reason; for he will experience so great a charm in forgetting, even for one moment, the reality of life, that he will seek to prolong this blest moment.
"He will renounce15 logic16, whose conclusions are, at times, opposed to his desires, and he will plunge17 himself into that false delight of awakened19 dreams, or, as some say, day-dreams.
"Those who defend this artificial conception of happiness, like to compare people of common sense to heavy infantry20 soldiers, who march along through stony21 roads, while they depict22 themselves as pleasant bird-fanciers, giving flight to the fantastic bearers of wings.
"But they do not take into account the fact that the birds, for whom they open the cage, fly away without the intention of returning, leaving them thus deceived and deprived of the birds, while the rough infantry soldiers, after many hardships, reach the desired end which they had proposed to attain23, thus realizing the joys of conquest.
"There they find the rest and security, which the possessors of fugitive24 birds will never know.
"Those who cultivate common sense will always ignore the collapses25 which follow the disappearance26 of illusions.
"How many men have suffered thus uselessly!
"And what is more stupid than a sorrow, voluntarily imposed, when it can not be productive of any good?
"Men can not be too strongly warned against the tendency of embellishing27 everything that concerns the heart-life, and this is the inclination28 of most people.
"The causes of this propensity29 are many and the need for that which astounds30 is not the only cause to be mentioned.
"Indolence is never a stranger to illusion.
"It is so delightful31 to foresee a solution which conforms to our desires!
"For certain natures, stained with moral atrophy32, it is far sweeter to hope for that which will be produced without pain.
"One begins by accelerating this achievement, so earnestly desired, by using all the will-power, and one becomes accustomed progressively to regard desires as a reality, and, aided by indolence, man discounts in advance an easy success.
"False enthusiasm, or rather enthusiasm without deliberate reflection, always enters into these illusions, which are accompanied by persuasion33 and never combatted by common sense.
"Vanity is never foreign to these false ideas, which are always of a nature to flatter one's amour propre.
"We love to rejoice beforehand in the triumph which we believe will win and, aided by mental frivolity34, we do not wish to admit that success can be doubted.
"The dislike of making an effort, however, would quickly conceal35, with its languishing36 voice, the wise words of common sense, if we would listen momentarily to them.
"And, lastly, it is necessary to consider credulity, to which, in our opinion, is accorded a place infinitely37 more honorable than it deserves."
And now the sage38, Yoritomo, establishes the argument which, by the aid of common sense, characterized these opinions.
According to him, "It does not belong to new and vibrating souls, as many would have us believe.
"When credulity does not proceed from inveterate39 stupidity, it is always the result of apathy40 and weakness.
"Unhappiness and misfortune attend those who are voluntarily feeble.
"Their defect deprived them of the joy derived41 from happy efforts. They will be the prey42 of duplicity and untruth.
"They are the vanquished43 in life, and scarcely deserve the pity of the conqueror44; for their defeat lacks grandeur45, since it has never been aurioled by the majestic46 strength of conflict."
Following this, the Shogun speaks to us of those whom he calls the ardent47 seekers after illusion.
One evening he related the following story: "Some men started off for an island, which they perceived in the distance.
"It looked like a large, detached red spot, amid the flaming rays of the setting sun, and the men told of a thousand wonders about this unknown land, as yet untrodden by the foot of man.
"The first days of the journey were delightful. The oars48 lay in the bottom of the boat untouched, and they just allowed themselves to drift with the tide. They disembarked, singing to the murmur49 of the waters, and gathered the fruits growing on the shores, to appease50 their hunger.
"But the stream, which was bearing them onward51, did not retain long its limpidity52 and repose53; the eddies54 soon entrapped55 the tiny bark and dragged the men overboard.
"Some, looking backward, were frightened at the thought of ascending56 the river, which had become so tempestuous57.
"Escaping the wreckage58 of the boat as best they could, they entrusted59 themselves again to the fury of the waters.
"They had to suffer from cold and hunger, for they were far from shore, and as, in their imagination, the island was very near, they had neglected to furnish themselves with the necessities of life.
"At last, after the fatigues60 which forethought would have prevented, they found themselves one evening, at sundown, at the base of a great rock, bathed in the rosy61 light of the departing sun.
"This, then, was the island of their dreams.
"Tired out and exhausted62 from lack of food, they had only the strength to lie down upon the inhospitable rock, there to die!
"The disappearance of the illusion, having destroyed their courage and having struck them with the sword of despair, the rock of reality had proved destructive of their bodies and souls.
"The moral of this story easily unfolds itself.
"If the seekers after illusions had admitted common sense to their deliberations, they would certainly have learned to know the nature of the enchanted63 isle64, and they would have taken good care not to start out on their journey which must terminate by such a deception65.
"Would they not have taken the necessary precaution to prevent all the delays attendant upon travels of adventure, and would they have entrusted their lives to so frail66 a skiff, if they had acquired common sense?"
We must conclude, with Yoritomo, that illusion could often be transformed into happy reality if it were better understood, and if, instead of looking upon it through the dreams of our imagination, we applied67 ourselves to the task of eliminating the fluid vapors68 which envelop69 it, that we might clothe it anew with the garment of common sense.
Many enterprises have been considered as illusions because we have neglected to awaken18 the possibilities which lay dormant70 within them.
The initial thought, extravagant71 as it may appear, brings with it, at times, facilities of realization72 that a judgment dictated73 by common sense can alone make us appreciate.
He who knows how to keep a strict watch over himself will be able to escape the causes of disillusion74, which lead us through fatal paths of error, to the brink75 of despair.
"That which is above all to be shunned," said the philosopher, "is the encroachment76 of discouragement, the result of repeated failures.
"Rare are those who wish to admit their mistakes.
"In the structure of the mind, inaccuracy brings a partial deviation77 from the truth, and it does not take long for this slight error to generalize itself, if not corrected by its natural reformer—common sense.
"But how many, among those who suffer from these unhappy illusions, are apt to recognize them as such?
"It would, however, be a precious thing for us to admit the causes which have led us to such a sorry result, by never permitting them to occur again.
"This would be the only way for the victims of illusion to preserve the life of that element of success and happiness known as hope.
"Because of seeing so often the good destroyed, we wish to believe no more in it as inherent in our being, and rather than suffer repeatedly from its disappearance, we prefer to smother78 it before perfect development.
"The greater number of skeptics are only the unavowed lovers of illusion; their desires, never being those capable of realization, they have lost the habit of hoping for a favorable termination of any sentiment.
"The lack of common sense does not allow them to understand the folly79 of their enterprise, and rather than seek the causes of their habitual80 failures, they prefer to attack God and man, both of whom they hold responsible for all their unhappiness.
"They are willingly ironical81, easily become pessimists82, and villify life, without desiring to perceive that it reserved as many smiles for them as the happy people whom they envy.
"All these causes of disappointment can only be attributed to the lack of equilibrium83 of the reasoning power and, above all, to the absence of common sense, hence we cannot judge of relative values.
"To give a definite course to the plans which we form is to prepare the happy termination of them.
"This is also the way to banish84 seductive illusion, the devourer85 of beautiful ambitions and youthful aspirations86."
And, with his habitual sense of the practical in life, Yoritomo adds the following:
"There are, however, some imaginations which can not be controlled by the power of reasoning, and which, in spite of everything, escape toward the unlimited87 horizons of the dream.
"It would be in vain to think of shutting them up in the narrow prison walls of strict reason; they would die wishing to attempt an escape.
"To these we can prescribe the dream under its most august form, that of science.
"Each inventor has pursued an illusion, but those whose names have lived to reach our recognition, have caught a glimpse of the vertiginous88 course they were following, and no longer have allowed themselves to get too far away from their base—science.
"Yes, illusion can be beautiful, on condition that it is not constantly debilitated89.
"To make it beautiful we must be its master, then we may attempt its conquest.
"It is thus that all great men act; before adopting an illusion, as truth, they have assured themselves of the means by the aid of which they were permitted first to hope for its transformation90 and afterward91 be certain of their power to discipline it.
"Illusion then changes its name and becomes the Ideal.
"Instead of remaining an inaccessible92 myth, it is transformed into an entity93 for the creation of good.
"It is no longer the effort to conquer the impossible, which endeavor saps our vital forces; it is a contingency94 which study and common sense strip of all aleatory principles, in order to give a form which becomes more tangible95 and more definite every day.
"We have nothing more to do with sterile96 efforts toward gaining an object which fades from view and disappears as one approaches it.
"It is no longer the painful reaching out after an object always growing more indistinct as we draw near it.
"It is through conscious and unremitting effort that we attain the happy expression of successful endeavor and realize the best in life, for slow ascension in winning this best leaves no room for satiety97 in this noble strife98.
"We must pity those who live for an illusion as well as those whose imagination has not known how to create an ideal, whose beauty illumines their efforts.
"It is the triumph of common sense to accomplish this transformation and to banish empty reveries, replacing them by creating a desire for the best, which each one can satisfy—without destroying it.
"The day when this purpose is accomplished99, illusion, definitely conquered, will cease to haunt the mind of those whom common sense has illumined; vagaries100 will make place for reason and terrible disillusion will follow its chief (whose qualities never rise above mediocrity) into his retreat, and allow the flower of hope to blossom in the souls already filled with peace—that quality which is born of reason and common sense."
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1
antithesis
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| n.对立；相对 | |
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victorious
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| adj.胜利的，得胜的 | |
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subterfuges
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| n.（用说谎或欺骗以逃脱责备、困难等的）花招，遁词( subterfuge的名词复数 ) | |
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4
judgment
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| n.审判；判断力，识别力，看法，意见 | |
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5
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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detrimental
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| adj.损害的，造成伤害的 | |
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7
manifestations
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| n.表示，显示（manifestation的复数形式） | |
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8
torpor
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| n.迟钝；麻木；（动物的）冬眠 | |
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paralysis
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| n.麻痹(症)；瘫痪(症) | |
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contagion
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| n.(通过接触的疾病)传染；蔓延 | |
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faculties
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| n.能力( faculty的名词复数 )；全体教职员；技巧；院 | |
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perils
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| 极大危险( peril的名词复数 )； 危险的事（或环境） | |
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13
bind
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| vt.捆，包扎；装订；约束；使凝固；vi.变硬 | |
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imposing
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| adj.使人难忘的，壮丽的，堂皇的，雄伟的 | |
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15
renounce
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| v.放弃；拒绝承认，宣布与…断绝关系 | |
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logic
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| n.逻辑(学)；逻辑性 | |
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plunge
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| v.跳入，(使)投入，(使)陷入；猛冲 | |
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awaken
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| vi.醒，觉醒；vt.唤醒，使觉醒，唤起，激起 | |
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19
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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20
infantry
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| n.[总称]步兵(部队) | |
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stony
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| adj.石头的，多石头的，冷酷的，无情的 | |
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depict
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| vt.描画，描绘；描写，描述 | |
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attain
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| vt.达到，获得，完成 | |
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fugitive
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| adj.逃亡的，易逝的；n.逃犯，逃亡者 | |
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25
collapses
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| 折叠( collapse的第三人称单数 )； 倒塌； 崩溃； （尤指工作劳累后）坐下 | |
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26
disappearance
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| n.消失，消散，失踪 | |
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27
embellishing
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| v.美化( embellish的现在分词 )；装饰；修饰；润色 | |
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28
inclination
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| n.倾斜；点头；弯腰；斜坡；倾度；倾向；爱好 | |
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propensity
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| n.倾向；习性 | |
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30
astounds
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| v.使震惊，使大吃一惊( astound的第三人称单数 ) | |
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31
delightful
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| adj.令人高兴的，使人快乐的 | |
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32
atrophy
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| n./v.萎缩，虚脱，衰退 | |
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33
persuasion
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| n.劝说；说服；持有某种信仰的宗派 | |
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34
frivolity
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| n.轻松的乐事，兴高采烈；轻浮的举止 | |
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conceal
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| v.隐藏，隐瞒，隐蔽 | |
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languishing
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| a. 衰弱下去的 | |
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infinitely
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| adv.无限地，无穷地 | |
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38
sage
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| n.圣人，哲人；adj.贤明的，明智的 | |
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39
inveterate
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| adj.积习已深的，根深蒂固的 | |
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40
apathy
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| n.漠不关心，无动于衷；冷淡 | |
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41
derived
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| vi.起源；由来；衍生；导出v.得到( derive的过去式和过去分词 )；（从…中）得到获得；源于；（从…中）提取 | |
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42
prey
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| n.被掠食者，牺牲者，掠食；v.捕食，掠夺，折磨 | |
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43
vanquished
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| v.征服( vanquish的过去式和过去分词 )；战胜；克服；抑制 | |
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44
conqueror
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| n.征服者，胜利者 | |
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45
grandeur
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| n.伟大，崇高，宏伟，庄严，豪华 | |
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majestic
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| adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的 | |
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47
ardent
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| adj.热情的，热烈的，强烈的，烈性的 | |
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48
oars
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| n.桨，橹( oar的名词复数 )；划手v.划（行）( oar的第三人称单数 ) | |
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49
murmur
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| n.低语，低声的怨言；v.低语，低声而言 | |
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50
appease
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| v.安抚，缓和，平息，满足 | |
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51
onward
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| adj.向前的，前进的；adv.向前，前进，在先 | |
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52
limpidity
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| n.清澈，透明 | |
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53
repose
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| v.(使)休息；n.安息 | |
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54
eddies
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| （水、烟等的）漩涡，涡流( eddy的名词复数 ) | |
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55
entrapped
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| v.使陷入圈套，使入陷阱( entrap的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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56
ascending
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| adj.上升的，向上的 | |
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57
tempestuous
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| adj.狂暴的 | |
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58
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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59
entrusted
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| v.委托，托付( entrust的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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60
fatigues
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| n.疲劳( fatigue的名词复数 )；杂役；厌倦；（士兵穿的）工作服 | |
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rosy
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| adj.美好的，乐观的，玫瑰色的 | |
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exhausted
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| adj.极其疲惫的，精疲力尽的 | |
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63
enchanted
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| adj. 被施魔法的，陶醉的，入迷的 动词enchant的过去式和过去分词 | |
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64
isle
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| n.小岛，岛 | |
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deception
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| n.欺骗，欺诈；骗局，诡计 | |
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66
frail
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| adj.身体虚弱的；易损坏的 | |
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applied
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| adj.应用的；v.应用，适用 | |
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68
vapors
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| n.水汽，水蒸气，无实质之物( vapor的名词复数 )；自夸者；幻想 [药]吸入剂 [古]忧郁（症）v.自夸，（使）蒸发( vapor的第三人称单数 ) | |
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69
envelop
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| vt.包，封，遮盖；包围 | |
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70
dormant
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| adj.暂停活动的；休眠的；潜伏的 | |
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extravagant
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| adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的 | |
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72
realization
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| n.实现；认识到，深刻了解 | |
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73
dictated
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| v.大声讲或读( dictate的过去式和过去分词 )；口授；支配；摆布 | |
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74
disillusion
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| vt.使不再抱幻想，使理想破灭 | |
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75
brink
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| n.(悬崖、河流等的)边缘，边沿 | |
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76
encroachment
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| n.侵入，蚕食 | |
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77
deviation
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| n.背离，偏离；偏差，偏向；离题 | |
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smother
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| vt./vi.使窒息；抑制；闷死；n.浓烟；窒息 | |
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79
folly
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| n.愚笨，愚蠢，蠢事，蠢行，傻话 | |
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habitual
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| adj.习惯性的；通常的，惯常的 | |
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ironical
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| adj.讽刺的，冷嘲的 | |
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82
pessimists
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| n.悲观主义者( pessimist的名词复数 ) | |
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83
equilibrium
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| n.平衡，均衡，相称，均势，平静 | |
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84
banish
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| vt.放逐，驱逐；消除，排除 | |
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85
devourer
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| 吞噬者 | |
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86
aspirations
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| 强烈的愿望( aspiration的名词复数 )； 志向； 发送气音； 发 h 音 | |
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87
unlimited
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| adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的 | |
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vertiginous
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| adj.回旋的；引起头晕的 | |
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89
debilitated
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| adj.疲惫不堪的，操劳过度的v.使（人或人的身体）非常虚弱( debilitate的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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transformation
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| n.变化；改造；转变 | |
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91
afterward
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| adv.后来；以后 | |
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92
inaccessible
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| adj.达不到的，难接近的 | |
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entity
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| n.实体，独立存在体，实际存在物 | |
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contingency
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| n.意外事件，可能性 | |
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tangible
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| adj.有形的，可触摸的，确凿的，实际的 | |
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sterile
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| adj.不毛的，不孕的，无菌的，枯燥的，贫瘠的 | |
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satiety
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| n.饱和；(市场的)充分供应 | |
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strife
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| n.争吵，冲突，倾轧，竞争 | |
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99
accomplished
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| adj.有才艺的；有造诣的；达到了的 | |
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100
vagaries
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| n.奇想( vagary的名词复数 )；异想天开；异常行为；难以预测的情况 | |
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