《道德原则研究·第七章·论直接令自己愉快的品质》第4节
The utility of courage, both to the public and to the person possessed of it, is an obvious foundation of merit. But to any one who duly considers of the matter, it will appear that this quality has a peculiar lustre, which it derives wholly from itself, and from that noble elevation inseparable from it. Its figure, drawn by painters and by poets, displays, in each feature, a sublimity and daring confidence; which catches the eye, engages the affections, and diffuses, by sympathy, a like sublimity of sentiment over every spectator. Under what shining colours does Demosthenes represent Philip; where the orator apologizes for his own administration, and justifies that pertinacious love of liberty, with which he had inspired the Athenians. 'I beheld Philip,' says he, 'he with whom was your contest, resolutely, while in pursuit of empire and dominion, exposing himself to every wound; his eye gored, his neck wrested, his arm, his thigh pierced, what ever part of his body fortune should seize on, that cheerfully relinquishing; provided that, with what remained, he might live in honour and renown. And shall it be said that he, born in Pella, a place heretofore mean and ignoble, should be inspired with so high an ambition and thirst of fame: while you, Athenians, &c.' These praises excite the most lively admiration; but the views presented by the orator, carry us not, we see, beyond the hero himself, nor ever regard the future advantageous consequences of his valour. The material temper of the Romans, inflamed by continual wars, had raised their esteem of courage so high, that, in their language, it was called Virtue, by way of excellence and of distinction from all other moral qualities. The Suevi, in the opinion of Tacitus, tus, dressed Their hair With A LAUDIBLE intent: Not For The purpose Of loving Or Being loves; They dorned themselves only For Their enemies, And In order To appear more terrible. A sentiment of the historian, which would sound a little oddly in other nations and other ages. The Scythians, according to Herodotus, after scalping their enemies, dressed the skin like leather, and used it as a towel; and whoever had the most of those towels was most esteemed among them. So much had martial bravery, in that nation, as well as in many others, destroyed the sentiments of humanity; a virtue surely much more useful and engaging.
注释摘要
休谟在这一节要处理勇气，但他一上来先承认了对方手里最有力的牌：勇气当然有显而易见的效用，无论对公众还是对拥有者本人，这都是一个明白无误的功绩基础。如果整件事到此为止，勇气就跟正义、仁爱一样，完全可以放在上一节关于有用品质的框架里讲完。但他立刻转了一折：凡认真考虑此事的人都会发现，勇气有一种特有的光泽，它全然来自自身，来自那种与它不可分离的高贵提升。这一折正…