在图书馆里翻书,偶然看到十六世纪法国作家Michel de Montaigne谈论婚姻的一段话,"It (marriage) happens as with cages: the birds without despair to get in, and those within despair of getting out. " 立刻想到《围城》。回来查一下,第三章中,褚慎明说:“他引一句英国古话,说结婚仿佛金漆的鸟笼,笼子外面的鸟想住进去,笼内的鸟想飞出来;所以结而离,离而结,没有了局。” 苏小姐道:“法国也有这么一句话。不过,不说是鸟笼,说是被围困的城堡fortresse assiegee,城外的人想冲进去,城里的人想逃出来。”
原来出处在这里,不过英法倒置了一下。
顺便又找到几条de Montaigne谈论婚姻的话,A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband. 这段比较中性,男人装聋,女人闭眼,互相容忍很重要。
“A good marriage (if any there be) refuses the conditions of love and endeavors to present those of amity.”这就比较哲学了,似乎是觉得婚姻与爱情不相容。还有,"If there is such a thing as a good marriage