Montaigne's Essays Volume
III
Source: Michel Montaigne. The Essays of Michael Lord of Montaigne,
1580,
1597. Translated by John Florio, 1603. World's Classics edition. 3 volumes,
Vol. 3. London: Frowde, 1904. Before
using any portion of this text in any theme, essay, research paper, thesis,
or dissertation, please read the disclaimer.
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to a general reader have been included. I have allowed Greek passages to
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Table of Contents: 3.I+ Of
Profit and Honesty |
3.II+ Of Repenting |
3.III+ Of Three Commerces or Societies | 3.IV+
Of Diverting and Diversions | 3.V+ Upon some
Verses of Virgil | 3.VI+ Of Coaches |
3.VII+ Of the Incommoditie of Greatnesse |
3.VIII+ Of the Art of Conferring | 3.IX+
Of Vanitie 3.X+ How one ought to governe his
Will | 3.XI+ Of the Lame or Crippel |
3.XII+ Of Phisiognomy | 3.XIII+
Of Experience
IMDEX: 1560+(1) |
1582_age_49+(1) | 1585_age_52+(1)
|
60sradical+(1) |
action+(1) | amateur+(1) |
ambition+(2) | amitie+(2) |
amity+(1)
| ancients_moderns+(1) |
anger+(2) | Antonio+(2) |
avarice+(1) | bashfulnesse+(1)
| Bassanio+(1) |
benefit+(3) | benefits+(1) |
Benefits+(1) | blabbing+(2) |
boasting+(1) | Brutus+(3) |
Burke+(3) | Caesar+(1) |
Caliban+(3) | carelesnesse+(3)
| careless+(1) |
carelesse+(1) | Cato+(2) |
Catoes+(1) | cheere+(1) |
clemency+(1) | common+(3) |
common_places+(1) | constancie+(1)
| constancy+(2) |
contract+(1) | Cordelia+(5) |
Cornwall+(1) | courage+(1) |
courtesie+(1) | cowardice+(1)
| cruelty+(1) |
Cuckold+(1) | death+(10) |
Death+(2) | dialectic+(1) |
diffidence+(7) | diffident+(1)
| discretion+(1) |
dissolution+(1) | Donne+(1) |
Dorimant+(1) | duel+(1) |
effeminate+(1) | Eliot+(1) |
empire+(1) | Epictetus+(1) |
Eton+(1) | exemples+(1) |
expenditure+(1) | family+(1) |
Faulkner+(1) | feminism+(1) |
flies+(2) | foppery+(1) |
formalities+(1)
| fortitude+(1) |
fortuna+(1) | fortune+(10) |
Fortunes+(1) | Freud+(1) |
friend+(4) | friendship+(2)
| gentlenesse+(1) |
gift+(3) | give+(1) |
glory+(2) | goodnesse+(1) |
grace_of_God+(1) | gratitude+(1)
| Gratitude+(1) |
Hal+(10) | history+(1) |
honest_man+(1) | honestie+(1)
| honor+(2) | honour+(5)
| Hotspur+(4) | Iago+(1)
| ingenuity+(1) |
innocency+(1) | innovation+(1)
| instructions+(1) |
interpretations+(1) | justice+(1)
| Kent+(3) | king+(1)
| King+(1) | kings_duty+(1)
| Laputa+(1) | law+(3)
| Lawes+(1) | lawing+(1)
| lawyers+(1) |
Lawyers+(1) | Lear+(6) |
learning+(1) | liberality+(2)
| licentiousnesse+(1) |
list+(1) | love+(2) |
magnificence+(1) | Mahomet+(1)
| man_of_honor+(1) |
manly+(1) | marriage+(2) |
military+(1) | Millamant+(1)
| mirth+(1) |
Man_of_Mode+(1) | modestie+(1)
| money+(2) | Mrs_Frail+(1)
| nature+(1) |
nobilitie+(2) | Non_nobis+(1)
| obligation+(1) |
Oswald+(1) | ought+(1) |
Pages+(1) | patience+(1) |
peasant+(1) | plague+(1) |
PlainDealer+(19) | plaine+(1) |
Plaine_wordes+(1) | plainely+(1)
| plainenesse+(1) |
Plutarch+(1) | Plutark+(2) |
Pompey+(2) | Pope+(1) |
posterity+(2) |
potlach+(1) |
profit+(1) | promise+(1) |
Prospero+(1) | public_serevice+(1)
| publike_societie+(1) |
purged+(1) | Regulus+(1) |
reputation+(1) | revenge+(1) |
Revenge+(1) | revolution+(1)
| ring+(1) | Rome+(3)
| royal_duty+(1) |
selfcrit+(1)
| Seneca+(1) | service+(2)
| sexism+(1) | Shylock+(2)
| simple+(3) |
simplicitie+(1) | simplicity+(3)
| sociall+(1) |
Socrates+(3) | Souldier+(1) |
sprezzatura+(1) | stoicism_pays+(1)
| stone_arch+(3) |
Swift+(1) | Thoreau+(1) |
trueth+(1) | trust+(2) |
usthem+(7) | utility+(1) |
valor+(1) | valour+(1) |
VANITIE+(1) | Venus+(1) |
Vertue+(1) | warlike+(1) |
wel_borne+(1) |
wit+(1) |
word+(1) | Yahoo+(2)
CHAPTER 3.I+ OF PROFIT AND HONESTY +
No man living is free from speaking foolish things; the ill lucke is
to speake them curiously:
Nae iste magno conatu magnas nugas dixerit./1
This fellow sure with much a doe,
Will tell great tales and trifles too.
That concerneth not me; mine slip from me with as little care as they are
of smal worth: whereby they speed the better. I would suddenly quit
them, for the least cost were in them: Nor do I buy or sell them
but for what they weigh. I speake unto paper as to the first man
I meete. That this is true, marke well what followes. To whom
should not treachery be detestable, when Tiberius refused it on such great
interest? One sent him word out of Germany, that if he thought it
good, Ariminius should be made away by poison. He was the mightiest
enemy the Romans had, who had so vilely used them under Varus, and
-----
1 TER. Heaut. act iv. sc. 1.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
who onely empeached the encrease of his domination in that country.
His answer was, that the people of Rome were accustomed to be revenged
on their enemies by open courses, with weapons in hand; not by subtill
sleights, nor in hugger mugger: thus left he the profitable for the honest.
He was (you will say) a cosener. I beleive it; that's no wonder in
men of his profession. But the confession of virtue is of no less
consequence in his mouth that hateth the same, forsomuch as truth by force
doth wrest it from him, and if he will not admire it in him, at least,
to adorne himselfe he will put it on. Our composition, both publike
and private, is full of imperfection; yet is there nothing in nature unserviceable,
no not inutility it selfe; nothing thereof hath beene insinuated in this
huge universe but holdeth some fit place therein. Our essence is
cymented with crased qualities; ambition, jealosie, envy, revenge, superstition,
dispaire, lodge in us, with so naturall a possession, as their image is
also discerned in beasts: yea and cruelty, so unnatumll a vice: for in
the middest of compassion, we inwardly feele a kinde of bitter-sweet-pricking
of malicious delight to see others suffer; and children feele it also:
Suave mari magno turbantibus aequora ventis,
E terra magnum alterius spectare laborem./1
'Tis sweet on graund seas, when windes waves turmoyle,
From land to see an others greevous toyle.
The seed of which qualities, who should roote out of man, should ruine
the fundamental conditions of our life: In matter of policy likewise
some necessary functions are not onely base, but faulty: vices finde therein
a seate and employ themselves in the stitching up of our frame; as poysons
in the preservations of our health. {Yahoo+}
If they become excusable because wee have neede of them, and that common
necessity effaceth their true property; let us resigne the acting of this
part to hardy Citizens, who sticke not to sacrifice their
-----
1 LUCR. 1. ii. 1.
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honours and consciences, as those of old, their lives, for their Countries
availe and safety. We that are more weake had best assume taskes
of more ease and lesse hazard. The Common-wealth requireth some to
betray, some to lie, and some to massaker: leave we that commission to
people more obedient and more pliable. Truly, I have often beene
vexed to see our judges, by fraude or false hopes of favour or pardon,
draw on a malefactor, to bewray his offence; employing therein both cousenage
and impudencie. It were fit for justice, and Plato himselfe, who
favoureth this custome, to furnish me with meanes more sutable to my humour.
'Tis a malicious justice, and in my conceit no lesse wounded by it selfe
then by others. I answered not long since, that hardly could I betray
my Prince for a particular man, who should be very sory to betray a particular
man for my Prince. And loath not onely to deceive, but that any be
deceived in me; whereto I will neither furnish matter nor occasion.
In that little busines I have managed betweene our Princes, amid the divisions
and subdivisions which at this day so teare and turmoile us, I have curiously
heeded, that they mistake me not, nor muffled themselves in my maske.
The professors of that trade hold themselves most covert; pretending and
counterfeiting the greatest indifference and neernes to the cause they
can. As for me, I offer my selfe in my liveliest reasons, in a forme
most mine owne: A tender and young Negotiator, and who had rather
faile in my businesses then in my selfe. Yet hath this been hitherto
with so good hap (for surely fortune is in these matters a principal actor)
that few have dealt betwene party and party with lesse suspition and more
inward favour. I have in all my proceedings an open fashion, easie
to insinuate and give itselfe credit at first acquaintance. Sincerity,
plainenesse, and naked truth, in what age soever, finde also their opportunitie
and employment. {PlainDealer+!!}
Besides, their liberty is little called in question, or subject to hate,
who deale without respect of their owne interest. And they may truely
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
use the answer of Hyperides unto the Athenians, complaining of his bitter
invectives and sharpenesse of his speech: Consider not, my masters
whether I am free, but whether I be so, without taking ought, or bettering
my state by it. My liberty also hath easily discharged me from all
suspition of faintnesse, by it's vigor (for forbearing to speake any thing,
though it bit or stung them; I could not have said worse in their absence)
and because it carrieth an apparant show of
simplicity+ and
carelesnesse+. I pretend no other fruit by negotiating then
to negotiate; and annex no long pursuites or propositions to it.
Every action makes his particular game, win he if he can. Nor am
I urged with the passion of love or hate unto great men; nor is my wil
shackled with anger+,
or particular respect. I regard our Kings with an affection simply
lawfull and meerely civil, neither mooved nor unmoov'd by private interest:
for which I like my selfe the better. The generall and just cause bindes
me no more then moderately, and without violent fits. I am not subject
to these piercing pledges and inward gages. Choller and hate are beyond
the duty of justice, and are passions fitting only those whose reason is
not sufficient to hold them to their duty, Utatur motu animi, qui uti ratione
non potest: 'Let him use the motion of his minde that cannot use reason.'
All lawfull intentions are of themselves temperate: if not, they are altered
into sedicious and unlawful. It is that makes me march every where
with my head aloft, my face and heart open. Verily (and I feare not to
avouch it) I could easily for a neede bring a candle to Saint Michaell,
and another to his Dragon, as the good old woman. I will follow the
best side to the fire, but not into it, if I can choose. If neede
require, let Montaigne my Mannor-house be swallowed up in publike ruine:
but if there be no such necessity, I will acknowledge my selfe beholding
unto fortune if she please to save it; and for it's safety employ as much
scope as my endevours can affoord me. Was it not Atticus, who, cleaving
to the right (but losing
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side), saved himself by his moderation, in that generall Shipwracke
of the world, amidst so many changes and divers alterations? To private
men, such as he was, it is more easie. And in such kinde of businesse
I think one dealeth justly not to be too forward to insinuate or invite
himselfe. To hold a staggering or middle course, to beare an unmooved affection,
and without inclination in the troubles of his country and publike divisions,
I deeme neither seemely nor honest: Ea non media, sed nulla via est,
velut eventum expectantium, quo fortunae consilia sua applicant: 'That
is not the mid-way, but a mad way, or no way, as of those that expect the
event with intent to apply their dessignes as fortune shall fall out.'
That may be permitted in the affaires of neighbours. So did Gelon,
the tyrant of Siracusa, suspend his inclination in the Barbarian wars against
the Greeks, keeping Ambasdours at Delphos, with presents, to watch on what
side the victory would light, and to apprehend the fittest occasion of
reconcilement with the victors. It were a kind of treason to do so
in our owne affaires and domesticall matters, wherein of necessity one
must resolve and take a side; but for a man that hath neither charge nor
expresse commandement to urge him, not to busie or entermedle himselfe
therein, I holde it more excusable: (Yet frame I do not this excuse for
my selfe), then in forraine and strangers wars, wherewith, according to
our laws, no man is troubled against his will. Neverthelesse, those
who wholly ingage themselves into them, may carry such an order and temper,
as the storme (without offending them) may glide over their head.
Had wee not reason to hope as much of the deceased Bishop of Orleans, Lord
of Morvilliers? And I know some who at this present worthily bestirre
themselves, in so even a fashion or pleasing a manner, that they are likely
to continue on foote, whatsoever iniurious alteration or fall the heavens
may prepare against us. I holde it onely fit for Kings to to be angry
with Kings: And mocke at those rash spirits, who from the braverie
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
of their hearts offer themselves to so unproportionate quarrels.
For one undertaketh against a Prince, in marching couragiously for his
honour, and according to his duty: I hee love not such a man, hee
doth better: at least he esteemeth him. And the cause of lawes esoecially,
and defence of the auncient state, hath ever found this priviledge, that
such as for their owne interest disturbe the same, excuse (if they honour
not) their defenders. But wee ought not terme duty (as now a dayes
wee do) a sower rigour and intestine carbbednesse, proceeding of private
interest and passion: nor courage a treacherous and malicious proceeding.
Their disposition to frowardnesse and mischiefs, they entitle Zeale:
That's not the cause doth heate them, 'tis their owne interest: They
kindle a warre, not because it is just, but because it is warre.
Why may not a man beare himselfe betweene enemies featly and faithfully?
Doe it, if not altogether with an equall (for it may admit different measure
at least with a sober affection, which may not so much engage you to the
one, that he looke for al at your bands. Content your selfe with a moderate
proportion of their favour, and to glide in troubled waters without fishing
in them. Th' other manner of offering ones uttermost endevours to
both sides, implyeth lesse discretion then conscience. What knows
he to whom you betray another, as much your friend as himselfe, but you
will do the like for him, when his turne shall come. He takes you for a
villaine: whilst that hee heares you, and gathers out of you, and makes
his best use of your disloyalty. For double fellowes are onely beneficiall
in what they bring, but we must looke they carry away as little as may
be. I carry nothing to the one which I may not (having opportunity)
say unto the other, the accent only changed a little: and report either
but indifferent or knowne or common things. No benefit can induce
mee to lye unto them: what is entrusted to my silence I conceale religiously,
but take as little in trust as I can. Princes secrets are
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a troublesome charge to such as have nought to do with them. I
ever by my good will capitulate with them, that they trust mee with very
little: but let them assuredly trust what I disclose unto them. I
alwayes knew more than I womd. {Kent+!!!}
An open speach opens the way to another, and draws all out, even as Wine
and Love. {trust+}
Philippedes, in my minde, answered King Lysimachus wisely when hee demaunded
of him, what of his wealth or state hee should empart unto him: Which
and what you please (quoth hee) so it be not your secrets.
I see every one mutinie, if another conceale the deapth or mysterie
of the affaires from him, wherein he pleaseth to employ him, or have but
purloyned any circumstance from him. For my part, I am content one
tell me no more of his businesse then he will have me know or deale in;
nor desire I that my knowledge exceede or straine my word. If I must
needs be the instrument of cozinage it shall at least be with safety of
my conscience. I will not be esteemed a servant, nor so affectionate, nor
yet so faithfull, that I be judged fit to betray any man. {Oswald+}
Who is unfaithfull to himselfe may be excused if hee be faithlesse to his
Master. But Princes entertaine not men by halfes, and despise bounded
and conditionall service. What remedy? I freely tell them my limits;
for a slave I must not be but unto reason, which yet I cannot compasse;
And they are to blame, to exact from a free man the like subjection unto
their service, and the same obligation, which they may from those they
have made and bought, and whose fortune dependeth particularly and expresly
on theirs. The lawes have delivered mee from much trouble; they have
chosen mee a side to followe, and appointed mee a maister to obey; all
other superiority and duty ought to bee relative unto that, and bee restrained.
Yet, may it not be concluded, that if my affection should otherwise transport
mee, I would presently afforde my helping band unto it. Will and
desires are a lawe to themselves, actions are to receive it of publike
institutions: All these procedings of mine are
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
somewhat dissonant from our formes. They should produce no great
effects, nor holde out long among us. Innocencie itselfe could not
in these times nor negotiate without dissimulation, nor trafficke without
lying. Neither are publike functions of my diet; what my profession
requires thereto, I furnish in the most private manner I can. Being
a childe, I was plunged into them up to the eares, and had good successe;
but I got loose in good time. I have often since shunned medling
with them, seldome accepted, and never required; ever holding my back toward
ambition; but if not as rowers, who goe forward as it were backeward:
Yet so, as I am lesse beholding to resolution, then to my good fortune,
that I was not wholly embarked in them. For there are courses lesse
against my taste, and more comfortable to my carriage, by which, if heretofore
it had called mee to the service of the common-wealth, and my advancement
unto credit in the world: I know that in following the same I had
exceeded the reason of my conceite. Those which commonly say against
my profession that what I terme liberty,
simplicity+ and plainenesse+
in my behaviour, is arte, {Cornwall+}
cunning and subtilty; and rather discretion then goodnesse, industry then
nature, good wit then good hap, doe mee more honour then shame. But
truely they make my cunning overcunning. And whosoever hath traced
mee and nearely looked into my humours, Ile loose a good wager if hee confesse
not that there is no rule in their schoole, could, a midde such crooked
pathes and divers windings, square and report this naturall motion, and
maintaine an apparance of liberty and licence so equall and inflexible:
and that all the attention and wit is not of power to bring them to it.
The way to trueth is but one and simple, that of particular profit and
benefit of affaires a man hath in charge, double, uneven and accidentall.
I have often seene these counterfet and artificiall liberties in practise,
but most commonly without successe. They favour of Aesopes Asse, who in
emulation of the dogge, layde his two fore-feete very jocondly upon his
masters shoulders
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but looke how many blandishments the prety dogge received, under one,
so many bastinadoes were redoubled upon the poore Asses backe. Id maxime
quemque decet: quod est cuiusque suum maxime:/1 'That
becomes every man especially which is his owne especially.' I will
not deprive cousinage of her ranke, that were to understand the world but
ill: I know it hath often done profitable service, it supporteth,
yea and nourisheth the greatest part of mens vacations. There are
some lawfull vices: as many actions, or good or excusable, unlawfull.
Iustice in it selfe naturall and universall is otherwise ordered, and more
nobly distributed, then this other especiall and nationall justice, restrained
and suted to the neede of our pollicie: Veri juris germanaeque iustitiae
solidam et excess effigiem nullam tenemus: umbra et imaginibus utimur:/2
'Wee
have no lively nor life-like portraiture of upright law and naturall justice:
wee use but the shaddowes and colours of them.' So that wise Dandamys,
hearing the lives of Socrates, Pythagoras and Diogenes repeated, in other
things judged them great and worth men, but overmuch subjected to the reverence
of the lawes: which to authorize and second, true vertue is to decline
very much from his naturall vigor: and not onely by their permission, but
perswasions, divers vicious actions are committed and take place.
Ex Senatus consultis plebisque scitis scelera exercentur: 'Even by decrees
of counsell and by statute-laws are mischiefes put in practise.' I follow
the common phrase, which makes a difference betweene profitable and honest
things: terming some natural] actions which are not only profitable but
necessary, dishonest and filthy. But to continue our examples of
treason. Two which aspired unto the kingdome of Thrace were falne
into controversie for their right. The Emperor hindred them from
falling together by the eares: the one, under colour of contriving some
friendly accord by an enterview inviting the other to a feast in his house,
imprisoned and murthred him.
-----
1 CIC. Off. 1. 1. 2 CIC. Off. 1. 8.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Justice required that the Romanes should be satisfied for this outrage:
some difficulties empeached the ordinary course. What they could
not lawfully doe without warre and hazard, they attempted to accomplish
by treason; what they coulde not honestly atchieve, they profitably compassed.
For exployting whereof, Pomponius Flaccus was thought most fitte; who trayning
the fellow into his Nettes by fained wordes and sugred assurances, in liew
of the favour and honour hee promised him, sent him bound hand and foote
to Rome. One traytor over-reached another against common custome;
For, they are all full of distrust, and 'tis very hard to surprize them
in their owne arte: witnesse the heavy and dismall experience we have lately
felt of it. Let who liste bee Pomponius Flaccus; and there are too-too
many that will bee so. As for my part, both my word and faith are
as the rest, pieces of this common body; their best effect is the publicke
service: that's ever presupposed with mee. But as if one should command
mee to take the charge of the Rolles or Recordes of the Pallace, I would
answere, I have no skill in them; or to bee a leader of Pioners, I would
say, I am called to a worthier office. Even so, who would goe about
to employ mee, not to murther or poyson, but to lye, betraye and forsweare
my selfe, I would tell him, If I have robbed or stolne any thing from any
man, send mee rather to the Gallies. For a Gentleman may lawfully
speake, as did the Lacedemonians, defeated by Antipater, upon the points
of their agreement: 'You may impose as heavy burdens, and harmfull taxes
upon us as you please, but you lose your time to command us any shamefull
or dishonest things.' Every man should give himselfe the oath, which the
Aegyptian Kings solemnly and usually presented to their judges: Not
to swarve from their consciences, what command soever they should receive
from themselves to the contrary. In such commissions there is an evident
note of ignominie and condemnation. And whosoever gives them you, accuseth
you; and if you conceive
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them right, gives you them as a trouble and burthen. As much as
the publike affaires amend by your endevours, your owne empaireth; the
better you do, so much the worse doe you. And it shall not bee newe,
nor peradventure without shadowe of justice, that hee who setteth you a
worke, becommeth your ruine. If treason bee in any case excusable,
it is onely then, when 'tis employed to punish and betray treason.
Wee shall finde many treacheries to have beene not refused, but punished
by them, in whose favour they were undertaken. Who knowes not the
sentence of Fabritius against Pyrrus his Physition? And the commaunder
hath often severely revenged them on the partie bee employed in them, refusing
so unbridled a credite and power, and disavowing so lewde and so vile an
obedience. Iaropelc, Duke of Russia, sollicited an Hungarian Gentleman
to betraye Boleslaus, King of Polonia, in contriving his death or furnishing
the Russians with meanes to work him some notable mischiefe. This
gallant presently bestirres him in it, and more than ever applying himselfe
to the Kings service, obtained to bee of his counsell, and of those hee
most trusted. By which advantages, and with the opportunity of his
masters absence, hee betrayed Vicilicia, a great and rich citie, to the
Russians: which was whollie sakt and burnt by them, with a generall slaughter,
both of the inhabitans, of what sexe or age soever, and a great number
of nobility thereabouts, whom to that purpose be had assembled. Iaropelc,
his anger thus asswaged with revenge, and his rage mitigated (which was
not without pretext, for Boleslaus had mightily wronged and in like manner
incensed him) and glutted with the fruite of treason, examining the uglinesse
thereof, naked and alone, and with impartiall eyes beholding the same,
not distempered by passion, conceived such a remorse, and tooke it so to
heart that hee forthwith caused the eyes of his instrumentall executioner
to be pulled out, and his tongue and privy parts to be cut off. Antigonus
perswaded the Argiraspides soldiers to betray Eumenes their generall, and
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
his adversaries unto him, whom when they had delivered, and he had caused
to be slaine, himselfe desired to be the Commissary of divine justice,
for the punishment of so detestable a trecherie: and resigning them into
the hands of the Governor of the Province, gave him expresse charge, in
what manner soever it were, to rid himselfe of them, and bring them to
some mischievions end. Whereby, of that great number they were, not
one ever after sawe the smoake of Macedon. The better they served
his turne, the more wicked hee judged them, and the more worthie of punishment.
The slave that betraied the corner wherein his master P. Sulpicius
lay hid, was set at liberty, according to the promise of Syllas proscription:
but according to the promise of common reason, being freed, hee was throwne
headlong from off the Tarpeyan rocke. And Clovis, King of France,
in liew of the golden armes he had promised the three servants of Cannacre,
caused them to be hanged, after they had by his sollicitation betraide
their maister unto him. They hang them up with the purse of their
reward about their neckes. Having satisfied their second and speciall
faith, they also satisfie the generall and first. Mahomet the second,
desirous to rid himselfe of his brother (through jealousie of rule, and
according to the stile of that race) employed one of his officers in it;
who stifled him, by in much water powred downe his throate all at once:
which done, in expiation of the fact, he delivered the murtherer into the
hands of his brothers mother (for they were brethren but by the father's
side) shee, in his presence, opened his bosome, and with hir owne revenging
handes searching for his heart, pluckt it out and cast it unto dogges to
eate. Even unto vile dispositions (having made use of a filthy action)
it is so sweete and pleasing, if they may with security, as it were, in
way of recompence and holy correction, sowe one sure stitch of goodnesse
and justice unto it. Besides, they respect the ministers of such
horrible crimes as people that still upbraide them with them, and covet
by their deaths to smother the knowledge
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and cancell the testimony of their practises. Now if, perhaps,
not to frustrate the publike neede of that last and desperate remedy, one
rewarde you for it: yet hee who doth it (if hee bee not as bad himselfe),
will hould you a most accursed and execrable creature. And deemeth
you a greater traytor than he whom you have betrayed; for with your owne
handes hee touched the lewdnesse of your disposition, without disavowing,
without object. But employeth you, as we do out-cast persons in the executions
of justice; an office as profitable as little honest. Besides the
basenesse of such commissions, there is in them a prostitution of conscience.
The daughter of Sejanus could not in Rome, by any true formall course of
lawe, bee put to death, because shee was a virgine: that lawes might have
their due course, shee was first deflowred by the common hang-man and then
strangled. Not his hand onely, but his soule is a slave unto publike
commodity. When Amurath the first to agravate the punishment of his
subjects who had given support unto his son's unnatural rebellion, appointed
their neerest kinsmen to lend their hands unto this execution: I
finde it verie honest in some of them, who rather chose unjustly to bee
held guiltie of anothers parricide then to serve justice with their owne.
And whereas in some paltrie townes forced in my time, I have seene base
varlets for the savegard of their owne lives, yeild to hang their friends
and companions, I ever thought them of worse condition then such as were
hanged. It is reported that Witoldus Prince of Lituania, introduced
an order with that nation, which was that the party condemned to die should,
with his owne hands, make himselfe away; finding it strange that a third
man, being guiltlesse of the fact, shoulde bee employed and charged ta
commit a murther. When an urgent circumstance, or any violent and
unexpected accident, induceth a Prince for the necessitie of his estate,
or as they say for state matters, to breake his worde and faith, or otherwise
forceth him out of his ordinary duty, hee is to ascribe, that necessity
unto a lash of Gods rod. It is no vice,
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
for hee hath quit his reason unto a reason more publike and more powerfull,
but surely 'tis ill fortune. So that to one who asked mee what remedy?
I replyde, none; were hee truely rackt betweene these two extreames (Sed
videat ne quaeretur latebra periurio:/1 'But let him take heede he
seeke not a starting hole for perjurie') hee must have done it; but if
hee did it sans regret or scruple, if it greeved him not to doe it, 'tis
an argument his conscience is but in ill tearmes. Now were there
any one of so tender or cheverell a conscience, to whome no cure might
seeme worthy of so extreame a remedy, I should prise or regard him no whit
the lesse. He cannot loose himselfe more handsomely nor more excusablie.
We cannot doe every thing, nor bee in every place. When all is done,
thus and thus must wee often, as unto our last Anker and sole refuge, resigne
the protection of our vessell unto the onely conduct of heaven. To
what juster necessity can hoe reeerve himselfe? What is lesse possible
for him to do, then what he cannot effect, without charge unto his faith,
and imputation to his honour? things which peradventure should bee dearer
to him then his owne salvation and the safety of his people. When
with enfoulded armes hee shall devoutly call on God for his ayde, may hee
not hope that his fatherlie mercie shall not refuse the extraordinary favour
and sinne-forgiving grace of his all powerfull hand, unto a pure and righteous
hand? They are dangerous examples, rare and crased exceptions to
our naturall rules: wee must yeelde unto them, but with great moderation
and heedie circumspection. No private commodity may any way deserve
we should offer conscience this wrong; the common-wealth may, when it is
most apparant and important. Timoleon did fitlie warrant and ward
the strangenes of his exploite by the teares he shed, remembering it was
with a brothierlie hand he slew the tyrant. And it neerely pinched
his selfe gnawne conscience that he was compelled to purchas the common
good at the rate of his honestie. The
-----
1 CIC. Off. 1. iii.
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sacred Senate itselfe, by his meanes delivered from thraldome, durst
not definitively decide of so haughtie an action and rend in two so urgent
and different semblances. But the Siracusans having opportunely and
at that very instant sent to the Corinthians to require their protection,
and a governour able to reestablish their towne in former majestie, and
deliver Sicilie from a number of pettie tyrants, which grievously oppressed
the same, they appointed Timoleon, with this new caveat and declaration:
That according as hee should well or ill demeane himselfe in his charge,
their sentence should incline either to grace him as the redeemer of his
country or disgrace him as the murtherer of his brother. {Brutus+}
The fantasticall conclusion hath some excuse upon the danger of the example
and importance of an act so different, and they did well to discharge their
judgement of it, or to embarke him some where else, and on their considerations.
Now the proceedings of Timoleon in his renowned journie did soone yeelde
his cause the cleerer, so worthily and vertuously did hee every way beare
himselfe therein. And the good hap which ever accompanied him in
the encombrances and difficulties hee was to subdue in the atchievement
of his noble enterprise, seemed to bee sent him by the Gods, conspiring
to second, and consenting to favour his justification. This mans
end is excusable, if ever any could bee. But the encrease and profit
of the publike revenues, which served the Roman Senate for a pretext of
the ensuing-foule conclusion I purpose to relate, is not of sufficient
force to warrant such injustice. Certaine cities had by the order
and permission of the Senate, with mony purchased their libertie at the
hands of L. Sylla. The matter comming in question againe, the
Senate condemned them to be fineable and taxed as before; and the mony
they had employed for their ransome should bee deemed as lost and forfeited.
Civill warres do often produce such enormous examples, That we punish private
men, for so much as they have beleeved us when wee were other then now
wee are. And one same magistrate doth
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
lay the penalty of his change on such as cannot do withal. The
scboole- master whippeth his scholler for his docility, and the guide striketh
the blind man he leadeth. A horrible image of justice. {Lear+}
Some rules in philosophy are both false and faint. The example proposed
unto us of respecting private utility before faith given, hath not sufficient
power by the circumstance they adde unto it. Theeves have taken you,
and on your oath to pay them a certaine sum of money, have set you at liberty
againe. They erre that say an honest man is quit of his worde and
faith without paying, beeing out of their hands. There is no such
matter. What feare and danger hath once forced mee to will and consent
unto, I am bound to will and performe, being out of danger and feare.
And although it have but forced my tongue and not my will, yet am I bound
to make my word good and keepe my promise. For my part, when it hath sometimes
unadvisedly over-runne my thought, yet have I made a conscience to disavowe
the same. Otherwise wee should by degrees come to abolish all the
right a third man taketh and may challenge of our promises. Quasi
vero forti viro vis possit adhiberi:/1 As though any force could be used
upon a valiant man.' 'Tis onely lawfull for our private interest to excuse
the breache of promise, if wee have rashlie promised things in themservles
wicked and unjust. For, the right of vertue ought to overrule the
right of our bond. {ring+} I have heretofore
placed Epaminondas in the first ranke of excellent men, and now recant
it not. Unto what high pitch raised hee the consideration of his particular
duty? who never slew man hee had vanquished, who for that unvaluable good
of restoring his country hir liberty, made it a matter of conscience to
murther a Tyrant or his complhces, without a due and formall course of
lawe: and who judged him a bad man, how good a citizen soever, that amongst
his enemies and in the fury of a battle, spared not his friend or his hoste.
Loe here a minde of a rich composition. Hee matched unto the most
-----
1 CIC. Off. 1. iii.
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violent and rude actions of men, goodnesse and courtesie, yea and the
most choise and delicate that may be found in the scboole of Philosophie.
This so high-raised courage, so swelling and so obstinate against sorow,
death and povertie, was it nature or arte made it relent, even to the utmost
straine of exceeding tendernesse and debonarety of complexion? Being
cloathed in the dreadfull livery of steele and blood, he goeth on crushing
and brusing a nation, invincible to all others but to himselfe: yet mildely
relenteth in the midst of a combat or confusion, when he meets with his
host or with his friend+.
Verily this man was deservedly fit to command in warre, which in the extremest
furie of his innated rage, made him to feele the sting of courtesies and
remorse of gentlenesse+ then when, all
inflamed, it foamed with furie and burned with murder. 'Tis a miracle to
be able to joyne any shew of justice with such actions. But it onIy
belongeth to the unmatched courage of Epaminondas, in that confused plight,
to joyne mildnesse and facility of the most gentle behaviour that ever
was unto them, yea, and pure innocency+
it selfe. And whereas one told the Mamertins, that statutes were
of no force against armed men: another to the Tribune of the people, that
the time of justice and warre were two: a third, that the confused noise
of warre and clangor of armes bindred him from understanding the sober
voice of the lawes: This man was not so much as empeached from conceiving
the milde sound of civilitie and kindnesse. Borroived hee of his
enemies the custome of sacrificing to the muses (when he went to the warres)
to qualifie by their sweetnesse and mildnesse that martiall furie and hostile
surlinesse? Let us not feare, after so great a master, to hold that
some things are unlawfull, even against our fellest enemies: that publike
interest ought not to challenge all of all against private interest: Manente
memoria etiam in dissidio publicorum foederum privati juris:
'Some memorie of private right continuing even in disagreement of publike
contracts.'
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
-----et nulla potentia vires
Praestandi, ne quid peccet amicus, habet:/1
No power hath so great might,
To make friends still goe right.
And that all things be not lawfull to an honest man, for the service of
his King, the generall cause and defence of the lawes. Non enim patria
praestat omnibus officiis, et ipsi conducit pios habere cives in parentes:/2
'For our countrey is not above all other duties: it is good for the country
to have her inhabitans use pietie toward their parents.' 'Tis an instruction
befitting the times: wee need not harden our hearts with these plates of
iron and steele; it sufficeth our shoulders be armed with them: it is enough
to d'ipe our pens in inke, too much to die them in blood. If it be
greatnesse of courage, and th' effect of a rare and singular vertue, to
neglect friendship+,
despise private respects and bonds; ones word and kindred, for the common
good and obedience of the Magistrate: it is verily able to excuse us from
it, if we but alledge that it is a greatnesse unable to lodge in the greatnesse
of Epaminondas his courage. I abhorre the enraged admonitions of
this other unruly spirit.
----- dum tela micant, non vos pietatis
imago
Ulla, nec adversa conspecti fronte parentes
Commoveant, vultus gladio turbante verendos./3
While swords are brandisht, let no shew of grace
Once moove you, nor your parents face to face,
But with your swords disturb their reverend grace.
Let us bereave wicked, bloodie and traiterous dispositions of this pretext
of reason: leave we that impious and exorbitant justice, and adhere unto
more humane imitations. Oh, what may time and example bring to passe!
In an encounter of the civill warres against Cinna, one of Pompeyes souldiers,
having unwittingly slaine his brother, who was on the other
-----
1 OVID. Pont. 1. i. El. viii. 37. 2 CIC. Off. 1.
iii. 3 LUCAN. 1. vii. 320.
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side, through shame and sorrow presently killed himselfe; And some yeeres
after, in another civill warre of the said people, a souldier boldly demanded
a reward of his Captaines for killing his owne brother. Falsly doe
wee argue honour, and the beautie of an action, by it's
profit+: and conclude as ill, to thinke every one is bound unto it,
and that it is honest if it be commodious.
Omnia non pariter rerum sunt omnibus apta./1
All things alike to all
Do not well-fitting fall.
Choose we out the most necessary and most beneficiall matter of humane
society, it will be a mariage; yet is it that the Saints counsell findeth
and deemeth the contrary side more honest, excluding from it the most reverend
vocation of men; as wee to our races assigne such beasts as are of least
esteeme.
-----
1 OVID. Epist. 1. iii. El. viii. 7.
CHAPTER 3.II+ OF REPENTING +
OTHERS fashion man, I repeat him; and represent a particular one, but
ill made; and whom were I to forme a new, he should be far other than he
is; but he is now made. And though the lines of my picture change
and vary, yet loose they not themselves. The world runnes all on
wheeles. All things therein moove without intermission; yea, the
earth, the rockes of Caucasus, and the Pyramides of Aegypt, both with the
publike and their own motion. Constancy it selfe is nothing but a languishing
and wavering dance. I cannot settle my object; it goeth so unquietly
and staggering, with a naturall drunkennesse; I take it in this plight
as it is at the instant I ammuse my selfe about it, I describe not th'
essence but the passage; not a passage from age to age, or as the people
reckon, from seaven yeares to seaven, but from day to day, from minute
to minute. My history must be fitted to the present. I may
soone change, not onely fortune, but intention. It is a counter-roule
of divers and variable accidents or irresolute imaginations, and sometimes
contrary; whether it be that my selfe am other, or that I apprehend subjects
by other circumstances and considerations. Howsoever, I may perhaps
gaine-say my selfe, but truth (as Demades said) I never gaine- say.
Were my mind setled, I would not essay, but resolve my selfe: It
is still a Prentise and a probationer. I propose a meane l;ife and
without luster; 'Tis all one. They fasten all Morall Philosophy as
well to a popular and private life as to one of richer stuffe. Every
man beareth the whole stampe of humane condition. Authors communicate
thenselves unto the world by
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some speciall and strange marke; I the first, by my de Montaigne, not
as a Grammarian, or a Poet or a Lawyer. If the world complaine I
speake too much of my selfe. , I complaine it speakes no more of it selfe.
But is it reason, that being so private in use, I should pretend to make
my selfe publike in knowledge? Or is it reason I should produce into
the world, where fashion and arte have such sway and command, the raw and
simple effects of nature, and of a nature as yet exceeding weak?
To write bookes without learning is it not to make a wall without stone
or such like thing? Conceits of musicke are directed by arte, mine
by hap. Yet have I this according to learning, that never man handled
subject he understood or knew better then I doe this I have undertaken,
being therein the cunningest man alive.
Secondly, that never man waded further into
his matter, nor more distinctly sifted the parts and dependances of it,
nor arrived more exactly and fully to the end he proposed unto himselfe.
To finish the same, I have neede of naught but faithfulnesse ; which is
therein as sincere and pure as may be found. I speake truth, not
my belly-full, but as much as I dare ; and I dare the more the more I grow
into yeares, for it seemeth, custome alloweth old age more liberty to babbel,
and indiscretion to talke of it selfe. It cannot herein be, as in
trades, where the Crafts-man and his worke doe often differ. Being
a man of so sound and honest conversation, writ he so foolishly?
Are such learned writings come from a man of so weake a conversation? who
hath but an ordinary conceit, and writeth excellently, one may say his
capacitio is borrowed, not of himselfe. A skilfull man is not skilfull
in all things; But a sufficient man is sufficient every where, even unto
ignorance. Here my books and my selfe march together, and keepe one
pace. Else-where one may commend or condemne the worke without the
worke- man, heere not; who toucheth one toucheth the other. He who
shall judge of it without knowing him shal wrong himself more then me,
he
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
that knows it hath wholly satisfied mee. Happie beyond my merite,
if I get this onely portion of publike approbation, as I may cause men
of understanding to thinke I had beene able to make use and benefit of
learning, had I beene endowed with any, and deserved better helpe of memorie;
excuse wee here what I often say that I seldome repent my selfe, and that
my conscience is contented with it selfe; not of an Angels or a horses
conscience, but as of a mans conscience. Adding ever this clause,
not of ceremonie, but of true and essentiall submission; that I speake
enquiring and doubting, meerely and simply referring my selfe, from resolution,
unto common and lawfull opinions. I teach not; I report: No
vice is absolutely vice, which offendeth not, and a sound judgement accuseth
not: For, the deformitie and incommoditie thereof is so palpable,
as peradventure they have reason who say it is chiefly produced by sottishnesse
and brought forth by ignorance; so hard is it to imagine one should know
it without hating it. Malice sucks up the greatest part of her owne
venome, and therewith impoysoneth herselfe. Vice leaveth, as an ulcer in
the flesh, a repentance in the soule, which still scratcheth and bloodieth
it selfe. For reason effaceth other griefes and sorrowes, but engendereth
those of repentance: the more yrkesome because inward: as the colde and
heate of agues is more offensive then that which comes outward. I
account vices (but each according to their measure) not onely those which
reason disalowes and nature condemnes, but such as mans opinion hath forged
as false and erroneous, if lawes and custome authorize the same.
In like manner there is no goodnesse but gladdeth an honest disposition.
There is truely I wot not what kinde or congratulation of well doing which
rejoyceth in ourselves, and a generous jollitie that accompanieth a good
conscience.
A minde couragiously vicious may happily furnish it selfe with security,
but shee cannot be fraught with this selfe-joyning delight and satisfaction.
It is no smal pleasure for one to feele himselfe preserved
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from the contagion of an age so infected as ours, and to say to himselfe;
could a man enter and see even into my soule, yet shold he not finde me
guilty either of the affliction or ruine of any body, nor culpable of envie
or revenge, nor of publike offence against the lawes, nor tainted withinnovation+,
trouble or sedition; nor spotted with falsifying of my word: and although
the libertie of times slowed and taught it every man, yet could I never
be induced to touch the goods or dive into the purse of any French man,
and have alwayes lived upon mine own as wel in time of war as peace: nor
did I ever make use of any poore mans labor without reward. These testimonies
of an unspotted conscience are very pleasing, which naturall joy is a great
benefit unto us: and the onely payment never faileth us. To ground the
recompence of vertuous actions upon the approbation of others is to undertake
a most uncertaine or troubled foundation, namely in an age so corrupt and
times so ignorant as this is: the vulgar peoples good opinion is is injurious.
Whom trust you in seeing what is commendable? God keepe me from being an
honest man, according to the description I dayly see made of honour, each
one by himselfe. Quae fuerant vitia, mores sunt. 'What earst were
vices are now growne fashions.' Some of my friends have sometimes attempted
to schoole me roundly, and sift me plainly, either of their owne motion,
or envited by me, as to an office, which to a well composed minde, both
in profit and lovingnesse, exceedeth all the duties of sincere amity.
Such have I ever entertained with open armes of curtesie and kinde acknowledgement.
But now to speake from my conscience I often found so much false measure
in their reproaches and praises, that I had not greatly erred if I had
rather erred then done well after their fashion. Such as we especially,
who live a private life not exposed to any gaze but our owne, ought in
our hearts establish a touch-stone, and there to touch our deedes and try
our actions; and accordingly, now cherish and now chastise ourselves.
I have my owne lawes and tribunall, to judge of mee,
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whither I addresse my selfe more then any where els. I restraine
my actions according to other, but extend them according to my selfe.
None but yourself knows rightly whether you be demiss and cruel, or loyal
and devout. Others see you not, but ghesse you by uncertaine conjectures.
They see not so much your nature as your arte. Adhere not then to
their opinion, but hold unto your owne. Tuo tibi judicio est utendum,
Virtutis et viciorum grave ipsius conscientiae pondus est: qua sublata
jacent omnia:/1 'You must use your owne judgement. The weight
of the very conscience of vice and vertues is heavy: take that away and
al is downe.' But whereas it is said that repentance neerely followeth
sin, seemeth not to imply sinne placed in his rich aray, which lodgeth
in us as in his proper mansion. One may disavow and disclaime vices that
surprise us, and whereto our passions transport us; but those which by
long habite are rooted in a strong and ankred in a powerfull will, are
not subject to contradiction. Repentance is but a denying of our
will, and an opposition of our fantasies which diverts us here and there.
It makes some disavow his former vertue and continencie.
Quae mens est hodie, cur eadem non puero fuit,
Vel cur his animis incolumes non redeunt genae?/2
Why was not in a youth same mind as now?
Or why beares not this mind a youthfull brow?
That is an exquisite life which even in his owne private keepeth it selfe
in awe and order. Every one may play the jugler and represent an
honest man upon the stage; but within, and in bosome, where all things
are lawfull, where all is concealed; to keepe a due rule or formall decorum,
that's the point. The next degree is to be so in ones owne home,
and in his ordinary actions, whereof we are to give accoumpt to nobody,
wherein is no study, nor art; and therefore Bias describing the perfect
state of a family whereof (saith he)
-----
1 CIC. Nat. Deor. 1. iii. ù HOR. Car. 1. iv.
Od. x. 7.
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the maister be such inwardly by himselfe, as he is outwardly, for feare
of the lawes, and respect of mens speaches. And it was a worthy saying
of Iulius Drusus to those worke-men, which for three thousand crownes offered
so to reforme his house that his neighbours should no more over looke into
it. I will give you sixe thousand (said he) and contrive it so that
on all sides every man may looke into it. The custome of Agesilaus
is remembred with honour, who in his travaile was wont to take up his lodging
in churches, that the people and Gods themselves might pry into his private
actions. Some have beene admirable to the world, in whom nor his wife,
nor his servants ever noted anything remarkeable. 'Few men have beene admired
of their familiars. No man hath beene a Prophet, not onely in his house,
but in his owne country,' saith the experience of histories. Even
so in things of nought. And in this base example is the image of
greatnesse discerned. In my climate of Gascoigne they deeme it a
jest to see mee in print. The further the knowledge which is taken
of mee is from my home, of so much more woorth am I. In Guienne I
pay Printers, in other places they pay mee. Upon this accident they
ground, who living and present keepe close-lurking, to purchase credit
when they shall be dead and absent. I had rather have lesse.
And I cast not my selfe into the world, but for the portion I draw from
it. That done I quit it. The people attend on such a man with
wonderment, from a publike act, unto his owne doores; together with his
roabes hee leaves of his part: falling so much the lower by how much higher
hee was mounted. View him within, there all is turbulent, disordered
and vile. And were order and formality found in him, a lively, impartiall
and well sorted judgement is required to perceive and fully to discerne
him in these base and private actions. Considering that order is
but a dumpish and drowsie vertue: to gaine a Battaile, perfourme an Ambassage,
and governe a people, are noble and woorthy actions; to chide, laugh, sell,
pay, love, hate, and mildely and justly to converse
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
both with his owne and with himselfe; not to relent, and not gaine-say
himselfe, are thinges more rare, more difficult and lesse remarkeable.
Retired lives sustaine that way, whatever some say, offices as much more
crabbed and extended than other lives doe. And private men (saith
Aristotle) serve vertue more hardly and more highly attend her, then those
which are magistrates or placed in authority. Wee prepare ourselves
unto eminent occasions, more for glory then for conscience. The nearest
way to come unto glory were to doe that for conscience which wee doe forglory+.
And me seemeth the vertue of Alexander representeth much lesse vigor in
her large Theater then that of Socrates in his base and obscure exercitation.
I easily conceive Socrates in the roome of Alexander; Alexander in that
of Socrates I cannot. If any aske the one what hee can do, he will
answer, 'Conquer the world': let the same question bee demanded of the
other, he will say, 'Leade my life conformably to its naturall condition';
A science much more generous, more important, and more lawfull.
The woorth of the minde consisteth not in going high, but in marching
orderly. Her greatnesse is not exercised in greatnesse; in mediocritye
it is. As those which judge and touch us inwardely make no great
accoumpt of the brightnesse of our publique actions, and see they are but
streakes and poyntes of cleare Water surging from a bottome otherwise slimie
and full of mud: {Yahoo+} So those who
judge us by this gay outward apparance conclude the same of our inward
constitution, and cannot couple popular faculties as theirs are, unto these
other faculties, which amaze them so farre from their levell. So
do we attribute savage shapes and ougly formes unto divels. As who
doeth not ascribe high-raised eye-browes, open nostrils, a sterne frightfull
visage and a huge body unto Tamberlaine, as is the forme or shape of the
imagination we have fore- conceived by the bruite of his name? had any
heretofore shewed me Erasmus, I could hardly had bin induced to think but
whatsover he had said to
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his boy or hostes, had been Adages and Apothegmes. We imagine
much more fitly an Artificer upon his close stoole or on his wife, then
a great judge, reverend for his carriage and regardfull for his sufficiencie;
we think, that from those high thrones they should not abase themselves
so low, as to live. As vitious mindes are often incited to do well
by some strange impulsion, so are vertuous spirits mooved to do ill.
They must then be judged by their settled estate, when they are neare themselves,
and as we say, at home, if at any time they be so; or when they are nearest
unto rest, and in their naturall seate. Naturall inclinations are
by institution helped and strengthned, but they neither change nor exceed.
A thousand natures in my time have a thwart, a contrary discipline escaped
toward vertue or toward vice.
Sic ubi desuetae silvis in carcere clausae
Mansuevere ferae, et vultus posuere minaces,
Atque hominem didicere pati, si torrida parvus
Venit in ora cruor, redeunt rabiesque furorque,
Admonitaeque tument gustato sanguine fauces,
Fervet, et a trepido vix abstinet ira magistro./1
So when wilde beasts, disused from the wood,
Fierce lookes laid-downe, grow tame, closde in a cage,
Taught to beare man, if then a little blood
Touch their hot lips, furie returnes and rage;
Their jawes by taste admonisht swell with vaines,
Rage boyles, and from faint keeper scarse abstaines.
These originall qualities are not grubd out, they are but covered and hidden.
The Latine tongue is to me in a manner naturall; I understand it better
then French: but it is now fortie yeares I have not made use of it to speake,
nor much to write; yet in some extreame emotions and suddaine passions,
wherein I have twice or thrice falne, since my yeares of discretion, and
namely once, when my father being in perfect health, fell all along upon
me in a swoune, I have ever, even from my very hart uttered my first words
in latine: nature rushing and by force expressing it selfe, against
-----
1 LUCAN. 1. iv. 287
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so long a custome; the like example is alleadged of divers others.
Those which in my time have attempted to correct the passions of the world
by new opinions, reforme the vices of apparance; those of essence they
leave untouched if they encrease them not. And their encrease is
much to be feared. We willingly protract al other well-doing upon these
externall reformations of lesse cost and of greater merit; whereby we satisfie
good cheape, other naturall consubstantiall and intestine vices.
Looke a little into the course of our experience. There is no man
(if he listen to himselfe) that doth not discover in himselfe a peculiar
forme of his, a swaying forme, which wrestleth against the institution,
and against the tempests of passions, which are contrary unto him.
As for me, I feele not my selfe much agitated by a shocke; I commonly finde
my selfe in mine owne place, as are sluggish and lumpish bodies.
If I am not close and neare unto my selfe, I am never farre-offe; My debauches
or excesses transport me not much. There is nothing extreame and
strange; yet have I sound fits and vigorous lusts. The true condemnation,
and which toucheth the common fashion of our men, is that their very retreate
is full of corruption and filth. The Idea of their amendment blurred
and deformed; their repentance crazed and faultie very neere as much as
their sinne. Some, either because they are so fast and naturally
joyned unto vice, or through long custome have lost all - ense of its uglinesse.
To others (of whose ranke I am) vice is burthenous, but they counter-ballance
it with pleasure or other occasions, and suffer it, and at a certaine rate
lend themselves unto it though basely and viciously. Yet might happily
so remote a disposition of measure bee imagined, where with justice, the
pleasure might excuse the offence, as we say of profit. Not onely being
accidentall, and out of sinne, as in thefts, but even in the very exercise
of it, as in the acquaintance or copulation with women; where the provocation
is so violent, and as they say, sometime unresistible. In a towne of a
kinsman of mine, the other day, being
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in Armignac, I saw a country man, commonly sirnamed the Theefe, who
himselfe reported his life to have beene thus. Being borne a begger,
and perceiving that to get his bread by the sweate of his browe and labour
of his bands, would never sufficiently arme him against penury, he resolved
to become a Theefe; and that trade had employed all his youth safely, by
meanes of his bodily strength: for he ever made up Harvest and Vintage
in other mens grounds: but so farre off, and in so great heapes, that it
was beyond imagination one man should in one night carry away so much upon
his shoulders: and was so carefull to equall the pray and disperce the
mischiefe he did, that the spoile was of lesse import to every particular
man.
Hee is now in old yeares indifferently rich;
for a man of his condition (Godamercy his trade) which he is not ashamed
to confesse openly. And to reconcile himselfe with God, he affirmeth;
to be dayly ready, with his gettings, and other good turnes, to satisfie
the posterity of those hee hath heretofore wronged or robbed; which if
himselfe bee not of abilitie to performe (for hee cannot do all at once)
hee will charge his heires withall, according to the knowledge he hath
of the wrongs by him done to every man. By this description, bee
it true or false, he respecteth theft, as a dishonest and unlawfull action,
and hateth the same: yet lesse then pinching want: He repents but
simply; for in regard it was so counterballanced and recompenced, he repenteth
not. That is not that habit which incorporates us unto vice, and
confirmeth our understanding in it; nor is it that boysterous winde, which
by violent blastes dazeleth and troubleth our mindes, and at that time
confoundes and overwhelmes both us, our judgement, and all into the power
of vice. What I doe is ordinarily full and compleate, and I march
(as wee say) all in one pace: I have not many motions, that hide
themselves and slinke away from my reason, or which very neare are not
guided by the consent of all my partes, without
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division, or intestine sedicion: my judgement hath the whole blame or
commendation; and the blame it hath once, it hath ever: for almost from
it's birth it hath beene one of the same inclination, course and force.
And in matters of generall opinions, even from my infancy, I ranged my
selfe to the point I was to hold. Some sinnes there are outrageous,
violent and suddaine; leave we them.
But those other sinnes, so often reassumed,
determined and advised upon, whether they be of complexion, or of profession
and calling, I cannot conceive how they should so long be settled in one
same courage, unlesse the reason and conscience of the sinner were thereunto
inwardly privie and constantly willing. And how to imagine or fashion
the repentance thereof, which, he vanteth, doth some times visit him, seemeth
somewhat hard unto me. I am not of Pythagoras Sect, that men take
a new soule, when to receive Oracles they approach the images of Gods,
unlesse he would say with all, that it must be a strange one, new, and
lent him for the time: our owne, giving so little signe of purification,
and cleanesse worthie of that office. They doe altogether against
the Stoycall precepts, which appoint us to correct the imperfections and
vices we finde in our selves, but withall forbid us to disturbe the quiet
of our minde. They make us beleeve they feele great remorse, and
are inwardly much displeased with sinne; but of amendment, correction or
intermission, they shew us none. Surely there can be no perfect health,
where the disease is not perfectly remooved. Were repentance put
in the scale of the ballance, it would weigh downe sinne. I find
no humour so easie to be counterfeited as Devotion: If one conforme not
his life and conditions to it, her essence is abstruse and concealed, her
apparance gentle and stately.
For my part, I may in generall wish to be
other then I am; I may condemne and mislike my universall forme, I may
beseech God to grant me an undefiled reformation, and excuse my naturall
weakenesse: but
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meeseemeth I ought not to tearme this repentance, no more then the displeasure
of being neither Angell nor Cato. My actions are squared to what
I am and confirmed to my condition. I cannot doe better: And
repentance doth not properly concerns what is not in our power; sorrow
doth. I may imagine infinite dispositions of a higher pitch, and
better governed then myne, yet doe I nothing better my faculties; no more
then mine arme becommeth stronger, or my wit more excellent, by conceiving
some others to be so. If to suppose and wish a more nobler working then
ours, might produce the repentance of our owne, wee should then repent
us of our most innocent actions: for so much as we judge that in a more
excellent nature, they had beene directed with greater perfection and dignity;
and our selves would doe the like. When I consult with my age of
my youthes proceedings, I finde that commonly (according to my opinion),
I managed them in order. This is all my resistance is able to performe.
I flatter not myselfe: in like circumstances, I should ever be the same.
It is not a spot, but a whole dye that staynes me. I acknowledge
no repentance, this is superficiall, meane, and ceremonious. It must
touch me on all sides before I can terme it repentance. It must pinch
my entrailes, and afflict them as deepely and throughly as God himselfe
beholds mee. When in negotiating, many good fortunes have slipt me
for want of good discretion, yet did my projects make good choice, according
to the occurrences presented unto them. Their manner is ever to take
the easier and surer side. I finde that in my former deliberations,
I proceeded, after my rules, discreetely for the subjects state propounded
to mee; and in like occasions, would proceede alike a hundred yeares hence.
I respect not what now it is, but what it was, when I consulted of it.
The consequence of all dessignes consists in the seasons; occasions passe,
and matters change uncessantly. I have in my time runne into some
grosse, absurde, and important errors; not for want of good advise, but
of good happe. There
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are secret and indivinable parts in the objects men doe handle, especially
in the nature of men and mute conditions without shew, and sometimes unknowne
of the very possessors, produced and stirred up by suddaine occasions.
If my wit could neyther finde nor presage them, I am not offended with
it; the function thereof is contained within it's owne limits. If
the successe beare me, and favour the side I refused, there is no remedy;
I fall not out with my selfe: I accuse my fortune, not my endevour:
that's not called repentance. Phocion had given the Athenians some
counsell, which was not followed: the matter, against his opinion, succeeding
happily: 'How now, Phocion (quoth one), art thou pleased the matter hath
thrived so well?' 'Yea (said hee) and I am glad of it; yet repent not the
advise I gave.'
When any of my friends come to me for counsell,
I bestow it francklie and clearelie, not (as well-nigh all the world doth)
wavering at the hazard of the matter, whereby the contrary of my meaning
may happen that so they may justly finde fault with my advise for which
I care not greatly. For they shall doe me wrong, and it became not
mee to refuse them that dutie. I have no body to blame for my faults
or misfortunes but my self. For in effect I seldome use the advise
of other unlesse it be for complement sake, and where I have need of instruction
or knowledge of the fact. Marry in things wherein nought but judgement
is to be employed; strange reasons may serve to sustaine, but not to divert
me. I lend a favourable and courteous care unto them all. But
(to my remembrance) I never beleeved any but mine owne. With me they
are but Flyes and Moathes, which distract my wil. I little regard
mine owne opinions, other mens I esteeme as little: Fortune payes mee accordingly.
If I take no counsell I give as little. I am not much sought after for
it, and lesse credited when I give it: Neither know I any enterprise,
either private or publike, that my advise hath directed and brought to
conclusion. Even those whom fortune had
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some-way tyde thereunto, have more willingly admitted the direction
of others conceits then mine. As one that am as jealous of the rights
of my quiet, as of those of my autthority; I would rather have it thus.
Where leaving me, they jumpe with my profession,
which is wholly to settle and containe me in my selfe. It is a pleasure
unto mee to bee disinteressed of other mens affayres, and disingaged from
their contentions. When sutes or businesses bee over-past, howsoever
it bee, I greeve little at them. For, the imagination that they must
necessarily happen so, puts mee out of paine; Behould them in the course
of the Universe, and enchained in Stoycall causes, Your fantazie cannot
by wish or imagination remoove one point of them, but the whole order of
things must reverse both what is past and what is to come. Moreover,
I hate that accidentall repentance which olde age brings with it.
Hee that in ancient times said be was beholden to yeares because they had
ridde him of voluptuousnesse, was not of mine opinion. I shall never
give impuissance thankes for any good it can do me: Nec tam aversa
unquam videbitur ab opere suo providential ut debilitas inter optima inventa
sit: 'Nor shall fore-sight ever bee seene so averse from hir owne worke,
that weakenesse bee found to bee one of the best things.' Our appetites
are rare in olde-age: the blowe overpassed, a deepe saciety seazeth upon
us: therein see no conscience. Fretting care and weakenesse imprint
in us an effeminate and drowzie vertue.
Wee must not suffer our selves so fully to bee carried into naturall
alterations as to corrupt or adulterate our judgement by them. Youth
and pleasure have not heretofore prevailed so much over me, but I could
ever (even in the midst of sensualities) discerne the ugly face of sinne:
nor can the distaste which yeares mee from discerning that of voluptuousnesse
in in vice. Now I am no longer in it, I judge of it as if I were
still there. I who lively and attentively examine my reason, finde
it to be the same that possessed me in my most dissolute
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
and licentious age; unlesse, perhaps, they being enfeebled and empayred
by yeares, doe make some difference: And finde, that what delight
it refuseth to affoorde me in regarde of my bodilie health, it would no
more denie mee, then in times past, for the health of my soule. To
see it out of co-mb'ate, I holde it not the more couragious. My temptations
are so mortified and crazed as they are not worthy of it's oppositions:
holding but my hand before me, I becalme them. Should one present
that former concupiscence unto it, I feare it would be of lesse power to
sustaine it than heretofore it hath beene. I see in it, by it selfe
no increase of judgement, nor accesse of brightnesse; what it now judgeth,
it did then. Wherefore if there be any amendment, 'tis but diseased.
Oh miserable kinde of remedie to bee beholden unto sicknesse for our health.
It is not for our mishap, but for the good successe of our judgement to
performe this office. Crosses and afflictions make me doe nothing
but curse them. They are for people that cannot bee awaked but by
the whip, the course of my reason is the nimbler in prosperity. It
is much more distracted and busied in the digesting of mischiefes than
of delights. I see much clearer in faire weather. Health forewarneth
me as with more pleasure, so to better purpose than sicknesse. I approached
the nearest I could unto amendment and regularity, when I should have enjoyed
the same; I should be ashamed and vexed that the misery and mishap of my
old age could exceede the health, attention, and vigor of my youth: and
that I should be esteemed, not for what I have beene, but for what I am
leaft to be. The happy life (in my opinion), not (as said Antisthenes)
the happy death+, is
it that makes mans happinesse in this world.
I have not preposterously busied my selfe to tie the taile of a Philosopher
unto the head and bodie of a varlet: nor that this paultrie end should
disavow and belie the fairest, soundest, and longest part of my life.
I will present my selfe and make a generall muster of
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my whole, every where uniformally. Were I to live againe it should-be
as I have already lived. I neither deplore what is past, nor dread
what is to come: and if I be not deceived, the inward parts have neerely
resembled the outward.
It is one of the chiefest points wherein I am beholden to fortune,
that in the course of my bodies estate, each thing hath beene carried in
season. I have seene the leaves, the blossomes, and the fruit; and
now see the drooping and withering of it. Happily, because naturally.
I beare my present miseries the more gently because they are in season,
and with greater favour make me remember the long bappinesse of my former
life. In like manner my discretion may well bee of like proportion in the
one and the other time: but sure it was of much more performance, and had
a better grace, being fresh, jolly, and full of spirit, then now that it
is worne, decrepite, and toylesome.
I therefore renounce these casuall and dolourous reformations.
God must touch our heartes; our conscience must amende of it selfe, and
not by re-inforcement of our reason, nor by the enfeebling of our appetites.
Voluptuousnesse in it selfe is neither pale nor discoloured to bee discerned
by bleare and troubled eyes. Wee should affect temperance and chastity
for it selfe, and for Gods cause, who hath ordained them unto us: that
which Catars bestow upon us, and which I am beholden to my chollicke, is
for neither temperance nor chastitie: A man cannot boast of contemning
or combating sensuality if hee see her not, or know not her grace, her
force, and most attractive beauties. I know them both, and therefore
may speake it. But mee thinks our soules in age are subject unto
more importunate diseases and imperfections then they are in youth.
I said so, being young, when my beardlesse chinne was upbraided me; and
I say it againe now that my gray beard gives me authority. We entitle
wisdome, the frowardnesse of our humours, and the distaste of present things;
but in truth wee abandon not vices so much as we change them; and in mine
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
opinion for the worse. Besides a sillie and ruinous pride, combersome
tattle, wayward and unsotiable humours, superstition, and a ridiculous
carking for wealth, when the use of it is well-nigh lost, I finde the more
envie, injustice, and leaudnesse in it. It sets more wrinckles in
our minds then on our foreheads: nor are there any spirits, or very rare
ones, which in growing old taste not sowrely and mustily. Man marcheth
entirely towards his increase and decrease. View but the wisedome
of Socrates, and divers circumstances of his condemnation. I dare
say he something lent himselfe unto it by prevarication of purpose: being
so neere, and at the age of seventy, to endure the benumming of his spirits
richest pace and the dimming of his accustomed brightnesse, What Metamorphoses
have I seene it daily make in divers of mine acquaintances.
It is a powerfull maladie which naturally and imperceptibly glideth
into us: There is required great provision of study, heed, and precaution
to avoid the imperfections wherewith it chargeth us; or at least to weaken
their further progresse. I finde that notwithstanding all my entrenchings,
by little and little it getteth ground upon me: I hold out as long
as I can, but know not whither at length it will bring me. Happe
what happe will, I am pleased the world know from what height I tumbled.
CHAPTER 3.III+ OF THREE COMMERCES OR SOCIETIES
+
WE must not cleave so fast unto our humours and dispositions.
Our chiefest sufficiency is to apply our selves to divers fashions.
It is a being, but not a life, to bee tied and bound by necessity to one
onely course. The goodliest mindes are those that have most variety
and pliablenesse in them. Behold an honourable testimony of old Cato.
Huic versatile ingenium sic pariter ad omnia fuit, ut natum ad id unum
diceres, quodcunque ageret:/1
'He had a wit so turneable for all things
alike, as one would say hee had beene onely borne for that hee went about
to do.' Were I to dresse my selfe after mine owne manner, there is no fashion
so good whereto I would be so affected or tied as not to know how to leave
and loose it. Life is a motion unequall, irregular, and multiforme.
It is not to bee the friend (lesse the master) but the slave of ones selfe
to follow uncessantly, and bee so addicted to his inclinations, as hee
cannot stray from them, nor wrest them. This I say now, as being
extreamly pestred with the importunity of my mind, forsomuch as shee cannot
ammuse her selfe, but whereon it is busied; nor employ it selfe, but bent
and whole. How light soever the subject is one gives it, it willingly
amplifiethl and wire-drawes the same, even unto the highest pitch of toile.
It's idlenesse is therefore a painefull trade unto mee, and offensive to
my health. Most wits have neede of extravagant stuffe, to un-benumme
and exercise themselves: mine hath neede of it rather to settle and continue
it selfe.
-----
1 LIV. Bel. Mac. 1. ix.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Vitia otii negotio discutienda sunt:/1 'The vices of idlenesse
should be shaken off with businesse.' For, the most laborious care and
principall studie of it is to studie it selfe. Bookes are one of
those businesses that seduce it from studie. At the first thoughts
that present themselves, it rouzeth up and makes proofe of all the vigour
it hath. It exerciseth it's function sometimes toward force, sometimes
towards order and comelinesse, it rangeth, moderates and fortifieth.
It hath of it selfe to awaken the faculties of it: Nature having
given it, as unto all other, matter of it's owne for advantage, subjects
fit enough whereon to devise and determine. Meditation is a large
and powerfull study to such as vigorously can taste and employ themselves
therein. I had rather forge then furnish my minde.
There is no office or occupation either weaker
or stronger then that of entertaining of ones thoughts according to the
mind, whatsoever it be. The greatest make it their vacation, Quibus
vivere est cogitate, to whom it is all one to live and to meditate.
Nature hath also favoured it with this priviledge, that there is nothing
we can do so long, nor action whereto we give our selves more ordinarily
and easily. It is the worke of Gods (saith Aristotle) whence both their
happinesse and ours proceedeth. Reading serves mee especially to
awake my conceit by divers objects: to busie my judgement, not my memory.
Few entertainements then stay mee without vigour and force. 'Tis true thatcourtesie+
and beautie possesse mee as much or more then waight and depth. And
because I slumber in all other communications, and lend but the superficiall
parts of my attention unto them, it often befalleth mee in such kinde of
weake and absurd discourses (discourses of countenance) to blurt out and
answer ridiculous toies and fond absurdities, unworthy a childe; or wilfully
to hold my Peace; therewithall more foolishly and incivilly. I have
a kind of raving fancie-full behaviour, that retireth mee
-----
1 SEN. Epist. lvi.
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into my selfe; and on the other side, a grosse and childish ignorance
of many ordinary things; by meanes of which two qualities, I have in my
daies committed five or six as sottish trickes as any one whosoever; which
to my derogation may bee reported. But to follow my purpose, this
harsh complexion of mine makes me mee nice in conversing with men (whom
I must picke and cull out for the nonce) and unfit for common actions.
Wee live and negotiate with the people: If their behaviour importune
us, if wee disdaine to lend our selves to base and vulgar spirits, which
often are as regular as those of a finer mould; and all wisedome is unsavourie
that is not conformed to common insipience. Wee are no longer to
inter-meddle either with our or other mens affaires; and both publicke
and private forsake such kinde of people.
The least wrested and most naturall proceedings
of our minde are the fairest; the best occupations, those which are least
forced. Good God, how good an office doth wisedome unto those whose
desires she squareth according to their power! There is no science
more profitable. As one may, was the burden and favoured saying of Socrates:
A sentence of great substance. We must addresse and stay our desires
to things most easie and neerest. Is it not a fond-peevish humour
in mee to disagree from a thousand to whom my fortune joineth mee, without
whom I cannot live, to adhere unto one or two that are out of my commerce
and conversion; or rather to a fantasticall conceit, or fanciefull desire,
for a thing I cannot obtaine? My soft behaviours and milde manners,
enemies to all sharpenesse and foes to all bitternesse, may easily have
discharged mee from envie and contention: To bee beloved, I say not,
but not to be hated, never did man give more occasion. But the coldnesse
of my conversation hath with reason robd mee of the good will of many;
which may bee excused if they interpret the same to other or worse sense.
I am most capable of getting rare amities, and continuing exquisite acquaintances.
For so as with so greedie hunger I snatch at
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such acquaintances as answer my taste and square with my humour.
I so greedily produce and headlong cast my selfe upon them, that I do not
easily misse to cleave unto them, and where I light on, to make a steady
impression; I have often made happie and successefull trial of it.
In vulgar worldly friendships, I am somewhat
cold and barren: for my proceeding is not naturall, if not unresisted and
with hoised-full sailes. Moreover, my fortune having enured and allured
mee, even from my infancie, to one sole singular and perfect amitie, hath
verily, in some sort, distasted mee from others: and over deeply imprinted
in my fantasies that it is a beast sociable and for companies and not of
troupe, as said an ancient writer. So that it is naturally a paine
unto mee to communicate my selfe by halves and with modification: and that
servile or suspicious wisedome which in the conversation of these numerous
and imperfect amities, is ordained and proposed unto us: Prescribed
in these dayes especially, wherein one cannot speake of the world but dangerously
or falsely. Yet I see, that who (as I do) makes for his ende, the
commodities of his life (I meane essentiall commodities) must avoide as
a plague these difficulties and quaintnesse of humour.
I should commend a high-raysed minde, that
could both bende and discharge it selfe: that where-ever hir fortune might
transport hir, shee might continue constant: that could discourse with
hir neighbours of all matters, as of hir building, of hir bunting and of
any quarrell; and entertaine with delight a Carpenter or a Gardiner.
I envie those which can be familiar with the meanest of their followers,
and vouchsafe to contract friendship and frame discourse with their owne
servants. Nor do I like the advise of Plato, ever to speake imperiously
unto our attendants, without blithnesse and sance any familiarity: be it
to men or women servants. For, besides my reason, it is inhumanity
and injustice to attribute so much unto that prerogative of fortune and
the governement: where lesse inequality is permitted betweene the servant
and master, is in my
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conceite the more indifferent. Some other study to rouze and raise
their minde, but I to abase and prostrate mine: it is not faulty but in
extension. Narras et genus Aeaci, Et pugnata sacro bella sub Ilio.
Quo Chium pretio eadum Mercemur, quis aquam temperet ignibus, Quo praebente
domum, et quota Pelignis caream frigoribus, taces./1 You tell of Aeacus
the pedegree - The warres at sacred Troye you do display. You tell
not at what price a hogs-head we May buy of the best Wine; who shall allaye
Wine-fire with water, at whose house to holde. At what a-clock I
may be kept from colde.
Even as the Lacedemonian valour had neede
of moderation and of sweet and pleasing sounds of Flutes, to flatter and
allay it in time of warre, least it should runne head-long into rashnesse
and fury: whereas all other nations use commonly pearcing sounds and strong
shouts, which violently excite and enflame their souldiers courage: so
thinke I (against ordinary custome) that in the employment of our spirit,
wee have for the most part more need of leade then wings; of coldnesse
and quiet, then of heate and agitation. Above all, in my mind, the
onely way to play the foole well is to seeme wise among fooles: to speake
as though ones tongue were ever bent to Favelar' in punta di forchetta:/2
'To syllabize or speake minsingly.' One must lend himself unto those hee
is with, and sometimes affect ignorance. Set force and subtiltie
aside; In common employments 'tis enough to reserve order; dragge your
selfe even close to the ground, they will have it so. The learned
stumble willingly on this blocke: making continuall muster and open show
of their skill, and dispersing their bookes abroade: And have in
these dayes so filled the closets, and possessed the eares of Ladyes, that
if they retaine not their substance, at
-----
1 HOR. Car. 1. ii. 3, Od. xix. 2 Italian proverb.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
least they have their countenance: using in all sorts of discourse and
subject how base or popular soever, a newe, an affected and learned fashion
of speaking and writing.
Hoc sermone pavent, hoc iram, gaudia, curas,
Hoc cuncta effundunt animi secreta, quid ultra?
Concumbunt docte./1
They in this language feare, in this they fashion
Their joyes, their cares, their rage, their inward passion;
What more? they learned are in copulation.
And alledge Plato and Saint Thomas for things, which the first man they
meete would decide as well, and stand for as good a witnesse. Such
learning as could not enter into their minde, hath staid on their tongues.{PlainDealer+}
If the well-borne will give any credit unto me, they shall be pleased to
make their own and naturall riches to prevaile and be of worth: They
hide and shroud their formes under forraine and borrowed beauties:
It is great simplicity for any body to smoother and conceale his owne brightnesse,
to shine with a borrowed light: They are buried and entombed under
the Arte of CAPSVLA TOTAE. It is because they do not sufficiently
know themselves: the world containes nothing of more beauty: It is
for them to honour artes, and to beautifie embellishment. What neede
they more then to live beloved and honoured: They have, and know
but too much in that matter. There needes but a little rouzing and
enflaming of the faculties that are in them.
When I see them medling with Rhetoricke, with
Law, and with Logicke, and such like trash, so vaine and unprofitable for
their use, I enter into feare that those who advise them to such things,
doe it that they may have more law to governe them under that pretence.
For what other excuse can I devise for them? It is sufficient, that
without us, they may frame, or roule the grace of their eyes, unto cheerefulnesse,
unto severity, and unto mildnesse: and season a 'No' with
-----
1 JUVEN. Sat. vi. 189.
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frowardnesse, with doubt and with favour; and require not an interpreter
in discourses made for their service. With this learning they command
without controule, and over-rule both Regents and Schooles. Yet if
it offend them to yeeld us any preheminence, and would for curiosity sake
have part in bookes also: Poesie is a study fit for their purpose,
being a wanton, ammusing, subtill, disguised, and pratling Arte; all in
delight, all in shew, like to them-selves. They may also select divers
commodities out of History. In Morall Philosopby they may take the discourses
which enable them to judge of our humours, to censure our conditions, and
to avoid our guiles and treacheries; to temper the rashnesse of their owne
desires, to husband their liberty: lengthen the delights of life, gently
to beare the inconstancy of a servant, the peevishnesse of rudenesse of
a husband, the importunity of yeares, the unwelcomnesse of wrinkles, and
such like minde-troubling accidents. Loe here the most and greatest
share of learning I would assigne them. There are some particular,
retired and close dispositions.
My essentiall forme is fit for communication
and proper for production: I am all outward and in apparance; borne
for society and unto friendship. The solitude I love and commend
is especially but to retire my affections and redeeme my thoughts unto
my selfe to restraine and close up, not my steppes, but my desires and
my cares, resigning all forraigne solicitude and trouble, and mortally
shunning all manner of servitude and obligation; and not so much the throng
of men as the importunity of affaires. Locall solitarinesse (to say
trueth) doth rather extend and enlarge me outwardly; I give my selfe to
State-businesse and to the world more willingly when I am all alone.
At the court, and in presse of people, I close and slinke into mine owne
skinne. Assemblies thrust mee againe into my selfe. And I never
entertaine my selfe so fondly, so licentiously, and so particularly, as
in places of respect and ceremonious discretion. Our follies make
mee not laugh, but our wisdomes doe. Of mine owne
<Mont3-44>
MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
complexion, I am no enemy to the agitations and stirrings of our Courts:
I have there past great part of my life and am inured to bee merry in great
assemblies so it be by intermission, and sutable to my humour.
But this tendernesse and coinesse of judgement
(whereof I speake) doth perforce tie me unto solitarinesse. Yea even
in mine owne house, in the middest of a numerous family and most frequented
houses, I see people more then a good many, but seldome such as I love
to converse or communicate withall. And there I reserve, both for
my selfe and others, an unaccustomed liberty; making truce with ceremonies,
assistance, and invitings, and such other troublesome ordinances of our
courtesies (O servile custome and importunate manner) there every man demeaneth
himselfe as hee pleaseth, and entertaineth what his thoughts affect: whereas
I keepe my selfe silent, meditating and close, without offence to my guests
or friends.
The men whose familiarity and society I hunt
after, are those which are called honest, vertuous, and sufficient: the
image of whom doth distaste and divert mee from others. It is (being
rightly taken) the rarest of our formes; and a forme or fashion chiefly
due unto nature.
The end or scope of this commerce is principally
and simply familiarity, conference and frequentation: the exercise of mindes,
without other fruite. In our discourses all subjects are alike to
me: I care not though they want either waight or depth; grace and
pertinency are never wanting; all therein is tainted with a ripe and constant
udgement, and commixt with goodnesse, liberty, cheerefulnesse, and kindnesse.
It is not onely in the subject of Laws and affaires of Princes, that our
spirit sheweth it's beauties grace and vigor: It sheweth them as
much in private conferences. I know my people by their very silence
and smyling, and peradventure discover them better at a Table then sitting
in serious counsell.
Hippomacus said, hee discerned good Wrestlers
but
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by seeing them march through a Street. If learning vouchsafe to
step into our talke, shee shall not be refused; yet must not shee bee sterne,
mastring, imperious and importunate, as commonly shee is; but assistant
and docile of hirselfe. {PlainDealer+}
Therein wee seeke for nothing but recreation and pastime: when we shall
looke to be instructed, taught and resolved, we will go seeke and sue to
hir in hir throne. Let hir if she please keepe from us at that time;
for, as commodious and pleasing as shee is. I presume that for a
neede we could spare hir presence, and doe our businesse well enough without
hir. Wits well borne, soundly bred and exercised in the practise
and commerce of men, become gracious and plausible of themselves. {sprezzatura+}
Arte is but the Checke-roule and Register of the Productions uttered and
conceites produced by them.
The company of faire and society of honest women is likewise a sweet
commerce for me: Nam nos quoque oculos eruditos habemus:/1 'For
we also have learned eyes.' If the minde have not so much to solace hirselfe
as in the former, the corporall sences, whose part is more in the second,
bring it to a proportion neere unto the other: although in mine opinion
not equall. But it is a society wherein it behooveth a man somewhat
to stand upon his guard: and especially those that are of a strong constitution,
and whose body can do much, as in me. In my youth I heated my selfe
therein and was very violent: and indured all the rages and furious assaults
which Poets say happen to those who, without order or discretion, abandon
them-selves over-loosly and riotously unto it. True it is indeed,
that the same lash hath since stood me instead of an instruction.
Quicunque Argolico de classe Capharea fugit,
Semper ab Euboicis vela retorquet aquis./2
Greeke Sailers that Capharean Rockes did fly
From the Euboean Seas their sailes still ply.
-----
1 CIC. Parad. 2 OVID. Trist. 1. i. El. i. 83.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
It is folly to fasten all ones thoughts upon it, and with a furious
and indiscret affection to engage himselfe unto it: But on the otherside,
to meddle with it without love or bond of affection, as Comedians do, to
play a common part of age and manners, without ought of their owne but
bare-conned words, is verily a provision for ones safety: and yet but a
cowardly one; as is that of him who would forgoe his
honour+, his profit or his pleasure, for feare of danger; for it
is certaine that the practisers of such courses cannot hope for any fruite
able to moove or satisfie a worthy minde.
One must very earnestly have desired that
whereof he would enjoy an absolute delight. I meane, though fortune
should unjustly favour their intention: which often hapneth, because there
is no woman, how deformed or unhandsome soever, but thinkes hir selfe lovely,
amiable and praiseworthy, either for hir age, hir haire or gate (for there
are generally no more faire then foule ones): and the Brachmanian maides
wanting other commendations, by Proclamation for that purpose, made shew
of their matrimoniall parts unto the people assembled, to see if thereby
at least they might get them husbands. By consequence there is not
one of them, but upon the first oath one maketh to serve her, will very
easily be perswaded to thinke well of her selfe. Now this common
treason and ordinary protestations of men in these dayes must needs produce
the effects experience already discovereth: which is, that either they
joyne together, and cast away themselves on themselves to avoid us, or
on their side follow also the example wee give them; acting their part
of the play without passion, without care, and without love, lending themselves
to this entercourse: Neque affectui suo, aut alieno obnoxiae: 'Neither
liable to their own nor other folkes affection.' Thinking, according to
Lysias perswasions in Plato, they may so much the more profitably and commodiously
yield unto us, by how much lesse we love them: Wherein it will happen
as in Comedies, the spectators shall have as much or
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more pleasure as the Comedians. For my part, I no more acknowledge
Venus without Cupid, then a mother-hood without an off-spring: They
are things which enterlend and enter-owe one another their essence.
Thus doth this cozening rebound on him that useth it, and as it cost him
little, so gets he not much by it. Those which made
Venus+ a goddesse, have respected that her principall beautie was incorporeall
and spirituall. But shee whom these kinde of people hunt after is
not so much as humane, nor also brutall; but such as wilde beasts would
not have her so filthy and terrestriall. We see that imagination enflames
them, and desire or lust urgeth them, before the body: We see in
one and other sex, even in whole heards, choise and distinctions in their
affections, and amongst themselves, acquaintances of long continued good-will
and liking: And even those to whom age denieth bodily strength, doe
yet bray, neigh, roare, skip and wince for
love+. Before the deed we see them full of hope and heat; and when
the body hath plaid his part, even tickle and tingle themselves with the
sweetenesse of that remembrance: some of them swell with pride at parting
from it, others all weary and glutted, ring out songs of glee and triumph.
Who makes no more of it but to discharge his body of some naturall necessitie,
hath no cause to trouble others with so curious a preparation. It
is no food for a greedy and clownish hunger. As one that would not
be accounted better than I am, thus much I will display of my youths wanton-errors:
Not onely for the danger of ones health that followes that game (yet could
I not avoid two, although light and cursorie assaults) but also for contempt,
I have not much beene given to mercenarie and common acquaintances.
I have coveted to set an edge on that sensuall pleasure by difficultie,
by desire, and for some glory. And liked Tiberius his fashions, who
in his amours was swaied as much by modesty and noblenesse as by any other
quality. And Floras humour, who would Prostitute her selfe to none
worse then Dictators, Consuls, or Censors, and tooke delight
<Mont3-48>MONTRAIGNE'S ESSAYES
in the dignitie and greatnesse of her lovers, doth somewhat sute with
mine. Surely glittering pearles and silken cloathes adde some-thing
unto it, and so doe titles, nobilitie and a worthie traine. Besides
which, I made high esteeme of the minde, yet so as the body might not justly
be found fault withall: For, to speake my conscience, if either of
the two beauties were necessarily to be wanting, I would rather have chosen
to want the mentall, whose use is to be emploied in better things.
But in the subject of love, a subject that chiefly hath reference unto
the two senses of seeing and touching, some thing may be done without the
graces of the minde, but little or nothing without the corporall.
Beautie is the true availefull advantage of women: It is so peculiarly
theirs, that ours, though it require some features and differeni allurements,
is not in her right kue or true bias, unlesse confused with theirs: childish
and beardlesse. It is reported that such as serve the great Turke under
the title of beautie (whereof the number is infinite) are dismissed at
furthest when they once come to the age of two and twenty yeeres.
Discourse, discretion, together with the offices of true
amitie+, are better found amongst men: and therefore governe they
the worlds affaires. These two commerces or societies are accidentall
and depending of others; the one is troublesome and tedious for it's raritie,
the other withers with old age: nor could they have sufficiently provided
for my lives necessities. That of bookes, which is the third, is
much more solid-sure and much more ours, some other advantages it yeeldeth
to the two former, but hath for her share constancie and the facilite of
her service. This accosteth and secondeth all my course, and every
where assisteth me: It comforts me in age and solaceth me in solitarinesse;
It easeth mee of the burthen of a weary- some sloth and at all times rids
me of tedious companies: it abateth the edge of fretting sorrow, on condition
it be not extreme and over-insolent. To divert me from any importunate
imagination or insinuating conceit, there is no better way then to have
recourse unto
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books; with ease they allure mee to them, and with facility they remoove
them all. And though they perceive I neither frequent nor seeke them,
but wanting other more essential, lively, and more naturall commodities,
they never mutinie or murmur at mee; but still entertaine mee with one
and selfe-same visage. He may well walke a foote that leades his
horse by the bridle, saith the proverbe. And our James king of Naples
and Sicili, being faire, young, healthy and in good plight, caused himselfe
to be caried abroad in a plaine wagon or skreene, lying upon an homely
pillow of course feathers, cloathed in a sute of home spunne gray, and
a bonet of the same, yet royally attended on by a gallant troupe of Nobles,
of Litters, Coches, and of all sorts of choice led-horses, a number of
gentlemen and officers, represented a tender and wavering austerity.
The sicke man is not to be moaned that hath his health in his sleeve.
In the experience and use of this sentence, which is most true, consisteth
all the commoditie I reape of bookes. In effect I make no other use
of them then those who know them not. I enjoy them, as a miser doth
his gold; to know that I may enjoy them when I list, my mind is setled
and satisfied with the right of possession. I never travel without
bookes, nor in peace nor in warre: yet doe I passe many dayes and moneths
without using them. It shall be anon, say I, or to-morrow, or when
I please; in the meane while the time runnes away, and passeth withont
hurting me. For it is wonderfull what repose I take, and how I continue
in this consideration, that they are at my elbow to delight me when time
shall serve; and in acknowledging what assistance they give unto my life.
This is the best munition I have found in this humane peregrination, and
I extremely bewaile those men of understanding that want the same.
I accept with better will all other kindes of ammusements, how slight soever,
forsomuch as this cannot faile me. At home I betake me somewhat the
oftner to my library, whence all at once I command and survey all my houshold.
It is seated in the chiefe
<Mont3-50>
MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
entrie of my house, thence I behold under me my garden, my base court,
my yard, and looke even into most roomes of my house. There without
order, without method, and by peece-meales I turne over and ransacke, now
one booke and now another. Sometimes I muse and rave; and walking
up and downe I endight and enregister these my humours, these my conceits.
It is placed on the third storie of a tower. The lowermost is my
Chapell; the second a chamber with other lodgings, where; I often lie,
because I would be alone. Above it is a great ward-robe. It was in
times past the most unprofitable place of all my house. There I pass
the greatest part of my lives dayes, and weare out most houres of the day.
I am never there a nights. Next unto it is a handsome neat cabinet,
able and large enough to receive fire in winter, and very pleasantly windowen.
And if I feared not care more then cost (care which drives and diverts
me from all businesse), I might easily joyne a convenient gallerie of a
hundred paces long and twelve broad on each side of it, and upon one floore;
having already, for some other purpose, found all the walles raised unto
a convenient height. Each retired place requireth a walke.
My thoughts are prone to sleepe if I sit long. My minde goes not
alone, as if ledges did moove it. Those that studie without bookes
are all in the same case. The forme of it is round, and hath no flat
side, but what serveth for my table and chaire: In which bending
or circling manner, at one looke it offereth me the full sight of all my
books, set round about upon shelves or desks, five rancks one upon another.
It hath three bay-windowes of a farre-extending, rich and unresisted prospect,
and is in diameter sixteene paces void. In winter I am lesse continually
there: for my house (as the name of it importeth) is pearched upon an over-pearing
hillocke; and hath no part more subject to all wethers then this: which
pleaseth me the more, both because the accesse unto it is somwhat troublesome
and remote, and for the benefit of the exercise which is to be respected;
and that I may the better seclude
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my selfe from companies and keepe incrochers from me: There is
MY seat, that is my throne. I endevour to make my rule therein absolute,
and to sequester that only corner from the communitie of wife, of children
and of acquaintance. Else-where I have but a verball authoritie,
of confused essence. Miserable in my minde is he who in his owne
home hath no where to be to himselfe; where hee may particularly court,
and at his pleasure hide or with-draw selfe. Ambition paieth her
followers well to keepe them still in open view, as a statue in some conspicuous
place. Magna servitus est magna fortuna:/1 'A great fortune is a
great bondage.' They cannot bee private so much as at their privie.
I have deemed nothing so rude in the austerity of the life which our Church-men
affect as that in some of their companies they institute a perpetuall societie
of place, and a numerous assistance amongst them in anything they doe.
And deeme it somewhat more tolerable to be ever alone, then never be able
to be so. If any say to me, It is a kind of vilifying the Muses to use
them only for sport and recreation, he wots not as I do, what worth, pleasure,
sport and passe-time is of: I had well nigh termed all other ends
rediculous. I live from hand to mouth, and, with reverence be it spoken,
I live but to my selfe: there end all my designes. Being young I
studied for ostentation ; then a little to enable my selfe and become wiser;
now for delight and recreation, never for gaine. A vaine conceit
and lavish humour I had after this kind of stuffe; not only to provide
for my need, but somewhat further to adorne and embellish my selfe withall:
I have since partlie left it. Bookes have and containe divers peasing qualities
to those that can duly choose them. But no good without paines; no
Roses with out prickles. It is a pleasure not absolutely pure and
neate; no more then all others; it hath his inconveniences attending on
it, and sometimes waighty ones: The minde is therein exercised, but
the body (the care whereof I have not yet forgotten) remaineth
-----
1 SEN. Cons. ad Pel. c. xxvi. p.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
there-whilst without action, and is wasted, and ensorrowed. I
know no excesse more hurtfull for me, nor more to be avoided by me, in
this declining age. Loe here my three most favoured and particular
employments. I speake not of those I owe of dutie to the world.
CHAPTER 3.IV+ OF DIVERTING AND DIVERSIONS
+
I WAS once employed in comforting of a truely-afflicted Ladie: the greatest
part of their discourses are artificial and ceremonious,
Uberibus semper lachrimis, semperque paratis,
In statione sua, atque expectantibus illam
Quo jubeat manare modo/1
With plenteous teares; still readie in their stand,
Expecting still their Mistresses commaund,
How they must flow, when they must goe.
Men do but ill in opposing themselves against this passion; for opposition
doth but incense and engage them more to sorrow and quietnesse: The
disease is exasperated by the jealousie of dchate. In matters of
common discourse we see that what I have spoken without heede or care,
if one come to contest with me about it, I stifly maintaine and make good
mine owne, much more if it be a thing wherein I am interessed. Besides,
in so dooing you enter but rudely into your matter, whereas a Physitions
first entertainment of his patient should be gracious, cheereful, and pleasing.
An uglie and froward Physition wrought never any good effect. On
the contrary then, we must at first assist and smoothe their laments, and
witnesse some approbation and excuse thereof. By which meanes you
get credit to go on, and by an easie and insensible inclination you fall
into more firme and serious discourses and fit for their amendment.
But I, who desired chiefly to gull the assistants, that had their eyes
cast on me, meant to salve their mischiefe: I
-----
JUVEN. Sat. vi. 273. <Mont3-53>
<Mont3-54>MONTAIFNE'S ESSAYES
verily finde by experience that I have but an ill and unfruitfull vaine
to perswade. I present my reasons either too sharpe, or too drie,
or too stirringly, or too carelesly. {PlainDealer+}
After I had for a while applyed myself to hir torment, I attempted not
to cure it by strong and lively reasons: either because I want them, or
because I suppose I might otherwise effect my purpose the better.
Nor did I cull out the severall fashions of comfort prescribed by philosophy:
That the thing lamented is not ill, as Cleanthes: or but a little ill,
as the Peripatetikes: that to lament is neither just nor commendable, as
Chrysippus: Nor this Epicurus, most agreeing with my manner, to translate
the conceit of yrkesome into delightsome things: Nor to make a loade
of all this masse, dispensing the same, as one hath occasion, as Cicero.
But faire and softly declining our discourses, and by degrees bending them
unto subjects more neare, then a little more remote, even as shee more
or lesse enclined to mee. I unperceivably remooved those dolefull
humours from hir: so that as long as I was with her, so long I kept her
in cheerefull countenance and untroubled fashion, wherein I used diversion.
Those which in the same service succeeded mee, found her no whit amended;
the reason was, I had not yet driven my wedge to the roote. I have
peradventure else where glaunced at some kindes of publike diversions.
And the militairie customes used by Pericles in the Peloponesian warre,
and a thousand others else where, to divert or withdrawe the armie of an
enemie from their owne country, is too frequent in histories. It
was an ingenious diverting wherewith the Lord of Himbercourt saved both
himself and others in the towne of Liege, into which the Duke of Burgondie,
who beleagred the same, had caused him to enter, to performe the covenante
of their accorded yeelding. The inhabitants thereof, to provide for
it, assembled by night, and began to mutinie against their former agreement,
determining upon this advantage to set upon the Negotiators, now in their
power. Hee perceiving their intent, and noise of this shoure readie
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to fall upon him, and the danger his lodging was in, forth-with rushed
out upon them two cittizens (whereof he had divers with him furnished with
most plausible and new offers to be propounded to their counsell but indeed
forged at that instant to serve his turne withall, and to ammuse them.
These two stayes the first approaching storme, and carryed this incensed
Hydra-headed- monster multitude backe to the townehouse, to heare their
charge, and accordingly to determine of it. The conclusion was short,
when loe a second tempest came rushing on, more furiously inraged then
the former; to whom he immediately dispatched foure new and semblable intercessors,
with protestations that now they were in earnest to propose and declare
new and farre more ample conditions unto them, wholly to their content
and satisfaction; whereby this disordered rout was againe drawne to their
Conclave and senate-house. In summe, he by such a dispensation of
amusements, diverting their headlong fury, and dissipating the same with
vaine and frivolous consultations, at length lulled them into so secure
a sleep, that he gained the day, which was his chiefest drift and only
aymed scope. This other storie is also of the same predicament. Atalanta,
a maid of rare surpassing beautie and of a wondrous strange disposition,
to ridde herselfe from the importunate pursuit of a thousand amorous sutors,
who sollicited her for mariagr prescribed this law unto them, that she
would accept of him that should equall her in running; on condition those
she shold overcome might lose their lives. Some there were found
who deemed this prize worthie the hazard, and who incurred the penaltie
of so cruell a match. Hippomenes comming to make his assay after
the rest, addressed himself to the divine protectress of all amorous delights,
earnestly invoking her assistance, who gently listening to his hearty prayers,
furnished him with three golden Apples, and taught him how to use them.
The scope of the race being plaine, according as Hippomenes perceived his
swift-footed mistresse to approch his heeles, he let fall (as
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
at unawares) one of his Apples: the heedlesse maiden gazing and wondring
at the alluring beautie of it, failed not to turne and take it up.
Obstupuit virgo, nitidique cupidine pomi,
Dectinat cursus, aurumque volubile tollit./1
The maid amaz'd, desiring that faire gold,
Turnes by her course, takes it up as it rold.
The like he did (at his need) with the second and third, untill by this
disgressing and diverting, the goale and advantage of the course was judged
his. When Physitians cannot purge the rheume, they divert and remoove
the same unto some lesse dangerous part. I also perceive it to be
the most ordinary receit for the mindes diseases. Ab ducendus etiam
nonnunquam animus est ad aliena studia, sollicitudines, curas negotia:
Loci denique mutatione, tanquam aegroti non convalescentes, saepe curandus
est: 'Our minde also is sometimes to be diverted to other studies, cogitations,
cares, and businesses: and lastly to be cured by chance of place, as sicke
folkes use that otherwise cannot get health.' We make it seldome to shocke
mischiefes with direct resistance; we make it neither to beare nor to break,
but to shun or divert the blow. This other lesson is too high and
over-hard. It is for him of the first ranke meerely to staye upon
the thing it selfe, to examine and judge it. It belongth to one onely
Socrates, to accost and entertains
death+ with an undaunted ordinary visage, to become familiar and
play with it. He seeketh for no comfort out of this thing it selfe.
To die seemeth unto him a naturall and indifferent accident: thereon be
wishly fixeth his right, and thereon he resolveth without looking else
where. Hegesias his disciples, who with hunger starv'd themselves
to death, incensed thereunto with the perswading discourses of his lessons;
and that so thicke as King Ptlomey forbad him any longer to entertaine
his schoole with such murtherous precepts. Those considered not death in
it selfe they judged it not: This
-----
1 OVID. Met. 1. x. 666.
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was not the limit of their thoughts, they run on, and ayme at another
being. Those poore creatures we see on scaffolds, fraught with an
ardent devotion, therein to the uttermost of their power, employing al
their sences; their eares attentive to such instructions as Preachers give
them, their hands and eyes lift up towards heaven; their voice uttering
loud and earnest praiers: all with an eager and continuall ruth-mooving
motion; doe verily what in such an unavoydable exigent is commendable and
convenient. One may well commend their religion, but not properly
their constancy. They shunne the brunt, they divert their consideration
from death; as we use to dandle and busie children, when we would lance
them or let them bloud. I have seen some, who if by fortune they chanced
to cast their eyes towards the dreadful preparations of death which were
round about them, fal into trances, and with fury cast their cogitations
else where. Wee teech those that are to passe over some steep downefall
or dreadfull abisse, to shut or turne aside their eies. Subrius Flavius,
being by the appointment of Nero to be put to death by the hands of Niger,
both chiefe commanders in war: when he was brought unto the place where
the execution should be performed, seeing the pit Niger had caused to be
digged for him uneven and unhandsomely made: "Nor is this pit (quoth he
to the souldiers that stood about him) according to the true discipline
of war': and to Niger, who willed him to hold his head steddy, 'I wish
thou wouldest stricke as steddily.' He guessed right; for Nigers arme trembling,
he had divers blowes at him before be could strike it off. This man
seemed to have fixed his thoughts surely and directly on the matter.
He that dies in the fury of a battle, with weapons in band, thinkes not
then on death, and neither feeleth nor considereth the same: the heate
of the fight transports him. An honest man of my acquaintance, falling
downe in a single combate, and feeling himselfe stab'd nine or ten times
by his enemy, was called unto by the
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
by standers to call on God and remember his conscience: but be told
me after, that albeit those voices came unto his eares, they had no whit
mooved him, and that be thought on nothing but how to discharge and revenge
himselfe. In which combat be vanquished and slew his adversary.
He who brought E. Syllanus his condemnation,
did much for him, in that when he heard him answer he was prepared to die,
but not by the hands of base villaines, ran upon him with his souldiers
to force him; against whom obstinately defending himself, though unarmed,
with fists and feet, he was slaine in the conflict; dispercing with a ready
and rebellious choller the painefull sence of a long and fore-prepared
death to which he was assigned. We ever thinke on somewhat else:
either the hope of a better life doth settle and support us, or the confidence
of our childrens worth, or the future glory of our name, or the avoyding
of this lives mischieves, or the revenge banging over their heads that
have caused and procured our
death+:
Spero equident mediis, si quid pia numina possunt,
Supplcia hausurum scopulis, et nomine Dido
Saepe vocaturum.
Audiam, et haec manes veniet mihi fama sub imos./1
I hope, if powers of heaven have any power,
On rockes he shall be punisht, at that houre
He oft on Didoes name shall pittilesse exclaime,
This shall I heare, and this report,
Sall to me in my grave resort.
Xenophon sacrificed with a crowne on his head, when one came to tell him
the death of his sonne Gryllus in the battell of Mantinea. At the
first hearing whereof he cast his crowne to the ground, but finding upon
better relation how valiantly he died, he tooke it up and put it on his
head againe. Epicurus also at his death comforted himselfe in the eternitie
and worth of his writings. Omnes clari et nobilitati
-----
1 VIRG. Aen. 1. iv. 282, 387.
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labores fiunt tolerabiles:/1 'All glorious and honourable labours
are made tolerable.' And the same wound and the same toile (saith Xenophon)
toucheth not a Generall of an armie as it doth a private souldier.
Epaminondas tooke his death much the more cheerefully, being informed that
the victorie remained on his side. Haec sunt solatia, haec fomenta
summorum dolorum:/2 'These are the comforts, these the eases of most grievous
paines.' And such other like circumstances ammuse, divert and remoove us
from the consideration of the thing in it selfe. Even the arguments
of Philosophie, at each clappe wrest and turne the matter aside, and scarcely
wipe away the scabbe thereof. The first man of the first Philosophicall
Schoole and Superintendent of the rest, that great Zeno, against death
cried out: 'No evill is honourable; death is: therefore is death no evill.'
Against drunkennesse: 'No man entrusts his secrets to a drunkard; every
one to the wise: therefore the wise will not be drunke.' Is this to hit
the white? I love to see that these principall wits cannot rid themselves
of our company. As perfect and absolute as they would be, they are
still but grosse and simple men. Revenge+
is a sweet-pleasing passion, of a great and naturall impression:
I perceive it well, albeit I have made no trial of it. To divert
of late a young prince from it, I told him not, he was to offer the one
side of his cheeke to him who had strooke him on the other, in regard of
charity; nor displaid I unto him the tragicall events Poesie bestoweth
upon that passion. There I left him, and strove to make him taste
the beautie of a contrary image; the honour, the favour and the good-will
he should acquire by gentlenesse and goodnesse: I diverted him to ambition.
Behold how they deale in such cases. If your affection in love be
over-powerfull, disperse or dissipate the same, say they; and they say
true, for I have often, with profit, made triall of it: Breake it
by the vertue of severall desires, of which one may be Regent or chiefe
Master, if you
-----
1 CIC. Tusc. 1. ii. 1 Ibid.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
please; but for fear it should misuse or tyrannize you, weaken it with
dividing, and protract it with diverting the same.
Cum morosa vago singultiet inguine vena,
Conjicito humorem collectum in corpora quaeque./1
When raging lust excites a panting tumor,
To divers parts send that collected humor.
And looke to it in time, lest it vex you, if it have once seized on you.
Si non prima novis conturbes vulnera plagis,
Volgivagaque vagus Venere ante recentia cures./2
Unlesse the first wounds with new wounds you mix, And ranging cure the
fresh with common tricks. I was once neerely touched with a heavy
displeasure, according to my complexion, and yet more just then heavie:
I had peradventure lost my selfe in it, had I only relied upon mine owne
strength. Needing a vehement diversion to with-draw me from it.
I did by Arte and studie make my selfe a Lover, whereto my age assisted
me; love discharged and diverted me from the inconvenience which good-wil
and amitie had caused in me. So is it in all things else. A
sharpe conceit possesseth, and a violent imagination holdeth me; I finde
it a shorter course to alter and divert, then to tame and vanquish the
same: if I cannot substitute a contrary unto it, at least I present another
unto it. Change ever easeth, Varietie dissolveth, and shifting dissipateth.
If I cannot buckle with it, I flie from it: and in shunning it, I stray
and double from it. Shifting of place, exercise and company, I save
my selfe amid the throng of other studies and ammusements, where it loseth
my tracke, and so I slip away. Nature proceedeth thus, by the benefit
of inconstancy: for the iime it hath bestowed on us, as a sovereigns physition
of our passions chiefly obtaines his purpose that way, when fraughting
our conceits wifh other and different affaires, it dissolveth and corrupteth
that first apprehension, how forcible soever it be. A wise man
-----
1 PERS. Sat. vi. 73; LUCR. 1. iv. 1056. 2 LUCR. 1. iv. 1061.
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seeth little lesse his friend dying at the end of five and twenty yeeres,
then at the beginning of the first yeere; and according to Epicurus, nothing
lesse: for he asscribed no qualification of perplexities, either to the
foresight or antiquitie of them. But so many other cogitations crosse
this that it languisheth, and in the end groweth weary. To divert
the inclination of vulgar reports, Alcibiades cut off his faire dogs eares,
and so drove him into the market place; that giving this subject of prattle
to the people, they might not meddle with his other actions. I have
also seen some women, who to divert the opinions and conjectures of the
babling people, and to divert the fond tatling of some, did by counterfet
and dissembled affections overshadow and cloak true affections. Amongst
which I have noted some, who in dissembling and counterfeiting have suffered
themselves to be intrapped wittingly and in good earnest; quitting their
true and originall humour for the fained: of whom I learne that such as
finde themselves well seated are very fooles to yeelde unto that maske.
The common greetings, and publike entertainements being reserved unto that
set or appointed servant, beleeve there is little sufficiency in him, if
in the end he usurpe not your roome and send you unto his. This is
properly to cut out and stitch up a shoe for another to put on. A
little thing doth divert and turne us; for a small thing holds us.
We do not much respect subjects in grosse and alone: they are circumstances,
or small and superficiall images that moove and touch us; and vaine rindes
which rebound from subjects.
Folliculos ut nunc teretes aestate cicadas
Linquunt./1
As grasse-hoppers in summer now forsake
The round-grown sheafes, which they in time should take.
Plutarke himselfe bewailes his daughter by the fopperies of his childehood.
The remembrance of a farewell, of an action, of a particular grace, or
of a last
-----
1 LUCR. iv. 812.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
commendation, afflict us. Caesars gowne disquieted all Rome, which
his death had not done: The very sound of names, which gingleth in
our eares, as, 'Oh, my poore master; or 'Alas, my deare friend;' 'Oh, my
daughter.' When such like repetitions pinch me, and that I looke more nearely
to them, I finde them but grammaticall laments, the word and the tune wound
me. Even as Preachers exclamations do often move their auditory more then
their reasons: and as the pittifull groane of a beast yerneth us though
it be killed for our use: poising or entring there-whilest into the true
and massie essence of my subject.
His se stimulis dolor ipse lacessit./1
Griefe by these provocations,
Puts it selfe in more passions.
They are the foundations of our mourning. The conceipt of the stone,
namely in the yard, hath sometime for three or foure dayes together so
stopped my urine, and brought me so neare deaths-doore, that it had beene
meere folly in me to hope, nay to desire, to avoyd the same, considering
what cruell pangs that painefull plight did seaze me with. Oh how
cunning a master in the murthering arte or hangmans trade was that good
Emperour who caused malefactors yards to bee fast-tide, that so hee might
make them dye for want of pissing. In which ill plight finding my
selfe, I considered by how slight causes and frivolous objects, imagination
nourished in me the griefe to lose my life: with what atomes the consequence
and difficulty of my dislodging was contrived in my minde: to what idle
conceits and frivolous cogitations we give place in so waighty a case or
important affaire. A Dogge, a Horse, a Hare, a Glasse, and what not,
were corrupted in my losse. To others, their ambitious hopes, their purse,
their learning: In my minde as sottishly. I view death carelessely
when f behould it
-----
1 LUCAN. 1. ii. 42
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universally as the end of life. I overwhelme and contemne it thus
in great, by retayle it spoiles and proules me. The teares of a Lacquey,
the distributing of my cast sutes, the touch of a knowne hand, an ordinary
consolation, doth disconsolate and intender me. So do the plaints
and fables of trouble vex our mindes: and the wailing laments of Dydo and
Ariadne passionate even those that beleeve them not in Virgill nor in Catullus:
It is an argument of an obstinate nature and indurate hart, not to be moved
therewith: as for a wonder, they report of Polemon: who was not so much
as appaled at the biting of a Dog, who tooke away the braun or calfe of
his leg. And no wisedome goeth so far, as by the due judgement to
conceive aright the evident cause of a Sorrow and griefe, so lively and
wholly, that it suffer or admit no accession by presence, when eies and
eares have their share therein: parts that cannot be agitated but by vaine
accidents. Is it reason that even arts should serve their purposes, and
make their profit of our imbecillity and naturall blockishnes? An
Orator (saith Rhetorick) in the play of his pleading, shall be moved at
the sound of his owne voice, and by his fained agitations: and suffer himself
to be cozoned by the passion he representeth: imprinting a lively and essentiall
sorrow, by the jugling he acteth, to transferre it into the judges, whom
of the two it concerneth lesse: As the persons hired at our funerals
who to aide the ceremony of mourning make sale of their teares by measure,
and of their sorrow by waight. For although they strive to act it in a
borrowed forme, yet by habituating and ordering their countenance, it is
certaine they are often wholly transported into it, and entertaine the
impression of a true and untamed melancholly. I assisted, amongst divers
others of his friends, to convay the dead corpes of the Lord of Grammont
from the siege of Laffere, where be was untimely slaine, to Soissons.
I noted that every where as we passed along we filled with lamentation
and teares all the people we met, by the onely shew of our convoies mourning
attire; for the deceased mans name
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
was not so much as known or beard of about those quarters. Quintilian
reporteth to have seene Comedians so farre ingaged in a sorrowfull part,
that they wept after being come to their lodgings: and of himselfe, that
having undertaken to move a certaine passion in another, he had found himselfe
surprised not only with shedding of tears, but with a palenesse of countenance,
and behaviour of a man truly dejected with griefe. In a country neare
our Mountaines the women say and unsay, weepe and laugh with one breath,
as Martin the Priest; for, as for their lost husbands, they encrease their
waymentings by repetition of the good and gracefull parts they were endowed
with, there withall under one they make publike relation of those imperfections,
to work, as it were, some recompence unto themselves and transchange their
pitty unto disdaine; with a much better grace then we, who when we loose
a late acquaintance, strive to loade him with new and forged prayses, and
to make him farre other, now that we are deprived of his sight, then hee
seemed to be when we enjoied and beheld him; as if mourning were an instructing
party, or teares cleared our understanding by washing the same. I
renounce from this time forward all the favourable testimonies any man
shall affoord me, not because I shall deserve them, but because I shall
be dead. If one demand that fellow, what interest he hath in such
a siege, The interest of example (will he say) and common obedience of
the Prince; I nor looke nor pretend any benefit thereby, and of glory I
know how small a portion commeth to the share of a private man such as
I am. I have neither passion nor quarrell in the matter. Yet
the next day shall you see him all changed, and chafing, boiling, and blushing
with rage in his ranke of battaile, ready for the assault. It is
the glaring reflecting of so much steele, the flashing thundering of the
Canon, the clang of trumpets, and the ratling of Drummes, that have infused
this new fury, and rankor in his swelling vaines. A frivolous cause,
will you say. How a cause? There needeth
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none to excite our minde. A doating humour without body, without
substance, overswayeth and tosseth it up and downe. Let me thinke
of building Castles in Spayne, my imagination will forge me commodities
and afford me meanes and delights wherewith my minde is really tickled
and essentially gladded. How often do we pester our spirits with anger
or sadnesse by such shaddowes, and entangle our selves into fantasticall
passions which alter both our mind and body? What astonished, flearing,
and confused mumpes and mowes doth this dotage stirre up in our visages?
what skippings and agitations of members and voice, seemes it not by this
man alone, that he hath false visions of a multitude of other men with
whom he doth negotiate; or some inwarde Goblin that torments him?
Enquire of your selfe where is the object of this alteration? Is
there any thing but us in nature, except subsisting nullity, over whom
it hath any power? Because Cambyses dreamed that his brother should
be King of Persia, he put him to death: a brother whom be loved and ever
trusted. Aristodemus, King of the Messenians, killed himselfe upon
a conceite he tooke of some ill presage, by I know not what howling of
his Dogs. And King Midas did as much, being troubled and vexed by
a certaine unpleasing dreame of his owne. It is the right way to
prize ones life at the right worth of it to forgo it for a dreame.
Here notwithstanding our mindes triumph over the bodies weakenesses and
misery: in that it is the prey and marke of all wrongs and alterations
to feede on and aime at. It hath surely much reason to speak of it.
O prima infoelix fingenti terra Prometheo:
Ille parum cauti pectoris egit opus.
Corproa disponens, mentem non vidit in arte:
Recta animi primum debuit esse via./1
Unhappy earth first by Promethens formed,
Who of small providence a worke performed.
He framing bodies saw in arte no minde:
The mindes way first should rightly be assign'd.
-----
1 PROPERT. 1. iii. Eleg. v. 7.
CHAPTER 3.V+ UPON SOME VERSES OF VIRGIL +
PROFITABLE thoughts, the more full and solide they are, the more combersome
and heavy are they; vice, death, poverty, and diseases, are subjects that
waigh and grieve. We must have our minde instructed with meanes to
sustaine and combate mischiefes, and furnished with rules how to live well
and believe right: and often rouze and exercise it in this goodly study.
But to a mind of the common stampe it must be with intermission and moderation;
it groweth weake by being continually over-wrested. When I was young
I had neede to be advertised and sollicited to keepe my selfe in office:
Mirth and health (saies one) sute not so well with these serious and grave
discourses. I am now in another state. The conditions of age
do but over-much admonish, instruct, and preach unto me. From the
excesse of jollity, I am falne into the extreame of severity: more peevish
and more untoward. Therefore, I do now of purpose somewhat give way
unto licentious allurements; and now and then employ my minde in wanton
and youthfull conceits, wherein she recreates hir selfe. I am now
but too much setled; too heavy and too ripe. My yeares read me daily a
lesson of coldnesse and temperance. My body shunneth disorder and
feares it: it hath his turne to direct the minde toward reformation; his
turne also to rule and sway; and that more rudely and imperiously. Be I
awake or a sleepe, it doth not permit me one houre but to ruminate on instruction,
on death, on patience, and on repentance. As I have heretofore defended
my selfe from pleasure, so I now ward my selfe from temperance: it haleth
me too far back, and even to
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stupidity. I will now every way be master of my selfe. Wisdome
hath hir excesses, and no lesse need of moderation then follie. So
that least I should wither, I varnish and over cloy my selfe with prudence,
in the intermissions my evils afoord mee;
Mens intenta suis ne siet: usque malis./1
Still let not the conceit attend,
The ils that it too much offend.
I gently turne aside, and steale mine eyes from viewing that tempestuous
and cloudy skie I have before me; which (thankes be to God) I consider
without feare, but not without contention and study. And ammuse my
selfe with the remembrance of past youth-tricks:
-----animus quod perdidit, optat,
Atque in praeterita se totas imagine versat./2
The minde, what it hath lost, doth wish and cast,
And turne and winde in Images forepast.
That infancy looketh forward, and age backward was it not that which Janus
his double visage signified? yeares entrains me if they please: but backward.
As far as mine eyes can discerne that faire expired season, by fits I turne
them thitherward. If it escape my bloud and veines, yet will I not
roote the image of it out of my memory:
------
hoc est,
Vivere bis, vita posse priore frui,/3
This is the way for any to live twise,
Who can of former life enjoy the price.
Plato appoints old men to be present at youthfull exercises, dances, and
games, to make them rejoice at the bodies agility and comlinesse of others,
which is now no longer in them, and call to their remembrance the grace
and favour of that blooming age; and willeth them to give the h honour
of the victory to that young-man
----
1 OVID. Trist. 1. iv. El. i. 4. 2 PETRON. Arb.
Sat. 3 MART. 1. x. Epig. xxiii. 7.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
who hath gladded and made most of them mery. I was heretofore
wont to note sullen and gloomy daies as extraordinary: now are they my
ordinary ones: the extraordinary are my faire and cleere dayes. I
am ready to leape for joy, as at the receaving of some unexspected favour,
when nothing grieveth me. Let me tickle my selfe, I can now hardly
wrest a bare smile from this wretched body of mine. I am not pleased
but in conceite an dreaming, by sleight to turne aside the way-ward cares
of age: but sure there is need of other remedies then dreaming. A
weake contention of arte against nature. It is meere simplicity, as most
men do, to prolong and anticipate humane incommodities. I had rather
be lesse while olde, then old before my time. I take hold even of the least
occasions of relight I can meet withall. I know now by heare-say divers
kindes of wise, powerfull and glorious pleasures: but opinion is not of
sufficient force over me to make me long for them. I would not have them
so stately, lofty, and disdainfully as pleasant, gentle, and ready.
A natura diseedimus; populo nos damus, nullius rei bono auctori:/1 'We
forsake nature; Wee follow the people author of no good.' My Philosophy
is in action, in naturall and present, little in conceit. What if
I should be pleased to play at cob-nut or whip a top?
Non ponebat enim rumores ante salutem./2
He did not prize what might be said,
Before how all might safe be laid.
Voluptuousnesse is a quality little ambitious; it holds it selfe rich enough
of it selfe without any accesse of reputation; and is best affected where
it is most obscured. That young man should deserve the whip who would
spend his time in choosing out the neatest Wine and best sauces.
There is nothing I ever knew or esteemed lesse: {PlainDealer+}
I now beginne to learne it. I am much ashamed of it, but what can I do
with all? and
-----
1 SEN. Epist. xcix. 2 ENNIUS.
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am more ashamed and vexed at the occasions that compell me to it.
It is for us to dally, doate, and trifle out the time; and for youth to
stand upon nice reputation, and hold by the better end of the staffe.
That creepeth towards The world and marcheth toward credite; we come from
it. Sibi arma, sibi equos, sibi hastas, sibi clavam, sibe pilam, sibi
nationes et cursus habeant: nobis senibus, ex lusionibus multis, talos
relinquant, et tesseras:/1 'Let them keeps theie armor, their horses,
their lances, their polaxes, their tennis, their swimming, and their running;
and of their many games, let them put over to us old men the tables an
the cardes.' The very lawes send us home to our lodgings. I can do
no lesse in favour of this wretched condition, whereto my age forceth mee,
then furnish it with somewhat to dandle and ammuse it selfe, as it were
childehood, for when all is done we fall into it againe. And both
wisedome and folly shall have much a do, by enterchange of offices to support
and succour me in this calamity of age.
Misce stultitiam conciliis brevem./1
With short-like-foolish tricks,
Thy gravest counsels mixe.
Withal I shun the lightest pricklings; and those which heretofore could
not have scratcht me, do now transpearce me. So wilingly my habite
doth now begin to apply it selfe to evil; in fragili corpore odiosa
omnis offensio est:/3 'all offence is yrkesome to a crased body.'
Mensgue pati durum sustinet aegra nihil./4
A sicke minde can endure,
No hard thing for hir cure.
I have ever beene ticklish and nice in matters of offence; at this present
I am more tender and every where open.
-----
1 CIC. De Sene. 2 HOR. 1. iv. Od. xii. 27. 3 CIC De Sene.
4 OVID. Pont. 1. i. El. vi. 18.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Et minimae vires frangere quassa valent./1
Least strength can breake
Things worne and weake.
Well may my judgement hinder me from spurning and repining at the inconveniences
which nature allots me to indure: from feeling them it cannot. I
could finde in my heart to runne from one ende of the world to another,
to searche and purchase one yeare of pleasing and absolute tranquillity;
I who have no other scope then to live and be mery. Drouzie and stupide
tranquillity is sufficiently to be found for me, but it makes me drouzy
and dizzie, therefore I am not pleased with it. If there be any body
or any good company in the cuntry, in the citty, in France, or any where
els, resident, travelling, that likes of my conceites, or whose humours
are pleasing to me, they neede but hold up their hand, or whistle in their
fiste, and I will store them with Essayes of pithe and substance, with
might and maine. Seeing it is the mindes priviledge to renew and
recover it selfe on old age, I earnestly advise it to do it; let it bud,
blossome, and flourish if it can as Misle-toe on a dead tree. I feare
it is a traitor; so straightly is she clasped, and so hard doth she cling
to my body, that every hand-while she forsakes me; to follow hir in hir
necessities. I flatter her in private, I urge hir to no purpose,
in vaine I offer to divert hir from this combination, and bootlesse it
is for me to present hir Seneca, or Catullus, or Ladies, or stately dances:
if hir companion have the chollicke, it seemes she also hath it.
The very powers or faculties that are particular and proper to hir, cannot
then rouze themselves: they evidently seeme to be enrheumed: there is no
blithnes in hir productions, if there be none in the body. Our schollers
are to blame, who serching the causes of our mindes extraordinary fits
and motions, besides they ascribe some to a divine fury, to love, to warre-like
fiercenesse, to Poesie, and to Wine, if they have not also allotted health
her share: a health,
-----
1 OVID. Trist. 1. iii. El. xi. 22.
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youthfull, lusty, vigorous, full, idle, such as heretofore the Aprill
of my yeares and security offered me by fittes. That fire of jocondnesse
stirreth up lively and bright sparkles in our mind beyond our naturall
brightnesse and amongst the most working, if not the most desperate Enthusiasmes
or inspirations. Well, it is no wonder if a contrary estate clogge
and naile my spirit, and drawe from it a contrary effect.
Ad nullum consurgit opus, cum corpore languet./1
It to no worke doth rise,
When body fainting lyes.
And yet would have me beholden to him for lending consent then beareth
the ordinary custome of men. Let us at least, whilst we have time,
chase and expell all difficulties from our society.
Dum licet obducta solvatur fronte senectus;/2
With wrinckled wimpled forhead let old yeares,
While we may, be resolv'd to merrie cheere.
Tetrica sunt amaenanda jocularibus: 'Unpleasant things and sowre matters
should be sweetned and made pleasant with sportefull mixtures.' I love
a lightsome and civill discretion, and loathe a roughnes and austerity
of behaviour: suspecting every peevish and way ward countenance.
Tristemque vultus tetrici arrogantiam./5
Of austere countenance,
The sad soure arrogance.
Et habet tristis quoque turba cynaedos.
Fidlers are often had,
Mongst people that are sad.
I easily beleeve Plato, who saieth that easie or hard humors are a great
prejudice unto the mindes
-----
1 COR. GAL. El. i. 125. 2 HOR. Epod. xiii. 7. 3 MART.
1. vii. Epig. lvii. 9.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
goodnesse or badnesse. Socrates had a constant countenance, but
light-some and smyling; not frowardly constant, as old Crassus, who was
never seene to laugh. Vertue is a pleasant and buxom quality.
Few I know will snarle at the liberty of my writings, that have not more
cause to snarle at their thoughts- loosenes. I conforme my-selfe
unto their courage, but I offend their eies. It is a well ordered
humour to wrest Plateo writings and straine his pretended negotiations
with Phedon, Dion, Stella, Archeanassa. Non pudeat dicere, quod non
pudeat sentire. 'Let us not bee ashamed to speake what we shame not to
thinke.' I hate a way ward and sad disposition, that glided over the pleasures
of his life, and fastens and feedes on miseries. As flyes that cannot cleave
to smooth and sleeke bodies, but seaze and holde on rugged and uneven places;
or as Cupping glasses, that affect and suck none but the worst bloud.
For my part I am resolved to dare speake whatsoever I dare do: And
am displeased with thoughts not to be published. The worst of my actions
or condicions seeme not so ugly unto me as I finde it both ugly and base
not to dare to avouch them. Every one is wary in the confession;
we should be as heedy in the action+.
The bouldnes of offending is somewhat recompensed and restrained by the
bouldnes of confessing. He that should be bound to tell all, should
also bind himself to do nothing which one is forced to conceale.
God graunt this excesse of my licence draw men to freedom, beyond these
cowardly and squeamish vertues, sprung from our imperfections; that by
the expence of my immoderation I may reduce them unto reason. One
must survay his faultes and study them, ere he be able to repeat them.
Those which bide them from others, commonly conceal them also from themselves;
and esteme them not sufficiently hidden if themselves see them. They
withdraw and disguise them from their owne consciences.
Quare vicia
confitetur? Quia etiam nunc in illis est, somnium narrare vigilantes
est:/1 'Why doth no man confesse his faults?
-----
1 SEN. Epist. 53 m.
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Because hee is yet in them: and to declare his dreame, is for him that
is waking.' The bodies evils are discerned by their increase.
And now we find that to be the gout which we termed the rheume or a bruse.
The evils of the mind are darkened by their own force; the most infected
feeleth them least: Therefore is it that they must often a day be
handled, and violently be opened and rent from out the hollow of our bosome.
As in the case of good, so of bad offices, only confession is sometimes
a satisfaction. Is there any deformity in the error which dispenseth
us to confesse the same? It is a paine for me to dissemble, so that
I refuse to take charge of other men's secrets, as wanting hart to disavow
my knowledge. I can conceale it; but deny it I cannot, without much ado
and some trouble. To be perfectly secret, one must be so by nature, not
by obligation. It is a small matter to be secret in the Princes service,
if one be not also a liar. He that demanded Thales Milesius, whether
he should solemnly deny his lechery; had he come to me, I would have answered
him, he ought not do it, for a ly is in mine opinion worse than lechery.{PlainDealer+}
Thales advised him otherwise, bidding him sweare, thereby to warrant the
more by the lesse. Yet was not his counsell so much the election
as multiplication of vice. Whereupon we sometimes use this by-word,
that we deale wel with a man of conscience, when in counterpoise of vice
we propose some difficulty unto him: but when he is inclosed betweene two
vices, he is put to a hard choise. As Origen was dealt with al, either
to commit idolatry, or suffer himself to be Sodomatically abused by a filthy
Egiptian slave that was presented unto him, he yeilded to the first condition,
and viciously, saith one. Therefore should not thsoe women be distasted
according to their error, who of late protest that they had rather charge
their conscience with ten men then one Masse. If it be indiscretion
so to divulge ones errors, ther is no danger though it come into example
and use; for Ariston said, that 'The winds men feare most are those which
discover them.' Wee must tuck
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
up this homely rag that cloaketh our manners. They send their
conscience to the stews, and keepe their countenance in order. Even
traitors and murtherers observe the laws of complements, and thereto fixe
their endevors. So that neither can injustice complaine of incivility
nor malice of indiscretion. Tis pitty a bad man is not also a foole, and
that decency should cloak his vice. These pargettings belong only
to good and sound wals, such as deserve to be whited, to be preserved.
In favour of Hugonots, who accuse our auricular and private confession,
I confesse my selfe in publike, religiously and purely. Saint Augustine,
Origine, and Hippocrates have published their errors of their opinions;
I likewise of my maners. I greedily long to make my selfe knowne,
nor care I at what rate, so it be truly; or, to say better, I hunger for
nothing; but I hate mortally to be mistaken by such as shall happen to
know my name. He that doth all for honor and glory, what thinks he
to gaine by presenting himselfe to the world in a maske, hiding his true
being from the peoples knowledge? Commend a crook- back for his comely
stature, he ought to take it as an injury: if you be a coward, and one
honoreth you for a valiant man, is it of you be speaketh? you are taken
for another: I should like as well to have him glory in the courtesies
and lowtings that are shewed him, supposing himselfe to be ring- leader
of a troupe when he is the meanest folower of it. Archelaus, King
of Macedon, passing through a street, som body cast water upon him, was
advised by his followers to punish the party. 'Yea, but,' quoth he, 'who
ever it was, he cast not the water upon me, but upon him he thought I was.'
Socrates to one that told him he was railed upon and ill spoken of: 'Tush,'
said he, 'there is no such thing in me.' For my part, should one commend
me to be an excellent Pilote, to be very modest, or most chaste, I should
owe him no thanks. Likewise should any man call me traitour, theefe
or drunkard, I would deeme my selfe but little wronged by him. Those
who misknow themselves may feed themselves with false
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approbations; but not I, who see and search my selfe into my very bowels,
and know full well what belongs unto me. I am pleased to be lesse
commended, provided I be better knowne. I may be esteemed wise for
such conditions of wisedome that I account meere follies. It vexeth
me that my Essayes serve Ladies in liew of common ware and stuffe for their
hall; this Chap. wil preferre me to their cabinet: I love their society
somewhat private, their publike familiarity wants favor and savor.
In farewels we heate above ordinary our affections to the things we forgo.
I here take my last leave of this worlds pleasures: loe here our last embraces.
And now to our theame. Why was the acte of generation made so naturall,
so necessary and so just, seeing we feare to speake of it without shame,
and exclude it from our serious and regular discourses we prononce boldly
to rob, to murther, to betray and this we dare not but betweene our teeth.
Are we to gather by it, that the lesse we breath out in words the more
we are allowed to furnish our thoughts with? For words least used,
least writen, and least concealed should best be understood, and most generally
knowne. No age, no condition are more ignorant of it then of their
bread. They are imprinted in each one, without expressing, without
voice or figure. And the sexe that doth it most, is most bound to
suppresse it. It is an action we have put in the precincts of silence,
whence to draw it were an offence: not to accuse or judge it. Nor
dare we beare it but in circumlocution and picture. A notable favour,
to a criminal offender, to be so execrable, that justice deem it injustice
to touch and behold him, freed and saved by the benefit of this condemnations
severity. It is not herein as in matters of books, which being once
called- in and forbidden, become more saleable and publik? As for me, I
will take Aristotle at his word, that bashfallnesse is an ornament to youth,
but a reproach to age. These verses are preached in the old schoole,
a schoole of which I hold more then of the moderne: her vertues seem greater
unto me, her vices lesse.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Deux qui par trop fuiant Venus estrivent
Faillent autant que ceux qui trop la suivent.
Who strive ore much Venus to shunne, offends
Alike with him that wholy hir intends.
Tu dea, tu rerum naturam sola gubernas,
Nec sine te quicquam dias in luminis oras
Exoritur, neque fit laetum, nec amabile quicquam,/1
Goddesse, thou rul'st the nature of all things.
Without thee nothing into this light springs,
Nothing is lovely, nothing pleasures brings.
I know not who could set Pallas and the Muses at oddes with Venus, and
make them cold and slow in affecting of love; as for me, I se no Deities
that better sute together, nor more endebted one to another. Who-ever
shal go about to remove amourous imaginations from the Muses, shall deprive
them of the best entertainement they have, and of the noblest subject of
their work and who shall debarre Cupid the service and conversation of
Poesie, shall weaken him of his best weapons. By this meanes they
caste upon the God of acquaintance, of amitie and goodwill; and upon the
Goddesses, protectresses of humanity and justice, the vice of ingratitude,
and imputation of churlishnesse. I have not so long beene cashiered
from the state and service of this God, but that my memory is still acquainted
with the force of his worth and valour.
------ agnosco veteris vestigia flammae./2
I feele, and feeling know,
How my old flames regrow.
There commonly remaine some reliques of shivering and heate after an ague:
Nec mihi deficiat color hic, hyemantibus annis.
When Winter yeares com-on,
Let not this heate be gon.
As drie, as sluggish and unwieldy as I am. I feele yet some warme
cinders of my passed heate.
-----
1 LUCR. 1. i. 22. 2 VIRG. Aen. 1. iv. 23.
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Qual l'alto Aegeo, perche Aquiloneo Noto Cessi, che tuto prima il volse
e scosse, Non s'accheta ei pero, ma il suono e 'l moto, Ritien deli onde
anco agitate e grosse. As grannd Aegean Sea, because the voice Of
windes doth cease, which it before enraged Yet doth not calme, but stil
retaines the noise And motion of huge billowes; unasswaged.
But for so much as I know of it, the power
and might of this God are found more quick and lively in the shadowe of
the Poesie then in their owne essence.
Et versus digitos habet./1
Verses have full effect.
Of fingers to erect.
It representeth a kinde of aire more lovely then love it selfe. Venus
is not so faire, nor so alluring, all naked, and quick panting, as she
is here in Virgill.
Dixerat, et niveis hinc atque hinc diva lacertis
Cunctantem amplexu molli fovet: Ille repente
Accepit solitam flammam, notusque medullas
Intravit calor, et labe facta per ossa cucurrit
Non secus atque olim tonitru cum rupta corusco
Ignea rima micans percurrit lumine nimbos./2
So said the Goddesse, and with soft embrace
Of Snow-white arms, the grim-fire doth enchase,
He straight tooke wonted fire, knowne heate at once
His marrow pearc't, ranne through his weakned bones;
As fierie flash with thunder doth divide,
With radient lightning through a storme doth glide.
------ ea verba loquutus,
Optatos dedit amplexus, placidumque petivit
Conjugis infusus gremio per membra soporem./3
A sweet embrace, when he those words had said,
He gave, and his lims pleasing-rest he praid
To take in his wives bosome lolling laid.
What therein I finde to be considered is, that
he depainteth her somewhat stirring for a maritall Venus.
-----
1 JUV. Sat. iv. 197. 2 VIRG. Aen. 1. viii. 387. 3 Ibid.
404
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
In this discreete match, appetites are not commonly so fondling, but
drowsie and more sluggish. Love disdaineth a man should hold of other
then himselfe, and dealeth but faintly with acquaintances begun and entertained
under another title as
marriage+ is. Alliances, respects and meanes, by all reason,
waigh as much or more as the grace and beauty. A man doth not marry
for himselfe, whatsoever he aleageth, but as much or more for his posteritie
and families. The use and interest of mariage concerneth our offspring
a great way beyond us. Therefore doth this fashion please me, to
guide it rather by a third hand, and by anothers sence, then our owne:
All which, how much doth it dissent from amorous conventions? Nor
is it other then a kinde of incest in this reverend alliance and sacred
bond to employ the efforts and extravagant humor of an amorous licentiousness
as I thinke to have said else- were. One should (saith Aristotle)
touch his wife soberly, discreetly and severely, least that tickling too
lasciviously pleasure transport her beyond the bounds of reason.
What he speaketh for conscience, Phisitions alledge for health: saying
that pleasure excessively whotte, voluptuous and continuall, altereth the
seede and hindereth conception. Some other say, besides, that to a languishing
congression (as naturally that is) to store it with a convenient and fertile
heat, one must but seldome and by moderate intermissions present himselfe
unto it.
Quo rapiet sitiens venerem, interjusque recondant./1
Thirsting to snatch a fit,
And inly harbour it.
I see no mariages faile sooner or more troubled then such as are concluded
for beauties sake, and hudled up for amorous desires. There are required
more solide foundations and more constant grounds, and a more warie marching
to it: this earnest youthly heate serveth to no purpose. Those who
thinke to honour
-----
1 VIRG. Geor. 1. iii. 137.
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marriage by joyning love unto it (in mine opinion) doe as those who,
to doe vertue a favour, holde that
nobilitie+ is no other thing then Vertue+.
Indeed, these things have affinitie, but therewithall great difference:
their names and titles should not thus be commixt; both are wronged so
to be confounded. Nobilitie is a worthy, goodly quality, and introduced
with good reason, but inasmuch as it dependeth on others, and may fall
to the share of any vicious and worthlesse fellowe, it is in estimation
farre shorte of vertue. If it be a vertue, it is artificiall and
visible; relying both on time and fortune; divers in forme, according unto
countries living and mortall; without birth, as the river Nilus genealogicall
and common; by succession and similitude; drawne along by consequence,
but a very weake one. Knowledge, strength, goodnesse, beauty, wealth
and all other qualities fall within compasse of commerce and communication;
whereas this consumeth it selfe in it selfe, of no emploiment for the service
of others. One proposed to one of our Kings the choice of two mentors
in one office, the one a Gentleman, the other a Yeoman: hee appointed that
without respect unto that quality, he who deserved best shold be elected;
but were their valour or worth fully alike, the Gentleman should be regarded,
this was justlie to give nobilitie her right and ranke. Antigonus,
to an unknowne young-man who sued unto him for his fathers charge, a man
of valour and who was lately deceased: 'My friend (quoth hee) in such good
turnes I waigh not my souldiers noble birth so much as their sufficiencie.'
Of truth it should not be herein as with the officers of Spartan kings;
Trumpeters, Musitions, Cookes, in whose roome their children succeeded,
how ignorant soever, before the best experienced in the trade. Those
of Calicut make of their nobility a degree above humane. Marriage
is interdicted them, and all other vocations saving warre. Of Concubines
they may have as many as they list, and women as many lechardes, without
Jealousie one of another. But it is a capital crime and unremissible offence
to contract or
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
marry with any of different condition: Nay, they deeme themselves
disparaged and polluted if they have but touched them in passing by:
And as if their honour were much injured and interressed by it they kil
those who approach somewhat too neare them. In such sort that the
ignoble are bound to cry as they walke along, like the Gondoliers or Water
men of Venice along the streetes, least they should jostle with them: and
the nobles command them to what side of the way they please. Thereby
do these avoyde an obloquie which they esteeme perpetual, and those an
assured death. No continuance of time, no favour of Prince, no office,
no vertue, nor any wealth can make a clown to become a gentleman; which
is much furthered by this custome, that marriages of one trade with another
are strictly forbidden. A Shoo-maker cannot marry with the race of
a Carpenter, and parents are precisely bound to traine up orphanes in their
fathers trade, and in no other. Thereby the difference, the distinction
and continuance of their fortune is maintained. A good
marriage+ (if any there be) refuseth the company and conditions of
love; it endevoureth to present those of amity+.
It is a sweete society of life, full of constancy, of trust, and an infinite
number of profitable and solid offices, and mutuall obligations:
No woman that throughly and impartially tasteth the same,
(Optato quamjunxit lumine taeda/1
Whom loves-fire joyned in double band,
With wished light of marriage brand)
would foregoe her estate to be her husbands master. Be she lodged
in his affection as a wife, she is much more honourably and surely lodged.
Be a man passionately entangled in any unlawfull lust or love, let them
then be damned on whom he would rather have some shame or disgrace to alight;
eyther on his lawfull wife, or on his lechard mistris, whose misfortune
would afflict him most, and to whom he wisheth
-----
1 CATUL. Com. Ber. 79.
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greater good or more honour. These questions admit no doubt in
an absolute sound. The reason we see so few good, is an apparant
signe of it's worth, and a testimony of it's price.
Perfectly to fashion and rightly to take it, is the worthiest and best
part of our societie. We cannot be without it, and yet we disgrace
and vilifle the same. It may be compared to a cage, the birds without
dispaire to get in, and those within dispaire to get out. Socrates
being demanded whether was most commodeous to take or not to take a wife:
'Which soever a man doth (quoth he), he shall repent it.' It is a match
wherto may well be applied the common saying, Homo homini aut Deus, aut
lupus: 'Man unto man is either a God or a Wolfe,' to the perfect erecting
whereof are the concurrences of divers qualities required. It is,
now a dayes, found most fit or commodious for simple mindes and popular
spirits whom dainties, curiosity and idleness do not so much trouble.
Licentious humours, debaushed conceits (as are mine), who hate all manner
of duties, bondes, or observances are not so fit, so proper, and so sutable
for it.
Et mihi dulce magis resoluto vivere collo./2
Sweeter it is to me,
With loose necke to live free.
Of mine owne disposition, would wisdome it selfe have had me, I should
have refused to wed her. But we may say our pleasure; the custome
and use of common like overbeareth us. Most of my actions are guided
by example, and not by election; yet, did I not properly envite my selfe
unto it, I was led and brought thereunto by strange and unexpected occasions;
for, not onely incommodious things, but foule, vicious and inevitable,
may by some condition and accident become acceptable and allowed.
So vaine is mans posture and defence; and truely I was then drawne unto
it, being but ill prepared and more backe
-----
1 ERAS. Chil. i. cent. i. 69, 70. 2 COR. GAL. El.
i. 61.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
ward then now I am that have made triall of it. And as licencious
as the world reputes me, I have (in good truth) more stricktly observed
the lawes of wedlock then either I had promised or hoped. It is no
longer time to wince when one hath put on the shackles. A man ought
wisely to husband his liberty, but after he hath once submitted himselfe
unto bondage, he is to stick unto it by the lawes of common duty, or at
least enforce himselfe to keepe them. Those which undertake that
covenant to deale therein with hate and contempt, do both injustly and
incommodiously; and that goodly rule I see passe from hand to hand among
women, as a sacred oracle,
Sers ton mary con maistre:
Et t'en garde comme un traistre.
Your husband as your master serve yee:
From him as from false friend preserve yee.
which is as much to say, Beare thy selfe toward him with a constrained
enemy and distrustfull reverence (a stile of warre, and cry of defiance)
is likewise injurious and difficult. I am to milde for such crabbed
dessignes. To say truth, I am not yet come to that perfection of sufficiency
and quaintnesse of wit, as to confound reason with injustices and laugh
or scoffe at each order or rule that jumps not with my humour. To
hate superstition, I do not presently cast my selfe into irreligion.
If one do not alwaies discharge his duty, yet ought he at least ever love,
ever acknowledge it. It is treason for one to marry unless he wed.
But go we on. Our Poet describeth a marriage full of accord and good
agreement, wherein notwithstanding there is not much loyalty. Did
he meane it was not possible to performe loves rights, and yet reserve
some rights toward marriage; and that one may bruse it, without altogether
breaking it? A servant may picke his masters purse, and yet not hate
him. Beauty, opportunity, destiny (for destiny, hath also a hand
therin)
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----- fatum est in partibus illis.
Quas sinus abscondit; nam si tibi sidera cassent, Nil faciet longi
mensura incognita nervi./1
In those parts there is fate, which hidden are;
If then thou be not wrought-for by thy starre,
The measure of long nerves unknowne to nothing serves.
have entangled a woman to a stranger, yet peradventure not so absolutely,
but that some bond may be left to hold her to her husband. They are
two dissignes, having severall and unconfounded pathes leading to them.
A woman may yeeld to such a man whom in no case she would have married.
I meane not for the conditions of his fortune, but for the qualities of
his person. Few men have wedded their sweet hearts, their paramours or
mistresses, but have come home by Weeping Crosse, and ere long repented
their bargaine. And even in the other world, what an unquiet life leades
Jupiter with his wife, whom before he had secretly knowen and lovingly
enjoyed? This is as they say, 'to beray the panier, and then put
it on your head.' My selfe have seene in some good place love shamefully
and dishonestly cured by mariage, the considerations are too much different.
We love without disturbance to our selves; two divers and in themselves
contrary things. Isocrates said, that the towne of Athens pleased
men, even as Ladies doe whom wee serve for affection. Every one loved
to come thither, to walke and passe away the time, but none affected to
wed it; that is to say: to endenison, to dwell and habituate himselfe therein.
I have (and that to my spight and griefe), seene husbands hate their wives,
onely because themselves wronged them. Howsoever, wee should not
love them lesse for our faults; at least for repentance and compassion
they ought to be dearer unto us. These are different ends (saith he), and
yet in some sort compatible. Wedlocke hath for his share, honour,
justice, profit and constancie, a plaine but more generall delight.
Love melts in onely pleasure
-----
1 JUV. Sat. ix. 32.
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and truly it hath it more ticklish, more lively, more quaint, and more
sharpe, a pleasure inflamed by difficulty; there must be a kinde of stinging,
tingling and smarting. It is no longer love, be it once without Arrowes
or without fire. The liberality of Ladies is to profuse in marriage,
and blunts the edge of affection and desire. To avoide this inconvenience,
see the punishment inflicted by the lawes of Lycurgus and Plato.
But Women are not altogether in the wrong, when they refuse the rules of
life prescribed to the World, forsomuch as onely men have established them
without their consent. {sexism+} There
is commonly brauling and contention between them and us; and the nearest
consent we have with them is but stormy and tumultuous. In the opinion
of our Authour, we heerin use them but inconsiderately. After we have knowen,
that without comparison they are much more capable and violent in Loves-effects
then we, as was testified by that ancient Priest who had beene both man
and woman, and tried the passions of both sexes.
Venus huic erat utraque nota:/1
Of both sortes he knew venery.
We have moreover learned by their owne mouth, what tryall was made of it,
though in divers ages, by an Emperour and an Empresse of Rome, both skilful
and famous masters in lawlesse lust and unruly wantonnesse; for he in one
night deflowred ten Sarmatianvirgines that were his captives; but shee
really did one night night also answer twenty severall assaults, changing
her assailants as she found cause to supply her neede to fit her taste,
------adhuc ardens rigidae tentigine vulvae Et lassata viris, nondum satiata
necessit./2 and that upon the controversie happened in Catalogne betweene
a wife and a husband; shee complaining on his over-violence and continuance
therein not so much in my conceit, because she was thereby over-labored,
-----
1 OVID. Met. 1. iii. 323. Tiros. 2 JUVEN. Sat. vi.
127.
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(for but by faith I beleeve not miracles), as under this pretext, to
abridge and bridle the authority of husbands over their wives, which is
the fundamental part of marriage: and to show that their frowning, sullennesse
and peevishnesse exceede the very nuptiall bed, and trample under-foote
the very beauties, graces and delights of Venus (to whose complaint her
husband, a right churlish and rude fellow answered, that even on fasting
dayes he must needes do it ten times at least) was by the Queene of Aragon
given this notable sentence: by which after mature deliberation of counsel,
the good Queen to establish a rule and imitable example unto all posterity,
for the moderation and required modesty in a lawfull marriage, ordained
the number of sixe times a day as a lawfull, necessary and competent limit.
Releasing and diminishing a great part of her, sexes neede and desire,
to establish (quoth she) an easie forme, and consequently permanent and
immutable. Hereupon doctors cry out; what is the appetite and lust
of women, when as their reason, their reformation and their vertue, is
retailed at such a rate? considering the divers judgement of our desires:
for Solon, master of the lawiers schoole alloweth but three times a month
because this matrimoniall entercourse should not decay or faile.
Now after we beleeved (say I) and preached thus much, we have for their
particular portion allotted them continency, as their last and extreame
penalty. There is no passion more importunate then this, which we
would have them only to resist; not simply as a vice in it self, but as
abbomination and execration, and more then irreligion and parricide; whilst
we our selves without blame or reproach offend in it at our pleasure.
Even those amongst us who have earnestly labored to overcome lust, have
sufficiently viewed what difficulty, or rather unresistable impossibilitie
they found in it, using neverthelesse materiall remedies, to tame, to weaken
and coole the body. And we on the other side would have them sound,
healthy, strong, in good liking, welfed and chaste together, that is to
say, both hot and
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colde. For marriage, which we averre should hinder them from burning,
affords them but smal refreshing, according as our manners are. If
they meet with a husband whose force by reason of his age is yet boyling,
he will take a pride to spend it else-where.
Sit tandem pudor, aut eamus in ius,
Multis mentula millibus redempta,
Non est haec tua, Basse, vendidisti./1
The philosopher Polemon was iustly called in question by his wife, for
sowing in a barren fielde the fruit due to the fertile. But if they
match with broken stuffe in ful wedlocke, they are in worse case then either
virgins or widowes. Wee deeme them sufficiently furnished if they
have a man lie by them. As the Romans reputed Clodia Leta a vestall-virgin
defloured, whom Caligula had touched, although it was manifestly prooved
he had but approached her; But on the contrary, their need or longing is
thereby encreased; for but the touch or company of any man whatsoever stirreth
up their heate, which in their solytude was husht and quiet, and lay as
cinders raked up in ashes. And to the end, as it is likely, to make
by this circumstance and consideration their chastitie more meritorious:
Boleslaus and Kinge his wife, King and Queene of Poland, lying together,
the first day of their mariage vowed it with mutuall consent, and in despight
of all wedlocke commoditie of nuptiall delightes maintained the same.
Even from their infancy wee frame them to the sports of love: their instruction,
behaviour, attire, grace, learning and all their words aimeth onely at
love, respects onely affection. Their nurces and their keepers imprint
no other thing in them, then the lovelinesse of love, were it but by continually
presenting the same unto them, to distaste them of it: my daughter (al
the children I have) is of the age wherein the lawes excuse the forwardest
to marry. She is of a slowe, mee and milde complexion, and hath accordingly
beene brought up by hir mother in a
-----
1 MART. 1. xii. Epig. xcix. 10.
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retired and particular manner: so that shee beginneth but now to put-off
childish simplicitie. She was one day reading a French booke before
me, an obscene word came in her way (more bawdie in sound then in effect,
it signifieth the name of a Tree and another thing), the woman that lookes
to hir staid her presently, and somwhat churlishly making her step over
the same: I let hir alone, because I would not crosse their rules,
for I medle nothing with this government: womens policie hath a mysticall
proceeding, we must be content to leave it to them. But if I be not
deceived, the conversation of twenty lacqueis could not in six moneths
have setled in her thoughts, the understanding, the use and consequences
of the sound belonging to those filthy sillables as did that good olde
woman by her checke and interdiction.
Motus doceri gaudet Ionicos.
Matura virgo, et fingitur artubus
Jam nunc, et incestos amores
De tenero? neditatur ungui./1
Maides mariage-ripe straight to be taught delight
Ionique daunces, fram'de by arte aright
In every joynt, and ev'n from their first haire
Incestuous loves in meditation beare.
Let them somwhat dispence with ceremonies, let them fal into free libertie
of speach; we are but children, we are but gulles, in respect of them,
about any such subject. Heare them relate how we sue, how we wooe,
how we sollicitie, and how we entertaine them, they will soone give you
to understand that we can say, that we can doe, and that we can bring them
nothing but what they already knew, and had long before digested without
us. May it be (as Plato saith) because they have one time or other
beene themselves wanton, licentious and amorous lads? Mine eares
hapned one day in a place, where without suspicion they might listen and
steale some of their private, lavish and bould discourses; O why is it
not lawful for 1 HOR. Car. 1. iii. Od. vi. 21.
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ESSAYES
me to repeate them? Birlady (quoth I to my selfe), It is high
time indeed for us to go studie the phrases of Amadis, the metaphors of
Aretine, and eloquence of Boccace, thereby to become more skilfull, more
ready and more sufficient to confront them: surely we bestow our time wel;
there is nor quaint phrase nor choise word, nor ambiguous figure, nor patheticall
example, nor love-expressing gesture, nor alluring posture, but they know
them all better then our bookes: it is a cunning bred in their vaines and
will never out of the flesh,
Et mentem Venus ipsa dedit./1
Venus her selfe assign'de
To them both meanes and minde,
which these skill infusing Schoole-mistresses nature, youth, health and
opportunitie, are ever buzzing in their eares, ever whispering in their
minds: they need not learn, nor take paines about it; they beget it, with
them it is borne.
Nec tantum niveo gavisa est nulla columbo
Compar, vel si quid dicitur improbius,
Oscula mordenti semper decerpere rostro:
Quantum praecipue multivola est mulier./2
No pigeons hen, or paire, or what worse name
You list, makes with hir Snow-white cock such game,
With biting bill to catch when she is kist,
As many-minded women when they list.
Had not this naturall violence of their desires beene somwhat held in awe
by feare and honor, wherewith they have beene provided, we had all beene
defamed. All the worlds motions bend and yeeld to this conjunction,
it is a matter every-where infused; and a Centre whereto all lines come,
all things looke. The ordinances of ancient and wise Rome, ordained
for the service, and instituted for the behoofe of love, are yet to be
seene: together with the precepts of Socrates to instruct courtizans.
-----
1 VIRG. Geor. 1. iii. 267. 2 CATUL. Eleg. iv. 125.
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Nec non libelli Stoici inter sericos
Iacere paluillos amant./1
Ev'n Stoicks books are pleas'd
Amidst silke cushions to be eas'd.
Zeno among other laws, ordered also the struglings, the opening of legges,
and the actions, which happen in the deflowring of a virgin. Of what
sense was the book of Strato the philosopher, of carnall copulation?
And whereof treated Theopbrastus in those he entitled, one The Lover, the
other Of Love? Whereof Aristippus in his volume Of ancient deliciousnesse
or sports? What implied or what imported the ample and lively descriptions
in Plato, of the loves practised in his dayes? And the lover of Demetrius
Phalereus? And Clinias, or the forced lover of Heraclides Ponticus?
And that of Antisthenes, of the getting of children, or of weddings?
And the other, Of the Master, or of the lover? And that of Aristo
Of amorous exercises? Of Cleanthes, one of love, another of the Art
of love? The amorous dialogues of Spherus? And the filthy intolerable,
and without blushing not to be uttered fable of Iupiter and luno, written
by Chrysippus? And his so lascivious fifty Epistles? I will
oinit the writings of some Philosophers who have followed the sect of Epicurus,
protectresse of all maner of sensuality and carnall pleasure. Fifty
severall Deities were in times past allotted to this office. And there
hath beene a nation found, which to allay and coole the lustfull concupiscence
of such as came for devotion, kept wenches of purpose in their temples
to be used; and it was a point of religion to deale with them before one
went to prayers. Nimirum propter continentiam incontinentia necessaria
est, incendium ignibus extinguitur: 'Belike we must be incontinent that
we may be continent, burning is quenched by fire.' In most places of the
world that part of our body was deified. In that same province some
flead it to offer, and consecrated a peece thereof; others offred and consecrated
their seed: In
-----
1 HOR. Epod. viii. 15.
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another the young men did publikely pierce and in divers places open
their yard between flesh and skin, and thorow the holes put the longest
and biggest stickes they could endure, and of those stickes made afterwards
a fire, for an offring to their Gods, and were esteemed of small vigour
and lesse chastity if by the force of that cruell paine they shewed any
dismay. Else- where the most sacred magistrate was reverenced and
acknowledged by those parts. And in divers ceremonies the portraiture
thereof was carried and shewed in pompe and state, to the honour of sundry
Deities. The AEgyptian dames in their Bacchanalian feasts wore a
wodden one about their necks, exquisitely fashioned, as huge and heavy
as every one could conveniently beare: besides that which the statue of
their God represented, which in measure exceeded the rest of his body.
The maried women here-by, with their Coverchefs frame the figure of one
upon their forheads; to glory, themselves with the enjoying they have of
it; and comming to be widowes, they place it behind, and hide it under
their quoifes. The greatest and wisest matrons of Rome were honoured
for offring flowers and garlands to God Priapus. And when their Virgins
were maried, they (during the nuptials) were made to sit upon their privities.
Nor am I sure whether in my time I have not seene a glimps of like devotion.
What meant that laughter-moving, and maids looke-drawing peece our fathers
wore in their breeches, yet extant among the Switzers? To what end
is at this present day the shew of our formall under our Gascoine hoses?
and often (which is worse) above their naturall greatnesse, by falshood
and imposture? A little thing would make me believe that the said
kinde of garment was invented in the best and most upright ages, that the
world might not be deceived, and all men should yeeld a publike account
of their sufficiency. The simplest nations have it yet somewhat resembling
the true forme. Then was the worke-mans skill instructed, how it
is to be made, by the measure of the arme or foot. That good-meaning
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man, who in my youth, thorowout his great city, caused so many faire,
curious and ancient statues to be guelded, lest the sense of seeing might
be corrupted, following the advice of that other good ancient man
Flagitii principium est nudare inter cives corpora./1
Mongst civill people sinne,
By baring bodies we beginne,
should have considered, how in the mysteries of the good Goddesse, all
apparance of man was excluded; that he was no whit neerer, if he did not
also procure both horses and asses, and at length nature her selfe to be
guelded.
Omne adeo qenus in terris, hominumque ferarumque, Et genus
aequoreum, pecuaes, pictaeque volucres, Infurias ignemque ruunt./2
All kindes of things on earth, wilde beast, mankinde,
Field-beasts, faire-fethered fowle, and fish (we finde) Into loves
fire and fury run by kinde.
The Gods (saith Plato) have furnished man with a disobedient, skittish,
and tyraniiicall member; which like an untamed furious-beast, attempteth
by the violence of his appetite to bring all things under his becke.
So have they allotted women another as insulting, wilde and ferce; in nature
like a greedy, devouring, and rebellious creature, who if when he craveth
it, hee bee refused nourishment, as inpatient of delay, it enrageth; and
infusing that rage into their bodies stoppeth their conduicts, hindreth
their respiration, and causeth a thousand kindes of inconveniences; untill
sucking up the fruit of the generall thirst, it have largely bedewed and
enseeded the bottome of their matrix. Now my law-giver should also
have considered that peradventure it were a more chaste and commodiously
fruitfull use betimes to give them a knowledge and taste of the quicke,
then according to the liberty and heate of their fantasies suffer them
to ghesse and imagine the same. In lieu of true essentiall parts
they by desire surmise and by hope substitute others,
-----
1 CIC. Tusc. 1. iv. En. 2 VIRG. Georg. 1. iii. 244.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
three times as extravagant. And one of my acquaintance was spoiled
by making open shew of his in place, where yet it was not convenient to
put them in possession of their more serious use. What harme cause
not those huge draughts or pictures, which wanton youth with chalke or
coales draw in each passage, wall, or staires of our great houses, whence
a cruell contempt of our natural store is bred in them? Who knoweth
whether Plato, ordaining amongst other well-instituted Commonwealths, that
men and women, old and yoong, should in their exercises or Gymnastickes
present themselves naked one to the sight of another, aimed at that or
no? The Indian women, who daily without interdiction view their men
all over, have at least wherewith to assuage and coole the sense of their
seeing. And whatsoever the women of that great kingdome of Pegu say,
who from their waist downward, have nothing to cover themselves but a single
cloth slith before; and that so straight that what nice modestie or ceremonious
decencie soever they seem to affect, one may plainly at each step see what
God hath sent them: that it is an invention or shift devised to draw men
unto them, and with-draw them from other men or boies, to which unnaturall
brutish sinne that nation is wholly addicted: it might be said, they lose
more than they get: and that a full hunger is more vehement then one which
hath beene glutted, be it but by the eyes. And Livia said, that to
an honest woman a naked man is no more then an Image. The Lacedemonian
women, more virgin-wives then are our maidens, saw every day the young
men of their citie naked at their exercises: themselves nothing precise
to hide their thighes in walking, esteeming themselves (saith Plato) sufficiently
cloathed with their vertue, without vardingall. But those of whom
S. Augustine speaketh, have attributed much to nakednesse, who made
a question, whether women at the last day of judgement should rise againe
in their proper sex, and not rather in ours, lest even then they tempt
us in that holy state. In summe, we lure and every way flesh
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them: we uncessantly enflame and encite their imagination: and then
we cry out, But oh, but oh, the belly. Let us confesse the truth,
there are few amongst us that feare not more the same they may have by
their wives offences, than by their owne vices; or that cares not more
(oh wondrous charity) for his wives, then his own conscience; or that had
not rather be a theefe and church-robber, and have his wife a murderer
and an heretike, then not more chaste than himselfe. Oh impious estimation
of vices! Both wee and they are capable of a thousand more hurtfull
and unnaturall corruptions then is lust or lasciviousnesse. But we
frame vices and waigh sinnes, not according to their nature, but according
to our interest; whereby they take so many different unequall formes.
The severity of our lawes makes womens inclination to that vice more violent
and faulty then it's condition beareth; and engageth it to worse proceedings
then is their cause. They will readily offer rather to follow the
practise of law, and plead at the barre for a fee, or go to the warres
for reputation, then in the midst of idlenesse and deliciousnesse be tied
to keepe so hard a Sentinell, so dangerous a watch. See tbey not
plainly, how there is neither Merchant, Lawyer, Souldier, or Church-man,
but will leave his accounts, forsake his client, quit his glory and neglect
his function, to follow this other businesse. {Lear+}
And the burden-bearing porter, souterly cobbler and toilefull labourer,
all harassed, all besmeared and all bemoiled through travell, labour and
trudding, will forget all, to please himselfe with this pleasing sport.
Num tu quae tenuit dives Achaemenes,
Aut pinguis Phryqiae Mygdonias opes,
Permutare velis crine Liciniae,
Plenas aut Arabum domos,
Dum fragrantia detorquet ad oscula
Cervicem aut facili saevitia negat,
Quae poscente magis gaudeat eripi,
Interdum rapere occupet?/1
-----
1 HOR. Car. 1. ii. Od. xii. 21.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Would you exchange for your faire mistresse haire,
All that the rich Achaemenes did hold,
Or all that fertill Phrygias soile doth beare,
Or all th'Arabians store of spice and gold?
Whilst she to fragrant kisses turnes her head,
Or with a courteous coinesse them denies;
Which more then he that speeds she would have sped,
And which sometimes to snatch she formost hies?
I wot not whether Caesars exploits, or Alexanders
atchivements exceed in hardinesse the resolution of a beauteous young woman,
trained after our manner in the open view and uncontrolled conversation
of the world, sollicited and battered by so many contrary examples, exposed
to a thousand assaults and continuall pursuits, yet still holding her selfe
good and unvanquished. There is no point of doing more thorny nor
more active then this of not doing. I finde it easier to beare all
ones life a combersome armour on his backe then a maiden-bead. And
the vow of virginity is the noblest of all vowes, because the hardest.
Diaboli virtus in lumbis est:/1 'The divel's master-point lies in
our loines,' saith St. Jerome. Surely we have resigned the most difficult
and vigorous devoire of mankinde unto women, and quit them the glory of
it, which might stead them as a singular motive to opinionate themselves
therein, and serve them as a worthy subiect to brave us, and trample under
feet that vaine preheminence of valour and vertue we pretend over them.
They shall finde (if they but heed it) that they shall thereby not only
be highly regarded, but also more beloved. A gallant undaunted spirit
leaveth not his pursuits for a bare refusall; so it bee a refusall of chastitie,
and not of choise. Wee may sweare, threaten and wailingly complaine;
we lie, for we love them the better. There is no enticing lure to
wisdome and secret modestie; so it be not rude, churlish, and froward.
It is blockishnesse and basenesse to be obstinately willfull against hatred
and contempt. But against a vertuous and constant resolution matched
-----
1 HIERON.
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with an acknowledging minde, it is the exercise of a noble and generous
minde. {Millamant+} They may accept
of our service+
unto a certaine measure, and make us honestly perceive how they disdaine
us not, for the law which enjoineth them to abhorre us because we adore
them, and hate us forsomuch as love them, is doubtlesse very cruell, were
it but for it's difficultie. Why may they not listen to our offers and
not gaine-say our requests, so long as they containe themselves within
the bounds of modestie? Wherefore should we imagine they inwardly
affect a freer meaning? A Queene of our time said wittily, that 'to
refuse mens kinde summons is a testimony of much weaknesse, and an accusing
of ones own facility; and that an unattempted Lady could not vaunt of her
chastitie.' Honours limits are not restrained so short; they may somewhat
be slacked, and without offending somewhat dispensed withall. At
the end of his frontiers there is left a free, indifferent, and newter
space. He that could drive and force his mistresse into a corner
and reduce her into her fort, hath no great matter in him if he be not
content with his fortune. The price or honor of the conquest is rated
by the difficultie. Will you know what impression our merits, your
services and worth have made in her heart? Iudge of it by her behaviour
and disposition.
Some one may give more that (all things considered)
giveth not so much. The obligation of a benefit hath wholly reference
unto the will of him that giveth; other circumstances which fall within
the compasse of good-turnes, are dumbe, dead and casuall. That little
she giveth may cost her more then all her companion hath. If rarenesse
be in any thing worthy estimation, it ought to be in this. Respect
now how little it is, but how few have it to give. The value of money
is changed according to the coine, stampe or marke of the place.
Whatsoever the spight or indiscretion of some may upon the excesse of their
discontentment make them say: Vertue and truth doe ever recover their
advantage. I have knowen some whose reputation hath long time beene
impeached by wrong
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and interessed by reproach, restored unto all mens good opinion and
generall approbation without care or art, onely by their constancie, each
repenting and denying what he formerly beleeved. From wenches somewhat
suspected, they now hold the first ranke amongst honourable ladies.
Some told Plato that all the world spake ill of him: 'Let them say what
they list,' quoth hee, 'I will so live that Ile make them recant and change
their speeches.' Besides the feare of God and the reward of so rare a glory
which should incite them to preserve themselves, the corruption of our
age enforceth them unto it, and were I in their clothes, there is nothing
but I would rather doe then commit my reputation into so dangerous hands.
In my time the leasure of reporting and blabbing what one hath done (a
pleasure not much short of the act it selfe in sweetnesse) was only allowed
to such as had some assured, trustie, and singular friend; whereas now-a-daies
the ordinary entertainements and familiar discourses of meetings and at
tables are the boastings of favours received, graces obtained, and secret
liberalities of Ladies. Verily, it is too great an abjection and
argueth a basenesse of heart, so fiercely to suffer these tender, daintie,
delicious joyes to be persecuted, pelted, and foraged by persons so ungratefull,
so undiscreet, and so giddy-headed. {blabbing+}
This our immoderate and lawlesse exasperation against this vice, proceedeth
and is bred of jealousie; the most vaine and turbulent infirmitie that
may afflict mans minde.
Quis vetat apposito lumen de lumine sumi?
Dent licet assidue, nil tamen inde perit./1
To borrow light of light, who would deny?
Though still they give, nothing is lost thereby.
That, and Envie her sister, are (in mine opinion) the fondest of the troupe.
Of the latter, I cannot say much; a passion which how effectuall and powerfull
soever they set forth, of her good favour she medleth
-----
1 OVID. Art. Amand. 1. iii. 93.
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not with me. As for the other I know it only by sight. Beasts
have some feeling of it. The shepheard Cratis being fallen in love
with a shee Goat, her Bucke for jealousie beat out his braines as hee lay
asleepe. Wee have raised to the highest straine the excesse of this
moodie feaver, after the example of some barbarous nations: The best
disciplines have therewith beene tainted, it is reason, but not carried
away by it
Ense maritali nemo confossus adulter,
Purpureo stygias sanguine tinxit aquas.
With husbands sword yet no adulter slaine,
With purple blood did Stygian waters staine.
Lucullus, Caesar, Pompey, Anthony, Cato, and divers
other gallant men were Cuckolds, and know it, though they made no stirre
about it. There was in all that time but one gullish coxcombe Lepidus,
that died with the anguish of it.
Ah tum te miserum malique fati,
Quaem attractis pedibus patente porta.
Percurrent mugilesque raphanique./1
Ah thee then wretched, of accursed fate,
Whom Fish-wives, Redish-wives of here estate,
Shall scoffing over-runne in open gate.
And the God of our Poet, when he surprised one of his companions napping
with his wife, was contented but to shame them:
Atque aliquis de iis non tristibus optat,
Sic fieri turpis./2
Some of the merier Gods doth wish in heart
To share their shame, of pleasure to take part.
And yet forbeareth not to be enflamed with the gentle dalliances and amorous
blandishments she offereth him, complaining that for so slight a matter
he should distrust her to him deare-deare affection
-----
1 CATUL. Lyr. Epig. xv. 17. 2 OVID. Met. 1. iv. 187.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Quid causes petis ex alto? fiducia cessit
Quo tibi Diva mei/1
So farre why fetch you your pleas pedigree?
Whither is fled the trust you had in mee?
And which is more, she becomes a suiter to him in the behalfe of a bastard
of hers,
Arma rogo genitrix nato./2
A mother for a sonne, I crave,
An armor he of you may have.
Which is freely granted her: and Vulcan speakes honourably of Aeneas,
Arma acri facienda viro./3
An armour must be hammered out,
For one of courage sterne and stout.
In truth with an humanity more then humane. And which excesse of
goodnesse by my consent shall onely be left to the Gods
Nec divas hominis componier aequum est./4
Nor is it meet, that men with Gods
Should be compar'd, there is such ods.
As for the confusion of children, besides that the gravest law-makers appoint
and affect it in their Common-wealths, it concerneth not women with whom
this passion is, I wot not how in some sort better placed, fitter seated.
Saepe etiam Iuno maxima coelicolum Conjugis inculpa flagravit quotidiana./5
Ev'n Juno, chiefe of Goddesses, oft-time, Hath growne hot at her husbands
daily crime. When jealousie once seazeth on these silly, weake, and
unresisting soules, 'tis pitiful to see how cruelly it
-----
1 VIRG. Aen. 1. viii. 395. 2 VIRG. Aen. 1. viii. 382. 3
Ib. 441. 4 CATUL. Eleg. iv. 141. 5 Ib. 138.
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tormenteth, insultingly it tyrannizeth them. It insinuateth it
selfe under colour of friendship; but after it once possesseth them, the
same causes which served for a ground of good-will, serve for the foundation
of mortall hatred. Of all the mindes diseases, that is it, whereto
most things serve for sustenance, and fewest for remedy. The vertue,
courage, health, merit and reputation of their husbands are the firebrands
of their despight, and motives of their rage.
Nullae sunt inimicitiae nisi amoris acerbae./1
No enmities so bitter prove
And sharpe, as those which spring of love.
This consuming feaver blemisheth and corrupteth all that otherwise is good
and goodly in them. And how chaste or good a huswife soever a jealous
woman is, there is no action of hers but tasteth of sharpnesse and smaks
of importunity. It is a furious perturbation, a moody agitation, which
throwes them into extremities altogether contrary to the cause. The
successe of one Octavius in Rome was strange, who, having layen with and
enjoied the love of Pontia Posthumia, increased his affection by enjoying
her, and instantly sued to mary her; but being unable to perswade her,
his extreme passionate love precipitated him into effects of a most cruell,
mortall and inexorable hatred., whereupon he killed her. Likewise
the ordinary Symptomes or assions of this other amorous disease are intestine
hates, slie Monopolies, close conspiracies:
Notumque, furens quid foemina possit./2
It is knowne what a woman may,
Whose raging passions have no stay.
And a raging spight, which so much the more fretteth it self by being forced
to excuse it selfe under pretence of good-will. Now the duty of chastitie
hath a large extension and farre-reaching compasse. Is it
-----
1 PROPERT. 1. ii. El. viii. 3. 2 VIRG. Aen. 1. v. 6.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
their will we would have them to bridle? That's a part very pliable
and active. It is very nimble and quick-rolling to bee staied.
What? If dreames do sometimes engage them so farre as they cannot
dissemble nor deny them; It lieth not in them (nor perhaps in chastitie
it selfe, seeing she is a female) to shield themselves from concupiscence
and avoid desiring. If only their will interesse and engage us, where and
in what case are we? Imagine what great throng of men there would
bee in pursuit of this privilege, with winged speed (though without eies
and without tongue) to be conveied upon the point of every woman that would
buy him. The Scythian women were wont to thrust out the eies of all
their slaves and prisoners taken in warre, thereby to make more free and
private use of them. Oh what a furious advantage is opportunitie!
He that should demand of me what the chiefe or first part in love is, I
would answer, To know how to take fit time; even so the second, and likewise
the third. It is a point which may doe all in all. I have often
wanted fortune, but sometimes also enterprise. God shield him from harme
that can yet mocke himselfe with it. In this age more rashnesse is
required; which our youths excuse under colour of heat. But should
our women looke neerer unto it, they might finde how it rather proceedeth
of contempt. I superstitiously feared to offend; and what I love
I willingly respect. Besides that, who depriveth this merchandize
of reverence, defaceth all luster of it. I love that a man should
therein somewhat play the childe, the dastard and the servant. If
not altogether in this, yet in some other things I have some aires or motives
of the sottish bashfulnesse+, whereof
Plutarch speaketh; and the course of my life hath diversly beene wounded
and tainted by it: a qualitie very ill beseeming my universall forme.
And what is there amongst us but sedition and jarring? Mine eyes be as
tender to beare a refusall as to refuse; and it doth so much trouble me
to be troublesome to others, that where occasions force me or dutie compelleth
me to trie
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the will of any one, be it in doubtfull things, or of cost unto him,
I do it but faintly and much against my will but if it be for mine owne
private businesse (though Homer say most truly, that in an indigent or
needy man, bashfulnesse is but a fond vertue) I commonly substitute a third
party, who may blush in my roome: and direct them that employ mee, with
like difficulty: so that it hath sometimes befallen me to have the will
to deny when I had not power to refuse. It is then folly to go about
to bridle women of a desire so fervent and so naturall in them. And
when I heare them bragge to have so virgin-like a will and cold mind, I
but laugh and mocke at them. They recoile too farre backward.
If it be a toothlesse beldame or decrepit grandame, or a young drie pthisicke
starveling; if it be not altogether credible, they have at least some colour
or apparence to say it. But those which stirre about and have a little
breath left them, marre but their market with such stuffe: forsomuch as
inconsiderate excuses are no better then accusations. As a Gentleman
my neighbour, who was suspected of insufficiencie,
Languidior tenera cui pendens sicula beta,
Nunquam se mediam sustulit ad tunicam,/1
to justifie himselfe, three or foure dayes after his mariage, swore confidently
that the night before he had performed twenty courses, which oath hath
since served to convince him of meere ignorance, and to divorce him from
his wife. Besides, this allegation is of no great worth; for there
is nor continencie nor vertue where no resistance is to the contrary.
It is true, may one say, but I am not ready to yeeld. The Saints
themselves speake so. This is understood of such as boast in good
earnest of their coldnesse and insensibility, and would be credited with
a serious countenance: for, when it is from an affected looke (where the
eyes give words the lie) and from the faltring speech of their profession
(which ever workes against
-----
1 CAT. Eleg. iii. 21.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
the wooll) I allow of it. I am a duteous servant unto plainnesse,
simplicity and liberty; {PlainDealer+}
but there is no remedie, if it be not meerely plaine, simple, or infantine;
it is fond, inept and unseemely for Ladies in this commerce; it presently
inclineth and bendeth to impudence. Their disguisings, their figures
and dissimulations cozen none but fooles; there lying sitteth in the chaire
of honour; it is a by-way, which by a false posterne leads us unto truth.
If we cannot containe their imaginations, what require we of them? the
effects? Many there be who are free from all strangers communication,
by which chastitie may be corrupted and honestie defiled.
Illud saepe facit, quod sine teste facit/1
What she doth with no witness to it,
She often may be found to do it.
And those whom we feare least are peradventure most to be feared; their
secret sins are the worst.
Ofendor moecha simpliciore minus./2
Pleas'd with a whores simplicity.
Offended with her nicitie.
There are effects which without impuritie may lose them their pudicitie,
and which is more, without their knowledge. Obstetrix virginis cuiusdam
integritatem manu velut explorans, sive malevolentia, sive inscitia, sive
casu, dum inspicit, perdidit: 'A Midwife searching with her finger into
a certaine maiden's virginity, either for ill will, or of unskilfulnesse,
or by chance, whilest shee seekes and lookes into it, shee lost and spoiled
it.' Some one hath lost or wronged her virginity in looking or searching
for it; some other killed the same in playing with it. Wee are not
able precisely to circumscribe them the actions we forbid them: Our
law must be conceived under generall and uncertaine termes. The very
Idea we forge unto their chastity is
-----
1 MART. 1. vii. Epiq. lxi. 6. 2 MART. 1. vi. Epig. vii.
6.
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ridiculous. For amongst the extremest examples or patternes I
have of it, it is Fatua, the wife of Faunas, who, after shee was maried,
would never suffer her selfe to be seene of any man whatsoever. And
Hierons wife, that never felt her husbands stinking breath, supposing it
to be a quality common to all men. It were necessary, that to satisfie
and please us, they should become insensible and invisible. Now let
us confesse that the knot of the judgement of this duty consisteth principally
in the will. There have beene husbands who have endured this accident,
not only without reproach and offence against their wives, but with singular
acknowledgment, obligation and commendation to their vertue. Some
one that more esteemed her honestie then she loved her life, hath prostituted
the same unto the lawlesse lust and raging sensuality of a mortall hatefull
enemy, thereby to save her husbands life; and hath done that for him which
she never could have beene induced to do for her selfe. {Man_of_Mode+}
This is no place to extend these examples; they are too high and over-rich
to be presented in this luster: let us therefore reserve them for a nobler
seat. But to give you some examples of a more vulgar stampe.
Are there not women daily seene amongst us, who for the only profit of
their husbands, and by their expresse order and brokage, make sale of their
honesty? And in old times Phaulius the Argian, through ambition offred
his to King Philip. Even as that Galba, who bestowed a supper on
Mecenas, perceiving him and his wife beginne to bandy eie-trickes and signes,
of civility shrunke downe upon his cushion, as one expressed with sleepe,
to give better scope unto their love: which he avouched as pretily: for
at that instant a servant of his, presuming to lay hands on the plate which
was on the table, he cried outright unto him: 'How now varlet? seest thou
not I sleepe only for Mecenas?' One may be of loose behaviour, yet of purer
will and better reformed then another who frameth her selfe to a precise
apparance. As some are seene complaine because they vowed chastitie
before yeeres of discretion or knowledge, so have I seene
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others unfainedly bewaile and truly lament that they were vowed to licentiousnesse
and dissolutenes before the age of judgement and distinction. The
parents leaudnesse may be the cause of it; or the force of impulsive necessity,
which is a shrewd counsellor and a violent perswader. Though chastity
were in the East Indias of singular esteeme, yet the custome permitted
that a maried wife might freely betake her selfe to what man soever did
present her an Elephant: and that which some glory to have been valued
at so high a rate. Phedon the philosopher, of a noble house, after
the taking of his country Elis, professed to prostitute the beauty of his
youth to all commers, so long as it should continue, for money to live
with and beare his charges. And Solon was the first of Grece (say some),
who by his lawes gave women liberty, by the price of their honestie, to
provide for their necessities: A custome which Heroditus reporteth to have
beene entertained before him in divers commonwealths. And moreover,
what fruit yeelds this carefull vexation? For, what justice soever
be in this passion, yet should we note whether it harrie us unto our profit
or no. Thinkes any man that he can ring them by his industrie?
Pone seram, cohibe; sed quis custodiet ipsos
Custodes? cauta est, et. ab illis incipit uxor./1
Keepe her with locke and key: but from her who shall keepe
Her Keepers? She begins with them, her wits so deepe.
What advantage sufficeth them not in this so skilfull age? Curiosity
is everywhere vicious, but herein pernicious. It is meere folly for
one to seeke to be resolved of a doubt, or search into a mischiefe, for
which there is no remedie, but makes it worse, but festereth the same:
the reproach whereof is increased, and chiefely published by jealousie;
and the revenge whereof doth more wound and disgrace our children then
it helpeth or graceth us. You waste away and die in pursuit of so
concealed a mysterie, of so obscure a
-----
1 JUVEN. Sat. vi. 247.
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verification. Whereunto how piteously have they arrived, who in
my time have attained their purpose? If the accuser or intelligencer
present not withall the remedy and his assistance, his office is injurious,
his intelligence harmefull, and which better deserveth a stabbe then doth
a lie. Wee flout him no lesse that toileth to prevent it, then laugh
at him that is a Cuckold+ and knowes it
not. The character of cuckoldrie is perpetuall; on whom it once fastneth
it holdeth for ever. The punishment bewraieth it more then the fault.
It is a goodly sight to our private misfortunes from out the shadow of
oblivion or the dungeon of doubt, for to blazon and proclaimes them on
Tragicall Stages; and misfortunes which pinch us not, but by relation.
For (as the saying is) she is a good wife, and that a good marriage, not
that is so indeed, but whereof no man speaketh. Wee ought to be wittly-wary
to avoid this irksome, this tedious and unprofitafile knowledge.
The Romans were accustomed, when they returned from any journey, to send
home before, and give their wives notice of their comming, that so they
might not surprize them. And therefore hath a certaine nation instituted
the Priest to open the way unto the Bridegroome, on the wedding day, thereby
to take from him the doubt and curiosity of searching in this first attempt,
whether shee come a pure virgin to him, or be broken and tainted with any
former love. But the world speakes of it. I know a hundred
Cockolds which are so honestly and little undecently. An honest man
and a gallant spirit is moaned, but not disesteemed by it. Cause
your vertue to suppresse your mishap, that honest- minded men may blame
the occasion and curse the cause; that he which offends you may tremble
with onely thinking of it. And, moreover, what man is scot- free,
or who is not spoken of in this sense, from the meanest unto the highest?
------ tot qui legionibus imperitavit, Et melior quam tu multis
fuit, improbe, rebus./1
-----
1 LUCR. 1. iii .1070
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
He that so many bands of men commanded,
Thy better much, sir knave, was much like branded.
Seest then not how many honest men, even in thy
presence, are spoken of and touched with this reproach? Imagine then
they will be as bold with thee, and say as much of thee else-where.
For no man is spared. And even Ladies will scoffe and prattle of
it. And what do they now adaies more willingly flout at, then at
any wel composed and peaceable mariage? There is none of you all
but hath made one Cuckold or other. Now nature stood ever on this
point, Kae mee Ile kae thee, and ever ready to bee even alwaies on recompences
and vicissitude of things, and to give as good as one brings. The
long-continued frequence of this accident should by this time have seasoned
the bitter taste thereof: It is almost become a custome. Oh
miserable passion, which hath also this mischiefe, to be an incommunicable.
Fors etiam nostris invidit quaestibus aures./1
Fortune ev'n eares envied,
To heare us when we cried.
For to what friend dare you entrust your grievances, who, if hee laugh
not at them, will not make use of them, as a direction and instruction
to take a share of the quarie or bootie to himselfe? As well the
sowrenesse and inconveniences, as the sweetnesse and pleasures incident
to mariage, are secretly concealed by the wiser sort. And amongst
other importunate conditions belonging to wedlocke, this one, unto a babling
fellow as I am, is of the chiefest; that tyrannous custome makes it uncomely
and hurtfull for a man to communicate with any one all hee knowes and thinkes
of it. {blabbing+} To give women advice
to distaste them from jealousies were but time lost or labour spent in
vaine. Their essence is so infected with suspicion, with vanity and
curiosity, that we may not hope to cure them by
-----
1 CATUL. Her. Argon. 170.
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any lawfull meane. They often recover of this infirmitie by a
forme of health, much more to be feared then the disease it selfe.
For even as some inchantment cannot ridde away an evill but with laying
it on another, so when they lose it, they transferre and bestow this maladie
on their husbands. And to say truth, I wot not whether a man can
endure anythinly at their hands worse then jealousie; of all their conditions
it is most dangerous, as the head of all their members. Pittacus
said, that every man had one imperfection or other, his wives curst pate
was his;' and but for that, he should esteeme himselfe most happy.
It must needs be a weightie inconvenience, wherewith so just, so wise and
worthy a man, felt the state of his whole life distempered: what shall
we petie fellowes doe then? The Senate of Marceille had reason to
grant and enroll his request who demanded leave to kill himselfe, thereby
to free and exempt himselfe from his wives tempestuous scolding humor;
for it is an evill that is never cleane rid away but by removing the whole
peece: and hath no other composition of worth, but flight or sufferance;
both too-too hard, God knowes. And in my conceit, he understood it
right that said, a good mariage might be made betweene a blinde woman and
a deafe man. Let us also take heed, lest this great and violent strictnesse
of obligation we enjoine them, produce not two effects contrary to our
end: that is to wit, to set an edge upon their suiters stomacks, and make
women more easie to yeeld. For, as concerning the first point, enhancing
the price of the place, we raise the price and endeare the desire of the
conquest. Might it not be Venus her selfe, who so cunningly enhanced
the market of her ware by the brokage or pandarizing of the lawes? knowing
how sottish and tasteless a delight it is, were it not enabled by opinion
and endeared by dearnes. To conclude, it is all but hogges flesh,
varied by sauce, as said a roguish Flaminius his hoast. Cupid is a roguish
God; his sport is to wrestle wit] devotion and to contend with justice.
It is his glory, that his power checketh and
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copes all other might, and that all other rules give place to his.
Materiam culpae prosequiturque suae./1
He prosecutes the ground,
Where he is faulty found.
And as for the second point; should wee not be lesse Cuckolds if we lesse
feared to be so; according to womens conditions: whom inhibition inciteth,
and restraint inviteth.
Ubi velis folunt, ubi nolis volunt ultro:/2
They will not when you will,
When you will not, they will;
Concessa pudet ire via./3
They are asham'd to passe
The way that granted was.
What better interpretation can we finde concerning Messalinas demeanor?
In the beginning she made her silly husband Cuckold secretly and by stealth
(as the fashion is) but perceiving how uncontrolled and easily she went
on with her matches, by reason of the stupidity that possessed him, shee
presently contemned and forsooke that course, and began openly to make
love, to avouch her servants, to entertaine and favour them in open view
of all men; and would have him take notice of it, and seeme to be distasted
with it: but the silly gull and senselesse coxcombe awaked not for all
this, and by his over-base facility, by which hee seemed to authorize and
legitimate her humours, yeelding her pleasures weerish, and her amours
tastelesse: what did shee? Being the wife of an Emperour, lustie
in health and living; and where? In Rome, on the worlds chiefe theater,
at high noone-day, at a stately feast, in a publike ceremonie; and which
is more, with one Silius, whom long time before she had freely enjoied,
she was solemnly maried one day that her
-----
1 OVID. Trist.El. i. 34. 2 TER. Eunuc. act iv. sc. 6. 3
LUCAN. 1. ii. 445.
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husband was out of the Citie. Seemes it not that she tooke a direct
course to become chaste, by the retchlesnesse of her husband? or that she
sought another husband, who by jealousie might whet her appetite, and who
insisting might incite her? But the first difficultie she met with
was also the last. The drowzie beast rouzed himselfe and suddenly
started up. One hath often the worst bargaines at the hands of such sluggish
logger heads. I have seene by experience, that this extreme patience
or long-sufferance, if it once come to be dissolved, produceth most bitter
and outragious revenges: for, taking fire all at once, choller and fury
hudling all together, becomming one confused chaos, clattereth foorth their
violent effects at the first charge.
Irarumque omnes effundit habenas./1
It quite lets loose the raine,
That anger should restraine.
He caused both her and a great number of her instruments and abettors to
be put to death; yea such as could not doe withall, and whom by force of
whipping she had allured to her adulterous bed. What Virgill saith
of Venus and Vulcan, Lucretius had more sutably said it of a secretly-stolne
enjoying betweene her and Mars,
-----belli fera munera Mavors
Armipotens regit, in gremium qui saepe tuum se
Reiicit, aeterno devinctus vulnere amoris:
Pascit amore aridos inhians in te Dea visus,
Eque tuo endet resupini spiritus ore:
Hunc tu Diva tuo recubantem corpore sancto
Circumfusa super, suaveis ex ore loquelas
Funde./2
Mars, mighty arm'd, rules the fierce feats of armes,
Yet often casts himselfe into thine armes,
Oblig'd thereto by endlesse wounds of love,
Gaping on thee feeds greedy sight with love,
-----
1 VIRG. Aen. 1. xii. 499. 2 LUCR. 1. i. 38.
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His breath hangs at thy mouth who upward lies,
Goddesse thou circling him, while he so lies,
With thy celestiall body, speeches sweet
Powre from thy mouth (as any Nectar sweet). When I consider this,
reiicit, pascit, inhians, molli, fovet, medullas, labefacta, pendet, percurrit,
and this noble circumfusa, mother of gentle infusus, I am vexed at these
small points and verball allusions, which since have sprung up. To
those well-meaning people there needed no sharpe encounter or witty equivocation:
their speech is altogether full and massie, with a naturall and constant
vigor: they are all epigram, not only taile, but head, stomacke, and feet.
There is nothing forced, nothing wrested, nothing limping; all marcheth
with like tenour. Contextus totus virilis est, non sunt circa flosculos
occupati. The whole composition or text is
manly+, they are not bebusied about Rhetorike flowers. This is
not a soft quaint eloquence, and only without offence; it is sinnowie,
materiall, and solid; not so much delighting, as filling and ravishing,
and ravisheth most the strongest wits, the wittiest conceits. When
I behold these gallant formes of expressing, so lively, so nimble, so deepe,
I say not this is to speake well, but to think well. It is the quaintnesse
or livelinesse of the conceit that elevateth and puffes up the words.
Pectus est quod disertum facit: 'It is a mans owne brest that makes him
eloquent.' Our people terme judgement, language; and full conceptions,
fine words. This pourtraiture is directed not so much by the hands
dexterity as by having the object more lively printed in the minde.
Gallus speakes plainly {PlainDealer+}
because he conceiveth plainly. Horace is not pleased with a sleight or
superficiall expressing, it would betray him; he seeth more cleere and
further into matters: his spirit pickes and ransaketh the whole store of
words and figures, to shew and present himselfe; and he must have them
more then ordinary, as his conceit is beyond ordinary. Plutarch saith
that he discerned the Latine tongue by things. Here likewise the sense
enlighteneth and
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produceth the words: no longer windy or spongy, but of flesh and bone.
They signifie more then they utter. Even weake ones shew some image
of this. For, in Italie, I spake what I listed in ordinary discourses,
but in more serious and pithy I durst not have dared to trust to an Idiome
which I could not winde or turne beyond it's common grace or vulgar bias.
I will be able to adde and use in it somewhat of mine owne. The managing
and emploiment of good wits endeareth and giveth grace unto a tongue: not
so much innovating as filling the same with more forcible and divers services,
wresting, straining and enfolding it. They bring no words unto it,
but enrich their owne, waigh downe and cramme-in their signification and
custome; teaching it unwonted motions; but wisely and ingenuously.
Which skill how little it is given to all, may plainly bee discerned by
most of our moderne French Writers. They are over-bold and scornefull,
to shunne the common trodden path: but want of invention and lacke of discretion
looseth them. There is nothing to be seene in them but a miserable strained
affectation of strange Inke-pot termes; harsh, cold and absurd disguisements,
which in stead of raising, pull downe the matter. So they may gallantize
and flush it in novelties they care not for efficacies To take hold of
a new farre-fetcht word, they neglect the usuall, which often are more
significant, forcible and sinnowie. {PlainDealer+}
I finde sufficient store of stuffs in our language, but some defect of
fashion. For there is nothing but could be framed of our Hunters
gibbrish words or strange phrases, and of our Warriours peculiar tearmes;
a fruitfull and rich soile to borrow of. And as hearbes and trees
are bettered and fortified by being trans-planted, so formes of speach
are embellished and graced by variation. I finde it sufficiently
plenteous, but not sufficiently plyable and vigorous. It commonly
faileth and shrinketh under a pithy and powerfull conception. If
your march therein be far extended, you often feele it droope and languish
under you, unto whose default the Latine doth now and then present
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his helping hand, and the Greeke to some others. By some of these
words which I have culled out, we more hardly perceive the Energie or effectuall
operation of them, forsomuch as use and frequencie have in some sort abased
the grace and made their beauty vulgar. As in our ordinary language
we shall sometimes meete with excellent phrases and quaint metaphors, whose
blithenesse fadeth through age, and colour is tarnish by too common using
them. But that doth nothing distaste those of sound judgement, nor
derogate from the glory of those ancient Authors, who, as it is likely,
were the first that brought these words into luster, and raised them to
that straine. The sciences handle this over finely with an artificiall
maner, and different from the vulgar and naturall forme. My Page
makes love, and understands it feelingly; Read Leon Hebraeus or Ficinus
unto him; you speake of him, of his thoughts and of his actions, yet understands
he nothing what you meane. I nor acknowledge nor discerne in Aristotle
the most part of my ordinary motions. They are clothed with other
robes, and shrouded under other vestures for the use of Academicall schooles.
God send them well to speed; but were I of the trade, I would naturalize
Arte as much as they Artize nature. [Farewell,] Benbo and Equicola.
When I write I can well omit the company, and spare the remembrance of
books; for feare they interrupt my forme. And in truth good Authours
deject me too-too much, and quaile my courage. I willingly imitate
that Painter who, having bungler-like drawne and fondly represented some
Cockes forbad his boies to suffer any live Cocke to come into his shop.
And to give my selfe some luster or grace have rather neede of some of
Antinonides the Musicians invention; who, when he was to play any musick,
gave order that before or after him, some other bad musicians should cloy
and surfet his auditory. But I can very hardly be without
Plutark+, he is so universall and so full, that upon all occasions,
and whatsoever extravagant subject you have undertaken, he intrudeth himselfe
into your
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work, and gently reacheth you a helpe-affording hand, fraught with rare
embelishments and inexhaustible of precious riches. It spights me
that he is so much exposed unto the pillage of those which haunt him.
He can no sooner come in my sight, or if I cast but glance upon him, but
I pull some legge or wing from him. For this my dissignement, it
much fitteth my purpose that I write in mine owne house, in a wild country,
where no man belpeth or releeveth me; where I converse with no body that
understands the Latine of his Pater noster, and as little of French.
I should no doubt have done it better else where, but then the worke had
beene lesse mine, whose principall drift and perfection is to be exactly
mine. I could mend an accidentall errour, whereof I abound in mine
unwary course; but it were a kinde of treason to remove the imperfections
from me, which in me are ordinary and constant. {PlainDealer+}
When any body else, or my selfe have said unto my selfe: Thou art
too full of figures or allegories; here is a word meerely- bred Gaskoyne;
that's a dangerous phrase: (I refuse none that are used in the frequented
streets of France, those that will combat use and custome by the strict
rules of Grammar do but jest) there's an ignorant discourse, that's a paradoxicall
relation: or there's a foolish conceit: thou doest often but dally: one
will thinke thou speakest in earnest what thou hast but spoken in jest.
Yea (say I), but I correct unadvised, not customarie errors. Speake
I not so every where? Doe I not lively display my selfe? That
sufficeth: I have my will: All the world may know me by my
booke, and my booke by me: but I am of an Apish and imitating condition.
When I medled with making of verses (and I never made any but in Latine),
they evidently accused the poet I came last from reading. And of
my first Essayes, some taste a little of the stranger. At Paris I
speake somewhat otherwise then at Montaigne. Whom I behold with attention,
doth easily convay and imprint something of his in me. What I heedily
consider, the same I usurpe: a
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
foolish countenance, a crabbed looke, a ridiculous manner of speach.
And vices more: because they pricke mee, they take fast bold upon mee,
and leave nice not, unlesse I shake them off. I have more often beene
heard to sweare by imitation then by complexion. Oh injurious and
dead-killing imitation: like that of those huge in greatnesse and matchlesse
in strength Apes, which Alexander met withall in a certaine part of India:
which otherwise it had beene hard to vanquish. But by this their
inclination to counterfeit whatsoever they saw done, they afforded the
meanes. For, thereby the Hunters learn't in their sight to put on
shooes, and tie them with many strings and knots; to dresse their heads
with divers strange attires, full of sliding- knots and dissemblingly to
rub their eyes with Glew or Bird-lime; so did those silly harmlesse beasts
indiscreetly employ their Apish disposition. They ensnared, glewed, entrameled,
haltred and shackled themselves. That other faculty of Extempore
and wittily representing the gestures and words of another, which often
causeth sport and breedeth admiring, is no more in me then in a blocke.
When I sweare after mine owne fashion, it is onely by God; the directest
of all oathes. They report that Socrates swore by a Dogge; Zeno by
that interjection (now a daies used amongst the Italies) Capari; and Pithagoras
by water and by aire. I am so apt at unawares to entertaine these
superficiall impressions, that if but for three daies together I use myselfe
to speake to any Prince with your Grace or your Highnesse, for eight daies
after I so forget my selfe, that I shall still use them for your Honour
or your Worship: and what I am wont to speake in sport or jest, the next
day after I shall speake in good serious earnest. Therefore in writing
I assume more unwillingly much beaten arguments, for feare I handle them
at others charges. All arguments are alike fertile to me. I
take them upon any trifle. And I pray God this were not under-taken
by the commandement of a minde as fleeting. Let me begin with that
likes me best, for all matters
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are linked one to another. But my conceit displeaseth me, for
somuch as it commonly produceth most foolish dotages from deepest studies,
and such as content me on a suddaine, and when I least looke for them;
which as fast fleete away, wanting at that instant some holde fast.
On horse-backe, at the table, in my bed; but most on horse-backe, where
my amplest meditations and my farthest reaching conceits are. My
speach is somewhat nicely jealous of attention and silence; if I be in
any earnest talke, who interrupteth me, cuts me off. In travell,
even the necessity of waies breakes off discourses. Besides that I most
commonly travell without company, which is a great helpe for continued
reasonings: whereby I have sufficient leasure to entertaine my selfe.
I thereby have that successe I have in dreames: In dreaming I commend
them to my memory (for what I dream I doe it willingly), but the next morning
I can well call to minde what colour they were of, whether blith, sad or
strange; but what in substance, the more I labour to finde out, the more
I overwhelme them in oblivion. So of casuall and unpremeditated conceits
that come into my braine, nought but a vaine image of them remaineth in
my memory; so much only as sufficeth unprofitably to make me chafe, spight
and fret in pursuite of them. Well, then, leaving bookes aside, and
speaking more materially and simply, when all is done I find that love
is notthing else but an insatiate thirst of enjoying a greedily desired
subject. Nor Venus that good huswife, other then a tickling delight
of emptying ones seminary vessels: as is the pleasure which nature giveth
us to discharge other parts, which becommeth faulty by immoderation and
defective by indiscretion. To Socrates love is an appetite of generation
by the mediation of beauty. Now, considering oftentimes the ridiculous
tickling or titilation of this pleasure, the absurd giddy, and hare-braind
motions wherwith it tosseth Zeno and agitates Cratippus: that unadvised
rage, that furious and with cruelty enflamed visage in loves lustfull and
sweetest effects: and then a grave,
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
sterne, severe, surly countenance in so fond-fond an action, that one
hath pell-mell lodged our joyes and filthes together, and that the supremest
voluptuous-nesse both ravisheth and plaineth, as doth sorrow: I beleeve
that which Plato saies to be true, that man was made by the Gods for them
to toy and play withall. {flies+}
----- quaenam ista jocandi Saeuitia?
What cruelty is this, so set on jesting is?
And that Nature in mockery left us the most troublesome of our actions,
the most common: thereby to equall us, and without distinction to set the
foolish and the wise, us and beasts all in one ranke; no barrel better
Hering. {common+}
When I imagine the most contemplative and discreetly-wise- men in these
tearmes in that humour, I hold him for a cozener, for a cheater to seeme
either studiously contemplative or discreetly wise. It is the foulenesse
of the peacockes feete which doth abate his pride, and stoope his gloating-eyed
tayle:
-----ridentem dicere verum,
Quid vetat?/1
What should forbid thee sooth to say, yet be as mery as we may.
Those which in playes refuse serious opinions, do as one reporteth, like
unto him who dreadeth to adore the image of a Saint, if it want a cover,
an aprone or a tabernacle. We feed full well and drinke like beasts;
but they are not actions that hinder the offices of our mind. In
those we hold good our advantage over them, whereas this brings each other
thought under subjection, and by it's imperious authority makes brutish
and dulleth all Platoes philosophy and divinity of it. In all other
things you may observe decorum and maintaine some decency: all other operations
admit some rules of honesty; this cannot onely be imagined, but vicious
or ridiculous.
-----
1 HOR. Ser. 1. i. Sat. ii. 24.
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See whether for example sake you can but find a wise or discreete proceeding
in it. Alexander said that he knew himselfe mortall chiefly by this
action and by sleeping; sleepe doth stifle and suppresseth the faculties
of our soule, and that both endevoureth and dissipates them. Surely
it is an argument not onely of our originall corruption, but a badge of
our vanity and deformity. On the one side nature urgeth us unto it; having
thereunto combined, yea fastned the most noble, the most profitable, and
the most sensually-pleasing of all her functions; and on the other sutereth
us to accuse, to condemne and to shunne it, as insolent, as dishonest and
as lewde, to blush at it, and allow, yea and to commend abstinence.
Are not we most brutish to terme that worke beastly which begets and which
maketh us? Most people have concurred in divers ceremonies of religion,
as sacrifices, luminaries, fastings, incensings, offrings, and amongst
others, in condemnation of this action. All opinions agree in that, besides
the so farre-extended use of circumcision. Wee have peradventure reason
to blame our selves for making so foolish a production as man, and to entitle
both the deed and parts thereto belonging shamefull (mine are properly
so at this instant). The Esseniens, of whom Plinie speaketh, maintained
themselves a long time without nurces or swathling clothes by the arrival
of strangers that came to their shoares, who seconding their fond humor,
did often visit them. A whole nation hazarding rather to consume
then engage themselves to feminine embracements, and rather lose the succession
of all men then forge one. They report that Zeno never dealt with
woman but once in all his life, which be did for civility, least he should
over obstinately seeme to contemne the sex. Each one avoideth to
see a man borne, but all runne hastily to see him dye. To destroy
him we seeke a spacious field and a full light, but to construct him we
hide our selves in some darke corner and worke as close as we may.
It is our dutie to conceale our selves in making him; it is our glory,
and the originall of many vertues
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
to destroy him being framed. The one is a manifest injury, the
other a greater favor, for Aristotle saith that in a certaine phrase, where
he was borne, to bonifie or benefit was as much to say as to kill one.
The Athenians, to eqnall the disgrace of these two actions, being to cleanse
the Ile of Delos and justify themselves unto Apollo forbad within that
precinct all buriall and births, Nostri nosmet poenitet;/1 'We are
weary of our selves.' There are some nations that when they are eating
they cover themselves. I know a Lady (yea one of the greatest) who
is of opinion that to chew is an unseemly thing, which much empaireth their
grace and beauty, and therefore by hir will she never comes abroad with
an appetite; And a man that cannot endure one should see him eate, and
shunneth all company more when he filleth then when he emptieth himselfe.
In the Turkish Empire there are many who to excell the rest will not be
seene when they are feeding, and who make but one meale in a weeke, who
mangle their face and cut their limmes, and who never speake to anybody,
who think to honour their nature by disnaturing themselves: oh fantasticall
people that prize themsefves by their contempt and mend their empairing.
What monstrous beast is this that maks himselfe a horror to himselfe, whom
his delights displease, who tyes himselfe unto misfortune? Some there
are that conceale their life,
Exilioque domos et dulcia limina mutant,/2
They change for banishment,
The places that might best content,
and steale it from the sight of other men; That eschew health and shunne
mirth as hatefull qualities and harmefull. Not onely divers Sects
but many people curse their birth and blesse their death. Some there
be that abborre the glorious Sunne and adore the hidious darkenesse.
We are not ingenious but to our own vexation; It is the true foode of our
spirits force; a dangerous and most unruly implement.
-----
1 TER. Phor. 2 VIRG. Geor. 1. ii. 511
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O miseri quorum gaudia crimen habent./1
O miserable they, whose joyes in fault we lay.
Alas, poore silly man, thou hast but too-too necessary and unavoidable
incommodities, without increasing them by thine owne invention, and are
sufficiently wretched of condition without any arte; thou aboundest in
reall and essentiall deformities, and need not forge any by imagination.
Doest thou find thy selfe too well at ease, unless the moiety of thine
ease molest thee? Findest thou to have supplied or discharged al
necessary offices wherto nature engageth thee, and that she is idle in
thee, if thou bind not thy selfe unto new offices? Thou fearest not
to offend hir universall and undoubted lawes, and art mooved at thine owne
partiall and fantasticall ones. And by how much more particular,
uncertaine, and contradicted they are, the more endevours thou bestowest
that way. The positive orders of thy parish tie thee, those of the.
world do nothing concerne thee. Runne but a little over the examples
of this consideration, thy life is full of them. The verses of these
two poets, handling lasciviousnesse so sparingly and so discreetly as they
do in my conceit, seeme to discover and display it nearer; ladies cover
their bosome with networke, priests many sacred things with a vaile, and
painters shadow their workes to give them the more luster and to adde more
grace unto them. And they say that the streakes of the Sunne and
force of the winde are much more violent by reflection then by a direct
line. The Egyptian answered him wisely that asked him what he had
hidden under his cloake? 'It is,' quoth he, 'hidden under my cloake that
thou maiest not know what it is.' But there are certaine other things which
men conceale to shew them. Hear this fellow more open:
Et nudam pressi corpus ad usque meum,/2
My body I applide, Even to her naked side,
-----
1 COR. GAL. El. i. 188. 2 OVID. Am. i. El.
v. 24.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Methinkes he baffles me. Let Martiall at his pleasure tuck-up
Venus he makes her not by much appeare so wholly. He that speakes
all he knows, doth cloy and distaste us. Who feareth to expresse
himselfe, leadeth our conceite to imagine more then happily he conceiveth.
There is treason in this kind of modesty, and chiefly as these do in opening
us so faire a path unto imagination. Both the action and description
should taste of purloyning. The love of the Spaniards and of the
Italians pleaseth me; by how much more respective and fearefull it is,
the more nicely close and closely nice it is, I wot not who in ancient
time wished his throat were as long as a Cranes neck that so hee might
the longer and more leasurely taste what he swallowed. That wish
were more to purpose than this suddaine and violent pleasure: Namely,
in such natures as mine, who am faulty in suddainenesse. To stay
her fleeting and delay her with preambles, with them all serveth for favour,
all is construed to be a recompence, a wink, a cast of the eye, a bowing,
a word, or a signe, a becke is as good as a Dew guard. Hee that could
dine with the smoake of roste-meat, might he not dine at a cheape rate?
would he not soone bee rich? It is a passion that commixeth with
small store of solide essence, great quantity of doating vanity and febricitant
raving: it must therefore be requited and served with the like. Let
us teach Ladies to know how to prevaile, highly to esteeme themselves,
to ammuse, to circumvent and cozen us. We make our last charge the
first; we shew our selves right French men, ever rash, ever headlong. Wire-drawing
their favours and enstalling them by retaile, each one, even unto miserable
old age, findes some listes end, according to his worth and merite.
He who hath no jovissance but in enjoying, who shootes not but to hit the
marke, who loves not hunting but for the prey; it belongs not to him to
entermedle with our Schoole. The more steps and degrees there are,
the more delight and honour is there on the top. We should bee pleased
to bee brought unto it as unto stately Pallaces by divers
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porches, severall passages, long and pleasant Galleries, and well contrived
turnings. This dispensation would in the end redound to our benefite;
we should stay on it, and longer love to lie at Racke and Manger, for these
snatches and away marre the grace of it. Take away hope and desire,
we grow faint in our courses, we come but lagging after. Our mastery
and absolute possession is infinitely to bee feared of them. After
they have wholy yeelded themselves to the mercy of our faith and
constancy+, they have hazarded something. They are rare and
difficult vertues: so soone as they are ours, we are no longer theirs.
-----postquam cupidae mentis satiata
libido est.
Verba nihil metuere, nihil perjuria curant./1
The lust of greedy minde once satisfied,
They feare no words; nor reke othes falsified.
And Thrasonides, a young Grecian, was so religiously amorous of his love,
that having after much suit gained his mistris hart and favour, he refused
to enjoy hir, least by that jovissance he might or quench, or satisfie,
or languish that burning flame and restlesse heat wherwith be gloried,
and so pleasingly fed himselfe. Things farre fetcht and dearly bought
are good for Ladyes. It is the deare price makes viands savour the
better. See but how the forme of salutations, which is peculiar unto our
nation, doth by its facility bastardize the grace of kisses, which Socrates
saith, to be of that consequence, waight and danger, to ravish and steale
our hearts. It is an unpleasing and injurious custome unto Ladies,
that they must afford their lips to any man that hath but three Lackies
following him, how unhandsome and lothsome soever he be:
Cuius livida naribus caninis,
Dependet glacies, rigetque barba?
Centum occurrere malo culilingis./2
From whose dog-nosthrils black-blew Ise depends,
Whose beard frost-hardned stands on bristled ends, &c.
-----
1 CATUL. Arg. v. 147. 2 MART. 1. v. Epig. xciv. 10.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Nor do we our selves gaine much by it: for as the world is divided into
foure parts, so for foure faire ones we must kisse fiftie foule: and to
a nice or tender stomack, as are those of mine age, one ill kisse doth,
surpay one good. In Italy they are passionate and languishing sutors
to very common and mercinarie women; and thus they defend and excuse themselves,
saying, That even in enjoying there be certaine degrees, and that by humble
services they will endevour to obtaine that which is the most absolutely
perfect. They sell but their bodyes, their willes cannot be put to
sale; that is too free, and too much it's owne. So say these, that
it is the will they attempt, and they have reason: It is the will
one must serve and most solicite. I abhor to imagine mine, a body
voide of affection. And me seemeth this frenzie hath some affinity with
that boyes fond humor, who for pure love would wantonize with that fayre
Image of Venus which Praxiteles had made; or of the furious Aegyptian who
lusted after a dead womans corpes, which he was embaulming and stitching
up: which was the occasion of the lawe that afterward was made in Aegypt,
that the bodies of faire, young, and nobly borne women should be kept three
dayes before they should be delivered into the hands of those who had the
charge to provide for their funerals and burials. Periander did more
miraculously, who extended his conjugall affection (more regular and lawfull)
unto the enjoying of Melissa his deceased wife. Seemes it not to
be a lunatique humor in the Moone, being otherwise unable to enjoy Endimion
her favorite darling, to lull him in a sweete slumber for many moneths
together; and feed hirselfe with the jovissance of a boye, that stirred
not but in a dreame? I say likewise, that a man loveth a body without
a soule when be loveth a body without his consent and desire. All
enjoyings are not alike. There are some hecticke, faint and languishing
ones. A thousand causes, besides affection and good will, may obtaine
us this graunt of women. It is no sufficient testimony of true affection:
therein may lurke treason,
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as elsewhere: they sometime goe but faintly to worke, and as they say
with one buttocke
Tan quam thura inerumque parent;/1
As though they did dispense
Pure Wine and Frankincense.
Absentem marmoreamve putes,/2
Of Marble you would thinke she were,
Or that she were not present there.
I knowe some that would rather lend that then their coach, and who empart
not themselves, but that way: you must also marke whether your company
pleaseth them for some other respect or for that end onely as of a lustie-strong
grome of a stable: as also in what rank and at what rate you are there
lodged or valued
-----tibi si datur uni;
Quo lapide illa diem candidiore notet./3
If it afforded be to thee alone,
Whereby she counts that day of all dayes one.
What if she eate your bread with the sauce of a more pleasing imagination?
Te tenet, absentes alios suspirat amores./4
Thee she retaines, yet sigheth she
For other loves that absent be.
What? have we not seene some in our dayes to have made use of this action
for the execution of a most horrible revenge, by that meanes murthering
and empoysoning (as one did) a very honest woman? such as know Italie will
never wonder if for this subject I seeke for no examples elsewhere.
For the said nation may in that point be termed Regent of the world.
They have commonly more faire women, and fewer foule then we; but in rare
and excellent beauties I thinke we match them. The like I judge of
their wits, of the vulgar sort they have evidently many more. Blockishnes
is without all comparison more rare
-----
1 MART. 1. xi. Epig. xiv. 5. 12. 2 Ib. lxi. 8. 3 CATUL.
Eleg. iv. 147. 4 TIBUL. iv. Eleg. v. 11.
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amongst them: but for singular wits, and of the highest pitch, we are
no whit behinde them. Were I to extend this comparison, I might (me
thinkes) say, touching valor+, that on the
other side, it is in regard of them popular and naturall amongst us: but
in their hands one may sometimes finde it so compleate and vigorous, that
it exceedeth all the most forcible examples we have of it. The mariages
of that countrie are in this somewhat defective.. Their custome doth generally
impose so severe observances and slavish lawes upon wives, that the remotest
acquaintance with a stranger is amongst them as capitall as the nearest.
Which law causeth that all aproaches prove necessarily substanciall; and
seeing all commeth to one reckoning with them, they have an easie choise:
and have they broken downectheir hedges? Beleeve it, they will have
fire: Luxuria ipsis vinculis, sicut fera bestia, irritata, deinde
emissa: 'Luxurie is like a wild beast, first made fiercer with tying, and
then let loose.' They must have the reynes given them a little.
Vidi ego nuper equum contra sua frena tenacem
Ore reluctante fulminis ire modo./1
I saw, spite of his bit, a resty colt,
Runne head-strong headlong like a thunder-bolt.
They allay the desire of company by giving it some liberty. It is
a commendable custome with our nation that our children are entertained
in noble houses there, as in a schoole of nobility to be trained and brought
up as Pages+. And 'tis said to be a kinde
of discourtesie to refuse it a gentleman. I have observed (for so
many houses so many severall formes and orders) that such Ladies as have
gone about to give their waiting women the most austere rules, have not
had the best successes. There is required more then ordinary moderation:
a great part of their government must bee left to the conduct of their
discretion: For, when all comes to all, no discipline can bridle
them in each point. True it is that
-----
1 OVID. Am. 1. iii. Eleg. iv. 13.
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she who escapeth safe and unpolluted from out the schoole of fredome,
giveth more confidence of hirselfe than she who commeth sound out of the
schoole of severity and restraint. Our forefathers framed their daughters
countenances unto shamefastnesse and feare (their inclinations and desires
alwaies alike), we unto assurance. We understand not the matter.
That belongeth to the Sarmatian wenches, who by their lawes may lie with
no man, except with their owne hands they have before killed another man
in warre. To me that have no right but by the eares, it sufficeth
if they retaine me to be of their counsell, following the priviledge of
mine age, I then advise both them and us to embrace abstinence, but if
this season bee too much against it, at least modestie and discretion.
For as Aristippus (speaking to some young men who blushed to see him go
into a bawdy house) said, 'The fault was not in entring, but in not comming
out again.' She that will not exempt hir conscience, let hir exempt hir
name; though the substance bee not of worth, yet let the apparance hold
still good. I love gradation and prolonging in the distribution of
their favours. Plato sheweth that in all kindes of love, facility
and readinesse is forbidden to defendants. 'Tis a trick of greedinesse
which it behoveth them to cloake with their arte, so rashly and fond-hardily
to yeeld themselves in their distributions of favours, holding a and moderate
course, they much better deceive our desires and conceale theirs.
Let them ever be flying before us: I meane even those that intend
to bee overtaken as the Scithians are wont, though they seeme to runne
away they heate us more, and sooner put us to route. Verily according to
the lawe which nature giveth them, it is not fit for them to will and desire:
their part is to beare, to obay, and to consent. Therefore hath nature
bestowed a perpetual capacity; on us a seld and uncertaine ability.
They have alwaies their houre, that they may ever be ready to let us enter.
And whereas she hath willed our appetites should make apparant shew and
declaration, she caused theirs to bee
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concealed and inward: and hath furnihed them with parts unfit for ostentation,
and onely for defence. Such prankes as this we must leave to the
Amazonian liberty. Alexander the great, marching through Hircania,
Thalestris, Queen of the Amazones, came to meet him with thre hundred lances
of her sex, all well mounted and compleately armed, having left the residue
of a great armie, that followed hir, beyond the neighbouring mountaines.
And thus aloud, that all might heare, she bespake him: That the farre-resounding
fame of his victories and matchles valour had brought hir thither to see
him, and to offer him hir meanes and forces for the advancing and furthering
of his enterprises. And finding him so faire, so young and strong,
she, who was perfectly accomplished in all his qualities, advised him to
lye with hir, that so there might be borne of the most valiant woman in
the world, and only valiant man then living, some great and rare creature
for posterity. Alexander thanked hir for the rest, but to take leasure
for hir last demands accomplishment, he staide thirteene daies in that
place, during which be revelled with as much glee, and feasted with as
great jollity, as possibly could be devised, in honour and favour of so
courageous a Princess. Wee are well-nigh in all things parciall and corrupted
Judges of their action, as no doubt they are of ours. I allow of
truth as well when it hurts me as when it helps me. It is a foule
disorder, that so often urgeth them unto change, and hinders them from
setting their affection on any one subject: as wee see in this Goddesse,
to whom they impute so many changes and severall friends. But withall
it is against the nature of love+ not to be
violent, and against the condition of violence to be constant. And
those who wonder at it exclaime it against it, and in women search for
the causes of this infirmity, as incredible and unnaturall: why see they
not how often without any amazement and exclaiming, themselves are possessed
and infected with it? I might happily seeme more strange to find
any constant stay in them. It is not a passion meerely corporeall.
If no end be found in coveteousnesse, nor
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limit in ambition, assure your selfe there is nor end nor limit in letchery.
It yet continueth after saciety: nor can any man prescribe it or end or
constant satisfaction. It ever goeth on beyond it's possession, beyond
it's bounds. And if constancy be peradventure in some sort more pardonable
in them then in us, They may readily alleage against us our ready inclination
unto daily variety and new ware; And secondly alleage without us, that
they buy a pigge in a poake. Ione, Queene of Naples caused Andreosse
her first husband to be strangled and hanged out of the barres of his window,
with a corde of Silke and golde woven with her owne hands; because in bed
businesse she found neither his members nor endevours answerable the hope
shee had conceived of him, by viewing his stature, beauty, youth, and disposition,
by which she had formerly beene surprised and abused. That action
hath in it more violence then passion; so that on their part at least necessity
is ever provided for: on our behalfe it may happen otherwise. Therefore
Plato by his lawes did very wisely establish, that before marriages, the
better to decide it's opportunity, competent Judges might be appointed
to make view of young men which pretended the same, all naked: and of maidens
but to the waste: in making triall of us, they happily find us not worthy
their choise: Experta latus, madidoque simillima loro Inguina, nec
lassa stare coacta manu Deserit imbelles thalamos./1 It is not sufficient
that will keepe a lively course: weakenesse and incapacity may lawfully
breake wedlock: Et quaerendum aliunde foret neruosius illud Quod
posset Zonam soluere virgineam./2
Why not, and according to measure, an amorous
intelligence, more licentious and more active?
-----
1 MART. 1. vii. Epig. lvii. 8. 2 CATUL. Eleg. iii. 27.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Si blando nequeat superesse labori./1
If it cannot outlast, labor with pleasure past.
But is it not great impudency to bring our imperfections
and weakenesse, in place where we desire to please, and leave good report
and commendation behind us? for the little I now stand in need of,
------ ad unum
Mollis opus.
Unable to hold out, one onely busie bout,
I would not importune any one whom I am to reverence.
-----fuge suspicari,
Cuius undenum trepidavit aetas
Claudere lustrum./2
Him of suspition clears,
Whom age hath brought well neare
To five and fifty yeare.
Nature should have beene pleased to have made this age miserable, without
making it also ridiculous. {usthem+}
I hate to see one for an inch of wretched vigor, which enflames him but
thrice a week, take-on and swagger as fiercely as if he hath some great
and lawfull dayes-worke in his belly; a right blast or puffe of winde:
and admire his itching, so quick and nimble, all in a moment to be lubberly
squat and benummed. This appetite should only belong to the blossom
of a prime youth. Trust not unto it, thogh you see it second that
indefatigable, full, constant and swelling heate, that is in you: for truly
it will leave you at the best, and when you shall most stand in neede of
it. Send it rather to some tender, irresolute and ignorant girle,
which yet trembleth for feare of the rod, and that will blush at it, Indum
sanguineo veluti violaverit ostro Si quis ebur, vel mista rubent ubi lilia,
multa Alba rosa./3
-----
1 VIRG. Geor. 1. iii. 127. 2 HOR.. Car. 1. ii. Od.
iv. 22. 3 VIRG. Aen. 1. xii. 67.
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As if the Indian Ivory one should taint With bloody Scarlet-graine,
or Lillies paint, White entermixt with red with Roses enter-spred.
Who can stay untill the next morrow, and not die for shame, the disdaine
of those love sparkling eyes, privie to his faintnesse, dastardise and
impertinencie: El taciti fecere tamen conuitia vultus:/1 The face though
silent, yet silent upbraydes it: he never felt the sweet contentment, and
the sense-mooving earnestness to have beaten and tarnished them by the
vigorous exercise of an officious and active night. When I have perceived
any of them weary of me, I have not presently accused her lightnes: but
made question whether I had not more reason to quarrell with nature, for
handling me so unlawfully and uncivilly, Si non longa satis, si non bene
mentula crassa: Nimirum sapiunt videntque paruam Matronae quoque
mentuiam illibenter,/2 and to my exceeding hurt. Each of my pieces
are equally mine, one as another: and no other doth more properly make
me a man then this. My whole pourtraiture I universally owe unto
the world. One wisedome and reach of my lesson is all in truth, in
liberty, in essence: disdaining in the catalogue of my true duties, these
easie, faint, ordinary and provincial] rules. All naturall; constant
and generall; whereof civility and ceremonie are daughters, but bastards.
We shall easily have the vices of apparance, when we shall have had those
of essence. When we have done with these, we run upon others, if
we finde need of running. For there is danger that we devise new
offices, to excuse our negligence toward naturall offices, and to confound
them. That is so, we see that in places where faults are bewitchings, bewitchings
are
-----
1USVID. Amor. 1. i. El. vii. 21. 2 Lus. Priap. penul.
i. ib. viii. 4.
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but faults. That among nations, where lawes of seemelinesse are
more rare and slacke, the primitive lawes of common reason are better observed:
The innumerable multitude of so manifold duties, stifling, languishing
and dispersing our care. The applying of our selves unto sleight
matters, with- draweth us from such as be just. Oh how easie and
plausible a course do these sperficiall men undertake, in respect of ours.
These are but shadowes under which we shroud, and wherwith we pay one another.
But we pay not, but rather heape de on debt, unto that great and dreadfull
judge, who tucks up our clouts and rags from about our privie parts, and
is not squeamish to view all over, even to our most inward and secret deformities:
a beneficiall decencie of our maidenly bashfulnesse, could it debar him
of this tainted discovery. To conclude, he that could recover or
un-besot man, from so scrupulous and verball a superstition, should not
much prejudice the world. Our life consisteth partly in folly and partly
in wisedome. Hee that writes of it but reverently and regularly,
omits the better moitie of it. I excuse me not unto my selfe, and
if I did, I would rather excuse my excuses then any fault else of mine:{selfcrit+}
I excuse my selfe of certaine humors, which in number I hold stronger then
those which are on my side: In consideration of which I will say
thus much more (for I desire to please all men, though it be a hard matter:
Esse unum hominem accommodatum ad tantam morum ac sermonum et voluntatum
varietatem: 'That one man should be applyable to so great variety of manners,
speeches and dispositions') that they are not to blame me, for what I cause
auctorities received and approved of many ages, to utter: and that it is
not reason, they should for want of ryme deny me the dispensation; which
ever some of our churchmen usurpe and enjoy in this season, whereof behold
here two, and of the most pert and cocket amongst them: Rimula dispeream,
ni mono qramma tua est. Un vit d'amy la contents et rien traitte.
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How many others more? I love modestie+;
nor is it from judgement that I have made choise of this kinde of scandalous
speech: 'tis nature hath chosen the same for me; I commend it no more then
all formes contrary unto received custome: onely I excuse it: and by circumstances
as well generall as particular, would qualifie the imputation. Well,
let us proceed. Whence commeth also the usurpation of soveraigne
auctority, which you assume unto your selves, over those that favour you
to their cost and prejudice,
Si furtiva dedit nigra munuscula nocte,/1
If she have giv'n by night,
The stolne gift+
of delight,
that you should immediately invest withall the interest, the coldness and
a wedlock authority? It is a free bargaine, why do you not undertake
it on those termes you would have them to keepe? There is no prescription
upon voluntarie things. It is against forme, yet it is true that
I have in my time managed this match (so farre as the nature of it would
allow) with as much conscience as any other whatsoever, and not without
some colour of justice: and have given them no further testimony of mine
affection then I sincerely felt: and have lively displaide unto them the
decllnation, vigor and birth of the same; with the fits and deferring of
it: A man cannot alwayes keepe an even pace, nor ever go to it alike.
I have bin so sparing to promise+, that
(as I thinke) I have paid more then either I promised or was due. {Kent+}
They have found mee faithfull, even to the service of their inconstancy:
I say an inconstancy avowed, and sometimes multiplied. I never broke with
them, as long as I had any hold, were it but by a threds- end: and whatsoever
occasion they have given me by their ficklenes, I never fell off unto contempt
and hatred: for such famliarities, though I attaine them on most shamefull
conditions, yet do
-----
1 CATUL. Eleg. iv. 145.
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they bind me unto some constant good-will. I have sometime given
them a taste of choller and indiscret impatience, upon occasions of their
wiles, sleights, close-convayances, controversies and contestations betweene
us; for, by complexion, I am subject to hastie and rash motions, which
often empeach my traffick, and marre my bargaines, though but meane and
of small worth. Have they desired to essay the liberty of my judgement,
I never dissembled to give them fatherly counsell and biting advise, and
shewed myselfe ready to scratch them where they itched. If I have
given them cause to complaine of me, it hath bin most for finding a love
in me, in respect of our moderne fashion, foolishly conscientious.
I have religiously kept my word in things that I might easily have bin
dispensed with. They then yeelded sometimes with reputation, and
under conditions, which they would easily suffer to bee infringed by the
conqueror. I have more then once made pleasure in hir greatest efforts
strike saile unto the interest of their
honor+: and where reason urged me, armed them against me, so that
they guided themselves more safely and severely by my prescriptions, if
they once freely yeelded unto them, then they could have done by their
owne. I have as much as I could endevored to take on my selfe the
charge and hazard of our appointments, therby to discharge them from all
imputation; and ever contrived our meetings in most hard, strange and unsuspected
manner, to be the lesse mistrusted, and (in my seeming) the more accessible.
They are opened, especially in those parts where they suppose themselves
most concealed. Things lest feared are lest defended and observed.
You may more securely dare what no man thinks you would dare, which by
difficulty becometh easie. Never had man his approches more impertinently
genitale. {Dorimant+} This way to
love is more according to discipline. But how ridiculous unto our
people, and of how small effect, who better knowes then I? I will
not repent me of it: I have no more to lose by the matter.
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-----me tabula sacer
Votiva paries, indicat uvida,
Suspendisse potenti
Vestimenta maris Deo./1
By tables of the vowes which I did owe
Fastened thereto the sacred wall doth showe;
I have hung up my garments water-wet,
Unto that God whose power on seas is great.
It is now high time to speake plainely of it. But even as to another,
I would-perhaps say: My friend thou dotest, the love of thy times
hath small affinity with faith and honesty:
-----haec si tu postules
Ratione certa facere, nihilo plus agas,
Quam si des operam; ut cum ratione insanias./2
If this you would by reason certaine make,
You do no more then if the paines you take
To be starke mad, and yet to thinke it reason fit.
And yet if I were to beginne anew, it should bee by the very same path
and progresse, how fruitlesse soever it might proove unto me, Insufficiency
and sottishnesse are commendable in a discommendable action. As much
as I separate my selfe from their humour in that, so much I approach unto
mine owne. Moreover, I did never suffer my selfe to be wholly given
over to that sport; I therewith pleased, but forgot not my selfe.
I ever kept that little understanding and dis-cretion which nature hath
bestowed on me, for their service and mine; some motion towards it, but
no dotage. My conscience also was engaged therein, even unto incontinency
and excesse, but never unto ingratitude, treason, malice, or cruelty.
I bought not the pleasure of this vice at all rates, and was content with
it's owne and simple cost. Nullum intra se vitium est:/3 'There
is no vice contained in it selfe.' I hate almost alike a crouching and
dull lasinesse and a toilesome
-----
1 HOR. Car. 1. i. Od. v. 13. 2 TER. Eunuc. act i.
sc. 3 SEN. Epist. xcv.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
and thorny working. The one pincheth, the other dulleth mee.
I love wounds as much as bruses, and blood wipes as well as dry-blowes.
I had in the practice of this solace, when I was fitter for it, an even
moderation betweene these two extremities. Love is a vigilant, lively,
and blithe agitation: I was neither troubled nor tormented with it;
But heated and distempred by it. There wee must make a stay; It is
only hurtfull unto fooles. A young man demanded of the Philosopher
Panetius, whether it would beseeme a wise man to be in love; Let wise men
alone (quoth be) but for thee and me that are not so, it were best not
to engage our selves into so stirring and violent a humour, which makes
us slaves to others and contemptible unto our selves. He said true,
for we ought not entrust a matter so dangerous unto a minde that hath not
wherewith to sustaine the approaches of it, nor effectually to quaile the
speach of Agesilaus, That wisedome and love cannot live together.
It is a vaine occupation ('tis true), unseemely, shamefull and lawlesse:
But using it in this manner, I esteeme it wholsome and fit to rouze a dull
spirit and a heavy body: and as a physitian experienced, I would prescribe
the same unto a man of my complexion and forme, as soone as any other receipt
to keepe him awake and in strength, when he is well in yeares; and delay
him from the gripings of old age. As long as we are but in the suburbes
of it, and that our pulse yet beateth, Dum nona canines, dum prima et recta
senectus, Dum superest Lachesi quod torqueat, et pedibus me Porto meis,
nullo dextram subeunte bacillo,/1 While hoarie haires are new, and ould-age
fresh and straight, While Lachesis hath yet to spin, while I my waight
Beare on my feete, and stand, without staffe in my hand, We had need to
bee solicited and tickled, by some biting agitation, as this is.
See but what youth, vigour and jollity it restored unto wise Anacreon.
And Socrates, when hee was elder then I am, speaking of an
-----
1 Juv. Sat. iii. 26.
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amourous object: leaning (saies bee) shoulder to shoulder, and approaching
my head unto his, as were both together looking upon a booke, I felt, in
truth, a sudden tingling or prickling in my shoulder, like the biting of
some beast, which more then five daies after tickled mee, whereby a continuall
itching glided into my heart. But a casuall touch, and that but in
a shoulder, to enflame, to distemper and to distract a minde, enfeebled,
tamed and cooled through age; and of all humane mindes the most reformed.
And why not I pray you? Socrates was but a man, and would neither
be nor seeme to bee other. Philosophie contends not against naturall
delights, so that due measure bee joyned therewith; and alloweth the moderation,
not the shunning of them. The efforts of her resistance are employed
against strange and bastard or lawlesse ones. She saith that the
bodies appetites ought not to be encreased by the minde; and wittily adviseth
us, that we should not excite our hunger by saciety; not to stuffe, insteed
of filling our bellies: to avoide all jovissance that may bring us to want:
and shunne the meat and drink which may make us hungry or thirstie.
As in the service of love, shee appoints us to take an object that onely
may satisfie the bodies neede without once moving the mind, which is not
there to have any doing, but only to follow and simply to assist the body.
But have I not reason to thinke that these precepts, which (in mine opinion
are elsewhere somewhat rigorous) have reference unto a body which doth
his office; and that a dejected one, as a weakned stomack, may be excused
if he cherish and sustaine the same by arte, and by the entercouse of fantazie,
to restore it the desires, the delights and blithnesse, which of it selfe
it hath lost. May we not say that there is nothing in us, during
this earthly prison, simply corporall, or purely spirituall? and that injuriously
we dismember a living man? that there is reason we should carrie our selves
in the use of pleasure, at least as favourably as we do in the pangs of
griefe? For example, it was vehement, even unto
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
perfection, in the soules of Saints, by repentance. The body had
naturally a part therein, by the right of their combination, and yet might
have but little share in the cause: and were not contented that it should
simply follow and assist the afflicted soule: they have tormented the body
it selfe with convenient and sharpe punishments; to the end that one with
the other, the body and the soule might a vie plunge man into sorrow so
much the more saving, by how much the more smarting. In like case,
in corporal pleasures, is it not injustice to quaile and coole the minde,
and say, it must thereunto be entrained, as unto a forced bond or servile
necessity? She should rather hatch and cherish them, and offer and invite
it selfe unto them; the charge of swaying rightly belonging to her.
Even as in my conceit, it is her part, in her proper delights, to inspire
and infuse into the body all sense or feeling which his condition may beare,
and indevour that they may be both sweet and healthy for him. For,
as they say, 'tis good reason, that the body follow not his appetites to
the mindes prejudice or dammage. But why is it not likewise reason
that the minde should not follow hers to the bodies danger and hurt?
I have no other passion that keeps mee in breath. What avarice, ambition,
quarels, sutes in law, or other contentions worke and effect in others
who as my selfe have no assigned vacation or certaine leisure, love would
performe more commodiously: it would restore me the vigilancy, sobriety,
grace and care of my person; and assure my countenance against the wrinckled
frowns of age (those deformed and wretched frownes) which else would blemish
and deface the same; it would reduce me to serious, to sound and wise studies,
whereby I might procure more love, and purchase more estimation: it would
purge my minde from despaire of it selfe, and of its use, acquainting the
same againe with it selfe: It would divert me from thousands of irksome
tedious thoughts, and melancholy carking cares, wherewith the doting idlenesse
and crazed condition of our age doth charge
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and comber us: It would restore and heat, though but in a dreame,
the blood which nature forsaketh: It would uphold the drooping chinne,
and somewhat strengthen or lengthen the shrunken sinewes, decaied vigour,
and dulled lives-blithenesse of silly wretched man, who gallops apace to
his ruine. But I am not ignorant how hard a matter it is to attaine
to such a commodity: through weakenesse and long experience, our taste
is growne more tender, more choise, and more exquisite. We challenge
most when we bring least; we are most desirous to choose when we least
deserve to be accepted: And knowing our selves to bee such, we are
lesse hardy and more distrustfull: Nothing can assure us to be beloved,
seeing our condition and their quality. I am ashamed to be in the
companie of this greene, blooming and boyling youth; Cujus in indomito
constantior inguine nervus, Cum nova collibus arbor inhaeret:/1 Why
should we present our wretchednesse amid this their jollity?
Possint ut juvenes visere fervidi
Multo non sine risu,
Dilapsam in cineres facem,/2
That hot young men may go and see,
Not without sport and mery glee,
Their fire-brands turn'd to ashes be.
They have both strength and reason on their side; let us give them place:
we have no longer holde fast. This bloome of budding beauty loves
not to be handled by such nummed and so clomsie bands, nor would it be
dealt-with by meanes purely materiall or ordinary stuffe. For, as
that ancient Philosopher answered one that mocked him because hee could
not obtaine the favour of a yongling, whom he suingly pursued: 'My friend,'
quoth be, 'the hooke bites not at such fresh cheese.' It is a commerce
needing relation and mutuall correspondency: other pleasures that we
-----
1 HOR. Epod. xii. 19. 2 HOR. Car. 1. iv. Od. xiii.
26.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
receive may be requitted by recompences of different nature; but this
cannot be repaid but with the very same kinde of coyne. Verily, the
pleasure I do others in this sport doth more sweetly tickle my imagination
then that is done unto me. Now if no generous minde can receive pleasure
where he returneth none, {gift+}
it is a base minde that would have all duty and delights to feed with conference
those under whose charge he remaineth. There is no beauty, nor favour,
nor familiarity so exquisite, which a gallant minde should desire at this
rate. Now, if women can do us no good but in pittie, I had much rather
not to live at all then to live by almes. I would I had the priviledge
to demande of them, in the same stile I have heard some beg in Italy:
Fate beno per voi. 'Do some good for your selfe'; or after the manner that
Cyrus exhorted his souldiers: 'Whosoever loveth mee, let him follow mee.'
Consort your selfe, will some say to me, with those of your owne condition,
whom the company of like fortune will yeeld of more easie accesse.
Oh sottish and wallowish composition!
-----nolo
Barbam vellere mortito leoni./1
I will not pull (though not a fearde),
When he is dead, a Lion's beard.
Xenophon useth for an objection and accusation against Menon, that in his
love he dealt with fading objects. I take more sensuall pleasure
by onely viewing the mutuall, even-proporcioned and delicate commixture
of two yong beauties; or onely to consider the same in mine imagination,
then if my selfe should be second in a lumpish, sad and disproporcioned
conjunction. I resigne such distasted and fantasticall appetites unto the
Emperour Galba, who medled with none but cast, worne, hard-old flesh; And
to that poore slave,
O ego dii faciant talem te cernere possim,
Charaque mutatis oscula ferre comis,
Amplectique meis corpus non pingue lacertis./2
-----
1 MART. 1. x. Epig. xc. 9. 2 OVID. Pont. 1. i. Eleg.
v. 49.
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Gods graunt I may beholde thee in such case,
And kisse thy chang'd locks with my dearest grace,
And with mine armes thy limmes not fat embrace.
And amongst blemishing-deformities, I deeme artificial] and forced beautie
to bee of the chiefest. Emanez, a young lad of Chios, supposing by
gorgeous attires to purchase the beauty which nature denied him, came to
the philosopher Arcesilaus, and asked of him whether a wise man could be
in love or no. 'Yes, marrie,' quoth he, 'so it were not with a painted
and sophisticate beauty, as thine is.' The fowlenesse of an old knowne
woman is, in my seeming not so aged or so ill-favoured as one that's painted
and sleeked. Shall I bouldly speake it, and not have my throate cut
for my labour? Love is not properly nor naturally in season but in
the age next unto infancy.
Quam si puellarum insereres choro,
Mire sagaces falleret hospites.
Discrimen obscurum solutis
Crinibus, ambiguoque vultu./1
Whom if you should in crue of wenches place,
With haire loose-hanging, and ambiguous face,
Strangely the undiscern'd distinction might
Deceive a thousand strangers of sharpe sight.
No more is perfect beauty. For, whereas Homer extends it untill such
time as the chinne begins to bud, Plato himselfe hath noted the same for
very rare, and the cause for which the Sophister Dion termed youthes budding
hayres, Aristogitons and Harmodii is notoriously knowne. In man-hoode
I finde it already to bee somewhat out of date, much more in old age.
Importunus enim transuolat aridas
Qaercus./2
Importune love doth over flie
The Okes with withered old-age drie.
1 HOR. Car. 1. ii. Od. v. 12. 2 Ib. 1. iv. Od. xiii.
9.
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And Margaret, Queen of Navarre, lengthens much (like a woman) the priviledge
of women; Ordaining thirty yeares to be the season for them to change the
title of faire into good. The shorter possession we allow it over
our lives the better for us. Behold it's behaviour. It is a
princock boy, who, in his schoole, knows not how far one proceeds against
all order: study, exercise, custome and practise, are paths to insufficiency:
the novices beare all the sway. Amor ordinem nescit: 'Love knowes
or keeps no order.' Surely it's course hath more garbe when it is commixt
with unadvisednes and trouble: faults and contrary successes give it edge
and grace: so it be eager and hungry, it little importeth whether it bee
prudent. Observe but how he staggers, stumbleth and fooleth; you
fetter and shackle him when you guide him by arte and discretion, and you
force his sacred liberty when you submit him to those bearded, grim, and
tough-hard hands. Moreover, I often heare them display this intelligence
as absolutely spiritual, disdaining to draw into consideration the interest
which all the sences have in the same. All serveth to the purpose.
But I may say that I have often seen some of us excuse the weaknesse of
their minds in favour of their corporall beauties; but I never saw them
yet, that in behalfe of the mindes-beauties, how sound and ripe soever
they were, would afford an helping hand unto a body that never so little
falleth into declination. Why doth not some one of them long to produce
that noble Socraticall brood; or breed that precious gem between the body
and the mind, purchasing with the price of her thighes a Philosophicall
and spirituall breed and intelligence, which is the highest rate she can
possibly value them at? Plato appointeth in his laws that he who
performeth a notable and worthy exploite in warre, during the time of that
expedition, should not be denied a kisse or refused any other amorous favour
of whomsoever be shall please to desire it, without respect either of his
ill-favourdnes, deformity, or age. What he
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deemeth so just and allowable in commendation of Military valour, may
not the same be thought as lawfull in commendation or some other worth?
and why is not some one of them possessed with the humor to preoccupate
on hir companions the glory of this chaste love? chaste I may well say:
-----nam si quando ad praelia ventum
est,
Ut quondam stipulis magnus sine viribus ignis
In cassum furit./1
If once it come to handy-gripes; as great,
But forcelesse fire in stubble; so his heate
Rageth amaine, but all in vaine.
Vices smothered in ones thought are not the woorst. To conclude this
notable commentarie, escaped from me by a flux of babling, a flux sometimes
as violent as hurtfull,
Ut missum sponsi furtivo munere malum,
Procurrit casto virginis e gremio:
Quod miserae oblitae molli sub veste locatum,
Dum adventu matris prosilit, excutitur,
Atque illud prono praeceps agitur decursu,
Huic manat tristi conscius ore rubor./2
As when some fruit by stealth sent from hir friend,
From chaste lap of a virgin doth descend,
Which by hir, under hir soft aprone plast,
Starting at mothers comming thence is cast:
And trilling downe in haste doth head-long go,
A guilty blush in hir sad face doth flo.
I say that both male and female are cast in one same moulde; {feminism+}
instruction and custome excepted, there is no great difference betweene
them. Plato calleth them both indifferently to the society of all
studies, exercises, charges and functions of warre and peace in his Commonwealth.
And the Philosopher Antisthenes took away al distinction betweene their
vertue and ours. It is much more easie to accuse the one sexe then
to excuse the other. It is that which some say proverbially:
Ill may the Kill call the Oven burnt
-----
1 VIRG. Geor. 1. iii. 98 2 CATUL. Eleg. i. 19.
CHAPTER 3.VI+ OF COACHES +
IT is easie to verifie, that excellent authors' writing of causes, do
not only make use of those which they imagine true, but eftsoones of such
as themselves beleeve not: always provided they have some invention and
beautie. They speake sufficiently, truly and profitably, if they
speake ingeniously. We cannot assure our selves of the chiefe cause:
we hudle up a many together, to see whether by chance it shall be found
in that number:
Namque unam dicere causam,
Non satis est, verum plures, unde una tamen sit./1
Enough it is not one cause to devise,
But more, whereof that one may yet arise.
Will you demand of me whence this custome ariseth, to blesse and say God
helpe to those that sneese? We produce three sortes of winde: that
issuing from belowe is too undecent; that from the mouth implieth some
reproach of gourmandise; the third is sneesing: and because it commeth
from the head, and is without imputation, we thus kindly entertains it:
smile not at this subtilty, it is (as some say) Aristotles. Me seemeth
to have read in Plutarch+ (who of all the
authors I know, hath best commixt arte with nature, and coupled judgement
with learning), where he yeeldeth a reason why those which travell by sea
do sometimes feele such qualmes and risings of the stomack, saying, that
it proccedeth of a kinde of feare: having found-out some reason by which
he prooveth that feare may
-----
1 LUCR 1. vi. 700.
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cause such an effect. My selfe, who am much subject unto it, know
well that this cause doth nothing concerne me. And I know it, not
by argument, but by necessary experience without alleaging what some have
tolde me, that the like doth often happen unto beasts, namely, unto swine,
when they are farthest from apprehending any danger: and what an acquaintance
of mine hath assured me of himselfe, and who is greatly subject unto it,
that twice or thrice in a tempestous storme, being surprised with exceeding
feare, all manner of desire or inclination to vomit had left him.
As to that ancient good fellow; Peius vexabat quam ut periculum mihi succurreret:
'I was worse vexed then that danger could helpe me.' I never apprehended
feare upon the water, nor any where else (yet have I often had just cause
offred me, if death it selfe may give it) which either might trouble or
astony me. It proceedeth sometimes as well from want of judgement
as from lacke of courage. All the dangers I have had have beene when
mine eyes were wide-open, and my sight cleare, sound and perfect.
For even to feare, courage is required. It hath sometimes steaded
me, in respect of others, to direct and keepe my flight in order, that
so it might be, if not without feare, at least without dismay and astonishment.
Indeed, it was moved, but not amazed nor distracted. Undanted mindes
march further, and represent flight, not onely temperate, setled and sound,
but also fierce and bold. Report we that which Alcibiades relateth of Socrates
his companion in armes. I found (saith he) after the rout and discomfiture
of our armie, both him and Lachez in the last ranke of those that ranne
away, and with all safety and leasure considered him, for I was mounted
upon an excellent good horse, and he on foote, and so had we combated all
day. I noted first, how in respect of Lachez, he shewed both discreet
judgement and undanted resolution: then I observed the undismaide bravery
of his march, nothing different from his ordinary pace: his looke orderly
and constant, duly observing and heedily judging what ever passed
<Mont3-144>MONTAIGNES ESSAYES
round about him: sometimes viewing the one, and sometimes looking on
the other both friends and enemies, with so composed a manner, that he
seemed to encourage the one and menace the other, signifying, that whosoever
should attempt his life must purchase the same or his blood at a high-valued
rate; and thus they both saved themselves, for men do not willingly graple
with these, but follow such as shew or feare or dismay. Lo here the
testimony of that renowned Captaine, who teacheth us what wee daily finde
by experience, that there is nothing doth sooner cast us into dangers then
an inconsiderate greedinesse to avoide them. Quo timoris minus est,
eo minus ferme periculi est: 'The lesse feare there is, most commonly the
lesse danger there is.' Our people is to blame to say such a one feareth
death, when it would signifie that he thinkes on it and doth foresee the
same. Foresight doth equally belong as well to that which concerneth
us in good as touch us in evill. To consider and judge danger is in some
sort not to be danted at it. I doe not find my selfe sufficiently
strong to withstand the blow and violence of this passion of feare, or
of any other impetuosity; where I once therewith vanquished and deterred,
I could never safely recover my selfe. He that should make my minde
forgoe her footing could never bring her unto her place againe. She
doth over lively sound and over deepely search into her selfe, and therefore
never suffers the wound which pierced the same to be throughly cured and
consolidated. It hath beene happy for me that no infirmity could
ever yet displace her. I oppose and present myselfe in the best ward
I have against all charges and assaults that beset mee. Thus the
first that should beare me away would make me unrecoverable. I encounter
not two which way soever spoile should enter my hold, there am I open and
remedilesly drowned. Epicurus saith that a wise man can never passe
from one state to its contrary. I have some opinion answering his
sentence, that he who hath once beene a very foole shall at no time proove
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verie wise. God sends my cold answerable to my cloths, and passions
answering the meanes I have to indure them. Nature having discovered
mee on one side, hath covered mee on the other. Having disarmed me
of strength, she hath armed me with insensibility, and a regular or soft
apprehension. I cannot long endure (and lesse could in my youth) to ride
either in coach or litter, or to go in a boat; and both in the citty and
country I hate all manner of riding but a horse-back; And can lesse endure
a litter then a coach, and by the same reason more easily a rough agitation
upon the water, whence commonly proceedeth feare, then the soft stirring
a man shall feele in calme weather. By the same easie gentle motion
which the oares give, convaying the boat under us, I wot not how I feel
both my head intoxicated and my stomacke distempered, as I cannot likewise
abide a shaking stoole under me. Whenas either the saile, or the
gliding course of the water doth equaly carry us away, or that we are but
towed, that gently gliding and even agitation doth no whit distemper or
hurt me. It is an interrupted and broken motion that offends mee,
and more when it is languishing. I am not able to display its forme.
Phisitions have taught mee to bind and gird my selfe with a napkin or swath
round about the lower part of my belly as a remedy for this accident, which
as yet I have not tride, beeing accustomed to wrestle and withstand such
defects as are in mee, and tame them by my selfe. Were my memory
sufficiently informed of them, I would not thinke my time lost heere to
set down the infinite variety which histories present unto us of the use
of coaches in the service of warre; divers according to the nations, and
different according to the ages, to my seeming of great effect and necessity.
So that it is wondrously strange how we have lost all true knowledge of
them; I will onely aleadge this, that even lately in our fathers time,
the Hungarians did very availefully bring them into fashion, and profitably
set them a work against the Turks; every one of them containing a Targattier
and
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
a Muskettier, with a certaine number of harquebuses or calivers, ready
charged, and so ranged that they might make good use of them, and all over
covered with a pavesado after the manner (if a Galliotte. They made
the front of their battaile with three thousand such coaches, and after
the Cannon had playd, caused them to discharge and shoote off a volie of
small shott upon their enemies before they should know or feele what the
rest of the forces could doe, which was no small advancement; or if not
this, they mainely drove those coaches amidde the thickest of their enemies
squadrons, with purpose to breake, disroute, and make waie through them.
Besides the benefit and helpe they might make of them in any suspicious
or dangerous place, to flanke their troupes marching from place to place;
or in hast to encompasse, to embarricado, to cover or fortifie any lodgement
or quarter. In my time, a gentleman of quality in one of our frontiers,
unwealdie and so burly of body that hee could finde no horse able to beare
his waight, and having a quarrell or deadly fude in hand, was wont to travaile
up and down in a coach made after this fashion, and found much ease and
good in it. But leave we these warlike coaches, as if their nullity
were not sufficiently knowne by better tokens; The last Kings of our first
race were wont to travell in chariots drawne by foure oxen. Mark
Antoni was the first that caused himselfe, accompanied with a minsterell
harlot, to be drawne by Lyons fitted to a coach. So did Heliogabalus
after him, naming himselfe Cibele, the mother of the Gods; and also by
Tigers, counterfeiting God Bacchus; who sometimes would also bee drawne
in a coach by two Stagges, and another time by foure mastive dogs; and
by foure naked wenches, causing himselfe to bee drawne by them in pompe
and state, hee being all naked. The emperour Firmus made his coach to bee
drawne by Estriges of exceeding greatnesse, so that hee rather seemed to
flye then to roule on wheeles. The strangenesse of these inventions doth
bring this other thing unto my fantasie, That it is a kinde of pusilanimity
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in Monarkes, and a testimony that them doe not sufficiently know what
they are when they labour to shew their worth, and endeavour to appeare
unto the world by excessive and intolerable expences. A thing which
in a strange country might somewhat bee excused, but among his native subjects
where hee swayeth all in all, he draweth from his dignity the extreamest
degree of honour that hee may possibly attaine unto. As for a gentleman
in his owne private house to apparrel himselfe richly and curiously, I
deeme it a matter vaine and superfluous; his house, his houshold, his traine
and his kitchin doe sufficiently answere for him. {foppery+}
The counsell which Isocrates giveth to his King (in my conceite) seemeth
to carry some reason, when hee willeth him to be richly-stored and stately
adorned with mooveables and household-stuffe, forsomuch as it is an expence
of continuance, and which descendeth even to his posterity or heires; And
to avoyde all magnificences which presently vanish both from custome and
memory. I loved when I was a yonger brother to set my selfe foorth
and be gaye in cloathes, though I wanted other necessaires, and it became
mee well: There are some on whose backes their rich Robes weepe,
or as wee say their rich cloathes are lyned with heavy debts. We
have divers strange tales of our auncient Kings frugalitie about their
owne persons, and in their gifts: great and farre renouned Kings both in
credit, in valour, and in fortune. Demosthenes mainely combates the
law of his Citie, who assigned their publique money to be imployed about
the stately setting forth of their playes and feasts. He willeth that their
magnificence+ should bee seene in the quantity of tall ships well manned
and appointed, and armies well furnished. And they have reason to
accuse Theophrastus, who in his booke of riches established a contrarie
opinion, and upholdeth such a quality of expences to be the true fruit
of wealth and plenty. They are pleasures (saith Aristotle) that onely
touch the vulgar and basest communalty, which as soone as a man is satisfied
with them, vanish out of minde; and whereof no man of sound
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
judgement or gravity can make any esteeme. The imployment of it,
as more profitable, just and durable, would seeme more royall, worthy and
commendable, about ports, havens, fortifications and walles; in sumptuous
'buildings, in churches, hospitals, colledges, mending of heighwayes and
streetes, and such like monuments; in which things Pope Gregory the thirteenth
shall leave aye-lasting and commendable memory onto his name; and wherein
our Queene Catherine should witnes unto succeeding ages her naturall liberality
and exceeding bounty, if her meanes were answerable to her affection.
Fortune hath much spighted mee to hinder the structure and breake-off the
finishing of our new-bridge in our great Citty, and before my deathto deprive
mee of all hope to see the great necessity of it set forward againe.
Moreover, it appeareth unto subjects, spectators of these triumphs, that
they have a show made them of their owne riches, and that they are feasted
at their proper charges; For the people do easily presume of their kings
as wee doe of our servants that they should take care plenteously to provide
us of whatsoever wee stand in neede of, but that on their bebalfe they
should no way lay hands on it. {royal_duty+}
And therefore the Emperor Galba sitting at supper, having taken pleasure
to heare a musitian play and sing before him, sent for his casket, out
of which be tooke a handful of Crowns and put them into his hand, with
these wordes: 'Take this, not as a gift of the publique money but of mine
owne private store.' So is it, that it often commeth to passe, that the
common people have reason to grudge, and that their eyes are fedde with
that which should feede their belly. Liberality it selfe, in a soveraigne
hand, is not in her owne luster: private men have more right, and may challenge
more interest in her. For, taking the matter exactly as it is, a
King hath nothing that is properly his owne; hee oweth even himselfe to
others. Authority is not given in favour of the authorising, but
rather in favour of the authorised. A superiour is never created
for his owne profit, but rather for the benefit of the inferiour; {kings_duty+}
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and a Physition is instituted for the sicke, not for himselfe.
All Magistracie, even as each arte, rejecteth her end out of her selfe.
Nulla ars in se versatur: 'No arte is all in it selfe.' Wherefore the governours
and overseers of Princes' childhood or minority, who so earnestly endeavor
to imprint this vertue of bounty and
liberality+ in them, and teach them not to refuse any thing, and
esteeme nothing so well imployed as what they shall give (an instruction
which in my dayes I have seene in great credit) either they preferre and
respect more their owne profit than their masters, or they understand not
aright to whom they speake. It is too easie a matter to imprint liberality
in him that hath wherewith plenteously to satisfie what be desireth at
other men's charges. And his estimation being directed not according
to the measure of the present, but according to the quality of his meanes
that exerciseth the same, it commeth to prove vaine in so puissant hands.
They are found to bee prodigall before they be liberall. Therefore it is
but of small commendation, in respect of other royall vertues; and the
onely (as said the tyrant Dionysius) that agreed and squared well with
tyrannie it selfe. I would rather teach him the verse of the ancient
labourer
T,- ' Wkjdhdsl%__()&% /1
Not whole sackes, but by the hand
A man should sow his seed i' the land.
That whosoever will reape any commodity by it must sow with his hand, and
not powre out of a sacke; that corne must be discreetly scattered, and
not lavishly dispersed; and that being to give, or, to say better, to pay
and restore to such a multitude of People, according as they have deserved,
he ought to be a loyall, faithfull, and advised distributer thereof.
If the liberality of a Prince be without heedy discretion and measure,
I would rather have him covetous and sparing. Princely vertue seemeth
to consist most in justice; and of all parts of justice that doth best
and most belong to
-----
1 PLUT. de Athen. ERAS. Chil. iii. cent. i. ad. 32.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Kings which accompanieth liberality; for they have it particularly reserved
to their charge; whereas all other justice they happily exercise the same
by the intermission of others. Immoderate bounty is a weake meane
to acquire them good will: for it rejecteth more people than it obtaineth:
Quo in plures usus sis, minus in multos uti possis. Quid autem est
stultius, quam, quod libenter facias, curare ut id diutius facere non possis?/1
'The more you have used it to many, the lesse may you use it to many more;
and what is more fond than what you willingly would doe, to provide you
can no longer doe it?' And if it be emploied without respect of merit,
it shameth him that receiveth the same, and is received without grace.
Some Tyrants have been sacrificed to the peoples hatred by the very hands
of those whom they had rashly preferred and wrongfully advanced: such kinde
of men, meaning to assure the possession of goods unlawfully and indirectly
gotten, if they shew to hold in contempt and hatred him from whom they
held them, and in that combine themselves unto the vulgar judgement and
common opinion. The subjects of a Prince rashly excessive in his gifts
become impudently excessive in begging: they adhere, not unto reason, but
unto example. Verily we have often, just cause to blush for our impudency.
We are overpaid according to justice, when the recompence equaleth our
service; for doe we not owe a kinde of naturall duty to our Princes?
If he beare our charge, he doth overmuch; it sufficeth if hee assist it:
the over-plus is called a
benefit+ which cannot be exacted; for the very name of liberality
implyeth liberty. After our fashion we have never done; what is received
is no more reckoned of: onely future liberality is loved: Wherefore
the more a Prince doth exhaust himselfe in giving, the more friends he
impoverisheth. How should be satisfie intemperate desires which increase
according as they are replenished? Whoso hath his minde on taking, hath
it no more on what he hath taken. Covetousnesse hath nothing so proper
as to bee ungratefull. {gratitude+}
-----
1 CIC. Off. 1.i.
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The example of Cyrus shal not ill fit this place, for the behoofe of
our kings of these daies, as a touch-stone, to know whether their gifts
be wel or ill employed: and make them perceive how much more happily that
Emperour did wound and oppresse them than they doe. Whereby they
are afterward forced to exact and borrow of their unknowne subjects, and
rather of such as they have wronged and aggrieved than of those they have
enriched and done good unto; and receive no aids, where any thing is gratitude,
except the name. Croesus upbraided him with his lavish bounty, and
calculated what his treasure would amount unto if he were more sparing
and close-banded. A desire surprised him to justifie his
liberality+, and dispatching letters over all parts of his dominions
to such great men of his estate whom hee had particularly advanced, entreated
every one to assist him with as much money as they could for an urgent
necessitie of his, and presently to send it him by declaration; when all
these count-bookes or notes were brought him, each of his friends supposing
that it sufficed not to offer him no more than they had received of his
bounteous liberality, but adding much of their owne unto it, it was found
that the said summe amounted unto much more than the niggardly sparing
of Croesus. Whereupon Cyrus said: 'I am no lesse greedy of riches
than other Princes, but I am rather a better husband of them. You
see with what small venture I have purchased the unvaluable treasure of
so many friends, and how much more faithfull treasurers they are to mee
than mercenary men would be, without obligation and without affection;
and my exchequer or treasury better placed than in paltery coafers; by
which I draw upon me the hate, the envy and the contempt of other Princes.'
The ancient Emperours were wont to draw som excuse, for the superfluity
of their sports and publike shewes, for so much as their authority did
in some sort depend (at least in apparance) from the will of the Romane
people; which from all ages are accustomed to be flattered by such kirne
of spectacles and excesses
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
But they were particular ones who had bred this custome to gratifie
their con-citizens and fellowes; especially by their purse, by such profusion
and magnificence. It was cleane altered when the masters and chiefe
rulers came once to imitate the same. Pecuniarum translatio a justis
dominis ad alienos non debet liber alis videri:/1 'The passing of money
from right owners to strangers should not seeme liberality.' Philip, because
his sonne indeavoured by gifts to purchase the good will of the Macedonians,
by a letter seemed to be displeased, and chid him in this manner: 'What,
wouldest thou have thy subjects to account thee for their purse-bearer,
and not repute thee for their King? Wilt thou frequent and practise
them? Then doe it with the benefits of thy vertue, not with those of thy
cofers.' Yet was it a goodly thing to cause a great quantity of great trees,
all branchie and greene, to bee far brought and planted in plots yeelding
nothing but dry gravell, representing a wilde shady forrest, divided in
due seemely proportion; And the first day to put into the same a thousand
Estriges, a thousand Stagges, a thousand wilde Boares, and a thousand Buckes,
yeelding them over to bee hunted and killed by the common people: the next
morrow in the presence of all the assembly to cause a hundred great Lions,
a hundred Leopards, and three hundred huge Beares to be baited and tugged
in pieces: and for the third day, in bloody manner and good earnest, to
make three hundred couple or Gladiators or Fencers to combate and murder
one another, as did the Emperour Probus. It was also a goodly shew
to see those huge Amphitheaters all enchased with rich marble, on the outside
curiously wrought with curious statues, and all the inner side glittering
with precious and rare embellishments:
Balteus en gemmis, en illita porticus auro
A belt beset with gemmes behold,
Behold a walke bedawb'd with gold.
-----
1 MART. 1. x. Epig. xc. 9. 2 OVID. Pont. 1. i. Eleg.
v. 49.
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All the sides round about that great void, replenished and invironed
from the ground unto the very top with three or foure score rankes of steps
and seates, likewise all of marble covered with faire cushions
----- exeat, inquit,
Si pudor est, et de pulvino surgat equestri,
Cujus res legi non sufficit,/1
If shame there be, let him be gone, he cries,
And from his knightly cushion let him rise,
Whose substance to the law doth not suffice.
Where might conveniently bee placed an hundred thousand men, and all sit
at ease. And the plaine-ground-worke of it, where sports were to
be acted, first by Art to cause the same to open and chap in sunder with
gaps and cranishes representing hollow cavernes, which vomited out the
beasts appointed for the spectacle; that ended, immediately to overflow
it all with a maine deepe sea, fraught with store of sea-monsters and other
strange fishes, all over-laid with goodly tall ships, ready rigd and appointed
to represent a Sea-fight; and thirdly, suddenly to make it smooth and drie
againe for the combate of Gladiators; and fourthly, being forthwith cleansed,
to strewe it over with Vermilion and Storax, insteade of graven, for the
erecting of a solemne banket for all that infinite number of people: the
last act of one onely day.
----- quoties nos descendentis arenae
Vidimus in partes, ruptaque voraqine terrae
Emersisse feras, et ijsdem saepe latebris
Aurea cum croceo creuerunt arbuta libro.
Nec solum nobis silvestria cernere monstra
Contigit equoreos; ego cum certantibus ursis
Spectani vitulos, et equorum nomine dignum,
Sed deforme pecus.
How oft have we beheld wild beasts appeare
From broken gulfes of earth, upon some parte
Of sande that did not sinke? how often there
And thence did golden boughs ore saffron'd starte?
-----
1 JUVEN. Sat. iii. 153.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Nor onely saw we monsters of the wood,
But I have seene Sea-calves whom eares withstood
And such a kinde of beast as might be named
A horse, but in most foule proportion framed.
They have sometimes caused ail high steepy mountaine
to arise in the midst of the sayd Amphitheaters, all over-spred with fruitfull
and flourishing trees of all sortes, on the top whereof gushed out streames
of water as from out the source of a purling spring. Other times
they have produced therein a great tall Ship floating up and downe, which
of it selfe opened and split a sunder, and after it had disgorged from
out it's bulke foure or five hundred wild beasts to bee baited, it closed
and vanished away of it selfe, without any visible helpe. Sometimes
from out the bottome of it they caused streakes and purlings of sweete
water to spoute up, bubling to the highest top of the frame, and gently
watring, sprinkling and refreshing that infinite multitude. To keepe
and cover themselves from the violence of the wether, they caused that
huge compasse to be all over-spred, sometimes with purple sailes, all curiously
wrought with the needle, sometimes of silke and of some other colour in
the twinkling of an eye, as they pleased they displaid and spred, or drewe
and pulled them in againe.
Quamvis non modico caleant spectacula sole
Vela reducuntur cum venit Hermogenes.
Though fervent Sunne make't hotte to see a play,
When linnen thieves come, sailes are kept away.
The nets likewise, which they used to put before the people to save them
from harm and violence of the baited beasts, were woven with golde.
----- auro quoque torta refulgent
Retia.
Nets with gold enterlaced,
Their shewes with glittring graced.
If any thing bee excusable in such lavish excesses it is where the invention
and strangenesse breedeth
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admiration, and not the costlie charge. Even in those vanities,
wee may plainely perceive how fertile and happy those former ages were
of other manner of wittes then ours are. It hapneth of this kinde
of fertilitie as of all other productions of nature. Wee may not
say what nature employed then the utmost of hir power. We goe not,
but rather creepe and stagger here and there: we goe our pace. I
imagine our knowledge to bee weake in all senses: wee neither discerne
far-forward, nor see much backward. It embraceth little and liveth
not long: It is short both in extension of time and in amplenesse
of matter or invention. {ancients_moderns+}
Vixere fortes ante Agamemnona
Multi, sed omnes illachrymabiles
Urgentur, ignotique longa
Nocte./1
Before great Agamemnon and the rest
Many liv'd valiant, yet are all supprest,
Unmoan'd, unknowne, in darke oblivious nest.
Et supera bellum Troianum et funera Troiae, Multi alias alii quoque res
cecinere poetae./2 Beside the Trojan warre, Troyes funerall night, Of other
things did other poets write. And Solons narration concerning what
he had learned of the Aegyptian Priests of their states, long-life and
manner how to learne and preserve strange or forraine histories, in mine
opinion is not a testimony to bee refused in this consideration. Si
interminatant in omnes partes magnitudinem regionum videremus, et temporum
in quam se iniiciens animus et intendens, ita late longeque peregrinatur,
ut nullam oram ultimi videat in qua possit insistere: In haec immensitate
infinita vis innumerabilium appareret formarum:/3 'If we behold an
unlimited greatnesse on all sides both of regions and times, whereupon
the mind casting it selfe and intentive doth travell farre and neare, so
as it sees
-----
1 HOR. Car. 1. iv. Od. ix. 25. 2 LUCR. 1. v. 326. 3 CIC.
Nat. Deo. l. i.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
no bounds of what is last, whereon it may insist; in this infinite immensity
there would appeare a multitude of innumerable formes.' If whatsoever hath
come unto us by report of what is past where true and knowne of any body,
it would be lesse then nothing, in respect of that which is unknowne.
And even of this image of the world, which whilest we live therein, glideth
and passeth away, how wretched, weake and how short is the knowledge of
the most curious? Not onely of the particular events which fortune
often maketh exemplar and of consequence; but of the state of mighty commonwealths,
large Monarkies and renowned nations, there escapeth our knowledge a hundred
times more then commeth unto our notice. We keepe a coile and wonder
at the miraculous invention of our artilerie, and amazed at the rare devise
of Printing; when as unknowne to us, other men, and an other end of the
world named China, knew and had perfect use of both a thousand yeares before.
If we sawe as much of this vaste world as wee see but a least part of it,
it is very likely we should perceive a perpetuall multiplicity and over-rouling
vicissitude of formes. Therein is nothing singular and nothing rare,
if regard bee had unto nature, or to say better, if relation bee had unto
our knowledge; which is a weake foundation of our rules, and which doth
commonly present us a right-false Image of things. How vainely do
we now-adayes conclude the declination and decrepitude of the world, by
the fond arguments wee drawe from our owne weaknesse, drooping and declination:
Jamque adeo afecta est aetas, effaetque tellus:/1
And now both age and land
So sicke affected stand.
And as vainly did another conclude it's birth and youth by the vigour he
perceiveth in the wits of his time, abounding in novelties an invention
of divers Arts
-----
1 LUCR,. 1. ii. 1159.
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Verum ut opinor, habet novitatem summa, recensgue Natura est
mundi, neque pridem exordia cepit;
Quare etiant quaedam nunc artes expoliuntur,
Nunc etiam augescunt, nunc addita navigiis sunt Multa./1
But all this world is new, as I suppose,
Worlds nature fresh, nor lately it arose
Whereby some arts refined are in fashion
And many things now to our navigation
Are added, daily growne to augmentation.
Our world hath of late discovered another (and who can warrant us whether
it be the last of his brethren, since both the Damons, the Sibylles, and
all we have hitherto been ignorant of this?; no lesse-large, fully- peopled,
all-things-yeelding, and mighty in strength than ours; neverthelesse so
new and infantine, that he is yet to learne his A B C. It is not
yet full fifty yeeres that he knew neither letters, nor waight, nor measures,
nor apparell, nor corne, nor vines; But was all naked, simply-pure, in
Natures lappe, and lived but with such meanes and food as his mother-nurce
affoorded him. If wee conclude aright of our end, and the foresaid
Poet of the infancie of his age, this late-world shall but come to light
when ours shall fall into darknesse. The whole Universe shall fall
into a palsey or convulsion of sinnowes: one member shall be maimed or
shrunken, another nimble and in good plight. I feare that by our
contagion we shall directly have furthered his declination and hastened
his ruine and that we shall too dearely have sold him our opinions, our
new-fangles and our Arts. It was an unpolluted, harmelesse, infant
world; yet have we not whipped and submitted the same unto our discipline,
or schooled him by the advantage of our valour or naturall forces; nor
have wee instructed him by our justice and integrity, nor subdued by our
magnanimity. Most of their answers, and a number of the negotiations
we have had with them, witnesse that they were nothing short of us, not
beholding to us for any excellency of
-----
1 LUCR. 1. v. 330.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
naturall wit or perspicuitie concerning pertinency. The wonderfully,
or as I may call it, amazement-breeding magnificence of the riever-like
scene cities of Cusco and Mexico, and amongst infinite such like things,
the admirable Garden of that King, where all the Trees, the fruits, the
Hearbes and Plants, according to the order and greatnesse they have in
a Garden, were most artificially framed in gold; as also in his Cabinet;
all the living creatures that his Countrey or his Seas produced, were cast
in gold; and the exquisite beauty of their workes, in precious Stones,
in Feathers, in Cotton and in Painting, shew that they yeelded as little
unto us in cunning and industrie. But concerning unfained devotion,
awefull observance of lawes, unspotted integrity, bounteous liberality,
due loyalty and free liberty, it hath greatly availed us that we had not
so much as they: By which advantage they have lost, castaway, sold,
undone and betraied themselves.
Touching hardinesse and undaunted courage,
and as for matchlesse constancie+, unmooved
assurednesse, and undismaied resolution against paine, symrting, famine
and death it selfe, I will not feare to oppose the examples which I may
easily finde amongst them, to the most famous ancient examples we may with
all our industrie discover in all the Annales and memories of our knowen
old World. {Caliban+}
For as for those which have subdued them, let them lay aside the wiles,
the policies and stratagems which they have emploied to cozen, to cunny-catch,
and to circumvent them; and the just astonisbment which those nations might
justly conceive, by seem so unexpected an arrivall of bearded men, divers
in language, in habite, in religion, in behaviour, in forme, in countenance,
and from a part of the world so distant, and where they never heard any
habitation was: mounted upon great and unknowen monsters, against those
who had had never so much as seene any horse, and lesse any beast whatsoever
apt to beare, or taught to carry either man or burden; covered with a shining
and harde skinne, and armed with slicing-keene weapons and glittering armour:
against them,
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who for the wonder of the glistring of a looking-glasse or of a plaine
knife would have changed or given inestimable riches in Gold, Precious
Stones and Pearles; and who had neither the skill nor the matter wherewith
at any leasure they could have pierced our steele: to which you may adde
the flashing-fire and thundring roare of shotte and Harguebuses; able to
quell and daunt even Caesar himselfe, had he beene so sodainely surprised
and as little experienced as they were; and thus to come unto and assault
silly- naked people, saving where the invention of weaving of Cotton cloath
was knowne and used; for the most altogether unarmed, except some bowes,
stones, staves and woodden bucklers; unsuspecting poore people, surprised
under colour of amity and well-meaning faith overtaken by the curiosity
to see strange and unknowne things: {Caliban+}
I say, take this disparity from the conquerors, and you deprive them of
all the occasions and cause of so many unexpected victories. When
I consider that sterne-untamed obstinacy and undanted vehemence wherewith
so many thousands of men, of women and children, do so infinite times present
themselves unto inevitable dangers, for the defence of their Gods and liberty:
This generous obstinacy to endure all extremities, all difficulties and
death, more easily and willingly, then basely to yeelde unto their domination,
of whom they have so abhominably beene abused: some of them choosing rather
to starve with hunger and fasting, being taken, then to accept food at
their enemies handes, so basely victorious: I perceive, that whoseever
had undertaken them man to man, without ods of armes, of experience or
of number, should have had as dangerous a warre, or perhaps more, as any
we see amongst us.
Why did not so glorious a conquest happen
under Alexander, or during the time of the ancient Greekes and Romanes?
or why befell not so great a change and alteration of Empires and people
under such hands as would gently have polished, reformed and incivilized
what in them they deemed to be barbarous and rude:
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
or would have nourished and fostered those good seedes which nature
had there brought foorth: adding not onely to the manuring of their grounds
and ornaments of their cities such artes as we had, and that no further
then had beene necessary for them, but there-withall joyning unto the originall
vertues of the country those of the ancient Grecians and Romanes?
What reputation and what reformation would all that farre spredding world
have found, if the examples, demeanors and pollicies wherewith we first
presented them had called and allured those uncorrupted nations to the
admiration and imitation of vertue, and bad hstablished betweene them and
us a brotherly society and mutuall correspondency? {Caliban+}
How easie a matter had it beene profitably to reforme and christianly to
instruct minds yet so pure and new, so willing to bee taught, being for
the most part endowed with so docile, so apt and so yeelding naturall beginnings?
Whereas, contrarywise, we have made use of their ignorance and inexperience,
to drawe them more easily unto treason, fraude, luxurie, avarice and all
manner of inhumanity and cruelty, by the example of our life and patterne
of our customes. Who ever raised the service of marchandize and benefit
of traffick to so high a rate? So many goodly citties ransacked and
raged; so many nations destroyed and made desolate; so infinite millions
of harmelesse people of all sexes, states and ages, massacred, ravaged
and put to the sword; and the richest, the fairest and the best part of
the world topsiturvied, ruined and defaced for the traffick of Pearles
and Pepper. Oh mechanicall victories, oh base conquest. Never
did greedy revenge, publik wrongs or generall enmities, so moodily enrage
and so passionately incense men against men, unto so horrible hostilities,
bloody dissipation, and miserable calamities. Certaine Spaniardes,
coasting alongst the Sea in search of mines, fortuned to land in a very
fertile, pleasant and well peopled country, unto the inhabitants whereof
they declared their intent and shewed their accustomed perswasions; saying,
That they were quiet
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and well-meaning men, comming from farre-countries, being sent from
the King of Castile, the greatest King of the habitable earth, unto whom
the Pope, representing God on earth, had given the principality of all
the Indies. That if they would become tributaries to him, they should
bee most kindly used and courteously entreat They required of them victualles
for their nourishment, and some gold for the behoofe of certaine Physicall
experiments. Moreover, they declared unto them the beleeviiig in
one onely God and the trueth of our religion, which they perswaded them
to embrace, adding thereto some minatorie threates. Whose answer
was this: That happily they might be quiet and well meaning, but
their countenance shewed them to be otherwise: As concerning their
King, since be seemed to beg, he shewed to be poore and needy; And for
the Pope, who had made that distribution, he expressed himselfe a man loving
dissention, in going about to give unto a third man a thing which was not
his owne, so to make it questionable and litigious amongst the ancient
possessors of it. As for victualles, they should have part of their
store; And for gold, they had but little, and that it was a thing they
made very small accoumpt of, as meerely unprofitable for the service of
their life; whereas all their care was but how to passe it happily and
pleasantly, and therefore, what quantity soever they should finde, that
onely excepted which was employed about the service of their Gods, they
might bouldly take it. As touching one onely God, the discourse of
him had very well pleased them; but they would by no meanes change their
religion under which they had for so long time lived so happily; and that
they were not accustomed to take any counsell, but of their friends and
acquaintance. As concerning their menaces, it was a signe of want
of judgement to threaten those whose nature, condition, power and meanes
was to them unknowne. And therefore they should with all speed hasten
to avoid their dominions (forsomuch as they were not wont to admit or take
in good part the kindnesses and
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
remonstrances of armed people, namely, of strangers) otherwise they
would deale with them as they had done with such others, shewing them the
heads of certaine men sticking upon stakes about their Citie, which had
lately beene executed. Loe here an example of the stammering of this
infancy.
But so it is, neither in this nor in infinite
other places, where the Spaniards found not the merchandise they sought
for, neither made stay or attempted any violence whatsoever other commodity
the place yeelded: witnesse my Canibales. Of two the most mighty
and glorious Monarkes of that world, and peradventure of all our Westerne
parts, Kings over so many Kings, the last they deposed and overcame; He
of Peru, having by them been taken in a battell, and set at so excessive
a ransome that it exceedeth all beliefe, and that truely paide: and by
his conversation having given them apparant signes of a free, liberall,
undanted, and constant courage, and declared to be of a pure, noble, and
well composed understanding; a humour possessed the conquerors, after they
had most insolently exacted from him a Million three hundred five and twenty
thousand, and five hundred waights of golde, besides the silver and other
precious things, which amounted to no lesse a summe (so that their horses
were all shood of massive gold), to discover (what disloyalty or treachery
soever it might cost them) what the remainder of this Kings treasure might
be, and without controlment enjoy whatever he might have bidden or concealed
from them. Which to compasse, they forged a false accusation and
proofe against him, that hee practised to raise his provinces, and intended
to induce his subjects to some insurrection, so to procure his liberty.
Whereupon, by the very judgement of those who had complotted this forgery
and treason against him, hee was condemned to be publikely hanged and strangled;
having first made him to redeeme the torment of being burned alive by the
baptisme which at the instant of his execution in charity they bestowed
upon him; a horrible and the
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like never heard of accident, which neverthelesse he undismaiedly endured
with an unmoved manner and truly-royall gravity, without ever contradicting
himselfe either in countenance or speech. And then, somewhat to mitigate
and circumvent those silly unsuspecting people, amazed and astonished at
so strange a spectacle, they counterfeited a great mourning and lamentation
for his death, and appointed his funeralls to bee solemnely and sumptuously
celebrated.
The other King of Mexico, having a long time manfully defended his
besieged city, and in the tedious siege shewed whatever pinching-sufferance
and resolute-perseverance can effect, if ever any courageous Prince or
warre-like people shewed the same; and his disastrous successe having delivered
him alive into his enemies hands, upon conditions to bee used as beseemed
a King: who during the time of his imprisonment did never make the least
shew of any thing unworthy that glorious title. After which victory,
the Spaniards, not finding that quantitie of gold they had promised themselves,
when they had ransacked and ranged all corners, they by meanes of the cruellest
tortures and horriblest torments they could possibly devise, beganne to
wrest and draw some more from such prisoners as they had in keeping.
But unable to profit any thing that way, finding stronger hearts than their
torments, they in the end fell to such moody outrages, that, contrary to
all law of nations and against their solemne vowes and promises, they condemned
the King himselfe and one of the chiefest Princes of his Court, to the
Racke, one in presence of another: the Prince, environed round with hot
burning coales, being overcome with the exceeding torment, at last in most
pitious sort turning his dreary eyes toward his Master, as if hee asked
mercy of him for that hee could endure it no longer; The king, fixing rigorously
and fierce his lookes upon him, seeming to upbraid him with his remisnesse
and pusilanimity, with a sterne and setled voyce uttered these few words
unto him: 'What, supposest then I am in a cold hath? am I at more ease
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
than thou art?' Whereat the silly wretch immediately fainted under the
torture, and yeelded up the ghost. The king, half rosted, was carried
away: Not so much for pitty (for what ruth could ever enter so barbarous
mindes, who upon the furnished information of some odde piece or vessell
of golde they intended to get, would broyle a man before their eyes, and
not a man onely, but a king, so great in fortune and so renowned in desert?
), but for as much as his unmatched constancy did more and more make their
inhumane cruelty ashamed, they afterwards hanged him, because he had couragiously
attempted by armes to deliver himselfe out of so long captivity and miserable
subjection; where he ended his wretched life, worthy an high minded and
never danted Prince. At another time, in one same fire, they caused
to be burned all alive foure hundred common men and threescore principall
Lords of a Province, whom by the fortune of warre they had taken prisoners.
These narrations we have out of their owne bookes, for they do not onely
avouch, but vauntingly publish them. May it bee they doe it for a
testimony of their justice or zeale toward their religion? Verily
they are wayes over-different and enemies to so sacred an ende. Had
they proposed unto themselves to enlarge and propagate our religion, they
would have considered that it is not amplified by possession of lands,
but of men; and would have beene satisfied with such slaughters as the
necessity of warre bringeth, without indifferently adding thereunto so
bloody a butchery as upon savage beasts, and so universall as fire or sword
could ever attaine unto having purposely preserved no more than so many
miserable bond-slaves, as they deemed might suffice for the digging, working
and service of their mines: So that divers of their chieftains have beene
executed to death, even in the places they had conquered, by the appointment
of the Kings of Castile, justly offended at the seld-seene horror of their
barbarous demeanours, and well nigh all disesteemed, contemned and hated.
God hath meritoriously permitted that many of their
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great pillages and ill-gotten goods have either beene swallowed up by
the revenging Seas in transporting them, or consumed by the intestine warres
and civill broiles wherewith themselves have devoured one another; and
the greatest part of them have been overwhelmed and buried in the bowels
of the earth, in the very places they found them, without any fruit of
their victory. Touching the objection which some make, that the receipt,
namely in the hands of so thrifty, wary and wise a Prince, doth so little
answer the foreconceived hope which was given unto his predecessors, and
the said former aboundance of riches, they met withall at the first discovery
of this new- found world (for although they bring home great quantity of
gold and silver, we perceive the same to be nothing, in respect of what
might be expected thence), it may be answered, that the use of money was
there altogether unknowne; and consequently that all their gold was gathered
together, serving to no other purpose than for shew, state and ornament,
as a moovable reserved from father to sonne by many puissant Kings, who
exhausted all their mines to collect so huge a heape of vessels or statues
for the ornament of their Temples, and embellishing of their Pallaces;
whereas all our gold is employed in commerce and trafficke betweene man
and man. Wee mince and alter it into a thousand formes; wee spend,
wee scatter and disperse the same to severall uses. Suppose our King
should thus gather and heape up all the gold they might for many ages hoard
up together, and keepe it close and untouched. Those of the kingdome
of Mexico were somewhat more encivilized, and better artists, than other
nations of that world. And as wee doe, so judged they, that this
Universe was neare his end, and tooke the desolation wee brought amongst
them as an infallible signe of it. They beleeved the state of the
world to bee divided into five ages, as in the life of five succeeding
Sunnes, whereof foure had already ended their course or time; and the same
which now shined upon them was the fifth and last. The first perished
together with all
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other creatures, by an universall inundation of waters. The second
by the fall of the heavens upon us, which stifled and overwhelmed every
living thing: in which age they affirme the Giants to have beene, and shewed
the Spaniards certaine bones of them, according to whose proportion the
stature of men came to bee, of the height of twenty handfuls. The
third was consumed by a violent fire, which burned and destroyed all.
The fourth by a whirling emotion of the ayre and windes, which with the
violent fury of it selfe remooved and overthrew divers high mountaines:
saying that men dyed not of it, but were transformed into Munkeis. (Oh
what impressions doth not the weakenesse of mans beliefe admit?) After
the consummation of this fourth Sunne, the world continued five and twenty
yeares in perpetnall darkenesse, in the fifteenth of which one man and
one woman were created, who renewed the race of man-kinde. Ten yeares
after, upon a certaine day, the Sunne appeared as newly created, from which
day beginneth ever since the calculation of their yeares. On the
third day of whose creation, died their ancient Gods, their new ones have
day by day beene borne since. In what manner this last Sunne shall
perish, my aucthor could not learne of them. But their number of
this fourth change doth jumpe and meete with that great conjunction of
the Starres which eight hundred and odde yeares since, according to the
Astrologians supposition, produced divers great alterations and strange
novelties in the world. Concerning the proud pompe and glorious magnificence
by occasion of which I am fallen into this discourse, nor Grece, nor Rome,
nor Aegipt, can (bee it in profit, or difficultie or nobility) equall or
compare sundrie and divers of their workes. The cawcy or high-way
which is yet to bee seene in Peru, erected by the Kings of that countrie,
stretching from the city of Quito unto that of Cusco (containing three
hundred leagues in length), straight, even, and fine, and twentie paces
in breadth curiously paved, raysed on both sides with goodly high masonrie-walles,
all along which,
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on the inner side, there are two continuall running streames, pleasantly
beset with beauteous trees, which they call Moly. In framing of which,
where they mette any mountaines or rockes, they have cut, raised and levelled
them, and filled all below places with lime and stone. At the ende
of every dayes journey as stations, there are built stately great pallaces,
plenteously stored with all manner of victuals, apparrell and armes, as
well for dayelie wayfaring men as for such armies that might happen to
passe that way. In the estimation of which work I have especially
considered the difficulty, which in that place is particularly to bee remembred.
For they built with no stones that were lesse then ten foote square: they
had no other meanes to cary or transport them then by meere strength of
armes to draw and dragge the carriage they needed: they had not so much
as the arte to make scaffolds, nor knew other devise then to raise so much
earth or rubbish against their building according as the worke riseth,
and afterward to take it away againe. But returne we to our coaches.
In steade of them and of all other carrying beastes, they caused themselves
to be carryed by men, and upon their shoulders. This last King of Peru,
the same day hee was taken, was thus carried upon rafters or beames of
massive Golde, sitting in a faire chaire of state, likewise all of golde,
in the middle of his battaile. Looke how many of his porters as were
slaine
to make him fall (for all their endevour was to take him alive) so many
others, and as it were avye, tooke and underwent presently the place of
the dead: so that they could never be brought down or made to falle, what
slaughter soever was made of those kinde of people, untill such time as
a horseman furiously ranne to take him by some part of his body, and so
pulled him to the ground.
CHAPTER 3.VII+ OF THE INCOMMODITIE OF GREATNESSE
+
SINCE we cannot attaine unto it, let us revenge our selves with railing
against it: yet is it not absolute railing to finde fault with any thing:
There are defects found in all things, how faire soever in show and desirable
they be. It hath generally this evident advantage, that whenever
it pleaseth it will decline, and hath well-nigh the choise of one and other
condition. For a man doth not fall from all heights; divers there are whence
a man may descend without falling. Verily, me seemeth that we value
it at too high a rate, and prize over-deare the resolution of those whom
we have either seene or heard to have contemned, or of their owne motion
rejected the same. Her essence is not so evidently commodious but
a man may refuse it without wonder. Indeed I finde the labour very
hard in suffering of evils; but in the contentment of a meane measure of
fortune and shunning of greatnesse, therein I see no great difficillty.
In my conceit it is a vertue whereunto my selfe, who am but a
simple+ ninny, might easily attaine, and without great contention.
What shall they doe who would also bring into consideration the glory which
accompanieth this refusall, wherein may fall more ambition then even in
the desire and absolute enjoying of greatnesse? Forsomuch as ambition
is never better directed according to it selfe then by a straying and unfrequented
path. I sharpen my courage toward patience, and weaken the same against
desire. I have as much to wish for as another, and leave my wishes
as much liberty and indiscretion; but yet it never came into my minde to
wish for Empire, for Royalty, or eminency
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of high and commanding fortunes. I aime not that way: I
love my selfe too well. When I thinke to grow, It is but meanly,
with a forced and coward advancement, fit for me; yea in resolution, in
wisedome, in health, in beauty, and also in riches. But this credite,
this aspiring reputation, this overswayinc authority, suppresseth my imagination.
And cleane opposite to some other, I should peradventure love my selfe
better to be the second or third man in Perigot then the first in Paris;
At least, without faining, I had rather be the third man in Paris then
the first in charge. I will neither contend with an Usher of a doore,
as a silly unknowen man; nor with gaping and adoration make a Lane through
the throng as I passe. I am enured to a meane calling; mediocrity
best fitteth me, as well by my fortune as by mine owne humor. {diffidence+}
And I have shewed by the conduct of my life and course of my enterprises,
that I have rather sought to avoid then otherwise to embrace beyond the
degree of fortune that at my birth it pleased God to call me unto.
Each naturall constitution is equally just and easie. My minde is
so dull and slowe that I measure not good fortune according to her height,
but rather according to her facility. And if my hart be not great
enough, it is ratably free and open, and who biddeth me bouldly to publish
my weaknesse. Should any will me, on the one part, to conferre and
consider the life of L. Thurius Balbus, a worthy gallant man, wise,
faire, goodly, healthy, of good understanding, richly plenteous in all
maner of commodities and pleasures, leading a quiet easefull life, altogether
his owne, with a minde armed and well prepared against death, superstition,
griefes, cares and other encombrances of humane necessity; dying in his
old age in an honourable battell, with his weapons in his hand, for the
defence of his countrie; and on the other side the life of M.
Regulus+, so high and great, as all men know, together with his admirable
and glorious end: the one unmentioned and without dignity, the other exemplare
and wonderfull renouned: truly I would say what Cicero saith of it,
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had I the gift of well-speaking as hee had. But if I were to sute
them unto mine, I would also say that the former is as much agreeing to
my qualitie, and to the desire I endevour to conforme my quaiity unto,
as the second is farre beyond it. That to this I cannot attaine but
by veneration; and to the other I would willingly attaine by custome.
But returne we to our temporall greatnesse, whence we have digressed.
I am distasted of all mastry, both active and passive. Otanes, one
of the seaven that by right might chalenge the crowne or pretend the Kingdome
of Persia, resolved upon such a resolution as I should easily have done
the like, which was, that he utterly renounced all maner of claime he might
in any sort pretend unto that crowne to his fellow competitores, were it
either by election or chance: alwayes provided that both himselfe and all
his might live in that Empire free from all subjections and exempted from
all maner of commandement, except that of the ancient lawes, and might
both challenge all liberty and enjoy all immunities that should not prejudice
them: being as impacient to command as to be commanded. The sharpest
and most dificile profession of the world is (in mine opinion) worthily
to act and play the king+. I excuse more
of their faults then commonly other men doe; and that in consideration
of the downe- bearing waight of their immense charge, which much astonisheth
me, It is a very hard task to keep a due measure in so unmeasurable a power.
Yet is it, that even with those that are of a lesse excellent nature it
is a singular incitation to vertue to be seated in such a place where you
shall doe no maner of good that is not registred and recorded, and where
the least wel- dooing extendeth to so many persons, and where your sufficiency
(as that of Preachers) is principally directed to the people; a weake and
partiall judge, easily to be beguiled, and easie to be pleased. There
are but few things of which we may give a sincere judgement; for there
be very few wherein in some sort or other we are not partcularly interessed.
Superiority and inferiority,
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maistry and subjection, are joyntly tied unto a naturall kinde of envy
and contestation; they must perpetually enter-spoile one another.
I beleeve neither the one nor the other concerning hir companions rights:
let us suffer reason to speake of it) which is inflexible and impassible,
when or how we shall make an end. I was not long since reading of
two Scottish bookes striving upon this subject. The popular makes
the King+ to be of worse condition then a Carter;
and he that extolleth, Monarchy placeth him both in power and soveraignty
many steps above the Gods. Now the incommodity if greatnesse, which
here I have undertaken to note and to speak of (upon some occasion lately
befalne mee), is this: There is peradventure nothing more pleasing
to the commerce of men then the Essayes which we through jealousie of
honour+ or valour make one against another, be it in the exercise
of the body or minde wherein soveraigne greatnesse hath no true or essentiall
part. Verily, it hath often seemed unto me, that through over- much
respect Princes are therein used disdainefully and treated injuriously;
For the thing whereat (in my youth) I was infinitely offended was, that
those which were trained and schooled with mee, should forbeare to doe
it in good earnest, because they found me unworthy to bee withstood or
to resist their endevours. It is that we dayly see to happen unto them;
every man finding himselfe unworthy to force himselfe against them.
If one perceive them never so little affected to have the victory, there
is none but will strive to yeeld it them, and that will not rather wrong
his glory then offend theirs: no man imployeth more diligence then needs
he must to serve their honour. What share have Princes in the throng, where
all are for them? Mee thinks I see those Paladines of former ages
presenting themselves in joustes, tiltings and combates, with bodies and
armes enchanted. Brisson running against Alexander, counterfeited
his course; Alexander chid him for it; but he should have caused him to
be whipt. For this consideration was Carneades wont to say, that
'Princes
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children learn't nothing aright but to mannage and ride horses; forsomuch
as in all other exercises every man yeeldeth and giveth them the victory;
but a horse who is neyther a flatterer nor a Courtier, will as soone throw
the child of a King as the son of a base porter.' Homer hath beene forced
to consent that Venus (so sweet a saint and delicate a Goddesse) should
be hurt at the siege of Troy, thereby to ascribe courage and hardinesse
unto her, qualities never seene in those that are exempted from danger.
The Gods themselves are fained to be angry, to feare, to be jealous, to
grieve, to shew passion, and be subject to mortall sense, thereby to honour
them with the vertues which the Poets and Philosophers invent amongst us:
Nay, they are supposed to runne away, and to have a feeling of all our
imperfections. Who doth not participate both hazard and difficulties,
cannot justly pretend interest in the honor+,
or challenge share in the pleasure that followeth dangerous actions or
hazardous attempts. it is pitty a man should be so powerfull, that all
things must yeeld and give place unto him. Such as are in so high
eminency of greatnesse, their fortune rejects society and conversation
too farre from them: she placeth them in over remote and uncouth places.
This easefull life and plausible facility to bring all under, and subject
mens mindes, is an enemy to all manner of Pleasure. It is a kinde
of sliding, and not a going: It is to sleepe and not to live.
Conceive man accompanied with ominpotency, you overwhelme him: he must
in begging manner crave some empeachment and resistance of you. His
being and his food is in want and indigence. Their good qualities
are dead and lost, for they are not heard but by comparison, and they are
excluded: they have little knowledge of true praise, being beaten with
so continuall and uniforme an approbation. Have they to doe with
the simplest of their subjects? They have no meane to take advantage
of him if he but say, It is because he is my King, he supposeth to have
sufficiently expressed, and you must understand that in so saying he hath
lent a helping hand
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to overthrow himselfe. This qualitie suppresseth and consumetb
all other true and essentiall qualities: they are even drowned in the Royaltie;
which gives them no leave to make the offices of their charge to prevaile,
except in such actions as directly concerne and stead the same. To
be a King is a matter of that consequence, that onely by it he is so.
That strange glimmering and eye-dazeling light which round about environeth,
overcasteth and hideth from us: or weake sight is thereby bleared and dissipated,
as beeing filled and obscured by that greater and further-spreddiiig brightnesse.
The Senate allotted the honour and prize of eloquence unto Tiberius; he
refused it, supposing that if it had beene true, he could not revenge himselfe
of so limited and partiall judgement. As we yeeld Princes all advantages
of bonor, so we aucthorize their defects and sooth-up their vices; not
onely by approbation, but also by imitation. All Alexanders followers
bare their heads sideling, as he did. And such as flattered Dionysius
in his owne presence did run and jostle one another, and either stumbled
at or over-threw what ever stood before their feete, to inferre that they
were as short-sighted or spur-blinde as he was. Naturall imperfections
have sometimes served for commendation and favour. Nay, I have seene
deafnesse affected. And because the maister hated his wife, Plutarch
hath seen courtiers to sue a divorce of tbeirs, whom they loved very well.
And which is more, paillardise and all maner of dissolution hath thereby
beene held in credit; as also disloyalty, blasphemy, cruelty, heresie,
superstition, irreligion, wantonnesse, and worse, if worse may be.
Yea, by an example more dangerous then that of Mithridates his flatterers,
who for so much as their master pretended to have skill in phisick and
aspired to the honor of a good Physition, came to him to have their members
incized and cauterized. For these others suffer to have their soules
cauterized; a much more precious and nobler part then the body. But
to end where I began : Adrian the Emperor, debating with Favorinus
the Philosopher about the interpretation of
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some word, Favorinus did soone yeeld the victory unto him, his friends
finding fault with him for it: 'you but jest, my masters' (quoth he); 'would
you not have him to be much wiser than I, who hath the absolute command
over thirty legions?' Augustus writ some verses against Asinius Pollio,
which Pollio hearing, he said, 'I will bold my peace; for it is no wisedome
to contend in writing with him who may proscribe.' And they had reason;
for Dionysius, because be could not equall Philoxenus in poesie, nor match
Plato in discourse, condemned the one to the stone-quarries, and sent the
other to bee sold as a slave in the Ile of Aegina.
CHAPTER 3.VIII+ OF THE ART OF CONFERRING
+
IT is a custome of our law to condemne some for the warning of others.
To condemne them because they have misdone were folly, as saith Plato.
For what is once done can never be undone: but they are condemned to the
end that they should not offend againe, or that otherr, may avoide the
example of their offence. 'He who is hanged is not corrected, but others
by him.' Even so doe I. My errors are sometimes naturall, incorrigible,
and remedilesse. But whereas honest men profit the Common wealth
in causing themselves to be imitated, I shall happily benefit the same
in making my selfe to be evitated. {diffidence+}
Nonne vides Albi ut male vivat filius, utque
Barrus inops magnum documentum, ne patriam rem
Perdqe quis velit./1
Doe you not see how that mans sonne lives badly,
That man's a beggar by his spending madly?
A lesson great, that none take joy: His patrimony to destroy.
By publishing and accusing my imperfections, some man may peradventure
learne to feare them. The parts I most esteeme in my selfe, reape
more honor by accusing then by commending my selfe. {diffidence+}
And that's the cause I more often fall into them againe and rest upon them.
But when all the cardes be told, a man never speakes of himselfe without
losse. A mans own condemnations are ever increased: praises ever decreased.
There may be some of my complexion, who am better instructed by contrariety
then by similitude; and more by escaping then by following. Cato
-----
1 HOR. Ser. 1. i. sect. iv. 109. <Mont3-175>
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senior had a speciall regard to this kind of discipline when he said
that wisemen have more to learne of fooles then fooles of wisemen.
And that ancient player on the Lyra, whom Pausanias reporteth to have beene
accustomed to compell his schollers sometimes to goe heare a bad Player,
who dwelt right over-against him, where they might learne to hate his discords
and false measures. The horror of cruelty draws me neerer unto
clemency+ then any patterne of clemency can possibly win me.
A cunning rider or skilfull horseman doth not so properly teach me to sit
well on horsebacke, as doth one of our Lawyers, or a Venetian by seeing
him ride. And an ill manner of speech doth better reforme mine then
any well polished forme of speaking. The sottish countenance of another
doth daily advertise and forewarne me; that which pricketh, toucheth, and
rouzeth better, then that which delighteth. These times are fit to reforme
us backward, more by dissenting then by consenting more by difference then
by accord. Being but little instructed by good examples, I make use
of bad; the lesson of which is ordinary. I have endeavoured, nay
I have laboured, to yeeld my selfe as pleasing and affable as I saw others
peevish and froward; as constant, as I saw others variable; as gentle and
milde, as I perceived others intractable and wild; and as good and honest,
as I discerned others wicked and dishonest. {list+}
But I proposed certaine invincible measures unto my selfe. The most
fruitfull and naturall exercise of our spirit is, in my selfe-pleasing
conceit, conference. {dialectic+}
The use whereof I finde to be more delightsome then any other action of
our life: And that's the reason why, if I were now forced to choose
(being in the minde I now am in), I would rather yeeld to lose my sight
then forgoe my bearing or my speech. The Athenians and also the Romans
did ever hold this exercise in high honor and reputation, namely, in their
Academies. And at this day the Italians doe yet keepe a kinde of
forme and trace of it, to their great profit, as may apparently be discerned
by comparing their wits unto ours. The study
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and plodding on bookes is a languishing and weake kinde of motion, and
which heateth or earnesteth nothing; whereas conference doth both learne,
teach and exercise at once. If I conferre with a stubborne wit and
encounter a sturdy wrestler, he toucheth me to the quicke, hits me on the
flanks, and pricks me both on the left and right side; his imaginations
vanquish and confound mine. Jelousie, glory and contention drive,
cast and raise me above my selfe. And an unison or consent is a quality
altogether tedious and wearisome in conference. But as our minde
is fortified by the communication of regular and vigorous spirits, it cannot
well be expressed how much it loseth and is bastardized by the continuall
commerce and frequentation we have with base, weake and dull spirits.
No contagion spreds it selfe further then that. I know by long experience
what an ell of it is worth. I love to contest and discourse, but not with
many, and onely for my selfe. For to serve as a spectacle unto great men,
and by way of contention for one to make a glorious shew of his ready wit
and running tongue. I deeme it a profession farre unfitting a
man_of_honor+. Sottishnes is an ill quality, but not to be able
to endure it, and to fret and vex at it, as it hapneth to me, is another
kinde of imperfection which in opportunity is not much behind sottishnes;
and that's it I will now accuse in my selfe. I doe with great liberty
and facility enter into conference and disputation; forsomuch as opinion
findes but a hard soile to enter and take any deepe roote in me.
No propositions amaze me, no conceit woundeth me, what contrariety soever
they have to mine. There is no fantazie so frivolous or humor so
extravagant, that in mine opinion is not sortable to the production of
humane wit. Wee others, who debarre our judgement of the right to
make conclusions, regard but negligently the diverse opinions: and if we
lend it not our judgement, we easily affoord it our eares. Where
one scale of the ballance is altogether empty, I let the other waver too
and fro, under an old wives dreames. And me
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seemeth I may well be excused if I rather except an odde number than
an even: Thursday in respect of Friday, if I had rather make a twelfth
or fourteenth at a table, then a thirteenth; if when I am travelling I
would rather see a Hare coasting then crossing my way; and rather reach
my left then my right foote to be shod. All such fond conceits, now
in credit about us, deserve at least to be listned unto. As for me,
they onely beare away inanity, and surely they do so. Vulgar and
casuall opinions are yet of some waight, which in nature are something
els then nothing. And who wadeth not so far into them to avoid the vice
of superstition, falleth happily into the blame of wilfulnesse. The
contradictions then of judgements doe neither offend nor move, but awaken
and exercise me. We commonly shunne correction, whereas we should rather
seeke and present our selves unto it, chiefly when it commeth by the way
of conference, and not of regency. At every opposition we consider
not whether it be just, but be it right or wrong, how we may avoide it;
In stead of reaching our armes, we stretch forth our clawes unto it.
I should endure to bee rudely handled and checked by my friends, though
they should call me foole, coxecombe, or say I raved. I love a man
that doth stoutly expresse himselfe amongst honest and worthy men, and
whose words answere his thoughts. {PlainDealer+}
We should fortifie and harden our hearing against the tendernesse of the
ceremonious sound of words. I love a friendly society and a virile
and constant familiarity; An amitie+ which
in the earnestnesse and vigor of it's commerce flattereth it selfe: as
love in bitings and bloody scratchings. It is not sufficiently generous
or vigorous, except it be contentious and quarrelous; if she be civilised
and a skilfull artist; if it feare a shocke or free encounter, and have
hir starting holes or forced by-wayes. Neque enim disputari sine
reprehensione potest: 'Disputation cannot be held without reprehension.'
When I am impugned or contraried, then is mine attention and not mine anger
stirred
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up. I advance my selfe toward him that doth gainesay and instruct
me. The cause of truth ought to be the common cause both to one and other.
What can he answer? The passion of choller hath already wounded his
judgement: before reason hath seized upon it. It were both profitable
and necessary that the determining of our disputations might be decided
by way of wagers, and that there were a materiall marke of our losses;
that we might better remember and make more accompt of it; and that my
boy might say unto me.: Sir, if you call to minde your contestation, your
ignorance, and your selfe- wilfulnesse, at severall times, cost you a hundred
crownes the last yeare: I feast, I cherish and I embrace truth, where and
in whom soever I finde it, and willingly and merily yeeld my selfe unto
her, as soone as I see but her approach, though it be a farre-off, I lay
downe my weapon and yeeld my selfe vanquished. And alwayes provided
one persist not or proceede therein, with an over-imperious stiffnesse
or commanding surlinesse, I am well pleased to be reprooved. And
I often accommodate my selfe unto my accusers more by reason of civility
then by occasion of amendment: loving by the facility of yeelding to gratifie
and foster their libertie, to teach or advertise me. It is notwithstanding
no easie matter to draw men of my times unto it. They have not the
courage to correct, because they want the heart to endure correction; and
ever speake with dissimulation in presence one of another. I take
so great a pleasure to be judged and knowne, that it is indifferent to
me in whether of the two formes I be so. Mine owne imagination doth
so often contradict and condemne it selfe, that if another do it, all is
one unto me; especially seeing I give his reprehension no other authority
then I list. But I shall breake a straw or fall at ods with him,
that keepes himselfe so aloft; as I know some that will fret and chafe
if their opinions be not believed, and who take it as an injury, yea and
fall out with their best friends, if they will not follow it. And
that
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Socrates, ever smiling, made a collection of such contradictions as
were opposed to his discourse, one might say his force was cause of it,
and that the advantage being assuredly to fall on his side, he tooke them
as a subject of a new victory; neverthelesse we see on the contrary that
nothing doth so nicely yeeld our sense unto it as the opinion of preheminence
and disdaine of the adversary. And that by reason it rather befits
the weakest to accept of opposition in good part, which restore and repaire
him. Verily I seeke more the conversation of such as curbe me, then
of those that feare me. It is an unsavory and hurtful pleasure to
have to doe with men who admire and give us place. Antisthenes commanded
his children never to be beholding unto or thanke any that should commend
them. I feele my selfe more lusty and cranke for the victory I gaine
over my selfe, when in the heate or fury of the combate I perceive to bend
and fall under the power of my adversaries reason, then I am pleased with
the victory I obtain of him by his weakenesse. To conclude, I receive
all blowes and allow all attaints given directly, how weake soever; but
am very impatient at such as are strucken at randan and without order.
I care but little for the matter, and with me opinions are all one, and
the victory of the subject in a manner indifferent: I shall quietly
contest a whole day, if the conduct of the controversie be followed with
order and decorum. It is not force nor subtilty that I so much require,
as forme and order. The forme and order dayly seene in the altercations
of shepheards, or contentions of shop-prentise boyes; but never amongst
us. If they part or give one another over, it is with incivilitie;
and so doe we. But their wrangling, their brawling and impatience,
cannot make them to forgoe or forget their theame.
Their discourse holds on his course. If they prevent one another,
if they stay not for, at least they understand one another. A man
doth ever answere sufficiently well for me if he answere what I say.
But when the disputation is confounded and orderlesse, I quit the
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matter and betake me to the forme, with spight and indiscretion; and
embrace a kinde of debating, teasty, headlong, malicious and imperious,
whereat I afterward blush. It is impossible to treate quietly and
dispute orderly with a foole. My judgement is not onely corrupted
under the hand of so imperious a maister, but my conscience also.
Our disputations ought to be forbidden and punished, as other verball crimes.
What vice raise they not, and heape up together, being ever swayed and
commanded by choller? First we enter into enmity with the reasons, and
then with the men. We learne not to dispute, except it be to contradict;
and every man contradicting and being contradicted, it commonly followeth
that the fruit of disputing is to loose and to disanull the trueth.
So Plato in his common wealth forbiddeth foolish, unapt and base-minded
spirits to undertake that exercise. To what purpose goe you about
to quest or enquire that which is with him who hath neither good pace nor
proceeding of woorth? No man wrongs the subject when he quits the
same for want of meanes to treat or mannage it. I meane not a scholasticall
and artist meane, but intend a naturall meane, and of a sound understanding.
What will the end be? one goeth Eastward and another Westward: They
loose the principall, and stray it in the throng of incidents. At the end
of an houres wrangling they wot not what they seeke for: one is high, another
low, and another wide. Some take hold of a word, some of a similitude.
Some forget what was objected against them, so much are they engaged in
the pursuite, and thinke to follow themselves, and not you. Some
finding themselves weake-backt, feare all, refuse all, and at the very
entrance mingle the subject and confound the purpose; or in the heate of
the disputation mutine to hold their peace altogether: through a spightfull
ignorance, affecting a proud kinde of contempt, or a foolish modesty avoyding
of contention. Provided that one strike and hit, he careth not how
open he lye. Another compteth
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his words, and wayeth them for reasons; Another employeth nothing but
the advantage of his voyce and winde. Here one concludeth against
himselfe; here another wearyeth you with idle prefaces and frivolous digressions.
Another armeth himselfe afore hand with injuries, and seekes after a Dutch
quarrell, to rid himselfe of the society and shake off the conference of
a spirit that presseth and overbeareth his. This last hath no insight
at all in reason, but still beleagreth you with the dialecticall or logicall
close of his clause, and ties you to the rule of his arte or forme of his
skill. Now who doth not enter into distrust of sciences, and is not
in doubt, whether in any necessity of life he may reape solid fruit of
them, if he consider the use we have of them? Nihil sanantibus literis:
Since learning doth not cure. Who hath learnt any wit or understanding
in Logique? Where are her faire promises? Nec ad melius vivendum,
nec ad commodius disserendum: Neither to live better or to dispute
fitter. Shall a man beare more brabling or confusion in the tittle-tattle
of fish wives or scoulding sluts, then in the publike disputations of men
of this profession? I had rather my child should learne to speake
in a Taverne then in the schooles of well-speaking Art. {PlainDealer+}
Take you a maister of arts, and conferre with him, why doth hee not make
us perceive his artificiall excellency, and by the admiration of his reasons-constancy,
or with the beauty of his quaint order and grace of his method, ravish
silly women, and bleare ignorant men as we are? Why doth he not sway,
winde and perswade us as hee list? Why should one so advantageous in matter
and conduct entermixe injuries, indiscretion and chollericke rage with
his fence? Let him pull of his two-faced hoode, his gowne and his
latine, let him not fill our eares with meerely beleeved Aristotle, you
will discover and take him for one of us, and worse if may be. Me
thinks this implication and entangling of speech, wherewith they doe so
much importune us, may fitly be compared unto juglers play
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of fast and loose; their nimblenesse combats and forceth our sences,
but it nothing shaketh our beliefe: Take away their jugling, what
they doe is but base, common and slight. Though they be more witty
and nimble spirited, they are not tthe lesse foolish, simple and unapt.
I love wit and honour wisedome as much as them that have it. And
beeing rightly used, it is the noblest, the most forcible, yea and richest
purchase men can make. But in such (of which kinde the number is
infinit) that upon it establish their fundamentall sufficiency and worth:
that from their wit refer themselves to their memory, sub aliena umbra
latentes: reposing them under another mans protection, and can do nothing
but by the booke (if I may be bold to say so) I hate the same a little
more then sottishnes. In my country and in my dayes learning and
bookishnes doth much mend purses, but minds nothing at all. If it
chance to finde them empty, light and dry, it filleth, it overburthens
and swelleth them: a raw and indigested masse; if thinne, it doth easily
purifie, clarifie, extenuate and subtilize them even unto exinanition or
evacuation. It is a thing of a quality very neare indifferent: a
most profitable accessory or ornament unto a
wel_borne+ mind, but pernicious and hurtfully damageable unto any other
or rather a thing of most precious use, that will not basely be gotten
nor vily possessed. In some hands a royall scepter, in other some
a rude mattocke. But let us proceed. What greater or more glorious
victory can you expect, then teach your enemy that hee cannot withstand
you? When you gaine the advantage of your proposition, it is Truth
that winneth; when you get the advantage of the order and conduct, it is
you that winne. I am of opinion that both in Plato and in Xenophon,
Socrates disputeth more in favour of the disputers then in grace of the
disputation; and more to instruct Euthydemus and Protagoras with the knowledge
of the impertinency of their art. He takes hold of the first matter,
as who hath a more profitable end, then to cleare it; that is, to cleare
the spirits
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he undertaketh to manage and to exercise. Agitation, stirring
and hunting, is properly belonging to our subject or drift; wee are not
excusable to conduct the same ill and impertinently, but to misse the game
and faile in taking, that's another matter. For wee are borne to
quest and seeke after trueth+; to possesse
it belongs to a greater power. It is not (as Democritus said) hidden
in the deepes of abisse; but rather elevated in infinite height of divine
knowledge. The world is but a Schoole of inquisition. The matter
is not who shall put in, but who shall runne the fairest courses. As well
may hee play the foole that speaketh truely as hee that speaketh falsely;
for wee are upon the manner and not upon the matter of speaking. My humour
is, to have as great a regard to the forme as to the substance; as much
respect to the Advocat as to the cause; as Alcibiades appointed we should
doe. And I dayly ammuse my selfe to read in authors, without care
of their learning; therein seeking their manner, not their subject. Even
as I pursue the communication of some famous wit, not that he should teach
me, but that I may know him; and knowing him (if he deserve it) I may immitate
him. Every one may speake truely, but to speake orderly, methodically,
wisely and sufficiemtly, few can doe it. So falsehood proceeding
from from ignorance doth not offend me; ineptnesse and trifling doth.
I have broken off divers bargaines, that would have beene very commodious
unto me, by the impertinency of their contestation, with whom I did bargaine.
I am not mooved once a yeare, with the faults or oversights of those over
whom I have power: but touching the point of the sottishnesse and foolishnes
of their allegations, excuses, and defences, rude and brutish, we are every
day ready to goe by the eares. They neither understand what is said
nor wherefore, and even so they answer; a thing able to make one despaire.
I feele not my head to shocke hard but by being hit with another.
And I rather enter into composition with my peoples vices, then with their
rashnesse, importunity and foolishnesse. Let them doe
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lesse, provided they be capable to doe. You live in hope to enflame
their will. But of a blocke there is nothing to be hoped for, nor
any thing of worth to bee enjoyed. Now, what if I take things otherwise
the n they are? So it may bee; and therefore I accuse my impatience.
And first Ihould that it is equally vicious in him who is in the right
as in him that is in the wrong; For it is ever a kinde of tyrannicall sharpenesse
not to be able to endure a forme different from his; and verily, since
there is not a greater fondnesse, a more constannt gullishnesse, or more
heteroclite insipidity then for one to move or vex himselfe at the fondnesse,
at the gullishnesse, or insipidity of the world: For it principally
formalizeth and moveth us against our selves; and that Philosopher of former
ages should never have wanted occasion to weepe so long as he had considered
himselfe. {common+}
Miso, one of the seaven sages (a man of a Timonian disposition and Democraticall
humour) being demanded where-at he laughed alone, be answered, because
I laugh alone; how many follies doe I speake and answer every day, according
to my selfe; and then how much more frequent according to others?
And if I bite mine owne lips at them, what ought others to doe? In fine,
wee must live with the quicke, and let the water runne under the bridge,
without any care, or at least without alteration to us. In good sooth,
why meet we sometimes with crooked, deformed, and in body mishapen men,
without falling into rage and discontent, and cannot endure to light-upon
a froward, skittish, and ill-ranged spirit, without falling into anger
and vexation? This vicious austerity is rather in the Judge then
in the fault. Let us ever have that saying of Plato in our mouthes:
What I find unwholsome, is it not to be unhealthy my selfe? Am not
I in fault my selfe? May not mine owne advertisement be retorted against
my selfe? Oh wise and divine restraint, that curbeth the most universall
and common error of men. Not onely the reproches wee doe one to another,
but our reasons, our arguments and matter controversed,
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are ordinarily retortable unto us; and we pinch our selves up in our
owne armes. Whereof antiquity hath left me divers grave examples.
It was ingeniously spoken and fit to the purpose by him that first devised
the same:
Stercus cuique suum bene olet./1
Ev'ry mans ordure well,
To his owne sense doth smell.
Our eyes see nothing backward. A hundred times a day we mocke our
selves upon our neigbbours subject, and detest some defects in others that
are much more apparent in us; yea, and admire them with a strange impudency
and unheedinesse. Even yesterday I chanced to see a man of reasonable
understanding, who no lesse pleasantly then justly flouted at anothers
fond fashion, and yet upon every silly occasion doth nothing but molest
all men with the impertinent bedrowle and register of his pedigrees, genealogies
and alliances, more then halfe false and wrested in (for it is the manner
of such people commonly to undertake such foolish discourses, whose qualities
are more doubtfull and lesse sure); who if be had impartially considered
and looked upon himselfe, should doubtlesse have found himselfe no lesse
intemperate, indiscreet, and tedious, in publishing and extolling the prerogative
of his wives pedigree and descent. Oh importunate presumption, wherewith
the wife seeth her selfe armed by the hands of her own husband. If
he understand Latin, a man should say to him,
Age, si haec non insanit satis sua sponte, instiga./2
Goe too, if of her owne accord before,
She were not mad enough, provoke her more.
I say not that none should accuse except hee bee spotlesse in himselfe;
For then none might accuse: no not spotlesse in the same kinde of fault.
But my
-----
1 ERAS. Chil. iii. cent. iv. ad. 2. 2 TER. And. act. iv.
sc. 2.
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meaning is, that our judgement charging and blaming another, of whom
there is then question, spareth us nothing of an inward and severe jurisdiction.
It is an office of charity, that bh who cannot remove a vice from himselfe,
should neverthelesse endevour to remove it from others, where it may have
a lesse hurtfull and froward seed. Nor doe I deeme it a fit answer
for him that warneth me of my fault, to say the same is likewise in him.
But what of that? Well meaning warning is alwayes true and profitable.
Had we a good and sound nose, our owne ordure should he more unsavor unto
our selves, forasmuch as it is our owne. And Socrates is of opinion
that he who should find himselfe, and his son, and a stranger guilty of
any violence or injury, ought first begin by himselfe, and present himselfe
to the sentence and condemnation of the law, and for his owne discharge
and acquital implore the assistance of the executioners hand: secondly,
for his son, and lastly, for the stranger. If this recept take his
tune somewhat too high, it should at lest be first presented to the punishment
of one's owne conscience. Our senses are our proper and first judges, who
distinguish not things, but by externall accidents; and no marvell, if
in all parts of the service belonging to our society there is so perpetuall
and universall commixture of ceremonies and superficiall apparances; so
that the best and most effectuall part of policies consists in that.
It is man with whom we have alwayes to doe, whose condition is marvellously
corporall. Let those who in these latter dayes have so earnestly
laboured to frame and establish unto us an exercise of Religion and Service
of God, so contemplative and immateriall, ponder nothing at all if some
be found who thinke it would have escaped and moultred away betweene their
fingers, if it had not held and continued amongst us, as a marke, a title,
and instrument of division and faction, more then by it selfe. As
in conference, The gravity, the gowne, and the fortune of him that speaketh,
doth often adde and winne credit unto vaine, trifling, and absurd discourses.
It is not to bee
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
presumed that one of these gowne-Clarkes or quoifed Serjants, so followed
and so redoubled, have not some sufficiency within him more then popular:
and that a man so sullen, so grim, and so disdainfull, to whom so many
commissions, charges, and authorities are given, be not more sufficient
and worthy then another who saluteth and vaileth to him so farre-off, and
whom no man employeth. Not onely the words, but the powtings of such
people are considered and registred, every one applying himselfe to give
them some notable and solide interpretation. If they stoope to common
conference, and that a man affoord or shew them other then reverence and
approbation, they overthrow you with the autority of their experience:
they have read, they have heard, seene, and done goodly things, you are
cleane overwhelmed with examples. I would faine tell them that the
fruit of a Chirurgion's experience is not the story of his practises, or
the remembrance that hee hath cured foure who had the Plague, and healed
as many that had the Goute, except hee know and have the wit, from his
use and experience, to draw a methode how to frame his judgements, and
by his skill and practise make us perceave hee is become wiser in his art.
As in a consort of instruments, one heares not severally a Lute, a Vyol,
a Flute, or a paire of Virginalles, but a perfect-full harmony: the assembly
and fruit of all those instruments in one. If their travels and charges
have amended them, it is in the production of their understanding to make
it appeare. It sufficeth not to number the experiments; they ought
to bee well poised and orderly sorted: and to extract the reasons and conclusions
they containe, they should be well disgested and thorowly distilled.
Ther- were never so many Historians. It is ever good and profitable
to heare them; for out of the magazin of their memory they store us with
divers good instructions and commendable documents.
Verily a chiefe part, for the assistance of our life. Aut now
a dayes wee seeke not after that, but rather whether the Collectors and
reporters of them be praise worthy and directing
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themselves. I hate al manner of tyranny both verball and effectuall.
I willingly band and oppose my selfe against these vaine and frivolous
circumstances, which by the sences delude our judgement; and holding my
selfe aloofe of from these extraordinary greatnesses, have found that for
the most part they are but men as others be:
Rarus enim ferme sensus communis in illa
Fortuna./1
For common senre is seldome found
In fortunes that so much abound.
They are, peradventure, esteemed and discerned lesse then they bee, forsomuch
as they undertake more, and so shew themselves; they annwer not the charge
they have taken. There must necessarily be more vigour and strength
in the bearer then in the burden. He who is not growne to his full
strength, leaves you to ghesse whether he have any left him beyond that,
or have beene tried to the utmost of his power. He who fainteth under
his burden bewrayeth his measure and the weaknesse of his shoulders.
Thats the reason why amongst the wiser sort there are so many foolish and
unapt minds seene, and more then of others. They might happily have
beene made good husbandmen, thriving merchants, and plodding artificers.
Their naturall vigour was cut out to this proportion. Learning is
a matter of great consequence: they faint under it. To enstall and
distribute so rich and so powerfall a matter, and availefully to employ
the same, their wit hath neither sufficient vigour, nor conduct enough
to manage it. It hath no prevailing vertue but in a strong nature,
and they are very rare; and such as are weake (saith Socrates) corrupt
and spoilingly deface the dignity of Philosophy in handling the same.
She seemeib faulty and unprofitable, being ill placed and unorderly disposed.
Loe here how they spoile and entangle themselves.
-----
1 JUV. Sat. viii. 73.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Huntani qualis simulator simius oris,
Quem puer arridens, pretioso stamine serum
Velavit, nudasque nates ac terga reliquit,
Ludibrium mensis./1
Such counterfeits as Apes are of mans face,
Whom children sporting at, featly incase
In coastly coates, but leave his backeside bare
For men to laugh at, when they feasting are.
To those likewise who sway and command us, and have the world in their
owne bands, 'tis not sufficient to have a common understanding, and to
be able to doe what we can effect. They are farre beneath us, if
they be not much above us. As they promise more, so owe they more.
And therefore silence is in them, not only a countenance of respect and
gravitie, but often of thrift and profit. Megabysus going to visite
Apelles in his worke-house, stood still a good while without speaking one
word, and then began to discourse of his workes. Of whom he received
this rude and nipping cheke: So long as thou holdest thy peace, by
reason of thy garish clothes, goodly chaines and stately pompe, thou seemedst
to be some worthy gallant; but now thou hast spoken, there is not the simplest
boy of my shop but scorneth and contemns thee.' That great state of his,
those rich habiliments and goodly traine did not permit him to be ignorant
with a popular ignorance, and to speak impertinently of painting.
He should have kept mute and concealed his externall and presuming sufficiency.
Unto how many fond and shallow minds hath in my dayes a sullen, cold, and
silent countenance served as a title of wisedome and capacity? Dignities,
charges and places are necessarily given more by fortune then by merit;
and they are often to blame that for it lay the blame on Kings. Contrariwise
it is a wonder that, being so untoward, they should therein have so good
lucke: Principis est virtue maxima nosse suos: 'Chiefe vertue it
is knowne, In Kings to know their owne.' For Nature hath not given them
so perfect
-----
1 CLAUD. Eutrop. 1. i. 803.
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a sight that it might extend it selfe and overlooke so many people,
to discerne their pre-excellency; and enter their breasts where lodgeth
the knowledge of our will and better worth. It is by conjectures,
and as it were groping they must try us; by our race, alliances, dependences,
riches, learning, and the peoples voice: all over-weake arguments.
He that could devise a meane how men might be judged by law, chosen by
reason and advanced by desert, should establish a perfect forme of a commonwealth.
Yea but hee hath brought that great businesse unto a good passe.
It is to say something, but not to say sufficiently. For this sentence
is justly received, That counsels ought not to be judged by the events.{Cordelia+}
The Carthaginians were wont to punish the ill counsels of their Captaines,
although corrected by some fortunate successes And the Roman people hath
often refused triumphes to famous, successfull and most profitable victories,
forsomuch as the Generals conduct answeared not his good fortune.
It is commonly perceived by the worlds actions
that fortune+,
to teach us how farre hir power extendeth unto all things, and who taketh
pleasure to abate our presumption, having not bin able to make silly men
wise, she hath made them fortunate in envy of vertue; and commonly gives
hir selfe to favour executions, when as their complot and devise is meerly
hirs. Whence we dayly see that the simplest amongst us compass divers
great and important affaires, both publike and private. And as Sirannez,
the Persian Prince, answered those who seemed to wonder how his negotiations
succeeded so ill, his discourses being so wise, that he was onely maister
of his discourses, but fortune mistris of his affaires successes.
These may answer the like; but with a contrary bias. Most things
of the world are made by themselves.
Fata viam inveniunt./1
Fates finde and know which way to goe.
-----
1 VIRG. Aen. 1. iii. 356.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
The issue doth often aucthorize a simple conduct. Our interposition
is in a manner nothing els but an experience, and more commonly a consideration
of use and example then of reason. And as one amazed at the greatnesse
of some businesses I have sometimes understood by those who had atchieved
them, both their motives and addresses: wherein I have found but vulgar
advises: and the most vulgar and used are peradventure the surest and most
commodious for the practice, if not for the shew. And what if the
plainest reasons, are the best seated, the meanest, basest and most beaten,
are best applied unto affaires? To maintaine the authority of our
Kings counsell it is not requisite that prophane persons should be partakers
of it, and looke further into it then from the first barre. To uphold
it's reputation, it should be reverenced upon credit, and at full.
My consultation doth somewhat roughly hew the matter, and by it's first
shew, lightly consider the same: the maine and chiefe point of the worke
I am wont to resigne to heaven.
Permitte, divis caetera./1
How all the rew shall goe,
Give leave to Gods to know.
Good and bad fortune+
are in my conceit two soveraigne powers. 'Tis folly to thinke that humane
wisdome may act the full part of fortune. And vaine is his enterprise
that presumeth to embrace both causes and consequences, and lead the progresse
of his fact by the hand. And above all, vainest in military deliberations.
There was never more circumspection and mililary wisedome then is sometimes
seene amongst us: may it be that man feareth to lose himselfe by the way,
reserving himselfe to the catastrophe of that play? I say, moreover,
that even our wisdome and consultation for the most part followeth the
conduct of bazard. My will and my discourse is sometimes mooved by
one ayre and sometimes by another; and
-----
1 HOR. 1. i. Od. ix. 9.
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there be many of these motions that are governed without me. My
reason hath dayly impulsions and casuall agitations:
Vertuntur species animorum, et pectora motus
Nunc alios, alios dum nubila ventus agebat,
Concipiunt./1
The showes of mindes are chang'd, and brests conceave
At one time motions which anon they leave,
And others take againe, As winds drive clouds amaine.
Let but a man looke who are the mightiest in Cities and who thrive best
in their businesse: he shall commonly find they are the siliest and poorest
in wit. It hath bapned to simple women, to weake children, and to
mad men to command great states, as well as the most sufficient Princes.
And the gullish or shallow-pated (saith Thucidides) doe more ordinarily
come unto them then the wisest and subtilest. We ascribe their good
fortunes effects unto their prudence.
------ ut quisque fortuna utitur,
Ita praecellit: atque exinde sapere illum omnes dicimus./2
As men their fortune use, so they excell,
And so we say, they are wise and doe well.
Wherefore I say well that howsoever events are but weake testimonies of
our worth and capacity. I was now upon this point that we need but
looke upon a man advanced to dignity; had we but three daies before knowne
him to bee of little or no worth at all: an image of greatnesse and an
Idea of sufficiency doth insensibly glide and creepe into our opinions;
and we perswade our selves that increasing in state and credit and followers,
hee is also increased in merit. We judge of him, not according to
his worth, but after the maner of casting-counters, according to the prerogative
of his ranke. But let fortune turne her wheele, let him againe decline
and come down amongst the vulgar multitude; every one with admiration
-----
1 VIRG. Geo. 1. iv. 20. 2 PLAU. Pse. act v. 4.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES enquireth of the cause and how he was raised so high.
Good Lord, is that he? will some say. What, knew he no more? had
be no other skill when he was so aloft? Are Princes pleased with
so little? Now in good sooth we were in very good hands, will others
say. It is a thing my selfe have often seene in my dayes. Yea
the very maske of greatnesse or habit of Majesty represented in Tragedies
doth in some sort touch and beguile us. The thing I adore in Kings
is the throng of their adorators. All inclination and submission is due
unto them, except the mindes. My reason is not framed to bend or
stoope: my knees are. Melanthius, being demanded what be thought
of Dionysius his tragedy answered, I have not seene it, so much was it
over-clouded with language. So should those say that judge of great
mens discourses: I have not understood his discourse, so was it overdarkned
with gravity, with greatness and with Majesty. Antisthenes one day
perswaded the Athenians to command that their asses should as well be employed
about the manuring of grounds as were their horses who answered him that
the asse was not borne for such service: That's all one (quoth he),
there needs but your allowance for it: for the most ignorant and incapable
men you imploy about the directing of your warres leave not to become out
of hand most worthy onely because you employ them. Whereupon depends
the custome of so many men, who canonize the King, whom they have made
amongst them, and are not contented to honor him, unlesse they also adore
him. Those of Mexico, after the ceremonies of his consecration are finished,
dare no more looke him in the face; but as if by his Royalty they had deified
him, they afterward deeme him to bee a God: amongst the oathes, they make
him sweare to maintaine their Religion, to keepe their Lawes, to defend
their liberties, to be valiant, just and debonaire; he is also sworne to
make the Sun march in his accustomed light; in time of need to cause the
clouds showre downe their waters; to enforce rivers to runne in
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their right wonted chanels; and compell the earth to produce all necessary
things for his people. I differ from this common fashion, and more
distrust sufficiency, when I see it accompanied with the greatnes of fortune,
and lauded by popular commendation. Wee should speedfully marke of
what consequence it is for a man to speake in due time, to choose fit opportunity,
to breake or change his discourse with a magistrate authority; to defend
himselfe from others oppositions, by a nod or moving of the head, by a
smile, a shrug, or a silence, before an assembly trembling with reverence
and respect. A man of monstrous fortune, chancing to shoote his boult,
and give his opinion upon a frivolous subject, which but jestingly was
tossed too and fro at his table, began ever thus: he cannot choose but
be a lyer, or an ignorant asse, that will say otherwise then, &c.
Follow this Philosophicall point, out commeth a dagger, and there is some
mischiefe. Loe here another advertisement, from whence I reape good
use; which is, that in disputations and conferences all good seeming words
ought not presently to be allowed and accepted. Most men are rich
of a strange sufficiency. Some may chance to speake a notable saying,
to give a good answere, to use a witty sentence, and to propound it, without
knowing the force of it. That a man holdeth not all he borroweth,
may peradventure be verified in my selfe. A man should not alwayes
yeeld, what truth or goodnes soever it seemeth to containe. A man must
either combat the same in good earnest, or draw back, under colour of not
understanding the matter: to try on all parts, how it is placed in it's
author. It may fortune that we shut our selves up and further the
stroake, beyond its caring. I have sometimes in necessity and throng
of the combat employed some reviradoes or turnings, which beyond my intent
have prooved false offers. I but gave them by tale, and they were
received by waight. Even as when I contend with a vigourous man,
I please my selfe to anticipate his conclusions; I ease
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
him the labour to interpret himselfe; Inndevour to prevent his imperfect
and yet budding imagination; the order and pertinency of his understanding
forwarneth and menaceth a farre off. Of these others I do cleane
contrary; a man must understand or presuppose nothing but by them.
If they judge in generall termes: This is is good, that's naught:
and that they jump right, see whether it be fortune that jumpeth for them.
Let them a little circumscribe and restraine their sentence wherefore it
is, and which way it is. These universall judgements I see so ordinarily
say nothing at all. They are men that salute a whole multitude in throng
and troupe. Such as have true knowledge of the same, salute and marks
it by name and particularly. But it is a hazardous enterprise. Whence
I have oftner and daily seene to happen that wits weakly grounded, intending
to shew themselves ingenious by observing in the reading of some work the
point of beauty, stay their admiration with so bad a choise, that in lieu
of teaching us the authors excellency, they shew us their owne ignorance.
This maner of exclamation is safe: Loe this is very excellent:
Surely this is very good; having heard a whole page of Virgil. And
that's the shift whereby the subtill save themselves. But to undertake
to follow him by shrugs and crinches, and with an expresse selected judgement
to goe about to marke which way a good author surmounteth himselfe; pondring
his words, his phrases, his inventions, and his severall vertues one after
another: Away, goe by: It is not for you. Videndum est
non modo, quid quisque loquatur, sed etiam quid quisque sentiat, atque
etiam qua de causa quisque sentiat: 'Man must take heed not onely what
he speakes, but what he thinkes, and also why he thinkes.' I dayly heare
fooles utter unfoolish words. Speake they any good thing; let us
understand whence they know it, bow farre they understand and wherebv they
hold it. Wee helpe them to employ this fine word and this goodly reason,
which they possesse not, and have but in
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keeping; they have happily produced the same by chance and at random,
our selves bring it in credit and esteeme with them. You lend them
your hand what to doe? to konne you no thankes, and thereby become more
simple and more foolish. Doe not second them: let them goe-on: they
will handle this matter as men affraid to bewray themselves, they dare
neither change her seats or light, nor enter into it. Shake it never
so little, it escapeth them; quit the same how strong and goodly soever
it be. They are handsome weapons, but ill hafted. How often
have I seene the experience of it! Now if you come to expound and
confirme them, they take hold of you, and presently steale the advantage
of your interpretation from you. It was that which I was about to
say: It was just my conceit; If I have not so exprest it, it is but
for want of speech. Handy-dandy, what is this? Malice it selfe
must be employed to correct this fierce rudenesse. Hegesias his position,
that a man must neither hate nor accuse, but instruct, hath some reason
else where. But here it is injustice to assist, and inhumanity to
raise him up againe, that hath nothing to doe with it, and is thereby of
lesser worth. I love to have them entangle and bemire themselves
more then they are, and if it be possible to wade so deepe into the gulphe
of error, that in the end they may recall and advise themselves.
Sottishnesse and distraction of the senses is no disease curable by a tricke
of advertisment. And we may fitly say of this reparation, as Cyrus
answered one who urged him to exhort his army in the nicke when the battell
should begin: 'That men are not made warlike and courageous in the field
by an excellent oration, no more then one becommeth a ready cunning Musition
by hearing a good song.' They are prentisages that must be learned a forehands
by long and constant institution. This care we owe to ours, and this
assiduity of correction and instruction; but to preach to him that first
passeth by, or sway the ignorance or fondnesse of him we meete next, is
a custome l cannot well away with. I seldome
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use it, even in such discourses as are made to me; and I rather quit
all, then come to these far-fetcht and magistrate instractions. My
humour is no more proper to speake then to write, namely for beginners.
But in things commonly spoken, or amongst others, how false and absurd
soever I judge them, I never crosse or gibe them, neither by word nor signe.
Further, nothing doth_more spight me in sottishnesse then that it pleaseth
it selfe more then any reason may justly bee satisfied. It is ill
lucke that wisedome forbids you to please and trust your selfe, and sends
you alwayes way discontented and fearefull; whereas wilfulnesse and rashnesse
fill their guests with gratulation and assurance. It is for the simplest
and least able to looke at other men over their shoulders, ever returning
from the combat full of glory and gladnesse. And most often also,
this outrecuidance of speech and cheerefulnesse of countenance giveth them
the victory over the bystanders, who are commonly weake, and incapable
to judge a right and discerne true advantage. Obstinacy and earnestnesse
in opinion is the surest tryall of folly and selfe conceit. Is there
any thing so assured, so resolute, so disdainfull, so contemplative, so
serious and so grave, as the Asse? May we not commixe with the title
of conference and communication the sharpe and interrupted discourses whichmirth+
and familiarity introduceth amongst friends, pleasantly dallying and wittily
jesting one with another? An exercise to which my naturall blithnesse
makes me very apt. And if it be not so wire-drawne and serious as
this other exercise I now speake of, yet is it no lesse sharpe or ingenious,
no lesse profitable, as it seemed to Lycurgus. For my regard I bring more
liberty then wit unto it, and have therin more lucke then invention; but
I am perfect in sufferance; for I endure the revenge, not onely sharpe
but also indiscreete, without any alteration. And to any assault given
me, if I have not presently or stoutly wherewith to worke mine owne amends,
I ammuse not my selfe to follow that ward or point, with a tedious and
selfe-wil'd contestation, enclining to
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pertinacy: I let it passe, and hanging downe mine eares, remit
my selfe to a better houre to right my selfe. He is not a marchant
that ever gaineth. Most men change both voice and countenance, where might
faileth them: And by an importunate rage, instead of avenging themselves,
they accuse their weaknesse and therewith bewray their impacience.
In this jollity we now and then harpe upon some secret strings of our imperfections,
which setled or considerate we cannot touch without offence, and we profitably
enter- advertize our selves of our defects. There are other handy-sports
indiscreete, fond and sharpe, just after the French maner, which I hate
mortally; I have a tender and sensible skinne: I have in my daies
seene two Princes of our Royall blood brought to their graves for it.
It is an ill seeming thing for men in jest to hitte, or in sport to strike
one another. In other matters, when I shall judge of any body, I
demaund of him how farre or how much he is contented with himselfe; how
farre his speach or his worke pleaseth him. I will avoyd these goodly
excuses, I did it but in jest:
Ablatum mediis opus est incudibus istud,/1
This worke away was brought,
Halfe hammered, halfe wrought.
I was not an houre there: I have not seene him since. Now I
say, let us then leave these partes; give me one that may represent you
whole and entire, by which it may please you to be measured by another.
And then, what finde you fairest in your owne worke? Is it that or
this part? The grace or the matter, the invention, the judgement,
or the learning? For I ordinarily perceive that a man misseth as
much in judging of his owne worke as of anothers. Not onely by the
affection he therein imployeth, but because be hath not sufficiencie to
know, nor skill to distinguish it. The worke of it's owne power and
fortune may second the workeman, and transport him beyond his invention
and
-----
1 OVID. Trist. 1. i. Eleg. vi. 29.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
knowledge. As for me, I judge not the worth of anothers worke
more obscurely then of mine owne; and place my Essayes sometime lowe, sometimes
high, very unconstantly and doubtfully. There are divers bookes profitable
by reason of their subjects, of which the author reapeth no commendations
at all; And good bookes, as also good workes, which make the workeman ashamed.
I shall write the manner of our bankets and the fashion of our garments,
and I shall write it with an ill grace: I shall publish the Edicts
of my time, and the letters of Princes that publikely passe from hand to
hand: I shall make an abridgement of a good booke (and every abridgement
of a good booke is a foole abridged), which booke shall come to be lost,
and such like things. Posterity shall reape singular profit by such
compositions; but I, what honour except by my good fortune? Many
famous bookes are of this condition.
When I read Philip de Commines (now divers
yeares since), a right excellent author, I noted this speech in him as
a saying not vulgar: That a man should carefully take heed how be
do his master so great or much service, that he thereby be hindred from
finding his due recompence for it. I should have commended the invention,
but not him. After that I found it in Tacitus: Beneficia
eo usque lata sunt dum videntur exolvi posse , ubi multum antevenere pro
gratia odium redditur:/1 ' Benefits+
are so long wel-come, as wee thinke they may be requited, but when they
much exceede all power of recompence, hate is returned for thankes and
good will.' Seneca very stoutly: Nam qui putat esse turpe non reddere,
non vult esse cui reddat:/2 'For he that thinkes it a shame not to
requite, could wish he were not whom he should requite.' Q.Cicero with
a looser byas: : 'He that thinkes he doth not satisfie, can by no
meanes be a friend.' The subject according as it is may make a man be judged
learned,
-----
1 CORN. TACIT. Annal. 1. iv. 2 SEN. Epist. lxxxi.
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wise, and memorious; but to judge in him the parts most his owne and
best worthy, together with the force and beautie of his minde, 'tis very
requisite we know first what is his owne, and what not; and in what is
not his owne, what we are beholding to him for, in consideration of his
choise, disposition, ornament, and language be hath thereunto furnished.
What if he have borrowed the matter and empaired the forme? as many times
it commeth to passe. Wee others that have little practise with bookes
are troubled with this, that when wee meet with any rare or quaint invention
in a new Poet, or forcible argument in a Preacher, we dare not yet commend
them untill we have taken instruction of some wise man, whether that art
be their owne or another bodies, And untill then I ever stand upon mine
owne guard. I come lately from reading over (and that without any
intermission) the story of' Tacitus (a matter not usual] with me; it is
now twenty yeares, I never spent one whole houre together upon a booke),
and I have now done it at the instant request of a gentleman whom France
holdeth in high esteeme, as well for his owne worth and valour as for a
constant forme of sufficiencie and goodnes apparently seene in divers brethren
of his. I know no author that in a publike register entermixeth so
many considerations of manners and particular inclinations. And I
deeme cleane contrary to what hee thinketh; who being especially to follow
the lives of the Emperours of his time, so divers and extreme in all manner
of forme, so many notable and great actions, which namely their cruelty
produced in their subjects, he had a more powerfull and attractive matter
to discourse and relate, then if hee had beene to speake or treat of battels
and universall agitations. So that I often find him barren, sleightlie
running-over those glorious deaths, as if he feared to attediate and molest
us with their multitude and continuance. This forme of historie is
much more profitable: Publike innovations depend more on the conduct
of fortune+; private
on ours. It is rather a judgement then a deduction of
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
an history: therein are more precepts then narrations. It is not
a booke to reade, but a volume to study and to learne; it is so fraught
with sentences, that right or wrong they are hudled up. It is a seminary
of morall and a magazine of pollitique discourses, for the provision and
ornament of those that possesse some place in the managing of the world.{history+}
He ever pleadeth with solid and forcible reasons, after a sharpe and witty
fashion; following the affected and laboured stile of his age. They
so much loved to raise and puffe themselves up, that where they found neither
sharpnesse not subiility in things, they would borrow it of wordes.
He draweth somewhat neare to Seneca's writing. I deeme Tacitus more
sinnowy, Seneca more sharpe. His service is more proper to a crazed
troubled state, as is ours at this present; you would often say, he pourtrayeth
and toucheth us to the quicke. Such as doubt of his faith doe manyfestly
accuse themselves to hate him for somewhat else. His opinions be
sound, and enclining to the better side of the Romane affaires. I
am neverthelesse something greeved that be hath more bitterly judged of
Pompey then honest men's opinions, who lived and conversed with him, doe
well allow off: to have esteemed him altogether equall to Marius and Silla,
saving that he was more close and secret. His intention and canvasing
for the government of affaires hath not beene exempted from ambition nor
cleared from revenge+; and his owne friends
have feared that had he gotten the victory, it would have transported him
beyond the limits of reason, but not unto an unbridled and raging measure.
There is nothing in his life that hath threatned us with so manifest a
cruelty and expresse tyranny. Yet must not the suspition be counterpoised
to the evidence: So doe not I beleeve him.
That his narrations are naturall and right
might happily be argued by this, that they doe not alwaies exactly apply
themselves to the conclusions of his judgement, which hee pursueth according
to the course he hath taken, often beyond the matter he showeth us,
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which be hath dained to stoope unto with glance. He needeth no
excuse to have approoved the religion of his times according to the lawes
which commanded him, and beene ignorant of the true and perfect worship
of God, That's his ill fortune, not his defect. I have principally
considered his judgement, whereof I am not everywhere throughly resolved.
As namely these words contayned in the letter, which Tiberius, being sicke
and aged, sent to the Senate: 'What shall I write to you my masters, or
how shall I write to you, or what shall I not write to you in these times?
May the gods and goddesses loose me worse then I dayly feele myselfe to
perish, if I can tell.' I cannot perceive why he should so certainly apply
them onto a stinging remorse, tormenting the conscience of Tiberius; At
least when my selfe was in the same plight, I saw it not. That hath
likewise seemed somwhat demisse and base unto me, that having said how
he exercised a certaine honourable magistracy in Rome, he goeth about to
excuse himselfe that it is not for ostentation he spake it. This
one tricke, namely in a minde of his quality, seemeth but base and course
unto me; For not to dare speake roundly of himselfe, accuseth some want
of courage. A constant, resolute, and high judgement, and which judgeth
soundly and surely, every hand while useth his owne examples, as well as
of any strange thing, and witnesseth as freely of himselfe as of a third
person: a man must overgoe these populare reasons of civility in favour
of truth and liberty. I dare not onely speake of my selfe, but speake
alone of my selfe. I stragle when I write of any other matter, a
nd digresse from my subject. I doe not so indiscreetly love my selfe,
and am so tied and commixt to my selfe as that I can not distinguish and
consider my selfe a part, as a neighbour, as a tree; it is an equall error
either not to see how farre a mans worth stretcheth, or to say more of
it then one seeth good cause. We owe more love to God then to our
selves, and know him lesse, and yet we talke our fill of him. If his writings
relate any thing of his conditions,
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
be was a notable man, upright and courageous, not with a superstitious
vertue, but Philosophicall and generous: He may be found over-hardy
in his testimonies. As where he holdeth that a souldier carrying
a burden of wood, his hands were so stifly benummed with cold that they
stucke to his wood, and remained so fast unto it, that as dead flesh they
were divided from his armes. In such cases I am wont to yeeld unto
the authority of so great testimonies. Where he also saith that Vespasian,
by the favour of the God Serapis, healed in the citie of Alexandria a blinde
woman with the rubbing and anointing her eyes with fasting spettle, and
some other miracles, which I remember not well now, he doth it by the example
and devoire of all good historians. They keepe a register of important
events; among publike accidents are allso popular reports and opinions.
It is their part to relate common conceits, but not to sway them.
This part belongeth to Divines and Philosophers, directors of consciences.
Therefore, that companion of his, and as great a man as hee, said most
wisely: Equidem plura transcribo quam credo: Nam nec affirmare
sustineo de quibus dubito nec sub ducere quae accepi: 'I write out more
then I beleeve: for neither can I bide to affirm what I doubt of, nor to
withdrawe what I have heard.' And that other: Haec neque affirmare
neque refellere operae precium est: famae rerum standum est: 'It is not
worth the talke, or to avouch, or to refute these things wee must stand
to report.' And writing in an age wherein the beliefe of prodigies began
to decline, he saith he would notwithstanding not omit to insert in his
Annals and give footing to a thing received and allowed of so many honest
men, and with so great reverence by antiquity. It is very well said:
That they yeelde us the history, more according as they receave then according
as they esteeme it. I, who am king of the matter I treat of, and
am not to give accompt of it to any creature living, doe neverthelesse
not altogether beleeve my selfe for it: I often hazard upon certaine
outslips of my minde for which I distrust my selfe; and certaine verball
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wilie-beguilies, whereat I shake mine eares; but I let them runne at
hab or nab, I see some honour them selves with such like things: 'Tis not
for me alone to judge of them. I present my selfe standing and lying
before and behinde, on the right and left side, and in all by naturall
motions. Spirits alike in force are not ever alike in application and taste.
Loe here what my memory doth in grose, and yet very uncertainely present
unto me of it. In breefe, all judgments are weake, demisse and imperfect.
CHAPTER 3.IX+ OF
VANITIE+ +
THERE is peradventure no vanity more manyfest then so vainely to write
of it. What Divinity hath so divinely expressed thereof unto us,
ought of all men of understanding to be diligently and continually meditated
upon. Who seeth not that I have entred so large a field, and undertaken
so high a pitch, wherein so long as there is either Inke or Paper in the
world, I may uncessantly wander and fly without encombrance? I can
keepe no register of my life by my actions: fortune placeth them to lowe:
I hould them of my fantasies. Yet have I seen a gentleman who never
communicated his life but by the operations of his belly; you might have
seene in his house, set out for a show, a row of basins for seaven or eight
dayes. It was all his study, it was all his talke: All other
discourses were unsavory to him. These are somewhat more civile,
the excrements of an ould spirit, sometimes hard, sometimes laxative; but
ever indigested. And when shall I come unto an end of representing
a continuall agitation or uncessant alteration of my thoughts, what subject
soever they happen; since Diomedes filled six thousand bookes onely with
the subject of Grammar? What is idle babling like to produce, since
faltring and liberty of the tongue hath stuft the world with so horrible
a multitude of volumes? So many words onely for words. Oh Pythagoras,
why didst not thou conjure this tempest? One Galba, of former ages, being
accused for living idlie, answered that 'all men ought to give an account
of their actions, but not of their abiding.' He was deceived; for justice
hath also knowledge and animadversion over such as gather stubble (as the
common
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saying is) or looke about for gape-seed. But there should be some
correction appointed by the lawes against foolish and unprofitable writers,
as there is against vagabonds and loiterers; so should both my selfe and
a hundred others of our people be banished. It is no mockerie:
Scribling seemeth to be a Symthome or passion of an irregular and licentious
age. When writ we ever so much as we have done since our intestine
troubles, or when filled the Romans so many volumes as in the times of
their ruine? Besides that, the refining of wits in a common wealth
doth seldome make them the wiser; this idle working proceedeth of this,
that all men doe over slowly give themselves to the office of their function,
and are easily withdrawne from it. The corruption of the times we
live in is wrought by the particular contribution of every one of us: some
conferre treason unto it, some injustice, other some irreligion, tyranny,
avarice and cruelty, according as they are more or lesse powerfull; the
weaker sort, whereof I am one, imparte foolishnesse, vanity and idlenesse
unto it. It seemeth to bee the season of vaine things when the domageable
presse us. In a time where to doe evill is common, to doe nothing
profitable is in a manner commendable. One thing comforts me, that
I shall be of the last that shall be attached; whilst they shall provide
for the worser sort and the most hurtfull, I shall have leasure to amend
my selfe; for mee thinkes it would bee against reason busily to insist
and pursue petty inconveniences, when great ones infect us. And the
Physition Philotimus, to one that offred his finger to dresse, by whose
face, looke and breath he apparently perceaved that he had an impostume
in his loonges: 'My friend (quoth he), it is now no fit time to busie your
selfe about your nayles.' Yet concerning this purpose, I saw not many yeares
since a friend of mine, whose name and memory (for divers respects) I hould
in singular account, who in the midst of our troublous mischiefes, when
no more then at this time neither lawe, nor justice, nor magistrate was
executed or did his office, published certaine silly
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
reformations concerning the excesse of aparell, gluttony and dyet, and
abuses committed among pettyfogging lawiers. They be ammusings wherewith
a people in a desperate taking is fed, that so men may say they are not
cleane forgotten. Even so doe these others who mainely apply themselves
to forbid certaine manners of speach, dances and vaine sports, unto a people
wholy given over to all licenciousnesse and execrable vices. It is
then no convenient time for a man to wash and netifie himselfe when he
is assailed by a violent fever. It onely belongs to Spartans to tricke,
to combe and wash themselves at what time they are ready to cast themselves
into some extreame hazard of life. As for me, I am subject to this
ill custome, that if but a pump fit not handsomlly upon my foot, I shall
also neglect my shirt and my cloake; for I disdaine to correct my selfe
by halfes when I am in bad estate, I flesh my selfe on evill and abandon
my selfe through despaire, and run to downefall, and (as the saying is)
cast the haft after the batchet. I grow obstinate in empairing; and
esteeme my selfe no more worthy of my care, eyther all well or all evill.
It is a favour to me that the desolation of our state doth sutably meet
with the desolation of my age: I rather endure that my evills should
thereby be surcharged then if my goods had thereby beene troubled.
The words I utter against misfortune are words of spite. My courage,
insteed of yeelding, doth grow more obstinate; and contrary to others,
I finde my selfe more given to devotion in prosperous then adverse fortune;
according to Xenophons rule, if not according to his reason. And
I rather looke on heaven with a chearefull eye, to thanke it, then to begge
any thing. I am more carefull to enerease my health when it smiles
upon me, then to recover it when I have lost it. Prosperities are
to me as discipline and instruction, as adversities and crosses are to
others. As if good
fortune+ were incompatible with a good conscience, men never become
honest but by adverse and crosse chances. Good fortune is to me a
singular motive unto
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moderation and forcible spurre unto modesty. Prayers winne me,
menaces reject me, favours relent me, feare imperverseth me. Amongst
humane conditions this one is very common, that we are rather pleased with
strange things then with our owne; we love changes, affect alterations,
and like innovations.
Ipsa dies ideo nos grato perluit hanstu,
Ouod permutatis hora recurrit equis.
Times therefore us refresh with welcome ayre,
Because their houres on chang'd horse doe repayre.
And my share is therein. Such as follow the other extremity, onely
to bee well pleased with and in themselves, and selfe-conceitedly to over-esteeme
what they possesse above others, and acknowledge no forme fayrer then that
they see, if they be not more advised then we, they are indeed more happy.
I envie not their wisedome, but grudge their good fortune. This greedy
humour of new and unquenchable desire of unknowns things dooth much increase
and nourish in me a desire to travell; but divers other circumstances conferre
unto, it. I am well pleased to neglect and shake of the government
of mine owne household. It is some pleasure to command, were it but
a mole- hill, and a delight to be obaied. But it is a pleasure over-uniforme
and languishing. Besides that it is ever necessarily intermixed with troublous
cares and hart-wearing thoughts.
Sometimes the indigence and oppression of your owne people, sometimes
the contentions and quarels of your neighbours, and othertimes their insulting
and usurpation over you, doth vexe, doth trouble and afflict you:
Aut verberatae grandine vineae,
Fundusque mendax, arbore nunc aquas
Culpante nunc torrentia agros
Sydera, nunc hyemes iniquas./1
Or Vinevards beate and wet with haile and raine,
Or grounds defrauding hope, while trees complaine,
Sometime of waters, sometime of those starres
That scorch the fields, sometime of wintere warres.
-----
1 HOR. Car. 1. iii. Od. i. 29.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
And that God will hardly once in halfe a yeare send you a season that
shall Throughly please your Bayly and content your Receaver; and that if
it be good for your vines, it be not hurtfull for your meddowes.
Aut nimiis torret fervoribus aetherius Sol,
Aut subiti perimunt imbres, gelidaeque pruinae
Flabraque ventorum violento turbine vexent./1
Or with excessive heate heavens
Sunne doth toast,
Or sodaine stormes do kill, and chilling frost,
Or violent whirle-wind blasts doe vexe the coast.
As that new and well-shapen shoe of that man of former ages, which hurts
and wrings your foote and that a stranger knowes not what it costes you
and what you contribute to maintains the show of that order which is seene
in your housholde, and which peradventure you purchase at too high a rate.
It was very late before I betooke my selfe to husbandrie. Those whom
nature caused to be borne before mee have long time ridde mee of that carefull
burthen: I had already taken another habite more sutable to my complexion.
Neverthelesse by that I have observed therein, I finde it to be rather
a troublesome then a hard occupation. Whosoever is capable of any
other thing may easily discharge that. If I would seeke to grow rich,
that way would seeme over-long and tedious to mee: I would then have
served our kings, a trade more beneficiall then all others, since I pretend
but to get the reputation that as I have gotten nothing, so have I not
wasted any thing; sutable to the rest of my life; as unfit to affect any
good, as improper to worke any evill of consequence; and that I onely seeke
to weare out my life, I may (God bee thanked) doe it without any great
attention: if the worst come to passe, before poverty assaile you, seeke
by prevention to cut of your charges, and by husbanding your expences keepe
aforehand with it; that is it I trust unto, and hope to reforme my selfe
before it come neare or enforce me to it. As for other matters, I
-----
1 LUCR. 1. v. 216.
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have forestalled many degrees and established sundry wayes in my minde,
to live and rubbe out with lesse then I have. I say to live with
contentment. Non estimatione census, verum victu atque cultu, terminatur
pecuniae modus:/1 'The measure of money is lymited not by the estimate
of wealth or place, but by the manner of living and other furniture.' My
very neede doth not so precisely possesse my whole estate, but that without
touching to the quick or empairing the maine, fortune shall finde something
to play upon or take hold of. My very presence, as ignorant and grim
as it is, affordeth much helpe to my houshould affaires: I apply
my selfe thereunto but somewhat dispightfully, considering the manner of
my house, which is, that severally to burne my candle at one end, the other
is thereby nothing spared. Travels do not much hurt me, were it not
for the charges, which are exceeding great and beyond my ability, having
ever beene accustomed to journey not only with necessary, but also decent
equipage; and that's the reason I make but short journeis and travel not
to often; wherein I imploy but the scumme and what I can well spare, temporising
and differing according as it commeth more or lesse. I will not have
the pleasure of my wandring to corrupt the delight of my retiring.
Contrary-wise, my intent is that they nourish and favor one another.
Fortune hath steaded me in this, that since my chiefest profession in this
life was to live delicately and quietly, and rather negligently then seriously,
it hath deprived me of need to hoard up riches to provide for the multitude
of my heires. For one, if that be not sufficient for him, wherewith
I have lived so plenteously, at his owne perill be it. His indiscretion
shall not deserve that I wish him more. And every man (according
to the example of Phocion) provideth sufficiently for his children that
provideth they be not unlike to him. I should by no meanes be of
Crates his mind, or commend his proceedings. He left his money with
a banquier upon this CONDITION,
-----
1 CIC. Parad.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
That if his children were fooles be should deliver it them; but prooving
wise and able to shift for themselves, he should distribute the same amongst
the greatest fooles. As if fooles, being least capable to make a
shift without it, were more capable to use riches. So it is that
the hurt proceeding from my absence doth not (in mine opinion) deserve,
so long as I shall have meanes to beare it, I should refuse to accept the
occasions that offer themselves to distract mee from this toylesome assistance.
There is ever some peece out of square. Sometimes the businesse of
one house, and other times the affaires of another, doe hurry you.
You pry too neare into all things; herein, as well as elsewhere, your perspicuity
doth harme you. I steale from such occasions as may move me to anger, and
remoove from the knowledge of things that thrive not; yet can I not so
use the matter, but still I stumble (being at home) upon some inconvenience
which displeaseth me. And slight knaveries that are most hidden from
mee are those I am best acquainted with. Some there are which to
avoyd a further mischiefs a man must helpe to conceale himselfe: vaine
prickings (vaine sometimes), but yet ever prickings. The least and
sleightest hindrances are the sharpest. And as the smallest letters hurt
our eyes most, so the least affaires grieve us most: A multitude
of slender evils offendeth more then the violence of one alone, how great
soever. Even as ordinary thornes, being small and sharpe, pricke
us more sharpely and sans threatning, if on a sudden we bit upon them.
I am no Philosopher: Evils oppresse me according as they waigh, and
waigh according to their forme, as wel as according to the matter, and
often more. I have more insight in them then the vulgar sort; and
so have I more patience. To conclude, if they hurt me not, they lie
heavie upon me. Life is a tender thing and easie to pebdistempered.
Since I began to grow towards peevish age, and by consequence toward frowardnes,
nemo enim resistit ubi cum ceperit impelli:/1 'For no man stayes
himselfe when
-----
1 SEN. Epist. i. 13 f.
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he is set on going.' What ever fond cause hath brought me to it, I provoke
the humour that way, which afterward by his owne motion is fostred and
exasperated, attracting and heaping up one matter upon another, to feede
it selfe withall.
Stillicidii casus lapidem cavat.
By often falling on,
Even water breakes a atone.
These ordinary distilling drops consume and ulcerate me. Ordinary
inconveniences are never light. They are continuall and irreparable
if they continually and inseperatly aryse from the members of husbandry.
When I consider my affaires a farre off and in grosse, I finde, be it because
I have no exact memory of them, that hitherto they have thrived beyond
my reasons and expectation. Me thinks I draw more from them then there
is in them: their good successe betraieth me. But am I waded into
the businesse? See I all these parcels march?
Tum vero in curas animum deducimus omnes./1
Then we our minde divide,
To cares on every side.
A thousand things therein give me cause to desire and feare. Wholy
to forsake them is very easie unto me; without toyling, and vexation altogether
to apply my selfe unto them is most hard. It is a pittyfull thing
to be in a place where whatsoever you see doeth set on a worke and concerne
you; And me thinkes enjoy more blithly and taste more choisely the pleasures
of a stranger house then of mine owne, and both my minde and taste runne
more freely and purely on them. Diogenes answered according to my
humor, when being demanded what kinde of Wine he liked best, 'Another mans,'
said he. My father delighted to build at Montaigne, where he was
borne; and in al this policy of domestick affaires, I love to
-----
1 VIRG. Aen. 1. v. 720.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
make use of his examples and rules, unto which I will as much as possibly
I can tie my successors. Could I doe better for him, I would performe
it. I glory his will is at this day practised by mee, and doth yet worke
in me. God forbid I should ever suffer any image of life to perish
under my hands, that I may yeeld unto so good and so kinde a father.
If I have undertaken to finish any old peece of wall, or repare any building
either imperfect or decaied, it hath certainly beene because I had rather
a respect to his intention then a regard to my contentment. And I
blame my negligence or lithernesse that I have not continued to perfect
the foundations he had laid, or beginnings he had left in his house; by
so much the more because I am in great likelihood to be the last possessor
of it, namely of my race, and set the last hand unto it. For concerning
my particular Application, neither the pleasure of building, which is said
to be so bewitching, nor hunting, nor hawking, nor gardens, nor such other
delights of a retired life, can much embusie or greatly ammuse me.
It is a thing for which I hate my selfe, as of all other opinions that
are incommodious to me. I care not so much to have them vigorous
and learned as I labour to have them easie and commodious unto life.
They are indeed sufficiently true and sound, if they be profitable and
pleasing. Those who hearing mee relate mine owne insufficiencie in
matters pertaining to husbandry or thrift, are still whispering in mine
eares that it is but a kinde of disdaine, and that I neglect to know the
implements or tooles belonging to husbandry or tillage, their seasons and
orders; how my wines are made, how they graft, and under stand or know
the names and formes of hearbes, of simples, of fruits, and what belongs
to the dressing of meats wherewith I live and whereon I feede; the names
and prices of such stuffes I cloath my selfe withall, onely because I doe
more seriously take to heart some higher knowledge; bring me in a manner
to deaths doore.
This is meere sottishnesse, and
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rather brutishnesse then glory: I would rather be a cunning horseman
then a good Logician. {PlainDealer+}
Quin tu aliquid saltem potius quorum indiget usus,
Viminibus Monique paras detexere junco?/1
Why rather with soft wings make you not speed,
To worke- up something whereof there is need?
Wee hinder our thoughts from the generall and maine point, and from the
causes and universall conducts, which are very well directed without us,
and omit our owne businesse, and Michael, who concernes us neerer then
man. Now I most commonly stay at home, but I would please my selfe
better there then any where else.
Sit mea sedes utinam senectae,
Sit modus lasso maris, et viarum,
. . . Militiaeque./2
Some repaire and rest to mine old age I crave
Journying, failing, with a weary warring,
O let an end have.
I wot not whether I shall come to an end of it. I would that in lieu
of some other part of his succession, my father had resigned that passionate
love and deare affection which in his aged yeeres he bare unto his houshold
husbandry. He was very fortunate in conforming his desires unto his
fortune, and knew how to be pleased with what be had. Politike Philosophy
may how it list accuse the basenesse and blame the sterilitie of my occupation,
if, as he did, I may but once finde the taste of it. I am of this
opinion, that the honorablest vacation is to serve the Commonwealth, and
be profitable to many. {service+}
Fructus enim ingenii et virtutis, omnisque praestantiae, tum maximus accipitur,
quum in proximum quemque confertur:/3 'For then is most fruit reaped,
both of our wit and vertue and all other excellencie, when it is bestowed
upon our neighbours.' As for me, I depart from it,
-----
1 VIRG. Buc. Ecl. ii. 71. 2 HOR. Car. 1. ii.
Od. vi. 6. 3 CICER. Amic.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
partly for conscience sake (for whence I discern the waight concerning
such vacations, I also discover the slender meanes I have to supply them
withall; And Plato, a master workeman in all politike government, omitted
not to abstaine from them), partly for lithernesse. I am well pleased
to enjoy the world without troubling or pressing my selfe with it; to live
a life onely excusable, and which may neither bee burthensome to mee nor
to any other. Never did man goe more plainly and carelesly to worke
in the care and government of a third man, then I would, had I a ground
to worke upon. One of my wishes at this instant should be to finde
a sonne in law that could handsomely allure and discreetly beguile my old
yeeres, and lull them asleepe; into whose hands I might despose and in
all soveraignity resigne the conduct and managing of my goods, that he
might dispose of them as I doe, and gaine upon them what I gaine; alwaies
provided he would but carry a truely thankfull and friendly minde.
But what? we live in a world where the loyalty of our owne children is
not knowen. Whosoever hath the charge of my purse when I travell
hath it freely and without controll; as well might he decive me in keeping
of reckonings. And if he be not a Divell, I bind him to deale well
and honestly by my carelesse+ confidence. {trust+}
Multifallere docuerunt, dum timent falli, et aliis jus peccandi suspicando
fecerunt: 'Many have taught others to deceive while themselves feare to
be deceived, and have given them just cause to offend by suspecting them
unjustly.' The most ordinary assurance I take of my people is a kinde of
disacknowledge or neglect; I never presume vices but after I have seene
them; and trust more yoong men such as I imagine to be the least debaushed
and corrupted by ill examples. I had rather heare at two months end
that I have spent foure hundred crownes, then every night when I should
goe to my quiet bed have mine eares tired and my minde vexed with three,
five, or seven. Yet in this kinde of stealing have I had as little
stolne from mee as any other;
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True it is, I lend a helping hand to ignorance. I wittingly entertaine
a kinde of troubled and uncertaine knowledge of my money; untill it come
to a certaine measure I am content to doubt of it. It is not amisse
if you allow your boy or servant some small scope for his disloyalty and
indiscretion. If in grosse we have sufficiently left to bring our matters
to passe, this excesse of fortunes-liberalitie, let us somewhat more suffer
it to stand to her mercie, It is the gleaners fee. After all, I esteeme
not so much my peoples fidelity as I disesteeme their injuries. Oh
base and absurd study, for a man to study his
money+, and please himselfe with handling and counting the same;
for that's the way whereby covetousnesse maketh her approches. Since
eighteene yeeres that I have had the full disposing of my goods in my owne
hands, I could never yet be brought to overlooke neither titles nor bookes,
no not so much as the principall affaires that should necessarily passe
thorow my knowledge and care. It is no Philosophicall contempt to
neglect worldly and transitorie things: my taste is not so exquisitely
mee, for I value them according to their worth at least: but truly it is
all inexcusable slothfulnesse and childish negligence. Wbat would
I not rather doe then reade a contract+?
And more willingly, as a slave to my businesses with carke to overlooke
and care to survay a company of old-dusty bookes, and plod upon musty writings?
and which is worse, other mens, as so many doe daily for money? I
have nothing so deare as care and paine; and I only endeavour to become
carelesse and retchlesse. I had, in mine opinion, been fitter (if it might
be) to live by others fortune, without bounden duty or bondage. And
yet I wot not (the matter being thorowly sifted) whether, according to
my humour and fortune, what I must endure with my affaires, and pocket
up at my servants and familiars hands, hath not more abjection, importunitie
and sharpenesse, then the following of another man should have better borne
then my selfe, and who should give me somewhat at mine ease.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
Servitus obedientia est fracti animi et abjecti, arbitrio carentis suo:
'Service is an obedience of an abject, broken heart, that cannot dispose
of it selfe.' Crates did worse who voluntarily cast himselfe into liberties
of povertie, only to ridd himselfe of the inconveniences, indignities and
cares of his house; which I would not doe. I hate povertie as much
as griefe; yet could I finde in my heart to change this manner of life
with another lesse glorious and not so troublesome. Being absent,
I discharge my selfe of all such carefull thoughts, and should lesse feele
the ruinous downe-fall of a Towne, then, being present, the fall of a Tile:
Alone my minde is easily freed, but in company it indureth as much as a
Plough-mans. My horse uncurb'd, his reines misplaced, or a stirrup
or a strap hitting against my legge, will keepe me in a checke a whole
day long. I rouze my courage sufficiently against inconvenience;
mine eies I cannot,
Sensus o superi sensus!
At home I am ever answerable for whatsoever is amisse. Few masters
(I speake of meane condition, as mine is; whereof if any be, they are the
more haepic) can so fully rely upon a second, but still a good part of
the burden shall lie upon them. That doth peradventure take something
from my fashion, in entertaining of guests or new commers; and happily
I have beene able to stay some, more by my kitchin then by my behaviour
or grace, as doe the peevish and fantasticall; and I greatly diminish the
pleasure I should take in my house by the visitations and meetings of my
friends. No countenance is so foolish or so ill beseeming a gentleman
in his owne house, as to see him vexed or troubled about his houshold or
domesticke affaires; to see him whisper one of his servants in the eare,
and threaten another with his looke. It should insensibly glid on,
and represent an ordinary course. And I utterly dislike that a man should
entertains his guest with either
-----
1 CIC. Parad. v.
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excusing or boasting+ of the entertainment
he affoordeth them. I love order and cleanlinesse -
------ et cantharus et lanx,
Ostendunt mihi me./1
My dish, my drinking kanne,
Shew me what kinde of man -
well nigh as much as plentie: In mine owne house I exactly looke
unto necessities, little unto state, and lesse unto ornament. If
your neighbours servant be fighting with his companion, if a dish be overthrowen,
you but laugh at it, you sleepe quietly whilst Sir such a one is busie
casting up of accounts, and over-seeing his stocke with his steward, and
all about your provision for tomorrow. I speake according to mine
opinion, omitting not in generall to thinke how pleasing an ammusement
it is to certaine natures to see a quiet and prosperous houshold directed
by a formall and guided by a regular order. But not intending to
fasten mine owne errours and inconveniences to the matter: Nor to
gainesay Plato, who deemeth that the happiest occupation any man can follow,
is, to apply himselfe to his owne private businesse without injustice.
When I journey, I have nothing to care for but my selfe, and how my money
is laid out, which is disposed with one onely precept. Over-many parts
are required in hoarding and gathering of goods: I have no skill
in it. In spending I have some knowledge, and how to give my expences
day [play?]: which indeed is it's principall use. {expenditure+}
But I attend it over ambitiously, which makes it both unequall and deformed;
and besides that immoderate in one and other usage. If it appeare
and make a good shew, if it serve the turne, I indiscreetly goe after it;
and as indiscreetly restraine my selfe, if it shine or smile not upon mee.
Whatsoever it bee, either Art or nature, that imprints this condition of
life into us, by relation to others, it doth us much more hurt then good.
In going about to frame apparances according to the common opinion, wee
defraud our selves of our
-----
1 HOR. i. Epist. v. 23.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
owne profits. Wee care not so much what our state or how our being
is in us, and in effect, as wee doe how and what it is, in the publike
knowledge of others. Even the goods of the minde, and wisedome it
selfe, seeme fruitlesse unto us, if onely enjoyed by us; except it be set
forth to the open view and approbation of strangers. There are some
whose gold runnes by streames in places under ground, and that imperceptible;
others extend the same in plates and leaves. So that to some pence
are worth crownes, to others the contrary; the world judging the employment
and value according to the outward shew. All over-nice care and curious
heed about riches hath a touch or a taste of
avarice+. Even their dispending and over regular and artificiall
liberalities are not worth a warie heed taking, and countervaile not a
painefull diligence. Who so will make his expence even and just,
makes it strict and forced; either close-keeping or employing of
money+ are in themselves things indifferent, and admit no colour of
good or evill but according to the application of our will. The other
cause that drawes me to these Journeyes or Vagaries is the dissent or disparitie
in the present manners of our state. I could easily comfort my selfe
with this corruption in regard of the publike interest;
-----pejoraque secula ferri,
Temporibus, quorum sceleri non invenit ipsa
Nomen, et a nullo posuit natura metallo./1
Times worse then times of Iron, for whose bad frame
And wickednesse even nature findes no name,
Nor hath from any metall set the same.
But not for mine owne: I am in particular over-pressed by it.
For round about where I dwell we are, by the over-long licentiousnesse
of our intestine civill warres, almost growen old, in so licentious and
riotous a forme of state,
Quippe ubi fas versum atque nefas/2
As where of good and bad,
There is no difference had -
1 JUVEN. Sat. xiii. 28. 2 VIRG. Geor. 1. i. 605.
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That in good truth it were a wonder if it should continue and maintaine
it selfe.
Armati terram exercent, semperque recentes
Convectare juvat praedas, et vivere rapto./1
They armed plow the land, and joy to drive,
And draw new booties, and on rapine live.
To conclude, I see by our example that the societie of men doth hold and
is sewed together, at what rate soever it be; where ever they be placed,
in mooving and closing, they are ranged and stowed together, as uneven
and rugged bodies, that orderlesse are hudled in some close place, of themselves
finde the way to be united and joyned together one with another; and many
times better then Art could have disposed them. {stone_arch+}
King Philip assembled a rabble of the most leaud, reprobate and incorrigible
men be could finde out, all whch he placed in a Citie which of purpose
he had caused to be built for them, of whom it bare the name. I imagine
that even of their vices they erected a politike contexture amongst themselves,
and a commodious and just societie. I see not one action, or three,
or a hundred, but even divers manners, admitted and commonly used; so ex-travagant
(namely, in disloyalty) and so barbarous in inhumanities which in my conceit
are the worst and most execrable kinde of vices, that I have not the heart
so much as to conceive them without horrour: All which I in a manner
admire as much as I detest. The exercise of these egregious villanies
beareth a brand of vigour and hardinesse of minde as much as of error and
irregular confusion. {Iago+} Necessitie
composeth and assembleth men together. This casuall combining is
afterward framed into lawes. For there have beene some as barbarously-savage
as humane opinion could possibly produce, which notwithstanding have kept
their bodies in as good health and state, in long life, as those of Plato
or Aristotle could doe. And to say true, all these descriptions of
policie, fained by Art and supposition,
-----
1 VIRG. Aen. 1. ix. 612.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
are found ridiculous and foolish to bee put in practise. These
great and long continuing altercations about the best forme of societie
and most commodious rules to unite us together, are altercations onely
proper for the exercise of our wit: As in arts divers subjects are
found that have no essence but in agitation and disputing, without which
they have no life at all. Such an Idea of policie, or picture of
government, were to be established in a new world; but we take a world
already made and formed to certaine customes; wee engender not the same
as Pyrrha, nor beget it as Cadmus. By what meanes soever we have the privilege
to re-erect and range the same anew, we can very hardly wrest it from the
accustomed habit and fold it hath taken, except we breake all. {revolution+}
Solon being demanded whether hee had established the best lawes he could
for the Athenians: answered, yea of those they would have received: with
such a shift doth Varro excuse himselfe, saying, that if he were newly
to beginne to write of religion, he would plainly tell what his beleefe
were of it: But being alreadie received, he will speake more of it
according to custome then to nature. Not to speake by opinion, but
consonant to truth, the most excellent and best policie for any nation
to observe, is that under which it hath maintained it selfe. {Burke+}
It's forme and essentiall commoditie doth much depend of custome. We are
easily displeased with the present condition; yet doe I hold that to wish
the government of few in a popular estate, or in a Monarchie another kinde
of policie, it is a manifest vice and meere follie.
Ayme l'estat tel que tu le vois estre,
S'il est royall, ayme la royaute,
S'il est de peu, ou bien Communaute,
Ayme l'aussi, car Dieu a faict naistre./1
Love thou the state as thou seest it to be:
If it be Regall, love the royall race,
If of a few or Common-weale, embrace
It as it is, borne there God pointed thee.
-----
1 PIBRAC.
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So was the good Lord of Pibrac wont to speake of it, whom we have lately
lost, a man of so quaint and rare wit, of so sound judgement, and of so
milde and affable behaviour. The untimely losse of whom, with that
of the Lord of Foix, both fatally happning to us at one time, are surely
losses of great consequence unto our crowne. I wot not well, whether
France, amongst all the men it hath left, is able to affoord us two such
other Gentlemen as may, either in sincerity and woorth, or in sufficiencie
and judgement for the counsell of our Kings match these two Gascoynes.
They were two mindes diversly faire, and verily, if we respect the corrupted
age wherein we live, both rare and gloriously-shining, every one in her
forme. But alas! what destiny had placed them on the Theater of his
age, so dissonant and different in proportion from our deplorable corruption,
and so farre from agreeing with our tumultuous stormes? Nothing doth
so neerely touch and so much overlay an estate as innovation: Onely
change doth give forme to injustice and scope to tyranny. {Burke+}
If some one peece be out of square, it may be underpropt: one may oppose
himselfe against that which the alteration incident and corruption naturall
to all things doth not too much elonge and draw us from our beginnings
and grounded principles. But to undertake to re-erect and found againe
so huge a masse, and change or remoove the foundations of so vast a frame,
belongeth onely to them who, instead of purging deface, and in liew of
cleansing scrape out; that will amend particular faults by an universall
confusion and cure diseases by death: Non tam commutandarum quam
evertendarum rerum cupidi: 'Not so desirous to have things altered as overthrowen.' {60sradical+}
The world is fondly unapt to cure it selfe: So impatient with that
which vexeth or grieveth it, that it only aimeth to ridd it selfe of it,
never regarding at what rate. Wee see by a thousand examples that
it doth ordinarily cure it selfe at its owne charges: To be freed
from a present evill is no perfect cure, except there be a generall amendment
of condition. The end
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
of a skilfull Chirurgion is not to mortifie the bad flesh, it is but
the beginning and addressing of his cure: he aimeth further, that is, to
make the naturall to grow againe, and reduce the partie to his due being
and quality. Who ever proposeth onely to remoove what gnaweth him
shall be to seeke: for good doeth not necessarily succeed evill: another,
yea a worse evill may succeed it. As it hapned unto Cesars murderers,
who brought the commonwealth to so distresfull a plunge that they repented
themselves they ever medled with the same. {Brutus+}
The like hath since fortuned to divers, yea in our daies. The French
that live in my times know very well what to speake of such matters.
All violent changes and great alterations, disorder, distemper and shake
a state very much. He that should rightly respect a sound recovery
or absolute cure, and before all other things thorowly consult about it,
might happily grow slacke in the businesse, and beware how he set his hand
unto it. Pacuvius Calavius corrected the vice of this manner of proceeding
by a notable example. His fellow Citizens had mutinied against their
magistrates; He being a man of eminent authority in the cittie of Capua,
found one day the meanes to shut up the Senate in the Guildhall or Palace;
then calling the people together in the market place, told them that the
day was now come wherein with full and unresisted liberty they might take
vengeance of the tyrants that had so long and so many wayes oppressed them,
all which he had now at his mercy, and unarmed. His opinion was, that orderly
by lots they should be drawne out one after another; which done they might
particularly dispose of every one, and whatsoever should be decreed of
them, shold immediately be executed upon the place; provided they should
therewithall presently advise and resolve to nominate and establish some
honest and undetected man to supply the roome of the condemned, lest their
cittie should remaine void of due officers. To which they granted,
and heard no sooner the name of a Senatour read, but a loud exclamation
of a generall
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discontent was raised against him; which Pacuvius perceiving, he requested
silence, and thus bespake them. 'My countrymen, I see very well that man
must be cut off, hee is a pernicious and wicked member but let us have
another sound good man in his place and whom would you name for that purpose?'
This unexpectded speech bred a distracted silence, each one finding himselfe
to seeke and much confounded in the choise. Yet one, who was the
boldest impudent amongst them, nominated one whom be thought fittest; who
was no sooner heard but a generall consent of voices, louder than the first,
followed, all refusing him, as one taxed with a hundred imperfections,
lawfull causes, and just objections, utterly to reject him. These
contradicting humours growing more violent and hot, every one following
his private grudge or affection, there ensued a farre greater confusion
and hurly-burly in drawing of the second and third Senatour, and in naming
and choosing their successours, about which they could never agree.
As much disorder and more confusion about the election, as mutuall consent
and agreement about the demission and displacing. About which tumultuous
trouble when they had long and to no end laboured and wearied themselves,
they began some here, some there, to scatter and steale away from the assemblies
every one with this resolution in his minde, that the oldest and best knowen
evill is ever more tolerable then a fresh and unexperienced mischiefs.{Burke+}
By seeing our selves piteously tossed in continuall agitation: for what
have we not done?
Eheu cicatricum et sceleris pudet,
Fratrumque: quid nos dura refugimus
Aetas? Quid intactum nefasti
Liquimus? unde manus juventus
Metu Deorumt eontinuit? quibus
Pepercit aris/1
Alas for shame of wickenuesse, and scarres,
Of brother-country-men in civill warres.
-----
1 HOR. Car. 1. i. Od. xcv. 33.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
We of this hardned world, what doe we shunne?
What have we execrable left undone?
To set their hand whereto hath youth not dared
For feare of Gods? what altars hath it spared?
I am not very sudden in resolving or concluding.
Ipsa si velit salus,
Servare prorsus non potest hanc familiam:/1
This faniilie if safetie would
Keepe safe, I doe not thinke it could.
Yet are we not peradventure come unto our last period. The preservation
of states is a thing in all likelihood exceeding our understanding.
A civill policie (as Plato saith) is a mighty and puisant matter, and of
very hard and difficult dissolution; it often endureth against mortall
and intestine diseases, yea, against the injury of unjust lawes, against
tyrannie, against the ignorance and debordement of Magistrates, and against
the licentiousnesse and sedition of the people. In all our fortunes
we compare our selves to that which is above us, and looke toward those
that are better. Let us measure our selves by that which is beneath
us; there is no creature so miserably wretched but findes a thousand examples
to comfort himselfe withall. It is our fault that we more unwillingly behold
what is above us then willingly what is beneath us. And Solon said,
that should a man heape up in one masse all evils together, there is none
that would not rather chuse to carry back with him such evils as he alreadie
hath, then come to a lawfull division with other men of that chaos of evils,
and take his allotted share of them. Our Common-wealth is much crazed and
out of tune. Yet have divers others beene more dangyerously sicke,
and have not died. The gods play at hand-ball with us, and tosse
us up and downe on all hands. {flies+}
Enim vero dii nos homines quasi pitas habent:/2 'The gods perdie doe
reckon and racket us men as
-----
1 TER. Adel. act iv. sc. 7. 2 PLAUT. Capt. Prol.
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their tennis-balles.' The destinies have fatally ordained the State
of Rome for an exemplar patterne of what they can doe in this kinde.
It containeth in it selfe all formes and fortunes that concerne a state,
whatsoever order, trouble, good or bad fortune may in any sort effect in
it. What man may justly despaire of his condition, seeing the agitation,
troubles, alterations, turmoiles, and motions wherewith it was tossed to
and fro, and which it endured? If the extention of rule and far-spreading
domination be the perfect health of a state, of which opinion I am not
in any wise (and Isocrates doth greatly please me, who instructeth Nicocles
not to envie those Princes who have large dominations, but such as can
well maintaine and orderly preserve those that have beene hereditarily
escheated unto them) that of Rome was never so sound as when it was most
sicke and distempered. {empire+} The
worst of its forme was to it the most fortunate. A man can hardly
distinguish or know the image of any policie under the first Emperors;
it was the most horrible and turbulent confusion that could be conceaved,
which notwithstanding it endured and therein continued, preserving, not
a Monarchie bounded in her limits, but so many nations, so different, so
distant, so evill affected, so confusedly commanded, and so unjustly conquered.
-----nec gentibus ullis
Commodat in populum terrae pelagigue potentem, Invidiam fortuna suam.
Fortune doth to no other nation lend
Envie, against that people force to bend,
Which both by land and sea their force extend.
All that shaketh doth not fall: The contexture of so vast a frame
holds by more then one naile. It holds by it's antiquity, as olde
buildings which age hath robbed of foundation, without loame or morter,
and neverthelesse live and subsist by their owne waight.
-----
1 LUCRET. 1. i. 82.
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MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
------ nec jam validis radicibus haerens
Pondere tuta suo est./1
Though now to no strong roote it sticke so fast
Yet is it safe by selfe-waight, and will last.
Moreover, he goes not cunningly to worke, that onely survayes the flankes
and dykes; to judge well of the strength of a place, he must heedily marke
how and view which way it may be approached, and in what state the assailant
stand. Few vessels sinke with their owne waight, and without some
extraordinary violence. Cast we our eyes about us and in a generall
survay consider all the world; all is tottring, all is out of frame.
Take a perfect view of all great states by in Christendome and where ever
else we have knowledge of, and in all places you shall finde a most evident
threating of change and ruine:
Et sua sunt illis incommoda, pargue per omnes
Tempestas.
heir discommodities they know:
One storme alike oer all doth grow.
Astrologers may sport themselves with warning us, as they doe, of imminent
alterations and succeeding revolutions; their divinations are present and
palpable; wee need not prie into the heavens to finde them out. Wee
are not only to draw comfort from this universall aggregation of evill
and threats, but also some hope for the continuance of our state; forsomuch
as naturally nothing falleth where all things fall; a generall disease
is a particular health: Conformitie is a qualitie enemie to
dissolution+. As for me, I nothing despaire of it, and me thinks I
already perceive some starting holes to save us by:
Deus haec fortasse benigna
Reducet in sedem vice./2
It may be, God with gracious entercourse
Will reestablish these things in their course.
Who knowes whether God hath determined it shall happen of them as of bodies
that are purged+, and by
-----
1 LUCRET. 1. i. 138. 2 HOR. Epod. xiii. 10.
THE THIRD BOOKE
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long grievous sicknesses brought to a beter and sounder state; which
thorowly purged diseases do afterward yeeld them a more entire and purely-perfect
health then that they tooke from them? That which grieveth me most
is, that, counting the symptomes or affects of our evill, I see as many
meerely proceeding of nature, and such as the heavens send us, and which
may properly be termed theirs, as of those that our owne surfet, or excesse,
or misse- diet, or humane indiscretion confer upon us. The very Planets
seeme orderly to declare unto us that we have continued long enough, yea
and beyond our ordinary limits. This also grieves me, that the neerest
evill threatinng us is not a distemper or alteration in the whole and solide
masse, but a dissipation and divulsion of it - the extreamest of our feares.
And even in these fantasticall humors or dotings of mine, I feare the treason
of my memory, least unmanly it have made me to register somethings twise.
I hate to correct and agnize my selfe, and can never endure but grudgingly
to review and repolish what once hath escaped my pen. I heere set
downe nothing that is new or lately found out. They are vulgar imaginations,
and which peradventure having beene conceived a hundred times, I feare
to have already enrolled them. Repetition is ever tedious, were it
in Homer: But irkesome in things that have but one superficiall and transitorie
shew. I am nothing pleased with inculcation or wresting-in of matters,
be it in profitable things, as in Seneca+.
And the maner of his Stoike schoole displeaseth me, which is, about every
matter, to repeat at large, and from the beginning to the end such principles
and presuppositions as serve in generall: and every hand-while to re-allege
anew the common arguments and universall reasons. My memorie doth
daily grow worse and worse, and is of late much empaired:
Pocula lethaeos ut si ducentia somnos,
. . . Arente fauce traxerim/1
-----
1 HOR. Epo |
