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  XVI。

  TotheGovernorofGuienne。

  MONSEIGNEUR,——Ihavereceivedthismorningyourletter,whichIhavecommunicatedtoM。deGourgues,andwehavedinedtogetheratthehouseofM。[themayor]ofBourdeaux。Astotheinconvenienceoftransportingthemoneynamedinyourmemorandum,youseehowdifficultathingitistoprovidefor;butyoumaybesurethatweshallkeepascloseawatchoveritaspossible。Iusedeveryexertiontodiscoverthemanofwhomyouspoke。Hehasnotbeenhere;andM。deBordeauxhasshownmealetterinwhichhementionsthathecouldnotcometoseetheDirectorofBordeaux,asheintended,havingbeeninformedthatyoumistrusthim。

  Theletterisofthedaybeforeyesterday。IfIcouldhavefoundhim,I

  mightperhapshavepursuedthegentlercourse,beinguncertainofyourviews;butIentreatyouneverthelesstofeelnomannerofdoubtthatI

  refusetocarryoutanywishesofyours,andthat,whereyourcommandsareconcerned,Iknownodistinctionofpersonormatter。IhopethatyouhaveinGuiennemanyaswellaffectedtoyouasIam。TheyreportthattheNantesgalleysareadvancingtowardsBrouage。M。theMarshaldeBironhasnotyetleft。ThosewhowerechargedtoconveythemessagetoM。d’Useesaythattheycannotfindhim;andIbelievethat,ifhehasbeenhere,heissonolonger。Wekeepavigilanteyeonourgatesandguards,andwelookafterthemalittlemoreattentivelyinyourabsence,whichmakesmeapprehensive,notmerelyonaccountofthepreservationofthetown,butlikewiseforyourovensake,knowingthattheenemiesofthekingfeelhownecessaryyouaretohisservice,andhowillweshouldprosperwithoutyou。Iamafraidthat,inthepartwhereyouare,youwillbeovertakenbysomanyaffairsrequiringyourattentiononeveryside,thatitwilltakeyoualongtimeandinvolvegreatdifficultybeforeyouhavedisposedofeverything。Ifthereisanyimportantnews,Iwilldespatchanexpressatonce,andyoumayconcludethatnothingisstirringifyoudonothearfromme:atthesametimebeggingyoutobearinmindthatmovementsofthiskindarewonttobesosuddenandunexpectedthat,iftheyoccur,theywillgraspmebythethroat,beforetheysayaword。IwilldowhatIcantocollectnews,andforthispurposeIwillmakeapointofvisitingandseeingmenofeveryshadeofopinion。Downtothepresenttimenothingisstirring。M。deLondelhasseenmethismorning,andwehavebeenarrangingforsomeadvancesfortheplace,whereIshallgoto—morrowmorning。SinceIbeganthisletter,IhavelearntfromChartreuxthattwogentlemen,describingthemselvesasintheserviceofM。deGuise,andcomingfromAgen,havepassednearChartreux;butIwasnotabletoascertainwhichroadtheyhavetaken。TheyareexpectingyouatAgen。TheSieurdeMauvesincameasfarasCanteloup,andthencereturned,havinggotsomeintelligence。

  IaminsearchofoneCaptainRous,towhom……wrote,tryingtodrawhimintohiscausebyallsortsofpromises。TherumourofthetwoNantesgalleysreadytodescendonBrouageisconfirmedascertain;theycarrytwocompaniesoffoot。M。deMercureisatNantes。TheSieurdelaCourbesaidtoM。thePresidentNesmondthatM。d’ElbeufisonthissideofAngiers,andlodgeswithhisfather。HeisdrawingtowardsLowerPoictouwith4000footand400or500horse,havingbeenreinforcedbythetroopsofM。deBrissacandothers,andM。deMercureistojoinhim。

  ThereportgoesalsothatM。duMaineisabouttotakethecommandofalltheforcestheyhavecollectedinAuvergne,andthathewillcrossLeForettoadvanceonRouergueandus,thatistosay,ontheKingofNavarre,againstwhomallthisisbeingdirected。M。deLansacisatBourg,andhastwowarvessels,whichremaininattendanceonhim。Hisfunctionsarenaval。ItellyouwhatIlearn,andmixuptogetherthemoreorlessprobablehearsayofthetownwithactualmatteroffact,thatyoumaybeinpossessionofeverything。Ibegyoumosthumblytoreturndirectlyaffairsmayallowyoutodoso,andassureyouthat,meanwhile,weshallnotspareourlabour,or(ifthatwerenecessary)ourlife,tomaintaintheking’sauthoritythroughout。Monseigneur,Ikissyourhandsveryrespectfully,andprayGodtohaveyouinHiskeeping。

  FromBordeaux,Wednesdaynight,22dMay(1590—91)。——Yourveryhumbleservant,MONTAIGNE。

  IhaveseennoonefromthekingofNavarre;theysaythatM。deBironhasseenhim。

  THEAUTHORTOTHEREADER

  READER,thouhasthereanhonestbook;itdothattheoutsetforewarntheethat,incontrivingthesame,Ihaveproposedtomyselfnootherthanadomesticandprivateend:Ihavehadnoconsiderationatalleithertothyserviceortomyglory。Mypowersarenotcapableofanysuchdesign。Ihavededicatedittotheparticularcommodityofmykinsfolkandfriends,sothat,havinglostme(whichtheymustdoshortly),theymaythereinrecoversometraitsofmyconditionsandhumours,andbythatmeanspreservemorewhole,andmorelife—like,theknowledgetheyhadofme。Hadmyintentionbeentoseektheworld’sfavour,Ishouldsurelyhaveadornedmyselfwithborrowedbeauties:I

  desirethereintobeviewedasIappearinmineowngenuine,simple,andordinarymanner,withoutstudyandartifice:foritismyselfIpaint。

  Mydefectsarethereintobereadtothelife,andanyimperfectionsandmynaturalform,sofaraspublicreverencehathpermittedme。IfIhadlivedamongthosenations,which(theysay)yetdwellunderthesweetlibertyofnature’sprimitivelaws,IassuretheeIwouldmostwillinglyhavepaintedmyselfquitefullyandquitenaked。Thus,reader,myselfamthematterofmybook:there’snoreasonthoushouldstemploythyleisureaboutsofrivolousandvainasubject。Thereforefarewell。

  FromMontaigne,the12thJune1580——[Sointheeditionof1595;theeditionof1588has12thJune1588]

  FromMontaigne,the1stMarch1580。

  ——[SeeBonnefon,Montaigne,1893,p。254。Thebookhadbeenlicensedforthepressonthe9thMayprevious。Theeditionof1588

  has12thJune1588;]——

  EndTheEssaysofMontaigne,V2

  byMicheldeMontaigneTranslatedbyCharlesCottonEditedbyWilliamCarewHazilitt1877

  ESSAYSOFMONTAIGNE

  BOOKTHEFIRST

  THATMENBYVARIOUSWAYSARRIVEATTHESAMEEND。

  Themostusualwayofappeasingtheindignationofsuchaswehaveanywayoffended,whenweseetheminpossessionofthepowerofrevenge,andfindthatweabsolutelylieattheirmercy,isbysubmission,tomovethemtocommiserationandpity;andyetbravery,constancy,andresolution,howeverquitecontrarymeans,havesometimesservedtoproducethesameeffect。——[Florio’sversionbeginsthus:\"Themostvsuallwaietoappeasethosemindsweehaveoffended,whenrevengeliesintheirhands,andthatwestandattheirmercie,isbysubmissiontomovethemtocommiserationandpity:Neuertheless,courage,constancie,andresolution(meansaltogetheropposite)havesometimeswroughtthesameeffect。

  Edward,PrinceofWales(thesamewhosolonggovernedourGuienne,apersonagewhoseconditionandfortunehaveinthemagreatdealofthemostnotableandmostconsiderablepartsofgrandeur),havingbeenhighlyincensedbytheLimousins,andtakingtheircitybyassault,wasnot,eitherbythecriesofthepeople,ortheprayersandtearsofthewomenandchildren,abandonedtoslaughterandprostrateathisfeetformercy,tobestayedfromprosecutinghisrevenge;till,penetratingfurtherintothetown,heatlasttooknoticeofthreeFrenchgentlemen,——[ThesewereJeandeVillemure,HughdelaRoche,andRogerdeBeaufort。——Froissart,i。c。289。]——whowithincrediblebraveryalonesustainedthepowerofhisvictoriousarmy。Thenitwasthatconsiderationandrespectuntosoremarkableavalourfirststoppedthetorrentofhisfury,andthathisclemency,beginningwiththesethreecavaliers,wasafterwardsextendedtoalltheremaininginhabitantsofthecity。

  Scanderbeg,PrinceofEpirus,pursuingoneofhissoldierswithpurposetokillhim,thesoldier,havinginvaintriedbyallthewaysofhumilityandsupplicationtoappeasehim,resolved,ashislastrefuge,tofaceaboutandawaithimswordinhand:whichbehaviourofhisgaveasuddenstoptohiscaptain’sfury,who,forseeinghimassumesonotablearesolution,receivedhimintograce;anexample,however,thatmightsufferanotherinterpretationwithsuchashavenotreadoftheprodigiousforceandvalourofthatprince。

  TheEmperorConradIII。havingbesiegedGuelph,DukeofBavaria,——[In1140,inWeinsberg,UpperBavaria。]——wouldnotbeprevailedupon,whatmeanandunmanlysatisfactionssoeverweretenderedtohim,tocondescendtomilderconditionsthanthattheladiesandgentlewomenonlywhowereinthetownwiththedukemightgooutwithoutviolationoftheirhonour,onfoot,andwithsomuchonlyastheycouldcarryaboutthem。Whereuponthey,outofmagnanimityofheart,presentlycontrivedtocarryout,upontheirshoulders,theirhusbandsandchildren,andthedukehimself;

  asightatwhichtheemperorwassopleased,that,ravishedwiththegenerosityoftheaction,heweptforjoy,andimmediatelyextinguishinginhisheartthemortalandcapitalhatredhehadconceivedagainstthisduke,hefromthattimeforwardtreatedhimandhiswithallhumanity。

  Theoneandtheotherofthesetwowayswouldwithgreatfacilityworkuponmynature;forIhaveamarvellouspropensitytomercyandmildness,andtosuchadegreethatIfancyofthetwoIshouldsoonersurrendermyangertocompassionthantoesteem。AndyetpityisreputedaviceamongsttheStoics,whowillthatwesuccourtheafflicted,butnotthatweshouldbesoaffectedwiththeirsufferingsastosufferwiththem。

  Iconceivedtheseexamplesnotillsuitedtothequestioninhand,andtheratherbecausethereinweobservethesegreatsoulsassaultedandtriedbythesetwoseveralways,toresisttheonewithoutrelenting,andtobeshookandsubjectedbytheother。Itmaybetruethattosufferaman’shearttobetotallysubduedbycompassionmaybeimputedtofacility,effeminacy,andover—tenderness;whenceitcomestopassthattheweakernatures,asofwomen,children,andthecommonsortofpeople,arethemostsubjecttoitbutafterhavingresistedanddisdainedthepowerofgroansandtears,toyieldtothesolereverenceofthesacredimageofValour,thiscanbenootherthantheeffectofastrongandinflexiblesoulenamouredofandhonouringmasculineandobstinatecourage。Nevertheless,astonishmentandadmirationmay,inlessgenerousminds,begetalikeeffect:witnessthepeopleofThebes,who,havingputtwooftheirgeneralsupontrialfortheirlivesforhavingcontinuedinarmsbeyondtheprecisetermoftheircommission,veryhardlypardonedPelopidas,who,bowingundertheweightofsodangerousanaccusation,madenomannerofdefenceforhimself,norproducedotherargumentsthanprayersandsupplications;whereas,onthecontrary,Epaminondas,fallingtorecountmagniloquentlytheexploitshehadperformedintheirservice,and,afterahaughtyandarrogantmannerreproachingthemwithingratitudeandinjustice,theyhadnotthehearttoproceedanyfurtherinhistrial,butbrokeupthecourtanddeparted,thewholeassemblyhighlycommendingthehighcourageofthispersonage。——[Plutarch,HowfaraManmaypraiseHimself,c。5。]

  Dionysiustheelder,afterhaving,byatedioussiegeandthroughexceedinggreatdifficulties,takenthecityofReggio,andinitthegovernorPhyton,averygallantman,whohadmadesoobstinateadefence,wasresolvedtomakehimatragicalexampleofhisrevenge:inorderwhereuntohefirsttoldhim,\"Thathehadthedaybeforecausedhissonandallhiskindredtobedrowned。\"TowhichPhytonreturnednootheranswerbutthis:\"Thattheywerethenbyonedayhappierthanhe。\"Afterwhich,causinghimtobestripped,anddeliveringhimintothehandsofthetormentors,hewasbythemnotonlydraggedthroughthestreetsofthetown,andmostignominiouslyandcruellywhipped,butmoreovervilifiedwithmostbitterandcontumeliouslanguage:yetstillhemaintainedhiscourageentirealltheway,withastrongvoiceandundauntedcountenanceproclaimingthehonourableandgloriouscauseofhisdeath;namely,forthathewouldnotdeliveruphiscountryintothehandsofatyrant;atthesametimedenouncingagainsthimaspeedychastisementfromtheoffendedgods。AtwhichDionysius,readinginhissoldiers’looks,thatinsteadofbeingincensedatthehaughtylanguageofthisconqueredenemy,tothecontemptoftheircaptainandhistriumph,theywerenotonlystruckwithadmirationofsorareavirtue,butmoreoverinclinedtomutiny,andwereevenreadytorescuetheprisoneroutofthehangman’shands,hecausedthetorturingtocease,andafterwardsprivatelycausedhimtobethrownintothesea。——[Diod。

  Sic。,xiv。29。]

  Man(ingoodearnest)isamarvellousvain,fickle,andunstablesubject,andonwhomitisveryhardtoformanycertainanduniformjudgment。

  ForPompeycouldpardonthewholecityoftheMamertines,thoughfuriouslyincensedagainstit,uponthesingleaccountofthevirtueandmagnanimityofonecitizen,Zeno,——[PlutarchcallshimStheno,andalsoSthemnusandSthenis]——whotookthefaultofthepublicwhollyuponhimself;neitherentreatedotherfavour,butalonetoundergothepunishmentforall:andyetSylla’shost,havinginthecityofPerugia——[PlutarchsaysPreneste,atownofLatium。]——manifestedthesamevirtue,obtainednothingbyit,eitherforhimselforhisfellow—

  citizens。

  And,directlycontrarytomyfirstexamples,thebravestofallmen,andwhowasreputedsogracioustoallthoseheovercame,Alexander,having,aftermanygreatdifficulties,forcedthecityofGaza,and,entering,foundBetis,whocommandedthere,andofwhosevalourinthetimeofthissiegehehadmostmarvellousmanifestproof,alone,forsakenbyallhissoldiers,hisarmourhackedandhewedtopieces,coveredalloverwithbloodandwounds,andyetstillfightinginthecrowdofanumberofMacedonians,whowerelayingonhimonallsides,hesaidtohim,nettledatsodear—boughtavictory(for,inadditiontotheotherdamage,hehadtwowoundsnewlyreceivedinhisownperson),\"Thoushaltnotdie,Betis,asthoudostintend;besurethoushallsufferallthetormentsthatcanbeinflictedonacaptive。\"Towhichmenacetheotherreturningnootheranswer,butonlyafierceanddisdainfullook;\"What,\"saysAlexander,observinghishaughtyandobstinatesilence,\"ishetoostifftobendaknee!Ishetooproudtoutteronesuppliantword!Truly,Iwillconquerthissilence;andifIcannotforceawordfromhismouth,I

  will,atleast,extractagroanfromhisheart。\"Andthereuponconvertinghisangerintofury,presentlycommandedhisheelstobeboredthrough,causinghim,alive,tobedragged,mangled,anddismemberedatacart’stail。——[QuintusCurtius,iv。6。Thisactofcrueltyhasbeendoubted,notwithstandingthestatementofCurtius。]——Wasitthattheheightofcouragewassonaturalandfamiliartothisconqueror,thatbecausehecouldnotadmire,herespectedittheless?Orwasitthatheconceivedvalourtobeavirtuesopeculiartohimself,thathispridecouldnot,withoutenvy,endureitinanother?Orwasitthatthenaturalimpetuosityofhisfurywasincapableofopposition?Certainly,haditbeencapableofmoderation,itistobebelievedthatinthesackanddesolationofThebes,toseesomanyvaliantmen,lostandtotallydestituteofanyfurtherdefence,cruellymassacredbeforehiseyes,wouldhaveappeasedit:wheretherewereabovesixthousandputtothesword,ofwhomnotonewasseentofly,orheardtocryoutforquarter;

  but,onthecontrary,everyonerunninghereandtheretoseekoutandtoprovokethevictoriousenemytohelpthemtoanhonourableend。Notonewasseenwho,howeverweakenedwithwounds,didnotinhislastgaspyetendeavourtorevengehimself,andwithallthearmsofabravedespair,tosweetenhisowndeathinthedeathofanenemy。Yetdidtheirvalourcreatenopity,andthelengthofonedaywasnotenoughtosatiatethethirstoftheconqueror’srevenge,buttheslaughtercontinuedtothelastdropofbloodthatwascapableofbeingshed,andstoppednottillitmetwithnonebutunarmedpersons,oldmen,women,andchildren,ofthemtocarryawaytothenumberofthirtythousandslaves。

  CHAPTERII

  OFSORROW

  NomanlivingismorefreefromthispassionthanI,whoyetneitherlikeitinmyselfnoradmireitinothers,andyetgenerallytheworld,asasettledthing,ispleasedtograceitwithaparticularesteem,clothingtherewithwisdom,virtue,andconscience。Foolishandsordidguise!

  ——[\"NomanismorefreefromthispassionthanI,forIneitherlovenorregardit:albeittheworldhathundertaken,asitwereuponcovenant,tograceitwithaparticularfavour。Therewiththeyadorneage,vertue,andconscience。Ohfoolishandbaseornament!\"Florio,1613,p。3]——

  TheItalianshavemorefitlybaptizedbythisname——[Latristezza]——

  malignity;for’tisaqualityalwayshurtful,alwaysidleandvain;andasbeingcowardly,mean,andbase,itisbytheStoicsexpresslyandparticularlyforbiddentotheirsages。

  Butthestory——[Herodotus,iii。14。]——saysthatPsammenitus,KingofEgypt,beingdefeatedandtakenprisonerbyCambyses,KingofPersia,seeinghisowndaughterpassbyhimasprisoner,andinawretchedhabit,withabuckettodrawwater,thoughhisfriendsabouthimweresoconcernedastobreakoutintotearsandlamentations,yethehimselfremainedunmoved,withoututteringaword,hiseyesfixedupontheground;andseeing,moreover,hissonimmediatelyafterledtoexecution,stillmaintainedthesamecountenance;tillspyingatlastoneofhisdomesticandfamiliarfriendsdraggedawayamongstthecaptives,hefelltotearinghishairandbeatinghisbreast,withalltheotherextravagancesofextremesorrow。

  Astorythatmayveryfitlybecoupledwithanotherofthesamekind,ofrecentdate,ofaprinceofourownnation,whobeingatTrent,andhavingnewstherebroughthimofthedeathofhiselderbrother,abrotheronwhomdependedthewholesupportandhonourofhishouse,andsoonafterofthatofayoungerbrother,thesecondhopeofhisfamily,andhavingwithstoodthesetwoassaultswithanexemplaryresolution;oneofhisservantshappeningafewdaysaftertodie,hesufferedhisconstancytobeovercomebythislastaccident;and,partingwithhiscourage,soabandonedhimselftosorrowandmourning,thatsomethencewereforwardtoconcludethathewasonlytouchedtothequickbythislaststrokeoffortune;but,intruth,itwas,thatbeingbeforebrimfulofgrief,theleastadditionoverflowedtheboundsofallpatience。

  Which,Ithink,mightalsobesaidoftheformerexample,didnotthestoryproceedtotellusthatCambysesaskingPsammenitus,\"Why,notbeingmovedatthecalamityofhissonanddaughter,heshouldwithsogreatimpatiencebearthemisfortuneofhisfriend?\"\"Itis,\"answeredhe,\"becauseonlythislastafflictionwastobemanifestedbytears,thetwofirstfarexceedingallmannerofexpression。\"

  And,peradventure,somethinglikethismightbeworkinginthefancyoftheancientpainter,——[Cicero,DeOrator。,c。22;Pliny,xxxv。10。]——

  whohaving,inthesacrificeofIphigenia,torepresentthesorrowoftheassistantsproportionablytotheseveraldegreesofinteresteveryonehadinthedeathofthisfairinnocentvirgin,andhaving,intheotherfigures,laidouttheutmostpowerofhisart,whenhecametothatofherfather,hedrewhimwithaveiloverhisface,meaningtherebythatnokindofcountenancewascapableofexpressingsuchadegreeofsorrow。

  Whichisalsothereasonwhythepoetsfeignthemiserablemother,Niobe,havingfirstlostsevensons,andthenafterwardsasmanydaughters(overwhelmedwithherlosses),tohavebeenatlasttransformedintoarock——

  \"Diriguissemalis,\"

  [\"Petrifiedwithhermisfortunes。\"——Ovid,Met。,vi。304。]

  therebytoexpressthatmelancholic,dumb,anddeafstupefaction,whichbenumbsallourfaculties,whenoppressedwithaccidentsgreaterthanweareabletobear。And,indeed,theviolenceandimpressionofanexcessivegriefmustofnecessityastonishthesoul,andwhollydepriveherofherordinaryfunctions:asithappenstoeveryoneofus,who,uponanysuddenalarmofveryillnews,findourselvessurprised,stupefied,andinamannerdeprivedofallpowerofmotion,sothatthesoul,beginningtoventitselfintearsandlamentations,seemstofreeanddisengageitselffromthesuddenoppression,andtohaveobtainedsomeroomtoworkitselfoutatgreaterliberty。

  \"Etviavixtandemvocilaxatadoloreest。\"

  [\"Andatlengthandwithdifficultyisapassageopenedbygriefforutterance。\"——AEneid,xi。151。]

  InthewarthatFerdinandmadeuponthewidowofKingJohnofHungary,aboutBuda,aman—at—armswasparticularlytakennoticeofbyeveryoneforhissingulargallantbehaviourinacertainencounter;and,unknown,highlycommended,andlamented,beingleftdeadupontheplace:butbynonesomuchasbyRaisciac,aGermanlord,whowasinfinitelyenamouredofsorareavalour。Thebodybeingbroughtoff,andthecount,withthecommoncuriositycomingtoviewit,thearmourwasnosoonertakenoffbutheimmediatelyknewhimtobehisownson,athingthataddedasecondblowtothecompassionofallthebeholders;onlyhe,withoututteringaword,orturningawayhiseyesfromthewoefulobject,stoodfixedlycontemplatingthebodyofhisson,tillthevehemencyofsorrowhavingovercomehisvitalspirits,madehimsinkdownstone—deadtotheground。

  \"Chipuodircom’egliarde,ainpicciolfuoco,\"

  [\"Hewhocansayhowheburnswithlove,haslittlefire\"

  ——Petrarca,Sonetto137。]

  saytheInnamoratos,whentheywouldrepresentan’insupportablepassion。

  \"MiseroquodomneisEripitsensusmihi:namsimulte,Lesbia,aspexi,nihilestsupermi,Quodloquaramens。

  Linguasedtorpet:tenuissubartusFlammadimanat;sonitusuopteTintinantaures;geminategunturLuminanocte。\"

  [\"Lovedeprivesmeofallmyfaculties:Lesbia,whenonceinthypresence,Ihavenotleftthepowertotellmydistractingpassion:

  mytonguebecomestorpid;asubtleflamecreepsthroughmyveins;myearstingleindeafness;myeyesareveiledwithdarkness。\"

  Catullus,Epig。li。5]

  Neitherisitintheheightandgreatestfuryofthefitthatweareinaconditiontopouroutourcomplaintsorouramorouspersuasions,thesoulbeingatthattimeover—burdened,andlabouringwithprofoundthoughts;

  andthebodydejectedandlanguishingwithdesire;andthenceitisthatsometimesproceedthoseaccidentalimpotenciesthatsounseasonablysurprisethelover,andthatfrigiditywhichbytheforceofanimmoderateardourseizeshimevenintheverylapoffruition。

  ——[Theeditionof1588hashere,\"Anaccidentnotunknowntomyself。\"]——

  Forallpassionsthatsufferthemselvestoberelishedanddigestedarebutmoderate:

  \"Curaelevesloquuntur,ingentesstupent。\"

  [\"Lightgriefscanspeak:deepsorrowsaredumb。\"

  ——Seneca,Hippolytus,actii。scene3。]

  Asurpriseofunexpectedjoydoeslikewiseoftenproducethesameeffect:

  \"Utmeconspexitvenientem,etTrojacircumArmaamensvidit,magnisexterritamonstris,Diriguitvisuinmedio,calorossareliquit,Labitur,etlongovixtandemtemporefatur。\"

  [\"Whenshebeheldmeadvancing,andsaw,withstupefaction,theTrojanarmsaroundme,terrifiedwithsogreataprodigy,shefaintedawayattheverysight:vitalwarmthforsookherlimbs:shesinksdown,and,afteralonginterval,withdifficultyspeaks。\"—

  AEneid,iii。306。]

  BesidestheexamplesoftheRomanlady,whodiedforjoytoseehersonsafereturnedfromthedefeatofCannae;andofSophoclesandofDionysiustheTyrant,——[Pliny,vii。53。DiodorusSiculus,however(xv。

  c。20),tellsusthatDionysius\"wassooverjoyedatthenewsthathemadeagreatsacrificeuponittothegods,preparedsumptuousfeasts,towhichheinvitedallhisfriends,andthereindranksoexcessivelythatitthrewhimintoaverybaddistemper。\"]——whodiedofjoy;andofThalna,whodiedinCorsica,readingnewsofthehonourstheRomanSenatehaddecreedinhisfavour,wehave,moreover,oneinourtime,ofPopeLeoX。,whouponnewsofthetakingofMilan,athinghehadsoardentlydesired,wasraptwithsosuddenanexcessofjoythatheimmediatelyfellintoafeveranddied。——[Guicciardini,Storiad’Italia,vol。

  xiv。]——Andforamorenotabletestimonyoftheimbecilityofhumannature,itisrecordedbytheancients——[Pliny,’utsupra’]——thatDiodorusthedialecticiandieduponthespot,outofanextremepassionofshame,fornothavingbeenableinhisownschool,andinthepresenceofagreatauditory,todisengagehimselffromaniceargumentthatwaspropoundedtohim。I,formypart,amverylittlesubjecttotheseviolentpassions;Iamnaturallyofastubbornapprehension,whichalso,byreasoning,Ieverydayhardenandfortify。

  CHAPTERIII

  THATOURAFFECTIONSCARRYTHEMSELVESBEYONDUS

  Suchasaccusemankindofthefollyofgapingafterfuturethings,andadviseustomakeourbenefitofthosewhicharepresent,andtosetupourrestuponthem,ashavingnograspuponthatwhichistocome,evenlessthanthatwhichwehaveuponwhatispast,havehituponthemostuniversalofhumanerrors,ifthatmaybecalledanerrortowhichnatureherselfhasdisposedus,inordertothecontinuationofherownwork,prepossessingus,amongstseveralothers,withthisdeceivingimagination,asbeingmorejealousofouractionthanafraidofourknowledge。

  Weareneverpresentwith,butalwaysbeyondourselves:fear,desire,hope,stillpushusontowardsthefuture,deprivingus,inthemeantime,ofthesenseandconsiderationofthatwhichistoamuseuswiththethoughtofwhatshallbe,evenwhenweshallbenomore。——[Rousseau,Emile,livreii。]

  \"Calamitosusestanimusfuturiauxius。\"

  [\"Themindanxiousaboutthefutureisunhappy。\"

  ——Seneca,Epist。,98。]

  WefindthisgreatpreceptoftenrepeatedinPlato,\"Dothineownwork,andknowthyself。\"Ofwhichtwoparts,boththeoneandtheothergenerally,comprehendourwholeduty,anddoeachoftheminlikemannerinvolvetheother;forwhowilldohisownworkarightwillfindthathisfirstlessonistoknowwhatheis,andthatwhichispropertohimself;

  andwhorightlyunderstandshimselfwillnevermistakeanotherman’sworkforhisown,butwillloveandimprovehimselfaboveallotherthings,willrefusesuperfluousemployments,andrejectallunprofitablethoughtsandpropositions。Asfolly,ontheoneside,thoughitshouldenjoyallitdesire,wouldnotwithstandingneverbecontent,so,ontheother,wisdom,acquiescinginthepresent,isneverdissatisfiedwithitself。

  ——[Cicero,Tusc。Quae。,57,v。18。]——Epicurusdispenseshissagesfromallforesightandcareofthefuture。

  Amongstthoselawsthatrelatetothedead,Ilookuponthattobeverysoundbywhichtheactionsofprincesaretobeexaminedaftertheirdecease。——[DiodorusSiculus,i。6。]——Theyareequalswith,ifnotmastersofthelaws,and,therefore,whatjusticecouldnotinflictupontheirpersons,’tisbutreasonshouldbeexecutedupontheirreputationsandtheestatesoftheirsuccessors——thingsthatweoftenvalueabovelifeitself。’Tisacustomofsingularadvantagetothosecountrieswhereitisinuse,andbyallgoodprincestobedesired,whohavereasontotakeitill,thatthememoriesofthewickedshouldbeusedwiththesamereverenceandrespectwiththeirown。Weowesubjectionandobediencetoallourkings,whethergoodorbad,alike,forthathasrespectuntotheiroffice;butastoesteemandaffection,theseareonlyduetotheirvirtue。Letusgranttopoliticalgovernmenttoendurethemwithpatience,howeverunworthy;toconcealtheirvices;andtoassistthemwithourrecommendationintheirindifferentactions,whilsttheirauthoritystandsinneedofoursupport。But,therelationofprinceandsubjectbeingonceatanend,thereisnoreasonweshoulddenytheexpressionofourrealopinionstoourownlibertyandcommonjustice,andespeciallytointerdicttogoodsubjectsthegloryofhavingreverentlyandfaithfullyservedaprince,whoseimperfectionsweretothemsowellknown;thisweretodepriveposterityofausefulexample。

  Andsuchas,outofrespecttosomeprivateobligation,unjustlyespouseandvindicatethememoryofafaultyprince,doprivaterightattheexpenseofpublicjustice。Livydoesverytrulysay,——[xxxv。48。]——

  \"Thatthelanguageofmenbredupincourtsisalwaysfullofvainostentationandfalsetestimony,everyoneindifferentlymagnifyinghisownmaster,andstretchinghiscommendationtotheutmostextentofvirtueandsovereigngrandeur。\"SomemaycondemnthefreedomofthosetwosoldierswhosoroundlyansweredNerotohisbeard;theonebeingaskedbyhimwhyheborehimill—will?\"Ilovedthee,\"answeredhe,\"whilstthouwertworthyofit,butsincethouartbecomeaparricide,anincendiary,aplayer,andacoachman,Ihatetheeasthoudostdeserve。\"

  Andtheother,whyheshouldattempttokillhim?\"Because,\"saidhe,\"Icouldthinkofnootherremedyagainstthyperpetualmischiefs。\"

  ——[Tacitus,Annal。,xv。67。]——Butthepublicanduniversaltestimoniesthatweregivenofhimafterhisdeath(andsowillbetoallposterity,bothofhimandallotherwickedprinceslikehim),ofhistyranniesandabominabledeportment,who,ofasoundjudgment,canreprovethem?

  Iamscandalised,thatinsosacredagovernmentasthatoftheLacedaemoniansthereshouldbemixedsohypocriticalaceremonyattheintermentoftheirkings;wherealltheirconfederatesandneighbours,andallsortsanddegreesofmenandwomen,aswellastheirslaves,cutandslashedtheirforeheadsintokenofsorrow,repeatingintheircriesandlamentationsthatthatking(lethimhavebeenaswickedasthedevil)wasthebestthatevertheyhad;——[Herodotus,vi。68。]——bythismeansattributingtohisqualitythepraisethatonlybelongstomerit,andthatofrightisduetosupremedesert,thoughlodgedinthelowestandmostinferiorsubject。

  Aristotle,whowillstillhaveahandineverything,makesa’quaere’

  uponthesayingofSolon,thatnonecanbesaidtobehappyuntilheisdead:\"whether,then,hewhohaslivedanddiedaccordingtohisheart’sdesire,ifhehaveleftanillreputebehindhim,andthathisposteritybemiserable,canbesaidtobehappy?\"Whilstwehavelifeandmotion,weconveyourselvesbyfancyandpreoccupation,whitherandtowhatweplease;butonceoutofbeing,wehavenomoreanymannerofcommunicationwiththatwhichis,andithadthereforebeenbettersaidbySolonthatmanisneverhappy,becauseneverso,tillheisnomore。

  \"QuisquamVixradicitusevitasetollit,eteicit;

  Sedfacitessesuiquiddamsuperinsciusipse,Necremovetsatisaprojectocorporesese,etVindicat。\"

  [\"Scarcelyonemancan,evenindying,whollydetachhimselffromtheideaoflife;inhisignorancehemustneedsimaginethatthereisinhimsomethingthatsurviveshim,andcannotsufficientlyseparateoremancipatehimselffromhisremains\"

  ——Lucretius,iii。890。]

  BertranddeGuesclin,dyingatthesiegeoftheCastleofRancon,nearuntoPuy,inAuvergne,thebesiegedwereafterwards,uponsurrender,enjoinedtolaydownthekeysoftheplaceuponthecorpseofthedeadgeneral。Bartolommeod’Alviano,theVenetianGeneral,happeningtodieintheserviceoftheRepublicinBrescia,andhiscorpsebeingtobecarriedthroughtheterritoryofVerona,anenemy’scountry,mostofthearmywereinclinedtodemandsafe—conductfromtheVeronese;butTheodoroTrivulzioopposedthemotion,ratherchoosingtomakehiswaybyforceofarms,andtorunthehazardofabattle,sayingitwasbynomeansfitthathewhoinhislifewasneverafraidofhisenemiesshouldseemtoapprehendthemwhenhewasdead。Intruth,inaffairsofthesamenature,bytheGreeklaws,hewhomadesuittoanenemyforabodytogiveitburialrenouncedhisvictory,andhadnomorerighttoerectatrophy,andhetowhomsuchsuitwasmadewasreputedvictor。BythismeansitwasthatNiciaslosttheadvantagehehadvisiblyobtainedovertheCorinthians,andthatAgesilaus,onthecontrary,assuredthatwhichhehadbeforeverydoubtfullygainedovertheBoeotians。——[Plutarch,LifeofNicias,c。ii。;LifeofAgesilaus,c。vi。]

  Thesethingsmightappearstrange,haditnotbeenageneralpracticeinallagesnotonlytoextendtheconcernofourselvesbeyondthislife,but,moreover,tofancythatthefavourofHeavendoesnotonlyveryoftenaccompanyustothegrave,buthasalso,evenafterlife,aconcernforourashes。Ofwhichtherearesomanyancientexamples(tosaynothingofthoseofourownobservation),thatitisnotnecessaryI

  shouldlongerinsistuponit。EdwardI。,KingofEngland,havinginthelongwarsbetwixthimandRobert,KingofScotland,hadexperienceofhowgreatimportancehisownimmediatepresencewastothesuccessofhisaffairs,havingeverbeenvictoriousinwhateverheundertookinhisownperson,whenhecametodie,boundhissoninasolemnoaththat,sosoonasheshouldbedeadheshouldboilhisbodytillthefleshpartedfromthebones,andburytheflesh,reservingthebonestocarrycontinuallywithhiminhisarmy,sooftenasheshouldbeobligedtogoagainsttheScots,asifdestinyhadinevitablyattachedvictory,eventohisremains。JohnZisca,thesamewho,tovindicationofWicliffe’sheresies,troubledtheBohemianstate,leftorderthattheyshouldflayhimafterhisdeath,andofhisskinmakeadrumtocarryinthewaragainsthisenemies,fancyingitwouldcontributetothecontinuationofthesuccesseshehadalwaysobtainedinthewarsagainstthem。InlikemannercertainoftheIndians,intheirbattleswiththeSpaniards,carriedwiththemthebonesofoneoftheircaptains,inconsiderationofthevictoriestheyhadformerlyobtainedunderhisconduct。AndotherpeopleofthesameNewWorldcarryaboutwiththem,intheirwars,therelicsofvaliantmenwhohavediedinbattle,toincitetheircourageandadvancetheirfortune。Ofwhichexamplesthefirstreservenothingforthetombbutthereputationtheyhaveacquiredbytheirformerachievements,buttheseattributetothemacertainpresentandactivepower。

  TheproceedingofCaptainBayardisofabettercomposition,whofindinghimselfwoundedtodeathwithanharquebussshot,andbeingimportunedtoretireoutofthefight,madeanswerthathewouldnotbeginatthelastgasptoturnhisbacktotheenemy,andaccordinglystillfoughton,tillfeelinghimselftoofaintandnolongerabletositonhishorse,hecommandedhisstewardtosethimdownatthefootofatree,butsothathemightdiewithhisfacetowardstheenemy,whichhedid。

  Imustyetaddanotherexample,equallyremarkableforthepresentconsiderationwithanyoftheformer。TheEmperorMaximilian,great—

  grandfathertothenowKingPhilip,——[PhilipII。ofSpain。]——wasaprinceendowedthroughoutwithgreatandextraordinaryqualities,andamongsttherestwithasingularbeautyofperson,buthadwithalahumourverycontrarytothatofotherprinces,whoforthedespatchoftheirmostimportantaffairsconverttheirclose—stoolintoachairofState,whichwas,thathewouldneverpermitanyofhisbedchamber,howfamiliarsoever,toseehiminthatposture,andwouldstealasidetomakewaterasreligiouslyasavirgin,shytodiscovertohisphysicianoranyotherwhomsoeverthosepartsthatweareaccustomedtoconceal。

  Imyself,whohavesoimpudentawayoftalking,am,nevertheless,naturallysomodestthisway,thatunlessattheimportunityofnecessityorpleasure,Iscarcelyevercommunicatetothesightofanyeitherthosepartsoractionsthatcustomordersustoconceal,whereinIsuffermoreconstraintthanIconceiveisverywellbecomingaman,especiallyofmyprofession。Buthenourishedthismodesthumourtosuchadegreeofsuperstitionastogiveexpressordersinhislastwillthattheyshouldputhimondrawerssosoonasheshouldbedead;towhich,methinks,hewouldhavedonewelltohaveaddedthatheshouldbeblindfolded,too,thatputthemon。ThechargethatCyrusleftwithhischildren,thatneitherthey,noranyother,shouldeitherseeortouchhisbodyafterthesoulwasdepartedfromit,——[Xenophon,Cyropedia,viii。7。]——I

  attributetosomesuperstitiousdevotionofhis;forbothhishistorianandhimself,amongsttheirgreatqualities,markedthewholecourseoftheirliveswithasingularrespectandreverencetoreligion。

  Iwasbynomeanspleasedwithastory,toldmebyamanofverygreatqualityofarelationofmine,andonewhohadgivenaverygoodaccountofhimselfbothinpeaceandwar,that,comingtodieinaveryoldage,ofexcessivepainofthestone,hespentthelasthoursofhislifeinanextraordinarysolicitudeaboutorderingthehonourandceremonyofhisfuneral,pressingallthemenofconditionwhocametoseehimtoengagetheirwordtoattendhimtohisgrave:importuningthisveryprince,whocametovisithimathislastgasp,withamostearnestsupplicationthathewouldorderhisfamilytobethere,andpresentingbeforehimseveralreasonsandexamplestoprovethatitwasarespectduetoamanofhiscondition;andseemedtodiecontent,havingobtainedthispromise,andappointedthemethodandorderofhisfuneralparade。Ihaveseldomheardofsopersistentavanity。

  Another,thoughcontrarycuriosity(ofwhichsingularity,also,Idonotwantdomesticexample),seemstobesomewhatakintothis,thatamanshallcudgelhisbrainsatthelastmomentsofhislifetocontrivehisobsequiestosoparticularandunusualaparsimonyasofoneservantwithalantern,Iseethishumourcommended,andtheappointmentofMarcus。

  EmiliusLepidus,whoforbadehisheirstobestowuponhishearseeventhecommonceremoniesinuseuponsuchoccasions。Isityettemperanceandfrugalitytoavoidexpenseandpleasureofwhichtheuseandknowledgeareimperceptibletous?See,here,aneasyandcheapreformation。Ifinstructionwereatallnecessaryinthiscase,Ishouldbeofopinionthatinthis,asinallotheractionsoflife,eachpersonshouldregulatethematteraccordingtohisfortune;andthephilosopherLyconprudentlyorderedhisfriendstodisposeofhisbodywheretheyshouldthinkmostfit,andastohisfuneral,toorderitneithertoosuperfluousnortoomean。Formypart,Ishouldwhollyrefertheorderingofthisceremonytocustom,andshall,whenthetimecomes,accordinglyleaveittotheirdiscretiontowhoselotitshallfalltodomethatlastoffice。\"Totushiclocusestcontemnendusinnobis,nonnegligendusinnostris;\"——[\"Theplaceofoursepultureistobecontemnedbyus,butnottobeneglectedbyourfriends。\"——Cicero,Tusc。i。45。]——

  anditwasaholysayingofasaint,\"Curatiofuneris,conditiosepultura:,pompaexequiarum,magissuntvivorumsolatia,quamsubsidiamortuorum。\"——[\"Thecareofdeath,theplaceofsepulture,thepompsofobsequies,areratherconsolationstothelivingthansuccourstothedead。\"August。DeCivit。Dei,i。12。]——WhichmadeSocratesanswerCrito,who,atdeath,askedhimhowhewouldbeburied:\"Howyouwill,\"

  saidhe。\"IfIweretoconcernmyselfbeyondthepresentaboutthisaffair,Ishouldbemosttempted,asthegreatestsatisfactionofthiskind,toimitatethosewhointheirlifetimeentertainthemselveswiththeceremonyandhonoursoftheirownobsequiesbeforehand,andarepleasedwithbeholdingtheirowndeadcountenanceinmarble。Happyaretheywhocangratifytheirsensesbyinsensibility,andlivebytheirdeath!

  Iamreadytoconceiveanimplacablehatredagainstallpopulardomination,thoughIthinkitthemostnaturalandequitableofall,sooftasIcalltomindtheinhumaninjusticeofthepeopleofAthens,who,withoutremission,oroncevouchsafingtohearwhattheyhadtosayforthemselves,puttodeaththeirbravecaptainsnewlyreturnedtriumphantfromanavalvictorytheyhadobtainedovertheLacedaemoniansneartheArginusianIsles,themostbloodyandobstinateengagementthatevertheGreeksfoughtatsea;because(afterthevictory)theyfolloweduptheblowandpursuedtheadvantagespresentedtothembytheruleofwar,ratherthanstaytogatherupandburytheirdead。AndtheexecutionisyetrenderedmoreodiousbythebehaviourofDiomedon,who,beingoneofthecondemned,andamanofmosteminentvirtue,politicalandmilitary,afterhavingheardthesentence,advancingtospeak,noaudiencetillthenhavingbeenallowed,insteadoflayingbeforethemhisowncause,ortheimpietyofsocruelasentence,onlyexpressedasolicitudeforhisjudges’preservation,beseechingthegodstoconvertthissentencetotheirgood,andprayingthat,forneglectingtofulfilthevowswhichheandhiscompanionshadmade(withwhichhealsoacquaintedthem)inacknowledgmentofsogloriousasuccess,theymightnotdrawdowntheindignationofthegodsuponthem;andsowithoutmorewordswentcourageouslytohisdeath。

  Fortune,afewyearsafter,punishedtheminthesamekind;forChabrias,captain—generaloftheirnavalforces,havinggotthebetterofPollis,AdmiralofSparta,attheIsleofNaxos,totallylostthefruitsofhisvictory,oneofverygreatimportancetotheiraffairs,inordernottoincurthedangerofthisexample,andsothatheshouldnotloseafewbodiesofhisdeadfriendsthatwerefloatinginthesea,gaveopportunitytoaworldoflivingenemiestosailawayinsafety,whoafterwardsmadethempaydearforthisunseasonablesuperstition:——

  Quaeris,quojaceas,postobitum,loco?

  Quononnatajacent。\"

  [\"Dostaskwherethoushaltlieafterdeath?

  Wherethingsnotbornlie,thatneverbeinghad。\"]

  Seneca,Tyoa。Choroii。30。

  Thisotherrestoresthesenseofreposetoabodywithoutasoul:

  \"Nequesepulcrum,quorecipiatur,habeat:portumcorporis,ubi,remissahuman,vita,corpusrequiescatamalis。\"

  [\"Norlethimhaveasepulchrewhereinhemaybereceived,ahavenforhisbody,where,lifebeinggone,thatbodymayrestfromitswoes。\"——Ennius,ap。Cicero,Tusc。i。44。]

  Asnaturedemonstratestousthatseveraldeadthingsretainyetanoccultrelationtolife;winechangesitsflavourandcomplexionincellars,accordingtothechangesandseasonsofthevinefromwhenceitcame;andthefleshof——venisonaltersitsconditioninthepowdering—

  tub,anditstasteaccordingtothelawsofthelivingfleshofitskind,asitissaid。

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