CHAPTERIX
OFTHEARMSOFTHEPARTHIANS
’Tisanillcustomandunmanlythatthegentlemenofourtimehavegot，nottoputonarmsbutjustuponthepointofthemostextremenecessity，andtolaythembyagain，sosoonaseverthereisanyshowofthedangerbeingover;hencemanydisordersarise;foreveryonebustlingandrunningtohisarmsjustwhenheshouldgotocharge，hashiscuirasstobuckleonwhenhiscompanionsarealreadyputtorout。Ourancestorswerewonttogivetheirhead—piece，lanceandgauntletstobecarried，butneverputofftheotherpiecessolongastherewasanyworktobedone。Ourtroopsarenowcumberedandrenderedunsightlywiththeclutterofbaggageandservantswhocannotbefromtheirmasters，byreasontheycarrytheirarms。TitusLiviusspeakingofournation:
\"Intolerantissimalaboriscorporavixarmahumerisgerebant。\"
[\"Bodiesmostimpatientoflabourcouldscarceenduretoweartheirarmsontheirshoulders。\"——Livy，x。28。]
Manynationsdoyet，anddidanciently，gotowarwithoutdefensivearms，orwithsuch，atleast，aswereofverylittleproof:
\"Tegminaqueiscapitum，raptusdesuberecortex。\"
[\"Towhomthecoveringsoftheheadswerethebarkofthecork—tree。\"——AEneid，vii。742。]
Alexander，themostadventurouscaptainthateverwas，veryseldomworearmour，andsuchamongstusasslightit，donotbythatmuchharmtothemainconcern;forifweseesomekilledforwantofit，therearefewlesswhomthelumberofarmshelpstodestroy，eitherbybeingoverburthened，crushed，andcrampedwiththeirweight，byarudeshock，orotherwise。For，inplaintruth，toobservetheweightandthicknessofthearmourwehavenowinuse，itseemsasifweonlysoughttodefendourselves，andareratherloadedthansecuredbyit。Wehaveenoughtodotosupportitsweight，beingsomanacledandimmured，asifwewereonlytocontendwithourownarms，andasifwehadnotthesameobligationtodefendthem，thattheyhavetodefendus。Tacitusgivesapleasantdescriptionofthemen—at—armsamongourancientGauls，whoweresoarmedasonlytobeabletostand，withoutpowertoharmortobeharmed，ortoriseagainifoncestruckdown。Lucullus，seeingcertainsoldiersoftheMedes，whoformedthevanofTigranes’army，heavilyarmedandveryuneasy，asifinprisonsofiron，thenceconceivedhopeswithgreateasetodefeatthem，andbythembeganhischargeandvictory。
Andnowthatourmusketeersareincredit，Ibelievesomeinventionwillbefoundouttoimmureusforoursafety，andtodrawustothewarincastles，suchasthosetheancientsloadedtheirelephantswithal。
ThishumourisfardifferingfromthatoftheyoungerScipio，whosharplyreprehendedhissoldiersforhavingplantedcaltropsunderwater，inaditchbywhichthoseofthetownheheldbesiegedmightsallyoutuponhim;saying，thatthosewhoassaultedshouldthinkofattacking，andnottofear;suspecting，withgoodreason，thatthisstoptheyhadputtotheenemies，wouldmakethemselveslessvigilantupontheirguard。Hesaidalsotoayoungman，whoshowedhimafinebucklerhehad，thathewasveryproudof，\"Itisaveryfinebucklerindeed，butaRomansoldieroughttoreposegreaterconfidenceinhisrighthandthaninhisleft。\"
Now’tisnothingbutthenotbeingusedtowearitthatmakestheweightofourarmoursointolerable:
\"L’usbergoindossohaveano，etl’elmointesta，Duediquestiguerrier，de’qualiiocanto;
Nenotteodi，d’appoich’entraroinquestaStanza，gl’haveanomaimessidacanto;
ChefacileaportarcomelavestaEralor，percheinusol’haveantanto:\"
[\"Twoofthewarriors，ofwhomIsing，hadontheirbackstheircuirassandontheirheadstheircasque，andneverhadnightordayoncelaidthemby，whilstheretheywere;thosearms，bylongpractice，weregrownaslighttobearasagarment\"
——Ariosto，Cant。，MI。30。]
theEmperorCaracallawaswonttomarchonfoot，completelyarmed，attheheadofhisarmy。TheRomaninfantryalwayscarriednotonlyamorion，asword，andashield（forastoarms，saysCicero，theyweresoaccustomedtohavethemalwayson，thattheywerenomoretroubletothemthantheirownlimbs:
\"Armaenimmembramilitisessedicunt。\"
but，moreover，fifteendays’provision，togetherwithacertainnumberofstakes，wherewithtofortifytheircamp，sixtypoundsinweight。AndMarius’soldiers，ladenatthesamerate，wereinuredtomarchinorderofbattlefiveleaguesinfivehours，andsometimes，uponanyurgentoccasion，six。
Theirmilitarydisciplinewasmuchruderthanours，andaccordinglyproducedmuchgreatereffects。TheyoungerScipio，reforminghisarmyinSpain，orderedhissoldierstoeatstanding，andnothingthatwasdrest。
ThejeerthatwasgivenaLacedaemoniansoldierismarvellouslypattothispurpose，who，inanexpeditionofwar，wasreproachedforhavingbeenseenundertheroofofahouse:theyweresoinuredtohardshipthat，lettheweatherbewhatitwould，itwasashametobeseenunderanyothercoverthantheroofofheaven。Weshouldnotmarchourpeopleveryfaratthatrate。
Astowhatremains，Marcellinus，amanbredupintheRomanwars，curiouslyobservesthemanneroftheParthiansarmingthemselves，andtherather，forbeingsodifferentfromthatoftheRomans。\"Theyhad，\"sayshe，\"armoursowovenastohaveallthescalesfalloveroneanotherlikesomanylittlefeathers;whichdidnothinghinderthemotionofthebody，andyetwereofsuchresistance，thatourdartshittinguponthem，wouldrebound\"（thesewerethecoatsofmailourforefathersweresoconstantlywonttouse）。Andinanotherplace:\"theyhad，\"sayshe，\"strongandablehorses，coveredwiththicktannedhidesofleather，andwerethemselvesarmed’cap—a—pie’withgreatplatesofiron，soartificiallyordered，thatinallpartsofthelimbs，whichrequiredbending，theylentthemselvestothemotion。Onewouldhavesaid，thattheyhadbeenmenofiron;havingarmourfortheheadsoneatlyfitted，andsonaturallyrepresentingtheformofaface，thattheywerenowherevulnerable，saveattwolittleroundholes，thatgavethemalittlelight，correspondingwiththeireyes，andcertainsmallchinksabouttheirnostrils，throughwhichthey，withgreatdifficulty，breathed，\"
\"Flexilisinductisanimaturlaminamembris，Horribilisvisu;credassimulacramoveriFerrea，cognatoquevirosspiraremetallo。
Parvestitusequis:ferratafronteminantur，Ferratosquemovent，securivulneris，armos。\"
[\"Platesofsteelareplacedoverthebody，soflexiblethat，dreadfultobeseen，youwouldthinkthesenotlivingmen，butmovingimages。Thehorsesaresimilarlyarmed，and，securedfromwounds，movetheirironshoulders。\"——Claud，InRuf。，ii。358。]
’Tisadescriptiondrawingverynearresemblingtheequipageofthemen—
at—armsinFrance，withtheirbardedhorses。Plutarchsays，thatDemetriuscausedtwocompletesuitsofarmourtobemadeforhimselfandforAlcimus，acaptainofthegreatestnoteandauthorityabouthim，ofsixscorepoundsweighteach，whereastheordinarysuitsweighedbuthalfasmuch。
CHAPTERX
OFBOOKS
ImakenodoubtbutthatIoftenhappentospeakofthingsthataremuchbetterandmoretrulyhandledbythosewhoaremastersofthetrade。Youhaveherepurelyanessayofmynaturalparts，andnotofthoseacquired:
andwhoevershallcatchmetrippinginignorance，willnotinanysortgetthebetterofme;forIshouldbeveryunwillingtobecomeresponsibletoanotherformywritings，whoamnotsotomyself，norsatisfiedwiththem。Whoevergoesinquestofknowledge，lethimfishforitwhereitistobefound;thereisnothingIsolittleprofess。
Thesearefanciesofmyown，bywhichIdonotpretendtodiscoverthingsbuttolayopenmyself;theymay，peradventure，onedaybeknowntome，orhaveformerlybeen，accordingasfortunehasbeenabletobringmeinplacewheretheyhavebeenexplained;butIhaveutterlyforgottenit;
andifIamamanofsomereading，Iamamanofnoretention;sothatI
canpromisenocertainty，morethantomakeknowntowhatpointtheknowledgeInowhavehasrisen。Therefore，letnonelaystressuponthematterIwrite，butuponmymethodinwritingit。Letthemobserve，inwhatIborrow，ifIhaveknownhowtochoosewhatispropertoraiseorhelptheinvention，whichisalwaysmyown。ForImakeotherssayforme，notbeforebutafterme，what，eitherforwantoflanguageorwantofsense，Icannotmyselfsowellexpress。Idonotnumbermyborrowings，Iweighthem;andhadIdesignedtoraisetheirvaluebynumber，Ihadmadethemtwiceasmany;theyareall，orwithinaveryfew，sofamedandancientauthors，thattheyseem，methinks，themselvessufficientlytotellwhotheyare，withoutgivingmethetrouble。Inreasons，comparisons，andarguments，ifItransplantanyintomyownsoil，andconfoundthemamongstmyown，Ipurposelyconcealtheauthor，toawethetemerityofthoseprecipitatecensorswhofalluponallsortsofwritings，particularlythelateones，ofmenyetliving;andinthevulgartonguewhichputseveryoneintoacapacityofcriticisingandwhichseemtoconvicttheconceptionanddesignasvulgaralso。IwillhavethemgivePlutarchafilliponmynose，andrailagainstSenecawhentheythinktheyrailatme。Imustsheltermyownweaknessunderthesegreatreputations。Ishallloveanyonethatcanunplumeme，thatis，byclearnessofunderstandingandjudgment，andbythesoledistinctionoftheforceandbeautyofthediscourse。ForIwho，forwantofmemory，amateveryturnatalossto，pickthemoutoftheirnationallivery，amyetwiseenoughtoknow，bythemeasureofmyownabilities，thatmysoilisincapableofproducinganyofthoserichflowersthatItherefindgrowing;andthatallthefruitsofmyowngrowtharenotworthanyoneofthem。Forthis，indeed，Iholdmyselfresponsible;ifIgetinmyownway;iftherebeanyvanityanddefectinmywritingswhichIdonotofmyselfperceivenorcandiscern，whenpointedouttomebyanother;formanyfaultsescapeoureye，buttheinfirmityofjudgmentconsistsinnotbeingabletodiscernthem，whenbyanotherlaidopentous。Knowledgeandtruthmaybeinuswithoutjudgment，andjudgmentalsowithoutthem;
buttheconfessionofignoranceisoneofthefinestandsuresttestimoniesofjudgmentthatIknow。Ihavenootherofficertoputmywritingsinrankandfile，butonlyfortune。Asthingscomeintomyhead，Iheapthemoneuponanother;sometimestheyadvanceinwholebodies，sometimesinsinglefile。Iwouldthateveryoneshouldseemynaturalandordinarypace，irregularasitis;Isuffermyselftojogonatmyownrate。Neitherarethesesubjectswhichamanisnotpermittedtobeignorantin，orcasuallyandataventure，todiscourseof。I
couldwishtohaveamoreperfectknowledgeofthings，butIwillnotbuyitsodearasitcosts。Mydesignistopassovereasily，andnotlaboriously，theremainderofmylife;thereisnothingthatIwillcudgelmybrainsabout;no，notevenknowledge，ofwhatvaluesoever。
Iseek，inthereadingofbooks，onlytopleasemyselfbyanhonestdiversion;or，ifIstudy，’tisfornoothersciencethanwhattreatsoftheknowledgeofmyself，andinstructsmehowtodieandhowtolivewell。
\"Hasmeusadmetassudetoportetequus。\"
[\"Myhorsemustworkaccordingtomystep。\"
——Propertius，iv。]
IdonotbitemynailsaboutthedifficultiesImeetwithinmyreading;
afterachargeortwo，Igivethemover。ShouldIinsistuponthem，I
shouldbothlosemyselfandtime;forIhaveanimpatientunderstanding，thatmustbesatisfiedatfirst:whatIdonotdiscernatonceisbypersistencerenderedmoreobscure。Idonothingwithoutgaiety;
continuationandatooobstinateendeavour，darkens，stupefies，andtiresmyjudgment。Mysightisconfoundedanddissipatedwithporing;Imustwithdrawit，andrefermydiscoverytonewattempts;justas，tojudgerightlyofthelustreofscarlet，wearetaughttopasstheeyelightlyoverit，andagaintorunitoveratseveralsuddenandreiteratedglances。Ifonebookdonotpleaseme，Itakeanother;andInevermeddlewithany，butatsuchtimesasIamwearyofdoingnothing。
Icarenotmuchfornewones，becausetheoldseemfullerandstronger;
neitherdoIconversemuchwithGreekauthors，becausemyjudgmentcannotdoitsworkwithimperfectintelligenceofthematerial。
Amongstbooksthataresimplypleasant，ofthemoderns，Boccaccio’sDecameron，Rabelais，andtheBasiaofJohannesSecundus（ifthosemayberangedunderthetitle）areworthreadingforamusement。AstotheAmadis，andsuchkindofstuff，theyhadnotthecreditofarrestingevenmychildhood。AndIwill，moreover，say，whetherboldlyorrashly，thatthisold，heavysoulofmineisnownolongertickledwithAriosto，no，norwiththeworthyOvid;hisfacilityandinventions，withwhichIwasformerlysoravished，arenowofnomorerelish，andIcanhardlyhavethepatiencetoreadthem。Ispeakmyopinionfreelyofallthings，evenofthosethat，perhaps，exceedmycapacity，andthatIdonotconceivetobe，inanywise，undermyjurisdiction。And，accordingly，thejudgmentI
deliver，istoshowthemeasureofmyownsight，andnotofthethingsI
makesoboldtocriticise。WhenIfindmyselfdisgustedwithPlato’s’Axiochus’，aswithawork，withduerespecttosuchanauthorbeitspoken，withoutforce，myjudgmentdoesnotbelieveitself:itisnotsoarrogantastoopposetheauthorityofsomanyotherfamousjudgmentsofantiquity，whichitconsidersasitstutorsandmasters，andwithwhomitisrathercontenttoerr;insuchacase，itcondemnsitselfeithertostopattheoutwardbark，notbeingabletopenetratetotheheart，ortoconsideritbysortiefalselight。Itiscontentwithonlysecuringitselffromtroubleanddisorder;astoitsownweakness，itfranklyacknowledgesandconfessesit。Itthinksitgivesajustinterpretationtotheappearancesbyitsconceptionspresentedtoit;buttheyareweakandimperfect。MostofthefablesofAEsophavediversesensesandmeanings，ofwhichthemythologistschosesomeonethatquadrateswelltothefable;but，forthemostpart，’tisbutthefirstfacethatpresentsitselfandissuperficialonly;thereyetremainothersmorevivid，essential，andprofound，intowhichtheyhavenotbeenabletopenetrate;
andjustso’tiswithme。
But，topursuethebusinessofthisessay，Ihavealwaysthoughtthat，inpoesy，Virgil，Lucretius，Catullus，andHoracebymanydegreesexceltherest;andsignally，VirgilinhisGeorgics，whichIlookuponasthemostaccomplishedpieceinpoetry;andincomparisonofwhichamanmayeasilydiscernthattherearesomeplacesinhisAEneids，towhichtheauthorwouldhavegivenalittlemoreofthefile，hadhehadleisure:andthefifthbookofhisAEneidsseemstomethemostperfect。IalsoloveLucan，andwillinglyreadhim，notsomuchforhisstyle，asforhisownworth，andthetruthandsolidityofhisopinionsandjudgments。AsforgoodTerence，therefinedeleganceandgraceoftheLatintongue，Ifindhimadmirableinhisvividrepresentationofourmannersandthemovementsofthesoul;ouractionsthrowmeateveryturnuponhim;andIcannotreadhimsooftenthatIdonotstilldiscoversomenewgraceandbeauty。SuchaslivednearVirgil’stimecomplainedthatsomeshouldcompareLucretiustohim。Iamofopinionthatthecomparisonis，intruth，veryunequal:abeliefthat，nevertheless，Ihavemuchadotoassuremyselfin，whenIcomeuponsomeexcellentpassageinLucretius。
Butiftheyweresoangryatthiscomparison，whatwouldtheysaytothebrutishandbarbarousstupidityofthosewho，nowadays，comparehimwithAriosto？WouldnotAriostohimselfsay？
\"Osecluminsipiensetinficetum！\"
[\"Ostupidandtastelessage。\"——Catullus，xliii。8。]
IthinktheancientshadmorereasontobeangrywiththosewhocomparedPlautuswithTerence，thoughmuchnearerthemark，thanLucretiuswithVirgil。ItmakesmuchfortheestimationandpreferenceofTerence，thatthefatherofRomaneloquencehashimsooften，andaloneofhisclass，inhismouth;andtheopinionthatthebestjudgeofRomanpoets——[Horace，DeArt。Poetica，279。]——haspasseduponhiscompanion。I
haveoftenobservedthatthoseofourtimes，whotakeuponthemtowritecomedies（inimitationoftheItalians，whoarehappyenoughinthatwayofwriting），takethreeorfourplotsofthoseofPlautusorTerencetomakeoneoftheirown，and，crowdfiveorsixofBoccaccio’snovelsintoonesinglecomedy。Thatwhichmakesthemsoloadthemselveswithmatteristhediffidencetheyhaveofbeingabletosupportthemselveswiththeirownstrength。Theymustfindoutsomethingtoleanto;andnothavingoftheirownstuffwherewithtoentertainus，theybringinthestorytosupplythedefectoflanguage。Itisquiteotherwisewithmyauthor;theeleganceandperfectionofhiswayofspeakingmakesuslosetheappetiteofhisplot;hisrefinedgraceandeleganceofdictioneverywhereoccupyus:heissopleasantthroughout，\"Liquidus，puroquesimillimusamni，\"
[\"Liquid，andlikestthepureriver。\"
——Horace，Ep。，ii。s，120。]
andsopossessesthesoulwithhisgracesthatweforgetthoseofhisfable。Thissameconsiderationcarriesmefurther:Iobservethatthebestoftheancientpoetshaveavoidedaffectationandthehuntingafter，notonlyfantasticSpanishandPetrarchicelevations，buteventhesofterandmoregentletouches，whicharetheornamentofallsucceedingpoesy。
Andyetthereisnogoodjudgmentthatwillcondemnthisintheancients，andthatdoesnotincomparablymoreadmiretheequalpolish，andthatperpetualsweetnessandflourishingbeautyofCatullus’sepigrams，thanallthestingswithwhichMartialarmsthetailsofhis。ThisisbythesamereasonthatIgavebefore，andasMartialsaysofhimself:
\"Minusilliingeniolaborandumfuit，incujuslocummateriasuccesserat:\"
[\"Hehadthelessforhiswittodothatthesubjectitselfsuppliedwhatwasnecessary。\"——Martial，praef。adlib。viii。]
Thefirst，withoutbeingmoved，orwithoutgettingangry，makethemselvessufficientlyfelt;theyhavematterenoughoflaughterthroughout，theyneednotticklethemselves;theothershaveneedofforeignassistance;
astheyhavethelesswittheymusthavethemorebody;theymountonhorseback，becausetheyarenotabletostandontheirownlegs。Asinourballs，thosemeanfellowswhoteachtodance，notbeingabletorepresentthepresenceanddignityofournoblesse，arefaintoputthemselvesforwardwithdangerousjumping，andotherstrangemotionsandtumblerstricks;andtheladiesarelessputtoitindance;wheretherearevariouscoupees，changes，andquickmotionsofbody，thaninsomeotherofamoresedatekind，wheretheyareonlytomoveanaturalpace，andtorepresenttheirordinarygraceandpresence。AndsoIhaveseengooddrolls，whenintheirowneverydayclothes，andwiththesamefacetheyalwayswear，giveusallthepleasureoftheirart，whentheirapprentices，notyetarrivedatsuchapitchofperfection，arefaintomealtheirfaces，putthemselvesintoridiculousdisguises，andmakeahundredgrotesquefacestogiveuswhereattolaugh。ThisconceptionofmineisnowheremoredemonstrablethanincomparingtheAEneidwithOrlandoFurioso;ofwhichweseethefirst，bydintofwing，flyinginabraveandloftyplace，andalwaysfollowinghispoint:thelatter，flutteringandhoppingfromtaletotale，asfrombranchtobranch，notdaringtotrusthiswingsbutinveryshortflights，andperchingateveryturn，lesthisbreathandstrengthshouldfail。
\"Excursusquebrevestentat。\"
[Andheattemptsshortexcursions。\"
——Virgil，Georgics，iv。194。]
These，then，astothissortofsubjects，aretheauthorsthatbestpleaseme。
Astowhatconcernsmyotherreading，thatmixesalittlemoreprofitwiththepleasure，andwhenceIlearnhowtomarshalmyopinionsandconditions，thebooksthatservemetothispurposearePlutarch，sincehehasbeentranslatedintoFrench，andSeneca。Bothofthesehavethisnotableconveniencesuitedtomyhumour，thattheknowledgeIthereseekisdiscoursedinloosepieces，thatdonotrequirefrommeanytroubleofreadinglong，ofwhichIamincapable。Sucharetheminorworksofthefirstandtheepistlesofthelatter，whicharethebestandmostprofitingofalltheirwritings。’Tisnogreatattempttotakeoneoftheminhand，andIgiveoveratpleasure;fortheyhavenosequenceordependenceupononeanother。Theseauthors，forthemostpart，concurinusefulandtrueopinions;andthereisthisparallelbetwixtthem，thatfortunebroughtthemintotheworldaboutthesamecentury:theywerebothtutorstotwoRomanemperors:bothsoughtoutfromforeigncountries:bothrichandbothgreatmen。Theirinstructionisthecreamofphilosophy，anddeliveredafteraplainandpertinentmanner。
Plutarchismoreuniformandconstant;Senecamorevariousandwaving:
thelasttoiledandbenthiswholestrengthtofortifyvirtueagainstweakness，fear，andviciousappetites;theotherseemsmoretoslighttheirpower，andtodisdaintoalterhispaceandtostanduponhisguard。Plutarch’sopinionsarePlatonic，gentle，andaccommodatedtocivilsociety;thoseoftheotherareStoicalandEpicurean，moreremotefromthecommonuse，but，inmyopinion，moreindividuallycommodiousandmorefirm。Senecaseemstoleanalittletothetyrannyoftheemperorsofhistime，andonlyseems;forItakeitforcertainthathespeaksagainsthisjudgmentwhenhecondemnstheactionofthegenerousmurderersofCaesar。Plutarchisfrankthroughout:Senecaaboundswithbrisktouchesandsallies;Plutarchwiththingsthatwarmandmoveyoumore;thiscontentsandpaysyoubetter:heguidesus，theotherpushesuson。
AstoCicero，hisworksthataremostusefultomydesignaretheythattreatofmannersandrulesofourlife。Butboldlytoconfessthetruth（forsinceonehaspassedthebarriersofimpudence，thereisnobridle），hiswayofwritingappearstomenegligentanduninviting:forhisprefaces，definitions，divisions，andetymologiestakeupthegreatestpartofhiswork:whateverthereisoflifeandmarrowissmotheredandlostinthelongpreparation。WhenIhavespentanhourinreadinghim，whichisagreatdealforme，andtrytorecollectwhatIhavethenceextractedofjuiceandsubstance，forthemostpartIfindnothingbutwind;forheisnotyetcometotheargumentsthatservetohispurpose，andtothereasonsthatproperlyhelptoformtheknotIseek。Forme，whoonlydesiretobecomemorewise，notmorelearnedoreloquent，theselogicalandAristoteliandispositionsofpartsareofnouse。Iwouldhaveamanbeginwiththemainproposition。Iknowwellenoughwhatdeathandpleasureare;letnomangivehimselfthetroubletoanatomisethemtome。Ilookforgoodandsolidreasons，atthefirstdash，toinstructmehowtostandtheirshock，forwhichpurposeneithergrammaticalsubtletiesnorthequaintcontextureofwordsandargumentationsareofanyuseatall。Iamfordiscoursesthatgivethefirstchargeintotheheartoftheredoubt;hislanguishaboutthesubject;theyareproperfortheschools，forthebar，andforthepulpit，wherewehaveleisuretonod，andmayawake，aquarterofanhourafter，timeenoughtofindagainthethreadofthediscourse。Itisnecessarytospeakafterthismannertojudges，whomamanhasadesigntogainover，rightorwrong，tochildrenandcommonpeople，towhomamanmustsayall，andseewhatwillcomeofit。Iwouldnothaveanauthormakeithisbusinesstorendermeattentive:orthatheshouldcryoutfiftytimesOyez！astheheraldsdo。TheRomans，intheirreligiousexercises，beganwith’Hocage’asweinoursdowith’Sursumcorda’;
thesearesomanywordslosttome:Icomealreadyfullypreparedfrommychamber。Ineednoallurement，noinvitation，nosauce;Ieatthemeatraw，sothat，insteadofwhettingmyappetitebythesepreparatives，theytireandpallit。WillthelicenceofthetimeexcusemysacrilegiousboldnessifIcensurethedialogismofPlatohimselfasalsodullandheavy，toomuchstiflingthematter，andlamentsomuchtimelostbyaman，whohadsomanybetterthingstosay，insomanylongandneedlesspreliminaryinterlocutions？MyignorancewillbetterexcusemeinthatIunderstandnotGreeksowellastodiscernthebeautyofhislanguage。
Igenerallychoosebooksthatusesciences，notsuchasonlyleadtothem。Thetwofirst，andPliny，andtheirlike，havenothingofthisHocage;theywillhavetodowithmenalreadyinstructed;oriftheyhave，’tisasubstantialHocage;andthathasabodybyitself。IalsodelightinreadingtheEpistlestoAtticus，notonlybecausetheycontainagreatdealofthehistoryandaffairsofhistime，butmuchmorebecauseIthereindiscovermuchofhisownprivatehumours;forIhaveasingularcuriosity，asIhavesaidelsewhere，topryintothesoulsandthenaturalandtrueopinionsoftheauthors，withwhomIconverse。A
manmayindeedjudgeoftheirparts，butnotoftheirmannersnorofthemselves，bythewritingstheyexhibituponthetheatreoftheworld。
IhaveathousandtimeslamentedthelossofthetreatiseBrutuswroteuponVirtue，foritiswelltolearnthetheoryfromthosewhobestknowthepractice。
Butseeingthematterpreachedandthepreacheraredifferentthings，IwouldaswillinglyseeBrutusinPlutarch，asinabookofhisown。
Iwouldratherchoosetobecertainlyinformedoftheconferencehehadinhistentwithsomeparticularfriendsofhisthenightbeforeabattle，thanoftheharanguehemadethenextdaytohisarmy;andofwhathedidinhisclosetandhischamber，thanwhathedidinthepublicsquareandinthesenate。AstoCicero，Iamofthecommonopinionthat，learningexcepted，hehadnogreatnaturalexcellence。Hewasagoodcitizen，ofanaffablenature，asallfat，heavymen，suchashewas，usuallyare;butgiventoease，andhad，intruth，amightyshareofvanityandambition。NeitherdoIknowhowtoexcusehimforthinkinghispoetryfittobepublished;’tisnogreatimperfectiontomakeillverses，butitisanimperfectionnottobeabletojudgehowunworthyhisverseswereofthegloryofhisname。Forwhatconcernshiseloquence，thatistotallyoutofallcomparison，andIbelieveitwillneverbeequalled。TheyoungerCicero，whoresembledhisfatherinnothingbutinname，whilstcommandinginAsia，hadseveralstrangersonedayathistable，and，amongsttherest，Cestiusseatedatthelowerend，asmenoftenintrudetotheopentablesofthegreat。Ciceroaskedoneofhispeoplewhothatmanwas，whopresentlytoldhimhisname;buthe，asonewhohadhisthoughtstakenupwithsomethingelse，andwhohadforgottentheanswermadehim，askingthreeorfourtimes，overandoveragain;thesamequestion，thefellow，todeliverhimselffromsomanyanswersandtomakehimknowhimbysomeparticularcircumstance;\"’tisthatCestius，\"saidhe，\"ofwhomitwastoldyou，thathemakesnogreataccountofyourfather’seloquenceincomparisonofhisown。\"AtwhichCicero，beingsuddenlynettled，commandedpoorCestiuspresentlytobeseized，andcausedhimtobeverywellwhippedinhisownpresence;averydiscourteousentertainer！Yetevenamongstthose，who，allthingsconsidered，havereputedhis，eloquenceincomparable，therehavebeensome，whohavenotstucktoobservesomefaultsinit:asthatgreatBrutushisfriend，forexample，whosaid’twasabrokenandfeebleeloquence，’fyactametelumbem’。Theoratorsalso，nearesttotheagewhereinhelived，reprehendedinhimthecarehehadofacertainlongcadenceinhisperiods，andparticularlytooknoticeofthesewords，’essevideatur’，whichhetheresooftenmakesuseof。Formypart，I
moreapproveofashorterstyle，andthatcomesmoreroundlyoff。Hedoes，though，sometimesshufflehispartsmorebrisklytogether，but’tisveryseldom。Ihavemyselftakennoticeofthisonepassage:
\"Egoveromeminusdiusenemmallem，quamessesenem，antequamessem。\"
[\"Ihadratherbeoldabrieftime，thanbeoldbeforeoldage。
——\"Cicero，DeSenect。，c。10。]
Thehistoriansaremyrightball，fortheyarepleasantandeasy，andwhereman，ingeneral，theknowledgeofwhomIhuntafter，appearsmorevividlyandentirethananywhereelse:
[Theeasiestofmyamusements，therightballattennisbeingthatwhichcomingtotheplayerfromtherighthand，ismucheasierplayedwith。——Coste。]
thevarietyandtruthofhisinternalqualities，ingrossandpiecemeal，thediversityofmeansbywhichheisunitedandknit，andtheaccidentsthatthreatenhim。Nowthosethatwritelives，byreasontheyinsistmoreuponcounselsthanevents，moreuponwhatsalliesfromwithin，thanuponwhathappenswithout，arethemostproperformyreading;and，therefore，aboveallothers，Plutarchisthemanforme。IamverysorrywehavenotadozenLaertii，——[DiogenesLaertius，whowrotetheLivesofthePhilosophers]——orthathewasnotfurtherextended;forIamequallycurioustoknowthelivesandfortunesofthesegreatinstructorsoftheworld，astoknowthediversitiesoftheirdoctrinesandopinions。Inthiskindofstudyofhistories，amanmusttumbleover，withoutdistinction，allsortsofauthors，oldandnew，Frenchorforeign，theretoknowthethingsofwhichtheyvariouslytreat。ButCaesar，inmyopinion，particularlydeservestobestudied，notfortheknowledgeofthehistoryonly，butforhimself，sogreatanexcellenceandperfectionhehasabovealltherest，thoughSallustbeoneofthenumber。Inearnest，Ireadthisauthorwithmorereverenceandrespectthanisusuallyallowedtohumanwritings;onewhileconsideringhiminhisperson，byhisactionsandmiraculousgreatness，andanotherinthepurityandinimitablepolishofhislanguage，whereinhenotonlyexcelsallotherhistorians，asCiceroconfesses，but，peradventure，evenCicerohimself;speakingofhisenemieswithsomuchsincerityinhisjudgment，that，thefalsecolourswithwhichhestrivestopalliatehisevilcause，andtheordureofhispestilentambitionexcepted，Ithinkthereisnofaulttobeobjectedagainsthim，savingthis，thathespeakstoosparinglyofhimself，seeingsomanygreatthingscouldnothavebeenperformedunderhisconduct，butthathisownpersonalactsmustnecessarilyhavehadagreatershareinthemthanheattributestothem。
Ilovehistorians，whetherofthesimplesort，orofthehigherorder。
Thesimple，whohavenothingoftheirowntomixwithit，andwhoonlymakeittheirbusinesstocollectallthatcomestotheirknowledge，andfaithfullytorecordallthings，withoutchoiceordiscrimination，leavetoustheentirejudgmentofdiscerningthetruth。Such，forexample，amongstothers，ishonestFroissart，whohasproceededinhisundertakingwithsofrankaplainnessthat，havingcommittedanerror，heisnotashamedtoconfessandcorrectitintheplacewherethefingerhasbeenlaid，andwhorepresentstouseventhevarietyofrumoursthatwerethenspreadabroad，andthedifferentreportsthatweremadetohim;’tisthenakedandinformmatterofhistory，andofwhicheveryonemaymakehisprofit，accordingtohisunderstanding。Themoreexcellentsortofhistorianshavejudgmenttopickoutwhatismostworthytobeknown;
and，oftworeports，toexaminewhichisthemostlikelytobetrue:fromtheconditionofprincesandtheirhumours，theyconcludetheircounsels，andattributetothemwordsproperfortheoccasion;suchhavetitletoassumetheauthorityofregulatingourbelieftowhattheythemselvesbelieve;butcertainly，thisprivilegebelongstoveryfew。Forthemiddlesortofhistorians，ofwhichthemostpartare，theyspoilall;
theywillchewourmeatforus;theytakeuponthemtojudgeof，andconsequently，toinclinethehistorytotheirownfancy;forifthejudgmentleantooneside，amancannotavoidwrestingandwrithinghisnarrativetothatbias;theyundertaketoselectthingsworthytobeknown，andyetoftenconcealfromussuchaword，suchaprivateaction，aswouldmuchbetterinstructus;omit，asincredible，suchthingsastheydonotunderstand，andperadventuresome，becausetheycannotexpressgoodFrenchorLatin。Letthemdisplaytheireloquenceandintelligence，andjudgeaccordingtotheirownfancy:butletthem，withal，leaveussomethingtojudgeofafterthem，andneitheralternordisguise，bytheirabridgmentsandattheirownchoice，anythingofthesubstanceofthematter，butdeliverittouspureandentireinallitsdimensions。
Forthemostpart，andespeciallyintheselatterages，personsareculledoutforthisworkfromamongstthecommonpeople，uponthesoleconsiderationofwell—speaking，asifweweretolearngrammarfromthem;
andthemensochosenhavefairreason，beinghiredfornootherendandpretendingtonothingbutbabble，nottobeverysolicitousofanypartbutthat，andso，withafinejingleofwords，prepareusaprettycontextureofreportstheypickupinthestreets。Theonlygoodhistoriesarethosethathavebeenwrittenthemselveswhoheldcommandintheaffairswhereoftheywrite，orwhoparticipatedintheconductofthem，or，atleast，whohavehadtheconductofothersofthesamenature。SucharealmostalltheGreekandRomanhistories:for，severaleye—witnesseshavingwrittenofthesamesubject，inthetimewhengrandeurandlearningcommonlymetinthesameperson，iftherehappentobeanerror，itmustofnecessitybeaveryslightone，anduponaverydoubtfulincident。Whatcanamanexpectfromaphysicianwhowritesofwar，orfromamerescholar，treatingofthedesignsofprinces？IfwecouldtakenoticehowscrupuloustheRomanswereinthis，therewouldneedbutthisexample:AsiniusPolliofoundinthehistoriesofCaesarhimselfsomethingmisreported，amistakeoccasioned;eitherbyreasonhecouldnothavehiseyeinallpartsofhisarmyatonceandhadgivencredittosomeindividualpersonswhohadnotdeliveredhimaverytrueaccount;orelse，fornothavinghadtooperfectnoticegivenhimbyhislieutenantsofwhattheyhaddoneinhisabsence。——[Suetonius，LifeofCaesar，c。56。]——Bywhichwemaysee，whethertheinquisitionaftertruthbenotverydelicate，whenamancannotbelievethereportofabattlefromtheknowledgeofhimwhotherecommanded，norfromthesoldierswhowereengagedinit，unless，afterthemethodofajudicialinquiry，thewitnessesbeconfrontedandobjectionsconsideredupontheproofoftheleastdetailofeveryincident。Ingoodearnesttheknowledgewehaveofourownaffairs，ismuchmoreobscure:butthathasbeensufficientlyhandledbyBodin，andaccordingtomyownsentiment——
[IntheworkbyjeanBodin，entitled\"Methodusadfacilemhistoriarumcognitionem。\"1566。]——Alittletoaidtheweaknessofmymemory（soextremethatithashappenedtomemorethanonce，totakebooksagainintomyhandasnewandunseen，thatIhadcarefullyreadoverafewyearsbefore，andscribbledwithmynotes）Ihaveadoptedacustomoflate，tonoteattheendofeverybook（thatis，ofthoseIneverintendtoreadagain）thetimewhenImadeanendon’t，andthejudgmentIhadmadeofit，totheendthatthismight，atleast，representtomethecharacterandgeneralideaIhadconceivedoftheauthorinreadingit;
andIwillheretranscribesomeofthoseannotations。
Iwrotethis，sometenyearsago，inmyGuicciardini（ofwhatlanguagesoevermybooksspeaktomein，Ialwaysspeaktotheminmyown）:\"Heisadiligenthistoriographer，fromwhom，inmyopinion，amanmaylearnthetruthoftheaffairsofhistime，asexactlyasfromanyother;inthemostofwhichhewashimselfalsoapersonalactor，andinhonourablecommand。Thereisnoappearancethathedisguisedanything，eitherupontheaccountofhatred，favour，orvanity;ofwhichthefreecensureshepassesuponthegreatones，andparticularlythosebywhomhewasadvancedandemployedincommandsofgreattrustandhonour，asPopeClementVII。，giveampletestimony。Astothatpartwhichhethinkshimselfthebestat，namely，hisdigressionsanddiscourses，hehasindeedsomeverygood，andenrichedwithfinefeatures;butheistoofondofthem:for，toleavenothingunsaid，havingasubjectsofull，ample，almostinfinite，hedegeneratesintopedantryandsmacksalittleofscholasticprattle。Ihavealsoobservedthisinhim，thatofsomanysoulsandsomanyeffects，somanymotivesandsomanycounselsashejudges，heneverattributesanyonetovirtue，religion，orconscience，asifallthesewereutterlyextinctintheworld:andofalltheactions，howbravesoeverinoutwardshowtheyappearinthemselves，healwaysrefersthecauseandmotivetosomeviciousoccasionorsomeprospectofprofit。Itisimpossibletoimaginebutthat，amongstsuchaninfinitenumberofactionsashemakesmentionof，theremustbesomeoneproducedbythewayofhonestreason。Nocorruptioncouldsouniversallyhaveinfectedmenthatsomeonewouldnotescapethecontagionwhichmakesmesuspectthathisowntastewasvicious，whenceitmighthappenthathejudgedothermenbyhimself。\"
InmyPhilipdeComminesthereisthiswritten:\"Youwillherefindthelanguagesweetanddelightful，ofanaturalsimplicity，thenarrationpure，withthegoodfaithoftheauthorconspicuoustherein;freefromvanity，whenspeakingofhimself，andfromaffectionorenvy，whenspeakingofothers:hisdiscoursesandexhortationsratheraccompaniedwithzealandtruth，thanwithanyexquisitesufficiency;and，throughout，authorityandgravity，whichbespeakhimamanofgoodextraction，andbroughtupingreataffairs。\"