TranslatedbyCharlesCottonEditedbyWilliamCarewHazilitt1877
CONTENTSOFVOLUME1。
PrefaceTheLifeofMontaigneTheLettersofMontaignePREFACE。
Thepresentpublicationisintendedtosupplyarecogniseddeficiencyinourliterature——alibraryeditionoftheEssaysofMontaigne。ThisgreatFrenchwriterdeservestoberegardedasaclassic，notonlyinthelandofhisbirth，butinallcountriesandinallliteratures。HisEssays，whichareatoncethemostcelebratedandthemostpermanentofhisproductions，formamagazineoutofwhichsuchmindsasthoseofBaconandShakespearedidnotdisdaintohelpthemselves;and，indeed，asHallamobserves，theFrenchman’sliteraryimportancelargelyresultsfromthesharewhichhismindhadininfluencingotherminds，coevalandsubsequent。But，atthesametime，estimatingthevalueandrankoftheessayist，wearenottoleaveoutoftheaccountthedrawbacksandthecircumstancesoftheperiod:theimperfectstateofeducation，thecomparativescarcityofbooks，andthelimitedopportunitiesofintellectualintercourse。Montaignefreelyborrowedofothers，andhehasfoundmenwillingtoborrowofhimasfreely。Weneednotwonderatthereputationwhichhewithseemingfacilityachieved。Hewas，withoutbeingawareofit，theleaderofanewschoolinlettersandmorals。Hisbookwasdifferentfromallotherswhichwereatthatdateintheworld。
Itdivertedtheancientcurrentsofthoughtintonewchannels。Ittolditsreaders，withunexampledfrankness，whatitswriter’sopinionwasaboutmenandthings，andthrewwhatmusthavebeenastrangekindofnewlightonmanymattersbutdarklyunderstood。Aboveall，theessayistuncasedhimself，andmadehisintellectualandphysicalorganismpublicproperty。Hetooktheworldintohisconfidenceonallsubjects。Hisessayswereasortofliteraryanatomy，wherewegetadiagnosisofthewriter’smind，madebyhimselfatdifferentlevelsandunderalargevarietyofoperatinginfluences。
Ofallegotists，Montaigne，ifnotthegreatest，wasthemostfascinating，because，perhaps，hewastheleastaffectedandmosttruthful。Whathedid，andwhathehadprofessedtodo，wastodissecthismind，andshowus，asbesthecould，howitwasmade，andwhatrelationitboretoexternalobjects。Heinvestigatedhismentalstructureasaschoolboypullshiswatchtopieces，toexaminethemechanismoftheworks;andtheresult，accompaniedbyillustrationsaboundingwithoriginalityandforce，hedeliveredtohisfellow—meninabook。
Eloquence，rhetoricaleffect，poetry，werealikeremotefromhisdesign。
Hedidnotwritefromnecessity，scarcelyperhapsforfame。ButhedesiredtoleaveFrance，nay，andtheworld，somethingtoberememberedby，somethingwhichshouldtellwhatkindofamanhewas——whathefelt，thought，suffered——andhesucceededimmeasurably，Iapprehend，beyondhisexpectations。
ItwasreasonableenoughthatMontaigneshouldexpectforhisworkacertainshareofcelebrityinGascony，andeven，astimewenton，throughoutFrance;butitisscarcelyprobablethatheforesawhowhisrenownwastobecomeworld—wide;howhewastooccupyanalmostuniquepositionasamanoflettersandamoralist;howtheEssayswouldberead，inalltheprincipallanguagesofEurope，bymillionsofintelligenthumanbeings，whoneverheardofPerigordortheLeague，andwhoareindoubt，iftheyarequestioned，whethertheauthorlivedinthesixteenthortheeighteenthcentury。Thisistruefame。Amanofgeniusbelongstonoperiodandnocountry。Hespeaksthelanguageofnature，whichisalwayseverywherethesame。
ThetextofthesevolumesistakenfromthefirsteditionofCotton’sversion，printedin3vols。8vo，1685—6，andrepublishedin1693，1700，1711，1738，and1743，inthesamenumberofvolumesandthesamesize。
Intheearliestimpressiontheerrorsofthepressarecorrectedmerelyasfaraspage240ofthefirstvolume，andalltheeditionsfollowoneanother。Thatof1685—6wastheonlyonewhichthetranslatorlivedtosee。Hediedin1687，leavingbehindhimaninterestingandlittle—knowncollectionofpoems，whichappearedposthumously，8vo，1689。
ItwasconsideredimperativetocorrectCotton’stranslationbyacarefulcollationwiththe’variorum’editionoftheoriginal，Paris，1854，4vols。8voor12mo，andparallelpassagesfromFlorin’searlierundertakinghaveoccasionallybeeninsertedatthefootofthepage。A
LifeoftheAuthorandallhisrecoveredLetters，sixteeninnumber，havealsobeengiven;but，asregardsthecorrespondence，itcanscarcelybedoubtedthatitisinapurelyfragmentarystate。TodomorethanfurnishasketchoftheleadingincidentsinMontaigne’slifeseemed，inthepresenceofBayleSt。John’scharmingandablebiography，anattemptasdifficultasitwasuseless。
ThebesettingsinofbothMontaigne’stranslatorsseemstohavebeenapropensityforreducinghislanguageandphraseologytothelanguageandphraseologyoftheageandcountrytowhichtheybelonged，and，moreover，insertingparagraphsandwords，nothereandthereonly，butconstantlyandhabitually，fromanevidentdesireandviewtoelucidateorstrengthentheirauthor’smeaning。Theresulthasgenerallybeenunfortunate;andIhave，inthecaseofalltheseinterpolationsonCotton’spart，feltbound，whereIdidnotcancelthem，tothrowthemdownintothenotes，notthinkingitrightthatMontaigneshouldbeallowedanylongertostandsponsorforwhatheneverwrote;andreluctant，ontheotherhand，tosuppresstheintrudingmatterentirely，whereitappearedtopossessavalueofitsown。
NorisredundancyorparaphrasetheonlyformoftransgressioninCotton，forthereareplacesinhisauthorwhichhethoughtpropertoomit，anditishardlynecessarytosaythattherestorationofallsuchmattertothetextwasconsideredessentialtoitsintegrityandcompleteness。
Mywarmestthanksareduetomyfather，MrRegistrarHazlitt，theauthorofthewell—knownandexcellenteditionofMontaignepublishedin1842，fortheimportantassistancewhichhehasrenderedtomeinverifyingandretranslatingthequotations，whichwereinamostcorruptstate，andofwhichCotton’sEnglishversionsweresingularlylooseandinexact，andforthezealwithwhichhehasco—operatedwithmeincollatingtheEnglishtext，lineforlineandwordforword，withthebestFrenchedition。
BythefavourofMrF。W。Cosens，Ihavehadbyme，whileatworkonthissubject，thecopyofCotgrave’sDictionary，folio，1650，whichbelongedtoCotton。IthashisautographandcopiousMSS。notes，norisittoomuchtopresumethatitistheverybookemployedbyhiminhistranslation。
W。C。H。
KENSINGTON，November1877。
BOOKTHEFIRST。
THELIFEOFMONTAIGNE
[Thisistranslatedfreelyfromthatprefixedtothe’variorum’Parisedition，1854，4vols。8vo。ThisbiographyisthemoredesirablethatitcontainsallreallyinterestingandimportantmatterinthejournaloftheTourinGermanyandItaly，which，asitwasmerelywrittenunderMontaigne’sdictation，isinthethirdperson，isscarcelyworthpublication，asawhole，inanEnglishdress。]
TheauthoroftheEssayswasborn，asheinformsushimself，betweenelevenandtwelveo’clockintheday，thelastofFebruary1533，atthechateauofSt。MicheldeMontaigne。Hisfather，PierreEyquem，esquire，wassuccessivelyfirstJuratofthetownofBordeaux（1530），Under—Mayor1536），Juratforthesecondtimein1540，Procureurin1546，andatlengthMayorfrom1553to1556。Hewaswmanofaustereprobity，whohad"aparticularregardforhonourandforproprietyinhispersonandattire……amightygoodfaithinhisspeech，andaconscienceandareligiousfeelingincliningtosuperstition，ratherthantotheotherextreme。"[Essays，ii。2。]PierreEyquembestowedgreatcareontheeducationofhischildren，especiallyonthepracticalsideofit。ToassociatecloselyhissonMichelwiththepeople，andattachhimtothosewhostandinneedofassistance，hecausedhimtobeheldatthefontbypersonsofmeanestposition;subsequentlyheputhimouttonursewithapoorvillager，andthen，atalaterperiod，madehimaccustomhimselftothemostcommonsortofliving，takingcare，nevertheless，tocultivatehismind，andsuperintenditsdevelopmentwithouttheexerciseofunduerigourorconstraint。Michel，whogivesustheminutestaccountofhisearliestyears，charminglynarrateshowtheyusedtoawakehimbythesoundofsomeagreeablemusic，andhowhelearnedLatin，withoutsufferingtherodorsheddingatear，beforebeginningFrench，thankstotheGermanteacherwhomhisfatherhadplacednearhim，andwhoneveraddressedhimexceptinthelanguageofVirgilandCicero。ThestudyofGreektookprecedence。AtsixyearsofageyoungMontaignewenttotheCollegeofGuienneatBordeaux，wherehehadaspreceptorsthemosteminentscholarsofthesixteenthcentury，NicolasGrouchy，Guerente，Muret，andBuchanan。Atthirteenhehadpassedthroughalltheclasses，andashewasdestinedforthelawheleftschooltostudythatscience。
Hewasthenaboutfourteen，buttheseearlyyearsofhislifeareinvolvedinobscurity。Thenextinformationthatwehaveisthatin1554
hereceivedtheappointmentofcouncillorintheParliamentofBordeaux;
in1559hewasatBar—le—DucwiththecourtofFrancisII，andintheyearfollowinghewaspresentatRouentowitnessthedeclarationofthemajorityofCharlesIX。Wedonotknowinwhatmannerhewasengagedontheseoccasions。
Between1556and1563animportantincidentoccurredinthelifeofMontaigne，inthecommencementofhisromanticfriendshipwithEtiennedelaBoetie，whomhehadmet，ashetellsus，bypurechanceatsomefestivecelebrationinthetown。Fromtheirveryfirstinterviewthetwofoundthemselvesdrawnirresistiblyclosetooneanother，andduringsixyearsthisalliancewasforemostintheheartofMontaigne，asitwasafterwardsinhismemory，whendeathhadseveredit。
Althoughheblamesseverelyinhisownbook[Essays，i。27。]thosewho，contrarytotheopinionofAristotle，marrybeforefive—and—thirty，MontaignedidnotwaitfortheperiodfixedbythephilosopherofStagyra，butin1566，inhisthirty—thirdyear，heespousedFrancoisedeChassaigne，daughterofacouncillorintheParliamentofBordeaux。Thehistoryofhisearlymarriedlifeviesinobscuritywiththatofhisyouth。Hisbiographersarenotagreedamongthemselves;andinthesamedegreethathelaysopentoourviewallthatconcernshissecretthoughts，theinnermostmechanismofhismind，heobservestoomuchreticenceinrespecttohispublicfunctionsandconduct，andhissocialrelations。ThetitleofGentlemaninOrdinarytotheKing，whichheassumes，inapreface，andwhichHenryII。giveshiminaletter，whichweprintalittlefartheron;whathesaysastothecommotionsofcourts，wherehepassedaportionofhislife;theInstructionswhichhewroteunderthedictationofCatherinedeMediciforKingCharlesIX。，andhisnoblecorrespondencewithHenryIV。，leavenodoubt，however，astothepartwhichheplayedinthetransactionsofthosetimes，andwefindanunanswerableproofoftheesteeminwhichhewasheldbythemostexaltedpersonages，inaletterwhichwasaddressedtohimbyCharlesatthetimehewasadmittedtotheOrderofSt。Michael，whichwas，asheinformsushimself，thehighesthonouroftheFrenchnoblesse。
AccordingtoLacroixduMaine，Montaigne，uponthedeathofhiseldestbrother，resignedhispostofCouncillor，inordertoadoptthemilitaryprofession，while，ifwemightcreditthePresidentBouhier，heneverdischargedanyfunctionsconnectedwitharms。However，severalpassagesintheEssaysseemtoindicatethathenotonlytookservice，butthathewasactuallyinnumerouscampaignswiththeCatholicarmies。Letusadd，thatonhismonumentheisrepresentedinacoatofmail，withhiscasqueandgauntletsonhisrightside，andalionathisfeet，allwhichsignifies，inthelanguageoffuneralemblems，thatthedepartedhasbeenengagedinsomeimportantmilitarytransactions。
Howeveritmaybeastotheseconjectures，ourauthor，havingarrivedathisthirty—eighthyear，resolvedtodedicatetostudyandcontemplationtheremainingtermofhislife;andonhisbirthday，thelastofFebruary1571，hecausedaphilosophicalinscription，inLatin，tobeplacedupononeofthewallsofhischateau，whereitisstilltobeseen，andofwhichthetranslationistothiseffect:——"IntheyearofChrist……
inhisthirty—eighthyear，ontheeveoftheCalendsofMarch，hisbirthday，MichelMontaigne，alreadywearyofcourtemploymentsandpublichonours，withdrewhimselfentirelyintotheconverseofthelearnedvirginswhereheintendstospendtheremainingmoietyofthetoallottedtohimintranquilseclusion。"
Atthetimetowhichwehavecome，Montaignewasunknowntotheworldofletters，exceptasatranslatorandeditor。In1569hehadpublishedatranslationofthe"NaturalTheology"ofRaymonddeSebonde，whichhehadsolelyundertakentopleasehisfather。In1571hehadcausedtobeprintedatPariscertain’opuscucla’ofEtiennedelaBoetie;andthesetwoefforts，inspiredinonecasebyfilialduty，andintheotherbyfriendship，provethataffectionatemotivesoverruledwithhimmerepersonalambitionasaliteraryman。WemaysupposethathebegantocomposetheEssaysattheveryoutsetofhisretirementfrompublicengagements;foras，accordingtohisownaccount，observesthePresidentBouhier，hecaredneitherforthechase，norbuilding，norgardening，noragriculturalpursuits，andwasexclusivelyoccupiedwithreadingandreflection，hedevotedhimselfwithsatisfactiontothetaskofsettingdownhisthoughtsjustastheyoccurredtohim。Thosethoughtsbecameabook，andthefirstpartofthatbook，whichwastoconferimmortalityonthewriter，appearedatBordeauxin1580。Montaignewasthenfifty—
seven;hehadsufferedforsomeyearspastfromrenalcolicandgravel;
anditwaswiththenecessityofdistractionfromhispain，andthehopeofderivingrelieffromthewaters，thatheundertookatthistimeagreatjourney。AstheaccountwhichhehasleftofhistravelsinGermanyandItalycomprisessomehighlyinterestingparticularsofhislifeandpersonalhistory，itseemsworthwhiletofurnishasketchoranalysisofit。
"TheJourney，ofwhichweproceedtodescribethecoursesimply，"saystheeditoroftheItinerary，"had，fromBeaumont—sur—OisetoPlombieres，inLorraine，nothingsufficientlyinterestingtodetainus……wemustgoasfar，asBasle，ofwhichwehaveadescription，acquaintinguswithitsphysicalandpoliticalconditionatthatperiod，aswellaswiththecharacterofitsbaths。ThepassageofMontaignethroughSwitzerlandisnotwithoutinterest，asweseetherehowourphilosophicaltravelleraccommodatedhimselfeverywheretothewaysofthecountry。Thehotels，theprovisions，theSwisscookery，everything，wasagreeabletohim;itappears，indeed，asifhepreferredtotheFrenchmannersandtastesthoseoftheplaceshewasvisiting，andofwhichthesimplicityandfreedom（orfrankness）accordedmorewithhisownmodeoflifeandthinking。Inthetownswherehestayed，MontaignetookcaretoseetheProtestantdivines，tomakehimselfconversantwithalltheirdogmas。Heevenhaddisputationswiththemoccasionally。
"HavingleftSwitzerlandhewenttoIsne，animperialthenontoAugsburgandMunich。HeafterwardsproceededtotheTyrol，wherehewasagreeablysurprised，afterthewarningswhichhehadreceived，attheveryslightinconvenienceswhichhesuffered，whichgavehimoccasiontoremarkthathehadallhislifedistrustedthestatementsofothersrespectingforeigncountries，eachperson’stastesbeingaccordingtothenotionsofhisnativeplace;andthathehadconsequentlysetverylittleonwhathewastoldbeforehand。
"UponhisarrivalatBotzen，MontaignewrotetoFrancoisHottmann，tosaythathehadbeensopleasedwithhisvisittoGermanythathequitteditwithgreatregret，althoughitwastogointoItaly。HethenpassedthroughBrunsol，Trent，whereheputupattheRose;thencegoingtoRovera;andherehefirstlamentedthescarcityofcrawfish，butmadeupforthelossbypartakingoftrufflescookedinoilandvinegar;oranges，citrons，andolives，inallofwhichhedelighted。
Afterpassingarestlessnight，whenhebethoughthimselfinthemorningthattherewassomenewtownordistricttobeseen，herose，wearetold，withalacrityandpleasure。
Hissecretary，towhomhedictatedhisJournal，assuresusthatheneversawhimtakesomuchinterestinsurroundingscenesandpersons，andbelievesthatthecompletechangehelpedtomitigatehissufferingsinconcentratinghisattentiononotherpoints。Whentherewasacomplaintmadethathehadledhispartyoutofthebeatenroute，andthenreturnedverynearthespotfromwhichtheystarted，hisanswerwasthathehadnosettledcourse，andthathemerelyproposedtohimselftopayvisitstoplaceswhichhehadnotseen，andsolongastheycouldnotconvicthimoftraversingthesamepathtwice，orrevisitingapointalreadyseen，hecouldperceivenoharminhisplan。AstoRome，hecaredlesstogothere，inasmuchaseverybodywentthere;andhesaidthatheneverhadalacqueywhocouldnottellhimallaboutFlorenceorFerrara。Healsowouldsaythatheseemedtohimselflikethosewhoarereadingsomepleasantstoryorsomefinebook，ofwhichtheyfeartocometotheend:
hefeltsomuchpleasureintravellingthathedreadedthemomentofarrivalattheplacewheretheyweretostopforthenight。
WeseethatMontaignetravelled，justashewrote，completelyathisease，andwithouttheleastconstraint，turning，justashefancied，fromthecommonorordinaryroadstakenbytourists。Thegoodinns，thesoftbeds，thefineviews，attractedhisnoticeateverypoint，andinhisobservationsonmenandthingsheconfineshimselfchieflytothepracticalside。Theconsiderationofhishealthwasconstantlybeforehim，anditwasinconsequenceofthisthat，whileatVenice，whichdisappointedhim，hetookoccasiontonote，forthebenefitofreaders，thathehadanattackofcolic，andthatheevacuatedtwolargestonesaftersupper。OnquittingVenice，hewentinsuccessiontoFerrara，Rovigo，Padua，Bologna（wherehehadastomach—ache），Florence，&c。;andeverywhere，beforealighting，hemadeitaruletosendsomeofhisservantstoascertainwherethebestaccommodationwastobehad。HepronouncedtheFlorentinewomenthefinestintheworld，buthadnotanequallygoodopinionofthefood，whichwaslessplentifulthaninGermany，andnotsowellserved。HeletsusunderstandthatinItalytheysendupdisheswithoutdressing，butinGermanytheyweremuchbetterseasoned，andservedwithavarietyofsaucesandgravies。Heremarkedfurther，thattheglassesweresingularlysmallandthewinesinsipid。
AfterdiningwiththeGrand—DukeofFlorence，Montaignepassedrapidlyovertheintermediatecountry，whichhadnofascinationforhim，andarrivedatRomeonthelastdayofNovember，enteringbythePortadelPopolo，andputtingupatBear。Butheafterwardshired，attwentycrownsamonth，finefurnishedroomsinthehouseofaSpaniard，whoincludedinthesetermstheuseofthekitchenfire。WhatmostannoyedhimintheEternalCitywasthenumberofFrenchmenhemet，whoallsalutedhiminhisnativetongue;butotherwisehewasverycomfortable，andhisstayextendedtofivemonths。Amindlikehis，fullofgrandclassicalreflections，couldnotfailtobeprofoundlyimpressedinthepresenceoftheruinsatRome，andhehasenshrinedinamagnificentpassageoftheJournalthefeelingsofthemoment:"Hesaid，"writeshissecretary，"thatatRomeonesawnothingbuttheskyunderwhichshehadbeenbuilt，andtheoutlineofhersite:thattheknowledgewehadofherwasabstract，contemplative，notpalpabletotheactualsenses:thatthosewhosaidtheybeheldatleasttheruinsofRome，wenttoofar，fortheruinsofsogiganticastructuremusthavecommandedgreaterreverence—itwasnothingbuthersepulchre。Theworld，jealousofher，prolongedempire，hadinthefirstplacebrokentopiecesthatadmirablebody，andthen，whentheyperceivedthattheremainsattractedworshipandawe，hadburiedtheverywreckitself。——[CompareapassageinoneofHoraceWalpole’sletterstoRichardWest，22March1740（Cunningham’sedit。i。41），whereWalpole，speakingofRome，describesherveryruinsasruined。]——Astothosesmallfragmentswhichwerestilltobeseenonthesurface，notwithstandingtheassaultsoftimeandallotherattacks，againandagainrepeated，theyhadbeenfavouredbyfortunetobesomeslightevidenceofthatinfinitegrandeurwhichnothingcouldentirelyextingish。Butitwaslikelythatthesedisfiguredremainsweretheleastentitledtoattention，andthattheenemiesofthatimmortalrenown，intheirfury，hadaddressedthemselvesinthefirstinstancetothedestructionofwhatwasmostbeautifulandworthiestofpreservation;
andthatthebuildingsofthisbastardRome，raisedupontheancientproductions，althoughtheymightexcitetheadmirationofthepresentage，remindedhimofthecrows’andsparrows’nestsbuiltinthewallsandarchesoftheoldchurches，destroyedbytheHuguenots。Again，hewasapprehensive，seeingthespacewhichthisgraveoccupied，thatthewholemightnothavebeenrecovered，andthattheburialitselfhadbeenburied。And，moreover，toseeawretchedheapofrubbish，aspiecesoftileandpottery，grow（asithadagessince）toaheightequaltothatofMountGurson，——[InPerigord。]——andthricethewidthofit，appearedtoshowaconspiracyofdestinyagainstthegloryandpre—eminenceofthatcity，affordingatthesametimeanovelandextraordinaryproofofitsdepartedgreatness。He（Montaigne）observedthatitwasdifficulttobelieveconsideringthelimitedareatakenupbyanyofhersevenhillsandparticularlythetwomostfavouredones，theCapitolineandthePalatine，thatsomanybuildingsstoodonthesite。JudgingonlyfromwhatisleftoftheTempleofConcord，alongthe’ForumRomanum’，ofwhichthefallseemsquiterecent，likethatofsomehugemountainsplitintohorriblecrags，itdoesnotlookasifmorethantwosuchedificescouldhavefoundroomontheCapitoline，onwhichtherewereatoneperiodfromfive—and—twentytothirtytemples，besidesprivatedwellings。
But，inpointoffact，thereisscarcelyanyprobabilityoftheviewswhichwetakeofthecitybeingcorrect，itsplanandformhavingchangedinfinitely;forinstance，the’Velabrum’，whichonaccountofitsdepressedlevel，receivedthesewageofthecity，andhadalake，hasbeenraisedbyartificialaccumulationtoaheightwiththeotherhills，andMountSavellohas，intruth，grownsimplyoutoftheruinsofthetheatreofMarcellus。HebelievedthatanancientRomanwouldnotrecognisetheplaceagain。Itoftenhappenedthatindiggingdownintoearththeworkmencameuponthecrownofsomeloftycolumn，which，thoughthusburied，wasstillstandingupright。Thepeopletherehavenorecoursetootherfoundationsthanthevaultsandarchesoftheoldhouses，uponwhich，asonslabsofrock，theyraisetheirmodernpalaces。
Itiseasytoseethatseveraloftheancientstreetsarethirtyfeetbelowthoseatpresentinuse。"
ScepticalasMontaigneshowshimselfinhisbooks，yetduringhissojournatRomehemanifestedagreatregardforreligion。HesolicitedthehonourofbeingadmittedtokissthefeetoftheHolyFather，GregoryXIII。;andthePontiffexhortedhimalwaystocontinueinthedevotionwhichhehadhithertoexhibitedtotheChurchandtheserviceoftheMostChristianKing。
"Afterthis，onesees，"saystheeditoroftheJournal，"Montaigneemployingallhistimeinmakingexcursionsbouttheneighbourhoodonhorsebackoronfoot，invisits，inobservationsofeverykind。Thechurches，thestations，theprocessionseven，thesermons;thenthepalaces，thevineyards，thegardens，thepublicamusements，astheCarnival，&c。——nothingwasoverlooked。HesawaJewishchildcircumcised，andwrotedownamostminuteaccountoftheoperation。HemetatSanSistoaMuscoviteambassador，thesecondwhohadcometoRomesincethepontificateofPaulIII。ThisministerhaddespatchesfromhiscourtforVenice，addressedtothe’GrandGovernoroftheSignory’。ThecourtofMuscovyhadatthattimesuchlimitedrelationswiththeotherpowersofEurope，anditwassoimperfectinitsinformation，thatitthoughtVenicetobeadependencyoftheHolySee。"
OfalltheparticularswithwhichhehasfurnishedusduringhisstayatRome，thefollowingpassageinreferencetotheEssaysisnottheleastsingular:"TheMasteroftheSacredPalacereturnedhimhisEssays，castigatedinaccordancewiththeviewsofthelearnedmonks。’Hehadonlybeenabletoformajudgmentofthem，’saidhe，’throughacertainFrenchmonk，notunderstandingFrenchhimself’"——weleaveMontaignehimselftotellthestory——"andhereceivedsocomplacentlymyexcusesandexplanationsoneachofthepassageswhichhadbeenanimadverteduponbytheFrenchmonk，thatheconcludedbyleavingmeatlibertytorevisethetextagreeablytothedictatesofmyownconscience。Ibeggedhim，onthecontrary，toabidebytheopinionofthepersonwhohadcriticisedme，confessing，amongothermatters，as，forexample，inmyuseofthewordfortune，inquotinghistoricalpoets，inmyapologyforJulian，inmyanimadversiononthetheorythathewhoprayedoughttobeexemptfromviciousinclinationsforthetimebeing;item，inmyestimateofcruelty，assomethingbeyondsimpledeath;item，inmyviewthatachildoughttobebroughtuptodoeverything，andsoon;thattheseweremyopinions，whichIdidnotthinkwrong;astootherthings，Isaidthatthecorrectorunderstoodnotmymeaning。TheMaster，whoisacleverman，mademanyexcusesforme，andgavemetosupposethathedidnotconcurinthesuggestedimprovements;andpleadedveryingeniouslyformeinmypresenceagainstanother（alsoanItalian）whoopposedmysentiments。"
SuchiswhatpassedbetweenMontaigneandthesetwopersonagesatthattime;butwhentheEssayistwasleaving，andwenttobidthemfarewell，theyusedverydifferentlanguagetohim。"Theyprayedme，"sayshe，"topaynoattentiontothecensurepassedonmybook，inwhichotherFrenchpersonshadapprisedthemthatthereweremanyfoolishthings;
adding，thattheyhonouredmyaffectionateintentiontowardstheChurch，andmycapacity;andhadsohighanopinionofmycandourandconscientiousnessthattheyshouldleaveittometomakesuchalterationsaswereproperinthebook，whenIreprintedit;amongotherthings，thewordfortune。Toexcusethemselvesforwhattheyhadsaidagainstmybook，theyinstancedworksofourtimebycardinalsandotherdivinesofexcellentreputewhichhadbeenblamedforsimilarfaults，whichinnowayaffectedreputationoftheauthor，orofthepublicationasawhole;theyrequestedmetolendtheChurchthesupportofmyeloquence（thiswastheirfairspeech），andtomakelongerstayintheplace，whereIshouldbefreefromallfurtherintrusionontheirpart。
Itseemedtomethatwepartedverygoodfriends。"
BeforequittingRome，Montaignereceivedhisdiplomaofcitizenship，bywhichhewasgreatlyflattered;andafteravisittoTivolihesetoutforLoretto，stoppingatAncona，Fano，andUrbino。HearrivedatthebeginningofMay1581，atBagnodellaVilla，whereheestablishedhimself，ordertotrythewaters。There，wefindintheJournal，ofhisownaccordtheEssayistlivedinthestrictestconformitywiththeregime，andhenceforthweonlyhearofdiet，theeffectwhichthewatershadbydegreesuponsystem，ofthemannerinwhichhetookthem;inaword，hedoesnotomitanitemofthecircumstancesconnectedwithhisdailyroutine，hishabitofbody，hisbaths，andtherest。Itwasnolongerthejournalofatravellerwhichhekept，butthediaryofaninvalid，——["IamreadingMontaigne’sTravels，whichhavelatelybeenfound;thereislittleinthembutthebathsandmedicineshetook，andwhathehadeverywherefordinner。"——H。WalpoletoSirHoraceMann，June8，1774。]——attentivetotheminutestdetailsofthecurewhichhewasendeavouringtoaccomplish:asortofmemorandumbook，inwhichhewasnotingdowneverythingthathefeltanddid，forthebenefitofhismedicalmanathome，whowouldhavethecareofhishealthonhisreturn，andtheattendanceonhissubsequentinfirmities。Montaignegivesitashisreasonandjustificationforenlargingtothisextenthere，thathehadomitted，tohisregret，todosoinhisvisitstootherbaths，whichmighthavesavedhimthetroubleofwritingatsuchgreatlengthnow;butitisperhapsabetterreasoninoureyes，thatwhathewrotehewroteforhisownuse。
Wefindintheseaccounts，however，manytoucheswhicharevaluableasillustratingthemannersoftheplace。ThegreaterpartoftheentriesintheJournal，givingtheaccountofthesewaters，andofthetravels，downtoMontaigne’sarrivalatthefirstFrenchtownonhishomewardroute，areinItalian，becausehewishedtoexercisehimselfinthatlanguage。
TheminuteandconstantwatchfulnessofMontaigneoverhishealthandoverhimselfmightleadonetosuspectthatexcessivefearofdeathwhichdegeneratesintocowardice。Butwasitnotratherthefearoftheoperationforthestone，atthattimereallyformidable？OrperhapshewasofthesamewayofthinkingwiththeGreekpoet，ofwhomCiceroreportsthissaying:"Idonotdesiretodie;butthethoughtofbeingdeadisindifferenttome。"Letushear，however，whathesayshimselfonthispointveryfrankly:"Itwouldbetooweakandunmanlyonmypartif，certainasIamofalwaysfindingmyselfinthepositionofhavingtosuccumbinthatway，——[Tothestoneorgravel。]——anddeathcomingnearerandnearertome，Ididnotmakesomeeffort，beforethetimecame，tobearthetrialwithfortitude。ForreasonprescribesthatweshouldjoyfullyacceptwhatitmaypleaseGodtosendus。Thereforetheonlyremedy，theonlyrule，andthesoledoctrineforavoidingtheevilsbywhichmankindissurrounded，whatevertheyare，istoresolvetobearthemsofarasournaturepermits，ortoputanendtothemcourageouslyandpromptly。"
HewasstillatthewatersofLaVilla，when，onthe7thSeptember1581，helearnedbyletterthathehadbeenelectedMayorofBordeauxonthe1stAugustpreceding。Thisintelligencemadehimhastenhisdeparture;
andfromLuccaheproceededtoRome。Heagainmadesomestayinthatcity，andhetherereceivedtheletterofthejuratsofBordeaux，notifyingtohimofficiallyhiselectiontotheMayoralty，andinvitinghimtoreturnasspeedilyaspossible。HeleftforFrance，accompaniedbyyoungD’Estissacandseveralothergentlemen，whoescortedhimaconsiderabledistance;butnonewentbacktoFrancewithhim，notevenhistravellingcompanion。HepassedbyPadua，Milan，MontCenis，andChambery;thencehewentontoLyons，andlostnotimeinrepairingtohischateau，afteranabsenceofseventeenmonthsandeightdays。
Wehavejustseenthat，duringhisabsenceinItaly，theauthoroftheEssayswaselectedmayorofBordeaux。"ThegentlemenofBordeaux，"sayshe，"electedmeMayoroftheirtownwhileIwasatadistancefromFrance，andfarfromthethoughtofsuchathing。Iexcusedmyself;buttheygavetounderstandthatIwaswronginsodoing，itbeingalsothecommandofthekingthatIshouldstand。"ThistheletterwhichHenryIII。wrotetohimontheoccasion:
MONSIEUR，DEMONTAIGNE，——InasmuchasIholdingreatesteemyourfidelityandzealousdevotiontomyservice，ithasbeenapleasuretometolearnthatyouhavebeenchosenmayorofmytownofBordeaux。Ihavehadtheagreeabledutyofconfirmingtheselection，andIdidsothemorewillingly，seeingthatitwasmadeduringyourdistantabsence;whereforeitismydesire，andIrequireandcommandyouexpresslythatyouproceedwithoutdelaytoenteronthedutiestowhichyouhavereceivedsolegitimateacall。Andsoyouwillactinamannerveryagreeabletome，whilethecontrarywilldispleasemegreatly。PrayingGod，M。deMontaigne，tohaveyouinhisholykeeping。
"WrittenatParis，the25thdayofNovember1581。
"HENRI。
"AMonsieurdeMONTAIGNE，KnightofmyOrder，GentlemaninOrdinaryofmyChamber，beingatpresentinRome。"
Montaigne，inhisnewemployment，themostimportantintheprovince，obeyedtheaxiom，thatamanmaynotrefuseaduty，thoughitabsorbhistimeandattention，andeveninvolvethesacrificeofhisblood。Placedbetweentwoextremeparties，everonthepointofgettingtoblows，heshowedhimselfinpracticewhatheisinhisbook，thefriendofamiddleandtemperatepolicy。Tolerantbycharacterandonprinciple，hebelonged，likeallthegreatmindsofthesixteenthcentury，tothatpoliticalsectwhichsoughttoimprove，withoutdestroying，institutions;
andwemaysayofhim，whathehimselfsaidofLaBoetie，"thathehadthatmaximindeliblyimpressedonhismind，toobeyandsubmithimselfreligiouslytothelawsunderwhichhewasborn。Affectionatelyattachedtothereposeofhiscountry，anenemytochangesandinnovations，hewouldhavepreferredtoemploywhatmeanshehadtowardstheirdiscouragementandsuppression，thaninpromotingtheirsuccess。"Suchwastheplatformofhisadministration。
Heappliedhimself，inanespecialmanner，tothemaintenanceofpeacebetweenthetworeligiousfactionswhichatthattimedividedthetownofBordeaux;andattheendofhistwofirstyearsofoffice，hisgratefulfellow—citizensconferredonhim（in1583）themayoraltyfortwoyearsmore，adistinctionwhichhadbeenenjoyed，ashetellsus，onlytwicebefore。Ontheexpirationofhisofficialcareer，afterfouryears’
duration，hecouldsayfairlyenoughofhimselfthatheleftbehindhimneitherhatrednorcauseofoffence。