Ilookupontheseasinthesameconditionwiththefirst:buttheobstinacyisnottheresoeasytobeovercome。Thiscontrarietyandvolubilityofopinionsosudden，soviolent，thattheyfeign，areakindofmiracletome:theypresentuswiththestateofanindigestibleagonyofmind。
Itseemedtomeafantasticimaginationinthosewho，theselateyearspast，werewonttoreproacheverymantheyknewtobeofanyextraordinaryparts，andmadeprofessionoftheCatholicreligion，thatitwasbutoutwardly;maintaining，moreover，todohimhonourforsooth，thatwhateverhemightpretendtothecontraryhecouldnotbutinhisheartbeoftheirreformedopinion。Anuntowarddisease，thatamanshouldbesorivetedtohisownbeliefastofancythatotherscannotbelieveotherwisethanashedoes;andyetworse，thattheyshouldentertainsoviciousanopinionofsuchgreatpartsastothinkanymansoqualified，shouldpreferanypresentadvantageoffortunetothepromisesofeternallifeandthemenacesofeternaldamnation。Theymaybelieveme:couldanythinghavetemptedmyyouth，theambitionofthedangeranddifficultiesinthelatecommotionshadnotbeentheleastmotives。
Itisnotwithoutverygoodreason，inmyopinion，thattheChurchinterdictsthepromiscuous，indiscreet，andirreverentuseoftheholyanddivinePsalms，withwhichtheHolyGhostinspiredKingDavid。WeoughtnottomixGodinouractions，butwiththehighestreverenceandcaution;thatpoesyistooholytobeputtonootherusethantoexercisethelungsandtodelightourears;itoughttocomefromtheconscience，andnotfromthetongue。Itisnotfitthataprenticeinhisshop，amongsthisvainandfrivolousthoughts，shouldbepermittedtopassawayhistimeanddiverthimselfwithsuchsacredthings。NeitherisitdecenttoseetheHolyBookoftheholymysteriesofourbelieftumbledupanddownahallorakitchentheywereformerlymysteries，butarenowbecomesportsandrecreations。’Tisabooktooseriousandtoovenerabletobecursorilyorslightlyturnedover:thereadingofthescriptureoughttobeatemperateandpremeditatedact，andtowhichmenshouldalwaysaddthisdevoutpreface，’sursumcorda’，preparingeventhebodytosohumbleandcomposedagestureandcountenanceasshallevidenceaparticularvenerationandattention。Neitherisitabookforeveryonetofist，butthestudyofselectmensetapartforthatpurpose，andwhomAlmightyGodhasbeenpleasedtocalltothatofficeandsacredfunction:thewickedandignorantgrowworsebyit。’Tis，notastorytotell，butahistorytorevere，fear，andadore。Arenottheythenpleasantmenwhothinktheyhaverenderedthisfitforthepeople’shandlingbytranslatingitintothevulgartongue？Doestheunderstandingofallthereincontainedonlystickatwords？ShallI
venturetosayfurther，thatbycomingsoneartounderstandalittle，theyaremuchwiderofthewholescopethanbefore。Apureandsimpleignoranceandwhollydependingupontheexpositionofqualifiedpersons，wasfarmorelearnedandsalutarythanthisvainandverbalknowledge，whichhasonlytemerityandpresumption。
AndIdofurtherbelievethatthelibertyeveryonehastakentodispersethesacredwritintosomanyidiomscarrieswithitagreatdealmoreofdangerthanutility。TheJews，Mohammedans，andalmostallotherpeoples，havereverentiallyespousedthelanguagewhereintheirmysterieswerefirstconceived，andhaveexpressly，andnotwithoutcolourofreason，forbiddenthealterationofthemintoanyother。AreweassuredthatinBiscayandinBrittanythereareenoughcompetentjudgesofthisaffairtoestablishthistranslationintotheirownlanguage？TheuniversalChurchhasnotamoredifficultandsolemnjudgmenttomake。
Inpreachingandspeakingtheinterpretationisvague，free，mutable，andofapiecebyitself;so’tisnotthesamething。
OneofourGreekhistoriansagejustlycensuresthehelivedin，becausethesecretsoftheChristianreligionweredispersedintothehandsofeverymechanic，toexpoundandargueupon，accordingtohisownfancy，andthatweoughttobemuchashamed，wewhobyGod’sespecialfavourenjoythepuremysteriesofpiety，tosufferthemtobeprofanedbytheignorantrabble;consideringthattheGentilesexpresslyforbadSocrates，Plato，andtheothersagestoinquireintoorsomuchasmentionthethingscommittedtothepriestsofDelphi;andhesays，moreover，thatthefactionsofprincesupontheologicalsubjectsarearmednotwithzealbutfury;thatzealspringsfromthedivinewisdomandjustice，andgovernsitselfwithprudenceandmoderation，butdegeneratesintohatredandenvy，producingtaresandnettlesinsteadofcornandwinewhenconductedbyhumanpassions。Anditwastrulysaidbyanother，who，advisingtheEmperorTheodosius，toldhimthatdisputesdidnotsomuchrocktheschismsoftheChurchasleep，asitrousedandanimatedheresies;that，therefore，allcontentionsanddialecticdisputationsweretobeavoided，andmenabsolutelytoacquiesceintheprescriptionsandformulasoffaithestablishedbytheancients。AndtheEmperorAndronicushavingoverheardsomegreatmenathighwordsinhispalacewithLapodiusaboutapointofoursofgreatimportance，gavethemsosevereacheckastothreatentocausethemtobethrownintotheriveriftheydidnotdesist。Theverywomenandchildrennowadaystakeuponthemtolecturetheoldestandmostexperiencedmenabouttheecclesiasticallaws;whereasthefirstofthoseofPlatoforbidsthemtoinquiresomuchasintothecivillaws，whichweretostandinsteadofdivineordinances;and，allowingtheoldmentoconferamongstthemselvesorwiththemagistrateaboutthosethings，headds，provideditbenotinthepresenceofyoungorprofanepersons。
Abishophasleftinwritingthatattheotherendoftheworldthereisanisle，bytheancientscalledDioscorides，abundantlyfertileinallsortsoftreesandfruits，andofanexceedinglyhealthfulair;theinhabitantsofwhichareChristians，havingchurchesandaltars，onlyadornedwithcrosseswithoutanyotherimages，greatobserversoffastsandfeasts，exactpayersoftheirtithestothepriests，andsochaste，thatnoneofthemispermittedtohavetodowithmorethanonewomaninhislife——[WhatOsoriussaysisthatthesepeopleonlyhadonewifeatatime。]——astotherest，socontentwiththeircondition，thatenvironedwiththeseatheyknownothingofnavigation，andsosimplethattheyunderstandnotonesyllableofthereligiontheyprofessandwhereintheyaresodevout:athingincredibletosuchasdonotknowthatthePagans，whoaresozealousidolaters，knownothingmoreoftheirgodsthantheirbarenamesandtheirstatues。Theancientbeginningof’Menalippus’，atragedyofEuripides，ranthus:
"OJupiter！forthatnamealoneOfwhatthouarttomeisknown。"
Ihavealsoknowninmytimesomemen’swritingsfoundfaultwithforbeingpurelyhumanandphilosophical，withoutanymixtureoftheology;
andyet，withsomeshowofreason，itmight，onthecontrary，besaidthatthedivinedoctrine，asqueenandregentoftherest，betterkeepsherstateapart，thatsheoughttobesovereignthroughout，notsubsidiaryandsuffragan，andthat，peradventure，grammatical，rhetorical，logicalexamplesmayelsewherebemoresuitablychosen，asalsothematerialforthestage，games，andpublicentertainments，thanfromsosacredamatter;thatdivinereasonsareconsideredwithgreatervenerationandattentionbythemselves，andintheirownproperstyle，thanwhenmixedwithandadaptedtohumandiscourse;thatitisafaultmuchmoreoftenobservedthatthedivineswritetoohumanly，thanthatthehumanistswritenottheologicallyenough。Philosophy，saysSt。
Chrysostom，haslongbeenbanishedtheholyschools，asanhandmaidaltogetheruselessandthoughtunworthytolook，somuchasinpassingbythedoor，intothesanctuaryoftheholytreasuresofthecelestialdoctrine;thatthehumanwayofspeakingisofamuchlowerformandoughtnottoadoptforherselfthedignityandmajestyofdivineeloquence。Letwhowill’verbisindisciplinatis’talkoffortune，destiny，accident，goodandevilhap，andothersuchlikephrases，accordingtohisownhumour;Iformypartproposefanciesmerelyhumanandmerelymyown，andthatsimplyashumanfancies，andseparatelyconsidered，notasdeterminedbyanydecreefromheaven，incapableofdoubtordispute;matterofopinion，notmatteroffaith;thingswhichI
discourseofaccordingtomyownnotions，notasIbelieve，accordingtoGod;afteralaical，notclerical，andyetalwaysafteraveryreligiousmanner，aschildrenpreparetheirexercises，nottoinstructbuttobeinstructed。
Andmightitnotbesaid，thatanedictenjoiningallpeoplebutsuchasarepublicprofessorsofdivinity，tobeveryreservedinwritingofreligion，wouldcarrywithitaverygoodcolourofutilityandjustice——
andtome，amongsttherestperadventure，toholdmyprating？IhavebeentoldthateventhosewhoarenotofourChurchneverthelessamongstthemselvesexpresslyforbidthenameofGodtobeusedincommondiscourse，norsomuchevenbywayofinterjection，exclamation，assertionofatruth，orcomparison;andIthinkthemintheright:uponwhatoccasionsoeverwecalluponGodtoaccompanyandassistus，itoughtalwaystobedonewiththegreatestreverenceanddevotion。
Thereis，asIremember，apassageinXenophonwherehetellsusthatweoughtsomuchthemoreseldomtocalluponGod，byhowmuchitishardtocomposeoursoulstosuchadegreeofcalmness，patience，anddevotionasitoughttobeinatsuchatime;otherwiseourprayersarenotonlyvainandfruitless，butvicious:"forgiveus，"wesay，"ourtrespasses，asweforgivethemthattrespassagainstus";whatdowemeanbythispetitionbutthatwepresenttoGodasoulfreefromallrancourandrevenge？AndyetwemakenothingofinvokingGod’sassistanceinourvices，andinvitingHimintoourunjustdesigns:
"Quae，nisiseductis，nequeascommitteredivis"
["Whichyoucanonlyimparttothegods，whenyouhavegainedthemover。"——Persius，ii。4。]
thecovetousmanpraysfortheconservationofhisvainandsuperfluousriches;theambitiousforvictoryandthegoodconductofhisfortune;
thethiefcallsHimtohisassistance，todeliverhimfromthedangersanddifficultiesthatobstructhiswickeddesigns，orreturnsHimthanksforthefacilityhehasmetwithincuttingaman’sthroat;atthedoorofthehousemenaregoingtostormorbreakintobyforceofapetard，theyfalltoprayersforsuccess，theirintentionsandhopesofcruelty，avarice，andlust。
"Hocigitur，quotoJovisauremimpelleretentas，DicagedumStaio:’prohJupiter！Obone，clamet，Jupiter！’AtsesenonclametJupiteripse。"
["Thistherefore，withwhichyouseektodrawtheearofJupiter，saytoStaius。’OJupiter！OgoodJupiter！’lethimcry。ThinkyouJupiterhimselfwouldnotcryoutuponit？"——Persius，ii。21。]
Marguerite，QueenofNavarre，——[IntheHeptameron。]——tellsofayoungprince，who，thoughshedoesnotnamehim，iseasilyenoughbyhisgreatqualitiestobeknown，whogoinguponanamorousassignationtoliewithanadvocate’swifeofParis，hiswaythitherbeingthroughachurch，heneverpassedthatholyplacegoingtoorreturningfromhispiousexercise，buthealwayskneeleddowntopray。Whereinhewouldemploythedivinefavour，hissoulbeingfullofsuchvirtuousmeditations，Ileaveotherstojudge，which，nevertheless，sheinstancesforatestimonyofsingulardevotion。Butthisisnottheonlyproofwehavethatwomenarenotveryfittotreatoftheologicalaffairs。
AtrueprayerandreligiousreconcilingofourselvestoAlmightyGodcannotenterintoanimpuresoul，subjectattheverytimetothedominionofSatan。HewhocallsGodtohisassistancewhilstinacourseofvice，doesasifacut—purseshouldcallamagistratetohelphim，orlikethosewhointroducethenameofGodtotheattestationofalie。
"TacitomalavotasusurroConcipimus。"
["Wewhisperourguiltyprayers。"———Lucan，v。104。]
TherearefewmenwhodurstpublishtotheworldtheprayerstheymaketoAlmightyGod:
"Haudcuivispromptumest，murmurque，humilesquesusurrosTolleredetemplis，etapertoviverevoto"
["’Tisnotconvenientforeveryonetobringtheprayershemuttersoutofthetemple，andtogivehiswishestothepublicear。
——"Persius，ii。6。]
[See:"LettersTotheEarth"byMarkTwaininthestoryofAbnerSchofield，CoalDealer，Buffalo，N。Y。:foradiscussionofthecontradictionsbetween’public’and’private’prayers。D。W。]
andthisisthereasonwhythePythagoreanswouldhavethemalwayspublicandheardbyeveryone，totheendtheymightnotpreferindecentorunjustpetitionsasthisman:
"Clarequumdixit，Apollo！
Labramovet，metuensaudiri:PulcraLaverna，Damihifallere，dajustumsanctumquevideri;
Noctempeccatis，etfraudibusobjicenubem。"
["WhenhehasclearlysaidApollo！hemoveshislips，fearfultobeheard;hemurmurs:OfairLaverna，grantmethetalenttodeceive;
grantmetoappearholyandjust;shroudmysinswithnight，andcastacloudovermyfrauds。"——Horace，Ep。，i。16，59。——（Lavernawasthegoddessofthieves。）
ThegodsseverelypunishedthewickedprayersofOEdipusingrantingthem:hehadprayedthathischildrenmightamongstthemselvesdeterminethesuccessiontohisthronebyarms，andwassomiserableastoseehimselftakenathisword。Wearenottopraythatallthingsmaygoaswewouldhavethem，butasmostconcurrentwithprudence。
Weseem，intruth，tomakeuseofourprayersasofakindofjargon，andasthosedowhoemployholywordsaboutsorceriesandmagicaloperations;
andasifwereckonedthebenefitwearetoreapfromthemasdependinguponthecontexture，sound，andjingleofwords，oruponthegravecomposingofthecountenance。Forhavingthesoulcontaminatedwithconcupiscence，nottouchedwithrepentance，orcomfortedbyanylatereconciliationwithGod，wegotopresentHimsuchwordsasthememorysuggeststothetongue，andhopefromthencetoobtaintheremissionofoursins。Thereisnothingsoeasy，sosweet，andsofavourable，asthedivinelaw:itcallsandinvitesustoher，guiltyandabominableasweare;extendsherarmsandreceivesusintoherbosom，foulandpollutedasweatpresentare，andareforthefuturetobe。Butthen，inreturn，wearetolookuponherwitharespectfuleye;wearetoreceivethispardonwithallgratitudearidsubmission，andforthatinstantatleast，whereinweaddressourselvestoher，tohavethesoulsensibleoftheillswehavecommitted，andatenmitywiththosepassionsthatseducedustooffendher;neitherthegodsnorgoodmen（saysPlato）willacceptthepresentofawickedman:
"Immunisaramsiterigitmanus，NonsumptuosablandiorhostiaMollivitaversosPenatesFarrepioetsalientemica。"
["Ifapurehandhastouchedthealtar，thepiousofferingofasmallcakeandafewgrainsofsaltwillappeasetheoffendedgodsmoreeffectuallythancostlysacrifices。"
——Horace，Od。，iii。23，17。]
CHAPTERLVII
OFAGE
Icannotallowofthewayinwhichwesettleforourselvesthedurationofourlife。Iseethatthesagescontractitverymuchincomparisonofthecommonopinion:"what，"saidtheyoungerCatotothosewhowouldstayhishandfromkillinghimself，"amInowofanagetobereproachedthatIgooutoftheworldtoosoon？"Andyethewasbuteight—and—fortyyearsold。Hethoughtthattobeamatureandadvancedage，consideringhowfewarriveuntoit。Andsuchas，soothingtheirthoughtswithIknownotwhatcourseofnature，promisetothemselvessomeyearsbeyondit，couldtheybeprivilegedfromtheinfinitenumberofaccidentstowhichwearebyanaturalsubjectionexposed，theymighthavesomereasonsotodo。Whatamidleconceitisittoexpecttodieofadecayofstrength，whichistheeffectofextremestage，andtoproposetoourselvesnoshorterleaseoflifethanthat，consideringitisakindofdeathofallothersthemostrareandveryseldomseen？Wecallthatonlyanaturaldeath;asifitwerecontrarytonaturetoseeamanbreakhisneckwithafall，bedrownedinshipwreck，besnatchedawaywithapleurisyortheplague，andasifourordinaryconditiondidnotexposeustotheseinconveniences。Letusnolongerflatterourselveswiththesefinewords;weoughtrather，peradventure，tocallthatnaturalwhichisgeneral，common，anduniversal。
Todieofoldageisadeathrare，extraordinary，andsingular，and，therefore，somuchlessnaturalthantheothers;’tisthelastandextremestsortofdying:andthemoreremote，thelesstobehopedfor。
Itis，indeed，thebournbeyondwhichwearenottopass，andwhichthelawofnaturehassetasalimit，nottobeexceeded;butitis，withal，aprivilegesheisrarelyseentogiveustolasttillthen。’Tisaleasesheonlysignsbyparticularfavour，anditmaybetooneonlyinthespaceoftwoorthreeages，andthenwithapasstoboot，tocarryhimthroughallthetraversesanddifficultiesshehasstrewedinthewayofthislongcareer。Andthereforemyopinionis，thatwhenoncefortyyearsweshouldconsideritasanagetowhichveryfewarrive。Forseeingthatmendonotusuallyproceedsofar，itisasignthatweareprettywelladvanced;andsincewehaveexceededtheordinarybounds，whichisthejustmeasureoflife，weoughtnottoexpecttogomuchfurther;havingescapedsomanyprecipicesofdeath，whereintowehaveseensomanyothermenfall，weshouldacknowledgethatsoextraordinaryafortuneasthatwhichhashithertorescuedusfromthoseeminentperils，andkeptusalivebeyondtheordinarytermofliving，isnotliketocontinuelong。
’Tisafaultinourverylawstomaintainthiserror:thesesaythatamanisnotcapableofmanaginghisownestatetillhebefive—and—twentyyearsold，whereashewillhavemuchadotomanagehislifesolong。
AugustuscutofffiveyearsfromtheancientRomanstandard，anddeclaredthatthirtyyearsoldwassufficientforajudge。ServiusTulliussupersededtheknightsofaboveseven—and—fortyyearsofagefromthefatiguesofwar;Augustusdismissedthematforty—five;thoughmethinksitseemsalittleunreasonablethatmenshouldbesenttothefiresidetillfive—and—fiftyorsixtyyearsofage。Ishouldbeofopinionthatourvocationandemploymentshouldbeasfaraspossibleextendedforthepublicgood:Ifindthefaultontheotherside，thattheydonotemployusearlyenough。Thisemperorwasarbiterofthewholeworldatnineteen，andyetwouldhaveamantobethirtybeforehecouldbefittodetermineadisputeaboutagutter。
Formypart，Ibelieveoursoulsareadultattwentyasmuchastheyareeverliketobe，andascapablethenasever。Asoulthathasnotbythattimegivenevidentearnestofitsforceandvirtuewillneveraftercometoproof。Thenaturalqualitiesandvirtuesproducewhattheyhaveofvigorousandfine，withinthattermornever，"Sil’espinerionpicquequandnai，Apenequepicquejamai，"
["Ifthethorndoesnotprickatitsbirth，’twillhardlyeverprickatall。"
astheysayinDauphin。
OfallthegreathumanactionsIeverheardorreadof，ofwhatsortsoever，Ihaveobserved，bothinformeragesandourown，morewereperformedbeforetheageofthirtythanafter;andthisofttimesintheverylivesofthesamemen。MayInotconfidentlyinstanceinthoseofHannibalandhisgreatrivalScipio？Thebetterhalfoftheirlivestheylivedupontheglorytheyhadacquiredintheiryouth;greatmenafter，’tistrue，incomparisonofothers;butbynomeansincomparisonofthemselves。Astomyownparticular，Idocertainlybelievethatsincethatage，bothmyunderstandingandmyconstitutionhaveratherdecayedthanimproved，andretiredratherthanadvanced。’Tispossible，thatwiththosewhomakethebestuseoftheirtime，knowledgeandexperiencemayincreasewiththeiryears;butvivacity，promptitude，steadiness，andotherpiecesofus，ofmuchgreaterimportance，andmuchmoreessentiallyourown，languishanddecay:
"UbijamvalidisquassatumestviribusaeviCorpus，etobtusiscecideruntviribusartus，Claudicatingenium，deliratlinguaque，mensque。"
["Whenoncethebodyisshakenbytheviolenceoftime，bloodandvigourebbingaway，thejudgmenthalts，thetongueandtheminddote。"——Lucretius，iii。452。]
Sometimesthebodyfirstsubmitstoage，sometimesthemind;andIhaveseenenoughwhohavegotaweaknessintheirbrainsbeforeeitherintheirlegsorstomach;andbyhowmuchthemoreitisadiseaseofnogreatpaintothesufferer，andofobscuresymptoms，somuchgreateristhedanger。ForthisreasonitisthatIcomplainofourlaws，notthattheykeepustoolongtoourwork，butthattheysetustoworktoolate。
Forthefrailtyoflifeconsidered，andtohowmanyordinaryandnaturalrocksitisexposed，oneoughtnottogiveupsolargeaportionofittochildhood，idleness，andapprenticeship。
[WhichCottonthusrenders:"Birththoughnoble，oughtnottosharesolargeavacancy，andsotediousacourseofeducation。"Florio（1613）makesthepassagereadas—follows:"Methinksthat，consideringtheweaknessofourlife，andseeingtheinfinitenumberofordinaryrocksandnaturaldangersitissubjectunto，weshouldnot，sosoonaswecomeintotheworld，allotsolargeasharethereofuntounprofitablewantonnessinyouth，ill—breedingidleness，andslow—learningprentisage。"
EndTheEssaysofMontaigne，V9
byMicheldeMontaigneTranslatedbyCharlesCottonEditedbyWilliamCarewHazilitt1877
CONTENTSOFVOLUME9。
I。Oftheinconstancyofouractions。
II。Ofdrunkenness。
III。AcustomoftheIsleofCea。
IV。To—morrow’sanewday。
V。Ofconscience。
VI。Usemakesperfect。
ESSAYSOFMONTAIGNE
BOOKTHESECOND
CHAPTERI
OFTHEINCONSTANCYOFOURACTIONS
Suchasmakeittheirbusinesstooverseehumanactions，donotfindthemselvesinanythingsomuchperplexedastoreconcilethemandbringthemintotheworld’seyewiththesamelustreandreputation;fortheycommonlysostrangelycontradictoneanotherthatitseemsimpossibletheyshouldproceedfromoneandthesameperson。WefindtheyoungerMariusonewhileasonofMarsandanotherasonofVenus。PopeBonifaceVIII。entered，itissaid，intohisPapacylikeafox，behavedhimselfinitlikealion，anddiedlikeadog;andwhocouldbelieveittobethesameNero，theperfectimageofallcruelty，who，havingthesentenceofacondemnedmanbroughttohimtosign，aswasthecustom，criedout，"OthatIhadneverbeentaughttowrite！"somuchitwenttohishearttocondemnamantodeath。Allstoryisfullofsuchexamples，andeverymanisabletoproducesomanytohimself，oroutofhisownpracticeorobservation，thatIsometimeswondertoseemenofunderstandinggivethemselvesthetroubleofsortingthesepieces，consideringthatirresolutionappearstometobethemostcommonandmanifestviceofournaturewitnessthefamousverseoftheplayerPublius:
"Malumconsiliumest，quodmutarinonpotest。"
["’Tisevilcounselthatwilladmitnochange。"
——Pub。Mim。，exAul。Gell。，xvii。14。]
Thereseemssomereasoninformingajudgmentofamanfromthemostusualmethodsofhislife;but，consideringthenaturalinstabilityofourmannersandopinions，Ihaveoftenthoughteventhebestauthorsalittleoutinsoobstinatelyendeavouringtomakeofusanyconstantandsolidcontexture;theychooseageneralairofaman，andaccordingtothatinterpretallhisactions，ofwhich，iftheycannotbendsometoauniformitywiththerest，theyarepresentlyimputedtodissimulation。
Augustushasescapedthem，fortherewasinhimsoapparent，sudden，andcontinualvarietyofactionsallthewholecourseofhislife，thathehasslippedawayclearandundecidedfromthemostdaringcritics。Icanmorehardlybelieveaman’sconstancythananyothervirtue，andbelievenothingsoonerthanthecontrary。Hethatwouldjudgeofamanindetailanddistinctly，bitbybit，wouldoftenerbeabletospeakthetruth。Itisahardmatter，fromallantiquity，topickoutadozenmenwhohaveformedtheirlivestoonecertainandconstantcourse，whichistheprincipaldesignofwisdom;fortocompriseitallinoneword，saysoneoftheancients，andtocontractalltherulesofhumanlifeintoone，"itistowill，andnottowill，alwaysoneandthesamething:Iwillnotvouchsafe，"sayshe，"toadd，providedthewillbejust，forifitbenotjust，itisimpossibleitshouldbealwaysone。"Ihaveindeedformerlylearnedthatviceisnothingbutirregularity，andwantofmeasure，andtherefore’tisimpossibletofixconstancytoit。’Tisasayingof。Demosthenes，"thatthebeginningohallvirtueisconsultationanddeliberation;theendandperfection，constancy。"Ifwewouldresolveonanycertaincoursebyreason，weshouldpitchuponthebest，butnobodyhasthoughton’t:
"Quodpetiit，spernit;repetit，quodnuperomisit;
AEstuat，etvitaedisconvenitordinetoto。"
["Thatwhichhesoughthedespises;whathelatelylost，heseeksagain。Hefluctuates，andisinconsistentinthewholeorderoflife。！——Horace，Ep。，i。I，98。]
Ourordinarypracticeistofollowtheinclinationsofourappetite，beittotheleftorright，upwardsordownwards，accordingaswearewaftedbythebreathofoccasion。Wenevermeditatewhatwewouldhavetilltheinstantwehaveamindtohaveit;andchangelikethatlittlecreaturewhichreceivesitscolourfromwhatitislaidupon。Whatwebutjustnowproposedtoourselvesweimmediatelyalter，andpresentlyreturnagaintoit;’tisnothingbutshiftingandinconsistency:
"Ducimur，utnervisalienismobilelignum。"
["Weareturnedaboutlikethetopwiththethongofothers。"
——Idem，Sat。，ii。7，82。]
Wedonotgo，wearedriven;likethingsthatfloat，nowleisurely，thenwithviolence，accordingtothegentlenessorrapidityofthecurrent:
"Nonnevidemus，Quidsibiquisquevelit，nescire，etquaereresemperCommutarelocum，quasionusdeponerepossit？"
["Dowenotseethem，uncertainwhattheywant，andalwaysaskingforsomethingnew，asiftheycouldgetridoftheburthen。"
——Lucretius，iii。1070。
Everydayanewwhimsy，andourhumourskeepmotionwiththetime。
"Talessunthominummentes，qualipateripseJuppiterauctificaslustravitlumineterras。"
["Sucharethemindsofmen，thattheychangeasthelightwithwhichfatherJupiterhimselfhasilluminedtheincreasingearth。"
——Cicero，Frag。Poet，lib。x。]
Wefluctuatebetwixtvariousinclinations;wewillnothingfreely，nothingabsolutely，nothingconstantly。Inanyonewhohadprescribedandestablisheddeterminatelawsandrulesinhisheadforhisownconduct，weshouldperceiveanequalityofmanners，anorderandaninfalliblerelationofonethingoractiontoanother，shinethroughhiswholelife;EmpedoclesobservedthisdiscrepancyintheAgrigentines，thattheygavethemselvesuptodelights，asifeverydaywastheirlast，andbuiltasiftheyhadbeentoliveforever。Thejudgmentwouldnotbehardtomake，asisveryevidentintheyoungerCato;hewhothereinhasfoundonestep，itwillleadhimtoalltherest;’tisaharmonyofveryaccordingsounds，thatcannotjar。Butwithus’tisquitecontrary;everyparticularactionrequiresaparticularjudgment。Thesurestwaytosteer，inmyopinion，wouldbetotakeourmeasuresfromthenearestalliedcircumstances，withoutengaginginalongerinquisition，orwithoutconcludinganyotherconsequence。Iwastold，duringthecivildisordersofourpoorkingdom，thatamaid，hardbytheplacewhereIthenwas，hadthrownherselfoutofawindowtoavoidbeingforcedbyacommonsoldierwhowasquarteredinthehouse;shewasnotkilledbythefall，andtherefore，repeatingherattemptwouldhavecutherownthroat，hadshenotbeenprevented;buthaving，nevertheless，woundedherselftosomeshowofdanger，shevoluntarilyconfessedthatthesoldierhadnotasyetimportunedherotherwise;thanbycourtship，earnestsolicitation，andpresents;butthatshewasafraidthatintheendhewouldhaveproceededtoviolence，allwhichshedeliveredwithsuchacountenanceandaccent，andwithalembruedinherownblood，thehighesttestimonyofhervirtue，thatsheappearedanotherLucretia;andyetIhavesincebeenverywellassuredthatbothbeforeandaftershewasnotsodifficultapiece。And，accordingtomyhost’staleinAriosto，beashandsomeamanandasworthyagentlemanasyouwill，donotconcludetoomuchuponyourmistress’sinviolablechastityforhavingbeenrepulsed;youdonotknowbutshemayhaveabetterstomachtoyourmuleteer。
Antigonus，havingtakenoneofhissoldiersintoagreatdegreeoffavourandesteemforhisvalour，gavehisphysiciansstrictchargetocurehimofalongandinwarddiseaseunderwhichhehadagreatwhilelanguished，andobservingthat，afterhiscure，hewentmuchmorecoldlytoworkthanbefore，heaskedhimwhathadsoalteredandcowedhim:"Yourself，sir，"
repliedtheother，"byhavingeasedmeofthepainsthatmademewearyofmylife。"Lucullus’ssoldierhavingbeenrifledbytheenemy，performedupontheminrevengeabraveexploit，bywhichhavingmadehimselfagainer，Lucullus，whohadconceivedagoodopinionofhimfromthataction，wentabouttoengagehiminsomeenterpriseofverygreatdanger，withalltheplausiblepersuasionsandpromiseshecouldthinkof;
"Verbis，quaetimidoquoquepossentadderementem"
["Wordswhichmightaddcouragetoanytimidman。"
——Horace，Ep。，ii。2，1，2。]
"Prayemploy，"answeredhe，"somemiserableplunderedsoldierinthataffair":
"Quantumvisrusticus，ibit，Ibiteo，quovis，quizonamperdidit，inquit;"
["Somepoorfellow，whohaslosthispurse，willgowhitheryouwish，saidhe。"——Horace，Ep。，ii。2，39。]
andflatlyrefusedtogo。WhenwereadthatMahomethavingfuriouslyratedChasan，BassaoftheJanissaries，becausehehadseentheHungariansbreakintohissquadrons，andhimselfbehaveveryillinthebusiness，andthatChasan，insteadofanyotheranswer，rushedfuriouslyalone，scimitarinhand，intothefirstbodyoftheenemy，wherehewaspresentlycuttopieces，wearenottolookuponthataction，peradventure，somuchasvindicationasaturnofmind，notsomuchnaturalvalourasasuddendespite。Themanyousawyesterdaysoadventurousandbrave，youmustnotthinkitstrangetoseehimasgreatapoltroonthenext:anger，necessity，company，wine，orthesoundofthetrumpethadrousedhisspirits;thisisnovalourformedandestablishedbyreason，butaccidentallycreatedbysuchcircumstances，andthereforeitisnowonderifbycontrarycircumstancesitappearquiteanotherthing。
Thesesupplevariationsandcontradictionssomanifestinus，havegivenoccasiontosometobelievethatmanhastwosouls;othertwodistinctpowersthatalwaysaccompanyandinclineus，theonetowardsgoodandtheothertowardsill，accordingtotheirownnatureandpropension;soabruptavarietynotbeingimaginabletoflowfromoneandthesamesource。
Formypart，thepuffofeveryaccidentnotonlycarriesmealongwithitaccordingtoitsownproclivity，butmoreoverIdiscomposeandtroublemyselfbytheinstabilityofmyownposture;andwhoeverwilllooknarrowlyintohisownbosom，willhardlyfindhimselftwiceinthesamecondition。Igivetomysoulsometimesonefaceandsometimesanother，accordingtothesideIturnherto。IfIspeakvariouslyofmyself，itisbecauseIconsidermyselfvariously;allthecontrarietiesaretheretobefoundinonecorneroranother;afteronefashionoranother:
bashful，insolent;chaste，lustful;prating，silent;laborious，delicate;
ingenious，heavy;melancholic，pleasant;lying，true;knowing，ignorant;
liberal，covetous，andprodigal:Ifindallthisinmyself，moreorless，accordingasIturnmyselfabout;andwhoeverwillsifthimselftothebottom，willfindinhimself，andeveninhisownjudgment，thisvolubilityanddiscordance。Ihavenothingtosayofmyselfentirely，simply，andsolidlywithoutmixtureandconfusion。’Distinguo’isthemostuniversalmemberofmylogic。ThoughIalwaysintendtospeakwellofgoodthings，andrathertointerpretsuchthingsasfalloutinthebestsensethanotherwise，yetsuchisthestrangenessofourcondition，thatweareoftenpushedontodowellevenbyviceitself，ifwell—doingwerenotjudgedbytheintentiononly。Onegallantaction，therefore，oughtnottoconcludeamanvaliant;ifamanwerebraveindeed，hewouldbealwaysso，anduponalloccasions。Ifitwereahabitofvalourandnotasally，itwouldrenderamanequallyresoluteinallaccidents;thesamealoneasincompany;thesameinlistsasinabattle:for，letthemsaywhattheywill，thereisnotonevalourforthepavementandanotherforthefield;hewouldbearasicknessinhisbedasbravelyasawoundinthefield，andnomorefeardeathinhisownhousethanatanassault。
Weshouldnotthenseethesamemanchargeintoabreachwithabraveassurance，andafterwardstormenthimselflikeawomanforthelossofatrialatlaworthedeathofachild;when，beinganinfamouscoward，heisfirminthenecessitiesofpoverty;whenheshrinksatthesightofabarber’srazor，andrushesfearlessupontheswordsoftheenemy，theactioniscommendable，nottheman。
ManyoftheGreeks，saysCicero，——[Cicero，Tusc。Quaes。，ii。27。]——
cannotendurethesightofanenemy，andyetarecourageousinsickness;
theCimbriansandCeltiberiansquitecontrary;
"Nihilenimpotestesseaequabile，quodnonacertarationeproficiscatur。"
["Nothingcanberegularthatdoesnotproceedfromafixedgroundofreason。"——Idem，ibid。，c。26。]
NovalourcanbemoreextremeinitskindthanthatofAlexander:butitisofbutonekind，norfullenoughthroughout，noruniversal。
Incomparableasitis，ithasyetsomeblemishes;ofwhichhisbeingsooftenathiswits’enduponeverylightsuspicionofhiscaptainsconspiringagainsthislife，andthecarryinghimselfinthatinquisitionwithsomuchvehemenceandindiscreetinjustice，andwithafearthatsubvertedhisnaturalreason，isonepregnantinstance。Thesuperstition，also，withwhichhewassomuchtainted，carriesalongwithitsomeimageofpusillanimity;andtheexcessofhispenitenceforthemurderofClytusisalsoatestimonyoftheunevennessofhiscourage。
Allweperformisnootherthanacento，asamanmaysay，ofseveralpieces，andwewouldacquirehonourbyafalsetitle。Virtuecannotbefollowedbutforherself，andifonesometimesborrowshermasktosomeotherpurpose，shepresentlypullsitawayagain。’Tisavividandstrongtincturewhich，whenthesoulhasoncethoroughlyimbibedit，willnotoutbutwiththepiece。And，therefore，tomakearightjudgmentofaman，wearelongandveryobservinglytofollowhistrace:ifconstancydoesnottherestandfirmuponherownproperbase，"Cuivivendiviaconsiderataatqueprovisaest，"
["Ifthewayofhislifeisthoroughlyconsideredandtracedout。"
——Cicero，Paradox，v。1。]
ifthevarietyofoccurrencesmakeshimalterhispace（hispath，Imean，forthepacemaybefasterorslower）lethimgo;suchanonerunsbeforethewind，"Avauledent，"asthemottoofourTalebothasit。
’Tisnowonder，saysoneoftheancients，thatchancehassogreatadominionoverus，sinceitisbychancewelive。Itisnotpossibleforanyonewhohasnotdesignedhislifeforsomecertainend，itisimpossibleforanyonetoarrangethepieces，whohasnotthewholeformalreadycontrivedinhisimagination。Ofwhatusearecolourstohimthatknowsnotwhatheistopaint？Noonelaysdownacertaindesignforhislife，andweonlydeliberatethereofbypieces。Thearcheroughtfirsttoknowatwhatheistoaim，andthenaccommodatehisarm，bow，string，shaft，andmotiontoit;ourcounselsdeviateandwander，becausenotlevelledtoanydeterminateend。Nowindserveshimwhoaddresseshisvoyagetonocertain，port。IcannotacquiesceinthejudgmentgivenbyoneinthebehalfofSophocles，whoconcludedhimcapableofthemanagementofdomesticaffairs，againsttheaccusationofhisson，fromhavingreadoneofhistragedies。