Wehad，inthiscopse，averylongcontestaboutmyransom，whichtheysetsohigh，thatitwasmanifestthatIwasnotknowntothem。Theywere，moreover，inaverygreatdebateaboutmylife;and，intruth，therewerevariouscircumstancesthatclearlyshowedthedangerIwasin:
　　"Tuncanimisopus，AEnea，tuncpectorefirmo。"
　　[Then，AEneas，thereisneedofcourage，ofafirmheart。"
　　——AEneid，vi。261。]
　　Istillinsisteduponthetruce，toowillingtheyshouldhavethegainofwhattheyhadalreadytakenfromme，whichwasnottobedespised，withoutpromiseofanyotherransom。Aftertwoorthreehoursthatwehadbeeninthisplace，andthattheyhadmountedmeuponahorsethatwasnotlikelytorunfromthem，andcommittedmetotheguardoffifteenortwentyharquebusiers，anddispersedmyservantstoothers，havinggivenorderthattheyshouldcarryusawayprisonersseveralways，andI
　　beingalreadygotsometwoorthreemusket—shotsfromtheplace，"JamprecePollucis，jamCastoris，implorata，"
　　["ByaprayeraddressednowtoPollux，nowtoCastor。"
　　——Catullus，lxvi。65。]
　　beholdasuddenandunexpectedalteration;Isawthechiefreturntomewithgentlerlanguage，makingsearchamongstthetroopersformyscatteredproperty，andcausingasmuchascouldberecoveredtoberestoredtome，eventomymoney—box;butthebestpresenttheymadewasmyliberty，fortherestdidnotmuchconcernmeatthattime。Thetruecauseofsosuddenachange，andofthisreconsideration，withoutanyapparentimpulse，andofsomiraculousarepentance，insuchatime，inaplannedanddeliberateenterprise，andbecomejustbyusage（for，atthefirstdash，IplainlyconfessedtothemofwhatpartyIwas，andwhitherIwasgoing），truly，Idonotyetrightlyunderstand。Themostprominentamongstthem，whopulledoffhisvizorandtoldmehisname，repeatedlytoldmeatthetime，overandoveragain，thatIowedmydeliverancetomycountenance，andthelibertyandboldnessofmyspeech，thatrenderedmeunworthyofsuchamisadventure，andshouldsecuremefromitsrepetition。’TispossiblethattheDivinegoodnesswilledtomakeuseofthisvaininstrumentformypreservation;andit，moreover，defendedmethenextdayfromotherandworseambushes，ofwhichthesemyassailantshadgivenmewarning。Thelastofthesetwogentlemenisyetlivinghimselftotellthestory;thefirstwaskillednotlongago。
　　Ifmyfacedidnotanswerforme，ifmendidnotreadinmyeyesandinmyvoicetheinnocenceofintention，Ihadnotlivedsolongwithoutquarrelsandwithoutgivingoffence，seeingtheindiscreetwhatevercomesintomyhead，andtojudgesorashlyofthings。Thiswaymay，withreason，appearuncivil，andilladaptedtoourwayofconversation;butIhavenevermetwithanywhojudgeditoutrageousormalicious，orthattookoffenceatmyliberty，ifhehaditfrommyownmouth;wordsrepeatedhaveanotherkindofsoundandsense。NordoIhateanyperson;
　　andIamsoslowtooffend，thatIcannotdoit，evenupontheaccountofreasonitself;andwhenoccasionhasrequiredmetosentencecriminals，Ihaveratherchosentofailinpointofjusticethantodoit:
　　"Utmagispeccarinolim，quamsatisanimiadvindicandapeccatahabeam。"
　　["SothatIhadrathermenshouldnotcommitfaultsthanthatI
　　shouldhavesufficientcouragetocondemnthem。"———Livy，xxxix。21。]
　　Aristotle，’tissaid，wasreproachedforhavingbeentoomercifultoawickedman:"Iwasindeed，"saidhe，"mercifultotheman，butnottohiswickedness。"Ordinaryjudgmentsexasperatethemselvestopunishmentbythehorrorofthefact:butitcoolsmine;thehorrorofthefirstmurdermakesmefearasecond;andthedeformityofthefirstcrueltymakesmeabhorallimitationofit。’Thatmaybeappliedtome，whoambutaSquireofClubs，whichwassaidofCharillus，kingofSparta:"Hecannotbegood，seeingheisnotevileventothewicked。"Orthus——forPlutarchdeliversitboththeseways，ashedoesathousandotherthings，variouslyandcontradictorily——"Hemustneedsbegood，becauseheissoeventothewicked。"EvenasinlawfulactionsIdisliketoemploymyselfwhenforsuchasaredispleasedatit;so，tosaythetruth，inunlawfulthingsIdonotmakeconscienceenoughofemployingmyselfwhenitisforsuchasarewilling。
　　EndTheEssaysofMontaigne，V19
　　byMicheldeMontaigneTranslatedbyCharlesCottonEditedbyWilliamCarewHazilitt1877
　　CONTENTSOFVOLUME19。
　　XIII。OfExperience。
　　CHAPTERXIII
　　OFEXPERIENCE
　　Thereisnodesiremorenaturalthanthatofknowledge。Wetryallwaysthatcanleadustoit;wherereasoniswanting，wethereinemployexperience，"Pervariosususartemexperientiafecit，Exemplomonstranteviam，"
　　["Byvarioustrialsexperiencecreatedart，exampleshewingtheway。"——Manilius，i。59。]
　　whichisameansmuchmoreweakandcheap;buttruthissogreatathingthatweoughtnottodisdainanymediationthatwillguideustoit。
　　Reasonhassomanyformsthatweknownottowhichtotake;experiencehasnofewer;theconsequencewewoulddrawfromthecomparisonofeventsisunsure，byreasontheyarealwaysunlike。Thereisnoqualitysouniversalinthisimageofthingsasdiversityandvariety。BoththeGreeksandtheLatinsandwe，forthemostexpressexampleofsimilitude，employthatofeggs;andyettherehavebeenmen，particularlyoneatDelphos，whocoulddistinguishmarksofdifferenceamongsteggssowellthathenevermistookoneforanother，andhavingmanyhens，couldtellwhichhadlaidit。
　　Dissimilitudeintrudesitselfofitselfinourworks;noartcanarriveatperfectsimilitude:neitherPerrozetnoranyothercansocarefullypolishandblanchthebacksofhiscardsthatsomegamesterswillnotdistinguishthembyseeingthemonlyshuffledbyanother。Resemblancedoesnotsomuchmakeoneasdifferencemakesanother。Naturehasobligedherselftomakenothingotherthatwasnotunlike。
　　AndyetIamnotmuchpleasedwithhisopinion，whothoughtbythemultitudeoflawstocurbtheauthorityofjudgesincuttingoutforthemtheirseveralparcels;hewasnotawarethatthereisasmuchlibertyandlatitudeintheinterpretationoflawsasintheirform;andtheybutfoolthemselves，whothinktolessenandstopourdisputesbyrecallingustotheexpresswordsoftheBible:forasmuchasourminddoesnotfindthefieldlessspaciouswhereintocontrovertthesenseofanotherthantodeliverhisown;andasiftherewerelessanimosityandtartnessincommentarythanininvention。Weseehowmuchhewasmistaken，forwehavemorelawsinFrancethanalltherestoftheworldputtogether，andmorethanwouldbenecessaryforthegovernmentofalltheworldsofEpicurus:
　　"Utolimflagitiis，sicnunclegibus，laboramus。"
　　["Aswewereformerlybycrimes，sowearenowoverburdenedbylaws。"——Tacitus，Annal。，iii。25。]
　　andyetwehaveleftsomuchtotheopinionsanddecisionsofourjudgesthatthereneverwassofullalibertyorsofullalicense。Whathaveourlegislatorsgainedbycullingoutahundredthousandparticularcases，andbyapplyingtotheseahundredthousandlaws？Thisnumberholdsnomannerofproportionwiththeinfinitediversityofhumanactions;themultiplicationofourinventionswillneverarriveatthevarietyofexamples;addtotheseahundredtimesasmanymore，itwillstillnothappenthat，ofeventstocome，thereshallonebefoundthat，inthisvastnumberofmillionsofeventssochosenandrecorded，shallsotallywithanyotherone，andbesoexactlycoupledandmatchedwithitthattherewillnotremainsomecircumstanceanddiversitywhichwillrequireadiversejudgment。Thereislittlerelationbetwixtouractions，whichareinperpetualmutation，andfixedandimmutablelaws;
　　themosttobedesiredarethosethatarethemostrare，themostsimpleandgeneral;andIamevenofopinionthatwehadbetterhavenoneatallthantohavetheminsoprodigiousanumberaswehave。
　　Naturealwaysgivesthembetterandhappierthanthosewemakeourselves;
　　witnessthepictureoftheGoldenAgeofthePoetsandthestatewhereinweseenationslivewhohavenoother。Somethereare，whofortheironlyjudgetakethefirstpasser—bythattravelsalongtheirmountains，todeterminetheircause;andotherswho，ontheirmarketday，chooseoutsomeoneamongstthemuponthespottodecidetheircontroversies。Whatdangerwouldtherebethatthewisestamongstusshouldsodetermineours，accordingtooccurrencesandatsight，withoutobligationofexampleandconsequence？Foreveryfootitsownshoe。KingFerdinand，sendingcoloniestotheIndies，wiselyprovidedthattheyshouldnotcarryalongwiththemanystudentsofjurisprudence，forfearlestsuitsshouldgetfootinginthatnewworld，asbeingascienceinitsownnature，breederofaltercationanddivision;judgingwithPlato，"thatlawyersandphysiciansarebadinstitutionsofacountry。"
　　Whencedoesitcometopassthatourcommonlanguage，soeasyforallotheruses，becomesobscureandunintelligibleinwillsandcontracts？
　　andthathewhosoclearlyexpresseshimselfinwhateverelsehespeaksorwrites，cannotfindintheseanywayofdeclaringhimselfthatdoesnotfallintodoubtandcontradiction？ifitbenotthattheprincesofthatart，applyingthemselveswithapeculiarattentiontoculloutportentouswordsandtocontriveartificialsentences，havesoweighedeverysyllable，andsothoroughlysiftedeverysortofquirkingconnectionthattheyarenowconfoundedandentangledintheinfinityoffiguresandminutedivisions，andcannomorefallwithinanyruleorprescription，noranycertainintelligence:
　　"Confusumest，quidquidusqueinpulveremsectumest。"
　　["Whateverisbeatenintopowderisundistinguishable（confused）。"
　　——Seneca，Ep。，89。]
　　Asyouseechildrentryingtobringamassofquicksilvertoacertainnumberofparts，themoretheypressandworkitandendeavourtoreduceittotheirownwill，themoretheyirritatethelibertyofthisgenerousmetal;itevadestheirendeavourandsprinklesitselfintosomanyseparatebodiesasfrustrateallreckoning;soisithere，forinsubdividingthesesubtiltiesweteachmentoincreasetheirdoubts;theyputusintoawayofextendinganddiversifyingdifficulties，andlengthenanddispersethem。Insowingandretailingquestionstheymaketheworldfructifyandincreaseinuncertaintiesanddisputes，astheearthismadefertilebybeingcrumbledanddugdeep。
　　"Difficultatemfacitdoctrina。"
　　["Learning（Doctrine）begetsdifficulty。"
　　——Quintilian，Insat。Orat。，x。3。]
　　WedoubtedofUlpian，andarestillnowmoreperplexedwithBartolusandBaldus。Weshouldeffacethetraceofthisinnumerablediversityofopinions;notadornourselveswithit，andfillposteritywithcrotchets。
　　Iknownotwhattosaytoit;butexperiencemakesitmanifest，thatsomanyinterpretationsdissipatetruthandbreakit。Aristotlewrotetobeunderstood;ifhecouldnotdothis，muchlesswillanotherthatisnotsogoodatit;andathirdthanhe，whoexpressedhisownthoughts。Weopenthematter，andspillitinpouringout:ofonesubjectwemakeathousand，andinmultiplyingandsubdividingthem，fallagainintotheinfinityofatomsofEpicurus。Neverdidtwomenmakethesamejudgmentofthesamething;and’tisimpossibletofindtwoopinionsexactlyalike，notonlyinseveralmen，butinthesameman，atdiversehours。
　　Ioftenfindmatterofdoubtinthingsofwhichthecommentaryhasdisdainedtotakenotice;Iammostapttostumbleinanevencountry，likesomehorsesthatIhaveknown，thatmakemosttripsinthesmoothestway。
　　Whowillnotsaythatglossesaugmentdoubtsandignorance，sincethere’snobooktobefound，eitherhumanordivine，whichtheworldbusiesitselfabout，whereofthedifficultiesareclearedbyinterpretation。
　　Thehundredthcommentatorpassesitontothenext，stillmoreknottyandperplexedthanhefoundit。Whenwereweeveragreedamongstourselves:
　　"Thisbookhasenough;thereisnownomoretobesaidaboutit"？Thisismostapparentinthelaw;wegivetheauthorityoflawtoinfinitedoctors，infinitedecrees，andasmanyinterpretations;yetdowefindanyendoftheneedofinterpretating？isthere，forallthat，anyprogressoradvancementtowardspeace，ordowestandinneedofanyfeweradvocatesandjudgesthanwhenthisgreatmassoflawwasyetinitsfirstinfancy？Onthecontrary，wedarkenandburyintelligence;wecannolongerdiscoverit，butatthemercyofsomanyfencesandbarriers。Mendonotknowthenaturaldiseaseofthemind;itdoesnothingbutferretandinquire，andiseternallywheeling，juggling，andperplexingitselflikesilkworms，andthensuffocatesitselfinitswork;
　　"Musinpice。"——["Amouseinapitchbarrel。"]——Itthinksitdiscoversatagreatdistance，Iknownotwhatglimpsesoflightandimaginarytruth:butwhilstrunningtoit，somanydifficulties，hindrances，andnewinquisitionscrossit，thatitlosesitsway，andismadedrunkwiththemotion:notmuchunlikeAEsop’sdogs，thatseeingsomethinglikeadeadbodyfloatinginthesea，andnotbeingabletoapproachit，settoworktodrinkthewaterandlaythepassagedry，andsochokedthemselves。TowhichwhatoneCrates’saidofthewritingsofHeraclitusfallspatenough，"thattheyrequiredareaderwhocouldswimwell，"sothatthedepthandweightofhislearningmightnotoverwhelmandstiflehim。’Tisnothingbutparticularweaknessthatmakesuscontentwithwhatothersorourselveshavefoundoutinthischaseafterknowledge:
　　oneofbetterunderstandingwillnotrestsocontent;thereisalwaysroomforonetofollow，nay，evenforourselves;andanotherroad;thereisnoendofourinquisitions;ourendisintheotherworld。’Tisasigneitherthatthemindhasgrownshortsightedwhenitissatisfied，orthatithasgotweary。Nogenerousmindcanstopinitself;itwillstilltendfurtherandbeyonditspower;ithassalliesbeyonditseffects;ifitdonotadvanceandpressforward，andretire，andrushandwheelabout，’tisbuthalfalive;itspursuitsarewithoutboundormethod;itsalimentisadmiration，thechase，ambiguity，whichApollosufficientlydeclaredinalwaysspeakingtousinadouble，obscure，andobliquesense:notfeeding，butamusingandpuzzlingus。’Tisanirregularandperpetualmotion，withoutmodelandwithoutaim;itsinventionsheat，pursue，andinterproduceoneanother:
　　EstiennedelaBoetie;thustranslatedbyCotton:
　　"SoinarunningstreamonewaveweseeAfteranotherrollincessantly，Andastheyglide，eachdoessuccessivelyPursuetheother，eachtheotherflyBythisthat’severmorepushedon，andthisBythatcontinuallyprecededis:
　　Thewaterstilldoesintowaterswill，Stillthesamebrook，butdifferentwaterstill。"
　　Thereismoreadotointerpretinterpretationsthantointerpretthings，andmorebooksuponbooksthanuponanyothersubject;wedonothingbutcommentupononeanother。Everyplaceswarmswithcommentaries;ofauthorsthereisgreatscarcity。Isitnottheprincipalandmostreputedknowledgeofourlateragestounderstandthelearned？Isitnotthecommonandfinalendofallstudies？Ouropinionsaregraftedupononeanother;thefirstservesasastocktothesecond，thesecondtothethird，andsoforth;thusstepbystepweclimbtheladder;whenceitcomestopassthathewhoismountedhighesthasoftenmorehonourthanmerit，forheisgotupbutaninchupontheshouldersofthelast，butone。
　　Howoften，and，peradventure，howfoolishly，haveIextendedmybooktomakeitspeakofitself;foolishly，iffornootherreasonbutthis，thatitshouldremindmeofwhatIsayofotherswhodothesame:thatthefrequentamorousglancestheycastupontheirworkwitnessthattheirheartspantwithself—love，andthateventhedisdainfulseveritywherewiththeyscourgethemarebutthedandlingsandcaressingsofmaternallove;asAristotle，whosevaluingandundervaluinghimselfoftenspringfromthesameairofarrogance。Myownexcuseis，thatIoughtinthistohavemorelibertythanothers，forasmuchasIwritespecificallyofmyselfandofmywritings，asIdoofmyotheractions;thatmythemeturnsuponitself;butIknownotwhetherotherswillacceptthisexcuse。
　　IobservedinGermanythatLutherhasleftasmanydivisionsanddisputesaboutthedoubtofhisopinions，andmore，thanhehimselfraisedupontheHolyScriptures。Ourcontestisverbal:Iaskwhatnatureis，whatpleasure，circle，andsubstitutionare？thequestionisaboutwords，andisansweredaccordingly。Astoneisabody;butifamanshouldfurtherurge:"Andwhatisabody？"——"Substance";"Andwhatissubstance？"andsoon，hewoulddrivetherespondenttotheendofhisCalepin。
　　[Calepin（AmbrogiodaCalepio），afamouslexicographerofthefifteenthcentury。HisPolyglotDictionarybecamesofamous，thatCalepinbecameacommonappellationforalexicon]
　　Weexchangeonewordforanother，andoftenforonelessunderstood。
　　IbetterknowwhatmanisthanIknowwhatAnimalis，orMortal，orRational。Tosatisfyonedoubt，theygivemethree;’tistheHydra’shead。SocratesaskedMenon，"Whatvirtuewas。""Thereis，"saysMenon，"thevirtueofamanandofawoman，ofamagistrateandofaprivateperson，ofanoldmanandofachild。"Veryfine，"criedSocrates，"wewereinquestofonevirtue，andthouhastbroughtusawholeswarm。"Weputonequestion，andtheyreturnusawholehive。Asnoevent，noface，entirelyresemblesanother，sodotheynotentirelydiffer:aningeniousmixtureofnature。Ifourfaceswerenotalike，wecouldnotdistinguishmanfrombeast;iftheywerenotunlike，wecouldnotdistinguishonemanfromanother;allthingsholdbysomesimilitude;
　　everyexamplehalts，andtherelationwhichisdrawnfromexperienceisalwaysfaultyandimperfect。Comparisonsareever—coupledatoneendorother:sodothelawsserve，andarefittedtoeveryoneofouraffairs，bysomewrested，biassed，andforcedinterpretation。
　　Sincetheethiclaws，thatconcerntheparticulardutyofeveryoneinhimself，aresohardtobeframed，asweseetheyare，’tisnowonderifthosewhichgovernsomanyparticularsaremuchmoreso。Dobutconsidertheformofthisjusticethatgovernsus;’tisatruetestimonyofhumanweakness，sofullisitoferrorandcontradiction。Whatwefindtobefavourandseverityinjustice——andwefindsomuchofthemboth，thatI
　　knownotwhetherthemediumisasoftenmetwitharesicklyandunjustmembersoftheverybodyandessenceofjustice。Somecountrypeoplehavejustbroughtmenewsingreathaste，thattheypresentlyleftinaforestofmineamanwithahundredwoundsuponhim，whowasyetbreathing，andbeggedofthemwaterforpity’ssake，andhelptocarryhimtosomeplaceofrelief;theytellmetheydurstnotgonearhim，buthaverunaway，lesttheofficersofjusticeshouldcatchthemthere;andashappenstothosewhoarefoundnearamurderedperson，theyshouldbecalledinquestionaboutthisaccident，totheirutterruin，havingneithermoneynorfriendstodefendtheirinnocence。WhatcouldIhavesaidtothesepeople？’Tiscertainthatthisofficeofhumanitywouldhavebroughtthemintotrouble。
　　Howmanyinnocentpeoplehaveweknownthathavebeenpunished，andthiswithoutthejudge’sfault;andhowmanythathavenotarrivedatourknowledge？Thishappenedinmytime:certainmenwerecondemnedtodieforamurdercommitted;theirsentence，ifnotpronounced，atleastdeterminedandconcludedon。Thejudges，justinthenick，areinformedbytheofficersofaninferiorcourthardby，thattheyhavesomemenincustody，whohavedirectlyconfessedthemurder，andmadeanindubitablediscoveryofalltheparticularsofthefact。Yetitwasgravelydeliberatedwhetherornottheyoughttosuspendtheexecutionofthesentencealreadypasseduponthefirstaccused:theyconsideredthenoveltyoftheexamplejudicially，andtheconsequenceofreversingjudgments;thatthesentencewaspassed，andthejudgesdeprivedofrepentance;andintheresult，thesepoordevilsweresacrificedbytheformsofjustice。Philip，orsomeother，providedagainstalikeinconvenienceafterthismanner。Hehadcondemnedamaninagreatfinetowardsanotherbyanabsolutejudgment。Thetruthsometimeafterbeingdiscovered，hefoundthathehadpassedanunjustsentence。Ononesidewasthereasonofthecause;ontheotherside，thereasonofthejudicialforms:heinsomesortsatisfiedboth，leavingthesentenceinthestateitwas，andoutofhisownpurserecompensingthecondemnedparty。Buthehadtodowithareparableaffair;mymenwereirreparablyhanged。HowmanycondemnationshaveIseenmorecriminalthanthecrimesthemselves？
　　Allwhichmakesmeremembertheancientopinions，"That’tisofnecessityamanmustdowrongbyretailwhowilldorightingross;andinjusticeinlittlethings，whowouldcometodojusticeingreat:thathumanjusticeisformedafterthemodelofphysic，accordingtowhich，allthatisusefulisalsojustandhonest:andofwhatisheldbytheStoics，thatNatureherselfproceedscontrarytojusticeinmostofherworks:
　　andofwhatisreceivedbytheCyrenaics，thatthereisnothingjustofitself，butthatcustomsandlawsmakejustice:andwhattheTheodoriansheldthattheft，sacrilege，andallsortsofuncleanness，arejustinasage，ifheknowsthemtobeprofitabletohim。"Thereisnoremedy:I
　　aminthesamecasethatAlcibiadeswas，thatIwillnever，ifIcanhelpit，putmyselfintothehandsofamanwhomaydetermineastomyhead，wheremylifeandhonourshallmoredependupontheskillanddiligenceofmyattorneythanonmyowninnocence。Iwouldventuremyselfwithsuchjusticeaswouldtakenoticeofmygooddeeds，aswellasmyill;
　　whereIhadasmuchtohopeastofear:indemnityisnotsufficientpaytoamanwhodoesbetterthannottodoamiss。Ourjusticepresentstousbutonehand，andthatthelefthand，too;lethimbewhohemay，heshallbesuretocomeoffwithloss。
　　InChina，ofwhichkingdomthegovernmentandarts，withoutcommercewithorknowledgeofours，surpassourexamplesinseveralexcellentfeatures，andofwhichthehistoryteachesmehowmuchgreaterandmorevarioustheworldisthaneithertheancientsorwehavebeenabletopenetrate，theofficersdeputedbytheprincetovisitthestateofhisprovinces，astheypunishthosewhobehavethemselvesillintheircharge，sodotheyliberallyrewardthosewhohaveconductedthemselvesbetterthanthecommonsort，andbeyondthenecessityoftheirduty;thesetherepresentthemselves，notonlytobeapprovedbuttoget;notsimplytobepaid，buttohaveapresentmadetothem。
　　Nojudge，thankGod，haseveryetspokentomeinthequalityofajudge，uponanyaccountwhatever，whethermyownorthatofathirdparty，whethercriminalorcivil;nornoprisonhaseverreceivedme，noteventowalkthere。Imaginationrenderstheveryoutsideofajaildispleasingtome;Iamsoenamouredofliberty，thatshouldIbeinterdictedtheaccesstosomecorneroftheIndies，Ishouldlivealittlelessatmyease;andwhilstIcanfindearthorairopenelsewhere，IshallneverlurkinanyplacewhereImusthidemyself。
　　MyGod！howillshouldIenduretheconditionwhereinIseesomanypeople，nailedtoacornerofthekingdom，deprivedoftherighttoentertheprincipalcitiesandcourts，andthelibertyofthepublicroads，forhavingquarrelledwithourlaws。IfthoseunderwhichIliveshouldshakeafingeratmebywayofmenace，Iwouldimmediatelygoseekoutothers，letthembewheretheywould。Allmylittleprudenceinthecivilwarswhereinwearenowengagedisemployedthattheymaynothindermylibertyofgoingandcoming。
　　Now，thelawskeepuptheircredit，notforbeingjust，butbecausetheyarelaws;’tisthemysticfoundationoftheirauthority;theyhavenoother，anditwellanswerstheirpurpose。Theyareoftenmadebyfools，stilloftenerbymenwho，outofhatredtoequality，failinequity，butalwaysbymen，vainandirresoluteauthors。Thereisnothingsomuch，norsogrossly，norsoordinarilyfaulty，asthelaws。Whoeverobeysthembecausetheyarejust，doesnotjustlyobeythemasheought。OurFrenchlaws，bytheirirregularityanddeformity，lend，insomesort，ahelpinghandtothedisorderandcorruptionthatallmanifestintheirdispensationandexecution:thecommandissoperplexedandinconstant，thatitinsomesortexcusesalikedisobedienceanddefectintheinterpretation，theadministrationandtheobservationofit。Whatfruitthensoeverwemayextractfromexperience，thatwilllittleadvantageourinstitution，whichwedrawfromforeignexamples，ifwemakesolittleprofitofthatwehaveofourown，whichismorefamiliartous，and，doubtless，sufficienttoinstructusinthatwhereofwehaveneed。
　　Istudymyselfmorethananyothersubject;’tismymetaphysic，myphysic:
　　"Quisdeushancmunditemperetartedomum:
　　Quavenitexoriens，quadeficit:undecoactisCornibusinplenummenstrualunareditUndesalosuperantventi，quidflaminecaptetEurus，etinnubesundeperennisaqua;
　　Sitventuradiesmundiquaesubruatarces……"
　　["Whatgodmaygovernwithskillthisdwellingoftheworld？whencerisesthemonthlymoon，whitherwanesshe？howisitthatherhornsarecontractedandreopen？whencedowindsprevailonthemain？
　　whatdoestheeastwindcourtwithitsblasts？andwhencearethecloudsperpetuallysuppliedwithwater？isadaytocomewhichmayunderminetheworld？"——Propertius，iii。5，26。]
　　"Quaerite，quosagitatmundilabor。"
　　["Askwhomthecaresoftheworldtrouble"——Lucan，i。417。]
　　Inthisuniversality，Isuffermyselftobeignorantlyandnegligentlyledbythegenerallawoftheworld:IshallknowitwellenoughwhenI
　　feelit;mylearningcannotmakeitalteritscourse;itwillnotchangeitselfforme;’tisfollytohopeit，andagreaterfollytoconcernone’sselfaboutit，seeingitisnecessarilyalikepublicandcommon。
　　Thegoodnessandcapacityofthegovernoroughtabsolutelytodischargeusofallcareofthegovernment:philosophicalinquisitionsandcontemplationsservefornootherusebuttoincreaseourcuriosity。
　　Thephilosophers;withgreatreason，sendusbacktotherulesofnature;
　　buttheyhavenothingtodowithsosublimeaknowledge;theyfalsifythem，andpresentusherfacepaintedwithtoohighandtooadulterateacomplexion，whencespringsomanydifferentpicturesofsouniformasubject。Asshehasgivenusfeettowalkwith，sohasshegivenusprudencetoguideusinlife:notsoingenious，robust，andpompousaprudenceasthatoftheirinvention;butyetonethatiseasy，quiet，andsalutary，andthatverywellperformswhattheotherpromises，inhimwhohasthegoodlucktoknowhowtoemployitsincerelyandregularly，thatistosay，accordingtonature。Themostsimplytocommitone’sselftonatureistodoitmostwisely。Oh，whatasoft，easy，andwholesomepillowisignoranceandincuriosity，whereontoreposeawell—orderedhead！
　　Ihadratherunderstandmyselfwellinmyself，thaninCicero。OftheexperienceIhaveofmyself，Ifindenoughtomakemewise，ifIwerebutagoodscholar:whoeverwillcalltomindtheexcessofhispastanger，andtowhatadegreethatfevertransportedhim，willseethedeformityofthispassionbetterthaninAristotle，andconceiveamorejusthatredagainstit;whoeverwillremembertheillshehasundergone，thosethathavethreatenedhim，andthelightoccasionsthathaveremovedhimfromonestatetoanother，willbythatpreparehimselfforfuturechanges，andtheknowledgeofhiscondition。ThelifeofCaesarhasnogreaterexampleforusthanourown:thoughpopularandofcommand，’tisstillalifesubjecttoallhumanaccidents。Letusbutlistentoit;weapplytoourselvesallwhereofwehaveprincipalneed;whoevershallcalltomemoryhowmanyandmanytimeshehasbeenmistakeninhisownjudgment，ishenotagreatfoolifhedoesnoteveraftersuspectit？WhenIfindmyselfconvinced，bythereasonofanother，ofafalseopinion，Idonotsomuchlearnwhathehassaidtomethatisnewandtheparticularignorance——thatwouldbenogreatacquisition——as，ingeneral，Ilearnmyowndebilityandthetreacheryofmyunderstanding，whenceIextractthereformationofthewholemass。InallmyothererrorsIdothesame，andfindfromthisrulegreatutilitytolife;IregardnotthespeciesandindividualasastonethatIhavestumbledat;Ilearntosuspectmystepsthroughout，andamcarefultoplacethemright。Tolearnthatamanhassaidordoneafoolishthingisnothing:amanmustlearnthatheisnothingbutafool，amuchmoreample，andimportantinstruction。Thefalsestepsthatmymemoryhassooftenmade，eventhenwhenitwasmostsecureandconfidentofitself，arenotidlythrownaway;itvainlyswearsandassuresmeIshakemyears;thefirstoppositionthatismadetoitstestimonyputsmeintosuspense，andIdurstnotrelyuponitinanythingofmoment，norwarrantitinanotherperson’sconcerns:andwereitnotthatwhatIdoforwantofmemory，othersdomoreoftenforwantofgoodfaith，Ishouldalways，inmatteroffact，ratherchoosetotakethetruthfromanother’smouththanfrommyown。Ifeveryonewouldpryintotheeffectsandcircumstancesofthepassionsthatswayhim，asI
　　havedoneintothosewhichIammostsubjectto，hewouldseethemcoming，andwouldalittlebreaktheirimpetuosityandcareer;theydonotalwaysseizeusonasudden;thereisthreateninganddegrees"Fluctusutiprimocoepitcumalbescerevento，Paulatimsesetollitmare，etaltiusundasErigit，indeimoconsurgitadaetherafundo。"
　　["Aswiththefirstwindtheseabeginstofoam，andswells，thencehigherswells，andhigherraisesthewaves，tilltheoceanrisesfromitsdepthstothesky。"——AEneid，vii。528。]
　　Judgmentholdsinmeamagisterialseat;atleastitcarefullyendeavourstomakeitso:itleavesmyappetitestotaketheirowncourse，hatredandfriendship，nay，eventhatIbeartomyself，withoutchangeorcorruption;ifitcannotreformtheotherpartsaccordingtoitsownmodel，atleastitsuffersnotitselftobecorruptedbythem，butplaysitsgameapart。
　　Theadvicetoeveryone，"toknowthemselves，"shouldbeofimportanteffect，sincethatgodofwisdomandlight’causedittobewrittenonthefrontofhistemple，——[AtDelphi]——ascomprehendingallhehadtoadviseus。Platosaysalso，thatprudenceisnootherthingthantheexecutionofthisordinance;andSocratesminutelyverifiesitinXenophon。Thedifficultiesandobscurityarenotdiscernedinanysciencebutbythosewhoaregotintoit;foracertaindegreeofintelligenceisrequiredtobeabletoknowthatamanknowsnot，andwemustpushagainstadoortoknowwhetheritbeboltedagainstusorno:
　　whencethisPlatonicsubtletysprings，that"neithertheywhoknowaretoenquire，forasmuchastheyknow;northeywhodonotknow，forasmuchastoinquiretheymustknowwhattheyinquireof。Sointhis，"ofknowingaman’sself，"thateverymanisseensoresolvedandsatisfiedwithhimself，thateverymanthinkshimselfsufficientlyintelligent，signifiesthateveryoneknowsnothingaboutthematter;asSocratesgivesEuthydemustounderstand。I，whoprofessnothingelse，thereinfindsoinfiniteadepthandvariety，thatallthefruitIhavereapedfrommylearningservesonlytomakemesensiblehowmuchIhavetolearn。Tomyweakness，sooftenconfessed，IowethepropensionIhavetomodesty，totheobedienceofbeliefprescribedme，toaconstantcoldnessandmoderationofopinions，andahatredofthattroublesomeandwranglingarrogance，whollybelievingandtrustinginitself，thecapitalenemyofdisciplineandtruth。Dobuthearthemdomineer;thefirstfopperiestheyutter，’tisinthestylewherewithmenestablishreligionsandlaws:
　　"Nihilestturpius，quamcognitionietperceptionsassertionemapprobationemquepraecurrere。"
　　["Nothingisworsethanthatassertionanddecisionshouldprecedeknowledgeandperception。"——Cicero，Acad。，i。13。]
　　Aristarchussaidthatancientlytherewerescarcesevensagestobefoundintheworld，andinhistimescarcesomanyfools:havenotwemorereasonthanhetosaysointhisageofours？Affirmationandobstinacyareexpresssignsofwantofwit。Thisfellowmayhaveknockedhisnoseagainstthegroundahundredtimesinaday，yethewillbeathisErgo’sasresoluteandsturdyasbefore。Youwouldsayhehadhadsomenewsoulandvigourofunderstandinginfusedintohimsince，andthatithappenedtohim，astothatancientsonoftheearth，whotookfreshcourageandvigourbyhisfall;
　　"Cuicumtetigereparentem，jamdefectavigentrenovataroboremembra:"
　　["Whosebrokenlimbs，whentheytouchedhismotherearth，immediatelynewforceacquired。"——Lucan，iv。599。]
　　doesnotthisincorrigiblecoxcombthinkthatheassumesanewunderstandingbyundertakinganewdispute？’TisbymyownexperiencethatIaccusehumanignorance，whichis，inmyopinion，thesurestpartoftheworld’sschool。Suchaswillnotconcludeitinthemselves，bysovainanexampleasmine，ortheirown，letthembelieveitfromSocrates，themasterofmasters;forthephilosopherAntisthenessaidtohisdisciples，"LetusgoandhearSocrates;thereIwillbeapupilwithyou";
　　and，maintainingthisdoctrineoftheStoicsect，"thatvirtuewassufficienttomakealifecompletelyhappy，havingnoneedofanyotherthingwhatever";exceptoftheforceofSocrates，addedhe。
　　ThatlongattentionthatIemployinconsideringmyself，alsofitsriletojudgetolerablyenoughofothers;andtherearefewthingswhereofI
　　speakbetterandwithbetterexcuse。Ihappenveryoftenmoreexactlytoseeanddistinguishthequalitiesofmyfriendsthantheydothemselves:
　　Ihaveastonishedsomewiththepertinenceofmydescription，andhavegiventhemwarningofthemselves。Byhavingfrommyinfancybeenaccustomedtocontemplatemyownlifeinthoseofothers，Ihaveacquiredacomplexionstudiousinthatparticular;andwhenIamonceinterituponit，Iletfewthingsaboutme，whethercountenances，humours，ordiscourses，thatservetothatpurpose，escapeme。Istudyall，bothwhatIamtoavoidandwhatIamtofollow。Alsoinmyfriends，Idiscoverbytheirproductionstheirinwardinclinations;notbyarrangingthisinfinitevarietyofsodiverseandunconnectedactionsintocertainspeciesandchapters，anddistinctlydistributingmyparcelsanddivisionsunderknownheadsandclasses;
　　"Sednequequammultaespecies，necnominaquaesint，Estnumerus。"
　　["Butneithercanweenumeratehowmanykindstherewhataretheirnames。"——Virgil，Georg。，ii。103。]
　　Thewisespeakanddelivertheirfanciesmorespecifically，andpiecebypiece;I，whoseenofurtherintothingsthanasuseinformsme，presentminegenerallywithoutruleandexperimentally:Ipronouncemyopinionbydisjointedarticles，asathingthatcannotbespokenatonceandingross;relationandconformityarenottobefoundinsuchlowandcommonsoulsasours。Wisdomisasolidandentirebuilding，ofwhicheverypiecekeepsitsplaceandbearsitsmark:
　　"Solasapientiainsetotaconversaest。"
　　["Wisdomonlyiswhollywithinitself"——Cicero，DeFin。，iii。7。]
　　Ileaveittoartists，andIknownotwhetherornotheywillbeabletobringitabout，insoperplexed，minute，andfortuitousathing，tomarshalintodistinctbodiesthisinfinitediversityoffaces，tosettleourinconstancy，andsetitinorder。Idonotonlyfindithardtopieceouractionstooneanother，butImoreoverfindithardproperlytodesigneachbyitselfbyanyprincipalquality，soambiguousandvariformtheyarewithdiverselights。ThatwhichisremarkedforrareinPerseus，kingofMacedon，"thathismind，fixingitselftonoonecondition，wanderedinallsortsofliving，andrepresentedmannerssowildanderraticthatitwasneitherknowntohimselforanyotherwhatkindofmanhewas，"seemsalmosttofitalltheworld;and，especially，Ihaveseenanotherofhismake，towhomIthinkthisconclusionmightmoreproperlybeapplied;nomoderatesettledness，stillrunningheadlongfromoneextremetoanother，uponoccasionsnottobeguessedat;nolineofpathwithouttraverseandwonderfulcontrariety:noonequalitysimpleandunmixed;sothatthebestguessmencanonedaymakewillbe，thatheaffectedandstudiedtomakehimselfknownbybeingnottobeknown。A
　　manhadneedhavesoundearstohearhimselffranklycriticised;andastherearefewwhocanenduretohearitwithoutbeingnettled，thosewhohazardtheundertakingittousmanifestasingulareffectoffriendship;
　　for’tistolovesincerelyindeed，toventuretowoundandoffendus，forourowngood。Ithinkitharshtojudgeamanwhoseillqualitiesaremorethanhisgoodones:Platorequiresthreethingsinhimwhowillexaminethesoulofanother:knowledge，benevolence，boldness。
　　Iwassometimesasked，whatIshouldhavethoughtmyselffitfor，hadanyonedesignedtomakeuseofme，whileIwasofsuitableyears:
　　"Dummeliorviressanguisdabat，aemulanecdumTemporibusgeminiscanebatsparsasenectus:"
　　["Whilstbetterbloodgavemevigour，andbeforeenviousoldagewhitenedandthinnedmytemples。"——AEneid，V。415。]
　　"fornothing，"saidI;andIwillinglyexcusemyselffromknowinganythingwhichenslavesmetoothers。ButIhadtoldthetruthtomymaster，——[WasthisHenriVI。？D。W。]——andhadregulatedhismanners，ifhehadsopleased，notingross，byscholasticlessons，whichI
　　understandnot，andfromwhichIseenotruereformationspringinthosethatdo;butbyobservingthembyleisure，atallopportunities，andsimplyandnaturallyjudgingthemasaneye—witness，distinctlyonebyone;givinghimtounderstanduponwhattermshewasinthecommonopinion，inoppositiontohisflatterers。Thereisnoneofuswhowouldnotbeworsethankings，ifsocontinuallycorruptedastheyarewiththatsortofcanaille。How，ifAlexander，thatgreatkingandphilosopher，cannotdefendhimselffromthem！