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disguise： he who would write roundly of the true state of the quarrel；
would write rashly and wrongly。 The most just party is at best but a
member of a decayed and worm…eaten body； but of such a body； the member
that is least affected calls itself sound； and with good reason；
forasmuch as our qualities have no title but in comparison； civil
innocence is measured according to times and places。 Imagine this in
Xenophon； related as a fine commendation of Agesilaus： that； being
entreated by a neighbouring prince with whom he had formerly had war； to
permit him to pass through his country； he granted his request； giving
him free passage through Peloponnesus； and not only did not imprison or
poison him； being at his mercy； but courteously received him according to
the obligation of his promise； without doing him the least injury or
offence。 To such ideas as theirs this were an act of no especial note；
elsewhere and in another age； the frankness and unanimity of such an
action would be thought wonderful； our monkeyish capets
＇Capets； so called from their short capes； were the students of
Montaigne College at Paris； and were held in great contempt。＇
would have laughed at it； so little does the Spartan innocence resemble
that of France。 We are not without virtuous men； but 'tis according to
our notions of virtue。 Whoever has his manners established in regularity
above the standard of the age he lives in； let him either wrest or blunt
his rules； or； which I would rather advise him to； let him retire； and
not meddle with us at all。 What will he get by it？
〃Egregium sanctumque virum si cerno； bimembri
Hoc monstrum puero； et miranti jam sub aratro
Piscibus inventis； et foetae comparo mulae。〃
＇〃If I see an exemplary and good man； I liken it to a two…headed
boy； or a fish turned up by the plough； or a teeming mule。〃
Juvenal； xiii。 64。＇
One may regret better times； but cannot fly from the present； we may wish
for other magistrates； but we must； notwithstanding； obey those we have；
and； peradventure； 'tis more laudable to obey the bad than the good。 So
long as the image of the ancient and received laws of this monarchy shall
shine in any corner of the kingdom； there will I be。 If they
unfortunately happen to thwart and contradict one another； so as to
produce two parts； of doubtful and difficult choice； I will willingly
choose to withdraw and escape the tempest； in the meantime nature or the
hazards of war may lend me a helping hand。 Betwixt Caesar and Pompey；
I should frankly have declared myself； but； as amongst the three robbers
who came after； ＇Octavius； Mark Antony； and Lepidus。＇ a man must have
been necessitated either to hide himself； or have gone along with the
current of the time； which I think one may fairly do when reason no
longer guides：
〃Quo diversus abis？〃
＇〃Whither dost thou run wandering？〃AEneid； v。 166。＇
This medley is a little from my theme； I go out of my way； but 'tis
rather by licence than oversight； my fancies follow one another； but
sometimes at a great distance； and look towards one another； but 'tis
with an oblique glance。 I have read a dialogue of Plato；＇The
Phaedrus。＇ of the like motley and fantastic composition； the beginning
about love； and all the rest to the end about rhetoric； they fear not
these variations； and have a marvellous grace in letting themselves be
carried away at the pleasure of the wind； or at least to seem as if they
were。 The titles of my chapters do not always comprehend the whole
matter； they often denote it by some mark only； as these others； Andria；
Eunuchus； or these； Sylla； Cicero； Toyquatus。 I love a poetic progress；
by leaps and skips； 'tis an art； as Plato says； light； nimble； demoniac。
There are pieces in Plutarch where he forgets his theme； where the
proposition of his argument is only found by incidence； stuffed and half
stifled in foreign matter。 Observe his footsteps in the Daemon of
Socrates。 O God！ how beautiful are these frolicsome sallies； those
variations and digressions； and all the more when they seem most
fortuitous and careless。 'Tis the indiligent reader who loses my
subject； and not I； there will always be found some word or other in a
corner that is to the purpose； though it lie very close。 I ramble
indiscreetly and tumultuously； my style and my wit wander at the same
rate。 He must fool it a little who would not be deemed wholly a fool；
say both the precepts； and； still more； the examples of our masters。 A
thousand poets flag and languish after a prosaic manner； but the best old
prose （and I strew it here up and down indifferently for verse） shines
throughout with the lustre； vigour； and boldness of poetry； and not
without some air of its fury。 And certainly prose ought to have the pre…
eminence in speaking。 The poet； says Plato； seated upon the muses
tripod； pours out with fury whatever comes into his mouth； like the pipe
of a fountain； without considering and weighing it； and things escape him
of various colours； of contrary substance； and with an irregular torrent。
Plato himself is throughout poetical； and the old theology； as the
learned tell us； is all poetry； and the first philosophy is the original
language of the gods。 I would have my matter distinguish itself； it
sufficiently shows where it changes； where it concludes； where it begins；
and where it rejoins； without interlacing it with words of connection
introduced for the relief of weak or negligent ears； and without
explaining myself。 Who is he that had not rather not be read at all than
after a drowsy or cursory manner？
〃Nihil est tam utile； quod intransitu prosit。〃
＇〃Nothing is so useful as that which is cursorily so。〃
Seneca； Ep。； 2。＇
If to take books in hand were to learn them： to look upon them were to
consider them： and to run these slightly over were to grasp them； I were
then to blame to make myself out so ignorant as I say I am。 Seeing I
cannot fix the attention of my reader by the weight of what I write；
'manco male'； if I should chance to do it by my intricacies。 〃Nay； but
he will afterwards repent that he ever perplexed himself about it。〃
'Tis very true； but he will yet be there perplexed。 And； besides； there
are some humours in which comprehension produces disdain； who will think
better of me for not understanding what I say； and will conclude the
depth of my sense by its obscurity； which； to speak in good sooth； I
mortally hate； and would avoid it if I could。 Aristotle boasts somewhere
in his writings that he affected it： a vicious affectation。 The frequent
breaks into chapters that I made my method in the beginning of my book；
having since seemed to me to dissolve the attention before it was raised；
as making it disdain to settle itself to so little； I； upon that account；
have made them longer； such as require proposition and assigned leisure。
In such an employment； to whom you will not give an hour you give
nothing； and you do nothing for him for whom you only do it whilst you
are doing something else。 To whic