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employs the ways and means placed at its disposal by nature for the
advancement and commodity of its being； these； in order to appear of a
more sprightly and enlightened wit； not accepting anything which has not
been tried and balanced a thousand times with the most subtle reasoning；
sacrifice their peace of mind to doubt； uneasiness； and feverish
excitement。 It is not without reason that childhood and simplicity have
been recommended by holy writ itself。 For my part； I prefer to be quiet
rather than clever： give me content； even if I am not to be so wide in my
range。 This is the reason； Monsieur； why； although persons of an
ingenious turn laugh at our care as to what will happen after our own
time； for instance； to our souls； which； lodged elsewhere； will lose all
consciousness of what goes on here below； yet I consider it to be a great
consolation for the frailty and brevity of life； to reflect that we have
the power of prolonging it by reputation and fame； and I embrace very
readily this pleasant and favourable notion original with our being；
without inquiring too critically how or why it is。 Insomuch that having
loved； beyond everything； the late M。 de la Boetie； the greatest man； in
my judgment； of our age； I should think myself very negligent of my duty
if I failed； to the utmost of my power； to prevent such a name as his；
and a memory so richly meriting remembrance； from falling into oblivion；
and if I did not use my best endeavour to keep them fresh。 I believe
that he feels something of what I do on his behalf； and that my services
touch and rejoice him。 In fact； he lives in my heart so vividly and so
wholly； that I am loath to believe him committed to the dull ground； or
altogether cast off from communication with us。 Therefore； Monsieur；
since every new light I can shed on him and his name； is so much added to
his second period of existence； and； moreover； since his name is ennobled
and honoured by the place which receives it； it falls to me not only to
extend it as widely as I can； but to confide it to the keeping of persons
of honour and virtue； among whom you hold such a rank； that； to afford
you the opportunity of receiving this new guest； and giving him good
entertainment； I decided on presenting to you this little work； not for
any profit you are likely to derive from it； being well aware that you do
not need to have Plutarch and his companions interpreted to youbut it
is possible that Madame de Roissy； reading in it the order of her
household management and of your happy accord painted to the life； will
be pleased to see how her own natural inclination has not only reached
but surpassed the theories of the wisest philosophers； regarding the
duties and laws of the wedded state。 And； at all events； it will be
always an honour to me； to be able to do anything which shall be for the
pleasure of you and yours； on account of the obligation under which I lie
to serve you。
Monsieur； I pray God to grant you a long and happy life。 From Montaigne；
this 30th April 1570。 Your humble servant；
MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE。
V。
To Monsieur； Monsieur de L'HOSPITAL； Chancellor of France
MONSEIGNEUR；I am of the opinion that persons such as you； to whom
fortune and reason have committed the charge of public affairs； are not
more inquisitive in any point than in ascertaining the character of those
in office under you； for no society is so poorly furnished； but that； if
a proper distribution of authority be used； it has persons sufficient for
the discharge of all official duties； and when this is the case； nothing
is wanting to make a State perfect in its constitution。 Now； in
proportion as this is so much to be desired； so it is the more difficult
of accomplishment； since you cannot have eyes to embrace a multitude so
large and so widely extended； nor to see to the bottom of hearts； in
order that you may discover intentions and consciences； matters
principally to be considered； so that there has never been any
commonwealth so well organised； in which we might not detect often enough
defect in such a department or such a choice； and in those systems； where
ignorance and malice； favouritism； intrigue； and violence govern； if any
selection happens to be made on the ground of merit and regularity； we
may doubtless thank Fortune； which； in its capricious movements； has for
once taken the path of reason。
This consideration； Monseigneur； often consoled me； when I beheld M。
Etienne de la Boetie； one of the fittest men for high office in France；
pass his whole life without employment and notice； by his domestic
hearth； to the singular detriment of the public； for； so far as he was
concerned； I may assure you； Monseigneur； that he was so rich in those
treasures which defy fortune； that never was man more satisfied or
content。 I know； indeed； that he was raised to the dignities connected
with his neighbourhooddignities accounted considerable； and I know
also； that no one ever acquitted himself better of them； and when he died
at the age of thirty…two； he enjoyed a reputation in that way beyond all
who had preceded him。
But for all that； it is no reason that a man should be left a common
soldier； who deserves to become a captain； nor to assign mean functions
to those who are perfectly equal to the highest。 In truth； his powers
were badly economised and too sparingly employed； insomuch that； over and
above his actual work； there was abundant capacity lying idle which might
have been called into service； both to the public advantage and his own
private glory。
Therefore； Monseigneur； since he was so indifferent to his own fame （for
virtue and ambition； unfortunately； seldom lodge together）； and since he
lived in an age when others were too dull or too jealous to witness to
his character； I have it marvellously at heart that his memory； at all
events； to which I owe the good offices of a friend； should enjoy the
recompense of his brave life； and that it should survive in the good
report of men of honour and virtue。 On this account； sir； I have been
desirous to bring to light； and present to you； such few Latin verses as
he left behind。 Different from the builder； who places the most
attractive； portion of his house towards the street； and to the draper；
who displays in his window his best goods； that which was most precious
in my friend； the juice and marrow of his genius； departed with him； and
there have remained to us but the bark and the leaves。
The exactly regulated movements of his mind； his piety； his virtue； his
justice； his vivacity； the solidity and soundness of his judgment； the
loftiness of his ideas； raised so far above the common level； his
learning； the grace which accompanied his most ordinary actions； the
tender affection he had for his miserable country； and his supreme and
sworn detestation of all vice； but principally of that villainous traffic
which disguises itself under the honourable name of justice； should
certainly impress all well…disposed persons with a singular love towards
him； and an extraordinary regret for his loss。 But； sir； I am unable to
do justice to all these qualities； and of the f