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him； and an extraordinary regret for his loss。 But； sir； I am unable to
do justice to all these qualities； and of the fruit of his own studies it
had not entered into his mind to leave any proof to posterity； all that
remains； is the little which； as a pastime； he did at intervals。
However this may be； I beg you； sir； to receive it kindly； and as our
judgment of great things is many times formed from lesser things； and as
even the recreations of illustrious men carry with them； to intelligent
observers； some honourable traits of their origin； I would have you form
from this； some knowledge of him； and hence lovingly cherish his name and
his memory。 In this； sir； you will only reciprocate the high opinion
which he had of your virtue； and realise what he infinitely desired in
his lifetime； for there was no one in the world in whose acquaintance and
friendship he would have been so happy to see himself established； as in
your own。 But if any man is offended by the freedom which I use with the
belongings of another； I can tell him that nothing which has been written
or been laid down； even in the schools of philosophy； respecting the
sacred duties and rights of friendship； could give an adequate idea of
the relations which subsisted between this personage and myself。
Moreover； sir； this slender gift； to make two throws of one stone at the
same time； may likewise serve； if you please； to testify the honour and
respect which I entertain for your ability and high qualities； for as to
those gifts which are adventitious and accidental； it is not to my taste
to take them into account。
Sir； I pray God to grant you a very happy and a very long life。 From
Montaigne； this 30th of April 1570。Your humble and obedient servant；
MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE。
To Monsieur； Monsieur de Folx； Privy Councillor； and Ambassador of His
Majesty to the Signory of Venice。＇ Printed before the 'Vers Francois'
of Etienne de la Boetie； 8vo； Paris； 1572。＇
SIR；Being on the point of commending to you and to posterity the memory
of the late Etienne de la Boetie； as well for his extreme virtue as for
the singular affection which he bore to me； it struck me as an
indiscretion very serious in its results； and meriting some coercion from
our laws； the practice which often prevails of robbing virtue of glory；
its faithful associate； in order to confer it； in accordance with our
private interests and without discrimination； on the first comer； seeing
that our two principal guiding reins are reward and punishment； which
only touch us properly； and as men； through the medium of honour and
dishonour； forasmuch as these penetrate the mind； and come home to our
most intimate feelings： just where animals themselves are susceptible；
more or less； to all other kinds of recompense and corporal chastisement。
Moreover； it is well to notice that the custom of praising virtue； even
in those who are no longer with us； impalpable as it is to them； serves
as a stimulant to the living to imitate their example； just as capital
sentences are carried out by the law； more for the sake of warning to
others； than in relation to those who suffer。 Now； commendation and its
opposite being analogous as regards effects； we cannot easily deny
the fact； that although the law prohibits one man from slandering the
reputation of another； it does not prevent us from bestowing reputation
without cause。 This pernicious licence in respect to the distribution of
praise； has formerly been confined in its area of operations； and it may
be the reason why poetry once lost favour with the more judicious。
However this may be； it cannot be concealed that the vice of falsehood is
one very unbecoming in gentleman； let it assume what guise it will。
As for that personage of whom I am speaking to you； sir he leads me far
away indeed from this kind of language； for the danger in his case is
not； lest I should lend him anything； but that I might take something
from him； and it is his ill…fortune that； while he has supplied me； so
far as ever a man could； with just and obvious opportunities for
commendation； I find myself unable and unqualified to render it to him
I； who am his debtor for so many vivid communications； and who alone have
it in my power to answer for a million of accomplishments； perfections；
and virtues； latent （thanks to his unkind stars） in so noble a soul。 For
the nature of things having （I know not how） permitted that truth； fair
and acceptableas it may be of itself； is only embraced where there are
arts of persuasion； to insinuate it into our minds； I see myself so
wanting； both in authority to support my simple testimony； and in the
eloquence requisite for lending it value and weight； that I was on the
eve of relinquishing the task； having nothing of his which would enable
me to exhibit to the world a proof of his genius and knowledge。
In truth； sir； having been overtaken by his fate in the flower of his
age； and in the full enjoyment of the most vigorous health； it had been
his design to publish some day works which would have demonstrated to
posterity what sort of a man he was； and； peradventure； he was
indifferent enough to fame； having formed such a plan in his head； to
proceed no further in it。 But I have come to the conclusion； that it was
far more excusable in him to bury with him all his rare endowments； than
it would be on my part to bury also with me the knowledge of them which I
had acquired from him； and； therefore； having collected with care all the
remains which I found scattered here and there among his papers； I intend
to distribute them so as to recommend his memory to as many persons as
possible； selecting the most suitable and worthy of my acquaintance； and
those whose testimony might do him greatest honour： such as you； sir； who
may very possibly have had some knowledge of him during his life； but
assuredly too slight to discover the perfect extent of his worth。
Posterity may credit me； if it chooses； when I swear upon my conscience；
that I knew and saw him to be such as； all things considered； I could
neither desire nor imagine a genius surpassing his。
I beg you very humbly； sir； not only to take his name under your general
protection； but also these ten or twelve French stanzas； which lay
themselves； as of necessity； under shadow of your patronage。 For I will
not disguise from you； that their publication was deferred； upon the
appearance of his other writings； under the pretext （as it was alleged
yonder at Paris） that they were too crude to come to light。 You will
judge； sir； how much truth there is in this； and since it is thought that
hereabout nothing can be produced in our own dialect but what is
barbarous and unpolished； it falls to you； who； besides your rank as the
first house in Guienne； indeed down from your ancestors； possess every
other sort of qualification； to establish； not merely by your example；
but by your authoritative testimony； that such is not always the case：
the more so that； though 'tis more natural with the Gascons to act than
talk； yet sometimes they employ the tongue more than the arm； and wit in
place of valour。
For my own part