Essays of Montaigne Essays - Book I
In Player
IS a book here in good faith, reader. It t'advertit upon entry, than I am offered no end, and domestic private and I had no ay no consideration for your service, nor my glory: my forces are not capable of such a design. I ay dedicated to particular convenience of my relatives and friends that lost m'ayans (what they have to do very soon) they can regain some dashes of my conditions and humours, and by this means they eat more whole and more lively, the knowledge they had of me. If
c'eust Este seek the favor of the world, I would have decked borrowed beauties. I want to be myself in my Voye simple, natural and ordinary, Study and without artifice: for it is myself I paint. My faults it read to the life, my imperfections and my form innocently, as far as public reverence gave me permission. What if I Este among these nations is said to live still Beneath the sweet liberty of the first laws of nature, I t'asseure I fuss me very willingly painted a whole, and quite naked. Thus, Reader, I am me-Mesme matter of my book: it is not right that you employed your hobby into a subject so frivolous and vain. To God donq.
De Montaigne, the 12th of June 1580.
CHAPTER
By various means we arrive at this end
THE most common way to soften the hearts of those who were offended with at qu'ayans revenge in hand, they are important to them mercy, is to esmouvoir by submission to commiseration and pity Toutesfois the bravery, constancy, and resolution, otherwise all means, have to servy Sometimes in this same effect.
Edward Prince of Wales, the one who set so long ours Guienne: character which the conditions and fortune have many significant parts of greatness having been very much offended by the Limousin, and taking their city by force, can estre not arrested by the cries of the people, women and children abandon slaughter him crying for mercy, and Jettan at his feet until passing tousjours also in the city, he saw three gentlemen to Francis, who in one incredible boldness soustenoient only the effort of his victorious army . The consideration and respect of so notable virtue corked firstly the point of his anger: and began with these three, have mercy on all the other inhabitants of the city.
Scanderberch, Prince of Epirus, suyvant a soldier to kill his family and the soldier who tried by every kind of humility and supplication to appease, resolved at the point of waiting for the sword fist that his resolution after arrest plus the fury of his master, who have seen him to take a party so honorable, received him into favor. This example may suffer another interpretation of those who have the leu prodigious strength and courage of this Prince there. The Emperor Conrad
troisiesme, having besieged Guelph Duke of Bavaria, would not condescend to milder conditions, some vile and cowardly satisfaction that offrist him, that allow only the good guys and women who were besieged with the Duke, to leave their credit saves, on foot, they may be preferred to them. They are a magnanimous heart, s'adviserent load on their shoulders their husbands, their children, and the Duke likewise. The Emperor print so much pleasure to see the kind of courage, he wept for joy, and absorbs all the bitterness of enmity and deadly capital he had brought against the Duke
: And when forward humanely treated him and his family. The one and the other of these two means m'emporteroit aysement: for I have a wonderful cowardice to mercy and kindness: As long ago, only my opinion, I should make myself more naturally to compassion, as estimation. If passion is compassion vitieuse the Stoics: They want to succor the afflicted, but not being bent and sympathizes with them. But these examples
seem more appropriate, especially as it sees these souls assaulted and tried by these two means, without s'esbranler sustain a one, and bend under the other. He may say, to break his heart to the commiseration is the effect of ease, gentleness and effeminacy: whence it happens that the natures most weak, like women, children, and vulgar, there are subjet. But (having had to desdaing tears and crying) to get to the only reverence the holy image of virtue, that is the effect of a strong mind and imployable, with an affection and honor vigor male in and stubborn. Toutesfois és less generous souls, the astonishment and admiration can be born a similar effect; witness the people of Thebes, who, having put in charge of Justice capital, his captains, for their continued support in addition to the time they had bene prescribed and preordained, absolut any penalty Pelopidas, who plioit under the burden of such objections, n'employoit and to ensure that request and supplications: and instead Epaminondas, who came to tell him things down beautifully made, and to blame the people of a proud and arrogant manner, he had no heart take only the bales on hand, and started: highness assembly greatly praising the courage of this character. Dionysius the old, after the extreme length and difficulty, having captured the city of Rege, and in it Captain Phyton, great and good man, who had so obstinately defended, tried to draw a tragic example of revenge. He saith to him first, how the day before, he had drowned his son deed, and all those relatives. To which Phyton only made answer, they estoient a happier day than he. After he did
be stripped, and to enter Executioners, and the trainer in the city, beating the very
ignominiously and cruelly and also the charging of felony and Parolles contumelieuses. But he had the courage tousjours constant, without getting lost. And a strong face, was going instead ramentevant aloud, the honorable and glorious cause of his death, for having wanted to make his own country in the hands of a tyrant: the threat of a future punishment of the gods . Dionysius, reading in the eyes of the town of his army, instead of animated bravado of this enemy defeated in contempt their leader, and his triumph: she went softened by the astonishment of so rare a virtue, and marchandoit to mutiny, and Mesmer Phyton to wrest from the hands of his sergeants, Feit stop this martyrdom : hiding and sent him to drown in the sea
Certainly it is a subject marvelously vain, diverse, and undulating, the man: it is difficult to found uniforrme constant trial. Voyle Pompey who forgave the entire city of Mamertines, against which it estoit very lively, in consideration of virtue and magnanimity of citizen Zeno, who's fault alone chargeoit public, and required no other grace than to be alone sentence. Hoste and Sylla, having in the city Peruse Under similar, there gaigne nothing, neither for himself, nor for others. And
directly against my first examples, the most hardy men and so gracious in defeat Alexander, after forcing a lot of great difficulties in Gaza City, met Betis who commanded there, the value which it had during the siege of Senty Evidence wonderful when alone, abandoned his family, his arms despecees, all covered with blood and wounds, still fighting in the middle of several Macedonians, who chamailloient from all sides and said to him, just stung a victory so dear ( because among other damage, he had received it two fresche injuries on his person) You will not die as you wanted, Betis: eStat do it you must suffer all sorts of torments that could invent a cons
captive. The other, not only mine asseuree but arrogant and haughty, stood silently with these threats.
When Alexander saw the stubbornness to remain silent: In it flechy one knee? Is it escaped him any pleading voice? Truly I vainqueray silence: and if I can not force speech, I arracheray at least groan. And turning its anger into rage, commanded that perçast her heels, and so did trainer alive, deschirer desmembrer ass and a cart.
would it be that the strength of courage him fust so natural and common, as did admire, it's less respectast ? or if he estimast strictly his own, that this height it would not mortify suffer to see her in another, without the spite of a jealous passion? or the natural impetuosity of his anger fust incapable of opposition?
In truth, if she received it EUST flange, it is to believe, that the capture and desolation of the city of Thebes she received it EUST: to behold cruelly put to the sword over so many valiant men, lost, n'ayans and more using public defense. For he was killed some six thousand, of which none was seen fuiant ny, ny asking mercy. Contrary
cerchans, which here, is that, through the streets to confront the enemies victorious: the provoquans them to death with a honorable death. None was seen, which n'essaiast its last gasp, to avenge Encores: and all the weapons of despair console his death in the death of some enemy. If not found the affliction of their virtue does no mercy and the length from one day to wreak his revenge. This carnage lasted till the last drop of blood Espand: and dwells not only unarmed people, old people, women and children, to take thirty thousand slaves.
CHAPTER II
From Sadness I am most free from this passion, and never loves nor esteem: although their world ayt undertaken as cheap done, the honor special favors. They dress in the wisdom, virtue, conscience. Stupid and ugly ornament. The Italians have more sortable named after him malignancy. Because it is a quality tousjours harmful, ever mad and as tousjours cowardly and low, in the Stoics defend their feeling wise.
But the tale of Roy says Psammenitus aegypti, having been taken and discomfited by Cambyses King of Persia, seeing him walk past his daughter prisoner dressed like a servant, being fent to draw water, and all his friends pleurans lamentans around him, stood coy silence, eyes fixed on the earth and seeing one while it still was leading his son to death, was maintained in This same capacity, but having perceiving a servant led among captives, he began beating his head, and conducting an extreme grief.
Cecy might be matched to what a video lately Prince of ours, having heard that in Trento, where he was, news of the death of his elder brother but a brother in that consisted the support and honor of all his house, and very soon after a younger son, his second hope, and having these two charges upheld by a constant issue, but a few days after one of his men came to die, he was carried away in the latter accident and quit his resolution gave way to grief and regret, in a way that no prindrent in argument, that he had Este touched to the quick jolt that of the latter, but in truth it was, besides that being open and filled with sadness, on the lesser-charge broke the gates of patience. The result might
(di-I) as judge of our history, it n'estoit adjouste that Cambyses Psammenitus inquire into, why did unexpectedly moved to the misfortune of his son and daughter, he bore so impatiently he of his friends is, he answered, that last one may signify displeasure with tears, the first two surpassans far from any means of being able to express themselves. A
adventure would return to about the invention of this former painter, who, having to represent the sacrifice of Iphigenia the grief of those present, according to the degree of interest that everyone was bringing to the death of this beautiful innocent girl: espuisé with the last efforts of his art, when it came to the father of the virgin, he painted the covered face, as if no capacity could not bring that level of grief. Voyle why the poets feign this miserable mother Niobe, having lost the first seven son, and then on many girls, over-loaded loss, having been in a late transmuted into rock
diriguisse Malis,
for express this dreary, dumb and deaf stupidity, which we Couples at the accidents that beset us surpassans ours reach.
In truth, the effort of a displeasure for Estre extreme, should Estonia while the soul, and hinders him the freedom of his actions: It comes to us in the warm alarm very bad news, to feel seized, Couples, and crippled as all movements: so that the soul is relaschant after the tears and complaints, seems to desprendre, is desmeller and get farther offshore, and at his ease, And
via vix tandem voci laxative is dolore.
In the war that led King Ferdinand against the widow of King John of Hungary around Bude, a policeman was particularly remerqué each, for having done well too of his person, some intermixed: the unknown and highly praised, and complained there remained Easting. But as none of Raiscïac German nobleman, esprins of so rare a virtue: the body Easting reportedly cetuicy a common curiosity, went to see who c'estoit: Weapons and deprives the demise, it's reconut son. This increased compassion for spectators: he alone, without saying anything, without Siller eyes, stood, looking fixedly at the body of his son, till that the vehemence of sorrow, overwhelmed Having finished his vital spirits, raised stiff died down.
Chi puo dir com'egli arde è in Piccioli fuoco,
say les amoureux, qui veulent representer une passion insupportable :
misero quod omnes
Eripit sensus mihi. Nam simul te
Lesbia aspexi, nihil est super mi
Quod loquar amens.
Lingua sed torpet, tenuis sub artus
Flamma dimanat, sonitu suopte
Tinniunt aures, gemina teguntur
Lumina nocte.
Aussi n'est ce pas en la vive, et plus cuysante chaleur de l'accés, que nous sommes propres à desployer nos plaintes et nos persuasions : l'ame est lors aggravee de profondes pensees, et le corps abbatu et languissant d'amour.
Et de là s'engendre par fois la defaillance fortuite, qui surprent les amoureux si hors de saison; et cette glace qui les saisit par la force d'une ardeur extreme, au giron mesme de la jouïssance. Toutes passions qui se laissent gouster, et digerer, ne sont que mediocres,
Curæ leves loquuntur, ingentes stupent.
La surprise d'un plaisir inesperé nous estonne de mesme,
Ut me conspexit venientem, Et Troïa circum
Arma amens vidit, magnis exterrita monstris,
Diriguit visu in medio, calor ossa reliquit,
Labitur, et longo vix tandem tempore fatur.
Besides Roman woman, who died of surprise glad to see his son returned from the Cannes routt: Sophocles and Dionysius the Tyrant, who trespasserent with joy: and who died in Talva Corsegue, reading news of the honors the Senate of Rome had awarded him. We hold in our age, the Pope Leon dixiesme having been advertised of the capture of Milan, he had extremely souhaittee, entered into such excesses of joy, that the fever in print, and died. And for a more significant testimony of human imbecility, it hath been remerqué by the ancients, as Diodorus the dialectician died on the spot, smitten with an extreme passion of shame for his Escola, and in public, they were able desvelopper an argument that had him deed.
I'm making these little violent passions: I have the apprehension naturally hard, and encrouste Espessas and every day speech.
Montaigne
