Essays of Michael, seigneur de Montaigne in three books : with marginal notes and quotations and an account of the author's life : with a short character of the author and translator, by a person of honour / made English by Charles Cotton ...

CHAP. XII. (Book 12)

Of Constancy. (Book 12)

THE Law of Resolution and Constancy does not imply, that we ought not, as much as in us lies, to decline, and to secure our selves from the Mischiefs and Inconveni∣ences that threaten us; nor consequently, that we shall not fear lest they should surprize us: on the contrary, all decent and honest ways and means of securing our selves from Harms, are not only permitted, but moreover com∣mendable, and the Business of Constancy chiefly is, bravely to stand to, and stoutly to suffer those Inconveniences which are not o∣therwise possibly to be avoided. There is no motion of Body, nor any guard in the handling of Arms, how irregular or ungraceful soever,

that we dislike or condemn, if they serve to deceive or to defend the Blow that is made a∣gainst us; insomuch, that several very war∣like Nations have made use of a retiring and flying way of Fight, as a thing of singular Ad∣vantage, and by so doing have made their Backs more dangerous than their Faces to their Enemies. Of which kind of Fighting, the Turks yet retain something in their Pra∣ctice of Arms to this day; and Socrates in Pla∣to, laughs a Laches, who had defin'd Forti∣tude to be at standing firm in their Ranks a∣gainst the Enemy: What (says he) would it then be a reputed Cowardice to overcome them by giving Ground? urging at the same time the Authority of Homer, who commends Aeneas for his Skill in running away. And whereas Laches, considering better on't, justifies his first Argument upon the Practice of the Scy∣thians, and in general all Cavalry whatever. He again attacks him with the Example of the Lacedaemonian Foot, (a Nation of all other the most obstinate in maintaining their Ground) who in all the Battel of Platea, not being able to break into the Persian Phalanx, unbethought themselves to disperse and retire, that by the Enemies supposing they fled, they might break, and disunite that vast Body of Men in the Pur∣suit, and by that Stratagem obtain'd the Victo∣ry. As for the Scythians, 'tis said of them, that when Darius went his Expedition to sub∣due them, he sent, by an Herald, highly to reproach their King, That he always retir'd be∣fore him and declin'd a Battel; to which In∣dathyrsez

(for that was his Name) return'd An∣swer, That it was not for fear of him, or of any Man living, that he did so, but that it was the way of Marching in practice with his Nati∣on, who had neither till'd Fields, Cities, nor Houses to defend, or to fear the Enemy should make any Advantage of: but that if he had such a Stomach to fight, let him but come to view their ancient place of Sepulture, and there he should have his Fill. Nevertheless as to what con∣cerns Cannon Shot, when a Body of Men are drawn up in the Face of a Train of Artillery, as the Occasion of War does often require, 'tis unhandsome to quit their Post to avoid the Danger, and a foolish thing to boot, foras∣much as by reason of its Violence and Swift∣ness we account it inevitable, and many a one, by ducking, steping aside, and such other mo∣tions of Fear, has been sufficiently laugh'd at by his Companions And yet in the Expedi∣tion that the Emperour Charles the Fifth made into Prov••nce, the Marquis de Guast going to discover the City of Arles, and venturing to advance out of the Blind of a Wind-mill, un∣der favour of which he had made his Approach, was perceiv'd by the Seigneurs de Bonneval and the Seneschall of Agenois, who were walk∣ing upon the Theatre Aux arenes; who ha∣ving shew'd him to the Sieur de Villiers,* 1.1 Com∣missary of the Artillery, he travers'd a Culve∣rine so admirable well, and levell'd it so exact∣ly right against him, that had not the Marquis, seeing Fire given to it, slip'd aside, it was certainly concluded, the Shot had taken him

full in the Body. And in like manner, some Years before, Lorenzo de Medici, Duke of Urbin, and Father to the Queen-Mother of France, laying Siege to Mondolpho, a Place in the Territories of the Vicariat in Italy, seeing the Cannoneer give Fire to a Piece that poin∣ted directly against him, it was well for him that he duck'd, for otherwise, the Shot, that only ras'd the top of his Head, had doubtless hit him full in the Breast. To say truth, I do not think that these Evasions are perform'd upon the account of Judgment; for how is any Man living able to Judge of high or low Aim on so sudden an Occasion? And it is much more easie to believe, that Fortune fa∣vour'd their Apprehension, and that it might be a means at another time, as well to make them step into the danger, as to teach them to avoid it. For my own part I confess, I cannot forbear starting when the Rattle of a Harquebuze thunders in my Ears on a sudden, and in a place where I am not to expect it, which I have also observ'd in others, brave•• Fellows than I; neither do the Stoicks pre∣tend, that the Soul of their Philosopher should be proof against the first Visions and Fantasies that surprize him; but as a natural Sub∣ject, consent that he should tremble at the terrible noise of Thunder, or the sudden clat∣ter of some falling Ruine, and be affrighted even to Paleness and Convulsion. And so in other Passions, provided a Man's Judgment remain sound and intire, and that the Site of his Reason s••ffer, no Concussion nor Altera∣tion,

and that he yields no consent to his Fright and Discomposure. To him who is not a Philosopher, a Fright is the same in the first part of it, but quite another thing in the second; for the Impression of Passions does not remain only superficially in him, but pe∣netrates further, even to the very Seat of Rea∣son and so, as to infect and to corrupt it. He Judges according to his Fear, and conforms his Behaviour to it. But in this Verse you may see the true State of the wise Stoick lear∣nedly and plainly express'd:

* 1.2Mens immota manet, lacrymae volvuntur inanes.

The Eye, perhaps, frail, fruitless showers rains, Whilst yet the Mind firm and unshook re∣mains.

The wise Peripatetick is not himself total∣ly free from perturbations of Mind, but he moderates them by his Wisdom.

Notes

• * 1.1

  A Theatre where publick Shews of Riding, Fenceing, &c. were exhibited.
• * 1.2

  Virg. Aen. l. 2.