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. XXXIX. (Book 39)

A Consideration upon Cicero. (Book 39)

ONe Word more by way of Comparison, betwixt these two. There are to be gather'd out of the Writings of Cicero, and this Younger Pliny, (but little in my opinion, resembling his Uncle in his Humour,) infinite Testimonies of a beyond measure, Ambitious Nature; and amongst others, this for one, that they both, in the sight of all the World, solicite the Historians of their time, not to forget them in their Memoirs; and Fortune, as if in spite, has made the Vacancy of those Requests Live upon Record down to this Age of ours, when she has long since Damn'd the Histories themselves to Oblivion. But this exceeds all meanness of Spirit in Persons of such Quality, as they were, to think to de∣rive any great and living Renown from Ba∣bling and Prating; even to the Publishing of their private Letters to their Friends, and so withal, that though some of them were never sent, the opportunity being lost, they never∣theless expose them to the light, with this worthy excuse, that they were hereafter un∣willing to lose their Labours, and have their Lucubrations thrown away. Was it not very well becoming two Consuls of Rome, Soveraign Magistrates of the Republick that Command∣ed the World, to spend their time in contri∣ving Quaint and Elegant Missives, thence to

gain the Reputation of being Criticks, in their own Mother Tongues: What could a pitiful School-master have done worse, whose trade it was to get his Living? If the Acts of Xeno∣phon, and Caesar, had not far enough tran∣scended their Eloquence, I scarce believe they would ever have taken the pains to have writ them. They made it their business to recom∣mend not their Speaking, but their doing. And could the perfection of eloquence have added any lustre proportionable to the merit of a great Person, certainly Scipio, and Laelius, had never resigned the honour of their Come∣dies, with all the luxuriances, and delicacies of the Latine Tongue, to an African Slave; for that, that work was theirs, the Beauty and Excellency of it do sufficiently declare; besides, Terence himself confesses as much, and I should take it ill from any one, that would dispossess me of that belief. 'Tis a kind of injurious Mockery, and Offence, to extol a Man for Qualities, misbecoming his Merit, and Con∣dition, though otherwise commendable in themselves, but such as ought not however to be his chiefest Talent: As if a Man should commend a King, for being a good Painter, a good Architect, a good Marks-man, or a good Runner at the Ring; commendations that add no Honour, unless mentioned altoge∣ther, and in the train of those that are more properly applicable to him, namely, his Justice, and the Science of governing, and conducting his People both in Peace, and War. At this rate agriculture was an Honour to Cyrus, and

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Eloquence, and the knowledge of good Letters to Charlemaigne. I have in my time known some, who by that Knack of Writing, have got both their Titles, and Fortune, disown their Apprenticeage, purposely corrupt their Stile, and affect ignorance in so vulgar a quality, (which also our Nation observes, to be rarely seen in very intelligent hands) to seek a reputation by better qualities. De∣mosthenes his Companions in the Embassy to Philip, extolling that Prince for Handsome, Eloquent, and a Stout Drinker, Demosthenes reply'd, that those were commendations more proper for a Woman, an Advocate, or a Spunge, than for a King.

* 1.1Imperet bellante prior jucentem Lenis in hostem.

First let his Empire from his valour flow, And then, by mercy on a prostrate foe.

'Tis not his profession to know either how to Hunt, or to Dance well.

* 1.2Orabunt Causas alii, coelique meatus Describent radio, & fulgentia sydera dicent, Hic regere imperio populos sciat.

Let others plead at the litigious Bar, Describe the Sphears, point out each twink∣ling Star, Let this Man rule, a greater art by far.

Plutarch says moreover, that to appear so ex∣cellent in these less necessary Qualities, is to produce Witness against a Mans self, that he

has spent his time, and apply'd his Study ill, which ought to have been employ'd in the acquisition of more necessary, and more useful things, so that Philip King of Macedon, ha∣ving heard that Great Alexander his Son, Sing once at a Feast to the Wonder, and Envy of the best Musicians there: Art not thou asham'd said he to him, to Sing so well? And to the same Philip a Musician, with whom he was dis∣puting about some things concerning his Art: Heav'n forbid! Sir, said he, that so great a misfortune should ever befal you, as to understand these things better than I. A King should be able to answer as Iphicrates did the Orator, who prest upon him in his invective after this manner: And what art thou, that thou brav'st it at this rate? art thou a Man at Arms, art thou an Archer, art thou a Pike? I am none of all this; but I know how to Command all these. And Antisthenes took it for an argument of little Valour, in Ismenas, that he was commended for Playing excellently well upon a Flute. I know very well, that when I hear any one insist upon the Language of Essays, I had rather a great deal he would say nothing. 'Tis not so much to elevate the Stile as to depress the Sence, and so much the more offensively, as they do it Disgracefully, and out of the Way. I am much deceived if many other Essayists, deliver more worth no∣thing as to the matter, and how well, or ill soever, if any other Writer has strewed them either much more Material, or thicker upon his Paper than my self. To bring the more

in, I only Muster up the Heads, should I an∣nex the sequel, I should strangely Multiply this Volume: And how many Stories have I Seat∣tered up and down, in this Book, that I only touch upon, which should any one more cu∣riously search into, they would find matter e∣nough to produce infinite Essays: Neither those Stories, nor my allegations do always serve simply for Example, Authority, or Or∣nament, I do not only regard them for the use I make of them: They carry sometimes be∣sides what I apply them to, the seed of a more Rich, and a Bolder matter, and sometimes collaterally a more delicate Sound both to me my self, who will express no more in this Place, and to others who shall happen to be of my Ear.

But returning to the speaking vertue; I find no great choice betwixt, not knowing to speak any thing but very ill, and not know∣ing to speak any thing but very well. Non est ornamentum virile concinnitas.* 1.3 Neatness of Stile, is no Manly Ornament. The Sages tell us, that as to what concerns Knowledge, there is nothing but Philosophy; and to what concerns effects, nothing but vertue, that is generally proper to all Degrees, and to all orders. There is something like this in these two other Philosophers, for they also promise Eternity, to the Letters they Write to their Friends; but 'tis after another manner, and by accommodating themselves, for a good end, to the vanity of another; for they Write to them, that if the concern of making themsel∣ves

known to future Ages, and the Thirst of Glory, do yet detain them in the management of publick affairs, and make them fear the Solitude, and Retirement to which they would persuade them; let them never trouble them∣selves more about it, forasmuch as they shall have Credit enough with Posterity to assure them, that were there nothing else but the very Letters thus Writ to them, those Let∣ters will render their names as known, and famous as their own publick actions themsel∣ves could do. And besides this difference, these are not Idle, and empty Letters, that contain nothing but a fine Gingle of well cho∣sen Words, and fine Couch'd Phrases, but ra∣ther repleat, and abounding with Grave, and Learn'd Discourses, by which a Man may ren∣der himself not more Eloquent but more Wise, and that instruct us not to speak, but to do well: A way with that Eloquence that so en∣chants us with its Harmony, that we should more Study it than things. Unless you will allow that of Cicero, to be of so Supream a perfection, as to form a compleat Body of it self: And of him I shall further add one Story, we read of him to this purpose, where∣in his nature will much more manifestly be laid open to us: He was to make an Oration in publick, and found himself a little strait∣ned in time, to fit his Words to his Mouth, as he had a mind to do; when Eros one of his Slaves brought him word, that the audience was deferr'd till the next Day, at which he was so ravish'd with Joy, that he enfranchis'd him for the good news.

Upon this Subject of Letters, I will add this more to what has been already said, that it is a kind of Writing, wherein my Friends think I can do something; and I am willing to con∣fess, I should rather have chose to publish my Whimsies that way, than any other, had I had to whom to Write; but I wanted such a settled Corrsepondency, as I once had to attract me to it, to raise my Fancy, and maintain the rest against me. For to Traffick with the Wind, as some others have done, and to Forge vain Names to direct my Letters to, in a serious subject, I could never do it but in a Dream, be∣ing a sworn Enemy to all manner of falsifica∣tion: I should have been more diligent, and more confidently secure, had I had a Judicious and Indulgent Friend, to whom to address, than thus to expose my self to various judg∣ments of a whole People, and I am deceiv'd if I had not succeeded better: I have na∣turally a Comick, and familiar Stile; but it is a peculiar one, and not proper for Publick business, but like the Language I speak, too Compact, Irregular, Abrupt, and Singular; and as to Letters of Ceremony, that have no other substance, than a fine contexture of cour∣teous, and obliging Words, I am wholly to seek, I have neither faculty, nor relish, for those tedious offers of Service, and Affection; I am not good natur'd to that degree, and should not forgive my self, should I offer more, than I intend, which is very remote from the present practice; for there never was so ab∣ject, and servile prostitution of tenders of Life,

Soul, Devotion, Adoration, Vassal, Slave, and I cannot tell what, as now; all which expressi∣ons are so commonly, and so indifferently Post∣ed to and fro by every one, and to every one, that when they would profess a greater, and more respective inclination upon more just occasions, they have not where-withal to ex∣press it: I hate all air of Flattery to Death, which is the cause that I naturally fall into a Shy, Rough, and Crude way of speaking, that to such as do not know me, may seem a little to relish of disdain: I Honour those most to whom I shew the least Honour, and Re∣spect, and where my Soul moves with the greatest Cheerfulness, I easily forget the Cere∣monies of Look, and Gesture; I offer my self Faintly, and Bluntly, to them whose I effectu∣ally am, and tender my self the least to him, to whom I am the most devoted: Methinks they should read it in my Heart, and that my expression would but injure the Love I have conceived within. To Welcome, take Leave, give Thanks, Accost, offer my Service, and such verbal Formalities, as the Laws of our modern civility enjoyn. I know no Man so stu∣pidly unprovided of Language as my self: And have never been employ'd in Writing Letters of Favour, and Recommendation, that he, in whose behalf it was, did not think my media∣tion Cold, and Imperfect. The Italians are great Printers of Letters. I do believe I have at least an hundred several Volumes of them; of all which, those of Hannibal Caro, seem to me to be the best: If all the Paper I have

Scribled to the Ladies all the time, when my Hand was really prompted by my Passion, were now in being, there might Peradventure be found a Page worthy to be communicated to our young enamorato's, that are Besotted with that Fury. I always Write my Letters Post, and so precipitously, that though I Write an intolerable ill Hand, I rather choose to do it my self, than to imploy another; for I can find none able to follow me, and never transcribe any; but have accustomed the great ones that know me to endure my Blots, and Dashes, and upon Paper without Fold, or Margent. Those that cost me the most Pains, are the worst of mine; when I once begin to draw it in by Head and Shoulders, 'tis a sign that I am not there. I fall too without premeditation, or design, the first word begets the second, and so to the end of the Chapter. The Letters of this Age consist more in fine Foldings, and Prefaces, than matter; whereas I had rather Write two Letters, than Close, and Fold up one, and always assign that employment to some other; as also when the business of my Letter is dispatch'd, I would with all my heart transferr it to another Hand, to add those long Harangues, Offers, and Prayers, that we place at the Bottom, and should be glad that some new custom would discharge us, of that unnecessary trouble; as also of superscribing them with a long Ribble-row of Qualities, and Titles, which for fear of mistakes, I have several times given over Writing, a••d especi∣ally to Men of the long Robe. There are so

many innovations of Offices, that 'tis hard to place so many Titles of Honour in their pro∣per, and due order, which also being so dear∣ly bought, they are neither to be mistaken, nor omitted without offence. I find the same fault likewise with charging the fronts, and Title Pages of the Books we commit to the Press, with such a clutter of Titles.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Hor. Carm.
• * 1.2

  Virg. Aen. l. 6.
• * 1.3

  Sen. Ep. 6.