第15章

hewillpullthemafterhimiftheydonotvoluntarilyfollow。Ihaveobservedsometomakeexcuses，thattheycannotexpressthemselves，andpretendtohavetheirfanciesfullofagreatmanyveryfinethings，whichyet，forwantofeloquence，theycannotutter;’tisamereshift，andnothingelse。WillyouknowwhatIthinkofit？Ithinktheyarenothingbutshadowsofsomeimperfectimagesandconceptionsthattheyknownotwhattomakeofwithin，norconsequentlybringout;theydonotyetthemselvesunderstandwhattheywouldbeat，andifyoubutobservehowtheyhaggleandstammeruponthepointofparturition，youwillsoonconclude，thattheirlabourisnottodelivery，butaboutconception，andthattheyarebutlickingtheirformlessembryo。Formypart，Ihold，andSocratescommandsit，thatwhoeverhasinhismindasprightlyandclearimagination，hewillexpressitwellenoughinonekindoftongueoranother，and，ifhebedumb，bysigns——

"Verbaquepraevisamremnoninvitasequentur;"

["Onceathingisconceivedinthemind，thewordstoexpressitsoonpresentthemselves。"（"Thewordswillnotreluctantlyfollowthethingpreconceived。"）——Horace，DeArtePoetica。v。311]

Andasanotheraspoeticallysaysinhisprose:

"Quumresanimumoccupavere，verbsambiunt，"

["Whenthingsareonceinthemind，thewordsofferthemselvesreadily。"（"Whenthingshavetakenpossessionofthemind，thewordstrip。"）——Seneca，Controvers。，iii。proem。]

andthisother。

"Ipsaeresverbsrapiunt。"

["Thethingsthemselvesforcethewordstoexpressthem。"

——Cicero，DeFinib。，iii。5。]

Heknowsnothingofablative，conjunctive，substantive，orgrammar，nomorethanhislackey，orafishwifeofthePetitPont;andyetthesewillgiveyouabellyfuloftalk，ifyouwillhearthem，andperadventureshalltripaslittleintheirlanguageasthebestmastersofartinFrance。Heknowsnorhetoric，norhowinaprefacetobribethebenevolenceofthecourteousreader;neitherdoeshecaretoknowit。

Indeedallthisfinedecorationofpaintingiseasilyeffacedbythelustreofasimpleandblunttruth;thesefineflourishesserveonlytoamusethevulgar，ofthemselvesincapableofmoresolidandnutritivediet，asAperveryevidentlydemonstratesinTacitus。"TheambassadorsofSamos，preparedwithalongandelegantoration，cametoCleomenes，kingofSparta，toincitehimtoawaragainstthetyrantPolycrates;

who，afterhehadheardtheirharanguewithgreatgravityandpatience，gavethemthisanswer:"Astotheexordium，Irememberitnot，norconsequentlythemiddleofyourspeech;andforwhatconcernsyourconclusion，Iwillnotdowhatyoudesire:"——[Plutarch，ApothegmsoftheLacedaemonians。]——averyprettyanswerthis，methinks，andapackoflearnedoratorsmostsweetlygravelled。Andwhatdidtheothermansay？

TheAtheniansweretochooseoneoftwoarchitectsforaverygreatbuildingtheyhaddesigned;ofthese，thefirst，apertaffectedfellow，offeredhisserviceinalongpremeditateddiscourseuponthesubjectoftheworkinhand，andbyhisoratoryinclinedthevoicesofthepeopleinhisfavour;buttheotherinthreewords:"OAthenians，whatthismansays，Iwilldo。"——[Plutarch，InstructionstoStatesmen，c。4。]——

WhenCicerowasintheheightandheatofaneloquentharangue，manywerestruckwithadmiration;butCatoonlylaughed，saying，"Wehaveapleasant（mirth—making）consul。"Letitgobefore，orcomeafter，agoodsentenceorathingwellsaid，isalwaysinseason;ifitneithersuitwellwithwhatwentbefore，norhasmuchcoherencewithwhatfollowsafter，itisgoodinitself。Iamnoneofthosewhothinkthatgoodrhymemakesagoodpoem。Lethimmakeshortlong，andlongshortifhewill，’tisnogreatmatter;iftherebeinvention，andthatthewitandjudgmenthavewellperformedtheiroffices，Iwillsay，here’sagoodpoet，butanillrhymer。

"Emunctaenaris，duruscomponereversus。"

["Ofdelicatehumour，butofruggedversification。"

——Horace，Sat，iv。8。]

Letaman，saysHorace，divesthisworkofallmethodandmeasure，"Temporacertamodosque，et，quodpriusordineverbumest，Posteriusfacias，praeponensultimaprimisInveniasetiamdisjectimembrapoetae。"

["Takeawaycertainrhythmsandmeasures，andmakethewordwhichwasfirstinordercomelater，puttingthatwhichshouldbelastfirst，youwillstillfindthescatteredremainsofthepoet。"

——Horace，Sat。，i。4，58。]

hewillneverthemorelosehimselfforthat;theverypieceswillbefinebythemselves。Menander’sanswerhadthismeaning，whobeingreprovedbyafriend，thetimedrawingonatwhichhehadpromisedacomedy，thathehadnotyetfalleninhandwithit;"Itismade，andready，"saidhe，"allbuttheverses。"——[Plutarch，WhethertheAtheniansmoreexcelledinArmsorinLetters。]——Havingcontrivedthesubject，anddisposedthescenesinhisfancy，hetooklittlecarefortherest。

SinceRonsardandDuBellayhavegivenreputationtoourFrenchpoesy，everylittledabbler，foraughtIsee，swellshiswordsashigh，andmakeshiscadencesverynearasharmoniousasthey:

"Plussonat，quamvalet。"

["Moresoundthansense"——Seneca，Ep。，40。]

Forthevulgar，therewereneversomanypoetastersasnow;butthoughtheyfinditnohardmattertoimitatetheirrhyme，theyyetfallinfinitelyshortofimitatingtherichdescriptionsoftheone，andthedelicateinventionoftheotherofthesemasters。

Butwhatwillbecomeofouryounggentleman，ifhebeattackedwiththesophisticsubtletyofsomesyllogism？"AWestfaliahammakesamandrink;drinkquenchesthirst:ergoaWestfaliahamquenchesthirst。"

Why，lethimlaughatit;itwillbemorediscretiontodoso，thantogoabouttoanswerit;orlethimborrowthispleasantevasionfromAristippus:"WhyshouldItroublemyselftountiethat，whichboundasitis，givesmesomuchtrouble？"——[DiogenesLaertius，ii。70。]——

OneofferingatthisdialecticjugglingagainstCleanthes，Chrysippustookhimshort，saying，"Reservethesebaublestoplaywithchildren，anddonotbysuchfooleriesdiverttheseriousthoughtsofamanofyears。"Iftheseridiculoussubtleties，"Contortaetaculeatasophismata，"

asCicerocallsthem，aredesignedtopossesshimwithanuntruth，theyaredangerous;butiftheysignifynomorethanonlytomakehimlaugh，Idonotseewhyamanneedtobefortifiedagainstthem。Therearesomesoridiculous，astogoamileoutoftheirwaytohookinafineword:

"Autquinonverbarebusaptant，sedresextrinsecusarcessunt，quibusverbaconveniant。"

["Whodonotfitwordstothesubject，butseekoutforthingsquitefromthepurposetofitthewords。"——Quintilian，viii。3。]

Andasanothersays，"Qui，alicujusverbidecoreplacentis，vocenturadid，quodnonproposuerantscribere。"

["Whobytheirfondnessofsomefinesoundingword，aretemptedtosomethingtheyhadnointentiontotreatof。"——Seneca，Ep。，59。]

Iformypartratherbringinafinesentencebyheadandshoulderstofitmypurpose，thandivertmydesignstohuntafterasentence。Onthecontrary，wordsaretoserve，andtofollowaman’spurpose;andletGasconcomeinplaywhereFrenchwillnotdo。Iwouldhavethingssoexcelling，andsowhollypossessingtheimaginationofhimthathears，thatheshouldhavesomethingelsetodo，thantothinkofwords。ThewayofspeakingthatIlove，isnaturalandplain，thesameinwritingasinspeaking，andasinewyandmuscularwayofexpressingaman’sself，shortandpithy，notsoelegantandartificialaspromptandvehement;

"Haecdemumsapietdictio，quxferiet;"

["Thathasmostweightandwisdomwhichpiercestheear。"（"Thatutteranceindeedwillhaveatastewhichshallstriketheear。"）

——EpitaphonLucan，inFabricius，Biblioth。Lat。，ii。10。]

ratherhardthanwearisome;freefromaffectation;irregular，incontinuous，andbold;whereeverypiecemakesupanentirebody;notlikeapedant，apreacher，orapleader，butratherasoldier—likestyle，asSuetoniuscallsthatofJuliusCaesar;andyetIseenoreasonwhyheshouldcallitso。Ihaveeverbeenreadytoimitatethenegligentgarb，whichisyetobservableamongsttheyoungmenofourtime，towearmycloakononeshoulder，mycapononeside，astockingindisorder，whichseemstoexpressakindofhaughtydisdainoftheseexoticornaments，andacontemptoftheartificial;butIfindthisnegligenceofmuchbetteruseintheformofspeaking。Allaffectation，particularlyintheFrenchgaietyandfreedom，isungracefulinacourtier，andinamonarchyeverygentlemanoughttobefashionedaccordingtothecourtmodel;forwhichreason，aneasyandnaturalnegligencedoeswell。Inomorelikeawebwheretheknotsandseamsaretobeseen，thanafinefigure，sodelicate，thatamanmaytellallthebonesandveins:

"Quaeveritatioperamdatoratio，incompositasitetsimplex。"

["Letthelanguagethatisdedicatedtotruthbeplainandunaffected。——Seneca，Ep。40。]

"Quisaccuratloquitur，nisiquivultputideloqui？"

["Forwhostudiestospeakaccurately，thatdoesnotatthesametimewishtoperplexhisauditory？"——Idem，Ep。，75。]

Thateloquenceprejudicesthesubjectitwouldadvance，thatwhollyattractsustoitself。Andasinouroutwardhabit，’tisaridiculouseffeminacytodistinguishourselvesbyaparticularandunusualgarborfashion;soinlanguage，tostudynewphrases，andtoaffectwordsthatarenotofcurrentuse，proceedsfromapuerileandscholasticambition。

MayIbeboundtospeaknootherlanguagethanwhatisspokeninthemarket—placesofParis！Aristophanesthegrammarianwasquiteout，whenhereprehendedEpicurusforhisplainwayofdeliveringhimself，andthedesignofhisoratory，whichwasonlyperspicuityofspeech。

Theimitationofwords，byitsownfacility，immediatelydispersesitselfthroughawholepeople;buttheimitationofinventingandfitlyapplyingthosewordsisofaslowerprogress。Thegeneralityofreaders，forhavingfoundalikerobe，verymistakinglyimaginetheyhavethesamebodyandinsidetoo，whereasforceandsinewsarenevertobeborrowed;

thegloss，andoutwardornament，thatis，wordsandelocution，may。MostofthoseIconversewith，speakthesamelanguageIherewrite;butwhethertheythinkthesamethoughtsIcannotsay。TheAthenians，saysPlato，studyfulnessandelegancyofspeaking;theLacedaemoniansaffectbrevity，andthoseofCretetoaimmoreatthefecundityofconceptionthanthefertilityofspeech;andthesearethebest。Zenousedtosaythathehadtwosortsofdisciples，onethathecalledcy—————ous，curioustolearnthings，andthesewerehisfavourites;theother，aoy———ous，thatcaredfornothingbutwords。Notthatfinespeakingisnotaverygoodandcommendablequality;butnotsoexcellentandsonecessaryassomewouldmakeit;andIamscandalisedthatourwholelifeshouldbespentinnothingelse。Iwouldfirstunderstandmyownlanguage，andthatofmyneighbours，withwhommostofmybusinessandconversationlies。

NodoubtbutGreekandLatinareverygreatornaments，andofverygreatuse，butwebuythemtoodear。Iwillherediscoveroneway，whichhasbeenexperimentedinmyownperson，bywhichtheyaretobehadbettercheap，andsuchmaymakeuseofitaswill。Mylatefatherhavingmadethemostpreciseinquirythatanymancouldpossiblymakeamongstmenofthegreatestlearningandjudgment，ofanexactmethodofeducation，wasbythemcautionedofthisinconveniencetheninuse，andmadetobelieve，thatthetedioustimeweappliedtothelearningofthetonguesofthemwhohadthemfornothing，wasthesolecausewecouldnotarrivetothegrandeurofsoulandperfectionofknowledge，oftheancientGreeksandRomans。Idonot，however，believethattobetheonlycause。Soitis，thattheexpedientmyfatherfoundoutforthiswas，thatinmyinfancy，andbeforeIbegantospeak，hecommittedmetothecareofaGerman，whosincediedafamousphysicianinFrance，totallyignorantofourlanguage，andveryfluentandagreatcriticinLatin。Thisman，whomhehadfetchedoutofhisowncountry，andwhomheentertainedwithagreatsalaryforthisonlyoneend，hadmecontinuallywithhim;hehadwithhimalsojoinedtwoothers，ofinferiorlearning，toattendme，andtorelievehim;thesespoketomeinnootherlanguagebutLatin。Astotherestofhishousehold，itwasaninviolablerule，thatneitherhimself，normymother，norvalet，norchambermaid，shouldspeakanythinginmycompany，butsuchLatinwordsaseachonehadlearnedtogabblewithme。

——[Thesepassagesare，thebasisofasmallvolumebytheAbbeMangin:

"EducationdeMontaigne;ou，L’Artd’enseignerleLatinA1’instardesmereslatines。]——Itisnottobeimaginedhowgreatanadvantagethisprovedtothewholefamily;myfatherandmymotherbythismeanslearnedLatinenoughtounderstanditperfectlywell，andtospeakittosuchadegreeaswassufficientforanynecessaryuse;asalsothoseoftheservantsdidwhoweremostfrequentlywithme。Inshort，weLatineditatsucharate，thatitoverflowedtoalltheneighbouringvillages，wherethereyetremain，thathaveestablishedthemselvesbycustom，severalLatinappellationsofartisansandtheirtools。Asforwhatconcernsmyself，IwasabovesixyearsofagebeforeIunderstoodeitherFrenchorPerigordin，anymorethanArabic;andwithoutart，book，grammar，orprecept，whipping，ortheexpenseofatear，Ihad，bythattime，learnedtospeakaspureLatinasmymasterhimself，forIhadnomeansofmixingitupwithanyother。If，forexample，theyweretogivemeathemeafterthecollegefashion，theygaveittoothersinFrench;

buttometheyweretogiveitinbadLatin，toturnitintothatwhichwasgood。AndNicolasGrouchy，whowroteabookDeComitiisRomanorum;

GuillaumeGuerente，whowroteacommentuponAristotle:GeorgeBuchanan，thatgreatScottishpoet:andMarcAntoineMuret（whombothFranceandItalyhaveacknowledgedforthebestoratorofhistime），mydomestictutors，haveallofthemoftentoldmethatIhadinmyinfancythatlanguagesoveryfluentandready，thattheywereafraidtoenterintodiscoursewithme。AndparticularlyBuchanan，whomIsincesawattendingthelateMareschaldeBrissac，thentoldme，thathewasabouttowriteatreatiseofeducation，theexampleofwhichheintendedtotakefrommine;forhewasthentutortothatComtedeBrissacwhoafterwardprovedsovaliantandsobraveagentleman。

AstoGreek，ofwhichIhavebutameresmattering，myfatheralsodesignedtohaveittaughtmebyadevice，butanewone，andbywayofsport;tossingourdeclensionstoandfro，afterthemannerofthosewho，bycertaingamesoftables，learngeometryandarithmetic。Forhe，amongstotherrules，hadbeenadvisedtomakemerelishscienceanddutybyanunforcedwill，andofmyownvoluntarymotion，andtoeducatemysoulinalllibertyanddelight，withoutanyseverityorconstraint;

whichhewasanobserveroftosuchadegree，evenofsuperstition，ifI

maysayso，thatsomebeingofopinionthatittroublesanddisturbsthebrainsofchildrensuddenlytowaketheminthemorning，andtosnatchthemviolently——andover—hastilyfromsleep（whereintheyaremuchmoreprofoundlyinvolvedthanwe），hecausedmetobewakenedbythesoundofsomemusicalinstrument，andwasneverunprovidedofamusicianforthatpurpose。Bythisexampleyoumayjudgeoftherest，thisalonebeingsufficienttorecommendboththeprudenceandtheaffectionofsogoodafather，whoisnottobeblamedifhedidnotreapfruitsanswerabletosoexquisiteaculture。Ofthis，twothingswerethecause:first，asterileandimpropersoil;for，thoughIwasofastrongandhealthfulconstitution，andofadispositiontolerablysweetandtractable，yetI

was，withal，soheavy，idle，andindisposed，thattheycouldnotrousemefrommysloth，noteventogetmeouttoplay。WhatIsaw，Isawclearlyenough，andunderthisheavycomplexionnourishedaboldimaginationandopinionsabovemyage。Ihadaslowwitthatwouldgonofasterthanitwasled;atardyunderstanding，alanguishinginvention，andaboveall，incredibledefectofmemory;sothat，itisnowonder，iffromallthesenothingconsiderablecouldbeextracted。Secondly，likethosewho，impatientofalongandsteadycure，submittoallsortsofprescriptionsandrecipes，thegoodmanbeingextremelytimorousofanywayfailinginathinghehadsowhollysethisheartupon，sufferedhimselfatlasttobeoverruledbythecommonopinions，whichalwaysfollowtheirleaderasaflightofcranes，andcomplyingwiththemethodofthetime，havingnomorethosepersonshehadbroughtoutofItaly，andwhohadgivenhimthefirstmodelofeducation，abouthim，hesentmeatsixyearsofagetotheCollegeofGuienne，atthattimethebestandmostflourishinginFrance。Andthereitwasnotpossibletoaddanythingtothecarehehadtoprovidemethemostabletutors，withallothercircumstancesofeducation，reservingalsoseveralparticularrulescontrarytothecollegepractice;butsoitwas，thatwithalltheseprecautions，itwasacollegestill。MyLatinimmediatelygrewcorrupt，ofwhichalsobydiscontinuanceIhavesincelostallmannerofuse;sothatthisnewwayofeducationservedmetonootherend，thanonlyatmyfirstcomingtoprefermetothefirstforms;foratthirteenyearsold，thatIcameoutofthecollege，Ihadrunthroughmywholecourse（astheycallit），and，intruth，withoutanymannerofadvantage，thatIcanhonestlybragof，inallthistime。

ThefirsttastewhichIhadforbookscametomefromthepleasureinreadingthefablesofOvid’sMetamorphoses;for，beingaboutsevenoreightyearsold，Igaveupallotherdiversionstoreadthem，bothbyreasonthatthiswasmyownnaturallanguage，theeasiestbookthatIwasacquaintedwith，andforthesubject，themostaccommodatedtothecapacityofmyage:forasfortheLancelotoftheLake，theAmadisofGaul，theHuonofBordeaux，andsuchfarragos，bywhichchildrenaremostdelightedwith，Ihadneversomuchasheardtheirnames，nomorethanI

yetknowwhattheycontain;soexactwasthedisciplinewhereinIwasbroughtup。Butthiswasenoughtomakemeneglecttheotherlessonsthatwereprescribedme;andhereitwasinfinitelytomyadvantage，tohavetodowithanunderstandingtutor，whoverywellknewdiscreetlytoconniveatthisandothertruantriesofthesamenature;forbythismeansIranthroughVirgil’sAEneid，andthenTerence，andthenPlautus，andthensomeItaliancomedies，alluredbythesweetnessofthesubject;

whereashadhebeensofoolishastohavetakenmeoffthisdiversion，Idoreallybelieve，Ihadbroughtawaynothingfromthecollegebutahatredofbooks，asalmostallouryounggentlemendo。Buthecarriedhimselfverydiscreetlyinthatbusiness，seemingtotakenonotice，andallowingmeonlysuchtimeasIcouldstealfrommyotherregularstudies，whichwhettedmyappetitetodevourthosebooks。Forthechiefthingsmyfatherexpectedfromtheirendeavourstowhomhehaddeliveredmeforeducation，wereaffabilityandgood—humour;and，tosaythetruth，mymannershadnoothervicebutslothandwantofmetal。ThefearwasnotthatIshoulddoill，butthatIshoulddonothing;nobodyprognosticatedthatIshouldbewicked，butonlyuseless;theyforesawidleness，butnomalice;andIfinditfallsoutaccordingly:

ThecomplaintsIhearofmyselfarethese:"Heisidle，coldintheofficesoffriendshipandrelation，andinthoseofthepublic，tooparticular，toodisdainful。"Butthemostinjuriousdonotsay，"Whyhashetakensuchathing？Whyhashenotpaidsuchanone？"but，"Whydoeshepartwithnothing？Whydoeshenotgive？"AndIshouldtakeitforafavourthatmenwouldexpectfrommenogreatereffectsofsupererogationthanthese。ButtheyareunjusttoexactfrommewhatIdonotowe，farmorerigorouslythantheyrequirefromothersthatwhichtheydoowe。

Incondemningmetoit，theyeffacethegratificationoftheaction，anddeprivemeofthegratitudethatwouldbemydueforit;whereastheactivewell—doingoughttobeofsomuchthegreatervaluefrommyhands，byhowmuchIhaveneverbeenpassivethatwayatall。Icanthemorefreelydisposeofmyfortunethemoreitismine，andofmyselfthemoreIammyown。Nevertheless，ifIweregoodatsettingoutmyownactions，Icould，peradventure，verywellrepelthesereproaches，andcouldgivesometounderstand，thattheyarenotsomuchoffended，thatIdonotenough，asthatIamabletodoagreatdealmorethanIdo。

Yetforallthisheavydispositionofmine，mymind，whenretiredintoitself，wasnotaltogetherwithoutstrongmovements，solidandclearjudgmentsaboutthoseobjectsitcouldcomprehend，andcouldalso，withoutanyhelps，digestthem;but，amongstotherthings，Idoreallybelieve，ithadbeentotallyimpossibletohavemadeittosubmitbyviolenceandforce。ShallIhereacquaintyouwithonefacultyofmyyouth？Ihadgreatassuranceofcountenance，andflexibilityofvoiceandgesture，inapplyingmyselftoanypartIundertooktoact:forbefore——

"Alterabundecimotummevixceperatannus，"

["Ihadjustenteredmytwelfthyear。"——Virgil，Bucol。，39。]

IplayedthechiefpartsintheLatintragediesofBuchanan，Guerente，andMuret，thatwerepresentedinourCollegeofGuiennewithgreatdignity:nowAndreasGoveanus，ourprincipal，asinallotherpartsofhischarge，was，withoutcomparison，thebestofthatemploymentinFrance;andIwaslookeduponasoneofthebestactors。’TisanexercisethatIdonotdisapproveinyoungpeopleofcondition;andI

havesinceseenourprinces，aftertheexampleofsomeoftheancients，inpersonhandsomelyandcommendablyperformtheseexercises;itwasevenallowedtopersonsofqualitytomakeaprofessionofitinGreece。

"Aristonitragicoactoriremaperit:huicetgenusetfortunahonestaerant:necars，quianihiltaleapudGraecospudoriest，eadeformabat。"

["HeimpartedthismattertoAristothetragedian;amanofgoodfamilyandfortune，whichneitherofthemreceiveanyblemishbythatprofession;nothingofthiskindbeingreputedadisparagementinGreece。"——Livy，xxiv。24。]

Nay，Ihavealwaystaxedthosewithimpertinencewhocondemntheseentertainments，andwithinjusticethosewhorefusetoadmitsuchcomediansasareworthseeingintoourgoodtowns，andgrudgethepeoplethatpublicdiversion。Well—governedcorporationstakecaretoassembletheircitizens，notonlytothesolemndutiesofdevotion，butalsotosportsandspectacles。Theyfindsocietyandfriendshipaugmentedbyit;

andbesides，cantherepossiblybeallowedamoreorderlyandregulardiversionthanwhatisperformedmthesightofeveryone，andveryofteninthepresenceofthesuprememagistratehimself？AndI，formypart，shouldthinkitreasonable，thattheprinceshouldsometimesgratifyhispeopleathisownexpense，outofpaternalgoodnessandaffection;andthatinpopulouscitiesthereshouldbetheatreserectedforsuchentertainments，ifbuttodivertthemfromworseandprivateactions。

Toreturntomysubject，thereisnothinglikealluringtheappetiteandaffections;otherwiseyoumakenothingbutsomanyassesladenwithbooks;bydintofthelash，yougivethemtheirpocketfuloflearningtokeep;whereas，todowellyoushouldnotonlylodgeitwiththem，butmakethemespouseit。

CHAPTERXXVI

THATITISFOLLYTOMEASURETRUTHANDERRORBYOUROWNCAPACITY

’Tisnot，perhaps，withoutreason，thatweattributefacilityofbeliefandeasinessofpersuasiontosimplicityandignorance:forIfancyI

haveheardbeliefcomparedtotheimpressionofasealuponthesoul，whichbyhowmuchsofterandoflessresistanceitis，isthemoreeasytobeimpressedupon。

"Utnecesseest，lanceminLibra，ponderibusimpositis，deprimi，sicanimumperspicuiscedere。"

["Asthescaleofthebalancemustgivewaytotheweightthatpressesitdown，sothemindyieldstodemonstration。"

——Cicero，Acad。，ii。12。]

Byhowmuchthesoulismoreemptyandwithoutcounterpoise，withsomuchgreaterfacilityityieldsundertheweightofthefirstpersuasion。Andthisisthereasonthatchildren，thecommonpeople，women，andsickfolks，aremostapttobeledbytheears。Butthen，ontheotherhand，’tisafoolishpresumptiontoslightandcondemnallthingsforfalsethatdonotappeartousprobable;whichistheordinaryviceofsuchasfancythemselveswiserthantheirneighbours。Iwasmyselfonceoneofthose;andifIheardtalkofdeadfolkswalking，ofprophecies，enchantments，witchcrafts，oranyotherstoryIhadnomindtobelieve:

"Somnia，terroresmagicos，miracula，sagas，Nocturnoslemures，portentaqueThessala，"

["Dreams，magicterrors，marvels，sorceries，Thessalianprodigies。"

——Horace。Ep。ii。3，208。]

Ipresentlypitiedthepoorpeoplethatwereabusedbythesefollies。

WhereasInowfind，thatImyselfwastobepitiedasmuch，atleast，asthey;notthatexperiencehastaughtmeanythingtoaltermyformeropinions，thoughmycuriosityhasendeavouredthatway;butreasonhasinstructedme，thatthusresolutelytocondemnanythingforfalseandimpossible，isarrogantlyandimpiouslytocircumscribeandlimitthewillofGod，andthepowerofourmothernature，withintheboundsofmyowncapacity，thanwhichnofollycanbegreater。Ifwegivethenamesofmonsterandmiracletoeverythingourreasoncannotcomprehend，howmanyarecontinuallypresentedbeforeoureyes？Letusbutconsiderthroughwhatclouds，andasitweregropinginthedark，ourteachersleadustotheknowledgeofmostofthethingsaboutus;assuredlyweshallfindthatitisrathercustomthanknowledgethattakesawaytheirstrangeness——

"Jamnemo，fessussaturusquevidendi，Suspicereincoelidignaturlucidatempla;"

["Wearyofthesight，nownoonedeignstolookuptoheaven’slucidtemples。"——Lucretius，ii。1037。Thetexthas’statiatevidenai’]

andthatifthosethingswerenownewlypresentedtous，weshouldthinkthemasincredible，ifnotmore，thananyothers。

"SinuncprimummortalibusadsintEximproviso，sisintobjectarepente，Nilmagishisrebuspoteratmirabiledici，Auteminusantequodauderentforecrederegentes。"

[Lucretius，ii。1032。Thesenseofthepassageisintheprecedingsentence。]

Hethathadneverseenariver，imaginedthefirsthemetwithtobethesea;andthegreatestthingsthathavefallenwithinourknowledge，weconcludetheextremesthatnaturemakesofthekind。

"Scilicetetfluviusquinonestmaximus，ei’stQuinonantealiquemmajoremvidit;etingensArbor，homoquevidetur，etomniadegenereomniMaximaquaeviditquisque，haecingentiafingit。"

["Alittleriverseemstohim，whohasneverseenalargerriver，amightystream;andsowithotherthings——atree，aman——anythingappearsgreatesttohimthatneverknewagreater。"——Idem，vi。674。]

"Consuetudineoculorumassuescuntanimi，nequeadmirantur，nequerequiruntrationesearumrerum，quassempervident。"

["Thingsgrowfamiliartomen’smindsbybeingoftenseen;sothattheyneitheradmirenoraretheyinquisitiveaboutthingstheydailysee。"——Cicero，DeNaturaDeor。，lib。ii。38。]

Thenovelty，ratherthanthegreatnessofthings，temptsustoinquireintotheircauses。Wearetojudgewithmorereverence，andwithgreateracknowledgmentofourownignoranceandinfirmity，oftheinfinitepowerofnature。Howmanyunlikelythingsaretheretestifiedbypeopleworthyoffaith，which，ifwecannotpersuadeourselvesabsolutelytobelieve，weoughtatleasttoleavetheminsuspense;for，tocondemnthemasimpossible，isbyatemerariouspresumptiontopretendtoknowtheutmostboundsofpossibility。Didwerightlyunderstandthedifferencebetwixttheimpossibleandtheunusual，andbetwixtthatwhichiscontrarytotheorderandcourseofnatureandcontrarytothecommonopinionofmen，innotbelievingrashly，andontheotherhand，innotbeingtooincredulous，weshouldobservetheruleof’Nequidnimis’enjoinedbyChilo。

WhenwefindinFroissart，thattheComtedeFoixknewinBearnthedefeatofJohn，kingofCastile，atJuberathenextdayafterithappened，andthemeansbywhichhetellsushecametodoso，wemaybeallowedtobealittlemerryatit，asalsoatwhatourannalsreport，thatPopeHonorius，thesamedaythatKingPhilipAugustusdiedatMantes，performedhispublicobsequiesatRome，andcommandedthelikethroughoutItaly，thetestimonyoftheseauthorsnotbeing，perhaps，ofauthorityenoughtorestrainus。ButwhatifPlutarch，besidesseveralexamplesthatheproducesoutofantiquity，tellsus，heknowsofcertainknowledge，thatinthetimeofDomitian，thenewsofthebattlelostbyAntonyinGermanywaspublishedatRome，manydays’journeyfromthence，anddispersedthroughoutthewholeworld，thesamedayitwasfought;

andifCaesarwasofopinion，thatithasoftenhappened，thatthereporthasprecededtheincident，shallwenotsay，thatthesesimplepeoplehavesufferedthemselvestobedeceivedwiththevulgar，fornothavingbeensoclear—sightedaswe？Isthereanythingmoredelicate，moreclear，moresprightly;thanPliny’sjudgment，whenheispleasedtosetittowork？Anythingmoreremotefromvanity？Settingasidehislearning，ofwhichImakelessaccount，inwhichoftheseexcellencesdoanyofusexcelhim？Andyetthereisscarceayoungschoolboythatdoesnotconvicthimofuntruth，andthatpretendsnottoinstructhimintheprogressoftheworksofnature。WhenwereadinBouchetthemiraclesofSt。Hilary’srelics，awaywiththem:hisauthorityisnotsufficienttodepriveusofthelibertyofcontradictinghim;butgenerallyandoffhandtocondemnallsuchlikestories，seemstomeasingularimpudence。ThatgreatSt。Augustin’testifiestohaveseenablindchildrecoversightupontherelicsofSt。GervasiusandSt。ProtasiusatMilan;awomanatCarthagecuredofacancer，bythesignofthecrossmadeuponherbyawomannewlybaptized;Hesperius，afamiliarfriendofhis，tohavedrivenawaythespiritsthathauntedhishouse，withalittleearthofthesepulchreofourLord;whichearth，beingalsotransportedthenceintothechurch，aparalytictohavetherebeensuddenlycuredbyit;awomaninaprocession，havingtouchedSt。Stephen’sshrinewithanosegay，andrubbinghereyeswithit，tohaverecoveredhersight，lostmanyyearsbefore;withseveralothermiraclesofwhichheprofesseshimselftohavebeenaneyewitness:ofwhatshallweexcusehimandthetwoholybishops，AureliusandMaximinus，bothofwhomheatteststothetruthofthesethings？Shallitbeofignorance，simplicity，andfacility;orofmaliceandimposture？Isanymannowlivingsoimpudentastothinkhimselfcomparabletotheminvirtue，piety，learning，judgment，oranykindofperfection？

"Qui，utrationemnullamafferrent，ipsaauctoritatemefrangerent。"

["Who，thoughtheyshouldadducenoreason，wouldconvincemewiththeirauthorityalone。"——Cicero，Tusc。Quaes，i。21。]

’Tisapresumptionofgreatdangerandconsequence，besidestheabsurdtemerityitdrawsafterit，tocontemnwhatwedonotcomprehend。Forafter，accordingtoyourfineunderstanding，youhaveestablishedthelimitsoftruthanderror，andthat，afterwards，thereappearsanecessityuponyouofbelievingstrangerthingsthanthoseyouhavecontradicted，youarealreadyobligedtoquityourlimits。Now，thatwhichseemstomesomuchtodisorderourconsciencesinthecommotionswearenowinconcerningreligion，istheCatholicsdispensingsomuchwiththeirbelief。Theyfancytheyappearmoderate，andwise，whentheygranttotheiropponentssomeofthearticlesinquestion;but，besidesthattheydonotdiscernwhatadvantageitistothosewithwhomwecontend，tobegintogivegroundandtoretire，andhowmuchthisanimatesourenemytofollowhisblow:thesearticleswhichtheyselectasthingsindifferent，aresometimesofverygreatimportance。Weareeitherwhollyandabsolutelytosubmitourselvestotheauthorityofourecclesiasticalpolity，ortotallythrowoffallobediencetoit:’tisnotforustodeterminewhatandhowmuchobedienceweowetoit。AndthisI

cansay，ashavingmyselfmadetrialofit，thathavingformerlytakenthelibertyofmyownswingandfancy，andomittedorneglectedcertainrulesofthedisciplineofourChurch，whichseemedtomevainandstrangecomingafterwardstodiscourseofitwithlearnedmen，Ihavefoundthosesamethingstobebuiltuponverygoodandsolidgroundandstrongfoundation;andthatnothingbutstupidityandignorancemakesusreceivethemwithlessreverencethantherest。Whydowenotconsiderwhatcontradictionswefindinourownjudgments;howmanythingswereyesterdayarticlesofourfaith，thatto—dayappearnootherthanfables？