第53章

Letamanbutobservewhoareofgreatestauthorityincities，andwhobestdotheirownbusiness;weshallfindthattheyarecommonlymenoftheleastparts:women，children，andmadmenhavehadthefortunetogoverngreatkingdomsequallywellwiththewisestprinces，andThucydidessays，thatthestupidmoreordinarilydoitthanthoseofbetterunderstandings;weattributetheeffectsoftheirgoodfortunetotheirprudence:

"UtquisqueFortunautitur，Itapraecellet;atqueexindesapereillumomnesdicimus;"

["HemakeshiswaywhoknowshowtouseFortune，andthereuponweallcallhimwise。"——Plautus，Pseudol。，ii。3，13。]

whereforeIsayunreservedly，eventsareaverypoortestimonyofourworthandparts。

Now，Iwasuponthispoint，thatthereneedsnomorebuttoseeamanpromotedtodignity;thoughweknewhimbutthreedaysbeforeamanoflittleregard，yetanimageofgrandeurofsufficiencyinsensiblystealsintoouropinion，andwepersuadeourselvesthat，beingaugmentedinreputationandtrain，heisalsoincreasedinmerit;wejudgeofhim，notaccordingtohisworth，butaswedobycounters，accordingtotheprerogativeofhisplace。Ifithappensothathefallagain，andbemixedwiththecommoncrowd，everyoneinquireswithamazementintothecauseofhishavingbeenraisedsohigh。"Isthishe，"saythey，"washenowiserwhenhewasthere？Doprincessatisfythemselveswithsolittle？Truly，wewereingoodhands。"ThisisathingthatIhaveoftenseeninmytime。Nay，eventheverydisguiseofgrandeurrepresentedinourcomediesinsomesortmovesandgullsus。ThatwhichImyselfadoreinkingsisthecrowdoftheiradorers;allreverenceandsubmissionareduetothem，exceptthatoftheunderstanding:myreasonisnotobligedtobowandbend;mykneesare。MelanthiusbeingaskedwhathethoughtofthetragedyofDionysius，"Icouldnotseeit，"saidhe，"itwassocloudedwithlanguage";somostofthosewhojudgeofthediscoursesofgreatmenoughttosay，"Ididnotunderstandhiswords，theyweresocloudedwithgravity，grandeur，andmajesty。"AntisthenesonedaytriedtopersuadetheAthenianstogiveorderthattheirassesmightbeemployedintillingthegroundaswellasthehorseswere;towhichitwasansweredthatthatanimalwasnotdestinedforsuchaservice:"That’sallone，"repliedhe，"youhaveonlytoorderit:forthemostignorantandincapablemenyouemployinthecommandsofyourwarsincontinentlybecomeworthyenough，becauseyouemploythem";towhichthecustomofsomanypeople，whocanonisethekingtheyhavechosenoutoftheirownbody，andarenotcontentonlytohonour，butmustadorethem，comesverynear。ThoseofMexico，aftertheceremoniesoftheirking’scoronationareover，darenomorelookhimintheface;

but，asiftheyhaddeifiedhimbyhisroyalty。Amongsttheoathstheymakehimtaketomaintaintheirreligion，theirlaws，andliberties，tobevaliant，just，andmild，hemoreoverswearstomakethesunrunhiscourseinhiswontedlight，todrainthecloudsatfitseasons，tomakeriversruntheircourse，andtocausetheearthtobearallthingsnecessaryforhispeople。

Idifferfromthiscommonfashion，andammoreapttosuspectthecapacitywhenIseeitaccompaniedwiththatgrandeuroffortuneandpublicapplause;wearetoconsiderofwhatadvantageitistospeakwhenamanpleases，tochoosehissubject，tointerruptorchangeit，withamagisterialauthority;toprotecthimselffromtheoppositionsofothersbyanod，asmile，orsilence，inthepresenceofanassemblythattrembleswithreverenceandrespect。Amanofaprodigiousfortunecomingtogivehisjudgmentuponsomeslightdisputethatwasfoolishlysetonfootathistable，beganinthesewords:"Itcanbenootherbutaliarorafoolthatwillsayotherwisethansoandso。"Pursuethisphilosophicalpointwithadaggerinyourhand。

ThereisanotherobservationIhavemade，fromwhichIdrawgreatadvantage;whichis，thatinconferencesanddisputes，everywordthatseemstobegood，isnotimmediatelytobeaccepted。Mostmenarerichinborrowedsufficiency:amanmaysayagoodthing，giveagoodanswer，citeagoodsentence，withoutatallseeingtheforceofeithertheoneortheother。Thatamanmaynotunderstandallheborrows，mayperhapsbeverifiedinmyself。Amanmustnotalwayspresentlyyield，whattruthorbeautysoevermayseemtobeintheoppositeargument;eitherhemuststoutlymeetit，orretire，undercolourofnotunderstandingit，totry，onallparts，howitislodgedintheauthor。Itmayhappenthatweentangleourselves，andhelptostrengthenthepointitself。Ihavesometimes，inthenecessityandheatofthecombat，madeanswersthathavegonethroughandthrough，beyondmyexpectationorhope;Ionlygavetheminnumber，theywerereceivedinweight。As，whenIcontendwithavigorousman，Ipleasemyselfwithanticipatinghisconclusions，Ieasehimofthetroubleofexplaininghimself，Istrivetoforestallhisimaginationwhilstitisyetspringingandimperfect;theorderandpertinencyofhisunderstandingwarnandthreatenmeafaroff:Idealquitecontrarywiththeothers;Imustunderstand，andpresupposenothingbutbythem。Iftheydetermineingeneralwords，"thisisgood，thatisnaught，"andthattheyhappentobeintheright，seeifitbenotfortunethathitsitoffforthem:letthemalittlecircumscribeandlimittheirjudgment;why，orhow，itisso。TheseuniversaljudgmentsthatIseesocommon，signifynothing;thesearemenwhosaluteawholepeopleinacrowdtogether;they，whohavearealacquaintance，takenoticeofandsalutethemindividuallyandbyname。But’tisahazardousattempt;andfromwhichIhave，morethaneveryday，seenitfallout，thatweakunderstandings，havingamindtoappearingenious，intakingnotice，astheyreadabook，ofwhatisbestandmosttobeadmired，fixtheiradmirationuponsomethingsoveryillchosen，thatinsteadofmakingusdiscerntheexcellenceoftheauthor;theymakeusverywellseetheirownignorance。Thisexclamationissafe，"Thatisfine，"afterhavingheardawholepageofVirgil;bythatthecunningsortsavethemselves;buttoundertaketofollowhimlinebyline，and，withanexpertandtriedjudgment，toobservewhereagoodauthorexcelshimself，weighingthewords，phrases，inventions，andhisvariousexcellences，oneafteranother;keepalooffromthat:

"Videndumest，nonmodoquidquisqueloquatur，sedetiamquidquisquesentiat，atqueetiamquadecausaquisquesentiat。"

[Amanisnotonlytoexaminewhateveryonesays，butalsowhateveryonethinks，andfromwhatreasoneveryonethinks。

——"Cicero，DeOffic:，i。41。]

Ieverydayhearfoolssaythingsthatarenotfoolish:theysayagoodthing;letusexaminehowfartheyunderstandit，whencetheyhaveit，andwhattheymeanbyit。Wehelpthemtomakeuseofthisfineexpression，ofthisfinesentence，whichisnoneoftheirs;theyonlyhaveitinkeeping;theyhavebolteditoutataventure;weplaceitforthemincreditandesteem。Youlendthemyourhand。Towhatpurpose？

theydonotthinkthemselvesobligedtoyouforit，andbecomemoreineptstill。Don’thelpthem;letthemalone;theywillhandlethematterlikepeoplewhoareafraidofburningtheirfingers;theydarechangeneitheritsseatnorlight，norbreakintoit;shakeitneversolittle，itslipsthroughtheirfingers;theygiveitup，beitneversostrongorfairtheyarefineweapons，butillhafted:HowmanytimeshaveIseentheexperienceofthis？Now，ifyoucometoexplainanythingtothem，andtoconfirmthem，theycatchatit，andpresentlyrobyouoftheadvantageofyourinterpretation;"ItwaswhatIwasabouttosay;itwasjustmyidea;ifIdidnotexpressitso，itwasforwantoflanguage。"Merewind！Maliceitselfmustbeemployedtocorrectthisarrogantignorance。

ThedogmaofHegesias，"thatweareneithertohatenoraccuse，butinstruct，"iscorrectelsewhere;buthere’tisinjusticeandinhumanitytorelieveandsethimrightwhostandsinnoneedon’t，andistheworsefor’t。Ilovetoletthemstepdeeperintothemire;andsodeep，that，ifitbepossible，theymayatlastdiscerntheirerror。

Follyandabsurdityarenottobecuredbybareadmonition;andwhatCyrusansweredtohim，whoimportunedhimtoharanguehisarmy，uponthepointofbattle，"thatmendonotbecomevaliantandwarlikeuponasudden，byafineoration，nomorethanamanbecomesagoodmusicianbyhearingafinesong，"mayproperlybesaidofsuchanadmonitionasthis。

Theseareapprenticeshipsthataretobeservedbeforehand，byalongandcontinuededucation。Weowethiscareandthisassiduityofcorrectionandinstructiontoourownpeople;buttogopreachtothefirstpasser—

by，andtobecometutortotheignoranceandfollyofthefirstwemeet，isathingthatIabhor。Irarelydoit，eveninprivateconversation，andrathergiveupthewholethingthanproceedtotheseinitiatoryandschoolinstructions;myhumourisunfiteithertospeakorwriteforbeginners;butforthingsthataresaidincommondiscourse，oramongstotherthings，Ineveropposethemeitherbywordorsign，howfalseorabsurdsoever。

Astotherest，nothingvexesmesomuchinfollyasthatitismoresatisfiedwithitselfthananyreasoncanreasonablybe。’Tisunfortunatethatprudenceforbidsustosatisfyandtrustourselves，andalwaysdismissesustimorousanddiscontented;whereasobstinacyandtemerityfillthosewhoarepossessedwiththemwithjoyandassurance。

’Tisforthemostignoranttolookatothermenovertheshoulder，alwaysreturningfromthecombatfullofjoyandtriumph。Andmoreover，forthemostpart，thisarroganceofspeechandgaietyofcountenancegivesthemthebetterofitintheopinionoftheaudience，whichiscommonlyweakandincapableofwelljudginganddiscerningtherealadvantage。

Obstinacyofopinionandheatinargumentarethesurestproofsoffolly;

isthereanythingsoassured，resolute，disdainful，contemplative，seriousandgraveastheass？

Maywenotincludeunderthetitleofconferenceandcommunicationthequickandsharpreparteeswhichmirthandfamiliarityintroduceamongstfriends，pleasantlyandwittilyjestingandrallyingwithoneanother？

’Tisanexerciseforwhichmynaturalgaietyrendersmefitenough，andwhich，ifitbenotsotenseandseriousastheotherIspokeofbutnow，is，asLycurgusthought，nolesssmartandingenious，noroflessutility。Formypart，Icontributetoitmorelibertythanwit，andhavethereinmoreofluckthaninvention;butIamperfectinsuffering，forI

endurearetaliationthatisnotonlytart，butindiscreettoboot，withoutbeingmovedatall;andwhoeverattacksme，ifIhavenotabriskanswerimmediatelyready，Idonotstudytopursuethepointwithatediousandimpertinentcontest，borderinguponobstinacy，butletitpass，andhangingdowncheerfullymyears，defermyrevengetoanotherandbettertime:thereisnomerchantthatalwaysgains:Mostmenchangetheircountenanceandtheirvoicewheretheirwitsfail，andbyanunseasonableanger，insteadofrevengingthemselves，accuseatoncetheirownfollyandimpatience。Inthisjollity，wesometimespinchthesecretstringsofourimperfectionswhich，atanotherandgravertime，wecannottouchwithoutoffence，andsoprofitablygiveoneanotherahintofourdefects。Thereareotherjeuxdemain，——[practicaljokes]——rudeandindiscreet，aftertheFrenchmanner，thatImortallyhate;myskinisverytenderandsensible:Ihaveinmytimeseentwoprincesofthebloodburieduponthatveryaccount。’Tisunhandsometofightinplay。Astotherest，whenIhaveamindtojudgeofanyone，Iaskhimhowfarheiscontentedwithhimself;towhatdegreehisspeakingorhisworkpleaseshim。Iwillnoneofthesefineexcuses，"Ididitonlyinsport:

’Ablatummediisopusestincudibusistud。’

["Thatworkwastakenfromtheanvilhalffinished。"

——Ovid，Trist。，i。6，29。]

Iwasnotanhouraboutit:Ihaveneverlookedatitsince。"Well，then，sayI，laytheseaside，andgivemeaperfectone，suchasyouwouldbemeasuredby。Andthen，whatdoyouthinkisthebestthinginyourwork？isitthispartorthat？isitgraceorthematter，theinvention，thejudgment，orthelearning？ForIfindthatmenare，commonly，aswideofthemarkinjudgingoftheirownworks，asofthoseofothers;notonlybyreasonofthekindnesstheyhaveforthem，butforwantofcapacitytoknowanddistinguishthem:thework，byitsownforceandfortune，maysecondtheworkman，andsometimesoutstriphim，beyondhisinventionandknowledge。Formypart，Ijudgeofthevalueofothermen’sworksmoreobscurelythanofmyown;andplacetheEssays，nowhigh，orlow，withgreatdoubtandinconstancy。Thereareseveralbooksthatareusefulupontheaccountoftheirsubjects，fromwhichtheauthorderivesnopraise;andgoodbooks，aswellasgoodworks，thatshametheworkman。Imaywritethemannerofourfeasts，andthefashionofourclothes，andmaywritethemill;Imaypublishtheedictsofmytime，andthelettersofprincesthatpassfromhandtohand;Imaymakeanabridgmentofagoodbook（andeveryabridgmentofagoodbookisafoolishabridgment），whichbookshallcometobelost;andsoon:

posteritywillderiveasingularutilityfromsuchcompositions:butwhathonourshallIhaveunlessbygreatgoodfortune？Mostpartofthefamousbooksareofthiscondition。

WhenIreadPhilipdeCommines，doubtlessaverygoodauthor，severalyearsago，Ithereto