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enemy； but fortune； against her will； threw her into another haven； where
she landed in safety。 And that man of old who； throwing a stone at a
dog； hit and killed his mother…in…law； had he not reason to pronounce
this verse：
＇〃Fortune has more judgement than we。〃Menander＇
Icetes had contracted with two soldiers to kill Timoleon at Adrana in
Sicily。＇Plutarch； Life of Timoleon； c。 7。＇ They took their time to do
it when he was assisting at a sacrifice； and thrusting into the crowd；
as they were making signs to one another； that now was a fit time to do
their business； in steps a third； who； with a sword takes one of them
full drive over the pate； lays him dead upon the place and runs away；
which the others see； and concluding himself discovered and lost； runs to
the altar and begs for mercy； promising to discover the whole truth；
which as he was doing； and laying open the full conspiracy； behold the
third man； who being apprehended； was； as a murderer； thrust and hauled
by the people through the press； towards Timoleon； and the other most
eminent persons of the assembly； before whom being brought； he cries out
for pardon； pleading that he had justly slain his father's murderer；
which he； also； proving upon the spot； by sufficient witnesses； whom his
good fortune very opportunely supplied him withal； that his father was
really killed in the city of Leontini； by that very man on whom he had
taken his revenge； he was presently awarded ten Attic minae； for having
had the good fortune； by designing to revenge the death of his father；
to preserve the life of the common father of Sicily。 Fortune； truly； in
her conduct surpasses all the rules of human prudence。
But to conclude： is there not a direct application of her favour； bounty；
and piety manifestly discovered in this action？ Ignatius the father and
Ignatius the son being proscribed by the triumvirs of Rome； resolved upon
this generous act of mutual kindness； to fall by the hands of one
another； and by that means to frustrate and defeat the cruelty of the
tyrants； and accordingly with their swords drawn； ran full drive upon one
another； where fortune so guided the points； that they made two equally
mortal wounds； affording withal so much honour to so brave a friendship；
as to leave them just strength enough to draw out their bloody swords；
that they might have liberty to embrace one another in this dying
condition； with so close and hearty an embrace； that the executioner cut
off both their heads at once； leaving the bodies still fast linked
together in this noble bond； and their wounds joined mouth to mouth；
affectionately sucking in the last blood and remainder of the lives of
each other。
CHAPTER XXXIV
OF ONE DEFECT IN OUR GOVERNMENT
My late father； a man that had no other advantages than experience and
his own natural parts； was nevertheless of a very clear judgment；
formerly told me that he once had thoughts of endeavouring to introduce
this practice； that there might be in every city a certain place assigned
to which such as stood in need of anything might repair； and have their
business entered by an officer appointed for that purpose。 As for
example： I want a chapman to buy my pearls； I want one that has pearls to
sell； such a one wants company to go to Paris； such a one seeks a servant
of such a quality； such a one a master； such a one such an artificer；
some inquiring for one thing； some for another； every one according to
what he wants。 And doubtless； these mutual advertisements would be of no
contemptible advantage to the public correspondence and intelligence： for
there are evermore conditions that hunt after one another； and for want
of knowing one another's occasions leave men in very great necessity。
I have heard； to the great shame of the age we live in； that in our very
sight two most excellent men for learning died so poor that they had
scarce bread to put in their mouths： Lilius Gregorius Giraldus in Italy
and Sebastianus Castalio in Germany： and I believe there are a thousand
men would have invited them into their families； with very advantageous
conditions； or have relieved them where they were； had they known their
wants。 The world is not so generally corrupted； but that I know a man
that would heartily wish the estate his ancestors have left him might be
employed； so long as it shall please fortune to give him leave to enjoy
it； to secure rare and remarkable persons of any kind； whom misfortune
sometimes persecutes to the last degree； from the dangers of necessity；
and at least place them in such a condition that they must be very hard
to please； if they are not contented。
My father in his domestic economy had this rule （which I know how to
commend； but by no means to imitate）； namely； that besides the day…book
or memorial of household affairs； where the small accounts； payments； and
disbursements； which do not require a secretary's hand； were entered； and
which a steward always had in custody； he ordered him whom he employed to
write for him； to keep a journal； and in it to set down all the
remarkable occurrences； and daily memorials of the history of his house：
very pleasant to look over； when time begins to wear things out of
memory； and very useful sometimes to put us out of doubt when such a
thing was begun； when ended； what visitors came； and when they went； our
travels； absences； marriages； and deaths； the reception of good or ill
news； the change of principal servants； and the like。 An ancient custom；
which I think it would not be amiss for every one to revive in his own
house； and I find I did very foolishly in neglecting it。
CHAPTER XXXV
OF THE CUSTOM OF WEARING CLOTHES
Whatever I shall say upon this subject； I am of necessity to invade some
of the bounds of custom； so careful has she been to shut up all the
avenues。 I was disputing with myself in this shivering season； whether
the fashion of going naked in those nations lately discovered is imposed
upon them by the hot temperature of the air； as we say of the Indians and
Moors； or whether it be the original fashion of mankind。 Men of
understanding； forasmuch as all things under the sun； as the Holy Writ
declares； are subject to the same laws； were wont in such considerations
as these； where we are to distinguish the natural laws from those which
have been imposed by man's invention； to have recourse to the general
polity of the world； where there can be nothing counterfeit。 Now； all
other creatures being sufficiently furnished with all things necessary
for the support of their being ＇Montaigne's expression is； 〃with needle
and thread。〃W。C。H。＇ it is not to be imagined that we only are brought
into the world in a defective and indigent condition； and in such a state
as cannot subsist without external aid。 Therefore it is that I believe；
that as plants； trees； and animals； and all things that have life； are
seen to be by nature sufficiently clothed and covered； to defend them
from the injuries of weather：
〃Proptereaque fere res omnes ant corio sunt；
Aut seta； ant conchis； ant callo； ant cortice tectae；〃
＇〃And that for this reason nearly all things are clothed with skin；
or hair； or shells； or bark； or some such thing。〃
Lucretius； iv。 936。＇
so were we： but as those who by artificial light put out that of day； so
we by borrowed forms and fashions have destroyed our own。 And 'tis plain
enough to be seen； that 'tis custom only which renders that impossible
that otherwise is nothing so； for of those nations who have no manner of
knowledge of clothing； some are situated under the same temperature that
we are； and some in much colder climates。 And besides； our most tender
parts are always exposed to the air； as the eyes； mouth； nose； and ears；
and our country labourers； like our ancestors in former times； go with
their breasts and bellies open。 Had we been born with a necessity upon
us of wearing petticoats and breeches； there is no doubt but nature would
have fortified those parts she intended should be exposed to the fury of
the seasons with a thicker skin； as she has done the finger…ends and the
soles of the feet。 And why should this seem hard to believe？ I observe
much greater distance betwixt my habit and that of one of our country
boors； than betwixt his and that of a man who has no other covering but
his skin。 How many men； especially in Turkey； go naked upon the account
of devotion？ Some one asked a beggar； whom he saw in his shirt in the
depth of winter； as brisk and frolic as he who goes muffled up to the
ears in furs； how he was able to endure to go so？ 〃Why； sir；〃 he
answered； 〃you go with your face bare： I am all face。〃 The Italians have
a story of the Duke of Florence's fool； whom his master asking how； being
so thinly clad； he was able to support the cold； when he himself； warmly
wrapped up as he was； was hardly able to do it？ 〃Why；〃 replied the fool；
〃use my receipt to put on all your clothes you have at once； and you'll
feel no more cold than I。〃 King Massinissa； to an extreme old age； could
never be prevailed upon to go with his head covered； how cold； stormy； or
rai