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constant satisfaction or end； it ever goes beyond its possession。 And by
that means inconstancy； peradventure； is in some sort more pardonable in
them than in us： they may plead； as well as we； the inclination to
variety and novelty common to us both； and secondly； without us； that
they buy a cat in a sack： Joanna； queen of Naples； caused her first
husband； Andrews； to be hanged at the bars of her window in a halter of
gold and silk woven with her own hand； because in matrimonial
performances she neither found his parts nor abilities answer the
expectation she had conceived from his stature； beauty； youth； and
activity； by which she had been caught and deceived。 They may say there
is more pains required in doing than in suffering； and so they are on
their part always at least provided for necessity； whereas on our part it
may fall out otherwise。 For this reason it was； that Plato wisely made a
law that before marriage； to determine of the fitness of persons； the
judges should see the young men who pretended to it stripped stark naked；
and the women but to the girdle only。 When they come to try us they do
not； perhaps； find us worthy of their choice：
〃Experta latus； madidoque simillima loro
Inguina； nec lassa stare coacta manu；
Deserit imbelles thalamos。〃
＇〃After using every endeavour to arouse him to action；
she quits the barren couch。〃Martial； vii。 58。＇
'Tis not enough that a man's will be good； weakness and insufficiency
lawfully break a marriage；
〃Et quaerendum aliunde foret nervosius illud；
Quod posset zonam solvere virgineam：〃
＇〃And seeks a more vigorous lover to undo her virgin zone。〃
Catullus； lxvii。 27。＇
why not？ and according to her own standard； an amorous intelligence；
more licentious and active；
〃Si blando nequeat superesse labori。〃
＇〃If his strength be unequal to the pleasant task。〃
Virgil； Georg。； iii。 127。＇
But is it not great impudence to offer our imperfections and
imbecilities； where we desire to please and leave a good opinion and
esteem of ourselves？ For the little that I am able to do now：
〃Ad unum
Mollis opus。〃
＇〃Fit but for once。〃Horace； Epod。； xii。 15。＇
I would not trouble a woman； that I am to reverence and fear：
〃Fuge suspicari；
Cujus undenum trepidavit aetas
Claudere lustrum。〃
＇〃Fear not him whose eleventh lustrum is closed。〃
Horace； Od。； ii。 4； 12； limits it to the eighth。＇
Nature should satisfy herself in having rendered this age miserable；
without rendering it ridiculous too。 I hate to see it； for one poor inch
of pitiful vigour which comes upon it but thrice a week； to strut and set
itself out with as much eagerness as if it could do mighty feats； a true
flame of flax； and laugh to see it so boil and bubble and then in a
moment so congealed and extinguished。 This appetite ought to appertain
only to the flower of beautiful youth： trust not to its seconding that
indefatigable； full； constant； magnanimous ardour you think in you； for
it will certainly leave you in a pretty corner； but rather transfer it to
some tender； bashful； and ignorant boy； who yet trembles at the rod； and
blushes：
〃Indum sanguineo veluti violaverit ostro
Si quis ebur； vel mista rubent ubi lilia multa
Alba rosa。〃
＇〃As Indian ivory streaked with crimson； or white lilies mixed
with the damask rose。〃AEneid； xii。 67。＇
Who can stay till the morning without dying for shame to behold the
disdain of the fair eyes of her who knows so well his fumbling
impertinence；
〃Et taciti fecere tamen convicia vultus；〃
＇〃Though she nothing say； her looks betray her anger。〃
Ovid； Amor。； i。 7； 21。＇
has never had the satisfaction and the glory of having cudgelled them
till they were weary； with the vigorous performance of one heroic night。
When I have observed any one to be vexed with me； I have not presently
accused her levity； but have been in doubt； if I had not reason rather to
complain of nature； she has doubtless used me very uncivilly and
unkindly：
〃Si non longa satis； si non bene mentula crassa
Nimirum sapiunt； videntque parvam
Matronae quoque mentulam illibenter：〃
＇The first of these verses is the commencement of an epigram of the
Veterum Poetayurra Catalecta； and the two others are from an epigram
in the same collection （Ad Matrones）。 They describe untranslatably
Montaigne's charge against nature； indicated in the previous
passage。＇
and done me a most enormous injury。 Every member I have； as much one as
another； is equally my own； and no other more properly makes me a man
than this。
I universally owe my entire picture to the public。 The wisdom of my
instruction consists in liberty； in truth； in essence： disdaining to
introduce those little； feigned； common； and provincial rules into the
catalogue of its real duties； all natural； general； and constant；
of which civility and ceremony are daughters indeed； but illegitimate。
We are sure to have the vices of appearance； when we shall have had those
of essence： when we have done with these； we run full drive upon the
others； if we find it must be so； for there is danger that we shall fancy
new offices； to excuse our negligence towards the natural ones； and to
confound them： and to manifest this； is it not seen that in places where
faults are crimes； crimes are but faults； that in nations where the laws
of decency are most rare and most remiss； the primitive laws of common
reason are better observed： the innumerable multitude of so many duties
stifling and dissipating our care。 The application of ourselves to light
and trivial things diverts us from those that are necessary and just。
Oh； how these superficial men take an easy and plausible way in
comparison of ours！ These are shadows wherewith we palliate and pay one
another； but we do not pay； but inflame the reckoning towards that great
judge； who tucks up our rags and tatters above our shameful parts； and
suckles not to view us all over； even to our inmost and most secret
ordures： it were a useful decency of our maidenly modesty； could it keep
him from this discovery。 In fine； whoever could reclaim man from so
scrupulous a verbal superstition； would do the world no great disservice。
Our life is divided betwixt folly and prudence： whoever will write of it
but what is reverend and canonical； will leave above the one…half behind。
I do not excuse myself to myself； and if I did； it should rather be for
my excuses that I would excuse myself than for any other fault； I excuse
myself of certain humours； which I think more strong in number than those
that are on my side。 In consideration of which； I will further say this
（for I desire to please every one； though it will be hard to do）：
〃Esse unum hominem accommodatum ad tantam morum
ac sermonum et voluntatum varietatem；〃
＇〃For a man to conform to such a variety of manners；
discourses； and will。〃Q。 Cicero； De Pet。 Consul； c。 14。＇
that they ought not to condemn me for what I make authorities； received
and approved by so many ages； to utter： and that there is no reason that
for want of rhyme they should refuse me the liberty they allow even to
churchmen of our nation and time； and these amongst the most notable； of
which here are two of their brisk verses：
〃Rimula； dispeream； ni monogramma tua est。〃
〃Un vit d'amy la contente et bien traicte：〃
＇St。 Gelais； （Euvres Poetiques； p。 99； ed。 of Lyons； 1574。＇
besides how many others。 I love modesty； and 'tis not out of judgment
that I have chosen this scandalous way of speaking； 'tis nature that has
chosen it for me。 I commend it not； no more than other forms that are
contrary to common use： but I excuse it； and by circumstances both
general and particular； alleviate its accusation。
But to proceed。 Whence； too； can proceed that usurpation of sovereign
authority you take upon you over the women； who favour you at their own
expense；
〃Si furtiva dedit mira munuscula nocte；〃
＇〃If； in the stealthy night； she has made strange gifts。〃
Catullus； lxviii。 145。＇
so that you presently assume the interest； coldness； and authority of a
husband？ 'Tis a free contract why do you not then keep to it； as you
would have them do？ there is no prescription upon voluntary things。
'Tis against the form； but it is true withal； that I in my time have
conducted this bargain as much as the nature of it would permit； as
conscientiously and with as much colour of justice； as any other
contract； and that I never pretended other affection than what I really
had； and have truly acquainted them with its birth； vigour； and
declination； its fits and intermissions： a man does not always hold on
at the same rate。 I have been so sparing of my promises； that I th