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I am vexed that my Essays only serve the ladies for a common piece of
furniture； and a piece for the hall； this chapter will make me part of
the water…closet。 I love to traffic with them a little in private；
public conversation is without favour and without savour。 In farewells；
we oftener than not heat our affections towards the things we take leave
of； I take my last leave of the pleasures of this world： these are our
last embraces。
But let us come to my subject： what has the act of generation； so
natural； so necessary； and so just； done to men； to be a thing not to
be spoken of without blushing； and to be excluded from all serious and
moderate discourse？ We boldly pronounce kill； rob； betray； and that we
dare only to do betwixt the teeth。 Is it to say； the less we expend in
words； we may pay so much the more in thinking？ For it is certain that
the words least in use； most seldom written； and best kept in； are the
best and most generally known： no age； no manners； are ignorant of them；
no more than the word bread they imprint themselves in every one without
being； expressed； without voice； and without figure； and the sex that
most practises it is bound to say least of it。 'Tis an act that we have
placed in the franchise of silence； from which to take it is a crime even
to accuse and judge it； neither dare we reprehend it but by periphrasis
and picture。 A great favour to a criminal to be so execrable that
justice thinks it unjust to touch and see him； free； and safe by the
benefit of the severity of his condemnation。 Is it not here as in matter
of books； that sell better and become more public for being suppressed？
For my part； I will take Aristotle at his word； who says； that
〃bashfulness is an ornament to youth； but a reproach to old age。〃 These
verses are preached in the ancient school； a school that I much more
adhere to than the modern： its virtues appear to me to be greater； and
the vices less：
〃Ceux qui par trop fuyant Venus estrivent；
Faillent autant que ceulx qui trop la suyvent。〃
＇〃They err as much who too much forbear Venus； as they who are too
frequent in her rites。〃A translation by Amyot from Plutarch； A
philosopher should converse with princes。＇
〃Tu； dea； rerum naturam sola gubernas；
Nec sine to quicquam dias in luminis oras
Exoritur； neque fit laetum； nec amabile quidquam。〃
＇〃Goddess； still thou alone governest nature； nor without thee
anything comes into light； nothing is pleasant； nothing joyful。〃
Lucretius； i。 22。＇
I know not who could set Pallas and the Muses at variance with Venus； and
make them cold towards Love； but I see no deities so well met； or that
are more indebted to one another。 Who will deprive the Muses of amorous
imaginations； will rob them of the best entertainment they have； and of
the noblest matter of their work： and who will make Love lose the
communication and service of poesy； will disarm him of his best weapons：
by this means they charge the god of familiarity and good will； and the
protecting goddesses of humanity and justice； with the vice of
ingratitude and unthankfulness。 I have not been so long cashiered from
the state and service of this god； that my memory is not still perfect in
his force and value：
〃Agnosco veteris vestigia flammae；〃
＇〃I recognise vestiges of my old flame。〃AEneid。； iv。 23。＇
There are yet some remains of heat and emotion after the fever：
〃Nec mihi deficiat calor hic； hiemantibus annis！〃
＇〃Nor let this heat of youth fail me in my winter years。〃＇
Withered and drooping as I am； I feel yet some remains of the past
ardour：
〃Qual l'alto Egeo； per the Aquilone o Noto
Cessi； the tutto prima il volse et scosse；
Non 's accheta ei pero； ma'l suono e'l moto
Ritien del l'onde anco agitate e grosse：〃
＇〃As Aegean seas； when storms be calmed again；
That rolled their tumbling waves with troublous blasts；
Do yet of tempests passed some show retain；
And here and there their swelling billows cast。〃Fairfax。＇
but from what I understand of it； the force and power of this god are
more lively and animated in the picture of poesy than in their own
essence：
〃Et versus digitos habet：〃
＇〃Verse has fingers。〃Altered from Juvenal； iv。 196。＇
it has I know not what kind of air； more amorous than love itself。 Venus
is not so beautiful； naked； alive； and panting； as she is here in Virgil：
〃Dixerat； et niveis hinc atque hinc Diva lacertis
Cunctantem amplexu molli fovet。 Ille repente
Accepit solitam flammam； notusque medullas
Intravit calor； et labefacta per ossa cucurrit
Non secus atque olim tonitru； cum rupta corusco
Ignea rima micans percurrit lumine nimbos。
。 。 。 。 。 。 Ea verba loquutus；
Optatos dedit amplexus； placidumque petivit
Conjugis infusus gremio per membra soporem。〃
＇〃The goddess spoke； and throwing round him her snowy arms in soft
embraces； caresses him hesitating。 Suddenly he caught the wonted
flame； and the well…known warmth pierced his marrow； and ran
thrilling through his shaken bones： just as when at times； with
thunder； a stream of fire in lightning flashes shoots across the
skies。 Having spoken these words； he gave her the wished embrace；
and in the bosom of his spouse sought placid sleep。〃
AEneid； viii。 387 and 392。＇
All that I find fault with in considering it is； that he has represented
her a little too passionate for a married Venus； in this discreet kind of
coupling； the appetite is not usually so wanton； but more grave and dull。
Love hates that people should hold of any but itself； and goes but
faintly to work in familiarities derived from any other title； as
marriage is： alliance； dowry； therein sway by reason； as much or more
than grace and beauty。 Men do not marry for themselves； let them say
what they will； they marry as much or more for their posterity and
family； the custom and interest of marriage concern our race much more
than us； and therefore it is； that I like to have a match carried on by a
third hand rather than a man's own； and by another man's liking than that
of the party himself； and how much is all this opposite to the
conventions of love？ And also it is a kind of incest to employ in this
venerable and sacred alliance the heat and extravagance of amorous
licence； as I think I have said elsewhere。 A man； says Aristotle； must
approach his wife with prudence and temperance； lest in dealing too
lasciviously with her； the extreme pleasure make her exceed the bounds of
reason。 What he says upon the account of conscience； the physicians say
upon the account of health： 〃that a pleasure excessively lascivious；
voluptuous； and frequent； makes the seed too hot； and hinders
conception〃： 'tis said； elsewhere； that to a languishing intercourse； as
this naturally is； to supply it with a due and fruitful heat； a man must
do it but seldom and at appreciable intervals：
〃Quo rapiat sitiens Venerem； interiusque recondat。〃
＇〃But let him thirstily snatch the joys of love and enclose them in
his bosom。〃Virg。； Georg。； iii。 137。＇
I see no marriages where the conjugal compatibility sooner fails than
those that we contract upon the account of beauty and amorous desires；
there should be more solid and constant foundation； and they should
proceed with greater circumspection； this furious ardour is worth
nothing。
They who think they honour marriage by joining love to it； do； methinks；
like those who； to favour virtue； hold that nobility is nothing else but
virtue。 They are indeed things that have some relation to one another；
but there is a great deal of difference； we should not so mix their names
and titles； 'tis a wrong to them both so to confound them。 Nobility is a
brave quality； and with good reason introduced； but forasmuch as 'tis a
quality depending upon others； and may happen in a vicious person； in
himself nothing； 'tis in estimate infinitely below virtue'；
＇〃If nobility be virtue； it loses its quality in all things wherein
not virtuous： and if it be not virtue； 'tis a small matter。〃
La Byuyere。＇
'tis a virtue； if it be one； that is artificial and apparent； depending
upon time and fortune： various in form； according to the country； living
and mortal； without birth； as the river Nile； genealogical and common；；
of succession and similitude； drawn by consequence； and a very weak one。
Knowledge； strength； goodness； beauty； riches； and all other qualities；
fall into communication and commerce； but this is consummated in itself；
and of no use to the service of others。 There was proposed to one of our
kings the choice of two candidates for the same command； of whom one was
a gentleman； the other not； he ordered that； without respect to quality；
they should choose him who had the most merit； but where the worth of the
competitors should appear to be en