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to others； it does us much more harm than good； we deprive ourselves of
our own utilities； to accommodate appearances to the common opinion：
we care not so much what our being is； as to us and in reality； as what
it is to the public observation。 Even the properties of the mind； and
wisdom itself； seem fruitless to us； if only enjoyed by ourselves； and if
it produce not itself to the view and approbation of others。 There is a
sort of men whose gold runs in streams underground imperceptibly； others
expose it all in plates and branches； so that to the one a liard is worth
a crown； and to the others the inverse： the world esteeming its use and
value； according to the show。 All over…nice solicitude about riches
smells of avarice： even the very disposing of it； with a too systematic
and artificial liberality； is not worth a painful superintendence and
solicitude： he； that will order his expense to just so much； makes it too
pinched and narrow。 The keeping or spending are； of themselves；
indifferent things； and receive no colour of good or ill； but according
to the application of the will。
The other cause that tempts me out to these journeys is； inaptitude for
the present manners in our state。 I could easily console myself for this
corruption in regard to the public interest：
〃Pejoraque saecula ferri
Temporibus； quorum sceleri non invenit ipsa
Nomen； et a nullo posuit natura metallo；〃
＇〃And； worse than the iron ages； for whose crimes there is no
similitude in any of Nature's metals。〃Juvenal； xiii。 28。＇
but not to my own。 I am； in particular； too much oppressed by them： for；
in my neighbourhood； we are； of late； by the long licence of our civil
wars； grown old in so riotous a form of state；
〃Quippe ubi fas versum atque nefas；〃
＇〃Where wrong and right have changed places。〃
Virgil； Georg。； i。 504。＇
that in earnest； 'tis a wonder how it can subsist：
〃Armati terram exercent； semperque recentes
Convectare juvat praedas； et vivere rapto。〃
＇〃Men plough； girt with arms； ever delighting in fresh robberies；
and living by rapine。〃AEneid； vii。 748。＇
In fine； I see by our example； that the society of men is maintained and
held together； at what price soever； in what condition soever they are
placed； they still close and stick together； both moving and in heaps； as
ill united bodies； that； shuffled together without order； find of
themselves a means to unite and settle； often better than they could have
been disposed by art。 King Philip mustered up a rabble of the most
wicked and incorrigible rascals he could pick out； and put them all
together into a city he had caused to be built for that purpose； which
bore their name： I believe that they； even from vices themselves； erected
a government amongst them； and a commodious and just society。 I see； not
one action； or three； or a hundred； but manners； in common and received
use； so ferocious； especially in inhumanity and treachery； which are to
me the worst of all vices； that I have not the heart to think of them
without horror； and almost as much admire as I detest them： the exercise
of these signal villainies carries with it as great signs of vigour and
force of soul； as of error and disorder。 Necessity reconciles and brings
men together； and this accidental connection afterwards forms itself into
laws： for there have been such； as savage as any human opinion could
conceive； who； nevertheless； have maintained their body with as much
health and length of life as any Plato or Aristotle could invent。 And
certainly； all these descriptions of polities； feigned by art； are found
to be ridiculous and unfit to be put in practice。
These great and tedious debates about the best form of society； and the
most commodious rules to bind us； are debates only proper for the
exercise of our wits； as in the arts there are several subjects which
have their being in agitation and controversy； and have no life but
there。 Such an idea of government might be of some value in a new world；
but we take a world already made； and formed to certain customs； we do
not beget it； as Pyrrha or Cadmus did。 By what means soever we may have
the privilege to redress and reform it anew； we can hardly writhe it from
its wonted bent； but we shall break all。 Solon being asked whether he
had established the best laws he could for the Athenians； 〃Yes；〃 said he；
〃of those they would have received。〃 Varro excuses himself after the
same manner： 〃that if he were to begin to write of religion； he would say
what he believed； but seeing it was already received； he would write
rather according to use than nature。〃
Not according to opinion； but in truth and reality； the best and most
excellent government for every nation is that under which it is
maintained： its form and essential convenience depend upon custom。
We are apt to be displeased at the present condition； but I；
nevertheless； maintain that to desire command in a few＇an oligarchy。＇
in a republic； or another sort of government in monarchy than that
already established； is both vice and folly：
〃Ayme l'estat； tel que to le veois estre
S'il est royal ayme la royaute；
S'il est de peu； ou biers communaute；
Ayme l'aussi； car Dieu t'y a faict naistre。〃
＇〃Love the government； such as you see it to be。 If it be royal；
love royalty； if it is a republic of any sort； still love it； for
God himself created thee therein。〃＇
So wrote the good Monsieur de Pibrac； whom we have lately lost； a man of
so excellent a wit； such sound opinions； and such gentle manners。 This
loss； and that at the same time we have had of Monsieur de Foix； are of
so great importance to the crown； that I do not know whether there is
another couple in France worthy to supply the places of these two Gascons
in sincerity and wisdom in the council of our kings。 They were both
variously great men； and certainly； according to the age； rare and great；
each of them in his kind： but what destiny was it that placed them in
these times； men so remote from and so disproportioned to our corruption
and intestine tumults？
Nothing presses so hard upon a state as innovation： change only gives
form to injustice and tyranny。 When any piece is loosened； it may be
proper to stay it； one may take care that the alteration and corruption
natural to all things do not carry us too far from our beginnings and
principles： but to undertake to found so great a mass anew； and to change
the foundations of so vast a building； is for them to do； who to make
clean； efface； who reform particular defects by an universal confusion；
and cure diseases by death：
〃Non tam commutandarum quam evertendarum rerum cupidi。〃
＇〃Not so desirous of changing as of overthrowing things。〃
Cicero； De 0ffic。； ii。 i。＇
The world is unapt to be cured； and so impatient of anything that presses
it； that it thinks of nothing but disengaging itself at what price
soever。 We see by a thousand examples； that it ordinarily cures itself
to its cost。 The discharge of a present evil is no cure； if there be not
a general amendment of condition。 The surgeon's end is not only to cut
away the dead flesh； that is but the progress of his cure； he has a care；
over and above； to fill up the wound with better and more natural flesh；
and to restore the member to its due state。 Whoever only proposes to
himself to remove that which offends him； falls short： for good does not
necessarily succeed evil； another evil may succeed； and a worse； as it
happened to Caesar's murderers； who brought the republic to such a pass；
that they had reason to repent the meddling with the matter。 The same
has since happened to several others； even down to our own times： the
French； my contemporaries； know it well enough。 All great mutations
shake and disorder a state。
Whoever would look direct at a cure； and well consider of it before he
began； would be very willing to withdraw his hands from meddling in it。
Pacuvius Calavius corrected the vice of this proceeding by a notable
example。 His fellow…citizens were in mutiny against their magistrates；
he being a man of great authority in the city of Capua； found means one
day to shut up the Senators in the palace； and calling the people
together in the market…place； there told them that the day was now come
wherein at full liberty they might revenge themselves on the tyrants by
whom they had been so long oppressed； and whom he had now； all alone and
unarmed； at his mercy。 He then advised that they should call these out；
one by one； by lot； and should individually determine as to each； causing
whatever should be decreed to be immediately executed； with this proviso；
that they should； at the same time； depute some honest man in the place
of him who was condemned； to the end there might be no vacancy in the
Senate。 They had no sooner heard the name of one senator but a great cry
of universal dislike was raised up against him。 〃I see；〃 says Pacuvius；
〃that we must put him out； he is a wicked fellow； let us