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pikes against him and killed him； looking upon him as convict； his
confusion and silence served them for a confession； for having had so
much leisure to prepare himself in prison； they concluded that it was not
his memory that failed him； but that his conscience tied up his tongue
and stopped his mouth。 And； truly； well said； the place； the assembly；
the expectation； astound a man； even when he has but the ambition to
speak well； what can a man do when 'tis an harangue upon which his life
depends？
For my part； the very being tied to what I am to say is enough to loose
me from it。 When I wholly commit and refer myself to my memory； I lay so
much stress upon it that it sinks under me： it grows dismayed with the
burden。 So much as I trust to it； so much do I put myself out of my own
power； even to the finding it difficult to keep my own countenance； and
have been sometimes very much put to it to conceal the slavery wherein I
was engaged； whereas my design is to manifest； in speaking； a perfect
calmness both of face and accent； and casual and unpremeditated motions；
as rising from present occasions； choosing rather to say nothing to
purpose than to show that I came prepared to speak well； a thing
especially unbecoming a man of my profession； and of too great obligation
on him who cannot retain much。 The preparation begets a great deal more
expectation than it will satisfy。 A man often strips himself to his
doublet to leap no farther than he would have done in his gown：
〃Nihil est his； qui placere volunt； turn adversarium；
quam expectatio。〃
＇〃Nothing is so adverse to those who make it their business to
please as expectation〃Cicero； Acad。； ii。 4＇
It is recorded of the orator Curio； that when he proposed the division of
his oration into three or four parts； or three or four arguments or
reasons； it often happened either that he forgot some one； or added one
or two more。 I have always avoided falling into this inconvenience；
having ever hated these promises and prescriptions； not only out of
distrust of my memory； but also because this method relishes too much of
the artist：
〃Simpliciora militares decent。〃
＇〃Simplicity becomes warriors。〃Quintilian； Instit。 Orat。； xi。 I。＇
'Tis… enough that I have promised to myself never again to take upon me
to speak in a place of respect； for as to speaking； when a man reads his
speech； besides that it is very absurd； it is a mighty disadvantage to
those who naturally could give it a grace by action； and to rely upon the
mercy of my present invention； I would much less do it； 'tis heavy and
perplexed； and such as would never furnish me in sudden and important
necessities。
Permit； reader； this essay its course also； and this third sitting to
finish the rest of my picture： I add； but I correct not。 First； because
I conceive that a man having once parted with his labours to the world；
he has no further right to them； let him do better if he can； in some new
undertaking； but not adulterate what he has already sold。 Of such
dealers nothing should be bought till after they are dead。 Let them well
consider what they do before they； produce it to the light who hastens
them？ My book is always the same； saving that upon every new edition
（that the buyer may not go away quite empty） I take the liberty to add
（as 'tis but an ill jointed marqueterie） some supernumerary emblem； it is
but overweight； that does not disfigure the primitive form of the essays；
but； by a little artful subtlety； gives a kind of particular value to
every one of those that follow。 Thence； however； will easily happen some
transposition of chronology； my stories taking place according to their
opportuneness； not always according to their age。
Secondly； because as to what concerns myself； I fear to lose by change：
my understanding does not always go forward； it goes backward too。 I do
not much less suspect my fancies for being the second or the third； than
for being the first； or present； or past； we often correct ourselves as
foolishly as we do others。 I am grown older by a great many years since
my first publications； which were in the year 1580； but I very much doubt
whether I am grown an inch the wiser。 I now； and I anon； are two several
persons； but whether better； I cannot determine。 It were a fine thing to
be old； if we only travelled towards improvement； but 'tis a drunken；
stumbling； reeling； infirm motion： like that of reeds； which the air
casually waves to and fro at pleasure。 Antiochus had in his youth
strongly written in favour of the Academy； in his old age he wrote as
much against it； would not； which of these two soever I should follow； be
still Antiochus？ After having established the uncertainty； to go about
to establish the certainty of human opinions； was it not to establish
doubt； and not certainty； and to promise； that had he had yet another age
to live； he would be always upon terms of altering his judgment； not so
much for the better； as for something else？
The public favour has given me a little more confidence than I expected；
but what I 'most fear is； lest I should glut the world with my writings；
I had rather； of the two； pique my reader than tire him； as a learned man
of my time has done。 Praise is always pleasing； let it come from whom；
or upon what account it will； yet ought a man to understand why he is
commended； that he may know how to keep up the same reputation still：
imperfections themselves may get commendation。 The vulgar and common
estimation is seldom happy in hitting； and I am much mistaken if； amongst
the writings of my time； the worst are not those which have most gained
the popular applause。 For my part； I return my thanks to those good…
natured men who are pleased to take my weak endeavours in good part； the
faults of the workmanship are nowhere so apparent as in a matter which of
itself has no recommendation。 Blame not me； reader； for those that slip
in here by the fancy or inadvertency of others； every hand； every
artisan； contribute their own materials； I neither concern myself with
orthography （and only care to have it after the old way） nor pointing；
being very inexpert both in the one and the other。 Where they wholly
break the sense； I am very little concerned； for they at least discharge
me； but where they substitute a false one； as they so often do； and wrest
me to their conception； they ruin me。 When the sentence； nevertheless；
is not strong enough for my proportion； a civil person ought to reject it
as spurious； and none of mine。 Whoever shall know how lazy I am； and how
indulgent to my own humour； will easily believe that I had rather write
as many more essays； than be tied to revise these over again for so
childish a correction。
I said elsewhere； that being planted in the very centre of this new
religion； I am not only deprived of any great familiarity with men of
other kind of manners than my own； and of other opinions； by which they
hold together； as by a tie that supersedes all other obligations； but
moreover I do not live without danger； amongst men to whom all things are
equally lawful； and of whom the most part cannot offend the laws more
than they have already done； from which the extremist degree of licence
proceeds。 All the particular being summed up together； I do not find one
man of my country； who pays so dear for the defence of our laws both in
loss and damages （as the lawyers say） as myself； and some there are who
vapour and brag of their zeal and constancy； that if things were justly
weighed； do much less than I。 My house； as one that has ever been open
and free to all comers； and civil to all （for I could never persuade
myself to make it a garrison of war； war being a thing that I prefer to
see as remote as may be）； has sufficiently merited popular kindness； and
so that it would be a hard matter justly to insult over me upon my own
dunghill； and I look upon it as a wonderful and exemplary thing that it
yet continues a virgin from blood and plunder during so long a storm； and
so many neighbouring revolutions and tumults。 For to confess the truth；
it had been possible enough for a man of my complexion to have shaken
hands with any one constant and continued form whatever； but the contrary
invasions and incursions； alternations and vicissitudes of fortune round
about me； have hitherto more exasperated than calmed and mollified the
temper of the country； and involved me； over and over again； with
invincible difficulties and dangers。
I escape； 'tis true； but am troubled that it is more by chance； and
something of my own prudence； than by justice； and am not satisfied to be
out of the protection of the laws； and under any other safeguard than
theirs。 As matters stand； I live； above one half； by the favour of
others； which is an untoward obligation。 I do not like to owe my safety
either to the generosity or affection of great persons； who allow me my
legality and my liberty； or to the obliging manners of my predecessors；
or my own： for what if I were another kind of man？ If my deportment； and
the frankness of my conversation or relationship； oblige my