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he； 〃armour so woven as to have all the scales fall over one another like
so many little feathers； which did nothing hinder the motion of the body；
and yet were of such resistance； that our darts hitting upon them； would
rebound〃 （these were the coats of mail our forefathers were so constantly
wont to use）。 And in another place： 〃they had；〃 says he； 〃strong and
able horses； covered with thick tanned hides of leather； and were
themselves armed 'cap…a…pie' with great plates of iron； so artificially
ordered； that in all parts of the limbs； which required bending； they
lent themselves to the motion。 One would have said； that they had been
men of iron； having armour for the head so neatly fitted； and so
naturally representing the form of a face； that they were nowhere
vulnerable； save at two little round holes； that gave them a little
light； corresponding with their eyes； and certain small chinks about
their nostrils； through which they； with great difficulty； breathed；〃
〃Flexilis inductis animatur lamina membris；
Horribilis visu； credas simulacra moveri
Ferrea； cognatoque viros spirare metallo。
Par vestitus equis： ferrata fronte minantur；
Ferratosque movent； securi vulneris； armos。〃
＇〃Plates of steel are placed over the body； so flexible that；
dreadful to be seen； you would think these not living men； but
moving images。 The horses are similarly armed； and； secured from
wounds； move their iron shoulders。〃Claud； In Ruf。； ii。 358。＇
'Tis a description drawing very near resembling the equipage of the men…
at…arms in France； with their barded horses。 Plutarch says； that
Demetrius caused two complete suits of armour to be made for himself and
for Alcimus； a captain of the greatest note and authority about him； of
six score pounds weight each； whereas the ordinary suits weighed but half
as much。
CHAPTER X
OF BOOKS
I make no doubt but that I often happen to speak of things that are much
better and more truly handled by those who are masters of the trade。 You
have here purely an essay of my natural parts； and not of those acquired：
and whoever shall catch me tripping in ignorance； will not in any sort
get the better of me； for I should be very unwilling to become
responsible to another for my writings； who am not so to myself； nor
satisfied with them。 Whoever goes in quest of knowledge； let him fish
for it where it is to be found； there is nothing I so little profess。
These are fancies of my own； by which I do not pretend to discover things
but to lay open myself； they may； peradventure； one day be known to me；
or have formerly been； according as fortune has been able to bring me in
place where they have been explained； but I have utterly forgotten it；
and if I am a man of some reading； I am a man of no retention； so that I
can promise no certainty； more than to make known to what point the
knowledge I now have has risen。 Therefore； let none lay stress upon the
matter I write； but upon my method in writing it。 Let them observe； in
what I borrow； if I have known how to choose what is proper to raise or
help the invention； which is always my own。 For I make others say for
me； not before but after me； what； either for want of language or want of
sense； I cannot myself so well express。 I do not number my borrowings；
I weigh them； and had I designed to raise their value by number； I had
made them twice as many； they are all； or within a very few； so famed and
ancient authors； that they seem； methinks； themselves sufficiently to
tell who they are； without giving me the trouble。 In reasons；
comparisons； and arguments； if I transplant any into my own soil； and
confound them amongst my own； I purposely conceal the author； to awe the
temerity of those precipitate censors who fall upon all sorts of
writings； particularly the late ones； of men yet living； and in the
vulgar tongue which puts every one into a capacity of criticising and
which seem to convict the conception and design as vulgar also。 I will
have them give Plutarch a fillip on my nose； and rail against Seneca when
they think they rail at me。 I must shelter my own weakness under these
great reputations。 I shall love any one that can unplume me； that is；
by clearness of understanding and judgment； and by the sole distinction
of the force and beauty of the discourse。 For I who； for want of memory；
am at every turn at a loss to； pick them out of their national livery； am
yet wise enough to know； by the measure of my own abilities； that my soil
is incapable of producing any of those rich flowers that I there find
growing； and that all the fruits of my own growth are not worth any one
of them。 For this； indeed； I hold myself responsible； if I get in my own
way； if there be any vanity and defect in my writings which I do not of
myself perceive nor can discern； when pointed out to me by another； for
many faults escape our eye； but the infirmity of judgment consists in not
being able to discern them； when by another laid open to us。 Knowledge
and truth may be in us without judgment； and judgment also without them；
but the confession of ignorance is one of the finest and surest
testimonies of judgment that I know。 I have no other officer to put my
writings in rank and file； but only fortune。 As things come into my
head； I heap them one upon another； sometimes they advance in whole
bodies； sometimes in single file。 I would that every one should see my
natural and ordinary pace； irregular as it is； I suffer myself to jog on
at my own rate。 Neither are these subjects which a man is not permitted
to be ignorant in； or casually and at a venture； to discourse of。 I
could wish to have a more perfect knowledge of things； but I will not buy
it so dear as it costs。 My design is to pass over easily； and not
laboriously； the remainder of my life； there is nothing that I will
cudgel my brains about； no； not even knowledge； of what value soever。
I seek； in the reading of books； only to please myself by an honest
diversion； or； if I study； 'tis for no other science than what treats of
the knowledge of myself； and instructs me how to die and how to live
well。
〃Has meus ad metas sudet oportet equus。〃
＇〃My horse must work according to my step。〃
Propertius； iv。＇
I do not bite my nails about the difficulties I meet with in my reading；
after a charge or two； I give them over。 Should I insist upon them； I
should both lose myself and time； for I have an impatient understanding；
that must be satisfied at first： what I do not discern at once is by
persistence rendered more obscure。 I do nothing without gaiety；
continuation and a too obstinate endeavour； darkens； stupefies； and tires
my judgment。 My sight is confounded and dissipated with poring； I must
withdraw it； and refer my discovery to new attempts； just as； to judge
rightly of the lustre of scarlet； we are taught to pass the eye lightly
over it； and again to run it over at several sudden and reiterated
glances。 If one book do not please me； I take another； and I never
meddle with any； but at such times as I am weary of doing nothing。
I care not much for new ones； because the old seem fuller and stronger；
neither do I converse much with Greek authors； because my judgment cannot
do its work with imperfect intelligence of the material。
Amongst books that are simply pleasant； of the moderns； Boccaccio's
Decameron； Rabelais； and the Basia of Johannes Secundus （if those may be
ranged under the title） are worth reading for amusement。 As to the
Amadis； and such kind of stuff； they had not the credit of arresting even
my childhood。 And I will； moreover； say； whether boldly or rashly； that
this old； heavy soul of mine is now no longer tickled with Ariosto； no；
nor with the worthy Ovid； his facility and inventions； with which I was
formerly so ravished； are now of no more relish； and I can hardly have
the patience to read them。 I speak my opinion freely of all things； even
of those that； perhaps； exceed my capacity； and that I do not conceive to
be； in any wise； under my jurisdiction。 And； accordingly； the judgment I
deliver； is to show the measure of my own sight； and not of the things I
make so bold to criticise。 When I find myself disgusted with Plato's
'Axiochus'； as with a work； with due respect to such an author be it
spoken； without force； my judgment does not believe itself： it is not so
arrogant as to oppose the authority of so many other famous judgments of
antiquity； which it considers as its tutors and masters； and with whom it
is rather content to err； in such a case； it condemns itself either to
stop at the outward bark； not being able to penetrate to the heart； or to
consider it by sortie false light。 It is content with only securing
itself from trouble and disorder； as to its own weakness； it frankly
acknowledges and confesses it。 It thinks it gives a just interpretation
to the appearances by its conceptions presented to it； but they are weak
and imperfect。 Most of the fables of AEsop have diverse senses and
meanings； of which the mythologists ch