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neither desire nor imagine a genius surpassing his。
I beg you very humbly； sir； not only to take his name under your general
protection； but also these ten or twelve French stanzas； which lay
themselves； as of necessity； under shadow of your patronage。 For I will
not disguise from you； that their publication was deferred； upon the
appearance of his other writings； under the pretext （as it was alleged
yonder at Paris） that they were too crude to come to light。 You will
judge； sir； how much truth there is in this； and since it is thought that
hereabout nothing can be produced in our own dialect but what is
barbarous and unpolished； it falls to you； who； besides your rank as the
first house in Guienne； indeed down from your ancestors； possess every
other sort of qualification； to establish； not merely by your example；
but by your authoritative testimony； that such is not always the case：
the more so that； though 'tis more natural with the Gascons to act than
talk； yet sometimes they employ the tongue more than the arm； and wit in
place of valour。
For my own part； sir； it is not in my way to judge of such matters； but I
have heard persons who are supposed to understand them； say that these
stanzas are not only worthy to be presented in the market…place； but；
independently of that； as regards beauty and wealth of invention； they
are full of marrow and matter as any compositions of the kind； which have
appeared in our language。 Naturally each workman feels himself more
strong in some special part his art； and those are to be regarded as most
fortunate； who lay hands on the noblest； for all the parts essential to
the construction of any whole are not equally precious。 We find
elsewhere； perhaps； greater delicacy phrase； greater softness and harmony
of language； but imaginative grace； and in the store of pointed wit； I do
not think he has been surpassed； and we should take the account that he
made these things neither his occupation nor his study； and that he
scarcely took a pen in his hand more than once a year； as is shown by the
very slender quantity of his remains。 For you see here； sir； green wood
and dry； without any sort of selection； all that has come into my
possession； insomuch that there are among the rest efforts even of his
boyhood。 In point of fact； he seems to have written them merely to show
that he was capable of dealing with all subjects： for otherwise；
thousands of times； in the course of ordinary conversation； I have heard
things drop from him infinitely more worthy of being admired； infinitely
more worthy of being preserved。
Such； sir； is what justice and affection； forming in this instance a rare
conjunction； oblige me to say of this great and good man； and if I have
at all offended by the freedom which I have taken in addressing myself to
you on such a subject at such a length； be pleased to recollect that the
principal result of greatness and eminence is to lay one open to
importunate appeals on behalf of the rest of the world。 Herewith； after
desiring you to accept my affectionate devotion to your service；
I beseech God to vouchsafe you； sir； a fortunate and prolonged life。
From Montaigne； this 1st of September 1570。Your obedient servant；
MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE。
To Mademoiselle de MONTAIGNE； my Wife。＇Printed as a preface to the
〃Consolation of Plutarch to his Wife；〃 pub。 fished by Montaigne； with
several other tracts by La Boetie； about 1571。＇
MY WIFE；You understand well that it is not proper for a man of the
world； according to the rules of this our time； to continue to court and
caress you； for they say that a sensible person may take a wife indeed；
but that to espouse her is to act like a fool。 Let them talk； I adhere
for my part the custom of the good old days； I also wear my hair as it
used to be then； and； in truth； novelty costs this poor country up to the
present moment so dear （and I do not know whether we have reached the
highest pitch yet）； that everywhere and in everything I renounce the
fashion。 Let us live； my wife； you and I； in the old French method。
Now； you may recollect that the late M。 de la Boetie； my brother and
inseparable companion； gave me； on his death…bed； all his books and
papers； which have remained ever since the most precious part of my
effects。 I do not wish to keep them niggardly to myself alone； nor do I
deserve to have the exclusive use of them ； so that I have resolved to
communicate them to my friends； and because I have none； I believe； more
particularly intimate you； I send you the Consolatory Letter written by
Plutarch to his Wife； translated by him into French； regretting much that
fortune has made it so suitable a present you； and that； having had but
one child； and that a daughter； long looked for； after four years of your
married life it was your lot to lose her in the second year of her age。
But I leave to Plutarch the duty of comforting you； acquainting you with
your duty herein； begging you to put your faith in him for my sake； for
he will reveal to you my own ideas； and will express the matter far
better than I should myself。 Hereupon； my wife； I commend myself very
heartily to your good will； and pray God to have you in His keeping。
From Paris； this 10th September 1570。Your good husband；
MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE。
VIII。
To Monsieur DUPUY；＇This is probably the Claude Dupuy； born at Paris in
1545； and one of the fourteen judges sent into Guienne after the treaty
of Fleix in 1580。 It was perhaps under these circumstances that
Montaigne addressed to him the present letter。＇the King's Councillor in
his Court and Parliament of Paris。
MONSIEUR； The business of the Sieur de Verres； a prisoner； who is
extremely well known to me； deserves； in the arrival at a decision；
the exercise of the clemency natural to you； if； in the public interest；
you can fairly call it into play。 He has done a thing not only
excusable； according to the military laws of this age； but necessary and
（as we are of opinion） commendable。 He committed the act； without doubt；
unwillingly and under pressure； there is no other passage of his life
which is open to reproach。 I beseech you； sir； to lend the matter your
attentive consideration； you will find the character of it as I represent
it to you。 He is persecuted on this crime； in a way which is far worse
than the offence itself。 If it is likely to be of use to him； I desire
to inform you that he is a man brought up in my house； related to several
respectable families； and a person who； having led an honourable life；
is my particular friend。 By saving him you lay me under an extreme
obligation。 I beg you very humbly to regard him as recommended by me；
and； after kissing your hands； I pray God； sir； to grant you a long and
happy life。 From Castera； this 23 d of April ＇1580＇。 Your affectionate
servant；
MONTAIGNE。
IX。
To the Jurats of Bordeaux。＇Published from the original among the
archives of the town of Bordeaux； M。 Gustave Brunet in the Bulletin du
Bibliophile； July 1839。＇
GENTLEMEN；I trust that the journey of Monsieur de Cursol will be of
advantage to the town。 Having in hand a case so just and so favourable；
you did all in your power to put the business in good trim； and matters
being so well situated； I beg you to excuse my absence for some little
time longer； and I will abridge my stay so far as the pressure of my
affairs permits。 I hope that the delay will be short； however； you will
keep me； if you please； in your good grace； and will command me； if the
occasion shall arise； in employing me in the public service and in yours。
Monsieur de Cursol has also written to me and apprised me of his journey。
I humbly commend myself to you； and pray God； gentlemen； to grant you
long and happy life。 From Montaigne； this 21st of May 1582。 Your humble
brother and servant；
MONTAIGNE。
X。
To the same。＇The original is among the archives of Toulouse。＇
GENTLEMEN；I have taken my fair share of the satisfaction which you
announce to me as feeling at the good despatch of your business； as
reported to you by your deputies； and I regard it as a favourable sign
that you have made such an auspicious commencement of the year。 I hope
to join you at the earliest convenient opportunity。 I recommend myself
very humbly to your gracious consideration； and pray God to grant you；
gentlemen； a happy and long life。 From Montaigne； this 8th February
1585。 Your humble brother and servant；
MONTAIGNE。
XI。
To the same。
GENTLEMEN；I have here received news of you from M。 le Marechal。 I will
not spare either my life or anything else for your service； and will
leave it to your judgment whether the assistance I might be able to
render by my presence at the forthcoming election； would be worth the
risk I should run by going into the town； seeing the bad state it is in；
＇This refers to the plague then raging； and which carried off 14；000
persons at Bordeaux。＇ particularly for people coming away from so fine
an air as this is where I am。 I will draw as near to you on Wednesday as
I can； that is； to Feuillas； if the malady has not reached that place；
where； as I write to M。 de