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XLI。 Not to communicate a man's honour。
XLII。 Of the inequality amongst us。
XLIII。 Of sumptuary laws。
XLIV。 Of sleep。
XLV。 Of the battle of Dreux。
XLVI。 Of names。
XLVII。 Of the uncertainty of our judgment。
XLVIII。 Of war…horses； or destriers。
XLIX。 Of ancient customs。
L。 Of Democritus and Heraclitus。
LI。 Of the vanity of words。
LII。 Of the parsimony of the Ancients。
LIII。 Of a saying of Caesar。
LIV。 Of vain subtleties。
LV。 Of smells。
LVI。 Of prayers。
LVII。 Of age。
THE LIFE OF MONTAIGNE
＇This is translated freely from that prefixed to the 'variorum' Paris
edition； 1854； 4 vols。 8vo。 This biography is the more desirable that
it contains all really interesting and important matter in the journal of
the Tour in Germany and Italy； which； as it was merely written under
Montaigne's dictation； is in the third person； is scarcely worth
publication； as a whole； in an English dress。＇
The author of the Essays was born； as he informs us himself； between
eleven and twelve o'clock in the day； the last of February 1533； at the
chateau of St。 Michel de Montaigne。 His father； Pierre Eyquem； esquire；
was successively first Jurat of the town of Bordeaux （1530）； Under…Mayor
1536）； Jurat for the second time in 1540； Procureur in 1546； and at
length Mayor from 1553 to 1556。 He was w man of austere probity； who had
〃a particular regard for honour and for propriety in his person and
attire 。 。 。 a mighty good faith in his speech； and a conscience and
a religious feeling inclining to superstition； rather than to the other
extreme。〃＇Essays； ii。 2。＇ Pierre Eyquem bestowed great care on the
education of his children； especially on the practical side of it。 To
associate closely his son Michel with the people； and attach him to those
who stand in need of assistance； he caused him to be held at the font by
persons of meanest position； subsequently he put him out to nurse with a
poor villager； and then； at a later period； made him accustom himself to
the most common sort of living； taking care； nevertheless； to cultivate
his mind； and superintend its development without the exercise of undue
rigour or constraint。 Michel； who gives us the minutest account of his
earliest years； charmingly narrates how they used to awake him by the
sound of some agreeable music； and how he learned Latin； without
suffering the rod or shedding a tear； before beginning French； thanks to
the German teacher whom his father had placed near him； and who never
addressed him except in the language of Virgil and Cicero。 The study of
Greek took precedence。 At six years of age young Montaigne went to the
College of Guienne at Bordeaux； where he had as preceptors the most
eminent scholars of the sixteenth century； Nicolas Grouchy； Guerente；
Muret； and Buchanan。 At thirteen he had passed through all the classes；
and as he was destined for the law he left school to study that science。
He was then about fourteen； but these early years of his life are
involved in obscurity。 The next information that we have is that in 1554
he received the appointment of councillor in the Parliament of Bordeaux；
in 1559 he was at Bar…le…Duc with the court of Francis II； and in the
year following he was present at Rouen to witness the declaration of the
majority of Charles IX。 We do not know in what manner he was engaged on
these occasions。
Between 1556 and 1563 an important incident occurred in the life of
Montaigne； in the commencement of his romantic friendship with Etienne de
la Boetie； whom he had met； as he tells us； by pure chance at some
festive celebration in the town。 From their very first interview the two
found themselves drawn irresistibly close to one another； and during six
years this alliance was foremost in the heart of Montaigne； as it was
afterwards in his memory； when death had severed it。
Although he blames severely in his own book ＇Essays； i。 27。＇ those who；
contrary to the opinion of Aristotle； marry before five…and…thirty；
Montaigne did not wait for the period fixed by the philosopher of
Stagyra； but in 1566； in his thirty…third year； he espoused Francoise de
Chassaigne； daughter of a councillor in the Parliament of Bordeaux。 The
history of his early married life vies in obscurity with that of his
youth。 His biographers are not agreed among themselves； and in the
same degree that he lays open to our view all that concerns his secret
thoughts； the innermost mechanism of his mind； he observes too much
reticence in respect to his public functions and conduct； and his social
relations。 The title of Gentleman in Ordinary to the King； which he
assumes； in a preface； and which Henry II。 gives him in a letter； which
we print a little farther on； what he says as to the commotions of
courts； where he passed a portion of his life； the Instructions which he
wrote under the dictation of Catherine de Medici for King Charles IX。；
and his noble correspondence with Henry IV。； leave no doubt； however； as
to the part which he played in the transactions of those times； and we
find an unanswerable proof of the esteem in which he was held by the most
exalted personages； in a letter which was addressed to him by Charles at
the time he was admitted to the Order of St。 Michael； which was； as he
informs us himself； the highest honour of the French noblesse。
According to Lacroix du Maine； Montaigne； upon the death of his eldest
brother； resigned his post of Councillor； in order to adopt the military
profession； while； if we might credit the President Bouhier； he never
discharged any functions connected with arms。 However； several passages
in the Essays seem to indicate that he not only took service； but that he
was actually in numerous campaigns with the Catholic armies。 Let us add；
that on his monument he is represented in a coat of mail； with his casque
and gauntlets on his right side； and a lion at his feet； all which
signifies； in the language of funeral emblems； that the departed has been
engaged in some important military transactions。
However it may be as to these conjectures； our author； having arrived at
his thirty…eighth year； resolved to dedicate to study and contemplation
the remaining term of his life； and on his birthday； the last of February
1571； he caused a philosophical inscription； in Latin； to be placed upon
one of the walls of his chateau； where it is still to be seen； and of
which the translation is to this effect：〃In the year of Christ 。 。 。
in his thirty…eighth year； on the eve of the Calends of March； his
birthday； Michel Montaigne； already weary of court employments and public
honours； withdrew himself entirely into the converse of the learned
virgins where he intends to spend the remaining moiety of the to allotted
to him in tranquil seclusion。〃
At the time to which we have come； Montaigne was unknown to the world of
letters； except as a translator and editor。 In 1569 he had published a
translation of the 〃Natural Theology〃 of Raymond de Sebonde； which he had
solely undertaken to please his father。 In 1571 he had caused to be
printed at Paris certain 'opuscucla' of Etienne de la Boetie ； and these
two efforts； inspired in one case by filial duty； and in the other by
friendship； prove that affectionate motives overruled with him mere
personal ambition as a literary man。 We may suppose that he began to
compose the Essays at the very outset of his retirement from public
engagements； for as； according to his own account； observes the President
Bouhier； he cared neither for the chase； nor building； nor gardening； nor
agricultural pursuits； and was exclusively occupied with reading and
reflection； he devoted himself with satisfaction to the task of setting
down his thoughts just as they occurred to him。 Those thoughts became a
book； and the first part of that book； which was to confer immortality on
the writer； appeared at Bordeaux in 1580。 Montaigne was then fifty…
seven； he had suffered for some years past from renal colic and gravel；
and it was with the necessity of distraction from his pain； and the hope
of deriving relief from the waters； that he undertook at this time a
great journey。 As the account which he has left of his travels in
Germany and Italy comprises some highly interesting particulars of his
life and personal history； it seems worth while to furnish a sketch or
analysis of it。
〃The Journey； of which we proceed to describe the course simply；〃 says
the editor of the Itinerary； 〃had； from Beaumont…sur…Oise to Plombieres；
in Lorraine； nothing sufficiently interesting to detain us 。 。 。 we
must go as far； as Basle； of which we have a description； acquainting us
with its physical and political condition at that period； as well as with
the character of its baths。 The passage of Montaigne through Switzerland
is not without interest； as we see there how our philosophical traveller
accommodated himself everywhere to the ways of the country。 The hotels；
the provisions； the Swiss cookery； everything； was agreeable to him； it
appears； indeed； as if he preferred to the French manners and tastes
th