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he be strong and able； or if my cook be a swearer； if he be a good cook。
I do not take upon me to direct what other men should do in the
government of their families； there are plenty that meddle enough with
that； but only give an account of my method in my own：
〃Mihi sic usus est： tibi； ut opus est facto； face。〃
＇〃This has been my way； as for you； do as you find needful。
〃Terence； Heaut。； i。 I。； 28。＇
For table…talk； I prefer the pleasant and witty before the learned and
the grave； in bed； beauty before goodness； in common discourse the ablest
speaker； whether or no there be sincerity in the case。 And； as he that
was found astride upon a hobby…horse； playing with his children；
entreated the person who had surprised him in that posture to say nothing
of it till himself came to be a father； ＇Plutarch； Life of Agesilaus；
c。 9。＇ supposing that the fondness that would then possess his own
soul； would render him a fairer judge of such an action； so I； also；
could wish to speak to such as have had experience of what I say： though；
knowing how remote a thing such a friendship is from the common practice；
and how rarely it is to be found； I despair of meeting with any such
judge。 For even these discourses left us by antiquity upon this subject；
seem to me flat and poor； in comparison of the sense I have of it； and in
this particular； the effects surpass even the precepts of philosophy
〃Nil ego contulerim jucundo sanus amico。〃
＇〃While I have sense left to me； there will never be anything more
acceptable to me than an agreeable friend。〃
Horace； Sat。； i。 5； 44。＇
The ancient Menander declared him to be happy that had had the good
fortune to meet with but the shadow of a friend： and doubtless he had
good reason to say so； especially if he spoke by experience： for in good
earnest； if I compare all the rest of my life； though； thanks be to God；
I have passed my time pleasantly enough； and at my ease； and the loss of
such a friend excepted； free from any grievous affliction； and in great
tranquillity of mind； having been contented with my natural and original
commodities； without being solicitous after others； if I should compare
it all； I say； with the four years I had the happiness to enjoy the sweet
society of this excellent man； 'tis nothing but smoke； an obscure and
tedious night。 From the day that I lost him：
〃Quern semper acerbum；
Semper honoratum （sic； di； voluistis） habebo；〃
＇〃A day for me ever sad； for ever sacred； so have you willed ye
gods。〃AEneid； v。 49。＇
I have only led a languishing life； and the very pleasures that present
themselves to me； instead of administering anything of consolation；
double my affliction for his loss。 We were halves throughout； and to
that degree； that methinks； by outliving him； I defraud him of his part。
〃Nec fas esse ulla me voluptate hic frui
Decrevi； tantisper dum ille abest meus particeps。〃
＇〃I have determined that it will never be right for me to enjoy any
pleasure； so long as he； with whom I shared all pleasures is away。〃
〃Terence； Heaut。； i。 I。 97。＇
I was so grown and accustomed to be always his double in all places and
in all things； that methinks I am no more than half of myself：
〃Illam meae si partem anima tulit
Maturior vis； quid moror altera？
Nec carus aeque； nec superstes
Integer？ Ille dies utramque
Duxit ruinam。〃
＇〃If that half of my soul were snatch away from me by an untimely
stroke； why should the other stay？ That which remains will not be
equally dear； will not be whole： the same day will involve the
destruction of both。〃
or：
＇〃If a superior force has taken that part of my soul； why do I； the
remaining one； linger behind？ What is left is not so dear； nor an
entire thing： this day has wrought the destruction of both。〃
Horace； Ode； ii。 17； 5。＇
There is no action or imagination of mine wherein I do not miss him； as I
know that he would have missed me： for as he surpassed me by infinite
degrees in virtue and all other accomplishments； so he also did in the
duties of friendship：
〃Quis desiderio sit pudor； aut modus
Tam cari capitis？〃
＇〃What shame can there； or measure； in lamenting so dear a friend？〃
Horace； Ode； i。 24； I。＇
〃O misero frater adempte mihi！
Omnia tecum una perierunt gaudia nostra；
Quae tuus in vita dulcis alebat amor。
Tu mea； tu moriens fregisti commoda； frater；
Tecum una tota est nostra sepulta anima
Cujus ego interitu tota de menthe fugavi
Haec studia； atque omnes delicias animi。
Alloquar？ audiero nunquam tua verba loquentem？
Nunquam ego te； vita frater amabilior
Aspiciam posthac； at certe semper amabo；〃
＇〃O brother； taken from me miserable！ with thee； all our joys have
vanished； those joys which； in thy life； thy dear love nourished。
Dying； thou； my brother； hast destroyed all my happiness。 My whole
soul is buried with thee。 Through whose death I have banished from
my mind these studies； and all the delights of the mind。 Shall I
address thee？ I shall never hear thy voice。 Never shall I behold
thee hereafter。 O brother； dearer to me than life。 Nought remains；
but assuredly I shall ever love thee。〃Catullus； lxviii。 20； lxv。＇
But let us hear a boy of sixteen speak：
＇In Cotton's translation the work referred to is 〃those Memoirs
upon the famous edict of January；〃 of which mention has already been
made in the present edition。 The edition of 1580； however； and the
Variorum edition of 1872…1900； indicate no particular work； but the
edition of 158o has it 〃this boy of eighteen years〃（which was the
age at which La Boetie wrote his 〃Servitude Volontaire〃）； speaks of
〃a boy of sixteen〃 as occurring only in the common editions； and it
would seem tolerably clear that this more important work was； in
fact； the production to which Montaigne refers； and that the proper
reading of the text should be 〃sixteen years。〃 What 〃this boy
spoke〃 is not given by Montaigne； for the reason stated in the next
following paragraph。
〃Because I have found that that work has been since brought out； and with
a mischievous design； by those who aim at disturbing and changing the
condition of our government； without troubling themselves to think
whether they are likely to improve it： and because they have mixed up his
work with some of their own performance； I have refrained from inserting
it here。 But that the memory of the author may not be injured； nor
suffer with such as could not come near…hand to be acquainted with his
principles； I here give them to understand； that it was written by him in
his boyhood； and that by way of exercise only； as a common theme that has
been hackneyed by a thousand writers。 I make no question but that he
himself believed what he wrote； being so conscientious that he would not
so much as lie in jest： and I moreover know； that could it have been in
his own choice； he had rather have been born at Venice； than at Sarlac；
and with reason。 But he had another maxim sovereignty imprinted in his
soul； very religiously to obey and submit to the laws under which he was
born。 There never was a better citizen； more affectionate to his
country； nor a greater enemy to all the commotions and innovations of his
time： so that he would much rather have employed his talent to the
extinguishing of those civil flames； than have added any fuel to them；
he had a mind fashioned to the model of better ages。 Now； in exchange of
this serious piece； I will present you with another of a more gay and
frolic air； from the same hand； and written at the same age。〃
CHAPTER XXVIII。
NINE AND TWENTY SONNETS OF ESTIENNE DE LA BOITIE
TO MADAME DE GRAMMONT； COMTESSE DE GUISSEN。
＇They scarce contain anything but amorous complaints； expressed in a
very rough style； discovering the follies and outrages of a restless
passion； overgorged； as it were； with jealousies； fears and
suspicions。 Coste。＇
＇These。。。。contained in the edition of 1588 nine…and…twenty sonnets
of La Boetie； accompanied by a dedicatory epistle to Madame de
Grammont。 The former； which are referred to at the end of Chap。
XXVIL； do not really belong to the book； and are of very slight
interest at this time； the epistle is transferred to the
Correspondence。 The sonnets； with the letter； were presumably sent
some time after Letters V。 et seq。 Montaigne seems to have had
several copies written out to forward to friends or acquaintances。＇
CHAPTER XXIX。
OF MODERATION
As if we had an infectious touch； we； by our manner of handling； corrupt
things that in themselves are laudable and good： we may grasp virtue so
that it