"While he was at Venice, he was elected mayor "of Bourdeaux, which place was bestowed only 66 upon persons of the first quality, and even the governors of the province thought it was an honour " for them. The mareschal de Matignon, who "commanded the king's forces in that province "during the troubles of the state, had such an "esteem for him, that he communicated the most "important affairs to him, and admitted him into "his council. As I had a correspondence with him "while I was in his country, and since at court, "the conformity of our studies and inclinations "united us most intimately. He died at Montaigne "in the 60th year of his age.' This testimony of Thuanus is sufficient to justify the memory of our author, for nobody will believe that a man of that integrity, would have been so great a friend with so vicious a man, as Montaigne has been represented by some who envied him. I shall therefore conclude this discourse with a very remarkable circumstance, mentioned by Thuanus in his own life, lib. iii. which shows that Montaigne was beloved by the greatest princes in his time, and honoured with their confidence. "While the states of the king"dom," says he, "were sitting at Blois, Mon 66 taigne and I were discoursing of the division be"tween the king of Navarre, and the duke of "Guise; whereupon he told me, that he knew the "most secret thoughts of both those princes, as "having been employed to compose their differences; and that he was persuaded, that neither "of them was of the religion he professed. That "the king of Navarre would have willingly em"braced the religion of his predecessors, if he had "not feared that his party would abandon him; "and that the duke of Guise would have declared "himself for the confession of Augsburg, which the "cardinal of Lorrain his uncle had inspired him "with, if he could have done it, without any pre66 judice to his interests." I thought this circumstance was not unworthy of being placed here; but I must beg the reader's pardon for having detained him so long, and that he would attribute it to the respect I have for the memory of so excellent a man as Montaigne, who meets with a much more favourable entertainment in England, than in his native country; but it must be observed, that an author who writes freely of every thing, is not suitable to the temper of a servile nation, that has lost all sense of liberty. Monsieur La Bruyere, in his celebrated book of the "Characters and Manners of the Age," gives another reason why some people condemn Montaigne. "Two writers," says he (meaning La Mothe le Vayer, and Malebranche), "have condemned Mon 66 taigne: I know that author may be justly blamed "in some things, but neither of them will allow him "to have any thing valuable. One of them thinks "too little to taste such an author who thinks a 66 great deal; and the other thinks too delicately to be pleased with what is natural. This, I be"lieve," says he, "is the general character of Montaigne's enemies." 66 MONTAIGNE'S PREFACE ΤΟ THE READER. THIS, Reader, is a book altogether without guile. It tells thee at the entrance of it, that I had no view in publishing it, but what was domestic and private. I have had no regard in it, either to thy service, or my own glory: my abilities are not equal to the execution of such a design. I have devoted it to the particular benefit of my kindred and friends, to the end, that when they have lost me, which they will do very soon, they may there retrace some of my qualities and humours, and consequently that their remembrance of me may be preserved more lively and entire. Had I been to court the favour of the public, I should have adorned myself with borrowed beauties: but I am desirous to appear in my plain, natural, ordinary dress, without study and artifice; for it is my own dear self that I paint. My faults will appear here to the life, together with my imperfections, and my native form, as far as a respect to the public has permitted me. And if I had dwelt in those nations which are said to live still under the sweet liberty of the primitive laws of nature, I assure thee, I should gladly have drawn my own Portrait at full length, and quite naked. Thus, Reader, I am myself the subject of my own book; a subject too vain and frivolous to take up even thy spare time. Adieu therefore. Montaigne, June 12, 1580. |