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Montaigne's Essays

CHAPTER LII.  OF THE PARCIMONIE OF OUR FOREFATHERS

Note on the e-text: this Renascence Editions text was provided by Ben R. Schneider, Lawrence University, Wisconsin. It is in the public domain. "Florio's Translation of Montaigne's Essays was first published in 1603. In 'The World's Classics' the first volume was published in 1904, and reprinted in 1910 and 1924." Content unique to this presentation is copyright © 1998 The University of Oregon. For nonprofit and educational uses only.

TTILIUS REGULUS, Generall of the Romans Armie in Affrike, in the middest of his glorie and victorie against the Carthaginians, writ unto the common-wealth, that a hyne or plough-boy, whom he had left alone to over-see and husband his land (which in all was but seven acres of ground) was run away from his charge, and had stolne from him all his implements and tools belonging to his husbandrie, craving leave to be discharged, and that he might come home to looke to his businesse, for feare his wife and children should thereby be endomaged: the Senate tooke order for him, and appointed another man to looke to his land and businesse, and made that good unto him which the other had stolne from him, and appointed his wife and children to be maintained at the common-wealths charge. Cato the elder, returning Consul from Spaine, sold his horse of service to save the monie he should have spent for his transport by sea into Italie: And being chiefe governor in Sardinia, went all his visitations afoot, having no other traine but one officer of the commonwelth, who carried his gowne and a vessell to do sacrifice in, and for the most part carried his male himself. He boasted that he never woare gowne that cost him more than ten crowns, nor sent more than one shilling sterling to the market for one whole daies provision, and had no country house rough-cast or painted over. Scipio Aemelianus, after he had triumphed twice, and twice been Consull, went on a solemne legation, accompanied and attended on only with seven servants. It is reported that Homer had never any more than one servant, Plato three, and Zeno, chiefe of the Stoikes sect, none at all. Tiberius Gracchus, being then one of the principal men amongst the Romanes, and sent in commission about weightie matters of the common-wealth, was allotted but sixpence halfe-penie a day for his charges.

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