Montaigne's Essays: Book III.
CHAPTER VII: OF THE INCOMMODITIE OF
GREATNESSE
Table
of Contents.
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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
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CHAPTER VII: OF THE INCOMMODITIE
OF
GREATNESSE
INCE
WE cannot attaine unto it, let us revenge our selves with railing
against
it: yet is it not absolute railing to finde fault with any thing: There
are defects found in all things, how faire soever in show and desirable
they be. It hath generally this evident advantage, that whenever
it
pleaseth it will decline, and hath well-nigh the choise of one and
other
condition. For a man doth not fall from all heights; divers there are
whence
a man may descend without falling. Verily, me seemeth that we value it
at too high a rate, and prize over-deare the resolution of those whom
we
have either seene or heard to have contemned, or of their owne motion
rejected
the same. Her essence is not so evidently commodious but a man may
refuse
it without wonder. Indeed I finde the labour very hard in suffering of
evils; but in the contentment of a meane measure of fortune and
shunning
of greatnesse, therein I see no great difficillty. In my conceit it is
a vertue whereunto my selfe, who am but a simple ninny, might easily
attaine,
and without great contention. What shall they doe who would also bring
into consideration the glory which accompanieth this refusall, wherein
may fall more ambition then even in the desire and absolute enjoying of
greatnesse? Forsomuch as ambition is never better directed
according
to it selfe then by a straying and unfrequented path. I sharpen my
courage toward patience, and weaken the same against desire. I have as
much to wish for as another, and leave my wishes as much liberty and
indiscretion;
but yet it never came into my minde to wish for Empire, for Royalty, or
eminency of high and commanding fortunes. I aime not that way: I love
my
selfe too well. When I thinke to grow, It is but meanly, with a forced
and coward advancement, fit for me; yea in resolution, in wisedome, in
health, in beauty, and also in riches. But this credite, this aspiring
reputation, this overswaying authority, suppresseth my imagination. And
cleane opposite to some other, I should peradventure love my selfe
better
to be the second or third man in Perigot then the first in Paris;
At least, without faining, I had rather be the third man in Paris
then the first in charge. I will neither contend with an Usher of a
doore,
as a silly unknowen man; nor with gaping and adoration make a Lane
through
the throng as I passe. I am enured to a meane calling; mediocrity best
fitteth me, as well by my fortune as by mine owne humor. And I have
shewed
by the conduct of my life and course of my enterprises, that I have
rather
sought to avoid then otherwise to embrace beyond the degree of fortune
that at my birth it pleased God to call me unto. Each naturall
constitution
is equally just and easie. My minde is so dull and slowe that I measure
not good fortune according to her height, but rather according to her
facility.
And if my hart be not great enough, it is ratably free and open, and
who
biddeth me bouldly to publish my weaknesse. Should any will me, on the
one part, to conferre and consider the life of L. Thurius Balbus,
a worthy gallant man, wise, faire, goodly, healthy, of good
understanding,
richly plenteous in all maner of commodities and pleasures, leading a
quiet
easefull life, altogether his owne, with a minde armed and well
prepared
against death, superstition, griefes, cares and other encombrances of
humane
necessity; dying in his old age in an honourable battell, with his
weapons
in his hand, for the defence of his countrie; and on the other side the
life of M. Regulus, so high and great, as all men know,
together
with his admirable and glorious end: the one unmentioned and without
dignity,
the other exemplare and wonderfull renouned: truly I would say what Cicero
saith of it, had I the gift of well-speaking as hee had. But if I were
to sute them unto mine, I would also say that the former is as much
agreeing
to my qualitie, and to the desire I endevour to conforme my quaiity
unto,
as the second is farre beyond it. That to this I cannot attaine but by
veneration; and to the other I would willingly attaine by custome. But
returne we to our temporall greatnesse, whence we have digressed. I am
distasted of all mastry, both active and passive. Otanes, one
of
the seaven that by right might chalenge the crowne or pretend the
Kingdome
of Persia, resolved upon such a resolution as I should easily
have
done the like, which was, that he utterly renounced all maner of claime
he might in any sort pretend unto that crowne to his fellow
competitores,
were it either by election or chance: alwayes provided that both
himselfe
and all his might live in that Empire free from all subjections and
exempted
from all maner of commandement, except that of the ancient lawes, and
might
both challenge all liberty and enjoy all immunities that should not
prejudice
them: being as impacient to command as to be commanded. The
sharpest
and most dificile profession of the world is (in mine opinion) worthily
to act and play the king. I excuse more of their faults then
commonly
other men doe; and that in consideration of the downe-bearing waight of
their immense charge, which much astonisheth me, It is a very hard
task
to keep a due measure in so unmeasurable a power. Yet is it, that
even
with those that are of a lesse excellent nature it is a singular
incitation
to vertue to be seated in such a place where you shall doe no maner of
good that is not registred and recorded, and where the least wel-dooing
extendeth to so many persons, and where your sufficiency (as that of
Preachers)
is principally directed to the people; a weake and partiall judge,
easily
to be beguiled, and easie to be pleased. There are but few things
of
which we may give a sincere judgement; for there be very few
wherein
in some sort or other we are not particularly interessed. Superiority
and
inferiority, maistry and subjection, are joyntly tied unto a naturall
kinde
of envy and contestation; they must perpetually enter-spoile one
another.
I beleeve neither the one nor the other concerning hir companions
rights:
let us suffer reason to speake of it) which is inflexible and
impassible,
when or how we shall make an end. I was not long since reading of two
Scottish
bookes striving upon this subject. The popular makes the King to be of
worse condition then a Carter; and he that extolleth, Monarchy placeth
him both in power and soveraignty many steps above the Gods. Now the
incommodity
if greatnesse, which here I have undertaken to note and to speak of
(upon
some occasion lately befalne mee), is this: There is peradventure
nothing
more pleasing to the commerce of men then the Essayes which we through
jealousie of honour or valour make one against another, be it in the
exercise
of the body or minde wherein soveraigne greatnesse hath no true or
essentiall
part. Verily, it hath often seemed unto me, that through over-much
respect
Princes are therein used disdainefully and treated injuriously; For the
thing whereat (in my youth) I was infinitely offended was, that those
which
were trained and schooled with mee, should forbeare to doe it in good
earnest,
because they found me unworthy to bee withstood or to resist their
endevours.
It is that we dayly see to happen unto them; every man finding himselfe
unworthy to force himselfe against them. If one perceive them never so
little affected to have the victory, there is none but will strive to
yeeld
it them, and that will not rather wrong his glory then offend theirs:
no
man imployeth more diligence then needs he must to serve their honour.
What share have Princes in the throng, where all are for them? Mee
thinks
I see those Paladines of former ages presenting themselves in
joustes,
tiltings and combates, with bodies and armes enchanted. Brisson
running against Alexander, counterfeited his course; Alexander
chid him for it; but he should have caused him to be whipt. For this
consideration
was Carneades wont to say, that 'Princes children learn't
nothing
aright but to mannage and ride horses; forsomuch as in all other
exercises
every man yeeldeth and giveth them the victory; but a horse who is
neyther
a flatterer nor a Courtier, will as soone throw the child of a King as
the son of a base porter.' Homer hath beene forced to consent that
Venus
(so sweet a saint and delicate a Goddesse) should be hurt at the siege
of Troy, thereby to ascribe courage and hardinesse unto her,
qualities
never seene in those that are exempted from danger. The Gods themselves
are fained to be angry, to feare, to be jealous, to grieve, to shew
passion,
and be subject to mortall sense, thereby to honour them with the
vertues
which the Poets and Philosophers invent amongst us: Nay, they are
supposed
to runne away, and to have a feeling of all our imperfections. Who doth
not participate both hazard and difficulties, cannot justly pretend
interest
in the honor, or challenge share in the pleasure that followeth
dangerous
actions or hazardous attempts. it is pitty a man should be so
powerfull,
that all things must yeeld and give place unto him. Such as are in so
high
eminency of greatnesse, their fortune rejects society and conversation
too farre from them: she placeth them in over remote and uncouth
places.
This easefull life and plausible facility to bring all under, and
subject
mens mindes, is an enemy to all manner of Pleasure. It is a kinde of
sliding,
and not a going: It is to sleepe and not to live. Conceive man
accompanied
with omnipotency, you overwhelme him: he must in begging manner crave
some
empeachment and resistance of you. His being and his food is in want
and
indigence. Their good qualities are dead and lost, for they are not
heard
but by comparison, and they are excluded: they have little knowledge of
true praise, being beaten with so continuall and uniforme an
approbation.
Have they to doe with the simplest of their subjects? They have no
meane
to take advantage of him if he but say, It is because he is my King, he
supposeth to have sufficiently expressed, and you must understand that
in so saying he hath lent a helping hand to overthrow himselfe. This
qualitie
suppresseth and consumeth all other true and essentiall qualities: they
are even drowned in the Royaltie; which gives them no leave to make the
offices of their charge to prevaile, except in such actions as directly
concerne and stead the same. To be a King is a matter of that
consequence,
that onely by it he is so. That strange glimmering and eye-dazeling
light
which round about environeth, overcasteth and hideth from us: or weake
sight is thereby bleared and dissipated, as beeing filled and obscured
by that greater and further-spredding brightnesse. The Senate allotted
the honour and prize of eloquence unto Tiberius; he refused it,
supposing that if it had beene true, he could not revenge himselfe of
so
limited and partiall judgement. As we yeeld Princes all advantages of
bonor,
so we aucthorize their defects and sooth-up their vices; not onely by
approbation,
but also by imitation. All Alexanders followers bare their
heads
sideling, as he did. And such as flattered Dionysius in his
owne
presence did run and jostle one another, and either stumbled at or
over-threw
what ever stood before their feete, to inferre that they were as
short-sighted
or spur-blinde as he was. Naturall imperfections have sometimes served
for commendation and favour. Nay, I have seene deafnesse affected. And
because the maister hated his wife, Plutarch hath seen
courtiers
to sue a divorce of tbeirs, whom they loved very well. And which is
more,
paillardise and all maner of dissolution hath thereby beene held in
credit;
as also disloyalty, blasphemy, cruelty, heresie, superstition,
irreligion,
wantonnesse, and worse, if worse may be. Yea, by an example more
dangerous
then that of Mithridates his flatterers, who for so much as
their
master pretended to have skill in phisick and aspired to the honor of a
good Physition, came to him to have their members incized and
cauterized.
For these others suffer to have their soules cauterized; a much more
precious
and nobler part then the body. But to end where I began: Adrian
the Emperor, debating with Favorinus the Philosopher about the
interpretation
of some word, Favorinus did soone yeeld the victory unto him, his
friends
finding fault with him for it: 'you but jest, my masters' (quoth
he);
'would you not have him to be much wiser than I, who hath the absolute
command over thirty legions?' Augustus writ some verses against Asinius
Pollio, which Pollio hearing, he said, 'I will hold my
peace;
for it is no wisedome to contend in writing with him who may
proscribe.'
And they had reason; for Dionysius, because he could not equall
Philoxenus
in poesie, nor match Plato in discourse, condemned the one to
the
stone-quarries, and sent the other to bee sold as a slave in the Ile of
Aegina.
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