things； the word fortune。 To excuse themselves for what they had said
against my book； they instanced works of our time by cardinals and other
divines of excellent repute which had been blamed for similar faults；
which in no way affected reputation of the author； or of the publication
as a whole； they requested me to lend the Church the support of my
eloquence （this was their fair speech）； and to make longer stay in the
place； where I should be free from all further intrusion on their part。
It seemed to me that we parted very good friends。〃
Before quitting Rome； Montaigne received his diploma of citizenship； by
which he was greatly flattered； and after a visit to Tivoli he set out
for Loretto； stopping at Ancona； Fano； and Urbino。 He arrived at the
beginning of May 1581； at Bagno della Villa； where he established
himself； order to try the waters。 There； we find in the Journal； of his
own accord the Essayist lived in the strictest conformity with the
regime； and henceforth we only hear of diet； the effect which the waters
had by degrees upon system； of the manner in which he took them； in a
word； he does not omit an item of the circumstances connected with his
daily routine； his habit of body； his baths； and the rest。 It was no
longer the journal of a traveller which he kept； but the diary of an
invalid；＇〃I am reading Montaigne's Travels； which have lately been
found； there is little in them but the baths and medicines he took； and
what he had everywhere for dinner。〃H。 Walpole to Sir Horace Mann； June
8； 1774。＇ attentive to the minutest details of the cure which he was
endeavouring to accomplish： a sort of memorandum book； in which he was
noting down everything that he felt and did； for the benefit of his
medical man at home； who would have the care of his health on his return；
and the attendance on his subsequent infirmities。 Montaigne gives it as
his reason and justification for enlarging to this extent here； that he
had omitted； to his regret； to do so in his visits to other baths； which
might have saved him the trouble of writing at such great length now； but
it is perhaps a better reason in our eyes； that what he wrote he wrote
for his own use。
We find in these accounts； however； many touches which are valuable as
illustrating the manners of the place。 The greater part of the entries
in the Journal； giving the account of these waters； and of the travels；
down to Montaigne's arrival at the first French town on his homeward
route； are in Italian； because he wished to exercise himself in that
language。
The minute and constant watchfulness of Montaigne over his health and
over himself might lead one to suspect that excessive fear of death which
degenerates into cowardice。 But was it not rather the fear of the
operation for the stone； at that time really formidable？ Or perhaps he
was of the same way of thinking with the Greek poet； of whom Cicero
reports this saying： 〃I do not desire to die； but the thought of being
dead is indifferent to me。〃 Let us hear； however； what he says himself
on this point very frankly： 〃It would be too weak and unmanly on my part
if； certain as I am of always finding myself in the position of having to
succumb in that way；＇To the stone or gravel。＇ and death coming nearer
and nearer to me； I did not make some effort； before the time came； to
bear the trial with fortitude。 For reason prescribes that we should
joyfully accept what it may please God to send us。 Therefore the only
remedy； the only rule； and the sole doctrine for avoiding the evils by
which mankind is surrounded； whatever they are； is to resolve to bear
them so far as our nature permits； or to put an end to them courageously
and promptly。〃
He was still at the waters of La Villa； when； on the 7th September 1581；
he learned by letter that he had been elected Mayor of Bordeaux on the
1st August preceding。 This intelligence made him hasten his departure；
and from Lucca he proceeded to Rome。 He again made some stay in that
city； and he there received the letter of the jurats of Bordeaux；
notifying to him officially his election to the Mayoralty； and inviting
him to return as speedily as possible。 He left for France； accompanied
by young D'Estissac and several other gentlemen； who escorted him a
considerable distance； but none went back to France with him； not even
his travelling companion。 He passed by Padua； Milan； Mont Cenis； and
Chambery； thence he went on to Lyons； and lost no time in repairing to
his chateau； after an absence of seventeen months and eight days。
We have just seen that； during his absence in Italy； the author of the
Essays was elected mayor of Bordeaux。 〃The gentlemen of Bordeaux；〃 says
he； 〃elected me Mayor of their town while I was at a distance from
France； and far from the thought of such a thing。 I excused myself； but
they gave to understand that I was wrong in so doing； it being also the
command of the king that I should stand。〃 This the letter which Henry
III。 wrote to him on the occasion：
MONSIEUR； DE MONTAIGNE；Inasmuch as I hold in great esteem your fidelity
and zealous devotion to my service； it has been a pleasure to me to learn
that you have been chosen mayor of my town of Bordeaux。 I have had the
agreeable duty of confirming the selection； and I did so the more
willingly； seeing that it was made during your distant absence； wherefore
it is my desire； and I require and command you expressly that you proceed
without delay to enter on the duties to which you have received so
legitimate a call。 And so you will act in a manner very agreeable to me；
while the contrary will displease me greatly。 Praying God； M。 de
Montaigne； to have you in his holy keeping。
〃Written at Paris； the 25th day of November 1581。
〃HENRI。
〃A Monsieur de MONTAIGNE；
Knight of my Order； Gentleman in Ordinary of my
Chamber； being at present in Rome。〃
Montaigne； in his new employment； the most important in the province；
obeyed the axiom； that a man may not refuse a duty； though it absorb his
time and attention； and even involve the sacrifice of his blood。 Placed
between two extreme parties； ever on the point of getting to blows； he
showed himself in practice what he is in his book； the friend of a middle
and temperate policy。 Tolerant by character and on principle； he
belonged； like all the great minds of the sixteenth century； to that
political sect which sought to improve； without destroying； institutions；
and we may say of him； what he himself said of La Boetie； 〃that he had
that maxim indelibly impressed on his mind； to obey and submit himself
religiously to the laws under which he was born。 Affectionately attached
to the repose of his country； an enemy to changes and innovations； he
would have preferred to employ what means he had towards their
discouragement and suppression； than in promoting their success。〃 Such
was the platform of his administration。
He applied himself； in an especial manner； to the maintenance of peace
between the two religious factions which at that time divided the town of
Bordeaux； and at the end of his two first years of office； his grateful
fellow…citizens conferred on him （in 1583） the mayoralty for two years
more； a distinction which had been enjoyed； as he tells us； only twice
before。 On the expiration of his official career； after four years'
duration； he could say fairly enough of himself that he left behind him
neither hatred nor cause of offence。
In the midst of the cares of government； Montaigne found time to revise
and enlarge his Essays； which； since their appearance in 1580； were
continually receiving augmentation in the form of additional chapters or
papers。 Two more editions were printed in 1582 and 1587； and during this
time the author； while making alterations in the original text； had
composed part of the Third Book。 He went to Paris to make arrangements
for the publication of his enlarged labours； and a fourth impression in
1588 was the result。 He remained in the capital some time on this
occasion； and it was now that he met for the first time Mademoiselle de
Gournay。 Gifted with an active and inquiring spirit； and； above all；
possessing a sound and healthy tone of mind； Mademoiselle de Gournay had
been carried from her childhood with that tide which set in with
sixteenth century towards controversy； learning； and knowledge。 She
learnt Latin without a master； and when； the age of eighteen； she
accidentally became possessor of a copy of the Essays； she was
transported with delight and admiration。
She quitted the chateau of Gournay； to come and see him。 We cannot do
better； in connection with this journey of sympathy； than to repeat the
words of Pasquier： 〃That young lady； allied to several great and noble
families of Paris； proposed to herself no other marriage than with her
honour； enriched with the knowledge gained from good books； and； beyond
all others； from the essays of M。 de Montaigne； who making in the year
1588 a lengthened stay in the town of Paris； she went there for the
purpose of forming his personal acquaintance； and her mother； Madame de
Gournay； and herself took him back with them to their chateau； where； at
two or three different times； he spent three months altogether； most
welcome of visitors。〃 It was from this moment that Mademoiselle de
Gournay dated her adoption as Montaigne's daughter； a circumstance which
has tended to confer immortality upon her in a far greater measure than
her own literary productions。
Montaigne； on leaving Paris； stayed a short time at Blois； to attend the
meeting of the States…General。 We do not know what part he took in that
assembly： but it is known that he was commissioned； about this period； to
negotiate between Henry of Navarre （afterwards Henry IV。） and the Duke of
Guise。 His political life is almost a blank； but De Thou assures us that
Montaigne enjoyed the confidence of the principal persons of his time。
De Thou； who calls him a frank man without constraint； tells us that；
walking with him and Pasquier in the court at the Castle of Blois； he
heard him pronounce some very remarkable opinions on contemporary events；
and he adds that Montaigne had foreseen