nations so differing； so remote； so disaffected； so confusedly commanded；
and so unjustly conquered：
〃Nec gentibus ullis
Commodat in populum； terra pelagique potentem；
Invidiam fortuna suam。〃
＇〃Fortune never gave it to any nation to satisfy its hatred against
the people； masters of the seas and of the earth。〃Lucan； i。 32。＇
Everything that totters does not fall。 The contexture of so great a body
holds by more nails than one； it holds even by its antiquity； like old
buildings； from which the foundations are worn away by time； without
rough…cast or mortar； which yet live and support themselves by their own
weight：
〃Nec jam validis radicibus haerens；
Pondere tuta suo est。〃
Moreover； it is not rightly to go to work； to examine only the flank and
the foss； to judge of the security of a place； we must observe which way
approaches can be made to it； and in what condition the assailant is： few
vessels sink with their own weight； and without some exterior violence。
Now； let us everyway cast our eyes； everything about us totters； in all
the great states； both of Christendom and elsewhere； that are known to
us； if you will but look； you will there see evident menace of alteration
and ruin：
〃Et sua sunt illis incommoda； parque per omnes
Tempestas。〃
＇〃They all share in the mischief； the tempest rages
everywhere。〃AEneid； ii。＇
Astrologers may very well； as they do； warn us of great revolutions and
imminent mutations： their prophecies are present and palpable； they need
not go to heaven to foretell this。 There is not only consolation to be
extracted from this universal combination of ills and menaces； but；
moreover； some hopes of the continuation of our state； forasmuch as；
naturally； nothing falls where all falls： universal sickness is
particular health： conformity is antagonistic to dissolution。 For my
part； I despair not； and fancy that I discover ways to save us：
〃Deus haec fortasse benigna
Reducet in sedem vice。〃
＇〃The deity will perchance by a favourable turn restore us to our
former position。〃Horace； Epod。； xiii。 7。＇
Who knows but that God will have it happen； as in human bodies that purge
and restore themselves to a better state by long and grievous maladies；
which render them more entire and perfect health than that they took from
them？ That which weighs the most with me is； that in reckoning the
symptoms of our ill； I see as many natural ones； and that Heaven sends
us； and properly its own； as of those that our disorder and human
imprudence contribute to it。 The very stars seem to declare that we have
already continued long enough； and beyond the ordinary term。 This also
afflicts me； that the mischief which nearest threatens us； is not an
alteration in the entire and solid mass； but its dissipation and
divulsion； which is the most extreme of our fears。
I； moreover； fear； in these fantasies of mine； the treachery of my
memory； lest； by inadvertence； it should make me write the same thing
twice。 I hate to examine myself； and never review； but very unwillingly；
what has once escaped my pen。 I here set down nothing new。 These are
common thoughts； and having； peradventure； conceived them an hundred
times； I am afraid I have set them down somewhere else already。
Repetition is everywhere troublesome； though it were in Homer； but 'tis
ruinous in things that have only a superficial and transitory show。 I do
not love over…insisting； even in the most profitable things； as in
Seneca； and the usage of his stoical school displeases me； to repeat；
upon every subject； at full length and width the principles and
presuppositions that serve in general； and always to realledge anew
common and universal reasons。
My memory grows cruelly worse every day：
〃Pocula Lethaeos ut si ducentia somnos；
Arente fauce traxerim；〃
＇〃As if my dry throat had drunk seducing cups of Lethaean
oblivion。〃Horace； Epod。； xiv。 3。＇
I must be fain for the time to come （for hitherto； thanks be to God；
nothing has happened much amiss）； whereas others seek time and
opportunity to think of what they have to say； to avoid all preparation；
for fear of tying myself to some obligation upon which I must insist。 To
be tied and bound to a thing puts me quite out； and to depend upon so
weak an instrument as my memory。 I never read this following story that
I am not offended at it with a personal and natural resentment：
Lyncestes； accused of conspiracy against Alexander； the day that he was
brought out before the army； according to the custom； to be heard as to
what he could say for himself； had learned a studied speech； of which；
hesitating and stammering； he pronounced some words。 Whilst growing more
and more perplexed； whilst struggling with his memory； and trying to
recollect what he had to say； the soldiers nearest to him charged their
pikes against him and killed him； looking upon him as convict； his
confusion and silence served them for a confession； for having had so
much leisure to prepare himself in prison； they concluded that it was not
his memory that failed him； but that his conscience tied up his tongue
and stopped his mouth。 And； truly； well said； the place； the assembly；
the expectation； astound a man； even when he has but the ambition to
speak well； what can a man do when 'tis an harangue upon which his life
depends？
For my part； the very being tied to what I am to say is enough to loose
me from it。 When I wholly commit and refer myself to my memory； I lay so
much stress upon it that it sinks under me： it grows dismayed with the
burden。 So much as I trust to it； so much do I put myself out of my own
power； even to the finding it difficult to keep my own countenance； and
have been sometimes very much put to it to conceal the slavery wherein I
was engaged； whereas my design is to manifest； in speaking； a perfect
calmness both of face and accent； and casual and unpremeditated motions；
as rising from present occasions； choosing rather to say nothing to
purpose than to show that I came prepared to speak well； a thing
especially unbecoming a man of my profession； and of too great obligation
on him who cannot retain much。 The preparation begets a great deal more
expectation than it will satisfy。 A man often strips himself to his
doublet to leap no farther than he would have done in his gown：
〃Nihil est his； qui placere volunt； turn adversarium；
quam expectatio。〃
＇〃Nothing is so adverse to those who make it their business to
please as expectation〃Cicero； Acad。； ii。 4＇
It is recorded of the orator Curio； that when he proposed the division of
his oration into three or four parts； or three or four arguments or
reasons； it often happened either that he forgot some one； or added one
or two more。 I have always avoided falling into this inconvenience；
having ever hated these promises and prescriptions； not only out of
distrust of my memory； but also because this method relishes too much of
the artist：
〃Simpliciora militares decent。〃
＇〃Simplicity becomes warriors。〃Quintilian； Instit。 Orat。； xi。 I。＇
'Tis… enough that I have promised to myself never again to take upon me
to speak in a place of respect； for as to speaking； when a man reads his
speech； besides that it is very absurd； it is a mighty disadvantage to
those who naturally could give it a grace by action； and to rely upon the
mercy of my present invention； I would much less do it； 'tis heavy and
perplexed； and such as would never furnish me in sudden and important
necessities。
Permit； reader； this essay its course also； and this third sitting to
finish the rest of my picture： I add； but I correct not。 First； because
I conceive that a man having once parted with his labours to the world；
he has no further right to them； let him do better if he can； in some new
undertaking； but not adulterate what he has already sold。 Of such
dealers nothing should be bought till after they are dead。 Let them well
consider what they do before they； produce it to the light who hastens
them？ My book is always the same； saving that upon every new edition
（that the buyer may not go away quite empty） I take the liberty to add
（as 'tis but an ill jointed marqueterie） some supernumerary emblem； it is
but overweight； that does not disfigure the primitive form of the essays；
but； by a little artful subtlety； gives a kind of particular value to
every one of those that follow。 Thence； however； will easily happen some
transposition of chronology； my stories taking place according to their
opportuneness； not always according to their age。
Secondly； because as to what concerns myself； I fear to lose by change：
my understanding does not always go forward； it goes backward too。 I do
not much less suspect my fancies for being the second or the third； than
for being the first； or present； or past； we often correct ourselves as
foolishly as we do others。 I am grown older by a great many years since
my first publications； which were in the year 1580； but I very much doubt
whether I am grown an inch the wiser。 I now； and I anon； are two several
persons； but whether better； I cannot determine。 It were a fine thing to
be old； if we only travelled towards improvement； but 'tis a drunken；
stumbling； reeling； infirm motion： like that of reeds； which the air
casually waves to and fro at pleasure。 Antiochus had in his youth
strongly written in favour of the Academy； in his old age he wrote as
much against it； would not； which of these two soever I should follow； be
still Antiochus？ After having established the uncertainty； to go about
to establish the certainty of human opinions； was it not to establish
doubt； and not certainty； and to promise； that had he had yet another age
to live； he would be always upon terms of altering his judgment； not so
much for the better； as for something else？
The public favour has given me a little more confidence than I expected；
but what I 'most fear is