And now that our musketeers are in credit； I believe some invention will
be found out to immure us for our safety； and to draw us to the war in
castles； such as those the ancients loaded their elephants withal。
This humour is far differing from that of the younger Scipio； who sharply
reprehended his soldiers for having planted caltrops under water； in a
ditch by which those of the town he held besieged might sally out upon
him； saying； that those who assaulted should think of attacking； and not
to fear； suspecting； with good reason； that this stop they had put to the
enemies； would make themselves less vigilant upon their guard。 He said
also to a young man； who showed him a fine buckler he had； that he was
very proud of； 〃It is a very fine buckler indeed； but a Roman soldier
ought to repose greater confidence in his right hand than in his left。〃
Now 'tis nothing but the not being used to wear it that makes the weight
of our armour so intolerable：
〃L'usbergo in dosso haveano； et l'elmo in testa；
Due di questi guerrier； de' quali io canto；
Ne notte o di； d' appoi ch' entraro in questa
Stanza； gl'haveano mai messi da canto；
Che facile a portar come la vesta
Era lor； perche in uso l'havean tanto：〃
＇〃Two of the warriors； of whom I sing； had on their backs their
cuirass and on their heads their casque； and never had night or day
once laid them by； whilst here they were； those arms； by long
practice； were grown as light to bear as a garment〃
Ariosto； Cant。； MI。 30。＇
the Emperor Caracalla was wont to march on foot； completely armed； at the
head of his army。 The Roman infantry always carried not only a morion； a
sword； and a shield （for as to arms； says Cicero； they were so accustomed
to have them always on； that they were no more trouble to them than their
own limbs：
〃Arma enim membra militis esse dicunt。〃
but； moreover； fifteen days' provision； together with a certain number of
stakes； wherewith to fortify their camp； sixty pounds in weight。 And
Marius' soldiers； laden at the same rate； were inured to march in order
of battle five leagues in five hours； and sometimes； upon any urgent
occasion； six。
Their military discipline was much ruder than ours； and accordingly
produced much greater effects。 The younger Scipio； reforming his army in
Spain； ordered his soldiers to eat standing； and nothing that was drest。
The jeer that was given a Lacedaemonian soldier is marvellously pat to
this purpose； who； in an expedition of war； was reproached for having
been seen under the roof of a house： they were so inured to hardship
that； let the weather be what it would； it was a shame to be seen under
any other cover than the roof of heaven。 We should not march our people
very far at that rate。
As to what remains； Marcellinus； a man bred up in the Roman wars；
curiously observes the manner of the Parthians arming themselves； and the
rather； for being so different from that of the Romans。 〃They had；〃 says
he； 〃armour so woven as to have all the scales fall over one another like
so many little feathers； which did nothing hinder the motion of the body；
and yet were of such resistance； that our darts hitting upon them； would
rebound〃 （these were the coats of mail our forefathers were so constantly
wont to use）。 And in another place： 〃they had；〃 says he； 〃strong and
able horses； covered with thick tanned hides of leather； and were
themselves armed 'cap…a…pie' with great plates of iron； so artificially
ordered； that in all parts of the limbs； which required bending； they
lent themselves to the motion。 One would have said； that they had been
men of iron； having armour for the head so neatly fitted； and so
naturally representing the form of a face； that they were nowhere
vulnerable； save at two little round holes； that gave them a little
light； corresponding with their eyes； and certain small chinks about
their nostrils； through which they； with great difficulty； breathed；〃
〃Flexilis inductis animatur lamina membris；
Horribilis visu； credas simulacra moveri
Ferrea； cognatoque viros spirare metallo。
Par vestitus equis： ferrata fronte minantur；
Ferratosque movent； securi vulneris； armos。〃
＇〃Plates of steel are placed over the body； so flexible that；
dreadful to be seen； you would think these not living men； but
moving images。 The horses are similarly armed； and； secured from
wounds； move their iron shoulders。〃Claud； In Ruf。； ii。 358。＇
'Tis a description drawing very near resembling the equipage of the men…
at…arms in France； with their barded horses。 Plutarch says； that
Demetrius caused two complete suits of armour to be made for himself and
for Alcimus； a captain of the greatest note and authority about him； of
six score pounds weight each； whereas the ordinary suits weighed but half
as much。
CHAPTER X
OF BOOKS
I make no doubt but that I often happen to speak of things that are much
better and more truly handled by those who are masters of the trade。 You
have here purely an essay of my natural parts； and not of those acquired：
and whoever shall catch me tripping in ignorance； will not in any sort
get the better of me； for I should be very unwilling to become
responsible to another for my writings； who am not so to myself； nor
satisfied with them。 Whoever goes in quest of knowledge； let him fish
for it where it is to be found； there is nothing I so little profess。
These are fancies of my own； by which I do not pretend to discover things
but to lay open myself； they may； peradventure； one day be known to me；
or have formerly been； according as fortune has been able to bring me in
place where they have been explained； but I have utterly forgotten it；
and if I am a man of some reading； I am a man of no retention； so that I
can promise no certainty； more than to make known to what point the
knowledge I now have has risen。 Therefore； let none lay stress upon the
matter I write； but upon my method in writing it。 Let them observe； in
what I borrow； if I have known how to choose what is proper to raise or
help the invention； which is always my own。 For I make others say for
me； not before but after me； what； either for want of language or want of
sense； I cannot myself so well express。 I do not number my borrowings；
I weigh them； and had I designed to raise their value by number； I had
made them twice as many； they are all； or within a very few； so famed and
ancient authors； that they seem； methinks； themselves sufficiently to
tell who they are； without giving me the trouble。 In reasons；
comparisons； and arguments； if I transplant any into my own soil； and
confound them amongst my own； I purposely conceal the author； to awe the
temerity of those precipitate censors who fall upon all sorts of
writings； particularly the late ones； of men yet living； and in the
vulgar tongue which puts every one into a capacity of criticising and
which seem to convict the conception and design as vulgar also。 I will
have them give Plutarch a fillip on my nose； and rail against Seneca when
they think they rail at me。 I must shelter my own weakness under these
great reputations。 I shall love any one that can unplume me； that is；
by clearness of understanding and judgment； and by the sole distinction
of the force and beauty of the discourse。 For I who； for want of memory；
am at every turn at a loss to； pick them out of their national livery； am
yet wise enough to know； by the measure of my own abilities； that my soil
is incapable of producing any of those rich flowers that I there find
growing； and that all the fruits of my own growth are not worth any one
of them。 For this； indeed； I hold myself responsible； if I get in my own
way； if there be any vanity and defect in my writings which I do not of
myself perceive nor can discern； when pointed out to me by another； for
many faults escape our eye； but the infirmity of judgment consists in not
being able to discern them； when by another laid open to us。 Knowledge
and truth may be in us without judgment； and judgment also without them；
but the confession of ignorance is one of the finest and surest
testimonies of judgment that I know。 I have no other officer to put my
writings in rank and file； but only fortune。 As things come into my
head； I heap them one upon another； sometimes they advance in whole
bodies； sometimes in single file。 I would that every one should see my
natural and ordinary pace； irregular as it is； I suffer myself to jog on
at my own rate。 Neither are these subjects which a man is not permitted
to be ignorant in； or casually and at a venture； to discourse of。 I
could wish to have a more perfect knowledge of things； but I will not buy
it so dear as it costs。 My design is to pass over easily； and not
laboriously； the remainder of my life； there is nothing that I will
cudgel my brains about； no； not even knowledge； of what value soever。
I seek； in the reading of books； only to please myself by an honest
diversion； or； if I study； 'tis for no other science than what treats of
the knowledge of myself； and instructs me how to die and how to live
well。
〃Has meus ad metas sudet oportet equus。〃
＇〃My horse must work according to my step。〃
Propertius； iv。＇
I do not bite my nails about the difficulties I meet with in my reading；
after a charge or two； I give them over。 Should I insist upon them； I
should both lose myself and time； for I have an impatient understanding；
that must be satisfied at first： what I do not discern at once is by
persistence rendered more obscure。 I do nothing without gaiety；
continuation and a too obstinate endeavour； darkens； stupefies； and tires
my judgment。 My sight is confounded and dissipated with poring； I must
withdraw it； and refer my discovery to new attempts； just as； to judge
rightly of the lustre of scarlet； we are taught to pass the eye lightly
over it； and again to run it over at several sudden and reiterated
glances。 If one book do not please me； I take a