Philip for his beauty, wit, and hard drinking; Demosthenes however observed, that these praises would be more suitable to a woman, a lawyer, and a sponge, than to a king, who should be brave during the combat, and gentle after victory. It is not his profession to excel in hunting and dancing. 'Plutarch moreover says, that to be pre-eminent in these inferior matters, is to be a witness against himself for having badly employed his leisure, which ought to be dedicated to more useful application. In conformity with this opinion, Philip having heard his son Alexander sing at a feast to the envy of the musicians, "Art thou not ashamed," said he, "to sing so well?" And a musician said to this same Philip, with whom he argued upon his profession, "For God's sake, Sire, never let so much evil happen to thee as to underftand these things better than I do!" A king should be able to answer as Iphicrates replied to an orator who attacked him, "Well, what art thou, to entitle thee to boast of thy bravery? art thou a man at arms; art thou an archer, or art thou a pike-man ?«I am L 6

none

none of these, but I know how to command all these."

For myself I acknowledge, that when any person's comment on the language of these Essays, I should be much better pleased at their silence. Their with is not so much to elevate the style, as to depress the sense; and while they only profess to give a side blow, intend to make a deeper wound. However unworthy my Essays may be, I will venture to assert, that no author has strewed his thoughts thicker upon paper, or furnished more material hints, than myself. I only muster the heads, in order to arrange the greater quantity; fhould I also annex the sequel, I should multiply these volumes to an immense extent. The various anecdotes which I have dispersed in these pages, and which I only touch upon, would furnish materials for an infinite number of essays. Neither these nor my allegations serve merely for example, authority, or decoration. They are not to be regarded for the use I make of them, they often contain besides the seeds of a bolder and richer produce; and concealed under an aukward exterior, convey a greater degree of refinement

than

than I may chuse in this place to express, but, which others, who are of my way of thinking, may chance to discover.

I will fay one word upon this subject of letter-writing it is a kind of stile wherein my friends think I might succeed; and I am willing to confess, that I should rather have chosen to publish my whimsies that way, than in any other, had I such a friend to attract and encourage me, as I once possessed, and to whom I could write. But to negotiate with the wind, as some have done, and to forge the. names of persons to whom my letters should be addressed, on a serious subject, is what I never could do but in a dream, sworn enemy as I am to all manner of falsification.

I should perhaps have been more diligent, and more certain of myself, by addressing an indulgent and judicious friend, than thus to expose myself to the judgment and criticism cf s whole people; and I am much deceived if I should not have acquitted myself better. I have naturally a comic and familiar stile; but it is an

The Sieur de la Boetie.

I

original

original one, unsuitable for public business, and, like the language I speak, too abrupt, irregular, and singular.

But I have neither taste nor capacity for writing letters of ceremony, which have no other meaning than fine phrases, and obliging words. Those that cost most pains, are my worst compositions; and when once I check my ideas, it is a proof that I do not represent myself. I generally begin without premeditation; the first word produces a second, and so on to the end of the chapter. This is very different from the commom custom of letter-writing; for surely there never were so many abject and servile prostitutions; so many tenders of life and soul; so much devotion or adoration; so universal an avowal of being an eternal vassal, and humble slave, and I cannot tell what, as is the rage at present. All these expressions are so indiscriminately offered, that if they would wish to express a greater degree of respect to one person more than to another, they are totally unable to do it.

I hate flattery worse than death, which accounts for my falling into such a rude and rough

way

way of speaking, as to those who do not know me, may appear to favour a little of the disdainful. In fact, I honour those the most whom I may seem to honour the least; and where my soul flies with the greatest alacrity, I am apt to forget the ceremonies of look and gesture. I am ready to suppose that my friends can read my heart, and that the expression of words does an injury to my thoughts.