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168 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
So Ants amidst their sable-coloured band
One with another mouth to mouth confer.
Haply their way, or Btate to understand.
Me seemeth that Lactantius 1 doth not onely attribute
speech unto beasts, but also laughing. And the same
difference of tongues, which according to the diversitie
of countries is found amongst us, is also found amongst
beasts of one same kinde. Aristotle to that purpose
alleageth the divers calles or purres of partriges,
according to the situation of their place of breeding.
variceque volucres
Longe alias alio jaciunt in tempoit voces,
Et partxm mutant cum tempestatibus una
Raucisonos cantus. 2
And divers birds, send forth much divers soun Is
At divers times, and partly change the grounds j
Of their hource-sounding song,
As seasons change along.
But it would be knowne what language such a child
should speake, and what some report by divination,
hath no great likelyhood. And if against this opinion
a man would alleage unto me that such as are naturally
deafe, speake not at all: I answer that it is not onely
because they could not receive the instruction of the
world by their eares, but rather inasmuch as the sense
of hearing, whereof they are deprived, hath some
affinity with that of speaking, both which with a
naturall kinde of ligament or seame hold and are
fastned together. In such sort as what we speake we
must first speake it unto our selves, and before we
utter and send the same forth to strangers we make
it inwardly to sound unto our eares. I have said all
this to maintaine the coherency and resemblance that
is in all humane things, and to bring us unto the
generall throng. We are neither above nor under the
rest: what ever is under the coape of heaven (saith the
wise man) runneth one law, and followeth one fortune.
Indupedita suis fatalibus omnia vinclis.³
All things enfolded are,
In fatall bonds as fits their share.
1 Instit Divin. 1. iii. c. 10. ² LUCR. 1. v. 1088. ³ Ibid. 885.