214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

182 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
and fore-seeing rising stormes, he presently stoppeth
the holes that way, which thing the foresaid citizen
needfully observing, would in the City foretell any
future storm, and what wind should blow. The
cameleon taketh the colour of the place wherein he is.
The fish called a pourcontrell, or manie-feet, changeth
him selfe into what colour he lists as occasion offereth
it selfe, that so he may hide himselfe from what he
feareth, and catch what he sceketh for. In the cameleon
it is a change proceding of passion, but in the pouroontrell
a change in action; we ourselves doe often
change our colour and alter our countenance through
sudden feare, choler, shame, and such like violent
passions, which are wont to alter the hew of our
faces, but it is by the effect of sufferance, as in
the cameleon. The jaundise hath power to make
us yelow, but it is not in the disposition of our wils.
The effects we perceive in other creatures, greater than
ours, witnesse some more excellent faculty in them,
which is concealed from us; as it is to be supposed
diverse others of their conditions and forces are, whereof
no appearance or knowledge commeth to us. Of all
former predictions, the ancientest and most certaine
were such as were drawen from the flight of birds; we
have nothing equall unto it, nor so admirable. The
rule of fluttering, and order of shaking their wings, by
which they conjecture the consequences of things to
ensue, must necessarily be directed to so noble an
operation by some excellent and supernaturall meane.
For it is a wresting of the letter to attribute so
wondrous effects to any' naturall decree, without the
knowledge, consent, or discourse of him that causeth
and produceth them, and is a most false opinion, which
to prove, the torpedo or cramp-fish hath the property
to oenumme and astonish, not onely the limbs of those
that touch it, but also theirs that with any long pole
or fishing line touch any part thereof, shee doth transmit
and convey a kinde of heavie numming into the
hands of those that stirre or handle the same. Moreover,
it is averred that if any matter be cast upon them