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208 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
forth many men of much more valour and sufficiencies
both for peace and warre, than this late learned Rome,
which with all her wisdom hath overthrowne her
erst-flourishing estate. If all the rest were alike, then
should honestie and innocencie at least belong to the
ancient, for she was exceedingly well placed with
simplicitie. But I will shorten this discourse, which
haply would draw me further than I would willingly
follow: yet thus much I will say more, that onely
humilitie and submission is able to make a perfect
honest man. Every one must not have the knowledge
of his dutie referred to his owne judgement, but
ought rather to have it prescribed unto him, and not
be allowed to chuse it at his pleasure and free will:
otherwise, according to the imbecilitie of our reasons,
and infinite varietie of our opinions, we might peradveuture
forge and devise such duties unto ourselves,
as would induce us (as Epicurus saith) to endevour
to destroy and devoure one another. The first law
that ever God gave unto man was a law of pure
obedience. It was a bare and simple commandement
whereof man should enquire and know no further:
forasmuch as to obey is the proper dutie of a reasonable
soul, acknowledging a heavenly and superiour
benefactor. From obeying and yeelding unto him
proceed all other vertues, even as all sinnes derive from
selfe-overweening. Contrariwise, the first temptation
that ever seized on human nature was disobedience, by
the devils instigation, whose first poison so far insinuated
it selfe into us, by reason of the promises he
made us of wisdome and knowledge: Eritis sicut Dii
scientes bonum et malum: 1 'You shall be like Gods,
knowing both good and evill.' And the Syrens, to
deceive Vlysses, and alluring him to fall into their
dangerous and confounding snares, offer to give him
the full fruition of knowledge. The opinion of wisdome
is the plague of man. That is the occasion why
ignorance is by our religion recommended unto us as
an instrument fitting beleefe and obedience: Cavete, ne
1 Gen. iii. 5.