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214 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
friendships proceed the extremest enmities, and from
the soundest healths the mortallest diseases, so from the
rarest and quickest agitations of our mindes ensue
the most distempered and outragious frenzies. There
wants but half a pegs turne to passe from the one to
the other. In mad mens actions we see how fitlie follie
snteth and meets with the strongest operations of our
minde. Who knowes not how unperceivable the
neighbourhood between follie with the liveliest elevations
of a free minde is, and the effects of a supreme
and extraordinarie vertue. Plato affirmeth that
melancholy mindes are more excellent and disciplinable
; so are there none more inclinable unto follie.
Diverse spirits are seen to be overthrowne by their owne
force and proper nimblenesse. What a start hath one ¹
of the most judicious, ingenious, and most fitted under
the ayre of true ancient poesie, lately gotten by his
owne agitation and selfe-gladnesse, above all other
Italian Poets that have been of a long time ? Hath not
he wherewith to be beholding unto this his killing
vivacitie? unto this clearnesse that hath so blinded
him? unto his exact and far-reaching apprehension
of reasons which hath made him voide of reason ? unto
the curious and laborious pursute of Sciences, that have
brought him unto sottishnesse ? unto this rare aptitude
to the exercises of the minde, which hath made him
without minde or exercise ? I rather spited than pitied
him when I saw him at Ferrara, in so piteous a plight,
that he survived himselfe; misacknowledging both
himselfe and his labours, which unwitting to him, and
even to his face, have been published both uncorrected
and maimed. Will you have a man healthy, will you
have him regular, and in constant and safe condition ?
overwhelme him in the darke pit of idlenesse and
dulnesse. We must be besotted ere we can become
wise, and dazzled before we can be led. And if a man
shall tell me that the commoditie to have the appetite
cold to griefes and wallowish to evils, drawes this incommoditie
after it, it is also consequently the same
1 TORQUATO TASSO.