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218 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
us, and record with pleasure and delight what soever
was for us.'
And this is true, Memini etiam quae nolo; obivisci
turn possum quae volo:¹ ' I remember even those things
I would not; and can not forget what I would.' And
whose counsell is this ? his, Qui se units sapientem
profiteri sit ausus:¹ ' Who only durst professe himselfe
a wise man.'
Qui genus humanum irtgenio tupeiavit, et omnet
Preesti inxit Stellas, exortus uti atherius Sol. 2
"Who from all mankind bare for wit the prize,
And dim'd the stars as when skies Sunne doth rise.
To emptie and diminish the memorie, is it not the
readie and onely way to ignorance ?
Inert malorum remedium ignorantia est, 9
Of ills a remedie by chance,
And verie dull is ignorance.
We see diverse like precepts, by which we are
permitted to borrow frivolous appearances from the
vulgar sort, where lively and strong reason is not of
force sufficient: alwaies provided they bring us content
and comfort. Where they can not cure a sore they are
pleased to stupifie and hide the same. I am perswaded
they will not denie me this, that if they could possibly
add any order or constaiicie to a mans life, that it
might thereby be still maintained in pleasure and
tranquillitie, by or through any weaknesse or iuiirmitie
of judgement, but they would accept it.
potare, et tpargere flores
' Incipram, pattarque vet inconsultus haberi. 4
I will begin to strew flowers, and drinke free,
And suffer witlesse, thriftlesse, held to bee.
There should many Philosophers be found of Lycas
bis opinion : This man in all other things being very
temperate and orderly in his demeanors, living quietly
¹ EPIC, in CIC. De Fin. 1. ii.
² LUCR. 1. iii. 1086; EPICUR. ³ SEN. Oed, act iii. SC. 1.
4 HOR, 1. i. Epist. iii. 14.