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222 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
that new world which of late hath been discovered by
the Spaniards, can witnesse unto us how those nations,
being without Magistrates or law, live much more
regularly and formally than we, who have amongst
us more officers and lawes than men of other professions
or actions.
Di citatorie piene e di libelli,
D'essarainne, e di carte, di procure
If anno le mani e il seno, egranfastelli
Di chiose, di consigli e di letture,
Per cut lefacultd de' poverelli
Non sono mat ne le citta sicure,
Hanno dietro e dinanzi e d'ambi i lati,
Notai, procuratori, e advocati. 1
Their hands and bosoms with writs and citations,
With papers, libels, proxies, full they bcare,
And bundels great of strict examinations,
Of glosses, counsels, readings here and there.
Whereby in townes poore men of occupations
Possesse not their small goods secure from feare,
Before, behind, on each sides Advocates,
Proctors, and Notaries hold up debates.
It was that which a Roman Senator said, that ' their
predecessors had their breath stinking of garlike, and
their stomacke perfumed with a good conscience:'
and contrary, the men of his time outwardly smelt of
nothing but sweet odours, but inwardly they stunke
of all vices : which, in mine opinion, is as much to say
they had much knowledge and sufficiency, but great
want of honesty. Incivility, ignorance, simplicity,
and rudenesse are commonly joyned with innocency.
Curiosity, subtility, and knowledge are ever followed
with malice: Humility, feare, obedience, and honesty
(which are the principall instruments for the preservation
of humane society) require a single docile soule
and which presumeth little of her selfe: Christians
have a peculiar knowledge how curiosity is in a man
a naturall and originall infirmity. The care to increase
in wisdome and knowledge was the first overthrow of
¹ ARIOSTO, cant xiv. Stan. 84.