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278 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
him who medleth with Philosophy, as the woman said
to Thales, which is, he seeth nothing of that which is
before him. For every Philosopher is ignorant of what
his neighbour doth ; yea, he knowes not what himselfe
doth, and wots not what both are, whether beasts or
men. These people who thinke Sebondes reasons to be
weake and lame, who know nothing themselves, and
yet will take upon them to governe the world and know
all:
Qua mare covipescant causoe, quid temperet annum,
Stelloe sponte sua, jussceve vagentur et errent:
Quid premat obscurum Lunce, quid proferat orbem,
Quid veltt et possit leium concordia discors. 1
What cause doth calm the Sea, what cleares the yeare,
"Whether Stars forc't, or of self e-will appeare;
What makes the Moones darke Orbe to wax or wane,
What friendly fewd of things both will and can.
Did they never sound amid their books the difficulties
that present themselves to them to know their owne
being ? We see very well that our finger stirreth and our
foot moveth, that some parts of our body move of themselves
without our leave, and other some that stirr but
at our pleasure : and we see that certaine apprehensions
engender a blushing-red colour, others a palenesse; that
some imagination doth only worke in the milt, another
in the braine ; some one enduceth us to laugh, another
causeth us to weep; some astonisheth and stupifieth all
our senses, and staieth the motion of all our limbs ; at
some object the stomake riseth, and at some other the
lower parts. But how a spirituall impression causeth
or worketh such a dent or flaw in a massie and solid
body or subject, and the nature of the conjoyning and
compacting of these admirable springs and wards, man
yet never knew : Omnia incerta ratione, et in natures
majestate abdita :' ' All uncertaine in reason, and hid
in the majesty of nature.' Saith Plinie and Saint
Augustine : Modus, quo corporibus adhcerent spiritus,
omnino mirus est nee comprehendi ab homine potest, et hoc
1 HOR. 1. i. Epist. xii. 16, ² PLIN.