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214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

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298 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES<br />

subsist of her selfe, is ever and in all places questing<br />

and searching comforts, hopes, foundations and forratne<br />

circumstances, on which she may take hold and<br />

settle herselfe. And how light and fantasticall soever<br />

his invention doth frame them unto him, he notwithstanding<br />

relieth more surely upon them and more<br />

willingly than upon himself: But it is a wonder to<br />

see how the most obstinat in this so just and manifest<br />

perswasion of our spirits immortalitie have found themselves<br />

short and unable to establish the same by their<br />

humane forces. Somnia sunt non docentis sed optantis :<br />

'<strong>The</strong>se are dreames not of one that teacheth, but<br />

wisheth what he would have :' said an ancient Writer,<br />

Man may by his owne testimonie know that the truth<br />

he alone discovercth, the same he oweth unto fortune<br />

and chance, since even when she is falne into his<br />

hands, he wanteth wherwith to lay hold on her and<br />

, keepe her; and that this reason hath not the power<br />

to prevaile with it. All things produced by our owne<br />

discource and sufficiencies as well true as false, are<br />

subject to uncertaintie and disputation. It is for the<br />

punishment of our temeritie and instruction of our<br />

miseHe and incapacitie, that God caused the trouble,<br />

downeiaJl and confusion of Babels Tower. Whatsoever<br />

we attempt without his assistance, whatever we<br />

see without the lampe of his grace, is but vanity and<br />

folly: With our weaknes we corrupt and adulterate<br />

the very essence of truth (which is uniforme and<br />

constant) when fortune giveth us the possession of it.<br />

What course soever man taketh of himself, it is Gods<br />

permission that 1 he ever commeth to that confusior<br />

whose image ha so lively representeth unto us by the<br />

just punishment, wherewith he framed the presump<br />

tuous over-weening of Nembroth, and brought to<br />

nothing the frivolous enterprises of the building c<br />

his high-towring Pyramis or Heaven-menacing tower<br />

Pe<strong>rd</strong>am sapientiam sapientium et prudentiam prudentius<br />

reprobabo ¹ ' I will destroy the wisdome of the wise<br />

and reprove the providence of them that are mo<br />

¹ 1 Cor. i. 19.

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