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306 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
enterdevour one another. And Plato verifieth that
without lawes we should live like beasts. Our spirit is
a vagabond, a dangerous and fond-hardy implement; it
is very harde to joyne order and measure to it. In my
time, such as have any rare excellency above others, or
extraordinary vivacity, we see them almost all so lavish
and unbridled in licence of opinions and manners, as it
may be counted a wonder to find any one settled and
sociable. There is great reason why the spirit of man
should be so strictly embarred. In his study, as in all
things else, he must have his steps numbered and
ordered. The limits of his pursuite must he cut out by
art. He is bridled and fettered with and by religions,
lawes, customes, knowledge, precepts, paines, and
recompences, both mortall and immortall; yet we see
him, by meanes of his volubility and dissolution, escape
all these bonds. It is a vaine body that hath no way
about him to be seized on or cut off: a diverse and
deformed body, on which neither knot nor hold may
be festened. Verily there are few soules so orderly, so
constant, and so well borne as may be trusted with
their owne conduct, and may not with moderation, and
without rashnes, faile in the liberty of their judgements
beyond common opinions. It is more expedient
to give some body the charge and tuition of them.
The spirit is an outragious glaive, yea even to his owne
possessor, except he have the grace very orderly and
discreetly to arme himselfe therewith. And there is
no beast to whom one may more justly applv a blinding
bord, to keepe her sight in and force her to her footing,
and keepe from straying here and there, without the
tracke which use and lawes trace her out. Therefore
shall it be better for you to close and bound your selves
in the accustomed path, howsoever it be, than to take
your flight to this unbridled licence. But if any one
of these new doctors shall undertake to play the wise
or ingenious before you, at the charge of his and your
health : to rid you out of this dangerous plague, which
daily more and more spreds it selfe in your Courts:
this preservative will in any extreame necessity be a