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344 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
a thousand and a thousand, and as many severall
images and divers considerations, as it best pleaseth
us. Is it possible that ever Homer meant all that
which some make him to have meant ? And that he
prostrated himselfe to so many, and so severall shapes,
as, Divines, Lawiers, Captaines, Philosophers, and all
sort of people else, which, how diversely and contrary
soever it be they treat of sciences, do notwithstanding
wholy rely upon him, and refer themselves unto him;
as a Generall Maister for all offices, workes, sciences,
and tradesmen, and an universall counsellor in all
enterprises; whosoever hath had need of Oracles or
Predictions, and would apply them to himselfe, hath
found them in him for his purpose. A notable man,
and a good friend of mine, would make one marvel to
heare what strange far-fetcht conceits and admirable
affinities, in favor of our religion, he maketh to derive
from him; and can hardly be drawne from this opinion,
but that such was Homers intent and meaning (yet is
Homer so familiar unto him, as I tlunke no man of our
age is better acquainted with him). And what he finds
in favour of our religion, many ancient learned men
have found in favour of theirs. See how Plato is tossed
and turned over, every man endevoring to apply him to
his purpose, giveth him what construction he list. He
is wrested and inferted to all new-fangled opinions that
the world receiveth or alloweth of, and according to
the different course of subjects is made to be repugnant
unto himselfe. Every one according to his sense makes
him to disavow the customes that were lawfull in his
daies, inasmuch as they are unlawfull in these times.
All which is very lively and strongly maintained,
according as the wit and learning of the interpreter is
strong and quicke. Upon the ground which Heraclitus
had, and that sentence of his, that all things had those
shapes in them which men found in them. And Democritus
out of the very same drew a cleane contrarie
conclusion, id est, that subjects had nothing at all in
them of that which we found in them. And forasmuch
as honny was sweet to one man and bitter to another,