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346 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
else but what is knowne by the senses. Whosoever
can force me to contradict my senses, hath me fast by
the throate, and cannot make me recoyle one foote
backward. The senses are the beginning and end of
humane knowledge.
Invenies primis ab sensibus esse creatam
Notitiam vert, neque sensus posse refelli.
Quid maiore fide porro, quam sensus, hdberi
Debet ?¹
Ton shall finde knowledge of the truth at first was bred
From our first senses, nor can senses be misseled.
What, then our senses, should
With us more credit hold ?
Attribute as little as may be unto them, yet must
this ever be graunted them, that all our instruction is
addressed by their meanes and intermission. Cicero
saith that Chrysippus having assaid to abate the power
of his senses, and of their vertue, presented contrary
arguments unto himselfe, and so vehement oppositions,
that he could not satisfie himselfe. Whereupon
Carneades (who defended the contrary part) boasted
that he used the very same weapons and words of
Chrysippus to com bate against him ; and therefore cried
out upon him,' Oh miserable man ! thine owne strength
hath foiled thee.' There is no greater absurditie in our
'udgment, then to maintaine that fire heateth not, that
iight shineth not, that in iron there is neither weight
nor fir men esse, which are notices our senses bring unto
us : Nor beliefe or science in man, that may be com-
ared unto that, in certaintie. The first consideration
p
have upon the senses subject is, that I make a ques­
tion, whether man be provided of all naturall senses,
or no. I see divers creatures that live an entire and
perfect life, some without sight, and some without
hearing; who knoweth whether we also want either
one, two, three, or many senses more: For, if we want
any one, our discourse cannot discover the want or
defect thereof. It is the senses priviledge to be the
1 LUCR. 1. iv. 480, 484.