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356 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
eyes and mindes:' which is an evident deception of
the sight. Therefore was it that a worthy Philosopher
pulled out his eyes that so he might discharge his soule
of the seducing and diverting he received by them,
and the better and more freely apply himselfe unto
Philosophy. But by this accompt, ne should also have
stopped his eares, which (as Theophrastus said) are the
most dangerous instruments we have to receve violent
and sodaine impressions to trouble and alter us, and
should in the end have deprived himself of all his other
senses; that is to say, both of his being and life. For
they have the power to command our discourses and
sway our minde: Fit etiam saepe specie quadam, saspe
vocum gravitate et cantibus, vt pellantur animi vehementins:
saepe etiam cura et timore:¹ 'It comes to passe
that many times our mindes are much moved with
some shadow, many times with deep sounding or singing
of voices, many times with care and feare.' Physitians
hold that there are certain complexions which by
some sounds and instruments are agitated even unto
furie. I have seene some who, without infringing their
patience, could not well heare a bone gnawne under
their table : and we see few men but are much troubled
at that sharpe, harsh, and teeth-edging noise that
smiths make in filing of brasse, or scraping of iron and
Steele together: others will be offended if they but
heare one chew his meat somewhat aloud; nay, some
will be angrie with or hate a man that either speaks in
the nose or rattles in the throat. That piping prompter
of Gracchus, who mollified, raised, and wound his
masters voice whilst he was making orations at Rome;
what good did he ; if the motion and qualitie of the
sound had not the force to move and efficacy to alter
the auditories judgement: Verily there is great cause
to make so much ado, and keepe such a coyle about
the constancie and firmnesse of this goodly piece, which
suffers it selfe to be handled, changed, and turned by
the motion and accident of so light a winde. The very
same cheating and cozening that senses bring to our
1 CIC. Div. 1. i.