214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

THE SECOND BOOKE 361
and tasteth otherwise, by natures ordinary rule, then
a man of thirtie yeares; and he otherwise then another
of threescore. The senses are to some more obscure
and dimme, and to some more open and quicke. We
receive things differently, according as they are and
seeme unto us. Things being then so uncertaine and
full of controversies it is no longer a wonder if it be
told us that we may avouch snow to seeme white unto us;
but to affirme that it's such in essence and in truth, we
cannot warrant ourselves: which foundation being so
shaken, all the science in the world must necessarily
goe to wracke. What, doe our senses themselves
hinder one another ? To the sight a picture seemeth
to be raised aloft, and in the handling flat: shall we
say that muske is so pleasing or no, which comforteth
our smelling and offendeth our taste ? There are hearbs
and ointments which to some parts of the body are
good, and to other some hurtfull. Honie is pleasing
to the taste, but unpleasing to the sight. Those jewels
wrought and fashioned like feathers or sprigs, which in
impreses are called feathers without ends, no eye can
discerne the bredth of them, and no man warrant himselfe
from this deception, that on the one end or side it
groweth not broder and broder, sharper and sharper,
and on the other more and more narrow, especially
being rouled about ones finger, when notwithstanding
in handling it seemeth equal in bredth, and every
where alike. Those who to encrease and aide their
luxury were anciently wont to use perspective or looking
glasses, fit to make the object they represented
appeare very big and great, that so the members they
were to use might, by that ocular increase, please them
the more : to whether of the two senses yeelded they,
either to the sight presenting those members as big and
great as they wisht them, or to the feeling that presented'them
little and to be disdained? Is it our senses
that lend these diverse conditions unto subjects, when
for all that the subjects have but one ? as we see in the
Bread we eat: it is but Bread, but one using it, it
maketh bones, blood, flesh, haire, and nailes thereof: