214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

THE SECOND BOOKE 425
serveth, and that feares not to tell a lie when it little
importeth another man, is not sufficiently true. My
mind of her own complexion detesteth falsehood, and
hateth to think on it. I feele an inward bashfulnes and
a stinging remorse if at any time it scape me, as sometimes
it doth if unpremeditated occasions surprise me.
A man must not alwaies say all he knowes, for that
were follie : but what a man speakes ought to be
agreeing to his thoughts, otherwise it is impiety. I
know not what benefit they expect that ever faine,
and so uncessantly dissemble: except it be not to be
beleeved, even when they speake truly. That may
deceive men once or twice, but to make a profession
to cary it away smoothly, and as some of our Princes
have done, to boast that if their shirt were privie to
their secret and true cogitations, they would burne it:
which was the saying of ancient Metellus Macedonicus;
and that he who cannot dissemble cannot reign, serves
but only to warne those who have to deale with them,
that what they say is but untruth and dissimulation :
Quo quis versutior et calhdior est hoc invidor et suspectior,
detracta opinione prohtatitt: 1 ' The finer-headed and
more subtle-brained a man is, the more is he hated
and suspected if once the opinion of honesty be taken
from him.' It were great simplicity for a man to suffer
himselfe to be mis-led either by the lookes or wordes
of him that outwardly professeth what he is not inwardly,
as did Tiberius. And I know not what share
such people may challenge in the commerce of men,
never producing any thing that may be taken for good
paiment. He who is disloyall to truth is likewise false
against lying. Such as in our daies ; in the establishing
of a Princes dutie, have only considered the good and
felicitie of his affaires, and preferred the same before
the respect of his faith and conscience, would say something
to a Prince whose affaires fortune hath so disposed
that with once breaking and falsifying of his word he
might for ever confirme and establish them. But it
goeth otherwise. A man may more than once come
¹ CIC, Off. 1. i.