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426 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
to such a bargains. A man during his life concludeth
more than one peace or treatie. The commodity or
profit that inviteth them to the first disloyalty (and
daily some offer themselves, as to all other trecheries),
sacrileges, murders, rebellions, treasons, are undertaken
for some kinde of profit. But this first gaine
brings ever infinite losses and dangers with it: casting
this Prince from-out all commerce and meanes of
negotiation by the example of this infidelitie. Soliman
of the Ottomans race (a race little regarding the keeping
of promises or performance of covenants), at what
time he caused his armie to land at Otranto (I being
then but a childe), having knowne that Mercurin of
Gratinara, and the inhabitants of Castro, were detained
prisoners after the towne was yeelded, contrary to that
which by his captaines had beene capitulated with
them, he sent word they should be released, aud that
having other weighty enterprises in hand in that country,
such disloyalty, although it had apparance of great and
resent benefit, yet in time to come it would bring a
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istrust and reproch of infinite prejudice. As for me,
I had rather be importunate and indiscreet than a
flatterer and a dissembler. I allow a man may entermingle
some point of fiercenesse and wilfulnesse to
keepe himselfe so entire and open as I am, without
consideration of others. And mee seemeth I become
a little more free where I should be lesse, and that by
the opposition of respect 1 grow earnest. It may also
be that for want of art I follow mine owne nature.
Presenting to the greater sort the very same licence of
speech and boldnes of countenance that I bring from
my house: I perceive how much it inclineth towards
indiscretion and incivilitie. But although I be so
fashioned, my spirit is not sufficiently yeelding to avoid
a sudden question, or to scape it by some winding, nor
to dissemble a truth, nor have I memory able to continue
it so fained, nor assurance sufficient to maintains
it; and I play the braggard through feeblenesse. And
therefore I apply my selfe to ingenuitie, and ever to
speake truth and what I think, both by complexion