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494 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
the worlds course, the care of riches, of greatnesse,
of knowledge, of health, and of my selfe. This man
learneth to speake when he should rather learne to
hold his peace for ever. A man may alwaies continue
his study, hut not schooling. O fond-foolish for an
old man to he ever an Abecedarian.
Diversos diversa iuvant, non omnibus annis
Omnia conveniunt. 1
Diverse delights to diverse, nor to all
Bo all things at all yeares convenient fall.
If we must needs study, let us study something
sorteable to our condition, that we may answer as he
did, who being demanded what his studies would stead
him in his decrepity, answered that he might the better
and with more ease leave this world. Such a study
was yong Catoes in forefeeling his approaching end,
who lighted upon Platoes discourse of the soules immortality.
Not as it may be supposed that long before
he had not stored himselfe with all sorts of munition
for such a dislodging. Of assurance, of constancy and
instruction, he had more than Plato hath in all his
writings. His science and his courage were in this
respect above all Philosophy. Hee undertook this
occupation, not for the service of his death, but as
one who did not so much as interrupt his sleep in a
deliberation of such consequence, who ever without
choice or change continued his wonted studies, and
all other accustomed actions of his life. The same
night wherein the Pre tor ship was refused him he
passed over in play. That wherein he must die, he
epent in reading. The losse of life or oflice was all
one to him,
¹ CATUU ELeg. i.103,