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214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

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THE SECOND BOOKE 509<br />

man who is transported by rage and choler, and for<br />

his justification alleadgeth the extrao<strong>rd</strong>inary motions<br />

of his maister, the inflammation of his face, his unwonted<br />

oaths, his chafing, his unquietnessc, and his<br />

rash precipitation.<br />

Ora tument ira, nigrescunt sanguine vena:<br />

Lvmina Gorgoneo scevius igne micant. 1<br />

<strong>The</strong> face with anger swelles, the veines grow blacke with blood,<br />

<strong>The</strong> eyes more fiercely shine than Gorgons fierie moode,<br />

Suetonius writeth that Caius Itabirius, having by Caesar<br />

been condemned, nothing did him so much good<br />

towa<strong>rd</strong>s the people (to whom he appealed) to make<br />

him obtain his suit, as the sharpnes and over-boldnes<br />

which Caesar had declared in that judgement. Saying<br />

is one thing, and doing another. A man must consider<br />

the sermon apart and the preacher severall.<br />

Those have made themselves good sport who in our<br />

dayes have gone about to checke the veritie of our<br />

Church by the ministers vice : she fetcheth her testimony<br />

from elsewhere. It is a foolish manner of<br />

arguing, and which would soone reduce all things to<br />

a confusion. An honest man may sometimes have<br />

false opinions, and a wicked man may preach truth :<br />

yea such a one as beleeves it not. Verily it is a<br />

pleasing harmonie when doing and saying goe together.<br />

And I will not deny but saying when deeds follow is of<br />

more efficacie and authoritie : as said Eudamidas when<br />

he hea<strong>rd</strong> a philosopher discourse of warre : these<br />

speeches are good, but he that speakes them is not<br />

to be beleeved, for his eares were never accustomed<br />

to heare the clang of trumpets nor rattling of drums.<br />

And Cleomenes, hearing a rnetoritian speake of valour,<br />

burst out into an extreame laughter ; whereat the<br />

other being offended, he said unto him : 'I would<br />

doe as much if it were a swallow should speake of it,<br />

but were he an eagle I should gladly heare him.' Me<br />

seemeth I perceive in ancient mens writings that he<br />

who speaks what he thinketh toucheth nearer the<br />

¹ OVID. Art. Am. 1. iii. 58.

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