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214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

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TO MY LADY OF DURAS<br />

MADAME, the last time it pleased you to come and<br />

visite me, you found me upon this point. And because<br />

it may be these toyes of mine may happily come to<br />

your hands, I would have them witnesse their author<br />

reputeth himselfe highly honoured for the favours it<br />

shall please you to shew them. Wherein you shall<br />

discerne the very same demeanor and selfe-countenance<br />

you have seene in his conversation. And could I have<br />

assumed unto my selfe any other fashion than mine<br />

own© accustomed, or more honourable and better<br />

forme, I would not have done it: for al I seeke to<br />

reape by my writings is, they will naturally represent<br />

and to the life pourtray me to your remembrance.<br />

<strong>The</strong> very same conditions and faculties it pleased your<br />

Ladyship to frequent and receive with much more<br />

honor and curtesie than they any way deserve, I will<br />

place and reduce (but without alteration and change)<br />

into a solide body, which may happily continue some<br />

dayes and yeares after mee: where, when soever it shall<br />

please you to refresh your memory with them, you<br />

may easily finde them, without calling them to remembrance,<br />

which they scarcely deserve. I would<br />

entreate you to continue the favour of your friend-ship<br />

towa<strong>rd</strong>s me, by the same qualities through whose<br />

meanes it was produced. I labour not to be beloved<br />

more and esteemed better being dead that alive. <strong>The</strong><br />

humour of Tiberius is ridiculous and common, who<br />

endevoured more to extinguish his glory in future<br />

ages, than yeelde himself rega<strong>rd</strong>full and pleasing to<br />

men of his times. If I were one of those to whom<br />

the world may be indebted for praise, I would quit<br />

it for the one moytie, on condition it would pay me<br />

601

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