214044_The_Essa ... rd_Of_Montaigne_Vol_II.pdf - OUDL Home

THE SECOND BOOKE 603
derogate and steale from my naturall being, it fadgeth
not and hath no reference unto my better state, but is
much fallen from my first vigor and naturall jollity,
enclining to a kinde of drooping or mouldinesse. I
am now come to the bottome of the vessel, which
beginneth to taste of his dregs and lees. Otherwise
(good Madame) I should not have dared so boldly to
have ripped up the mysteries of physicke, considering
the esteeme and credite of your selfe, and so many
others, ascribe unto it, and hold it in ; had I not beene
directed thereunto by the authors of the same, I thinke
they have but two ancient ones in Latine, to wit Pliny
and Celsus. If you fortune at any time to looke unto
them, you shall finde them to speake much more rudely
of their art then I doe. I but pinch it gently ; they
cut the throate of it. Pliny, amongst other things,
doth much scoffe at them, forsomuch as when they are
at their wits end, and can go no further, they have
found out this goodly shift, to send their lpngturmoiled,
and to no end much tormented patient, with
their drugs and diets, some to the helpe of their vowes
and myracles, and some others to hot oaths and waters.
(Be not offended, noble Lady, he meaneth not those on
this side, under the protection of your house, and all
Gramontoises.) They have a third kinde of shift or
evasion to shake off and discharge themselves of the
imputations or reproaches wee may justly charge them
with, for the small amendment of our infirmities;
whereof they have so long had the survay and government,
as they have no more inventions or devises left
them to ammuse us with ; that is, to send us to seeke
and take the good aire of some other country. Madam,
we have harped long enough upon one string ; I hope
you will give me leave to come to my former discourses
againe, from which, for your better entertainment, I
had somewhat disgressed.
It was (as farre as I remember) Pericles, who being
demanded how he did, ' you may,' said he, ' judge it by
this,' shewing certaine scroules or briefes he had tied
about his necke and armes. He would infer that he