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76 MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYES
lightly. And what education I have had myselfe, the
same have I given my children. But such is my ill hap,
that they dye all very yong : yet hath Leonora my only
daughter escaped this misfortune, and attained to the
age of six yeares, and somewhat more; for the conduct
of whose youth and punishment of her childish faults
(the indulgence of her mother applying it selfe very
mildely unto it) was never other meanes used hut
gentle words. And were my desire frustrate there are
diverse other causes to take hold of without reproving
my discipline, which I know to he just and naturall.
I would also have beene much more religious in that
towards male-children, not borne to serve as women
and of a freer condition. I should have loved to have
stored their minde with ingenuity and liberty. I have
seene no other effects in rods, but to make childrens
mindes more remisse, or more maliciously headstrong.
Desire we to be loved of our children! Will we
remove all occasions from them to wish our death?
(although no occasion of so horrible and unnaturall
wishes can either be just or excusable) nullum scelus
rationem habet, no ill deed hath a good reason. Let us
reasonably accommodate their life with such things as are
in our power. And therefore should not we marry so
young that our age do in a manner confound it selfe
with theirs. For, this inconvenience doth unavoidably
cast us into many difficulties and encombrances. This
I speake chiefly unto nobility, which is of an idle disposition,
or loitering condition, and which (as we say)
liveth only by her hinds or rents : for else, where life
standeth upon gaine, plurality and company of children
is an easefull furtherance of husbandry. They are as
many new implements to thrive, and instruments to
grow rich. I was married at thirty yeares of age, and
commend the opinion of thirty-five, which is said to be
Aristotles. Plato would have no man married before
thirty, and hath good reason to scoffe at them that will
defer it till after fifty-five and then marry ; and
condemneth their breed as unworthy of life and sustenance.
Thales appointed the best limits, who by his