Montaigne three-fourths; or Travel one-fourth, and Montaigne
three-fourths. He pours his thought into the water of gossip, and
gives you to drink. He gilds his pill always, and he always gilds it
with himself. The general characteristics of his Essays have been
indicated, and it is worth while inquiring what they teach, what
positive good they have done, and why for three centuries they have
charmed, and still continue to charm.

The Essays contain a philosophy of life, which is not specially high,
yet which is certain to find acceptance more or less with men who have
passed out beyond the glow of youth, and who have made trial of the
actual world. The essence of his philosophy is a kind of cynical
common-sense. He will risk nothing in life; he will keep to the beaten
track; he will not let passion blind or enslave him; he will gather
round him what good he can, and will therewith endeavour to be content.
He will be, as far as possible, self-sustained; he will not risk his
happiness in the hands of man, or of woman either. He is shy of
friendship, he fears love, for he knows that both are dangerous. He
knows that life is full of bitters, and he holds it wisdom that a man
should console himself, as far as possible, with its sweets, the
principal of which are peace, travel, leisure, and the writing of
essays. He values obtainable Gascon bread and cheese more than the
unobtainable stars. He thinks crying for the moon the foolishest thing
in the world. He will remain where he is. He will not deny that a new
world may exist beyond the sunset, but he knows that to reach the new
world there is a troublesome Atlantic to cross; and he is not in the
least certain that, putting aside the chance of being drowned on the
way, he will be one whit happier in the new world than he is in the
old. For his part he will embark with no Columbus. He feels that life
is but a sad thing at best; but as he has little hope of making it