The Essays of Montaigne — Volume 03 by Michel de Montaigne
page 41 of 62 (66%)
page 41 of 62 (66%)
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the acts of my comedy are performed in a year. If you have observed the
revolution of my four seasons, they comprehend the infancy, the youth, the virility, and the old age of the world: the year has played his part, and knows no other art but to begin again; it will always be the same thing: "'Versamur ibidem, atque insumus usque.' ["We are turning in the same circle, ever therein confined." --Lucretius, iii. 1093.] "'Atque in se sua per vestigia volvitur annus.' ["The year is ever turning around in the same footsteps." --Virgil, Georg., ii. 402.] "I am not prepared to create for you any new recreations: "'Nam tibi prxterea quod machiner, inveniamque Quod placeat, nihil est; eadem sunt omnia semper.' ["I can devise, nor find anything else to please you: 'tis the same thing over and over again."--Lucretius iii. 957] "Give place to others, as others have given place to you. Equality is the soul of equity. Who can complain of being comprehended in the same destiny, wherein all are involved? Besides, live as long as you can, you shall by that nothing shorten the space you are to be dead; 'tis all to no purpose; you shall be every whit as long in the condition you so much fear, as if you had died at nurse: |
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