The Essays of Montaigne — Volume 18 by Michel de Montaigne
page 86 of 91 (94%)
page 86 of 91 (94%)
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I have a favourable aspect, both in form and in interpretation: "Quid dixi, habere me? imo habui, Chreme." ["What did I say? that I have? no, Chremes, I had." --Terence, Heaut., act i., sec. 2, v. 42.] "Heu! tantum attriti corporis ossa vides;" ["Alas! of a worn body thou seest only the bones"] and that makes a quite contrary show to that of Socrates. It has often befallen me, that upon the mere credit of my presence and air, persons who had no manner of knowledge of me have put a very great confidence in me, whether in their own affairs or mine; and I have in foreign parts thence obtained singular and rare favours. But the two following examples are, peradventure, worth particular relation. A certain person planned to surprise my house and me in it; his scheme was to come to my gates alone, and to be importunate to be let in. I knew him by name, and had fair reason to repose confidence in him, as being my neighbour and something related to me. I caused the gates to be opened to him, as I do to every one. There I found him, with every appearance of alarm, his horse panting and very tired. He entertained me with this story: "That, about half a league off, he had met with a certain enemy of his, whom I also knew, and had heard of their quarrel; that his enemy had given him a very brisk chase, and that having been surprised in disorder, and his party being too weak, he had fled to my gates for refuge; and that he was in great trouble for his followers, whom (he said) he concluded to be all either dead or taken." I innocently did my best to |
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