The Essays of Montaigne — Volume 19 by Michel de Montaigne
page 34 of 79 (43%)
page 34 of 79 (43%)
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["And I have played the soldier not ingloriously."
--Horace, Od., iii. 26, 2.] yet more in continuation and holding out, than in sally: "Sex me vix memini sustinuisse vices." ["I can scarcely remember six bouts in one night" --Ovid, Amor., iii. 7, 26.] 'Tis certainly a misfortune and a miracle at once to confess at what a tender age I first came under the subjection of love: it was, indeed, by chance; for it was long before the years of choice or knowledge; I do not remember myself so far back; and my fortune may well be coupled with that of Quartilla, who could not remember when she was a maid: "Inde tragus, celeresque pili, mirandaque matri Barba meae." ["Thence the odour of the arm-pits, the precocious hair, and the beard which astonished my mother."--Martial, xi. 22, 7.] Physicians modify their rules according to the violent longings that happen to sick persons, ordinarily with good success; this great desire cannot be imagined so strange and vicious, but that nature must have a hand in it. And then how easy a thing is it to satisfy the fancy? In my opinion; this part wholly carries it, at least, above all the rest. The most grievous and ordinary evils are those that fancy loads us with; this Spanish saying pleases me in several aspects: |
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