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dead body floating in the sea； and not being able to approach it； set to
work to drink the water and lay the passage dry； and so choked
themselves。 To which what one Crates' said of the writings of Heraclitus
falls pat enough； 〃that they required a reader who could swim well；〃 so
that the depth and weight of his learning might not overwhelm and stifle
him。 'Tis nothing but particular weakness that makes us content with
what others or ourselves have found out in this chase after knowledge：
one of better understanding will not rest so content； there is always
room for one to follow； nay； even for ourselves； and another road； there
is no end of our inquisitions； our end is in the other world。 'Tis a
sign either that the mind has grown shortsighted when it is satisfied； or
that it has got weary。 No generous mind can stop in itself； it will
still tend further and beyond its power； it has sallies beyond its
effects； if it do not advance and press forward； and retire； and rush and
wheel about； 'tis but half alive； its pursuits are without bound or
method； its aliment is admiration； the chase； ambiguity； which Apollo
sufficiently declared in always speaking to us in a double； obscure； and
oblique sense： not feeding； but amusing and puzzling us。 'Tis an
irregular and perpetual motion； without model and without aim； its
inventions heat； pursue； and interproduce one another：
Estienne de la Boetie； thus translated by Cotton：
〃So in a running stream one wave we see
After another roll incessantly；
And as they glide； each does successively
Pursue the other； each the other fly
By this that's evermore pushed on； and this
By that continually preceded is：
The water still does into water swill；
Still the same brook； but different water still。〃
There is more ado to interpret interpretations than to interpret things；
and more books upon books than upon any other subject； we do nothing but
comment upon one another。 Every place swarms with commentaries； of
authors there is great scarcity。 Is it not the principal and most
reputed knowledge of our later ages to understand the learned？ Is it not
the common and final end of all studies？ Our opinions are grafted upon
one another； the first serves as a stock to the second； the second to the
third； and so forth； thus step by step we climb the ladder； whence it
comes to pass that he who is mounted highest has often more honour than
merit； for he is got up but an inch upon the shoulders of the last； but
one。
How often； and； peradventure； how foolishly； have I extended my book to
make it speak of itself； foolishly； if for no other reason but this； that
it should remind me of what I say of others who do the same： that the
frequent amorous glances they cast upon their work witness that their
hearts pant with self…love； and that even the disdainful severity
wherewith they scourge them are but the dandlings and caressings of
maternal love； as Aristotle； whose valuing and undervaluing himself often
spring from the same air of arrogance。 My own excuse is； that I ought in
this to have more liberty than others； forasmuch as I write specifically
of myself and of my writings； as I do of my other actions； that my theme
turns upon itself； but I know not whether others will accept this excuse。
I observed in Germany that Luther has left as many divisions and disputes
about the doubt of his opinions； and more； than he himself raised upon
the Holy Scriptures。 Our contest is verbal： I ask what nature is； what
pleasure； circle； and substitution are？ the question is about words； and
is answered accordingly。 A stone is a body； but if a man should further
urge： 〃And what is a body？〃〃Substance〃； 〃And what is substance？〃 and
so on； he would drive the respondent to the end of his Calepin。
＇Calepin （Ambrogio da Calepio）； a famous lexicographer of the
fifteenth century。 His Polyglot Dictionary became so famous； that
Calepin became a common appellation for a lexicon＇
We exchange one word for another； and often for one less understood。
I better know what man is than I know what Animal is； or Mortal； or
Rational。 To satisfy one doubt； they give me three； 'tis the Hydra's
head。 Socrates asked Menon； 〃What virtue was。〃 〃There is；〃 says Menon；
〃the virtue of a man and of a woman； of a magistrate and of a private
person； of an old man and of a child。〃 Very fine；〃 cried Socrates；
〃we were in quest of one virtue； and thou hast brought us a whole
swarm。〃 We put one question； and they return us a whole hive。 As no
event； no face； entirely resembles another； so do they not entirely
differ： an ingenious mixture of nature。 If our faces were not alike； we
could not distinguish man from beast； if they were not unlike； we could
not distinguish one man from another； all things hold by some similitude；
every example halts； and the relation which is drawn from experience is
always faulty and imperfect。 Comparisons are ever…coupled at one end or
other： so do the laws serve； and are fitted to every one of our affairs；
by some wrested； biassed； and forced interpretation。
Since the ethic laws； that concern the particular duty of every one in
himself； are so hard to be framed； as we see they are； 'tis no wonder if
those which govern so many particulars are much more so。 Do but consider
the form of this justice that governs us； 'tis a true testimony of human
weakness； so full is it of error and contradiction。 What we find to be
favour and severity in justiceand we find so much of them both； that I
know not whether the medium is as often met with are sickly and unjust
members of the very body and essence of justice。 Some country people
have just brought me news in great haste； that they presently left in a
forest of mine a man with a hundred wounds upon him； who was yet
breathing； and begged of them water for pity's sake； and help to carry
him to some place of relief； they tell me they durst not go near him； but
have run away； lest the officers of justice should catch them there； and
as happens to those who are found near a murdered person； they should be
called in question about this accident； to their utter ruin； having
neither money nor friends to defend their innocence。 What could I have
said to these people？ 'Tis certain that this office of humanity would
have brought them into trouble。
How many innocent people have we known that have been punished； and this
without the judge's fault； and how many that have not arrived at our
knowledge？ This happened in my time： certain men were condemned to die
for a murder committed； their sentence； if not pronounced； at least
determined and concluded on。 The judges； just in the nick； are informed
by the officers of an inferior court hard by； that they have some men in
custody； who have directly confessed the murder； and made an indubitable
discovery of all the particulars of the fact。 Yet it was gravely
deliberated whether or not they ought to suspend the execution of the
sentence already passed upon the first accused： they considered the
novelty of the example judicially； and the consequence of reversing
judgments； that the sentence was passed； and the judges deprived of
repentance； and in the result； these poor devils were sacrificed by the
forms of justice。 Philip； or some other； provided against a like
inconvenience after this manner。 He had condemned a man in a great fine
towards another by an absolute judgment。 The truth some time after being
discovered； he found that he had passed an unjust sentence。 On one side
was the reason of the cause； on the other side； the reason of the
judicial forms： he in some sort satisfied both； leaving the sentence in
the state it was； and out of his own purse recompensing the condemned
party。 But he had to do with a reparable affair； my men were irreparably
hanged。 How many condemnations have I seen more criminal than the crimes
themselves？
All which makes me remember the ancient opinions； 〃That 'tis of necessity
a man must do wrong by retail who will do right in gross； and injustice
in little things； who would come to do justice in great： that human
justice is formed after the model of physic； according to which； all that
is useful is also just and honest： and of what is held by the Stoics；
that Nature herself proceeds contrary to justice in most of her works：
and of what is received by the Cyrenaics； that there is nothing just of
itself； but that customs and laws make justice： and what the Theodorians
held that theft； sacrilege； and all sorts of uncleanness； are just in a
sage； if he knows them to be profitable to him。〃 There is no remedy： I
am in the same case that Alcibiades was； that I will never； if I can help
it； put myself into the hands of a man who may determine as to my head；
where my life and honour shall more depend upon the skill and diligence
of my attorney than on my own innocence。 I would venture myself with
such justice as would take notice of my good deeds； as well as my ill；
where I had as much to hope as to fear： indemnity is not sufficient pay
to a man who does better than not to do amiss。