PREFACE THE examination of the influence of Montaigne that may be traced in French and English literature which I entered upon in a preceding volume 1 is here continued. But the following illustrations of it are much vaguer in character than the previous ones. Indeed the reader may often feel that it is not precisely the individual spirit of Montaigne finding fresh expression that is perceived; for with his spirit is blended that of later ages, which while re-thinking Montaigne's thoughts have developed them more fully than it was possible for him to do. It will be observed that by far the largest number of passages that it has seemed to me worth while to put side by side with Montaigne are from Bacon. After him in number as in date come Locke and Rousseau. The position of each of these three thinkers in the sixteenth, seventeenth, and eighteenth centuries respectively makes their relation to Montaigne peculiarly important.2 Mingled with minor matters, some of those permanent wide conceptions of human life that form the road along which civilization advances, are here found stated and repeated and echoed with a force that gives surer foot1 The Influence of Montaigne. 2 The omission of Pascal from this volume is due to the fact that he will form a large part of a volume in preparation. ing to the mind making its way through the endless by-paths of the thought of our own day. I have found my work extremely interesting. I hope its results may interest others; but "quand personne ne me lira, ay je perdu mon temps, de m'estre entretenu tant d'heures oysives à des pensemens si utiles et aggreables ?" CAMBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS October, 1907. G. N. THE SPIRIT OF MONTAIGNE MONLUC (1502-1577) M. DE GUYSE me dit que le roy s'estoit resolu de me bailler le lendemain l'ordre [l'ordre Sainct-Michel], qui estoit en ce temps là [1555] chose si digne et recherchée, que le plus grand prince de France ne se feust tenu pour content s'il ne l'eust eu, et eust mieux aymé que le roy ne luy fist jamais aucun bien, parce que c'estoit une marque d'honneur qui n'estoit pas profanée comme il est à present. MONTAIGNE, Livre II, 7. Commentaires, liv. ш. L'ordre Sainct Michel, qui a esté si long temps en honneur parmy nous, n'avoit point de plus grande commodité que celle-là, de n'avoir communication de aucune autre commodité. Cela faisoit que autre-fois il n'y avoit ne charge ny estat, quel qu'il fust, auquel la noblesse pretendist avec tant de desir et d'affection qu'elle faisoit à l'ordre, ny qualité qui apportast plus de respect et de grandeur, la vertu embrassant et aspirant plus volontiers à une recompense purement sienne. Livre II, 12. Disons de moy-mesme. Je requerois de la fortune, autant qu'autre chose, l'ordre Sainct Michel, estant jeune, car c'estoit lors l'extreme marque d'honneur de la noblesse françoise et tresrare. Elle me l'a plaisamment accordé; au lieu de me monter et hausser de ma place pour y avaindre, |