Essays of Montaigne Author:Michel De Montaigne Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: ESSAYS MONTAIGNE. Book The First: CHAPTER I THAT MEN BY VARIOUS WAYS ARRIVE AT THE SAME END. The most usual way of appeasing the indignation of su... more »ch as we have any way offended, when we see them in possession of the power of revenge, and find that we absolutely lie at their mercy, is by submission, to move them to commisera- Submis- tion and pity; and yet bravery, constancy, and resolution, fiesnth l" however quite contrary means, have sometimes served to hearts of a J the of- produce the same effect. fended. Edward, Prince of Wales (the same who so long governed Edward, our Guienne, a personage whose condition and fortune have in them a great deal of the most notable and most considerable parts of grandeur), having been highly incensed by the Limousins, and taking their city by assault, was not, either 1 Florio's version begins thus : "The most vsuall waie to appease those minds wee have offended, when revenge lies in their hands, and that we stand at their mercie, is by submission to move them to commiseration and pity : Neuerthlesse, courage, constancie, and resolution (meanes altogether opposite) have sometimes wrought the same effect." VOL. I. A by the cries of the people, or the prayers and tears of the women and children, abandoned to slaughter and prostrate at his feet for mercy, to be stayed from prosecuting his re venge; till, penetrating further into the town, he at last Remark- took notice of three French gentlemen,1 who with incredible of three bravery, alone sustained the whole power of his victorious aTmy. Then it was that consideration and respect unto so remarkable a valour first stopped the torrent of his fury, and that his clemency, beginning with these three cavaliers, was afterwards extended to all the remain...« less