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brought it ready made along with him from Paris； the very day it was to
have been pronounced； the Pope； fearing something might be said that
might give offence to the other princes' ambassadors who were there
attending on him； sent to acquaint the King with the argument which he
conceived most suiting to the time and place； but； by chance； quite
another thing to that Monsieur de Poyet had taken so much pains about： so
that the fine speech he had prepared was of no use； and he was upon the
instant to contrive another； which finding himself unable to do； Cardinal
du Bellay was constrained to perform that office。 The pleader's part is；
doubtless； much harder than that of the preacher； and yet； in my opinion；
we see more passable lawyers than preachers； at all events in France。
It should seem that the nature of wit is to have its operation prompt and
sudden； and that of judgment to have it more deliberate and more slow。
But he who remains totally silent； for want of leisure to prepare himself
to speak well； and he also whom leisure does noways benefit to better
speaking； are equally unhappy。
'Tis said of Severus Cassius that he spoke best extempore； that he stood
more obliged to fortune than to his own diligence； that it was an
advantage to him to be interrupted in speaking； and that his adversaries
were afraid to nettle him； lest his anger should redouble his eloquence。
I know； experimentally； the disposition of nature so impatient of tedious
and elaborate premeditation； that if it do not go frankly and gaily to
work； it can perform nothing to purpose。 We say of some compositions
that they stink of oil and of the lamp； by reason of a certain rough
harshness that laborious handling imprints upon those where it has been
employed。 But besides this； the solicitude of doing well； and a certain
striving and contending of a mind too far strained and overbent upon its
undertaking； breaks and hinders itself like water； that by force of its
own pressing violence and abundance； cannot find a ready issue through
the neck of a bottle or a narrow sluice。 In this condition of nature；
of which I am now speaking； there is this also； that it would not be
disordered and stimulated with such passions as the fury of Cassius （for
such a motion would be too violent and rude）； it would not be jostled；
but solicited； it would be roused and heated by unexpected； sudden； and
accidental occasions。 If it be left to itself； it flags and languishes；
agitation only gives it grace and vigour。 I am always worst in my own
possession； and when wholly at my own disposition： accident has more
title to anything that comes from me than I； occasion； company； and even
the very rising and falling of my own voice； extract more from my fancy
than I can find； when I sound and employ it by myself。 By which means；
the things I say are better than those I write； if either were to be
preferred； where neither is worth anything。 This； also； befalls me； that
I do not find myself where I seek myself； and I light upon things more by
chance than by any inquisition of my own judgment。 I perhaps sometimes
hit upon something when I write； that seems quaint and sprightly to me；
though it will appear dull and heavy to another。But let us leave these
fine compliments； every one talks thus of himself according to his
talent。 But when I come to speak； I am already so lost that I know not
what I was about to say； and in such cases a stranger often finds it out
before me。 If I should make erasure so often as this inconvenience
befalls me； I should make clean work； occasion will； at some other time；
lay it as visible to me as the light； and make me wonder what I should
stick at。
CHAPTER XI
OF PROGNOSTICATIONS
For what concerns oracles； it is certain that a good while before the
coming of Jesus Christ they had begun to lose their credit； for we see
that Cicero troubled to find out the cause of their decay； and he has
these words：
〃Cur isto modo jam oracula Delphis non eduntur；
non modo nostro aetate； sed jam diu； ut nihil
possit esse contemptius？〃
＇〃What is the reason that the oracles at Delphi are no longer
uttered： not merely in this age of ours； but for a long time past；
insomuch that nothing is more in contempt？〃
Cicero； De Divin。； ii。 57。＇
But as to the other prognostics； calculated from the anatomy of beasts at
sacrifices （to which purpose Plato does； in part； attribute the natural
constitution of the intestines of the beasts themselves）； the
scraping of poultry； the flight of birds
〃Aves quasdam 。 。 。 rerum augurandarum
causa natas esse putamus。〃
＇〃We think some sorts of birds are purposely created to serve
the purposes of augury。〃Cicero； De Natura Deor。； ii。 64。＇
claps of thunder； the overflowing of rivers
〃Multa cernunt Aruspices； multa Augures provident；
multa oraculis declarantur； multa vaticinationibus；
multa somniis； multa portentis。〃
＇The Aruspices discern many things； the Augurs foresee many things；
many things are announced by oracles； many by vaticinations； many by
dreams； many by portents。〃Cicero； De Natura Deor。； ii。 65。＇
and others of the like nature； upon which antiquity founded most of
their public and private enterprises； our religion has totally abolished
them。 And although there yet remain amongst us some practices of
divination from the stars； from spirits； from the shapes and complexions
of men； from dreams and the like （a notable example of the wild curiosity
of our nature to grasp at and anticipate future things； as if we had not
enough to do to digest the present）
〃Cur hanc tibi； rector Olympi；
Sollicitis visum mortalibus addere curam；
Noscant venturas ut dira per omina clades？。。。。
Sit subitum； quodcumque paras； sit coeca futuri
Mens hominum fati； liceat sperare timenti。〃
＇〃Why； ruler of Olympus； hast thou to anxious mortals thought fit to
add this care； that they should know by； omens future slaughter？。。。
Let whatever thou art preparing be sudden。 Let the mind of men be
blind to fate in store； let it be permitted to the timid to hope。〃
Lucan； ii。 14＇
〃Ne utile quidem est scire quid futurum sit；
miserum est enim； nihil proficientem angi；〃
＇〃It is useless to know what shall come to pass； it is a miserable
thing to be tormented to no purpose。〃
Cicero； De Natura Deor。； iii。 6。＇
yet are they of much less authority now than heretofore。 Which makes so
much more remarkable the example of Francesco； Marquis of Saluzzo； who
being lieutenant to King Francis I。 in his ultramontane army； infinitely
favoured and esteemed in our court； and obliged to the king's bounty for
the marquisate itself； which had been forfeited by his brother； and as to
the rest； having no manner of provocation given him to do it； and even
his own affection opposing any such disloyalty； suffered himself to be so
terrified； as it was confidently reported； with the fine prognostics