et
fons_ of all theories and all practice. And it was this quality that
attached him to the English. His philosophy on this head was rather
curious.

"Good sense," said he one day to Maltravers, as they were walking to and
fro at De Montaigne's villa, by the margin of the lake, "is not a merely
intellectual attribute. It is rather the result of a just equilibrium
of all our faculties, spiritual and moral. The dishonest, or the toys of
their own passions, may have genius; but they rarely, if ever, have good
sense in the conduct of life. They may often win large prizes, but it is
by a game of chance, not skill. But the man whom I perceive walking an
honourable and upright career--just to others, and also to himself
(for we owe justice to ourselves--to the care of our fortunes, our
character--to the management of our passions)--is a more dignified
representative of his Maker than the mere child of genius. Of such a man
we say he has GOOD SENSE; yes, but he has also integrity, self-respect,
and self-denial. A thousand trials which his sense raves and conquers,
are temptations also to his probity--his temper--in a word, to all the
many sides of his complicated nature. Now, I do not think he will have
this _good sense_ any more than a drunkard will have strong nerves,
unless he be in the constant habit of keeping his mind clear from the
intoxication of envy, vanity, and the various emotions that dupe and
mislead us. Good sense is not, therefore, an abstract quality or a
solitary talent; but it is the natural result of the habit of thinking
justly, and therefore seeing clearly, and is as different from the
sagacity that belongs to a diplomatist or attorney, as the philosophy of
Socrates differed from the rhetoric of Gorgias. As a mass of individual
excellences make up this attribute in a man, so a mass of such men thus
characterised give a character to a nation. Your England is, therefore,
renowned for its good sense, but it is renowned also for the excellences
which accompany strong sense in an individual--high honesty and faith
in its dealings, a warm love of justice and fair play, a general freedom
from the violent crimes common on the Continent, and the energetic
perseverance in enterprise once commenced, which results from a bold and
healthful disposition."

"Our wars, our debt--" began Maltravers.

"Pardon me," interrupted De Montaigne, "I am speaking of your
people, not of your government. A government is often a ver