never known that ever maid or wife committed any act to the prejudice of
her honour？
To conclude； there is nothing； in my opinion； that she does not； or may
not do； and therefore； with very good reason it is that Pindar calls her
the ruler of the world。 He that was seen to beat his father； and
reproved for so doing； made answer； that it was the custom of their
family； that； in like manner； his father had beaten his grandfather； his
grandfather his great…grandfather； 〃And this；〃 says he； pointing to his
son； 〃when he comes to my age； shall beat me。〃 And the father； whom the
son dragged and hauled along the streets； commanded him to stop at a
certain door； for he himself； he said； had dragged his father no farther；
that being the utmost limit of the hereditary outrage the sons used to
practise upon the fathers in their family。 It is as much by custom as
infirmity； says Aristotle； that women tear their hair； bite their nails；
and eat coals and earth； and more by custom than nature that men abuse
themselves with one another。
The laws of conscience； which we pretend to be derived from nature；
proceed from custom； every one； having an inward veneration for the
opinions and manners approved and received amongst his own people；
cannot； without very great reluctance； depart from them； nor apply
himself to them without applause。 In times past； when those of Crete
would curse any one； they prayed the gods to engage him in some ill
custom。 But the principal effect of its power is； so to seize and
ensnare us； that it is hardly in us to disengage ourselves from its
gripe； or so to come to ourselves； as to consider of and to weigh the
things it enjoins。 To say the truth； by reason that we suck it in with
our milk； and that the face of the world presents itself in this posture
to our first sight； it seems as if we were born upon condition to follow
on this track； and the common fancies that we find in repute everywhere
about us； and infused into our minds with the seed of our fathers； appear
to be the most universal and genuine； from whence it comes to pass； that
whatever is off the hinges of custom； is believed to be also off the
hinges of reason； how unreasonably for the most part； God knows。
If； as we who study ourselves have learned to do； every one who hears a
good sentence； would immediately consider how it does in any way touch
his own private concern； every one would find； that it was not so much a
good saying； as a severe lash to the ordinary stupidity of his own
judgment： but men receive the precepts and admonitions of truth； as
directed to the common sort； and never to themselves； and instead of
applying them to their own manners； do only very ignorantly and
unprofitably commit them to memory。 But let us return to the empire of
custom。
Such people as have been bred up to liberty； and subject to no other
dominion but the authority of their own will； look upon all other form of
government as monstrous and contrary to nature。 Those who are inured to
monarchy do the same； and what opportunity soever fortune presents them
with to change； even then； when with the greatest difficulties they have
disengaged themselves from one master； that was troublesome and grievous
to them； they presently run； with the same difficulties； to create
another； being unable to take into hatred subjection itself。
'Tis by the mediation of custom； that every one is content with the place
where he is planted by nature； and the Highlanders of Scotland no more
pant after Touraine； than the Scythians after Thessaly。 Darius asking
certain Greeks what they would take to assume the custom of the Indians；
of eating the dead bodies of their fathers （for that was their use；
believing they could not give them a better nor more noble sepulture than
to bury them in their own bodies）； they made answer； that nothing in the
world should hire them to do it； but having also tried to persuade the
Indians to leave their custom； and； after the Greek manner； to burn the
bodies of their fathers； they conceived a still greater horror at the
motion。＇Herodotus； iii。 38。＇ Every one does the same； for use veils
from us the true aspect of things。
〃Nil adeo magnum； nec tam mirabile quidquam
Principio； quod non minuant mirarier omnes Paullatim。〃
＇〃There is nothing at first so grand； so admirable； which by degrees
people do not regard with less admiration。〃Lucretius； ii。 1027＇
Taking upon me once to justify something in use amongst us； and that was
received with absolute authority for a great many leagues round about us；
and not content； as men commonly do； to establish it only by force of law
and example； but inquiring still further into its origin； I found the
foundation so weak； that I who made it my business to confirm others； was
very near being dissatisfied myself。 'Tis by this receipt that Plato
＇Laws； viii。 6。＇ undertakes to cure the unnatural and preposterous
loves of his time； as one which he esteems of sovereign virtue； namely；
that the public opinion condemns them； that the poets； and all other
sorts of writers； relate horrible stories of them； a recipe； by virtue of
which the most beautiful daughters no more allure their fathers' lust；
nor brothers； of the finest shape and fashion； their sisters' desire； the
very fables of Thyestes； OEdipus； and Macareus； having with the harmony
of their song； infused this wholesome opinion and belief into the tender
brains of children。 Chastity is； in truth； a great and shining virtue；
and of which the utility is sufficiently known； but to treat of it； and
to set it off in its true value； according to nature； is as hard as 'tis
easy to do so according to custom； laws； and precepts。 The fundamental
and universal reasons are of very obscure and difficult research； and our
masters either lightly pass them over； or not daring so much as to touch
them； precipitate themselves into the liberty and protection of custom；
there puffing themselves out and triumphing to their heart's content：
such as will not suffer themselves to be withdrawn from this original
source； do yet commit a greater error； and subject themselves to wild
opinions； witness Chrysippus；＇Sextus Empiricus； Pyyrhon。 Hypotyp。； i。
14。＇ who； in so many of his writings； has strewed the little account he
made of incestuous conjunctions； committed with how near relations
soever。
Whoever would disengage himself from this violent prejudice of custom；
would find several things received with absolute and undoubting opinion；
that have no other support than the hoary head and rivelled face of
ancient usage。 But the mask taken off； and things being referred to the
decision of truth and reason； he will find his judgment as it were
altogether overthrown； and yet restored to a much more sure estate。 For
example； I shall ask him； what can be more strange than to see a people
obliged to obey laws they never understood； bound in all their domestic
affairs； as marriages； donations； wills； sales； and purchases； to rules
they cannot possibly know； being neither written nor published in their
own language； and of which they are of necessity to purchase both the
interpretation and the use？ Not according to the ingenious opinion of
Isocrates； ＇Discourse to Nicocles。＇ who counselled his king to make
the traffics and negotiations of his subjects； free； frank； and of profit
to them； and their quarrels and disputes burdensome； and laden with heavy
impositions and penalties； but； by a prodigious opinion； to make sale of
reason itself； and to give to laws a course of merchandise。 I think
myself obliged to fortune that； as our historians report； it was a Gascon
gentleman； a countryman of mine； who first opposed Charlemagne； when he
attempted to impose upon us Latin and imperial laws。
What can be more savage； than to see a nation where； by lawful custom；
the office of a judge is bought and sold； where judgments are paid for
with ready money； and where justice may legitimately be denied to him
that has not wherewithal to pay； a merchandise in so great repute； as in
a government to create a fourth estate of wrangling lawyers； to add to
the three ancient ones of the church； nobility； and people； which fourth
estate； having the laws in their own hands； and sovereign power over
men's lives and fortunes； makes another body separate from nobility：
whence it comes to pass； that there are double laws； those of honour and
those of justice； in many things altogether opposite one to another； the
nobles as rigorously condemning a lie taken； as the other do a lie
revenged： by the law of arms； he shall be degraded from all nobility and
honour who puts up with an affront； and by the civil law； he who
vindicates his reputation by revenge incurs a capital punishment： he who
applies himself to the law for reparation of an offence done to his
honour； disgraces himself； and he who does not； is censured and punished
by the law。 Yet of these two so different things； both of them referring
to one head； the one has the charge of peace； the other of war； those
have the profit； these the honour； those the wisdom； these the virtue；
those the word； these the action； those justice； these valour； those
reason； these force； those the long robe； these the short；divided
betwixt them。
For what concerns indifferent things； as clothes； who is there seeking to
bring them back to their true use； which is the body's service and
convenience； and upon which their original grace and fitness depend； for
the most fantastic； in my opinion； that can be imagined； I will instance
amongst others； our flat caps； that long tail of velvet that hangs down
from our women's heads； with its party…coloured trappings； and that vain
and futile model of a member we cannot in modesty so much as name； which；
nevertheless； we make show and parade of in public。 These
considerations； notwithstanding； will not prevail upon any understanding
man to decline the common mode； but； on the contrary； methinks； all
singular and particular fashions are rather marks of folly and vain
affectation than of sound reason； and that a wise man； within； ought to
withdraw and retire his soul from the cro