FEV mon pere, homme pour n’estre aydé que de l’experience et du naturel, d’vn iugement bien net, m’a dict autrefois, qu’il auoit desiré mettre en train, qu’il y eust és villes certain lieu designé, auquel ceux qui auroient besoin de quelque chose, se peussent rendre, et faire enregistrer leur affaire à vn officier estably pour cet effect: comme, ie cherche à vendre des perles: ie cherche des perles à vendre; tel veut compagnie pour aller à Paris; tel s’enquiert d’vn seruiteur de telle qualité, tel d’vn maistre; tel demande vn ouurier: qui cecy, qui cela, chacun selon son besoing. Et semble que ce moyen de nous entr’aduertir, apporteroit non legere commodité au commerce publique.
MY late father, a man of very clear judgment for one helped only by experience and natural gifts, once told me that he had wanted to set up a scheme whereby in towns there would be a certain designated place where those who needed something could go and have their business registered with an officer appointed for the purpose. For instance: I am looking to sell some pearls; I am looking for pearls for sale; so-and-so wants company for a journey to Paris; so-and-so is looking for a servant of such a kind, another for a master; another wants a workman; one this, another that, each according to his need. And it seems that this means of informing one another would bring no slight convenience to public dealings.
Car à tous coups, il y a des conditions, qui s’entrecherchent, et pour ne s’entr’entendre, laissent les hommes en extreme necessité.
For all the time there are situations looking for each other, and because they fail to make contact, they leave men in extreme need.
I’entens auec vne grande honte de nostre siecle, qu’à nostre veuë, deux tres-excellens personnages en sçauoir, sont morts en estat de n’auoir pas leur saoul à manger: Lilius Gregorius Giraldus en Italie, et Sebastianus Castalio en Allemaigne. Et croy qu’il y a mil’hommes qui les eussent appellez auec tres-aduantageuses conditions, ou secourus où ils estoient s’ils l’eussent sçeu.
I hear, to the great shame of our age, that before our very eyes two men of the greatest learning have died without having enough to eat: Lilius Gregorius Giraldus in Italy and Sebastianus Castalio in Germany. And I believe there are a thousand men who would have invited them on very advantageous terms, or helped them where they were, if they had known.
Le monde n’est pas si generalement corrompu, que ie ne sçache tel homme, qui souhaitteroit de bien grande affection, que les moyens que les siens luy ont mis en main, se peussent employer tant qu’il plaira à la fortune qu’il en iouisse, à mettre à l’abry de la necessité, les personnages rares et remarquables en quelque espece de valeur, que le mal-heur combat quelquefois iusques à l’extremité: et qui les mettroit pour le moins en tel estat, qu’il ne tiendroit qu’à faute de bon discours, s’ils n’estoyent contens.
The world is not so universally corrupt that I do not know a certain man who would wish with all his heart that the means his family has put into his hands could be used, for as long as it pleases fortune to let him enjoy them, to shelter from want those persons rare and remarkable in some kind of merit whom misfortune sometimes assails to the utmost; and who would at least put them in such a position that, if they were not content, it could only be for want of good sense.
En la police œconomique mon pere auoit cet ordre, que ie sçay loüer, mais nullement ensuiure. C’est qu’outre le registre des negoces du mesnage, où se logent les menus comptes, payements, marchés, qui ne requierent la main du Notaire, lequel registre, vn Receueur a en charge: il ordonnoit à celuy de ses gents, qui luy seruoit à escrire, vn papier iournal, à inserer toutes les suruenances de quelque remarque, et iour par iour les memoires de l’histoire de sa maison: tres-plaisante à veoir, quand le temps commence à en effacer la souuenance, et tres à propos pour nous oster souuent de peine.
In the management of his household my father had this practice, which I can praise but by no means follow. Besides the register of household business, where the small accounts, payments and transactions not needing a notary are entered, a register kept by a steward, he had the servant who acted as his secretary keep a journal recording every happening of any note, and day by day the memoirs of the history of his house. It is very pleasant to look at when time begins to wipe out the memory of things, and very handy for often saving us trouble.
Quand fut entamee telle besoigne, quand acheuee: quels trains y ont passé, combien arresté: noz voyages, noz absences, mariages, morts: la reception des heureuses ou malencontreuses nouuelles: changement des seruiteurs principaux: telles matieres. Vsage ancien, que ie trouue bon à rafraichir, chacun en sa chacuniere: et me trouue vn sot d’y auoir failly.
When such a piece of work was begun, when it was finished; what households passed through, how long they stayed; our journeys, our absences, marriages, deaths; the arrival of happy or unhappy news; changes of the chief servants; matters of that kind. An ancient custom, which I think it good to revive, each in his own little home; and I think myself a fool for having failed to do it.