C’est icy vn Liure de bonne foy, Lecteur. Il t’aduertit dés l’entree, que ie ne m’y suis proposé aucune fin, que domestique et priuee: ie n’y ay eu nulle consideration de ton seruice, ny de ma gloire: mes forces ne sont pas capables d’vn tel dessein. Ie l’ay voué à la commodité particuliere de mes parens et amis: à ce que m’ayans perdu (ce qu’ils ont à faire bien tost) ils y puissent retrouuer aucuns traicts de mes conditions et humeurs, et que par ce moyen ils nourrissent plus entiere et plus vifue la connoissance qu’ils ont eu de moy. Si c’eust esté pour rechercher la faueur du monde, ie me fusse mieus paré et me presanterois en vne marche estudiee.
This is a book written in good faith, reader. It warns you from the outset that in it I have set myself no goal but a domestic and private one. I have given no thought in it either to your service or to my own glory; my powers are not equal to such a design. I have dedicated it to the private convenience of my relatives and friends, so that when they have lost me (as they soon must) they may find in it again some features of my character and temperament, and by this means keep the knowledge they have had of me more complete and more alive. Had my purpose been to seek the world’s favor, I would have adorned myself better and would present myself in a studied bearing.
Ie veux qu’on m’y voye en ma façon simple, naturelle et ordinaire, sans contantion et artifice: car c’est moy que ie peins. Mes defauts s’y liront au vif et ma forme naifue, autant que la reuerence publique me l’a permis. Que si i’eusse esté entre ces nations qu’on dit viure encore souz la douce liberté des premieres loix de nature, ie t’asseure que ie m’y fusse tres-volontiers peint tout entier, et tout nud. Ainsi, Lecteur, ie suis moy-mesme la matiere de mon liure, ce n’est pas raison que tu employes ton loisir en vn subiect si friuole et si vain. A Dieu donq. De Montaigne, ce premier de mars, mille cinq cens quattre vins.
I want to be seen here in my simple, natural, ordinary fashion, without straining or artifice; for it is myself that I portray. My faults will be read here to the life, and my natural form, as far as respect for the public has allowed me. Had I been among those nations that are said to live still in the sweet freedom of nature’s first laws, I assure you I would very gladly have portrayed myself here entire, and wholly naked. Thus, reader, I am myself the matter of my book; it is not reasonable that you should spend your leisure on so frivolous and vain a subject. So farewell. From Montaigne, this first day of March, fifteen hundred and eighty.