MONTAIGNE'S ESSAYS

“I quote others in order to better express myself.” Michel Eyquem de Montaigne

Today’s birthday flower is the tuberose, Polyanthes tuberosa. Its name is derived from the tubers it sprouts from and the generic name is from the Greek, polys = “much, many” and anthes = “flowering”. It was first introduced into Western Europe in the 16th century from the East. A Dutch florist, La Cour, became obsessed with the sweetly scented flower and he succeeded in developing the now familiar double flowering varieties. Tuberoses quickly became the rage and were much sought after in aristocratic circles. The plant symbolises passionate and voluptuous love. Exchanged between lovers it indicated a strong mutual sexual attraction. In Malaysia, the tuberose is known as “mistress of the night”.

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, essayist was born on this day in 1533. His birthplace was Château de Montaigne, Périgord, SW France and he spoke no language other than Latin until he was six. He received his early education at Bordeaux, then studied law, making him a natural for a post in connection with the Parlement of Bordeaux. For 13 years he was a city counsellor, later becoming mayor. A translation (1569) of the Natural History of a 15th century professor at Toulouse was his first attempt at literature, and supplied the text for his “Apologie de Raymon Sebond”. In 1571 he succeeded to the family estate at Montaigne, and lived the life of a country gentleman, varied by visits to Paris and a tour in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy. He is remembered for his “Essais” (1572–80, 1588) on the new ideas and personalities of the time, which introduced a new literary genre – the essay – what Matthew Arnold was later to call ‘the dialogue of the mind with itself’. Quoted by Shakespeare, imitated by Bacon, and incorporated into the discourse of the novel, Montaigne's essays have provided a major contribution to literary history and provided for intellectual stimulation and food for thought down the ages.

Here is a link to the online text edition of the essays of 1575, translated by Charles Cotton.

These essays are delightful works, learned and wise; amusing and deeply thought-provoking, erudite and discursive; philosophical and engaging; curios and fanciful…

essay noun |ˈesā|
1 a short piece of writing on a particular subject.
2 formal an attempt or effort : a misjudged essay.
• a trial design of a postage stamp yet to be accepted.
verb |eˈsā| |ɛˈseɪ| |ɛˈseɪ| [ trans. ] formal
attempt or try : essay a smile.
ORIGIN late 15th cent. (as a verb in the sense [test the quality of] ): alteration of assay , by association with Old French essayer, based on late Latin exagium ‘weighing,’ from the base of exigere ‘ascertain, weigh’ ; the noun (late 16th cent.) is from Old French essai ‘trial.’