consul in Asia, having ordered a Greek engineer to bring him the larger of two beams[1] he had seen at Athens, for use in some battering ram which he proposed to make, the engineer, being entitled, he thought, by his own knowledge, took the liberty of choosing otherwise, and brought the smaller, which, by the judgement of his art, was the most suitable. Crassus, having listened patiently to his reasons, had him soundly whipped, considering the importance of discipline greater than the importance of the work.
But, on the other hand, it is to be considered that such hard-and-fast obedience is due only to precise and predetermined commands. Ambassadors have a freer office which, in several respects, is entirely at their disposal. They do not simply execute the will of their master, but they likewise, by their advice, shape and direct it. I have seen in my time men in high command rebuked for having rather obeyed the words of the king’s letters than the exigencies of the business they had in hand. Those who understand such matters still blame the custom of the kings of Persia in giving so short a span to the powers of their agents and lieutenants that for the merest trifles they had to recur to their instructions — the consequent delay, in so vast an extent of dominion, having often caused serious injury to affairs. And when Crassus wrote to a professional man, and informed him of the use he proposed to make of the beam, did he not seem to consult with him, and to invite him to give his own opinion?
CHAPTER XVIII
OF FEAR
Montaigne may say, if he pleases, that he is not un bon naturaliste (natural philosopher), but every page of his writing shows how intimately he knew human nature; and this little disquisition on Fear is full of truths derived, as usual, from his observation of others and of himself. If he did not know (as he says) what were the springs of fear, he well knew what were the effects of the currents of both private fear and public fear. He had “seen” (probably when with the army) many people beside themselves with fear, and he had read of delirious flights into the
- ↑ Deus mas de navire.
