■Qn&er a 2)09W00b witb Montaigne 



one open space, which was just large 

 enough for his desk and chair. " There," 

 he says, " I turn the leaves of this book or 

 that, leisurely, without system or design. 

 Sometimes I reflect, walking to and fro, 

 and dictate and record my dreams, which 

 here you see." 



Opening on the library was a little ante- 

 room just large enough for a fireplace, 

 pleasantly lighted, a cozy nook for a study 

 in winter; but Montaigne liked warming 

 his mind, as well as his body, with walk- 

 ing. He thought of building a gallery or 

 veranda to his study, as he regarded every 

 retired place incomplete without a prome- 

 nade ; but he dreaded the trouble of con- 

 structing it. " My thoughts sleep if I seat 

 them," he remarks; "my wit will not 

 budge if my legs do not shake it up." 



The tower was a windy place in winter ; 

 for the chateau, as the name Montaigne 

 implies, was on a considerable eminence, 

 not far from Bordeaux, of which city Mon- 

 taigne was for some time mayor. But he 

 preferred his round room to Paris, even. 

 He called it his seat— his" throne," Florio 

 261 



