Montaigne and humanist jurists 253

IAN MACLEAN, 14 "The place of interpretation:

Montaigne and h!ani"t #ri"t"
on $ord", intention and !eaning"
No" do%tion" "r &lpian, redoton" encore "r 'artol" et 'ald"( II
falloit effacer la trace de cette di)er"it* inn!era%le d+opinion", non
poinct "+en parer et en ente"ter la po"t*rit* (((
Il , a pl" affaire - interpreter le" interpretation" .+- interpreter le"
cho"e", et pl" de li)re" "r le" li)re" .e "r atre "%#ect: no" ne fai"on"
.e no" entreglo"er(
1
Thi" fa!o" pa""age of +/e l+e0p*rience+ hint" at the e0i"tence of a
Montaigne rarel, fond in the Essais: the la$,er $ho practi"ed for !ore
than ten ,ear", and $ho !a, ha)e ndergone profe""ional training at
'ordea0, Tolo"e or 1ari" in the earl, 1552"(
2
In the opening page" of
hi" final e""a,, Montaigne attac3" %oth the teaching and the
ad!ini"tration of la$, referring di"creetl, to hi" e0perience 4+Co!%ien a,5
#e )e de conde!nation", pl" cri!ine"e" .e le cri!e6+ 4iii( 13,12478 8
%t clai!ing no "peciali"t 3no$ledge of hi" "%#ect, $hich i" introdced
to "pport and a!plif, hi" co!!ent" a%ot the relati)e !erit" of rea"on
and e0perience( A rich cl"ter of oppo"ition" i" $o)en together in the"e
page" 412415548: not onl, i" rea"on co!pared nfa)ora%l, $ith
e0perience, %t al"o general $ith particlar, nit, $ith di)er"it,,
philo"oph, $ith natre, "i!ilarit, $ith difference, i!!o%ilit, $ith
!o%ilit,, i!per"onalit, $ith the e0pre""ion of the "elf( 9ch oppo"ition"
ha)e per!itted !odern co!!entator" on thi" pa""age to e0plore it"
relation"hip to no!inali"!, or to te0talit, a" nder"tood %, po"t5
"trctrali"t critic":
3
%t Montaigne+" co!!ent", a" $ell a" hi" cl"ter of
the!e", relate al"o to the di"c""ion in hi" da, a%ot the interpretation of
la$"( 9ch di"c""ion i" fond principall, in neoLatin co!!entarie"
prodced for a "peciali"t adience: %t a "ignificant n!%er of )ernaclar
te0t" in ;rance after 1552 contain it al"o, a" /onald <elle, ha" "ho$n(
4
;ran=oi" >ot!an,
?ean 'odin, 1ierre @r*goire and other" p%li"h their $or3" in %oth
langage", and ill"trate not onl, the gro$ing inflence of the )ernaclar
%t al"o the contining )igor of the Latin tradition a" a !edi! for
Eropean "cholarl, co!!nication( The prpo"e of thi" %rief
in)e"tigation i" to place the e""a,i"t in the conte0t of thi" legal di"c""ion
and to point to "o!e "ignificant "i!ilaritie" and di)ergence"(
'efore the h!ani"t de)elop!ent" of the "i0teenth centr,, "chola"tic
#ri"t" had e)ol)ed an intricate and "%tle "cience of interpretation, the
mos italicus, in"pired %oth %, Ari"totle+" Arganon and the techni.e" "ed
%, !edie)al theologian"(
5
The foc" of thi" "cience i" le"" on the real than
on the logical: $ord" are defined and de"cri%ed in ter!" of $ord" and of
","te!" (genera) of $ord": acce""ion to +re"+ i" of "econdar, i!portance(
'artol"+" glo"" on / 12( 1 (De rebus creditis, si certum petetur) !a3e"
thi" clear: +ad cognitione! "pecier! de%et praecedere cognitio generi"+
4+The 3no$ledge of genera !"t precede the 3no$ledge of "pecie"+8(
Accr"i" i" no le"" certain in hi" glo"" on the r%ric of / 52(1B (De
verborum [et rerum] significatione):
6
+)er%a "ignificant acti)e, "ed re"
pa""i)e( Na! )er%a "ignificant, et re" "ignificantr( Et e"t "ignificare,
de!on"trare re! de .a .aeritr, proprio no!ine ei attri%to+ 4+$ord"
"ignif, acti)el,, thing" pa""i)el,( ;or $ord" "ignif,, and thing" are
"ignified( To "ignif,, frther!ore, i" to de!on"trate the o%#ect of en.ir,,
ha)ing accorded to it it" proper na!e+8( 'ald" codifie" interpretation of
$ord" into principle":
C
later $riter" prodce treati"e" on the topic, of
$hich the !o"t nota%le are %, 9tephan" de ;ederici" (De interpretatione
legum, late fifteenth centr,8 and Con"tantin" Dogeri" (De iuris
interpretatione, "a!e appro0i!ate date8(
7
An inflential tract on a "!all
"eg!ent of the topic, to $hich reference i" fre.entl, !ade %, "%"e.ent
$riter", i" the De interpretatione legis etensiva %, 'artholo!ae"
Caepolla of 1ada 4d( 14CC8(
E
>!ani"t #ri"t", a" $old %e e0pected, n"ettle the "chola"tic
approach( The mos gallicus e!%odie" !ore refined philological, hi"torical
and rhetorical procedre": it" pre"ence in ;rench la$ "chool" can %e traced
to %efore Montaigne+" %irth( In !atter" of interpretation, Andrea" Alciato+"
De verborum significatione 415328, $hich contain" a long for5part e""a,
on "ignification a" $ell a" a co!!entar, on / 52( 1B, "ee!" to "tart a
)oge for "ch co!!entarie": 1ierre De%ff i of the 1ari" faclt,, ?ean
'reche of Tor" and @illa!e ;orner of Arlean" follo$ in hi" $a3e(
11
In
a different !ode, ;ran=oi" >ot!an+" di"cr"i)e e""a, entitled
!urisconsultus, sive de "ptimo genere iuris interpretandi
254 Montaigne and humanist jurists Montaigne and humanist jurists 255
4155E8
12
reflect" the "a!e intere"t in re)i)ing the approach of
#ri"t" to legal e0plication: perhap" one "hold al"o !ention the
!an, le0ica p%li"hed throghot Erope in the "i0teenth centr,,
$hich indicate a ne$ a$arene"" of philological pro%le!" and a
ne$ attitde to legal phra"eolog,(
13
Alciato+" $or3 i" elegant, and
nco!pro!i"ing in it" attitde to "chola"tic predece""or": De%ffi,
'reche and ;orner are le"" pole!ical and !ore eclectic, !a3ing
fe$er clai!" to originalit, than either Alciato or >ot!an( De%ffi
refer" hi" reader to Caepolla and to Alciato $ithot co!!ent and
$ithot a "tate!ent of preference 4op( cit( 28:co!!onplace" dra$n
fro! de ;ederici"+" tract are fond in all three co!!entator"
along"ide reference" to 4and .otation" fro!8 1lato, >orace,
Cicero and the @ree3 te0t of Ari"totle(
14
The ter!inolog, of
!edie)al lingi"tic" coe0i"t" $ith Ciceronian Latin(
15
The"e $riter"
of te0t%oo3" on la$ !a, %e "aid to repre"ent, in another age and in
a different !ode, Marc"e+" pro%le! a%ot the recpera%ilit, of
re)oltionar, ge"tre" in Fe"tern de!ocrac, %, a%"orption and
toleration: their h!ani"t trapping" are grafted on to di"tinctl,
neo"chola"tic root", and loo3 ""picio"l, li3e di"ar!ing ge"tre"
to the Ne$ Learning( Thi" i" not the ca"e $ith Alciato or >ot5!an,
ho$e)er precario" !a, %e their clai! to originalit,:
1B
Gintilian
and, in the latter ca"e, >er!agora" are openl, proclai!ed a"
in"piration" and "orce", and are clearl, repre"ented in the te0t(
Montaigne+" Essais !o"t re"e!%le the preoccpation" and
opinion" of Alciato and >ot!an in hi" prefator, re!ar3" to +/e
l+in"tittion de" enfan"+( There he prai"e" !oral philo"oph, at the
e0pen"e of the "peclati)e, and clai!" that +la "cience ((( e"t %ien
pl" fiere de prHter "e" !o,en" - condire ne gerre, -
co!!ander n peple, - prati.er l+a!iti* d+n prince o d+ne
nation e"trangiere, .+- dre""er n arg!ent dialecti.e, o -
plaider n appel, o ordonner ne !a""e de pillle"+ 4i( 2B, 1478(
>ot!an %egin" hi" treati"e %, prai"ing the Do!an" for their
!ilitar, "3ill", their orator, and their ad!ini"trati)e a%ilitie"
4inclding in thi" the dra$ing5p and enforce!ent of la$"8, all of
$hich he a""ociate" $ith !oral philo"oph, and contra"t" $ith the
+)aria" et inane" )er%or! concertatione"+ of !etaph,"ical
"peclation (#$nosura ii( 12C8( Montaigne+" in"i"tence on the
i!portance of +"en" et "%"tance+ 4i( 2B, 14E8 in learning find"
echoe" in Alciato+" tract, fro! $hich nnece""ar, glo"" and
co!!entar, ha)e %een ct a$a,, and in $hich res ta3e on a ne$
i!portance and5dignit,(
1C
't the e""a,i"t i" !ch le"" enth"ia"tic
than either >ot!an or Alciato a%ot
rhetoric and langage art": Alciato+" reprodction of a treati"e on
rhetorical figre" in $hat appear" to %e a "o!e$hat ar%itrar, $a,
$old "carcel, ha)e $on hi" appro)al( Nor doe" he "hare the"e
h!ani"t"+ opti!i"tic )i"ion of #ri"prdence a" the +ar" ae.i et
%oni+:
17
+Ir le" loi0 "e !aintiennent en credit, non par ce .+elle"
"ont #"te", !ai" par ce .+elle" "ont loi0( C+e"t le fonde!ent
!,"ti.e de ler athorit*: elle" n+en ont poinct d+atre+ 4iii( 13,
124E8( More i!portantl,, ho$e)er, he har%or" do%t" a%ot the
clai!" of #ri"prdence to co!pletene"" and to certaint,(
'oth Alciato+" and >ot!an+" treati"e" offer a !ethod $hich i"
clai!ed to %e e0ha"ti)e: in the for!er ca"e it i" .adrple 4+per
proprietate!, per i!propri!, per "!, per interpreta5tione!+8, in
the latter tripartite 4+triplica ratio J@ra!!aticor!, /ialector!,
Iri"con"ltor!K o!nino iri" interpretanda8( Montaigne attac3"
"ch a clai! in the figre of it" fir"t perpetrator, ?"tinian:
1ortant, l+opinion de cel,5l- ne !e plai"t giere, .i pen"oit par la !l
titde de" loi0 %rider l+athorit* de" #ge", en ler taillant ler" !orcea0:
il ne "entoit point .+il , a atant de li%ert* et d+e"tende - l+interpr*tation
de" loi0 .+- ler fa=on( 4iii(
13,12428
The te0t to $hich reference i" apparentl, !ade here i" the opening
"ection 4$ritten in the for! of letter" %, ?"tinian8 to Code0 1( 1C
De veteri iure enucleando% In the"e letter", the e!peror fir"t
in"trct" Tri%onian in the +al!o"t i!po""i%le+ &magis impossibile)
ta"3 of "ifting throgh all e0tant legal !aterial, eli!inating
antino!iae and "i!ilar la$", and e"ta%li"hing the Digest and #ode
a" co!plete and athoritati)e $or3"( A "econd letter e"ta%li"he" a
teaching progra!!e 4%eginning $ith a "td, of the !nstitutes),
prohi%it" all "%"e.ent co!!entar,, and pro)ide" for change" in
the la$ ari"ing fro! h!an i!perfection in the pro#ect it"elf and
hi"torical e)oltion in "ociet,(
Althogh the progre""ion of the arg!ent i" )er, different, and
the concl"ion dia!etricall, oppo"ed to that reached %, Montaigne,
a n!%er of "tri3ing "i!ilaritie" e!erge fro! a co!pari"on of the"e
letter" $ith the opening page" of +/e l+e0p*rience+( ?"tinian+"
acceptance of chance and !o%ilit, a" intrin"ic featre" of the
h!an condition ha" !an, parallel" $ith Montaigne+" "trictre" on
the "a!e topic:
>!ani )ero iri" conditio "e!per in infinit! decrrit, et nihil e"t in ea
.od "tare perpeto po""it, !lta" eteni! for!a" edere natra no)a"
256 Montaigne and humanist jurists Montaigne and humanist jurists 257
deproperat, non de"pera!" .aeda! po"tea e!ergL negotia .ae adhc
leg! la.ei" non "nt inno)ata(
1E
4It i" the condition of h!an la$ al$a," to decline endle""l,, no part of it
can e)er "tand nchanged for e)er, and natre !a3e" ha"te to %ring forth
!an, ne$ for!": $e e0pect therefore that "%"e.ent Jto or endea)or"K
"o!e "itation" $ill ari"e $hich th" far are not dealt $ith %, the "%tle
$ording of or la$"(8
E)en the concl"ion to thi" 4+"i .id igitr tale contigerit, ag"t!
i!ploretr re!edi!+: +if thi" "hold happen, the athorit, of the e!peror
"hold %e "oght+8 !a, %e "een to %e accepta%le to a political
co!!entator $ith arga%l, ro,ali"t and legiti!i"t leaning"(
22
;rther!ore, ?"tinian %egin" one letter %, declaring that perfect la$" are
%e,ond the capacit, of !an, and lie in the pro)ince of @od: Montaigne
!a3e" the "a!e point on a n!%er of occa"ion" 4"ee ii( 12, 5B354: ii( 7,
3B5: iii( 13, 1242538( The e""a,i"t cannot %t applad al"o ?"tinian+"
ho"tilit, to co!!entar,, and hi" atte!pt to +effacer la trace de cette
di)er"it* inn!era%le d+opinion"+, to "pare po"terit, %, de"tro,ing all
pre)io" la$ %oo3" and %, pro!lgating a pniti)e edict again"t the
+)er%o"i+ $ho generate +)aria di"cordia+:
Alia" ate! leg! interpretatione", i!!o !agi" per)er"ione" eo" iactare
non concedi!": ne )er%o"ita" eor! ali.id legi%" no"tri" adferat e0
conf"ione dedec", .od et in anti.i" edicti perpeti co!!entatori%"
fact! e"t, .i op" !oderate confect! he at.e illc in di)er"a"
"ententia" prodcente", in infinit! detra0ernt, t pene o!ni" ro!ana
"anctio e""et conf"io(
4Fe here%, prohi%it J#ri"t"K fro! prodcing an, other interpretation", or
rather per)er"ion", of or la$": le"t their )er%o"it, "hold %ring di"honor
to or la$" %, it" conf"ion, a" $a" done %, the co!!entator" on the
1erpetal Edict, $ho %, e0tracting ne$ "en"e" fro! one or another part of
thi" $ell5!ade edict, redced it to a !ltitde of !eaning", ca"ing con5
f"ion to ari"e in nearl, all Do!an decree"(8
The"e "i!ilaritie" "hold not ho$e)er di"gi"e the fact that Montaigne
criticiMe" ?"tinian+" atte!pt to +%rider l+athorit* de" #ge"+: that he doe"
not "%"cri%e to the e!peror+" 4perhap" naN)e8 %elief that antino!iae can
%e eli!inated fro! la$: and that "i!ilarit, and difference are
pro%le!atiMed %, the e""a,i"t to a point $here ?"tinian+" conception of
+"i!ilar la$"+ i" rendered in)alid(
21
The aporia" in ?"tinian+" letter"
4h!an thing" are all "%#ect to change, %t hi" la$ i" to %e +perae)!+: all
pre)io" co!!entarie" on la$ are to %e effaced, %t Tri5%onian+" $or3
pre"er)e" r%ric", the na!e" of pre)io" #ri"t",
and ele!ent" of co!!entar, it"elf, nota%l, / 52( 1B De uer'borum [et
rerum] signification) !a, ha)e %een percei)ed %, Montaigne: ,et e)en he i"
na%le to +effacer la trace+ of hi" o$n opinion, and li3e !edie)al and
Denai""ance co!!entator", ( find" hi!"elf co!!enting on a te0t
prohi%iting co!!entar,, and po"tlating, li3e ?"tinian, a general rle
4+h!ani iri" conditio semper in infinitum decrrit+8 $hich !a3e" the
pro#ect of prohi%iting +di)er"a" "ententia"+ anti5h!an, "ince it i!po"e" on
!an3ind an interdiction $ith $hich %, it" natre it cannot co!pl,:
Il n+e"t d*"ir pl" natrel .e le d*"ir de connoi""ance (((
Le" ho!!e" !e"cognoi""ent la !aladie natrelle de ler e"prit: il ne faict
.e freter et .e"ter, et )a "an" ce""e tornoiant, %a"ti""ant et "+e!pe"trant
en "a %e"ongne, co!!e no" )er" de "o,e, et "+, e"toffe( Mus in pice%
))
La$ !"t, to "o!e degree, proceed %, definition, and !edie)al glo""e"
are !ade p in great part of definition" in the "chola"tic !ode, %, genus,
differentia, species, proprium, accidens% Fhere definition" are pro!inent
in the $or3" of Caepolla, de ;ederici" and Dogeri", the, are le""
"che!atic and apparent in Alciato and >ot!an, althogh De%ffi, 'reche
and ;orner are not ad)er"e to the!( Montaigne+" Essais are fa!o" for
their forthright re#ection of definition:
?+enten" a""eM .e c+e"t .e !ort et )olpt*: .+on ne "+a!"e pa" - le"
anato!iMer( 4ii( 12, 3E38
No"tre conte"tation e"t )er%ale( ?e de!ande .e c+e"t .e natre, )olpt*,
cercle, et "%"tittion( La .e"tion e"t de parolle", et "e pa,e de !e"!e(
&ne pierre c+e"t n corp"( Mai" .i pre""eroit: Et corp" .+e"t5ce6 O
9%"tance( O Et "%"tance .o,6 ain"i de "itte, accleroit en fin le
re"pondant a %ot de "on calepin( An e"change n !ot por n atre !ot,
et "o)ent pl" incogne( ?e "=a, !ie0 .e c+e"t .+ho!!e .e #e ne
"=a, .e c+e"t ani!al, o !ortel, o rai"onna%le(
4iii( 13,124B8
The"e )ie$" "ho$ Montaigne to %e co!pletel, ot of ",!path, $ith,
for e0a!ple, the De interpretatione legis etensiva of Caepolla, in $hich
an initial definition of the $ord" of the title 4+e0ten"io interpretati)a e"t
progre""io i"ta de di"po"iti)o e0pre""o ad non e0pre""!+: +interpretati)e
e0ten"ion i" the tre progre""ion fro! that $hich i" e0plicitl, "et do$n to
that $hich i" not e0plicit+8 i" "%#ected to frther inten"i)e definition
258 Montaigne and humanist jurists
Montaigne and humanist jurists 25E
of e)er, $ord, +.ia in diffinitione )i" et "%"tantia rei diffinitae et ei"
!ateriae con"i"tit, c! diffinitio 4t in.it 'oeti"8 rei e""entia!
de!on"tret+ 4+for in definition re"ide" the "%"tance and force of the
defined o%#ect and of it" !atter, "ince definition, a" 'oethi" "a,",
de!on"trate" the e""ence of a thing+8(
23
Caepolla cite" not onl, 'oethi"
%t al"o Cicero a" athorit, to #"tif, %eginning $ith a definition: the
"a!e te0t fro! the De officiis in"pire" Montaigne to $rite that +"a fa=on
d+e"crire JCicero+"K !e "e!%le enn,e"e, et tote atre pareille fa=on(
Car "e" preface", definition", partition", et,!ologie", con"!ent la pl"
part de "on o)rage: ce .+il , a de )if et de !oelle, e"t e"toff* par "e"
longerie" d+apprHt"+ 4ii(12, 3E38( Pet he reprodce" fro! 9a%nd"+"
*heologia naturalis a conception of the relation"hip %et$een $ord" and
thing" $hich i" no!inali"t and $hich !oreo)er allo$" for the notion of
)er%al e0ten"ion:
24
and there are !o!ent" in the Essais $here a
conception of langage appear" %, $hich $ord" do not !erel, %eco!e
de)aled %t al"o are a%le to %e inf"ed $ith ne$ !eaning"( 9ch a
conception pre"ppo"e" a "cience of !ea"ring and nder"tanding the
frontier" of $ord": and $hile Montaigne $old no do%t por "corn on
Caepolla+" .a"i5tatological definition" of $ord" "ch a" +e0ten"ion+,
25
it
i" note$orth, that $ord" containing the "e!antic force of +frontier+ appear
fre.entl, in the Essais, and act a" a 3ind of tacit conce""ion of the need
for definition(
2B
The %old "tate!ent" +#+enten" a""eM ( ( (+ and +#e "=a, !ie0 ( ( (+ re)eal
that Montaigne di"li3e" )er%al definition %eca"e he %elie)e" it to %e
nnece""ar,( Alciato, De%ffi, 'reche and ;orner engage the!"el)e" in a
precario" $a, to $rite "ch +nnece""ar,+ co!!entarie": that i",
co!!entarie" on a co!!entar, on $ord", the De verborum [et rerum]
significatione, $hich at one point 4/ 52( 1B( B8 i!plie" that )er%al
anal,"i" can %e har!fl and para"itic:
Qer%! E legibus "ic accipiend! e"t, tarn e0 leg! "ententia .a! e0
)er%i"(
4The $ord" +fro! the la$"+ are to %e ta3en to !ean +a" !ch fro! the
"pirit of the la$" a" fro! their letter+(8
E)en the r%ric De verborum [et rerum] significatione pro)o3e"
defen"i)e ge"tre" fro! the"e co!!entator", $hich ca"e their glo""e" at
the"e point" to ta3e on the "a!e preoccpation" a" doe" Montaigne in +/e
l+e0p*rience+, and to reprodce the "a!e cl"ter of the!e" and
oppo"ition"( I noted a%o)e that li3e
Montaigne, ?"tinian in hi" Letter" athoriMing the Digest contra"t"
i!!o%ile $ith !o%ile, general $ith particlar, nit, $ith di)er"it,,
"i!ilarit, $ith difference, althogh he a""ign" different )ale" to the"e
oppo"ition": co!pari"on of the Essais and the"e co!!entarie" re)eal", a"
$ill %e "een, !ore po$erfl co!!on re"onance"(
9o!e co!!on point" !a, not in the!"el)e" %e "ignificant: De%ffi,
li3e Montaigne, arge" that ?"tinian $a" $rong to atte!pt to pre)ent
#dge" fro! engaging in interpretation 4op( cit( 548: !o"t co!!entator"
pio"l, conde!n tho"e $ho condct +altercatione" et di"ptatione", .ae
in no!ini%" !agi" .a! re%" po"itae "nt+ 4+altercation" and
di"ptation", $hich are located in $ord" rather than thing"+8: e)en
"chola"tic" in)eigh again"t the +tr%a li%ror!+, the +inn!era li%ror!
!ltitdo+ of interpreter" and "cholar", "o!eti!e" .oting "ch
philo"opher" a" 9eneca, $ho"e athorit, i" in)o3ed to rge reader" to tr"t
onl, one co!!entator 4the one $ho"e te0t i" in their hand"8 and to "corn
the re"t(
2C
A !ore i!portant parallel i" pro)ided %, ;orner, $ho in
conceding that general la$" do not e0i"t, coincide" $ith the central
criti.e of la$ in +/e l+e0p*rience+:
4In the deter!ination of h!an "itation", $hich i" the "%#ect5!atter of
ci)il la$, a greater n!%er and $ider )ariet, are percei)ed than can %e
ea"il, contained $ithin rigid precept": 1lato teache" that no 3no$ledge
can %e ac.ired of infinite thing"( Therefore it i" nece""ar, for la$" to %e
!ade open5ended: "ince, a" Ari"totle "a," in hi" +olitics, the la$ !"t
di"po"e in a general $a,, $hile indi)idal act" are all relati)e to the indi5
)idal $ill(8
Pet !ore "tri3ing i" the in"i"tence in the"e te0t" on the practical effect"
of langage and the need for "i!ple and co!5!on"en"e rle" for the
nder"tanding of $ord"( ;orner again pro)ide" a good e0a!ple :
9er!o fa!iliari" et .otidian" non cohaereret, "i )er%a inter no" ac5
pare!r: I!peri! do!e"tic! nll! e""et, "i "er)li" hoc concedere!"
t ad )er%a no%i" o%edirent, non ad id .od e0 )er%i" intelligi po""it,
o%te!perarent( 4op( cit( 228
260 Montaigne and humanist jurists
Montaigne and humanist jurists 2B1
4E)er,da, fa!iliar "peech $old not re!ain coherent, if $e $ere to cha"e
after $ord" %et$een or"el)e": there can %e no athorit, in the ho!e if
$e concede to or !o"t #nior "er)ant" that the, !a, o%e, " in the letter
of or $ord", and not co!pl, $ith that $hich can %e properl, inferred
fro! or $ord"(8
9ch "enti!ent" are "trongl, re!ini"cent of the clo"ing $ord" of +/
de!entir+:
No"tre intelligence "e condi"ant par la "ele )o,e de la parolle, cel, .i
la face, trahit la "oci*t* p%li.e( C+e"t le "el til par le !oien d.el "e
co!!ni.ent no" )olonteM et no" pen"*e", c+e"t le trche!ent de no"tre
a!e: "+il no" fat, no" ne no" tenon" pl", no" ne no" entreconnoi"5
"on" pl"( 9+il no" tro!pe, il ro!pt tot no"tre co!!erce et di""olt
tote" le" liai"on" de no"tre police(
2E
According to De%ffi, the la$" need to %e interpreted not a" an e0c"e
for teaching Cicero or Ari"totle, %t for the "a3e of the la$" the!"el)e",
and their !eaning "hold %e e"ta%li"hed %, their +propri" conte0t"+( The
in"i"tence on the "e of a $ord a" a gide to "ignification O the +natrali"
"en""+, the +co!!ni" lo.endi ""+ O fond in all of the"e
co!!entarie" %etra," the "a!e practical ai!" a" tho"e $hich are prai"ed
%, i!plication in +/e l+e0p*rience+( Ane !a, a""ociate thi" $ith the
gro$ing intere"t in legal phra"eolog, at the end of the "i0teenth centr,,
and in the legi"lation concerning "lander and the dra$ing p of contract"
and $ill":
32
the"e topic" are !entioned %, Alciato, De%ffi and other", and
.e"tioned al"o %, Montaigne:
1or.o, e"t5ce .e no"tre langage co!!n, "i ai"* - tot atre "age,
de)ient o%"cr et non intelligi%le en contract et te"ta!ent, .e cel, .i
"+e0pri!e "i claire!ent, .o, .+il die et e"cri)e, ne tro)e en cela acne
!aniere de "e declarer .i ne to!%e en do%te et contradiction6
4iii( 13,12438
Thi" .e"tion !a, $ell %e "een to %e di"ingeno": the rle" of ho$ to
+"+e0pri!er claire!ent+ are not e"ta%li"hed, and it $old "ee! that
Montaigne hi!"elf did not ha)e co!plete confidence in hi" o$n a%ilit, to
repre"ent hi!"elf correctl, 4+#e crain" !ortelle!ent d+e"tre pri" en
e"change par ce0 - .i il arri)e de connoi"tre !on no!+ 4iii( 5, 72488( Fe
are %roght %ac3 to the r,gula fro! the De verborum [et rerum] signifi'
catione 4/ 52( 1B( B8 to $hich "air or co!!entator" de)ote "o!e page"(
Interpretation i" co!pared, %, De%ffi and %, Montaigne, to the act of
entering a %ilding: the $ord" con"titte the e0terior, the intention the
interior(
31
Thi" relation"hip of $ord" to !eaning or intention can al"o %e
de"cri%ed in ter!" of "rface and depth, or po"teriorit, and priorit,( 'efore,
%eneath, in"ide the $ord" of the legi"lator i" hi" intention 4+"ententia+, +!en"+,
+)olnta"+8( Thi" i" a !entali"tic notion, fro! $hich Montaigne ne)er
depart" e0plicitl,(
32
The +realit,+ or +"%"tance+ of "peech lie" in the h!an
heart, acce""i%le onl, to the "pea3er and to @od: +il n+, a, .e )o" .i
"=ache "i )o" e"te" lRche et + crel, o lo,al et de)otie0: l*" atre" ne )o"
)o,ent poinct: il" )o" de)inent par con#ectre" incertaine"+(
33
Thi" )ie$ i"
attri%ted to the +theologi+ %, De%ffi: a $ord i" a +!enti" con5cept", .i de
)oce for!anda et e!ittenda concipitr, ante.a! lteri" ad la%ia
prodcatr: JhancK Jcogitatione!K nll" po""et declarare praeter /e! .i
"ol" e"t cordi! "crtator+ 4+a concept of the !ind $hich i" concei)ed for
the )oice to for! and ennciate %efore it i" %roght forth %, the lip":
3no$ledge of thi" concept none can clai! other than @od $ho alone "ee"
into or heart"+8 4op( cit( 38( El"e$here 4558 De%ffi .ote" 9t 1al 42 Cor( 3:
B +litera occidit, "pirit" ate! )i)ifi5cat+8 to reinforce thi" hierarch,(
34
Ford" a" na!e" are the "er)ant" of thing" and conception": +In"tr!enta
rer! "%"tantia" docendi di"cernendi.e+ 438: their rai"on d+Htre i" their
"e( The opening page" of +/e l+e0p*rience+ fll, endor"e thi" )ie$(
The role of interpretation i" therefore to pro)ide acce"" to the +!en"+ or
+)olnta"+ of the "pea3er, and then to di"appear, to lea)e no +trace+, to %e
con"!ed in the act of !a3ing intention acce""i%le $ithot a!%igiit,(
Alciato, De%ffi, ;orner, 'reche all echo thi" )ie$, $hich i" that e"po"ed
%, Montaigne in the .otation $hich opened thi" in)e"tigation( The legal
co!!entator" all .ote Cel"" 4/ 1( 3( 1C8: +"cire lege" non e"t )er%a
ear! tenere, "ed )i! at.e pote"tate!+ 4+to 3no$ la$" i" not to po""e""
the $ord" of the la$", %t rather their inherent force and po$er+8( The
Decretum 4ii( B48 add" it" athorit, to the Do!an #ri"t: +in folii" )er%or!
non con"i"tit e)angeli!, "ed in radice rationi" et in "en"+ 4+"criptre doe"
not con"i"t in the lea)e" of $ord", %t in the root" of nder"tanding and
!eaning+8(
35
The fifteenth5centr, #ri"t Andrea" 'ar%atia prodce" ,et
another fre.entl, encontered adage: +!en" "e ha%et ad litera! "ict
ani!a ad corp"+ 4+the !eaning i" to the letter a" the "ol i" to the %od,+8(
3B
In all of the"e for!lation", thS hierarch, of intention o)er $ord "ee!"
clear: %t the, all contain a crcial "lippage a$a, fro! the "elf5effacing
role of the
262
Montaigne and humanist jurists
Montaigne and humanist jurists 263
interpreter and the in"tr!entalit, of $ord"( The vis ac potestas, the ratio,
the anima are not e0plicitl, lin3ed to the "pea3er or $riter of the $ord,
%t are identified rather a" a )er%al propert, 4perhap" e)en an e""ential
)er%al propert,8( If $ord" contain an +ani!a+, a +)i" ac pote"ta"+, a +ratio+,
the, can %e thoght of a" independent, ha)ing no origin or athorit,
%e,ond the!"el)e", po""e""ed of an inherent logic and a "elf5"fficient
force $ith $hich the, can in trn endo$ the la$: +ratio legi" !en" legi"
e"t+ 4'artol", in / 24( 3( 1C, De soluto matrimonio)% No$ acce"" to
$ord" and to the la$ re.ire" a !ediator $ho i" a%le to la, %are the
intrin"ic propertie" of $ord"(
Throgh a h!ani"t detor O the pr"it of res, the re#ection of
"chola"tic logic O $e ha)e co!e fll circle: 'artol"+" "trictre a%ot the
general "cience of la$ 4+ad cognitione! "pecier! de%et praecedere
cognitio generi"+8 can %e applied again in the "earch for the ","te! of
legal langage and in the appeal to +ae.ita"+ a" a principle of
interpretation( 9ignification cea"e" to %e a "%"er)ient, po"terior, "elf5
effacing acti)it, and %eco!e" in"titti)e of !eaning, $hich re"ide" in the
natre of $ord" and need" an interpreter to %e li%erated and e0pre""ed( It
i" no$ the art of repre"entation +tan.a! in ta%la+ of that $hich %efore
$a" not )i"i%le(
3C
The e0pert" in "ignification, the interpreter", ha)e
$re"ted athorit, fro! te"tator, legi"lator and "pea3er: the, declare
the!"el)e" to %e the +prdente"+ $ho "it in #dge!ent o)er +proprieta"+ and
+""+, $ho identif, i!proper "age, and $ho in"tigate !eaning" +per
interpretatione!+(
The central !echani"! in thi" "lippage %et$een +!en"+ and +ratio+ i" to
%e fond in the !aniplation of notion" of non5e.i)alence and priorit,(
Caepolla+" inflential treati"e De interpretatione legis etensiva i" perhap"
the !o"t co!plete codification of for!" of non5e.i)alence %et$een
!eaning and $ord"( >e li"t" thirteen t,pe" of +e0tended !eaning+:
37
h!ani"t #ri"t" are le"" a!%itio" in their ta0ono!,, %t retain tho"e
for!" of non5e.i)alence $hich allo$ athorit, to pa"" fro! the "pea3er
into the hand" of the interpreter( 9ch for!" ari"e fro! "age a" affected
%, hi"torical change and conte0t: 3no$ledge of parallel la$": the
application of lingi"tic rle" for the nder"tanding of figre": and
i!perfect e0pre""ion, %, $hich the "pea3er %eco!e" pre, to the
interpreter: +.i alid dicit, .a! )lt, ne.e dicit, .od )o0 "ignificat,
.ia non )lt, ne.e id .od )lt, .ia non lo.itr+ 4+$ho "a," "o!ething
other than that $hich he !ean", neither "a," $hat the $ord" !ean,
%eca"e he doe" not !ean it, norT$hat he !ean", %eca"e he doe" not "a,
it+8(
3E
;ro! their h!%le e0ordia, the h!ani"t
co!!entator" on / 52(1B !o)e to !ore and !ore athoritati)e and
confident control of their te0t : Alciato+" fir"t "entence 4%oth to hi"
introdctor, e""a,, and to hi" co!!entar, on the te0t of the Digest), read"
+c! in)enta "int )er%a, t dicenti" "en5tentia! e0pri!ant, !erito ei"
)olnta" in pri!i" "pectanda e"t+ 4+a" $ord" are cho"en to e0pre"" the
!eaning of their "pea3er, it i" right to loo3 fir"t at hi" intention+8: %t
$ithin three page" he con"ider" %oth the topic of definition and the
athorit, of +prdent !en+ in deciding $ord "age( Ford" can e)en co!e
to "pplant fact: +pl" )alet "criptra .a! .od act! e"t+ 4+$hat i"
$ritten ha" greater )alidit, than $hat i" done+8, $rite" ;orner 4op( cit( 228,
.oting Mode"tin", re)er"ing the original priorit, of "en"e, intention and
$ord( De%ffi a"3" $h, the title /e verborum [et rerum] significatione i"
placed at the end of the Digest rather than at the %eginning, and ot of thi"
npro!i"ing .e"tion !anage" to e"ta%li"h that "en"e i" gi)en to $ord"
onl, %, interpretation, e)en thogh tterance" are !ade to e0pre"" prior
intention":
I"te titl" in fine /ige"tor!, et non in principio locat" ferit, .ia non
pote"t elici )er%or! "ignificatio, ni"i pri" )er%i" po"iti"( Et "ic nece""e
fit lege" prae"cri%ere, et e0 illi" po"tea )oca%la colligere, t Iri"5
con"lti fecernt, .i po"t .in.aginta li%ro" /ige"tor! haec )oca%la
e0 illi" e0tra0ernt( Ne!pe e0 nihilo nihil colligi pote"t, arg( 1( decern ff(
de )er%, o%lig( 9ic dicit Iri"con"( de tit( de regli" iri" 1(1 in tit( pro0i!o
i%i sed e iure -uod est r,gula fiat% Ergo oportit pri" i" "cri%ere et
po"tea e0 ire )er%or! "ignificatione", et r*gla" elicere, t fact! e0"titit(
Et "ic non e"t a%"rd!, "ed nece""ari! e!, .i ira ci)ilia profUteri
cpit, a% initio hnc titl( adire et !e!oriae !andare, .a!)i" Iri"5
con"lti in fine loca)erint(
42
4Thi" title $a" placed at the end of the Digest and not at the %eginning,
%eca"e the "ignification of $ord" cannot %e elicited fro! the! ntil the
$ord" the!"el)e" are "et do$n( Th" it $a" nece""ar, to $rite the la$"
fir"t, and after$ard" to collect together $ord" fro! the!: a" $a" indeed
done %, the #ri"t" $ho after fini"hing the fift, %oo3" of the Digest
e0tracted the"e $ord" fro! the!( ;or nothing can %e e0tracted fro!
nothing ( ( ( And the #ri"t "a," in the title after the De verborum signifi'
catione that rle" (regulae) are !ade fro! e0i"ting la$( Therefore the la$
had fir"t to %e $ritten and after$ard" the !eaning of the $ord" of the la$
and the rle" (regulae) elicited fro! it, a" indeed ha" %een done in thi"
ca"e( Th" for an, $ho $i"h to profe"" ci)il la$, it i" not a%"rd %t
nece""ar, to li"ten to and to co!!it to !e!or, thi" title 4the De verborum
significatione) fro! the )er, %eginning, althogh the #ri"t" placed it at the
end of the Digest%)
Th" the title De verborum [et rerum] significatione, althogh
264
Montaigne and humanist jurists
Montaigne and humanist jurists 265
"itated la"t in the Digest, and althogh clearl, para"itic on the la$" on
$hich it co!!ent", none the le"" gi)e" "en"e to tho"e la$", and
do!inate" the! %, athoriMing their !eaning( In other $ord", an art
$hich i" dependent on and po"terior to a "et of con)ention" co!e" to
precede the"e con)ention" and to act a" their origin( 9ch phra"e" a"
+no!ina "nt in"tr!enta do5cendi di"cernendi.e+, in $hich +teaching+
and +!a3ing percepti%le+ are "%ordinated gra!!aticall,, no$ re)eal their
latent force(
In thi" %rief in)e"tigation, there i" not "pace to de)elop the fll
i!plication" of thi" "lippage( Dather, it" pre"ence in Montaigne+" $riting
$ill %e cr"oril, indicated( It appear" in hi" treat!ent of the pro%le! of
res, verba and mens. it ha" it" place in the #"tification for "elf5"td,
$hich i" to %e fond in the opening page" of +/e l+e0p*rience+ together
$ith the criti.e of la$": and it can %e detected in hi" preoccpation $ith
originalit,( The pro%le! of $ord" and thing" i" pro!inent in the "ceptical
de)elop!ent" of the +Apologie de Dai!ond 9e%ond+( There, !an+" acce""
to realit, i" con"i"tentl, denied:
Il n+, a acne con"tante e0i"tence, n, de no"tre e"tre, n, de cel, de"
o%#ect"( Et no", et no"tre #ge!ent, et tote" cho"e" !ortelle", )ont
colant et rolant "an" ce""e( Ain"in il ne "e pet e"ta%lir rien de certain
de l+n - l+atre, et le #geant et le #g* e"tan" en continelle !tation et
%ranle(
No" n+a)on" acne co!!nication - l+e"tre, par ce .e tote h
!aine natre e"t to"#or" a !ilie entre le nai"tre et le !orir, ne
%aillant de "o, .+ne o%"cre apparence et o!%re, et ne incertaine et
de%ile opinion( Et "i, de fortne, )o" ficheM )o"tre pen"*e - )oloir
prendre "on e"tre, ce "era ne pl" ne !oin" .e .i )odrait e!poigner
l+ea ( ( ( 4II( 12, 57B8
't e)en if $e do not ha)e acce"" to res, $e are or"el)e" the loc" of
the imago rerum, and the loc" of the de"ire to 3no$ e0ternal realit,: +il
n+e"t d*"ir pl" natrel .e le d*"ir de con5noi""ance+( A" ha" %een "ho$n,
Montaigne ne)er depart" fro! the doctrine that it i" or intention $hich i"
the tre #dge of or $ord" and action": and the "ole trace of or intention
re"ide" in $ord", $hich are the +trche!ent de no"tre a!e+( Pet in the
opening page" to +/e l+e0p*rience+, the "cience of interpretation of $ord"
and of legi"lating for $ord" i" e0po"ed to a "ceptical criti.e: e)en the
i!age +e!poigner l+ea+ i" pic3ed p again $ith a "light )ariation 4!ercr,
in"tead of $ater8 to de!on"trate
the $rongheadedne"" of engaging in definition or in rigid for!laic
"age:
Le" prince" de cet art Jlegal phra"eolog,K, "+appli.an" d+ne pecliere
attention - trier de" !ot" "ole!ne" et for!er de" cla"e" arti"te" ont tant
poi"* cha.e "illa%e, e"plch* "i pri!e!ent cha.e e"pSce de co"tre,
.e le" )oil- enfra".eM et e!%roilleM en l+infinit* de" figre" et "i !ene"
partition", .+elle" ne pe)ent pl" to!%er "o%" acn reigle!ent et
pre"cription n, acne certaine intelligence ( ( ( Gi a )e de" enfan"
e""a,an" de renger - certain no!%re ne !a""e d+argent5)if: pl" il" le
pre""ent et pe"tri""ent et "+e"tdient - le contraindre - ler lo,, pl" il"
irritent la li%ert* de ce g*n*re0 !etal ( ( ( C+e"t de !e"!e, car, en "%5
di)i"ant le" "%tiliteM, on apprend a0 ho!!e" d+accroi"tre ce" do%te"(
4iii( 13,12438
Ford", i!plicitl, de"cri%ed a" +free+ and +no%le+ %, analog, $ith !ercr,,
e"cape all atte!pt" at h!an control( 't the concl"ion, that $e "hold
tr"t or intiti)e 3no$ledge of the i!age of thing", rn" i!!ediatel, into
a !a#or difficlt,: $e onl, 3no$ thing" or intention" and are onl, a%le to
e0pre"" the! %, )irte of $ord" $hich repre"ent the!: the %eing to $hich
$e !"t accede therefore re"ide" in $ord" $hich are apparentl, it"
"er)ant", %t $hich, in thi" ne$ configration, are in"titti)e of the )er,
%eing to $hich the, gi)e acce""( ;or Montaigne, the act of co!!nication
frther pro%le!atiMe" thi" difficlt,, %eca"e it i" the propert, %oth of the
"pea3er and of the li"tener +la parolle e"t !oiti* - cel, .i parle, !oiti* -
cel, .i l+e"cote+(
41
Montaigne doe" not proceed fro! thi" to #"tif, the
"td, of !ethod" of interpretation, nor of the langage art" 4one !a,
re!e!%er the "cornfl pa""age a%ot hi" !aid+" !eton,!, 4i( 51, 2E488,
a" do h!ani"t #ri"t": %t he concede" at a n!%er of "ignificant point"
the pri!ac, of $ord", and !a, %e "aid al"o to engage in .a"i5definition,
al%eit of an infor!al 3ind(
42
>e re"ol)e" thi" dile!!a al"o %, proclai!ing tri!phantl, that hi" te0t
i" inane and de)oid of "en"e, there%, contradicting the legal adage +nihil
e0 nihilo colligi pote"t+:
?e di" po!pe"e!ent et ople!!ent l+ignorance, et d," la "cience !egre5
!ent et pite"e!ent, 4c8 acce""oire!ent cette5c, et accidentale!ent, celle
l- e0pre""*!ent et principale!ent( Et ne traicte - point no!!* de rien
.e d rien, n, d+acne "cience .e de celle de l+in"cience( 4iii( 12,12348
Thi" daMMling parado0 i" para"itic on "chola"tic )oca%lar,, $hich
incorporate" in part the "cience of definition 4+accidentale!ent+,
266 Montaigne and humanist jurists Montaigne and humanist jurists 267
+acce""oire!ent+8: the precario" natre of Montaigne+" po"ition i" clear
here, a" i" hi" lcid perception of it( To reinforce hi" "tance, he e"ta%li"he"
hi!"elf a" a reader of hi" o$n te0t, and co!!ent" on hi" difficltie" of
co!prehen"ion:
En !e" e"cri" !e"!e" #e ne retro)e pa" to"#or" l+air de !a pre!iere
i!agination: #e ne "=a, ce .e #+a, )ol dire, et !+e"chade "o)ent -
corriger et , !ettre n no)ea "en", por a)oir perd le pre!ier, .i
)alloit !ie0( 4ii( 12, 54E8
?+arai e"lanc* .el.e "%tilit* en e"cri)ant((( ?e l+a, "i %ien perde .e
#e ne "=a, ce .e #+a, )ol dire: et l+a l+e"tranger de"co)erte par foi"
a)ant !o,( 4i( 12,428
Ane !a, note here the pre"ence of a "tranger 4the interpreter8 and the
reference to priorit, 4+a)ant !o,+8 $hich recall" De%ffi+" te0t .oted
a%o)e 4p( 2B38(
The #"tification for "elf5"td, $hich appear" in the opening page" of
+/e l+e0p*rience+ %egin" al"o $ith ge"tre" of h!ilit,, and end" $ith
tri!phant a""ertion( The the!e i" introdced $ithot apparent lin3" $ith
$hat precede" it: +4%8 Co!%ien "o)ent, et "otte!ent - l+a)antre, a,5#e
e"tand !on li)re - parler de "o,6+ 4iii( 13, 124B8( Thi" .e"tion i"
an"$ered %, Montaigne in a later addition, in $hich he e0c"e" hi"
+"otti"e+ %, the fact that +#e do, a)oir en cela pl" de li%ert* .e le" atre",
d+atant .+- poinct no!!* #+e"cr, de !o, et de !e" e"crit" co!!e de
!e" atre" action", .e !on the!e "e ren)er"e en "o,+( A little later, and
again $ithot i!!ediate conne0ion $ith, the preceding te0t, he pic3" p
the idea of "elf5"td, a" an enclo"ed "elf5referential ","te!, and
co!!ent" on it in a later addition:
4%8 ?e !+e"tdie pl" .+atre "%#ect( C+e"t !a !etaphi"i.e, c+e"t !a
phi"i.e(((
4c8 En cette ni)er"it*, #e !e lai""e ignora!!ent et n*glige!!ent !anier -
la lo, generale d !onde( ?e la "=ara, a""eM .and #e la "entira,( Ma
"cience ne l, "=aroit faire changer de rote: elle ne "e di)er"ifiera pa"
por !oi( C+e"t folie de l+e"p*rer, et pl" grande folie de "+en !ettre en
peine, pi" .+elle e"t n*ce""aire!ent "e!%la%le, p%li.e, et co!!ne(
4i%id( 12528
Thi" i" an opa.e te0t, $hich "ee!" to indicate a "ort of cltral
confor!i"! $hich ,et allo$" for5the +li%ert,+ of "elf5"td,( T$o page"
later, the #"tification for "elf5"td, ha" %eco!e the faclt,
of #dging other" +pa""a%le!ent+: Montaigne %eco!e" the interpreter of the
+te0t+ of hi" friend":
Ain"in - !e" a!," #e de"co)re, par ler" prodction", ler" inclination"
interne": non por ranger cette infinie )ari*t* d+action", "i di)er"e" et "i
de"cop*e", - certain" genre" et chapitre", et di"tri%er di"tincte!ent !e"
partage" et di)i"ion" en cla""e" et region" cogneS+" ( ((
In the "pace of a fe$ page", the pri)ate, al!o"t "olip"i"tic "td, of the
"elf, $hich h!%l, recogniMe" it" li!ited "phere of inflence, ha" %eco!e
the !ean" of acce"" to the +inclination"+ of other": at the "a!e ti!e a"
"pecificall, re#ecting a "cience of interpretation, Montaigne proclai!" one(
', a "3ilfl realign!ent of oppo"ition", the +general+ "cience of +rea"on+
$hich $a" contra"ted $ith the +"pecificit,+ of e0perience in the opening
paragraph of the e""a, ha" no$ %eco!e the "pecific "cience of rea"on
oppo"ed to the general "cience of "elf5"td,: +Le" "=a)an" partent et
d*notent ler" fanta"ie" pl" "p*cifi.e!ent, et par le !en( Mo,, .i n+,
)o, .+atant .e l+"age !+en infor!e, "an" regie, pre"ente g*n*rale!ent
le" !ienne", et - ta"ton"(+ The +"" co!!ni" lo.endi+ !ar3" here the
"lippage fro! one po"ition to another( ;or #ri"t", the nder"tanding and
reglation of "age lie" $ith the +prdente"+: Montaigne doe" not "pecif,
hi" athorit,, %t it can onl, re"t $ith hi!"elf( The "er)ant of "age
%eco!e" it" legi"lator(
Thi" !echani"! of "lippage fro! a h!%le, "%"er)ient, po"terior
po"ition to one $hich i" confident, do!inant and legi"lati)e can al"o %e
percei)ed in Montaigne+" co!!ent" on originalit,, .otation and the
athorit, of the ancient"( Thi" topic ha" alread, %een e0cellentl, di"c""ed
el"e$here:
44
I need onl, indicate it %riefl,( The !an, co!!ent"
di"clai!ing the )ale of the Essais or di"placing it fro! the athor to hi"
"orce" are $ell 3no$n: the, co5e0i"t $ith prote"tation" that the Essais are
con"%"tantiall, Montaigne, and that the .otation" and all"ion" fond in
the! are !ore than e0ternal athorit, or orna!ent: +La )*rit* et la rai"on
"ont co!!ne" - n chacn, et ne "ont pl" - .i le" a dite" pre!iSre!ent,
.+- .i le" dict aprS"+ 4i( 2B, 1528( The oppo"ition priorit,V po"teriorit,
appear" again: a" doe" an nderl,ing principle 4+la )*rit*+8 $hich li3e the
ratio, vis et potestas, anima of $ord" $re"t" the athorit, fro! the "pea3er
or $riter and )e"t" it in the interpreter( ', thi" logic all i" .otation: +Tot
for!ille de co!!entaire": d+ater", il en e"t grand chert*+ 4iii( 13, 124B8(
The origin of "en"e i" not to %e "oght in the nco)ering of the
268 Montaigne and humanist jurists
Montaigne and humanist jurists 2BE
intention of the fir"t "pea3er, %t in the a"cription of !eaning %, the
reader to an e0i"ting te0t(
The ratio %, $hich legal interpreter" pa"" fro! %eing "elf5effacing
"er)ant" of intention to %eco!ing the!"el)e" the athor" and legi"lator"
of "en"e and !eaning appear" in the Essais a" the pa""age fro! h!%le
acceptance of para"iti"! on other athor", fro! inherited !ode" of "peech
and of co!prehen"ion, and fro! a pri)ate do!ain of in)e"tigation to the
confident declaration of athorit, 4or athor"hip8 "itated in the
indi)idal "pea3ing )oice no$ endo$ed $ith di!en"ion" $hich are %oth
p%lic and ni)er"al:
Le" ather" "e co!!ni.ent a peple par .el.e !ar.e particliSre
et e"trangere: !o,, le pre!ier, par !on e"tre ni)er"el, co!!e Michel de
Montaigne, non co!!e gra!!airien o poSte, o #ri"con"lte, 4ii( 2, C728
Legal interpreter" "e the ratio verborum to do!inate $ord" and
appropriate the!: Montaigne "e" it to #"tif, hi" +de""ein faroche et
e0tra)agant+, and to proclai! %oldl, the originalit, of hi" %oo3, +le "el
li)re a !onde de "on e"pSce+ 4ii( 7, 3B48( Thi" clai! for originalit, i"
precario"l, O e)en parado0icall, O %ilt on the oppo"ition" po"teriorit,
Vpriorit,, generalVparticlar, do!inanceV"%"er)ience(
Althogh Montaigne, in the 3e, pa""age at the %eginning of +/e
l+e0p*rience+, re#ect" the a"piration" and the enterpri"e of legal interpreter",
he i" none the le"" caght in the "a!e $e% of dependence and
independence $hich characteriMe" !ch h!ani"t $riting, a" it "trggle"
to co!e to ter!" $ith the re"ide of "chola"tic thoght fro! $hich it ha"
"tri)en to %rea3 free( 'eca"e thi" "trggle i" percepti%le in %oth
)ernaclar and neoLatin te0t", it !ight %e de"cri%ed a" a featre of all
$riting at thi" ti!e: %t one !ight "peclate 4$ith greater a!%ition and
le"" cation8 that it i" al"o not a%"ent fro! the relation"hip %et$een neo5
Latin and )ernaclar it"elf, $here the prior, p%lic, athoritati)e "tat" of
Latin a" a !edi! of international co!!nication i" threatened %, the
gro$ing pre"tige of the )ernaclar to $hich it ga)e %irth( In the "cope of
thi" en.ir,, the clai!" of thi" )ie$ cannot %e pre""ed: %t it !a, "er)e to
ill"trate, if nothing el"e, the )ale of an a$arene"" of the interpla,
%et$een langage" in the Denai""ance(
Note"
/ Montaigne, Essais iii( 13, in 0uvres compl1tes, *d( A( Thi%adet and
M( Dat, 1ari", 1EB2,1244,1245(
) An "ppo"ition" a%ot Montaigne+" legal career and training, "ee
/onald M( ;ra!e,Montaigne: a biograph$, Ne$ Por3, 1EB5, 425B2(
2 9ee Antoine Co!pagnon, 3ous, Michel de Montaigne, 1ari", 1E72:
Terence Ca)e, *he #ornucopian tet: problems of 4riting in the
5rench 6enaissance, A0ford, 1ECE, e"p( 2C15321: 9tephen Dendall,
7Mus in pice: Montaigne and interpretation+, Modern 8anguage 3otes
c0i) 41ECE8, 125B5C1(
9 9ee /onald D( <elle,, 5oundations of modern historical scholarship:
ta4 and histor$ in the 5rench 6enaissance, Ne$ Por3 and London,
1EC2(
: An the mos italicus and the mos gallicus, "ee i%id( 23 ff(
6 There i" a de%ate a" to $hether the $ord" +et rer!+ oght to %e
"pplied to thi" title 4the +andecta 5lorentina ha" onl, De verborum
significatione). for an accont, "ee ?ohanne" @oeddae", #ommen'
tarius repetitae praelectionis in tit% vi libri / +andectarum 415E18,
Na""a, 1B14, 1E( It i" a !atter of "o!e i!portance to Andrea" Alci5
ato, $ho $i"he" to arge that +re"+ can "ignif, acti)el,, and $ho
#"tifie" thi" %, reference to hi" Emblemata 4"ee De verborum sig'
nificatione 415328, ;ran3frt, 1572, 2275E8( 1ierre De%ffi conte"t"
thi" )ie$ (!n tit% Dig% de verborum et rerum significatione commentaria
4155C8, L,on", 157B,48(
; 9ee hi" glo"" on / 12(1 (De rebus creditis, si certum petetur)%
< 'oth the"e $or3" are reprodced in the fir"t )ol!e of the *ractatus
iuris universi, Qenice, 1574, 227
)
5225
)
and 37B
r
53E4
)
re"pecti)el,(
= Thi" te0t appeared in Qenice in 155C, edited %, @a%riel 9ara,na,
together $ith a *ractatus etensionis e utro-ue iure elucubratus, %,
Matthae" Mathe"ilan" of 'ologna 4fl( 14358(
12 The dedicator, epi"tle i" dated Ma, 152E: the earlie"t edition $hich I
cold find i" dated 1532( It i" follo$ed %, edition" in 1547, 1557,
15B5,1571,1572 and 1577(
11 De%ffi $a" profe""or of la$ at 1ari" 4"ee note B for detail" of hi"
co!!entar,8: 'reche, >d titulum +andectarum De verborum et
rerum significatione commentarii, L,on", 155B 4'reche $a" an ad)o5
cate at Tor", and declare" hi!"elf to %e a friend of Andr* Tira.ea8:
;orner, !n tit% de verb, significatione commentarii, Arl*an", 1574( I
$a" na%le to di"co)er an,thing a%ot the life of ;orner( There are of
cor"e !an, other co!!entarie" on thi" title p%li"hed ot"ide ;rance
%, foreign #ri"t" in thi" period(
12 The te0t cited in thi" article i" to %e fond in the "econd )ol!e of
?eipa$o$ia sive c$nosura iuris, ed( Nicola" De"ner", 9pe,er, 1577(
270 Montaigne and humanist jurists Montaigne and humanist jurists
2C1
13 e(g( 1etr" Corneli" 'rederodi", *hesaurus dictionum et sententiarum
iuris civilis, L,on", 1572: 'arna%e 'ri""on, 8eicon iuris, ;ran3frt,
157C: ?ohanne" Cal)in" 4<ahl8, 8eicon iuridicum, ;ran3frt, 1B22:
?ohn Co$ell, *he !nterpreter, London, 1B2C: 1etr" 1raetori", 8ei'
con iuris civilis et canonici, L,on", 15BC: 9i!on 9chardi", 8eicon
iuridicum, Cologne, 15E3: ?aco%" 9pigeli", 8eicon, 'a"le, 15CC:
Fillia! Fe"t, @$mbolaeograph$, London, 15E2( There are !an,
!ore(
14 e(g( ;orner, 2253, .oted in part %elo$, p( 25E(
15 e(g( 'reche, 5, on consignificatio: and @( A( 1adle,, Arammatical
theor$ in Bestern Europe, /:CC'/;CC: the 8atin tradition, Ca!%ridge,
1ECB, e"p( 12513( 'reche i" a$are that the ter! i" nfa"hiona%le 4+"ed
hic ad!onit! te )eli! ( ( ( ad"ignificare poti" .a! con"ignificare
4.od %ar%ar! e"t8 dica"( >oc @raeci DEFGGHIJKLMNL dicnt+8(
1B Co!pare, for e0a!ple, Alciato+" for !ode" of "ignification (e prop'
rietate, e improprio, e usu, per interpretationem) $ith tho"e of
'ald" 4.oted %, De%ffi, 4, a" natura, aptitudo, consuetudo lo'
-uendi, and usus actusve naturae seu figurae dictionis)%
1C Alciato, 2245E: and "ee a%o)e, n( B(
17 The for!la i" that of Cel"": .oted %, >ot!an, in #$nosura ii( 112(
1E Cf( Essais ii( 12, 57B, .oted %elo$, p( 2B4: iii( 13,passim%
22 9ee ;rieda 9( 'ro$n, 6eligious and political conservatism in the E""ai"
of Montaigne, @ene)a, 1EB3: D( A( 9a, ce, *he Essa$s of Montaigne: a
critical eploration, London, 1EC2, 233 ff(: /a)id Ma"3ell, +Montaigne
and the )ictor of Montcontor+, 5rench @tudies 000ii 41EC78, 12E544,
for differing accont" of the political )ie$" of Montaigne(
21 9ee e"p( iii( 13, 124B5C( +Tot e0e!ple cloche+ 4+o!ni" "i!ilitdoCla5
dicat+8 i", in fact, a "chola"tic adage: "ee Carol Clar3, +Montaigne and
the i!ager, of political di"cor"e in "i0teenth5centr, ;rance+,
5rench @tudies 00i) 41EC28, 337(
22 Essais iii( 13,1241, 1244( The for!er "entence i" al"o the fir"t "entence
of Ari"totle+" Metaph$sics%
23 Caepolla, De interpretatione legis etensiva, C
Q
(
24 Essais ii( 1B, B21 ff(: on thi" pa""age, "ee Co!pagnon, op( cit( 121542(
25 e(g( De interpretatione legis etensiva, C
Q
: +e0ten"io, .od )er%!
pote"t e0poni id e"t e0tra ten"io, ad denotand! .od e0ten"io ha%et
do e0tre!e, n! a .o "it, alid ad .od "it, "icti ha%et fictio
tran"lati)a "i)e e0ten"i)e(+
2B ;or a di"c""ion of the rele)ant te0t" in the Essais, "ee Ian Maclean,
+Le pai" a del-: Montaigne and philo"ophical "peclation+, in Mon'
taigne: essa$s in memor$ of 6ichard @a$ce, ed( I( /( Mc;arlane and
Ian Maclean, A0ford, 1E72,12253(
2C De%ffi, 1 : al"o Dogeri", in *ractatus iuris universi, i( 3E4
)
( The .ota5
tion" fro! 9eneca are ta3en fro! the opening "entence" of the De
tran-uillitate animi and Epistulae ii(
27 op( cit( 22( The .otation attri%ted to 1lato "ee!" not to %e %, hi!
%t %, Ari"totle (Metaph$sics '( 4, EEEa 2C8( I a! inde%ted to '( ;(
Mc@inne"" for thi" infor!ation( Cf( De%ffi, l.Essais,iii( 13,12445B(
The .otation fro! the +olitics i" in fact II( 7 412BEa 115148(
2E Essais ii( 17, B52: the .a"i5%i%lical phra"e +le trche!ent de no"tre
a!e+ recall" De%ffi+" for!lation +e0 lo.ela ani!" ho!ini" idi5
catr, c! lingae i!perator "it cor+ 448(
32 9ee a%o)e, p( 254 and n( 13: there i" a copio" literatre on the
for!lation" of $ill", repre"entati)e of $hich i" 9i!on de 1raetii"+"
!a""i)e De ultimarum voluntatum interpretatione tractatus, L,on",
157C( It "ee!" that in England, a" $ell a" in continental Erope, a ne$
approach to legal langage e!erge" in the cor"e of the "i0teenth
centr,, $hich place" !ore e!pha"i" on the fact of langage 4defa!a5
tion i" not a%ot intention, %t effect8, and !odifie" the !edie)al ha%it
of inclding alternati)e for!lation" in contract" a" a !ean" of
e"ta%li"hing identit, or o%ligation( Ane indication of thi" pheno!enon,
$hich ha" ,et to %e fll, in)e"tigated, i" the "$ift p%lication of a
%oo3 on the tort of "lander 4in fact, the fir"t %oo3 to %e p%li"hed on
an, tort8: ?ohn March+" >ctions for slaunder, or a methodicall collec'
tion under certain grounds and heads of 4hat 4ords are actionable in
the la4 4London, 1B4C8( 9ee al"o D( E( Megarr,, Miscellan$'at'la4,
London, 1E55,1E25C(1 a! gratefl to ?( M( <a,e for !a3ing acce""i%le
to !e thi" infor!ation(
31 De%ffi, 1: Essais i( 54, 2EE: ii( 12, 37E(
31 9ee 1adle,, op( cit( 12: the notion i" of cor"e fond e0plicitl, in %oth
cla""ical athor" and the 'i%le(
32 Essais iii( 2, C75: it i" intere"ting to co!pare thi" $ith no( 155 in the
Man"crit Liancort )er"ion of La Dochefocald7s Maimes: +il n+, a
.e /ie .i "ache "i n proc*d* net, "incSre, et honnHte, e"t pltWt n
effet de pro%it* .e d+ha%ilet*(+
33 It i" intere"ting to co!pare the arg!ent" to %e fond in Ag"tine+"
treati"e on thi" )er"e (De spiritu et littera liber, 1L, ed( Migne, l0i)(
1EE521B: tran"lated into ;rench in 1551 %, Qalentin / Carro,8 $ith
tho"e fond in the co!!entarie" on / 52( 1B( B( The conne0ion $ith
here", 4al"o fond in Decretum ii( B48 i" al"o note$orth,: "ee %elo$,
note 35(
34 Thi" i" the for! $hich de ;ederici", Dogeri" and De%ffi cite: the
Decretum in fact read" +nee pte!r, in )er%i" "criptar! e""e
e)angeli!, "ed in "en", non in "perficie, "ed in !edlla, non in
"er!on! folii", "ed in radice rationi"+( Thi" causa concern" here",(
3B !n repetit% /% cum acutissimi, #% de fideicom% : .oted %, de ;ederici",
Dogeri" and De%ffi(
3C De%ffi, 4: cf( Alciato+" Emblemata, $hich Alciato hi!"elf ad)erti"e" in
hi" co!!entar, 42278(
37 De interpretatione legis etensiva, 7
)
512
r
: the thirteen t,pe" are +inter5
pretatio re"pect prae"enti"+, +interpretatio largo !odo+, +progre""io+,
272
Neo5
Latin
and
the
Qern
acla
r in
Dena
i""an
ce
;ran
ce,
ed"(
@rah
a!
Ca"t
or
and
Tere
nce
Ca)e
4A0f
ord:
Clar
endo
n
1re""
, 1E748
Montaig ne and humanist jurists
+tran"gre""io+, +prodctio+, +tractio+, +porrectio+, +prorogatio+, +a!pli5atio+,
X"ppletio+, +repletio+, +adaptatio+, and +"erptio+( Caepolla di"c""e" %t
doe" not allo$, +tran"latio+, +"tiplatio+, and +fictio+(
3E Andrea" 'ar%atia, .oted %, De%ffl, 55(
42 op( cit( 3: he .ote" in thi" te0t fro! arg( in / 45( 1( 11B 4!ore often
fond a" arg( in / 5( 3( 17 and / 47( C( 548 and / 52(1C(1( It i" note5
$orth, that he !a3e" at lea"t one ge"tre of e!%arra""!ent 4+et "ic
non e"t a%"rd! ( ( (+8( ;or the Ari"totelian re"onance" of thi" i""e
of priorit,, "ee #ategoriae QII 4C% 35 ff(8 and YII 414a 2B ff(8: a %i%li5
cal parallel i" fond in Do!( 5: 13(
41( Essais iii( 13,12BB( An the inherent i!perfection in the act of co!5
!nication, "ee al"o ii( 12, 54B, and ii( 12,47C(
42 ;or e0a!ple" of thi", "ee Maclean, in Montaigne, ed( Mc;arlane and
Maclean, 12253(
43 i%id( 125354: cf( iii( 2, C75, .oted a%o)e, p( 2B1(
44 9ee Terence Ca)e, +1ro%le!" of reading in the Essais7, in Montaigne,
ed( Mc;arlane and Maclean, 1335B: Antoine Co!pagnon, 8a seconde
main, ou le travail de la citation, 1ari", 1ECE, 235532C(
Inde0
Accr"i" 253
Acron 22E, 232
Agrippa, >enr, Corneli" 2E
Al%ret, ?eanne d+ 72
'aNf, LaMare de 251 'ald" de
&%aldi" 252, 253 'ar%aro, Er!olao
13 'ar%atia, Andrea" 2B1, 2C2
'artol" de 9a0oferrato 252, 253,
2B2 'e3in"ha$, ?ohn 7B, 77
'ellea, D*!, 131, 135, 13E,
14455 'eliefere"t, ;ran=oi" 4de8
15C, 157,
1BC57, 1BE, 1C2,173 'ergerac,
C,rano de 22152 'erthelet
4%oo3"eller to >enr,
QIII8 C4 'SMe, Th*odore de 17C
'inet, Clade 12B 'oai"ta, 1ierre
15C,1BC, 1BE 'occaccio, @io)anni
133 'odin, ?ean 253 'odi",
>er!ann 74 'oece, >ector 7B
'oethi" 24C, 257 'oi""ard,
?ac.e" 22 'ole,n, Anne C3, C4, 71
'ole,n, Mar, C4, 71 'on)i"i,
Antonio 74, 7B, 7E, E3 'on)i"i,
QincenMo 74 'orth$ic3, 9ir ?ohn
7354 'o"ton, Fillia! C3, E2
'ochard, A!ar, 53, 54, 5B, 5C,
B2,B1 'or%on, Nicola" 0i), 0),
C1572,
E2, E1, E2,122,123 'o)elle",
Charle" de 12, 25 'o,""onn*, ?ean
de 4E, B7, 123 'reche, ?ean 253,
254, 25C, 257,
2B1 'rederodi", 1etr"
Corneli" 2C2 'rinon, @ene)iS)e
132 'rinon, ?an 12E53E,1415
55,1CB
Alcae" 13B
Alciato, Andrea" 4Alciat"8 252,
251, 253, 254, 255, 25C, 257,
2B2, 2B1, 2B3, 2BE, 2C1 Aldro)andi, &li""e 15C, 1B7, 1BE,
1C2 Aleal!", Ldo)ic" 132 Aleandro, @irola!o 4Al*andre8 12C
Alen=on, ;ran=oi", dc d+ 223, 22B Alfon"o I, /3e of ;errara 2B, 2C,
4B A!%oi"e, edict of 171 A!iden" Aeti" C2 A!,ot, ?ac.e"
221, 22E Anacreon 131,13455 Ana0i!ander BE Andr*, Elie 131,135,
145 Anea, 'arth*l*!, 7E, E3, 251 Apici" B2, C2 Aretino, 1ietro
221 Ario"to, Ldo)ico 2C, 251 Ari"tophane" 2C, 52 Ari"totle 54, 21C,
242, 253, 254,
25E, 2B2, 2C2, 2C2 Ar!agnac, @eorge" d+ 51, 52 Ar!and",
Antoni" 15C A%ert, @illa!e 131,135,143 A%ign*, Agrippa d+
177,1EC Ag"tine, 9t 2C1 A"oni" 1BB
'acon, 9ir ;ranci" 225 'adi" A"cen"i", ?o""e 3 'adel, Clade EC
'aNf, ?ean5Antoine de 12E, 132, 133,142,147