READER, loe here a well-meaning Booke. It doth at the first entrance forewarne thee, that in contriving the same I have proposed unto my selfe no other than a familiar and private end: I have no respect or consideration at all, either to thy service, or to my glory: my forces are not capable of any such desseigne. I have vowed the same to the particular commodity of my kinsfolk and friends: to the end, that losing me (which they are likely to do ere long), they may therein find some lineaments of my conditions and humours, and by that meanes reserve more whole, and more lively foster the knowledge and acquaintance they have had of me. Had my intention beene to forestal and purchase the world's opinion and favour, I would surely have adorned myselfe more quaintly, or kept a more grave and solemne march. I desire thereun to be delineated in mine own genuine, simple and ordinarie fashion, without contention, art or study; for it is myselfe I pourtray. My imperfections shall thus be read to the life, and my naturall forme discerned, so farre-forth as publike reverence hath permitted me. For if my fortune had beene to have lived among those nations which yet are said to live under the sweet liberty of Nature's first and uncorrupted lawes, I assure thee, I would most willingly have pourtrayed myselfe fully and naked. Thus, gentle Reader, myselfe am the groundworke of my booke: it is then no reason thou shouldest employ thy time about so frivolous and vaine a subject. Therefore farewell,

From MONTAIGNE,
The First of March, 1580.

Contents from Volume I include:  By divers Meanes Men Come to a Like End; Of Sadnesse or Sorrowe; Our Affections are transported beyond our selves; How the Soule dischargeth her Passions upon false objects, when the true faile it; Whether the Captaine of a Place Besieged ought to sallie forth to Parlie; That the Houre of Parlies is dangerous; That our Intention judgeth our Actions; Of Idlenesse; Of Lyers; Of Readie or Slow Speech; Of Prognostications; Of Constancie; Of Ceremonies in the enterview of Kings; Men are punished by too-much opiniating themselves in a place without reason; Of the punishment of Cowardise; A tricke of certaine Ambassadors; Of Feare; That we should not judge of our Happinesse untill after our Death; That to Philosophise is to learn how to die; On the force of Imagination; The profit of one man is the dammage of another; Of customs, and how a received law should not easily be changed; Divers events from one selfsame counsell; Of Pedantisme; Of the Institution and Education of Children; to the Ladie Diana of Foix; It is follie to referre Truth or Falsehood to our sufficiency; Of Friendship; Nine and twentie Sonnets of Steven de la Boetie, to the Lady of Grammont; Of Moderation; Of the Caniballes; That a Man ought soberly to meddle with judging of Divine Lawes; To avoid Voluptuousnesse in regard of Life; That Fortune is oftentimes met withall in pursuit of Reason; Of a Defect in our Policies; Of the Use of Apparell; Of Cato the younger; How we weepe and laugh at one selfe-same thing; Of Solitarinesse; A consideration upon Cicero; That the taste of Goods or Evils doth greatly depend on the opinion we have of them; That a Man should not communicate his Glorie; Of the Inequalitie that is betweene us; Of Sumptuarie Lawes, or Lawes for moderating of Expenses; Of Sleeping; Of the Battell of Dreux; Of Names; Of the uncertaintie of our Judgement; Of Steeds, called in French Destriers; Of ancient Customes; Of Democritus and Heraclitus; Of the Vanitie of Words; Of the Parcimonie of our Forefathers; Of a saying of Cæsar; Of vaine Subtlities, or subtill Devices; Of Smells and Odors; Of Prayers and Orisons; Of Age.

Contents from Volume II include:  Of the Inconstancie of our actions; Of Drunkennesse; A Custome of the Ile of Cea; To-morrow is a New Day; Of Conscience; Of Exercise or Practice; Of the Recompenses or Rewards of Honour; Of the Affections of Fathers to their Children: To the Lady of Estissac; Of the Parthians Armes; Of Bookes; Of Crueltie; An Apologie of Raymond Sebond; Of Judging of others' Death; How that our Spirit hindereth itself; That our Desires are encreased by Difficultie; Of Glory; Of Presumption; Of giving the Lie; Of the Liberty of Conscience; We taste nothing purely; Against Idlenesse, or doing Nothing; Of Running Posts, or Couriers; Of Bad Meanes emploied to a Good End; Of the Roman Greatnesse; How a Man should not Counterfeit to be Sicke; Of Thumbs; Cowardize the Mother of Cruelty; All Things have their Season; Of Vertue; Of a Monstrous Child; Of Anger and Choler; A Defence of Seneca and Plutarke; The Historie of Spurina; Observations concerning the meanes to warre after the maner of Julius Cæsar; Of Three Good Women; Of the Worthiest and Most Excellent Men; Of the Resemblance betweene Children and Fathers.

Contents from Vol III include:  Of Profit and Honesty: Of Repenting; Of Three Commerces or Societies; Of Diverting and Diversions; Upon some Verses of Virgil; Of Coaches; Of the Incommoditie of Greatnesse; Of the Art of Conferring; Of Vanitie; How one ought to governe his Will; Of the Lame or Crippel; Of Phisiognomy; Of Experience.

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Three thick Octavo - sized hardcover books with Dust Jackets; with [xvi + 371] + [x + 523] +   pages of text, and with 14 + 14 + 14 illustrated plates. Very Good condition books, no torn or missing pages, no writing or markings in the texts, no ownership markings. Original bindings with gilt lettering, with only light wear to edges and corners; some page edges are uncut. Good condition Dust Jackets with fraying and loss to spinetips and a larger tear on volume 3, light wear and fraying to edges; sunfading and light discoloration to spines. A solid and attractive set of these scarce books.

Please look through my other auction listings- I have listed many scarce and unusual books this week on ebay. Please bid on more than one book, because I will be happy to reduce shipping costs for multiple purchases. International bids welcomed, international airmail postage $35; Canadian airmail postage $20.