Beginning of Essay
In his essay, "On Some Lines of Virgil", Montaigne assays the nature of affairs of love entered into by women and men relating the nature of the body and soul to that of language. He discusses things from the importance of training the soul, to the ability of wo ....

Middle of Essay
.... for this purpose. At times, however, it is necessary for the soul to take the instructor role to keep the body in line. Montaigne makes an example of saints inflicting great pain on their bodies (by denying it of certain pleasures) to perfect their souls. Their bodies, he says, could have had little to do with this; it was more their bodies following behind their souls (page 323.) In Montaigne's eyes, it is unjust to prejudice the soul toward bodily pleasures in this manner. These pleasures are natural and should therefore be enjoyed in moderation, not completely avoided. Resistance, instead, should be employed against unnatural pleasure ....