The journal of Montaigne's travels in Italy by way of Switzerland and Germany

February 16, 1581, the Journal of Montaigne stravels was written down from dictation by a confidential servant, who seems to have combined the duties of secretary and valet. On the date aforesaid Montaigne either dismissed him or gave him leave of absence, and set to work to keep the diary himself. The portion of the Journal written by the secretary presents certain difficulties in translation, seeing that he wrote sometimes in the first and sometimes in the third person, and occasionally had to describe events which happened in his absence, but as far as possible uniform diction has been secured. In the earlier part Montaigne added divers notes to the margin of the MS. in his own handwriting, thus showing that he revised that portion which he did not write.

From May 15, to November i, 1581, Montaigne used the Italian tongue, reverting to French as soon as he crossed Mont Cenis.