When Negotiations Turn Deadly — The Essays of Montaigne

Deputies are still treating at Mussidan, a town near Montaigne's house, when the other side cuts their people to pieces. The expelled party calls it treachery. He answers that in his age no confidence in an enemy is excusable until the treaty is finally sealed, and even then a conqueror has enough to do to keep his word. He will not trust a victorious army, still hot, to honour easy terms once it is inside the gates.

Lucius Aemilius Regillus promises Phocaea a friendly entry, brings his whole army in for pomp, and watches avarice and revenge sack the city over his own command. Cleomenes swears a seven-day truce with Argos, then kills the sleepers on the third night, claiming nights were never named. Casilinum falls while citizens lean on a safety warrant, even under Rome's justest captains. At Capua a governor begins to parley from a bastion and the guard slackens; the place is put to the sword. At Yvoy, Juliano Romero goes out to talk with the Constable and comes back to a town already taken. Genoa and Ligny repeat the same hour: articles look done, someone steps out, the trap closes.

Chrysippus says a runner may use all his force but must not trip the man beside him. Alexander refuses a night attack on Darius: it is not for such a man to steal a victory; he would rather complain of fortune than be ashamed of how he won. Montaigne does not settle which rule wins a war. He maps the hour when talking concentrates the risk.