第8章

Peradventure，asthesayingis，thetermwehavelivedisworthourmoney。Iwasbornbetwixtelevenandtwelveo’clockintheforenoonthelastdayofFebruary1533，accordingtoourcomputation，beginningtheyearthe1stofJanuary，——[ThiswasinvirtueofanordinanceofCharlesIX。in1563。PreviouslytheyearcommencedatEaster，sothatthe1stJanuary1563becamethefirstdayoftheyear1563。]——anditisnowbutjustfifteendayssinceIwascompletenine—and—thirtyyearsold;Imakeaccounttolive，atleast，asmanymore。Inthemeantime，totroubleaman’sselfwiththethoughtofathingsofaroffwerefolly。Butwhat？

Youngandolddieuponthesameterms;noonedepartsoutoflifeotherwisethanifhehadbutjustbeforeenteredintoit;neitherisanymansooldanddecrepit，who，havingheardofMethuselah，doesnotthinkhehasyettwentygoodyearstocome。Foolthatthouart！whohasassureduntotheethetermoflife？Thoudependestuponphysicians’

tales:ratherconsulteffectsandexperience。Accordingtothecommoncourseofthings，’tislongsincethatthouhastlivedbyextraordinaryfavour;thouhastalreadyoutlivedtheordinarytermoflife。Andthatitisso，reckonupthyacquaintance，howmanymorehavediedbeforetheyarrivedatthyagethanhaveattaineduntoit;andofthosewhohaveennobledtheirlivesbytheirrenown，takebutanaccount，andIdarelayawagerthouwiltfindmorewhohavediedbeforethanafterfive—and—

thirtyyearsofage。Itisfullbothofreasonandpiety，too，totakeexamplebythehumanityofJesusChristHimself;now，HeendedHislifeatthree—and—thirtyyears。Thegreatestman，thatwasnomorethanaman，Alexander，diedalsoatthesameage。Howmanyseveralwayshasdeathtosurpriseus？

"Quidquisque，vitet，nunquamhominisatisCautumestinhoras。"

["Beascautiousashemay，mancanneverforeseethedangerthatmayatanyhourbefalhim。"——Hor。O。ii。13，13。]

Toomitfeversandpleurisies，whowouldeverhaveimaginedthatadukeofBrittany，——[JeanII。died1305。]——shouldbepressedtodeathinacrowdasthatdukewasattheentryofPopeClement，myneighbour，intoLyons？——[Montaignespeaksofhimasifhehadbeenacontemporaryneighbour，perhapsbecausehewastheArchbishopofBordeaux。BertrandleGotwasPopeunderthetitleofClementV。，1305—14。]——Hastthounotseenoneofourkings——[HenryII。，killedinatournament，July10，1559]——killedatatilting，anddidnotoneofhisancestorsdiebyjostleofahog？——[Philip，eldestsonofLouisleGros。]——AEschylus，threatenedwiththefallofahouse，wastomuchpurposecircumspecttoavoidthatdanger，seeingthathewasknockedontheheadbyatortoisefallingoutofaneagle’stalonsintheair。Anotherwaschokedwithagrape—stone;——[Val。Max。，ix。12，ext。2。]——anemperorkilledwiththescratchofacombincombinghishead。AEmiliusLepiduswithastumbleathisownthreshold，——[Pliny，Nat。Hist。，vii。33。]——andAufidiuswithajostleagainstthedoorasheenteredthecouncil—

chamber。Andbetwixttheverythighsofwomen，CorneliusGallustheproctor;Tigillinus，captainofthewatchatRome;Ludovico，sonofGuidodiGonzaga，MarquisofMantua;and（ofworseexample）Speusippus，aPlatonicphilosopher，andoneofourPopes。"ThepoorjudgeBebiusgaveadjournmentinacaseforeightdays;buthehimself，meanwhile，wascondemnedbydeath，andhisownstayoflifeexpired。WhilstCaiusJulius，thephysician，wasanointingtheeyesofapatient，deathclosedhisown;and，ifImaybringinanexampleofmyownblood，abrotherofmine，CaptainSt。Martin，ayoungman，three—and—twentyyearsold，whohadalreadygivensufficienttestimonyofhisvalour，playingamatchattennis，receivedablowofaballalittleabovehisrightear，which，asitgavenomannerofsignofwoundorcontusion，hetooknonoticeofit，norsomuchassatdowntoreposehimself，but，nevertheless，diedwithinfiveorsixhoursafterofanapoplexyoccasionedbythatblow。

Thesesofrequentandcommonexamplespassingeverydaybeforeoureyes，howisitpossibleamanshoulddisengagehimselffromthethoughtofdeath，oravoidfancyingthatithasuseverymomentbythethroat？Whatmatterisit，youwillsay，whichwayitcomestopass，providedamandoesnotterrifyhimselfwiththeexpectation？Formypart，Iamofthismind，andifamancouldbyanymeansavoidit，thoughbycreepingunderacalf’sskin，Iamonethatshouldnotbeashamedoftheshift;allI

aimatis，topassmytimeatmyease，andtherecreationsthatwillmostcontributetoit，Itakeholdof，aslittlegloriousandexemplaryasyouwill:

"Praetulerim……delirusinersquevideri，Dummeadelectentmalame，veldeniquefallant，Quamsapere，etringi。"

["Ihadratherseemmadandasluggard，sothatmydefectsareagreeabletomyself，orthatIamnotpainfullyconsciousofthem，thanbewise，andchaptious。"——Hor。，Ep。，ii。2，126。]

But’tisfollytothinkofdoinganythingthatway。Theygo，theycome，theygallopanddance，andnotawordofdeath。Allthisisveryfine;

butwithal，whenitcomeseithertothemselves，theirwives，theirchildren，orfriends，surprisingthematunawaresandunprepared，then，whattorment，whatoutcries，whatmadnessanddespair！Didyoueverseeanythingsosubdued，sochanged，andsoconfounded？Amanmust，therefore，makemoreearlyprovisionforit;andthisbrutishnegligence，coulditpossiblylodgeinthebrainofanymanofsense（whichIthinkutterlyimpossible），sellsusitsmerchandisetoodear。Wereitanenemythatcouldbeavoided，Iwouldthenadvisetoborrowarmsevenofcowardiceitself;butseeingitisnot，andthatitwillcatchyouaswellflyingandplayingthepoltroon，asstandingto’tlikeanhonestman:——

"Nempeetfugacempersequiturvirum，NecparcitimbellisjuventaePoplitibustimidoquetergo。"

["Hepursuestheflyingpoltroon，norsparesthehamstringsoftheunwarlikeyouthwhoturnshisback"——Hor。，Ep。，iii。2，14。]

Andseeingthatnotemperofarmsisofprooftosecureus:——

"Illelicetferrocautus，secondatetaere，Morstameninclusumprotrahetindecaput"

["Lethimhidebeneathironorbrassinhisfear，deathwillpullhisheadoutofhisarmour。"——Propertiousiii。18]

——letuslearnbravelytostandourground，andfighthim。Andtobegintodeprivehimofthegreatestadvantagehehasoverus，letustakeawayquitecontrarytothecommoncourse。Letusdisarmhimofhisnoveltyandstrangeness，letusconverseandbefamiliarwithhim，andhavenothingsofrequentinourthoughtsasdeath。Uponalloccasionsrepresenthimtoourimaginationinhiseveryshape;atthestumblingofahorse，atthefallingofatile，attheleastprickwithapin，letuspresentlyconsider，andsaytoourselves，"Well，andwhatifithadbeendeathitself？"and，thereupon，letusencourageandfortifyourselves。

Letusevermore，amidstourjollityandfeasting，settheremembranceofourfrailconditionbeforeoureyes，neversufferingourselvestobesofartransportedwithourdelights，butthatwehavesomeintervalsofreflectingupon，andconsideringhowmanyseveralwaysthisjollityofourstendstodeath，andwithhowmanydangersitthreatensit。TheEgyptianswerewonttodoafterthismanner，whointheheightoftheirfeastingandmirth，causedadriedskeletonofamantobebroughtintotheroomtoserveforamementototheirguests:

"OmnemcredediemtibidiluxissesupremumGratasuperveniet，quaenonsperabitur，hora。"

["Thinkeachdaywhenpastisthylast;thenextday，asunexpected，willbethemorewelcome。"——"—Hor。，Ep。，i。4，13。]

Wheredeathwaitsforusisuncertain;letuslookforhimeverywhere。

Thepremeditationofdeathisthepremeditationofliberty;hewhohaslearnedtodiehasunlearnedtoserve。Thereisnothingevilinlifeforhimwhorightlycomprehendsthattheprivationoflifeisnoevil:toknow，howtodiedeliversusfromallsubjectionandconstraint。PaulusEmiliusansweredhimwhomthemiserableKingofMacedon，hisprisoner，senttoentreathimthathewouldnotleadhiminhistriumph，"Lethimmakethatrequesttohimself。"——[Plutarch，LifeofPaulusAemilius，c。17;Cicero，Tusc。，v。40。]

Intruth，inallthings，ifnaturedonothelpalittle，itisveryhardforartandindustrytoperformanythingtopurpose。Iaminmyownnaturenotmelancholic，butmeditative;andthereisnothingIhavemorecontinuallyentertainedmyselfwithalthanimaginationsofdeath，eveninthemostwantontimeofmyage:

"Jucundumquumaetasfloridaverageret。"

["Whenmyfloridagerejoicedinpleasantspring。"

——Catullus，lxviii。]

Inthecompanyofladies，andatgames，somehaveperhapsthoughtmepossessedwithsomejealousy，ortheuncertaintyofsomehope，whilstI

wasentertainingmyselfwiththeremembranceofsomeone，surprised，afewdaysbefore，withaburningfeverofwhichhedied，returningfromanentertainmentlikethis，withhisheadfullofidlefanciesofloveandjollity，asminewasthen，andthat，foraughtIknew，thesame—destinywasattendingme。

"Jamfuerit，necpostunquamrevocarelicebit。"

["Presentlythepresentwillhavegone，nevertoberecalled。"

Lucretius，iii。928。]

Yetdidnotthisthoughtwrinklemyforeheadanymorethananyother。

Itisimpossiblebutwemustfeelastinginsuchimaginationsasthese，atfirst;butwithoftenturningandreturningtheminone’smind，they，atlast，becomesofamiliarastobenotroubleatall:otherwise，I，formypart，shouldbeinaperpetualfrightandfrenzy;fornevermanwassodistrustfulofhislife，nevermansouncertainastoitsduration。

Neitherhealth，whichIhavehithertoeverenjoyedverystrongandvigorous，andveryseldominterrupted，doesprolong，norsicknesscontractmyhopes。Everyminute，methinks，Iamescaping，anditeternallyrunsinmymind，thatwhatmaybedoneto—morrow，maybedoneto—day。Hazardsanddangersdo，intruth，littleornothinghastenourend;andifweconsiderhowmanythousandsmoreremainandhangoverourheads，besidestheaccidentthatimmediatelythreatensus，weshallfindthatthesoundandthesick，thosethatareabroadatsea，andthosethatsitbythefire，thosewhoareengagedinbattle，andthosewhositidleathome，aretheoneasnearitastheother。

"Nemoalterofragiliorest;nemoincrastinumsuicertior。"

["Nomanismorefragilethananother:nomanmorecertainthananotherofto—morrow。"——Seneca，Ep。，91。]

ForanythingIhavetodobeforeIdie，thelongestleisurewouldappeartooshort，wereitbutanhour’sbusinessIhadtodo。

Afriendofminetheotherdayturningovermytablets，foundthereinamemorandumofsomethingIwouldhavedoneaftermydecease，whereuponI

toldhim，asitwasreallytrue，thatthoughIwasnomorethanaleague’sdistanceonlyfrommyownhouse，andmerryandwell，yetwhenthatthingcameintomyhead，Imadehastetowriteitdownthere，becauseIwasnotcertaintolivetillIcamehome。Asamanthatameternallybroodingovermyownthoughts，andconfinethemtomyownparticularconcerns，IamatallhoursaswellpreparedasIameverliketobe，anddeath，wheneverheshallcome，canbringnothingalongwithhimIdidnotexpectlongbefore。Weshouldalways，asnearaswecan，bebootedandspurred，andreadytogo，and，aboveallthings，takecare，atthattime，tohavenobusinesswithanyonebutone’sself:——

"QuidbrevifortesjaculamuravoMulta？"

["Whyforsoshortalifeteaseourselveswithsomanyprojects？"

——Hor。，Od。，ii。16，17。]

forweshalltherefindworkenoughtodo，withoutanyneedofaddition。

Onemancomplains，morethanofdeath，thatheistherebypreventedofagloriousvictory;another，thathemustdiebeforehehasmarriedhisdaughter，oreducatedhischildren;athirdseemsonlytroubledthathemustlosethesocietyofhiswife;afourth，theconversationofhisson，astheprincipalcomfortandconcernofhisbeing。Formypart，Iam，thanksbetoGod，atthisinstantinsuchacondition，thatIamreadytodislodge，wheneveritshallpleaseHim，withoutregretforanythingwhatsoever。Idisengagemyselfthroughoutfromallworldlyrelations;

myleaveissoontakenofallbutmyself。Neverdidanyonepreparetobidadieutotheworldmoreabsolutelyandunreservedly，andtoshakehandswithallmannerofinterestinit，thanIexpecttodo。Thedeadestdeathsarethebest:

"`Miser，Omiser，’aiunt，’omniaademitUnadiesinfestamihitotpraemiavitae。’"

["’WretchthatIam，’theycry，’onefataldayhasdeprivedmeofalljoysoflife。’"——Lucretius，iii。911。]

Andthebuilder，"Manuet，"sayshe，"operainterrupta，minaequeMurorumingentes。"

["Theworksremainincomplete，thetallpinnaclesofthewallsunmade。"——AEneid，iv。88。]

Amanmustdesignnothingthatwillrequiresomuchtimetothefinishing，or，atleast，withnosuchpassionatedesiretoseeitbroughttoperfection。Weareborntoaction:

"Quummoriar，mediumsolvaretinteropus。"

["WhenIshalldie，letitbedoingthatIhaddesigned。"

——Ovid，Amor。，ii。10，36。

Iwouldalwayshaveamantobedoing，and，asmuchasinhimlies，toextendandspinouttheofficesoflife;andthenletdeathtakemeplantingmycabbages，indifferenttohim，andstilllessofmygardensnotbeingfinished。Isawonedie，who，athislastgasp，complainedofnothingsomuchasthatdestinywasabouttocutthethreadofachroniclehewasthencompiling，whenhewasgonenofartherthanthefifteenthorsixteenthofourkings:

"Illudinhisrebusnonaddunt:nectibiearumjamdesideriumrerumsuperinsidetuna。"

["Theydonotadd，thatdying，wehavenolongeradesiretopossessthings。"——Lucretius，iii。913。]

Wearetodischargeourselvesfromthesevulgarandhurtfulhumours。

Tothispurposeitwasthatmenfirstappointedtheplacesofsepultureadjoiningthechurches，andinthemostfrequentedplacesofthecity，toaccustom，saysLycurgus，thecommonpeople，women，andchildren，thattheyshouldnotbestartledatthesightofacorpse，andtotheend，thatthecontinualspectacleofbones，graves，andfuneralobsequiesshouldputusinmindofourfrailcondition:

"QuinetiamexhilararevirisconviviacaedeMosolim，etmiscereepulisspectaculadiraCertantumferro，saepeetsuperipsacadentumPocula，respersisnonparcosanguinemensis。"

["Itwasformerlythecustomtoenlivenbanquetswithslaughter，andtocombinewiththerepastthedirespectacleofmencontendingwiththesword，thedyinginmanycasesfallinguponthecups，andcoveringthetableswithblood。"——SiliusItalicus，xi。51。]

AndastheEgyptiansaftertheirfeastswerewonttopresentthecompanywithagreatimageofdeath，byonethatcriedouttothem，"Drinkandbemerry，forsuchshaltthoubewhenthouartdead";soitismycustomtohavedeathnotonlyinmyimagination，butcontinuallyinmymouth。

NeitheristhereanythingofwhichIamsoinquisitive，anddelighttoinformmyself，asthemannerofmen’sdeaths，theirwords，looks，andbearing;noranyplacesinhistoryIamsointentupon;anditismanifestenough，bymycrowdinginexamplesofthiskind，thatIhaveaparticularfancyforthatsubject。IfIwereawriterofbooks，Iwouldcompilearegister，withacomment，ofthevariousdeathsofmen:hewhoshouldteachmentodiewouldatthesametimeteachthemtolive。

Dicarchusmadeone，towhichhegavethattitle。;butitwasdesignedforanotherandlessprofitableend。

Peradventure，someonemayobject，thatthepainandterrorofdyingsoinfinitelyexceedallmannerofimagination，thatthebestfencerwillbequiteoutofhisplaywhenitcomestothepush。Letthemsaywhattheywill:topremeditateisdoubtlessaverygreatadvantage;andbesides，isitnothingtogosofar，atleast，withoutdisturbanceoralteration？

Moreover，Natureherselfassistsandencouragesus:ifthedeathbesuddenandviolent，wehavenotleisuretofear;ifotherwise，IperceivethatasIengagefurtherinmydisease，Inaturallyenterintoacertainloathinganddisdainoflife。IfindIhavemuchmoreadotodigestthisresolutionofdying，whenIamwellinhealth，thanwhenlanguishingofafever;andbyhowmuchIhavelesstodowiththecommoditiesoflife，byreasonthatIbegintolosetheuseandpleasureofthem，bysomuchI

lookupondeathwithlessterror。Whichmakesmehope，thatthefurtherIremovefromthefirst，andthenearerIapproachtothelatter，Ishallthemoreeasilyexchangetheonefortheother。And，asIhaveexperiencedinotheroccurrences，that，asCaesarsays，thingsoftenappeargreatertousatdistancethannearathand，Ihavefound，thatbeingwell，Ihavehadmaladiesinmuchgreaterhorrorthanwhenreallyafflictedwiththem。ThevigourwhereinInowam，thecheerfulnessanddelightwhereinInowlive，makethecontraryestateappearinsogreatadisproportiontomypresentcondition，that，byimagination，Imagnifythoseinconveniencesbyone—half，andapprehendthemtobemuchmoretroublesome，thanIfindthemreallytobe，whentheyliethemostheavyuponme;Ihopetofinddeaththesame。

Letusbutobserveintheordinarychangesanddeclinationswedailysuffer，hownaturedeprivesusofthelightandsenseofourbodilydecay。Whatremainstoanoldmanofthevigourofhisyouthandbetterdays？

"Heu！senibusvitaeportioquantamanet。"

["Alas，tooldmenwhatportionofliferemains！"———Maximian，velPseudo—Gallus，i。16。]

Caesar，toanoldweather—beatensoldierofhisguards，whocametoaskhimleavethathemightkillhimself，takingnoticeofhiswitheredbodyanddecrepitmotion，pleasantlyanswered，"Thoufanciest，then，thatthouartyetalive。"——[Seneca，Ep。，77。]——Shouldamanfallintothisconditiononthesudden，Idonotthinkhumanitycapableofenduringsuchachange:butnature，leadingusbythehand，aneasyand，asitwere，aninsensiblepace，stepbystepconductsustothatmiserablestate，andbythatmeansmakesitfamiliartous，sothatweareinsensibleofthestrokewhenouryouthdiesinus，thoughitbereallyaharderdeaththanthefinaldissolutionofalanguishingbody，thanthedeathofoldage;

forasmuchasthefallisnotsogreatfromanuneasybeingtononeatall，asitisfromasprightlyandflourishingbeingtoonethatistroublesomeandpainful。Thebody，bentandbowed，haslessforcetosupportaburden;anditisthesamewiththesoul，andthereforeitis，thatwearetoraiseherupfirmanderectagainstthepowerofthisadversary。For，asitisimpossiblesheshouldeverbeatrest，whilstshestandsinfearofit;so，ifsheoncecanassureherself，shemayboast（whichisathingasitweresurpassinghumancondition）thatitisimpossiblethatdisquiet，anxiety，orfear，oranyotherdisturbance，shouldinhabitorhaveanyplaceinher:

"NonvulnusinstantsTyranniMenthacadisolida，nequeAusterDuxinquietiturbidusAdriae，NecfulminantismagnaJovismanus。"

["Notthemenacinglookofatyrantshakesherwell—settledsoul，norturbulentAuster，theprinceofthestormyAdriatic，noryetthestronghandofthunderingJove，suchatempermoves。"

——Hor。，Od。，iii。3，3。]

Sheisthenbecomesovereignofallherlustsandpassions，mistressofnecessity，shame，poverty，andalltheotherinjuriesoffortune。Letus，therefore，asmanyofusascan，getthisadvantage;’tisthetrueandsovereignlibertyhereonearth，thatfortifiesuswherewithaltodefyviolenceandinjustice，andtocontemnprisonsandchains:

"InmanicisetCompedibussaevotesubcustodetenebo。

IpseDeus，simulatquevolam，mesolvet。Opinor，Hocsentit;moriar;morsultimalinearerumest。"

["Iwillkeeptheeinfettersandchains，incustodyofasavagekeeper。——AgodwillwhenIaskHim，setmefree。

ThisgodIthinkisdeath。Deathisthetermofallthings。"

——Hor。，Ep。，i。16，76。]

Ourveryreligionitselfhasnosurerhumanfoundationthanthecontemptofdeath。Notonlytheargumentofreasoninvitesustoit——forwhyshouldwefeartoloseathing，whichbeinglost，cannotbelamented？——

but，also，seeingwearethreatenedbysomanysortsofdeath，isitnotinfinitelyworseeternallytofearthemall，thanoncetoundergooneofthem？Andwhatmattersit，whenitshallhappen，sinceitisinevitable？

TohimthattoldSocrates，"Thethirtytyrantshavesentencedtheetodeath";"Andnaturethem，"saidhe。——[Socrateswasnotcondemnedtodeathbythethirtytyrants，butbytheAthenians。—DiogenesLaertius，ii。35。]——

Whataridiculousthingitistotroubleourselvesabouttakingtheonlystepthatistodeliverusfromalltrouble！Asourbirthbroughtusthebirthofallthings，soinourdeathisthedeathofallthingsincluded。

Andthereforetolamentthatweshallnotbealiveahundredyearshence，isthesamefollyastobesorrywewerenotaliveahundredyearsago。

Deathisthebeginningofanotherlife。Sodidweweep，andsomuchitcostustoenterintothis，andsodidweputoffourformerveilinenteringintoit。Nothingcanbeagrievancethatisbutonce。Isitreasonablesolongtofearathingthatwillsosoonbedespatched？

Longlife，andshort，arebydeathmadeallone;forthereisnolong，norshort，tothingsthatarenomore。AristotletellsusthattherearecertainlittlebeastsuponthebanksoftheriverHypanis，thatneverliveaboveaday:theywhichdieateightoftheclockinthemorning，dieintheiryouth，andthosethatdieatfiveintheevening，intheirdecrepitude:whichofuswouldnotlaughtoseethismomentofcontinuanceputintotheconsiderationofwealorwoe？Themostandtheleast，ofours，incomparisonwitheternity，oryetwiththedurationofmountains，rivers，stars，trees，andevenofsomeanimals，isnolessridiculous。——[Seneca，Consol。adMarciam，c。20。]

Butnaturecompelsustoit。"Gooutofthisworld，"saysshe，"asyouenteredintoit;thesamepassyoumadefromdeathtolife，withoutpassionorfear，thesame，afterthesamemanner，repeatfromlifetodeath。Yourdeathisapartoftheorderoftheuniverse，’tisapartofthelifeoftheworld。

"’Intersemortalesmutuavivunt……

Et，quasicursores，vitailampadatradunt。’

["Mortals，amongstthemselves，livebyturns，and，liketherunnersinthegames，giveupthelamp，whentheyhavewontherace，tothenextcomer。——"Lucretius，ii。75，78。]

"ShallIexchangeforyouthisbeautifulcontextureofthings？’Tistheconditionofyourcreation;deathisapartofyou，andwhilstyouendeavourtoevadeit，youevadeyourselves。Thisverybeingofyoursthatyounowenjoyisequallydividedbetwixtlifeanddeath。Thedayofyourbirthisoneday’sadvancetowardsthegrave:

"’Prima，quxvitamdedit，horacarpsit。’

["Thefirsthourthatgaveuslifetookawayalsoanhour。"

——Seneca，Her。Fur。，3Chor。874。]

"’Nascentesmorimur，finisqueaboriginependet。’

["Aswearebornwedie，andtheendcommenceswiththebeginning。"—

—Manilius，Ast。，iv。16。]

"Allthewholetimeyoulive，youpurloinfromlifeandliveattheexpenseoflifeitself。Theperpetualworkofyourlifeisbuttolaythefoundationofdeath。Youareindeath，whilstyouareinlife，becauseyoustillareafterdeath，whenyouarenomorealive;or，ifyouhadratherhaveitso，youaredeadafterlife，butdyingallthewhileyoulive;anddeathhandlesthedyingmuchmorerudelythanthedead，andmoresensiblyandessentially。Ifyouhavemadeyourprofitoflife，youhavehadenoughofit;goyourwaysatisfied。

"`Curnonutplenusvita;convivarecedis？’

["Whynotdepartfromlifeasasatedguestfromafeast？

"Lucretius，iii。951。]

"Ifyouhavenotknownhowtomakethebestuseofit，ifitwasunprofitabletoyou，whatneedyoucaretoloseit，towhatendwouldyoudesirelongertokeepit？

"’Curampliusadderequaeris，Rursumquodpereatmale，etingratumoccidatomne？’

["Whyseektoaddlongerlife，merelytorenewill—spenttime，andbeagaintormented？"——Lucretius，iii。914。]

"Lifeinitselfisneithergoodnorevil;itisthesceneofgoodorevilasyoumakeit。’And，ifyouhavelivedaday，youhaveseenall:onedayisequalandliketoallotherdays。Thereisnootherlight，noothershade;thisverysun，thismoon，theseverystars，thisveryorderanddispositionofthings，isthesameyourancestorsenjoyed，andthatshallalsoentertainyourposterity:

"`Nonaliumviderepatres，aliumvenepotesAspicient。’

["Yourgrandsiressawnootherthing;norwillyourposterity。"

——Manilius，i。529。]

"And，cometheworstthatcancome，thedistributionandvarietyofalltheactsofmycomedyareperformedinayear。Ifyouhaveobservedtherevolutionofmyfourseasons，theycomprehendtheinfancy，theyouth，thevirility，andtheoldageoftheworld:theyearhasplayedhispart，andknowsnootherartbuttobeginagain;itwillalwaysbethesamething:

"’Versamuribidem，atqueinsumususque。’

["Weareturninginthesamecircle，everthereinconfined。"

——Lucretius，iii。1093。

"’Atqueinsesuapervestigiavolviturannus。’

["Theyeariseverturningaroundinthesamefootsteps。"

——Virgil，Georg。，ii。402。

"Iamnotpreparedtocreateforyouanynewrecreations:

"’Namtibiprxtereaquodmachiner，inveniamqueQuodplaceat，nihilest;eademsuntomniasemper。’

["Icandevise，norfindanythingelsetopleaseyou:’tisthesamethingoverandoveragain。"——Lucretiusiii。957]

"Giveplacetoothers，asothershavegivenplacetoyou。Equalityisthesoulofequity。Whocancomplainofbeingcomprehendedinthesamedestiny，whereinallareinvolved？Besides，liveaslongasyoucan，youshallbythatnothingshortenthespaceyouaretobedead;’tisalltonopurpose;youshallbeeverywhitaslongintheconditionyousomuchfear，asifyouhaddiedatnurse:

"’Licetquotvisvivendovinceresecla，Morsaeternatamennihilominusillamanebit。’

["Livetriumphingoverasmanyagesasyouwill，deathstillwillremaineternal。"——Lucretius，iii。1103]

"AndyetIwillplaceyouinsuchaconditionasyoushallhavenoreasontobedispleased。

"’Inveranescisnullumforemortealiumte，Quipossitvivustibitolugereperemptum，Stansquejacentem。’

["Knowyounotthat，whendead，therecanbenootherlivingselftolamentyoudead，standingonyourgrave。"——Idem。，ibid。，898。]

"Norshallyousomuchaswishforthelifeyouaresoconcernedabout:

"`Necsibienimquisquamtumsevitamquerequirit……

"’Necdesideriumnostrinosafficitullum。’

"Deathislesstobefearedthannothing，iftherecouldbeanythinglessthannothing。

"’Multo……mortemminusadnosesseputandium，Siminusessepotest，quamquodnihilessevidemus。’

"Neithercanitanywayconcernyou，whetheryouarelivingordead:

living，byreasonthatyouarestillinbeing;dead，becauseyouarenomore。Moreover，noonediesbeforehishour:thetimeyouleavebehindwasnomoreyoursthanthatwaslapsedandgonebeforeyoucameintotheworld;nordoesitanymoreconcernyou。

"’Respiceenim，quamniladnosanteactavetustasTemporisaeternifuerit。’

["Considerhowasnothingtousistheoldageoftimespast。"

——Lucretiusiii。985]

Whereveryourlifeends，itisallthere。Theutilityoflivingconsistsnotinthelengthofdays，butintheuseoftime;amanmayhavelivedlong，andyetlivedbutalittle。Makeuseoftimewhileitispresentwithyou。Itdependsuponyourwill，andnotuponthenumberofdays，tohaveasufficientlengthoflife。Isitpossibleyoucanimaginenevertoarriveattheplacetowardswhichyouarecontinuallygoing？andyetthereisnojourneybuthathitsend。And，ifcompanywillmakeitmorepleasantormoreeasytoyou，doesnotalltheworldgotheself—sameway？

"’Omniate，vitaperfuncta，sequentur。’

["Allthings，then，lifeover，mustfollowthee。"

——Lucretius，iii。981。]