第19章

["Bareheadedhemarchedinsnow，exposedtopouringrainandtheutmostrigouroftheweather。"——SiliusItalicus，i。250。]

AVenetianwhohaslonglivedinPegu，andhaslatelyreturnedthence，writesthatthemenandwomenofthatkingdom，thoughtheycoveralltheirotherparts，goalwaysbarefootandridesotoo;andPlatoveryearnestlyadvisesforthehealthofthewholebody，togivetheheadandthefeetnootherclothingthanwhatnaturehasbestowed。HewhomthePoleshaveelectedfortheirking，——[StephenBathory]——sinceourscamethence，whois，indeed，oneofthegreatestprincesofthisage，neverwearsanygloves，andinwinterorwhateverweathercancome，neverwearsothercapabroadthanthathewearsathome。WhereasIcannotenduretogounbuttonedoruntied;myneighbouringlabourerswouldthinkthemselvesinchains，iftheyweresobraced。Varroisofopinion，thatwhenitwasordainedweshouldbebareinthepresenceofthegodsandbeforethemagistrate，itwassoorderedratheruponthescoreofhealth，andtoinureustotheinjuriesofweather，thanupontheaccountofreverence;

andsincewearenowtalkingofcold，andFrenchmenusedtowearvarietyofcolours（notImyself，forIseldomwearotherthanblackorwhite，inimitationofmyfather），letusaddanotherstoryoutofLeCapitaineMartinduBellay，whoaffirms，thatinthemarchtoLuxembourghesawsogreatfrost，thatthemunition—winewascutwithhatchetsandwedges，anddeliveredouttothesoldiersbyweight，andthattheycarrieditawayinbaskets:andOvid，"Nudaqueconsistunt，formamservantiatestae，Vina;nechaustameri，seddatafrusta，bibunt。"

["Thewinewhenoutofthecaskretainstheformofthecask;

andisgivenoutnotincups，butinbits。"

——Ovid，Trist。，iii。10，23。]

AtthemouthofLakeMaeotisthefrostsaresoverysharp，thatintheverysameplacewhereMithridates’lieutenanthadfoughttheenemydryfootandgiventhemanotabledefeat，thesummerfollowingheobtainedoverthemanavalvictory。TheRomansfoughtataverygreatdisadvantage，intheengagementtheyhadwiththeCarthaginiansnearPiacenza，byreasonthattheywenttothechargewiththeirbloodcongealedandtheirlimbsnumbedwithcold，whereasHannibalhadcausedgreatfirestobedispersedquitethroughhiscamptowarmhissoldiers，andoiltobedistributedamongstthem，totheendthatanointingthemselves，theymightrendertheirnervesmoresuppleandactive，andfortifytheporesagainsttheviolenceoftheairandfreezingwind，whichragedinthatseason。

TheretreattheGreeksmadefromBabylonintotheirowncountryisfamousforthedifficultiesandcalamitiestheyhadtoovercome;ofwhichthiswasone，thatbeingencounteredinthemountainsofArmeniawithahorriblestormofsnow，theylostallknowledgeofthecountryandoftheways，andbeingdrivenup，wereadayandanightwithouteatingordrinking;mostoftheircattledied，manyofthemselveswerestarvedtodeath，severalstruckblindwiththeforceofthehailandtheglareofthesnow，manyofthemmaimedintheirfingersandtoes，andmanystiffandmotionlesswiththeextremityofthecold，whohadyettheirunderstandingentire。

Alexandersawanation，wheretheyburytheirfruit—treesinwintertoprotectthemfrombeingdestroyedbythefrost，andwealsomayseethesame。

But，sofarasclothesgo，theKingofMexicochangedfourtimesadayhisapparel，andneverputitonagain，employingthatheleftoffinhiscontinualliberalitiesandrewards;andneitherpot，dish，norotherutensilofhiskitchenortablewaseverservedtwice。

CHAPTERXXXVI

OFCATOTHEYOUNGER

["Iamnotpossessedwiththiscommonerrour，tojudgeofothersaccordingtowhatIammyselfe。Iameasietobeleevethingsdifferingfrommyselfe。ThoughIbeengagedtooneforme，Idonottietheworlduntoit，aseverymandoth。AndIbeleeveandconceiveathousandmannersoflife，contrarytothecommonsorte。"

——Florio，ed。1613，p。113。]

Iamnotguiltyofthecommonerrorofjudginganotherbymyself。I

easilybelievethatinanother’shumourwhichiscontrarytomyown;andthoughIfindmyselfengagedtoonecertainform，Idonotobligeotherstoit，asmanydo;butbelieveandapprehendathousandwaysofliving;

and，contrarytomostmen，moreeasilyadmitofdifferencethanuniformityamongstus。Iasfranklyasanyonewouldhaveme，dischargeamanfrommyhumoursandprinciples，andconsiderhimaccordingtohisownparticularmodel。ThoughIamnotcontinentmyself，IneverthelesssincerelyapprovethecontinenceoftheFeuillansandCapuchins，andhighlycommendtheirwayofliving。Iinsinuatemyselfbyimaginationintotheirplace，andloveandhonourthemthemoreforbeingotherthanIam。Iverymuchdesirethatwemaybejudgedeverymanbyhimself，andwouldnotbedrawnintotheconsequenceofcommonexamples。MyownweaknessnothingalterstheesteemIoughttohavefortheforceandvigourofthosewhodeserveit:

"Suntquinihilsuadent，quamquodseimitariposseconfidunt。"

["Therearewhopersuadenothingbutwhattheybelievetheycanimitatethemselves。"——Cicero，DeOrator。，c。7。]

Crawlingupontheslimeoftheearth，Idonotforallthatceasetoobserveupinthecloudstheinimitableheightofsomeheroicsouls。

’Tisagreatdealformetohavemyjudgmentregularandjust，iftheeffectscannotbeso，andtomaintainthissovereignpart，atleast，freefromcorruption;’tissomethingtohavemywillrightandgoodwheremylegsfailme。Thisagewhereinwelive，inourpartoftheworldatleast，isgrownsostupid，thatnotonlytheexercise，buttheveryimaginationofvirtueisdefective，andseemstobenootherbutcollegejargon:

"Virtutemverbaputant，utLucumligna:"

["Theythinkwordsvirtue，astheythinkmerewoodasacredgrove。"

——Horace，Ep。，i。6，31。]

"Quamvererideberent，etiamsiperciperenonpossent。"

["Whichtheyoughttoreverence，thoughtheycannotcomprehend。"

——Cicero，Tusc。Quas。，v。2。]

’Tisagewgawtohanginacabinetorattheendofthetongue，asonthetipoftheear，forornamentonly。Therearenolongervirtuousactionsextant;thoseactionsthatcarryashowofvirtuehaveyetnothingofitsessence;byreasonthatprofit，glory，fear，custom，andothersuchlikeforeigncauses，putusonthewaytoproducethem。Ourjusticealso，valour，courtesy，maybecalledsotoo，inrespecttoothersandaccordingtothefacetheyappearwithtothepublic;butinthedoeritcanbynomeansbevirtue，becausethereisanotherendproposed，anothermovingcause。Nowvirtueownsnothingtobehers，butwhatisdonebyherselfandforherselfalone。

InthatgreatbattleofPlataea，thattheGreeksunderthecommandofPausaniasgainedagainstMardoniusandthePersians，theconquerors，accordingtotheircustom，comingtodivideamongstthemthegloryoftheexploit，attributedtotheSpartannationthepre—eminenceofvalourintheengagement。TheSpartans，greatjudgesofvirtue，whentheycametodeterminetowhatparticularmanoftheirnationthehonourwasdueofhavingthebestbehavedhimselfuponthisoccasion，foundthatAristodemushadofallothershazardedhispersonwiththegreatestbravery;butdidnot，however，allowhimanyprize，byreasonthathisvirtuehadbeenincitedbyadesiretoclearhisreputationfromthereproachofhismiscarriageatthebusinessofThermopylae，andtodiebravelytowipeoffthatformerblemish。

Ourjudgmentsareyetsick，andobeythehumourofourdepravedmanners。

Iobservemostofthewitsofthesetimespretendtoingenuity，byendeavouringtoblemishanddarkenthegloryofthebravestandmostgenerousactionsofformerages，puttingonevileinterpretationoranotheruponthem，andforgingandsupposingvaincausesandmotivesforthenoblethingstheydid:amightysubtletyindeed！Givemethegreatestandmostunblemishedactionthateverthedaybeheld，andIwillcontriveahundredplausibledriftsandendstoobscureit。Godknows，whoeverwillstretchthemouttothefull，whatdiversityofimagesourinternalwillssufferunder。Theydonotsomaliciouslyplaythecensurers，astheydoitignorantlyandrudelyinalltheirdetractions。

Thesamepainsandlicencethatotherstaketoblemishandbespattertheseillustriousnames，Iwouldwillinglyundergotolendthemashouldertoraisethemhigher。Theserareforms，thatareculledoutbytheconsentofthewisestmenofallages，fortheworld’sexample，Ishouldnotsticktoaugmentinhonour，asfarasmyinventionwouldpermit，inallthecircumstancesoffavourableinterpretation;andwemaywellbelievethattheforceofourinventionisinfinitelyshortoftheirmerit。’Tisthedutyofgoodmentoportrayvirtueasbeautifulastheycan，andtherewouldbenothingwrongshouldourpassionalittletransportusinfavourofsosacredaform。Whatthesepeopledo，onthecontrary，theyeitherdooutofmalice，orbytheviceofconfiningtheirbelieftotheirowncapacity;or，whichIammoreinclinedtothink，fornothavingtheirsightstrong，clear，andelevatedenoughtoconceivethesplendourofvirtueinhernativepurity:asPlutarchcomplains，thatinhistimesomeattributedthecauseoftheyoungerCato’sdeathtohisfearofCaesar，atwhichheseemsveryangry，andwithgoodreason;andbythisamanmayguesshowmuchmorehewouldhavebeenoffendedwiththosewhohaveattributedittoambition。Senselesspeople！Hewouldratherhaveperformedanoble，just，andgenerousaction，andtohavehadignominyforhisreward，thanforglory。Thatmanwasintruthapatternthatnaturechoseouttoshowtowhatheighthumanvirtueandconstancycouldarrive。

ButIamnotcapableofhandlingsorichanargument，andshallthereforeonlysetfiveLatinpoetstogether，contendinginthepraiseofCato;

and，incidentally，fortheirowntoo。Now，awell—educatedchildwilljudgethetwofirst，incomparisonoftheothers，alittleflatandlanguid;thethirdmorevigorous，butoverthrownbytheextravaganceofhisownforce;hewillthenthinkthattherewillberoomforoneortwogradationsofinventiontocometothefourth，and，mountingtothepitchofthat，hewillliftuphishandsinadmiration;comingtothelast，thefirstbysomespace’（butaspacethathewillswearisnottobefilledupbyanyhumanwit），hewillbeastounded，hewillnotknowwhereheis。

Andhereisawonder:wehavefarmorepoetsthanjudgesandinterpretersofpoetry;itiseasiertowriteitthantounderstandit。Thereis，indeed，acertainlowandmoderatesortofpoetry，thatamanmaywellenoughjudgebycertainrulesofart;butthetrue，supreme，anddivinepoesyisaboveallrulesandreason。Andwhoeverdiscernsthebeautyofitwiththemostassuredandmoststeadysight，seesnomorethanthequickreflectionofaflashoflightning:itdoesnotexercise，butravishesandoverwhelmsourjudgment。Thefurythatpossesseshimwhoisabletopenetrateintoitwoundsyetathirdmanbyhearinghimrepeatit;likealoadstonethatnotonlyattractstheneedle，butalsoinfusesintoitthevirtuetoattractothers。Anditismoreevidentlymanifestinourtheatres，thatthesacredinspirationoftheMuses，havingfirststirredupthepoettoanger，sorrow，hatred，andoutofhimself，towhatevertheywill，doesmoreoverbythepoetpossesstheactor，andbytheactorconsecutivelyallthespectators。Somuchdoourpassionshanganddependupononeanother。

Poetryhaseverhadthatpowerovermefromachildtotranspierceandtransportme;butthisvividsentimentthatisnaturaltomehasbeenvariouslyhandledbyvarietyofforms，notsomuchhigherorlower（fortheywereeverthehighestofeverykind），asdifferingincolour。

First，agayandsprightlyfluency;afterwards，aloftyandpenetratingsubtlety;andlastly，amatureandconstantvigour。Theirnameswillbetterexpressthem:Ovid，Lucan，Virgil。

Butourpoetsarebeginningtheircareer:

"SitCato，dumvivit，sanevelCaesaremajor，"

["LetCato，whilsthelive，begreaterthanCaesar。"

——Martial，vi。32]

saysone。

"Etinvictum，devictamorte，Catonem，"

["AndCatoinvincible，deathbeingovercome。"

——Manilius，Astron。，iv。87。

saysthesecond。Andthethird，speakingofthecivilwarsbetwixtCaesarandPompey，"Victrixcausadiisplacuit，setvictaCatoni。"

["Thevictoriouscauseblessedthegods，thedefeatedoneCato。

——"Lucan，i。128。]

Andthefourth，uponthepraisesofCaesar:

"Etcunctaterrarumsubacta，PraeteratrocemanimumCatonis。"

["AndconqueredallbuttheindomitablemindofCato。"

——Horace，Od。，ii。1，23。]

Andthemasterofthechoir，afterhavingsetforthallthegreatnamesofthegreatestRomans，endsthus:

"HisdantemjuraCatonem。"

["Catogivinglawstoalltherest。"——AEneid，viii。670。]

CHAPTERXXXVII

THATWELAUGHANDCRYFORTHESAMETHING

WhenwereadinhistorythatAntigonuswasverymuchdispleasedwithhissonforpresentinghimtheheadofKingPyrrhushisenemy，butnewlyslainfightingagainsthim，andthatseeingit，hewept;andthatRene，DukeofLorraine，alsolamentedthedeathofCharles，DukeofBurgundy，whomhehadhimselfdefeated，andappearedinmourningathisfuneral;

andthatinthebattleofD’Auray（whichCountMontfortobtainedoverCharlesdeBlois，hiscompetitorfortheduchyofBrittany），theconquerormeetingthedeadbodyofhisenemy，wasverymuchafflictedathisdeath，wemustnotpresentlycryout:

"Ecosiavven，thel’animociascunaSuapassionsotto’lcontrariomanto，Ricopre，conlavistaor’chiara，or’bruna。"

["Andthusithappensthatthemindofeachveilsitspassionunderadifferentappearance，andbeneathasmilingvisage，gaybeneathasombreair。"——Petrarch。]

WhenPompey’sheadwaspresentedtoCaesar，thehistoriestellusthatheturnedawayhisface，asfromasadandunpleasingobject。Therehadbeensolonganintelligenceandsocietybetwixttheminthemanagementofthepublicaffairs，sogreatacommunityoffortunes，somanymutualoffices，andsonearanalliance，thatthiscountenanceofhisoughtnottosufferunderanymisinterpretation，ortobesuspectedforeitherfalseorcounterfeit，asthisotherseemstobelieve:

"TutumqueputavitJambonusessesocer;lacrymaenonspontecadentes，Effudit，gemitusqueexpressitpectorelaeto;"

["Andnowhethoughtitsafetoplaythekindfather—in—law，sheddingforcedtears，andfromajoyfulbreastdischargingsighsandgroans。"——Lucan，ix。1037。]

forthoughitbetruethatthegreatestpartofouractionsarenootherthanvisoranddisguise，andthatitmaysometimesbetruethat"Haeredisfletussubpersonarisesest，"

["Theheir’stearsbehindthemaskaresmiles。"

——PubliusSyrus，apudGellium，xvii。14。]

yet，injudgingoftheseaccidents，wearetoconsiderhowmuchoursoulsareoftentimesagitatedwithdiverspassions。Andastheysaythatinourbodiesthereisacongregationofdivershumours，ofwhichthatisthesovereignwhich，accordingtothecomplexionweareof，iscommonlymostpredominantinus:so，thoughthesoulhaveinitdiversmotionstogiveitagitation，yetmustthereofnecessitybeonetooverrulealltherest，thoughnotwithsonecessaryandabsoluteadominionbutthatthroughtheflexibilityandinconstancyofthesoul，thoseoflessauthoritymayuponoccasionreassumetheirplaceandmakealittlesallyinturn。Thenceitis，thatweseenotonlychildren，whoinnocentlyobeyandfollownature，oftenlaughandcryatthesamething，butnotoneofuscanboast，whatjourneysoeverhemayhaveinhandthathehasthemostsethisheartupon，butwhenhecomestopartwithhisfamilyandfriends，hewillfindsomethingthattroubleshimwithin;andthoughherefrainhistearsyetheputsfootinthestirrupwithasadandcloudycountenance。Andwhatgentleflamesoevermaywarmtheheartofmodestandwellbornvirgins，yetaretheyfaintobeforcedfromabouttheirmothers’neckstobeputtobedtotheirhusbands，whateverthisbooncompanionispleasedtosay:

"EstnenovisnuptisodioVenus？anneparentumFrustranturfalsisgaudialachrymulis，Ubertimthalamiquasiintraliminafundunt？

Non，itamedivi，veragemunt，juverint。"

["IsVenusreallysoalarmingtothenew—madebride，ordoesshehonestlyopposeherparent’srejoicingthetearsshesoabundantlyshedsonenteringthenuptialchamber？No，bytheGods，thesearenotruetears。"——Catullus，lxvi。15。]

["IsVenusreallysorepugnanttonewly—marriedmaids？Dotheymeetthesmilesofparentswithfeignedtears？Theyweepcopiouslywithintheverythresholdofthenuptialchamber。No，sothegodshelpme，theydonottrulygrieve。"——Catullus，lxvi。15。]——

[Amoreliteraltranslation。D。W。]

Neitherisitstrangetolamentapersondeadwhomamanwouldbynomeansshouldbealive。WhenIrattlemyman，IdoitwithallthemettleIhave，andloadhimwithnofeigned，butdownrightrealcurses;buttheheatbeingover，ifheshouldstandinneedofme，Ishouldbeveryreadytodohimgood:forIinstantlyturntheleaf。WhenIcallhimcalfandcoxcomb，Idonotpretendtoentailthosetitlesuponhimforever;

neitherdoIthinkIgivemyselfthelieincallinghimanhonestfellowpresentlyafter。Noonequalityengrossesuspurelyanduniversally。

Wereitnotthesignofafooltotalktoone’sself，therewouldhardlybeadayorhourwhereinImightnotbeheardtogrumbleandmuttertomyselfandagainstmyself，"Confoundthefool！"andyetIdonotthinkthattobemydefinition。Whoforseeingmeonewhilecoldandpresentlyveryfondtowardsmywife，believestheoneortheothertobecounterfeited，isanass。Nero，takingleaveofhismotherwhomhewassendingtobedrowned，wasneverthelesssensibleofsomeemotionatthisfarewell，andwasstruckwithhorrorandpity。’Tissaid，thatthelightofthesunisnotonecontinuousthing，butthathedartsnewrayssothickoneuponanotherthatwecannotperceivetheintermission:

"Largusenimliquidifonsluminis，aetheriussol，Irrigatassiduecoelumcandorerecenti，Suppeditatquenovoconfestimluminelumen。"

["Sothewidefountainofliquidlight，theetherealsun，steadilyfertilisestheheavenswithnewheat，andsuppliesacontinuousstoreoffreshlight。"——Lucretius，v。282。]

Justsothesoulvariouslyandimperceptiblydartsoutherpassions。

ArtabanuscomingbysurpriseonceuponhisnephewXerxes，chidhimforthesuddenalterationofhiscountenance。HewasconsideringtheimmeasurablegreatnessofhisforcespassingovertheHellespontfortheGrecianexpedition:hewasfirstseizedwithapalpitationofjoy，toseesomanymillionsofmenunderhiscommand，andthisappearedinthegaietyofhislooks:buthisthoughtsatthesameinstantsuggestingtohimthatofsomanylives，withinacenturyatmost，therewouldnotbeoneleft，hepresentlyknithisbrowsandgrewsad，eventotears。

Wehaveresolutelypursuedtherevengeofaninjuryreceived，andbeensensibleofasingularcontentmentforthevictory;butweshallweepnotwithstanding。’Tisnotforthevictory，though，thatweshallweep:

thereisnothingalteredinthatbutthesoullooksuponthingswithanothereyeandrepresentsthemtoitselfwithanotherkindofface;foreverythinghasmanyfacesandseveralaspects。

Relations，oldacquaintances，andfriendships，possessourimaginationsandmakethemtenderforthetime，accordingtotheircondition;buttheturnissoquick，that’tisgoneinamoment:

"Niladeofiericelerirationevidetur，Quamsimensfieriproponit，etinchoatipsa，Ociusergoanimus，quamressepercietulla，Anteoculosquoruminpromptunaturavidetur;"

["Nothingthereforeseemstobedoneinsoswiftamannerthanifthemindproposesittobedone，anditselfbegins。Itismoreactivethananythingwhichweseeinnature。"——Lucretius，iii。183。]

andtherefore，ifwewouldmakeonecontinuedthingofallthissuccessionofpassions，wedeceiveourselves。WhenTimoleonlamentsthemurderhehadcommitteduponsomatureandgenerousdeliberation，hedoesnotlamentthelibertyrestoredtohiscountry，hedoesnotlamentthetyrant;buthelamentshisbrother:onepartofhisdutyisperformed;

letusgivehimleavetoperformtheother。

CHAPTERXXXVIII

OFSOLITUDE

Letuspretermitthatlongcomparisonbetwixttheactiveandthesolitarylife;andasforthefinesayingswithwhichambitionandavaricepalliatetheirvices，thatwearenotbornforourselvesbutforthepublic，——[ThisistheeulogiumpassedbyLucanonCatoofUtica，ii。

383。]——letusboldlyappealtothosewhoareinpublicaffairs;letthemlaytheirhandsupontheirhearts，andthensaywhether，onthecontrary，theydonotratheraspiretotitlesandofficesandthattumultoftheworldtomaketheirprivateadvantageatthepublicexpense。Thecorruptwaysbywhichinthisourtimetheyarriveattheheighttowhichtheirambitionsaspire，manifestlyenoughdeclaresthattheirendscannotbeverygood。Letustellambitionthatitissheherselfwhogivesusatasteofsolitude;forwhatdoesshesomuchavoidassociety？Whatdoesshesomuchseekaselbowroom？Amanmanydowellorilleverywhere;butifwhatBiassaysbetrue，thatthegreatestpartistheworsepart，orwhatthePreachersays:thereisnotonegoodofathousand:

"Rariquippeboni:numerovixsunttotidemquotThebarumportae，veldivitisostiaNili，"

["Goodmenforsootharescarce:therearehardlyasmanyastherearegatesofThebesormouthsoftherichNile。"

——Juvenal，Sat。，xiii。26。]

thecontagionisverydangerousinthecrowd。Amanmusteitherimitatetheviciousorhatethembotharedangerousthings，eithertoresemblethembecausetheyaremanyortohatemanybecausetheyareunresemblingtoourselves。Merchantswhogotoseaareintherightwhentheyarecautiousthatthosewhoembarkwiththeminthesamebottombeneitherdissoluteblasphemersnorviciousotherways，lookinguponsuchsocietyasunfortunate。AndthereforeitwasthatBiaspleasantlysaidtosome，whobeingwithhiminadangerousstormimploredtheassistanceofthegods:"Peace，speaksoftly，"saidhe，"thattheymaynotknowyouarehereinmycompany。"——[DiogenesLaertius]——Andofmorepressingexample，Albuquerque，viceroyintheIndiesforEmmanuel，kingofPortugal，inanextremeperilofshipwreck，tookayoungboyuponhisshoulders，forthisonlyendthat，inthesocietyoftheircommondangerhisinnocencemightservetoprotecthim，andtorecommendhimtothedivinefavour，thattheymightgetsafetoshore。’Tisnotthatawisemanmaynotliveeverywherecontent，andbealoneintheverycrowdofapalace;butifitbelefttohisownchoice，theschoolmanwilltellyouthatheshouldflytheverysightofthecrowd:hewillendureitifneedbe;butifitbereferredtohim，hewillchoosetobealone。Hecannotthinkhimselfsufficientlyridofvice，ifhemustyetcontendwithitinothermen。Charondaspunishedthoseasevilmenwhowereconvictedofkeepingillcompany。Thereisnothingsounsociableandsociableasman，theonebyhisvice，theotherbyhisnature。AndAntisthenes，inmyopinion，didnotgivehimasatisfactoryanswer，whoreproachedhimwithfrequentingillcompany，bysayingthatthephysicianslivedwellenoughamongstthesick，foriftheycontributetothehealthofthesick，nodoubtbutbythecontagion，continualsightof，andfamiliaritywithdiseases，theymustofnecessityimpairtheirown。

Nowtheend，Itakeit，isallone，toliveatmoreleisureandatone’sease:butmendonotalwaystaketherightway。Theyoftenthinktheyhavetotallytakenleaveofallbusiness，whentheyhaveonlyexchangedoneemploymentforanother:thereislittlelesstroubleingoverningaprivatefamilythanawholekingdom。Whereverthemindisperplexed，itisinanentiredisorder，anddomesticemploymentsarenotlesstroublesomeforbeinglessimportant。Moreover，forhavingshakenoffthecourtandtheexchange，wehavenottakenleaveoftheprincipalvexationsoflife:

"Ratioetprudentiacuras，Nonlocuseffusilatemarisarbiter，aufert;"

["Reasonandprudence，notaplacewithacommandingviewofthegreatocean，banishcare。"——Horace，Ep。，i。2。]

ambition，avarice，irresolution，fear，andinordinatedesires，donotleaveusbecauseweforsakeournativecountry:

"EtPostequitemsedetatracura;"

["Blackcaresitsbehindthehorseman。"

——Horace，Od。，iii。1，40]。

theyoftenfollowuseventocloistersandphilosophicalschools;nordeserts，norcaves，hair—shirts，norfasts，candisengageusfromthem:

"Haeretlaterilethalisarundo。"

["Thefatalshaftadherestotheside。"——AEneid，iv。73。]

OnetellingSocratesthatsuchaonewasnothingimprovedbyhistravels:

"Iverywellbelieveit，"saidhe，"forhetookhimselfalongwithhim"

"QuidterrasaliocalentesSolemutamus？patriaequisexsulSequoquefugit？"

["Whydoweseekclimateswarmedbyanothersun？Whoisthemanthatbyfleeingfromhiscountry，canalsofleefromhimself？"

——Horace，Od。，ii。16，18。]

Ifamandonotfirstdischargebothhimselfandhismindoftheburdenwithwhichhefindshimselfoppressed，motionwillbutmakeitpresstheharderandsittheheavier，astheladingofashipisoflessencumbrancewhenfastandbestowedinasettledposture。Youdoasickmanmoreharmthangoodinremovinghimfromplacetoplace;youfixandestablishthediseasebymotion，asstakessinkdeeperandmorefirmlyintotheearthbybeingmovedupanddownintheplacewheretheyaredesignedtostand。Therefore，itisnotenoughtogetremotefromthepublic;’tisnotenoughtoshiftthesoilonly;amanmustfleefromthepopularconditionsthathavetakenpossessionofhissoul，hemustsequesterandcomeagaintohimself:

"Rupijamvincula，dicasNamluctatacanisnodumarripit;attamenilli，Quumfugit，acollotrahiturparslongacatenae。"

["Yousay，perhaps，youhavebrokenyourchains:thedogwhoafterlongeffortshasbrokenhischain，stillinhisflightdragsaheavyportionofitafterhim。"——Persius，Sat。，v。158。]

Westillcarryourfettersalongwithus。’Tisnotanabsoluteliberty;

weyetcastbackalookuponwhatwehaveleftbehindus;thefancyisstillfullofit:

"Nisipurgatumestpectus，quaepraelianobisAtquepericulatuncingratisinsinuandum？

QuantaeconnscindunthominemcupedinisacresSollicitumcurae？quantiqueperindetimores？

Quidvesuperbia，spurcitia，acpetulantia，quantasEfficiuntclades？quidluxusdesidiesque？"

["Butunlessthemindispurified，whatinternalcombatsanddangersmustweincurinspiteofallourefforts！Howmanybitteranxieties，howmanyterrors，followuponunregulatedpassion！

Whatdestructionbefallsusfrompride，lust，petulantanger！

Whatevilsarisefromluxuryandsloth！"——Lucretius，v。4。]

Ourdiseaseliesinthemind，whichcannotescapefromitself;

"Inculpaestanimus，quisenoneffugitunquam，"

——Horace，Ep。，i。14，13。]

andthereforeistobecalledhomeandconfinedwithinitself:thatisthetruesolitude，andthatmaybeenjoyedeveninpopulouscitiesandthecourtsofkings，thoughmorecommodiouslyapart。

Now，sincewewillattempttolivealone，andtowaiveallmannerofconversationamongstthem，letussoorderitthatourcontentmaydependwhollyuponourselves;letusdissolveallobligationsthatallyustoothers;letusobtainthisfromourselves，thatwemaylivealoneingoodearnest，andliveatoureasetoo。

Stilpohavingescapedfromtheburningofhistown，wherehelostwife，children，andgoods，DemetriusPoliorcetesseeinghim，insogreataruinofhiscountry，appearwithanundisturbedcountenance，askedhimifhehadreceivednoloss？Towhichhemadeanswer，No;andthat，thankGod，nothingwaslostofhis。——[Seneca，Ep。7。]——ThisalsowasthemeaningofthephilosopherAntisthenes，whenhepleasantlysaid，that"menshouldfurnishthemselveswithsuchthingsaswouldfloat，andmightwiththeownerescapethestorm";——[DiogenesLaertius，vi。6。]andcertainlyawisemanneverlosesanythingifhehavehimself。WhenthecityofNolawasruinedbythebarbarians，Paulinus，whowasbishopofthatplace，havingtherelostallhehad，himselfaprisoner，prayedafterthismanner:"OLord，defendmefrombeingsensibleofthisloss;forThouknowesttheyhaveyettouchednothingofthatwhichismine。"——[St。

Augustin，DeCivit。Dei，i。10。]——Therichesthatmadehimrichandthegoodsthatmadehimgood，werestillkeptentire。Thisitistomakechoiceoftreasuresthatcansecurethemselvesfromplunderandviolence，andtohidetheminsuchaplaceintowhichnoonecanenterandthatisnottobebetrayedbyanybutourselves。Wives，children，andgoodsmustbehad，andespeciallyhealth，byhimthatcangetit;butwearenotsotosetourheartsuponthemthatourhappinessmusthaveitsdependenceuponthem;wemustreserveabackshop，whollyourownandentirelyfree，whereintosettleourtrueliberty，ourprincipalsolitudeandretreat。

Andinthiswemustforthemostpartentertainourselveswithourselves，andsoprivatelythatnoexoticknowledgeorcommunicationbeadmittedthere;theretolaughandtotalk，asifwithoutwife，children，goods，train，orattendance，totheendthatwhenitshallsofalloutthatwemustloseanyorallofthese，itmaybenonewthingtobewithoutthem。

Wehaveamindpliableinitself，thatwillbecompany;thathaswherewithaltoattackandtodefend，toreceiveandtogive:letusnotthenfearinthissolitudetolanguishunderanuncomfortablevacuity。

"Insolissistibiturbalocis。"

["Insolitude，becompanyforthyself。"——Tibullus，vi。13。12。]

Virtueissatisfiedwithherself，withoutdiscipline，withoutwords，withouteffects。Inourordinaryactionsthereisnotoneofathousandthatconcernsourselves。Hethatthouseestscramblinguptheruinsofthatwall，furiousandtransported，againstwhomsomanyharquebuss—shotsarelevelled;andthatotheralloverscars，pale，andfaintingwithhunger，andyetresolvedrathertodiethantoopenthegatestohim;

dostthouthinkthatthesemenarethereupontheirownaccount？No;

peradventureinthebehalfofonewhomtheyneversawandwhoneverconcernshimselffortheirpainsanddanger，butlieswallowingthewhileinslothandpleasure:thisotherslavering，blear—eyed，slovenlyfellow，thatthouseestcomeoutofhisstudyaftermidnight，dostthouthinkhehasbeentumblingoverbookstolearnhowtobecomeabetterman，wiser，andmorecontent？Nosuchmatter;hewillthereendhisdays，buthewillteachposteritythemeasureofPlautus’versesandthetrueorthographyofaLatinword。Whoisitthatdoesnotvoluntarilyexchangehishealth，hisrepose，andhisverylifeforreputationandglory，themostuseless，frivolous，andfalsecointhatpassescurrentamongstus？Ourowndeathdoesnotsufficientlyterrifyandtroubleus;

letus，moreover，chargeourselveswiththoseofourwives，children，andfamily:ourownaffairsdonotaffordusanxietyenough;letusundertakethoseofourneighboursandfriends，stillmoretobreakourbrainsandtormentus:

"Vah！quemquamnehomineminanimuminstituere，autParare，quodsitcarius，quamipseestsibi？"

["Ah！cananymanconceiveinhismindorrealisewhatisdearerthanheistohimself？"——Terence，Adelph。，i。I，13。]

Solitudeseemstometowearthebestfavourinsuchashavealreadyemployedtheirmostactiveandflourishingageintheworld’sservice，aftertheexampleofThales。Wehavelivedenoughforothers;letusatleastliveoutthesmallremnantoflifeforourselves;letusnowcallinourthoughtsandintentionstoourselves，andtoourowneaseandrepose。’Tisnolightthingtomakeasureretreat;itwillbeenoughforustodowithoutmixingotherenterprises。SinceGodgivesusleisuretoorderourremoval，letusmakeready，trussourbaggage，takeleavebetimesofthecompany，anddisentangleourselvesfromthoseviolentimportunitiesthatengageuselsewhereandseparateusfromourselves。