第55章

Ihavenothingminebutmyself，andyetthepossessionis，inpart，defectiveandborrowed。Ifortifymyselfbothincourage，whichisthestrongestassistant，andalsoinfortune，thereinwherewithtosatisfymyself，thougheverythingelseshouldforsakeme。HippiasofElisnotonlyfurnishedhimselfwithknowledge，thathemight，atneed，cheerfullyretirefromallothercompanytoenjoytheMuses:noronlywiththeknowledgeofphilosophy，toteachhissoultobecontentedwithitself，andbravelytosubsistwithoutoutwardconveniences，whenfatewouldhaveitso;hewas，moreover，socarefulastolearntocook，toshavehimself，tomakehisownclothes，hisownshoesanddrawers，toprovideforallhisnecessitiesinhimself，andtoweanhimselffromtheassistanceofothers。Amanmorefreelyandcheerfullyenjoysborrowedconveniences，whenitisnotanenjoymentforcedandconstrainedbyneed;

andwhenhehas，inhisownwillandfortune，themeanstolivewithoutthem。Iknowmyselfverywell;but’tishardformetoimagineanysopureliberalityofanyonetowardsme，anysofrankandfreehospitality，thatwouldnotappeartomediscreditable，tyrannical，andtaintedwithreproach，ifnecessityhadreducedmetoit。Asgivingisanambitiousandauthoritativequality，soisacceptingaqualityofsubmission;

witnesstheinsultingandquarrelsomerefusalthatBajazetmadeofthepresentsthatTamerlanesenthim;andthosethatwereofferedonthepartoftheEmperorSolymantotheEmperorofCalicut，soangeredhim，thathenotonlyrudelyrejectedthem，sayingthatneitherhenoranyofhispredecessorshadeverbeenwonttotake，andthatitwastheirofficetogive;but，moreover，causedtheambassadorssentwiththegiftstobeputintoadungeon。WhenThetis，saysAristotle，flattersJupiter，whentheLacedaemoniansflattertheAthenians，theydonotputtheminmindofthegoodtheyhavedonethem，whichisalwaysodious，butofthebenefitstheyhavereceivedfromthem。SuchasIseesofrequentlyemployeveryoneintheiraffairs，andthrustthemselvesintosomuchobligation，wouldneverdoit，didtheybutrelishasIdothesweetnessofapureliberty，anddidtheybutweigh，aswise:menshould，theburdenofobligation:’tissometimes，peradventure，fullypaid，but’tisneverdissolved。’Tisamiserableslaverytoamanwholovestobeatfulllibertyinallreapects。Suchasknowme，bothaboveandbelowmeinstation，areabletosaywhethertheyhaveeverknownamanlessimportuning，soliciting，entreating，andpressinguponothersthanI。

IfIamso，andadegreebeyondallmodernexample，’tisnogreatwonder，somanypartsofmymannerscontributingtoit:alittlenaturalpride，animpatienceatbeingrefused，themoderationofmydesiresanddesigns，myincapacityforbusiness，andmymostbelovedqualities，idlenessandfreedom;byallthesetogetherIhaveconceivedamortalhatredtobeingobligedtoanyother，orbyanyotherthanmyself。Ileavenostoneunturned，todowithoutit，ratherthanemploythebountyofanotherinanylightorimportantoccasionornecessitywhatever。Myfriendsstrangelytroublemewhentheyaskmetoaskathirdperson;andIthinkitcostsmelittlelesstodisengagehimwhoisindebtedtome，bymakinguseofhim，thantoengagemyselftohimwhoowesmenothing。Theseconditionsbeingremoved，andprovidedtheyrequireofmenothingifanygreattroubleorcare（forIhavedeclaredmortalwaragainstallcare），IamveryreadytodoeveryonethebestserviceIcan。Ihavebeenverywillingtoseekoccasiontodopeopleagoodturn，andtoattachthemtome;andmethinksthereisnomoreagreeableemploymentforourmeans。

ButIhaveyetmoreavoidedreceivingthansoughtoccasionsofgiving，andmoreover，accordingtoAristotle，itismoreeasy。，Myfortunehasallowedmebutlittletodoothersgoodwithal，andthelittleitcanafford，isputintoaprettyclosehand。HadIbeenbornagreatperson，Ishouldhavebeenambitioustohavemademyselfbeloved，nottomakemyselffearedoradmired:shallImoreplainlyexpressit？Ishouldmorehaveendeavouredtopleasethantoprofitothers。Cyrusverywisely，andbythemouthofagreatcaptain，andstillgreaterphilosopher，prefershisbountyandbenefitsmuchbeforehisvalourandwarlikeconquests;

andtheelderScipio，whereverhewouldraisehimselfinesteem，setsahighervalueuponhisaffabilityandhumanity，thanonhisprowessandvictories，andhasalwaysthisglorioussayinginhismouth:"Thathehasgivenhisenemiesasmuchoccasiontolovehimashisfriends。"Iwillthensay，thatifamanmust，ofnecessity，owesomething，itoughttobebyamorelegitimatetitlethanthatwhereofIamspeaking，towhichthenecessityofthismiserablewarcompelsme;andnotinsogreatadebtasthatofmytotalpreservationbothoflifeandfortune:itoverwhelmsme。

IhaveathousandtimesgonetobedinmyownhousewithanapprehensionthatIshouldbebetrayedandmurderedthatverynight;compoundingwithfortune，thatitmightbewithoutterrorandwithquickdespatch;and，aftermyPaternoster，Ihavecriedout，"Impiushaectamcultanovaliamileshabebit！"

["Shallimpioussoldiershavethesenew—ploughedgrounds？"

——Virgil，Ecl。，i。71。]

Whatremedy？’tistheplaceofmybirth，andthatofmostofmyancestors;theyhaveherefixedtheiraffectionandname。Weinureourselvestowhateverweareaccustomedto;andinsomiserableaconditionasoursis，customisagreatbountyofnature，whichbenumbsoutsensestothesufferanceofmanyevils。Acivilwarhasthiswithitworsethanotherwarshave，tomakeusstandsentinelsinourownhouses。

"Quammiserum，portavitammuroquetueri，Vixquesuaetutumviribusessedomus！"

["’Tismiserabletoprotectone’slifebydoorsandwalls，andtobescarcelysafeinone’sownhouse。"——Ovid，Trist。，iv。I，69。]

’Tisagrievousextremityforamantobejostledeveninhisownhouseanddomesticrepose。ThecountrywhereIliveisalwaysthefirstinarmsandthelastthatlaysthemdown，andwherethereisneveranabsolutepeace:

"Tuncquoque，cumpaxest，trepidantformidinebelli……

QuotiesRomamfortunalacessit;

Haciterestbellis……Melius，Fortuna，dedissesOrbesubEoosedem，gelidaquesubArcto，Errantesquedomos。"

["Evenwhenthere’speace，thereisherestillthedearofwarwhenFortunetroublespeace，thisiseverthewaybywhichwarpasses。"

——Ovid，Trist。，iii。10，67。]

["WemighthavelivedhappierintheremoteEastorintheicyNorth，oramongthewanderingtribes。"——Lucan，i。255。]

Isometimesextractthemeanstofortifymyselfagainsttheseconsiderationsfromindifferenceandindolence，which，insomesort，bringusontoresolution。Itoftenbefallsmetoimagineandexpectmortaldangerswithakindofdelight:Istupidlyplungemyselfheadlongintodeath，withoutconsideringortakingaviewofit，asintoadeepandobscureabysswhichswallowsmeupatoneleap，andinvolvesmeinaninstantinaprofoundsleep，withoutanysenseofpain。Andintheseshortandviolentdeaths，theconsequencethatIforeseeadministersmoreconsolationtomethantheeffectdoesfear。Theysay，thataslifeisnotbetterforbeinglong，sodeathisbetterforbeingnotlong。Idonotsomuchevadebeingdead，asIenterintoconfidencewithdying。I

wrapandshroudmyselfintothestormthatistoblindandcarrymeawaywiththefuryofasuddenandinsensibleattack。Moreover，ifitshouldfalloutthat，assomegardenerssay，rosesandvioletsspringmoreodoriferousneargarlicandonions，byreasonthatthelastsuckandimbibealltheillodouroftheearth;so，ifthesedepravednaturesshouldalsoattractallthemalignityofmyairandclimate，andrenderitsomuchbetterandpurerbytheirvicinity，Ishouldnotloseall。

Thatcannotbe:buttheremaybesomethinginthis，thatgoodnessismorebeautifulandattractivewhenitisrare;andthatcontrarietyanddiversityfortifyandconsolidatewell—doingwithinitself，andinflameitbythejealousyofoppositionandbyglory。Thievesandrobbers，oftheirspecialfavour，havenoparticularspiteatme;nomorehaveItothem:Ishouldhavemyhandstoofull。Likeconsciencesarelodgedunderseveralsortsofrobes;likecruelty，disloyalty，rapine;andsomuchtheworse，andmorefalsely，whenthemoresecureandconcealedundercolourofthelaws。Ilesshateanopenprofessedinjurythanonethatistreacherous;anenemyinarms，thananenemyinagown。Ourfeverhasseizeduponabodythatisnotmuchtheworseforit;therewasfirebefore，andnow’tisbrokenoutintoaflame;thenoiseisgreater，nottheevil。Iordinarilyanswersuchasaskmethereasonofmytravels，"ThatIknowverywellwhatIflyfrom，butnotwhatIseek。"Iftheytellmethattheremaybeaslittlesoundnessamongstforeigners，andthattheirmannersarenobetterthanours:Ifirstreply，thatitishardtobebelieved;

"Tammulta:scelerumfacies！"

["Therearesomanyformsofcrime。"——Virgil，Georg。，i。506。]

secondly，thatitisalwaysgaintochangeanillconditionforonethatisuncertain;andthattheillsofothersoughtnottoafflictussomuchasourown。

Iwillnothereomit，thatInevermutinysomuchagainstFrance，thatI

amnotperfectlyfriendswithParis;thatcityhaseverhadmyheartfrommyinfancy，andithasfallenout，asofexcellentthings，thatthemorebeautifulcitiesIhaveseensince，themorethebeautyofthisstillwinsuponmyaffection。Iloveherforherself，andmoreinherownnativebeing，thaninallthepompofforeignandacquiredembellishments。Ilovehertenderly，eventoherwartsandblemishes。

IamaFrenchmanonlythroughthisgreatcity，greatinpeople，greatinthefelicityofhersituation;but，aboveall，greatandincomparableinvarietyanddiversityofcommodities:thegloryofFrance，andoneofthemostnobleornamentsoftheworld。MayGoddriveourdivisionsfarfromher。Entireandunited，Ithinkhersufficientlydefendedfromallotherviolences。Igivehercautionthat，ofallsortsofpeople，thosewillbetheworstthatshallsetherindiscord;Ihavenofearforher，butofherself，and，certainly，Ihaveasmuchfearforherasforanyotherpartofthekingdom。Whilstsheshallcontinue，Ishallneverwantaretreat，whereImaystandatbay，sufficienttomakemeamendsforpartingwithanyotherretreat。

NotbecauseSocrateshassaidso，butbecauseitisintruthmyownhumour，andperadventurenotwithoutsomeexcess，Ilookuponallmenasmycompatriots，andembraceaPolanderasaFrenchman，preferringtheuniversalandcommontietoallnationaltieswhatever。Iamnotmuchtakenwiththesweetnessofanativeair:acquaintancewhollynewandwhollymyownappeartomefullasgoodastheothercommonandfortuitousoneswithFourneighbours:friendshipsthatarepurelyofourownacquiringordinarilycarryitabovethosetowhichthecommunicationofclimateorofbloodobligeus。Naturehasplacedusintheworldfreeandunbound;weimprisonourselvesincertainstraits，likethekingsofPersia，whoobligedthemselvestodrinknootherwaterbutthatoftheriverChoaspes，foolishlyquittedclaimtotheirrightinallotherstreams，and，sofarasconcernedthemselves，driedupalltheotherriversoftheworld。WhatSocratesdidtowardshisend，tolookuponasentenceofbanishmentasworsethanasentenceofdeathagainsthim，I

shall，Ithink，neverbeeithersodecrepidorsostrictlyhabituatedtomyowncountrytobeofthatopinion。ThesecelestialliveshaveimagesenoughthatIembracemorebyesteemthanaffection;andtheyhavesomealsosoelevatedandextraordinarythatIcannotembracethemsomuchasbyesteem，forasmuchasIcannotconceivethem。Thatfancywassingularinamanwhothoughtthewholeworldhiscity;itistruethathedisdainedtravel，andhadhardlyeversethisfootoutoftheAtticterritories。Whatsayyoutohiscomplaintofthemoneyhisfriendsofferedtosavehislife，andthatherefusedtocomeoutofprisonbythemediationofothers，inordernottodisobeythelawsinatimewhentheywereotherwisesocorrupt？Theseexamplesareofthefirstkindforme;ofthesecond，thereareothersthatIcouldfindoutinthesameperson:manyoftheserareexamplessurpasstheforceofmyaction，butsomeofthem，moreover，surpasstheforceofmyjudgment。

Besidesthesereasons，travelisinmyopinionaveryprofitableexercise;thesoulistherecontinuallyemployedinobservingnewandunknownthings，andIdonotknow，asIhaveoftensaidabetterschoolwhereintomodellifethanbyincessantlyexposingtoitthediversityofsomanyotherlives，fancies，andusances，andbymakingitrelishaperpetualvarietyofformsofhumannature。Thebodyis，therein，neitheridlenoroverwrought;andthatmoderateagitationputsitinbreath。Icankeeponhorseback，tormentedwiththestoneasIam，withoutalightingorbeingweary，eightortenhourstogether:

"Viresultrasorternquesenectae。"

["Beyondthestrengthandlotofage。"——AEneid，vi。114。]

Noseasonisenemytomebuttheparchingheatofascorchingsun;fortheumbrellasmadeuseofinItaly，eversincethetimeoftheancientRomans，moreburdenaman’sarmthantheyrelievehishead。IwouldfainknowhowitwasthatthePersians，solongagoandintheinfancyofluxury，madeventilatorswheretheywantedthem，andplantedshades，asXenophonreportstheydid。Iloverain，andtodabbleinthedirt，aswellasducksdo。Thechangeofairandclimatenevertouchesme;everyskyisalike;IamonlytroubledwithinwardalterationswhichIbreedwithinmyself，andthosearenotsofrequentintravel。Iamhardtobegotout，butbeingonceupontheroad，Iholdoutaswellasthebest。

Itakeasmuchpainsinlittleasingreatattempts，andamassolicitoustoequipmyselfforashortjourney，ifbuttovisitaneighbour，asforthelongestvoyage。IhavelearnedtotravelaftertheSpanishfashion，andtomakebutonestageofagreatma