hard to believe； that these so elevated qualities in a man can so
thoroughly tinct and imbue the soul that they should become ordinary；
and； as it were； natural in him。 It accidentally happens even to us；
who are but abortive births of men； sometimes to launch our souls； when
roused by the discourses or examples of others； much beyond their
ordinary stretch； but 'tis a kind of passion which pushes and agitates
them； and in some sort ravishes them from themselves： but； this
perturbation once overcome； we see that they insensibly flag and slacken
of themselves； if not to the lowest degree； at least so as to be no more
the same； insomuch as that upon every trivial occasion； the losing of a
bird； or the breaking； of a glass； we suffer ourselves to be moved little
less than one of the common people。 I am of opinion； that order；
moderation； and constancy excepted； all things are to be done by a man
that is very imperfect and defective in general。 Therefore it is； say
the Sages； that to make a right judgment of a man； you are chiefly to pry
into his common actions； and surprise him in his everyday habit。
Pyrrho； he who erected so pleasant a knowledge upon ignorance；
endeavoured； as all the rest who were really philosophers did； to make
his life correspond with his doctrine。 And because he maintained the
imbecility of human judgment to be so extreme as to be incapable of any
choice or inclination； and would have it perpetually wavering and
suspended； considering and receiving all things as indifferent； 'tis
said； that he always comforted himself after the same manner and
countenance： if he had begun a discourse； he would always end what he had
to say； though the person he was speaking to had gone away： if he walked；
he never stopped for any impediment that stood in his way； being
preserved from precipices； collision with carts； and other like
accidents； by the care of his friends： for； to fear or to avoid anything；
had been to shock his own propositions； which deprived the senses
themselves of all election and certainty。 Sometimes he suffered incision
and cauteries with so great constancy as never to be seen so much as to
wince。 'Tis something to bring the soul to these imaginations； 'tis more
to join the effects； and yet not impossible； but to conjoin them with
such perseverance and constancy as to make them habitual； is certainly；
in attempts so remote from the common usage； almost incredible to be
done。 Therefore it was； that being sometime taken in his house sharply
scolding with his sister； and being reproached that he therein
transgressed his own rules of indifference： 〃What！〃 said he； 〃must this
bit of a woman also serve for a testimony to my rules？〃 Another time；
being seen to defend himself against a dog： 〃It is；〃 said he； 〃very hard
totally to put off man； and we must endeavour and force ourselves to
resist and encounter things； first by effects； but at least by reason and
argument。〃
About seven or eight years since； a husbandman yet living； but two
leagues from my house； having long been tormented with his wife's
jealousy； coming one day home from his work； and she welcoming him with
her accustomed railing； entered into so great fury that with a sickle he
had yet in his hand； he totally cut off all those parts that she was
jealous of and threw them in her face。 And； 'tis said that a young
gentleman of our nation； brisk and amorous； having by his perseverance at
last mollified the heart of a fair mistress； enraged； that upon the point
of fruition he found himself unable to perform； and that；
〃Nec viriliter
Iners senile penis extulit caput。〃
＇（The 19th or 20th century translators leave this phrase
untranslated and with no explanation。 D。W。）
Tibullus； Priap。 Carm。； 84。＇
as soon as ever he came home he deprived himself of the rebellious
member； and sent it to his mistress； a cruel and bloody victim for the
expiation of his offence。 If this had been done upon mature
consideration； and upon the account of religion； as the priests of Cybele
did； what should we say of so high an action？
A few days since； at Bergerac； five leagues from my house； up the river
Dordogne； a woman having overnight been beaten and abused by her husband；
a choleric ill…conditioned fellow； resolved to escape from his ill…usage
at the price of her life； and going so soon as she was up the next
morning to visit her neighbours； as she was wont to do； and having let
some words fall in recommendation of her affairs； she took a sister of
hers by the hand； and led her to the bridge； whither being come； and
having taken leave of her； in jest as it were； without any manner of
alteration in her countenance； she threw herself headlong from the top
into the river； and was there drowned。 That which is the most remarkable
in this is； that this resolution was a whole night forming in her head。
It is quite another thing with the Indian women for it being the custom
there for the men to have many wives； and the best beloved of them to
kill herself at her husband's decease； every one of them makes it the
business of her whole life to obtain this privilege and gain this
advantage over her companions； and the good offices they do their
husbands aim at no other recompense but to be preferred in accompanying
him in death：
〃Ubi mortifero jacta est fax ultima lecto；
Uxorum fusis stat pia turba comis
Et certamen habent lethi； quae viva sequatur
Conjugium： pudor est non licuisse mori。
Ardent victrices； et flammae pectora praebent；
Imponuntque suis ora perusta viris。〃
＇〃For when they threw the torch on the funeral bed； the pious wives
with hair dishevelled； stand around striving； which； living； shall
accompany her spouse； and are ashamed that they may not die； they
who are preferred expose their breasts to the flame； and they lay
their scorched lips on those of their husbands。〃
Propertius； iii。 13； 17。＇
A certain author of our times reports that he has seen in those Oriental
nations this custom in practice； that not only the wives bury themselves
with their husbands； but even the slaves he has enjoyed also； which is
done after this manner： The husband being dead； the widow may if she will
（but few will） demand two or three months' respite wherein to order her
affairs。 The day being come； she mounts on horseback； dressed as fine as
at her wedding； and with a cheerful countenance says she is going to
sleep with her spouse； holding a looking…glass in her left hand and an
arrow in the other。 Being thus conducted in pomp； accompanied with her
kindred and friends and a great concourse of people in great joy； she is
at last brought to the public place appointed for such spectacles： this
is a great space； in the midst of which is a pit full of wood； and
adjoining to it a mount raised four or five steps； upon which she is
brought and served with a magnificent repast； which being done； she falls
to dancing and singing； and gives order； when she thinks fit； to kindle
the fire。 This being done； she descends； and taking the nearest of her
husband's relations by the hand； they walk to the river close by； where
she strips herself stark naked； and having distributed her clothes and
jewels to her friends； plunges herself into the water； as if there to
cleanse herself from her sins； coming out thence； she wraps herself in a
yellow linen of five…and…twenty ells long； and again giving her hand to
this kinsman of her husband's； they return back to the mount； where she
makes a speech to the people； and recommends her children to them； if she
have any。 Betwixt the pit and the mount there is commonly a curtain
drawn to screen the burning furnace from their sight； which some of them；
to manifest the greater courage； forbid。 Having ended what she has to
say； a woman presents her with a vessel of oil； wherewith to anoint her
head and her whole body； which when done with she throws into the fire；
and in an instant precipitates herself after。 Immediately； the people
throw a good many billets and logs upon her that she may not be long in
dying； and convert all their joy into sorrow and mourning。 If they are
persons of meaner condition； the body of the defunct is carried to the
place of sepulture； and there placed sitting； the widow kneeling before
him； embracing the dead body； and they continue in this posture whilst
the people build a wall about them； which so soon as it is raised to the
height of the woman's shoulders； one of her relations comes behind her；
and taking hold of her head； twists her neck； so soon as she is dead； the
wall is presently raised up； and closed； and there they remain entombed。
There was； in this same country； something like this in their
gymnosophists； for not by constraint of others nor by the impetuosity of
a sudden humour； but by the express profession of their order； their
custom was； as soon as they arrived at a certain age； or that they saw
themselves threatened by any disease； to cause a funeral pile to be
erected for them； and on the top a stately bed； where； after having
joyfully feasted their friends and acquaintance； they laid them down with
so great resolution； that fire being applied to it； they were never seen
to stir either hand or foot； and after this manner； one of them； Calanus
by name； expired in the presence of the whole army of Alexander the
Great。 And he was neither reputed holy nor happy amongst them who did
not thus destroy himself； dismissing his soul purged and purified by the
fire； after having consumed all that was earthly and mortal。 This
constant premeditation of the whole life is that which makes the wonder。
Amongst our other controversies； that of 'Fatum' has also crept in； and
to tie things to come； and even our own wills； to a certain and
inevitable necessity； we are yet upon this argument of time past：
〃Since God foresees that all things shall so fall out； as doubtless He
does； it must then necessarily follow； that they must so fall out〃： to
which our masters reply： 〃that the seeing anything come to pass； as we