conducted with such rare prudence in his life； should not be neglected at
present； and that I should regret it if； from want of proper counsel； he
should leave anything unsettled； not only on account of the loss to his
family； but also to his good name。
He thanked me for my kindness； and after a little reflection； as if he
was resolving certain doubts in his own mind； he desired me to summon his
uncle and his wife by themselves； in order that he might acquaint them
with his testamentary dispositions。 I told him that this would shock
them。 〃No； no；〃 he answered； 〃I will cheer them by making out my case to
be better than it is。〃 And then he inquired； whether we were not all
much taken by surprise at his having fainted？ I replied； that it was of
no importance； being incidental to the complaint from which he suffered。
〃True； my brother；〃 said he； 〃it would be unimportant； even though it
should lead to what you most dread。〃 〃For you；〃 I rejoined； 〃it might be
a happy thing； but I should be the loser； who would thereby be deprived
of so great； so wise； and so steadfast a friend； a friend whose place I
should never see supplied。〃 〃It is very likely you may not；〃 was his
answer； 〃and be sure that one thing which makes me somewhat anxious to
recover； and to delay my journey to that place； whither I am already
half…way gone； is the thought of the loss both you and that poor man and
woman there （referring to his uncle and wife） must sustain； for I love
them with my whole heart； and I feel certain that they will find it very
hard to lose me。 I should also regret it on account of such as have； in
my lifetime； valued me； and whose conversation I should like to have
enjoyed a little longer； and I beseech you； my brother； if I leave the
world； to carry to them for me an assurance of the esteem I entertained
for them to the last moment of my existence。 My birth was； moreover；
scarcely to so little purpose but that； had I lived； I might have done
some service to the public； but； however this may be； I am prepared to
submit to the will of God； when it shall please Him to call me； being
confident of enjoying the tranquillity which you have foretold for me。
As for you； my friend； I feel sure that you are so wise； that you will
control your emotions； and submit to His divine ordinance regarding me；
and I beg of you to see that that good man and woman do not mourn for my
departure unnecessarily。〃
He proceeded to inquire how they behaved at present。 〃Very well；〃 said
I； 〃considering the circumstances。〃 〃Ah！〃 he replied； 〃that is； so long
as they do not abandon all hope of me； but when that shall be the case；
you will have a hard task to support them。〃 It was owing to his strong
regard for his wife and uncle that he studiously disguised from them his
own conviction as to the certainty of his end； and he prayed me to do the
same。 When they were near him he assumed an appearance of gaiety； and
flattered them with hopes。 I then went to call them。 They came； wearing
as composed an air as possible； and when we four were together； he
addressed us； with an untroubled countenance； as follows： 〃Uncle and
wife； rest assured that no new attack of my disease； or fresh doubt that
I have as to my recovery； has led me to take this step of communicating
to you my intentions； for； thank God； I feel very well and hopeful； but
taught by observation and experience the instability of all human things；
and even of the life to which we are so much attached； and which is；
nevertheless； a mere bubble； and knowing； moreover； that my state of
health brings me more within the danger of death； I have thought proper
to settle my worldly affairs； having the benefit of your advice。〃 Then
addressing himself more particularly to his uncle； 〃Good uncle；〃 said he；
〃if I were to rehearse all the obligations under which I lie to you； I am
sure that I never should make an end。 Let me only say that； wherever I
have been； and with whomsoever I have conversed； I have represented you
as doing for me all that a father could do for a son； both in the care
with which you tended my education； and in the zeal with which you pushed
me forward into public life； so that my whole existence is a testimony of
your good offices towards me。 In short； I am indebted for all that I
have to you； who have been to me as a parent； and therefore I have no
right to part with anything； unless it be with your approval。〃
There was a general silence hereupon； and his uncle was prevented from
replying by tears and sobs。 At last he said that whatever he thought for
the best would be agreeable to him； and as he intended to make him his
heir； he was at liberty to dispose of what would be his。
Then he turned to his wife。 〃My image；〃 said he （for so he often called
her； there being some sort of relationship between them）； 〃since I have
been united to you by marriage； which is one of the most weighty and
sacred ties imposed on us by God； for the purpose of maintaining human
society； I have continued to love； cherish； and value you； and I know
that you have returned my affection； for which I have no sufficient
acknowledgment。 I beg you to accept such portion of my estate as I
bequeath to you； and be satisfied with it； though it is very inadequate
to your desert。〃
Afterwards he turned to me。 〃My brother；〃 he began； 〃for whom I have so
entire a love； and whom I selected out of so large a number； thinking to
revive with you that virtuous and sincere friendship which； owing to the
degeneracy of the age； has grown to be almost unknown to us； and now
exists only in certain vestiges of antiquity； I beg of you； as a mark of
my affection to you； to accept my library： a slender offering； but given
with a cordial will； and suitable to you； seeing that you are fond of
learning。 It will be a memorial of your old companion。〃
Then he addressed all three of us。 He blessed God that in his extremity
he had the happiness to be surrounded by those whom he held dearest in
the world； and he looked upon it as a fine spectacle； where four persons
were together； so unanimous in their feelings； and loving each other for
each other's sake。 He commended us one to the other； and proceeded thus：
〃My worldly matters being arranged； I must now think of the welfare of my
soul。 I am a Christian； I am a Catholic。 I have lived one； and I shall
die one。 Send for a priest； for I wish to conform to this last Christian
obligation。〃 He now concluded his discourse； which he had conducted with
such a firm face and with so distinct an utterance； that whereas； when I
first entered his room； he was feeble； inarticulate in his speech； his
pulse low and feverish； and his features pallid； now； by a sort of
miracle； he appeared to have rallied； and his pulse was so strong that
for the sake of comparison； I asked him to feel mine。
I felt my heart so oppressed at this moment； that I had not the power to
make him any answer； but in the course of two or three hours； solicitous
to keep up his courage； and； likewise； out of the tenderness which I had
had all my life for his honour and fame； wishing a larger number of
witnesses to his admirable fortitude； I said to him； how much I was
ashamed to think that I lacked courage to listen to what he； so great a
sufferer； had the courage to deliver； that down to the present time I had
scarcely conceived that God granted us such command over human
infirmities； and had found a difficulty in crediting the examples I had
read in histories； but that with such evidence of the thing before my
eyes； I gave praise to God that it had shown itself in one so excessively
dear to me； and who loved me so entirely； and that his example would help
me to act in a similar manner when my turn came。 Interrupting me； he
begged that it might happen so； and that the conversation which had
passed between us might not be mere words； but might be impressed deeply
on our minds； to be put in exercise at the first occasion； and that this
was the real object and aim of all philosophy。
He then took my hand； and continued： 〃Brother； friend； there are many
acts of my life； I think； which have cost me as much difficulty as this
one is likely to do； and； after all； I have been long prepared for it；
and have my lesson by heart。 Have I not lived long enough？ I am just
upon thirty…three。 By the grace of God； my days so far have known
nothing but health and happiness； but in the ordinary course of our
unstable human affairs； this could not have lasted much longer； it would
have become time for me to enter on graver avocations； and I should thus
have involved myself in numberless vexations； and； among them； the
troubles of old age； from which I shall now be exempt。 Moreover； it is
probable that hitherto my life has been spent more simply； and with less
of evil； than
if God had spared me； and I had survived to feel the thirst for riches
and worldly prosperity。 I am sure； for my part； that I now go to God and
the place of the blessed。〃 He seemed to detect in my expression some
inquietude at his words； and he exclaimed； 〃What； my brother； would you
make me entertain apprehensions？ Had I any； whom would it become so much
as yourself to remove them？〃
The notary； who had been summoned to draw up his will； came in the
evening； and when he had the documents prepared； I inquired of La Boetie
if he would sign them。 〃Sign them；〃 cried he； 〃I will do so with my own
hand； but I could desire more time； for I feel exceedingly timid and
weak； and in a manner exhausted。〃 But when I was going to change the
conversation； he suddenly rallied； said he had but a short time to live；
and asked if the notary wrote rapidly； for he should dictate without
making any pause。 The notary was called； and he dictated his will there
and then with such speed that the man could scarcely keep up with him；
and when he had done； he asked me to read it out； saying to me； 〃What a
good thing it is to look after what are called our riches。〃 'Sunt haec；
quoe hominibus vocantur bona'。 As soon as the will was signed； the
chamber being full； he asked me if it would hurt him to talk。 I
answered； that it would not； if he did not speak too lo