We have a mind pliable in itself； that will be company； that has
wherewithal to attack and to defend； to receive and to give： let us not
then fear in this solitude to languish under an uncomfortable vacuity。
〃In solis sis tibi turba locis。〃
＇〃In solitude； be company for thyself。〃Tibullus； vi。 13。 12。＇
Virtue is satisfied with herself； without discipline； without words；
without effects。 In our ordinary actions there is not one of a thousand
that concerns ourselves。 He that thou seest scrambling up the ruins of
that wall； furious and transported； against whom so many harquebuss…shots
are levelled； and that other all over scars； pale； and fainting with
hunger； and yet resolved rather to die than to open the gates to him；
dost thou think that these men are there upon their own account？ No；
peradventure in the behalf of one whom they never saw and who never
concerns himself for their pains and danger； but lies wallowing the while
in sloth and pleasure： this other slavering； blear…eyed； slovenly fellow；
that thou seest come out of his study after midnight； dost thou think he
has been tumbling over books to learn how to become a better man； wiser；
and more content？ No such matter； he will there end his days； but he
will teach posterity the measure of Plautus' verses and the true
orthography of a Latin word。 Who is it that does not voluntarily
exchange his health； his repose； and his very life for reputation and
glory； the most useless； frivolous； and false coin that passes current
amongst us？ Our own death does not sufficiently terrify and trouble us；
let us； moreover； charge ourselves with those of our wives； children； and
family： our own affairs do not afford us anxiety enough； let us undertake
those of our neighbours and friends； still more to break our brains and
torment us：
〃Vah！ quemquamne hominem in animum instituere； aut
Parare； quod sit carius； quam ipse est sibi？〃
＇〃Ah！ can any man conceive in his mind or realise what is dearer
than he is to himself？〃Terence； Adelph。； i。 I； 13。＇
Solitude seems to me to wear the best favour in such as have already
employed their most active and flourishing age in the world's service；
after the example of Thales。 We have lived enough for others； let us at
least live out the small remnant of life for ourselves； let us now call
in our thoughts and intentions to ourselves； and to our own ease and
repose。 'Tis no light thing to make a sure retreat； it will be enough
for us to do without mixing other enterprises。 Since God gives us
leisure to order our removal； let us make ready； truss our baggage； take
leave betimes of the company； and disentangle ourselves from those
violent importunities that engage us elsewhere and separate us from
ourselves。
We must break the knot of our obligations； how strong soever； and
hereafter love this or that； but espouse nothing but ourselves： that is
to say； let the remainder be our own； but not so joined and so close as
not to be forced away without flaying us or tearing out part of our
whole。 The greatest thing in the world is for a man to know that he is
his own。 'Tis time to wean ourselves from society when we can no longer
add anything to it； he who is not in a condition to lend must forbid
himself to borrow。 Our forces begin to fail us； let us call them in and
concentrate them in and for ourselves。 He that can cast off within
himself and resolve the offices of friendship and company； let him do it。
In this decay of nature which renders him useless； burdensome； and
importunate to others； let him take care not to be useless； burdensome；
and importunate to himself。 Let him soothe and caress himself； and above
all things be sure to govern himself with reverence to his reason and
conscience to that degree as to be ashamed to make a false step in their
presence：
〃Rarum est enim； ut satis se quisque vereatur。〃
＇〃For 'tis rarely seen that men have respect and reverence enough
for themselves。〃Quintilian； x。 7。＇
Socrates says that boys are to cause themselves to be instructed； men to
exercise themselves in well…doing； and old men to retire from all civil
and military employments； living at their own discretion； without the
obligation to any office。 There are some complexions more proper for
these precepts of retirement than others。 Such as are of a soft and dull
apprehension； and of a tender will and affection； not readily to be
subdued or employed； whereof I am one； both by natural condition and by
reflection； will sooner incline to this advice than active and busy
souls； which embrace： all； engage in all； are hot upon everything； which
offer； present； and give themselves up to every occasion。 We are to use
these accidental and extraneous commodities； so far as they are pleasant
to us； but by no means to lay our principal foundation there； 'tis no
true one； neither nature nor reason allows it so to be。 Why therefore
should we； contrary to their laws； enslave our own contentment to the
power of another？ To anticipate also the accidents of fortune； to
deprive ourselves of the conveniences we have in our own power； as
several have done upon the account of devotion； and some philosophers by
reasoning； to be one's own servant； to lie hard； to put out our own eyes；
to throw our wealth into the river； to go in search of grief； these； by
the misery of this life； aiming at bliss in another； those by laying
themselves low to avoid the danger of falling： all such are acts of an
excessive virtue。 The stoutest and most resolute natures render even
their seclusion glorious and exemplary：
〃Tuta et parvula laudo；
Quum res deficiunt； satis inter vilia fortis
Verum； ubi quid melius contingit et unctius； idem
Hos sapere et solos aio bene vivere； quorum
Conspicitur nitidis fundata pecunia villis。〃
＇〃When means are deficient； I laud a safe and humble condition；
content with little： but when things grow better and more easy； I
all the same say that you alone are wise and live well； whose
invested money is visible in beautiful villas。〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 15； 42。＇
A great deal less would serve my turn well enough。 'Tis enough for me；
under fortune's favour； to prepare myself for her disgrace； and； being at
my ease； to represent to myself； as far as my imagination can stretch；
the ill to come； as we do at jousts and tiltings； where we counterfeit
war in the greatest calm of peace。 I do not think Arcesilaus the
philosopher the less temperate and virtuous for knowing that he made use
of gold and silver vessels； when the condition of his fortune allowed him
so to do； I have indeed a better opinion of him than if he had denied
himself what he used with liberality and moderation。 I see the utmost
limits of natural necessity： and considering a poor man begging at my
door； ofttimes more jocund and more healthy than I myself am； I put
myself into his place； and attempt to dress my mind after his mode；
and running； in like manner； over other examples； though I fancy death；
poverty； contempt； and sickness treading on my heels； I easily resolve
not to be affrighted； forasmuch as a less than I takes them with so much
patience； and am not willing to believe that a less understanding can do
more than a greater； or that the effects of precept cannot arrive to as
great a height as those of custom。 And knowing of how uncertain duration
these accidental conveniences are； I never forget； in the height of all
my enjoyments； to make it my chiefest prayer to Almighty God； that He
will please to render me content with myself and the condition wherein I
am。 I see young men very gay and frolic； who nevertheless keep a mass of
pills in their trunk at home； to take when they've got a cold； which they
fear so much the less； because they think they have remedy at hand。
Every one should do in like manner； and； moreover； if they find
themselves subject to some more violent disease； should furnish
themselves with such medicines as may numb and stupefy the part。
The employment a man should choose for such a life ought neither to be a
laborious nor an unpleasing one； otherwise 'tis to no purpose at all to
be retired。 And this depends upon every one's liking and humour。 Mine
has no manner of complacency for husbandry； and such as love it ought to
apply themselves to it with moderation：
＇〃Endeavour to make circumstances subject to me；
and not me subject to circumstances。〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 i； 19。＇
Husbandry is otherwise a very servile employment； as Sallust calls it；
though some parts of it are more excusable than the rest； as the care of
gardens； which Xenophon attributes to Cyrus； and a mean may be found out
betwixt the sordid and low application； so full of perpetual solicitude；
which is seen in men who make it their entire business and study； and the
stupid and extreme negligence； letting all things go at random which we
see in others
〃Democriti pecus edit agellos
Cultaque； dum peregre est animus sine corpore velox。〃
＇〃Democritus' cattle eat his corn and spoil his fields； whilst his
soaring mind ranges abroad without the body。〃
Horace； Ep。； i； 12； 12。＇
But let us hear what advice the younger Pliny gives his friend Caninius
Rufus upon the subject of solitude： 〃I advise thee； in the full and
plentiful retirement wherein thou art； to leave to thy hinds the care of
thy husbandry； and to addict thyself to the study of letters； to extract
from thence something that may be entirely and absolutely thine own。〃 By
which he means reputation； like Cicero； who says that he would employ his
solitude and retirement from public affairs to acquire by his writings an
immortal life。
〃Usque adeone
Scire tuum； nihil est； nisi to scire hoc； sciat alter？
＇〃Is all that thy learning nothing； unless another knows
that thou knowest？〃Persius； Sat。； i。 23。＇
It appears to be reason； when a man talks of retiring from the world；
that he should look quite out of ＇