beget a horror in me but to name； which yet I should less fear than a
thousand passions and agitations of the mind that I see about me。 I make
up my mind no more to run； 'tis enough that I can crawl along； nor do I
more complain of the natural decadence that I feel in myself：
〃Quis tumidum guttur miratur in Alpibus？〃
＇〃Who is surprised to see a swollen goitre in the Alps？〃
Juvenal； xiii。 162。＇
than I regret that my duration shall not be as long and entire as that of
an oak。
I have no reason to complain of my imagination； I have had few thoughts
in my life that have so much as broken my sleep； except those of desire；
which have awakened without afflicting me。 I dream but seldom； and then
of chimaeras and fantastic things； commonly produced from pleasant
thoughts； and rather ridiculous than sad； and I believe it to be true
that dreams are faithful interpreters of our inclinations； but there is
art required to sort and understand them
〃Res； quae in vita usurpant homines； cogitant； curant； vident；
Quaeque agunt vigilantes； agitantque； ea si cui in somno accidunt；
Minus mirandum est。〃
＇〃'Tis less wonder； what men practise； think； care for； see； and do
when waking； （should also run in their heads and disturb them when
they are asleep） and which affect their feelings； if they happen to
any in sleep。〃Attius； cited in Cicero； De Divin。； i。 22。＇
Plato； moreover； says； that 'tis the office of prudence to draw
instructions of divination of future things from dreams： I don't know
about this； but there are wonderful instances of it that Socrates；
Xenophon； and Aristotle； men of irreproachable authority； relate。
Historians say that the Atlantes never dream； who also never eat any
animal food； which I add； forasmuch as it is； peradventure； the reason
why they never dream； for Pythagoras ordered a certain preparation of
diet to beget appropriate dreams。 Mine are very gentle； without any
agitation of body or expression of voice。 I have seen several of my time
wonderfully disturbed by them。 Theon the philosopher walked in his
sleep； and so did Pericles servant； and that upon the tiles and top of
the house。
I hardly ever choose my dish at table； but take the next at hand； and
unwillingly change it for another。 A confusion of meats and a clatter of
dishes displease me as much as any other confusion： I am easily satisfied
with few dishes： and am an enemy to the opinion of Favorinus； that in a
feast they should snatch from you the meat you like； and set a plate of
another sort before you； and that 'tis a pitiful supper； if you do not
sate your guests with the rumps of various fowls； the beccafico only
deserving to be all eaten。 I usually eat salt meats； yet I prefer bread
that has no salt in it； and my baker never sends up other to my table；
contrary to the custom of the country。 In my infancy； what they had most
to correct in me was the refusal of things that children commonly best
love； as sugar； sweetmeats； and march…panes。 My tutor contended with
this aversion to delicate things； as a kind of over…nicety； and indeed
'tis nothing else but a difficulty of taste； in anything it applies
itself to。 Whoever cures a child of an obstinate liking for brown bread；
bacon； or garlic； cures him also of pampering his palate。 There are some
who affect temperance and plainness by wishing for beef and ham amongst
the partridges； 'tis all very fine； this is the delicacy of the delicate；
'tis the taste of an effeminate fortune that disrelishes ordinary and
accustomed things。
〃Per qux luxuria divitiarum taedio ludit。〃
＇〃By which the luxury of wealth causes tedium。〃Seneca； Ep。； 18。＇
Not to make good cheer with what another is enjoying； and to be curious
in what a man eats； is the essence of this vice：
〃Si modica coenare times olus omne patella。〃
＇〃If you can't be content with herbs in a small dish for supper。〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 5； 2。＇
There is indeed this difference； that 'tis better to oblige one's
appetite to things that are most easy to be had； but 'tis always vice to
oblige one's self。 I formerly said a kinsman of mine was overnice； who；
by being in our galleys； had unlearned the use of beds and to undress
when he went to sleep。
If I had any sons； I should willingly wish them my fortune。 The good
father that God gave me （who has nothing of me but the acknowledgment of
his goodness； but truly 'tis a very hearty one） sent me from my cradle to
be brought up in a poor village of his； and there continued me all the
while I was at nurse； and still longer； bringing me up to the meanest and
most common way of living：
〃Magna pars libertatis est bene moratus venter。〃
＇〃A well…governed stomach is a great part of liberty。〃
Seneca；Ep。； 123。＇
Never take upon yourselves； and much less give up to your wives； the care
of their nurture； leave the formation to fortune； under popular and
natural laws； leave it to custom to train them up to frugality and
hardship； that they may rather descend from rigour than mount up to it。
This humour of his yet aimed at another end； to make me familiar with the
people and the condition of men who most need our assistance； considering
that I should rather regard them who extend their arms to me； than those
who turn their backs upon me； and for this reason it was that he provided
to hold me at the font persons of the meanest fortune； to oblige and
attach me to them。
Nor has his design succeeded altogether ill； for； whether upon the
account of the more honour in such a condescension； or out of a natural
compassion that has a very great power over me； I have an inclination
towards the meaner sort of people。 The faction which I should condemn in
our wars； I should more sharply condemn； flourishing and successful； it
will somewhat reconcile me to it； when I shall see it miserable and
overwhelmed。 How willingly do I admire the fine humour of Cheilonis；
daughter and wife to kings of Sparta。 Whilst her husband Cleombrotus； in
the commotion of her city； had the advantage over Leonidas her father；
she； like a good daughter； stuck close to her father in all his misery
and exile； in opposition to the conqueror。 But so soon as the chance of
war turned； she changed her will with the change of fortune； and bravely
turned to her husband's side； whom she accompanied throughout； where his
ruin carried him： admitting； as it appears to me； no other choice than to
cleave to the side that stood most in need of her； and where she could
best manifest her compassion。 I am naturally more apt to follow the
example of Flaminius； who rather gave his assistance to those who had
most need of him than to those who had power to do him good； than I do to
that of Pyrrhus； who was of an humour to truckle under the great and to
domineer over the poor。
Long sittings at table both trouble me and do me harm； for； be it that I
was so accustomed when a child； I eat all the while I sit。 Therefore it
is that at my own house； though the meals there are of the shortest； I
usually sit down a little while after the rest； after the manner of
Augustus； but I do not imitate him in rising also before the rest； on the
contrary； I love to sit still a long time after； and to hear them talk；
provided I am none of the talkers： for I tire and hurt myself with
speaking upon a full stomach； as much as I find it very wholesome and
pleasant to argue and to strain my voice before dinner。
The ancient Greeks and Romans had more reason than we in setting apart
for eating； which is a principal action of life； if they were not
prevented by other extraordinary business； many hours and the greatest
part of the night； eating and drinking more deliberately than we do； who
perform all our actions post…haste； and in extending this natural
pleasure to more leisure and better use； intermixing with profitable
conversation。
They whose concern it is to have a care of me； may very easily hinder me
from eating anything they think will do me harm； for in such matters I
never covet nor miss anything I do not see； but withal； if it once comes
in my sight； 'tis in vain to persuade me to forbear； so that when I
design to fast I must be kept apart from the suppers； and must have only
so much given me as is required for a prescribed collation； for if to
table； I forget my resolution。 When I order my cook to alter the manner
of dressing any dish； all my family know what it means； that my stomach
is out of order； and that I shall not touch it。
I love to have all meats； that will endure it； very little boiled or
roasted； and prefer them very high； and even； as to several； quite gone。
Nothing but hardness generally offends me （of any other quality I am as
patient and indifferent as any man I have known）； so that； contrary to
the common humour； even in fish it often happens that I find them both
too fresh and too firm； not for want of teeth； which I ever had good；
even to excellence； and which age does not now begin to threaten； I have
always been used every morning to rub them with a napkin； and before and
after dinner。 God is favourable to those whom He makes to die by
degrees； 'tis the only benefit of old age； the last death will be so much
the less painful； it will kill but a half or a quarter of a man。 There
is one tooth lately fallen out without drawing and without pain； it was
the natural term of its duration； in that part of my being and several
others； are already dead； others half dead； of those that were most
active and in the first rank during my vigorous years； 'tis so I melt and
steal away from myself。 What a folly it would be in my understanding to
apprehend the height of this fall； already so much advanced； as if it
were from the very top！ I hope I shall not。 I； in truth； receive a
principal consolation in meditating my death； that it will be just and
natural； and that henceforward I cannot herein either require or hope
from Destiny any other but unlawful favour。 Men make themselves believe
that we formerly had longer lives as well as greater stature。 But they
deceive themselve