that we formerly had longer lives as well as greater stature。 But they
deceive themselves； and Solon； who was of those elder times； limits the
duration of life to threescore and ten years。 I； who have so much and so
universally adored that 〃The mean is best；〃 of the passed time； and who
have concluded the most moderate measures to be the most perfect； shall
I pretend to an immeasurable and prodigious old age？ Whatever happens
contrary to the course of nature may be troublesome； but what comes
according to her should always be pleasant：
〃Omnia； quae secundum naturam fiunt； sunt habenda in bonis。〃
＇〃All things that are done according to nature
are to be accounted good。〃Cicero； De Senect。； c。 19。＇
And so； says Plato； the death which is occasioned by wounds and diseases
is violent； but that which comes upon us； old age conducting us to it； is
of all others the most easy； and in some sort delicious：
〃Vitam adolescentibus vis aufert； senibus maturitas。〃
＇〃Young men are taken away by violence； old men by maturity。〃
Cicero； ubi sup。＇
Death mixes and confounds itself throughout with life； decay anticipates
its hour； and shoulders itself even into the course of our advance。
I have portraits of myself taken at five…and…twenty and five…and…thirty
years of age。 I compare them with that lately drawn： how many times is
it no longer me； how much more is my present image unlike the former；
than unlike my dying one？ It is too much to abuse nature； to make her
trot so far that she must be forced to leave us； and abandon our conduct；
our eyes； teeth； legs； and all the rest to the mercy of a foreign and
haggard countenance； and to resign us into the hands of art； being weary
of following us herself。
I am not excessively fond either of salads or fruits； except melons。 My
father hated all sorts of sauces； I love them all。 Eating too much hurts
me； but； as to the quality of what I eat； I do not yet certainly know
that any sort of meat disagrees with me； neither have I observed that
either full moon or decrease； autumn or spring； have any influence upon
me。 We have in us motions that are inconstant and unknown； for example；
I found radishes first grateful to my stomach； since that nauseous； and
now again grateful。 In several other things； I find my stomach and
appetite vary after the same manner； I have changed again and again from
white wine to claret； from claret to white wine。
I am a great lover of fish； and consequently make my fasts feasts and
feasts fasts； and I believe what some people say； that it is more easy of
digestion than flesh。 As I make a conscience of eating flesh upon fish…
days； so does my taste make a conscience of mixing fish and flesh； the
difference betwixt them seems to me too remote。
From my youth； I have sometimes kept out of the way at meals； either to
sharpen my appetite against the next morning （for； as Epicurus fasted and
made lean meals to accustom his pleasure to make shift without abundance；
I； on the contrary； do it to prepare my pleasure to make better and more
cheerful use of abundance）； or else I fasted to preserve my vigour for
the service of some action of body or mind： for both the one and the
other of these is cruelly dulled in me by repletion； and； above all
things； I hate that foolish coupling of so healthful and sprightly a
goddess with that little belching god； bloated with the fumes of his
liquor＇ Montaigne did not approve of coupling Bacchus with Venus。＇
or to cure my sick stomach； or for want of fit company； for I say； as the
same Epicurus did； that one is not so much to regard what he eats； as
with whom； and I commend Chilo； that he would not engage himself to be at
Periander's feast till he was first informed who were to be the other
guests； no dish is so acceptable to me； nor no sauce so appetising； as
that which is extracted from society。 I think it more wholesome to eat
more leisurely and less； and to eat oftener； but I would have appetite
and hunger attended to； I should take no pleasure to be fed with three or
four pitiful and stinted repasts a day； after a medicinal manner： who
will assure me that； if I have a good appetite in the morning； I shall
have the same at supper？ But we old fellows especially； let us take the
first opportune time of eating； and leave to almanac…makers hopes and
prognostics。 The utmost fruit of my health is pleasure； let us take hold
of the present and known。 I avoid the invariable in these laws of
fasting； he who would have one form serve him； let him avoid the
continuing it； we harden ourselves in it； our strength is there stupefied
and laid asleep； six months after； you shall find your stomach so inured
to it； that all you have got is the loss of your liberty of doing
otherwise but to your prejudice。
I never keep my legs and thighs warmer in winter than in summer； one
simple pair of silk stockings is all。 I have suffered myself； for the
relief of my colds； to keep my head warmer； and my belly upon the account
of my colic： my diseases in a few days habituate themselves thereto； and
disdained my ordinary provisions： we soon get from a coif to a kerchief
over it； from a simple cap to a quilted hat； the trimmings of the doublet
must not merely serve for ornament： there must be added a hare's skin or
a vulture's skin； and a cap under the hat： follow this gradation； and you
will go a very fine way to work。 I will do nothing of the sort； and
would willingly leave off what I have begun。 If you fall into any new
inconvenience； all this is labour lost； you are accustomed to it； seek
out some other。 Thus do they destroy themselves who submit to be
pestered with these enforced and superstitious rules； they must add
something more； and something more after that； there is no end on't。
For what concerns our affairs and pleasures； it is much more commodious；
as the ancients did； to lose one's dinner； and defer making good cheer
till the hour of retirement and repose； without breaking up a day； and so
was I formerly used to do。 As to health； I since by experience find； on
the contrary； that it is better to dine； and that the digestion is better
while awake。 I am not very used to be thirsty； either well or sick； my
mouth is； indeed； apt to be dry； but without thirst； and commonly I never
drink but with thirst that is created by eating； and far on in the meal；
I drink pretty well for a man of my pitch： in summer； and at a relishing
meal； I do not only exceed the limits of Augustus； who drank but thrice
precisely； but not to offend Democritus rule； who forbade that men should
stop at four times as an unlucky number； I proceed at need to the fifth
glass； about three half…pints； for the little glasses are my favourites；
and I like to drink them off； which other people avoid as an unbecoming
thing。 I mix my wine sometimes with half； sometimes with the third part
water； and when I am at home； by an ancient custom that my father's
physician prescribed both to him and himself； they mix that which is
designed for me in the buttery； two or three hours before 'tis brought
in。 'Tis said that Cranabs； king of Attica； was the inventor of this
custom of diluting wine； whether useful or no； I have heard disputed。
I think it more decent and wholesome for children to drink no wine till
after sixteen or eighteen years of age。 The most usual and common method
of living is the most becoming； all particularity； in my opinion； is to
be avoided； and I should as much hate a German who mixed water with his
wine； as I should a Frenchman who drank it pure。 Public usage gives the
law in these things。
I fear a mist； and fly from smoke as from the plague： the first repairs I
fell upon in my own house were the chimneys and houses of office； the
common and insupportable defects of all old buildings； and amongst the
difficulties of war I reckon the choking dust they made us ride in a
whole day together。 I have a free and easy respiration； and my colds for
the most part go off without offence to the lungs and without a cough。
The heat of summer is more an enemy to me than the cold of winter； for；
besides the incommodity of heat； less remediable than cold； and besides
the force of the sunbeams that strike upon the head； all glittering light
offends my eyes； so that I could not now sit at dinner over against a
flaming fire。
To dull the whiteness of paper； in those times when I was more wont to
read； I laid a piece of glass upon my book； and found my eyes much
relieved by it。 I am to this hourto the age of fifty…fourIgnorant of
the use of spectacles； and I can see as far as ever I did； or any other。
'Tis true that in the evening I begin to find a little disturbance and
weakness in my sight if I read； an exercise I have always found
troublesome； especially by night。 Here is one step back； and a very
manifest one； I shall retire another： from the second to the third； and
so to the fourth； so gently； that I shall be stark blind before I shall
be sensible of the age and decay of my sight： so artificially do the
Fatal Sisters untwist our lives。 And so I doubt whether my hearing
begins to grow thick； and you will see I shall have half lost it； when I
shall still lay the fault on the voices of those who speak to me。 A man
must screw up his soul to a high pitch to make it sensible how it ebbs
away。
My walking is quick and firm； and I know not which of the two； my mind or
my body； I have most to do to keep in the same state。 That preacher is
very much my friend who can fix my attention a whole sermon through： in
places of ceremony； where every one's countenance is so starched； where I
have seen the ladies keep even their eyes so fixed； I could never order
it so； that some part or other of me did not lash out； so that though I
was seated； I was never settled； and as to gesticulation； I am never
without a switch in my hand； walking or riding。 As the philosopher
Chrysippus' maid said of her master； that he was only drunk in his legs；
for it was his custom to be always kicking them about in what place
soever he sat； and she said it when； the wine having made all his
companions drunk； he found no alteration in hims