Horace； xvii。 I。＇
The arts that promise to keep our bodies and souls in health promise a
great deal； but； withal； there are none that less keep their promise。
And； in our time； those who make profession of these arts amongst us；
less manifest the effects than any other sort of men； one may say of
them； at the most； that they sell medicinal drugs； but that they are
physicians； a man cannot say。
＇The edition of 1588 adds： 〃Judging by themselves； and those
who are ruled by them。〃＇
I have lived long enough to be able to give an account of the custom that
has carried me so far； for him who has a mind to try it； as his taster；
I have made the experiment。 Here are some of the articles； as my memory
shall supply me with them； I have no custom that has not varied according
to circumstances； but I only record those that I have been best
acquainted with； and that hitherto have had the greatest possession of
me。
My form of life is the same in sickness as in health； the same bed； the
same hours； the same meat； and even the same drink； serve me in both
conditions alike； I add nothing to them but the moderation of more or
less； according to my strength and appetite。 My health is to maintain my
wonted state without disturbance。 I see that sickness puts me off it on
one side； and if I will be ruled by the physicians； they will put me off
on the other； so that by fortune and by art I am out of my way。
I believe nothing more certainly than this； that I cannot be hurt by the
use of things to which I have been so long accustomed。 'Tis for custom
to give a form to a man's life； such as it pleases him； she is all in all
in that： 'tis the potion of Circe； that varies our nature as she best
pleases。 How many nations； and but three steps from us； think the fear
of the night…dew； that so manifestly is hurtful to us； a ridiculous
fancy； and our own watermen and peasants laugh at it。 You make a German
sick if you lay him upon a mattress； as you do an Italian if you lay him
on a feather…bed； and a Frenchman； if without curtains or fire。 A Spanish
stomach cannot hold out to eat as we can； nor ours to drink like the
Swiss。 A German made me very merry at Augsburg； by finding fault with
our hearths； by the same arguments which we commonly make use of in
decrying their stoves： for； to say the truth； the smothered heat； and
then the smell of that heated matter of which the fire is composed； very
much offend such as are not used to them； not me； and； indeed； the heat
being always equal； constant； and universal； without flame； without
smoke； and without the wind that comes down our chimneys； they may many
ways sustain comparison with ours。 Why do we not imitate the Roman
architecture？ for they say that anciently fires were not made in the
houses； but on the outside； and at the foot of them； whence the heat was
conveyed to the whole fabric by pipes contrived in the wall； which were
drawn twining about the rooms that were to be warmed： which I have seen
plainly described somewhere in Seneca。 This German hearing me commend
the conveniences and beauties of his city； which truly deserves it； began
to compassionate me that I had to leave it； and the first inconvenience
he alleged to me was； the heaviness of head that the chimneys elsewhere
would bring upon me。 He had heard some one make this complaint； and
fixed it upon us； being by custom deprived of the means of perceiving it
at home。 All heat that comes from the fire weakens and dulls me。 Evenus
said that fire was the best condiment of life： I rather choose any other
way of making myself warm。
We are afraid to drink our wines； when toward the bottom of the cask； in
Portugal those fumes are reputed delicious； and it is the beverage of
princes。 In short； every nation has many customs and usages that are not
only unknown to other nations； but savage and miraculous in their sight。
What should we do with those people who admit of no evidence that is not
in print； who believe not men if they are not in a book； nor truth if it
be not of competent age？ we dignify our fopperies when we commit them to
the press： 'tis of a great deal more weight to say； 〃I have read such a
thing；〃 than if you only say； 〃I have heard such a thing。〃 But I； who no
more disbelieve a man's mouth than his pen； and who know that men write
as indiscreetly as they speak； and who look upon this age as one that is
past； as soon quote a friend as Aulus Gelliusor Macrobius； and what I
have seen； as what they have written。 And； as 'tis held of virtue； that
it is not greater for having continued longer； so do I hold of truth；
that for being older it is none the wiser。 I often say； that it is mere
folly that makes us run after foreign and scholastic examples； their
fertility is the same now that it was in the time of Homer and Plato。
But is it not that we seek more honour from the quotation； than from the
truth of the matter in hand？ As if it were more to the purpose to borrow
our proofs from the shops of Vascosan or Plantin； than from what is to be
seen in our own village； or else； indeed； that we have not the wit to
cull out and make useful what we see before us； and to judge of it
clearly enough to draw it into example： for if we say that we want
authority to give faith to our testimony； we speak from the purpose；
forasmuch as； in my opinion； of the most ordinary； common； and known
things； could we but find out their light； the greatest miracles of
nature might be formed； and the most wonderful examples； especially upon
the subject of human actions。
Now； upon this subject； setting aside the examples I have gathered from
books； and what Aristotle says of Andron the Argian； that he travelled
over the arid sands of Lybia without drinking： a gentleman； who has very
well behaved himself in several employments； said； in a place where I
was； that he had ridden from Madrid to Lisbon； in the heat of summer；
without any drink at all。 He is very healthful and vigorous for his age；
and has nothing extraordinary in the use of his life； but this； to live
sometimes two or three months； nay； a whole year； as he has told me；
without drinking。 He is sometimes thirsty； but he lets it pass over；
and he holds that it is an appetite which easily goes off of itself；
and he drinks more out of caprice than either for need or pleasure。
Here is another example： 'tis not long ago that I found one of the
learnedest men in France； among those of not inconsiderable fortune；
studying in a corner of a hall that they had separated for him with
tapestry； and about him a rabble of his servants full of licence。 He
told me； and Seneca almost says the same of himself； he made an
advantage of this hubbub； that； beaten with this noise； he so much
the more collected and retired himself into himself for contemplation；
and that this tempest of voices drove back his thoughts within himself。
Being a student at Padua； he had his study so long situated amid the
rattle of coaches and the tumult of the square； that he not only formed
himself to the contempt； but even to the use of noise； for the service of
his studies。 Socrates answered Alcibiades； who was astonished how he
could endure the perpetual scolding of his wife； 〃Why；〃 said he； 〃as
those do who are accustomed to the ordinary noise of wheels drawing
water。〃 I am quite otherwise； I have a tender head and easily
discomposed； when 'tis bent upon anything； the least buzzing of a fly
murders it。
Seneca in his youth having warmly espoused the example of Sextius； of
eating nothing that had died； for a whole year dispensed with such food；
and； as he said； with pleasure； and discontinued it that he might not be
suspected of taking up this rule from some new religion by which it was
prescribed： he adopted； in like manner； from the precepts of Attalus a
custom not to lie upon any sort of bedding that gave way under his
weight； and； even to his old age； made use of such as would not yield to
any pressure。 What the usage of his time made him account roughness；
that of ours makes us look upon as effeminacy。
Do but observe the difference betwixt the way of living of my labourers
and my own； the Scythians and Indians have nothing more remote both from
my capacity and my form。 I have picked up charity boys to serve me： who
soon after have quitted both my kitchen and livery； only that they might
return to their former course of life； and I found one afterwards；
picking mussels out of the sewer for his dinner； whom I could neither by
entreaties nor threats reclaim from the sweetness he found in indigence。
Beggars have their magnificences and delights； as well as the rich； and；
'tis said； their dignities and polities。 These are the effects of
custom； she can mould us； not only into what form she pleases （the sages
say we ought to apply ourselves to the best； which she will soon make
easy to us）； but also to change and variation； which is the most noble
and most useful instruction of all she teaches us。 The best of my bodily
conditions is that I am flexible and not very obstinate： I have
inclinations more my own and ordinary； and more agreeable than others；
but I am diverted from them with very little ado； and easily slip into a
contrary course。 A young man ought to cross his own rules； to awaken his
vigour and to keep it from growing faint and rusty； and there is no
course of life so weak and sottish as that which is carried on by rule
and discipline；
〃Ad primum lapidem vectari quum placet； hora
Sumitur ex libro； si prurit frictus ocelli
Angulus； inspecta genesi； collyria quaerit；〃
＇〃When he is pleased to have himself carried to the first milestone；
the hour is chosen from the almanac； if he but rub the corner of his
eye； his horoscope having been examined； he seeks the aid of
salves。〃…Juvenal； vi。 576。＇
he shall often throw himself even into excesses； if he will take my
advice； otherwise the least debauch will destroy him； and render him
troublesome and disagreeable in company。 The worst quality in a well…
bred man is over…fastidiousness； and an obligation to a certain
particular way； and it is particular； if not pliab