particular way； and it is particular； if not pliable and supple。 It is a
kind of reproach； not to be able； or not to dare； to do what we see those
about us do； let such as these stop at home。 It is in every man
unbecoming； but in a soldier vicious and intolerable： who； as Philopcemen
said； ought to accustom himself to every variety and inequality of life。
Though I have been brought up； as much as was possible； to liberty and
independence； yet so it is that； growing old； and having by indifference
more settled upon certain forms （my age is now past instruction； and has
henceforward nothing to do but to keep itself up as well as it can）；
custom has already； ere I was aware； so imprinted its character in me in
certain things； that I look upon it as a kind of excess to leave them
off； and； without a force upon myself； cannot sleep in the daytime； nor
eat between meals； nor breakfast； nor go to bed； without a great interval
betwixt eating and sleeping；＇Gastroesophogeal Reflux。 D。W。＇ as of
three hours after supper； nor get children but before I sleep； nor get
them standing； nor endure my own sweat； nor quench my thirst either with
pure water or pure wine； nor keep my head long bare； nor cut my hair
after dinner； and I should be as uneasy without my gloves as without my
shirt； or without washing when I rise from table or out of my bed； and I
could not lie without a canopy and curtains； as if they were essential
things。 I could dine without a tablecloth； but without a clean napkin；
after the German fashion； very incommodiously； I foul them more than the
Germans or Italians do； and make but little use either of spoon or fork。
I complain that they did not keep up the fashion； begun after the example
of kings； to change our napkin at every service； as they do our plate。
We are told of that laborious soldier Marius that； growing old； he became
nice in his drink； and never drank but out of a particular cup of his own
I； in like manner； have suffered myself to fancy a certain form of
glasses； and not willingly to drink in common glasses； no more than from
a strange common hand： all metal offends me in comparison of a clear and
transparent matter： let my eyes taste； too； according to their capacity。
I owe several other such niceties to custom。 Nature has also； on the
other side； helped me to some of hers： as not to be able to endure more
than two full meals in one day； without overcharging my stomach； nor a
total abstinence from one of those meals without filling myself with
wind； drying up my mouth； and dulling my appetite； the finding great
inconvenience from overmuch evening air； for of late years； in night
marches； which often happen to be all night long； after five or six hours
my stomach begins to be queasy； with a violent pain in my head； so that I
always vomit before the day can break。 When the others go to breakfast；
I go to sleep； and when I rise； I am as brisk and gay as before。 I had
always been told that the night dew never rises but in the beginning of
the night； but for some years past； long and familiar intercourse with
a lord； possessed with the opinion that the night dew is more sharp and
dangerous about the declining of the sun； an hour or two before it sets；
which he carefully avoids； and despises that of the night； he almost
impressed upon me； not so much his reasoning as his experiences。 What；
shall mere doubt and inquiry strike our imagination； so as to change us？
Such as absolutely and on a sudden give way to these propensions； draw
total destruction upon themselves。 I am sorry for several gentlemen who；
through the folly of their physicians； have in their youth and health
wholly shut themselves up： it were better to endure a cough； than； by
disuse； for ever to lose the commerce of common life in things of so
great utility。 Malignant science； to interdict us the most pleasant
hours of the day！ Let us keep our possession to the last； for the most
part； a man hardens himself by being obstinate； and corrects his
constitution； as Caesar did the falling sickness； by dint of contempt。
A man should addict himself to the best rules； but not enslave himself to
them； except to such； if there be any such； where obligation and
servitude are of profit。
Both kings and philosophers go to stool； and ladies too； public lives are
bound to ceremony； mine； that is obscure and private； enjoys all natural
dispensation； soldier and Gascon are also qualities a little subject to
indiscretion； wherefore I shall say of this act of relieving nature； that
it is desirable to refer it to certain prescribed and nocturnal hours；
and compel one's self to this by custom； as I have done； but not to
subject one's self； as I have done in my declining years； to a particular
convenience of place and seat for that purpose； and make it troublesome
by long sitting； and yet； in the fouler offices； is it not in some
measure excusable to require more care and cleanliness？
〃Naturt homo mundum et elegans animal est。〃
＇Man is by nature a clean and delicate creature。〃Seneca；Ep。； 92。＇
Of all the actions of nature； I am the most impatient of being
interrupted in that。 I have seen many soldiers troubled with the
unruliness of their bellies； whereas mine and I never fail of our
punctual assignation； which is at leaping out of bed； if some
indispensable business or sickness does not molest us。
I think then； as I said before； that sick men cannot better place
themselves anywhere in more safety； than in sitting still in that course
of life wherein they have been bred and trained up； change； be it what it
will； distempers and puts one out。 Do you believe that chestnuts can
hurt a Perigordin or a Lucchese； or milk and cheese the mountain people？
We enjoin them not only a new； but a contrary； method of life； a change
that the healthful cannot endure。 Prescribe water to a Breton of
threescore and ten； shut a seaman up in a stove； forbid a Basque footman
to walk： you will deprive them of motion； and in the end of air and
light：
〃An vivere tanti est？
Cogimur a suetis animum suspendere rebus；
Atque； ut vivamus； vivere desinimus。 。
Hos superesse reor； quibus et spirabilis aer
Et lux； qua regimur； redditur ipsa gravis。〃
＇〃Is life worth so much？ We are compelled to withhold the mind
from things to which we are accustomed； and； that we may live； we
cease to live 。 。 。 。 Do I conceive that they still live； to
whom the respirable air； and the light itself； by which we are
governed； is rendered oppressive？〃
Pseudo…Gallus； Eclog。； i。 155； 247。＇
If they do no other good； they do this at least； that they prepare
patients betimes for death； by little and little undermining and cutting
off the use of life。
Both well and sick； I have ever willingly suffered myself to obey the
appetites that pressed upon me。 I give great rein to my desires and
propensities； I do not love to cure one disease by another； I hate
remedies that are more troublesome than the disease itself。 To be
subject to the colic and subject to abstain from eating oysters are two
evils instead of one； the disease torments us on the one side； and the
remedy on the other。 Since we are ever in danger of mistaking； let us
rather run the hazard of a mistake； after we have had the pleasure。 The
world proceeds quite the other way； and thinks nothing profitable that is
not painful； it has great suspicion of facility。 My appetite； in various
things； has of its own accord happily enough accommodated itself to the
health of my stomach。 Relish and pungency in sauces were pleasant to me
when young； my stomach disliking them since； my taste incontinently
followed。 Wine is hurtful to sick people； and 'tis the first thing that
my mouth then finds distasteful； and with an invincible dislike。
Whatever I take against my liking does me harm； and nothing hurts me that
I eat with appetite and delight。 I never received harm by any action
that was very pleasant to me； and accordingly have made all medicinal
conclusions largely give way to my pleasure； and I have； when I was
young；
〃Quem circumcursans huc atque huc saepe Cupido
Fulgebat crocink splendidus in tunic。〃
＇When Cupid； fluttering round me here and there； shone in his rich
purple mantle。〃Catullus； lxvi。 133。＇
given myself the rein as licentiously and inconsiderately to the desire
that was predominant in me； as any other whomsoever：
〃Et militavi non sine gloria；〃
＇〃And I have played the soldier not ingloriously。〃
Horace； Od。； iii。 26； 2。＇
yet more in continuation and holding out； than in sally：
〃Sex me vix memini sustinuisse vices。〃
＇〃I can scarcely remember six bouts in one night〃
Ovid； Amor。； iii。 7； 26。＇
'Tis certainly a misfortune and a miracle at once to confess at what a
tender age I first came under the subjection of love： it was； indeed； by
chance； for it was long before the years of choice or knowledge； I do not
remember myself so far back； and my fortune may well be coupled with that
of Quartilla； who could not remember when she was a maid：
〃Inde tragus； celeresque pili； mirandaque matri
Barba meae。〃
＇〃Thence the odour of the arm…pits； the precocious hair； and the
beard which astonished my mother。〃Martial； xi。 22； 7。＇
Physicians modify their rules according to the violent longings that
happen to sick persons； ordinarily with good success； this great desire
cannot be imagined so strange and vicious； but that nature must have a
hand in it。 And then how easy a thing is it to satisfy the fancy？ In my
opinion； this part wholly carries it； at least； above all the rest。 The
most grievous and ordinary evils are those that fancy loads us with； this
Spanish saying pleases me in several aspects：
〃Defenda me Dios de me。〃
＇〃God defend me from myself。〃＇
I am sorry when I am sick； that I have not some longing that might give
me the pleasure of satisfying it； all the rules of physic would hardly be
able to di