me the pleasure of satisfying it； all the rules of physic would hardly be
able to divert me from it。 I do the same when I am well； I can see very
little more to be hoped or wished for。 'Twere pity a man should be so
weak and languishing； as not to have even wishing left to him。
The art of physic is not so fixed； that we need be without authority for
whatever we do； it changes according to climates and moons； according to
Fernel and to Scaliger。＇Physicians to Henry II。＇ If your physician
does not think it good for you to sleep； to drink wine； or to eat such
and such meats； never trouble yourself； I will find you another that
shall not be of his opinion； the diversity of medical arguments and
opinions embraces all sorts and forms。 I saw a miserable sick person
panting and burning for thirst； that he might be cured； who was
afterwards laughed at for his pains by another physician； who condemned
that advice as prejudicial to him： had he not tormented himself to good
purpose？ There lately died of the stone a man of that profession； who
had made use of extreme abstinence to contend with his disease： his
fellow…physicians say that； on the contrary； this abstinence had dried
him up and baked the gravel in his kidneys。
I have observed； that both in wounds and sicknesses； speaking discomposes
and hurts me； as much as any irregularity I can commit。 My voice pains
and tires me； for 'tis loud and forced； so that when I have gone to a
whisper some great persons about affairs of consequence； they have often
desired me to moderate my voice。
This story is worth a diversion。 Some one in a certain Greek school
speaking loud as I do； the master of the ceremonies sent to him to speak
softly： 〃 Tell him； then； he must send me；〃 replied the other； 〃the tone
he would have me speak in。〃 To which the other replied； 〃That he should
take the tone from the ears of him to whom he spake。〃 It was well said；
if it is to be understood： 〃Speak according to the affair you are
speaking about to your auditor；〃 for if it mean； 〃'tis sufficient that he
hear you； or govern yourself by him；〃 I do not find it to be reason。 The
tone and motion of my voice carries with it a great deal of the
expression and signification of my meaning； and 'tis I who am to govern
it； to make myself understood： there is a voice to instruct； a voice to
flatter； and a voice to reprehend。 I will not only that my voice reach
him； but； peradventure； that it strike and pierce him。 When I rate my
valet with sharp and bitter language； it would be very pretty for him to
say； 〃Pray； master； speak lower； I hear you very well〃：
〃Est quaedam vox ad auditum accommodata；
non magnitudine； sed proprietate。〃
＇〃There is a certain voice accommodated to the hearing； not by its
loudness； but by its propriety。〃Quintilian； xi。 3。＇
Speaking is half his who speaks； and half his who hears； the latter ought
to prepare himself to receive it； according to its bias； as with tennis…
players； he who receives the ball； shifts and prepares； according as he
sees him move who strikes the stroke； and according to the stroke itself。
Experience has； moreover； taught me this； that we ruin ourselves by
impatience。 Evils have their life and limits； their diseases and their
recovery。
The constitution of maladies is formed by the pattern of the constitution
of animals； they have their fortune and their days limited from their
birth； he who attempts imperiously to cut them short by force in the
middle of their course； lengthens and multiplies them； and incenses
instead of appeasing them。 I am of Crantor's opinion； that we are
neither obstinately and deafly to oppose evils； nor succumb to them from
want of courage； but that we are naturally to give way to them； according
to their condition and our own。 We ought to grant free passage to
diseases； I find they stay less with me； who let them alone； and I have
lost some； reputed the most tenacious and obstinate； by their own decay；
without help and without art； and contrary to its rules。 Let us a little
permit Nature to take her own way； she better understands her own affairs
than we。 But such an one died of it； and so shall you： if not of that
disease； of another。 And how many have not escaped dying； who have had
three physicians at their tails？ Example is a vague and universal
mirror； and of various reflections。 If it be a delicious medicine； take
it： 'tis always so much present good。 I will never stick at the name nor
the colour； if it be pleasant and grateful to the palate： pleasure is one
of the chiefest kinds of profit。 I have suffered colds； gouty
defluxions； relaxations； palpitations of the heart； megrims； and other
accidents； to grow old and die in time a natural death。 I have so lost
them when I was half fit to keep them： they are sooner prevailed upon by
courtesy than huffing。 We must patiently suffer the laws of our
condition； we are born to grow old； to grow weak； and to be sick； in
despite of all medicine。 'Tis the first lesson the Mexicans teach their
children； so soon as ever they are born they thus salute them： 〃Thou art
come into the world； child； to endure： endure； suffer； and say nothing。〃
'Tis injustice to lament that which has befallen any one which may befall
every one：
〃Indignare； si quid in to inique proprio constitutum est。〃
＇〃Then be angry； when there is anything unjustly decreed against
thee alone。〃Seneca； Ep。； 91。＇
See an old man who begs of God that he will maintain his health vigorous
and entire； that is to say； that he restore him to youth：
〃Stulte； quid haec frustra votis puerilibus optas？〃
＇〃Fool！ why do you vainly form these puerile wishes？〃
Ovid。；Trist。； 111。 8； II。＇
is it not folly？ his condition is not capable of it。 The gout； the
stone； and indigestion are symptoms of long years； as heat； rains； and
winds are of long journeys。 Plato does not believe that AEsculapius
troubled himself to provide by regimen to prolong life in a weak and
wasted body； useless to his country and to his profession； or to beget
healthful and robust children； and does not think this care suitable to
the Divine justice and prudence； which is to direct all things to
utility。 My good friend； your business is done； nobody can restore you；
they can； at the most； but patch you up； and prop you a little； and by
that means prolong your misery an hour or two：
〃Non secus instantem cupiens fulcire ruinam；
Diversis contra nititur obiicibus；
Donec certa dies； omni compage soluta；
Ipsum cum rebus subruat auxilium。〃
＇〃Like one who； desiring to stay an impending ruin； places various
props against it； till； in a short time； the house； the props； and
all； giving way； fall together。〃Pseudo…Gallus； i。 171。＇
We must learn to suffer what we cannot evade； our life； like the harmony
of the world； is composed of contrary thingsof diverse tones； sweet and
harsh； sharp and flat； sprightly and solemn： the musician who should only
affect some of these； what would he be able to do？ he must know how to
make use of them all； and to mix them； and so we should mingle the goods
and evils which are consubstantial with our life； our being cannot
subsist without this mixture； and the one part is no less necessary to it
than the other。 To attempt to combat natural necessity； is to represent
the folly of Ctesiphon； who undertook to kick with his mule。＇Plutarch；
How to restrain Anger； c。 8。＇
I consult little about the alterations I feel： for these doctors take
advantage； when they have you at their mercy； they surfeit your ears with
their prognostics； and formerly surprising me； weakened with sickness；
injuriously handled me with their dogmas and magisterial fopperiesone
while menacing me with great pains； and another with approaching death。
Hereby I was indeed moved and shaken； but not subdued nor jostled from my
place； and though my judgment was neither altered nor distracted； yet it
was at least disturbed： 'tis always agitation and combat。
Now； I use my imagination as gently as I can； and would discharge it； if
I could； of all trouble and contest； a man must assist； flatter； and
deceive it； if he can； my mind is fit for that office； it needs no
appearances throughout： could it persuade as it preaches； it would
successfully relieve me。 Will you have an example？。 It tells me： 〃that
'tis for my good to have the stone： that the structure of my age must
naturally suffer some decay； and it is now time it should begin to
disjoin and to confess a breach； 'tis a common necessity； and there is
nothing in it either miraculous or new； I therein pay what is due to old
age； and I cannot expect a better bargain； that society ought to comfort
me； being fallen into the most common infirmity of my age； I see
everywhere men tormented with the same disease； and am honoured by the
fellowship； forasmuch as men of the best quality are most frequently
afflicted with it： 'tis a noble and dignified disease： that of such as
are struck with it； few have it to a less degree of pain； that these are
put to the trouble of a strict diet and the daily taking of nauseous
potions； whereas I owe my better state purely to my good fortune； for
some ordinary broths of eringo or burst…wort that I have twice or thrice
taken to oblige the ladies； who； with greater kindness than my pain was
sharp； would needs present me half of theirs； seemed to me equally easy
to take and fruitless in operation； the others have to pay a thousand
vows to AEsculapius； and as many crowns to their physicians； for the
voiding a little gravel； which I often do by the aid of nature： even the
decorum of my countenance is not disturbed in company； and I can hold my
water ten hours； and as long as any man in health。 The fear of this
disease；〃 says my mind； 〃formerly affrighted thee； when it was unknown to
thee； the cries and despairing groans of those who make it worse by their
impatience； begot a horror in thee。 'Tis an infirmity that punishes the
members by which thou hast most offended。 Thou art a conscientious
fellow；