most noble parts； this never meddles with the soul； if anything goes
amiss with her； 'tis her own fault； she betrays； dismounts； and abandons
herself。 There are none but fools who suffer themselves to be persuaded
that this hard and massive body which is baked in our kidneys is to be
dissolved by drinks； wherefore； when it is once stirred； there is nothing
to be done but to give it passage； and； for that matter； it will itself
make one。
I moreover observe this particular convenience in it； that it is a
disease wherein we have little to guess at： we are dispensed from the
trouble into which other diseases throw us by the uncertainty of their
causes； conditions； and progress； a trouble that is infinitely painful：
we have no need of consultations and doctoral interpretations； the senses
well enough inform us both what it is and where it is。
By suchlike arguments； weak and strong； as Cicero with the disease of his
old age； I try to rock asleep and amuse my imagination； and to dress its
wounds。 If I find them worse tomorrow； I will provide new stratagems。
That this is true： I am come to that pass of late； that the least motion
forces pure blood out of my kidneys： what of that？ I move about；
nevertheless； as before； and ride after my hounds with a juvenile and
insolent ardour； and hold that I have very good satisfaction for an
accident of that importance； when it costs me no more but a dull
heaviness and uneasiness in that part； 'tis some great stone that wastes
and consumes the substance of my kidneys and my life； which I by little
and little evacuate； not without some natural pleasure； as an excrement
henceforward superfluous and troublesome。 Now if I feel anything
stirring； do not fancy that I trouble myself to consult my pulse or my
urine； thereby to put myself upon some annoying prevention； I shall soon
enough feel the pain； without making it more and longer by the disease of
fear。 He who fears he shall suffer； already suffers what he fears。 To
which may be added that the doubts and ignorance of those who take upon
them to expound the designs of nature and her internal progressions； and
the many false prognostics of their art； ought to give us to understand
that her ways are inscrutable and utterly unknown； there is great
uncertainty； variety； and obscurity in what she either promises or
threatens。 Old age excepted； which is an indubitable sign of the
approach of death； in all other accidents I see few signs of the future；
whereon we may ground our divination。 I only judge of myself by actual
sensation； not by reasoning： to what end； since I am resolved to bring
nothing to it but expectation and patience？ Will you know how much I get
by this？ observe those who do otherwise； and who rely upon so many
diverse persuasions and counsels； how often the imagination presses upon
them without any bodily pain。 I have many times amused myself； being
well and in safety； and quite free from these dangerous attacks in
communicating them to the physicians as then beginning to discover
themselves in me； I underwent the decree of their dreadful conclusions；
being all the while quite at my ease； and so much the more obliged to the
favour of God and better satisfied of the vanity of this art。
There is nothing that ought so much to be recommended to youth as
activity and vigilance our life is nothing but movement。 I bestir myself
with great difficulty； and am slow in everything； whether in rising；
going to bed； or eating： seven of the clock in the morning is early for
me； and where I rule； I never dine before eleven； nor sup till after six。
I formerly attributed the cause of the fevers and other diseases I fell
into to the heaviness that long sleeping had brought upon me； and have
ever repented going to sleep again in the morning。 Plato is more angry
at excess of sleeping than at excess of drinking。 I love to lie hard and
alone； even without my wife； as kings do； pretty well covered with
clothes。 They never warm my bed； but since I have grown old they give me
at need cloths to lay to my feet and stomach。 They found fault with the
great Scipio that he was a great sleeper； not； in my opinion； for any
other reason than that men were displeased that he alone should have
nothing in him to be found fault with。 If I am anything fastidious in my
way of living 'tis rather in my lying than anything else； but generally
I give way and accommodate myself as well as any one to necessity。
Sleeping has taken up a great part of my life； and I yet continue； at the
age I now am； to sleep eight or nine hours at one breath。 I wean myself
with utility from this proneness to sloth； and am evidently the better
for so doing。 I find the change a little hard indeed； but in three days
'tis over； and I see but few who live with less sleep； when need
requires； and who more constantly exercise themselves； or to whom long
journeys are less troublesome。 My body is capable of a firm； but not of
a violent or sudden agitation。 I escape of late from violent exercises；
and such as make me sweat： my limbs grow weary before they are warm。
I can stand a whole day together； and am never weary of walking； but from
my youth I have ever preferred to ride upon paved roads； on foot； I get
up to the haunches in dirt； and little fellows as I am are subject in the
streets to be elbowed and jostled for want of presence； I have ever loved
to repose myself； whether sitting or lying； with my heels as high or
higher than my seat。
There is no profession as pleasant as the military； a profession both
noble in its execution （for valour is the stoutest； proudest； and most
generous of all virtues）； and noble in its cause： there is no utility
either more universal or more just than the protection of the peace and
greatness of one's country。 The company of so many noble； young； and
active men delights you； the ordinary sight of so many tragic spectacles；
the freedom of the conversation； without art； a masculine and
unceremonious way of living； please you； the variety of a thousand
several actions； the encouraging harmony of martial music that ravishes
and inflames both your ears and souls； the honour of this occupation；
nay； even its hardships and difficulties； which Plato holds so light that
in his Republic he makes women and children share in them； are delightful
to you。 You put yourself voluntarily upon particular exploits and
hazards； according as you judge of their lustre and importance； and； a
volunteer； find even life itself excusably employed：
〃Pulchrumque mori succurrit in armis。〃
＇〃'Tis fine to die sword in hand。〃 （〃And he remembers that it
is honourable to die in arms。〃）AEneid； ii。 317。＇
To fear common dangers that concern so great a multitude of men； not to
dare to do what so many sorts of souls； what a whole people dare； is for
a heart that is poor and mean beyond all measure： company encourages even
children。 If others excel you in knowledge； in gracefulness； in
strength； or fortune； you have alternative resources at your disposal；
but to give place to them in stability of mind； you can blame no one for
that but yourself。 Death is more abject； more languishing and
troublesome； in bed than in a fight： fevers and catarrhs as painful and
mortal as a musket…shot。 Whoever has fortified himself valiantly to bear
the accidents of common life need not raise his courage to be a soldier：
〃Vivere； mi Lucili； militare est。〃
＇〃To live； my Lucilius； is （to make war） to be a soldier。〃
Seneca； Ep。； 96。＇
I do not remember that I ever had the itch； and yet scratching is one of
nature's sweetest gratifications； and so much at hand； but repentance
follows too near。 I use it most in my ears； which are at intervals apt
to itch。
I came into the world with all my senses entire； even to perfection。 My
stomach is commodiously good； as also is my head and my breath； and； for
the most part； uphold themselves so in the height of fevers。 I have
passed the age to which some nations； not without reason； have prescribed
so just a term of life that they would not suffer men to exceed it； and
yet I have some intermissions； though short and inconstant； so clean and
sound as to be little inferior to the health and pleasantness of my
youth。 I do not speak of vigour and sprightliness； 'tis not reason they
should follow me beyond their limits：
〃Non hoc amplius est liminis； aut aquae
Coelestis； patiens latus。〃
＇〃I am no longer able to stand waiting at a door in the rain。〃
Horace； Od。； iii。 10； 9。＇
My face and eyes presently discover my condition； all my alterations
begin there； and appear somewhat worse than they really are； my friends
often pity me before I feel the cause in myself。 My looking…glass does
not frighten me； for even in my youth it has befallen me more than once
to have a scurvy complexion and of ill augury； without any great
consequence； so that the physicians； not finding any cause within
answerable to that outward alteration； attributed it to the mind and to
some secret passion that tormented me within； but they were deceived。
If my body would govern itself as well； according to my rule； as my mind
does； we should move a little more at our ease。 My mind was then not
only free from trouble； but； moreover； full of joy and satisfaction；
as it commonly is； half by its complexion； half by its design：
〃Nec vitiant artus aegrae contagia mentis。〃
＇〃Nor do the troubles of the body ever affect my mind。〃
Ovid； Trist。； iii。 8； 25。＇
I am of the opinion that this temperature of my soul has often raised my
body from its lapses； this is often depressed； if the other be not brisk
and gay； 'tis at least tranquil and at rest。 I had a quartan ague four
or five months； that made me look miserably ill； my mind was always； if
not calm； yet pleasant。 If the pain be without me； the weakness and
languor do not much afflict me； I see various corporal faintings； that
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。