money。 I was born betwixt eleven and twelve o'clock in the forenoon the
last day of February 1533； according to our computation； beginning the
year the 1st of January；＇This was in virtue of an ordinance of Charles
IX。 in 1563。 Previously the year commenced at Easter； so that the 1st
January 1563 became the first day of the year 1563。＇and it is now but
just fifteen days since I was complete nine…and…thirty years old； I make
account to live； at least； as many more。 In the meantime； to trouble a
man's self with the thought of a thing so far off were folly。 But what？
Young and old die upon the same terms； no one departs out of life
otherwise than if he had but just before entered into it； neither is any
man so old and decrepit； who； having heard of Methuselah； does not think
he has yet twenty good years to come。 Fool that thou art！ who has
assured unto thee the term of life？ Thou dependest upon physicians'
tales： rather consult effects and experience。 According to the common
course of things； 'tis long since that thou hast lived by extraordinary
favour； thou hast already outlived the ordinary term of life。 And that
it is so； reckon up thy acquaintance； how many more have died before they
arrived at thy age than have attained unto it； and of those who have
ennobled their lives by their renown； take but an account； and I dare lay
a wager thou wilt find more who have died before than after five…and…
thirty years of age。 It is full both of reason and piety； too； to take
example by the humanity of Jesus Christ Himself； now； He ended His life
at three…and…thirty years。 The greatest man； that was no more than a
man； Alexander； died also at the same age。 How many several ways has
death to surprise us？
〃Quid quisque； vitet； nunquam homini satis
Cautum est in horas。〃
＇〃Be as cautious as he may； man can never foresee the danger that
may at any hour befal him。〃 Hor。 O。 ii。 13； 13。＇
To omit fevers and pleurisies； who would ever have imagined that a duke
of Brittany； ＇Jean II。 died 1305。＇should be pressed to death in a
crowd as that duke was at the entry of Pope Clement； my neighbour； into
Lyons？ ＇Montaigne speaks of him as if he had been a contemporary
neighbour； perhaps because he was the Archbishop of Bordeaux。 Bertrand
le Got was Pope under the title of Clement V。； 1305…14。＇ Hast thou not
seen one of our kings ＇Henry II。； killed in a tournament； July 10；
1559＇ killed at a tilting； and did not one of his ancestors die by
jostle of a hog？ ＇Philip； eldest son of Louis le Gros。＇ AEschylus；
threatened with the fall of a house； was to much purpose circumspect to
avoid that danger； seeing that he was knocked on the head by a tortoise
falling out of an eagle's talons in the air。 Another was choked with a
grape…stone； ＇Val。 Max。； ix。 12； ext。 2。＇ an emperor killed with
the scratch of a comb in combing his head。 AEmilius Lepidus with a
stumble at his own threshold；＇Pliny； Nat。 Hist。； vii。 33。＇ and
Aufidius with a jostle against the door as he entered the council…
chamber。 And betwixt the very thighs of women； Cornelius Gallus the
proctor； Tigillinus； captain of the watch at Rome； Ludovico； son of Guido
di Gonzaga； Marquis of Mantua； and （of worse example） Speusippus； a
Platonic philosopher； and one of our Popes。〃 The poor judge Bebius gave
adjournment in a case for eight days； but he himself； meanwhile； was
condemned by death； and his own stay of life expired。 Whilst Caius
Julius； the physician； was anointing the eyes of a patient； death closed
his own； and； if I may bring in an example of my own blood； a brother of
mine； Captain St。 Martin； a young man； three…and…twenty years old； who
had already given sufficient testimony of his valour； playing a match at
tennis； received a blow of a ball a little above his right ear； which； as
it gave no manner of sign of wound or contusion； he took no notice of it；
nor so much as sat down to repose himself； but； nevertheless； died within
five or six hours after of an apoplexy occasioned by that blow。
These so frequent and common examples passing every day before our eyes；
how is it possible a man should disengage himself from the thought of
death； or avoid fancying that it has us every moment by the throat？ What
matter is it； you will say； which way it comes to pass； provided a man
does not terrify himself with the expectation？ For my part； I am of this
mind； and if a man could by any means avoid it； though by creeping under
a calf's skin； I am one that should not be ashamed of the shift； all I
aim at is； to pass my time at my ease； and the recreations that will most
contribute to it； I take hold of； as little glorious and exemplary as you
will：
〃Praetulerim 。 。 。 delirus inersque videri；
Dum mea delectent mala me； vel denique fallant；
Quam sapere； et ringi。〃
＇〃I had rather seem mad and a sluggard； so that my defects are
agreeable to myself； or that I am not painfully conscious of them；
than be wise； and chaptious。〃Hor。； Ep。； ii。 2； 126。＇
But 'tis folly to think of doing anything that way。 They go； they come；
they gallop and dance； and not a word of death。 All this is very fine；
but withal； when it comes either to themselves； their wives； their
children； or friends； surprising them at unawares and unprepared； then；
what torment； what outcries； what madness and despair！ Did you ever see
anything so subdued； so changed； and so confounded？ A man must；
therefore； make more early provision for it； and this brutish negligence；
could it possibly lodge in the brain of any man of sense （which I think
utterly impossible）； sells us its merchandise too dear。 Were it an enemy
that could be avoided； I would then advise to borrow arms even of
cowardice itself； but seeing it is not； and that it will catch you as
well flying and playing the poltroon； as standing to't like an honest
man：
〃Nempe et fugacem persequitur virum；
Nec parcit imbellis juventae
Poplitibus timidoque tergo。〃
＇〃He pursues the flying poltroon； nor spares the hamstrings of the
unwarlike youth who turns his back〃Hor。； Ep。； iii。 2； 14。＇
And seeing that no temper of arms is of proof to secure us：
〃Ille licet ferro cautus； se condat et aere；
Mors tamen inclusum protrahet inde caput〃
＇〃Let him hide beneath iron or brass in his fear； death will pull
his head out of his armour。〃Propertious iii。 18＇
let us learn bravely to stand our ground； and fight him。 And to begin
to deprive him of the greatest advantage he has over us； let us take a
way quite contrary to the common course。 Let us disarm him of his
novelty and strangeness； let us converse and be familiar with him； and
have nothing so frequent in our thoughts as death。 Upon all occasions
represent him to our imagination in his every shape； at the stumbling of
a horse； at the falling of a tile； at the least prick with a pin； let us
presently consider； and say to ourselves； 〃Well； and what if it had been
death itself？〃 and； thereupon； let us encourage and fortify ourselves。
Let us evermore； amidst our jollity and feasting； set the remembrance of
our frail condition before our eyes； never suffering ourselves to be so
far transported with our delights； but that we have some intervals of
reflecting upon； and considering how many several ways this jollity of
ours tends to death； and with how many dangers it threatens it。 The
Egyptians were wont to do after this manner； who in the height of their
feasting and mirth； caused a dried skeleton of a man to be brought into
the room to serve for a memento to their guests：
〃Omnem crede diem tibi diluxisse supremum
Grata superveniet； quae non sperabitur； hora。〃
＇〃Think each day when past is thy last； the next day； as unexpected；
will be the more welcome。〃〃…Hor。； Ep。； i。 4； 13。＇
Where death waits for us is uncertain； let us look for him everywhere。
The premeditation of death is the premeditation of liberty； he who has
learned to die has unlearned to serve。 There is nothing evil in life for
him who rightly comprehends that the privation of life is no evil： to
know； how to die delivers us from all subjection and constraint。 Paulus
Emilius answered him whom the miserable King of Macedon； his prisoner；
sent to entreat him that he would not lead him in his triumph； 〃Let him
make that request to himself。〃 ＇ Plutarch； Life of Paulus Aemilius；
c。 17； Cicero； Tusc。； v。 40。＇
In truth； in all things； if nature do not help a little； it is very hard
for art and industry to perform anything to purpose。 I am in my own
nature not melancholic； but meditative； and there is nothing I have more
continually entertained myself withal than imaginations of death； even in
the most wanton time of my age：
〃Jucundum quum aetas florida ver ageret。〃
＇〃When my florid age rejoiced in pleasant spring。〃
Catullus； lxviii。＇
In the company of ladies； and at games； some have perhaps thought me
possessed with some jealousy； or the uncertainty of some hope； whilst I
was entertaining myself with the remembrance of some one； surprised； a
few days before； with a burning fever of which he died； returning from an
entertainment like this； with his head full of idle fancies of love and
jollity； as mine was then； and that； for aught I knew； the same…destiny
was attending me。
〃Jam fuerit； nec post unquam revocare licebit。〃
＇〃Presently the present will have gone； never to be recalled。〃
Lucretius； iii。 928。＇
Yet did not this thought wrinkle my forehead any more than any other。
It is impossible but we must feel a sting in such imaginations as these；
at first； but with often turning and returning them in one's mind； they；
at last； become so familiar as to be no trouble at all： otherwise； I； for
my part； should be in a perpetual fright and frenzy； for never man was so
distrustful of his life； never man so uncertain as to its duration。
Neither health； which I have hitherto ever enjoyed very strong and
vigorous； and ver