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Socrates says that boys are to cause themselves to be instructed； men to
exercise themselves in well…doing； and old men to retire from all civil
and military employments； living at their own discretion； without the
obligation to any office。 There are some complexions more proper for
these precepts of retirement than others。 Such as are of a soft and dull
apprehension； and of a tender will and affection； not readily to be
subdued or employed； whereof I am one； both by natural condition and by
reflection； will sooner incline to this advice than active and busy
souls； which embrace： all； engage in all； are hot upon everything； which
offer； present； and give themselves up to every occasion。 We are to use
these accidental and extraneous commodities； so far as they are pleasant
to us； but by no means to lay our principal foundation there； 'tis no
true one； neither nature nor reason allows it so to be。 Why therefore
should we； contrary to their laws； enslave our own contentment to the
power of another？ To anticipate also the accidents of fortune； to
deprive ourselves of the conveniences we have in our own power； as
several have done upon the account of devotion； and some philosophers by
reasoning； to be one's own servant； to lie hard； to put out our own eyes；
to throw our wealth into the river； to go in search of grief； these； by
the misery of this life； aiming at bliss in another； those by laying
themselves low to avoid the danger of falling： all such are acts of an
excessive virtue。 The stoutest and most resolute natures render even
their seclusion glorious and exemplary：
〃Tuta et parvula laudo；
Quum res deficiunt； satis inter vilia fortis
Verum； ubi quid melius contingit et unctius； idem
Hos sapere et solos aio bene vivere； quorum
Conspicitur nitidis fundata pecunia villis。〃
＇〃When means are deficient； I laud a safe and humble condition；
content with little： but when things grow better and more easy； I
all the same say that you alone are wise and live well； whose
invested money is visible in beautiful villas。〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 15； 42。＇
A great deal less would serve my turn well enough。 'Tis enough for me；
under fortune's favour； to prepare myself for her disgrace； and； being at
my ease； to represent to myself； as far as my imagination can stretch；
the ill to come； as we do at jousts and tiltings； where we counterfeit
war in the greatest calm of peace。 I do not think Arcesilaus the
philosopher the less temperate and virtuous for knowing that he made use
of gold and silver vessels； when the condition of his fortune allowed him
so to do； I have indeed a better opinion of him than if he had denied
himself what he used with liberality and moderation。 I see the utmost
limits of natural necessity： and considering a poor man begging at my
door； ofttimes more jocund and more healthy than I myself am； I put
myself into his place； and attempt to dress my mind after his mode；
and running； in like manner； over other examples； though I fancy death；
poverty； contempt； and sickness treading on my heels； I easily resolve
not to be affrighted； forasmuch as a less than I takes them with so much
patience； and am not willing to believe that a less understanding can do
more than a greater； or that the effects of precept cannot arrive to as
great a height as those of custom。 And knowing of how uncertain duration
these accidental conveniences are； I never forget； in the height of all
my enjoyments； to make it my chiefest prayer to Almighty God； that He
will please to render me content with myself and the condition wherein I
am。 I see young men very gay and frolic； who nevertheless keep a mass of
pills in their trunk at home； to take when they've got a cold； which they
fear so much the less； because they think they have remedy at hand。
Every one should do in like manner； and； moreover； if they find
themselves subject to some more violent disease； should furnish
themselves with such medicines as may numb and stupefy the part。
The employment a man should choose for such a life ought neither to be a
laborious nor an unpleasing one； otherwise 'tis to no purpose at all to
be retired。 And this depends upon every one's liking and humour。 Mine
has no manner of complacency for husbandry； and such as love it ought to
apply themselves to it with moderation：
＇〃Endeavour to make circumstances subject to me；
and not me subject to circumstances。〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 i； 19。＇
Husbandry is otherwise a very servile employment； as Sallust calls it；
though some parts of it are more excusable than the rest； as the care of
gardens； which Xenophon attributes to Cyrus； and a mean may be found out
betwixt the sordid and low application； so full of perpetual solicitude；
which is seen in men who make it their entire business and study； and the
stupid and extreme negligence； letting all things go at random which we
see in others
〃Democriti pecus edit agellos
Cultaque； dum peregre est animus sine corpore velox。〃
＇〃Democritus' cattle eat his corn and spoil his fields； whilst his
soaring mind ranges abroad without the body。〃
Horace； Ep。； i； 12； 12。＇
But let us hear what advice the younger Pliny gives his friend Caninius
Rufus upon the subject of solitude： 〃I advise thee； in the full and
plentiful retirement wherein thou art； to leave to thy hinds the care of
thy husbandry； and to addict thyself to the study of letters； to extract
from thence something that may be entirely and absolutely thine own。〃 By
which he means reputation； like Cicero； who says that he would employ his
solitude and retirement from public affairs to acquire by his writings an
immortal life。
〃Usque adeone
Scire tuum； nihil est； nisi to scire hoc； sciat alter？
＇〃Is all that thy learning nothing； unless another knows
that thou knowest？〃Persius； Sat。； i。 23。＇
It appears to be reason； when a man talks of retiring from the world；
that he should look quite out of ＇for＇ himself。 These do it but by
halves： they design well enough for themselves when they shall be no more
in it； but still they pretend to extract the fruits of that design from
the world； when absent from it； by a ridiculous contradiction。
The imagination of those who seek solitude upon the account of devotion；
filling their hopes and courage with certainty of divine promises in the
other life； is much more rationally founded。 They propose to themselves
God； an infinite object in goodness and power； the soul has there
wherewithal； at full liberty； to satiate her desires： afflictions and
sufferings turn to their advantage； being undergone for the acquisition
of eternal health and joy； death is to be wished and longed for； where it
is the passage to so perfect a condition； the asperity of the rules they
impose upon themselves is immediately softened by custom； and all their
carnal appetites baffled and subdued； by refusing to humour and feed
them； these being only supported by use and exercise。 This sole end of
another happily immortal life is that which really merits that we should
abandon the pleasures and conveniences of this； and he who can really and
constantly inflame his soul with the ardour of this vivid faith and hope；
erects for himself in solitude a more voluptuous and delicious life than
any other sort of existence。
Neither the end； then； nor the means of this advice pleases me； for we
often fall out of the frying…pan into the fire。 ＇or： we always relapse
ill from fever into fever。＇ This book…employment is as painful as any
other； and as great an enemy to health； which ought to be the first thing
considered； neither ought a man to be allured with the pleasure of it；
which is the same that destroys the frugal； the avaricious； the
voluptuous； and the ambitious man。
＇〃This plodding occupation of bookes is as painfull as any other；
and as great an enemie vnto health； which ought principally to be
considered。 And a man should not suffer him selfe to be inveagled
by the pleasure he takes in them。〃Florio； edit。 1613； p。 122。＇
The sages give us caution enough to beware the treachery of our desires；
and to distinguish true and entire pleasures from such as are mixed and
complicated with greater pain。 For the most of our pleasures； say they；
wheedle and caress only to strangle us； like those thieves the Egyptians
called Philistae； if the headache should come before drunkenness； we
should have a care of drinking too much； but pleasure； to deceive us；
marches before and conceals her train。 Books are pleasant； but if； by
being over…studious； we impair our health and spoil our goodhumour； the
best pieces we have； let us give it over； I； for my part； am one of those
who think； that no fruit derived from them can recompense so great a
loss。 As men who have long felt themselves weakened by indisposition；
give themselves up at last to the mercy of medicine and submit to certain
rules of living； which they are for the future never to transgress； so he
who retire