Andbesides，’tisforthosewhoseaffairscompelthemtotravelinthedepthofwinterthroughtheGrisonscountrytobesurpriseduponthewaywithgreatinconveniences。I，who，forthemostpart，travelformypleasure，donotordermyaffairssoill。Ifthewaybefoulonmyrighthand，Iturnonmyleft;ifIfindmyselfunfittoride，IstaywhereI
am;and，sodoing，inearnestIseenothingthatisnotaspleasantandcommodiousasmyownhouse。’TistruethatIalwaysfindsuperfluitysuperfluous，andobserveakindoftroubleeveninabundanceitself。
HaveIleftanythingbehindmeunseen，Igobacktoseeit;’tisstillonmyway;Itracenocertainline，eitherstraightorcrooked。——[RousseauhastranslatedthispassageinhisEmile，bookv。]——DoInotfindintheplacetowhichIgowhatwasreportedtome——asitoftenfallsoutthatthejudgmentsofothersdonotjumpwithmine，andthatIhavefoundtheirreportsforthemostpartfalse——Inevercomplainoflosingmylabour:Ihave，atleast，informedmyselfthatwhatwastoldmewasnottrue。
Ihaveaconstitutionofbodyasfree，andapalateasindifferent，asanymanliving:thediversityofmannersofseveralnationsonlyaffectsmeinthepleasureofvariety:everyusagehasitsreason。Lettheplateanddishesbepewter，wood，orearth;mymeatbeboiledorroasted;letthemgivemebutteroroil，ofnutsorolives，hotorcold，’tisallonetome;andsoindifferent，thatgrowingold，Iaccusethisgenerousfaculty，andwouldwishthatdelicacyandchoiceshouldcorrecttheindiscretionofmyappetite，andsometimessoothemystomach。WhenI
havebeenabroadoutofFranceandthatpeople，outofcourtesy，haveaskedmeifIwouldbeservedaftertheFrenchmanner，Ilaughedatthequestion，andalwaysfrequentedtablesthemostfilledwithforeigners。
Iamashamedtoseeourcountrymenbesottedwiththisfoolishhumourofquarrellingwithformscontrarytotheirown;theyseemtobeoutoftheirelementwhenoutoftheirownvillage:wherevertheygo，theykeeptotheirownfashionsandabominatethoseofstrangers。DotheymeetwithacompatriotinHungary？Othehappychance！Theyarehenceforwardinseparable;theyclingtogether，andtheirwholediscourseistocondemnthebarbarousmannerstheyseeaboutthem。Whybarbarous，becausetheyarenotFrench？Andthosehavemadethebestuseoftheirtravelswhohaveobservedmosttospeakagainst。Mostofthemgofornootherendbuttocomebackagain;theyproceedintheirtravelwithvastgravityandcircumspection，withasilentandincommunicableprudence，preservingthemselvesfromthecontagionofanunknownair。WhatIamsayingofthemputsmeinmindofsomethinglikeitIhaveattimesobservedinsomeofouryoungcourtiers;theywillnotmixwithanybutmenoftheirownsort，andlookuponusasmenofanotherworld，withdisdainorpity。
Putthemuponanydiscoursebuttheintriguesofthecourt，andtheyareutterlyataloss;asveryowlsandnovicestousaswearetothem。
’Tistrulysaidthatawell—bredmanisacompoundman。I，onthecontrary，travelverymuchsatedwithourownfashions;IdonotlookforGasconsinSicily;Ihaveleftenoughofthemathome;IratherseekforGreeksandPersians;theyarethemenIendeavourtobeacquaintedwithandthemenIstudy;’tistherethatIbestowandemploymyself。Andwhichismore，IfancythatIhavemetbutwithfewcustomsthatarenotasgoodasourown;Ihavenot，Iconfess，travelledveryfar;scarceoutofthesightofthevanesofmyownhouse。
Astotherest，mostoftheaccidentalcompanyamanfallsintoupontheroadbegethimmoretroublethanpleasure;IwaivethemasmuchasI
civillycan，especiallynowthatageseemsinsomesorttoprivilegeandsequestermefromthecommonforms。Yousufferforothersorotherssufferforyou;bothoftheminconveniencesofimportanceenough，butthelatterappearstomethegreater。’Tisararefortune，butofinestimablesolace;tohaveaworthyman，oneofasoundjudgmentandofmannersconformabletoyourown，whotakesadelighttobearyoucompany。
Ihavebeenataninfinitelossforsuchuponmytravels。Butsuchacompanionshouldbechosenandacquiredfromyourfirstsettingout。
Therecanbenopleasuretomewithoutcommunication:thereisnotsomuchasasprightlythoughtcomesintomymind，thatitdoesnotgrievemetohaveproducedalone，andthatIhavenoonetocommunicateitto:
\"Sicumhacexceptionedetursapientia，utillaminclusamteneam，necenuntiem，rejiciam。\"
[\"Ifwisdombeconferredwiththisreservation，thatImustkeepittomyself，andnotcommunicateittoothers，Iwouldnoneofit。\"
——\"Seneca，Ep。，6。]
Thisotherhasstraineditonenotehigher:
\"Sicontigeriteavitasapienti，utommumrerumafliuentibuscopiis，quamvisomnia，quaecognitionedignasunt，summootiosecumipseconsideretetcontempletur，tamen，sisolitudotantasit，uthominemviderenonpossit，excedatavita。\"
[\"Ifsuchaconditionoflifeshouldhappentoawiseman，thatinthegreatestplentyofallconvenienceshemight，atthemostundisturbedleisure，considerandcontemplateallthingsworththeknowing，yetifhissolitudebesuchthathemustnotseeaman，lethimdepartfromlife。\"——Cicero，DeOffic。，i。43。]
Architaspleasesmewhenhesays，\"thatitwouldbeunpleasant，eveninheavenitself，towanderinthosegreatanddivinecelestialbodieswithoutacompanion。Butyet’tismuchbettertobealonethaninfoolishandtroublesomecompany。Aristippuslovedtoliveasastrangerinallplaces:
\"MesifatameispaterenturducerevitamAuspiciis，\"
[\"Ifthefateswouldletmeliveinmyownway。\"——AEneid，iv。340。]
Ishouldchoosetopassawaythegreatestpartofmylifeonhorseback:
\"Viseregestiens，Quapanedebacchenturignes，Quanebula，pluviiquerores。\"
[\"Visittheregionswherethesunburns，wherearethethickrain—
cloudsandthefrosts。\"——Horace，Od。，iii。3，54。]
\"Haveyounotmoreeasydiversionsathome？Whatdoyoutherewant？Isnotyourhousesituatedinasweetandhealthfulair，sufficientlyfurnished，andmorethansufficientlylarge？Hasnottheroyalmajestybeenmorethanoncethereentertainedwithallitstrain？Aretherenotmorebelowyourfamilyingoodeasethanthereareaboveitineminence？
Isthereanylocal，extraordinary，indigestiblethoughtthatafflictsyou？\"
\"Quatonunccoquat，etvexetsubpectorefixa。\"
[\"Thatmaynowworryyou，andvex，fixedinyourbreast。\"
——Cicero，DeSenect，c。1，ExEnnio。]
\"Wheredoyouthinktolivewithoutdisturbance？\"
\"NunquamsimpliciterFortunaindulget。\"
[\"Fortuneisneversimplycomplaisant（unmixed）。\"
——QuintusCurtius，iv。14]
Yousee，then，itisonlyyouthattroubleyourself;youwilleverywherefollowyourself，andeverywherecomplain;forthereisnosatisfactionherebelow，buteitherforbrutishorfordivinesouls。Hewho，onsojustanoccasion，hasnocontentment，wherewillhethinktofindit？
Howmanythousandsofmenterminatetheirwishesinsuchaconditionasyours？Dobutreformyourself;forthatiswhollyinyourownpower！
whereasyouhavenootherrightbutpatiencetowardsfortune:
\"Nullaplacidaquiesest，nisiquamratiocomposuit。\"
[\"Thereisnotranquillitybutthatwhichreasonhasconferred。\"
——Seneca，Ep。，56。]
Iseethereasonofthisadvice，andseeitperfectlywell;buthemightsoonerhavedone，andmorepertinently，inbiddingmeinonewordbewise;thatresolutionisbeyondwisdom;’tisherpreciseworkandproduct。Thusthephysiciankeepspreachingtoapoorlanguishingpatientto\"becheerful\";buthewouldadvisehimalittlemorediscreetlyinbiddinghim\"bewell。\"Formypart，Iambutamanofthecommonsort。’Tisawholesomeprecept，certainandeasytobeunderstood，\"Becontentwithwhatyouhave，\"thatistosay，withreason:
andyettofollowthisadviceisnomoreinthepowerofthewisemenoftheworldthaninme。’Tisacommonsaying，butofaterribleextent:
whatdoesitnotcomprehend？Allthingsfallunderdiscretionandqualification。Iknowverywellthat，totakeitbytheletter，thispleasureoftravellingisatestimonyofuneasinessandirresolution，and，insooth，thesetwoareourgoverningandpredominatingqualities。
Yes，Iconfess，Iseenothing，notsomuchasinadream，inawish，whereonIcouldsetupmyrest:varietyonly，andthepossessionofdiversity，cansatisfyme;thatis，ifanythingcan。Intravelling，itpleasesmethatImaystaywhereIlike，withoutinconvenience，andthatIhaveaplacewhereincommodiouslytodivertmyself。Iloveaprivatelife，because’tismyownchoicethatIloveit，notbyanydissentingfromordislikeofpubliclife，which，peradventure，isasmuchaccordingtomycomplexion。Iservemyprincemorecheerfullybecauseitisbythefreeelectionofmyownjudgmentandreason，withoutanyparticularobligation;andthatIamnotreducedandconstrainedsotodoforbeingrejectedordislikedbytheotherparty;andsoofalltherest。Ihatethemorselsthatnecessitycarvesme;anycommodityuponwhichIhadonlytodependwouldhavemebythethroat;
\"Alterremusaquas，altermihiradatarenas;\"
[\"Letmehaveoneoarinthewater，andwiththeotherraketheshore。\"——Propertius，iii。3，23。]
onecordwillneverholdmefastenough。Youwillsay，thereisvanityinthiswayofliving。Butwhereistherenot？Allthesefinepreceptsarevanity，andallwisdomisvanity:
\"Dominusnovitcogitationessapientum，quoniamvanaesunt。\"
[\"TheLordknoweththethoughtsofthewise，thattheyarevain。\"
——Ps。xciii。II;orICor。iii。20。]
Theseexquisitesubtletiesareonlyfitforsermons;theyarediscoursesthatwillsendusallsaddledintotheotherworld。Lifeisamaterialandcorporalmotion，anactionimperfectandirregularofitsownproperessence;Imakeitmybusinesstoserveitaccordingtoitself:
\"Quisquesuospatimurmanes。\"
[\"Weeachofussufferourownparticulardemon。\"——AEneid，vi。743。]
\"Sicestfaciendum，utcontranaturamuniversamnihilcontendamus;
eatamenconservatapropriamsequamur。\"
[\"Wemustsoorderitasbynomeanstocontendagainstuniversalnature;butyet，thatrulebeingobserved，tofollowourown。\"
——Cicero，DeOffcc。，i。31。]
Towhatendaretheseelevatedpointsofphilosophy，uponwhichnohumanbeingcanrely？andthoserulesthatexceedbothouruseandforce？
Iseeoftenthatwehavetheoriesoflifesetbeforeuswhichneithertheproposernorthosewhohearhimhaveanyhope，nor，whichismore，anyinclinationtofollow。Ofthesamesheetofpaperwhereonthejudgehasbutjustwrittenasentenceagainstanadulterer，hestealsapiecewhereontowritealove—lettertohiscompanion’swife。Shewhomyouhavebutjustnowillicitlyembracedwillpresently，eveninyourhearing，moreloudlyinveighagainstthesamefaultinhercompanionthanaPortiawoulddo;——[ThechastedaughterofCatoofUtica。]——andmentherearewhowillcondemnotherstodeathforcrimesthattheythemselvesdonotreputesomuchasfaults。Ihave，inmyyouth，seenamanofgoodrankwithonehandpresenttothepeopleversesthatexcelledbothinwitanddebauchery，andwiththeother，atthesametime，themostripeandpugnacioustheologicalreformationthattheworldhasbeentreatedwithalthesemanyyears。Andsomenproceed;weletthelawsandpreceptsfollowtheirway;ourselveskeepanothercourse，notonlyfromdebaucheryofmanners，butofttimesbyjudgmentandcontraryopinion。Dobuthearaphilosophicallecture;theinvention，eloquence，pertinencyimmediatelystrikeuponyourmindandmoveyou;thereisnothingthattouchesorstingsyourconscience;’tisnottothistheyaddressthemselves。Isnotthistrue？。ItmadeAristosay，thatneitherabathnoralecturedidaughtunlessitscouredandmademenclean。Onemaystopattheskin;butitisafterthemarrowispickedoutas，afterwehaveswallowedgoodwineoutofafinecup，weexaminethedesignsandworkmanship。Inallthecourtsofancientphilosophy，thisistobefound，thatthesameteacherpublishesrulesoftemperanceandatthesametimelessonsinloveandwantonness;Xenophon，，intheverybosomofClinias，wroteagainsttheAristippicvirtue。’Tisnotthatthereisanymiraculousconversioninitthatmakesthemthuswavering;’tisthatSolonrepresentshimself，sometimesinhisownperson，andsometimesinthatofalegislator;onewhilehespeaksforthecrowd，andanotherforhimself;takingthefreeandnaturalrulesforhisownshare，feelingassuredofafirmandentirehealth:
\"Curenturdubiimedicismajoribusaegri。\"
[\"Desperatemaladiesrequirethebestdoctors。\"
——Juvenal，xiii。124。]
Antisthenesallowsasagetolove，andtodowhateverhethinksconvenient，withoutregardtothelaws，forasmuchasheisbetteradvisedthanthey，andhasagreaterknowledgeofvirtue。HisdiscipleDiogenessaid，that\"mentoperturbationsweretoopposereason:tofortune，courage:tothelaws，nature。\"Fortenderstomachs，constrainedandartificialrecipesmustbeprescribed:goodandstrongstomachsservethemselvessimplywiththeprescriptionsoftheirownnaturalappetite;
afterthismannerdoourphysiciansproceed，whoeatmelonsanddrinkicedwines，whilsttheyconfinetheirpatientstosyrupsandsops。
\"Iknownot，\"saidthecourtezanLais，\"whattheymaytalkofbooks，wisdom，andphilosophy;butthesemenknockasoftenatmydoorasanyothers。\"Atthesameratethatourlicencecarriesusbeyondwhatislawfulandallowed，menhave，oftenbeyonduniversalreason，stretchedthepreceptsandrulesofourlife:
\"Nemosatiscredittantumdelinquere，quantumPermittas。\"
[\"Noonethinkshehasdoneilltothefullextentofwhathemay。\"
——Juvenal，xiv。233。]
Itweretobewishedthattherewasmoreproportionbetwixtthecommandandtheobedience;andthemarkseemstobeunjusttowhichonecannotattain。Thereisnosogoodman，whososquaresallhisthoughtsandactionstothelaws，thatheisnotfaultyenoughtodeservehangingtentimesinhislife;andhemaywellbesuchaone，asitweregreatinjusticeandgreatharmtopunishandruin:
\"Ole，quidadteDecutequidfaciatillevelillesua？\"
[\"Olus，whatisittotheewhatheorshedoeswiththeirskin？\"
——Martial，vii。9，I。]
andsuchanonetheremaybe，whohasnowayoffendedthelaws，who，nevertheless，wouldnotdeservethecharacterofavirtuousman，andwhomphilosophywouldjustlycondemntobewhipped;sounequalandperplexedisthisrelation。Wearesofarfrombeinggoodmen，accordingtothelawsofGod，thatwecannotbesoaccordingtoourownhumanwisdomneveryetarrivedatthedutiesithaditselfprescribed;andcoulditarrivethere，itwouldstillprescribetoitselfothersbeyond，towhichitwouldeveraspireandpretend;sogreatanenemytoconsistencyisourhumancondition。Manenjoinshimselftobenecessarilyinfault:heisnotverydiscreettocutouthisowndutybythemeasureofanotherbeingthanhisown。Towhomdoesheprescribethatwhichhedoesnotexpectanyoneshouldperform？isheunjustinnotdoingwhatitisimpossibleforhimtodo？Thelawswhichcondemnusnottobeable，condemnusfornotbeingable。
Attheworst，thisdifformlibertyofpresentingourselvestwoseveralways，theactionsafteronemannerandthereasoningafteranother，maybeallowedtothosewhoonlyspeakofthings;butitcannotbeallowedtothosewhospeakofthemselves，asIdo:ImustmarchmypenasIdomyfeet。Commonlifeoughttohaverelationtotheotherlives:thevirtueofCatowasvigorousbeyondthereasonoftheagehelivedin;andforamanwhomadeithisbusinesstogovernothers，amandedicatedtothepublicservice，itmightbecalledajustice，ifnotunjust，atleastvainandoutofseason。Evenmyownmanners，whichdiffernotaboveaninchfromthosecurrentamongstus，renderme，nevertheless，alittleroughandunsociableatmyage。IknownotwhetheritbewithoutreasonthatIamdisgustedwiththeworldIfrequent;butIknowverywellthatitwouldbewithoutreason，shouldIcomplainofitsbeingdisgustedwithme，seeingIamsowithit。Thevirtuethatisassignedtotheaffairsoftheworldisavirtueofmanywavings，corners，andelbows，tojoinandadaptitselftohumanfrailty，mixedandartificial，notstraight，clear，constant，norpurelyinnocent。Ourannalstothisverydayreproachoneofourkingsforsufferinghimselftoosimplytobecarriedawaybytheconscientiouspersuasionsofhisconfessor:affairsofstatehavebolderprecepts;
\"Exeataula，Quivultessepius。\"
[\"Lethimwhowillbepiousretirefromthecourt。\"
——Lucan，viii。493]
Iformerlytriedtoemployintheserviceofpublicaffairsopinionsandrulesofliving，asrough，new，unpolishedorunpolluted，astheywereeitherbornwithme，orbroughtawayfrommyeducation，andwherewithI
servemyownturn，ifnotsocommodiously，atleastsecurely，inmyownparticularconcerns:ascholasticandnovicevirtue;butIhavefoundthemunaptanddangerous。Hewhogoesintoacrowdmustnowgoonewayandthenanother，keephiselbowsclose，retireoradvance，andquitthestraightway，accordingtowhatheencounters;andmustlivenotsomuchaccordingtohisownmethodastothatofothers;notaccordingtowhatheproposestohimself，butaccordingtowhatisproposedtohim，accordingtothetime，accordingtothemen，accordingtotheoccasions。
Platosays，thatwhoeverescapesfromtheworld’shandlingwithcleanbreeches，escapesbymiracle:andsayswithal，thatwhenheappointshisphilosophertheheadofagovernment，hedoesnotmeanacorruptonelikethatofAthens，andmuchlesssuchaoneasthisofours，whereinwisdomitselfwouldbetoseek。Agoodherb，transplantedintoasoilcontrarytoitsownnature，muchsoonerconformsitselftothesoilthanitreformsthesoiltoit。IfoundthatifIhadwhollytoapplymyselftosuchemployments，itwouldrequireagreatdealofchangeandnewmodellinginmebeforeIcouldbeanywayfitforit:AndthoughIcouldsofarprevailuponmyself（andwhymightInotwithtimeanddiligenceworksuchafeat），Iwouldnotdoit。ThelittletrialIhavehadofpublicemploymenthasbeensomuchdisgusttome;Ifeelattimestemptationstowardambitionrisinginmysoul，butIobstinatelyopposethem:
\"Attu，Catulle，obstinatusobdura。\"
[\"Butthou，Catullus，beobstinatelyfirm。\"——Catullus，viii。19。]
Iamseldomcalledtoit，andasseldomoffermyselfuncalled;libertyandlaziness，thequalitiesmostpredominantinme，arequalitiesdiametricallycontrarytothattrade。Wecannotwelldistinguishthefacultiesofmen;theyhavedivisionsandlimitshardanddelicatetochoose;toconcludefromthediscreetconductofaprivatelifeacapacityforthemanagementofpublicaffairsistoconcludeill;amanmaygovernhimselfwellwhocannotgovernothersso，andcomposeEssayswhocouldnotworkeffects:mentheremaybewhocanorderasiegewell，whowouldillmarshalabattle;whocanspeakwellinprivate，whowouldillharangueapeopleoraprince;nay，’tisperadventureratheratestimonyinhimwhocandotheonethathecannotdotheother，thanotherwise。Ifindthatelevatedsoulsarenotmuchmoreproperformeanthingsthanmeansoulsareforhighones。CoulditbeimaginedthatSocratesshouldhaveadministeredoccasionoflaughter，attheexpenseofhisownreputation，totheAtheniansfor:havingneverbeenabletosumupthevotesofhistribe，todeliverittothecouncil？Truly，thevenerationIhavefortheperfectionsofthisgreatmandeservesthathisfortuneshouldfurnish，fortheexcuseofmyprincipalimperfections，somagnificentanexample。Oursufficiencyiscutoutintosmallparcels;
minehasnolatitude，andisalsoverycontemptibleinnumber。
Saturninus，tothosewhohadconferreduponhimthecommandinchief:
\"Companions，\"saidhe，\"youhavelostagoodcaptain，tomakeofhimabadgeneral。\"
Whoeverboasts，insosickatimeasthis，toemployatrueandsincerevirtueintheworld’sservice，eitherknowsnotwhatitis，opinionsgrowingcorruptwithmanners（and，intruth，tohearthemdescribeit，tohearthemostofthemglorifythemselvesintheirdeportments，andlaydowntheirrules;insteadofpaintingvirtue，theypaintpureviceandinjustice，andsorepresentitfalseintheeducationofprinces）;orifhedoesknowit，boastsunjustlyandlethimsaywhathewill，doesathousandthingsofwhichhisownconsciencemustnecessarilyaccusehim。
IshouldwillinglytakeSeneca’swordontheexperiencehemadeuponthelikeoccasion，providedhewoulddealsincerelywithme。Themosthonourablemarkofgoodnessinsuchanecessityisfreelytoconfessbothone’sownfaultsandthoseofothers;withthepowerofitsvirtuetostayone’sinclinationtowardsevil;unwillinglytofollowthispropension;tohopebetter，todesirebetter。IperceivethatinthesedivisionswhereinweareinvolvedinFrance，everyonelabourstodefendhiscause;buteventheverybestofthemwithdissimulationanddisguise:hewhowouldwriteroundlyofthetruestateofthequarrel，wouldwriterashlyandwrongly。Themostjustpartyisatbestbutamemberofadecayedandworm—eatenbody;butofsuchabody，thememberthatisleastaffectedcallsitselfsound，andwithgoodreason，forasmuchasourqualitieshavenotitlebutincomparison;civilinnocenceismeasuredaccordingtotimesandplaces。ImaginethisinXenophon，relatedasafinecommendationofAgesilaus:that，beingentreatedbyaneighbouringprincewithwhomhehadformerlyhadwar，topermithimtopassthroughhiscountry，hegrantedhisrequest，givinghimfreepassagethroughPeloponnesus;andnotonlydidnotimprisonorpoisonhim，beingathismercy，butcourteouslyreceivedhimaccordingtotheobligationofhispromise，withoutdoinghimtheleastinjuryoroffence。Tosuchideasastheirsthiswereanactofnoespecialnote;
elsewhereandinanotherage，thefranknessandunanimityofsuchanactionwouldbethoughtwonderful;ourmonkeyishcapets[Capets，socalledfromtheirshortcapes，werethestudentsofMontaigneCollegeatParis，andwereheldingreatcontempt。]
wouldhavelaughedatit，solittledoestheSpartaninnocenceresemblethatofFrance。Wearenotwithoutvirtuousmen，but’tisaccordingtoournotionsofvirtue。Whoeverhashismannersestablishedinregularityabovethestandardoftheagehelivesin，lethimeitherwrestorblunthisrules，or，whichIwouldratheradvisehimto，lethimretire，andnotmeddlewithusatall。Whatwillhegetbyit？
\"Egregiumsanctumquevirumsicerno，bimembriHocmonstrumpuero，etmirantijamsubaratroPiscibusinventis，etfoetaecomparomulae。\"
[\"IfIseeanexemplaryandgoodman，Ilikenittoatwo—headedboy，orafishturnedupbytheplough，orateemingmule。\"
——Juvenal，xiii。64。]
Onemayregretbettertimes，butcannotflyfromthepresent;wemaywishforothermagistrates，butwemust，notwithstanding，obeythosewehave;
and，peradventure，’tismorelaudabletoobeythebadthanthegood。Solongastheimageoftheancientandreceivedlawsofthismonarchyshallshineinanycornerofthekingdom，therewillIbe。Iftheyunfortunatelyhappentothwartandcontradictoneanother，soastoproducetwoparts，ofdoubtfulanddifficultchoice，Iwillwillinglychoosetowithdrawandescapethetempest;inthemeantimenatureorthehazardsofwarmaylendmeahelpinghand。BetwixtCaesarandPompey，Ishouldfranklyhavedeclaredmyself;but，asamongstthethreerobberswhocameafter，——[Octavius，MarkAntony，andLepidus。]——amanmusthavebeennecessitatedeithertohidehimself，orhavegonealongwiththecurrentofthetime，whichIthinkonemayfairlydowhenreasonnolongerguides:
\"Quodiversusabis？\"
[\"Whitherdostthourunwandering？\"——AEneid，v。166。]
Thismedleyisalittlefrommytheme;Igooutofmyway;but’tisratherbylicencethanoversight;myfanciesfollowoneanother，butsometimesatagreatdistance，andlooktowardsoneanother，but’tiswithanobliqueglance。IhavereadadialogueofPlato，——[ThePhaedrus。]——ofthelikemotleyandfantasticcomposition，thebeginningaboutlove，andalltheresttotheendaboutrhetoric;theyfearnotthesevariations，andhaveamarvellousgraceinlettingthemselvesbecarriedawayatthepleasureofthewind，oratleasttoseemasiftheywere。Thetitlesofmychaptersdonotalwayscomprehendthewholematter;theyoftendenoteitbysomemarkonly，astheseothers，Andria，Eunuchus;orthese，Sylla，Cicero，Toyquatus。Iloveapoeticprogress，byleapsandskips;’tisanart，asPlatosays，light，nimble，demoniac。
TherearepiecesinPlutarchwhereheforgetshistheme;wherethepropositionofhisargumentisonlyfoundbyincidence，stuffedandhalfstifledinforeignmatter。ObservehisfootstepsintheDaemonofSocrates。OGod！howbeautifularethesefrolicsomesallies，thosevariationsanddigressions，andallthemorewhentheyseemmostfortuitousandcareless。’Tistheindiligentreaderwholosesmysubject，andnotI;therewillalwaysbefoundsomewordorotherinacornerthatistothepurpose，thoughitlieveryclose。Irambleindiscreetlyandtumultuously;mystyleandmywitwanderatthesamerate。Hemustfoolitalittlewhowouldnotbedeemedwhollyafool，sayboththeprecepts，and，stillmore，theexamplesofourmasters。A
thousandpoetsflagandlanguishafteraprosaicmanner;butthebestoldprose（andIstrewithereupanddownindifferentlyforverse）shinesthroughoutwiththelustre，vigour，andboldnessofpoetry，andnotwithoutsomeairofitsfury。Andcertainlyproseoughttohavethepre—
eminenceinspeaking。Thepoet，saysPlato，seateduponthemusestripod，poursoutwithfurywhatevercomesintohismouth，likethepipeofafountain，withoutconsideringandweighingit;andthingsescapehimofvariouscolours，ofcontrarysubstance，andwithanirregulartorrent。
Platohimselfisthroughoutpoetical;andtheoldtheology，asthelearnedtellus，isallpoetry;andthefirstphilosophyistheoriginallanguageofthegods。Iwouldhavemymatterdistinguishitself;itsufficientlyshowswhereitchanges，whereitconcludes，whereitbegins，andwhereitrejoins，withoutinterlacingitwithwordsofconnectionintroducedforthereliefofweakornegligentears，andwithoutexplainingmyself。Whoishethathadnotrathernotbereadatallthanafteradrowsyorcursorymanner？
\"Nihilesttamutile，quodintransituprosit。\"
[\"Nothingissousefulasthatwhichiscursorilyso。\"
——Seneca，Ep。，2。]
Iftotakebooksinhandweretolearnthem:tolookuponthemweretoconsiderthem:andtoruntheseslightlyoverweretograspthem，IwerethentoblametomakemyselfoutsoignorantasIsayIam。SeeingI
cannotfixtheattentionofmyreaderbytheweightofwhatIwrite，’mancomale’，ifIshouldchancetodoitbymyintricacies。\"Nay，buthewillafterwardsrepentthatheeverperplexedhimselfaboutit。\"
’Tisverytrue，buthewillyetbethereperplexed。And，besides，therearesomehumoursinwhichcomprehensionproducesdisdain;whowillthinkbetterofmefornotunderstandingwhatIsay，andwillconcludethedepthofmysensebyitsobscurity;which，tospeakingoodsooth，I
mortallyhate，andwouldavoiditifIcould。Aristotleboastssomewhereinhiswritingsthatheaffectedit:aviciousaffectation。ThefrequentbreaksintochaptersthatImademymethodinthebeginningofmybook，havingsinceseemedtometodissolvetheattentionbeforeitwasraised，asmakingitdisdaintosettleitselftosolittle，I，uponthataccount，havemadethemlonger，suchasrequirepropositionandassignedleisure。
Insuchanemployment，towhomyouwillnotgiveanhouryougivenothing;andyoudonothingforhimforwhomyouonlydoitwhilstyouaredoingsomethingelse。TowhichmaybeaddedthatIhave，peradventure，someparticularobligationtospeakonlybyhalves，tospeakconfusedlyanddiscordantly。Iamthereforeangryatthistrouble—
feastreason，anditsextravagantprojectsthatworryone’slife，anditsopinions，sofineandsubtle，thoughtheybealltrue，Ithinktoodearboughtandtooinconvenient。Onthecontrary，Imakeitmybusinesstobringvanityitselfinrepute，andfollytoo，ifitproducemeanypleasure;andletmyselffollowmyownnaturalinclinations，withoutcarryingtoostrictahanduponthem。
Ihaveseenelsewherehousesinruins，andstatuesbothofgodsandmen:
thesearemenstill。’Tisalltrue;andyet，forallthat，Icannotsooftenrevisitthetombofthatsogreatandsopuissantcity，——[Rome]——
thatIdonotadmireandreverenceit。Thecareofthedeadisrecommendedtous;now，Ihavebeenbredupfrommyinfancywiththesedead;IhadknowledgeoftheaffairsofRomelongbeforeIhadanyofthoseofmyownhouse;IknewtheCapitolanditsplanbeforeIknewtheLouvre，andtheTiberbeforeIknewtheSeine。ThequalitiesandfortunesofLucullus，Metellus，andScipiohaveeverrunmoreinmyheadthanthoseofanyofmyowncountry;theyarealldead;soismyfatherasabsolutelydeadasthey，andisremovedasfarfrommeandlifeineighteenyearsastheyareinsixteenhundred:whosememory，nevertheless，friendshipandsociety，Idonotceasetoembraceandutilisewithaperfectandlivelyunion。Nay，ofmyowninclination，I
paymoreservicetothedead;theycannolongerhelpthemselves，andtherefore，methinks，themorerequiremyassistance:’tistherethatgratitudeappearsinitsfulllustre。Thebenefitisnotsogenerouslybestowed，wherethereisretrogradationandreflection。Arcesilaus，goingtovisitCtesibius，whowassick，andfindinghiminaverypoorcondition，veryfinelyconveyedsomemoneyunderhispillow，and，byconcealingitfromhim，acquittedhim，moreover，fromtheacknowledgmentduetosuchabenefit。Suchashavemeritedfrommefriendshipandgratitudehaveneverlostthesebybeingnomore;IhavebetterandmorecarefullypaidthemwhengoneandignorantofwhatIdid;Ispeakmostaffectionatelyofmyfriendswhentheycannolongerknowit。IhavehadahundredquarrelsindefendingPompeyandforthecauseofBrutus;thisacquaintanceyetcontinuesbetwixtus;wehavenootherholdevenonpresentthingsbutbyfancy。Findingmyselfofnousetothisage，I
throwmyselfbackuponthatother，andamsoenamouredofit，thatthefree，just，andflourishingstateofthatancientRome（forIneitherloveitinitsbirthnoritsoldage）interestsandimpassionatesme;
andthereforeIcannotsooftenrevisitthesitesoftheirstreetsandhouses，andthoseruinsprofoundeventotheAntipodes，thatIamnotinterestedinthem。Isitbynature，orthrougherroroffancy，thatthesightofplaceswhichweknowtohavebeenfrequentedandinhabitedbypersonswhosememoriesarerecommendedinstory，movesusinsomesortmorethantoheararecitaloftheir——actsortoreadtheirwritings？
\"Tantavisadmonitionisinestinlocis……Etidquideminhacurbeinfinitum;quacumqueenimingredimur，inaliquamhistoriamvestigiumponimus。\"
[\"Sogreatapowerofreminiscenceresidesinplaces;andthattrulyinthiscityinfinite，forwhichwaysoeverwego，wefindthetracesofsomestory。\"——Cicero，DeFin。，v。I，2。]
Itpleasesmetoconsidertheirface，bearing，andvestments:Ipronouncethosegreatnamesbetwixtmyteeth，andmakethemringinmyears:
\"Egoillosveneror，ettantisnominibussemperassurgo。\"
[\"Ireverencethem，andalwaysrisetosogreatnames。\"
——Seneca，Ep。，64。]
Ofthingsthatareinsomepartgreatandadmirable，Iadmireeventhecommonparts:Icouldwishtoseetheminfamiliarrelations，walk，andsup。ItwereingratitudetocontemntherelicsandimagesofsomanyworthyandvaliantmenasIhaveseenliveanddie，andwho，bytheirexample，giveussomanygoodinstructions，knewwehowtofollowthem。
And，moreover，thisveryRomethatwenowsee，deservestobebeloved，solongandbysomanytitlesalliedtoourcrown;theonlycommonanduniversalcity;thesovereignmagistratethatcommandsthereisequallyacknowledgedelsewhere’tisthemetropolitancityofalltheChristiannationstheSpaniardandFrenchmanisthereathome:tobeaprinceofthatstate，thereneedsnomorebuttobeofChristendomwheresoever。
Thereisnoplaceuponearththatheavenhasembracedwithsuchaninfluenceandconstancyoffavour;herveryruinsaregrandandglorious，\"Laudandispretiosiorruinis。\"
[\"Morepreciousfromhergloriousruins。\"
——SidoniusApollinaris，Carm。，xxiii。;Narba，v。62。]
sheyetinherverytombretainsthemarksandimagesofempire:
\"Utpalamsit，unoinlocogaudentisopusessenaturx。\"
[\"Thatitmaybemanifestthatthereisinoneplacetheworkofrejoicingnature。\"——Pliny，Nat。Hist。，iii。5。]
Somewouldblameandbeangryatthemselvestoperceivethemselvestickledwithsovainapleasureourhumoursarenevertoovainthatarepleasantletthembewhattheymay，iftheyconstantlycontentamanofcommonunderstanding，Icouldnothavethehearttoblamehim。
IamverymuchobligedtoFortune，inthat，tothisveryhour，shehasofferedmenooutragebeyondwhatIwaswellabletobear。Isitnothercustomtoletthoseliveinquietbywhomsheisnotimportuned？
\"Quantoquisquesibiplumnegaverit，Adiisplumferet:nilcupientiumNuduscastrapeto……
MultapetentibusDesuntmulta。\"
[\"Themoreeachmandenieshimself，themorethegodsgivehim。
PoorasIam，Iseekthecompanyofthosewhoasknothing;theywhodesiremuchwillbedeficientinmuch。\"
——Horace，Od。，iii。16，21，42。]
Ifshecontinueherfavour，shewilldismissmeverywellsatisfied:
\"NihilsupraDeoslacesso。\"
[\"Itroublethegodsnofarther。\"——Horace，Od。，ii。18，11。]
Butbewareashock:thereareathousandwhoperishintheport。
IeasilycomfortmyselfforwhatshallherehappenwhenIshallbegone，presentthingstroublemeenough:
\"Fortunaecaeteramando。\"
[\"Ileavetheresttofortune。\"——Ovid，Metam。，ii。140。]
Besides，Ihavenotthatstrongobligationthattheysaytiesmentothefuture，bytheissuethatsucceedstotheirnameandhonour;andperadventure，oughtlesstocovetthem，iftheyaretobesomuchdesired。Iambuttoomuchtiedtotheworld，andtothislife，ofmyself:IamcontenttobeinFortune’spowerbycircumstancesproperlynecessarytomybeing，withoutotherwiseenlargingherjurisdictionoverme;andhaveneverthoughtthattobewithoutchildrenwasadefectthatoughttorenderlifelesscompleteorlesscontented:asterilevocationhasitsconveniencestoo。Childrenareofthenumberofthingsthatarenotsomuchtobedesired，especiallynowthatitwouldbesohardtomakethemgood:
\"Bonajamnecnascilicet，itacorruptaBuntsemina;\"
[\"Nothinggoodcanbebornnow，theseedissocorrupt。\"
——Tertullian，DePudicita。]
andyettheyarejustlytobelamentedbysuchaslosethemwhentheyhavethem。
Hewholeftmemyhouseincharge，foretoldthatIwasliketoruinit，consideringmyhumoursolittleinclinedtolookafterhouseholdaffairs。
Buthewasmistaken;forIaminthesameconditionnowaswhenIfirstenteredintoit，orrathersomewhatbetter;andyetwithoutofficeoranyplaceofprofit。
Astotherest，ifFortunehasneverdonemeanyviolentorextraordinaryinjury，neitherhasshedonemeanyparticularfavour;whateverwederivefromherbounty，wasthereaboveahundredyearsbeforemytime:Ihave，astomyownparticular，noessentialandsolidgood，thatIstandindebtedfortoherliberality。Shehas，indeed，donemesomeairyfavours，honoraryandtitularfavours，withoutsubstance，andthoseintruthshehasnotgranted，butofferedme，who，Godknows，amallmaterial，andwhotakenothingbutwhatisreal，andindeedmassivetoo，forcurrentpay:andwho，ifIdurstconfesssomuch，shouldnotthinkavaricemuchlessexcusablethanambition:norpainlesstobeavoidedthanshame;norhealthlesstobecovetedthanlearning，orrichesthannobility。
Amongstthoseemptyfavoursofhers，thereisnonethatsomuchpleasesvainhumournaturaltomycountry，asanauthenticbullofaRomanburgess—ship，thatwasgrantedmewhenIwaslastthere，gloriousinsealsandgildedletters，andgrantedwithallgraciousliberality。Andbecause’tiscouchedinamixtstyle，moreorlessfavourable，andthatI
couldhavebeengladtohaveseenacopyofitbeforeithadpassedtheseal。
Beingbeforeburgessofnocityatall，Iamgladtobecreatedoneofthemostnoblethateverwasorevershallbe。IfothermenwouldconsiderthemselvesattherateIdo，theywould，asIdo，discoverthemselvestobefullofinanityandfoppery;toridmyselfofit，I
cannot，withoutmakingmyselfaway。Weareallsteepedinit，aswelloneasanother;buttheywhoarenotawareon’t，havesomewhatthebetterbargain;andyetIknownotwhethertheyhaveorno。