Peradventure，asthesayingis，thetermwehavelivedisworthourmoney。Iwasbornbetwixtelevenandtwelveo’clockintheforenoonthelastdayofFebruary1533，accordingtoourcomputation，beginningtheyearthe1stofJanuary，——[ThiswasinvirtueofanordinanceofCharlesIX。in1563。PreviouslytheyearcommencedatEaster，sothatthe1stJanuary1563becamethefirstdayoftheyear1563。]——anditisnowbutjustfifteendayssinceIwascompletenine—and—thirtyyearsold;Imakeaccounttolive，atleast，asmanymore。Inthemeantime，totroubleaman’sselfwiththethoughtofathingsofaroffwerefolly。Butwhat？
Youngandolddieuponthesameterms;noonedepartsoutoflifeotherwisethanifhehadbutjustbeforeenteredintoit;neitherisanymansooldanddecrepit，who，havingheardofMethuselah，doesnotthinkhehasyettwentygoodyearstocome。Foolthatthouart！whohasassureduntotheethetermoflife？Thoudependestuponphysicians’
tales:ratherconsulteffectsandexperience。Accordingtothecommoncourseofthings，’tislongsincethatthouhastlivedbyextraordinaryfavour;thouhastalreadyoutlivedtheordinarytermoflife。Andthatitisso，reckonupthyacquaintance，howmanymorehavediedbeforetheyarrivedatthyagethanhaveattaineduntoit;andofthosewhohaveennobledtheirlivesbytheirrenown，takebutanaccount，andIdarelayawagerthouwiltfindmorewhohavediedbeforethanafterfive—and—
thirtyyearsofage。Itisfullbothofreasonandpiety，too，totakeexamplebythehumanityofJesusChristHimself;now，HeendedHislifeatthree—and—thirtyyears。Thegreatestman，thatwasnomorethanaman，Alexander，diedalsoatthesameage。Howmanyseveralwayshasdeathtosurpriseus？
\"Quidquisque，vitet，nunquamhominisatisCautumestinhoras。\"
[\"Beascautiousashemay，mancanneverforeseethedangerthatmayatanyhourbefalhim。\"——Hor。O。ii。13，13。]
Toomitfeversandpleurisies，whowouldeverhaveimaginedthatadukeofBrittany，——[JeanII。died1305。]——shouldbepressedtodeathinacrowdasthatdukewasattheentryofPopeClement，myneighbour，intoLyons？——[Montaignespeaksofhimasifhehadbeenacontemporaryneighbour，perhapsbecausehewastheArchbishopofBordeaux。BertrandleGotwasPopeunderthetitleofClementV。，1305—14。]——Hastthounotseenoneofourkings——[HenryII。，killedinatournament，July10，1559]——killedatatilting，anddidnotoneofhisancestorsdiebyjostleofahog？——[Philip，eldestsonofLouisleGros。]——AEschylus，threatenedwiththefallofahouse，wastomuchpurposecircumspecttoavoidthatdanger，seeingthathewasknockedontheheadbyatortoisefallingoutofaneagle’stalonsintheair。Anotherwaschokedwithagrape—stone;——[Val。Max。，ix。12，ext。2。]——anemperorkilledwiththescratchofacombincombinghishead。AEmiliusLepiduswithastumbleathisownthreshold，——[Pliny，Nat。Hist。，vii。33。]——andAufidiuswithajostleagainstthedoorasheenteredthecouncil—
chamber。Andbetwixttheverythighsofwomen，CorneliusGallustheproctor;Tigillinus，captainofthewatchatRome;Ludovico，sonofGuidodiGonzaga，MarquisofMantua;and（ofworseexample）Speusippus，aPlatonicphilosopher，andoneofourPopes。\"ThepoorjudgeBebiusgaveadjournmentinacaseforeightdays;buthehimself，meanwhile，wascondemnedbydeath，andhisownstayoflifeexpired。WhilstCaiusJulius，thephysician，wasanointingtheeyesofapatient，deathclosedhisown;and，ifImaybringinanexampleofmyownblood，abrotherofmine，CaptainSt。Martin，ayoungman，three—and—twentyyearsold，whohadalreadygivensufficienttestimonyofhisvalour，playingamatchattennis，receivedablowofaballalittleabovehisrightear，which，asitgavenomannerofsignofwoundorcontusion，hetooknonoticeofit，norsomuchassatdowntoreposehimself，but，nevertheless，diedwithinfiveorsixhoursafterofanapoplexyoccasionedbythatblow。
Thesesofrequentandcommonexamplespassingeverydaybeforeoureyes，howisitpossibleamanshoulddisengagehimselffromthethoughtofdeath，oravoidfancyingthatithasuseverymomentbythethroat？Whatmatterisit，youwillsay，whichwayitcomestopass，providedamandoesnotterrifyhimselfwiththeexpectation？Formypart，Iamofthismind，andifamancouldbyanymeansavoidit，thoughbycreepingunderacalf’sskin，Iamonethatshouldnotbeashamedoftheshift;allI
aimatis，topassmytimeatmyease，andtherecreationsthatwillmostcontributetoit，Itakeholdof，aslittlegloriousandexemplaryasyouwill:
\"Praetulerim……delirusinersquevideri，Dummeadelectentmalame，veldeniquefallant，Quamsapere，etringi。\"
[\"Ihadratherseemmadandasluggard，sothatmydefectsareagreeabletomyself，orthatIamnotpainfullyconsciousofthem，thanbewise，andchaptious。\"——Hor。，Ep。，ii。2，126。]
But’tisfollytothinkofdoinganythingthatway。Theygo，theycome，theygallopanddance，andnotawordofdeath。Allthisisveryfine;
butwithal，whenitcomeseithertothemselves，theirwives，theirchildren，orfriends，surprisingthematunawaresandunprepared，then，whattorment，whatoutcries，whatmadnessanddespair！Didyoueverseeanythingsosubdued，sochanged，andsoconfounded？Amanmust，therefore，makemoreearlyprovisionforit;andthisbrutishnegligence，coulditpossiblylodgeinthebrainofanymanofsense（whichIthinkutterlyimpossible），sellsusitsmerchandisetoodear。Wereitanenemythatcouldbeavoided，Iwouldthenadvisetoborrowarmsevenofcowardiceitself;butseeingitisnot，andthatitwillcatchyouaswellflyingandplayingthepoltroon，asstandingto’tlikeanhonestman:——
\"Nempeetfugacempersequiturvirum，NecparcitimbellisjuventaePoplitibustimidoquetergo。\"
[\"Hepursuestheflyingpoltroon，norsparesthehamstringsoftheunwarlikeyouthwhoturnshisback\"——Hor。，Ep。，iii。2，14。]
Andseeingthatnotemperofarmsisofprooftosecureus:——
\"Illelicetferrocautus，secondatetaere，Morstameninclusumprotrahetindecaput\"
[\"Lethimhidebeneathironorbrassinhisfear，deathwillpullhisheadoutofhisarmour。\"——Propertiousiii。18]
——letuslearnbravelytostandourground，andfighthim。Andtobegintodeprivehimofthegreatestadvantagehehasoverus，letustakeawayquitecontrarytothecommoncourse。Letusdisarmhimofhisnoveltyandstrangeness，letusconverseandbefamiliarwithhim，andhavenothingsofrequentinourthoughtsasdeath。Uponalloccasionsrepresenthimtoourimaginationinhiseveryshape;atthestumblingofahorse，atthefallingofatile，attheleastprickwithapin，letuspresentlyconsider，andsaytoourselves，\"Well，andwhatifithadbeendeathitself？\"and，thereupon，letusencourageandfortifyourselves。
Letusevermore，amidstourjollityandfeasting，settheremembranceofourfrailconditionbeforeoureyes，neversufferingourselvestobesofartransportedwithourdelights，butthatwehavesomeintervalsofreflectingupon，andconsideringhowmanyseveralwaysthisjollityofourstendstodeath，andwithhowmanydangersitthreatensit。TheEgyptianswerewonttodoafterthismanner，whointheheightoftheirfeastingandmirth，causedadriedskeletonofamantobebroughtintotheroomtoserveforamementototheirguests:
\"OmnemcredediemtibidiluxissesupremumGratasuperveniet，quaenonsperabitur，hora。\"
[\"Thinkeachdaywhenpastisthylast;thenextday，asunexpected，willbethemorewelcome。\"——\"—Hor。，Ep。，i。4，13。]
Wheredeathwaitsforusisuncertain;letuslookforhimeverywhere。
Thepremeditationofdeathisthepremeditationofliberty;hewhohaslearnedtodiehasunlearnedtoserve。Thereisnothingevilinlifeforhimwhorightlycomprehendsthattheprivationoflifeisnoevil:toknow，howtodiedeliversusfromallsubjectionandconstraint。PaulusEmiliusansweredhimwhomthemiserableKingofMacedon，hisprisoner，senttoentreathimthathewouldnotleadhiminhistriumph，\"Lethimmakethatrequesttohimself。\"——[Plutarch，LifeofPaulusAemilius，c。17;Cicero，Tusc。，v。40。]
Intruth，inallthings，ifnaturedonothelpalittle，itisveryhardforartandindustrytoperformanythingtopurpose。Iaminmyownnaturenotmelancholic，butmeditative;andthereisnothingIhavemorecontinuallyentertainedmyselfwithalthanimaginationsofdeath，eveninthemostwantontimeofmyage:
\"Jucundumquumaetasfloridaverageret。\"
[\"Whenmyfloridagerejoicedinpleasantspring。\"
——Catullus，lxviii。]
Inthecompanyofladies，andatgames，somehaveperhapsthoughtmepossessedwithsomejealousy，ortheuncertaintyofsomehope，whilstI
wasentertainingmyselfwiththeremembranceofsomeone，surprised，afewdaysbefore，withaburningfeverofwhichhedied，returningfromanentertainmentlikethis，withhisheadfullofidlefanciesofloveandjollity，asminewasthen，andthat，foraughtIknew，thesame—destinywasattendingme。
\"Jamfuerit，necpostunquamrevocarelicebit。\"
[\"Presentlythepresentwillhavegone，nevertoberecalled。\"
Lucretius，iii。928。]
Yetdidnotthisthoughtwrinklemyforeheadanymorethananyother。
Itisimpossiblebutwemustfeelastinginsuchimaginationsasthese，atfirst;butwithoftenturningandreturningtheminone’smind，they，atlast，becomesofamiliarastobenotroubleatall:otherwise，I，formypart，shouldbeinaperpetualfrightandfrenzy;fornevermanwassodistrustfulofhislife，nevermansouncertainastoitsduration。
Neitherhealth，whichIhavehithertoeverenjoyedverystrongandvigorous，andveryseldominterrupted，doesprolong，norsicknesscontractmyhopes。Everyminute，methinks，Iamescaping，anditeternallyrunsinmymind，thatwhatmaybedoneto—morrow，maybedoneto—day。Hazardsanddangersdo，intruth，littleornothinghastenourend;andifweconsiderhowmanythousandsmoreremainandhangoverourheads，besidestheaccidentthatimmediatelythreatensus，weshallfindthatthesoundandthesick，thosethatareabroadatsea，andthosethatsitbythefire，thosewhoareengagedinbattle，andthosewhositidleathome，aretheoneasnearitastheother。
\"Nemoalterofragiliorest;nemoincrastinumsuicertior。\"
[\"Nomanismorefragilethananother:nomanmorecertainthananotherofto—morrow。\"——Seneca，Ep。，91。]
ForanythingIhavetodobeforeIdie，thelongestleisurewouldappeartooshort，wereitbutanhour’sbusinessIhadtodo。
Afriendofminetheotherdayturningovermytablets，foundthereinamemorandumofsomethingIwouldhavedoneaftermydecease，whereuponI
toldhim，asitwasreallytrue，thatthoughIwasnomorethanaleague’sdistanceonlyfrommyownhouse，andmerryandwell，yetwhenthatthingcameintomyhead，Imadehastetowriteitdownthere，becauseIwasnotcertaintolivetillIcamehome。Asamanthatameternallybroodingovermyownthoughts，andconfinethemtomyownparticularconcerns，IamatallhoursaswellpreparedasIameverliketobe，anddeath，wheneverheshallcome，canbringnothingalongwithhimIdidnotexpectlongbefore。Weshouldalways，asnearaswecan，bebootedandspurred，andreadytogo，and，aboveallthings，takecare，atthattime，tohavenobusinesswithanyonebutone’sself:——
\"QuidbrevifortesjaculamuravoMulta？\"
[\"Whyforsoshortalifeteaseourselveswithsomanyprojects？\"
——Hor。，Od。，ii。16，17。]
forweshalltherefindworkenoughtodo，withoutanyneedofaddition。
Onemancomplains，morethanofdeath，thatheistherebypreventedofagloriousvictory;another，thathemustdiebeforehehasmarriedhisdaughter，oreducatedhischildren;athirdseemsonlytroubledthathemustlosethesocietyofhiswife;afourth，theconversationofhisson，astheprincipalcomfortandconcernofhisbeing。Formypart，Iam，thanksbetoGod，atthisinstantinsuchacondition，thatIamreadytodislodge，wheneveritshallpleaseHim，withoutregretforanythingwhatsoever。Idisengagemyselfthroughoutfromallworldlyrelations;
myleaveissoontakenofallbutmyself。Neverdidanyonepreparetobidadieutotheworldmoreabsolutelyandunreservedly，andtoshakehandswithallmannerofinterestinit，thanIexpecttodo。Thedeadestdeathsarethebest:
\"`Miser，Omiser，’aiunt，’omniaademitUnadiesinfestamihitotpraemiavitae。’\"
[\"’WretchthatIam，’theycry，’onefataldayhasdeprivedmeofalljoysoflife。’\"——Lucretius，iii。911。]
Andthebuilder，\"Manuet，\"sayshe，\"operainterrupta，minaequeMurorumingentes。\"
[\"Theworksremainincomplete，thetallpinnaclesofthewallsunmade。\"——AEneid，iv。88。]
Amanmustdesignnothingthatwillrequiresomuchtimetothefinishing，or，atleast，withnosuchpassionatedesiretoseeitbroughttoperfection。Weareborntoaction:
\"Quummoriar，mediumsolvaretinteropus。\"
[\"WhenIshalldie，letitbedoingthatIhaddesigned。\"
——Ovid，Amor。，ii。10，36。
Iwouldalwayshaveamantobedoing，and，asmuchasinhimlies，toextendandspinouttheofficesoflife;andthenletdeathtakemeplantingmycabbages，indifferenttohim，andstilllessofmygardensnotbeingfinished。Isawonedie，who，athislastgasp，complainedofnothingsomuchasthatdestinywasabouttocutthethreadofachroniclehewasthencompiling，whenhewasgonenofartherthanthefifteenthorsixteenthofourkings:
\"Illudinhisrebusnonaddunt:nectibiearumjamdesideriumrerumsuperinsidetuna。\"
[\"Theydonotadd，thatdying，wehavenolongeradesiretopossessthings。\"——Lucretius，iii。913。]
Wearetodischargeourselvesfromthesevulgarandhurtfulhumours。
Tothispurposeitwasthatmenfirstappointedtheplacesofsepultureadjoiningthechurches，andinthemostfrequentedplacesofthecity，toaccustom，saysLycurgus，thecommonpeople，women，andchildren，thattheyshouldnotbestartledatthesightofacorpse，andtotheend，thatthecontinualspectacleofbones，graves，andfuneralobsequiesshouldputusinmindofourfrailcondition:
\"QuinetiamexhilararevirisconviviacaedeMosolim，etmiscereepulisspectaculadiraCertantumferro，saepeetsuperipsacadentumPocula，respersisnonparcosanguinemensis。\"
[\"Itwasformerlythecustomtoenlivenbanquetswithslaughter，andtocombinewiththerepastthedirespectacleofmencontendingwiththesword，thedyinginmanycasesfallinguponthecups，andcoveringthetableswithblood。\"——SiliusItalicus，xi。51。]
AndastheEgyptiansaftertheirfeastswerewonttopresentthecompanywithagreatimageofdeath，byonethatcriedouttothem，\"Drinkandbemerry，forsuchshaltthoubewhenthouartdead\";soitismycustomtohavedeathnotonlyinmyimagination，butcontinuallyinmymouth。
NeitheristhereanythingofwhichIamsoinquisitive，anddelighttoinformmyself，asthemannerofmen’sdeaths，theirwords，looks，andbearing;noranyplacesinhistoryIamsointentupon;anditismanifestenough，bymycrowdinginexamplesofthiskind，thatIhaveaparticularfancyforthatsubject。IfIwereawriterofbooks，Iwouldcompilearegister，withacomment，ofthevariousdeathsofmen:hewhoshouldteachmentodiewouldatthesametimeteachthemtolive。
Dicarchusmadeone，towhichhegavethattitle。;butitwasdesignedforanotherandlessprofitableend。
Peradventure，someonemayobject，thatthepainandterrorofdyingsoinfinitelyexceedallmannerofimagination，thatthebestfencerwillbequiteoutofhisplaywhenitcomestothepush。Letthemsaywhattheywill:topremeditateisdoubtlessaverygreatadvantage;andbesides，isitnothingtogosofar，atleast，withoutdisturbanceoralteration？
Moreover，Natureherselfassistsandencouragesus:ifthedeathbesuddenandviolent，wehavenotleisuretofear;ifotherwise，IperceivethatasIengagefurtherinmydisease，Inaturallyenterintoacertainloathinganddisdainoflife。IfindIhavemuchmoreadotodigestthisresolutionofdying，whenIamwellinhealth，thanwhenlanguishingofafever;andbyhowmuchIhavelesstodowiththecommoditiesoflife，byreasonthatIbegintolosetheuseandpleasureofthem，bysomuchI
lookupondeathwithlessterror。Whichmakesmehope，thatthefurtherIremovefromthefirst，andthenearerIapproachtothelatter，Ishallthemoreeasilyexchangetheonefortheother。And，asIhaveexperiencedinotheroccurrences，that，asCaesarsays，thingsoftenappeargreatertousatdistancethannearathand，Ihavefound，thatbeingwell，Ihavehadmaladiesinmuchgreaterhorrorthanwhenreallyafflictedwiththem。ThevigourwhereinInowam，thecheerfulnessanddelightwhereinInowlive，makethecontraryestateappearinsogreatadisproportiontomypresentcondition，that，byimagination，Imagnifythoseinconveniencesbyone—half，andapprehendthemtobemuchmoretroublesome，thanIfindthemreallytobe，whentheyliethemostheavyuponme;Ihopetofinddeaththesame。
Letusbutobserveintheordinarychangesanddeclinationswedailysuffer，hownaturedeprivesusofthelightandsenseofourbodilydecay。Whatremainstoanoldmanofthevigourofhisyouthandbetterdays？
\"Heu！senibusvitaeportioquantamanet。\"
[\"Alas，tooldmenwhatportionofliferemains！\"———Maximian，velPseudo—Gallus，i。16。]
Caesar，toanoldweather—beatensoldierofhisguards，whocametoaskhimleavethathemightkillhimself，takingnoticeofhiswitheredbodyanddecrepitmotion，pleasantlyanswered，\"Thoufanciest，then，thatthouartyetalive。\"——[Seneca，Ep。，77。]——Shouldamanfallintothisconditiononthesudden，Idonotthinkhumanitycapableofenduringsuchachange:butnature，leadingusbythehand，aneasyand，asitwere，aninsensiblepace，stepbystepconductsustothatmiserablestate，andbythatmeansmakesitfamiliartous，sothatweareinsensibleofthestrokewhenouryouthdiesinus，thoughitbereallyaharderdeaththanthefinaldissolutionofalanguishingbody，thanthedeathofoldage;
forasmuchasthefallisnotsogreatfromanuneasybeingtononeatall，asitisfromasprightlyandflourishingbeingtoonethatistroublesomeandpainful。Thebody，bentandbowed，haslessforcetosupportaburden;anditisthesamewiththesoul，andthereforeitis，thatwearetoraiseherupfirmanderectagainstthepowerofthisadversary。For，asitisimpossiblesheshouldeverbeatrest，whilstshestandsinfearofit;so，ifsheoncecanassureherself，shemayboast（whichisathingasitweresurpassinghumancondition）thatitisimpossiblethatdisquiet，anxiety，orfear，oranyotherdisturbance，shouldinhabitorhaveanyplaceinher:
\"NonvulnusinstantsTyranniMenthacadisolida，nequeAusterDuxinquietiturbidusAdriae，NecfulminantismagnaJovismanus。\"
[\"Notthemenacinglookofatyrantshakesherwell—settledsoul，norturbulentAuster，theprinceofthestormyAdriatic，noryetthestronghandofthunderingJove，suchatempermoves。\"
——Hor。，Od。，iii。3，3。]
Sheisthenbecomesovereignofallherlustsandpassions，mistressofnecessity，shame，poverty，andalltheotherinjuriesoffortune。Letus，therefore，asmanyofusascan，getthisadvantage;’tisthetrueandsovereignlibertyhereonearth，thatfortifiesuswherewithaltodefyviolenceandinjustice，andtocontemnprisonsandchains:
\"InmanicisetCompedibussaevotesubcustodetenebo。
IpseDeus，simulatquevolam，mesolvet。Opinor，Hocsentit;moriar;morsultimalinearerumest。\"
[\"Iwillkeeptheeinfettersandchains，incustodyofasavagekeeper。——AgodwillwhenIaskHim，setmefree。
ThisgodIthinkisdeath。Deathisthetermofallthings。\"
——Hor。，Ep。，i。16，76。]
Ourveryreligionitselfhasnosurerhumanfoundationthanthecontemptofdeath。Notonlytheargumentofreasoninvitesustoit——forwhyshouldwefeartoloseathing，whichbeinglost，cannotbelamented？——
but，also，seeingwearethreatenedbysomanysortsofdeath，isitnotinfinitelyworseeternallytofearthemall，thanoncetoundergooneofthem？Andwhatmattersit，whenitshallhappen，sinceitisinevitable？
TohimthattoldSocrates，\"Thethirtytyrantshavesentencedtheetodeath\";\"Andnaturethem，\"saidhe。——[Socrateswasnotcondemnedtodeathbythethirtytyrants，butbytheAthenians。—DiogenesLaertius，ii。35。]——
Whataridiculousthingitistotroubleourselvesabouttakingtheonlystepthatistodeliverusfromalltrouble！Asourbirthbroughtusthebirthofallthings，soinourdeathisthedeathofallthingsincluded。
Andthereforetolamentthatweshallnotbealiveahundredyearshence，isthesamefollyastobesorrywewerenotaliveahundredyearsago。
Deathisthebeginningofanotherlife。Sodidweweep，andsomuchitcostustoenterintothis，andsodidweputoffourformerveilinenteringintoit。Nothingcanbeagrievancethatisbutonce。Isitreasonablesolongtofearathingthatwillsosoonbedespatched？
Longlife，andshort，arebydeathmadeallone;forthereisnolong，norshort，tothingsthatarenomore。AristotletellsusthattherearecertainlittlebeastsuponthebanksoftheriverHypanis，thatneverliveaboveaday:theywhichdieateightoftheclockinthemorning，dieintheiryouth，andthosethatdieatfiveintheevening，intheirdecrepitude:whichofuswouldnotlaughtoseethismomentofcontinuanceputintotheconsiderationofwealorwoe？Themostandtheleast，ofours，incomparisonwitheternity，oryetwiththedurationofmountains，rivers，stars，trees，andevenofsomeanimals，isnolessridiculous。——[Seneca，Consol。adMarciam，c。20。]
Butnaturecompelsustoit。\"Gooutofthisworld，\"saysshe，\"asyouenteredintoit;thesamepassyoumadefromdeathtolife，withoutpassionorfear，thesame，afterthesamemanner，repeatfromlifetodeath。Yourdeathisapartoftheorderoftheuniverse，’tisapartofthelifeoftheworld。
\"’Intersemortalesmutuavivunt……
Et，quasicursores，vitailampadatradunt。’
[\"Mortals，amongstthemselves，livebyturns，and，liketherunnersinthegames，giveupthelamp，whentheyhavewontherace，tothenextcomer。——\"Lucretius，ii。75，78。]
\"ShallIexchangeforyouthisbeautifulcontextureofthings？’Tistheconditionofyourcreation;deathisapartofyou，andwhilstyouendeavourtoevadeit，youevadeyourselves。Thisverybeingofyoursthatyounowenjoyisequallydividedbetwixtlifeanddeath。Thedayofyourbirthisoneday’sadvancetowardsthegrave:
\"’Prima，quxvitamdedit，horacarpsit。’
[\"Thefirsthourthatgaveuslifetookawayalsoanhour。\"
——Seneca，Her。Fur。，3Chor。874。]
\"’Nascentesmorimur，finisqueaboriginependet。’
[\"Aswearebornwedie，andtheendcommenceswiththebeginning。\"—
—Manilius，Ast。，iv。16。]
\"Allthewholetimeyoulive，youpurloinfromlifeandliveattheexpenseoflifeitself。Theperpetualworkofyourlifeisbuttolaythefoundationofdeath。Youareindeath，whilstyouareinlife，becauseyoustillareafterdeath，whenyouarenomorealive;or，ifyouhadratherhaveitso，youaredeadafterlife，butdyingallthewhileyoulive;anddeathhandlesthedyingmuchmorerudelythanthedead，andmoresensiblyandessentially。Ifyouhavemadeyourprofitoflife，youhavehadenoughofit;goyourwaysatisfied。
\"`Curnonutplenusvita;convivarecedis？’
[\"Whynotdepartfromlifeasasatedguestfromafeast？
\"Lucretius，iii。951。]
\"Ifyouhavenotknownhowtomakethebestuseofit，ifitwasunprofitabletoyou，whatneedyoucaretoloseit，towhatendwouldyoudesirelongertokeepit？
\"’Curampliusadderequaeris，Rursumquodpereatmale，etingratumoccidatomne？’
[\"Whyseektoaddlongerlife，merelytorenewill—spenttime，andbeagaintormented？\"——Lucretius，iii。914。]
\"Lifeinitselfisneithergoodnorevil;itisthesceneofgoodorevilasyoumakeit。’And，ifyouhavelivedaday，youhaveseenall:onedayisequalandliketoallotherdays。Thereisnootherlight，noothershade;thisverysun，thismoon，theseverystars，thisveryorderanddispositionofthings，isthesameyourancestorsenjoyed，andthatshallalsoentertainyourposterity:
\"`Nonaliumviderepatres，aliumvenepotesAspicient。’
[\"Yourgrandsiressawnootherthing;norwillyourposterity。\"
——Manilius，i。529。]
\"And，cometheworstthatcancome，thedistributionandvarietyofalltheactsofmycomedyareperformedinayear。Ifyouhaveobservedtherevolutionofmyfourseasons，theycomprehendtheinfancy，theyouth，thevirility，andtheoldageoftheworld:theyearhasplayedhispart，andknowsnootherartbuttobeginagain;itwillalwaysbethesamething:
\"’Versamuribidem，atqueinsumususque。’
[\"Weareturninginthesamecircle，everthereinconfined。\"
——Lucretius，iii。1093。
\"’Atqueinsesuapervestigiavolviturannus。’
[\"Theyeariseverturningaroundinthesamefootsteps。\"
——Virgil，Georg。，ii。402。
\"Iamnotpreparedtocreateforyouanynewrecreations:
\"’Namtibiprxtereaquodmachiner，inveniamqueQuodplaceat，nihilest;eademsuntomniasemper。’
[\"Icandevise，norfindanythingelsetopleaseyou:’tisthesamethingoverandoveragain。\"——Lucretiusiii。957]
\"Giveplacetoothers，asothershavegivenplacetoyou。Equalityisthesoulofequity。Whocancomplainofbeingcomprehendedinthesamedestiny，whereinallareinvolved？Besides，liveaslongasyoucan，youshallbythatnothingshortenthespaceyouaretobedead;’tisalltonopurpose;youshallbeeverywhitaslongintheconditionyousomuchfear，asifyouhaddiedatnurse:
\"’Licetquotvisvivendovinceresecla，Morsaeternatamennihilominusillamanebit。’
[\"Livetriumphingoverasmanyagesasyouwill，deathstillwillremaineternal。\"——Lucretius，iii。1103]
\"AndyetIwillplaceyouinsuchaconditionasyoushallhavenoreasontobedispleased。
\"’Inveranescisnullumforemortealiumte，Quipossitvivustibitolugereperemptum，Stansquejacentem。’
[\"Knowyounotthat，whendead，therecanbenootherlivingselftolamentyoudead，standingonyourgrave。\"——Idem。，ibid。，898。]
\"Norshallyousomuchaswishforthelifeyouaresoconcernedabout:
\"`Necsibienimquisquamtumsevitamquerequirit……
\"’Necdesideriumnostrinosafficitullum。’
\"Deathislesstobefearedthannothing，iftherecouldbeanythinglessthannothing。
\"’Multo……mortemminusadnosesseputandium，Siminusessepotest，quamquodnihilessevidemus。’
\"Neithercanitanywayconcernyou，whetheryouarelivingordead:
living，byreasonthatyouarestillinbeing;dead，becauseyouarenomore。Moreover，noonediesbeforehishour:thetimeyouleavebehindwasnomoreyoursthanthatwaslapsedandgonebeforeyoucameintotheworld;nordoesitanymoreconcernyou。
\"’Respiceenim，quamniladnosanteactavetustasTemporisaeternifuerit。’
[\"Considerhowasnothingtousistheoldageoftimespast。\"
——Lucretiusiii。985]
Whereveryourlifeends，itisallthere。Theutilityoflivingconsistsnotinthelengthofdays，butintheuseoftime;amanmayhavelivedlong，andyetlivedbutalittle。Makeuseoftimewhileitispresentwithyou。Itdependsuponyourwill，andnotuponthenumberofdays，tohaveasufficientlengthoflife。Isitpossibleyoucanimaginenevertoarriveattheplacetowardswhichyouarecontinuallygoing？andyetthereisnojourneybuthathitsend。And，ifcompanywillmakeitmorepleasantormoreeasytoyou，doesnotalltheworldgotheself—sameway？
\"’Omniate，vitaperfuncta，sequentur。’
[\"Allthings，then，lifeover，mustfollowthee。\"
——Lucretius，iii。981。]