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consider the strict alliance betwixt pain and pleasure； how they are
linked together by a necessary connection； so that by turns they follow
and mutually beget one another； and cried out to good AEsop； that he
ought out of this consideration to have taken matter for a fine fable。
The worst that I see in other diseases is； that they are not so grievous
in their effect as they are in their issue： a man is a whole year in
recovering； and all the while full of weakness and fear。 There is so
much hazard； and so many steps to arrive at safety； that there is no end
on't before they have unmuffled you of a kerchief； and then of a cap；
before they allow you to walk abroad and take the air； to drink wine； to
lie with your wife； to eat melons； 'tis odds you relapse into some new
distemper。 The stone has this privilege； that it carries itself clean
off： whereas the other maladies always leave behind them some impression
and alteration that render the body subject to a new disease； and lend a
hand to one another。 Those are excusable that content themselves with
possessing us； without extending farther and introducing their followers；
but courteous and kind are those whose passage brings us any profitable
issue。 Since I have been troubled with the stone； I find myself freed
from all other accidents； much more； methinks； than I was before； and
have never had any fever since； I argue that the extreme and frequent
vomitings that I am subject to purge me： and； on the other hand； my
distastes for this and that； and the strange fasts I am forced to keep；
digest my peccant humours； and nature； with those stones； voids whatever
there is in me superfluous and hurtful。 Let them never tell me that it
is a medicine too dear bought： for what avail so many stinking draughts；
so many caustics； incisions； sweats； setons； diets； and so many other
methods of cure； which often； by reason we are not able to undergo their
violence and importunity； bring us to our graves？ So that when I have
the stone； I look upon it as physic； when free from it； as an absolute
deliverance。
And here is another particular benefit of my disease； which is； that it
almost plays its game by itself； and lets 'me play mine； if I have only
courage to do it； for； in its greatest fury； I have endured it ten hours
together on horseback。 Do but endure only； you need no other regimen
play； run； dine； do this and t'other； if you can； your debauch will do
you more good than harm； say as much to one that has the pox； the gout；
or hernia！ The other diseases have more universal obligations； rack our
actions after another kind of manner； disturb our whole order； and to
their consideration engage the whole state of life： this only pinches the
skin； it leaves the understanding and the will wholly at our own
disposal； and the tongue； the hands； and the feet； it rather awakens than
stupefies you。 The soul is struck with the ardour of a fever；
overwhelmed with an epilepsy； and displaced by a sharp megrim； and； in
short； astounded by all the diseases that hurt the whole mass and the
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