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of my colic： my diseases in a few days habituate themselves thereto； and
disdained my ordinary provisions： we soon get from a coif to a kerchief
over it； from a simple cap to a quilted hat； the trimmings of the doublet
must not merely serve for ornament： there must be added a hare's skin or
a vulture's skin； and a cap under the hat： follow this gradation； and you
will go a very fine way to work。 I will do nothing of the sort； and
would willingly leave off what I have begun。 If you fall into any new
inconvenience； all this is labour lost； you are accustomed to it； seek
out some other。 Thus do they destroy themselves who submit to be
pestered with these enforced and superstitious rules； they must add
something more； and something more after that； there is no end on't。
For what concerns our affairs and pleasures； it is much more commodious；
as the ancients did； to lose one's dinner； and defer making good cheer
till the hour of retirement and repose； without breaking up a day； and so
was I formerly used to do。 As to health； I since by experience find； on
the contrary； that it is better to dine； and that the digestion is better
while awake。 I am not very used to be thirsty； either well or sick； my
mouth is； indeed； apt to be dry； but without thirst； and commonly I never
drink but with thirst that is created by eating； and far on in the meal；
I drink pretty well for a man of my pitch： in summer； and at a relishing
meal； I do not only exceed the limits of Augustus； who drank but thrice
precisely； but not to offend Democritus rule； who forbade that men should
stop at four times as an unlucky number； I proceed at need to the fifth
glass； about three half…pints； for the little glasses are my favourites；
and I like to drink them off； which other people avoid as an unbecoming
thing。 I mix my wine sometimes with half； sometimes with the third part
water； and when I am at home； by an ancient custom that my father's
physician prescribed both to him and himself； they mix that which is
designed for me in the buttery； two or three hours before 'tis brought
in。 'Tis said that Cranabs； king of Attica； was the inventor of this
custom of diluting wine； whether useful or no； I have heard disputed。
I think it more decent and wholesome for children to drink no wine till
after sixteen or eighteen years of age。 The most usual and common method
of living is the most becoming； all particularity； in my opinion； is to
be avoided； and I should as much hate a German who mixed water with his
wine； as I should a Frenchman who drank it pure。 Public usage gives the
law in these things。
I fear a mist； and fly from smoke as from the plague： the first repairs I
fell upon in my own house were the chimneys and houses of office； the
common and insupportable defects of all old buildings； and amongst the
difficulties of war I reckon the choking dust they made us ride in a
whole day together。 I have a free and easy respiration； and my colds for
the most part go off without offence to the lungs and without a cough。
The heat of summer is more an enemy to me than the cold of winter； for；
besides the incommodity of heat； less remediable than cold； and besides
the force of the sunbeams that strike upon the head； all glittering light
offends my eyes； so that I could not now sit at dinner over against a
flaming fire。
To dull the whiteness of paper； in those times when I was more wont to
read； I laid a piece of glass upon my book； and found my eyes much
relieved by it。 I am to this hourto the age of fifty…fourIgnorant of
the use of spectacles； and I can see as far as ever I did； or any other。
'Tis true that in the evening I begin to find a little disturbance and
weakness in my sight if I read； an exercise I have always found
troublesome； especially by night。 Here is one step back； and a very
manifest one； I shall retire another： from the second to the third； and
so to the fourth； so gently； that I shall be stark blind before I shall
be sensible of the age and decay of my sight： so artificially do the
Fatal Sisters untwist our lives。 And so I doubt whether my hearing
begins to grow thick； and you will see I shall have half lost it； when I
shall still lay the fault on the voices of those who speak to me。 A man
must screw up his soul to a high pitch to make it sensible how it ebbs
away。
My walking is quick and firm； and I know not which of the two； my mind or
my body； I have most to do to keep in the same state。 That preacher is
very much my friend who can fix my attention a whole sermon through： in
places of ceremony； where every one's countenance is so starched； where I
have seen the ladies keep even their eyes so fixed； I could never order
it so； that some part or other of me did not lash out； so that though I
was seated； I was never settled； and as to gesticulation； I am never
without a switch in my hand； walking or riding。 As the philosopher
Chrysippus' maid said of her master； that he was only drunk in his legs；
for it was his custom to be always kicking them about in what place
soever he sat； and she said it when； the wine having made all his
companions drunk； he found no alteration in himself at all； it may have
been said of me from my infancy； that I had either folly or quicksilver
in my feet； so much stirring and unsettledness there is in them； wherever
they are placed。
'Tis indecent； besides the hurt it does to one's health； and even to the
pleasure of eating； to eat greedily as I do； I often bite my tongue； and
sometimes my fingers； in my haste。 Diogenes； meeting a boy eating after
that manner； gave his tutor a box on the ear！ There were men at Rome
that taught people to chew； as well as to walk； with a good grace。 I
lose thereby the leisure of speaking； which gives great relish to the
table； provided the discourse be suitable； that is； pleasant and short。
There is jealousy and envy amongst our pleasures； they cross and hinder
one another。 Alcibiades； a man who well understood how to make good
cheer； banished even music from the table； that it might not disturb the
entertainment of discourse； for the reason； as Plato tells us； 〃that it
is the custom of ordinary people to call fiddlers and singing men to
feasts； for want of good discourse and pleasant talk； with which men of
understanding know how to entertain one another。〃 Varro requires all
this in entertainments： 〃Persons of graceful presence and agreeable
conversation； who are neither silent nor garrulous； neatness and
delicacy； both of meat and place； and fair weather。〃 The art of dining
well is no slight art； the pleasure not a slight pleasure； neither the
greatest captains nor the greatest philosophers have disdained the use or
science of eating well。 My imagination has delivered three repasts to
the custody of my memory； which fortune rendered sovereignly sweet to me；
upon several occasions in my more flourishing age； my present state
excludes me； for every one； according to the good temper of body and mind
wherein he then finds himself； furnishes for his own share a particular
grace and savour。 I； who but crawl upon the earth； hate this inhuman
wisdom； that will have us despise