按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
inclinations more my own and ordinary； and more agreeable than others；
but I am diverted from them with very little ado； and easily slip into a
contrary course。 A young man ought to cross his own rules； to awaken his
vigour and to keep it from growing faint and rusty； and there is no
course of life so weak and sottish as that which is carried on by rule
and discipline；
〃Ad primum lapidem vectari quum placet； hora
Sumitur ex libro； si prurit frictus ocelli
Angulus； inspecta genesi； collyria quaerit；〃
＇〃When he is pleased to have himself carried to the first milestone；
the hour is chosen from the almanac； if he but rub the corner of his
eye； his horoscope having been examined； he seeks the aid of
salves。〃…Juvenal； vi。 576。＇
he shall often throw himself even into excesses； if he will take my
advice； otherwise the least debauch will destroy him； and render him
troublesome and disagreeable in company。 The worst quality in a well…
bred man is over…fastidiousness； and an obligation to a certain
particular way； and it is particular； if not pliable and supple。 It is a
kind of reproach； not to be able； or not to dare； to do what we see those
about us do； let such as these stop at home。 It is in every man
unbecoming； but in a soldier vicious and intolerable： who； as Philopcemen
said； ought to accustom himself to every variety and inequality of life。
Though I have been brought up； as much as was possible； to liberty and
independence； yet so it is that； growing old； and having by indifference
more settled upon certain forms （my age is now past instruction； and has
henceforward nothing to do but to keep itself up as well as it can）；
custom has already； ere I was aware； so imprinted its character in me in
certain things； that I look upon it as a kind of excess to leave them
off； and； without a force upon myself； cannot sleep in the daytime； nor
eat between meals； nor breakfast； nor go to bed； without a great interval
betwixt eating and sleeping；＇Gastroesophogeal Reflux。 D。W。＇ as of
three hours after supper； nor get children but before I sleep； nor get
them standing； nor endure my own sweat； nor quench my thirst either with
pure water or pure wine； nor keep my head long bare； nor cut my hair
after dinner； and I should be as uneasy without my gloves as without my
shirt； or without washing when I rise from table or out of my bed； and I
could not lie without a canopy and curtains； as if they were essential
things。 I could dine without a tablecloth； but without a clean napkin；
after the German fashion； very incommodiously； I foul them more than the
Germans or Italians do； and make but little use either of spoon or fork。
I complain that they did not keep up the fashion； begun after the example
of kings； to change our napkin at every service； as they do our plate。
We are told of that laborious soldier Marius that； growing old； he became
nice in his drink； and never drank but out of a particular cup of his own
I； in like manner； have suffered myself to fancy a certain form of
glasses； and not willingly to drink in common glasses； no more than from
a strange common hand： all metal offends me in comparison of a clear and
transparent matter： let my eyes taste； too； according to their capacity。
I owe several other such niceties to custom。 Nature has also； on the
other side； helped me to some of hers： as not to be able to endure more
than two full meals in one day； without overcharging my stomach； nor a
total abstinence from one of those meals without filling myself with
wind； drying up my mouth； and dulling my appetite； the finding great
inconvenience from overmuch evening air； for of late years； in night
marches； which often happen to be all night long； after five or six hours
my stomach begins to be queasy； with a violent pain in my head； so that I
always vomit before the day can break。 When the others go to breakfast；
I go to sleep； and when I rise； I am as brisk and gay as before。 I had
always been told that the night dew never rises but in the beginning of
the night； but for some years past； long and familiar intercourse with
a lord； possessed with the opinion that the night dew is more sharp and
dangerous about the declining of the sun； an hour or two before it sets；
which he carefully avoids； and despises that of the night； he almost
impressed upon me； not so much his reasoning as his experiences。 What；
shall mere doubt and inquiry strike our imagination； so as to change us？
Such as absolutely and on a sudden give way to these propensions； draw
total destruction upon themselves。 I am sorry for several gentlemen who；
through the folly of their physicians； have in their youth and health
wholly shut themselves up： it were better to endure a cough； than； by
disuse； for ever to lose the commerce of common life in things of so
great utility。 Malignant science； to interdict us the most pleasant
hours of the day！ Let us keep our possession to the last； for the most
part； a man hardens himself by being obstinate； and corrects his
constitution； as Caesar did the falling sickness； by dint of contempt。
A man should addict himself to the best rules； but not enslave himself to
them； except to such； if there be any such； where obligation and
servitude are of profit。
Both kings and philosophers go to stool； and ladies too； public lives are
bound to ceremony； mine； that is obscure and private； enjoys all natural
dispensation； soldier and Gascon are also qualities a little subject to
indiscretion； wherefore I shall say of this act of relieving nature； that
it is desirable to refer it to certain prescribed and nocturnal hours；
and compel one's self to this by custom； as I have done； but not to
subject one's self； as I have done in my declining years； to a particular
convenience of place and seat for that purpose； and make it troublesome
by long sitting； and yet； in the fouler offices； is it not in some
measure excusable to require more care and cleanliness？
〃Naturt homo mundum et elegans animal est。〃
＇Man is by nature a clean and delicate creature。〃Seneca；Ep。； 92。＇
Of all the actions of nature； I am the most impatient of being
interrupted in that。 I have seen many soldiers troubled with the
unruliness of their bellies； whereas mine and I never fail of our
punctual assignation； which is at leaping out of bed； if some
indispensable business or sickness does not molest us。
I think then； as I said before； that sick men cannot better place
themselves anywhere in more safety； than in sitting still in that course
of life wherein they have been bred and trained up； change； be it what it
will； distempers and puts one out。 Do you believe that chestnuts can
hurt a Perigordin or a Lucchese； or milk and cheese the mountain people？
We enjoin them not only a new； but a contrary； method of life； a change
that the healthful cannot endure。 Prescribe water to a Breton of
threescore and ten； shut a seaman up in a stove； forbid a Basque footman
to walk： you will deprive them of motion； and in the end of air and
light：
〃An vivere tanti est？
Cogimur a suetis animu