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the reason why all the rules centre and concur in this one article。 And
although they all in like manner； with common accord； teach us also to
despise pain； poverty； and the other accidents to which human life is
subject； it is not； nevertheless； with the same solicitude； as well by
reason these accidents are not of so great necessity； the greater part of
mankind passing over their whole lives without ever knowing what poverty
is； and some without sorrow or sickness； as Xenophilus the musician； who
lived a hundred and six years in a perfect and continual health； as also
because； at the worst； death can； whenever we please； cut short and put
an end to all other inconveniences。 But as to death； it is inevitable：
〃Omnes eodem cogimur； omnium
Versatur urna serius ocius
Sors exitura； et nos in aeternum
Exilium impositura cymbae。〃
＇〃We are all bound one voyage； the lot of all； sooner or later； is
to come out of the urn。 All must to eternal exile sail away。〃
Hor。； Od。； ii。 3； 25。＇
and； consequently； if it frights us； 'tis a perpetual torment； for which
there is no sort of consolation。 There is no way by which it may not
reach us。 We may continually turn our heads this way and that； as in a
suspected country：
〃Quae； quasi saxum Tantalo； semper impendet。〃
＇〃Ever； like Tantalus stone； hangs over us。〃
Cicero； De Finib。； i。 18。＇
Our courts of justice often send back condemned criminals to be executed
upon the place where the crime was committed； but； carry them to fine
houses by the way； prepare for them the best entertainment you can
〃Non Siculae dapes
Dulcem elaborabunt saporem：
Non avium cyatheaceae cantus
Somnum reducent。〃
＇〃Sicilian dainties will not tickle their palates； nor the melody of
birds and harps bring back sleep。〃Hor。； Od。； iii。 1； 18。＇
Do you think they can relish it？ and that the fatal end of their journey
being continually before their eyes； would not alter and deprave their
palate from tasting these regalios？
〃Audit iter； numeratque dies； spatioque viarum
Metitur vitam； torquetur peste futura。〃
＇〃He considers the route； computes the time of travelling； measuring
his life by the length of the journey； and torments himself by
thinking of the blow to come。〃Claudianus； in Ruf。； ii。 137。＇
The end of our race is death； 'tis the necessary object of our aim；
which； if it fright us； how is it possible to advance a step without a
fit of ague？ The remedy the vulgar use is not to think on't； but from
what brutish stupidity can they derive so gross a blindness？ They must
bridle the ass by the tail：
〃Qui capite ipse suo instituit vestigia retro；〃
＇〃Who in his folly seeks to advance backwards〃Lucretius； iv。 474＇
'tis no wonder if he be often trapped in the pitfall。 They affright
people with the very mention of death； and many cross themselves； as it
were the name of the devil。 And because the making a man's will is in
reference to dying； not a man will be persuaded to take a pen in hand to
that purpose； till the physician has passed sentence upon and totally
given him over； and then betwixt and terror； God knows in how fit a
condition of understanding he is to do it。
The Romans； by reason that this poor syllable death sounded so harshly to
their ears and seemed so ominous； found out a way to soften and spin it
out by a periphrasis； and instead of pronouncing such a one is dead；
said； 〃Such a one has lived；〃 or 〃Such a one has ceased to live〃
＇Plutarch； Life of Cicero； c。 22：＇ for； provided there was any mention
of life in the case； though past； it carried yet some sound of
consolation。 And from them it is that we have borrowed our expression；
〃The late Monsieur such and such a one。〃＇〃feu Monsieur un tel。〃＇
Peradventure； as the saying is； the term we have lived is worth our
money。 I was born betwixt eleven and twelve o'clock in the forenoon the
last day of February 1533； according to our computation； beginning the
year the 1st of January；＇This was in virtue of an ordinance of Charles
IX。 in 1563。 Previously the year commenced at Easter； so that the 1st
January 1563 became the first day of the year 1563。＇and it is now but
just fifteen days since I was complete nine…and…thirty years old； I make
account to live； at least； as many more。 In the meantime； to trouble a
man's self with the thought of a thing so far off were folly。 But what？
Young and old die upon the same terms； no one departs out of life
otherwise than if he had but just before entered into it； neither is any
man so old and decrepit； who； having heard of Methuselah； does not think
he has yet twenty good years to come。 Fool that thou art！ who has
assured unto thee the term of life？ Thou dependest upon physicians'
tales： rather consult effects and experience。 According to the common
course of things； 'tis long since that thou hast lived by extraordinary
favour； thou hast already outlived the ordinary term of life。 And that
it is so； reckon up thy acquaintance； how many more have died before they
arrived at thy age than have attained unto it； and of those who have
ennobled their lives by their renown； take but an account； and I dare lay
a wager thou wilt find more who have died before than after five…and…
thirty years of age。 It is full both of reason and piety； too； to take
example by the humanity of Jesus Christ Himself； now； He ended His life
at three…and…thirty years。 The greatest man； that was no more than a
man； Alexander； died also at the same age。 How many several ways has
death to surprise us？
〃Quid quisque； vitet； nunquam homini satis
Cautum est in horas。〃
＇〃Be as cautious as he may； man can never foresee the danger that
may at any hour befal him。〃 Hor。 O。 ii。 13； 13。＇
To omit fevers and pleurisies； who would ever have imagined that a duke
of Brittany； ＇Jean II。 died 1305。＇should be pressed to death in a
crowd as that duke was at the entry of Pope Clement； my neighbour； into
Lyons？ ＇Montaigne speaks of him as if he had been a contemporary
neighbour； perhaps because he was the Archbishop of Bordeaux。 Bertrand
le Got was Pope under the title of Clement V。； 1305…14。＇ Hast thou not
seen one of our kings ＇Henry II。； killed in a tournament； July 10；
1559＇ killed at a tilting； and did not one of his ancestors die by
jostle of a hog？ ＇Philip； eldest son of Louis le Gros。＇ AEschylus；
threatened with the fall of a house； was to much purpose circumspect to
avoid that danger； seeing that he was knocked on the head by a tortoise
falling out of an eagle's talons in the air。 Another was choked with a
grape…stone； ＇Val。 Max。； ix。 12； ext。 2。＇ an emperor killed with
the scratch of a comb in combing his head。 AEmilius Lepidus with a
stumble at his own threshold；＇Pliny； Nat。 Hist。； vii。 33。＇ and
Aufidius with a jostle against the door as he entered the council…
chamber。 And betwixt the very thighs of women； Cornelius Gallus the
proctor； Tigillinus； captain of the watch at Rome； Ludovico； son of Guido
di Gonzaga； Marquis of Mantua； and （of worse example） Speusippus； a
Platonic philosopher； and one of our Popes。〃 The poor judge Bebius gave
adjournment in a case for eight days； but he himself； meanwhile； was
condemned by death； and his own stay of life expired。 Whilst Caius
Julius； the physician； was anointing the eyes of a patient； death closed
his own； and； if I may bring in an example of my own blood； a brother of
mine； Captain St。 Martin； a young man； three…and…twenty years old； who
had already given sufficient testimony of his valour； playing a match at
tennis； received a blow of a ball a little above his right ear； which； as
it gave no manner of sign of wound or contusion； he took no notice of it；
nor so much as sat down to repose himself； but； nevertheless； died within
five or six hours after of an apoplexy occasioned by that blow。
These so frequent and common examples passing every day before our eyes；
how is it possible a man should disengage himself from the thought of
death； or avoid fancying that it has us every moment by the throat？ What
matter is it； you will say； which way it comes to pass； provided a man
does not terrify himself with the expectation？ For my part； I am of this
mind； and if a man could by any means avoid it； though by creeping under
a calf's skin； I am one that should not be ashamed of the shift； all I
aim at is； to pass my time at my ease； and the recreations that will most
contribute to it； I take hold of； as little glorious and exemplary as you
will：
〃Praetulerim 。 。 。 delirus inersque videri；
Dum mea delectent mala me； vel denique fallant；
Quam sapere； et ringi。〃
＇〃I had rather seem mad and a sluggard； so that my defects are
agreeable to myself； or that I am not painfully conscious of them；
than be wise； and chaptious。〃Hor。； Ep。； ii。 2； 126。＇
But 'tis folly to think of doing anything that way。 They go； they come；
they ga