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of losing his preferment： and； on the other hand； being of no high
quality； he would have more easy communication with all sorts of people。
I would have this office limited to only one person； for to allow the
privilege of his liberty and privacy to many； would beget an inconvenient
irreverence； and of that one； I would above all things require the
fidelity of silence。
A king is not to be believed when he brags of his constancy in standing
the shock of the enemy for his glory； if for his profit and amendment he
cannot stand the liberty of a friend's advice； which has no other power
but to pinch his ear； the remainder of its effect being still in his own
hands。 Now； there is no condition of men whatever who stand in so great
need of true and free advice and warning； as they do： they sustain a
public life； and have to satisfy the opinion of so many spectators； that；
as those about them conceal from them whatever should divert them from
their own way； they insensibly find themselves involved in the hatred and
detestation of their people； often upon occasions which they might have
avoided without any prejudice even of their pleasures themselves； had
they been advised and set right in time。 Their favourites commonly have
more regard to themselves than to their master； and indeed it answers
with them； forasmuch as； in truth； most offices of real friendship； when
applied to the sovereign； are under a rude and dangerous hazard； so that
therein there is great need； not only of very great affection and
freedom； but of courage too。
In fine； all this hodge…podge which I scribble here； is nothing but a
register of the essays of my own life； which； for the internal soundness；
is exemplary enough to take instruction against the grain； but as to
bodily health； no man can furnish out more profitable experience than I；
who present it pure； and no way corrupted and changed by art or opinion。
Experience is properly upon its own dunghill in the subject of physic；
where reason wholly gives it place： Tiberius said that whoever had lived
twenty years ought to be responsible to himself for all things that were
hurtful or wholesome to him； and know how to order himself without
physic；
＇All that Suetonius says in his Life of Tiberius is that this
emperor； after he was thirty years old； governed his health without
the aid of physicians； and what Plutarch tells us； in his essay on
the Rules and Precepts of Health； is that Tiberius said that the man
who； having attained sixty years； held out his pulse to a physician
was a fool。＇
and he might have learned it of Socrates； who； advising his disciples to
be solicitous of their health as a chief study； added that it was hard if
a man of sense； having a care to his exercise and diet； did not better
know than any physician what was good or ill for him。 And physic itself
professes always to have experience for the test of its operations： so
Plato had reason to say that； to be a right physician； it would be
necessary that he who would become such； should first himself have passed
through all the diseases he pretends to cure； and through all the
accidents and circumstances whereof he is to judge。 'Tis but reason they
should get the pox； if they will know how to cure it； for my part；
I should put myself into such hands； the others but guide us； like him
who paints seas and rocks and ports sitting at table； and there makes the
model of a ship sailing in all security； but put him to the work itself；
he knows not at which end to begin。 They make such a description of our
maladies as a town crier does of a lost horse or dogsuch a color； such
a height； such an earbut bring it to him and he knows it not； for all
that。 If physic should one day give me some good and visible relief；
then truly I will cry out in good earnest：
〃Tandem effcaci do manus scientiae。〃
＇〃Show me and efficacious science； and I will take it by the hand。〃
Horace； xvii。 I。＇
The arts that promise to keep our bodies and souls in health promise a
great deal； but； withal； there are none that less keep their promise。
And； in our time； those who make profession of these arts amongst us；
less manifest the effects than any other sort of men； one may say of
them； at the most； that they sell medicinal drugs； but that they are
physicians； a man cannot say。
＇The edition of 1588 adds： 〃Judging by themselves； and those
who are ruled by them。〃＇
I have lived long enough to be able to give an account of the custom that
has carried me so far； for him who has a mind to try it； as his taster；
I have made the experiment。 Here are some of the articles； as my memory
shall supply me with them； I have no custom that has not varied according
to circumstances； but I only record those that I have been best
acquainted with； and that hitherto have had the greatest possession of
me。
My form of life is the same in sickness as in health； the same bed； the
same hours； the same meat； and even the same drink； serve me in both
conditions alike； I add nothing to them but the moderation of more or
less； according to my strength and appetite。 My health is to maintain my
wonted state without disturbance。 I see that sickness puts me off it on
one side； and if I will be ruled by the physicians； they will put me off
on the other； so that by fortune and by art I am out of my way。
I believe nothing more certainly than this； that I cannot be hurt by the
use of things to which I have been so long accustomed。 'Tis for custom
to give a form to a man's life； such as it pleases him； she is all in all
in that： 'tis the potion of Circe； that varies our nature as she best
pleases。 How many nations； and but three steps from us； think the fear
of the night…dew； that so manifestly is hurtful to us； a ridiculous
fancy； and our own watermen and peasants laugh at it。 You make a German
sick if you lay him upon a mattress； as you do an Italian if you lay him
on a feather…bed； and a Frenchman； if without curtains or fire。 A Spanish
stomach cannot hold out to eat as we can； nor ours to drink like the
Swiss。 A German made me very merry at Augsburg； by finding fault with
our hearths； by the same arguments which we commonly make use of in
decrying their stoves： for； to say the truth； the smothered heat； and
then the smell of that heated matter of which the fire is composed； very
much offend such as are not used to them； not me； and； indeed； the heat
being always equal； constant； and universal； without flame； without
smoke； and without the wind that comes down our chimneys； they may many
ways sustain comparison with ours。 Why do we not imitate the Roman
architecture？ for they say that anciently fires were not made in the
houses； but on the outside； and at the foot of them； whence the heat was
conveyed to the whole fabric by pipes contrived in the wall； which were
drawn twining about the rooms that were to be warmed： which I have seen
plainly described somewhere in Seneca。 This German hearing me commend
the conveniences and beauties of his city； which truly deserves it； began
to compassionate me that I had to leave it； and the first inconvenience
he alleged to me was； the heaviness of head that the chimneys elsewhere
would bring upon me。 He had heard some one make this complaint； and
fixed it upon us； being by custom deprived of the means of perceiving it
at home。 All heat that comes from the fire weakens and dulls me。 Evenus
said that fire was the best condiment of life： I rather choose any other
way of making myself warm。
We are afraid to drink our wines； when toward the bottom of the cask； in
Portugal those fumes are reputed delicious； and it is the beverage of
princes。 In short； every nation has many customs and usages that are not
only unknown to other nations； but savage and miraculous in their sight。
What should we do with those people who admit of no evidence that is not
in print； who believe not men if they are not in a book； nor truth if it
be not of competent age？ we dignify our fopperies when we commit them to
the press： 'tis of a great deal more weight to say； 〃I have read such a
thing；〃 than if you only say； 〃I have heard such a thing。〃 But I； who no
more disbelieve a man's mouth than his pen； and who know that men write
as indiscreetly as they speak； and who look upon this age as one that is
past； as soon quote a friend as Aulus Gelliusor Macrobius； and what I
have seen； as what they have written。 And； as 'tis held of virtue； that
it is not greater for having continued longer； so do I hold of truth；
that for being older it is none the wiser。 I often say； that it is mere
folly that makes us run after foreign and scholastic examples； their
fertility is the same now that it was in the time of Homer and Plato。
But is it not that we seek more honour from the quotation； than from the
truth of the matter in hand？ As if it were more to the purpose to borrow
our proofs from the shops of Vascosan or Plantin； than from what is to be
seen in our own village； or else； indeed； that we have not the wit to
cull out and make useful what we see before us； and to judge of it
clearly enough to draw