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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 it into example： for if we say that we want
authority to give faith to our testimony； we speak from the purpose；
forasmuch as； in my opinion； of the most ordinary； common； and known
things； could we but find out their light； the greatest miracles of
nature might be formed； and the most wonderful examples； especially upon
the subject of human actions。
Now； upon this subject； setting aside the examples I have gathered from
books； and what Aristotle says of Andron the Argian； that he travelled
over the arid sands of Lybia without drinking： a gentleman； who has very
well behaved himself in several employments； said； in a place where I
was； that he had ridden from Madrid to Lisbon； in the heat of summer；
without any drink at all。 He is very healthful and vigorous for his age；
and has nothing extraordinary in the use of his life； but this； to live
sometimes two or three months； nay； a whole year； as he has told me；
without drinking。 He is sometimes thirsty； but he lets it pass over；
and he holds that it is an appetite which easily goes off of itself；
and he drinks more out of caprice than either for need or pleasure。
Here is another example： 'tis not long ago that I found one of the
learnedest men in France； among those of not inconsiderable fortune；
studying in a corner of a hall that they had separated for him with
tapestry； and about him a rabble of his servants full of licence。 He
told me； and Seneca almost says the same of himself； he made an
advantage of this hubbub； that； beaten with this noise； he so much
the more collected and retired himself into himself for contemplation；
and that this tempest of voices drove back his thoughts within himself。
Being a student at Padua； he had his study so long situated amid the
rattle of coaches and the tumult of the square； that he not only formed
himself to the contempt； but even to the use of noise； for the service of
his studies。 Socrates answered Alcibiades； who was astonished how he
could endure the perpetual scolding of his wife； 〃Why；〃 said he； 〃as
those do who are accustomed to the ordinary noise of wheels drawing
water。〃 I am quite otherwise； I have a tender head and easily
discomposed； when 'tis bent upon anything； the least buzzing of a fly
murders it。
Seneca in his youth having warmly espoused the example of Sextius； of
eating nothing that had died； for a whole year dispensed with such food；
and； as he said； with pleasure； and discontinued it that he might not be
suspected of taking up this rule from some new religion by which it was
prescribed： he adopted； in like manner； from the precepts of Attalus a
custom not to lie upon any sort of bedding that gave way under his
weight； and； even to his old age； made use of such as would not yield to
any pressure。 What the usage of his time made him account roughness；
that of ours makes us look upon as effeminacy。
Do but observe the difference betwixt the way of living of my labourers
and my own； the Scythians and Indians have nothing more remote both from
my capacity and my form。 I have picked up charity boys to serve me： who
soon after have quitted both my kitchen and livery； only that they might
return to their former course of life； and I found one afterwards；
picking mussels out of the sewer for his dinner； whom I could neither by
entreaties nor threats reclaim from the sweetness he found in indigence。
Beggars have their magnificences and delights； as well as the rich； and；
'tis said； their dignities and polities。 These are the effects of
custom； she can mould us； not only into what form she pleases （the sages
say we ought to apply ourselves to the best； which she will soon make
easy to us）； but also to change and variation； which is the most noble
and most useful instruction of all she teaches us。 The best of my bodily
conditions is that I am flexible and not very obstinate： I have
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 h