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go thither by accident； or if they easily slide and slip into the path
that leads us to it？ But thou dost not die because thou art sick； thou
diest because thou art living： death kills thee without the help of
sickness： and sickness has deferred death in some； who have lived longer
by reason that they thought themselves always dying； to which may be
added； that as in wounds； so in diseases； some are medicinal and
wholesome。 The stone is often no less long…lived than you； we see men
with whom it has continued from their infancy even to their extreme old
age； and if they had not broken company； it would have been with them
longer still； you more often kill it than it kills you。 And though it
should present to you the image of approaching death； were it not a good
office to a man of such an age； to put him in mind of his end？ And；
which is worse； thou hast no longer anything that should make thee desire
to be cured。 Whether or no； common necessity will soon call thee away。
Do but consider how skilfully and gently she puts thee out of concern
with life； and weans thee from the world； not forcing thee with a
tyrannical subjection； like so many other infirmities which thou seest
old men afflicted withal； that hold them in continual torment； and keep
them in perpetual and unintermitted weakness and pains； but by warnings
and instructions at intervals； intermixing long pauses of repose； as it
were to give thee opportunity to meditate and ruminate upon thy lesson；
at thy own ease and leisure。 To give thee means to judge aright； and to
assume the resolution of a man of courage； it presents to thee the state
of thy entire condition； both in good and evil； and one while a very
cheerful and another an insupportable life； in one and the same day。 If
thou embracest not death； at least thou shakest hands with it once a
month； whence thou hast more cause to hope that it will one day surprise
thee without menace； and that being so often conducted to the water…side；
but still thinking thyself to be upon the accustomed terms； thou and thy
confidence will at one time or another be unexpectedly wafted over。 A
man cannot reasonably complain of diseases that fairly divide the time
with health。〃
I am obliged to Fortune for having so often assaulted me with the same
sort of weapons： she forms and fashions me by use； hardens and habituates
me； so that I can know within a little for how much I shall be quit。 For
want of natural memory； I make one of paper； and as any new symptom
happens in my disease； I set it down； whence it falls out that； having
now almost passed through all sorts of examples； if anything striking
threatens me； turning over these little loose notes； as the Sybilline
leaves； I never fail of finding matter of consolation from some
favourable prognostic in my past experience。 Custom also makes me hope
better for the time to come； for； the conduct of this clearing out having
so long continued； 'tis to be believed that nature will not alter her
course； and that no other worse accident will happen than what I already
feel。 And besides； the condition of this disease is not unsuitable to my
prompt and sudden complexion： when it assaults me gently； I am afraid；
for 'tis then for a great while； but it has； naturally； brisk and
vigorous excesses； it claws me to purpose for a day or two。 My kidneys
held out an age without alteration； and I have almost now lived another；
since they changed their state； evils have their periods； as well as
benefits： peradventure； the infirmity draws towards an end。 Age weakens
the heat of my stomach； and； its digestion being less perfect； sends this
crude matter to my kidneys； why； at a certain revolution； may not the
heat of my kidneys be also abated； so that they can no more petrify my
phlegm； and nature find out some other way of purgation。 Years have
evidently helped me to drain certain rheums； and why not these excrements
which furnish matter for gravel？ But is there anything delightful in
comparison of this sudden change； when from an excessive pain； I come； by
the voiding of a stone； to recover； as by a flash of lightning； the
beautiful light of health； so free and full； as it happens in our sudden
and sharpest colics？ Is there anything in the pain suffered； that one
can counterpoise to the pleasure of so sudden an amendment？ Oh； how much
does health seem the more pleasant to me； after a sickness so near and so
contiguous； that I can distinguish them in the presence of one another；
in their greatest show； when they appear in emulation； as if to make head
against and dispute it with one another！ As the Stoics say that vices
are profitably introduced to give value to and to set off virtue； we can；
with better reason and less temerity of conjecture； say that nature has
given us pain for the honour and service of pleasure and indolence。 When
Socrates； after his fetters were knocked off； felt the pleasure of that
itching which the weight of them had caused in his legs； he rejoiced to
consider the strict alliance betwixt pain and pleasure； how they are
linked together by a necessary connection； so that by turns they follow
and mutually beget one another； and cried out to good AEsop； that he
ought out of this consideration to have taken matter for a fine fable。
The worst that I see in other diseases is； that they are not so grievous
in their effect as they are in their issue： a man is a whole year in
recovering； and all the while full of weakness and fear。 There is so
much hazard； and so many steps to arrive at safety； that there is no end
on't before they have unmuffled you of a kerchief； and then of a cap；
before they allow you to walk abroad and take the air； to drink wine； to
lie with your wife； to eat melons； 'tis odds you relapse into some new
distemper。 The stone has this privilege； that it carries itself clean
off： whereas the other maladies always leave behind them some impression
and alteration that render the body subject to a new disease； and lend a
hand to one another。 Those are excusable that content themselves with
possessing us； without extending farther and introducing their followers；
but courteous and kind are those whose passage brings us any profitable
issue。 Since I have been troubled with the stone； I find myself freed
from all other accidents； much more； methinks； than I was before； and
have never had any fever since； I argue that the extreme and frequent
vomitings that I am subject to purge me： and； on the other hand； my
distastes for this and that； and the strange fasts I am forced to keep；
digest my peccant humours； and nature； with those stones； voids whatever
there is in me superfluous and hurtful。 Let them never tell me that it
is a medicine too dear bought： for what avail so many stinking draughts；
so many caustics； incisions； sweats； setons； diets； and so many other
methods of cure； which often； by reason we are not able to undergo their
violence and importunity； bring us to our graves？ So that when I have
the stone； I look upon it as physic； when free from it； as an absolute
deliverance。
And here is another particular benefit of my disease； which is； that it
almost plays its game by itself； and lets 'me play mine； if I have only
courage to do it； for； in its greatest fury； I have endured it ten hours
together on horseback。 Do but endure only； you need no other regimen
play； run； dine； do this and t'other； if you can； your debauch will do
you more good than harm； say as much to one that has the pox； the gout；
or hernia！ The other diseases have more universal obligations； rack our
actions after another kind of manner； disturb our whole order； and to
their consideration engage the whole state of life： this only pinches the
skin； it leaves the understanding and the will wholly at our own
disposal； and the tongue； the hands； and the feet； it rather awakens than
stupefies you。 The soul is struck with the ardour of a fever；
overwhelmed with an epilepsy； and displaced by a sharp megrim； and； in
short； astounded by all the diseases that hurt the whole mass and the
most noble parts； this never meddles with the soul； if anything goes
amiss with her； 'tis her own fault； she betrays； dismounts； and abandons
herself。 There are none but fools who suffer themselves to be persuaded
that this hard and massive body which is baked in our kidneys is to be
dissolved by drinks； wherefore； when it is once stirred； there is nothing
to be done but to give it passage； and； for that matter； it will itself
make one。
I moreover observe this particular convenience in it； that it is a
disease wherein we have little to guess at： we are dispensed from the
trouble into which other diseases throw us by the uncertainty of their
causes； conditions； and progress； a trouble that is infinitely painful：
we have no need of consultations and doctoral interpretations； the senses
well enough inform us both what it is and where it is。
By suchlike arguments； weak and strong； as Cicero with the disease of his
old age； I try to rock asleep and amuse my imagination； and to dress its
wounds。 If I find them worse tomorrow； I will provide new stratagems。
That this is true： I am c