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＇〃Is Venus really so alarming to the new…made bride； or does she
honestly oppose her parent's rejoicing the tears she so abundantly
sheds on entering the nuptial chamber？ No； by the Gods； these are
no true tears。〃Catullus； lxvi。 15。＇
＇〃Is Venus really so repugnant to newly…married maids？ Do they meet
the smiles of parents with feigned tears？ They weep copiously
within the very threshold of the nuptial chamber。 No； so the gods
help me； they do not truly grieve。〃Catullus； lxvi。 15。＇
＇A more literal translation。 D。W。＇
Neither is it strange to lament a person dead whom a man would by no
means should be alive。 When I rattle my man； I do it with all the mettle
I have； and load him with no feigned； but downright real curses； but the
heat being over； if he should stand in need of me； I should be very ready
to do him good： for I instantly turn the leaf。 When I call him calf and
coxcomb； I do not pretend to entail those titles upon him for ever；
neither do I think I give myself the lie in calling him an honest fellow
presently after。 No one quality engrosses us purely and universally。
Were it not the sign of a fool to talk to one's self； there would hardly
be a day or hour wherein I might not be heard to grumble and mutter to
myself and against myself； 〃Confound the fool！〃 and yet I do not think
that to be my definition。 Who for seeing me one while cold and presently
very fond towards my wife； believes the one or the other to be
counterfeited； is an ass。 Nero； taking leave of his mother whom he was
sending to be drowned； was nevertheless sensible of some emotion at this
farewell； and was struck with horror and pity。 'Tis said； that the light
of the sun is not one continuous thing； but that he darts new rays so
thick one upon another that we cannot perceive the intermission：
〃Largus enim liquidi fons luminis； aetherius sol；
Irrigat assidue coelum candore recenti；
Suppeditatque novo confestim lumine lumen。〃
＇〃So the wide fountain of liquid light； the ethereal sun； steadily
fertilises the heavens with new heat； and supplies a continuous
store of fresh light。〃Lucretius； v。 282。＇
Just so the soul variously and imperceptibly darts out her passions。
Artabanus coming by surprise once upon his nephew Xerxes； chid him for
the sudden alteration of his countenance。 He was considering the
immeasurable greatness of his forces passing over the Hellespont for the
Grecian expedition： he was first seized with a palpitation of joy； to see
so many millions of men under his command； and this appeared in the
gaiety of his looks： but his thoughts at the same instant suggesting to
him that of so many lives； within a century at most； there would not be
one left； he presently knit his brows and grew sad； even to tears。
We have resolutely pursued the revenge of an injury received； and been
sensible of a singular contentment for the victory； but we shall weep
notwithstanding。 'Tis not for the victory； though； that we shall weep：
there is nothing altered in that but the soul looks upon things with
another eye and represents them to itself with another kind of face； for
everything has many faces and several aspects。
Relations； old acquaintances； and friendships； possess our imaginations
and make them tender for the time； according to their condition； but the
turn is so quick； that 'tis gone in a moment：
〃Nil adeo fieri celeri ratione videtur；
Quam si mens fieri proponit； et inchoat ipsa；
Ocius ergo animus； quam res se perciet ulla；
Ante oculos quorum in promptu natura videtur；〃
＇〃Nothing therefore seems to be done in so swift a manner than if
the mind proposes it to be done； and itself begins。 It is more
active than anything which we see in nature。〃Lucretius； iii。 183。＇
and therefore； if we would make one continued thing of all this
succession of passions； we deceive ourselves。 When Timoleon laments the
murder he had committed upon so mature and generous deliberation； he does
not lament the liberty restored to his country； he does not lament the
tyrant； but he laments his brother： one part of his duty is performed；
let us give him leave to perform the other。
CHAPTER XXXVIII
OF SOLITUDE
Let us pretermit that long comparison betwixt the active and the solitary
life； and as for the fine sayings with which ambition and avarice
palliate their vices； that we are not born for ourselves but for the
public；＇This is the eulogium passed by Lucan on Cato of Utica； ii。
383。＇ let us boldly appeal to those who are in public affairs； let them
lay their hands upon their hearts； and then say whether； on the contrary；
they do not rather aspire to titles and offices and that tumult of the
world to make their private advantage at the public expense。 The corrupt
ways by which in this our time they arrive at the height to which their
ambitions aspire； manifestly enough declares that their ends cannot be
very good。 Let us tell ambition that it is she herself who gives us a
taste of solitude； for what does she so much avoid as society？ What does
she so much seek as elbowroom？ A man many do well or ill everywhere； but
if what Bias says be true； that the greatest part is the worse part； or
what the Preacher says： there is not one good of a thousand：
〃Rari quippe boni： numero vix sunt totidem quot
Thebarum portae； vel divitis ostia Nili；〃
＇〃Good men forsooth are scarce： there are hardly as many as there
are gates of Thebes or mouths of the rich Nile。〃
Juvenal； Sat。； xiii。 26。＇
the contagion is very dangerous in the crowd。 A man must either imitate
the vicious or hate them both are dangerous things； either to resemble
them because they are many or to hate many because they are unresembling
to ourselves。 Merchants who go to sea are in the right when they are
cautious that those who embark with them in the same bottom be neither
dissolute blasphemers nor vicious other ways； looking upon such society
as unfortunate。 And therefore it was that Bias pleasantly said to some；
who being with him in a dangerous storm implored the assistance of the
gods： 〃Peace； speak softly；〃 said he； 〃that they may not know you are
here in my company。〃 ＇Diogenes Laertius＇ And of more pressing
example； Albuquerque； viceroy in the Indies for Emmanuel； king of
Portugal； in an extreme peril of shipwreck； took a young boy upon his
shoulders； for this only end that； in the society of their common danger
his innocence might serve to protect him； and to recommend him to the
divine favour； that they might get safe to shore。 'Tis not that a wise
man may not live everywhere content； and be alone in the very crowd of a
palace； but if it be left to his own choice； the schoolman will tell you
that he should fly the very sight of the crowd： he will endure it if need
be； but if it be referred to him； he will choose to be alone。 He cannot
think himself sufficiently rid of vice； if he must yet contend with it in
other men。 Charondas punished those as evil men who were convicted of
keeping ill company。 There is nothing so unsociable and sociable as man；
the one by his vice； the other by his nature。 And Antisthenes； in my
opinion； did not give him a satisfactory answer； who reproached him with
frequenting ill company； by saying that the physicians lived well enough
amongst the sick； for if they contribute to the health of the sick； no
doubt but by the contagion； continual sight of； and familiarity with
diseases； they must of necessity impair their own。
Now the end； I take it； is all one； to live at more leisure and at one's
ease： but men do not always take the right way。 They often think they
have totally taken leave of all business； when they have only exchanged
one employment for another： there is little less trouble in governing a
private family than a whole kingdom。 Wherever the mind is perplexed； it
is in an entire disorder； and domestic employments are not less
troublesome for being less important。 Moreover； for having shaken off
the court and the exchange； we have not taken leave of the principal
vexations of life：
〃Ratio et prudentia curas；
Non locus effusi late maris arbiter； aufert；〃
＇〃Reason and prudence； not a place with a commanding view of the
great ocean； banish care。〃Horace； Ep。； i。 2。＇
ambition； avarice； irresolution； fear； and inordinate desires； do not
leave us because we forsake our native country：
〃Et
Post equitem sedet atra cura；〃
＇〃Black care sits behind the horse man。〃
Horace； Od。； iii。 1； 40＇。
they often follow us even to cloisters and philosophical schools； nor
deserts； nor caves； hair…shirts； nor fasts； can disengage us from them：
〃Haeret lateri lethalis arundo。〃
＇〃The fatal shaft adheres to the side。〃AEneid； iv。 73。＇
One telling Socrates that such a one was nothing improved by his travels：
〃I very well believe it；〃 said he； 〃for he took