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nothing； and you do nothing for him for whom you only do it whilst you
are doing something else。 To which may be added that I have；
peradventure； some particular obligation to speak only by halves； to
speak confusedly and discordantly。 I am therefore angry at this trouble…
feast reason； and its extravagant projects that worry one's life； and its
opinions； so fine and subtle； though they be all true； I think too dear
bought and too inconvenient。 On the contrary； I make it my business to
bring vanity itself in repute； and folly too； if it produce me any
pleasure； and let myself follow my own natural inclinations； without
carrying too strict a hand upon them。
I have seen elsewhere houses in ruins； and statues both of gods and men：
these are men still。 'Tis all true； and yet； for all that； I cannot so
often revisit the tomb of that so great and so puissant city；＇Rome＇
that I do not admire and reverence it。 The care of the dead is
recommended to us； now； I have been bred up from my infancy with these
dead； I had knowledge of the affairs of Rome long before I had any of
those of my own house； I knew the Capitol and its plan before I knew the
Louvre； and the Tiber before I knew the Seine。 The qualities and
fortunes of Lucullus； Metellus； and Scipio have ever run more in my head
than those of any of my own country； they are all dead； so is my father
as absolutely dead as they； and is removed as far from me and life in
eighteen years as they are in sixteen hundred： whose memory；
nevertheless； friendship and society； I do not cease to embrace and
utilise with a perfect and lively union。 Nay； of my own inclination； I
pay more service to the dead； they can no longer help themselves； and
therefore； methinks； the more require my assistance： 'tis there that
gratitude appears in its full lustre。 The benefit is not so generously
bestowed； where there is retrogradation and reflection。 Arcesilaus；
going to visit Ctesibius； who was sick； and finding him in a very poor
condition； very finely conveyed some money under his pillow； and； by
concealing it from him； acquitted him； moreover； from the acknowledgment
due to such a benefit。 Such as have merited from me friendship and
gratitude have never lost these by being no more； I have better and more
carefully paid them when gone and ignorant of what I did； I speak most
affectionately of my friends when they can no longer know it。 I have had
a hundred quarrels in defending Pompey and for the cause of Brutus； this
acquaintance yet continues betwixt us； we have no other hold even on
present things but by fancy。 Finding myself of no use to this age； I
throw myself back upon that other； and am so enamoured of it； that the
free； just； and flourishing state of that ancient Rome （for I neither
love it in its birth nor its old age） interests and impassionates me；
and therefore I cannot so often revisit the sites of their streets and
houses； and those ruins profound even to the Antipodes； that I am not
interested in them。 Is it by nature； or through error of fancy； that the
sight of places which we know to have been frequented and inhabited by
persons whose memories are recommended in story； moves us in some sort
more than to hear a recital of theiracts or to read their writings？
〃Tanta vis admonitionis inest in locis。。。。Et id quidem in hac urbe
infinitum； quacumque enim ingredimur； in aliquam historiam vestigium
ponimus。〃
＇〃So great a power of reminiscence resides in places； and that truly
in this city infinite； for which way soever we go； we find the
traces of some story。〃Cicero； De Fin。； v。 I； 2。＇
It pleases me to consider their face； bearing； and vestments： I pronounce
those great names betwixt my teeth； and make them ring in my ears：
〃Ego illos veneror； et tantis nominibus semper assurgo。〃
＇〃I reverence them； and always rise to so great names。〃
Seneca； Ep。； 64。＇
Of things that are in some part great and admirable； I admire even the
common parts： I could wish to see them in familiar relations； walk； and
sup。 It were ingratitude to contemn the relics and images of so many
worthy and valiant men as I have seen live and die； and who； by their
example； give us so many good instructions； knew we how to follow them。
And； moreover； this very Rome that we now see； deserves to be beloved； so
long and by so many titles allied to our crown； the only common and
universal city； the sovereign magistrate that commands there is equally
acknowledged elsewhere 'tis the metropolitan city of all the Christian
nations the Spaniard and Frenchman is there at home： to be a prince of
that state； there needs no more but to be of Christendom wheresoever。
There is no place upon earth that heaven has embraced with such an
influence and constancy of favour； her very ruins are grand and glorious；
〃Laudandis pretiosior ruinis。〃
＇〃More precious from her glorious ruins。〃
Sidonius Apollinaris； Carm。； xxiii。； Narba； v。 62。＇
she yet in her very tomb retains the marks and images of empire：
〃Ut palam sit； uno in loco gaudentis opus esse naturx。〃
＇〃That it may be manifest that there is in one place the work of
rejoicing nature。〃Pliny； Nat。 Hist。； iii。 5。＇
Some would blame and be angry at themselves to perceive themselves
tickled with so vain a pleasure our humours are never too vain that are
pleasant let them be what they may； if they constantly content a man of
common understanding； I could not have the heart to blame him。
I am very much obliged to Fortune； in that； to this very hour； she has
offered me no outrage beyond what I was well able to bear。 Is it not her
custom to let those live in quiet by whom she is not importuned？
〃Quanto quisque sibi plum negaverit；
A diis plum feret： nil cupientium
Nudus castra peto 。 。 。 。
Multa petentibus
Desunt multa。〃
＇〃The more each man denies himself； the more the gods give him。
Poor as I am； I seek the company of those who ask nothing； they who
desire much will be deficient in much。〃
Horace； Od。； iii。 16；21；42。＇
If she continue her favour； she will dismiss me very well satisfied：
〃Nihil supra
Deos lacesso。〃
＇〃I trouble the gods no farther。〃Horace； Od。； ii。 18； 11。＇
But beware a shock： there are a thousand who perish in the port。
I easily comfort myself for what shall here happen when I shall be gone；
present things trouble me enough：
〃Fortunae caetera mando。〃
＇〃I leave the rest to fortune。〃Ovid； Metam。； ii。 140。＇
Besides； I have not that strong obligation that they say ties men to the
future； by the issue that succeeds to their name and honour； and
peradventure； ought less to covet them； if they are to be so much
desired。 I am but too much tied to the world； and to this life； of
myself： I am content to be in Fortune's power by circumstances properly
necessary to my being； without otherwise enlarging her jurisdiction over
me；