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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 himself along with him〃
〃Quid terras alio calentes
Sole mutamus？ patriae quis exsul
Se quoque fugit？〃
＇〃Why do we seek climates warmed by another sun？ Who is the man
that by fleeing from his country； can also flee from himself？〃
Horace； Od。； ii。 16； 18。＇
If a man do not first discharge both himself and his mind of the burden
with which he finds himself oppressed； motion will but make it press the
harder and sit the heavier； as the lading of a ship is of less
encumbrance when fast and bestowed in a settled posture。 You do a sick
man more harm than good in removing him from place to place； you fix and
establish the disease by motion； as stakes sink deeper and more firmly
into the earth by being moved up and down in the place where they are
designed to stand。 Therefore； it is not enough to get remote from the
public； 'tis not enough to shift the soil only； a man must flee from the
popular conditions that have taken possession of his soul； he must
sequester and come again to himself：
〃Rupi jam vincula； dicas
Nam luctata canis nodum arripit； attamen illi；
Quum fugit； a collo trahitur pars longa catenae。〃
＇〃You say； perhaps； you have broken your chains： the dog who after
long efforts has broken his chain； still in his flight drags a heavy
portion of it after him。〃Persius； Sat。； v。 158。＇
We still carry our fetters along with us。 'Tis not an absolute liberty；
we yet cast back a look upon what we have left behind us； the fancy is
still full of it：
〃Nisi purgatum est pectus； quae praelia nobis
Atque pericula tunc ingratis insinuandum？
Quantae connscindunt hominem cupedinis acres
Sollicitum curae？ quantique perinde timores？
Quidve superbia； spurcitia； ac petulantia； quantas
Efficiunt clades？ quid luxus desidiesque？〃
＇〃But unless the mind is purified； what internal combats and dangers
must we incur in spite of all our efforts！ How many bitter
anxieties； how many terrors； follow upon unregulated passion！
What destruction befalls us from pride； lust； petulant anger！
What evils arise from luxury and sloth！〃Lucretius； v。 4。＇
Our disease lies in the mind； which cannot escape from itself；
〃In culpa est animus； qui se non effugit unquam；〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 14； 13。＇
and therefore is to be called home and confined within itself： that is
the true solitude； and that may be enjoyed even in populous cities and
the courts of kings； though more commodiously apart。
Now； since we will attempt to live alone； and to waive all manner of
conversation amongst them； let us so order it that our content may depend
wholly upon ourselves； let us dissolve all obligations that ally us to
others； let us obtain this from ourselves； that we may live alone in good
earnest； and live at our ease too。
Stilpo having escaped from the burning of his town； where he lost wife；
children； and goods； Demetrius Poliorcetes seeing him； in so great a ruin
of his country； appear with an undisturbed countenance； asked him if he
had received no loss？ To which he made answer； No； and that； thank God；
nothing was lost of his。＇Seneca； Ep。 7。＇ This also was the meaning of
the philosopher Antisthenes； when he pleasantly said； that 〃men should
furnish themselves with such things as would float； and might with the
owner escape the storm〃；＇Diogenes Laertius； vi。 6。＇ and certainly a
wise man never loses anything if he have himself。 When the city of Nola
was ruined by the barbarians； Paulinus； who was bishop of that place；
having there lost all he had； himself a prisoner； prayed after this
manner： 〃O Lord； defend me from being sensible of this loss； for Thou
knowest they have yet touched nothing of that which is mine。〃＇St。
Augustin； De Civit。 Dei； i。 10。＇ The riches that made him rich and the
goods that made him good； were still kept entire。 This it is to make
choice of treasures that can secure themselves from plunder and violence；
and to hide them in such a place into which no one can enter and that is
not to be betrayed by any but ourselves。 Wives； children； and goods must
be had； and especially health； by him that can get it； but we are not so
to set our hearts upon them that our happiness must have its dependence
upon them； we must reserve a backshop； wholly our own and entirely free；
wherein to settle our true liberty； our principal solitude and retreat。
And in this we must for the most part entertain ourselves with ourselves；
and so privately that no exotic knowledge or communication be admitted
there； there to laugh and to talk； as if without wife； children； goods；
train； or attendance； to the end that when it shall so fall out that we
must lose any or all of these； it may be no new thing to be without them。
We have a mind pliable in itself； that will be company； that has
wherewithal to attack and to def