other alarm but what is sensible and corporal； which I certainly owe to
the care I have had of preparing myself by meditation against such
accidents：
〃Laborum；
Nulla mihi nova nunc facies inopinave surgit；
Omnia praecepi； atque animo mecum ante peregi。〃
＇〃No new shape of suffering can arise new or unexpected； I have
anticipated all； and acted them over beforehand in my mind。〃
AEneid； vi。 103。＇
I am； however； a little roughly handled for an apprentice； and with a
sudden and sharp alteration； being fallen in an instant from a very easy
and happy condition of life into the most uneasy and painful that can be
imagined。 For besides that it is a disease very much to be feared in
itself； it begins with me after a more sharp and severe manner than it is
used to do with other men。 My fits come so thick upon me that I am
scarcely ever at ease； yet I have hitherto kept my mind so upright that；
provided I can still continue it； I find myself in a much better
condition of life than a thousand others； who have no fewer nor other
disease but what they create to themselves for want of meditation。
There is a certain sort of crafty humility that springs from presumption；
as this； for example； that we confess our ignorance in many things； and
are so courteous as to acknowledge that there are in the works of nature
some qualities and conditions that are imperceptible to us； and of which
our understanding cannot discover the means and causes； by this so honest
and conscientious declaration we hope to obtain that people shall also
believe us as to those that we say we do understand。 We need not trouble
ourselves to seek out foreign miracles and difficulties； methinks；
amongst the things that we ordinarily see； there are such
incomprehensible wonders as surpass all difficulties of miracles。 What a
wonderful thing it is that the drop of seed from which we are produced
should carry in itself the impression not only of the bodily form； but
even of the thoughts and inclinations of our fathers！ Where can that
drop of fluid matter contain that infinite number of forms？ and how can
they carry on these resemblances with so precarious and irregular a
process that the son shall be like his great…grandfather； the nephew like
his uncle？ In the family of Lepidus at Rome there were three； not
successively but by intervals； who were born with the same eye covered
with a cartilage。 At Thebes there was a race that carried from their
mother's womb the form of the head of a lance； and he who was not born so
was looked upon as illegitimate。 And Aristotle says that in a certain
nation； where the women were in common； they assigned the children to
their fathers by their resemblance。
'Tis to be believed that I derive this infirmity from my father； for he
died wonderfully tormented with a great stone in his bladder； he was
never sensible of his disease till the sixty…seventh year of his age； and
before that had never felt any menace or symptoms of it； either in his
reins； sides； or any other part； and had lived； till then； in a happy；
vigorous state of health； little subject to infirmities； and he continued
seven years after in this disease； dragging on a very painful end of
life。 I was born about five…and…twenty years before his disease seized
him； and in the time of his most flourishing and healthful state of body；
his third child in order of birth： where could his propension to this
malady lie lurking all that while？ And he being then so far from the
infirmity； how could that small part of his substance wherewith he made
me； carry away so great an impression for its share？ and how so
concealed； that till five…and…forty years after； I did not begin to be
sensible of it？ being the only one to this hour； amongst so many
brothers and sisters； and all by one mother； that was ever troubled with
it。 He that can satisfy me in this point； I will believe him in as many
other miracles as he pleases； always provided that； as their manner is；
he do not give me a doctrine much more intricate and fantastic than the
thing itself for current pay。
Let the physicians a little excuse the liberty I take； for by this same
infusion and fatal insinuation it is that I have received a hatred and
contempt of their doctrine； the antipathy I have against their art is
hereditary。 My father lived three…score and fourteen years； my
grandfather sixty…nine； my great…grandfather almost fourscore years；
without ever tasting any sort of physic； and； with them； whatever was not
ordinary diet； was instead of a drug。 Physic is grounded upon experience
and examples： so is my opinion。 And is not this an express and very
advantageous experience。 I do not know that they can find me in all
their records three that were born； bred； and died under the same roof；
who have lived so long by their conduct。 They must here of necessity
confess； that if reason be not； fortune at least is on my side； and with
physicians fortune goes a great deal further than reason。 Let them not
take me now at a disadvantage； let them not threaten me in the subdued
condition wherein I now am； that were treachery。 In truth； I have enough
the better of them by these domestic examples； that they should rest
satisfied。 Human things are not usually so constant； it has been two
hundred years； save eighteen； that this trial has lasted； for the first
of them was born in the year 1402： 'tis now； indeed； very good reason
that this experience should begin to fail us。 Let them not； therefore；
reproach me with the infirmities under which I now suffer； is it not
enough that I for my part have lived seven…and…forty years in good
health？ though it should be the end of my career； 'tis of the longer
sort。
My ancestors had an aversion to physic by some occult and natural
instinct； for the very sight of drugs was loathsome to my father。 The
Seigneur de Gaviac； my uncle by the father's side； a churchman； and a
valetudinary from his birth； and yet who made that crazy life hold out to
sixty…seven years； being once fallen into a furious fever； it was ordered
by the physicians he should be plainly told that if he would not make use
of help （for so they call that which is very often an obstacle）； he would
infallibly be a dead man。 That good man； though terrified with this
dreadful sentence； yet replied； 〃I am then a dead man。〃 But God soon
after made the prognostic false。 The last of the brothersthere were
four of themand by many years the last； the Sieur de Bussaguet； was the
only one of the family who made use of medicine； by reason； I suppose； of
the concern he had with the other arts； for he was a councillor in the
court of Parliament； and it succeeded so ill with him； that being in
outward appearance of the strongest constitution； he yet died long before
any of the rest； save the Sieur de Saint Michel。
'Tis possible I may have derived this natural antipathy to physic from
them； but had there been no other consideration in the case； I would have
endeavoured to have overcome it； for all these conditions that spring in
us without reason； are vicious； 'tis a kind of disease that we should
wrestle with。 It may be I had naturally this propension； but I have
supported and fortified it by arguments and reasons which have
established in me the opinion I am of。 For I also hate the consideration
of refusing physic for the nauseous taste。
I should hardly be of that humour who hold health to be worth purchasing
by all the most painful cauteries and incisions that can be applied。
And； with Epicurus； I conceive that pleasures are to be avoided； if
greater pains be the consequence； and pains to be coveted； that will
terminate in greater pleasures。 Health is a precious thing； and the only
one； in truth； meriting that a man should lay out； not only his time；
sweat； labour； and goods； but also his life itself to obtain it；
forasmuch as； without it； life is wearisome and injurious to us：
pleasure； wisdom； learning； and virtue； without it； wither away and
vanish； and to the most laboured and solid discourses that philosophy
would imprint in us to the contrary； we need no more but oppose the image
of Plato being struck with an epilepsy or apoplexy； and； in this
presupposition； to defy him to call the rich faculties of his soul to his
assistance。 All means that conduce to health can neither be too painful
nor too dear to me。 But I have some other appearances that make me
strangely suspect all this merchandise。 I do not deny but that there may
be some art in it； that there are not amongst so many works of Nature；
things proper for the conservation of health： that is most certain： I
very well know there are some simples that moisten； and others that dry；
I experimentally know that radishes are windy； and senna…leaves purging；
and several other such experiences I have； as that mutton nourishes me；
and wine warms me： and Solon said 〃that eating was physic against the
malady hunger。〃 I do not disapprove the use we make of things the earth
produces； nor doubt； in the least； of the power and fertility of Nature；
and of its application to our