never be prevailed upon to go with his head covered； how cold； stormy； or
rainy soever the weather might be； which also is reported of the Emperor
Severus。 Herodotus tells us； that in the battles fought betwixt the
Egyptians and the Persians； it was observed both by himself and by
others； that of those who were left dead upon the field； the heads of the
Egyptians were without comparison harder than those of the Persians； by
reason that the last had gone with their heads always covered from their
infancy； first with biggins； and then with turbans； and the others always
shaved and bare。 King Agesilaus continued to a decrepit age to wear
always the same clothes in winter that he did in summer。 Caesar； says
Suetonius； marched always at the head of his army； for the most part on
foot； with his head bare； whether it was rain or sunshine； and as much is
said of Hannibal：
〃Tum vertice nudo；
Excipere insanos imbres； coelique ruinam。〃
＇〃Bareheaded he marched in snow； exposed to pouring rain and the
utmost rigour of the weather。〃Silius Italicus； i。 250。＇
A Venetian who has long lived in Pegu； and has lately returned thence；
writes that the men and women of that kingdom； though they cover all
their other parts； go always barefoot and ride so too； and Plato very
earnestly advises for the health of the whole body； to give the head and
the feet no other clothing than what nature has bestowed。 He whom the
Poles have elected for their king；＇Stephen Bathory＇ since ours came
thence； who is； indeed； one of the greatest princes of this age； never
wears any gloves； and in winter or whatever weather can come； never wears
other cap abroad than that he wears at home。 Whereas I cannot endure to
go unbuttoned or untied； my neighbouring labourers would think themselves
in chains； if they were so braced。 Varro is of opinion； that when it was
ordained we should be bare in the presence of the gods and before the
magistrate； it was so ordered rather upon the score of health； and to
inure us to the injuries of weather； than upon the account of reverence；
and since we are now talking of cold； and Frenchmen used to wear variety
of colours （not I myself； for I seldom wear other than black or white； in
imitation of my father）； let us add another story out of Le Capitaine
Martin du Bellay； who affirms； that in the march to Luxembourg he saw so
great frost； that the munition…wine was cut with hatchets and wedges； and
delivered out to the soldiers by weight； and that they carried it away in
baskets： and Ovid；
〃Nudaque consistunt； formam servantia testae；
Vina； nec hausta meri； sed data frusta； bibunt。〃
＇〃The wine when out of the cask retains the form of the cask；
and is given out not in cups； but in bits。〃
Ovid； Trist。； iii。 10； 23。＇
At the mouth of Lake Maeotis the frosts are so very sharp； that in the
very same place where Mithridates' lieutenant had fought the enemy
dryfoot and given them a notable defeat； the summer following he obtained
over them a naval victory。 The Romans fought at a very great
disadvantage； in the engagement they had with the Carthaginians near
Piacenza； by reason that they went to the charge with their blood
congealed and their limbs numbed with cold； whereas Hannibal had caused
great fires to be dispersed quite through his camp to warm his soldiers；
and oil to be distributed amongst them； to the end that anointing
themselves； they might render their nerves more supple and active； and
fortify the pores against the violence of the air and freezing wind；
which raged in that season。
The retreat the Greeks made from Babylon into their own country is famous
for the difficulties and calamities they had to overcome； of which this
was one； that being encountered in the mountains of Armenia with a
horrible storm of snow； they lost all knowledge of the country and of the
ways； and being driven up； were a day and a night without eating or
drinking； most of their cattle died； many of themselves were starved to
death； several struck blind with the force of the hail and the glare of
the snow； many of them maimed in their fingers and toes； and many stiff
and motionless with the extremity of the cold； who had yet their
understanding entire。
Alexander saw a nation； where they bury their fruit…trees in winter to
protect them from being destroyed by the frost； and we also may see the
same。
But； so far as clothes go； the King of Mexico changed four times a day
his apparel； and never put it on again； employing that he left off in his
continual liberalities and rewards； and neither pot； dish； nor other
utensil of his kitchen or table was ever served twice。
CHAPTER XXXVI
OF CATO THE YOUNGER
＇〃I am not possessed with this common errour； to judge of others
according to what I am my selfe。 I am easie to beleeve things
differing from my selfe。 Though I be engaged to one forme； I do not
tie the world unto it； as every man doth。 And I beleeve and
conceive a thousand manners of life； contrary to the common sorte。〃
Florio； ed。 1613； p。 113。＇
I am not guilty of the common error of judging another by myself。 I
easily believe that in another's humour which is contrary to my own； and
though I find myself engaged to one certain form； I do not oblige others
to it； as many do； but believe and apprehend a thousand ways of living；
and； contrary to most men； more easily admit of difference than
uniformity amongst us。 I as frankly as any one would have me； discharge
a man from my humours and principles； and consider him according to his
own particular model。 Though I am not continent myself； I nevertheless
sincerely approve the continence of the Feuillans and Capuchins； and
highly commend their way of living。 I insinuate myself by imagination
into their place； and love and honour them the more for being other than
I am。 I very much desire that we may be judged every man by himself； and
would not be drawn into the consequence of common examples。 My own
weakness nothing alters the esteem I ought to have for the force and
vigour of those who deserve it：
〃Sunt qui nihil suadent； quam quod se imitari posse confidunt。〃
＇〃There are who persuade nothing but what they believe they can
imitate themselves。〃Cicero； De Orator。； c。 7。＇
Crawling upon the slime of the earth； I do not for all that cease to
observe up in the clouds the inimitable height of some heroic souls。
'Tis a great deal for me to have my judgment regular and just； if the
effects cannot be so； and to maintain this sovereign part； at least； free
from corruption； 'tis something to have my will right and good where my
legs fail me。 This age wherein we live； in our part of the world at
least； is grown so stupid； that not only the exercise； but the very
imagination of virtue is defective； and seems to be no other but college
jargon：
〃Virtutem verba putant； ut
Lucum ligna：〃
＇〃They think words virtue； as they think mere wood a sacred grove。〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 6； 31。＇
〃Quam vereri deberent； etiam si percipere non possent。〃
＇〃Which they ought to reverence； though they cannot comprehend。〃
Cicero； Tusc。 Quas。； v。 2。＇
'Tis a gewgaw to hang in a cabinet or at the end of the tongue； as on the
tip of the ear； for ornament only。 There are no longer virtuous actions
extant； those actions that carry a show of virtue have yet nothing of its
essence； by reason that profit； glory； fear； custom； and other suchlike
foreign causes； put us on the way to produce them。 Our justice also；
valour； courtesy； may be called so too； in respect to others and
according to the face they appear with to the public； but in the doer it
can by no means be virtue； because there is another end proposed； another
moving cause。 Now virtue owns nothing to be hers； but what is done by
herself and for herself alone。
In that great battle of Plataea； that the Greeks under the command of
Pausanias gained against Mardonius and the Persians； the conquerors；
according to their custom； coming to divide amongst them the glory of the
exploit； attributed to the Spartan nation the pre…eminence of valour in
the engagement。 The Spartans； great judges of virtue； when they came to
determine to what particular man of their nation the honour was due of
having the best behaved himself upon this occasion； found that
Aristodemus had of all others hazarded his person with the greatest
bravery； but did not； however； allow him any prize； by reason that his
virtue had been incited by a desire to clear his reputation from the
reproach of his miscarriage at the business of Thermopylae； and to die
bravely to wipe off that former blemish。
Our judgments are yet sick； and obey the humour of our depraved manners。
I observe most of the wits of these times pretend to ingenuity； by
endeavouring to blemish and darken the glory of the bravest and most
generous actions of former ages； putting one vile interpretation or
another upon them； and forging and supposing vain causes and motives for
the noble thing