irreligious and effeminate； was in his life very laborious and devout；
he wrote to a friend of his that he lived only upon biscuit and water；
entreating him to send him a little cheese； to lie by him against he had
a mind to make a feast。 Must it be true； that to be a perfect good man；
we must be so by an occult； natural； and universal propriety； without
law； reason； or example？ The debauches wherein I have been engaged； have
not been； I thank God； of the worst sort； and I have condemned them in
myself； for my judgment was never infected by them； on the contrary；
I accuse them more severely in myself than in any other； but that is all；
for； as to the rest。 I oppose too little resistance and suffer myself to
incline too much to the other side of the balance； excepting that I
moderate them； and prevent them from mixing with other vices； which for
the most part will cling together； if a man have not a care。 I have
contracted and curtailed mine； to make them as single and as simple as I
can：
〃Nec ultra
Errorem foveo。〃
＇〃Nor do I cherish error further。〃
or： 〃Nor carry wrong further。〃
Juvenal； viii。 164。＇
For as to the opinion of the Stoics； who say； 〃That the wise man when he
works； works by all the virtues together； though one be most apparent；
according to the nature of the action〃； and herein the similitude of a
human body might serve them somewhat； for the action of anger cannot
work； unless all the humours assist it； though choler predominate；
if they will thence draw a like consequence； that when the wicked man
does wickedly； he does it by all the vices together； I do not believe it
to be so； or else I understand them not； for I by effect find the
contrary。 These are sharp； unsubstantial subleties； with which
philosophy sometimes amuses itself。 I follow some vices； but I fly
others as much as a saint would do。 The Peripatetics also disown this
indissoluble connection； and Aristotle is of opinion that a prudent and
just man may be intemperate and inconsistent。 Socrates confessed to some
who had discovered a certain inclination to vice in his physiognomy； that
it was； in truth； his natural propension； but that he had by discipline
corrected it。 And such as were familiar with the philosopher Stilpo
said； that being born with addiction to wine and women； he had by study
rendered himself very abstinent both from the one and the other。
What I have in me of good； I have； quite contrary； by the chance of my
birth； and hold it not either by law； precept； or any other instruction；
the innocence that is in me is a simple one； little vigour and no art。
Amongst other vices； I mortally hate cruelty； both by nature and
judgment； as the very extreme of all vices： nay； with so much tenderness
that I cannot see a chicken's neck pulled off without trouble； and cannot
without impatience endure the cry of a hare in my dog's teeth； though the
chase be a violent pleasure。 Such as have sensuality to encounter；
freely make use of this argument； to shew that it is altogether 〃vicious
and unreasonable； that when it is at the height； it masters us to that
degree that a man's reason can have no access；〃 and instance our own
experience in the act of love；
〃Quum jam praesagit gaudia corpus；
Atque in eo est Venus；
ut muliebria conserat arva。〃
＇None of the translators of the old editions used for this etext
have been willing to translate this passage from Lucretius； iv。
1099； they take a cop out by bashfully saying： 〃The sense is in the
preceding passage of the text。 D。W。＇
wherein they conceive that the pleasure so transports us； that our reason
cannot perform its office； whilst we are in such ecstasy and rapture。 I
know very well it may be otherwise； and that a man may sometimes； if he
will； gain this point over himself to sway his soul； even in the critical
moment； to think of something else； but then he must ply it to that bent。
I know that a man may triumph over the utmost effort of this pleasure： I
have experienced it in myself； and have not found Venus so imperious a
goddess； as many； and much more virtuous men than I； declare。 I do not
consider it a miracle； as the Queen of Navarre does in one of the Tales
of her Heptameron ＇〃Vu gentil liure pour son estoffe。〃＇（which is a
very pretty book of its kind）； nor for a thing of extreme difficulty； to
pass whole nights； where a man has all the convenience and liberty he can
desire； with a long…coveted mistress； and yet be true to the pledge first
given to satisfy himself with kisses and suchlike endearments； without
pressing any further。 I conceive that the example of the pleasure of the
chase would be more proper； wherein though the pleasure be less； there is
the higher excitement of unexpected joy； giving no time for the reason；
taken by surprise； to prepare itself for the encounter； when after a long
quest the beast starts up on a sudden in a place where； peradventure； we
least expected it； the shock and the ardour of the shouts and cries of
the hunters so strike us； that it would be hard for those who love this
lesser chase； to turn their thoughts upon the instant another way； and
the poets make Diana triumph over the torch and shafts of Cupid：
〃Quis non malarum； quas amor curas habet；
Haec inter obliviscitur？〃
＇〃Who； amongst such delights would not remove out of his thoughts
the anxious cares of love。〃Horace； Epod。； ii。 37。＇
To return to what I was saying before； I am tenderly compassionate of
others' afflictions； and should readily cry for company； if； upon any
occasion whatever； I could cry at all。 Nothing tempts my tears but
tears； and not only those that are real and true； but whatever they are；
feigned or painted。 I do not much lament the dead； and should envy them
rather； but I very much lament the dying。 The savages do not so much
offend me； in roasting and eating the bodies of the dead； as they do who
torment and persecute the living。 Nay； I cannot look so much as upon the
ordinary executions of justice； how reasonable soever； with a steady eye。
Some one having to give testimony of Julius Caesar's clemency； 〃he was；〃
says he； 〃mild in his revenges。 Having compelled the pirates to yield by
whom he had before been taken prisoner and put to ransom； forasmuch as he
had threatened them with the cross； he indeed condemned them to it； but
it was after they had been first strangled。 He punished his secretary
Philemon； who had attempted to poison him； with no greater severity than
mere death。〃 Without naming that Latin author；＇Suetonius； Life of
Casay； c。 74。＇ who thus dares to allege as a testimony of mercy the
killing only of those by whom we have been offended； it is easy to guess
that he was struck with the horrid and inhuman examples of cruelty
practised by the Roman tyrants。
For my part； even in justice itself； all that exceeds a simple death
appears to me pure cruelty； especially in us who ought； having regard to
their souls； to dismiss them in a good and calm condition； which cannot
be； when we have agitated them by insufferable torments。 Not long since；
a soldier who was a prisoner； perceiving from a tower where he was shut
up； that the people began to assemble to the place of execution； and that
the carpenters were busy erecting a scaffold； he presently concluded
that the preparation was for him； and therefore entered into a resolution
to kill himself； but could find no instrument to assist him in his design
except an old rusty cart…nail that fortune presented to him； with this he
first gave himself two great wounds about his throat； but finding these
would not do； he presently afterwards gave himself a third in the belly；
where he left the nail sticking up to the head。 The first of his keepers
who came in found him in this condition： yet alive； but sunk down and
exhausted by his wounds。 To make use of time； therefore； before he
should die； they made haste to read his sentence； which having done； and
he hearing that he was only condemned to be beheaded； he seemed to take
new courage； accepted wine which he had before refused； and thanked his
judges for the unhoped…for mildness of their sentence； saying； that he
had taken a resolution to despatch himself for fear of a more severe and
insupportable death； having entertained an opinion； by the preparations
he had seen in the place； that they were resolved to torment him with
some horrible execution； and seemed to be delivered from death in having
it changed from what he apprehended。
I should advise that those examples of severity by which 'tis designed to
retain the people in their duty； might be exercised upon the dead bodies
of criminals； for to see them deprived of sepulture； to see them boiled
and divided into quarters； would almost work as much upon the vulgar； as
the pain they make the living endure； though that in effect be little or
nothing； as God himself says； 〃Who kill the body； and after that have no
more that they can do；〃 ＇Luke； xii。 4。＇ and the poets singu