џWPCL ћџ2BJ|xе4а ш( ааашџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ‚аШаСрСУУPublick EmploymentФФС`С=4ее+а шT ааашџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ‚аШа=СрСУУPublick EmploymentФФ+еа шT ааашАм˜Ф T ф t ”ˆ|џџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ СрСУУTO THE ФФУУСрСHON. SIR RICHARD BROWNE, Kt. and Bart. ФФУУLATE RESIDENT AT THE COURT OF FRANCE FOR THEIR MAJESTIES OF GREAT BRITAIN, CHARLES I AND II, GENTLEMAN OF THE PRIVYЉCHAMBER, AND ONE OF THE CLERKS OF HIS MAJESTIES MOST HONOURABLE PRIVYЉCOUNCIL, MY MOST HONOURED FATHERЊINЉLAW. СрСРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРФФ УУSФФУУIR,ФФ I am bold to present this liberal discourse with the greater confidence to you, because, you alone being witness with how little application I have been able to frame it (importuned as I was by several avocations), it may with the better grace presume upon your indulgence; there is this only which I have infinite cause to regret, that the tenuity of the oblation bears so little proportion to the duty, and the service which I owe you; but, though I might happily have oppressed you with a larger volume, I could not with a more illustrious and becoming argument; nor indeed, made choice of a fitter arbiter that yourself to determine between us, who have passed so much of your time in the public service of your Prince and Country, and in a period when a less steady virtue must have succumbed under your temptations. With what fidelity and success you discharged your Ministry, and how honourably you supported the change during the nineteen years space of your honourable character abroad, I leave others to report, and to the great and most illustrious persons of this nation, whose loyalties mingle their glorious misfortunes with yours: I say nothing of your hospitality, and of the civility of your house, which cannot but be gratefully recounted by as many as have made any stay at Paris, and that shall consider the circumstances of those lessening times: and your modesty since your Royal MasterРРs most signal Restoration, has made it appear, that you served him without design, as esteeming your whole fortune a sacrifice too cheap, to preserve the dignity of a charge in which his MajestyРРs reputation was concerned. I might here mention the constant asylum which the persecuted clergy found within your walls upon all occasions, because I have seen the instances, and have heard them frequently acknowledged both to yourself, and to your most excellent lady,ж/а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Elizabeth, Lady Browne, nР)Рe Prettyman (c.1610Љ52)./ж when your chapel was the Church of England in her most glorious estate, at least in the account of Heaven; for she was then the most persecuted church in the world; but this is already recorded by better pens.ж˜а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠEРРs note: РРSir, the benediction the Doctor gives to you and yours, in allusion to that which issued from the Ark to Obed. EdomРРs house, I have a particular obligation to suffrage in, &c. ССРРThe public exercise of our Liturgy, is the antitype we reflect upon, which, by GodРРs singular indulgence to you, hath, when chased out of the Temple took refuge in your house; so that we have been forced many times to argue from your oratory for a visibility of our Church; your easy admission of me to officiate in it for some months, and your endeavours to have such an establishment for me, as whereby, in the most diffcult of times, I might have had a comfortable subsistence, and a safe protection under your sacred roof, beside the other graces and civilities I had from you, exact this open retribution of my thanks, &c, to you, whose name and memory must be ever venerable to the English Clergy, as your person hath been most obliging to many of us, &c. See Richard Watson in his УУEpist. Dedicat.ФФ before Dr BasierРРs УУTreatise of the Antient Liberty of the Britannick Church, and exemption thereof from the Roman Patriarchate, &c.ФФ Printed London 1661.˜ж Shall I descend to your other noble and more personal qualifications? That amidst your busy employments for the concern of States, and the interest of Kingdoms, you still held correspondence with the Muses, and conversation with letters; so as what others know but at a great distance, and by reflection only, you derive from the fountains themselves, and have beheld what has passed in the world from the very summit of Olympus: thus Xenophon, Thucydides, Polybius, CР%Рsar, and Tacitus, conceal nothing from you who are a critic in both the Greek and the Latin tongues,жdа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ This raises the question of to what extent, if any, Browne assisted E in his researches, and translations.dж as well as in all the modern languages: to these I might add the sweetness and comityжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Courtesy, good breeding.ж of your disposition, the temper of your customs, the sedateness of your mind, your infinite contempt of vanity and gilded appearances; and, in short, all those perfections which are the result of a consummate experience, and prudent and just estimation of the vicissitude of things: but I am first to beg pardon for this attempt on your modesty, or rather indeed for this imperfect description of your virtues: but, Sir, I pretend not to oblige you by your character, but the public by your example; and if that have been the chief design of this little piece to declare it to the world, I attain my purpose. You have obliged me with many signal kindnesses, with a continued affection, a profitable and noble conversation, and in a word, with all these in one, with an excellent wife, to make this just acknowledgement, and to subscribe myself, СрСSir, СрСYour most obedient humble servant, and SonЉinЉLaw, УУSaysЉCourt,ФФС`СJ. УУEVELYNФФ УУFebФФ. 5, 1666Љ7. СрСTO THE READER. I have this request to make, and this account to give of the ensuing Discourse; that, as it was but the effects of a very few hours, a cursory pen, and almost but of a sitting, the Reader will be favourable in his suffrage, and not hastily pronounce against the merits of the cause. I do not speak this to justify my discretion, that being conscious of my defects, I would presume to engage: let me be looked on but as the forlorn, who though resigned for lost, do service in the day of battle, and lead on the rest: I dare assure the most instructed for fight, that it will be no disgrace to be overthrown by such an hero: who, if I discern rightly of his spirit by that of his style, is too generous to insult over the vanquished; and it will be no shame to resign our arms. ССI ingenuously acknowledge, that amongst so many pens as the writers of this age employ, I find not many that are better cut. On the other side, it must be granted, that he has all the topics and discourses of all the Philosophers who ever writ: and that, whilst he declares for solitude, I am forced to tread the most unfrequented and solitary paths; and if for that reason I have not obliged myself to the exactest method, I have yet pursued my antagonist, rightly paraffedжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ To affix oneРРs initials to.ж and compared, who has laid himself down and resumed as pleased him; nor in these prolusive and oratorious contentions, is the liberty without good example: but that which would best of all justify me, and the seeming coherencies of some parts of my discourse, would be the noble authorРРs piece itself, because of the antithesis and the forms of his applications. But, as I said, I do not pretend to laurels and palms, but to provoke some stronger party to undertake our aggressor. The war is innocent, and I would be glad this way of velitationжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ To quarrel with words.ж and short discourses upon all arguments, in which other languages greatly outdo us, might exercise our reasons, and improve the English style, which yet wants the culture of our more Southern neighbours, and to be redeemed from the province, without wholly resigning it to the pulpits and the theatre, to the neglect of those other advantaged which made the Romans as famous for their eloquence as for their arms, and enabled them to subdue more with their tongues than with their swords. Let us consider it was but their native language, which they familiarly used, and brought to that perfection; and that there is nothing so course and stubborn but is polished by art. ССThis ingenious stranger for some expressions and some words (yet apt, and well inserted), persuade me he is so (though a subject of his MajestyРРs), will justify what I aim at; and the felicity which we have of gracefully adopting so many languages and idioms into our own, frustrates all pretences of not infinitely improving it. This was once the design of the Royal Society; and and as it was worthy their thoughts, so I hope they will resume it. I add not this, as presuming myself to have attained the most vulgar talent of this kind; my business has been only the vindication of an oppressed subject, and to do honour to employment. In the meantime, РРtwere pretty, if at last it should appear that a public person has all this while contended for solitude, as it is certain a private has done for action; but as I persuade myself, if it be so, he has power to retreat from business; I protest I have not the least inclination to it, though for want of a better, I have undertaken this. ССThe gentleman is pleased to call his book but an Essay; mine hardly pretends to so much; which makes me presume he will not judge me uncivil, nor take anything I have said in ill part, the nature of this war considered. But if he shall esteem it so important, and think fit to rejoin, I so far promise to assert his cause, and the just conceptions I have of his rare abilities, that though I would willingly incite some better pen to wait on him, that I may still enjoy the diversion and benefit of his discourses, I will forever be silent myself, and after all I have said here to the contrary, prefer his УУSOLITUDE.ФФ С`СJ.E. СрСУУPUBLICK СрСEMPLOYMENT, &c. СрСФФУУPreferРРd to Solitude.ФФ СрСРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMР It was an ill omen to the success of his argument, that УУin ipso lumineФФ,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРIn the light itself.РРж the very threshold of his Essay, he should think to establish it upon so wide a mistake as what is derived from the sense of an impious poet, and the sentences of a few philosophers; insinuating, by the unconcerned and inactive life of Him who gives life and activity to all beings, that to resemble God (wherein consists our greatest perfection) we should sit still and do nothing. УУDissolvitur autem religio, si credamus Epicuro illa dicentiФФ.жzа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРIndeed religious belief is destroyed, if we believe those sayings from Epicurus.РР Lactantius, УУDe ira DeiФФ, viii. .zж Be this our faith, says Lactantius, and farewell religion: and if Memmiusж8а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ The man to whom Lucretius dedicated his УУDe Rerum NaturaФФ.8ж be persuaded to gratify his ease by being made to believe that the supreme arbiters of our actions would take little notice of them, it was no conclusion to the more illuminated Christian, that, to approach the tranquillity of the Deity, men should pursue their ease, or hide their talents in a napkin. God is always so full of employment, that the most accurate definers of him style him to be УУactus purusФФ,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРThe pure force.РРж to denote his eternal and incomprehensible activity, creating, preserving, and governing; always doing justice and giving laws, rewarding the virtuous, and defending the innocent. For what Cicero affirms of the philosophic life, relates to their science, not their solitude; and so, indeed, the conscience of our duty, joined with our performance of it, renders us like our Maker, and therefore rightly inferred by Plutarch, that the lives of great persons, who delight in such actions as proceed from beneficence, and doing good to others; since the contemplation of it alone was superior to all other satisfactions. ССBut what if the same Cicero tells us in another place, that those who do nothing considerable in this world are to be reputed but as so many dead men in it? УУMihi enim qui nihil agit, esse omino non videturФФ, says he;жoа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Cicero, УУDe Natura DeorumФФ, II. . РРFor to me he who achieves nothing, is not seen to be anything at all.РР oж and what is yet more remarkable, as it is opposed to what he seems to press from the lazy deity of Epicurus: certainly God that would not permit the world itself to remain in idea only, but published and brought it forth to light by the very noblest of all his actions (for such was its educing out of nothing), and that of seven whole days and nightsж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУGenesisФФ II.2. ж reposed but one himself, and has been ever since preserving and governing what he made, shows us by this, and by the continual motion of the stars, and revolutions of the heavenly bodies, that to resemble him (which is the sum of felicity) we should always be in action, and that there is nothing more agreeable to his nature. If we have recourse to the mystic theology of the ancients, we shall find there also, that even Minerva could not conceive without the operations of Vulcan, which signifies labour and the active life, no more than Jupiter himself; and that Hercules was not admitted into the celestial courts, РРtill he had first produced the trophies of his heroic achievements. To all this the mythology of the heathens refer; and therefore, doubtless, if beatitude be our УУsummum bonumФФж5а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРThe highest good.РР Cicero, УУDe OfficiisФФ I.ii.5.5ж (as all consent it to be), РРtwas well said of the philosopher, Р РРІРР РРРРРРРРРРРР7РРР Р!РР#РР4РРРРРР'Р РvРР%РР)РРРРР, that beatitude was action,ж-а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Aristotle, УУPoliticsФФ VII.iii.2 (Loeb, p. 548).-ж and that action, by way of transcendency, was proper only to man.жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Aristotle, УУEthicsФФ I.xii.ж ССBut to pursue the method of our ingenious author. Whilst he is thus eloquently declaiming against public employment, fame, command, riches, pleasure, conversation, and all the topics of his frontispiece, and would persuade us wholly to retire from the active world, why is he at all concerned with the empty breath of fame, and so very fond of it, that without remembering the known saying, УУNemo eodem tempore assequi potest magnam famam, et magnam quietemФФ,жIа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРNoЉone is able to pursue great fame and great privacy at the same time.РРIж would have men celebrated for doing nothing? Verily, there is more of ambition and empty glory in some solitudes, and affected retreats, than in the most exposed and conspicuous actions whatsoever. Ambition is not only in public places, and pompous circumstances, but at home, and in the interior life; hermits themselves are not recluse enough to seclude that subtle spirit РMР vanity:жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУEpistulР%РФФ lxxviii.ж УУGloriari otio iners ambitio estФФ: РРtis a most idle ambition to vaunt of idleness, and but a mere boast to lie concealed too apparently, since it does but proclaim a desire of being observed. РРWouldst thou be indeed retiredРР, says the philosopher, РРlet no man know it. Ambition is never buried; repressed it may be, not extinguished.РР ССNeocles, brother to Epicurus, as Suidas tells us,ж—а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Suidas, lived c. 1100 AD, author of a lexicon. There was a copy of the 1705 edition in the Evelyn Library, probably purchased to replace a lost earlier copy.—ж was the father of that wary expression, УУLatenter esse vivendumФФ,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРTo lead a lonely life.РРж whence Balzac assumed it. What says Plutarch? Even he that said it, said it that he might be known. I will not add how severely he pursues it (because our author may be concerned, that a second impression has, IРРm told, transmitted us his name), but if it be the property of those who are excessively ambitious themselves to redargueжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Refute.ж the glory and dignity of their corrivals, that they alone may possess it, the resemblance was not inept, which compared those decriers of public employment to the slaves in the galleys,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Plutarch ??.ж whose faces are averse from the place to which they tend, and advance forward whilst they seem to go backwards. That which renders public employment culpable is, that many affect greatness, few virtue, for which honours alone are desirable; be good and you cannot be too popular, community makes it better; for permit me to affirm, that there is an honourable and noble ambition, and nothing, I think, which more distinguishes men from brutes, their low and useless appetites; whilst this РРРРРРР#РРРР1РР+РР/РР7РРР,ж9а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРMeanness of spirit,РР literally РРsmallЉmindedness.РР9ж this despising of glory, is the mother of sloth, and of all unworthy actions; well, therefore, did the philosopher assign its contrary, magnanimity,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ EРРs note: РРРРР РРРРРРРРРР1РР+РР/РР7РРР, Eth. ad Eud. c.5.РР Aristotle, УУEthicsФФ ii.1107b21ff, and iv.1123a31 ff. The Greek word means РРmagnanimityРР. РРEudРР is Eudoxus (c. 406Љ355 BC), mathematician, astronomer, and pupil of Plato.ж and even some sort of ambition too, a kind of rank amongst the virtues; and we know УУcontemptus famР%Р, contemni virtutesФФ,ж•а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Correctly УУcontemptu famР%Р, contemni virtutesФФ, РРIn the despising of fame, the despising of virtue [was implied].РР Tacitus, УУAnnalsФФ IV.38.•ж and that even life itself (if the circumstances be handsome) will be parted withal to preserve it. ССBut let us suppose the motives why men pursue greatness to be some of the particulars here enumerated; may we not as well affirm Celadorжўа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ????ўж flies it for the appendant burthen, and because РРtis expensive, out of closeness and avarice, humour, or want of ability? Some grow sullen and peevish that they not be advanced; others are naturally hypochondriacs and saturnine, tempers of the basest alloy. But when the opulent and great persons (says he) undertake public charges, the very rabble have so much of prudence as to condemn them for mad; when philosophers, they serve their country, not their inclinations, &c. None, indeed, but the rabble make that judgement; for, being commonly mad, they think all others like themselves; and when philosophers pretend it, it seems by him they cease to be philosophers, and then РРtis no matter what they say. The truth is men then begin to praise retirement, when either no longer vigorous and capable to act, that their spirits and bodies fail, through age, infirmity, and decay of senses, or when they cannot otherwise attain to what they aspire; which sufficiently justifies the preference of employment, since to be thus happy they must first begin to dote nor does the merchant traffic so dearly for solitude, but for his ease, and the difference is wide between them. If to be owner of a stately house, to be bravely furnished, to have a fair lady, a rich coach, and noble retinue; if to eat good meat, drink the most generous wine, and make more noise amidst his jolly friends than ever he did either at sea or the camp, be a merchantРРs or a soldierРРs solitude, who would not desire the pretty retreat he describes? ССFor this (I take it) РРtis that both merchants plough the seas, that lawyers break their brains, and soldiers fight battles; in sum, to live at ease and splendidly, who before, and whilst employed, were the pillars and ornaments of their country. When CР%Рsar is brought for an instance, УУaliquando licebit mihi vivereФФ,ж‚а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРOnce I may have been permitted to live.РР (Note this phrase varied on in Seneca, II, p. 306). Probably in Lucan УУPharsaliaФФ ??‚ж were it possible to wrest it to the sense of this argument, it ought yet so far to dissuade us from the pursuit of his example, as РРtis perfectly opposite to an evangelical, as well as moral position. РРNo man,РР saith St Paul, РРliveth to himself.РРж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУRomansФФ xiv.7. ж РРNo man,РР says Cicero, РРis born for himself.РРжфа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Cicero, УУDe OfficiisФФ I.vii.22, though Cicero in fact notes he is reminding his reader of a saying of PlatoРРs (УУEpФФ IX, УУad ArchytamФФ 358 A); that E attributes it to Cicero alone suggests he is writing from memory here.фж Certainly the great Augustus had learned that lesson too well to affect repose for himself only, or with an intention to relax the excellent government which rendered that age of his so happy above others. He knew justice and fortitude were active virtues, and that princes are shepherds, whose function РРtis not to play all day on the pipe, and make love to Amarillis,жWа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ See Virgil, УУEcloguesФФ IX.22, though she is referred to in several of the УУEcloguesФФ.Wж but to attend to the good of their flock. Nor, indeed, should they trifle their hours in giving audience to buffoons, or sport with apes. Would it become an Emperor, who should march before legions, and give laws to kingdoms, to play with cockleshells, or be stabbing flies when ambassadors are attending him, as Domitian did?жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Suetonius, УУDomitianФФ III.1.ж For what can this УУmihi vivereФФжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРTo live for myself.РРж less signify in a prince, whose greatest glory proceeds from actions, profitable and public, and to live for others, such as renowned the memory of this gallant hero? whilst the rest, abandoning themselves to ease, effeminacy, and fantastic pleasures (like Tiberius in his УУCapriР%РФФ), became the pity of their age, and the subjects of tragedy and satire. CР%Рsar, then, breathed after retirement for relaxation only, and that he might revert to his charge with the more courage and vigour.ж§а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ???§ж Thus Scipio and LР%Рlius went apart,ж}а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Scipio Africanus Minor (the Younger) and Caius Laelius. Their great friendship is discussed by Cicero in his УУDe AmicitiaФФ III.}ж thus Cicero and Varro,ж-а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Cicero was assassinated in 43 BC. Varro (116Љ28 BC)-ж and not to sing verses to the forests and rocks, and dialogize with echoes, the entertainments of solitude. Neither does he less err in preferring it to public business in respect of dignity, seeing that which takes care for the being of so many societies, is infinitely more honourable than what has only regard to itself; and if his logic hold, УУquod efficit tale, est magis taleФФ,жGа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРHe that achieves something of quality, is of great quality [himself]РР.Gж those who are most to be reputed happy who render others so, since God and nature come under the consideration. Could his happy man remain in that desirable estate without the active lives of others to protect him from rapine, feed and supply him with bread, clothes, and decent necessaries? For РРtis a grand mistake to conceive that none are employed but such as are all day on horseback, fighting battles, or sitting in tribunals. What think you of ploughmen and artificers? nay, the labours of the brain, that excogitates new arts, and produce so many useful things for humane society, opposed to our gentlemanЉhawker and hunter, who rises so early, and takes so much pains to so little purpose? A good architect may, without great motion, operate more than all the inferior workmen who toil in the quarries, and dip their hands in mortar. And when the historian had summed up a world ofжЊа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ EРРs note: Р РР“РР)РРРР'Р Р РРРРaР РРРРР3РР<РРРР'Р РЕРРРРРР%РР Р Р)РРРРРРРР'Р, Р РР”РР)РР Р Р РРРРMР Р РР!РРРР3РРР. Р$Рlian.Њж gallant persons who fought bravely for their country, he did not esteem those to be less honourably employed who served it by their counsel. The commonwealth is an assembly regulated by active laws, maintained by commerce, disciplined by virtue, cultivated by arts, which would fall to universal confusion and solitude indeed, without continual care and public intendancy; and he that governs as he ought, is master of a good trade, in the best of poetsРР sense as well as mine: ТТТТТТТТТТStrive thou, brave Romans, how to govern well, ТТТТТТТТТТBe these the arts in which thou dost excel; ТТТТТТТТТТSubjects to spare, and the bold rebels quell.жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Virgil, УУР$РneidФФ VI.854Љ6.ж For when Epicurus (who chose the private life above all) discourses of public ministers, he is forced to acknowledge that to be at helm is better than lying alone in the ship;жIа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Probably in Cicero УУDe FinibusФФ or Diogenes Laertius УУLife of EpicurusФФIж not as РРtis indeed more honourable and conspicuous alone, but because РРtis more noble УУbeneficium dare quam accipereФФ;ж?а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРIt is more blessed to give than to receive.РР УУActsФФ xx.35.?ж and the sentence is of God as well as man; for so the Apostle, it is more blessed to give than to receive. But РРtis not for nothing that patron of the idle does now and then give so much celebrate action, and public employment; since unless УУsalva fit respublicaФФ, the commonwealth be secure,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Untraced ??ж even the slothful man himself cannot enjoy his sloth. ССWe may with more justice condemn the ambition of Pyrrhus than derive and advantage from his reply.ж„а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ A King of Epirus, reputedly descended from Achilles who fought against Macedonia and Rome. He was irrepressibly ambitious. See Р$Рlian x.„ж For my part I think we are obliged to those glorious conquerors for the repose, knowledge, and morality they have imparted to us; when, but for their achievements and heroic actions, more than half the world had still remained barbarous, and the universe but one vast solitude indeed. The activity of men does best cover their frailties: arts and industry having supplied that which nature had denied us; and if felicity consist in perfection, certainly whatever makes us to approach it nearest, renders us most happy. But his wiseЉmanРРs wit consists, it seems, in repute only. УУI had rather be wise than so reputedФФ; and then this is no more advantage to Solitude than the melancholy and silence he speaks of; the one being the basest of humours, and the other the most averse from instruction, which is the parent of virtue; whilst felicity in this article appears the result of cheat and imposture, and in making men seem what indeed they are not; whereas active persons produce themselves to the world, and are sooner to be judged what they are by what they do, according to that well known test, УУofficium indicat virumФФ.ж*а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРThe office denotes the man.РР (Tacitus ?).*ж As therefore truth is preferable to hypocrisy, so is employment before this solitude. Had he affirmed peace was better than war, he had gained my suffrage almost to an unjust one; but while his antithetaжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Opposites.ж are Solitude and Employment to state the period of felicity, he as widely mistakes, as one that should affirm from the text, that the milk and honey of Canaan dropped into the mouths of the Israelites without a stroke for it; whilst it cost so many yearsРР travels in the desert, and bloody battles, and that the wisest and happiest men in it, were the most active and the most employed. ССTo instance in the passion of statesmen breathing after selfЉenjoyment, and that to possess it a moment, they are even ready to disoblige their dearest interest, is not certainly to commend retirement, but declaim against it. Had David been well employed, fair Bathsheba had washed in her garden securely, and poor Uriah outlived many a hard siege. РРTis an old saying and a true one, УУQuem Diabolus non invenit occupatum, ipse occupatФФ,ж8а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРAs the Devil finds no occupation, he occupies himself.РР8ж the Devil never leaves the idle unbusied; but if nature, inclination, and pleasure vote (as is pretended) for Solitude, even the most contemplative men will tell us, as well as philosophers and divines, that nature is depraved, inclination propense to evil; and pleasure itself, if not simply evil, no moral virtue. Public employment is not unnatural in its ascent, for there are degrees and methods to it; but if ambitious men will needs leap when they may safely walk, or run themselves out of breath when they may take time and consider, the fault is not in the steps but in the intemperance of the person. Those who indeed arrive to greatness by their vices, sit in slippery places, whilst virtue only is able to secure her favourites; and in these sublunar orbs, if men continue humble and govern their passions amidst the temptations of pride and insolence; if they remain generous, chaste, and patient against all the assaults of avarice, dissolution, and the importunity of clients; how does such a personРРs example improve the world, illustrate and adorn his station? how infinitely exceed the miserРРs diamond and all his tinsel, which shines indeed, but is locked up in the dark, and like a candle is set under a bushel? Men of parts should produce their talents, and not enclosing themselves as conjurors within their circles, raise a thousand melancholy devils that pervert their abilities, and render them, if not dangerous, useless to their generation. Anaxagoras was a wary person, yet he conversed with Pericles; Plato with Dion, Panetius with Scipio; Cato with Athenodorus, and Pythagoras with all the world. Would philosophers be more active and Socratical, princes and great men would become philosophers, and states consummately happy; you know who said it. The truth is, РРa wise man is a perpetual magistrate,РРжџа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Platoџж and never a private person; not one city or place, but the world is his dominion; whilst those who introduce the example of Diocletianж=а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Emperor (245Љ313; reigned 284Љ305). Retired to his palace at Split.=ж and the Fifth Charles,жœа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ The Emperor Charles V (1500Љ58; reigned 1519Љ56). Abdicated in 1555, splitting his lands between his brother Ferdinand, and son Philip. He retired to a monastery.œж to justify the honour and delices of retirement, take for the one a proscribed prince, whose former tyrannies had deprived him of a kingdom; and for the other a decrepit old Emperor, whose hands were so unable to manage a sceptre, that, as one tells us, he had not strength enough to open a letter; not to insist on his other infirmities and suspicion which induced the more impartial historians to write; he did it plainly to prevent an ungrateful violence; or (as others) out of indignation to see himself so far outdone by our English Harry.жЫа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Henry VIII. EРРs note: УУLos degno di veder so soprafar dal Re Arrigo, et altri che esso havea voluto a questo modo schifare la fortuna aversa, etc.ФФ See more in Lodovico DolciРРs УУVita di Carlo VФФ.Ыж Whatever motive it were (for there are more assigned), so far was this felicity from smiling on those who acted the scene, that the very grimaces of fortune alone so affrighted them from society and the public, as to unking themselves whilst they were living. I will say nothing of another pageantry resembling this, which has happened in our own times; because the frailty of the sex carries more of excuse with it. But it seems no retreat can secure greatness from the censures and revenge of those they have once injured; and therefore even Solitude itself is not the asylum pretended. But that which can best protect us is, and that certainly is, grandeur, as more out of reach, and nearest to OlympusРР top. Р$Рleas, the King of Scythia, was wont to say ingenuously, that whilst he was doing nothing, he differed nothing from his groom;жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ??? In Plutarch somewhereж and Plutarch exceedingly reproves this shameful abdication of princes without cause. What a dishonour (says he) has it been for Agesilaus, Numa, Darius, Pericles, Solon, or Cato to have cast off their diadems, torn their purple, and broken their sceptres in pieces for the despondency of a Diocletian; or to have given place to proud and aspiring boys? How was Caius Gracchus reproached but for retiring from his charge a little, though on the death of his own brother?жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Plutarch, ж If ever such retreat be justifiable, РРtis when tyrants are at the helm, and the commonwealth in the power of cruel persons. When the wicked (says Solomon) rise, men hide themselves;жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУProverbsФФ xxviii.28ж then, УУbene vixit, bene qui latuitФФ,жда шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Ovid, УУTristiaФФ III.4.5 (УУThes LatФФ for УУLateoФФ 995.80; Epicurean fragment 551 РРРРРРР Р РРРРР3РР%РРРР'Р), correctly УУbene qui latuit, bene vixitФФ, РРHe who hides well, lives well.РРдж if it were not infinitely more laudable, with Demosthenes, even then to be most active, and endeavour its rescue; for things can never arrive at that pass, УУut nulli actioni honestae sit locusФФ;жoа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРThat no opportunity of action may be [left] for honourable deeds.РР Seneca, УУDe Tranquillitate AnimiФФ IV.8.oж РРtis SenecaРРs inference from the bravery of Socrates, who resisted no less than thirty of those Athenian monsters together;жiа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ The incident is referred to by Seneca, both in УУEpistlesФФ xxviii.8, and УУDe Tranquillitate AnimiФФ V.1. iж and how many thirtys more our glorious Prince did not resist to oppose, we have lived to see in the fruits of our present felicity; and to the eternal renown of that illustrious Duke,жfа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ George Monck, 1st Duke of Albemarle (1608Љ70), whose entry into London in 1660 precipitated the Restoration.fж who so resolutely unnestled the late juncto of iniquity, УУTurpe est cedere oneriФФ, РРtis a weakness to truckle under a burden,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Untraced.ж and be weary of what we have with good advice undertaken; he is neither worthy nor valiant that flies business, but whose spirit advances in courage with the pressure and difficulties of his charge. Were it not gallant advice (says Plutarch)жѓа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMoraliaФФ 1128F ff and 1129B ff, Р РРР РРРРРРРРР'Р Р РРРР#РРРР)РРРРР Р)РРР РРРРРРР Р РРРРРРР%РРРР'Р РРIs РР[to] live unknownРР a wise precept?РР (see the Loeb, Vol. XIV 1128.F ff and 1129.B ff).ѓж to dissuade Epanimondas from taking care of the army?ж0а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ A Theban king who defeated the Spartans at Leucra in 371BC. He overlooked the law that prevented a Theban having supreme power for more than a month. He was imprisoned but pleaded his case with such humility he was released. He remained an extremely successful military leader and an honest and honourable man.0ж bid Lycurgus enact no more wholesome laws?жЗа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ The uncorruptable 9th century BC Spartan lawЉmaker who is associated with the strict social code of Spartan society, though whether this was true and even if he really existed are in doubt.Зж and Socrates to teach wisdom no longer? Would you bring virtue into oblivion? should not arts improve? becomes it doctors to be silent? This were taking light out of the world, and pulling the sun from his glorious orb; would dissolve laws, humane sciences, and even government itself. But he proceeds: had Themistocles never been known of the Athenians, Greece had never given Xerxes a repulse;жeа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Themistocles (c. 523Љ458BC) created expanded Athenian navy which defeated the Persians at Salamis in 480BC.eж had the Romans still slighted Camillus, where had that renown city been?жДа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Camillus (d. 365BC) was banished from Rome for distributing spoils from Veii, as he had sworn he would not. He was recalled when the Gauls besieged the city and led an army to save Rome.Дж if Plato had not known Dion, Sicily had yet groaned under tyranny.ж;а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Dion (d. 354BC) defeated the tyrant Dionysius, ruler of Syracuse.;ж But as the light not only makes us known to each other, but also renders us mutually useful; so the being public and conspicuous to the world, does not only acquire glory, but presents us with the means of illustrating our virtues; whilst those who through sloth or diffidence never exercise themselves, though they possibly may have good in them, yet they do none. Indeed the PetalismжŸа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ A Syracusan process of banishment for five years. The name of the accused was written on an oliveЉleaf from the Greek РРpetalonРР (Р!РР РР)РРРРРРРРР).Ÿж in Sicily caused the most able statesmen to retire themselves; because they would not be subject to the aspiring humour of those pragmatical spirits who affected a rotation in the public affairs; by which means experienced people being laid aside, those pretenders to the politics had in a short time so confounded things together, that the very people who assisted to the change, were the first that courted them to resume their power; abrogating that foolish law which themselves had more foolishly enacted. To the like condition had the Athenian ostracism near reduced that once glorious republic: and what had like to be the catastrophe even of this our nation, upon the same model (when every man forsooth would be a magistrate) sad has been the experience. Men may be employed, though not all as senators and kings; every wheel in a watch has its operation in the movement being all of them with springs. Let every man (says Epicurus)жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Untraced.ж well examine his own genius, and pursue that kind of life which he is best furnished for: if he be of a slothful nature, he is not for action; if active, he will never become a good private man; for as to the one rest is business, and action labour; so to the other УУotiumФФжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Idleness.ж is labour, and activity the most desirable repose. I am now arrived to the second period, which commences with the anxiety of great and public persons, upon the least subtraction of their past enjoyments. To this I rejoin, that we can produce so many pregnant instances of the contrary, even in this age of ours, as all antiquity can hardly be parallel. Never was adverse fortune encountered with greater fortitude and gallantry, than when so many brave men suffered patiently the spoiling of their goods, sequestering their estates, dissipating their substance, imprisoning their bodies, exiling their relations, and all that can be named calamity, to preserve their loyalty and religion. In sum, when our princesж3а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Sic, but E presumably means the singular, i.e. Charles I.3ж submitted to the axe, and our heroes to the halter; whilst we beheld people of meaner fortunes and private condition, lovers of solitude and ease, repining at every inconsiderable loss, prostitute both their honour and conscience to preserve or recover what they but feared the loss of, and this elegy is due to thousands of them yet surviving. I acknowledge that the ambitious person is in his sense a bottomless pit, and that ingratitude and treason are too often paid for favour and good offices. Though I have likewise asserted in what circumstances even ambition itself is laudable and may be styled a virtue; but have private men not thoughts of amplifying their fortunes, and of purchasing the next lordship? Marrying, not to say sacrificing, their children to the next rich heir, and marketing for the portion? Is there not in the best governed families of country gentlemen, as much purloining, ingratitude, and infidelity amongst their few servants and small retinue (not to mention ungracious and disobedient children), as in the greater economy of a commonwealth, proportionably speaking? Where is there more emulation, contention, and canvassing, than in the remoter villages, or the next good towns? They sell us repose too dearly (says Plutarch)жeа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Plutarch, УУDe Tranq. AnimiФФ (Р РР РР#РРР Р РР+РРРР+РРРРРРРР'Р; УУMoraliaФФ 464.F ff)eж which we must purchase at the rate of idleness; and adds a pretty instance. If, says he, those who least meddle in public employment, enjoy the greatest serenity of mind, then should, doubtless, women be of all other the quietest lambs in the world, and far exceed men in peaceableness and tranquillity, since they seldom stir out of their houses; yet we find the contrary so notorious, and this gentle sex (whom so much as the wind dares not blow on) as full of envy, anger, anxiety, jealousy, and pride, as those who most of all converse in public, and are men of business. And therefore we are not to measure felicity and repose from the multitude and number of affairs, but from the temper and virtue of the subject; besides that, РРtis often as criminal to omit the doing well as to commit evil, and some wise states have accounted them alike. Indeed if all the world inhabited the deserts, and could propagate like plants without a fair companion; had we goods in common, and the primitive fervour of those new made proselytes;ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУActsФФ ii.44. ж were we to be governed by instinct; in a word, were all the universe one ample convent, we might all be contented, and all be happy; but this is an idea nowhere existent on this side [of] Heaven; and the hand may as well say, I have no need of the feet,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ I УУCorinthiansФФ xii.21.ж and the ears I have no need of the eye, as the world be governed without these necessary subordinations. Men must be prohibited all rational conversation, and so come under the category of brutes, to have no appetites besides eating and drinking; no passions save the sensual. I have known as great animosities among the vulgar sort, as much bitterness of spirit, partiality, sense of injury, and revenge upon trifling occasions and suggestions, as ever I observed in the greater and more busied world; РРtwas evident the Lacadaemonians were more proud of their mean apparel at the Olympic courses, than the most splendid Rhodians in all their bravery and УУclinquantФФ;жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Glitter, affectation.ж and Socrates soon espied the insolence of a slovenly philosopher through his tattered mantle. The Cynic in his tub currishly flouted the Eastern Monarch, and despised his purple that secluded from the common beams of the sun.ж|а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Diogenes РРthe CynicРР of Sinope, and Alexander the Great. The incident is recounted by Plutarch, УУLife of AlexanderФФ xiv.|ж He ought to be a wise and good man indeed that dares trust himself alone; for ambition and malice, lust and superstition, are in solitude as in their kingdom: УУPerit stultoФФ,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРHe perishes with stupidity.РРж says Seneca: recess is lost to a fool, or an ill man; and how many weak heads are there in the world for one discreet person? It was Crates, the disciple of Stilpo, that bid the morose walker take heed ere he talked not with a fool.жУа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Crates (4th century BC), disciple of Diogenes the Cynic. He was deformed and dressed to exaggerate the effect. Stilpo (4th century BC), a reformed drunkard who opened a school for philosophy at Megara.Уж Some men, says Epictetus, like unskilful musicians, sing nowhere tolerably but in consort;жšа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Epictetus (1st century AD), Stoic philosopher of Hieropolis in Phrygia, formerly slave to NeroРРs freedman Epaphroditus. His sayings were collected by Arrian.šж and РРtis noted, that he must have an excellent voice that can charm the ear alone, which renders them so difficult to be entreated. There are few plants that can nourish themselves with their own juice; every man grinds indeed, but the mill that has no corn in it grinds either chaff, or sets fire on itself. But he declaims only against the most conspicuous vices; and every defect in the brightest luminaries is observed, whilst the lewdest recesses of Tiberius eclipsed none of prodigious debaucheries. So true is that of the philosopher,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУEpistlesФФ lxxxii.ж wherever men abscond themselves, humane miseries or their vices find them out and attack them. УУMulta intusФФ,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРMany things within.РРж says he; many things within enslave us even in the midst of solitude. Were not the greatest philosophers, nay the very fathers of them, severely taxed for the lowest pleasures, and sins not fit to be named? Seneca himself escaped not the censure of covetnous and ambition; Pliny of excess of curiosity; Epicurus of riot; Socrates of paederastie; Themistocles of morosity; all of them vanity, contempt, and fastidiousness. To the instance of great menРРs submissions to the commands of princes, be they just or unjust, it holds well, had the discourse concerned tyrants only and barbarians; but to produce that example of Parmenio and Cleander, is to quit the subject, and borrow the extravagance of a madman and drunkard, to decry princes and statesmen who are the most conspicuous examples of temperance. But I proceed to the УУmaximeФФ. If nothing be good which labours of the least defect then so long as his Celador is not an angel, he does no more come within the first part of the definition, than the greatest and most employed person living; and if he insist upon degrees, I answer, he lies not under the same temptation, and therefore neither can he pretend to approach his merit; but if I prove the most diabolical arts and cursed machinations to have been forged by persons of the most obscure condition, and hatched by the sons of night, recluse, and little conversant in affairs, I shall infinitely distress that opinion of its virtue or advantage; for being either happy in itself, or rendering others so. The monks have been so dextrous at the knife, and other arts of mischief, that they have not trembled to make the holy and salutary Eucharist the vehicle of destruction, when they had any kings to dispatch and put out of the way; and have made such havoc of the French Henrys,жgа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Henri III (1551Љ89) of France steered a difficult path between the Duke of GuiseРРs Catholic supporters and the Protestant supporters of his heir, Henri of Navarre (afterwards Henri IV). He arranged GuiseРРs murder in 1588 but was assassinated himself the following year. ССHenri IV (1553Љ1610) was assassinated by an extremist Catholic called Ravaillac.gж that but for these solitary birds, those princes might have survived all their sad misfortunes. It was not for nothing that Jeroboam withdrew so long into Egypt (that kingdom of darkness)ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ I УУKingsФФ xii. ж when he contrived the defection of no less than ten whole tribes at a clap; and how much mischief, sin, and bloodshed it caused, the sacred story has been accurately recorded. The blackest treasons have been forged in the closets and gloomy recesses; who is not amazed at the very image and thought of the Gunpowder Conspiracy? carried on and excogitated by the devil, and a pack of these solitary spirits! РРTwas but an Arian monk and an obscure Jew who first encouraged and instructed that mighty impostor,ж1а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ The impostor is presumably Sabatai Sevi, the Jew Nathan1ж occasioning more evil in the Christian church and state than was ever done by all the tyrants since it began; for it spawned not only an heresy but blasphemy: razing the Christian name out of almost half the world; and the issues of the cell are to this day conspicuous in the fire and sword which has destroyed not cities only, but whole empires, and made more fatherless and widows, more desolation and confusion, and done more harm to letters, than can be recounted; nor did the uttermost machination of persons in employment, ever approach what one monk set on foot out of his holy den, that ever I could read in story;жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ What story?ж and what are all our truculent champions of the Fifth-MonarchyжŠа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ The Fifth Monarchists. Believers in the imminent second coming of Christ, derived from the prophecy of five empires in the Book of УУDanielФФ.Šж amongst at this day, but so many persons who seem to be the most self-denying people, and the highest affected with solitude and devout enthusiasm, despising honours and public charges, whilst they breathe nothing save ruin and destruction? They are the close, stagnate, and covered waters which stink most, and are fullest of mud and ordure, how calm and peaceable soever they seem upon the surface; whilst men of action and public spirits, descending as from the highest rocks and eminences, though they sometimes make a noise, have no leisure to corrupt, but run pure and without mixture. There is an heavy woe denounced in scripture to those who thus settle on their lees.ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУZephФФ 1.12. ж Physicians tell us the body is no longer in health than the blood is in motion and duly circulates, action is the salt of life, and diligence the life of action. All things in Heaven are in motion, and though РРtis there only that we can promise repose to ourselves; yet neither dare I say, we shall do nothing there, since the admiration of the beatifical vision will certainly take up and employ all our faculties, and set them in operation; nor whilst we shall there be in perpetual ecstasy, shall we live to ourselves, but to God alone. There is then, doubtless, no such thing as rest (unless it be that from earthly toil, anxieties, and the works of sin, which is that repose mentioned by the Apostle); since action is so essential to our livesжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУHebrewsФФ iv.19.ж that it constitutes our being; and even in all theory and contemplation itself, there is a kind of action, as philosophers do universally agree. Let it be confessed, the Court is a stage of continual masquerade, and where most men walk incognito; where the art of dissimulation (which Donna Olympiaжўа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Who?ўж has named the Keys of the Vatican) is avowed; yet it cannot be denied but there are some in that warm climate too, as perfectly sincere as in the country; and where virtue shines with as much lustre as in the closest retirement, where, if it give any light, it is but in a dark-lantern;ж3а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ A lantern so constructed that the light can be concealed.3ж and to be innocent there, where there is so much temptation, is so much the greater merit. Believe it, to conserve oneself in Court is to become an absolute hero; and what place more becoming heroes than the Courts of Princes? for not only to vanquish armies in the field, defend our country, and free the oppressed, are the glorious actions of those demi-gods; but to conflict with the regnant vices, and overcome ourselves, greater exploits than the winning of enchanted castles and killing of giants; for what violence must be applied to be humble in the midst of so much flattery; chaste amongst such licence, where there is so much fire, and so much tinder, and not to look towards the fruit which in that Paradise is so glorious to the eye and so delicious to the taste? What a disposition to purity to come forth white from the region of smoke, and where even the stars themselves are not without their spots! In sum, not to fall into the nets which the noonЉday devils spread under our feet, above our heads, and about us; and who pursue those that fly, and bear down those who resist. But, as I said, if the difficulties be so great, how much greater the glory? Whilst pretending to no such temptation in his solitude, there is less exercise for his virtue; it being rather a privation from evil, than any real habit to good. Certainly, there is not in the country that admirable simplicity pretended, nor do they altogether transact with that integrity. For is there not among them as much iniquity in buying and selling? as much overЉreaching in the purchase of a cow, or a score of sheep? as much contention about the encroachment of a dirty fence? as much regretting with the farmer, keeping up the price of corn, when the poor are starving? How many oaths and execrations are spent to put off a diseased horse? Have we not seen as much ambition and state where the country justices convene on the marketЉdays at the petty towns, to have the caps and knees of the bumpkins? as much canvassing for suffrages and voices? not to insist on the prodigious debauches, drinkings, emulations, and perjuries at elections; and even greater pride, deadly feud, railing, and traducing, amongst the sheЉPharisees, or little things of the neighbourhood, for the upmost place in the church pew, or at a gossipingЉmeeting,ж+а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ To discuss who would be gossips at a christening?+ж as at the court, and in the city, between the ladies of the best quality? and all this while we grow weary of the public, and resolve against employment, and the sound of affairs, repenting of the lost moments that are past in conversation; and yet, in every cave and cottage there is a chair for ambition, and a bed for luxury, and a table for riot, though Hell be raining out of Heaven. And it may be observed, that we do not hear the least evil of Lot, or the virtue of his daughters, whilst they lived in the middle of Sodom itself,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУGenesisФФ xix.32.ж РРtill abandoning even his little Zoar to his more solitary and cavernous recess, he fell into those prodigious crimes of ebriety and incest. Verily, that is truly great to retire from our vices, not from cities or conversations. If you be virtuous, let your example profit; if vicious, repent and amend. Strive not so much to conceal your passions as to reform them; for little do solitary persons profit, without a mind adapted for it; wise men only enjoy themselves, not the voluptuous or morose; and I have seen some live discontented even in houses of pleasure, and so in their solitudes, as if none were more full of business. ССWhen he celebrates recess for the little it wants, he gratifies the cynic; he could attribute as much to his tub, and the treenж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРWooden.РР ж dish that he drank in, which was all the house and furniture we read of; and an owl and a pelican want as little as the philosopher; but he does not say by this that solitude is fertile; it is not from the abundance that it supplies them, but from its sterility and defects, which, if it be a commendation to that, so to nothing else in nature. ССHe proceeds again to the passions of great men, which are, indeed, more conspicuous, as lightning and thunder are amongst the meteors, and in the air; but we do not take notice of the coruscations, conflicts, and emotions, which are every day in the bowels of the earth. How impatient and unjust are some of your country gentlemen to their domestics? how griping to their tenants? how unnatural to their children, and uncivil to their wives? Pardon me these reflections, he has compelled me; and it is for your justification (O ye great ones!) that I find myself obliged to produce these odious comparisons; whilst I could give CeladorРРsжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ See note aboveж friend such an example in our first Charles, of blessed memory, Philip the Second of Spain,ж!а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Philip II (1527Љ98; reigned from 1556).!ж Alphonso of Aragon,ж$а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Presumably Alfonso V, of Aragon (1416Љ58).$ж and divers of the later Emperors, for acts of the highest patience, fortitude, devotion, constancy, and humanity, as would shame all the pretenders to moral virtues, in his so celebrated retirements and private persons. With what constancy, spirit, and resignation, did our royal Martyr unjustly suffer from the machinations of the most insolent and implacable of his vassals, is not certainly to be paralleled by anything posterity has recorded, save that grand exemplar; our blessed Saviour, who was a King too, but more than man; from whose emulous pattern he has transmitted to us, not only all the perfections of the most innocent private persons, but the virtues of the most eminent Saints. he was imprisoned and reviled, spit on and injuriously accused; heж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ E is now referring to Charles I again. ж was arraigned, and, by a barbarous contradiction, condemned and despoiled of three kingdoms, by the most nefarious parricide that ever the sun beheld, and that before his very own palace.ж!а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ The Banqueting House, Whitehall Palace.!ж Tell me yet, you admirers of solitude, in what corner of your recesses dwelt there a more excellent soul, abstracted from all the circumstances of his birth and sacred character, and considered only as a private person? Where was there a more sincere man in his actions? a more constant devotee to his religion? more faithful husband to his wife? and a more pious father to his children? in a word, a more consummate Christian? Look on him then as a King, to be superlatively all this, and all that a good and a most virtuous Prince can be to his subjects, and you have the portraiture of our Charles opposed to all the petty images of your solitary gentlemen, and decriers of public employment. One day that Philip the Second had been penning a tedious dispatch, importing some high affair of state, which employed almost the whole day, he bid the secretary that waited by him to throw some dust on the paper; he, instead of the sand, snatching up the inkЊbottle, poured it on all the letters; the King, taking a large sheet of clean paper, wrote it УУverbatimФФ over again, and when he had finished, calmly delivering it to the confounded secretary, bid him dry it: but, says the Prince, take notice that this is the ink, and this the sandЉbox; which was all the reproof he gave him. I instance in this (because of the rest of those virtues I have enumerated there are such volumes of examples) to put to silence all that can be produced upon the account of that passion which is so frequently charged on great persons, but which, indeed, upon the most trifling occasions, use to discompose the most retired persons. And what if amongst these, besides many others, I should instance in S. Hieromeж“а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ This is St Jerome (c.341Љ420), also known as Hieronymus, who produced the Latin Vulgate translation of the Bible, numerous commentaries, and УУLivesФФ.“ж himself, and other fathers of the church, as recluse and private as they were known to be religious. ССAs to the comparative exemption of solitude from vice for the want of opportunity, the advantage is very slender, since (with what I have already furnished to evince it) it implies only what monsters it would else produce; and indeed the most formidable that were ever hatched have thence had their original, as I have abundantly proved by the dark and infernal machinations of solitary persons; so as his happy man seems at best to be but a starved or chained lion, who would do mischief enough had he liberty, and a power equal to his will. РРTis instanced in the madness of some few heathen Emperors; but he passes by the salutary laws promulgated by them for the universal good. Nor were there so many debauched and vicious of the Roman heretofore, but I can name you as many Christian Princes, religious to miracle, and without reproach, if what is already said be not sufficiently irreplicable. As for the rest, whatever they might once have been in their ascent, it was said of CР%Рsar, that either he should never have aspired to dominion, or, having once attained it, been immortal; so just, so equal, and so merciful, was his successive reign. Never was it pronounced of any private person, that he was a man after GodРРs own heart; but we may know it was so of a King, and that from the Almighty himself. And not to mention Hezekias,жxа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Hezekiah, see II УУKingsФФ xviii.20; УУIsaiahФФ xxxviЉxxxix; II УУChroniclesФФ xxixЉxxii. Reputed a great and good king.xж Josias,жHа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Josiah, a king famed for his loyalty to Jehovah. See II УУKingsФФ xxiiЉxxiv.Hж Jehosophat,жcа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ A king who opposed idolatry and was interested in righteous government. See II УУChroniclesФФ xix.4Љ11.cж and many others recorded in holy writ, I durst oppose an Augustus, a Titus, a Trajan, Antoninus, Aurelius; to omit Constantine, Theodosius, Justinian, Charles the Great, S. Edward,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Edward the Confessor (1004Љ66).ж S. Lewes,жIа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ The Holy Roman Emperor Louis I РРthe PiousРР (778Љ840), son of Charlemagne.Iж both the Alphonsos,жЈа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Presumably Alfonso X, the Wise (1252Љ82), and Alfonso XI (1312Љ49), both of Castile. Although E refers to an Alfonso of Aragon (above) this may be an error for one of these. Јж and divers more of the crowned heads, before any or all he can produce. ItРРs true they all died not in their beds; no more do all in his solitude; for they often hang themselves, linger in consumptions, break their necks in hunting, inflame themselves in tippling, perish of the unactive scorbut,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Scurvy.ж country agues, and catharrs. And if he speak it out who they were that stabbed the two Henrys,жfа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Henri III of France (1551Љ89), assassinated; and, Henri IV of France (1553Њ1610), assassinated by Ravaillac.fж and our gallant BuckinghamжІа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ George Villiers (1592Љ1628), 1st Duke of Buckingham, favourite of James I. Murdered by John Felton at Portsmouth prior to embarkation on a second expedition to La Rochelle.Іж whom he mentions, it must be avowed they were all murdered by private persons. But whilst he is thus exact in recording all the vices of ill princes, because the spots in the sun are so easily discerned by his optic,жeа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ This astronomical metaphor may have its origins for E in his visit to Oxford in 1664 when he watched Boyle and Wren trying to observe the transit of Mercury across the sunsРРs face. See the УУDiaryФФ 25 October 1664. The projected image of the sun allows sunspots to be observed and he may have had the process explained to him then or on a previous occasion.eж he takes no notice of the light it universally diffuses, and is silent of the virtues of the good and beneficent, who have both in all ages rewarded, cherished, and protected, gallant men. But when he shall have passed through all the examples of the great ones who are come to ruin and destruction, he does not examine how many private men, gentlemen and others, remain in any one country, whose patrimonial estates are not impaired as by trifling contests, neglects, prodigality, and ill husbandry, as any he charges upon those eminent persons. ССIf solitude be assistant to religion and devotion, how much more is society? РРWhere two or three are assembled together in my name there am I in the midst of them.РРжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMatthewФФ xviii.20.ж I know no text where acts of religion are commended for being solitary. It is true, our blessed Saviour went apart into desert placesж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУLukeФФ ix.10. ж to avoid the importunities of a malicious and incredulous people, but he was tempted there;ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMatthewФФ iv.1. ж and though he sometimes retired to pray, and which was commonly in the night,ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУLukeФФ vi.12. ж when conversation with the world was less seasonable, he was all day teaching in the temple, or continually going about doing good,ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУLukeФФ xxi.37. ж and healing all manner of diseases among the people,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMatthewФФ iv.23.ж giving counsel to and instructing his disciples, whom he dispersed over the world to evangelise his holy doctrine.ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMarkФФ xvi.15. ж We are indeed bid to offer up our prayers to our Heavenly Father in secret, and to do our alms without a trumpet,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMatthewФФ vi.2, 6.ж not because it adds to the dignity of the service, but to avoid the temptation of hypocrisy, and because we have infirmities; whilst we are yet in another place commanded to render our works so illustrious, that both men may see them, and God may have the glory.ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMatthewФФ v.16. ж Certainly the most instructive motives to religion are from our imitation of others, and the incentives of devout congregations, as they approach the nearest resemblance to the church catholic militant here on earth, so doubtless do they to the communion of Saints triumphant in Heaven. Is there, then, no devotion save in conventicles and cells? and yet even the most recluse Carthusians spend eight hours of the twelve in divine offices together. The commendation of a true Christian consists in doing, not in meditating only; and it were doubtless an admirable compendium of all our notional disputes in religion, if less were believed and more were practised. РРTis true, MaryРРs sitting at the feet of our Saviour, and hearkening to his instructions, was preferred before busy MarthaРРs employment; but the man who laid up his masterРРs talent, and actively improved it,ж*а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУLukeФФ xix.20, and УУMatthewФФ xxv.26, 30.*ж did worse; she was gently reproved, he severely condemned. ССBut he adds, that most temptations are in solitude disarmed of the chains which render them formidable to us in public, as there wanting the presence of an inflaming object, &c. But what, if I sustain that absence does oftentimes augment the passion he speaks of, and that our fancies operate more eagerly when alone, than when we are possessed of the object? ТТТТТТТТNor is there half so warm a fire ТТТТТТТТIn fruition as desire; ТТТТТТТТWhen we have got the fruit of pain, ТТТТТТТТPossession makes us poor again; ТТТТТТТТSense is too niggardly for bliss, ТТТТТТТТAnd pays as dully with what is: ТТТТТТТТWhilst FancyРРs liberal and gives all ТТТТТТТТThat can within her largeness fall, &c.жќа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ??ќж Thus we are ever the most inquisitive after mysteries and hidden things, whilst those we enjoy, we neglect or grow weary of. But I proceed. The most superstitious of men have been the greatest Eremites, and besides the little good they do by their example, there is not in the world a life more repugnant to nature, and the opportunities of doing our duty; since even the strongest faith without works will not save us. For how can he thatРРs immured perform those acts of misericord,ж'а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Relaxation of monastic rules and regulations.'ж which shall be so severely exacted of us at the last judgement; to feed the hungry, visit the sick, clothe the naked,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMatthewФФ xxv.35, 36.ж unless it be in the mock sense of St James РMР РРdepart in peace, be you warmed and filled,РРж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУJamesФФ ii.16. ж whilst they give neither meat nor clothes to refresh the miserable? But I am altogether astonished at his instance in David again, as prompted to his lust and murder by the ill fate of his public character; when РРtis evident he had been employed, or but in good company, he had never fallen into so sad a crime. Let it be remembered that he was alone upon the battlements of his palace, and then all the water in BathshebaРРs fountain was not cold enough to extinguish his desires;жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ II УУSamuelФФ xi.2.ж so mighty a protective is society from that particular temptation, that even the presence of a child has frustrated the opportunity of being wanton. If it were GodРРs own verdict, that to be alone was an evil state,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУGenesisФФ ii.18.ж how come we to have AdamРРs society blamed? for even Adam, he says, could not live innocent a day in it. But, besides that the short duration of his felicity is but a conjecture, I have somewhere read, that but for EveРРs curiosity, which prompted her to stray from the company and presence of her husband, the serpent (as subtle as he was) had never found an opportunity to tempt her. He was indeed too easily enticed by her example, and no marvel God had forsaken his sweet associate, and then the first effects of both their shame and disobedience was their dark retirement.жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУGenesisФФ iii.10.ж Doubtless there are many heinous sins which company preserves us from; for it is a shame to speak of some things which are done by men in secret. ССI suppose it was no widow (as he speaks her to be) who so hospitably entertained the great Elisha, but a married lady, and of an ample fortune; for the textжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ II УУKingsФФ viii.1.ж calls her a great woman; and we find her speaking to her husband in another place, concerning the building and furniture of the prophetРРs chamber; nor does the answer she returned him at all imply her wants, she plainly needed nothing that the court could confer upon her, only an heir she wanted to inherit; she lived amongst her people, and had company enough; and verily we shall find the solitude of the same prophet to be the effect of a persecution, not of his preferring it before society; and we meet the holy man much oftener at court, in the camp, at the college, and perpetually employed, than either in the mountains or in the wilderness. But let us grant that some devotions are best performed in our closets, yet does the life of a Christian consist only in wearing the marble with our knees? I have already showed that there are works of charity that can nowhere be so well performed as in company; nor can I assent that the being alone contributes half so much as to our zeal as the examples of conversation. How frequently does David repeat his ardent affections, and address to the tabernacle and the great congregation?ж"а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУPsalmФФ xxii.22, xxxv.18, and ix.11."ж and though the country round about Sinai were a rolling desert,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУDeuteronomyФФ xxxii.10.ж yet had it at one time in it no less than six hundred thousand fighting men together,ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУNumbersФФ i.46. ж whereof the most devout were the most publicly employed; witness Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Caleb, Phineas, &c, which being but in the minority and pupillage of the church, were all this while but preparing for GodРРs public worship, and the constitution of a people in the world the most busy and employed. ССTo the text in УУHoseaФФ ii.14, where God says he will РРcomfort his church in the wilderness,РР I oppose his innumerable sweet compellations under the type of the daughter of Zion, which was a great and most eminent part of that populous city, and that glorious accession of the Gentiles described by Isaiah.ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУIsaiahФФ lx.3. ж The tabernacle was indeed for a time in the wilderness; but neither did that, nor the extraordinary presence of God in it, restrain a rebellious people from committing more crimes and insolences in it in forty years, than in four hundred before, when they dwelt in the cities of Egypt; for (as the Psalm) РРLust came upon them in the wilderness, and they tempted God in the desert.РРж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУPsalmФФ cvi.14. ж It is well known that the first occasion of the monastical life, was because men could no longer live quietly in the more frequented places, by reason of the heat of persecution, and yet even in their remotest recesses, he that looks into St HieromРРs description of itж;а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУPassim in EpistФФ, i.e. throughout JeromeРРs УУLettersФФ.;ж shall find that they were so near to one another, that they were almost perpetually in company; nor does any, I think, consider the stories of Onuphrus, Anthony,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ St Anthony, born in Egypt c. 250.ж Simon Stylites, and the rest of that spirit, but as hypochondriacs, singular persons and authors of much superstition and unprofitable severity. The invasion of the Goths on the Roman Empire, drove multitudes of those holy persons to these УУLatebrР%РФФ,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ HidingЉplaces/refuges.ж and the present distress (to use St PaulРРs expression)жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ I УУCorinthiansФФ vii.26.ж might sometimes be a sufficient argument to recommend, if not prefer the celibate before the conjugal estate, and the barbarity of that age to the extraordinary mode of living which from compulsion and a certain cruel necessity, became afterwards to be of choice and a voluntary obligation. But does he think to derive any force to his darling solitude, from the servile and busy occupations which none, save heathens and Mahometans teach, shall be among infernal torments? Turks and scoffing Luciansжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Cynics.ж may possibly broach those fancies of the impertinent employments of Alexander and CР%Рsar in the other world; but I presume he takes them but for the dreams of that philosophical droll, and to have no solid foundation besides their scoffing and atheistical wits. he is now pleased again to imagine that there is nothing which does more prevail with men to affect grandure, than what he thinks due only to phantasms and ghosts; though fame be indeed a bubble in the estimation of those who are not much concerned for the future, I find yet how impossible it was for him to secure any praise to solitude itself by the neglect of it; whilst he so carefully has consecrated to posterity the names and elogies of so many as seemingly despised it, on purpose to obtain it; but this stratagem is very thing and transparent; for such as he mentions not, I presume never were, and those he does record, have purchased more by that artifice than if they had continued men of the busiest employment. Charles the Fifth and the rest he enumerates, being more celebrated for their supposed voluntary abdication (whatever the true motives were) than for all the most glorious passages of their former reigns; but however these great men are beholden to their patron, I confess the pedants (as he calls them) and the poets are not less obliged to him for the power he attributes to them of being able to make great whomsoever they please; but those persons, I should think, to have little merited of posterity, whose memory has no other dependance than their airy suffrages; when it is from the sober pens, and the veritable memoirs of grave and faithful historians, that the heroic lives of deserving men receive life and immortality after death. Let the pedants and the poets then celebrate the soft and weakest circumstances of the reigns of those princes they would justify; the pens of great and illustrious authors shall eternise those who persevered in their grandure, and public charges to the end; for such were Xenophon, Polybius, Tacitus, Livy, and even CР%Рsar himself, besides many others, as well of ancient and modern times, from whose writings we have received the noblest characters of their virtues; and if it be retorted, that whilst they actually writ, they were retired, I grant it; but if men had not done things worthy writing, where had been either the use or fame of what they so bravely acted and transmitted to posterity? In the meantime I acknowledge, that the greatest empire is to command oneself, and that the courts of princes have always had this of ungrateful to generous souls, that they but too frequently subject gallant men to caparisoned asses; gay, but vicious or insipid. Princes are not always happy in their choice of favourites; but it is not universally so, and that it is in the breast of the same prince to turn them off, or lay by the counters, to advance good men, and bring virtue into reputation; these external submissions may the better be supported, for wise men do not bend the knee to the beast (we have the example of Mordecai)ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУEstherФФ iii.2. ж but to the shrine it bears, as those who adored Isis upon the back of the animal that carried it, and so the sun may shine upon a dung-hill unpolluted, and thus it shall be done to the man whom the king is pleased to honour; which though it denotes obedience in the observer, does no real dignity to the recipient, nor can they themselves but believe it, with some useful reflection, as oft as they see a respect paid them, which they must needs be conscious to themselves they do not deserve. I cannot, therefore, accuse the deferent of so much adulation, as praise him for his obedience, so long as he offers no divine or consumptive oblations to the idol, and offends not God; for there is certainly no man, merely by being a courtier, obligedp to imitate their vices, or subject themselves to the worthy compliances he would insinuate; since in that case, a fair retreat is always in oneРРs power; and if on that score, or the experience of his personal frailty, he be prompted to it, how infinitely more glorious will be the example of his quitting those specious advantages, which can neither be conserved or attained without succumbing under a temptation? And when he discourses of society, instancing in the trifling conversation of idle persons and knights of carpet, who consume their precious moments at the feet of some insipid female, or in the pursuit of the pleasures of the lower belly, I heartily assent. There are a sort of buffoons and parasites which are the very excrements of conversation, as well in country as courts; and to be therefore treated as such, wiped off, and cast from us; and there are worthier diversions for men of refined sense, when they feel themselves exhausted with business, and weary of action. Certainly, those who either know the value of themselves or their employments, may find useful entertainments, without retiring into the wilderness immuring themselves, renouncing the world and deserting public affairs; and whenever you see a great person abandoned to these dirty and mean familiarities, he is an object of pity, and has but a little soul; nothing being more true, УУNoscitur ex socio, qui non cognoscitur ex se;ФФж:а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРHe is not known by society, who is not known of himself.РР:ж but, God be thanked, the age is not yet so barren of ingenuous spirits, but that man may find virtue with facetiousness and worthy conversation, without morosity to entertain the time with; he has else been strangely unhappy in his acquisitions, who is to seek for good company to pass an hour with, if ever he sought one of the sweetest condiments of life: and doubtless, did great persons but once taste the difference which is between the refined conversation of some virtuous men, who can be infinitely witty, and yet inoffensive; they would send some of their familiars with a dog-whip out of their companies; because a РРman of honour (to use JobРРs expression)ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУJobФФ xxx.1. ж would disdain to set them with the dogs of his flock;РР for after their prostituted and slavish sense and contrivances are spent upon the praise or acquisition of some fair sinner, or the derision of what is more excellent than themselves, to supply their want of furniture, fill their emptiness, and keep up a worthy and truly recreative and profitable conversation, they degenerate into flatness and shame, and are objects rather of pity than of envy. Men of business do not sell their moments to these triflers; conversation should whet and adorn our good parts, and the most excellent endowments both of nature, industry and grace, would grow dull and effete without culture and exercise; let men choose their company as they ought, and let them keep as much as they please; it is but to sit on a bright place, and the chameleon itself is all shining; men will contract both colour and perfume from the qualities of their associates; this made MosesРРs face to glister, and the conversation of good men as well as bad, is alike contagious. ССBut РРtis objected, that РРfamiliarity creates contempt.РР I reply, it was never seen, amongst those who know truly what it signified: РРtis one thing to be civil and affable, useful, and accessible, without being impudent, rustic, or cheap in our addresses. They skill little of the pleasures and delices of a worthy friendship, who know not how to enjoy or preserve it without satiety; thatРРs left to the meaner sort, and was indeed not to have been instanced in so generous a discourse. There is no better means to preserve our esteem with others, than by setting a value on ourselves. ССTo whatРРs alledged of the variety private persons enjoy in their own cogitations, and the reading of other menРРs books, so much superior to conversation, and the reading of men; one of the greatest book-writers in the world will tell you, that should a man ascend as high as Heaven itself, not by contemplation only but ocular intuition, and survey all the beauty and goodly motions of the stars; it would be little delight or satisfaction to him, unless he had somebody to communicate his speculations to РMРРMР УУSic natura solitarium nihil amatФФ;жJа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРThus nature loves nothing solitary.РР Cicero, УУDe AmicitiaФФ xxviii.88.Jж whence he nobly infers, how highly necessary conversation is to friendship; and that he must certainly be of no good nature, who does not prefer it before all other enjoyments of life whatsoever. We know who it is has pronounced the УУvae soliФФ,жља шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠљж and how necessary God has found the conjugations of mankind,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУEcclesiastesФФ iv.10.ж without which nor had the earth been inhabited with men, nor heaven filled with saints. Solomon says, РРTwo are better than one, and a threefold cord is not easily broken,РРжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУEcclesiastesФФ iv.9, 12.ж and Plutarch tells us, that of old they were wont to call men УУPhotaФФ,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Possibly УУMoraliaФФ II.1110bж which imports light; not only for the vehement desire which there is in him to know and be known; but (as I would add) for its universal communication; there being few of whom it may be affirmed, as РРtwas of Scipio, that he was never less idle than when alone, and which as the Orator has it, do УУin otio de negotiis cogitare, et in solitudine secum loqui.ФФж~а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРIn leisure he [Scipio] considered public affairs, and while alone he pondered with himself.РР Cicero, УУDe OfficiisФФ III.1.~ж But thus did those great persons neither affect for use it, other than as the greater vessels and beaten ships after a storm, who go aside to trim and repair, and pass out again: so he, УУtanquam in portumФФ,ж;а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРJust like into a haven.РР Cicero, УУDe OfficiisФФ III.2. ;ж and therefore by that master of eloquence, infinitely preferred to those who quite retired out of business for ease and selfЉindulgence only. Seneca, in his book УУDe Otio SapientisФФ, totally condemns this cogitative virtue, as a life without action, and imperfect and languishing good; and in the same chapter, why does a wise man retire himself but as a bow is unbent, УУut cessanda majora;ФФжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРAs a great idleness.РР ???ж instancing the recess of Zeno and Chrysippus, whose very repose was, it seems, more busy than other menРРs actions;жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУDe OtioФФ VI.5.ж but let us hear him speak: РРwhatРР, says he, РРsolitude makes us love ourselves, conversation others; the one to comfort, the other to heal; the one allays, the other whets and adds new vigour; nothing pleases always;РРжDа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ A paraphrased translation of Seneca, УУDe Tranquillitate AnimiФФ XVII.3.Dж and therefore God who has built us for labour, provides us also with refreshment. Socrates himself was not ashamed to play the child with children; severe Cato took sometimes a chirping cup; and Asinius Pollio diverted himself after pleading; and the wisest legislatures ordained holyЊdays, and some grave men took their pastime at dinner, or walking in their gardens, and among their facetious friends, when the greatest persons laid off their state, constraint, and other circumstances which their characters obliged them to personate;жsа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ These anecdotes from Socrates on are barely more than a parahrase of Seneca, УУDe Tranquillitate AnimiФФ XVII.4, and 7.sж but they never did grow angry with business, and depose themselves, for УУmultum interest, remittas aliquid an solvasФФ, thereРРs a wide difference РРtwixt relaxation and absolute relinquishing;ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУDe Tranquillitate AnimiФФ XVII.6. The passage recalls PepysРРs famous description of a relaxed E on 1 May 1665 (see his УУDiaryФФ) and makes one wonder if even letting his hair down was УУpro formaФФ and contrived because it was an appropriate thing to do. ж and to imagine that great persons have little repose, when РРtwixt every stroke of the anvil the very smith has leisure to breathe, is an egregious mistake. The compass which moves in the largest circle has a limb of it fixed to the centre; and do we think that honour, victory, and riches (which render all things supportable, besides the benefits which it is in the power of great ones to place on worthy persons,) are not pleasures equal to all other refreshments of the spirits? For my part, I believe the capacity of being able to do good to deserving men so excessive a delight, that as РРtis nearest to the life of God himself, so no earthly felicity approaches it. Wherefore wisely (says Plutarch) did the ancients impose those names on the Graces, to show that the joy of him that does a kindness, exceeds that of the beneficiary; many (says he) blushing when they receive favours, but never when they bestow them.ж&а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Plutarch, УУMoraliaФФ 778.C (Loeb Vol. X).&ж ССAs for books, I acknowledge with the philosopher, УУotium sine literisФФ,ж2а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУQuР%Рstiones NaturalesФФ iv, УУpraefФФ.1.2ж to be the greatest infelicity in the world; but on the other side, not to read men, and converse with living libraries, is to deprive ourselves of the most useful and profitable of studies. This is that deplorable defect which universally renders our bookishЉmen so pedantically moroseжRа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ This in part reflects how E saw himself as he observed in УУThe Life of Mrs GodolphinФФ, РРyour ladyship [Lady Sylvius] would frequently join with my wife in conflict against me, to the reproach of my moroseness ... she [Margaret Godolphin] seemed unconcerned and steady, could endure to be serious, and gently reprove my moroseness ...РРRж and impolished, and in a word, so very ridiculous; for, believe it, Sir, the wisest men are not made in chambers and closets crowded with shelves, but by habitudes and active conversations. There is nothing more stupid than some of these РРРРР+РР%РРРР!РР4РР)РРРРРР)РРРРР, letterЉstruck men; for РРР#РР4РРРРРРРР)РРР РРРРРРР РРРРР РРРРРР РРРРРРР9РРРР)РРР РРРРР+РРР РvРРРР РРРРР; learning should not do men ill offices. Action is the proper fruit of science, and therefore they should quit the education of the college when fit to appear in business, and take SenecaРРs advice, УУTamdiu istis immorandum, quamdiu nihil agere animus majus potest; rudimenta sunt nostra, non operaФФ;жbа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, for a long time a great mind can achieve nothing; they are our first attempts, not life works.bж and I am able to prove, that persons of the most public note for great affairs, have stored the world with most of what it knows, even out of books themselves; for such were CР%Рsar, Cicero, Seneca, both the Plinys, Aristotle, Р$Рschylus, Sophocles, Plato, Xenophon, Polybius, not to omit those of later ages, and reaching even to our own doors, in our Sidney,ж(а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Sir Philip Sidney (1554Љ86), poet and soldier.(ж, Verulam,жFа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Francis Bacon (1561Љ1626), Baron Verulam, lawyer, scientist and philosopher.Fж, Raleigh, the Count of Mirandula,жќа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ??ќж Scaliger the father,жKа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Julius CР%Рsar Scaliger (1484Љ1558), a scholar noted for his attacks on Erasmus.Kж Tycho Brahe,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Danish astronomer (1546Љ1601).ж Thuanus,ж§а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ???§ж Grotius,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Hugo de Groot.ж etc, profound men of letters, and so active in their lives, as we shall find them to have managed the greatest of public charges, not only of their native countries, but some of them the world itself. Р$Рlian has employed two entire chapters expressly to vindicate philosophers from the prejudices and aspersions of those (who like our antagonist) deemed the study of it inconsistent with their administration of public affairs. There he shows us that Zaleucus both constituted and reformed the Locrian Republic;жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУVaria HistoriaФФ III.17.ж Charondas that of Catana,жeа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Both Zaleucus and Charondas are mentioned in this respect in Cicero, УУDe LegibusФФ II.14 (Loeb, p. 387).eж and after his exile that of Rhegium; the Tarentine exceedingly improved by Archytas;жќа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ??ќж Solon governed the Athenians; Bias and Thale much benefited Ionia, Chilo the Lacademonians, and Pittacus that of Mitylene; the Rhodians Cleobolus; and Anaximander planted a colony at Apollonia from Miletus; Xenophon was renowned for his military exploits, and approved himself the greatest captain amongst all the Greeks in the expedition of Cyrus, who with so many others perished; for when they were in a strait for want of one to make good their retreat, he alone undertook and effected it; Plato, the son of Ariston, brought back Dio into Sicily, instructing him how he should subvert the tyranny of Dionysius; only Socrates indeed deserted the care of the Athenian Democracy, for that it more resembled a tyranny, and therefore refused to give his suffrage for the condemning those ten gallant commanders, nor would he by any means countenance the thirty tyrants in any of their flagitious actions;ж#а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ E has already made this point, see above.#ж but when his dear country lay at stake, then he cheerfully took up arms, and fought bravely against Delium, Amphipolis, and Potidea; Aristotle, when his country was not only reduced to a very low ebb, but almost utterly ruined, restored her again; Demetrius Phalarius governed Athens with extraordinary renown till their wonted malice expelled him; and yet, after that, he enacted many wholesome laws, whilst he sojourned with King Ptolemy in Р$Рgypt. Who will deny Pericles, the son of Xanthippus, to have been a most profound philosopher? or Epaminondas, Phocion, Aristeides and Ephialtes the sons of Polymnes, Phocus, Lysander, and Sophonidas, and some time after Carnedeas and Critolaus? Who were employed ambassadors to Rome, and obtained a peace, prevailing so far by their eloquence and discreet behaviour, as that they used to say, the Athenians had sent ambassadors not to persuade them to what they pleased, but to compel them. Nor can we omit Perseus his knowledge in politics, who instructed Antigonus; nor that of the great Aristotle, who instituted the young, but afterward great Alexander in the study of letters; Lysis, the disciple of Pythagoras, instructed Epanimondas. I shall not need to importune you with more recitals (though heжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Р$Рlian.ж resumes the same instances in the 14th chapter of his 7th book) to celebrate the renown of learned men for their knowledge and success in armies, as well as in civil government, where he tells us of PlatoРРs exploit at Tanagra, and many other great scholars; but show you rather how he concludes: He (says Р$Рlian, for it seems there were some admirers of solitude before our days,) that shall affirm philosophers to be РfРР!РР#РР4РРРР)РРРР+РР'Р,жGа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРIneffectual, incapable of doing anything worthwhile or successfully.РР Gж unfit for public employment and business, talks childishly,ж1а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ EРРs note: РPРРРРРРРРР. (РРunusuallyРР).1ж and like an ignorant: and Seneca gives so harsh a term to those who pretended that public affairs did hinder the progress of letters and the enjoyment of ourselves, that the language would hardly be sufferable from any save a stoic: УУMentiunturФФ,жTа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРWe are deceived.РР УУEpistlesФФ LXII.1. The following sentence paraphrases Seneca.Tж says he: РРWise men do not subject themselves to the employments they undertake, but accommodate and lend themselves to them only.РР So as our antagonist could not have chosen a topic less to the advantage of solitude, or the humour of his happy Celador, whilst being confined to speculation and books alone, he deprives himself of that pleasing variety which he contends for. These great men were men of action, and men of knowledge too, and so may persons of the busiest employments, were they are careful to improve their time and opportunities as those glorious heroes were; which puts me in mind of what I have heard solemnly reported, that РРtis an ordinary thing at Amsterdam to find the same merchant, who in the morning was the busiest man in the world at ExchangeЉtime, to be reading Plato or Xenophon in Greek, or some other of the learnedst authors and poets, at home in the afternoon. And there is no man (says my Lord Bacon) can be so straitned and oppressed with business and an active course of life, but he may reserve many vacant times of leisure (if he be diligent to observe it, and how much he gives to play, insignificant discourses, and other impertinences,) whilst he expects the returns and tides of affairs; and his own example has sufficiently illustrated what he writes, those studies and productions have been so obliging to the learned world, as have deservedly immortalised his name to posterity. ССBut he proceeds, and indeed ingenuously acknowledges, that men of letters are in constraint when they speak before great persons and in company: and can you praise solitude for this virtue? O prodigious effect of learning, that those who have studied all their livesЉtime to speak, should then be mute, when they have most occasion to speak! УУLoquere ut te videamФФ, said the philsopher; but he would have men dumb and invisible too;ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРSpeak, that I may see you.РР ??? ж the truth is, РРtis the only reproach of men of letters, that, for want of liberal conversation, some of them appear in the world like so many fantasmes in black, and by declining a seasonable exerting of themselves, and their handsome talents, which use and conversation would cultivate and infinitely adorn, they leave occasion for so many insipid and empty fops to usurp their rights, and dash them out of countenance. ССFrancis the First,ж”а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ 1494Љ1547. King of France from 1515. His reign was characterised by his rival Charles V who had defeated Francis in the election to be Holy Roman Emperor.”ж that great and incomparable prince (as Sleidanжeа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Johannes Sleidanus, author of УУDe Statu Religionis et ReipublicР%Р, Carolo Quinto, CommentariiФФ, 1559.eж calls him), was never brought up to letters, yet by the reading of good translations, the delight he took to hear learned discourses, and his inviting of scholars to converse freely with him upon all subjects and occasions, he became not only very eloquent, but singularly knowing; for this doubtless it was, that Plutarch composed that express treatise amongst his morals, УУPhilosophandum esse cum PrincipibusФФ,ж\а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУMaxime cum philosophandum esse dissendidum principbusФФ. PlutarchРРs УУMoraliaФФ 776.B ff.\ж where he produces us several rich examples of these profitable effects; and indeed (says one) a philosopher ought not to be blamed for being a courtier, and that we now and then find them in the company of great and opulent persons; nor imports it that you seldom see their visits returned, since РРtis a mark he knows what he wants of accomplishments, and of their ignorance, who are so indifferent for the advantages they may derive from their conversations. But I might proceed and show you, not only what makes our learned bookЉworms come forth of their cells with so ill a grace into company, but present you likewise with some of the most specious fruits of their so celebrated recesses; were it not better to receive what I would say from the lively character which Seneca has long since given us of them.ж§а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ???§ж In earnest, marvellous is the pains which some of them take after an empty criticism, to have all the points of Martial and Juvenal УУad unguemФФ,ж§а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ???§ж the scraps of the ancient poets to produce upon occasion. Some are for roots, genealogies, and blazons; can tell you who married who, what his greatЊgrandfather was, and the portion that came by his aunt. This was of old (says Seneca)жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУDe Brevitate VitР%РФФ xiii.2 ff.ж the epidemical disease for men to crack their brains to discover how many oars UlyssesРР galley carried; whether it were first written УУIliasФФ or УУOdysseaФФ; and a profound student amongst the learned Romans would recount to you who was the first victor at sea; when elephants came into use at triumphs; and wonderful is the concern about Caudex, for the derivation of Codices, Caudicarius, etc; Gellius or Agellius, Vergilius or Virgilius; with the like trifles that make men idly busy indeed, not better; yet are these amongst the most considerable effects and rare productions of recess, solitude, and books, and some have grown old in the learning, and been greatly admired for it; but what says our philsopher to it? УУCujus isti errores minuent? cujus cupiditates prement, quem fortiorem, quem justiorem, quem liberaliorem facient?ФФ WhoРРs the better, less covetous, more valiant, just, or liberal, for them?ж$а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУDe Brevitate VitР%РФФ xiii.9.$ж I tell you Fabianus preferred ignorance before this unprofitable science;жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ This paraphrases SenecaРРs next statement to the effect that Fabianus thought it better to forego study altogether than pursue these.ж and certainly therefore useful and public employment is infinitely superior to it; if need we will be learned out of books only, let it be in something more useful; УУqui fructuosa, non qui multa scit, sapitФФ;ж%а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРHe who is wise, does not know much.РР%ж for РРtis no paradox to affirm a man may be learned and know but little, and the greatest clerks are not always the wisest men. The Greek oratorж.а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Isocrates. This is probably in Plutarch on Orations..ж gives us this description of usefully knowing men. РРReckon not those (says he) for philosophers, whom you find to be accurate disputants, and that can contest about every minute scruple; but those who discourse pertinently of the most important affairs, who do not entertain men about a felicity to which they can never arrive; but such as speak modestly about themselves, and neither want courage nor address on all emergencies, that are not in the least discomposed with the common accidents of life, but that stand unshaken amidst all vicissitudes, and can with moderation support both good and adverse fortune; in sum, those who are fit for action, not discouraged, or meditating retreat upon every cross adventure;РР to this purpose the orator: but neither would I by this be thought to discountenance even this kind of erudition, which, more than any other, is the effect of solitude and very great leisure, not to call it pedantry, much less bookish and studious persons, who would prove the most dear to princes and great men of all other conversations, had they such generous encouragements as might sometimes invite them to leave their beloved recesses, as did those great philosophers whom we have brought on the stage; but we bestow more nowadays in painting of a scene, and the expense of a ridiculous farce, than in rewarding of the poet or a good historian, whose laurels no longer thrive and are verdant, than they are irriguous and under showers of gold, and the constellations of crowns, for which they give immortality even to crowns themselves. For what would there remain of so many pyramids and obelisks of marble, so many amphitheatres, УУcirciФФ, colosses, and enormous pomps, if books and bookmen, УУР%Рre perennioresФФ,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРPerpetually in the clouds.РРж did not preserve them to posterity? If under Heaven then, there be anything great that approaches posterity, it is from their hands that have managed the pen. РРTis from their labours (ye great ones) that you seek to live, and are not forgotten as the dust you lie mingled with. Never had we heard of Achilles but for poor Homer; never of the exploits of thousands more, but from the books and writings of learned men, who have it in their power to give more lustre to their heroes than their crown and purple; and can with one dash of the pen, kill more dead, than a stab with a stiletto. ССThere is no man alive that affects a country life more than myself; no man it may be, who has more experienced the delices of it; but even those without action were intolerable. You will say it is not public. If it contribute and tend to it, what wants it but the name and sound? for he does not mean by business to reside only in lanes or courts; since without that of the country, there would be neither court nor city; but if he would have this life spent only in theory and fancy, ecstasy and abstractions, РРtwere fitter for bedlam, and a potion of hellebor,жќа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ??ќж than for sober men, whose lives and healths, wits and understanding were given them for action, and not to sit with their arms across, and converse with shadows; whilst the fates of Pythagoras, Archimedes and Pliny, whose curiosity cost them their lives, may well be ranked amongst those whom he is pleased to name the nobly senseless, as far indeed transported beyond themselves, as they had transported themselves beyond the world; but ССIt is after he has celebrated the pedant for being enchanted at the story of Pompey, that he again introduces the Country Gentlemen, whose easy and significant life is preferred before that of the happiest favourite; and can be as well pleased with a few bawling curs, or what he calls an happy chase, as with the acquisition of the most useless office in the state. But does he call this solitude and recess? РРTis exceedindly pretty what Seneca observes of Servilius Vatia, who, it seems had long retired himself to the most pleasant part of the BaiР%Р: there it was (says he) that this gentleman passed his time, and had never been known but from his famous solitude:жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУEpistlesФФ LV.2Љ4.ж no man eat nor drank better: he had rare fishЉponds and parks (I suppose he kept good hawks and excellent dogs), in sum, he was thought the only happy man; for arrive what would, as to change in the Commonwealth, Vatia still enjoyed himself; and УУO VatiaФФ (they used to say) УУtu solus scis vivereФФ:ж1а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Ibid, LV.3 РРO Vatia, you alone know how to live!РР1ж for my part (adds my author) I never passed by his house, but I cried УУVatia his situs estФФ; РРHere lies Vatia,РР esteeming him as dead and buried, whom others thought the only man alive: but he proceeds; There are a number (says he) who seem to have abandoned the world, that are as full of business in their villas and rural retirements as other men who live in cities, and trouble themselves extremely in their very solitude: though there be no body with them, yet are they never in repose: of these we must not say their life is idle, but an idle occupation.ж#а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУDe BrevitatР%Р VitaФФ xii.2.#ж Do you fancy him retired that goes a madding after medals and curiosities, and spends his time in raking a tinkerРРs shop for a rusty piece of copper? or that is dieting and breathing his jockeys for the next running match? or that consumes his time trifling amongst barbers, razing and sprucing himself, powdering, combing, and summoning a council upon every hair; raging like an Hector at a slip of the scissors, or a lock out of curl; and which sort of wretches are some who had rather see the commonwealth out of order than one of their hairs:жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ This section paraphrases and augments УУDe BrevitatР%Р VitР%РФФ xii.2Љ3, rather than translates. The reference to Hector is, for example, EРРs embellishment.ж call you these retired and at rest, who are so eternally УУinter pectinem speculumque occupati?ФФжЕа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Correctly УУoccupatusФФ, РРoccupied with mirror and comb.РР УУDe BrevitatР%Р VitР%РФФ xii.4. E then follows this quotation with paraphrases of the next part of SenecaРРs text.Еж or those who are always humming or whistling of a tune as they go about? These persons (says Seneca) are not in repose, but impertinently active. If at any time they make a feast, thereРРs nothing more pretty than to observe, but the grave consultations about plaiting of the nappery,жЖа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРNapperyРР is an obsolete form of РРapronРР. E is here referring to SenecaРРs comment on idle people busying themselves with tying up the tunics (УУtunicasФФ) of servant boys.Жж ordering the plate and glasses, and setting out the services: O how solicitous shall you have them, that the courses come up in time; that the fowl be skilfully carved, and the sauces exquisitely made! and all this forsooth that men may say, such a one knows how to treat, lives handsomely, and at his ease, etc, when, God knows, all this while they are of all other in the most miserable anxiety. There were of these soft and retired gentlemen, that had their officers to mind them, when РРtwas time to go to supper, and abandoned themselves so prodigiously to their ease, that they hardly knew when they were hungry. I read of one of them, who when he was lifted out of his bath, and put on his cushion, asked his attendant whether he sat or stood, and was so buried in sloth that he could not tell it without witnesses.жgа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Not surprisingly this anecdote, cryptically unattributed, comes too from УУDe BrevitatР%Р VitР%РФФ xii.7.gж Such another we have in StobР%Рus,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Early fifth century AD Greek writer.ж that was wont to demand of his men if he had washed, and whether he had dined or no? РРTwere endless to proceed with the like instances of retired persons, and who seem to be so full of selfЉenjoyment, and yet whose very pleasures are of the lowest and sordidest actions of our life. What shall we then say of our lazy gamesters, who sit long at the cards, the wine, and the smoke, without a grain of sense from dinner to midnight? because they are all of them slothful diversions, inactive, and opposed to public employment; since those who are qualified with business, and have anything to do in the world, cannot part with such portions of their time to so little purpose: by all which we see, that ease and solitude presents us with some pleasures that are not altogether so fit for our recreation, and as little suitable to our reason and stoical indifferency; nor seldom less dangerous and ridiculous in their objects than the most public employment: for I find that one of the chief prerogatives of our happy men (and whom by a contradiction to his argument, he thinks illЉdefined by being termed a little world) is by the advantage of his recess to mould ideas of a thousand species, never yet in being; and, to use his own expression, produces more monsters than Africa itself; more novelties than America; to fancy building navies, courts, cities, and castles in the air. ССOn the other side, do we think that men of business never vacate to admire the works of nature, because they possess so may works of art? I have sufficiently showed how competent philosophy is with public employment; and instanced in as great persons as ever the world produced; and yet I said nothing of Moses, learned in all that Р$Рgypt knew;ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУActsФФ vii.22. ж nor of Solomon, to whom God gave wisdomжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ I УУKingsФФ iv.29Љ33.ж and understanding exceeding much; that spake of trees and plants; of beasts, fowls, fishes, and reptiles; those fruitful subjects of natural experience; and as to that of Astrology, and those other parts of Mathematics which he mentions, we have derived to us more science from princes, Chaldean, Arabian, and Р$Рgyptians, than from all the world besides. The great CР%Рsar was so skilful, that with admirable success he reformed the year, when to perfect that sublime knowledge he was wont (even when his army lay in the field) to spend so much of his time in studious pernoctations. ТТТТТТТТТТРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMРРMР УУmedia inter prР%Рlia semper ТТТТТТТТТТStellarum, CРЇРlique plagis, superisque vacaritФФ.ж›а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Correctly УУvacariФФ. Lucan, УУPharsaliaФФ X. 185Љ6. РРIn the midst of war I always find time to study celestial regions of stars, and the world above.РР›ж Alphonsus, the tenth King of Spain,жОа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Alfonso X (РРthe WiseРР) (1221Љ84; reigned 1252Љ84), King of Castile and Leon. The РРAlfonsine TablesРР, drawn up with the help of Arab and Jewish astronomers, charted planetary movements.Ож was author of those tables which adorn his memory to this day: and Charles II, Emperor of Germany,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Charles II ???ж was both a profound astronomer and great mathematician; arts which have been so conspicuous and lucky in princes and men of the most public employment; as if those high and lofty studies did indeed only appertain to the highest, and most sublime of men. ССBut if the unmeasurable pursuit of riches having plunged so many great ones into vices, and frequently become their ruin; we may find more private persons, who neither built, feasted, nor gamed, as greedy and oppressive; defrauding even their own bellies, and living in steeples, squalid cottages, and sordid corners, to gratify an unsatiable avarice; and that have no other testimony to prove they have lived long, besides their ease, their avarice, and the number of their years. None to appearance more wise and religious than these wretches, whose apology is commonly their declining of power, and the contempt of worldly vanities. the sole diffference which seems to be between them is, that the great rich man disposes of his estate in building some august fabric or public work, which cultivates art, and employs a world of poor men that earn their bread;ж(а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ An allusion to Clarendon House, then building?(ж and that the other unprofitably hoards it up: besides, that covetousness seldom goes unaccompanied with other secret and exterminating vices. But the wisest of men has said so much, and so well concerning this evil under the sun,жа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Mackenzie.ж that I shall only need address you to his book of УУVanitiesФФ. As for the recreative part of solitude, which he again resolves here into hunting, hawking, angling, and the like, would any man think it in earnest, when he undertakes to oppose them to an useful and active life? But even as to these also, who is fit more to enjoy them than those who can best support them? whereas they are pleasures which for the most part undo private persons, and draw expense along with them, to the ruin of some no inconsiderable families. ССFor the rest which he mentions as sinful and of so ill report, I cannot suppose that all great men affect them, because I know of many who detest them; nor that all private persons use them not, because I know of too many which do. ССThe greatest persons of employment are frequently the simplest and plainest in their apparel, and enjoy that prerogative above the meaner sort, that they can make their ease the mode, and can adopt it into fashion without any note of singularity. Herein, therefore, I suppose they are worthy of imitation; for I suppose he will not rank the gallants of the antechambers and Hectors of the town amongst the УУgarbatiФФж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Polite society? ж and men of fashion in the sense of his essay. For my part, I take no more notice of these gay things than of so many feathers and painted kites that the giddy air tosses about, and therefore cannot so much as consider them in a paragraph. The same may I affirm of food as of clothes; for though great men keep noble tables (or at least should do), yet no man constrains them to intemperance, and if they be persons of real employment indeed, they will procure as good an appetite to their meat as those who thrash, and do the most laborious exercise; and the affairs of many are so methodical and regular, that there is nothing more admirable than their excellent oeconomy, besides the honour of their hospitality, which I take to be an evangelical and shining virtue;жJа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУRomansФФ xii.13; I УУTimothyФФ iii.2; УУTitusФФ i.8; I УУPeterФФ iv.8.Jж not to prР%Рtermit the benefit which even a whole country receives by liberal tables, for so the grazier and the farmer are made able to pay their rents, assist the public, and support their families. ССSo that when he has done all, and run through all the topics of his promising frontispiece, turned it to all sides and lights, he is at last, I find obliged to acknowledge, that public employment and an active life is at least necessary, nay, preferable, even in his own estimation of it. For if (as he says) it be the object of our duty, it is undoubtedly to be preferred before our choice, since the depravedness of our nature renders that (for the most part) amiss. We seldom elect the best. ССHe would have men in employment, only he would have them drawn to it (like bears to the stake), or never to serve their country till it were sinking; as if a statesman or a pilot could be made on an instant, and emerge a politician, a Secretary of State, or a soldier, like Cincinnatus from the plough;жоа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ While ploughing Cincinnatus was told that the Senate had elected him dictator. He left, joined battle to defeat the Volsci and Aequi. Sixteen days after hsi appointment he returned to the plough. See Cicero, УУDe FinibusФФ IV.ож but no man certainly is made an artificer so soon. УУNemo repenteФФ,ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Suddenly a nobody. ж says the proverb, and I suppose there is required as much dexterity, at least to the maing of a statesman, as to the making of a shoe, and yet no man sets up that mystery without an apprenticeship. The truth is, and I confess, this petulant and pretending of men to places and charge in the commonwealth, without a natural aptitude, a previous and solid disposition to business, is the bane of states. Men should not immoderately press into employment; РРtis a sacred thing, and concerns the wellЉbeing of so great a body, as nothing can be more prejudicial to it than the ignorant experiments of state emperics and new counsellors, though I do not deny that some young persons are of early hopes, and have in all ages been admitted to no mean degrees of success. Augustus, Tiberius, and Nero, entered very young into affairs, and Pompey we know triumphed betimes. Let men be early great on GodРРs name if men be early fit for it; they shall have my vote. And РРtwas very wittily said of one of the Scipios (who was another young gentleman of early maturity), УУse sat annorum habiturum, si P. Ro. volueritФФ,жза шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus Major (c. 235Љ183 BC). He was created an aedile at the age of 21, a post normally reserved for men of 27. РРHe may have the appearance of maturity, if the Roman people had desired.РРзж that he should soon be old enough if the people pleased; and accordingly the people thought fit to send him general into Spain, which he reduced into a Roman province by his valour and discretion, when so many older men refused the charge, for the difficulty of the enterprise and the miscarriage of their predecessors. Great men, therefore, should not, like overgrown trees, too much shade the subnascent plants and young imps who would grow modestly under their influence; but receive, protect, and encourage them, by inductive opportunities and favourable entrances, to inform and produce their good parts, preserving the more arduous difficulties to the aged and more experienced. This noble and worthy committee of great men in place, Plutarch has much commended in that excellent discourse of his, УУAn seni gerenda Repub.ФФжђа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Plutarch, УУAn Seni Respublica gerenda sitФФ Р РРР Р РР"РР РР$РР*РРРРРР(РР РР"РР2РРР Р РРРРРРРР(РР РР*РР(РР РРРРР (УУMoraliaФФ 783Љ797; Loeb Vol. X), РРWhether an old man should engage in public affairs.РР.ђж But, as I said, it became not everyone to aspire; so I cannot but pronounce it glorious to those who are accomplished for it, and can be useful to their generation in the most important affairs, and alleviation of the common burden. But if all wise persons who have qualified [as] geniuses, cannot attain to be (as it were) intelligences in these sublimer orbs of public administration, let them gratify themselves yet with this, that (as the philosopher says) every virtuous man is a magistrate,ж+а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Plato. E has already made this point (see n. 39).+ж and that Seneca, Zeno, Chrysippus, and infinite others, have done as much for the public by their writings and conversation only, as the greatest politicians of their times; and withal consider, how difficult a province he assumes who does at all engage himself in public business: since if he govern ill he shall displease God, if well, the people. At least call to mind the prudent answer of Antisthenes, who, being demanded УУquomodo ad Rempub. accedendumФФ, how should he address himself to public affairs, replied as to the fire: neither too near, for fear of scorching, nor yet too far off, lest he be starved with cold.жqа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Antisthenes (УУflФФ. 396 BC), a Cynic, who taught Diogenes. Try Cicero УУOrationesФФ iii.17.62, or УУNDФФ i.13.32qж And |I confess the suffrage is so axiomatical with me, that I know no mediocrity I would sooner recommend to a person whom I loved; whilst as to an absolute and final retreat, though it appear indeed great in story, proved the resignation be not of compulsion, I should in few cases approve the action; РРtis (as Seneca has it) УУex vivorum numero exire antequam morieriesФФ, to die even before death, and as afterwards he adds, УУultimum malorumФФ.жќа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ??ќж Counsel is with the grey head;ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУJobФФ xii.13. ж and for the man whom experience in public affairs has ripened and consummated to withdraw aside, presages ill. With reverence be it spoken, no man putting his hand to that plough, and looking back, is fit for so high a service.ж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУLukeФФ ix.62. ж ССI know not whose advice it is, that since governors of states and men of action, favourites and prime ministers, cannot always secure themselves of envy and competition,ж"а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Plutarch, УУprР%Рc de Repub regendФФ."ж they should so order circumstances as sometimes to hold the people in a kind of appetite for them, by letting them a little feel the want of their influence and addresses to solve and dispatch the weight and knotty affairs of state. For thus did the African Scipio retire into the country to allay his emulous delators, and some others have more voluntarily receded, but frequently without success; for as envey never makes holiday, so nor does distance of place protect men from her malignity; and therefore Seneca does somewhere describe with what flying colours men of business (even in the greatest infelicities of time, and when, it may be, there is a kind of necessity of more caution) should manage their retreat from action.ж&а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Seneca, УУDe Tranquillitate AnimiФФ iii.3.&ж But in the mean time, let those who desire to take their turns attend, in the name of God till it fairly invites them. I am not for this preposterous rotation suggested in our essay; РРtwas born to Oceana, and I hope shall never manage the Sceptre, save in her romantic commonwealth; since, should great men foresee their employments were sure to determine in so short a space, the temptation to rapine and injustice (which he there instances in) would prove infinitely more prejudicial. Frequent changes of officers are but like so many thirsty sponges, which affect only to be filled, and invite to be squeezed; and therefore РРtwas wittily insinuated by the apologue, that the fox would not suffer the hedgehog to chase awy the flies and ticks that sucked him, lest when those were replete, more hungry ones should succeed in their places. But the rest is closed with a florid apology for ease (not to give it a less tender adjunct), in the specious pretences of contemplation and philosophy, opposed to those little indifferent circumstances, which the vainer people, who yet converse with the world without any considerable design, are obnoxious to; whilst thereРРs no notice taken of the vanity of some menРРs contemplations; the dangers and temptations of solitude, which has no other occupation superior to that of animals, but that it thinks more and acts less, and cannot in his estimate be wise or happy without being morose and uncivil. Doubtless action is the enamel of virtue; and if any instance produced in that large paragraph merit the consideration, it is when it exerts itself in something profitable to others; since those who have derived knowledge the most nicely, according to the philosophy he so amply pleads for, to degrade man of his most political capacityж а шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ I УУEthФФ ii. ж (ranking him beneath bees, ants, and pigeons, who affect not company more passionately than man), allow him society as one of the main ingredients of his definition; and РРtis plain immanity, says Cicero, to fly the congress and conversation of others, even when Timon was not able to endure himself alone; no, though man had all that nature could afford him to render him happy, society only denied him, УУquis tam esset ferus?ФФжІа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ РРWho would be such an iron man?РР Cicero, УУDe AmicitiaФФ xxiii.87. Note that this reference immediately precedes EРРs other mention of this piece (above, n. 128).Іж who could have the heart to support it? solitude alone would embitter the fruits of all his satisfactions. And verily solitude is repugnant to nature; and whilst we abandon the society of others, we many times converse with the worst of men РMР ourselves. But neither is the life and employment of our sociable creature taken up (as has sufficiently been showed) in those empty impertinencies he reckons, nor as a Christian in ideas only, but in useful practice; and wisdom is the result of experience, experience of repeated acts. ССLet us therefore rather celebrate public employment and an active life, which renders us so nearly allied to virtue, defines and maintains our being, supports society, preserves kingdoms in peace, protects them in war; has discovered new worlds, planted the Gospel, increases knowledge, cultivates arts, relieves the afflicted; and in sum, without which, the whole universe itself had still been but a rude and indigested chaos. Or if (to vie landscapes with our Celador) you had rather see it represented in picture, behold here a Sovereign sitting in his august assembly of Parliament enacting wholesome laws; next him my Lord Chancellor and the rest of the reverend Judges and Magistrates dispensing them for the good of the people; figure to yourself a Secretary of State, making his dispatches and receiving intelligence; a Statesman countermining some pernicious plot against the commonwealth; here a General bravely embattling his forces and vanquishing an enemy; there a colony planting an island, and a barbarous and solitary nation reduced to civility; cities, houses, forts, ships, building for society, shelter, defence, and commerce. In another table, the poor relieved and set to work, the naked clad, the oppressed delivered, the malefactor punished, the labourer busied, and the whole world employed for the benefit of mankind. In a word, behold him in the nearest resemblance to his Almighty Maker, always in action, and always doing good. ССOn the reverse, now represent to yourself, the goodliest piece of the creation, sitting on a cushion picking his teeth; his countryЉgentleman taking tobacco, and sleeping after a gorgeous meal; there walks a contemplator, like a ghost in a churchyard, or sits poring on a book whiles his family starves; here lies a gallant at the feet of his pretty female, sighing and looking babies in her eyes, whilst she is reading the last new romance, and laughs at his folly; on yonder rock an anchoriteжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Hermit.ж at his beads; there one picking daisies, another playing at pushpin,жRа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ ChildРРs game. Each player pushes his pin, trying to cross the path of another player.Rж and abroad the young potcherжа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ Archaic form of poacher.ж with his dog and kite, breaking his neighboursРР hedges or trampling oРРer his corn for a bird not worth sixpence: this sits basking himself in the sun, that quivering in the cold; here one drinks poison, another hangs himself; for all these, and a thousand more, seem to prefer solitude and an inactive life as the most happy and eligible state of it. And thus you landscape for your landscape. ССThe result of all is, solitude produces ignorance, renders us barbarous, feeds revenge, disposes to envy, creates witches, dispeoples the world, renders it a desert, and would soon dissolve it: and if after all this, yet he admit not an active life to be by infinite degrees more noble; let the Gentleman whose first contemplative pieceжhа шT ааашАџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџџшааŠ УУSeraphic Love; or, some Motives and Incentives to the Love of GodФФ. By the Honourable Robert Boyle. 1660.hж he produces to establish his discourse, confute him by his example; since I am confident, there lives not a person in the world whose moments are more employed than Mr BoyleРРs, and that more confirms his contemplations by his actions and experience; and if it be objected, that his employments are not public, I can assure him, there is nothing more public than the good heРРs always doing. ССHow happy in the meantime were it for this ingenious adventurer, could it produce us more examples, were they but such as himself; for I cannot imagine, but that he who writes so well, must act well; and that he who declaims against Public Employment in Essay, would refuse to essay a Public Employment that were worthy of him. These notices are not the result of inactive contemplation only, but of a public, refined, and generous spirit; or if in truth I be mistaken, I wish him store of proselytes, and that we had more such solitary gentlemen that could render an account of their retirements, and whilst they argue against conversation (which is the last of the appenages he disputes against), prove the sweetest conversation in the world.