Produced by David Widger
Translated by Charles Cotton
Edited by William Carew Hazilitt
1877
X. Of Managing the Will.
XI. Of Cripples.
XII. Of Physiognomy.
Few things, in comparison of what commonly affect other men, move, or, tosay better, possess me: for 'tis but reason they should concern a man,provided they do not possess him. I am very solicitous, both by studyand argument, to enlarge this privilege of insensibility, which is in menaturally raised to a pretty degree, so that consequently I espouse andam very much moved with very few things. I have a clear sight enough,but I fix it upon very few objects; I have a sense delicate and tenderenough; but an apprehension and application hard and negligent. I amvery unwilling to engage myself; as much as in me lies, I employ myselfwholly on myself, and even in that subject should rather choose to curband restrain my affection from plunging itself over head and ears intoit, it being a subject that I possess at the mercy of others, and overwhich fortune has more right than I; so that even as to health, which Iso much value, 'tis all the more necessary for me not so passionately tocovet and heed it, than to find diseases so insupportable. A man oughtto moderate himself betwixt the hatred of pain and the love of pleasure:and Plato sets down a middle path of life betwixt the two. But againstsuch affections as wholly carry me away from myself and fix me elsewhere,against those, I say, I oppose myself with my utmost power. 'Tis myopinion that a man should lend himself to others, and only give himselfto himself. Were my will easy to lend itself out and to be swayed, Ishould not stick there; I am too tender both by nature and use:
"Fugax rerum, securaque in otia natus."
["Avoiding affairs and born to secure ease."
—Ovid, De Trist., iii. 2, 9.]
Hot and obstinate disputes, wherein my adversary would at last have thebetter, the issue that would render my heat and obstinacy disgracefulwould peradventure vex me to the last degree. Should I set myself to itat the rate that others do, my soul would never have the force to bearthe emotion and alarms of those who grasp at so much; it wouldimmediately be disordered by this inward agitation. If, sometimes, Ihave been put upon the management of other men's affairs, I have promisedto take them in hand, but not into my lungs and liver; to take them uponme, not to incorporate them; to take pains, yes: to be impassioned aboutit, by no means; I have a care of them, but I will not sit upon them.I have enough to do to order and govern the domestic throng of those thatI have in my own veins and bowels, without introducing a crowd of othermen's affairs; and am sufficiently concerned about my own proper andnatural business, without meddling with the concerns of others. Such asknow how much they owe to themselves, and how many offices they are boundto of their own, find that nature has cut them out work enough of theirown to keep them from being idle. "Thou hast business enough at home:look to that."
Men let themselves out to hire; their faculties are not for themselves,but for those to whom they have enslaved themselves; 'tis their tenantsoccupy them, not themselves. This common humour pleases not me. We mustbe thrifty of the liberty of our souls, and never let it out but uponjust occasions, which are very few, if