conducts； which will very well carry on themselves without our care； and
leave our own business at random； and Michael much more our concern than
man。 Now I am； indeed； for the most part at home； but I would be there
better pleased than anywhere else：
〃Sit meae sedes utinam senectae；
Sit modus lasso maris； et viarum；
Militiaeque。〃
＇〃Let my old age have a fixed seat； let there be a limit to fatigues
from the sea； journeys； warfare。〃Horace； Od。； ii。 6； 6。＇
I know not whether or no I shall bring it about。 I could wish that；
instead of some other member of his succession； my father had resigned to
me the passionate affection he had in his old age to his household
affairs； he was happy in that he could accommodate his desires to his
fortune； and satisfy himself with what he had； political philosophy may
to much purpose condemn the meanness and sterility of my employment； if I
can once come to relish it； as he did。 I am of opinion that the most
honourable calling is to serve the public； and to be useful to many；
〃Fructus enim ingenii et virtutis； omnisque praestantiae；
tum maximus capitur； quum in proximum quemque confertur：〃
＇〃For the greatest enjoyment of evil and virtue； and of all
excellence； is experienced when they are conferred on some one
nearest。〃Cicero； De Amicil。； c。＇
for myself； I disclaim it； partly out of conscience （for where I see the
weight that lies upon such employments； I perceive also the little means
I have to supply it； and Plato； a master in all political government
himself； nevertheless took care to abstain from it）； and partly out of
cowardice。 I content myself with enjoying the world without bustle；
only…to live an excusable life； and such as may neither be a burden to
myself nor to any other。
Never did any man more fully and feebly suffer himself to be governed by
a third person than I should do； had I any one to whom to entrust myself。
One of my wishes at this time should be； to have a son…in…law that knew
handsomely how to cherish my old age； and to rock it asleep； into whose
hands I might deposit； in full sovereignty； the management and use of all
my goods； that he might dispose of them as I do； and get by them what I
get； provided that he on his part were truly acknowledging； and a friend。
But we live in a world where loyalty of one's own children is unknown。
He who has the charge of my purse in his travels； has it purely and
without control； he could cheat me thoroughly； if he came to reckoning；
and； if he is not a devil； I oblige him to deal faithfully with me by so
entire a trust：
〃Multi fallere do cuerunt； dum timent falli；
et aliis jus peccandi suspicando fecerunt。〃
＇〃Many have taught others to deceive； while they fear to be
deceived； and； by suspecting them； have given them a title to do
ill。〃Seneca； Epist。； 3。＇
The most common security I take of my people is ignorance； I never
presume any to be vicious till I have first found them so； and repose the
most confidence in the younger sort； that I think are least spoiled by
ill example。 I had rather be told at two months' end that I have spent
four hundred crowns； than to have my ears battered every night with
three； five； seven： and I have been； in this way； as little robbed as
another。 It is true； I am willing enough not to see it； I； in some sort；
purposely； harbour a kind of perplexed； uncertain knowledge of my money：
up to a certain point； I am content to doubt。 One must leave a little
room for the infidelity or indiscretion of a servant； if you have left
enough； in gross； to do your business； let the overplus of Fortune's
liberality run a little more freely at her mercy； 'tis the gleaner's
portion。 After all； I do not so much value the fidelity of my people as
I contemn their injury。 What a mean and ridiculous thing it is for a man
to study his money； to delight in handling and telling it over and over
again！ 'Tis by this avarice makes its approaches。
In eighteen years that I have had my estate in my； own hands； I could
never prevail with myself either to read over my deeds or examine my
principal affairs； which ought； of necessity； to pass under my knowledge
and inspection。 'Tis not a philosophical disdain of worldly and
transitory things； my taste is not purified to that degree； and I value
them at as great a rate； at least； as they are worth； but 'tis； in truth；
an inexcusable and childish laziness and negligence。 What would I not
rather do than read a contract？ or than； as a slave to my own business；
tumble over those dusty writings？ or； which is worse； those of another
man； as so many do nowadays； to get money？ I grudge nothing but care and
trouble； and endeavour nothing so much； as to be careless and at ease。
I had been much fitter； I believe； could it have been without obligation
and servitude； to have lived upon another man's fortune than my own： and；
indeed； I do not know； when I examine it nearer； whether； according to my
humour； what I have to suffer from my affairs and servants； has not in it
something more abject； troublesome； and tormenting than there would be in
serving a man better born than myself； who would govern me with a gentle
rein； and a little at my own case：
〃Servitus obedientia est fracti animi et abjecti；
arbitrio carentis suo。〃
＇〃Servitude is the obedience of a subdued and abject mind； wanting
its own free will。〃Cicero； Paradox； V。 I。＇
Crates did worse； who threw himself into the liberty of poverty； only to
rid himself of the inconveniences and cares of his house。 This is what I
would not do； I hate poverty equally with pain； but I could be content to
change the kind of life I live for another that was humbler and less
chargeable。
When absent from home； I divest myself of all these thoughts； and should
be less concerned for the ruin of a tower； than I am； when present； at
the fall of a tile。 My mind is easily composed at distance； but suffers
as much as that of the meanest peasant when I am at home； the reins of my
bridle being wrongly put on； or a strap flapping against my leg； will
keep me out of humour a day together。 I raise my courage； well enough
against inconveniences： lift up my eyes I cannot：
〃Sensus； o superi； sensus。〃
＇〃The senses； O ye gods； the senses。〃＇
I am at home responsible for whatever goes amiss。 Few masters （I speak
of those of medium condition such as mine）； and if there be any such；
they are more happy； can rely so much upon another； but that the greatest
part of the burden will lie upon their own shoulders。 This takes much
from my grace in entertaining visitors； so that I have； peradventure；
detained some rather out of expectation of a good dinner； than by my own
behaviour； and lose much of the pleasure I ought to reap at my own house
from the visitation and assembling of my friends。 The most ridiculous
carriage of a gentleman in his own house； is to see him bustling about
the business of the place； whispering one servant； and looking an angry
look at another： it ought insensibly to slide along； and to represent an
ordinary current； and I think it unhandsome to talk much to our guests of
their entertainment； whether by way of bragging or excuse。 I love order
and cleanliness
〃Et cantharus et lanx
Ostendunt mihi me〃
＇〃The dishes and the glasses shew me my own reflection。〃
Horace； Ep。； i。 5； 23＇
more than abundance； and at home have an exact regard to necessity；
little to outward show。 If a footman falls to cuffs at another man's
house； or stumble and throw a dish before him as he is carrying it up；
you only laugh and make a jest on't； you sleep whilst the master of the
house is arranging a bill of fare with his steward for your morrow's
entertainment。 I speak according as I do myself； quite appreciating；
nevertheless； good husbandry in general； and how pleasant quiet and
prosperous household management； carried regularly on； is to some
natures； and not wishing to fasten my own errors and inconveniences to
the thing； nor to give Plato the lie； who looks upon it as the most
pleasant employment to every one to do his particular affairs without
wrong to another。
When I travel I have nothing to care for but myself； and the laying out
my money； which is disposed of by one single precept； too many things are
required to the raking it together； in that I understand nothing； in
spending； I understand a little； and how to give some show to my expense；
which is indeed its principal use； but I rely too ambitiously upon it；
which renders it unequal and difform； and； moreover； immoderate in both
the one and the other aspect； if it makes a show； if it serve the turn；
I indiscreetly let it run； and as indiscreetly tie up my purse…strings；
if it does not shine； and does not please me。 Whatever it be； whether
art or nature； that imprints in us the condition of living by reference
to others； it does us much more harm than good； we deprive ourselves of
our own