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kind； to imitate those who in their lifetime entertain themselves with
the ceremony and honours of their own obsequies beforehand； and are
pleased with beholding their own dead countenance in marble。 Happy are
they who can gratify their senses by insensibility； and live by their
death！
I am ready to conceive an implacable hatred against all popular
domination； though I think it the most natural and equitable of all； so
oft as I call to mind the inhuman injustice of the people of Athens； who；
without remission； or once vouchsafing to hear what they had to say for
themselves； put to death their brave captains newly returned triumphant
from a naval victory they had obtained over the Lacedaemonians near the
Arginusian Isles； the most bloody and obstinate engagement that ever the
Greeks fought at sea； because （after the victory） they followed up the
blow and pursued the advantages presented to them by the rule of war；
rather than stay to gather up and bury their dead。 And the execution is
yet rendered more odious by the behaviour of Diomedon； who； being one of
the condemned； and a man of most eminent virtue； political and military；
after having heard the sentence； advancing to speak； no audience till
then having been allowed； instead of laying before them his own cause；
or the impiety of so cruel a sentence； only expressed a solicitude for
his judges' preservation； beseeching the gods to convert this sentence to
their good； and praying that； for neglecting to fulfil the vows which he
and his companions had made （with which he also acquainted them） in
acknowledgment of so glorious a success； they might not draw down the
indignation of the gods upon them； and so without more words went
courageously to his death。
Fortune； a few years after； punished them in the same kind； for Chabrias；
captain…general of their naval forces； having got the better of Pollis；
Admiral of Sparta； at the Isle of Naxos； totally lost the fruits of his
victory； one of very great importance to their affairs； in order not to
incur the danger of this example； and so that he should not lose a few
bodies of his dead friends that were floating in the sea； gave
opportunity to a world of living enemies to sail away in safety； who
afterwards made them pay dear for this unseasonable superstition：
Quaeris； quo jaceas； post obitum； loco？
Quo non nata jacent。〃
＇〃Dost ask where thou shalt lie after death？
Where things not born lie； that never being had。〃＇
Seneca； Tyoa。 Choro ii。 30。
This other restores the sense of repose to a body without a soul：
〃Neque sepulcrum； quo recipiatur； habeat： portum corporis； ubi；
remissa human； vita； corpus requiescat a malis。〃
＇〃Nor let him have a sepulchre wherein he may be received； a haven
for his body； where； life being gone； that body may rest from its
woes。〃Ennius； ap。 Cicero； Tusc。 i。 44。＇
As nature demonstrates to us that several dead things retain yet an
occult relation to life； wine changes its flavour and complexion in
cellars； according to the changes and seasons of the vine from whence it
came； and the flesh ofvenison alters its condition in the powdering…
tub； and its taste according to the laws of the living flesh of its kind；
as it is said。
CHAPTER IV
THAT THE SOUL EXPENDS ITS PASSIONS UPON FALSE OBJECTS； WHERE THE TRUE ARE
WANTING
A gentleman of my country； marvellously tormented with the gout； being
importuned by his physicians totally to abstain from all manner of salt
meats； was wont pleasantly to reply； that in the extremity of his fits he
must needs have something to quarrel with； and that railing at and
cursing； one while the Bologna sausages； and another the dried tongues
and the hams； was some mitigation to his pain。 But； in good earnest； as
the arm when it is advanced to strike； if it miss the blow； and goes by
the wind； it pains us； and as also； that； to make a pleasant prospect；
the sight should not be lost and dilated in vague air； but have some
bound and object to limit and circumscribe it at a reasonable distance；
〃Ventus ut amittit vires； nisi robore densa
Occurrant sylvae； spatio diffusus inani。〃
＇〃As the wind loses its force diffused in void space； unless it in
its strength encounters the thick wood。〃Lucan； iii。 362。＇
So it seems that the soul； being transported and discomposed； turns its
violence upon itself； if not supplied with something to oppose it； and
therefore always requires an object at which to aim； and whereon to act。
Plutarch says of those who are delighted with little dogs and monkeys；
that the amorous part that is in us； for want of a legitimate object；
rather than lie idle； does after that manner forge and create one false
and frivolous。 And we see that the soul； in its passions； inclines
rather to deceive itself； by creating a false and fantastical a subject；
even contrary to its own belief； than not to have something to work upon。
After this manner brute beasts direct their fury to fall upon the stone
or weapon that has hurt them； and with their teeth a even execute revenge
upon themselves for the injury they have received from another：
〃Pannonis haud aliter； post ictum saevior ursa；
Cui jaculum parva Lybis amentavit habena；
Se rotat in vulnus； telumque irata receptum
Impetit； et secum fugientem circuit hastam。〃
＇So the she…bear； fiercer after the blow from the Lybian's thong…
hurled dart； turns round upon the wound； and attacking the received
spear； twists it； as she flies。〃Lucan； vi。 220。＇
What causes of the misadventures that befall us do we not invent？ what
is it that we do not lay the fault to； right or wrong； that we may have
something to quarrel with？ It is not those beautiful tresses you tear；
nor is it the white bosom that in your anger you so unmercifully beat；
that with an unlucky bullet have slain your beloved brother； quarrel with
something else。 Livy； speaking of the Roman army in Spain； says that for
the loss of the two brothers； their great captains：
〃Flere omnes repente； et offensare capita。〃
＇〃All at once wept and tore their hair。〃…Livy； xxv。 37。＇
'Tis a common practice。 And the philosopher Bion said pleasantly of the
king； who by handsful pulled his hair off his head for sorrow； 〃Does this
man think that baldness is a remedy for grief？〃 ＇Cicero； Tusc。 Quest。；
iii。 26。＇ Who has not seen peevish gamesters chew and swallow the
cards； and swallow the dice； in revenge for the loss of their money？
Xerxes whipped the sea； and wrote a challenge to Mount Athos； Cyrus
employed a whole army several days at work； to revenge himself of the
river Gyndas； for the fright it had put him into in passing over it； and
Caligula demolished a very beautiful palace for the pleasure his mother
had once enjoyed there。
＇Pleasureunless 'plaisir' were originally 'deplaisir'must be
understood here ironically； for the house was one in which she had
been imprisoned。Seneca； De Ira。 iii。 22＇
I remember there was a story cur