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Ancient Books ~ Politics, Philosophy & Liberty Religio Medici, Hydriotahia, And The Letter To A Friend ~ Sect. 41.Sect. 41.--Some, upon the courage of a fruitful issue, wherein, as in the truest chronicle, they seem to outlive themselves, can with greater patience away with death. This conceit and counterfeit subsisting in our progenies seems to be a mere fallacy, unworthy the desire of a man, that can but conceive a thought of the next world; who, in a nobler ambition, should desire to live in his substance in heaven, rather than his name and shadow in the earth. And therefore, at my death, I mean to take a total adieu of the world, not caring for a monu- ment, history, or epitaph; not so much as the bare memory of my name to be found anywhere, but in the universal register of God. I am not yet so cynical, as to approve the testament of Diogenes,* nor do I alto- gether allow that rodomontado of Lucan;+ -----"Coelo tegitur, qui non habet urnam." He that unburied lies wants not his hearse; For unto him a tomb's the universe. but commend, in my calmer judgment, those ingenuous intentions that desire to sleep by the urns of their fathers, and strive to go the neatest way unto corruption. I do not envy the temper<55> of crows and daws, nor the numerous and weary days of our fathers before the flood. If there be any truth in astrology, I may outlive * Who willed his friend not to bury him, but to hang him up with a staff in his hand, to fright away the crows. + "Pharsalia," vii. 819. a jubilee;<56> as yet I have not seen one revolution of Saturn,<57> nor hath my pulse beat thirty years, and yet, excepting one,<58> have seen the ashes of, and left under ground, all the kings of Europe; have been contem- porary to three emperors, four grand signiors, and as many popes: methinks I have outlived myself, and begin to be weary of the sun; I have shaken hands with delight in my warm blood and canicular days; I perceive I do anticipate the vices of age; the world to me is but a dream or mock-show, and we all therein but pantaloons and anticks, to my severer contemplations. Religio Medici, Hydriotahia, And The Letter To A Friend ~ Sect. 41. | < Last - Next > |
