fomething more animated than a peaceable ftate. We live in the midft of an infinite number of Goods and Evils, and with fenfes capable of being affected with the one, and tormented with the other: without very much Philofophy, a little reafon will make us relifh good things as delicioufly as poffible, and inftruct us to bear the bad with all the patience we can.
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OF
RETIREMENT
There's nothing more common with old Men, than to desire a Retirement, and nothing so rare with them as not to repent it, when they are once retir'd. Their souls, that are in too great a subjection to their humours, are disgusted with the world for their own tiresomness; for scarce have they quitted this false object of their misfortune, but they are as angry with solitude, as they were with the world, being uneasy at themselves, where nothing but themselves can give them any uneasiness.
An essential reason that obliges us to withdraw our selves out of the World when we are old, is to prevent that ridicule and contempt to which age generally exposes us. If we quit the World in good time, they will still preserve the idea of that merit, which we had there. If we tarry too long in it, our defects will lie open; and what we are then, will efface the memory of what we were. Besides, 'tis a shame for a person of honour to drag about
