1. If a dwelling-house, by reason of its ill situation or contrivance,
be not commodiously light and airy, or too much exposed to ill weather
and unhealthy, it is most advisable entirely to quit such a habitation,
unless perhaps, through continuance of time, neighborhood of friends,
or any other endearing circumstance, a man should become much wedded
to the place; in which case it may be possible, by the alteration of
windows and new placing of doors and staircases, either to remove or to
lessen these inconveniences. By such like remedies, even whole cities
have been much amended and improved both as to health and pleasantness;
and it is said of the place of my nativity particularly, that, while it
once lay open to the western winds, and to the beams of the declining
sun streaming over the top of Parnassus, it was by Chaeron turned
toward the east; but it is thought that Empedocles the naturalist
secured that whole region round about from the pestilence, by closing
up the rift of a certain mountain, from whence a contagious southerly
damp breathed forth upon the flat of that country. And now, since there
are several noxious qualities and distempered passions that lurk within
the body too, which is the more immediate habitation of the soul,—and
which, like the dark and tempestuous weather that is without, do cloud
and disturb it,—therefore the like method which has been observed in
curing the defects and annoyances of an ill-contrived and unhealthy
dwelling may be followed here, in rendering the body a more commodious,
serviceable, and delightful mansion for the soul. Wherein that it
may enjoy its desired calmness and serenity, it will conduce beyond
all other expedients whatsoever, that those blind, tumultuous, and
extravagant passions should be expelled or extinguished utterly; or, if
that cannot be, yet that they be so far reduced and moderated, and so
prudently applied and accommodated to their proper objects, that the
mischief and disorder of them (at least) may be removed.
Among these may deservedly be accounted that sort of curiosity, which,
by its studious prying into the evils of mankind, seems to be a
distemper of envy and ill-nature.
Why envious wretch, with such a piercing ray,
Blind to thine own, dost others’ faults survey?
If the knowledge of ill can reward the industrious search with so much
delight and pleasure, turn the point of thy curiosity upon thyself and
thine own affairs, and thou shalt within doors find matter enough for
the most laborious enquiries, plentiful as
Water in Aliso’s stream, or leaves about the oak.
So vast a heap of offences shalt thou find in thy own conversation,
such variety of perturbations in thy soul, and manifold failures in
thy duty. To take a distinct and orderly survey of all which, that of
Xenophon will be good direction, who said, that it was the manner of
discreet housekeepers to place their weapons of war, utensils for the
kitchen, instruments of husbandry, and furniture for religious and
sacred services, each in several and proper repositories. So every
man that would make an exact enquiry into and take a just account
of himself, should first make a particular search into the several
mischiefs that proceed from each passion within him, whether it be
envy or jealousy, covetousness or cowardice, or any other vicious
inclination; and then distribute and range them all (as it were) into
distinct apartments.
This done, make thy reviews upon them with the most accurate
inspection, so that nothing may divert thee from the severest scrutiny;
obstruct every prospect that looks towards thy neighbors’ quarters,
and close up all those avenues which may lead thee to any foreign
curiosity; become an eavesdropper to thine own house, listen to the
whispers of thine own walls, and observe those secret arts of the
female closet, the close intrigues of the parlor, and the treacherous
practices of thy servants, which thy own windows will discover to thee.
Here this inquisitive and busy disposition may find an employment
that will be of use and advantage, and is neither ill-natured nor
impertinent; while every man shall call himself to this strict
examination.
Where have I err’d? What have I said, or done?
What duty, when, and how have I foregone?
2. But now, as the poets feign concerning Lamia, that upon her going to
bed she lays aside her eyes among the attirements of her dressing-box,
and is at home for the most part blind and drowsy too, and puts on
her eyes only when she goes abroad a gadding; so it is with most
men, who, through a kind of an affected ignorance and artificial
blindness, commonly blunder and stumble at their own threshold, are the
greatest strangers to their own personal defects, and of all others
least familiarly acquainted with their own domestic ills and follies.
But when they look abroad, their sight is sharpened with all the
watchful and laborious curiosity imaginable, which serves as deforming
spectacles to an evil eye, that is already envenomed by the malignity
of a worse nature.
And hence it is, that a person of this busy meddlesome disposition is
a greater friend to them he hates than to himself; for overlooking
his own concerns, through his being so heedfully intent on those of
other men, he reproves and exposes their miscarriages, admonishes them
of the errors and follies they ought to correct, and affrights them
into greater caution for the future; so that not only the careless and
unwary, but even the more sober and prudent persons, may gain no small
advantage from the impertinence and ill-nature of inquisitive people.
It was a remarkable instance of the prudence of Ulysses, that, going
into the regions of departed souls, he would not exchange so much as
one word with his mother there till he had first obtained an answer
from the oracle and despatched the business he came about; and then,
turning to her, he afforded some small time for a few impertinent
questions about the other women upon the place, asking which was Tyro,
and which the fair Chloris, and concerning the unfortunate Epicasta,
why,