The works of Francis Bacon, lord chancellor of England.

HISTORY OF LIFE AND DEATH. 495
doth more comfort the spirits, than joy poured Isocrates, Seneca. And, certainly, as old men are
forth and published. for the most part talkative, so talkative men do
83. Grief and sadness, if it be void of fear, and often grow very old: for it shows a light contemafflict not too much, doth rather prolong life; for plation, and such as do not much strain the spirits,
it contracteth the spirits, and is a kind of con- or vex them; but subtle, and acute, and eager indensation. quisition shortens life, for it tireth the spirit, and
84. Great fears shorten the life; for though wasteth it.
grief and fear do both strengthen the spirit, yet in And as touching the motion of the spirits, by
grief there is a simple contraction; but in fear, the affections of the mind, thus much. Now, we
by reason of the cares taken for the remedy, and will add certain other general observations touchhopes intermixed, there is a turmoil and vexing ing the spirits, besides the former, which fall not
of the spirits. into the precedent distribution.
85. Anger suppressed is also a kind of vexa- 92. Especial care must be taken that the spirits
tion, and causeth the spirit to feed upon the juices be not too often resolved; for attenuation goeth
of the body; but let loose and breaking forth, it before resolution, and the spirit once attenuated
helpeth; as those medicines do, which induce a doth not very easily retire, or is condensed. Now,
robust heat. resolution is caused by over-great labours, over86. Envy is the worst of all passions, and vehement affections of the mind, over-greatsweats,
feedeth upon the spirits, and they again upon the over-great evacuation, hot baths, and an untempebody, and so much the more, because it is per- rate and unseasonable use of Venus; also by overpetual, and, as it is said, keepeth no holidays. greatcares and carpings, and anxious expectations;
87. Pity of another man's misfortune, which is lastly, by malignant diseases, and intolerable pains
not likely to befall ourselves, is good; but pity, and torments of the body; all which, as much as
which may reflect with some similitude upon the may be, (which our vulgar physicians also adparty pitying, is naught, because it exciteth fear. vise,) must be avoided.
88. Light shame hurteth not, seeing it con- 93. The spirits are delighted both with wonted
tracteth the spirits a little, and then straight dif- things and with new. Now, it maketh wonderfuseth them, insomuch that shamefaced persons fully to the conservation of the spirits in vigour,
commonly live long; but shame for some great that we neither use wonted things to a satiety and
ignominy, and which afflicteth the mind long, glutting; nor new things, before a quick and
contracteth the spirits even to suffocation, and strong appetite. And, therefore, both customs are
is pernicious. to be broken off with judgment and care, before
89. Love, if it be not unfortunate, and too they breed a fulness; and the appetite after new
deeply wounding, is a kind of joy, and is subject things to be restrained for a time until it grow
to the same laws which we have set down touch- more sharp and jocund; and, moreover, the life,
ing joy. as much as may be, so to be ordered, that it may
90. Hope is the most beneficial of all the affec- have many renovations, and the spirits, by pertions, and doth much to the prolongation of life, petual conversing in the same actions, may not
if it be not too often frustrated, but entertaineth wax dull. For though it were no ill saying of
the fancy with an expectation of good; therefore Seneca's, The fool doth ever begin to live; yet
they which fix and propound to themselves some this folly, and many more such, are good for
end, as the mark and scope of their life, and con- long life.
tinually and by degrees go forward in the same, 94. It is to be observed touching the spirits,
are, for the most part, long-lived; insomuch that (though the contrary used to be done,) that when
when they are come to the top of their hope, and men perceive their spirits to be in good, placid,
can go no higher therein, they commonly droop, and healthful state, (that which will be seen by
and live not long after. So that hope is a leaf-joy, the tranquillity of their mind, and cheerful dispowhich may be beaten out to a great extension, sition,) that they cherish them, and not change
like gold. them; but when in a turbulent and untoward
91. Admiration and light contemplation are state, (which will also appear by their sadness,
very powerful to the prolonging of life; for they lumpishness, and other indisposition of their
hold the spirits in such things as delight them, mind,) that then they straight overwhelm them,
and suffer them not to tumultuate, or to carry and alter them. Now, the spirits are contained in
themselves unquietly and waywardly. And, the same state, by a restraining of the affections,
therefore, all the contemplators of natural things, temperateness of diet, abstinence from Venus,
which had so many and eminent objects to ad- moderation in labour, indifferent rest and repose:
mire, (as Dernocritus, Plato, Parmenides, Apol- and the contrary to these do alter and overwhelm
lonius,) were long-lived; also rhetoricians, which the spirits; as, namely, vehement affections, protasted but lightly of things, and studied rather fuse feastings, immoderateVenus,difficultlabours.
exornation of speech than profundity of matters, earnest studies, and prosecution of business. Yet
were also long-lived; as Gorgias, Protagoras, men are wont, when they are merriest and best