example. He loved them in prosperity; protected them in adversity; lamented them in death. How open was his countenance! how modest his conversation! how equally did he temper gravity with gaiety! how fond was he of learning! how judicious his sentiments! how dutiful to a father of a very different character! and how happily did he reconcile filial piety to inflexible virtue, continuing a good son, without forfeiting the title of a good man! But why do I aggravate your affliction by reminding you of his merit? yet I know your affection for the memory of this excellent youth is so strong, that you had rather endure that pain, than suffer his virtues to be passed over in silence; especially by me, whose applause, you imagine, will adorn his actions, extend his fame, and restore him, as it were, to that life from which he is prematurely snatched. Farewel.

LETTER LXIV.

TO FUSCUS.

You desire to know in what manner I dispose of my time, in my summer villa at Tuscum? I rise just when I find myself in the humour, though generally with the sun; sometimes indeed sooner, but seldom later. When I am up, I continue to keep the shutters of my chamber windows closed; as darkness and silence wonderfully promote meditation. Thus free and abstracted from those outward objects which dissipate attention, I am left to my own thoughts; nor suffer my mind to

wander with my eyes, but keep my eyes in subjection to my mind: by these means they are not distracted with a multiplicity of external objects, and see nothing but what the imagination represents to them. If I have any composition upon my hands, this is the time I choose to consider it, not only with respect to the general plan, but even the style and expression, which I revise and correct as if I were actually writing. In this manner, I compose more or less as the subject is more or less difficult, and I find my memory able to retain it. I then call my secretary, and, opening the shutters, dictate to him what I have composed; after which I dismiss him for a little while, and then call him in again. About ten or eleven of the clock (for 1 do not observe one fixed hour) according as the weather proves, I either walk upon my terrace, or in the covered portico; and there I continue to meditate or dictate what remains upon the subject in which I happen to be engaged. From thence I get into my chariot, where I employ myself as before, when I was walking, or in my study; and find this changing of the scene refreshes and enlivens my attention. At my return, I repose myself: then take a walk, and after that, repeat aloud some Greek or Latin oration, not so much for the sake of strengthening my voice as my digestion: though indeed the power of the voice at the same time is improved by this practice. I then walk again, am anointed, take my exercises, and go into the bath. At supper, if I have only my wife, or a few friends with me, some author is read to us; and, after supper, we are entertained either with music, or an inter

lude. When that is finished, I take my walk with my family, in the number of which I am not without some persons of literature. Thus we pass our evenings in various conversation; and the day, even when it is at the longest, steals imperceptibly away. Upon some occasions I change the order in certain of the articles above-mentioned. For instance, if I have studied longer, or walked more than usual; after my second sleep, and reading an oration or two aloud, instead of using my chariot, I get on horse-back; by which means I take as much exercise, and lose less time. The visits of my friends from the neighbouring villages claim some part of the day; and sometimes, by an agreeable interruption, they come in very seasonably to relieve me, when I am fatigued. I now and then amuse myself with sporting, but always take my tablets into the field, that if I should not meet with game, I may at least bring home something. Part of my time, too, is allotted to my tenants, though indeed not so much of it as they desire: and I return from settling their rustic controversies with a better relish to my studies and more elegant occupations. Farewel.

LETTER LXV.

TO FUSCUS.

You are much pleased, I find, with the account I gave you in my former letter, of the manner in which I spend the summer season at Tuscum; and desire to know what alteration I make in my

method, when I am at Laurentinum in the winter? None, except abridging myself of my sleep at noon, and employing several hours both before day light and after sun-set in study; but if any public business requires my early attendance at Rome (which in winter very frequently happens), instead of having interludes or music after supper, I meditate upon what I have previously dictated, and by often revising it in my own mind, fix it the more strongly in my memory. Thus I have given you a general sketch of my mode of life, both in summer and winter; to which you may add the intermediate seasons of spring and autumn; in these, as no part of the day is lost in sleep or dissipation, as in summer, so some time is gained for business or study by the nights being shorter than in winter. Farewel.

Whittingham and Rowland, Printers, Goswell Street, London,