As perfumes make coarse and ragged garments fragrant, but the body of
Anchises gave off a noisome exudation,
Damping the linen robe adown his
back,1
so every occupation and manner of life, if attended by virtue, is
untroubled and delightful, while, on the other hand, any admixture of vice
renders those things which to others seem splendid, precious, and imposing,
only troublesome, sickening, and unwelcome to their possessors.
This man is
happy deemed 'mid public throng, But when he opes his door he's thrice a
wretch ; His wife controls, commands, and always fights.2
Yet it is not
difficult for any man to get rid of a bad wife if he be a real man and not a
slave ; but against his own vice it is not possible to draw up a writing of
divorcement and forthwith to be rid of troubles and to be at peace, having
arranged to be by himself. No, his vice, a settled tenant of his very vitals
always, both at night and by day,
Burns, but without e'er a brand, and
consigns to an eld all untimely.3
For in travelling vice is a troublesome
companion because of arrogance, at dinner an expensive companion owing to
gluttony, and a distressing bedfellow, since by anxieties, cares and
jealousies it drives out and destroys sleep. For what slumber there may be
is sleep and repose for the body only, but for the soul terrors, dreams, and
agitations, because of superstition.
[p. 99]
When grief o'ertakes me as I close my eyes, I'm murdered
by my dreams.4
says one man. In such a state do envy, fear, temper, and
licentiousness put a man. For by day vice, looking outside of itself and
conforming its attitude to others, is abashed and veils its emotions, and
does not give itself up completely to its impulses, but oftentimes resists
them and struggles against them ; but in the hours of slumber, when it has
escaped from opinion and law, and got away as far as possible from feeling
fear or shame, it sets every desire stirring, and awakens its depravity and
licentiousness. It ‘attempts incest,’ as Plato
5 says, partakes
of forbidden meats, abstains from nothing which it wishes to do, but revels
in lawlessness so far as it can, with images and visions which end in no
pleasure or accomplishment of desire, but have only the power to stir to
fierce activity the emotional and morbid propensities.
6
