ABSTRACT
My only trouble is, lest my brain should grow barren, or that the root of my fancies should become insipid, withering into a dull stupidity for want of maturing subjects to write on: for I being of a lazy nature, and not of an active disposition, as some are that love to journey from town to town, from place to place, from house to house, delighting in variety of company, making still one where the greatest number is; likewise in playing at cards, or any other games, in which I neither have practised, nor have I any skill therein: as for dancing, although it be a graceful art, and becometh unmarried persons well, yet for those that are married, it is too light
254 Personal Disclosures
an action, disagreeing with the gravity thereof; and for revelling, I am of too dull a nature, to make one in a merry society; as for feasting, it would neither agree with my humour or constitution, for my diet is for the most part sparing, as a little boiled chicken, or the like, my drink most commonly water, for though I have an indifferent good appetite, yet I do often fast, out of an opinion that if I should eat much,98 and exercise little, which I do, only walking a slow pace in my chamber, whilst my thoughts run apace in my brain, so that the motions of my mind hinders the active exercises of my body. For should I dance or run, or walk apace, I should dance my thoughts out of measure,99 run my fancies out of breath, and tread out the feet of my numbers100 .•. but I hold necessary sometimes to appear abroad, besides I do find, that several objects do bring new materials for my thoughts and fancies to build upon, yet I must say this in behalf of my thoughts, that I never found them idle; for if the senses brings no work in, they will work of themselves, like silkworms that spins out of their own bowels; neither can I say I think the time tedious, when I am alone, so I be near my lord, and know he is well.
