Memoirs 207 



although it be a graceful art, and becometh unmarried 

 persons well, yet for those that are married, it is too 

 light 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 

 chickin, 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 and exercise little, which I do, onely walking 

 a slow pace in my chamber, whilst my thoughts run 

 apace in my brain, so that the motions of my minde 

 hinders the active exercises of my body. For should 

 I dance or run, or walk apace, I should dance my 

 thoughts out of measure, run my fancies out of breath, 

 and tread out the feet of my numbers. But because 

 I would not bury myself quite from the sight of the 

 world, I go sometimes abroad, seldome to visit, but 

 only in my coach about the town, or about some of 

 the streets, which we call here a tour, where all the 

 chief of the town goe to see and to be seen, likewise 

 all strangers of what quallity soever, as all great 

 princes or queens that make any short stay. For this 

 town being a passage or thorough-fare to most parts, 

 causeth many times persons of great quallity to be 

 here, though not as inhabitants, yet to lodge for some 

 short time; and all such, as I said, take a delight, or 

 at lest goe to see the custome thereof, which most 

 cities of note in Europe for all I can hear, hath such 

 like recreations for the effeminate sex, although for 

 my part I had rather sit at home and write, or walk, 

 as I said, in my chamber and contemplate; but I 

 hold necessary sometimes to appear abroad, besides 

 I do find, that severall objects do bring new materialls 



