semblance of Sodom, or the last day. It forcibly called to my mind that passage non enim hic habemus stabilem civitatem; the ruins resembling the picture of Troy. London was, 5 but is no more! Thus I returned home.

The fire having continued all this night (if I may call that night which was light as day for ten miles round about, after a dreadful manner), when conspiring with a fierce eastern wind in a very dry season; I went on foot to the same place, and saw the whole south part of the city burning from Cheapside to the Thames, and all along Cornhill (for it likewise kindled back against the wind as well as forward), Tower Street, Fen-church Street, Gracious 10 ling Street, now flaming, and most of it re

Street, and so along to Baynard's Castle, and was now taking hold of St. Paul's Church, to which the scaffolds contributed exceedingly. The conflagration was so universal, and the

Sept. 4. The burning still rages, and it was now gotten as far as the Inner Temple; all Fleet Street, the Old Bailey, Ludgate Hill, Warwick Lane, Newgate, Paul's Chain, Wat

duced to ashes; the stones of Paul's flew ke granados, the melting lead running down the streets in a stream, and the very pavements glowing with fiery redness, so as no horse nor

people so astonished, that from the beginning, I 15 man was able to tread on them, and the

know not by what despondency or fate, they
hardly stirred to quench it, so that there was
nothing heard or seen but crying out and
lamentation, running about like distracted
creatures, without at all attempting to save 20
even their goods; such a strange consternation
there was upon them, so as it burned both in
breadth and length, the churches, public halls,
Exchange, hospitals, monuments, and orna-
ments, leaping after a prodigious manner from 25
house to house and street to street, at great
distances one from the other; for the heat with
a long set of fair and warm weather had even
ignited the air and prepared the materials to

demolition had stopped all the passages, so that no help could be applied. The eastern wind still more impetuously driving the flames forward. Nothing but the Almighty power of God was able to stop them, for vain was the help of man.

5. It crossed towards Whitehall; but oh, the confusion there was then at that Court! It pleased his Majesty to command me among the rest to look after the quenching of Fetter Lane end, to preserve if possible that part of Holborn whilst the rest of the gentlemen took their several posts, some at one part, some at another (for now they began to bestir themselves,

conceive the fire, which devoured after an 30 and not till now, who hitherto had stood as men

incredible manner houses, furniture, and everything. Here we saw the Thames covered with goods floating, all the barges and boats laden with what some had time and courage to save,

intoxicated, with their hands across) and began to consider that nothing was likely to put a stop but the blowing up of so many houses as might make a wider gap than any had yet been

as, on the other, the carts, etc., carrying out to 35 made by the ordinary method of pulling them

the fields, which for many miles were strewed
with moveables of all sorts, and tents erecting
to shelter both people and what goods they
could get away. Oh the miserable and calam-
itous spectacle! such as haply the world had 40
not seen the like since the foundation of it, nor
be outdone till the universal conflagration of it.
All the sky was of a fiery aspect, like the top of
a burning oven, and the light seen above forty

down with engines; this some stout seamen proposed early enough to have saved nearly the whole City, but this some tenacious and avaricious men, aldermen &c., would not permit, because their houses must have been of the first. It was therefore now commanded to be practised, and my concern being particularly for the Hospital of St. Bartholomew, near Smithfield, where I had my wounded and sick

miles round about for many nights. God 45 men, made me the more diligent to promote it;

grant mine eyes may never behold the like, who
now saw above 10,000 houses all in one flame;
the noise and cracking and thunder of the
impetuous flames, the shrieking of women and
children, the hurry of people, the fall of towers, 50
houses and churches, was like an hideous storm,
and the air all about so hot and inflamed that
at the last one was not able to approach it, so
that they were forced to stand still and let the

nor was my care for the Savoy less.

It now pleased God by abating the wind, and by the industry of the people, when almost all was lost, infusing a new spirit into them, that the fury of it began sensibly to abate about noon, so as it came no farther than the Temple westward, nor than the entrance of Smithfield north; but continued all this day and night so impetuous toward Cripple-gate and the Tower

the Temple, but the courage of the multitude persisting, and many houses being blown up,

flames burn on, which they did for near two 55 as made us all despair; it also brake out again in miles in length and one in breadth. The clouds also of smoke were dismal and reached upon computation near fifty-six miles in length. Thus I left it this afternoon burning, a re

2 "For here we have no continuing city." Heb., xiii., 14. 3 Grenades; an explosive missile thrown by the hand.

such gaps and desolations were soon made, as with the former three days consumption, the back fire did not so vehemently urge upon the rest as formerly. There was yet no standing near the burning and glowing ruins by near a furlong's space.

unnecessary trouble or incumbrance of life: so that whether they are to be reckoned among goods or evils is yet left in doubt.

When I was young and in some idle com5pany, it was proposed that every one should tell what their three wishes should be, if they were sure to be granted; some were very pleasant, and some very extravagant; mine were health, and peace, and fair weather; which, though out of the way among young men, yet perhaps might pass well enough among old: they are all of a strain, for health in the body is like peace in the State and serenity in the air: the sun, in our climate at least, has something

The coal and wood wharves and magazines of oil, rosin, &c., did infinite mischief, so as the invective which a little before I had dedicated to his Majesty and published, giving 10 warning what might probably be the issue of suffering those shops to be in the City, was looked on as a prophecy.

pleasure, and, of all others, the most innocent.

The poor inhabitants were dispersed about St. George's Fields, and Moorfields, as far as 15 so reviving, that a fair day is a kind of a sensual Highgate, and several miles in circle, some under tents, some under miserable huts and hovels, many without a rag or any necessary utensils, bed or board, who from delicateness, riches, and easy accommodations in stately and 20 well furnished houses, were now reduced to extremest misery and poverty.

In this calamitous condition I returned with a sad heart to my house, blessing and adoring the distinguishing mercy of God to me and mine 25 who in the midst of all this ruin was like Lot, in my little Zoar, safe and sound.

Sir William Temple

1628-1690

OF HEALTH AND LONG LIFE

(From Miscellanea, 1679-1692)

Peace is a public blessing, without which no man is safe in his fortunes, his liberty, or his life: neither innocence or laws are a guard or defence; no possessions are enjoyed but in danger or fear, which equally lose the pleasure and ease of all that fortune can give us. Health is the soul that animates all enjoyments of life, which fade and are tasteless, if not dead, without it: a man starves at the best and the greatest tables, makes faces at the noblest and most delicate wines, is poor and wretched in the midst of the greatest treasures and fortunes: with common diseases strength grows decrepit, 30 youth loses all vigour, and beauty all charms; music grows harsh, and conversation disagreeable; palaces are prisons, or of equal confinement, riches are useless, honour and attendance are cumbersome, and crowns themselves are 35 a burden: but, if diseases are painful and violent, they equal all conditions of life, make no difference between a Prince and a beggar; and a fit of the stone or the colic puts a King to the rack, and makes him as miserable as he can do

his subjects.

Some writers, in casting up the goods most desirable in life, have given them this rank, health, beauty, and riches. Of the first I find no dispute, but to the two others much may be 40 the meanest, the worst, and most criminal of said: for beauty is a good that makes others happy rather than one's self; and, how riches should claim so high a rank, I cannot tell, when so great, so wise, and so good a part of mankind have in all ages preferred poverty before them. 45 The Therapeuta1 and Ebionites among the Jews, the primitive monks and modern friars among Christians, so many Dervises3 among the Mahometans, the Brachmans among the Indians, and all the ancient philosophers; who, 50 renounce common nature, oppose common whatever else they differed in, agreed in this of despising riches, and at best esteeming them an The "little city" which was the refuge of Lot, when Sodom and Gomorrah were destroyed. V. Gen., xix., 19-23.

A scct of Jewish ascetics in pre-christian and early Christian times. They were established chiefly in Egypt 55 and lived austere and solitary lives.

2 An early Christian sect, which became separated from the Church towards the end of the second century. 3 Dervishes.

4 Brahmins, members of the sacerdotal caste among the Hindoos.

To know that the passions or distempers of the mind make our lives unhappy, in spite of all accidents and favours of fortune, a man perhaps must be a philosopher; and requires much thought, and study, and deep reflections. To be a Stoic, and grow insensible of pain, as well as poverty or disgrace, one must be perhaps something more or less than a man,

truth and constant experience. But there needs little learning or study, more than common thought and observation, to find out, that ill health loses not only the enjoyments of fortune, but the pleasures of sense, and even of imagination, and hinders the common operations both of body and mind from being easy and free. Let philosophers reason and differ about the chief good or happiness of man; let