It is not so much that they will go, as it is that they cannot stand still:  like a rolling stone that cannot stop till it can go no further.  Occupation, with a certain sort of men, is a mark of understanding and dignity:  their souls seek repose in agitation, as children do by being rocked in a cradle; they may pronounce themselves as serviceable to their friends, as they are troublesome to themselves.  No one distributes his money to others, but every one distributes his time and his life:  there is nothing of which we are so prodigal as of these two things, of which to be thrifty would be both commendable and useful.  I am of a quite contrary humour; I look to myself, and commonly covet with no great ardour what I do desire, and desire little; and I employ and busy myself at the same rate, rarely and temperately.  Whatever they take in hand, they do it with their utmost will and vehemence.  There are so many dangerous steps, that, for the more safety, we must a little lightly and superficially glide over the world, and not rush through it.  Pleasure itself is painful in profundity: 

                              “Incedis per ignes,
                    Suppositos cineri doloso.”

          ["You tread on fire, hidden under deceitful ashes.” 
          —­Horace, Od., ii. i, 7.]

The Parliament of Bordeaux chose me mayor of their city at a time when I was at a distance from France,—­[At Bagno Della Villa, near Lucca, September 1581]—­and still more remote from any such thought.  I entreated to be excused, but I was told by my friends that I had committed an error in so doing, and the greater because the king had, moreover, interposed his command in that affair.  ’Tis an office that ought to be looked upon so much more honourable, as it has no other salary nor advantage than the bare honour of its execution.  It continues two years, but may be extended by a second election, which very rarely happens; it was to me, and had never been so but twice before:  some years ago to Monsieur de Lansac, and lately to Monsieur de Biron, Marshal of France, in whose place I succeeded; and, I left mine to Monsieur de Matignon, Marshal of France also:  proud of so noble a fraternity—­

“Uterque bonus pacis bellique minister.”

          ["Either one a good minister in peace and war.” 
          —­AEneid, xi. 658.]

Fortune would have a hand in my promotion, by this particular circumstance which she put in of her own, not altogether vain; for Alexander disdained the ambassadors of Corinth, who came to offer him a burgess-ship of their city; but when they proceeded to lay before him that Bacchus and Hercules were also in the register, he graciously thanked them.