But deep settled diseases of the mind are not taken away thereby, no nor any whit mitigated: but rather revived. That it is the mind which is sick in us, which must seek remedy from wisdom and constancy.
"You will say then, what? Does traveling detract nothing at all from these great evils? Does not the sight of fair fields, rivers, and mountains put a man out of his pains? It may be they hold us from them, but yet for a very short time, and to no good end. Even as a picture, be it ever so exquisite, delights the eye a little while: so all this variety of persons and places pleases us with the novelty, yet but only for a short season.
"This is a certain declining from evils, but no avoiding of them: And peregrination may well be said to slack the bands of sorrow, but not to loose them. What does it avail me to behold the sun for a season, and immediately to be shut up in a close prison? So it comes to pass that these external pleasures do beguile the mind, and under pretense of helping do greatly hurt us.
"Like as medicines that be weak in operation do not purge ill humors, but provoke them: so these vain delights do kindle and inflame in us the fuel of affections. The mind strays not long from itself, but whether it will or not, is soon driven home to its old harbor of adversities.
"Those very towns and hills which you shall behold for your comfort will reduce you in conceit into your own country: and even in the midst of your joys you shall either see or hear something that will rub raw the old gall of your griefs. Or else if it be so that you take your ease awhile, it will be but short as a slumber, and when you awake the fever will be as it was, or more fervent. For we see that some lusts do increase by intermitting them and by delays gather deeper root.
"Therefore, Lipsius, let pass these vain, yes noisome, not remedies but poisons: and be content to endure the true curing caustic medicines. Would you fain change countries? May you rather change your own mind wrongfully subjected to affections, and withdrawn from the natural obedience of its lawful lady, I mean reason. The corruption and defiling whereof causes in you this despair and languishing. The mind must be changed, not the place.
"You have an earnest desire to see the fruitful country of Austria, the good strong town of Vienna, Danube the chief of rivers, with many other rare novelties which may work admiration in the hearers.
"How much better is it that your affection were as firmly settled to the obtaining of wisdom? That you would search out the very fountain of all human perturbations? That you would erect forts and bulwarks wherewith you might be able to withstand and repulse the furious assaults of lusts? These be the true remedies of your disease, all the residue do but feed and foster the same. This your wandering into other countries shall not avail you, it shall nothing avail you.
To pass so many towns of Greekish land
Or scape by flight through midst of hostile band
"For you shall still find an enemy in you, yes, even in that closet of yours."
And therewithal he struck me on the breast, "What good will it do you to be settled in a peaceable place? You carry war with you. What can a quiet habitation benefit you? Troubles are ever about you, yes in you. For this distracted mind of yours wars, and ever will be at war with itself, in coveting, in flying, in hoping, in despairing.
"And as they that for fear turn their backs to their enemies are in the greater danger, having their face from their foe, and their backs unarmed, so fares it with these ignorant novices, who never have made any resistance against their affections: but by flight yielded unto them.
"But you, young man, if you be advised by me, shall stand to it, and set sure footing against this your adversary, sorrow. Above all things it behooves you to be constant; for by fighting many man has gotten the victory, but none by flying."
IMAGE: Hendrick Goltzius, Justus Lipsius (1587)
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