BOOK II PART I
And whether it be so or not, we may soon sat-
isfy ourselves by the most cursory view of hu-
man life.
Every thing belonging to a vain man is the
best that is any where to be found. His houses,
equipage, furniture, doaths, horses, hounds,
excel all others in his conceit; and it is easy to
observe, that from the least advantage in any
of these, he draws a new subject of pride and
vanity. His wine, if you’ll believe him, has
a finer flavour than any other; his cookery is
more exquisite; his table more orderly; his ser-
vants more expert; the air, in which he lives,
more healthful; the soil he cultivates more fer-
tile; his fruits ripen earlier and to greater per-
fection: Such a thing is remarkable for its nov-
elty; such another for its antiquity: This is the
workmanship of a famous artist; that belonged