s good intent, and not seek to dehort him
from it:" and so constantly died, _precesque eorum taciturna sua
obstinatione depressit_. Even so did Corellius Rufus, another grave
senator, by the relation of Plinius Secundus, _epist. lib. 1. epist. 12._
famish himself to death; _pedibus correptus cum incredibiles cruciatus et
indignissima tormenta pateretur, a cibis omnino abstinuit_; [2768]neither
he nor Hispilla his wife could divert him, but _destinatus mori obstinate
magis_, &c. die he would, and die he did. So did Lycurgus, Aristotle, Zeno,
Chrysippus, Empedocles, with myriads, &c. In wars for a man to run rashly
upon imminent danger, and present death, is accounted valour and
magnanimity, [2769]to be the cause of his own, and many a thousand's ruin
besides, to commit wilful murder in a manner, of himself and others, is a
glorious thing, and he shall be crowned for it. The [2770] Massegatae in
former times, [2771]Barbiccians, and I know not what nations besides, did
stifle their old men, after seventy years, to free them from those
grievances incident to that age. So did the inhabitants of the island of
Choa, because their air was pure and good, and the people generally long
lived, _antevertebant fatum suum, priusquam manci forent, aut imbecillitas
accederet, papavere vel cicuta_, with poppy or hemlock they prevented
death. Sir Thomas More in his Utopia commends voluntary death, if he be
_sibi aut aliis molestus_, troublesome to himself or others, ([2772]
"especially if to live be a torment to him,) let him free himself with his
own hands from this tedious life, as from a prison, or suffer himself to be
freed by others." [2773]And 'tis the same tenet which Laertius relates of
Zeno, of old, _Juste sapiens sibi mortem consciscit, si in acerbis
doloribus versetur, membrorum mutilatione aut morbis aegre curandis_, and
which Plato _9. de legibus_ approves, if old age, poverty, ignominy, &c.
oppress, and which Fabius expresseth in effect. (_Praefat. 7. Institut_.)
_Nemo nisi sua culpa diu dolet_. It is an ordinary thing in China, (saith
Mat. Riccius the Jesuit,) [2774]"if they be in despair of better fortunes,
or tired and tortured with misery, to bereave themselves of life, and many
times, to spite their enemies the more, to hang at their door." Tacitus the
historian, Plutarch the philosopher, much approve a voluntary departure,
and Aust. _de civ. Dei, l. 1. c. 29._ defends a violent death, so that it
be undertaken in a good ca