M. Renan On Death And Old Age

And now I only ask of the good genius wbo has so often guided, eounselled and comforted me, but an easy and radden death at my appointed time, be it far or near. The StoidJ contended that a happy life was possiblfi within the stomach of Phalaris's buil. That is saying too much. The only acceptable death is a noole death, which is not a natholoffical accident but a ed and determined end before the Eternal. Death in action is the most desirable of all; but there are other ends not less illustrious. If ever T had occasionally desired to be a Seu.itor, it is becauso I imagine that before very long that office will afford those holding it fine opportunities of being shot or beaten to death - modes of decease, after all, greatly to be preferred to a long illness, that destroys yon by a slow and piccemeal proeess. God's will be done! I shall henceforth not have much to learn, and can pretty clearly discern what amount of the truth can be grasp ed by the human mind in the present : stage of its development. Bul what would be a source of desolation to me would be to have to go through one of those periods of disintegration in which a man who has had strength and virtne is but the shadow and the wreek of his former self, and often, to the delight of fools, destroys the laborious structure oí nis me. oucn au oiu age is tne worst gift the gods can confer on man, and if such a fate be in store for me, I protest beforehand against the weaknesses which softening of the brain ruight induce me to commit or to subscribe. It is Renan, sound in brain and heart as I now am, not Renan half decomposed by death as I should be were I to moulder slowlv out of existence, whom I wish peopie to hear and believe. I protest against and repidiate beforehand and blasphemies which the darkness of my last hour might i wrest from me against the Eternal. The life given me without my request has been to me a blessing. Were it once more offered to me I would gratefully accept it. The age wherein I have lived will probably not rank as the greatest, but doubtless it will be held as the most amusing of ages. Unless my concluding years have cruel pains in store for me, in bidding farewell to life I shall have nothing but thanks to offer to the Cause of All Good for the charming progression I have been permitteil to make through Reality.