ever find {42} themselves wholly
insensible to these charms, would, I think, do well to keep their own
counsel, for fear of reproaching their own temper, and bringing the
goodness of their natures, if not of their understandings, into
question; it may be thought at least an ill sign, if not an ill
constitution, since some of the fathers went so far as to esteem the
love of music a sign of predestination, as a thing divine, and reserved
for the felicities of heaven itself. While this world lasts, I doubt
not but the pleasure and requests of these two entertainments will do
so too: and happy those that content themselves with these, or any
other so easy and so innocent; and do not trouble the world, or other
men, because they cannot be quiet themselves, though nobody hurts them!

When all is done, human life is, at the greatest and the best, but like
a froward child, that must be played with and humoured a little to keep
it quiet till it falls asleep, and then the care is over.

SAMUEL PEPYS 1633-1703

A DAY IN THE COUNTRY

July 14th (Lord's Day), 1667. Up, and my wife, a little before four,
and to make us ready; and by and by Mrs Turner come to us, by
agreement, and she and I staid talking below, while my wife dressed
herself, which vexed me that she was so long about it, keeping us till
past five o'clock before she was ready. She ready; and taking some
bottles of wine, and beer, and some {43} cold fowl with us into the
coach, we took coach and four horses, which I had provided last night,
and so away. A very fine day, and so towards Epsom, talking all the
way pleasantly. The country very fine, only the way very dusty. We
got to Epsom by eight o'clock, to the well; where much company, and
there we 'light, and I drank the water. Here I met with divers of our
town, among others with several of the tradesmen of our office, but did
talk but little with them, it growing hot in the sun, and so we took
coach again and to the town, to the King's Head, where our coachman
carried us, and there had an ill room for us to go into, but the best
in the house that was not taken up. Here we called for drink, and
bespoke dinner. We all lay down after dinner (the day being wonderful
hot) to sleep, and each of us took a good nap, and then rose; and Tom
Wilson come to see me, and sat and talked an hour. By and by he
parted, and we took coach and to take the air, there being a fine
breeze abroad; and I went and carried the