We may continually turn our heads this way and that, as in a suspected country: "Quae, quasi saxum Tantalo, semper impendet." ["Ever, like Tantalus stone, hangs over us." -- Cicero, De Finib., i.

18.] Our courts of justice often send back condemned criminals to be executed upon the place where the crime was committed; but, carry them to fine houses by the way, prepare for them the best entertainment you can-- "Non Siculae dapes Dulcem elaborabunt saporem: Non avium cyatheaceae cantus Somnum reducent." ["Sicilian dainties will not tickle their palates, nor the melody of birds and harps bring back sleep."-- Hor., Od., iii.

1, 18.] Do you think they can relish it?
and that the fatal end of their journey being continually before their eyes, would not alter and deprave their palate from tasting these regalios?
"Audit iter, numeratque dies, spatioque viarum Metitur vitam; torquetur peste futura." ["He considers the route, computes the time of travelling, measuring his life by the length of the journey; and torments himself by thinking of the blow to come."-- Claudianus, in Ruf., ii.

137.] The end of our race is death; 'tis the necessary object of our aim, which, if it fright us, how is it possible to advance a step without a fit of ague?
The remedy the vulgar use is not to think on't; but from what brutish stupidity can they derive so gross a blindness?
They must bridle the ass by the tail: "Qui capite ipse suo instituit vestigia retro," ["Who in his folly seeks to advance backwards"-- Lucretius, iv.

474] 'tis no wonder if he be often trapped in the pitfall.