I now began to consider seriously my condition, and the circumstances I was reduced to; and I drew up the state of my affairs in writing, not so much to leave them to any that were to come after me—for I was likely to have but few heirs—as to deliver my thoughts from daily poring over them, and afflicting my mind; and as my reason began now to master my despondency, I began to comfort myself as well as I could, and to set the good against the evil, that I might have something to distinguish my case from worse; and I stated very impartially, like debtor and creditor, the comforts I enjoyed against the miseries I suffered, thus:—
Comencé a considerar seriamente mi condición y las circunstancias a las que me veía reducido y decidí poner mis asuntos por escrito, no tanto para dejarlos a los que acaso vinieran después de mí, pues era muy poco probable que tuviera descendencia, sino para liberar los pensamientos que a diario me afligían. A medida que mi razón iba dominando mi abatimiento, empecé a consolarme como pude y a anotar lo bueno y lo malo, para poder distinguir mi situación de una peor; y apunté con imparcialidad, como lo harían un deudor y un acreedor, los placeres de que disfrutaba, así como las miserias que padecía, de la siguiente manera: