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+The Project Gutenberg EBook of Discourses on a Sober and Temperate Life, by 
+Lewis Cornaro
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: Discourses on a Sober and Temperate Life
+       Wherein is demonstrated, by his own Example, the Method
+       of Preserving Health to Extreme Old Age
+
+Author: Lewis Cornaro
+
+Release Date: December 12, 2009 [EBook #30660]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ASCII
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOBER AND TEMPERATE LIFE ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Andrew Gudgel
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+DISCOURSES
+ON A
+SOBER AND TEMPERATE LIFE.
+
+By
+
+LEWIS CORNARO,
+A NOBLE VENETIAN.
+
+Wherein is demonstrated, by his own Example,
+
+THE METHOD OF PRESERVING
+HEALTH TO EXTREME OLD AGE.
+
+Translated from the Italian Original.
+
+A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED.
+
+LONDON:
+Printed for Benjamin White, at Horace's
+Head, in Fleet-Street.
+M.DCC.LXXIX.
+
+
+PREFACE
+
+The author of the following discourses, Lewis Cornaro, was descended
+from one of the most illustrious families in Venice, but by the ill
+conduct of some of his relations, had the misfortune to be deprived
+of the dignity of a nobleman, and excluded from all honours and
+public employments in the state.  Chagrined at this unmerited
+disgrace, he retired to Padua, and married a lady of the family
+of Spiltemberg, whose name was Veronica.  Being in possession of
+a good estate, he was very desirous of having children; and after
+a long expectation of this happiness, his wife was delivered of a
+daughter, to whom he gave the name of Clara.  This was his only
+child, who afterwards was married to John, the son of Fantini
+Cornaro, of a rich family in Cyprus, while that island belonged to
+the republic of Venice.  Though he was far advanced in life when
+his daughter Clara came into the world, yet he lived to see her
+very old, and the mother of eight sons and three daughters.  He was
+a man of sound understanding, determined courage and resolution.
+In his younger days, he had contracted infirmities by intemperance,
+and by indulging his too great propensity to anger; but when he
+perceived the ill consequence of his irregularities, he had
+command enough of himself to subdue his passion and inordinate
+appetites.  By means of great sobriety, and a strict regimen in his
+diet, he recovered his health and vigour, which he preserved to an
+extreme old age.  At a very advanced stage of life he wrote the
+following discourses, wherein he acquaints us with the irregularity
+of his youth, his reformation of manners, and the hopes he
+entertained of living a long time.  Nor was he mistaken in his
+expectation, for he resigned his last breath without any agony,
+sitting in an elbow chair, being above an hundred years old.  This
+happened at Padua, the 26th of April, 1566.  His lady, almost as
+old as himself, survived him but a short time, and died an early
+death.  They were both interred in St. Anthony's church, without
+pomp, pursuant to their testamentary directions.
+
+These discourses, though written in Cornaro's old age, were penned
+at different times, and published separately: The first, which he
+wrote at the age of eighty-three, is intitled, A Treatise on a
+Sober Life, in which he declares war against every kind of
+intemperance; and his vigorous old age speaks in favour of his
+precepts.  The second treatise he composed at the age of eighty-six:
+it contains farther encomiums on sobriety, and points out the means
+of mending a bad constitution.  He says, that he came into the
+world with a choleric disposition, but that his temperate way of
+life had enabled him to subdue it.  The third, which he wrote at
+the age of ninety-one, is intitled, An Earnest Exhortation to a
+Sober Life; here he uses the strongest arguments to persuade
+mankind to embrace a temperate life, as the means of attaining a
+healthy and vigorous old age.  The fourth and last, is a letter to
+Barbaro, Patriarch of Aquileia, written at the age of ninety-five;
+it contains a lively description of the healthy, vigour, and
+perfect use of all his faculties, which he had the happiness of
+enjoying at that advanced period of life.
+
+This useful work was translated some years ago into English, under
+the title of _Sure and certain methods of attaining a long and
+healthy life_. The translator seems rather to have made use of a
+French version than of the Italian original; he has likewise
+omitted several passages of the Italian, and the whole is rather a
+paraphrase than a translation.  This has induced us to give the
+public an exact and faithful version of that excellent performance,
+from the Venice edition in 8vo, in the year 1620 [1]: and as a proof
+of the merit and authenticity of the work, we beg leave to quote
+Mr. Addison's recommendation of it, SPECTATOR, Vol. iii, No 195.
+
+"The most remarkable instance of the efficacy of temperance,
+towards the procuring long life, is what we meet with in a little
+book published by _Lewis Cornaro,_ the _Venetian;_ which I rather
+mention, because it is of undoubted credit, as the late _Venetian_
+ambassador, who was of the same family, attested more than once in
+conversation, when he resided in _England_.  _Cornaro,_ who was
+the author of the little treatise I am mentioning, was of an
+infirm constitution, till about forty, when, by obstinately
+persisting in an exact course of temperance, he recovered a perfect
+state of health; insomuch that at fourscore he published his book,
+which has been translated into _English_ under the title of, _Sure
+and certain methods of attaining a long and healthy life_.  He
+lived to give a third or fourth edition of it, and after having
+passed his hundredth year, died without pain or agony, and like
+one who falls asleep.  The treatise I mention has been taken
+notice of by several eminent authors, and is written with such
+spirit of chearfulness, religion, and good sense, as are the
+natural concomitants of temperance and sobriety.  The mixture of
+the old man in it, is rather a recommendation than a discredit
+to it."
+
+[1] The first edition was published by the author at Padua, in
+4to, A.D. 1558.
+
+
+
+A TREATISE ON A SOBER LIFE
+
+It is a thing past all doubt, that custom, by time, becomes a
+second nature, forcing men to use that, whether good or bad, to
+which they have been habituated: nay, we see habit, in many things,
+get the better of reason.  This is so undeniably true, that
+virtuous men, by conversing with the wicked, very often fall into
+the same vicious course of life.  The contrary, likewise, we see
+sometimes happen; viz. that, as good morals easily change to bad,
+so bad morals change again to good.  For instance: let a wicked
+man, who was once virtuous, keep company with a virtuous man, and
+he will again become virtuous; and this alteration can be
+attributed to nothing but the force of habit, which is, indeed,
+very great.  Seeing many examples of this; and besides,
+considering that, in consequence of this great force of habit,
+three bad customs have got footing in Italy within a few years,
+even within my own memory; the first flattery and ceremoniousness:
+the second Lutheranism [2], which some have most preposterously
+embraced; the third intemperance; and that these three vices,
+like so many cruel monsters, leagued, as indeed they are, against
+mankind, have gradually prevailed so far, as to rob civil life of
+its sincerity, the soul of its piety, and the body of its health;
+I have resolved to treat of the last of these vices, and prove
+that it is an abuse, in order to extirpate it, if possible.  As
+to the second, Lutheranism, and the first, flattery, I am certain,
+that some great genius or another will soon undertake the task of
+exposing their deformity, and effectually suppressing them.
+Therefore, I firmly hope, that, before I die, I shall see these
+three abuses conquered and driven out of Italy; and this country
+of course restored to its former laudable and virtuous customs.
+
+
+[2] The author writes with the prejudice of a zealous Roman
+Catholic against the doctrine of the Reformation, which he here
+distinguishes by the name of Lutheranism.  This was owing to the
+artifices of the Romish clergy in those days, by whom the
+reformed religion was misinterpreted, as introductive of
+licentiousness and debauchery.
+
+
+To come then to that abuse, of which I am proposed to speak,
+namely, intemperance; I say, that it is a great pity it should have
+prevailed so much, as entirely to banish sobriety.  Though all are
+agreed, that intemperance is the offspring of gluttony, and sober
+living of abstemiousness; the former, nevertheless, is considered
+a virtue and a mark of distinction, and the latter, as dishonourable
+and the badge of avarice.  Such mistaken notions are entirely
+owing to the power of custom, established by our senses and
+irregular appetites; these have blinded and besotted men to such
+a degree, that, leaving the paths of virtue, they have followed
+those of vice, which lead them before their time to an old age,
+burthened with strange and mortal infirmities, so as to render
+them quite decrepid before forty, contrary to the effects of
+sobriety, which, before it was banished by this destructive
+intemperance, used to keep men sound and hearty to the age of
+eighty and upwards.  O wretched and unhappy Italy! do you not
+see, that intemperance murders every year more of your subjects,
+than you could lose by the most cruel plague, or by fire and
+sword in many battles?  Those truly shameful feasts, no so much
+in fashion, and so intolerably profuse, that no tables are large
+enough to hold the dishes, which renders it necessary to heap them
+one upon another; those feasts, I say, are so many battles; and
+how is it possible to support nature by such a variety of contrary
+and unwholesome foods?  Put a stop to this abuse, for God's sake,
+for there is not, I am certain of it, a vice more abominable than
+this in the eyes of the Divine Majesty.  Drive away this new kind
+of death, and you have banished the plague, which, though it
+formerly used to make such havock, now does little or no mischief,
+owing to the laudable practice of attending more to the goodness
+of the provisions brought to our markets.  There are means still
+left to banish intemperance, and such means too, that every man
+may have recourse to them without any assistance.  Nothing more is
+requisite for this purpose, than to live up to the simplicity
+dictated by nature, which teaches us to be content with little,
+to pursue the medium of holy abstemiousness and divine reason,
+and to accustom ourselves to eat no more than is absolutely
+necessary to support life; considering, that what exceeds this,
+is disease and death, and merely gives the palate satisfaction,
+which, though but momentary, brings on the body a long and lasting
+train of disagreeable sensations and diseases, and at length
+destroys it along with the soul.  How many friends of mine, men
+of the finest understanding and most amiable disposition, have I
+seen carried off by this plague in the flower of their youth? who,
+where they now living, would be an ornament to the public, whose
+company I should enjoy with as much pleasure, as I now feel
+concern at their loss.
+
+In order, therefore, to put a stop to so great an evil, I have
+resolved by this short discourse to demonstrate, that
+intemperance is an abuse which may be easily removed, and that
+the good old sober living may be substituted in its stead; and
+this I undertake more readily, as many young men of the best
+understanding, knowing that it is a vice, have requested it of
+me, moved thereto by seeing their fathers drop off in the flower
+of their youth, and me so sound and hearty at the age of
+eighty-one.  They expressed a desire to reach the same term,
+nature not forbidding us to wish for longevity; and old-age being,
+in fact, that time of life in which prudence can be best
+exercised, and the fruits of all the other virtues enjoyed with
+less opposition, the passions being then so subdued, that man gives
+himself up entirely to reason.  They beseeched me to let them
+know the method pursued by me to attain it; and then finding them
+intent on so laudable a pursuit, I have resolved to treat of that
+method, in order to be of service not only to them, but to all
+those who may be willing to peruse this discourse.  I shall,
+therefore, give my reasons for renouncing intemperance, and
+betaking myself to a sober course of life; declare freely the
+method pursued by me for that purpose; and then set forth the
+effects of so good an habit upon me; whence it may be clearly
+gathered, how easy it is to remove the abuse of intemperance.
+I shall conclude, by shewing how many conveniencies and
+blessings are the consequences of a sober life.
+
+I say then, that the heavy train of infirmities, which had not
+only invaded, but even made great inroads in my constitution,
+were my motives for renouncing intemperance, to which I had been
+greatly addicted; so that, in consequence of it, and the badness
+of my constitution, my stomach being exceedingly cold and moist,
+I was fallen into different kinds of disorders, such as pains in
+my stomach, and often stitches, and spices of the gout; attended
+by, what was still worse, an almost continual slow fever, a
+stomach generally out of order, and a perpetual thirst.  From
+these natural and acquired disorders the best delivery I had to
+hope for, was death, to put an end to the pains and miseries of
+life; a period very remote in the regular course of nature,
+though I had hastened it by my irregular manner of living.
+Finding myself, therefore, in such unhappy circumstances between
+my thirty-fifth and fortieth year, every thing that could be
+thought of having been tried to no purpose to relieve me, the
+physicians gave me to understand, that there was but one method
+left to get the better of my complaints, provided I would resolve
+to use it, and patiently persevere in it.  This was a sober and
+regular life, which the assured me would be still of the greatest
+service to me, and would be as powerful in its effects, as the
+intemperance and irregular one had been, in reducing me to the
+present low condition: and that I might be fully satisfied of its
+salutary effects, for though by my irregularities I was become
+infirm, I was not reduced so low, but that a temperate life, the
+opposite in every respect to an intemperate one, might still
+entirely recover me.  And besides, it in fact appears, such a
+regular life, whilst observed, preserves men of a bad constitution,
+and far gone in years, just as a contrary course has the power
+to destroy those of the best constitution, and in their prime;
+for this plain reason, that different modes of life are
+attended by different effects; art following, even herein, the
+steps of nature, with equal power to correct natural vices and
+imperfections.  This is obvious in husbandry and the like.  They
+added, that if I did not immediately have recourse to such a
+regimen, I could receive no benefit from it in a few months, and
+that in a few more I must resign myself to death.
+
+These solid and convincing arguments made such an impression on
+me, that, mortified as I was besides, by the thoughts of dying
+in the prime of life, and at the same time perpetually tormented
+by various diseases, I immediately concluded, that the foregoing
+contrary effects could not be produced but by contrary modes of
+living; and, therefore, full of hopes, resolved, in order to
+avoid at once both death and disease, to betake myself to a regular
+course of life.  Having, upon this, enquired of them what rules I
+should follow, they told me, that I must not use any food, solid
+or liquid, but such as, being generally prescribed to sick persons,
+is, for that reason, called diet, and both very sparingly.  These
+directions, to say the truth, they had before given me; but it
+was at a time of life when, impatient of such restraint, and
+finding myself satiated, as it were, with such food, I could not
+put up with it, and therefore eat freely of every thing I liked
+best; and likewise, feeling myself in a manner parched up by the
+heat of my disease, made no scruple of drinking, and in large
+quantities, the wines that best pleased my palate.  This indeed,
+like all other patients, I kept a secret from my physicians.  But,
+when I had once resolved to live sparingly, and according to the
+dictates of reason, seeing that is was no difficult matter, nay,
+that it was my duty as a man so to do, I entered with so much
+resolution upon this new course of life, that nothing has been
+since able to divert me from it.  The consequence was, that in a
+few days I began to perceive, that such a course agreed with me
+very well; and by pursuing it, in less than a year, I found
+myself (some persons, perhaps, will not believe it) entirely
+freed from all my complaints.
+
+Having thus recovered my health, I began seriously to consider
+the power of temperance, and say to myself, that if this virtue
+had efficacy enough to subdue such grievous disorders as mine, it
+must have still greater to preserve me in health, to help my bad
+constitution, and comfort my very weak stomach.  I therefore
+applied myself diligently to discover what kinds of food suited
+me best.  But, first, I resolved to try, whether those, which
+pleased my palate, agreed or disagreed with my stomach, in order
+to judge for myself of the truth of that proverb, which I once held
+true, and is universally held as such in the highest degree,
+insomuch that epicures, who give a loose to their appetites, lay
+it down as a fundamental maxim.  This proverb is, that whatever
+pleases the palate, must agree with the stomach, and nourish the
+body; or whatever is palatable must be equally wholesome and
+nourishing.  The issue was, that I found it to be false: for,
+though rough and very cold wines, as likewise melons and other
+fruits, sallad, fish and pork, tarts, garden-stuff, pastry, and
+the like, were very pleasing to my palate, the disagreed with me
+notwithstanding.  Having convinced myself, that the proverb in
+question was false, I look'd upon it as such; and, taught by
+experience, I gave over the use of such meats and wines, and
+likewise of ice; chose wine suited to my stomach, drinking of it
+but the quantity I knew I could digest.  I did the same by my
+meat, as well in regard to quantity as to quality, accustoming
+myself never to cloy my stomach with eating or drinking; but
+constantly rise from table with a disposition to eat and drink
+still more.  In this I conformed to the proverb, which says, that
+a man, to consult his health, must check his appetite.  Having in
+this manner, and for these reasons, conquered intemperance and
+irregularity, I betook myself intirely to a temperate and regular
+life: which effected in me the alteration already mentioned, that
+is, in less than a year it rid me of all those disorders, which
+had taken so deep a root in me; nay, as I have already observed,
+had made such a progress, as to be in a manner incurable.  It had
+likewise this other good effect, that I no longer experienced
+those annual fits of sickness, with which I used to be afflicted,
+while I followed a different, that is a sensual, course of life;
+for then I used to be attacked every year with a strange kind of
+fever, which sometimes brought me to death's door.  From this
+disease, then, I also freed myself, and became exceeding healthy,
+as I have continued from that time forward to this very day; and
+for no other reason than that I never trespassed against
+regularity, which by its infinite efficacy has been the cause,
+that the meat I constantly eat, and the wine I constantly drink,
+being such as agreed with my constitution, and taken in proper
+quantities, imparted all their virtue to my body, and then left
+it without difficulty, and without engendering in it any bad
+humours.
+
+In consequence therfore of my taking such methods, I have
+always enjoyed, and (God be praised) actually enjoy, the
+best of healths.  It is true, indeed, that, besides the two
+forgoing most important rules relative to eating and drinking,
+which I have ever been very scrupulous to observe; that is,
+not to take of any thing, but as much as my stomach can easily
+digest, and to use those things only, which agree with me; I
+have carefully avoided heat, cold, and extraordinary fatigue,
+interruption of my usual hours of rest, excessive venery, making
+any stay in bad air, and exposing myself to the wind and sun; for
+these, too, are great disorders.  But then, fortunately, there is
+no great difficulty in avoiding them, the love of life and health
+having more sway over men of understanding, than any satisfaction
+they could find in doing what must be extremely hurtful to their
+constitution.  I have likewise done all that lay in my power to
+avoid those evils, which we do not find so easy to remove; these
+are melancholy, hatred, and other violent passions, which appear
+to have the greatest influence over our bodies.  However, I have
+not been able to guard so well against either one or the other
+kind of these disorders, as not to suffer myself now and then to
+be hurried away by many, not to say, all of them; but I have
+reaped the benefit of knowing by experience that these passions
+have, in the main, no great influence over bodies governed by the
+two foregoing rules of eating and drinking, and therefore can do
+them but very little harm; so that it may with great truth be
+affirmed, that whoever observes these two capital rules, is
+liable to very little inconveniency from any other excesses.
+This, Galen, who was an eminent physician, observed before me.
+He affirms, that so long as he followed these rules relative to
+eating and drinking, he suffered but little from other disorders,
+so little, that they never gave him above a day's uneasiness.
+That what he says is true, I am a living witness, and so are many
+others, who know me, and have seen, how often I have been exposed
+to heats and colds, and such other disagreeable changes of weather;
+and have, likewise, seen me (owing to various misfortunes, which
+have more than once befallen me) greatly disturbed my mind.  For
+they can not only say of me, that such disturbance of mind has done
+me very little harm, but they can aver of many others, who did not
+lead a sober and regular life, that it proved very prejudicial to
+them, amongst whom was a brother of my own, and others of my family,
+who trusting to the goodness of their constitution, did not follow
+my way of living.  The consequence hereof was a great misfortune to
+them, the perturbations of the mind having thereby acquired an
+extraordinary influence over their bodies.  Such, in a word, was
+their grief and dejection at seeing me involved in expensive
+law-suits, commenced against my by great and powerful men, that,
+fearing I should be cast, they were seized with that melancholy
+humour, with which intemperate bodies always abound; and these
+humours had such an influence over them, and increased to such
+a degree, as to carry them off before their time; whereas I
+suffered nothing on the occasion, as I had in me no superfluous
+humours of that kind.  Nay, in order to keep up my spirits, I
+brought myself to think, that God had raised up these suits
+against me, in order to make me more sensible of my strength of
+body and mind; and that I should get the better of them with
+honour and advantage, as it, in fact, came to pass: for, at
+last, I obtained a decree exceeding favourable to my fortune and
+my character, which, though it gave me the highest pleasure, had
+not the power to do me any harm in other respects.  Thus it is
+plain, that neither melancholy nor any other affection of the
+mind can hurt bodies governed with temperance and regularity.
+
+But I must go a step further, and say, that even misfortunes
+themselves can do but very little mischief, or cause but very
+little pain, to such bodies; and that this is true, I have myself
+experienced at the age of seventy.  I happened, as is often the
+case, to be in a coach, which going at a pretty smart rate, was
+overset, and in that condition drawn a considerable way by the
+horses, before means could be found to stop them; whence I
+received so many shocks and bruises, that I was taken out with
+my head and all the rest of my body terribly battered, and a
+dislocated leg and arm.  When I was brought home, the family
+immediately sent for the physicians, who, on their arrival, seeing
+me in so bad a plight, concluded, that within three days I should
+die; nevertheless, they would try what good two things would do
+me; one was to bleed me, the other to purge me; and thereby
+prevent my humours altering, as they every moment expected, to
+such a degree, as to ferment greatly, and bring on a high fever.
+But I, on the contrary, who knew, that the sober life I had led
+for many years past, had so well united, harmonized, and disposed
+my humours, as not to leave it in their power to ferment to such
+a degree, refused to be either bled, or purged.  I just caused my
+leg and arm to be set, an suffered myself to be rubbed with some
+oils, which they said were proper on the occasion.  Thus, without
+using any other kind of remedy, I recovered, as I thought I should,
+without feeling the least alteration in myself, or any other bad
+effects from the accident; a thing, which appeared miraculous even
+in the eyes of the physicians.  Hence we are to infer, that whoever
+leads a sober and regular life, and commits no excess in his diet,
+can suffer but very little from disorders of any other kind, or
+external accidents.  On the contrary, I conclude, especially from
+the late trial I have had, that excesses in eating and drinking are
+fatal.  Of this I convinced myself four years ago, when by the
+advice of my physicians, the instigation of my friends, and the
+importunity of my own family, I consented to such an excess, which,
+as it will appear hereafter, was attended with far worse
+consequences, than could naturally be expected.  This excess
+consisted in increasing the quantity of food I generally made use
+of; which increase alone brought me to a most cruel fit of sickness.
+And as it is a case so much in point to the subject in hand, and the
+knowledge of it may be useful to some of my readers, I shall take
+the trouble to relate it.
+
+I say, then, that my dearest friends and relations, actuated by the
+warm and laudable affection and regard they have for me, seeing how
+little I eat, represented to me, in conjunction with my physicians,
+that the sustenance I took could not be sufficient to support one
+so far advanced in years, when it was become necessary not only to
+preserve nature, but to increase its vigour.  That, as this could
+not be done without food, it was absolutely incumbent upon me to
+eat a little more plentifully.  I, on the other hand, produced my
+reasons for not complying with their desires.  These were, that
+nature is content with little, and that with this little I had
+preserved myself so many years; and that, to me, the habit of it
+was become a second nature; and that it was more agreeable to
+reason, that, as I advanced in years and lost my strength, I
+should rather lessen than increase the quantity of my food:
+Farther, that it was but natural to think, that the powers of
+the stomach grew weaker from day to day; on which account I
+could see no reason to make such an addition.  To corroborate
+my arguments, I alleged that those two natural and very true
+proverbs; one, that he, who has a mind to eat a great deal, must
+eat but little; which is said for no other reason than this, that
+eating little makes a man live very long, and living very long he
+must eat a great deal.  The other proverb was, that what we leave
+after making a hearty meal, does us more good than what we have
+eat.  But neither these proverbs, nor any other arguments I could
+think of, were able to prevent their teazing me more than ever.
+Wherefore, not to appear obstinate, or affect to know more than
+the physicians themselves; but, above all, to please my family,
+who very earnestly desired it, from a persuasion that such an
+addition to my usual allowance would preserve my strength, I
+consented to increase the quantity of food, but with two ounces
+only.  So that, as before, what with bread, meat, the yolk of
+an egg, and soup, I eat as much, as weighed in all twelve ounces,
+neither more nor less, I now increased it to fourteen; and as
+before I drank but fourteen ounces of wine, I now increased it to
+sixteen.  This increase and irregularity, had, in eight days time,
+such an effect upon me, that, from being chearful and brisk, I
+began to be peevish and melancholy, so that nothing could please
+me; and was constantly so strangely disposed, that I neither knew
+what to say to others, nor what to do with myself.  On the twelfth
+day, I was attacked with a most violent pain in my side, which held
+me twenty-two hours, and was succeeded by a terrible fever, which
+continued thirty-five days and as many nights, without giving me
+a moment's respite; though, to say the truth, it began to abate
+gradually on the fifteenth.  But notwithstanding such abatement,
+I could not, during the whole time, sleep half a quarter of an
+hour together, insomuch that every one looked upon me as a dead
+man.  But, God be praised, I recovered merely by my former regular
+course of life, though then in my seventy-eighth year, and in the
+coldest season of a very cold year, and reduced to a mere skeleton;
+and I am positive that it was the great regularity I had observed
+for so many years, and that only, which rescued me from the jaws
+of death.  In all that time I never knew what sickness was, unless
+I may call by that same name some slight indispositions of a day
+or two's continuance; the regular life I had led, as I have
+already taken notice, for so many years, not having permitted any
+superfluous or bad humours to breed in me; or if they did, to
+acquire such strength and malignity, a they generally acquire in
+the superannuated bodies of those, who live without rule.  And as
+there was not any old malignity in my humours (which is the thing
+that kills people) but only that, which my new irregularity had
+occasioned, this fit of sickness, though exceeding violent, had
+not the strength to destroy me.  This it was, and nothing else,
+that saved my life; whence may be gathered, how great is the
+power and efficacy of regularity; and how great, likewise, is
+that of irregularity, which in a few days could bring on me so
+terrible a fit of sickness, just as regularity had preserved me
+in health for so many years.
+
+And it appears to me a no weak argument, that, since the world,
+consisting of the four elements, is upheld by order; and our
+life, as to the body, is no other than a harmonious combination
+of the same four elements, so it should be preserved and maintained
+by the very same order; and, on the other hand, it must be worn
+out by sickness, or destroyed by death, which are produced by the
+contrary effects.  By order the arts are more easily learned; by
+order armies are rendered victorious; by order, in a word,
+families, cities, and even states are maintained.  Hence I
+concluded, that orderly living is no other than a most certain
+cause and foundation of health and long life; nay I cannot help
+saying, that it is the only and true medicine; and whoever weighs
+the matter well, must also conclude, that this is really the case.
+Hence it is, that when a physician comes to visit a patient, the
+first thing he prescribes, is to live regularly.  In like manner,
+when a physician takes leave of a patient, on his being recovered,
+he advises him, as he tenders his health, to lead a regular life.
+And it is not to be doubted, that, were a patient so recovered
+to live in that manner, he could never be sick again, as it
+removes every cause of illness; and so, for the future, would
+never want either physician or physic.  Nay, by attending duly
+to what I have said, he would become his own physician, and,
+indeed, the best he could have; since, in fact, no many can be a
+perfect physician to any one but himself.  The reason of which is,
+that any man may, by repeated trials, acquire a perfect knowledge
+of his own constitution, and the most hidden qualities of his
+body; and what wine and food agree with his stomach.  Now, it
+is so far from being an easy matter to know these things perfectly
+of another, that we cannot without much trouble discover them in
+ourselves, since a great deal of time and repeated trials are
+requisite for the purpose.
+
+These trials are, indeed, (if I may say it) more than necessary,
+as there is a greater variety in the natures and constitutions of
+different men, than in their persons.  Who could believe, that
+old wine, wine that had passed its first year, should disagree
+with my stomach, and new wine agree with it? and that pepper,
+which is looked upon as a warm spice, should not have a warm
+effect upon me, insomuch that I find myself more warmed and
+comforted by cinnamon?  Where is the physician, that could have
+informed me of these two latent qualities, since I myself, even
+by a long course of observation, could scarce discover them?
+From all these reasons it follows, that it is impossible to be
+a perfect physician to another.  Since, therefore, a man cannot
+have a better physician than himself, nor any physic better than
+a regular life, a regular life he ought to embrace.
+
+I do not, however, mean, that, for the knowledge and cure of
+such disorders, as often befall those who do not live regularly,
+there is no occasion for a physician, and that his assistance
+ought to be slighted.  For, if we are apt to receive such great
+comfort from friends, who come to visit us in our illness, though
+they do no more than testify their concern for us, and bid us be
+of good cheer; how much more regard ought we to have for the
+physician, who is a friend that comes to see us in order to
+relieve us, and promises us a cure?  But for the bare purpose of
+keeping ourselves in good health, I am of the opinion, that we
+should consider as a physician this regular life, which, as we
+have seen, is our natural and proper physic, since it preserves
+men, even those of a bad constitution, in health; makes them live
+sound and hearty to the age of one hundred and upwards; and
+prevents their dying of sickness, or through a corruption of their
+humours, but merely by a dissolution of their radical moisture,
+when quite exhausted; all which effects several wise men have
+attributed to potable gold, and the elixir, sought for by many,
+but discovered by few.  However to confess the truth, men, for
+the most part, are very sensual and intemperate, and love to
+satisfy their appetites, and to commit every excess; therefore,
+seeing that they cannot avoid being greatly injured by such
+excess, as often as they are guilty of it, they, by way of
+apologizing for their conduct, say, that it is better to live ten
+years less, and enjoy themselves; not considering, of what
+importance are ten years more of life, especially a healthy life,
+and at a maturer age; when men become sensible of their progress
+in knowledge and virtue, which cannot attain to any degree of
+perfection before this period of life.
+
+Not to speak, at present, of many other advantages, I shall
+barely mention that in regard to letters and the sciences; far
+the greatest number of the best and most celebrated books extant,
+were written during that period of life, and those ten years, which
+some make it their business to undervalue, in order to give a loose
+to their appetites.  Be that as it will, I would not act like them.
+I rather coveted to live these ten years, and, had I not done so,
+I should never have finished those tracts, which I have composed
+in consequence of my having been sound and hearty these ten years
+past; and which I have the pleasure to think will be of service to
+others.  These sensualists add, that a regular life is such as no
+man can lead.  To this I answer, Galen, who was so great a
+physician, led such a life, and chose it as the best physic.  The
+same did Plato, Cicero, Isocrates, and many other great men of
+former times; whom, not to tire the reader, I shall forbear naming:
+and, in our own days, pope Paul Farnese led it, and cardinal Bembo;
+and it was for that reason they lived so long; likewise our two
+doges, Lando and Donato; besides many others of meaner condition,
+and those who live not only in cities, but also in different parts
+of the country, who all found great benefit by conforming to this
+regularity.  Therefore, since many have led this life, and many
+actually lead it, it is not such a life but that every one may
+conform to it; and the more so, as no great difficulty attends it;
+nothing, indeed, being requisite but to begin in good earnest, as
+the above-mentioned Cicero affirms, and all those who now live
+in this manner.  Plato, you will say, though he himself lived very
+regularly, affirms, notwithstanding, that, in republics, men
+cannot do so, being often obligated to expose themselves to heat,
+cold, and several other kinds of hardship, and other things,
+which are all so many disorders, and incompatable with a regular
+life.  I answer, as I have already observed, that these are not
+disorders attended with any bad consequence, or which affect
+either health or life, when the man, who undergoes them, observes
+the rules of sobriety, and commits no excess in the two points
+concerning diet, which a republican may very well avoid, nay it
+is requisite he should avoid; because, by so doing, he may be
+sure either to escape those disorders, which, otherwise, it
+would be no easy matter for him to escape while exposed to these
+hardships; or, in case he could not escape them, he may more
+easily and speedily prevent their bad effects.
+
+Here it may be objected, and some actually object, that he,
+who leads a regular life, having constantly, when well, made
+use of food fit for the sick, and in small quantities, has no
+resource left in case of illness.  To this I might, in the
+first place, answer, that nature, desirous to preserve man
+in good health as long as possible, informs him, herself, how
+he is to act in time of illness; for she immediately deprives
+him, when sick, of his appetite, in order that he may eat but
+little; because nature (as I have said already) is satisfied
+with little; wherefore, it is requisite, that a man, when
+sick, whether he has been  a regular or irregular liver, should
+use no meats, but such as are suited to his disorder; and of
+these even in a much smaller quantity than he was wont to do,
+when in health.  For were he to eat as much as he used to do, he
+would die by it; because it would be only adding to the burden,
+with which nature was already oppressed, by giving her a greater
+quantity of food, than she can in such circumstances support; and
+this, I imagine, would be a sufficient caution to any sick
+person.  But, independent of all this, I might answer some others,
+and still better, that whoever leads a regular life, cannot be
+sick; or, at least, but seldom, and for a short time; because,
+by living regularly, he extirpates every seed of sickness; and
+thus, by removing the cause, prevents the effect; so that he,
+who pursues a regular course of life, need not be apprehensive
+of illness, as he need not be afraid of the effect, who has
+guarded against the cause.
+
+Since it therefore appears that a regular life is so
+profitable and virtuous, so lovely and so holy, it ought to be
+universally followed and embraced; and more so, as it does not
+clash with the means or duties of any station, but is easy to
+all; because, to lead it, a man need not tie himself down to
+eat so little as I do, or not to eat fruit, fish, and other
+things of that kind, from which I abstain, who eat little,
+because it is sufficient for my puny and weak stomach; and fruit,
+fish, and other things of that kind, disagree with me, which is
+my reason for not touching them.  Those, however, with whom such
+things agree, may, and ought to eat of them; since they are not by
+any means forbid the use use of such sustinance.  But, then, both
+they, and all others, are forbid to eat a greater quantity of any
+kind of food, even of that which agrees with them, than what their
+stomachs can easily digest; the same is to be understood of drink.
+Hence it is that those, with whom nothing disagrees, are not
+bound to observe any rule but that relating to the quantity, and
+not to the quality, of their food; a rule which they may, without
+the least difficulty in the world, comply with.
+
+Let nobody tell me, that there are numbers, who, though they live
+most irregularly, live in health and spirits, to those remote
+periods of life, attained by the most sober; for, this argument
+being grounded on a case full of uncertainty and hazard, and
+which, besides, so seldom occurs, as to look more like a miracle
+than the work of nature, men should not suffer themselves to be
+thereby persuaded to live irregularly, nature having been too
+liberal to those, who did so without suffering by it; a favour,
+which very few have any right to expect.  Whoever, trusting to
+his youth, or the strength of his constitution, or the goodness of
+his stomach, slights these observations, must expect to suffer
+greatly by so doing, and live in constant danger of disease and
+death.  I therefore affirm, that an old man, even of a bad
+constitution, who leads a regular and sober life, is surer of a
+long one, than a young man of the best constitution, who leads a
+disorderly life.  It is not to be doubted, however, that a man
+blessed with a good constitution may, by living temperately,
+expect to live longer than one, whose constitution is not so
+good; and that God and nature can dispose matters so, that a man
+shall bring into the world with him so sound a constitution, as
+to live long and healthy, without observing such strick rules;
+and then die in a very advanced age through a mere dissolution
+of his elementary parts; as was the case, in Venice, of the
+procurator Thomas Contarini; and in Padua, of the cavalier
+Antonio Capo di Vacca.  But it is not one man in a hundred
+thousand, that so much can be said of.  If others have a mind
+to live long and healthy, and die without sickness of body or
+mind, but by mere dissolution, they must submit to live regularly,
+since the cannot otherwise expect to enjoy the fruits of such a
+life, which are almost infinite in number, and each of them, in
+particular, of infinite value.  For, as such regularity keeps the
+humours of the body cleansed and purified; it suffers no vapors to
+ascend from the stomach to the head; hence the brain of him, who
+lives in that manner, enjoys such a constant serenity, that he is
+always perfectly master of himself.  He, therefore, easily soars
+above the low and groveling concerns of this life, to the exalted
+and beautiful contemplation of heavenly things, to his exceeding
+great comfort and satisfaction; because he, by this means, comes
+to consider, know, and understand that, which otherwise he would
+never have considered, known, or understood; that is, how great
+is the power, wisdom, and goodness of the Deity.  He then
+descends into nature, and acknowledges her for the daughter of God;
+and sees, and even feels with his hands, that, which in any other
+age, or with a perception less clear, he could never have seen
+or felt.  He then truly discerns the brutality of that vice into
+which they fall, who know not how to subdue their passions, and
+those three importunate lusts, which, one would imagine, came
+all together into the world with us, in order to keep us in
+perpetual anxiety and disturbance.  These are, the lust of the
+flesh, the lust of honours, and the lust of riches; which are apt
+to increase with years in such old persons as do not lead a regular
+life; because, in their passage through the stage of manhood,
+they did not, as they ought, renounce sensuality and their passions;
+and take up with sobriety and reason; virtues which men of a regular
+life, did not neglect when they passed through the above-mentioned
+stage.  For, knowing such passions are such lusts to be inconsistent
+with reason, by which they are entirely governed; they, at once,
+broke loose from all temptations to vice; and, instead of being
+slaves to their inordinate appetites, they applied themselves to
+virtue and good works; and by these means, they altered their
+conduct, and became men of good and sober lives.  When, therefore,
+in process of time, they see themselves brought by a long series of
+years to their dissolution, conscious that, through the singular
+mercy of God, they had so sincerely relinquished the paths of vice,
+as never afterwards to enter them; and moreover hoping, through the
+merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, to die in his favour, they do
+not suffer themselves to be cast down at the thoughts of death,
+knowing that they must die.  This is particularly the case, when,
+loaded with honour, and sated with life, they see themselves arrived
+at that age, which not one in many thousands of those, who live
+otherwise, ever attains.  They have still the greater reason not to
+be dejected at the thoughts of death, as it does not attack them
+violently and by surprize, with a bitter and painful turn of their
+humours, with feverish sensations, and sharp pains, but steals
+upon them insensibly and with the greatest ease and gentleness;
+such an end, proceeding intirely from an exhaustion of the radical
+moisture, which decays by degrees like the oil of a lamp; so that
+they pass gently, without any sickness, from this terrestrial and
+mortal to a celestial and eternal life.
+
+O holy and truly happy regularity!  How holy and happy should men,
+in fact, deem thee, since the opposite habit is the cause of such
+guilt and misery, as evidently appears to those who consider the
+opposite effects of both! so that men should know thee by thy voice
+alone, and thy lovely name; for what a glorious name, what a noble
+thing, is an orderly and sober life! as, on the contrary, the bare
+mention of disorder and intemperance is offensive to our ears.
+Nay, there is the same difference between the mentioning these two
+things, as between the uttering of the words angel and devil.
+
+Thus I have assigned my reasons for abandoning intemperance, and
+betaking myself intirely to a sober life; with the method I
+pursued in doing so, and what was the consequence of it; and,
+finally, the advantages an blessings, which a sober life confers
+upon those who embrace it.  Some sensual, inconsiderate persons
+affirm, that a long life is no blessing; and that the state of a
+man, who has passed his seventy-fifth year, cannot really be called
+life, but death: but this is a great mistake, as I shall fully
+prove; and it is my sincere wish, that all men would endeavour to
+attain my old age, in order that they too may enjoy that period of
+life, which of all others is the most desirable.
+
+I will therefore give an account of my recreations, and the relish
+which I find at this stage of life, in order to convince the public
+(which may likewise be done by all those who know me) that the state
+I have now attained to is by no means death, but real life; such a
+life, as by many is deemed happy, since it abounds with all the
+felicity that can be enjoyed in this world.  And this testimony
+they will give, in the first place, because they see, and not
+without the greatest amazement, the good state of health and
+spirits I enjoy; how I mount my horse without any assistance, or
+advantage of situation; and how I not only ascend a single flight
+of stairs, but climb up an hill from bottom to top, afoot, and
+with the greatest of ease and unconcern; then how gay, pleasant,
+and good-humoured I am; how free from every perturbation of mind,
+and every disagreeable thought; in lieu of which, joy and peace
+have so firmly fixed their residence in my bosom, as never to
+depart from it.  Moreover, they know in what manner I pass my
+time, so as not to find life a burden; seeing I can contrive to
+spend every hour of it with the greatest delight and pleasure,
+having frequent opportunities of conversing with many honourable
+gentlemen, men valuable for their good sense and manners, their
+acquaintance with letters, and every other good quality.  Then,
+when I cannot enjoy their conversation, I betake myself to the
+reading of some good book.  When I have read as much as I like,
+I write; endeavouring, in this as in everything else, to be of
+service to others, to the utmost of my power.  And all these
+things I do with the greatest ease to myself, at their proper
+seasons, and in my own house; which, besides being situated in
+the most beautiful quarter of this noble and learned city of
+Padua, is, in itself, really convenient and handsome, such, in a
+word, as it is no longer the fashion to build; for, in one part
+of it, I can shelter myself from extreme heat; and, in the other,
+from extreme cold, having contrived the apartments according to
+the rules of architecture, which teach us what is to be observed
+in practice.  Besides this house, I have my several gardens,
+supplied with running waters; and in which I always find something
+to do, that amuses me.  I have another way of diverting myself,
+which is going every April and May; and, likewise, every September
+and October, for some days, to enjoy an eminence belonging to me
+in the Euganean mountains, and in the most beautiful part of them,
+adorned with fountains and gardens; and, above all, a convenient
+and handsome lodge; in which place I likewise now and then make
+one in some hunting party suitable to my taste and age.  Then I
+enjoy for as many days my villa in the plain, which is laid out
+in regular streets, all terminating in a large square, in the
+middle of which stands a church, suited to the condition of the
+place.  This villa is divided by a wide and rapid branch of the
+river Brenta, on both sides of which there is a considerable
+extent of country, consisting intirely of fertile and
+well-cultivated fields.  Besides, this district is now, God be
+praised, exceedingly well inhabited, which it was not at first,
+but rather the reverse; for it was marshy; and the air so
+unwholesome, as to make it a residence fitter for snakes than men.
+But, on my draining off the waters, the air mended, and people
+resorted to it so fast, and increased to such a degree, that it
+soon acquired the perfection in which it now appears: hence, I may
+say with truth, that I have offered this place, an alter and a
+temple to God, with souls to adore him: these are things which
+afford me infinite pleasure, comfort, and satisfaction, as often
+as I go to see and enjoy them.
+
+At the same seasons every year, I revisit some of the neighbouring
+cities, and enjoy such of my friends as live there, taking the
+greatest pleasure in their company and conversation; and by their
+means I also enjoy the conversation of other men of parts, who
+live in the same places; such as architects, painters, sculptors,
+musicians, and husbandmen, with whom this age certainly abounds.
+I visit their new works; I revisit their former ones; and I always
+learn something, which gives me satisfaction.  I see palaces,
+gardens, antiquities; and with these, the squares and other public
+places, the churches, the fortifications, leaving nothing
+unobserved, from whence I may reap either entertainment or
+instruction.  But what delights me most, is, in my journies
+backwards and forwards, to contemplate the situation and other
+beauties of the places I pass through; some in the plain, others
+on hills, adjoining to rivers or fountains; with a great many fine
+houses and gardens.  Nor are my recreations rendered less agreeable
+and entertaining by my not feeling well, or not hearing readily
+every thing that is said to me; or by any other of my faculties not
+being perfect; for they are all, thank God, in the highest
+perfection; particularly my palate, which now relishes better the
+simple fare I eat, wherever I happen to be, than it formerly did
+with the most delicate dishes, when I led an irregular life.  Nor
+does the change of beds give me any uneasiness, so that I sleep
+every where soundly and quietly, without experiencing the least
+disturbance; and all my dreams are pleasant and delightful.
+
+It is likewise with the greatest pleasure and satisfaction I behold
+the success of an undertaking so important to this state, I mean
+that of draining and improving so many uncultivated pieces of
+ground, an undertaking begun within my memory; and which I never
+thought I should live to see compleated; knowing how slow republics
+are apt to proceed in enterprises of great importance.
+Nevertheless, I have lived to see it; and was even in person, in
+the marshy places, along with those appointed to superintend the
+draining of them, for two months together, during the greatest
+heats of summer, without ever finding myself the worse for the
+fatigues of inconveniences I suffered; of so much efficacy is that
+orderly life, which I every where constantly lead.
+
+What is more, I am in the greatest hopes, or rather sure, to see the
+beginning and completion of another undertaking of no less
+importance, which is that of preserving our estuary or port, that
+last and wonderful bulwark of my dear country, the preservation of
+which (it is not to flatter my vanity to say it, but merely to do
+justice to the truth) has been more than once recommended by me to
+this republic, by word of mouth, and in writings which cost me many
+nights study.  And to this dear country of mine, as I am bound by
+the laws of nature to do every thing, from which it may reap any
+benefit, so I most ardently wish perpetual duration, and a long
+succession of every kind of prosperity.  Such are my genuine and
+no trifling satisfactions; such are the recreations and diversions
+of my old age, which is so much the more to be valued than the old
+age, or even youth, of other men, because being freed, by God's
+grace, from the perturbations of the mind, and the infirmities of
+the body, it no longer experiences any of those contrary emotions,
+which torment a number of young men, and many old ones destitute of
+strength and health, and every other blessing.
+
+And if it be lawful to compare little matters, and such as are
+esteemed trifling, to affairs of importance, I will further
+venture to say, that such are the effects of this sober life,
+that at my present age of eighty-three, I have been able to write
+a very entertaining comedy, abounding with innocent mirth and
+pleasant jests. This species of composition is generally the child
+and offspring of youth, as tragedy is that of old age; the former
+being by its facetious and sprightly turn suited to the bloom of
+life, and the latter by its gravity adapted to riper years.  Now,
+if that good old man [Sophocles], a Grecian by birth, and a poet,
+was so much extolled for having written a tragedy at the age of
+seventy-three, and, on that account alone, reputed of sound memory
+and understanding, though tragedy be a grave and melancholy poem;
+why should I be deemed less happy, and to have a smaller share of
+memory and understanding, who have, at an age, ten years more
+advanced than his, written a comedy, which, as every one knows,
+is a merry and pleasant kind of composition?  And, indeed, if I may
+be allowed to be an impartial judge in my own cause, I cannot help
+thinking, that I am now of sounder memory and understanding, and
+heartier, than hew was when ten years younger.
+
+And, that no comfort might be wanting to the fulness of my years,
+whereby my great age may be rendered less irksome, or rather the
+number of my enjoyments increased, I have the additional comfort
+of seeing a kind of immortality in a succession of descendants.
+For, as often as I return home, I find there, before me, not one
+or two, but eleven grandchildren, the oldest of them eighteen,
+and the youngest two; all the offspring of one father and one
+mother; all blessed with the best health; and, by what as yet
+appears, fond of learning, and of good parts and morals.  Some of
+the youngest I always play with; and, indeed, children from three
+to five are only fit for play.  Those above that age I make
+companions of; and, as nature has bestowed very fine voices upon
+them, I amuse myself, besides, with seeing and hearing them sing,
+and play on various instruments.  Nay, I sing myself, as I have a
+better voice now, and a clearer and louder pipe, than at any other
+period of life.  Such are the recreations of my old age.
+
+Whence it appears, that the life I lead is chearful, and not
+gloomy, as some persons pretend, who know no better; to whom, in
+order that it may appear what value I set on every other kind of
+life, I must declare, that I would not exchange my manner of
+living or my grey hairs with any of those young men, even of the
+best constitution, who give way to their appetites; knowing, as I
+do, that such are daily, nay hourly, subject, as I have observed,
+to a thousand kind of ailments and deaths.  This is, in fact, so
+obvious, as to require no proof.  Nay, I remember perfectly well,
+how I used to behave at that time of life.  I know how
+inconsiderately that age is apt to act, and how foolhardy young men,
+hurried on by the heat of their blood, are wont to be; how apt they
+are to presume too much on their own strength in all their actions;
+and how sanguine they are in their expectations; as well on account
+of the little experience they have had for the the time past, as
+by reason of the power they enjoy in their own imaginations over
+the time to come.  Hence they expose themselves rashly to every
+kind of danger; and, banishing reason, and bowing their necks to
+the yoke of concupiscence, endeavour to gratify all their appetites,
+not minding, fools as they are, that they thereby hasten, as I have
+several times observed, the approach of what they would most
+willingly avoid, I mean sickness, and death.  Of these two evils,
+one is troublesome and painful, the other, above all things,
+dreadful and insupportable; insupportable to every man, who has
+given himself up to his sensual appetites, and to young men in
+particular, to whom it appears a hardship to die an early death;
+dreadful to those, who reflect on the errors, to which this mortal
+life is subject, and on the vengeance, which the justice of God is
+wont to take on sinners, by condemning them to everlasting
+punishment.  On the other hand, I, in my old age (praise to the
+Almighty) am exempt from both these apprehensions; from the one,
+because I am sure and certain, that I cannot fall sick, having
+removed all the causes of illness by my divine medicine; from the
+other, that of death, because from so many years experience I have
+learned to obey reason; whence I not only think it a great piece
+of folly to fear that, which cannot be avoided, but likewise
+firmly expect some consolation, from the grace of Jesus Christ,
+when I shall arrive at that period.
+
+Besides, though I am sensible that I must, like others, reach
+that term, it is yet at so great a distance, that I cannot
+discern it, because I know I shall not die except by mere
+dissolution, having already, by my regular course of life, shut
+up all the other avenues of death, and thereby prevented the humours
+of my body from making any other war upon me, than that which I must
+expect from the elements employed in the composition of this mortal
+frame.  I am not so simple as not to know, that, as I was born,
+so I must die.  But that is a desirable death, which nature brings
+on us by way of dissolution.  For nature, having herself formed
+the union between our body and soul, knows best in what manner it
+may be most easily dissolved, and grants us a longer day to do it,
+than we could expect from sickness, which is violent.  This is the
+death, which, without speaking like a poet, I may call, not death,
+but life.  Nor can it be otherwise.  Such a death does not overtake
+one till after a very long course of years, and in consequence of
+an extreme weakness; it being only by slow degrees, that men grow
+too feeble to walk, and unable to reason, becoming blind, and
+deaf, decrepid, and full of every other kind of infirmity.  Now I
+(by God's blessing) may be quite sure that I am at a very great
+distance from such a period.  Nay, I have reason to think, that
+my soul, having so agreeable a dwelling in my body, as not to meet
+with any thing in it but peace, love, and harmony, not only between
+its humours, but between my reason and my senses, is exceedingly
+content and well pleased with her present situation: and of course,
+that a great length of time and many years must be requisite to
+dislodge her.  Whence it must be concluded for certain, that I have
+still a series of years to live in health and spirits, and enjoy
+this beautiful world, which is, indeed, beautiful to those, who
+know how to make it so, as I have done, and likewise expect to be
+able to do, with God's assistance, in the next; and all by the
+means of virtue, and that divine regularity of life, which I have
+adopted, concluding an alliance with my reason, and declaring war
+against my sensual appetites; a thing which every man may do,
+who desired to live as he ought.
+
+Now, if this sober life be so happy; if its name be so desirable
+and delightful; if the possession of the blessings which attend
+it, be so stable and permanent, all I have still left to do, is
+to beseech (since I cannot compass my desires by the powers of
+oratory) every man of a liberal disposition, and sound
+understanding, to embrace with open arms this most valuable
+treasure of a long and healthy life; a treasure, which as it
+exceeds all the other riches and blessings of this world, so it
+deserves above all things to be cherished, sought after, and
+carefully preserved.  This is that divine sobriety, agreeable to
+the Deity, the friend of nature, the daughter of reason, the sister
+of all the virtues, the companion of temperate living, modest,
+courteous, content with little, regular, and perfect mistress of
+all her operations.  From her, as from their proper root, spring
+life, health, chearfulness, industry, learning, and all those
+actions and employments worth of noble and generous minds.  The
+laws of God and man are all in her favour.  Repletion, excess,
+intemperance, superfluous humours, diseases, fevers, pains, and
+the dangers of death, vanish, in her presence, like clouds before
+the sun.  Her comeliness ravishes every well-disposed mind.  Her
+influence is so sure, as to promise to all a very long and
+agreeable existence; the facility of acquiring her is such, as
+ought to induce every one to look for her, and share in her
+victories.  And, lastly, she promises to be a mild and agreeable
+guardian of life; as well of the rich as of the poor; of the male
+as of the female sex; the old as of the young; being that, which
+teaches the rich modesty; the poor frugality; men, continence;
+women, chastity; the old, how to ward off the attacks of death;
+and bestows on youth firmer and securer hopes of life.  Sobriety
+renders the senses clear, the body light, the understanding lively,
+the soul brisk, the memory tenacious, our motions free, and all
+our actions regular and easy.  By means of sobriety, the soul
+delivered, as it were, of her earthly burthen, experiences a great
+deal of her natural liberty: the spirits circulate gently through
+the arteries; the blood runs freely through the veins; the heat of
+the body, kept mild and temperate, has mild and temperate effects:
+and, lastly, our faculties, being under a perfect regulation,
+preserves a pleasing and agreeable harmony.
+
+O most innocent and holy sobriety, the sole refreshment of nature,
+the nursing mother of human life, the true physic of soul as well
+as of body.  How ought men to praise thee, and thank thee for thy
+princely gifts! since thou bestowest on them the means of
+preserving this blessing, I mean life and health, than which it has
+not pleased God we should enjoy a greater on this side of the grave,
+life and existence being a thing so naturally coveted, and
+willingly preserved, by every living creature.  But, as I do not
+intend to write a panegyric on this rare and excellent virtue, I
+shall put an end to this discourse, lest I should be guilty of
+excess, in dwelling so long on so pleasing a subject.  Yet as
+numberless things may still be said of it, I leave off, with an
+intention of setting forth the rest of its praises at a more
+convenient opportunity.
+
+
+
+A COMPENDIUM OF A SOBER LIFE
+
+My treatise on a sober life has begun to answer my desire, in
+being of service to many persons born with a weak constitution,
+who every time they committed the least excess, found themselves
+greatly indisposed, a thing which it must be allowed does not
+happen to robust people: several of these persons of weak
+constitutions, on seeing the foregoing treatise, have betaken
+themselves to a regular course of life, convinced by experience
+of its utility.  In like manner, I should be glad to be of service
+to those, who are born with a good constitution, and presuming
+upon it, lead a disorderly life; whence it comes to pass, that, on
+their attaining the age of sixty or thereabouts, they are attacked
+with various pains and diseases; some with the gout, some with
+pains in the side, and others with pains in the stomach, and the
+like, to which they would not be subject, were they to embrace a
+sober life; and as most of them die before they attain their
+eightieth year, they would live to a hundred, the time allowed to
+man by God and nature.  And, it is but reasonable to believe, that
+the intention of this our mother is, that we should all attain that
+term, in order that we might all taste the sweets of every state of
+life.  But, as our birth is subject to the revolution of the
+heavens, these have great influence over it, especially in rendering
+our constitutions robust or infirm; a thing, which nature cannot
+ward against; for, if she could, we should all bring a good
+constitution with us into the world.  But then she hopes, that man,
+being endowed with reason and understanding, may of himself
+compensate, by dint of art, the want of that, which the heavens
+have denied him; and, by means of a sober life, contrive to mend
+his infirm constitution, live to a great age, and always enjoy
+good health.
+
+For man, it is not to be doubted, may by art exempt himself in
+part from the influence of the heavens; it being common opinion,
+that the heavens give an inclination, but do not impel us; for
+which reason the learned say, that a wise man rules the stars.  I
+was born with a very choleric disposition, insomuch that there was
+no living with me; but I took notice of it, and considered, that a
+person swayed by his passion, must at certain times be no better
+than a madman; I mean at those times, when he suffers his passions
+to predominate, because he then renounces his reason and
+understanding.  I, therefore, resolved to make my choleric
+disposition give way to reason; so that now, though born choleric, I
+never suffer anger intirely to overcome me.  The man, who is
+naturally of a bad constitution, may, in like manner, by dint of
+reason, and a sober life, live to a great age and in good health,
+as I have done, who had naturally the worst, so that it was
+impossible I should live above forty years, whereas I now find
+myself sound and hearty at the age of eighty-six; and were it not
+for the long and violent fits of illness which I experienced in
+my youth to such a degree, that the physicians gave me over, and
+which robbed me of my radical moisture, a loss absolutely
+irreparable, I might expect to attain the abovementioned term of
+one hundred.  But I know for good reasons that it is impossible;
+and, therefore, do not think of it.  It is enough for me, that I
+have lived forty-six years beyond the term I had a right to expect;
+and that, during this so long a respite, all my senses have
+continued perfect; and even my teeth, my voice, my memory, and my
+strength.  But what is still more, my brain is more itself now
+than it ever was; nor do any of these powers abate as I advance in
+years; and this because, as I grow older, I lessen the quantity of
+my solid food.
+
+This retrenchment is necessary, nor can it be avoided, since it is
+impossible for a man to live for ever; and, as he draws near his
+end, he is reduced so low as to be no longer able to take any
+nourishment, unless it be to swallow, and that too with difficulty,
+the yolk of an egg in the four and twenty hours, and thus end by
+mere dissolution, without any pain or sickness, as I expect will
+be my case.  This is a blessing of great importance; yet may be
+expected by all those, who shall lead a sober life, of whatever
+degree or condition, whether high, or middling, or low; for we
+are all of the same species, and composed of the same four elements.
+And, since a long and healthy life ought to be greatly coveted by
+every man, as I shall presently shew, I conclude, that every man
+is bound in duty to exert himself to obtain longevity, and that he
+cannot promise himself such a blessing without temperance and
+sobriety.
+
+Some allege, that many, without leading such a life, have lived
+to an hundred, and that in constant health, though they eat a
+great deal, and used indiscriminately every kinds of viands and
+wine; and, therefore, flatter themselves, that they shall be
+equally fortunate.  But in this they are guilty of two mistakes;
+the first is, that it is not one in an hundred thousand that
+ever attains that happiness; the other mistake is, that such, in
+the end, most assuredly contract some illness, which carries them
+off: nor can they ever be sure of ending their days otherwise:
+so that the safest way to obtain a long and healthy life is, at
+least after forty, to embrace sobriety.  This is no such difficult
+affair, since history informs us of so many who in former times
+lived with the greatest temperance; and I know that the present
+age furnishes us with many such instances, reckoning myself one of
+the number: we are all human beings, and endowed with reason,
+consequently we are masters of our actions.
+
+This sobriety is reduced to two things, quality and quantity.  The
+first, namely quality, consists in nothing, but not eating food, or
+drinking wines, prejudicial to the stomach.  The second, which is
+quantity, consists in not eating or drinking more than the stomach
+can easily digest; which quantity and quality every man should be
+a perfect judge of by the time he is forty, or fifty, or sixty; and,
+whoever observes these two rules, may be said to live a regular and
+sober life.  This is of so much virtue and efficacy, that the
+humours of such a man's body become most homogeneous, harmonious,
+and perfect; and, when thus improved, are no longer liable to be
+corrupted or disturbed by any other disorders whatsoever, such as
+suffering excessive heat or cold, too much fatigue, want of natural
+rest, and the like, unless in the last degree of excess.  Wherefore,
+since the humours of persons, who observe these two rules relative
+to eating and drinking, cannot possibly be corrupted, and engender
+acute diseases, the sources of an untimely death, every man is
+bound to comply with them: for whoever acts otherwise, living a
+disorderly instead of a regular life, is constantly exposed to
+disease and mortality, as well in consequence of such disorders,
+as of others without number, each of which is capable of producing
+the same destructive effect.
+
+It is, indeed, true, that even those, who observe the two rules
+relating to diet, the observance of which constitutes a sober life,
+may, by committing any one of the other irregularities, find
+himself the worse for it, for a day or two; but not so as to breed
+a fever.  He may, likewise, be affected by the revolutions of the
+heavens; but neither the heavens, nor those irregularities, are
+capable of corrupting the humours of a temperate person; and it is
+but reasonable and natural it should be so, as the two
+irregularities of diet are interior, and the others exterior.
+
+But as there are some persons, stricken in years, who are,
+notwithstanding, very gluttonous, and alledge that neither the
+quantity or quality of their diet makes any impression upon
+them, and therefore eat a great deal, and of every thing without
+distinction, and indulge themselves equally in point of drinking,
+because they do not know in what part of their bodies their
+stomachs are situated; such, no doubt, are beyond all measure
+sensual, and slaves to gluttony.  To these I answer, that what
+they say is impossible in the nature of things, because it is
+impossible that every man, who comes into the world, should not
+bring with him a hot, a cold, or a temperate constitution; and
+that hot foods should agree with hot constitutions, cold with
+cold ones, and things that are not of a temperate nature, with
+temperate ones, is likewise impossible in nature.  After all,
+these epicures must allow, that they are now and then out of
+order; and that they cure themselves by taking evacuating
+medicines and observing a strict diet.  Whence it appears, that
+their being out of order is owing to their eating too much, and
+of things disagreeing with their stomachs.
+
+There are other old gluttons, who say, that it is necessary they
+should eat and drink a great deal, to keep up their natural heat,
+which is constantly diminishing, as they advance in years; and that
+it is, therefore, necessary to eat heartily, and of such things as
+please their palate, be they hot, cold, or temperate; and that, were
+they to lead a sober life, it would be a short one.  To these I
+answer, that our kind mother, nature, in order that old men may live
+still to a greater age, has contrived matters so, that they should
+be able to subsist on little, as I do; for, large quantities of
+food cannot be digested by old and feeble stomachs.  Nor should
+such persons be afraid of shortening their days by eating too
+little, since when they happen to be indisposed, they recover by
+lessening the quantity of their food; for it is a trifle they eat,
+when confined to a regimen, by observing which they get rid of their
+disorder.  Now, if by reducing themselves to a very small quantity
+of food, they recover from the jaws of death, how can they doubt
+but that with an increase of diet, still consistent however with
+sobriety, they will be able to support nature when in perfect
+health?
+
+Others say, that it is better for a man to suffer every year three
+or four returns of his usual disorders, such as the gout, pain in
+the side, and the like, than be tormented the whole year by not
+indulging his appetite, and eating every thing his palate likes
+best; since, by a good regimen alone, he is sure to get the better
+of such attacks.  To this I answer, that our natural heat growing
+less and less, as we advance in years, no regimen can retain
+virtue sufficient to conquer the malignity, with which disorders
+of repletion are ever attended; so that he must die, at last, of
+these periodical disorders, because they abridge life, as health
+prolongs it.
+
+Others pretend, that it is much better to live ten years less,
+than not indulge one's appetite.  To this I answer, that
+longevity ought to be highly valued by men of parts; as to others,
+it is no great matter if it is not duly prized by them, since they
+are a disgrace to mankind, so that their death is rather of service
+to the public.  But it is a great misfortune, that men of bright
+parts should be cut off in that manner, since he, who is already a
+cardinal, might, perhaps, by living to eighty, attain the papal
+crown; and in the state, many, by living some years extraordinary,
+may acquire the ducal dignity; and so in regard to letters, by
+which a man may rise so as to be considered as a god upon earth;
+and the like in every other profession.
+
+There are others, who, though their stomachs become weaker and
+weaker with respect to digestion, as they advance in years, cannot,
+however, be brought to retrench the quantity of their food, nay
+they rather increase it.  And, because they find themselves
+unable to digest the great quantity of food, with which they must
+load their stomachs, by eating twice in the four and twenty hours,
+they make a resolution to eat but once, that the long interval
+between one meal and the other may enable them to eat at one sitting
+as much as they used to do in two: thus they eat till their
+stomachs, overburthened with much food, pall, and sicken, and change
+the superfluous food into bad humours, which kill a man before his
+time.  I never knew any person, who led that kind of life, live to
+be very old.  All these old men I have been speaking of would live
+long, if, as they advanced in years, they lessened the quantity of
+their food, and eat oftener, but little at a time; for old
+stomachs cannot digest large quantities of food; old men changing,
+in that respect, to children, who eat several times in the four and
+twenty hours.
+
+Others say, that temperance may, indeed, keep a man in health, but
+that it cannot prolong his life.  To this I answer, that experience
+proves the contrary; and that I myself am a living instance of it.
+It cannot be said, that sobriety is apt to shorten one's days, as
+sickness does; and that the latter abbreviates life, is most
+certain.  Moreover, a constant succession of good health is
+preferable to frequent sickness, as the radical moisture is
+thereby preserved.  Hence it may be fairly concluded, that holy
+sobriety is the true parent of health and longevity.
+
+O thrice holy sobriety, so useful to man, by the services thou
+renderest him! thou prolongest his days, by which means he greatly
+improves his understanding, and by such improvement he avoids the
+bitter fruits of sensuality, which are an enemy to reason, man's
+peculiar privilege: those bitter fruits are the passions and
+perturbations of the mind.  Thou, moreover, freest him from the
+dreadful thoughts of death.  How greatly is thy faithful disciple
+indebted to thee, since by thy assistance he enjoys this beautiful
+expanse of the visible world, which is really beautiful to such as
+know how to view it with the philosophic eye, as thou has enabled
+me to do.  Nor could I, at any other time of life, even when I was
+young, but altogether debauched by an irregular life, perceive its
+beauties, though I spared no pains or expence to enjoy every
+season of life.  But I found that all the pleasures of that age had
+their alloy; so that I never knew, till I grew old, that the world
+was beautiful.  O truly happy life, which, over and above all these
+favours conferred on thine old man, hast so improved and perfected
+his stomach, that he has now a better relish for his dry bread, than
+he had formerly and in his youth, for the most exquisite dainties:
+and all this he has compassed by acting rationally, knowing, that
+bread is, above all things, man's proper food, when seasoned by a
+good appetite; and, whilst a man leads a sober life, he may be sure
+of never wanting that natural sauce; because, by always eating
+little, the stomach, not being much burthened, need not wait long
+to have an appetite.  It is for this reason, that dry bread relishes
+so well with me; and I know it from experience, and can with truth
+affirm, I find such sweetness in it, that I should be afraid of
+sinning against temperance, were it not for my being convinced of
+the absolute necessity of eating it, and that we cannot make use of
+a more natural food.  And thou, kind parent Nature, who actest so
+lovingly by thy aged offspring, in order to prolong his days, hast
+contrived matters so in his favour, that he can live upon very
+little; and, in order to add to the favour, and do him still greater
+service, hast made him sensible, that, as in his youth he used to
+eat twice a day, when he arrived at old age, he ought to divide
+that food, of which he was accustomed before to make but two meals,
+into four; because, thus divided, it will be more easily digested;
+and, as in his youth he made but two meals in the day, he should,
+in his old age, make four, provided however he lessens the quantity,
+as his years increase.  And this is what I do, agreeably to my own
+experience; and, therefore, my spirits, not oppressed by much food,
+but barely kept up, are always brisk; especially after eating, so
+that I am accustomed then to sing a song, and afterwards to write.
+
+Nor do I ever find myself the worse for writing immediately after
+meals; nor is my understanding ever clearer; nor am I apt to be
+drowsy; the food I take being too small a quantity to send up any
+fumes to the brain.  O, how advantageous it is to an old man to
+eat but little!  Accordingly, I, who know it, eat but just enough
+to keep body and soul together; and the things I eat are as follow.
+First, bread, panado, some broth with an egg in it, or such other
+good kinds of soup or spoon-meat.  Of flesh meat, I eat veal, kid,
+and mutton.  I eat poultry of every kind.  I eat partridges, and
+other birds, such as thrushes.  I likewise eat fish; for instance,
+the goldney and the like, amongst sea fish; and the pike, and such
+like, amongst the fresh-water fish.  All these things are fit for
+an old man; and, therefore, he ought to be content with them, and,
+considering their number and variety, not hanker after others.
+Such old men, as are too poor to allow themselves provisions of
+this kind, may do very well with bread, panado, and eggs; things,
+which no poor man can want, unless it be common beggars, and, as
+we call them, vagabonds, about whom we are not bound to make
+ourselves uneasy, since they have brought themselves to that pass
+by their indolence; and had better be dead than alive; for they
+are a disgrace to human nature.  But, though a poor man should eat
+nothing but bread, panado, and eggs, there is no necessity for his
+eating more than his stomach can digest.  And, whoever does not
+trespass in point of either quantity or quality, cannot die but by
+mere dissolution.  O, what a difference there is between a regular
+and an irregular life!  One gives longevity and health, the other
+produces diseases and untimely deaths.
+
+O unhappy, wretched life, my sworn enemy, who art good for nothing
+but to murder those, who follow thee!  How many of my dearest
+relations and friends hast thou robbed me of, in consequence of
+their not giving credit to me; relations and friends, whom I should
+now enjoy.  But thou hast not been able to destroy me, according to
+thy wicked intent and purpose.  I am still alive in spite of thee,
+and have attained to such an age, as to see around me eleven
+grandchildren, all of fine understanding, and amiable disposition;
+all given to learning and virtue; all beautiful in their persons
+and lovely in their manners; whom, had I obeyed thy dictates, I
+should never have beheld.  Nor should I enjoy those beautiful and
+convenient apartments which I have built from the ground, with such
+a variety of gardens, as required no small time to attain their
+present degree of perfection.  No! thy nature is to destroy those
+who follow thee, before they can see their houses or gardens so
+much as finished; whereas, I, to thy no small confusion, have
+already enjoyed mine for a great number of years.  But, since thou
+art so pestilential a vice, as to poison and destroy the whole
+world; and I am determined to use my utmost endeavours to extirpate
+thee, at least in part; I have resolved to counteract thee so, that
+my eleven grandchildren shall take pattern after me; and thereby
+expose thee, for what thou really art, a most wicked, desperate, and
+mortal enemy of the children of men.
+
+I, really, cannot help admiring, that men of fine parts, and such
+there are, who have attained a superior rank in letters or any
+other profession, should not betake themselves to a regular life,
+when they are arrived at the age of fifty or sixty; or as soon as
+they find themselves attacked by any of the foregoing disorders,
+of which they might easily recover; whereas, by being permitted to
+get a head, they become incurable.  As to young men, I am no way
+surprised by them, since, the passions being strong at that age,
+they are of course the more easily overpowered by their baleful
+influence.  But after fifty, our lives should, in every thing, be
+governed by reason, which teaches us, that the consequences of
+gratifying our palate and our appetite are disease and death.
+Were this pleasure of the palate lasting, it would be some excuse;
+but it is so momentary, that there is scarce any distinguishing
+between the beginning and the end of it; whereas the diseases it
+produces are very durable.  But it must be a great contentment to a
+man of sober life, to be able to reflect that, in the manner he
+lives, he is sure, that what he eats, will keep him in good health,
+and be productive of no disease or infirmity.
+
+Now I was willing to make this short addition to my treatise,
+founded on new reasons; few persons caring to peruse long-winded
+discourses; whereas short tracts have a chance of being read by
+many; and I wish that many may see this addition, to the end that
+its utility may be more extensive.
+
+
+AN EARNEST EXHORTATION;
+WHEREIN
+The author uses the strongest arguments to persuade all men to
+embrace a regular and sober life, in order to attain old age,
+in which they may enjoy all the favours and blessings, that God,
+in his goodness, vouchsafes to bestow upon mortals.
+
+
+Not to be wanting to my duty, that duty incumbent upon every man;
+and not to lose at the same time the satisfaction I feel in being
+useful to others, I have resolved to take up my pen, and inform
+those, who, for want of conversing with me, are strangers to what
+those know and see, with whom I have the pleasure of being
+acquainted.  But, as certain things may appear, to some persons,
+scarce credible, nay impossible, though actually fact, I shall not
+fail to relate them for the benefit of the public.  Wherefore, I
+say, being (God be praised) arrived at my ninety-fifth year, and
+still finding myself sound and hearty, content and chearful, I
+never cease thanking the Divine Majesty for so great a blessing;
+considering the usual fate of other old men.  These scarce attain
+the age of seventy, without losing their health and spirits;
+growing melancholy and peevish; and continually haunted by the
+thoughts of death; apprehending their last hour from one day to
+another, so that it is impossible to drive such thoughts out of
+their mind; whereas such things give me not the least uneasiness;
+for, indeed, I cannot, at all, make them the object of my
+attention, as I shall hereafter more plainly relate.  I shall,
+besides, demonstrate the certainty I have of living to an hundred.
+But, to render this dissertation more methodical, I shall begin by
+considering man at his birth; and from thence accompany him through
+every stage of life to his grave.
+
+I, therefore, say, that some come into the world with the stamina
+of life so weak, that they live but a few days, or months, or
+years; and it cannot be clearly known, to what such shortness of
+life is owing; whether to some defect in the father or the mother,
+in begetting them; or to the revolutions of the heavens; or to the
+defect of nature, subject, as she is, to the celestial influence.
+For, I could never bring myself to believe, that nature, common
+parent of all, should be partial to any of her children.
+Therefore, as we cannot assign causes, we must be content with
+reasoning from the effects, such as they daily appear to our view.
+
+Others are born sound, indeed, and full of spirits; but,
+notwithstanding, with a poor weakly constitution; and of these some
+live to the age of ten; others to twenty; others to thirty or
+forty; yet they do not live to extreme old age.  Others, again,
+bring into the world a perfect constitution, and live to old age;
+but it is generally, as I have already said, an old age full of
+sickness and sorrow; for which they are to thank themselves; because
+they most unreasonably presume on the goodness of their
+constitution;  and cannot by any means be brought to depart, when
+brought to depart, when grown old, from the mode of life they
+pursued in their younger days; as if they still retained all their
+primitive vigour.  Nay, they intend to live as irregularly when past
+the meridian of life, as they did all the time of their youth;
+thinking they shall never grow old, nor their constitution ever be
+impaired.  Neither do they consider, that their stomach has lost its
+natural heat; and that they should, on that account, pay a greater
+regard to the quality of what they eat, and what wines they drink;
+and likewise to the quantity of each, which they ought to lessen;
+whereas, on the contrary, they are for increasing it; saying, that,
+as we lose our health and vigour by growing old, we should endeavour
+to repair the loss by increasing the quantity of our food, since it
+is by sustenance that man is preserved.
+
+In this, nevertheless, they are greatly mistaken, since, as the
+natural heat lessens as a man grows in years, he should diminish the
+quantity of his meat and drink; nature, especially at that period,
+being content with little.  Nay, though they have all the reason to
+believe this to be the case, they are so obstinate as to think
+otherwise, and still follow their usual disorderly life.  But
+were they to relinquish it in due time, and betake themselves to
+a regular and sober course, they would not grow infirm in their
+old age, but would continue, as I am, strong and hearty, considering
+how good and perfect a constitution it has pleased the Almighty to
+bestow upon them; and would live to the age of one hundred and
+twenty.  This has been the case of others, who, as we read in many
+authors, have lived a sober life, and, of course, were born with
+this perfect constitution; and had it been my lot to enjoy such
+a constitution, I should make no doubt of attaining the same age.
+But, as I was born with feeble stamina, I am afraid I shall not
+outlive an hundred.  Were others, too, who are also born with an
+infirm constitution, to betake themselves to a regular life, as I
+have done, they would attain the age of one hundred and upwards,
+as will be my case.
+
+And this certainty of being able to live a great age is, in my
+opinion, a great advantage, and highly to be valued; none being
+sure to live even a single hour, except such as adhere to the
+rules of temperance.  This security of life is built on good and
+true natural reasons, which can never fail; it being impossible in
+the nature of things, that he, who leads a sober and regular life,
+should breed any sickness, or die of an unnatural death, before
+the time, at which it is absolutely impossible he should live.  But
+sooner he cannot die, as a sober life has the virtue to remove all
+the usual causes of sickness, and sickness cannot happen without a
+cause; which cause being removed, sickness is, likewise, removed; and
+sickness being removed, an untimely and violent death must be
+prevented.
+
+And there is no doubt, that temperance has the virtue and efficacy
+to remove such causes; for since health and sickness, life and
+death, depend on the good or bad quality of the humours, temperance
+corrects their vicious tendencies, and renders them perfect, being
+possessed of the natural power of making them unite and hold
+together, so as to render them inseperable, and incapable of
+alteration and fermenting; circumstances, which engender cruel
+fevers, and end in death.  It is true, indeed, and it would be a
+folly to deny it, that, let our humours be originally ever so good,
+time, which consumes every thing, cannot fail to consume and exhaust
+them; and that man, as soon as that happens, must die of a natural
+death; but yet without sickness, as will be my case, who shall die
+at my appointed time, when these humours shall be consumed, which
+they are not at present. Nay, they are still perfect; nor is it
+possible they should be otherwise in my present condition, when I
+find myself hearty and content, eating with a good appetite, and
+sleeping soundly.  Moreover, all my faculties are as good as ever,
+and in the highest perfection; my understanding clearer and brighter
+than ever; my judgment sound; my memory tenacious; my spirits good;
+and my voice, the first thing which is apt to fail in others, grown
+so strong and sonorous, that I cannot help chanting out loud my
+prayers morning and night, instead of whispering and muttering them
+to myself, as was formerly my custom.
+
+And these are all so many true and sure signs and tokens, that
+my humours are good, and cannot waste but with time, as all those,
+who converse with me, conclude.  O, how glorious this life of mine
+is like to be, replete with all the felicities which man can enjoy
+on this side of the grave; and even exempt from that sensual
+brutality which age has enabled my better reason to banish; because
+where reason resides, there is no room for sensuality, nor for its
+bitter fruits, the passions, and perturbations of the mind, with a
+train of disagreeable apprehensions.  Nor yet can the thoughts of
+death find room in my mind, as I have no sensuality to nourish such
+thoughts.  Neither can the death of grandchildren and other relations
+and friends make any impression on me, but for a moment or two; and
+then it is over.  Sill less am I liable to be cast down by losses in
+point of fortune (as many have seen to their no small surprise.)
+And this is a happiness not to be expected by any but such as attain
+old age by sobriety, and not in consequence of a strong
+constitution; and such may moreover expect to spend their days
+happily, as I do mine, in a perpetual round of amusement and
+pleasure.  And how is it possible a man should not enjoy himself,
+who meets with no crosses or disappointments in his old age, such
+as youth is constantly plagued with, and from which, I shall
+presently shew, I have the happiness of being exempt?
+
+The first of these is to do service to my country.  O! what a
+glorious amusement, in which I find infinite delight, as I
+thereby shew her the means of improving her important estuary or
+harbour beyond the possibility of its filling for thousands of years
+to come; so as to secure to Venice her surprising and miraculous
+title of a maiden city, as she really is; and the only one in the
+whole world: she will, moreover, thereby, add to the lustre of her
+great and excellent surname of queen of the sea: such is my
+amusement; and nothing is wanting to make it complete.  Another
+amusement of mine, is that of shewing this maid and queen, in what
+manner she may abound with provisions, by improving large tracts of
+land, as well marshes, as barren sands, to great profit.  A third
+amusement, and an amusement too, without any alloy, is the shewing
+how Venice, though already so strong as to be in a manner
+impregnable, may be rendered still stronger; and, though extremely
+beautiful, may still increase in beauty; though rich, may acquire
+more wealth, and may be made to enjoy better air, though her air is
+excellent.  These three amusements, all arising from the idea of
+public utility, I enjoy in the highest degree.  And who can say,
+that they admit of any alloy, as in fact they do not?  Another
+comfort I enjoy, is, that having lost a considerable part of my
+income, of which my grandchildren had been unfortunately robbed, I
+by mere dint of thought, which never sleeps, and without any fatigue
+of body, and very little of mind, have found a true and infallable
+method of repairing such loss more than double, by the means of that
+most commendable of arts, agriculture.  Another comfort I still
+enjoy is to think, that my treatise on temperance, which I wrote in
+order to be useful to others, is really so, as many assure me by
+word of mouth, mentioning that it has proved extremely useful to
+them, as it in fact appears to have been, whilst others inform me by
+letter, that, under God, they are indebted to me for life.  Still
+another comfort I enjoy, is that of being able to write with my own
+hand; for, I write enough to be of service to others, both on
+architecture, and agriculture.  I, likewise, enjoy another
+satisfaction, which is that of conversing with men of bright parts
+and superior understanding, from whom, even at this advanced period
+of life, I learn something.  What a comfort is this, that, old as I
+am, I should be able, without the least fatigue, to study the most
+important, sublime, and difficult subjects!
+
+I must farther add, though it may appear impossible to some, and may
+be so in some measure, that at this age I enjoy, at once, two lives;
+one terrestrial, which I possess in fact; the other celestial, which
+I possess in thought; and this thought is equal to actual enjoyment,
+when founded upon things we are sure to attain, as I ams sure to
+attain that celestial life, through the infinite goodness and mercy
+of God.  Thus, I enjoy this terrestrial life, in consequence of my
+sobriety and temperance, virtues so agreeable to the Deity; and I
+enjoy, by the grace of the same Divine Majesty, the celestial, which
+he makes me anticipate in thought; a thought so lovely, as to fix me
+entirely on this object, the enjoyment of which I hold and affirm to
+be of the utmost certainty.  And I hold that dying, in the manner I
+expect, is not really death, but a passage of the soul from this
+earthly life to a celestial, immortal, and infinitely perfect
+existence.  Neither can it be otherwise: and this thought is so
+superlatively sublime, that it can no longer stoop to low and worldly
+objects, such as the death of this body, being intirely taken up with
+the happiness of living a celestial and divine life; whence it is,
+that I enjoy two lives.  Nor can the terminating of so high a
+gratification, which I enjoy in this life, give me any concern; it
+rather affords me infinite pleasure, as it will be only to make room
+for another, glorious and immortal life.
+
+Now, it is possible, that any one should grow tired of so great a
+comfort and blessing, as this which I really enjoy; and which every
+on else might enjoy by leading the life I have led? an example which
+every one has it in his power to follow; for I am but a mere man,
+and no saint; a servant of God, to whom so regular a life is
+extremely agreeable.
+
+And, whereas many embrace a spiritual and contemplative life, which
+is holy and commendable, the chief employment of those who lead it
+being to celebrate the praises of God; O, that the would likewise,
+betake themselves intirely to a regular and sober life! how much
+more agreeable would they render themselves in the sight of God!
+What a much greater honour and ornament would the be to the world!
+They would then be considered as saints, indeed, upon earth, as
+those primitive Christians were led, who joined sobriety to so
+recluse a life.  By living, like them, to the age of one hundred and
+twenty, they might, like them, expect, by the power of God, to work
+numberless miracles; and they would, besides, enjoy constant health
+and spirits, and be always happy within themselves; whereas they are
+now, for the most part, infirm, melancholy, and dissatisfied.  Now,
+as some of these people think, that these are trials sent them by
+God Almighty, with a view of promoting their salvation, that they
+may do penance, in this life, for their past errors, I cannot help
+saying, that, in my opinion, they are greatly mistaken.  For I can
+by no means believe, that it is agreeable to the Deity, that man,
+his favourite creature, should live infirm, melancholy, and
+dissatisfied, but rather enjoy good health and spirits, and be
+always content within himself.  In this manner did the holy
+fathers live, and by such conduct did they daily render themselves
+more acceptable to the Divine Majesty, so as to work the great and
+surprising miracles we read in history.  How beautiful, how glorious
+a scene should we then behold! far more beautiful than in those
+antient times, because we now abound with so many religious orders
+and monasteries, which did not then exist; and were the members of
+these communities to lead a temperate life, we should then behold
+such a number of venerable old men, as would create surprise.  Nor
+would they trespass against their rules; they would rather improve
+upon them; since every religious community allows its subjects
+bread, wine, and sometimes eggs (some of them allow meat) besides
+soups made with vegetables, sallets, fruit, and cakes, things which
+often disagree with them, and even shorten their lives.  But, as
+they are allowed such things by their rules, they freely make use of
+them; thinking, perhaps, that it would be wrong to abstain from
+them, whereas it would not.  It would rather be commendable, if,
+after the age of thirty, they abstained from such food, confined
+themselves to bread, wine, broths and eggs: for this is the true
+method of preserving men of a bad constitution; and it is a life of
+more indulgence than that led by the holy fathers of the desart,
+who subsisted intirely on wild fruits and roots, and drank nothing
+but pure water; and, nevertheless, lived, as I have already
+mentioned, in good health and spirits, and always happy within
+themselves.  Were those of our days to do the same, they would,
+like them, find the road to heaven much easier; for it is always
+open to every faithful Christian, as our Saviour Jesus Christ left
+it, when he came down upon earth to shed his precious blood, in
+order to deliver us from the tyrannical servitude of the devil; and
+all through his immense goodness.
+
+So that, to make an end of this discourse, I say, that since length
+of days abounds with so many favours and blessings, and I happen to
+be one of those who are arrived at that state, I cannot (as I would
+not willingly want charity) but give testimony in favour of it,
+and solemnly assure all mankind, that I really enjoy a great deal
+more than what I now mention; and that I have no other reason for
+writing, but that of demonstrating the great advantages which arise
+from longevity, to the end that their own conviction may induce them
+to observe those excellent rules of temperance and sobriety.  And
+therefore I never cease to raise my voice, crying out to you, my
+friends: may your days be long, that you may be the better servants
+to the Almighty!
+
+
+
+LETTER
+FROM
+SIGNOR LEWIS CORNARO,
+TO THE
+RIGHT REVEREND BARBARO,
+PATRIARCH ELECT OF AQUILEIA.
+
+
+
+The human understanding must certainly have something of the divine
+in its constitution and frame.  How divine the invention of
+conversing with an absent friend by the help of writing!  How
+divinely it is contrived by nature, that men, though at a great
+distance, should see one another with the intellectual eye, as I now
+see your lordship!  By means of this contrivance, I shall endeavour
+to entertain you with with matters of the greatest moment.  It is
+true, that I shall speak of nothing but what I have already
+mentioned; but it was not at the age of ninety-one, to which I have
+now attained; a thing I cannot help taking notice of, because as I
+advance in years, the sounder and heartier I grow, to the amazement
+of all the world.  I, who can account for it, am bound to shew, that
+a many may enjoy a terrestrial paradise after eighty; which I enjoy;
+but it is not to be obtained except by temperance and sobriety,
+virtues so acceptable to the Almighty, because they are enemies to
+sensuality, and friends to reason.
+
+Now, my lord, to begin, I must tell you, that, within these few days
+past, I have been visited by many of the learned doctors of this
+university, as well physicians and philosophers, who were well
+acquainted with my age, my life, and manners; knowing how stout,
+hearty, and gay I was; and in what perfection all my faculties still
+continued; likewise my memory, spirits, and understanding; and even
+my voice and teeth.  They knew, besides, that I constantly employed
+eight hours every day in writing treatises, with my own hand, on
+subjects useful to mankind, and spent many hours in walking and
+singing.  O, my lord, how melodious my voice is grown! were you to
+hear me chant my prayers; and that to my lyre, after the example of
+David, I am certain it would give you great pleasure, my voice is so
+musical.  Now, when they told me that they had been already
+acquainted with all these particulars, they added, that it was,
+indeed, next to a miracle, how I could write so much, and upon
+subjects that required both judgement and spirit.  And, indeed, my
+lord, it is incredible, what satisfaction and pleasure I have in
+these compositions.  But, as I write to be useful, your lordship may
+easily conceive what pleasure I enjoy.  They concluded by telling me,
+that I ought not to be looked upon as a person advanced in years,
+since all my occupations were those of a young man; and, by no means,
+like those of other aged persons, who, when they have reached eighty,
+are reckoned decrepid.  Such, moreover, are subject, some to the
+gout, some to the sciatica, and some to other complaints, to be
+relieved from which they must undergo such a number of painful
+operations, as cannot but render life extremely disagreeable.  And,
+if, by chance, one of them happens to escape a long illness, his
+faculties are impaired, and he cannot see or hear so well; or else
+fails in some or other of the corporeal faculties, he cannot walk,
+or his hands shake; and, supposing him exempt from these bodily
+infirmities, his memory, his spirits, or his understanding fail him;
+he is not chearful, pleasant, and happy within himself, as I am.
+
+Besides all these blessings, I mentioned another, which I enjoyed;
+and so great a blessing, that they were all amazed at it, since it
+is altogether beside the usual course of nature.  This blessing is,
+that I had already lived fifty years, in spite of a most powerful
+and mortal enemy, which I can by no means conquer, because it is
+natural, or an occult quality implanted in my body by nature; and
+this is, that every year, from the beginning of July till the end
+of August, I cannot drink any wine of whatever kind or country; for,
+besides being during these two months quite disgustful to my palate,
+it disagrees with my stomach.  Thus losing my milk, for wine is,
+indeed, the milk of old age; and having nothing to drink, for no
+change or preparation of waters can have the virtue of wine, nor of
+course do me any good; having nothing, I say, to drink, and my
+stomach being therefore disordered, I can eat but very little; and
+this spare diet, with the want of wine, reduces me, by the middle of
+August, extremely low; nor is the strongest capon broth, or any other
+remedy, of service to me; so that I am ready, through mere weakness,
+to sink into the grave.  Hence they inferred, that were not the new
+wine, for I always take care to have some ready by the beginning of
+September, to come in so soon, I should be a dead man.  But what
+surprized them still more was, that this new wine should have power
+sufficient to restore me, in two or three days, to that degree of
+health and strength, of which the old wine had robbed me; a fact,
+they themselves have been eye-witnesses of, within these few days;
+and which a man must see to believe it; insomuch that they could not
+help crying out; "Many of us, who are physicians, have visited him
+annually for several years past; and ten years ago, judged it
+impossible for him to live a year or two longer, considering what a
+mortal enemy he carried about him, and his advanced age; yet we do
+not find him so weak at present as he used to be."  This
+singularity, and the many other blessings they see me enjoy, obliged
+them to confess, that the joining of such a number of favours was,
+with regard to me, a special grace conferred on me, at my birth, by
+nature, or by the stars; and to prove this to be a good conclusion,
+which it really is not (because not grounded on strong and
+sufficient reasons, but merely on their own opinions) they found
+themselves under a necessity to display their eloquence, and to say
+a great many fine things.  Certain it is, my lord, that eloquence,
+in men of bright parts, has great power; so great, as to induce
+people to believe things which have neither actual nor possible
+existence.  I had, however, great pleasure and satisfaction in
+hearing them; for, it must, no doubt, be a high entertainment to
+hear such men talk in that manner.
+
+Another satisfaction, without the least mixture of alloy, I at the
+same time enjoyed, was to think, that age and experience are
+sufficient to make a man learned, who without them would know
+nothing; nor is it surprizing they should, since length of days is
+the foundation of true knowledge.  Accordingly, it was by means of
+it alone I discovered their conclusion to be false.  Thus, you see,
+my lord, how apt men are to deceive themselves in their judgement of
+things, when such judgement is not built upon a solid foundation.
+And, therefore, to undeceive them, and set them right, I made answer,
+that their conclusion was false, as I should actually convince them
+by proving, that the happiness I enjoyed was not confined to me, but
+common to all mankind, and that every man might equally enjoy it;
+since I was but a mere mortal, composed, like all others, of the
+four elements; and endued, besides existence and life, with rational
+and intellectual faculties, which are common to all men.  For it has
+pleased the Almighty to bestow on his favourite creature man these
+extraordinary blessings and favours above other animals, which
+enjoy only the sensible perceptions; in order such blessings and
+favours my be the means of keeping him long in good health; so that
+length of days is a universal favour granted by the Deity, and not
+by nature and the stars.
+
+But man being in his youthful days more of the sensual, than of the
+rational animal, is apt to yield to sensual impressions; and, when
+he afterwards arrives at the age of forty or fifty, he ought to
+consider, that he has attained the noon of life, by the vigour of
+his youth, and a good tone of stomach; natural blessings, which
+favoured him in ascending the hill; but that he must now think of
+going down, and approaching the grave, with a heavy weight of years
+on his back; and that old age is the reverse of youth, as much as
+order is the reverse of disorder.  Hence it is requisite he should
+alter his mode of life in regard to the articles of eating and
+drinking, on which health and longevity depend.  And as the first
+part of his life was sensual and irregular, the second should be
+the reverse; since nothing can subsist without order, especially the
+life of man, irregularity being without all doubt prejudicial, and
+regularity advantageous to the human species.
+
+Besides, it is impossible in the nature of things, that the man, who
+is bent on indulging his palate and his appetite, should not be
+guilty of irregularity.  Hence it was that to avoid this vice, as
+soon as I found myself arrived at maturer years, I embraced a regular
+and sober life.  It is, no doubt, true, that I found some difficulty
+in compassing it; but, in order to conquer this difficulty, I
+beseeched the Almighty to grant me the virtue of sobriety; well
+knowing, that he would graciously hear my prayer.  Then, considering,
+that when a man is about to undertake any thing of importance, which
+he knows he can compass, though not without difficulty, he may make
+it much easier to himself by being steady in his purpose; I pursued
+the same course.  I endeavoured gradually to relinquish a disorderly
+life, and to accustom myself insensibly to the rules of temperance:
+and thus it came to pass that a sober and regular life no longer
+proved uneasy or disagreeable; though, on account of the weakness of
+my constitution, I tied myself down to such strict rules in regard
+to the quantity and quality of what I eat and drink.
+
+But others, who happen to be blessed with a stronger temperament,
+may eat many other kinds of food, and in greater quantities; and so
+of wines; whereas, though their lives may still be sober, they will
+not be so confined as mine, but much more free.  Now, on hearing
+these arguments, and examining the reasons on which they were
+founded, they all agreed that I had advanced nothing but what was
+true.  Indeed the youngest of them said, that though he could not
+but allow the favour of advantages, I had been speaking of, to be
+common to all mankind, yet I enjoyed the special grace of being
+able to relinquish with ease one kind of life, and embrace another;
+a think which he knew by experience to be feasible; but as difficult
+to him as it had proved easy to me.
+
+To this I replied, that, being a mortal like himself, I likewise
+found it a difficult task; but it did not become a person to shrink
+from a glorious but practicable undertaking, on account of the
+difficulties attending it, because in proportion to these
+difficulties, is the honour he acquires by it in the eye of man, and
+the merit in the sight of God.  Our beneficent Creator is desirous,
+that, as he originally favoured human nature with longevity, we
+should all enjoy full advantage of his intentions; knowing, that,
+when a man has passed eighty, he is intirely exempt from the bitter
+fruits of sensual enjoyments, and is intirely governed by the
+dictates of reason.  Vice and immorality must then leave him; hence
+God is willing he should live to a full maturity of years; and has
+ordained that whoever reaches his natural term, should end his days
+without sickness by mere dissolution, the natural way of quitting
+this mortal life to enter upon immortality, as will be my case.  For
+I am sure to die chanting my prayers; nor do the dreadful thoughts
+of death give me the least uneasiness, though, considering my great
+age, it cannot be far distant, knowing, as I do, that I was born to
+die, and reflecting that such numbers have departed my life without
+reaching my age.
+
+Nor does that other thought, inseperable from the former, namely the
+fear of those torments, to which wicked men are hereafter liable,
+give me any uneasiness; because I am a good Christian, and bound to
+believe, that I shall be saved by the virtue of the most sacred
+blood of Christ, which he has vouchsafed to shed, in order to free
+us from those torments.  How beautiful is the life I lead! how happy
+my end!  To this, the young gentleman, my antagonist, had nothing to
+reply, but that he was resolved to embrace a sober life, in order to
+follow my example; and that he had taken another, more important,
+resolution, which was, that, as he had been always very desirous to
+live to be old, so he was now equally impatient to reach that period,
+the sooner to enjoy the felicity of old age.
+
+The great desire I had, my lord, to converse with you at this
+distance, has forced me to be prolix, and still obliges me to
+proceed; though not much farther.  There are many sensualists, my
+lord, who say, that I have thrown away my time and trouble in writing
+a treatise on Temperance, and other discourses on the same subject,
+to induce men to lead a regular life; alledging, that it is
+impossible to conform to it, so that my treatise must answer as
+little purpose as that of Plato on government, who took a great deal
+of pains to recommend a thing impracticable; whence they inferred,
+that as his treatise was of no use, mine will share the same fate.
+Now this surprises me the more, as they may see by my treatise, that
+I had led a sober life for many years before I had composed it; and
+that I should never have composed it, had I not previously been
+convinced, that it was such a life as a man might lead; and being
+a virtuous life, would be of great service to him; so that I thought
+myself under an obligation to represent it in a true light.  I have
+the satisfaction now to hear, that numbers, on seeing my treatise,
+have embraced such a life; and I have read, that many, in times past,
+have actually led it; so that the objection, to which Plato's
+treatise on government is liable, can be of no force against mine.
+But such sensualists, enemies to reason, and slaves to their
+passions, ought to think themselves well off, if, whilst they study
+to indulge their palate and their appetite, they do not contract
+long and painful diseases, and are not, many of them, overtaken by
+an untimely death.
+
+
+FINIS
+
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Discourses on a Sober and Temperate
+Life, by Lewis Cornaro
+
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