r< Corn£r0j LujS PISCOURSES SOBER AND TEMPERATE LIFE. LEWIS CORNARO, A Noble Venetian. WHEREIN IS DEMOMSTRATED, BY HIS OWN EXAMPLE, THE METHOn OF PRESERVINO HEALTH TO EXTREME OLD AGE. Translated from the Italian Original. A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED. TO WHICH IS ADDED, PHYSIC OF THE GOLDEN AGE, A FRAGMENT. PUBLISHED BY HARLOW PORTER. ^.l- !— 'viL NEW-HAVEN :/& «l^ -PRINTED BY S. CONVERSE.^ 1893. m V PREFACE. JL he 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 hon- ours 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 chil- dren; and, after a long expectation of this happiness, his wife was delivered of a daugh- ter, 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 -i 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 maji, of sound understanding, determined couffej age and resolution. In his younger days he had contracted infirmities by intemperance, IV PREFACE. and by indulging his too great propensity to anger ; but when he perceived the ill con- sequence of his irregularities, he had com- mand enough of himself to subdue his pas- sions 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 ac- quaints 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 happen- ed at Padua, the 26th of April, 1566. His lady, almost as old as himself, survived him but a short time, and died an easy death. They were both interred in St. Antony's church, without any pomp, pursuant to their testamentary directions. These discourses, though written in Cor- naro's old age, were penned at different times, and published separately: The first, which he wrote at the age of eighty-three, is entitled, 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 hi$ precepts. The second treatise he composed at the age of PREFACE. ▼ 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 dis- position, 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 entitled, An Earnest Exhortation to a Sober Life ; here he uses the strongest ar- guments 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 health, 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 like- wise omitted several passages of the Italian, and the whole is rather a pharaphrase 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:* and as a *The first editioD was published by the author at Padua, in 4to. A. D. 1553. a2 PREFACE. proof of the merit and authenticity of the work, we beg leave to quote Mr. Addison's recommendation of it, Spectator, vol. iii. No. 19#. " The most remarkable instance of the efficacy of temperance, towards the pro- curing long life, is what we meet with in a little book published by Lewis Cornaro, the Venetian; which I the rather mention, bee;.use it is of undoubted credit, as the late Venetian ambassador, who was of the same furiily, attested more than once in conver- sation, when he resided in England. Corna- ro, who vvas the author of the little treats I am mentioning, vvas of an infirm constitu- tion, till about forty, when, by obstinately persisting in an exact course of temperance, he recovered a perfect state of health ; in- somuch that at forescore he published his book, which has been translated into Eng- lish 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 1 mention has been taken notice of by seve- ral eminent authors, and is written with such a spirit of cheerfulness, religion, and good sense, as are the natural concomitants of temperance and sobriety. The mixture of the old man in it, is rather a recommenda- tion than a discredit to it." TREATISE o.\ 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 wick- ed, 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 # A GUIDE TO HEALTH got fooling in Italy within a few years, even within my own memory; the first flattery and ceremoniousness; the second Lutheranism,* which some have most pre- posterously embraced; the third intempe- rance ; 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 se- cond, Lutheranism, and the first, flattery, I am certain, that some great genius or anoth- er will soon undertake the task of exposing their deformity, and effectually suppressing them. Therefore, I firmly hope, that, be- fore I die, I shall see these three abuses con- quered and driven out of Italy; and this coun- try of course restored to its former laudable and virtuous customs. To come then to that abuse, of which 1 have proposed to speak, namely, intempe- rance ; 1 say that it is a great pity it should * The author writes with the prejudice of a zeal- ous Romau Catholic against the doctrine of the Reformation, which he here distinguishes by the name of Lutheranism. This was owing to the ar- tifices of the Roman Clergy in those days, by whom the reformed religion was misrepresented, as intra- tfuctive of licentiousness and dubauchery. AND LONS LIFE. 9 have prevailed so much, as entirely to banish sobriety. Though all are agreed, that in- temperance is the offspring of gluttony, and sober living of abstemiousness; the former, nevertheless, is considered as a virtue and a mark of distinction, and the latter, as dis- honourable 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 fol- lowed those of vice, which lead them before their time to an old age, burdened with strange and moral infirmities, so as to ren- der them quite decrepid before forty, con- trary to the effects of sobriety, which before it was banished by this destructive intem- perance, used to keep men sound and hearty to the age of eighty and upwards. 6 wretched and unhappy Italy! do not you see, that intemperauce 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 shame- ful feasts, now 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 andunwhole.some foods? 10 A GUIDE TO HEALTH Put a stop to this abuse, for God's sake, for there is not, I am certain of it, a vice more abominiable than this in the eyes of the divine Majesty. Drive away this new kind of death, as 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 re- course 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 abste- miousness and divine reason, and to accus- tom ourselves to eat no more than is abso- lutey necessary to support life; considering, that what exceeds this, is disease and death, and merely gives the palate a satisfaction, which, though but momentary, brings on the body a long and lasting train of disagree- able sensations and diseases, and at length destroys it along with the soul. How many friends of mine, men of the finest under- standing and most amiable disposition, have 1 seen carried off by this plague in the flower of their youth; who, were they now living, would be an ornament to the public, and whose company 1 should enjoy AND LONG LIFE. 1 1 with as much pleasure, as I now feel con- cern at ther 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 the 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 longev- ity ; and old age being, in fact, that time of life in which prudence can best be exer- cised, and the fruits of all the other virtues enjoyed with less opposition, the passions being then so subdued, that man gives him- self 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 re- solved 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 re- nouncing intemperance, and betaking my- self to a sober course of life; declare freely the method pursued by me for that purpose ; 12 A GUIDE TO HEALTH 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 conveniences and blessings are the consequences of a sober life. I say then, that the heavy train of infirmi- ties, which had not only invaded, but even made great inroads in my constitution, were my motives for renouncing intemperance, to which 1 had been greatly addicted; so that, in consequence of it, and the badness of my constitution, my stomach being ex- ceedingly cold and moist, I was fallen into different kinds of disorders, such as pains in my stomach, and often stitches, and spi- ces of the gout; attended by what was still worse, an almost continual slow fever, a stomach generally out of order, and a per- petual thirst From these natural and ac- quired disorders the best delivery 1 had to hope for, was death, to put an end to the pains and miseries of life; a period very re- mote 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 thir- ty-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 AND LONG LIFE. 13 one method left to get the better of my complaints, provided I would resolve" to us<; it, and patiently persevere in it. This was a sober and regular life, which they assured me would be still of the greatest service to me, and would be as powerful in its effects, as the intemperate and irregular one had been, in reducing me to the present low condition: and that I might be fully satis- fied 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 in- temperate 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 consti- tution, and in their prime; for this plain reason, that different modes of life are at- tended by different effects ; art following, even herein, the steps of nature, with equal power to correct natural vices and imperfec- tions. This is obvious in husbandry and the like. They added, that if I did not im- mediately have recourse to such a regimen, 1 could receive no benefit from it in a few months, and that in a few more 1 must resign myself to death. These solid and convincing arguments made such an impression on me, that, m-o!*- B 14 A eUIDETO HEALTH tified as I was besides, by the thoughts of dying in the prime of life, and at the same time perpetually tormented by various dis- eases, I immediately concluded, that the foregoing contrary effects could not be pro- duced 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, inquired 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 vvas at a time of life when, impatient of such restraint, and finding myself satia- ted, 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, feel- ing 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 secret from my physicians. But, when I had once re- solved to live spaiingly, and according to the dictates of reason, seeing that it wai 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 t« AND LONG LIFE. 15 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 be- gan seriously to consider the power of tem- perance, and say to myself, that if this vir- tue 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 veay weak stomach, I therefore applied myself diligently to discover what kinds of food suited me best. But, first, 1 resolved to try, whether those, which pleased my palate, agreed or disagreed with my sto- mach, in order to judge for myself of the truth of that proverb, which I once held for 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 prov- erb 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 like- wise melons and other fruits, sallad, fish 16 A GUIDE TO HEALTH and pork, tarts, garden-stuff, pastry, and the like, were very pleasing to my palate, they disagreed with me notwithstanding. Hav- ing thus convinced myself, that the proverb in question was false, 1 looked 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 1 could digfest. 1 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 1 con- formed 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, 1 betook myself entirely 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 AND LONG LIKE. If strange kind of fever, which sometimes brought me to death's door. From this disease, then, I also freed myself, and be- came exceedingly healthy, as I have contin- ued 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 ate, and the. wine 1 con- stantly drank, being such as agreed with my constitution, and taken in proper quan- tities, imparted all their virtue to my body, and then left it without difficulty, and with- out endangering in it any bad humours. In consequence therefore of my taking such methods, I have always enjoyed, and (God be praised) actually enjoy the best of health. It is true, indeed, that, besides the two foregoing 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, ma- king any stay in bad niri ar,d exposing my- self 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 swav b2 lU A GUIDE TO HEALTH over men of understanding, than any satis- faction they could find in doing what must be extremely hurtful to their constitution, I have likewise done all that lay in my pow- er to avoid those evils, which we do not find so easy to remove ; these are melan- choly, 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 t'e other kind of those disorders, as not to suffer myself now and then to be hurried away by many, not to say, all of them; but 1 have reaped the benefit of knowing by experience that these passions bave, 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 emi- nent 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, 1 am a living witness, and so are many others, who know me, and have seen, how often I have been exposed to heats and AND LOX.Q LIFE. 19 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 dis- turbed in my mind. For they cannot 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 lend a sober and regular life, that it proved vet \ prejudicial to them, amongst whom was ;\ brother of my own, and others of my fami- ly, who, trusting to the goodness of their constitution, did not follow my way of liv- ing. The consequence hereof was a great misfortune to them, the perturbations of the mind having thereby acquired an extraor- dinary influence over their bodies. Such. in a word, was tbeir grief and dejection al seeing me involved in expensive law-suits, commenced against me by great and power- ful 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 te» keep up my spirits, I brought myself to think, that God had raised up these suits against me, in order to make me more sen- sible of my strength of body and mind : am* 20 A GUIDE TO HEALTH that 1 should, get the better of them with honour and advantage, as it, in fact, came to pass : for, at last, 1 obtained a decree ex- ceeding 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 oth- er affection of the mind can hurt bodies gov- erned with temperance and regularity. But 1 must go a step farther, 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 seven- ty. I happened, as is often the case, to be i& a coach, which going at a pretty smart rate, vvas 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 1 was taken out with my head and all the rest of my body terribly battered, and a dis- located 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 humors altering, as they every moment expected, to such a de- grees to ferment greatly, and bring on a AND LONG LIFK. 21 high fever. But I, on the contrary, who knew, that the sober life 1 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, and suf- fered myself to be rubbed with some oils which they said were proper on the occa- sion. Thus, without using any other kind of remedy, I recovered, as 1 thought I should, without feeling the least alteration in myself, or any other bad effects from the accident; a thing, which appeared miracu- lous 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 exter- nal accidents. On the contrary, 1 conclude, especially from the late trial I have had, that excesses in earing 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 impor- tunity of my own family, I consented to such an excess, which, as it will appear hereaf- ter, was attended with far worse consequen- ces than could naturally be expected. This excess consisted in increasing the quantity of food I generally made use of; which in- crease alone brought on me a most cruel fit of sickness. And as it is a case so much in 22 A GUIDE TO HEALTH point to the subject in hand, and the knowl- edge of it may be useful to some of my read- ers, I shall take the trouble to relate it. 1 say, then, that my dearest friends and relations, actuated by the warm and laudable affection and regard they have for me, see- ing how little I eat, represented to me, in conjunction with my physicians, that the sus- tenance I took could not be sufficient to sup- port one so far advanced in years, when it was become necessary not onty to preserve nature, but to increase its vigour. That, us 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 na- ture 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 advan- ced in years and lost my strength, 1 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 1 could see no reason to make such an ad- dition. To corroborate my arguments, I alleged those two natural and very true proverbs ; one, that he, who has a mind to eat ;« great deal, must eat but little; which is said for no other reason than this, that eating AND LoNci LIFE. 2o little makes a man live very long ; and liv- ing 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 effect 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 esrg, and soup, I ate as much as weighed in all twelve oun- ces, 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 irregu- larity, had, in eight days time, such an effect upon me, that, from being cheerful and bri^k, 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 attack- ed with a most violent pain in my side, which held me twenty-twp hours, and was *A weak but pure wine, for which cider, beer, or w»ter, may be tae be*t mbrtitute in tbh country. Ed 24 A Ml'IDE TO HEALTH succeeded by a terrible fever, which contin- ued thirty-five days and as many nights, without giving me a moments respite ; though, to say the truth, it began to abate gradually on the fifteenth. But, notwith- standing such abatement, 1 could not, du- ring 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 for- mer 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 E may call by that name some slight indispo- sitions of a day or two's continuance ; the regular life I had led, as I have already ta- ken notice, for so many years, not having: permitted any superfluous or bad humors to breed in me ; or if they did, to acquire ;-uch strength and malignity, as they gen- erally acquire on the superannuated bodies of those who live without rule. And as there was not any old malignity in my hu- mors (which is the thiug that kills people,) but only that which my new irregularity had occasioned, Jhis fit of sickness, though exceeding violent, had not strength enough to destroy me. This it was, and nothing AND LONG LIFE. 26 else, that saved my life : whence may be gathered, how great is the power and effica- cy of regularity ; and how great, likewise, is that of irregularity, which in a few days could bring on me so terrible a fit of sick- ness, just as regularity had preserved me irt health for so many years. And it appears to me a no weak argu- ment, that, since the world, consisting of the four elements, is upheld by order ; and our life, as to the body, is no other than an har- monious combination of the same four ele- ments, so it should be preserved and main- tained by the very same order; and, on the other hand, it must be worn out by sick- ness, or destroyed by death, which are pro- duced 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 conclude, that orderly living is no other than a most cer- tain cause and foundation of health and long life ; nay I cannot help saying, that it is the only 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 regu- larly. In like manner, when a^ physician takes leave of a patient, on his being recov- ered, he advises him, as he tenders his health, to lead a regular life. And it js not e 2f> A GUIDE TO HEALTH to be doubted that, were a patient so recov- ered 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 man can be a perfect physician to any one but him- self. 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 that pur- pose. These trials are, indeed, (if I may say it J 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 war- med and comforted by cinnamon ? Where is the physician that could have informed me of these two latent qualities, since I myself, AND LONG LIFE. 27 even by a long course of observation, could scarce discover them ? From all these rea- sons it follows, that it is impossible to be a perfect physician to another. Since, there- fore, a man cannot have a better physician than himself, nor any physic better than a regular life, a regular life he ought to em- brace. I do not, however, mean, that, for the knowledge and cure of such disB-uders 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 pur- pose of keeping ourselves in good health, I am of 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 exhaust- ed ; all which effects several wise men have 28 A GUIDE TO HEALTH 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 con- duct, 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 raatu- rer age; when men become sensible of their progress in knowledge and virtue, which cannot attain to any degree of perfection be- fore 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 cele- brated books extant, were written during that period of life, and those ten years, which some make it their business to un- dervalue, 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 Co think will be of service to •thers. These AND LONG LIFE. 29 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 nam- ing : and, in our own days, pope Paul Far- nese 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 differ- ent 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 obliged to expose themselves to heat, cold, and several other kinds of hardship, and other things, which are all so many disorders, and incom- patible with a regular life. I answer, as I have already observed, that these are not disorders attended with any bad conse- quence, or which affect either health or life, c2 30 A GUIDE TO HEALTH when the man, who undergoes them, ob- serves 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 actu- ally 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 1 might, in the first place, answer, that nature, desirous to preserve man in good health as long as possible, informs him, her- self, 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 al- ready) 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 means, but such as are suited to his disorder; and of these even in a much smaller quantity*t^an 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; be- cause it would be only adding to the bur- den, with which nature was already oppres- AND LONG LIFE. 81 sed, by giving her a greater quantity of food than she can in such circumstances support; and this, 1 imagine, would be a sufficient caution to any sick person. But, indepen- dent of all this. I might answer some others, and still better, that whoever leads a regu- lar lift, cannot be sick ; or, at least, but sel- dom, and for a short time ; because, by liv- ing regularly, he extirpates every seed of sickness ; and thus, by removing the cause, prevents the effect ; so that he. who pur- sues a regular course of life, need not be ap- prehensive of illne>s, 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 fol- lowed and embraced ; and the 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 1 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 ou;,nt to eat of them ; since they are not bv any means forbid the use of such sustenance. Rut, then, both they, and all ythers, are for 32 A GUIDE TO HEALTH bid 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 num- bers 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 na- ture, 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 good- ness of his stomach, slights these observa- tions, 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 constitu- tion, who leads a disorderly life. It is not AND LONG LIFE. 33 to be doubted, however, that a man blessed with a good constitution may, by living tem- perately, 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 strict 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 procura- tor 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 they cannot otherwise ex- pect 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 vapours to ascend from the stomach to the head ; hence the brain of him, who lives in that manner, enjoys such a constant sereni- ty, that he is always perfectly master of him- self. 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 34 A GUIDE TO HEALTH this means, comes to consider, know, and understand, that which otherwise he would never have considered, known, or under- stood ; that is, how great is the power, wis- dom, and goodness of the Deity. He then descends to 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 sub- due their passions, and those three impor- tunate lusts which, one would imagine, came all together into the world with us, in order to keep us in perpetual anxiety and disturb- ance. 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 pas- sions, 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 and 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 be- ing slaves to their inordinate appetites, they applied themselves to virtue and good AND LONG LIFE. 35 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, con- spious 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 par- ticularly the case, when, loaded with honour, and sated with life, they see themselves arri- ved at that age, which not one in many thousands of those, who live otherwise, ever attains. They have still !he greater reason not/to be dejected at the thoughts of death, a^it does not attack them violently and by surprise, 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 entirely from an ex- haustion of the radical moisture, which de- cays 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 36 A GBIDE TO HEALTH 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 j for what a glorious name, what a noble thing, is an or- derly and sober life ! as, on the contrary, the bare mention of disorder and intemper- ance 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 1 have assigned my reasons for aban- doning intemperance, and betaking myself entirely to a sober life ; with the method I pursued in doing so, and what was the conse- quence of it ; and, finally, the advantages and blessings, which a sober life confers upon those who embrace it. Some sensual, incon- siderate persons affirm, that a long life is no blessing ; and that the state of a man, who has passed his seventy-fifth year, cannot re- ally be called life, but death : but this is a great mistake, as 1 shall fully prove ; and it is my sincere wish, that all men would en- deavour to attain my 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 AND l.ONA. Lilt:. 37 real life; such a life, as by many is deemed happv, *i»ce 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 amazemont, the good state of health und spirits I enjoy ; how I mount my horse without any assistance, or ad- vantage 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 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 op- portunities of conversing with many honour- able 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, 1 be- take myself to the reading of some good book. When I have read as much as I like, I write; endeavouring in this as in every thing 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 n 38 A GUIDE TO HEALTH. 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 he.a1; and in the other, from extreme cold, having contrived tbe 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 1 always find something to do, that amuses me. I have another way of divert- ing myself, which is going every April and May; and, likewise, every September and October, for some days to enjoy an emi- nence 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 suit- able 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 mid.de of which stands the church, suited to the condition of the place. This villa is divided by a wide and rapid branch of the river Branta, on both sides of which there is a considerable extent of country, consisting entirely of fertile and AND LONG LIFK. 39 well-cultivated fields. Besides, this district is now, God be praised, exceedingly -veil inhabited, which it was not at first, i-ut rather tbe reverse; tor it was marshy-; and the air so unwholesome, as to make it a resi- dence fitter for snakes than men. But, on my draining off the waters, the air mend- ed, and the people resorted to it so fast, and increased to such a degree,-that it soon acquired the perfection in which it now ap- pears: hence I may say, with truth, that I have offered in this place, an altar 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 neghbouring cities, and enjoy such of my friends as live there, taking the greatest pleasure in their company and con- versation; and by their means I also enjoy the conversation of other men of parts,- who live in the same places; such as archi- tects, painters, sculptors, musicians and huc- bandmen, with whom this age most certainly abounds. I visit their new works ; I re- visit ther former ones ; and 1 always learn something, which gives me satisfaction. I see the palaces, gardens, antiquities; and with these the squares and other pub- lic places, the churches, the fortifica- tions, leaving nothing unobserved, from whence I may reap either entertainment or •10 A CI JDE TO HEALTH. instruction. But what delights me most, is, in my journeys backwards and forwards, to contemplate the situation and other beauties of the places 1 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 render- ed less agreeable and entertaining by my not seeing 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 hap- pen to be, than it formerly did the most del- icate dishes, when 1 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 under- taking begun within my memory, and which I never thought I should live to see comple- ted, knowing how slow republics are apt to proceed in enterprizes of great impor- tance. Nevertheless, I have lived to see it; and was even in person, in these marshy places, along with those appointed to super- AND LONG LIFE. 41 intend the draining of them, for two months together, during the greatest heats of sum- mer, without ever finding myself the worse for the fatigues or 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 com- pletion of another undertaking of no less importance, which is that of preserving our estuary or port, that last and wonderful bul- wark of my dear country, the preservation of which (it is not to flatter my vanity I say it, but merely to do justice to 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 ar- dently wish perpetual duration, and a long succession of every kind of prosperity. Such are my genuine and uo trifling satisfac- tions ; such are the recreations and diver- sions 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 youn» men, and many old ones destitute of strength and health, and every other blessing. 42 A GUIDE TO HEALTH And if it be lawful to compare little mat- ters, and such as are esteemed trifling, to affairs of-importance, 1 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 suit- ed to the bloom of life, and the latter by its gravity adapted to riper years. Now, if that good old man,* a Grecian by birth, and a poet, was so much extolled for having writ- ten a tragedy*at (he 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 1 be deemed less-happy, and to have a smaller share of memory and understand- : ing, who have, at an age, ten years more advanced than his, written a comedy, which, as every one knows, is a merry and pleas- -. ant kind of composition ? And, indeed, if i 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 un- derstanding, and heartier, than he was when ten years younger. And, that no comfort might be wanting to the fulness of my years, whereby niy ^Sophotlta. AND LONG LIFE. 43 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 grand-children, 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 com- panions 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 recrea- tions of my old age. Whence it appears, that the life I lead ia cheerful, 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 liv- ing or my-grey hairs with any of those young men, even of the best constitution, who give way to their appetites; knowing, as 1 do, that such are daily, nay hourly, sub- 44 A (iUIDE TO HEALTH ject, as I have already observed, to a thou- sand kinds 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 foolhard}' 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 san- guine they are in all their expectations; as well on account of the little experience they have had for the time past, as by reason of the power they enjoy in their own imagi- nations 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 concupi- scence, endeavour to gratify all their appe- tites, not minding, fools as they are, that they thereby hasten, as I have several times J observed, the approach of what they would most willingly avoid, 1 mean sickness, and [ death. Of these two evils, one is trouble- J some 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 mor- tal life is subject, and on the vengeance which the justice of God is wont to take on AND LONG LIFE. 40 .tinners by condemning them to everlasting punishment. On the other hand, 1, in my old age, (praise to the Almighty) am exempt from both these apprehensions; from the one, because I am sure and certain, that 1 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 hive learned to obey reason ; whence I not only think it a great piece of folly to fear that, which can- not 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 1 know I shall not die except by mere dissolution, having already, by my reg- ular 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 1 must expect from the elements employed in the composition of this mortal frame. I am not so simple as not to know, that, as 1 was born, so 1 must die. But that is a desirable death, which nature brings on u, by wny of dissolution. For nature, havin^ |1Prt after forty, to em- brace sobriety. This is no such difficult affair, since history informs us of so many who in former time* lived with the greatest temperance; and 1 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 all 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 humors of such a man's body become most homogeneous, harmoni- ous and perfect; and, when thus improved, are no longer liable to be corrupted or dis- e 2 54 A GUIDE TO HEALTH turbed 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 eat- ing and drinking, cannot possibly be cor- rupted, 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 conse- quence of such disorders, as of others with- out 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 bimself the worse for it a day or two ; but not so as to breed a fever. He may, likewise, be affected by the revolu- tions of the heavens ; but neither the heav- ens, nor those irregularities, are capable of corrupting the humors of a temperate per- son ; 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 glut- tonous, and allege that neither"the quantity nor quality of their diet makes any impres- AND LONG LIFE. 03 sion 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 situa- ted ; 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 medicine? and observing a strict diet. Whence it ap- pears, that their being out of order is owing -to their eating too much, and of things dis- agreeable with their stomach. 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, there- fore, 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 1 answer, that our kind mother, 56 A GUIDE TO HEALTH 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 1 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 re- gimen, by observing which they get rid of their disorder. Now, if by reducing them- selves 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 per- fect 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 regi- men can retain virtue sufficient to conquer the malignity, with which disorders of re- pletion are ever attended ; so that he must die, at last, of these periodical disorders, be- cause they abridge life, as health prolongs it. ANB LONG LIKE. i7 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 dis- grace to mankind, so that their death is rath- er of service to the public. But it is a great misfortune, that men of bright part" 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 digni- ty ; 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 sto- machs became weaker and weaker with re- spect 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 them- selves unable to digest a greater quantity of food, with which they must load their sto- macbs, 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, over burdened with much food, pall, and sicken, ii\i A GUIDE TO HEALTH and change the superfluous food into bad humors, which kill a man before bis 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 les- sened the quantity of their food, and eat oftener, but little at a time ; for old stom- achs cannot digest large quantities of food; old men changing, in that respect, to chil- dren, 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 pro- long his life. To this I answer, that expe- rience proves the contrary ; and that I my- self 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 pre- ferable 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 improvements he avoids the bitter fruits of sensuality, which are an enemy to reason, man's peculiar privilege : those bitter fruits «re the passions and perturbations of the AND LONG LIFE. mind. Thou, moreover, freest him from the dreadful thoughts of death. Ho»v great- ly is thy faithful disciple indebted to thee, since by thy assistance he enjoys this beau- tiful expanse of the visible world, which is really beautiful to such as know how to view it with a philosophic eye, as thou hast ena- bled me to do. Nor could I, at anv other time of life, even when 1 was young, but al- together debauched In an irregular life, perceive its beauties, though 1 spared no pains or expense to enjoy every sea-nn of life. But I found that all the. pleasure- of that age had their alloy ; so that I never knew, till I tcrew old, t!«at the world was beautiful. 0 truly happy life, which, over and above all these favours conferred on thine old man, hast s0 improved and perfect- ed his stomach, that he has now a better relish for his dry bread, than he hid former- ly and in his youth, for the most exquisite dainties : and all this he ha* 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 be- ing much burdened, need not wait Ion,' to have an appetite. It is for this reason, that dry bread relishes so well with me ; and 1 know it from experience, and can with truth affirm, I find such sweetness in it, that"! HQ A SUIDE TO HEALTH should be afraid of sinning against temper- ance, 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, has 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 his3rears 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 in 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 AND LONG LIFE. til body and soul together; and the things 1 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, 1 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 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 ; ihings, 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 bet- ter 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. 0, what a difference there is- between a regular and an irregular life! One gives longevity and hwdth, the other produces diseases and untimely deaths. F 62 A aUIDE TO HEALTH O unhappy, wretched life, my sworn ene? my, vvho art good for nothing but to murder those, who follow thee! How many of my dearest relations and friends hast thou rob- bed 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 disposi- tion ; 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 apart- ments which I bave 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 des- troy those vvho follow thee, before they can see their houses or gardens so much as fin- ished ; whereas 1, to thy no small confu- sion, 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 1 am determined to use my utmost endeavours to extirpate thee, at least in part; I have resolved to coun- teract thee so, that my eleven grandchil- dren shall take pattern after me ; and there- by expose thee, for what thou really art, a AND LONC L1FL 63 m«st wicked, desperate, and mortal enemy ef the children of men. 1, realy, cannot help admitting, that men of fine parts, and such there are, who have obtained a superior rank in letter or any other profession, should not betake them- selves to a regular life, when they are ar- rived 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 ahead, they become incur- able. As to young men, I am no way sur- prised at 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 appetite are disease and death. Were this pleasure of the pal- ajte lasting, it would be some excuse; but it is so momentary, that there is scarce any distinguishing between the beginning am] the end of it; whereas the diseases it pro- duces are very durable. But it must be a great contentment to a mad of sober life to be able to reflect that, in the manner he fives he is sum, that what he eat* will keep him in goff health, and be productive of no disease or infirmity. Now I was willing to make this short ad- dition to my treatise, founded on now rea- t»4 A GUIDE TO HEALTH sons ; 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 a°;e, in which they may tn.ioy 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 1 feel in being useful to others, I have resolved to take up my pen, and inform those vvho 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 per- sons,scarcely 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 Hinety-fifth year, and still finding myself sound and hearty, contenL and cheerful, 1 never cease thanking the twine Majesty for so great a blessing ; considering the usual fate of other old men. These scarce attain the age of seventy, without losing their AND LONG LIFE. b'e 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, 1 cannot, at all, make them the object of my atten- tion, as I shall hereafter more plainly re- late. I shall, besides, demonstrate the certainty I have of living to an hundred. But to render this dissertation more method- ical, 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; whe- ther to some defect in the father or mo- ther, in begetting them; or to the revolu- tions of the heavens ; or to the defect of nature, subject, as she is, to the celestial influence. For, 1 could never bring myself to believe, that nature, the common parent of all, should be partial to any of her chil- dren. Therefore, as we cannot assign the caus- es, 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 f 2 tfb' A GUlfcE TO HEALTH to the age often; others to twenty; othere to thirty and 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 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 be ever 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 like- wise 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 mis- taken, since, as the natural heat lessens as a man grows in years, he should diminish the quantity ot his meat and drink ; nature, es- AND LONG LIFE. 67 peciallv at that period, being content with little. Nay, though they have all the rea- son to believe this to be the case, they arc so obstinate as to think otherwise, and still follow their usual disorderly life. But were they to relinquish it in due time, and be- take themselves to a regular and sober course, they would not grow infirm in their old age, but would continue, as 1 am, strong and hearty, considering how good and per- fect *a constitution it has pleased the Al- mighty to bestow upon them ; and would live to the age of one hundred and twenty. This has been the case of others, vvho, a« 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, vvho are also bom with an infirm constitution, to betake themselves to a regular life, as 1 have done, they would attain the age of one hundred am' upwards, as will be my case. And this certainty of being able to live to a great age is, in my opinion, a great advan- tage, 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 ean never fail; ft 68 A GOTDE TO HEALTH being impossible in the nature of things, that he, vvho leads a sober and regular life, should breed any sickness, or die of an un- natural 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 with- out a cause ; which jcause 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 qual- ity of the humours, temperance corrects their vicious tendencies and renders them perfect, being possessed of the natural pow- er of making them unite and hold together, so as to render them inseparable, and inca- pable of alteration or fermenting; circum- stances, which engender cruel fevers, and end in death. It is true, indeed, and it would be a folly to deny it, that, let our humors 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 na- tural dt.ith ; but yet without sickness, as will be my case, who shall die at my ap- pointed time, when these humors shall be consumed, which they are not at present. AND 1-ONli LIFE. 6? N'av, they are still perfect: nor is it possi- ble'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 facultr* are as good as "ever, and in the highest per- fection; mv understanding clearer and brighter than ever; my judgment sound : my memory tenacious; my spirit* ^ood ; and my voice, the first thing which is apt to fail others, grown so strong and soimrou*. that 1 cannot help chanting out loud my prayers morning and night, instead of whis- pering and muttering them to myself, a? 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, re- plete 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 ts no room for sensuality, nor for its bitter fruits, the passions, and perturbations of the mind, with a train of disagreeable apprehension?. Nor yet can the thoughts of death find room io my mind, as I have no sensuality to nour- ish such thoughts. Neither can the death of grandchildren and other relations and friends make any impression on me, "„ui J"0 A GUIDE TO HEAL I M for a moment or two ; and then it is over. Still 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 perpet- ual round of amusement and pleasure. And how is it possible a man should not enjoy himself, vvho meets with no crosses or disappointments in his old age, such as youth is constantly plagued with, and from which, as 1 shall presently shew, 1 have the happi- ness of being exempt ? The first of these is to do rervice to my country. O what a glorious amusement! in which I find infinite delight, as 1 thereby shew her the means of improving her im- portant estuary or harbour beyond the pos- sibility of its filling for thousands of years to come ; so as to secure to Venice her sur- prising and miraculous title of a maiden city, as she really is ; and the only one in the whole world: she will, moreover, there- by add to the lustre of her great and ex- cellent 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 AND LONG LIFE. of land, as well marshes, as barren sands, to great profit. A third amusement, and nn 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 iu 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 de- gree. And who can say, that they admit of any alloy, as in fact they do not! Another comfort I enjoy, is, that, having lost con- siderable part of my income, of which my grandchildren had been unfortunately rob- bed, 1 by mere dint of thought, which never sleeps, and without any fatigue of body, and very little of mind, have found a true and infallible 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 1 wrote in order to be useful to others, u really so, as many assure me by word' of mouth, mentioning that it has proved ex- tremely useful to them, as it in fact appear? to have been, whilst others inform me by letter that, under God, they are indebted to me for life. Still another "comfort I en- joy, is that of being able to writ* with mv 12 A GUIDE TO HEALTH 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 conversation with men of bright parts and superior under- standing, 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 ! 1 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 am sure to attain that celestial life, through the infinite good- ness and mercy of God. Thus, I enjoy this terrestrial life, in consequence of my sobriety and temperance, virtues so agreed^ ble to the Deity; and I enjoy, by the grace of the same Divine Majesty, the celestial, which he makes mo anticipate in thought; a thought so lively, as to fix me entirely on this object, the enjoyment of which I hold and affirm to be of the utmost certainty. And 1 hold that dying, in the manner I ex- pect, is not really death, but a passage of the soul from this earthly life to a celestial, immortal, and infinitely perfect existence. ANB LONG LIKE. ?3 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 entirely taken up with the happiness of liv- ing a celestial and divine life ; whence it is, that I enjoy two lives. Nor can the ter- minating 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, is it possible, that any one should grow tired of so great a comfort and bles- sing, as this which I really enjoy; and which everyone 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 ex- tremely agreeable. And whereas many embrace a spirtual and contemplative life, which is holy and commendable, the chief employment of those who lead it being to celebrate the praises of God; 0, that they would, likewise betake themselves entirely to a regular and sober life! How much more agreeable Tc