UC-NRLF 
 
 *^ =" "i;,. JES ON TllE 
 
 LUIGI CORNARO 
 
1 
 
DISCOURSES ON THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 (DISCORSI BELLA VITA SOBRIA) 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2007 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/discoursesonsobeOOcornrich 
 
DISCOURSES ON THE 
 SOBER LIFE 
 
 (DISCORSI DELLA VITA SOBRIA) 
 
 Being the Personal Narrative of Luigi Cornaro 
 (1467-1566, A.D.) 
 
 NEW YORK 
 
 THOMAS Y. CROWELL COMPANY 
 
 PUBLISHERS 
 
^.^ '■ c •< 
 
 HEALTH 
 UBHAHy 
 
 The most remarkable instance of the efficacy of temper- 
 ance toward the procuring of long life, is what we meet with 
 in a little book published by Luigi Cornaro, the Venetian; 
 which I the 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 consti- 
 tution, 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 "A 
 Sure and Certain Method 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 men- 
 tion haa been taken notice of by several eminent authors, and 
 is written with such a spirit of cheerfulness, religion and good 
 sense, as are fhe ni^tural. cx)ncoaiitants of temperance and 
 sobriety. The mixture of 'tte 'old man in it is rather a recom- 
 mendation fha\i> diaercdit to .it.r-JosEPH Addison, in "The 
 Spectator." ' -* ' '* ' \' ; . ; ' . • 
 
I 
 
 CONTENTS 
 
 PAOB 
 
 BIOGRAPHICAL INTRODUCTION ... 7 
 FIRST DISCOURSE 
 
 ON A TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE . .15 
 
 SECOND DISCOURSE 
 
 SHOWING THE SUREST METHOD OF CORRECTING AN 
 INFIRM CONSTITUTION . . . . .38 
 
 THIRD DISCOURSE 
 
 THE METHOD OF ENJOYING COMPLETE HAPPINESS IN 
 OLD AGE ....... 49 
 
 FOURTH DISCOURSE 
 
 AN EXHORTATION TO A SOBER AND REGULAR LIFE, 
 
 IN ORDER TO ATTAIN OLD AGE . . . .55 
 
 345214 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
 THE COENARO FAMILY 
 
 The family to which Luigi Cornaro belonged 
 flourished from the fifteenth to the eighteenth cen- 
 turies, and was held in high honor in the great days 
 of the Venetian Republic, several members being 
 elected to the Chief Magistracy. Perhaps the most 
 celebrated was a female — Caterina Cornaro, who was 
 born in 1454, and who^ while yet in her teens, became 
 the wife of the King of Cyprus, the island having 
 passed under the dominion of Venice after the fall of 
 the Latin Emperors of Byzantium. 
 
 In 1473 Caterina lost her husband. Although only 
 in her twentieth year she seized the reins of govern- 
 ment, and ruled the kingdom for sixteen years, when 
 a revolution forced her. to abdicate in favor of a 
 Republic. 
 
 The ex-Queen returned to Italy, retiring to Asolo, 
 near Treviso, where, until her death in 1516, she held 
 a brilliant Court, which became the resort of the 
 most renowned savants, artists and wits of her time. 
 
 Many portraits of Queen Caterina are in existence, 
 the most celebrated being that painted by Paolo 
 Veronese, which is now in Vienna. 
 
 Caterina was not the only famous female member 
 7 
 
8 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 of the Cornaro family ; Lucrezia Cornaro, who flour- 
 ished from 1646 to 1684, was a prodigy of learn- 
 ing, her writings — eulogies, poems, essays — are well 
 known even at the present day; she was a member 
 of nearly every learned society in Europe, and in 
 1678 the University of Padua conferred on her the 
 degree of Doctor, an honor so rarely bestowed on a 
 female as to be almost unique. 
 
 liinGI COBNABO, 
 
 Thirteen years after the birth of Queen Caterina, 
 Luigi first saw the light In the city of Padua. 
 Throughout early youth and manhood he lived freely, 
 indulging himself without stint, especially in the mat- 
 ters of eating and drinking. Becoming involved in 
 the consequences of some malpractices on the part 
 of his relatives, he was deprived of his family digni- 
 ties, and although not banished from Venice, he was 
 excluded from all share in public appointments, which 
 ill-treatment he took so much to heart that he retired 
 to Padua. 
 
 He had already married Veronica, of the family 
 of Spiltemberg; but it was only after several years 
 that the only child of this union, a daughter named 
 Clara, was born. This lady eventually married John 
 Cornaro, a member of the Cypriote branch of the 
 Comaros. 
 
INTRODUCTION 9 
 
 Having reached the age of thirty-five, the effects 
 of his hitherto intemperate life began to show them- 
 selves. As Cornaro himself wrote : "My stomach 
 became disordered, and I suffered pain from colic 
 and gout, attended by that which was yet worse — an 
 almost continual slow fever, a stomach generally out 
 of order, and a perpetual thirst. From these mis- 
 eries the only delivery I had to hope lor was Death." 
 
 HIS REFORMATION 
 
 Not for the first time, so he tells us, he sought 
 medical relief, and, luckily for himself, he found men 
 of sense who insisted that his only remedy lay in 
 renouncing his old ways of life. 
 
 He was urged to restrict his diet, both solid and 
 liquid, to that usually prescribed to sick people ; and 
 to use even that as sparingly as possible. On for- 
 mer occasions, when offered this sensible advice, he 
 had rejected it with impatience; but now his phy- 
 sicians added thiat if he did not at once adopt this 
 course of strict living there was no help for him, and 
 he must resign himself to an early death. 
 
 This was the turning point. Cornaro gradually 
 reduced his diet to a daily allowance of twelve ounces 
 of solid food and fourteen ounces of wine. In a few 
 days' time he began to perceive that his shattered 
 health was on the road to restoration; and con- 
 
10 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 tinuing this course, in less than one year he found 
 himself entirely freed from all his complaints. 
 
 The change wrought was not only physical, but 
 also psychical : Cornaro avowed that in his youth he 
 had been of a hasty and passionate temper; but by 
 his life of strict sobriety he secured so complete a 
 mastery over himself that he won the esteem of all 
 who knew him. 
 
 Cornaro became so habituated to this meagre fare 
 that an increase of two ounces of food and two 
 ounces of wine per day proved nearly fatal to him. 
 He was then about eighty years, of age, and had been 
 urged by his friends and relatives that it was neces- 
 sary that one so advanced in years should eat more 
 to support his declining powers. Cornaro's rational 
 argument that as a man advanced in years his stom- 
 ach grew weaker, and that, therefore, the tendency 
 should be to decrease rather than increase the sup- 
 ply of food, did not deter his friends from continuing 
 to pester him ; to please them, therefore, and by way 
 of experiment, he increased his daily allowance. 
 "This increase," he writes, "had in eight day's time 
 such an effect upon me that, from being cheerful and 
 brisk, I began to be peevish and melancholy, so that 
 nothing could please me. On the twelfth day I was 
 attacked with a violent pain in my side, which lasted 
 twenty-two hours, and was followed by a fever which 
 
INTRODUCTION 11 
 
 lasted thirty-five days without any respite ; insomuch 
 that all looked upon me as a dead man. But, God 
 be praised, I recovered, and I am positive that it 
 was only the great regularity I have observed for so 
 many years, and that only, which rescued me from 
 the jaws of death.'* 
 
 Later on, Cornaro yet further reduced his diet, 
 until he found that he could support life and vigor 
 on as little meat-food as one egg per diem. There is 
 much remarkable testimony as to the wonderful vi- 
 tality displayed by Cornaro, even when he had passed 
 the age allotted to man by the Psalmist. He related 
 how he was thrown from a carriage and dragged 
 along for some distance before the horses could be 
 stopped. He was severely battered and bruised, and 
 his leg and arm were dislocated. The physicians were 
 of opinion that there was no hope for him, and gave 
 him but three more days to live, but wished to try 
 what bleeding and purging would do to prevent 
 inflammation and fever. 
 
 But Cornaro stoutly refused to submit to these 
 remedial measures. He allowed his arm and leg to 
 be set, and himself to be rubbed with oils, and shortly 
 afterward was completely restored, much to the 
 amazement of the physicians. 
 
 In 1548, at the age of eighty, Cornaro published 
 his celebrated treatise, "Discorsi della vita sobria," 
 
12 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 which he supplemented with three others on the same 
 subject. As Addison wrote, "this treatise is written 
 with such a spirit of cheerfulness, religion, and good 
 sense, as are the natural concomitants of temperance 
 and sobriety." Besides these treatises he is said to 
 have written a comedy which was received with great 
 applause. 
 
 HIS DEATH 
 
 Luigi Comaro died in 1566, being then in his 
 ninety-ninth year, though some writers have main- 
 tained that he survived until he attained the ripe age 
 of 103. 
 
 Almost to the very last he was as vigorously active 
 as ever, taking pedestrian or riding exercise. His 
 eyesight and hearing were sound and good, and as 
 one of his contemporaries has related, "he preserved 
 his voice so clear and harmonious that at the end of 
 his life he sung with as much strength and delight 
 as he did at the age of twenty-five.'* In his treatise 
 Comaro stated liis firm belief that he would not die 
 except hy mere dissolution. He felt convinced that 
 by his regular course of life he had, to use his own 
 words : "shut out all other avenues of death.'* More 
 than once he expresses his conviction that pain and 
 agony would not accompany his end as they do tliat 
 of most other human beings. And tliis belief was jus- 
 tified by fact. 
 
INTRODUCTION 13 
 
 According to the most widely accepted evidence 
 Cornaro died in his place of retreat at Padua on 
 April 26th5 1566, and 'Was buried in accordance with 
 his own desire, with simple ceremony in St. Anthony's 
 Church, on May 8th. From the same source we have 
 it that he himself felt that his last hour was drawing 
 nigh, and he disposed himself, patiently, with the 
 purity of a Christian and the courage of a philoso- 
 pher, to depart this life. He drew up his will, and 
 set all his affairs in order, after which he received 
 the last sacrament, and awaited death in his chair. 
 He fell into a slight stupor, feeling no manner of 
 pain, and thus breathed his last breath. 
 
 His wife survived him some years, and it is said 
 that "death came to her as mercifully as to her hus- 
 band." She passed away without any convulsive 
 movements, and with so perfect a tranquillity that it 
 was not perceived at what moment she died. 
 
The First Discourse 
 ON A TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 
 
 It is universally agreed, that custom, in time, be- 
 comes a second nature, forcing men to use that, 
 whether good or bad, to which they have been habit- 
 uated ; in fact, we see habit, in many instances, gain 
 the ascendancy over reason. This is so undeniably 
 true, that virtuous men, by keeping company with 
 wicked, often fall into the same vicious course of life. 
 Seeing and considering all this, I have decided to 
 write on the vice of intemperance in eating and 
 drinking. 
 
 Now, though all are agreed that intemperance is 
 the parent of gluttony, and sober living the offspring 
 of absteminousness ; yet, owing to the power of cus- 
 tom, the former is considered a virtue, and the latter 
 as mean and avaricious ; and so many men are blinded 
 and besotted to such a degree, that they come to the 
 age of forty or fifty, burdened with strange and pain- 
 ful infirmities, which render them decrepit and use- 
 less ; whereas, had they lived temperately and soberly, 
 they would in all probability have been sound and 
 hearty, to the age of eighty and upward. To remedy 
 
 15 
 
16 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 this state of things, it is requisite that men should 
 live up to the simplicity dictated by nature, which 
 teaches us to be content with little, and accustom 
 ourselves to eat no more than is absolutely neces- 
 sary to support life, remembering that all excess 
 causes disease and leads to death. How many friends 
 of mine, men of the finest understanding and most 
 amiable disposition, have I seen carried off in the 
 flower of their manhood by reason of excess and over- 
 feeding, who, had they been temperate, would now be 
 living, and ornaments to society, and whose company 
 I should enjoy with as much pleasure as I am now 
 (deprived of it with concern. 
 
 In order, therefore, to put a stop to so great an 
 evil, I have resolved, in this short discourse, to demon- 
 strate that intemperance is an abuse which may be 
 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 under- 
 standing have urged upon me its necessity because 
 of many of their parents having died in middle life, 
 while I remain so sound and hearty at the age of 
 eighty-one. These young men express 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 the 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 17 
 
 least opposition, the senses then being so subdued, 
 that man gives himself up entirely to reason. They 
 besought me to let them know the method pursued 
 by me to attain it ; and then, finding them intent on 
 so laudable a pursuit, I 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, and declare freely the method pursued by me 
 for that purpose, and then show the good effect upon 
 me ; from whence it will be seen how easy it is to re- 
 move the abuse of free living. I shall conclude, by 
 showing the many conveniences and blessings of tem- 
 perate life. 
 
 I say, then, that the heavy train of infirmities 
 which had made great inroads on my constitution, 
 were my motives for renouncing intemperance, in the 
 matter of too freely eating and drinking, to which I 
 had been addicted, so that, in consequence of it, my 
 stomach became disordered, and I suffered much pain 
 from colic and gout, attended by that which was still 
 worse, an almost continual slow fever, a stomach gen- 
 erally out of order, and a perpetual thirst. From 
 these disorders, the best delivery I had to hope was 
 death. 
 
18 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 Finding myself, therefore, between my thirty-fifth 
 and fortieth year in such unhappy circumstances, 
 and having tried everything that could be thought of 
 to relieve me, but to no purpose, the physicians gave 
 me to understand that there was one method left to 
 get the better of my complaints, provided I would 
 resolve to use it, and patiently persevere. This was 
 to live a strictly sober and regular life, which would 
 be of the greatest efficacy; and that of this I might 
 convince myself, since, by my disorders I was become 
 infirm, though not reduced so low but that a regular 
 life might still recover me. They further added, that, 
 if I did not at once adopt this method of strict liv- 
 ing, I should in a few months receive no benefit from 
 it, and that in a few more I must resign myself to 
 death* 
 
 These arguments made such an impression on me, 
 that, mortified as I was, besides, by the thought of 
 dying in the prime of life, though at the same time 
 perpetually tormented by various diseases, I imme- 
 diately resolved, in order to avoid at once both dis- 
 ease and death, to betake myself to a regular course 
 of life. Having upon this inquired of them what 
 rules I should follow, they told mQ that I must only 
 use food, solid or liquid, such as is generally pre- 
 scribed to sick persons ; and both sparingly. These 
 directions, to say the truth, they had before given 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 19 
 
 me, but I had been impatient of such restraint, and 
 had eaten and drank freely of those things I had de- 
 sired. But, xwhen I had once resolved to live soberly, 
 and according to the dictates of reason, feeling it 
 was my duty as a man so to do, I entered with so 
 much resolution upon this new course of life, that 
 nothing since has been able to divert me from it. 
 The consequence was, that in a few days I began to 
 perceive that such a course agreed well with me; 
 and, by pursuing it, I found myself in less than a 
 year (some people, perhaps, will not believe it) en- 
 tirely freed from all my complaints. 
 
 Having thus recovered my health, I began seri- 
 ously to consider the power of temperance: if it had 
 efficacy enough to subdue such grievous disorders as 
 mine it must also have power to preserve me in health 
 and strengthen my bad constitution. I therefore ap- 
 plied myself diligently to discover what kinds of food 
 suited me best. 
 
 But, first, I resolved to try whether those which 
 pleased my palate were agreeable to my stomach, so 
 that I might judge of the truth of the proverb, which 
 is so universally held, namely: — That, whatever 
 pleases the palate, must agree with the stomach, or, 
 that whatever is palatable must be wholesome and 
 nourishing. The issue was, that I found it to be 
 false, for I soon found that many things which pleased 
 
20 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 my palate, disagreed with my stomach. Having thus 
 convinced myself that the proverb in question was 
 false, I gave over the use of such meats and wines as 
 did not suit me, and chose those which by experience 
 I found agreed well with me, taking onli/ as much as 
 I could easily digest, having strict regard to quantity 
 as well as quality ; and contrived matters so as never 
 to cloy my stomach with eating or drinking, and 
 always rose from the table with a disposition to eat 
 and drink more. In this I conformed to the proverb, 
 which says, that a 'man to consult his health must 
 chiBck his appetite. Having in this manner conquered 
 intemperance I betook myself entirely to a temper- 
 ate and regular life, and this it was which eifected in 
 me that alteration already mentioned, that is, in less 
 than a year, it rid me of all those disorders which 
 had taken such hold on me, and which appeared at the 
 time incurable. It had likewise this other good effect, 
 that I no longer experienced those annual fits of sick- 
 ness, with wliich I used to be afflicted while I followed 
 my ordinary free manner of eating and drinking. I 
 also became exceedingly healthy, as I have continued 
 from that tim'e to this day ; and for no other reason 
 than that I never transgressed against regularity and 
 strict moderation. 
 
 In consequence, therefore, of my taking such meth- 
 ods, I have always enjoyed, and, God be praised, still 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 21 
 
 enjoy, the best of health. It is true, that, besides 
 the two most important rules rela/tive: to eating and 
 drinking, which I have ever been very scrupulous to 
 observe (that is, not tor take of either, more than my 
 stomach could easily digest, 'and to use- only those 
 things which agree with me.) , I have oarefully avoided, 
 as far as possible, all extreme heat, cold, extraordi- 
 nary fatigue, interruption of my usual hours of rest, 
 or staying long in bad air. I likewise did all that lay 
 in my power, to avoid those evils, which we do not 
 find it so easy to remove: melancholy, hatred, aaid 
 other violent passions, which appear to have the 
 greatest influence on our bodies. I have not, how- 
 ever, been able to guard so well against these dis- 
 orders, as not to- suffer myself now and then to be 
 hurried away by them. But I have discovered this 
 fact, that these passions., have, in the main, no great 
 influence over bodies governed by the two foregoing 
 rules of eating^ and drinking. Galen, who was an 
 eminent physician, has said., that, so long as he fol- 
 lowed these two rules, he suffered but little from such 
 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 me, how often I have been exposed 
 to heats and colds, and disagreeable changes of 
 weather, without taking harm, and have likewise seen 
 
22 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 me (owing to various misfortunes which have more 
 than once befallen me) greatly disturbed in mind; 
 these things, however, did me but little harm, whereas, 
 other members of my family, w^lo followed not my 
 way of living, were greatly disturbed; such in a 
 word, was their grief and dejection at seeing me in- 
 volved in expensive law suits, commenced against me 
 by great and powerful men, that, fearing I should be 
 ruined, they were seized with great melancholy hu- 
 mor, with which intemperate bodies always abound, 
 and such influence had it over their bodies, that they 
 were carried off before their time; whereas, I suf- 
 fered nothing on the occasion, as I h^d in me no 
 superfluous humors of th^t kind; nay, in order to 
 keep up my spirits, I brought myself to think that 
 God had permitted 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 
 honor and advantage^ as it, in fact, came to pass; 
 for, at last, I obtained a decree exceedingly favorajble 
 to my fortune an.d character. 
 
 But I may go a step farther, and show how fa- 
 vorable to recovery is a temperate life, in case of 
 accident. At the age of seventy years, I happened, 
 as is often the case, to be in a coach, which, going 
 at a smart rate, was upset, and in that condition 
 drawn a considerable way before the horses could 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 23 
 
 be stopped. I received so many shocks and bruises, 
 that I was taken out with my head and body terribly 
 battered, and a dislocated leg and arm. When the 
 physicians saw me in so bad a plight, they concluded 
 that in three days I should die, but thought they 
 would try what bleeding and purging would do, in 
 order to prevent inflammation and fever. But I, on 
 the contrary, knowing that, by reason of the sober 
 life I had lived for so many years, my blood was in 
 good and pure condition, refused to be either purged 
 or bled. I just caused my arm and leg to be set, 
 and suffered myself to be rubbed with some oils, which 
 they said were proper on the occasion. Thus, with- 
 out using any other kind of remedy, I recovered, as 
 I thought I should, without feeling the least altera- 
 tion in myself, or any bad effects from the accident ; 
 a thing which appeared no less than miraculous in 
 the eyes of the physicians. Hence, we may infer, 
 that he who leads a sober and regular life, and com- 
 mits no excess in his diet, can suffer but little from 
 mental disorders or external accidents. On the con- 
 trary, I conclude, especially from the late trial I have 
 had, that excesses in eating and drinking are often 
 fatal. Four years ago, I consented to increase the 
 quantity of my food by two ounces, my friends and 
 relations having, for some time past, urged upon me 
 the necessity of such increase, that the quantity I 
 
24 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 took was too little for one so advanced in years; 
 against this, I urged that nature was content with 
 little, and that with this small quantity I had pre- 
 served myself for many years in health and activity, 
 that I believed as a man advanced in years, his stom- 
 ach grew Weaker, and therefore the tendency should 
 be to lessen the amount of food rather than to in- 
 crease. I further reminded them of the two proverbs, 
 which say: he who has a. mind to eat a great deal, 
 must eat but little; eating little makes life long, and, 
 living long, he must eat much ; and the other proverb 
 was : that, what we leave after making a hearty meal, 
 does us more good than what we have eaten. But my 
 arguments and proverbs were not able to prevent 
 them teasing me upon the subject; therefore, not to 
 appear obstinate, or affecting to know more than the 
 physicians themselves, but above all, to please my 
 family, I consented to the increase before mentioned ; 
 so that, whereas previous, what with bread, meat, the 
 yolk of an egg^ and soup, I ate as much as twelve 
 ounces, neither more nor less, I now increased it to 
 fourteen; and whereas before I drank but fourteen 
 ounces of wine, I now increased it to sixteen. This 
 increase, had, in eight days' time, such an effect upon 
 me, that, from being cheerful and brisk, I began to 
 be peevish and melancholy, so that nothing could 
 please me. On the twelfth day, I was attacked with a 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 25 
 
 violent pain in my side, which lasted twenty-two 
 hours and was followed by a fever, which continued 
 thirty-five days without any respite, insomuch that 
 all looked upon me as a dead man; but, God be 
 praised, I recovered, 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. 
 
 Orderly living is, doubtless, a most certain cause 
 and foundation of health and long life ; nay, I say it 
 is the only true medicine, and whoever weighs the mat- 
 ter well, will come to this conclusion. Hence it is, 
 that when the physician comes to visit a patient, the 
 first thing he prescribes is regular living, and cer- 
 tainly to avoid excess. Now, if the patient after re- 
 covery should continue so to live, he could not be 
 sick again, and if a very small quantity of food is 
 sufficient to re-store his health, then but a slight addi- 
 tion is necessary for the continuance of the same ; 
 and so, for the future, he would want neither phy- 
 sician nor physic. Nay, by attending to what I have 
 said, he would become his own physician, and in- 
 deed, the best he could have, since, in fact, no man 
 should be a perfect physician to any but, himself. 
 The reason is, that any man, by repeated trials, may 
 acquire a perfect knowledge of his own constitution, 
 the kinds of food and drink which agree with him 
 
26 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 best. These repeated trials are necessary, as there 
 is a great variety in the nature and stomachs of per- 
 sons. I found that old wine did not suit me, but that 
 the new wines did; and, after long practice, I dis- 
 covered that many things, which might not be in- 
 jurious to others, were not good for me. Now, where 
 is the physician who could have informed me which to 
 take, and which to avoid, since I by long observation, 
 could scarce discover these things. 
 
 It follows, therefore, that it is impossible to be a 
 perfect physician to another. A man cannot have a 
 better guide than himself, nor any physic better than 
 a regular life. I do not, however, mean that for the 
 knowledge and cure of such disorders as befall those 
 who live an irregular life there is no occasion for a 
 physician and that his assistance ought to be slighted ; 
 such persons should at once call in medical aid, in 
 case of sickness. But, for the bare purpose of keep- 
 ing ourselves in good health, I am of opinion, that 
 we should consider this regular life as our physician, 
 since it preserves men, even those of a weak constitu- 
 tion, in health ; makes them live sound and hearty, to 
 the age of one hundred and upward, and prevents 
 their dying of sickness, or through the corruption of 
 their humors, but merely by the natural decay, which 
 at the last must come to all. These things, however, 
 are discovered but by few, for men, for the most part, 
 
TEMPERATE AND H \:.T IFUL LIFE 27 
 
 are sensual and intemperate, and lOve to satisfy their 
 appetites, and to commit every excess ; and, by way 
 of apology, say that they prefer a short and self- 
 indulgent life, to a long and self-denying one, not 
 knowing that those men are most truly happy who 
 keep their appetites in subjection. Thus have I 
 found it, and I prefer to live temperately, so that I 
 may live long and be useful. Had I not been tem- 
 perate, I should never have written these tracts, which 
 I have the pleasure of thinking will be serviceable to 
 others. Sensual men affirm that no man can live a 
 regular life. To this I answer, that Galen, who was 
 a great 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 forbear naming; and, in our 
 days. Pope Paul Farnese and Cardinal Bembo ; and 
 it was for that reason they lived so long. There- 
 fore, since many have led this life, and many are 
 actually leading it, surely all might conform to it, 
 and the more so, as no great difficulty attends it. 
 Cicero affirms that nothing is needed, but to- be in 
 good earnest. Plato, you say, though he himself 
 lived thus regularly, affirms that, in republics, men 
 often cannot do so, being obliged to expose them- 
 selves to various hardships and changes, which are 
 incompatible with a regular life. I answer, that men 
 
28 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 who have to undergo these things, would be the better 
 able to bear such hardships by being strictly temper- 
 ate in matters of eating and drinking. 
 
 Here it may be objected, that he who leads this 
 strict and regular life, having constantly when well 
 made use only of simple food fit for the sick, and in 
 small quantities, has when himself in sickness, no re- 
 course left in matters of diet. To which I reply, 
 that, whoever leads a regular life, cannot be sick or 
 at least but seldom. By a regular life I mean, that 
 a man shall ascertain for himself, how small a quan- 
 tity of food and drink is sufficient to supply the daily 
 wants of his nature and then having done this, and 
 found out the kinds of food and drink best suited for 
 his constitution, he shall, having formed his plans, 
 strictly adhere to his resolutions and principles, not 
 being careful at one time, and self-indulgent at others, 
 for by so doing, he would gain but little benefit ; but 
 taking care always to avoid excess, which any man 
 can certainly do at all times, and under all circum- 
 stances, if he is determined. I say then, that he who 
 thus lives cannot be sick, or but seldom, and for a 
 short time, because, by regular living, he destroys 
 every seed of sickness, and thus, by removing the 
 cause, prevents the effect; so that he who pursues a 
 regular and strictly moderate life, need not fear 
 illness, for his blood having become pure, and free 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 29 
 
 from all bad humors, it is not possible that he can 
 fall sick. 
 
 Since, therefore, it appears that a regular life is 
 so profitable and virtuous, it ought to be universally 
 followed ; and more so, as it does not clash with du- 
 ties of any kind, but is easy to all. Neither is it nec^ 
 essary that all should eat as little as I do — twelve 
 ounces — or not to eat of many things from which I, 
 because of the natural weakness of my stomach, ab- 
 stain. Those with whom all kinds of food agree, 
 may eat of such, only they are forbidden to eat a 
 greater quantity, even of that which agrees with them 
 best, than their stomachs can with ease digest. The 
 same is to be understood of drink. The only rule 
 for such to observe in eating, and drinking, is the 
 quantity rather than the quality ; but for those who, 
 like myself, are weak of constitution, these must not 
 only be careful as to quantity, but also to quality, 
 partaking only of such things as are simple, and easy 
 to digest. 
 
 Let no one tell me that there are numbers, who, 
 though they live most irregularly, attain in health 
 and spirits to a great age. This argument is 
 grounded on uncertainty and hazard, and such cases 
 are rare. Men should not, therefore, because of these 
 exceptional cases, be persuaded to irregularity or 
 indulgence. Whoever, trusting to the strength of 
 
80 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 his constitution, slights these observations, may ex- 
 pect to suffer by so doing, and to live in constant 
 danger of disease and death. I therefore affirm, that 
 a man, even of a bad constitution, who leads a strictly 
 regular and sober life, is surer of a long one, than he 
 of the best constitution who lives carelessly and ir- 
 regularly. If men have a mind to live long and 
 healthy, and die without sickness of body or mind, 
 but by mere dissolution, they must submit to a regu- 
 lar and abstemious life, for such a life keeps the blood 
 clean and pure. It suffers no vapors to ascend from 
 the stomach to the head; hence, the brain of him 
 who thus lives enjoys constant serenity; he can soar 
 above the low and groveling concerns of this life to 
 the exalted and beautiful contemplation of heavenly 
 things to his exceeding comfort and satisfaction. He 
 then truly discerns the brutality of those excesses 
 into which men fall, and which bring them misery 
 here and hereafter; while he may with comfort look 
 forward to a long life, conscious that, through the 
 mercy of God, he has relinquished the paths of vice 
 and intemperance, never again to enter them; and, 
 through the merits of our Saviour Jesus Christ, to 
 idie in His favor. He therefore does not suffer him- 
 self to be cast down with the thoughts of death, know- 
 ing that it will not attack him violently, or by sur- 
 prise, or with sharp pains and feverish sensations, 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 31 
 
 but will come upon him with ease and gentleness ; like 
 a lamp, the oil of which is exhausted, he will pass 
 gently, and without any sickness, from this terres- 
 trial and mortal, to a celestial and eternal life. 
 
 Some sensual unthinking persons affirm, that a 
 long life is no great blessing, and that the state of a 
 man, who has passed his seventy-fifth year, cannot 
 really be called life ; but this is wrong, as I shall fully 
 prove; and it is my sincere wish, that all men would 
 endeavor to attain my age, that they might enjoy 
 that period of life, which of all others is most de- 
 sirable. 
 
 I will therefore give an account of my recreations, 
 and the relish which I find at this stage of life. There 
 are many who can give testimony as to the happiness 
 of my life. In the first place, they see with astonish- 
 ment the good state of my health and spirits ; how I 
 mount my horse without assistance, how I not only 
 ascend a flight of stairs, but can climb a hill with 
 greatest ease. Then, how gay and good-humored I 
 am ; my mind ever undisturbed, in fact, joy and peace 
 having fixed their abode in my breast. Moreover, 
 they know in what manner I spend my time, so as 
 never to find life weary: I pass my hours in great 
 delight and pleasure, in converse with men of good 
 sense and intellectual culture; then, when I cannot 
 enjoy their company, I betake myself to the reading 
 
82 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 of some good book. When I have read as much as I 
 like, I write ; endeavoring in this, as in other things 
 to be of service to others ; and these things I do with 
 the greatest ease to myself, living in a pleasant house 
 in the most beautiful quarter of this noble city of 
 Padua. Besides this house, I have my gardens, sup- 
 plied with pleasant streams in which I always find 
 something to do which amuses me. Nor are my rec- 
 reations rendered less agreeable by the failing of any 
 of my senses, for they are all, thank God, perfect, 
 particularly my palate, which now relishes better the 
 simple fare I have, than it formerly did the most 
 delicate dishes, when I led an irregular life. Nor 
 does the change of beds give me any uneasiness: I 
 can sleep everywhere soundly and quietly, and my 
 dreams are pleasant and delightful. It is likewise 
 with the greatest pleasure 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, but which I thought I should never see com- 
 pleted; nevertheless I have, and was even in person 
 assisting in the work for two months together, in 
 those marshy places during the heats in summer, 
 without ever finding myself worse for the fatigues or 
 inconveniences I suffered ; of so much efficacy is that 
 orderly life, which I everywhere constantly lead. 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 33 
 
 Such are some of the recreations and diversions of 
 my old age, which is so much the more to be valued 
 than the old age, or even the youth of other men ; as, 
 being freed by God's grace from the perturbations 
 of the mind and the infirmities of the body, I no 
 longer experience any of those contrary emotions 
 which rack such a number of young men and as many 
 old ones, who, by reason of their careless living 
 and intemperate habits, are destitute of health and 
 strength, and consequently of all true enjoyment. 
 
 And if it be lawful to compare little matters to 
 aifairs 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 
 an entertaining comedy, abounding with innocent 
 mirth and pleasant jests. 
 
 I have yet another comfort which I will mention; 
 that of seeing a kind of immortality in a succession 
 of descendants; for, as often as I return home, I 
 find before me, not one or two, but eleven grandchil- 
 dren, the oldest of them eighteen, all the offspring of 
 one father and mother, and all blessed with good 
 health. Some of the youngest I play with; those 
 older, I make companions of; and, as nature has be- 
 stowed good voices upon them, I amuse myself by 
 hearing them sing, and play on different instruments. 
 Nay, I sing myself, as I have a better voice now, 
 
84 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 clearer and louder, than at any period of my life. 
 Such are the recreations of my old age. 
 
 Whence it appears, that the life I lead is not 
 gloomy, but cheerful, and I would not exchange my 
 manner of living and my gray hairs, with that of 
 even a young man, having the best constitution, who 
 gave way to his appetites; knowing, as I do, that 
 such are daily subject to a thousand kinds of ail- 
 ments and death. I remember my own conduct in 
 early life, and I know how foolhardy are young men ; 
 how apt they are to presume on their strength in all 
 their actions, and by reason of their little experience, 
 are oversanguine in their expectations. Hence, they 
 often expose themselves rashly to every kind of dan- 
 ger, and, banishing reason, bow their necks to the 
 yoke of concupiscence, and endeavor to gratify all 
 their appetites, not minding, fools as they are, that 
 they thereby hasten the approach of what they would 
 most willingly avoid, sickness and death. 
 
 And these are two great evils to all men who live 
 a free life; the one is troublesome and painful, the 
 other, dreadful and insupportable, especially when 
 they 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. Whereas, I, in my 
 old age, praise to the Almighty, am exempt from 
 these torments ; from the first, because I cannot fall 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 35 
 
 sick, having removed all the cause of illness by my 
 regularity and moderation; from the other, that of 
 death, because from so many years' experience, I 
 have learned to obey reason ; whereas, I not only think 
 it a great folly to fear that which cannot be avoided, 
 but likewise firmly expect some consolation, from the 
 grace of Jesus Christ, when I arrive at that period. 
 
 But though I know I must, like others, reach that 
 term, it is yet at so great a distance that I cannot 
 discern it, because / kno'm I shall not die except hy 
 mere dissolwtion, having already, by my regular 
 course of life, shut up all other avenues of death, 
 and thus prevented the humors of my body making 
 any other war upon me, than that which I must ex- 
 pect 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 the 
 natural death that I speak of does not overtake one, 
 until after a long course of years ; and even then, I 
 do not expect the pain and agony which most men 
 suffer when they die. But I, by God's blessing, 
 reckon that I have still a long time to live in health 
 and spirits, and enjoy this beautiful world, which is, 
 indeed, beautiful to those who know how to make it 
 so, but its beauty can only be realized by those who, 
 by reason of temperance and virtue, enjoy sound 
 health of body and mind. 
 
36 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 Now, if this sober and moderate manner of living 
 brings so much happiness ; if the blessings that attend 
 it are so stable and permanent, then I beseech every 
 man of sound judgment to embrace this valuable 
 treasure, that of a long and healthful life, a treasure 
 which exceeds all other worldly blessings, and, there- 
 fore, should be sought after ; for what is wealth and 
 abundance to a man who is possessed with a feeble 
 and sickly body? This is that divine sobriety, agree- 
 able to God, the friend of nature, the daughter of 
 reason, the sister of all the virtues, the companion of 
 temperate living, modest, courteous, content with lit- 
 tle, regular, and perfectly mistress of all her opera- 
 tions. From her, as from their proper root, spring 
 life, health, cheerfulness, industry, learning and all 
 those actions and employments worthy of noble and 
 generous minds. The laws of God are all in her favor. 
 Repletion, excess, intemperance, superfluous humors, 
 diseases, fevers, pains, and the dangers of death, van- 
 ish in her presence, as mists before the sun. Her 
 comeliness ravishes every well-disposed mind. Her 
 influence is so sure, as to promise to all a long and 
 agreeable life. And, lastly, she promises to be a mild 
 and pleasant guardian of life, teaching how to ward 
 off the attacks of death. Strict sobriety, in eating 
 and drinking, renders the senses and understanding 
 clear, the memory tenacious, the body lively and 
 
TEMPERATE AND HEALTHFUL LIFE 37 
 
 strong, the movements regular and easy; and the 
 soul, feeling so little of her earthly burden, experi- 
 ences much of her natural liberty. The man thus 
 enjoys a pleasing and agreeable harmony, there be- 
 ing nothing in his system to disturb ; for his blood is 
 pure, and runs freely through his veins, and the heat 
 of his body is mild and temperate. 
 
The Second Discourse 
 
 SHOWING THE SUREST METHOD OF COR- 
 RECTING AN INFIRM CONSTITUTION 
 
 My treatise on a sober life has begun to answer 
 my desire, in being of service to many persons bom 
 of a weak constitution, or who, by reason of free liv- 
 ing, have become infirm, who, when they commit the 
 least excess, find themselves greatly indisposed. I 
 should also be glad to be of service to those, who, 
 bom with a good constitution, yet, by reason of a 
 disorderly life, find themselves at the age of fifty or 
 sixty attacked with various pains and diseases, such 
 as gout, sciatica, liver and stomach complaints, to 
 which they would not be subject, were they to live a 
 strictly temperate life, and by so doing would more- 
 over greatly increase the term of their existence, and 
 live with much greater comfort; they would find 
 themselves less irritable, and less disposed to be upset 
 by inconvenience and annoyance. I was myself of a 
 most irritable disposition, insomuch that at times 
 there was no living with me. Now, for a very long 
 time it has been otherwise, and I can see that a per- 
 son swayed by his passions is little or no better than 
 a madman at such times. 
 
 88 
 
AN INFIRM CONSTITUTION 39 
 
 The man, also, who is of a bad constitution, may, 
 by dint of reason, and a regular and sober life, live 
 to a great age and in good health, as I have done, 
 who had naturally one of the worst, so that it ap- 
 peared impossible I should live above forty years, 
 whereas, I now find myself sound and hearty at the 
 age of eighty-six ; forty-six years beyond the time I 
 had expected; and during this long respite all my 
 senses have continued perfect ; and even my teeth, my 
 voice, my memory, and my heart. But what is still 
 more, my brain is clearer now than it ever was. Nor 
 do any of my powers abate as I advance in life ; and 
 this because, as I grow older, I lessen the quantity of 
 my solid food. This retrenchment is necessary, since 
 it is impossible for man to live for ever; and, as he 
 draws near his end, he is brought so low as to be 
 able to take but little nourishment, and at such times, 
 the yolk of an egg, and a few spoonfuls of milk with 
 bread, is quite sufficient during the twenty-four 
 hours; a greater quantity would most likely cause 
 pain, and shorten life. In my own case, I expect to 
 die without any pain or sickness, and this is a bless- 
 ing of great importance; yet may be expected by 
 those who shall lead a sober life, whether they be 
 rich or poor. And, since a long and healthy life 
 ought to be greatly coveted by every man, then I 
 conclude that all men are in duty bound to exert 
 
40 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 themselves to that effect ; nevertheless such a blessing 
 cannot be obtained without strict temperance and 
 sobriety. But some allege that many, without lead- 
 ing such a life, have lived to a hundred, and that in 
 good health, though they ate a great deal, and used 
 indiscriminately eVery kind of viands and wine, and 
 therefore they 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 fifty thou- 
 sand that eVer attains that happiness ; the other mis- 
 take is, that such, in the end, most certainly contract 
 some illness, which carries them off: nor can they be 
 sure of ending their days otherwise ; so that the safest 
 way to attain a long and healthful life, is to embrace 
 sobriety, and to diet oneself strictly as to quantity. 
 And this is no very difficult affair. History informs 
 us of many who lived in the greatest temperance; 
 and this present age furnishes us with many such, 
 reckoning myself one of the number: we are all hu- 
 man beings, endowed with reason, and consequently 
 we ought to be master of all our actions. 
 
 This sobriety is reduced to two things, quality and 
 quantity. Ths first consists in avoiding food or 
 drinks, which are found to disagree with the stomach. 
 The second, to avoid taking more than the stomach 
 can easily digest; and every man at the age of forty 
 ought to be a perfect judge in these matters; and 
 
AN INFIRM CONSTITUTION 41 
 
 whoever observes these two rules, may be said to live 
 a regular and sober life. And the virtue and efficacy 
 of this life is such, that the humors in a man's blood 
 become harmonious and perfect, and are no longer 
 liable to be disturbed or corrupted by any disorders, 
 such as suffering from excessive heat or cold, too 
 much fatigue, or want of rest, and the like. A man 
 who lives as I have described, may pass through all 
 these changes without harm. Wherefore, since the 
 humors of persons who observe these two rules rela- 
 tive to eating and drinking, cannot possibly be cor- 
 rupted and engender acute diseases (the cause of un- 
 timely death), every man is bound to comply with 
 them, for whoever acts otherwise, living a disorderly 
 life, instead of a regular one, is constantly exposed 
 to disease and death. 
 
 It is, indeed, true that even those who observe the 
 two rules relating to diet, the observance of which 
 constitutes a regular life, may, by committing any 
 one of the other irregularities, such as excessive heat, 
 cold, fatigue, etc., find himself slightly indisposed for 
 a day or two, but he need fear nothing worse. 
 
 But as there are some persons who, though well 
 stricken in years, are, nevertheless, very free in their 
 living, and allege that neither the quantity nor the 
 quality of theii* diet makes any impression upon 
 them, and therefore eat a great deal of everything 
 
42 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 without distinction, and indulge themselves equally 
 in point of drinking; such men are ignorant of the 
 requirements of their nature, or they are gluttonous ; 
 and I do affirm, that such do not enjoy good health, 
 but as a rule are infirm, irritable, and full of maladies. 
 There are others, who say that it is necessary that 
 they should eat and drink freely to keep up their 
 natural heat, which is constantly diminishing, as they 
 advance in years ; and that it is therefore their duty 
 to eat heartily of such things as please their palate, 
 and that strict moderation, in their casef. Would tend 
 to* shorten life. Now, this is the reason, or excuse, of 
 thousands. But to all this, I answer, that all such 
 are deceiving themselves, and I speak from experi- 
 ence, as well as observation. The fact is, large quan- 
 tities of food cannot be digested by old stomachs ; as 
 man gets weaker as he grows older, and the waste in 
 his system is slower*, the natural heat certainly is 
 less. Nor will all the food in the world increase it, 
 except to bring on fever and distressing disorders; 
 therefore, let none be afraid of shortening their days 
 by eating too little. I am strong and hearty, and full 
 of good spirits, neither have I ache or pain, and yet 
 I am very old, and subsist upon very little; and, in 
 this respect, that which would suit one man, is good 
 for another. When men are taken ill they discoiv- 
 tinue, or nearly so, their food. Now, if by reducing 
 
AN INFIRM CONSTITUTION 43 
 
 themselves to a small quantity, they recover from the 
 jaws of death, how can they doubt, but that, with a 
 slight increase of diet consistent with reason, they 
 will be able to support nature, when in health. Let 
 a fair, honest trial of some few weeks be given, and 
 the result would, in all cases, be most pleasing. 
 
 Others say, that it is better for a man to suffer 
 three or four times every year, from gout, sciatica, 
 or whatever disorder to which he may be subject, 
 than be tormented the whole year by not indulging 
 his appetite, and eating and drinking just as he 
 pleases, since he can always by a few days of self- 
 denial recover from all such attacks. To this I an- 
 swer, that, our natural heat growing less and less as 
 we advance in years, no abstinence for a short time 
 can have virtue sufficient to conquer the malady to 
 which the man is subject, and which is generally 
 brought on by repletion, so that he must die at last of 
 one of these periodical disorders; for they abridge 
 life in the same proportion as temperance and health 
 prolong it. 
 
 Others pretend that it is better to live a short and 
 self-indulgent life, than a long and self-denying one ; 
 but surely, longevity ought to be valued, and is, by 
 men of good understanding; and those who do not 
 truly prize this great gift of God, are surely a dis- 
 grace to mankind, and their death is a service to the 
 
U THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 public rather than not. And again, there are some, 
 who, though they are conscious that they become 
 weaker as they advance in years, yet cannot be 
 brought to retrench the quantity of their food, but 
 rather increase it, and, because they find themselves 
 unable to digest the great quantity of food, with 
 which they load their stomachs twice or thrice a day, 
 they resolve to eat but once, heartily, in the twenty- 
 four hours. But this course is useless ; for the stom- 
 ach is still overburdened, and the food is not digested, 
 but turns into bad humors, by which the blood be- 
 comes poisoned, and thus a man kills himself long 
 before his time. I never met with an aged person who 
 enjoyed health, and lived that manner of life. Now, 
 all these men whose manner of life I have named, 
 would live long and happily, if, as they advanced in 
 years, they lessened the quantity/ of their food, and 
 ate oftener, and but little at a time, for old stomachs 
 cannot digest large quantities, men at this age be- 
 coming children again, who eat little and often during 
 the twenty-four hours. 
 
 O thrice holy sobriety, so useful to man, by rea- 
 son of the service thou dost render him ! Thou pro- 
 longest his days, by which means he greatly improves 
 his understanding and, by such knowledge, he can 
 avoid the bitter fruits of sensuality, which is an enemy 
 to man's reason. Thou, moreover, freest him from 
 
AN INFIRM CONSTITUTION 45 
 
 the dreadful thoughts of death. How greatly ought 
 we to be indebted to thee, since by thee we en- 
 joy this beautiful world, which is really beautiful to 
 all whose sensibilities have not been deadened by re- 
 pletion, and whose minds have not been blighted by 
 sensuality! I really never knew till I grew old, that 
 the world was so beautiful ; for, in my younger years 
 I was debauched by irregularities, and therefore 
 could not perceive and enjoy, as I do now, its beau- 
 ties. O truly happy life, which, over and above all 
 these favors conferred on me, hast so improved and 
 perfected my body, that now I have a better relish 
 for plain bread, than formerly I had for the most ex- 
 quisite dainties! in fact I find such sweetness in it, 
 because of the good appetite I always have, that I 
 should be afraid of sinning against temperance, were 
 I not convinced of the absolute necessity for it, and 
 knowing that pure bread is, above all things, man's 
 best food, and while he leads a sober life, he may be 
 sure of never wanting that natural sauce, — a good 
 appetite — and moreover, I find that, whereas I used 
 to eat twice a day, now that I am much older, it is 
 better for me to eat four times, and still to lessen the 
 quantity as the years increase. And this is what I 
 do, guided by my experience; therefore, my spirits 
 being never oppressed by too much food, are always 
 brisk; especially after eating, so that I enjoy much 
 
46 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 the singing of a song, before I sit down to my writing. 
 
 Nor do I ever find myself the worse for writing 
 (directly after meals; my understanding is never 
 clearer ; and I am never 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; therefore I take but just enough to 
 keep body and soul together, and the things I eat are 
 as follows: bread, panado, eggs (the yolk), and 
 soups. Of flesh meat, I eat kid and mutton. I eat 
 poultry of every kind; also of sea and river fish. 
 Some men are too poor to allow themselves food of 
 this kind, but they may do well on bread (made from 
 wheat meal, which contains far more nutriment than 
 bread made from fine flour), panado, eggs, milk, and 
 vegetables. But though a man should eat nothing 
 but these, he may not eat more than his stomach can 
 with ease digest, never forgetting that it is the over- 
 quantity which injures, even more than the eating of 
 unsuitable food. And again I say, that whoever does 
 not transgress, in point of either quantity or quality, 
 cannot die, but by mere dissolution, except in cases 
 where there is some inherited disease to combat; but 
 such case^ are comparatively rare, and even here a 
 strict and sober diet will be of the greatest service. 
 
 O, what a diflFerence between a regular and tem- 
 perate life, and an irregular and intemperate life! 
 
AN INFIRM CONSTITUTION 47 
 
 One gives health and longevity, the other produces 
 disease and untimely death. How many of my dear- 
 est relations and friends have I lost by their free 
 living, whereas, had they listened to me, they might 
 have been full of life and health. I am thus more 
 than ever determined to use my utmost endeavors to 
 make known the benefit of my kind of life. Here I 
 am, an old man, yet full of life and joy, happier than 
 at any previous period of my life, surrounded by 
 many comforts; not the least to mention are my 
 eleven grand-children, all of fine understanding and 
 amiable disposition, beautiful in their persons, and 
 well disposed to learning; and these, I hope so to 
 teach, that they shall take pattern after me, and 
 follow my kind of life. 
 
 Now, I am often at a loss to understand why men 
 of fine parts and understanding, who have attained 
 middle age, do not, when they find themselves attacked 
 by disorders and sickness, betake themselves to a 
 regular life, and that constantly. Is it because thiey 
 are in ignorance as to the importance of this sub- 
 ject? Surely, it cannot be that they afe enslaved 
 by their appetites to such an extent that they find 
 themselves unable to adopt a strict and regular diet? 
 As to young men, I am in no way surprised at their 
 refusal to live such a life, for their passions are 
 strong and usually their guide. Neither have they 
 
48 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 much experience; but, when a man has arrived at 
 the age of forty or fifty, surely he should in all 
 things be governed by reason. And this would teach 
 men that gratifying the appetite and palate, is not, 
 as many affirm, natural and right, but is the cause 
 of disease and premature death. Were this pleasure 
 of the palate lasting, it would be some excuse ; but it 
 is momentary, compared with the duration of the dis- 
 ease which its excess engenders. But it is a great 
 comfort to a man of sober life to reflect, that what he 
 eats will keep him in good health, and be productive 
 of no disease or infirmity. 
 
The Third Discourse 
 
 THE METHOD OF ENJOYING COMPLETE 
 HAPPINESS IN OLD AGE 
 
 My Lord, 
 
 In writing to your Lordship, it is true I shall 
 speak of few things, but such as I have already men- 
 tioned in my essays, but I am sure your Lordship 
 will not tire of the repetition. 
 
 Now, my Lord, to begin, I must tell you, that 
 being now at the age of ninety-one, I am more sound 
 and hearty than ever, much to the amazement of 
 those who know me. I, who can account for it, am 
 bound to show that a man can enjoy a terrestrial 
 paradise after eighty; but it is not to be obtained, 
 except by strict temperance in food and drink, vir- 
 tues acceptable to God and friends to reason. I 
 must, however, go on to tell you, that, during the 
 past few days I have been visited by many of the 
 learned doctors of this university, as well as physi- 
 cians and philosophers who were well acquainted with 
 my age, life, and manners, also, that I was stout, 
 hearty, and lively, my senses perfect, also my voice 
 and teeth, likewise my memory and judgment. They 
 
 49 
 
60 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 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 more 
 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 pleas- 
 ure, my voice is so musical. 
 
 Now, these doctors and philosophers told me that 
 it was next to a miracle, that at my age, I should be 
 able to write upon subjects which required both judg- 
 ment and spirit, and added 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 that 
 I was altogether unlike aged people of seventy and 
 eighty, who are subject to various ailments and dis- 
 eases, which render life a weariness; or, if even any 
 by chance escape these things, yet their senses are 
 impaired, sight, or hearing, or memory is defective, 
 and all their faculties much decayed; they are not 
 strong, nor cheerful, as I am. And they moreover 
 said, that they looked upon me as having special 
 grace conferred upon me, and said a great many 
 eloquent and fine things, in endeavoring to prove 
 this, which, however, they could not do, for their 
 arguments were not grounded on good and sufGcient 
 reasons, but merely on their opinions. I therefore 
 
HAPPINESS IN OLD AGE 51 
 
 endeavored to undeceive and set them right, and 
 convince them that the happiness I enjoyed was not 
 confined to me, but might be common to all mankind, 
 since I was but a mere mortal, and different in no 
 respect from other men, save in this, that I was born 
 more weakly than some, and had not what is called 
 a strong constitution. Man, however, in his youthful 
 days, is more prone to be led by sensuality than rea- 
 son; yet, when he arrives at the age of forty, or 
 earlier, he should remember that he has about reached 
 the summit of the hill, and must now think of going 
 down, carrying the weight of years with him; and 
 that old age is the reverse of youth, as much as order 
 is the reverse of disorder; hence, it is requisite that 
 he should alter his mode of life, in regard to the 
 quality and quantity of his food and drink. For it 
 is impossible in the nature of things, that the man 
 who is bent on indulging his appetite, should be 
 healthy and free from ailments. Hence it was. to 
 avoid this vice and its evil effects, I embraced a 
 regular and sober life. It is no doubt true, that I 
 at first found some difficulty in accomplishing this, 
 but in order to conquer the difficulty I besought the 
 Almighty to grant the virtue of sobriety in all things, 
 well knowing that He would graciously hear my 
 prayer. Then, considering that when a man is about 
 to undertake a thing of importance, which he knows 
 
62 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 he can compass, though not without difficulty, he may 
 make it much easier to himself by being steady in 
 his purpose, I pursued this course: I endeavored 
 gradually to relinquish a disorderly life, and to suit 
 myself to strict temperate rules; and thus it came 
 to pass, that a sober and moderate life no longer 
 became disagreeable, though, on account of the weak- 
 ness of my constitution, I tied myself down to very 
 strict rules in regard to the quantity and quality 
 of what I ate and drank. 
 
 Others, who happen to be blessed with a strong 
 constitution, may eat a greater variety of food, and 
 in somewhat larger quantity, each man being a guide 
 to himself, consulting always his judgment and rea- 
 son, rather than his fancy or appetite, and further 
 let him always strictly abide by his rules, for he 
 will receive little benefit if he occasionally indulges 
 in excess. 
 
 Now, on hearing these arguments, and examining 
 the reasons on which they were founded, the doctors 
 and philosophers agreed that I had advanced nothing 
 but what was true. One of the younger of them 
 said that I appeared to enjoy the special grace of 
 being able to relinquish, with ease, one kind of life, 
 and embrace another, a thing which he knew from 
 theory to be feasible, but in practice to be difficult, 
 for it had proved as hard to him, as easy to me. 
 
HAPPINESS IN OLD AGE 53 
 
 To this I replied, that, being human like himself, 
 I likewise had found it no easy task, but it did not 
 become a man to shrink from a glorious and prac- 
 tical task, on account of its difficulties; the greater 
 the obstacles to overcome, the greater the honor 
 and benefit. Our beneficent Creator is desirous, that, 
 as He originally favored human nature with longev- 
 ity, we should all enjoy the full advantage of His 
 intentions, knowing that when a man has passed sev- 
 enty, he may be exempt from the sensual strivings, 
 and govern himself entirely by the dictates of reason. 
 Vice and immorality then leave him, and God is will- 
 ing that he should live to the full maturity of his 
 years, and has ordained that all who reach their natu- 
 ral term should end their days without sickness, but 
 by mere dissolution, the natural way; the wheels of 
 life quietly stopping, and man peacefully leaving this 
 world, to enter upon immortality, as will be my case ; 
 for I am sure to die thus, perhaps while chanting 
 my prayers. Nor do the thoughts of death give me 
 the least concern; nor does any other thought con- 
 nected with death, namely, the fear of the punish- 
 ment to which wicked men are liable, because I am 
 bound to believe, that being a Christian, I shall be 
 saved by the virtue of the most sacred blood of Jesus 
 Christ, which He freely shed in order to save those 
 who trust in Him. Thus, how beautiful my life! 
 
54 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 how happy my end ! To this, the young doctor had 
 nothing to reply, but that he would follow my ex- 
 ample. 
 
 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 some sensualists, my Lord, who say that I 
 have thrown away my time and trouble, in writing 
 a treatise upon temperance, and other discourses on 
 the same subject; alleging, 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. Now, this much surprises me, as 
 they may see that I lived a sober life many years 
 before I wrote my treatise, and I should never have 
 composed it, had I not been convinced, that it was 
 such a life as any man might lead; and being a vir- 
 tuous life, would be of great service to him ; so that I 
 felt myself under an obligation to present it in its 
 true light. Again, I have the satisfaction to hear 
 that numbers, on reading my treatise, have embraced 
 such a life. So that the objection concerning Plato 
 on Government is of no force against my case. But 
 a sensualist is an enemy to reason, and a slave to 
 his passions. 
 
The Fourth Discourse 
 
 AN EXHORTATION TO A SOBER AND 
 REGULAR LIFE, IN ORDER TO ATTAIN 
 OLD AGE 
 
 Not to be wanting in my duty, and not to lose 
 at the same time the satisfaction I feel in being 
 useful to others, I again take up my pen to inform 
 those, who, for want of conversing with me, are 
 strangers to what those with whom I am acquainted, 
 know and see. But as some things may appear to 
 certain persons scarcely credible, though actually 
 true, I shall not fail to relate for the benefit of the 
 public. Wherefore, I say, being arrived at my ninety- 
 fifth year, God be praised, and still finding myself 
 sound and hearty, content and cheerful, I never cease 
 to thank the Divine Majesty for so great a blessing, 
 considering the usual condition of old men. These 
 scarcely ever attain the age of seventy, without los- 
 ing health and spirits, and growing melancholy and 
 peevish. Moreover, when I remember how weak and 
 sickly I was between the ages of thirty and forty, 
 and how from the first, I never had what is called a 
 strong constitution; I say, when I remember these 
 things, I have surely abundant cause for gratitude, 
 
 55 
 
66 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 and though I know I cannot live many years longer, 
 the thought of death gives me no uneasiness ; I, more- 
 over, firmly believe that I shall attain to the age of 
 one hundred years. 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 is not always 
 easy to show, to what the shortness of life is owing. 
 Others are bom sound and lively, but still, with a 
 poor, weakly constitution; and of these, some live 
 to the age of ten, twenty, others to thirty or forty, 
 but seldom live to be old men. Others, again, bring 
 into the world a perfect constitution, and live to an 
 old age; but it is generally, as I have said, an old 
 age of sickness and sorrow, for which usually they 
 have to thank themselves, because they unreasonably 
 presumed on the goodness of their constitution ; and 
 cannot, by any means, be brought to alter when 
 grown old, from the mode of life they pursued in 
 their younger days, but live as irregularly when past 
 the meridian of life, as they did in the time of their 
 youth. They do not consider, that the stomach has 
 lost much of its natural heat and vigor, and that, 
 therefore, they should pay great attention to the 
 
A SOBER AND REGULAR LIFE 57 
 
 quality and quantity of what they eat and drink; 
 but, rather than decrease, many of them are for 
 increasing the quantity, saying, that, as health and 
 vigor grow less, they should endeavor to repair the 
 loss by a great abundance of food, since it is by sus- 
 tenance we are to preserve ourselves. 
 
 But it is here that the great mistake is made ; since, 
 as the natural force and heat lessen as a man grows 
 in years, he should diminish the quantity of his food 
 and drink, as nature at that period is content with 
 little; and moreover, if increasing the amount of 
 nourishment was the proper thing, then, surely the 
 majority of men would live to a great age in the 
 best of health. But do we see it so? On the con- 
 trary, such a case is a rare exception; whilst my 
 course of life is proved to be right, by reason of 
 its results. But, though some have every reason 
 to believe this to be the case, they nevertheless, be- 
 cause of their want of strength of character, and 
 their love of repletion, still continue their usual man- 
 ner of living. But were they, in due time, to form 
 strict temperate habits, they would not grow infirm 
 in their old age, but would continue as I am, strong 
 and hearty, and might live to the age of one hun- 
 dred, or one hundred and twenty. This has been 
 the case with others of whom we read, men who were 
 born with a. good constitution, and lived sober and 
 
68 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 abstemious lives; and had it been my lot to have 
 enjoyed a strong constitution, I should make no 
 doubt of attaining to that age. But as I was bom 
 feeble, and with an infirm constitution, I am afraid 
 I shall not outlive an hundred years ; and were others, 
 bom weakly as myself, to betake them to a life like 
 mine, they would, like me, live to the age of a hun- 
 dred, as shall be my case. 
 
 And this certainty of being able to live to a great 
 age is, in my opinion, a great advantage (of course 
 I do not include accidents, to which all are liable, 
 and which must specially be left to our Maker) , and 
 highly to be valued ; none being sure of this blessing, 
 except such as adhere to the rules of temperance. 
 This security of life is built on good and truly natu- 
 ral reasons, which can never fail ; it being impossible 
 thai he who leads a perfectly sober and temperate 
 life, should breed any sickness, or die before his 
 time. Sooner, he cannot through ill-health die, as 
 his sober life has the virtue to remove the cause of 
 sickness, and sickness cannot happen without a cause ; 
 which cause being removed, sickness is also removed, 
 and untimely and painful death prevented. 
 
 And there is no doubt, that temperance in food 
 and drink, taking only as much as nature really 
 requires, and thus being guided by reason, instead of 
 appetite, has efficacy to remove all cause of disease; 
 
A SOBER AND REGULAR LIFE 59 
 
 for since health and sickness, life and death, depend 
 on the good or bad condition of a man's blood, and 
 the quality of his humors, such a life as I speak of 
 purifies the blood, and corrects all vicious humors, 
 rendering all perfect and harmonious. It is true, 
 and cannot be denied, that man must at last die, 
 however careful with himself he may have been ; but 
 yet, I maintain, without sickness and great pain; 
 for in my case I expect to pass away quietly and 
 peacefully, and my present condition insures this 
 to me, for, though at this great age-, I am hearty 
 and content, eating with a good appetite, and sleep- 
 ing soundly. Moreover, all my senses are as good 
 as ever, and in the highest perfection; my under- 
 standing clear and bright, my judgment sound, my 
 memory tenacious, my spirits good, and my voice 
 (one of the first things which is apt to fail us) has 
 grown so strong and sonorous, that I cannot help 
 chanting aloud my prayers, morning and night, in- 
 stead of whispering and muttering them to myself 
 as was formerly my custom. 
 
 O, how glorious is this life of mine, replete with 
 all the felicities which man can enjoy on this side 
 of the grave! It is entirely exempt from that sen- 
 sual brutality, which age has enabled my reason to 
 banish; thus I am not troubled with passions, and 
 my mind is calm, and free from all perturbations, 
 
60 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 and doubtful apprehensions. Nor can the thought 
 of death find room in my mind, at least, not in any 
 way to disturb me. And all this has been brought 
 about, by God's mercy, through my careful habit of 
 living. How different from the life of most old men, 
 full of aches and pains, and forebodings, whilst mine 
 is a life of real pleasure, and I seem to spend my 
 days in a perpetual round of amusements, as I shall 
 presently show. 
 
 And first, I am of service to my country, and what 
 a joy is this. I find infinite delight in being en- 
 gaged in various improvements, in connection with 
 the important estuary or harbor of this city, and 
 fortifications; and although this Venice, this Queen 
 of the Sea, is very beautiful, yet I have devised means 
 by which it may be made still more beautiful, and 
 more wealthy, for I have shown in what way she may 
 abound with provisions, by improving large tracts of 
 land, and bringing marshes and barren sand under 
 cultivation. Then again, I have another great joy 
 always present before me. Some time since, I lost a 
 great part of my income, by which my grandchildren 
 would be great losers. But I, by mere force of 
 thought, have found a true and infallible method of 
 repairing such loss more than double, by a judicious 
 use of that most commendable of arts, agriculture. 
 Another great comfort to me is to think that my 
 
A SOBER AND REGULAR LIFE 61 
 
 treatise on temperance is really useful, as many as- 
 sure me by word of mouth, and others by letter, 
 where they say, that, under God they are indebted 
 to me for their life. I have also much joy in being 
 able to write, and am thus of service to myself and 
 others ; and the satisfaction I have in conversing withi 
 men of ability and superior understanding is very 
 great, from whom I learn something fresh. Now, 
 what a comfort is this, that old as I am, I am able, 
 without fatigue of mind or body thus to be fully 
 engaged, and to study the most important, difficult, 
 and sublime subjects. 
 
 I must further add, that at this age, I appear to 
 fen joy two lives: one terrestrial, which in fact I pos- 
 sess, the other celestial, which I posses* in thought ; 
 and this thought is actual enjoyment, when founded 
 upon things we are sure to attain, and I, through 
 the infinite mercy and goodness of God, am sure of 
 eternal life. Thus, I enjoy the terrestrial life in 
 consequence of my sobriety and temperance, virtues 
 so agreeable to the Deity, and I enjoy, by the grace 
 of God, the celestial, which He makes me anticipate 
 in thought ; a thought so lively, as to fix me entirely 
 on this subject, the fruition of which I hold to be 
 of the utmost certainty. And I further maintain, 
 that, dying in the manner I expect, is not really 
 (death, but a passage of the soul from this earthly 
 
62 THE SOBER LIFE 
 
 life to a celestial, immortal, and infinitely perfect 
 existence. Neither can it be otherwise; and this 
 thought is so pleasing, 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 living a celestial and divine 
 life. Whence it is, that I enjoy two lives; and the 
 thought of terminating this earthly life gives me no 
 concern, for I know that I have a glorious and im- 
 mortal life before me. 
 
 Now, is it possible, that any one should grow tired 
 of so great a comfort and blessing as this which I 
 enjoy, and which the majority of persons might 
 attain, by leading the life I have led, an example 
 which every one has it in his power to follow? for I 
 am no saint, but a mere man, a servant of God, to 
 whom so regular a life is extremely agreeable. 
 
 Now, there are men who embrace a spiritual and 
 contemplative life, and this is holy and commendable, 
 their chief employment being to celebrate the praises 
 of God, and to teach men how to serve Him. Now, 
 if while these men set themselves apart for this life, 
 they would also betake themselves to sober and tem- 
 perate living, how much more agreeable would they 
 render themselves in the sight of God and men. What 
 a much greater honor and ornament would they be 
 to the world. They would likewise enjoy constant 
 
A SOBER AND RE;G.t;io^Jt LIFfi i i 63 
 
 health and happiness, would attain a great age, and 
 thus become eminently wise and useful ; whereas, now, 
 they are mostly infirm, irritable, and dissatisfied, and 
 think that their various trials and ailments are sent 
 them by Almighty God, with a view of promoting 
 their salvation ; that they may do penance in this life 
 for their past errors. Now, I cannot help saying, 
 that in my opinion, they are greatly mistaken; for 
 I cannot believe that the Deity desires that man, his 
 favorite creature, should be infirm and melancholy, 
 but rather, that he should enjoy good health and be 
 happy. Man, however, brings sickness and disease 
 upon himself, by reason, either of his ignorance or 
 wilful self-indulgence. Now, if those who profess 
 to be our teachers in divine matters would also set 
 the example, and thus teach men how to preserve 
 their bodies in health, they would do much to make 
 the road to heaven easier: men need to be taught 
 that self-denial and strict temperance is the path 
 to health of body and health of mind, and those who 
 thus live see more clearly than others what their duty 
 is toward our Saviour Jesus Christ, who came down 
 upon earth to shed His precious blood, in order to 
 deliver us from the tyranny of the devil, such was 
 His immense goodness and lovingkindness to man. 
 
 Now, to make an end of this discourse, I say, that 
 since length of days abounds with so many favors 
 
64 TJiE SOBER LIFE 
 
 and blessings, and I, not by theory, but by blessed 
 experience can testify to it — indeed, I solemnly assure 
 all mankind that I really enjoy a great deal more 
 than I can mention, and that I have no other reason 
 for writing, but that of demonstrating the great 
 advantages, which arise from longevity, and such a 
 life as I have lived — I desire to convince men, that 
 they may be induced to observe these excellent rules 
 of constant temperance in eating and drinking, and 
 therefore, I never cease to raise my voice, crying out 
 to you, my friends, that your lives may be even as 
 mine. 
 
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