GLAVCVS the Phisician was yesterday desirous frend Zeusippus to haue disputed with vs philosophically , yf ye had not putte hym in feare . ZEVSIPPVS . That is not so frende Moschion , neither I did dyscourage hym , neither he was minded to conferre with vs . But rather I did escheue his company because I would not prouoke hym to stryfe , that was desirous of it . ●aucus a ●yng phy●an . For wythout doubte , in Physike he alone maye compare with a greate many . But he is not wel affected and minded toward Philosophie : he hath alwayes in his talke some bytter ouerthwart and wayward toyes , ●lacuus not ●ll affected ●ward phi●ophie . and at that tyme he was purposelye set and dysposed to bee out wyth vs , criyng with a lowde voyce that he had enterprysed a verye naughtie parte , that dysputyng howe men should liue to preserue their health dyd confound & myngle together the lymytes of faculties .

He sayd that the professyon of Philosophers and Physicians were two thynges and seuerall , euen as the borders of Misia and Phrigia bee dyuers . And many thynges that we spake ( in dede I confesse ) not verye cyrcumspectly , nother as we mente , but yet not wythout some profyte , he repetyng dyd checke , taunte , and shake in pieces . MOSCHION . Yet Zeusipdus , I would verye fain haue hearde bothe those , and the reast . ZEVSIPPVS . You Moschion beeynge a Phylosophier naturall are dyspleased wyth a Phylosophier that doth not studie Phisike : The offi● parte of ● philosoph● & take it for a non decet yf he shuld thynke it hys part and office rather to seme to be occupyed in the studye of Geometrie , Logike , and Musyke , then to searche out & desyre to knowe what thynges good or euill bee doone in his owne house , that is , in hys bodie . And yet a man shal see more resorte of people there , where money is delte to the comers to allure theim , as is vsed in Athens . ●he praise ● commē●iō of phi●e But Physike is so to bee estemed emong lyberal Sciences , that for finesse , clerenesse , & pleasauntnesse , it may be compared wytb the rest . And it draweth and enticeth menne to the studie & loue therof with a bountifull and large reward & gifte , whyche is , holsomenesse of bodye , and prosperous helth . Wherfore menne may not bee displeased with philosophiers as though thei exceded their boundes , ●hilosophie ●tural and ●isik be an●red either ● other . yf thei dyspute of those thynges , that bee mete & profitable for good health , but rather Philosophiers ought to bee chalenged & accused , if thei mingle not together sciences , The stu● of philo●phiers if they thought it not theyr veray dutie to bee sene generally in all thynges that bee honest , appliyng them selfes bothe to that that in argument may delite , and that for mannes life is necessary . MOSCHION . I pray the Zeusippus leat vs leaue talkyng of Glaucus : who is so proude , and so muche standeth in his owne conceipt , that he thinketh he hath no nede of Philosophie , yet of good feloship repete you to me all the dysputacyon : and fyrst , if ye think good , what Glaucus did reproue , whyche ye saye ye spake not in earnest . ZEVSIPPVS . That same ioyle frend of ours saied that he heard a man saye that it was very profytable for bodely helthe to kepe alwayes the handes warme , and not to suffer theim to bee colde . And that the cold of the extreme partes of the bodye , whyle it dyd dryue the heate inwarde , dyd induce a famylyaritee & custome of the feuer . On the other parte in case those thynges , that come outewardely vnto the extreme partes dooe brynge and bestowe the matter together wyth the heate through all the bodye , ●v the bo●is to bee ●ed for ●or heate it is very holsome . And therefore , when we dooe anye thyng wherby our handes be occupyed , them the heate of it selfe by the mouyng of the bodye is brought into the membres and there kepte . But when we dooe nothyng , then ought the extreme partes to bee kept from colde . Thys was one of the thinges that he had in derision . An other was ( as I remember , ) of meates that bee vsed to bee mynistred to the sycke , he woulde that menne shoulde receiue and take theim long before , to vse theim in the tyme of helthe , that afterward as chyldren dooe , we dooe not abhorre and lothe that dyet , but he woulde we shoulde make theim by lytle and lytle acqueynted & famyliar wyth the stomake so that in syckenesse we shoulde not therewyth as wyth medicines bee offended . Menne m● vse in hea● some part● diet y● mu● bee had i● time of si●nesse . And that we should not bee greued if necessytee should compell vs , to take the that were sodden wythout spices & other ingredience . Hys mynde was also that somtyme we should alter our dyet , meates ●ee exhibit●in sycke●e . and take our meate although we wer not wasshed before in the bayne , and that we should now and then drynke water when we had wyne presente , and an other whyle warme drinke albeit we had snowe to alaye the heate ( as in some places it is vsed ) despisyng theim that for ostentation and vnder the colour of temperaunce , ●w the sto●ke is to ● accusto● . bostyng and crakyng dooe absteyn from suche thinges . But rather leat vs of our selfes by lytle & lytle so accustome the stomake , that when nede shal be it maye without grefe take that that is profytable .

And leat vs put clere out of memorie when we bee sycke ouer muche scrupelous & supersticious care of suche thynges , that we maye not lamente wyth those that howle and crye that they be brought from their olde delycate and pleasaunte life , to that fylthye and base kynde of dyet .

Certes that goodlye saiyng Choose the best kynde of lyuyng , Vse shall make it plesaunt , The best kynde o● liuyng to bee chose● is veray ꝓfitable in what soeuer ye shall go about , and chiefly in those thynges that concerne the dyet of the bodye , and the maner of liuyng . Vse of thynges . By vse of those thynges that be holsome , ye shal make theim frendes acquainted and famyliar with nature , remembryng what many in their syckenesse bothe suffer and dooe , how greuously thei take it , how thei can scace suffer to receiue warme water , a supping , or a soppe of brede , callyng not only those thynges detestable and vnsauerye : but also those that compell theim to receiue the same detestable and lothesom . Moreouer , baynes haue destroyed many menne , ●any men ●roied by ●nes . vsed at the first , not when thei wer verie sicke , but because thei could not nor wer able to receiue sustenaunce onlesse thei had been first wasshed , wherof Titus th emperour was one , as thei reporte , that wayted on hym whilest he was sicke . He did also besydes reprehende this , ●e and ●er bo● are the ●e heal● . that sclender and leane bodyes wer euer more healthier , & that ingurgitacion , fyllyng of the paunche , dronkennesse , & vnmesurable vse of delicates wer chiefly to bee taken hede of and eschewed of theim that entende to make solempne banquettes , or dooe prepare to receiue their frendes with feastes : or that bee inuited by some riche manne or prince to a sette dyner , appoyntyng on the commen guyse of ꝓuyng masteries in quaffyng , whiche at suche tyme maye not bee refused , wherby doubtlesse thei make the body then quiet , prest , and light , euen as it were , a yenst a greate storme of wyndes & fludde of waters toward . For verily the entisementes prouocacions , & lawes of good felowship ( as thei call ) bee suche , The sav● of good f●lowship e●mies to health . that it shal be very harde if ye chaunce to come emong theim , not to dooe as thei dooe , to kepe your self within a meane & to obserue your accustomed dyet : but that either ye shal be thought disdeignfull and not contented with the compaignie , or thei shal be wery of you . Therfore to th entent that fyre maye not bee put to fyre , as the prouerbe is , that is , Gluttonie ●st not ● laied on ●ttonie . ●nerie con●pte and ● of Phi●pus . that glottony bee not laied on glottony , intemperaunce couched on intemperaunce , it shall behoue you to remember diligently that Philippus kyng of Macedonie did merily in sporte . The mater was this . One had desired him to supper , as he was goyng thither , he met with dyuers whom he tooke with hym for his geastes . The good manne of the house seyng hym bryng so many , & hauyng made but litle prouision , was moued & troubled . Philippus ꝑceiuyng the same caused a seruaunt to warne all his frendes , that thei should not eate to muche , but that thei should reserue a place , and kepe a corner for a delicate dishe that was to come . Thei trustyng therunto , eate litle of that that was before theim . By this meanes the prouysion that of it self was veray sclender , was made sufficient for them all . After this sorte ought we to prepare our selfes ayenst ineuitable quaffyng : reseruyng a place in our bodyes for meates , iunkettes , To feastyng we must bry● a perfec● appetite . yea & drunkennesse , and to bryng with vs to suche feastes a perfect appetite . If when we bee full alredy & haue surfaicted , we shall soodenly for the compaignie of our betters , or by confluence of straungers , for shame bee forced to come to drinke with suche as bee hable to beare it , there must the saiyng of Creon that he speaketh in the tragedie bee our chief buckler and defense ayenst shame , a thyng very noysom to menne , and ayenst vncomly blusshyng .

Good ma●er vama●erly . Verily , he that for feare to bee reputed without good maner , will willyngly cast hym selfe into apleuresis or the dissease of the reynes , maye bee in deede accoumpted without good maner : yea without witte and reason , whiche thynges who so hathe , knoweth how to kepe compaignie with menne , with out eatyng and drynkyng out of season and suche good maners . For he that iently & curteisly refuseth , shall haue asmuche thanke for refusyng as for drynkyng . Besides , How both to kepe te●peraūce a● to please cōpaigni● he that deyntely dooth carue and distribute the meate , tastyng nothyng hymself but absteinyng , and in the meane season at their eatyng & drynkyng doothe prouoke theim to myrthe and pastyme with some plesaunt talke of hym se ; lf , shal be reputed for more meryer , then if he did bothe drynke dronke & fill the paunche with meate . I had alleged for my pourpose one example oute of antiquite , Alexand● dyed of v● measura● quaffyng how Alexander the great conquerour after he was well whitteled , beyng ꝓuoked of fresshe to quaffe with Medius , and fearyng the by his refusyng the other should wynne the victorie , sanke vnder the bourde , and lost his life for his labour . And of our owne tyme I brought foorth an other exaumple how one Riglus a great wrastler called into the bayne erely in the mornyng by Titus th emperour , ●iglus . went thither and wasshed with hym , & when he had drounke but ones ( as the commen voyce is ) beeyng taken with an vniuersall palsey , he died soodēly . The thynges before rehersed did Glaucus in the waye of derision obiecte vnto vs like a scholemaister as principles & rudimentes of his science . Of other maters than ꝓpouned , neither he was willyng to heare , neither we disposed to declare : for he regarded nothyng that was spoken Socrates therfore first of all aduisyng vs to forbeare meates that prouoke to eate of freshe when we bee not hungrye , Socrates & drynke that calleth come drynke me when we bee not thurstie , dooth not vtterly forbyd vs to vse theim , but teacheth vs to vse theim when nede shall require , that we should applye the delectacion and pleasure of those thynges to profet & necessitie , as thei dooe , that in a commen welth dooe conuerte the money that was geuen to bee bestowed in commen plaies & disguysynges , to thuses of warre . For what thyng soeuer of nature deliteth as long as it is parte of that that nourissheth her it is her owne good . And thei that bee hungrie , ought rather to eate that is necessarie then that is swete , & specially not to prouoke a freshe stomacke & a newe appetite when thei haue dooen with their accustomed diet of fedyng . For in like maner as leapyng was to Socrates no vnplesaunt exercise , ●e when ●ee well . so he that vseth to fede on iunkettes , fruites , and deyntie disshes , taketh lesse hurte of theim . But who so already hath receiued that is competent for nature , & hath filled hymself , leat hym specially beware that he bee not gredy on suche thynges . And herein lacke of knoweledge & ambicion bee asmuche to bee exchued , as voluptuousnes & glottonye because these thynges many tymes prouoke a manne to eate when he is not hungrie , to drynke when he thristeth not , whilest thei minister vnto hym vnclenly and vnquiet ymagynacions , euen as though it were a greate shame to leaue at any tyme a delicate morsell vneaten , as a fatte tripe , mushroms of Italie , a marche paine or suche like deintie meate . Ignoraunce and pryde , many tymes dooe entise and drawe a manne by the trayne and sauour of vayne glorie to vse straunge and deintie meates , when the bodye hathe no nede to eate , Many ● surfaict● vain gl● to the entent he maye make vaunt therof to other , who shall wonder at hym , & thinke hym happie that maye haue the sruicion of suche delycate & fyne dishes . In like sorte bee some menne disposed towarde women . The in●peraunc● voluptu● persone● It happeneth sometyme that when thei bee with their owne wifes beeyng bothe beautifull & louyng thei haue no phansie nor courage , but with money obteinyng the l●ue of Phryne , Lais , Iulian of Rumfo●d or suche like abhominable harlottes thei stiere and ꝓcure theimselfes through wantonnesse to folye when thei bee weake and feble of bodie and not apte therto , to the entent thei maye crake and boste that thei haue had to dooe with so notable an harlott , & that onely for vaine glories sake : witnesse herof Phrine her self , who when youthe had taken her leaue , when beautie had bid her farewell , and age with deformite wer come to associate her abhominable conuersacion , would then saye , that many bought the dregges or lyes for the name and glorie of the wyne , vndoubtedly it wer a thyng muche to bee meruailed at , if we shu●d escape hurt yeldyng to the bodye all suche pleasures as nature either desireth , or is able to beare , yea to take no harme , where for our businesse , we should so striue with her desires , as we would differre the vse of veraie necessarye pleasures , when nature required theim , or then to avoyd daunger , when ( as Plato saieth , ) we should , as oft as appetite incensed or moued vs , vtterly yelde to all kynde of lustes . Neither maye it by any reason bee , The so● taill of ● luptuo●nesse pr●dyng of mynde . that desires and lustes of nature whiche out of kynde dooe breake out of the mynde into the bodye , forcyng the same to obeye & folowe her lustes shall so clene retourne , but that thei shall leaue behynd in the same veray greuous & great incommodities of her fonde , vayne , & feble pleasures . It is in no wyse conuenient to prouoke and stiere the body to pleasure through the desire of the mynde . For it is against nature the pleasure should from thens procede . For likewyse as the ticklyng of the armepittes do not mynister to the herte cause of hertie nor earnest laughyng , but displeasaunt & like to a crampe , whiche causeth a manne to seeme to laugh when he doeth not . ●sures ●asaunt So whatsoeuer pleasures the bodye stired and troubled receiueth of the mynde , ●e glorie ●th of ●nyng of ea● they bee like hardes , soone set on fyre , and soone out , troublyng the nature and contrarie therto . Wherfore whensoeuer any notable or dentie dishe shal be set before vs to bee eaten , we ought rather to seke glorye by absteinyng , then by eatyng : remembryng that ( as the philosophier Simonides saied ) it neuer repented hym that he helde his peace , The saiy●● of Simo●●des . but ofte that he spake : so leat it not repent vs at any tyme , that we haue refused eatyng , neither that we haue drounke water in the stede of strong wyne : but rather on the contrarye parte not onely nature ought not to bee enforced to these thynges , but also if any thyng be set before vs that she desyreth , The app●tite mus● sometym bee restr●gned . it shal be rather conuenient for vse & exercyse oftentymes to call backe , and tourne her from her appetites to light thynges , & such as she is vsed with . For if we shal breake the law ( saith the Thehane although not rightly ) let vs breake it to rule & gouerne . But leat vs mende that saiyng , and saie : If we shall nedes desire glorye , leat vs desire it for the loue of health by abstynence from suche delycacies . Yet there is a greate noumbre in whom nygardenesse and gluttonye bee ioyned together , that in their owne houses can restrayne their appetites , ●ny that ●ytle ea● at home ●luttons ●de . and bee lordes ouer theim : but when thei are at others tables , laye their handes about theim on euery syde , their tethe ceasse not gryndyng as long as the belye will holde , euen as thei dooe that come to the sackyng of a towne in tyme of warre , snatchyng and ryflyng as though no more suche praies should chaunce . ● guar● of gur●ndyng . But their rewarde is at hande , soone after their bodies weaxe vnlusty , their heddes heauye & dull , & the nexte daie thei faill not of cruditie of stomake . The saiy● of Crates ●gainst sup●fluitee in fare . Crates therfore thynkyng that sedicions & tyrannyes grewe in commen wealthes through dentie meates and superfluitee , by a mery woorde gaue this taunte vnto a certain manne : Syrha ( ꝙ he ) make no sedition in the commen wealthe by enlargyng thy disshes , when litle meate wil serue . But let euery manne dispose and enioyne hym selfe to a competent rate , not vtterly contempnyng , cresses , oliues , Surfaicty● reiseth se●cion wit● the bodye . and other commen fare , and in steede thereof fall to delicate made meates , deyntie fysshes , and costelye disshes , and so through surfaityng reyse within his bodye sedition , trouble and a flixe . For the comen meates cause the appetite shal not desire more than serueth nature . Diuersitee sauces ●oe corrupt ● holsom ●s of the eate . But the cunning of those that bee deuysers and dressers of dyuersytee of meates , their subtyll dyshes , their swete sauces alwayes dooe sette forwarde , and encrease the lymytes of appetyte and corrupte the vertue and holsomnesse of the meate .

But yet I can not see how it hangeth together , that we should abhorre and haue in disdain women that seke to haue the loue of menne with drynkes and charmes , when we hyre Cookes , pastelers , and suche others , to corrupte our meates with their confectyons . I had almoste forgotte my selfe , and called it Sorceries and Juglynges . The saiyng of Arces●laus ayenst lecherous persones .

Therfore that Arcesilaus sayth somwhat bitterly againste aduoutecers and lecherous persones .

It forceth not whether the acte bee dooen naturallye or unnaturally : Yet it agreeth well with that wherof we now speake . For what difference is there ( to bee playne ) betwene these twoo , whether ye moue and stiere intemperaunce to sensualitee with plaies and gestes , or prouoke the taste with swete odours and deintyes , so that alwayes we should nede clawynge and rubbing as scabbed membres dooe ? But an other season perchaunce we will speake ayenst sensualitee , and set foorth how honest a thing of it selfe temperaunce is : oure purpose nowe is to treate of the diuersite and greatnesse of s●nsuall pleasures .

We bee not hindred nor dooe we lose so many matters , so many hopes , so many iourneys , so many exercises through disseases as we dooe pleasures . Who would ●aue plea●ure must ●ot neglecte ●ealthe . And therfore is it not expedient for hym that moste seketh for pleasure to neglecte the healthe of his bodie . Many there bee in deede , to whom sycknesse is none impediment , but that they maye applie their studye , ne to others , but that they maye bee in the warres , Sickenesse ●oste contra●ie vnto plea●ures . ne to some but that they may dooe their duetye in the commen weale : but the bodyly pleasure is suche , that in sickenesse no manne can haue the veray fruicion therof . ●leasures ●n sickenesse ●ke to sonne shinyng in stor●e . Yet the delectacions that come therof , beyng of their veray nature shorte , bee not pure but veray much mixed and enterlarded with hurtes , & maye bee compared to a litle faire wether or sonne shinyng that happeneth in the middest of a greate tempest or storme .

And verely Venus beareth no rule when the bely is glutted , but rather when the bely is quiet and at rest . For the ende and perfection of loue is pleasure , as it is of meat & drinke . And pleasure receiueth no lesse commoditee of health of the bodye , then sea gulles take of the calmenesse of the wether , that suffreth theim to lay their egges , and to hatche forthe their birdes . The saty● of Prodic● Prodicus sayed veraye feately , that the fyre was the best sawce . And so maye a manne saye veray truly , Healthe th● best sauce all . that health is the moste heauenvly and mooste pleasaunte sawce of all . For if a manne bee sycke , or haue eaten to muche , or haue an euyll stomacke , meates though they bee sodde , rosted , or broyled , bee neither sauerie ne pleasaunt . But if he bee in perfecte healthe and haue a good and pure appetyte , there is nothyng that commeth amisse , ●ealth ma●th al thing ●uerye euery thyng is swete touthsome , holsome , and such as he wyll be desyreeus to haue a snatche at .

But as Demades saied of the Atheniense , that they would begynne warre euer oute of season , and that they woulde neuer make anye decree to haue peace , ●emades ●iyng of the ●theniens but in mournyng weedes sorowyng the losse of theyr menne so we neuer remember moderate and meane fare , but when we lye bournyng in the feuer as hootte as coles , and bee dryuen to our Poticarie ware and sloubber-sawces .

And yet when we bee fallen in to theim , The fals● clooke of o● foly in ty● of ●yckene● it is to bee woondered howe we can cloke and couer our foly , leaning ouer muche to fame and opynion , as the common sort of people dooeth , that tourne the faulte sometime to the alteration of the ayre , somtime to the vnholsomenesse of the countrye , or to ouer muche laboure , because it shoulde not bee knowen that superfluitee , and immoderate eatyng and drynkyng was the cause thereof .

But euen as Lysimachus beeynge emonge the barbarous . The saiy● of Lisimachus Scithyans & for lacke of drynke constrayned to yelde hym selfe to his enemies , after he hadde receiued a syppe of coulde water to quenche hys thirst withall , saied , good lord howe greate felicitee haue I forsaken and put away for a short pleasure , ● we●emea●s haue oft ●mes soure ●uce . euen so ought we in our syckenesse to call to remembraunce that for a draught of water taken out of due tyme , or by goyng to the bayne out of season , and by quaffyng for good felowship , we haue forgon many pleasures of the same thynges , a greate many notable businesses haue remayned vndone , and besydes we haue loste not a fewe mery pastimes and pleasaunt exercises . For the continuall thynkyng theron shall cause sorowe to byte vs by the stomake , & leaue in the memorie s●che a scarre and marke , that we shal be the more chare and circumspecte , when we bee hole to chose and obserue good dyet . For then the body beeyng restored to healthe will not breade veraie greate lustes and appetites suche as cannot bee brydeled and restrained , nor straunge , nor suche as cannot bee subdued , but it shal bee requysite if any suche gredie appetyte happen to breake out , The app●tites mu● bee resiste● and to leape at suche thynges as it coueteth , that we bee of valiaunt and bolde courage to resiste . For the appetite can dooe nothyng but wepe and sobbe for a while like a childe , Appetite compared to a childe . and afterward by and by dooth holde her peace , when the meate is out of sight and will neither complayne nor bee angrie , but on the contrary parte , rather beeyng clene and lustie , and not heauie nor fulsom endureth till the next daye . ●ow Ti●theus did ●ise Pla●is fare . As Timotheus after he had fared meanely and sobrely at supper with Plato in the vniuersite , saied , that those whiche vsed to suppe with Plato , wer the better in healthe the next daye after for that supper . The reporte gooeth also that Alexander after he had reiected oute of his seruyce hys cookes and bely mynistres , ●exanders ●kes and ●●ce . vsed to saie that he had reteyned better in their place , that is , stirryng of the bodye erely in the mornyng before daye , and puttyng it to laboure to make his dyner fauerye , and small fare at dyner , Labour● or cold sometyme ● sickenes● to make his supper pleasaunt and touthesome . And yet I knowe it right often to chaunce , that laboure , heate , and colde , dooe caste a manne in a feuer , but as the sauour of floures of theim selfe not verie strong , beeyng myngled with oyle haue a more vehement sente , The bo● replenish with humo● is apte q●kely to r●ceiue sick●nesse . in like maner dooeth abundaunce of humours before gathered , make apte and dispose the bodye to receiue suche disseases as procede of the externall causes aforesaid . If exteriour causes fynde the bodye emptie , the bloodde pure and subtill , and the spirites clene , there is no daunger of theim , they bee easyly and soone dispeched . but if the bodye bee full and replete with humoures , them as mudde maketh the water fowle when it is stiered , so it infecteth all partes , and bryngeth theim in case that thei cannot bee easely cured . ●ier char●g the sto●ke must diligently ●yded . Therfore we must take hede that we dooe not as shipmen dooe , who for gredynes to carye muche in their shippe dooe cause it to take in waters , and bee constreyned by ladyng it out to labour still at the pumpe . So we ouerladyng and chargyng the stomack bee forced to pourge and emptie it with purgacions and clysters . But it shal be requysite to preserue it prest and light , ●ow the sto●acke must ● preserued . that if so bee it fortune to bee ouerwhelmed , it maye for the lightnes ryse vp and appere as a corke dooeth in the water . Disseas● the beg●nyng m●● bee look●● vnto . And we must bee charie and circumspecte at the first in any wise , when sickenesse is towarde and felte . For not all disseases steale on a manne sodenlye without warnyng , but thei haue messagers & postes that renne before , Moste p●●● of dissea●● geue wa●nyng ere 〈◊〉 come . and declare their comyng , as cruditee of stomacke , slougth , and dulnes of bodye . Heuynesse of the bodye ( saieth Hippocrates ) and werynesse growyng without cause , bee tokens that sickenesse is at hande : Foresign●●● of sickene●● and the cause thereof semeth to bee by reason of aboundaunce of humoures and the puffyng out , swellyng , & the grossenesse of the spirites , Hippoc●●tes lesson 〈◊〉 sickenes ●●warde . that hang on the synowes . And yet there bee some that when the bodye selfe in a maner striueth ●e folishe ●erdyng ●ome per●es in dietyng ●m selfes . and woulde bee fayn layed at rest , wyll forthwith into the baynes , fall to drynkyng , and furnyshyng the bodye with vytayles , euen as though a long assaulte and obsession shoulde folowe , and as though thei feared least the feuer should take theim ere they had dyned . Other agayn muche estemyng theim selfes , folowe not this trade , ●de shame dissembling ●enesse . but while they bee ashamed to confesse ouermuche eatyng and crudite of the stomake , to kepe theimselfes all daie in their clothes , will forthwith their compaignions to practise feactes , and put of their clothes , to dooe as they dooe that bee in perfecte healthe . Hope ma●th some to ●de in sick●s . Many there bee whom in defense of their intemperaunce and delycacie hope pricketh and persuadeth , that forsakyng their beddes they maye boldelye retourne to their pristinate dyet , to taste a heare of the mad doggue that hathe byten theim , euen as though thei might expell wyne with wyne , & surfet with surfet . Thereme of Cato ●gainst ho● Against this hope Cato his remedye must bee vsed : Hope ( saieth he ) maketh those thynges that bee greate lytle , and those that bee litle it maketh nothyng . And it shal be also necessarye to remembre , that it is better to absteyne from eatyng when a manne nedeth it not , & to be at rest , Better it to abstey● with healt● then to ea● and bee sick● then to eate , & afterward to bee drawen & allured to the baynes , & to eatyng and drynkyng , there to synke down , & to bee in ieoperdie . For if there bee any daunger , he maye fortun● to haue his parte therof if he bee not wyse , & haue not preuented the matier and absteyned from it . If there bee no daunger , yet shall it bee no hurte to haue rectif●ed and pur●fied the bodye . But that childishe person that feareth to disclose to his frendes & seruauntes , that his sickenesse came of ingurgytacion and superflu●tee , that foole that for shame will not at the begynnyng confesse crudite of stomacke , shal shortely after maugre his tethe bee compelled with shame to declare that he hathe a flixe , a feuer , or frettyng & grypyng in the belly . Menne take it for a great shame to bee a houngred , but they maye well thynke it a greater reproche , if any go to the baynes with a rawe stomake ouerladen or puffed out with meate , The proche gluttoni● eue● as they should bryng to the sea an olde rotten shyp that leaketh . Vereli in like maner as some Maryners bee ashamed to kepe the shore in a great tempest , but after not able to brooke the seas bee with more shame cast on lande criyng out and vomityng : so those that perceyue theyr bodye disposed to sickenesse , whyle they thynke it a reproche to kepe their bed , or to forbeare meate for a daye , Pl●●e●● bee geu● sickene● are afterwarde to theyr greate shame constreined to kepe it many dayes , whylest they bee pourged , rubbed , emplaistred , enointed : whyle they muste bee at all commaundementes of the Phisicyans , while they desire to drinke wyne or colde water , beyng compelled in the meane season partely for feare not onely to saye but also to dooe many thinges bothe contrarye to reason and also vncomlye .

But it shal bee requisyte to enstructe and warne those that beeyng drouned in sensualite bee not lordes of their selfes , but disposed and geuen to affectes & lustes bee rapte hedlong into the same , how the greatest parte of pleasures & delectacions comen of the bodye selfe , and as the Lacedemonians when they gaue their cookes vineagre and salte , wylled theim to seke out other sawce in the meate it selfe : ●he best ●e for ●e is to ●eceiued a whole ●e . so the best sawce for any kynde of meate is to bee receiued into a lusty , whole , and clene bodye , for a thynge maye bee swete and deintye of it selfe withoute confectyons . How meates are ma● delectable . It is made after this sorte pleasaunte , yf it bee receiued into a bodye that hath delyte and pleasure thereto , & that liueth accordyng vnto nature . But on the contrary parte if they chaunce to come into a body that hathe no phansie therunto , beeyng crude and euil disposed , they lose their relyse and vertue .

Therfore this is not to bee pondered wehther the fishe bee newe , or the breade fyne and pure , whether the bayne bee warme , More r●pecte mu● bee had t● bodie felf● then to th● meates . but a manne must consyder in what case he hym selfe is , whether his stomacke standeth ayenste it , or whether he bee out of quiet , whether his bodye bee corrupted or throughlye distempered , whiche thing if he dooe not , this shall folowe , that as yf a sorte of reuellers and drounkardes come into a place whe●e people bee mournyng and sorowful , they shal cause no pleasure nor mirthe , but rather make theim to crye out : so yf Venus , meates , baines , wynes bee myngled in a bodye that is euell dysposed , and vnnaturally affected , they brede and make no pleasure : but the humours whiche as yet bee not perfectely corrupted , they stiere and trouble , and more and more prouoke phleugme & cholere . Moreouer , there is no delectacyon in theim greately to bee estemed , neither the pleasure of the fruicion of theim doth aunswer to the expectation . Therfore the precise diet obserued to the vttermust poincte , bothe maketh the bodye fearfull and subiecte to perilles , Ouer pr●cise diet i● not best . and breaketh the strength and courage of the mynde , whyle it refuseth all busynesse , whyle yt dare not bee occupyed neither in pleasure nor in laboure , whyle it hathe in suspiction the doynge of euery thyng lest it shoulde hurte , and gooeth aboute nothyng courageously and boldely . But the body must bee ordered as the shypmen dooe their sayles in a calme weather , who neither take theim in , nor vtterly strike theim down , nor suffer their sheates to bee lose , theim selfes beyng neglygent or slouthfull when they thyncke a storme toward . So it is conuenient to take hede , to make the body lighte & prest when we looke not for crudite , flixe , burnyng or dulnesse , which thinges bee messagers & tokens that the feuer is at hand , ●ckēs that ●e feuer is hande yet some ther be that when thei perceiue them selfes alredy distempered , doo scacely then fall to good diet . But rather before sykenesse come , we ought to preuent & prouide for it as shipmen do agaynst a tempest when thei se the northen wynd doth sheuer & wherle the toppe of the water of the seas . ●nes must prouided before it ne . Forverely it is a thing repugnaunt to al reason , & a very fondnes diligently to obserue & marke the alteration of the wetherby criyng of crowes , the crowing of cockes , the hogges towsyng the straw about their eres as though thei wer mad ( as Democritus was wont to say ) and not to note and perceiue the motions & stormes of the body and other prognostications of diseases , to be ignoraunt in the tokens wherby ye shal perceiue a tempest towarde in youre selfe . By wha● thynges state of the dy maye gathered perceiued Wherfore it shal be requisite and expedient to obserue and note the body , not only in his meates and exercises , whether it be offended or dooe grudge at them , more than he was wont , or whether it bee more thirsty , or desyrous of meat than it vsed to bee , but also ye must mark if ye slepe not soundly , if ye be troubled or vexed therin , if ye make many slepes . It shal be also well dooen to note the absurdites of dremes For if ye haue any foule or vnacustomed visions , it betokeneth that the body is replenished with grosse humours , or the spirites vitall of the body bee distempered wythin . By the affections and dispositions of the mynde a manne maye also gather whether the body be disposed to a dysease . For often tymes it happeneth , that a manne shal be sad and pensife without iust cause and bee putte sodenly in feare .