31335The Hiſtory of Life and Death.
Venus, Labours, Endeavours, Buſineſſes, whereas if they have a regard to long life,
(which may ſeem ſtrange) they ſhould rather practiſe the contrary. For we ought
to cheriſh and preſerve good ſpirits, and for the evil-diſpoſed spirits to diſcharge and
alter them.
(which may ſeem ſtrange) they ſhould rather practiſe the contrary. For we ought
to cheriſh and preſerve good ſpirits, and for the evil-diſpoſed spirits to diſcharge and
alter them.
Ficinus ſaith not unwiſely, That old men, for the comforting of their ſpirits, ought
1195. often to remember and ruminate upon the Acts of their Childhood and routh. Cer-
tainly ſuch a remembrance is a kind of peculiar Recreation to every old man:
and thet efore it is a delight to men to enjoy the ſociety of them which have been
brought up together with them, and to viſit the places of their education. Veſpaſian
did attribute ſo much to this matter, that when he was Emperour he would by no
means be perſwaded to leave his Father’s houſe, though but mean, leſt he ſhould
loſe the wonted object of his eyes, and the memory of his childhood; and beſides,
he would drink in a wooden Cup, tipped with ſilver, which was his Grandmother’s,
upon Feſtival dayes.
1195. often to remember and ruminate upon the Acts of their Childhood and routh. Cer-
tainly ſuch a remembrance is a kind of peculiar Recreation to every old man:
and thet efore it is a delight to men to enjoy the ſociety of them which have been
brought up together with them, and to viſit the places of their education. Veſpaſian
did attribute ſo much to this matter, that when he was Emperour he would by no
means be perſwaded to leave his Father’s houſe, though but mean, leſt he ſhould
loſe the wonted object of his eyes, and the memory of his childhood; and beſides,
he would drink in a wooden Cup, tipped with ſilver, which was his Grandmother’s,
upon Feſtival dayes.
One thing above all is grateful to the Spirits, that there be a continual progreſs to
2296. the more benign; therefore we ſhould lead ſuch a Youth and manhood, that our
Old age ſhould find new Solaces, whereof the chief is moderate eaſe: And there-
fore old men in honourable places lay violent hands upon themſelves, who retire not
to their eaſe: whereof may be found an eminent Example in caſſiodorus, who was
of that reputation amongſt the Gothiſh Kings of Italy, that he was as the Soul of their
affairs; afterwards, being near eighty years of age, he betook himſelfto a Monaſtery,
where he ended not his dayes before he was an hundred years old. But this thing doth
require two Cautions: one, that they drive not off till their bodies be utterly
worn out and diſeaſed; for in ſuch bodies all mutation, though to the more benign,
haſteneth death: the other, that they ſurrender not themſelves to a ſluggiſh eaſe, but
that they embrace ſomething which may entertain their thoughts and mind with con-
tentation; in which kind the chief delights are Reading and Contemplation; and
then the deſires of Building and Planting.
2296. the more benign; therefore we ſhould lead ſuch a Youth and manhood, that our
Old age ſhould find new Solaces, whereof the chief is moderate eaſe: And there-
fore old men in honourable places lay violent hands upon themſelves, who retire not
to their eaſe: whereof may be found an eminent Example in caſſiodorus, who was
of that reputation amongſt the Gothiſh Kings of Italy, that he was as the Soul of their
affairs; afterwards, being near eighty years of age, he betook himſelfto a Monaſtery,
where he ended not his dayes before he was an hundred years old. But this thing doth
require two Cautions: one, that they drive not off till their bodies be utterly
worn out and diſeaſed; for in ſuch bodies all mutation, though to the more benign,
haſteneth death: the other, that they ſurrender not themſelves to a ſluggiſh eaſe, but
that they embrace ſomething which may entertain their thoughts and mind with con-
tentation; in which kind the chief delights are Reading and Contemplation; and
then the deſires of Building and Planting.
Laſtly, the ſame Action, Endeavour and Labour undertaken chearfully and with a good
3397. will doth refreſh the Spirits; but with an averſation and unwillingneſs, doth fret and
deject them. And therefore it conferreth to long life, either that a man hath the art
to inſtitute his life ſo as it may be free and ſuitable to his own humour; or elſe to lay
ſuch a command upon his mind, that whatſoever is impoſed by Fortune, it may rather
lead him than drag him.
3397. will doth refreſh the Spirits; but with an averſation and unwillingneſs, doth fret and
deject them. And therefore it conferreth to long life, either that a man hath the art
to inſtitute his life ſo as it may be free and ſuitable to his own humour; or elſe to lay
ſuch a command upon his mind, that whatſoever is impoſed by Fortune, it may rather
lead him than drag him.
Neither is that to be omitted towards the government of the Affections, that eſpecial
4498. care be taken of the mouth of the Stomach, eſpecially that it be not too much relaxed;
for rhat part hath a greater dominion over the affections, eſpecially the daily affections,
than either the Heart or Brain; onely thoſe things excepted which are wrought by po-
tent vapours, as in Drunkenneſs and Melancholly.
4498. care be taken of the mouth of the Stomach, eſpecially that it be not too much relaxed;
for rhat part hath a greater dominion over the affections, eſpecially the daily affections,
than either the Heart or Brain; onely thoſe things excepted which are wrought by po-
tent vapours, as in Drunkenneſs and Melancholly.
Touching the Operation upon the Spirits, that they may remain youthful, and re-
5599. new their vigour, thus much: which we have done the more accurately, for that
there is, for the moſt part, amongſt Phyſicians and other Authors touching theſe Ope-
rations a deep ſilence; but eſpecially, becauſe the Operation upon the Spirits, and their
waxing green again, is the moſt ready and compendious way to long life; and that for a
two-fold compendiouſneſs: one, becauſe the Spirits work compendiouſly upon the
body; the other, becauſe Vapours and the Affections work compendiouſly upon the
Spirits; ſo as theſe attain the end, as it were, in a right line, other things rather in
lines circular.
5599. new their vigour, thus much: which we have done the more accurately, for that
there is, for the moſt part, amongſt Phyſicians and other Authors touching theſe Ope-
rations a deep ſilence; but eſpecially, becauſe the Operation upon the Spirits, and their
waxing green again, is the moſt ready and compendious way to long life; and that for a
two-fold compendiouſneſs: one, becauſe the Spirits work compendiouſly upon the
body; the other, becauſe Vapours and the Affections work compendiouſly upon the
Spirits; ſo as theſe attain the end, as it were, in a right line, other things rather in
lines circular.
The Operation upon the Excluſion of the Air. 2.
The Hiſtory.
THE Excluſion of the Air ambient tendeth to length of life two wayes:
661. Firſt for that the External Air, next unto the Native spirit, (how-
ſoever the Air may be ſaid to animate the Spirit of Man, and con-
ferreth not a little to health) doth moſt of all prey upon the juices of the
661. Firſt for that the External Air, next unto the Native spirit, (how-
ſoever the Air may be ſaid to animate the Spirit of Man, and con-
ferreth not a little to health) doth moſt of all prey upon the juices of the