ESSAYS

XXX

Of Regiment of Health

THERE is a wisdom in this beyond the rules of physic: a man's own observation, what he finds good of, and what he finds hurt of, is the best physic to preserve health. But it is a safer conclusion to say, This agreeth not well with me, therefore I will not continue it, than this, I find 5 no offence of this, therefore I may use it. For strength of nature in youth passeth over many excesses which are owing a man till his age. Discern of the coming on of years, and think not to do the same things still; for age will not be defied. Beware of sudden change in any 10 great point of diet, and if necessity enforce it, fit the rest

There is a wisdome in this beyonde the rules of phisicke; a mans owne observation, what he findes good of, and what he findes hurt of, is the best phisick to preserue healthe, but it is a safer conclusion to say, this agreeth well wth me, therefore I will continue it: I finde no offence of this, therefore I may vse it: for strength of nature in youth passeth over many excesses, wch are owing a man till his age; discerne of the comming on of yeares, and thinke not to doe the same thinges: still beware of any suddaine chaunge in any greate pointe of diet and if necessity inforce

to it. For it is a secret, both in nature and state, that it is safer to change many things than one. Examine thy customs of diet, sleep, exercise, apparel, and the like, and 15 try, in anything thou shalt judge hurtful, to discontinue it by little and little; but so as, if thou dost find any inconvenience by the change, thou come back to it again: for it is hard to distinguish that which is generally held good and wholesome, from that which is good particularly, and 20 fit for thine own body. To be free-minded and cheerfully disposed at hours of meat and sleep and of exercise, is one of the best precepts of long lasting. As for the passions and studies of the mind, avoid envy, anxious fears, anger, fretting inwards, subtle and knotty inqui25 sitions, joys and exhilarations in excess, sadness not communicated. Entertain hopes; mirth rather than joy; variety of delights rather than surfeit of them; wonder and admiration, and therefore novelties; studies that fill the mind with splendid and illustrious objects, as histories, 30 fables, and contemplations of nature. If you fly physic in health altogether, it will be too strange for your body when you shall need it. If you make it too familiar, it will work no extraordinary effect when sickness cometh. I commend rather some diet for certain seasons, than 35 frequent use of physic, except it be grown into a custom. For those diets alter the body more, and trouble it less. Despise no new accident in your body, but ask opinion of it. In sickness, respect health principally; and in health, action. For those that put their bodies to endure

it, fit the rest to it: to be freeminded and cheerfully disposed, at howres of meate, and of sleepe, and of exercise, is the best precept of long lasting: if you fly phisicke in healthe altogither, it will be to strong for your boddy when you shall neede it: if you make it to familiar it will worke no extraordinary effect when sicknesse cometh: despise no newe accident in the body, but aske opinion of it in sickness principally respecte healthe, and in

Essay 30] Of Regiment of Health

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in health, may in most sicknesses which are not very 40 sharp, be cured only with diet and tendering. Celsus could never have spoken it as a physician, had he not been a wise man withal, when he giveth it for one of the great precepts of health and lasting, that a man do vary and interchange contraries, but with an inclination to the 45 more benign extreme: use fasting and full eating, but rather full eating; watching and sleep, but rather sleep : sitting and exercise, but rather exercise, and the like. So shall nature be cherished and yet taught masteries. Physicians are some of them so pleasing and conformable 50 to the humour of the patient, as they press not the true cure of the disease; and some other are so regular in proceeding according to art for the disease, as they respect not sufficiently the condition of the patient. Take one of a middle temper; or, if it may not be found in 55 one man, combine two of either sort, and forget not to call as well the best acquainted with your body, as the best reputed of for his faculty.

healthe action for those that put their bodyes to indure in healthe, may in most sicknes wch are not very sharpe, be cured onely wth diet, and good tending : Phisitions, are some of them so pleasing to the humors of the patient, that they presse not the true cure of the disease. and some others so regular in proceeding according to art for the disease, as they respect not sufficiently the condition of the patient: take one of a milde temper, and forget not to call aswell the best acquainted wth your body as the best reputed of for his faculty.

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XXXI

Of Suspicion

SUSPICIONS amongst thoughts are like bats amongst birds, they ever fly by twilight. Certainly they are to be repressed, or, at the least, well guarded. For they cloud the mind, they lose friends, and they check with 5 business, whereby business cannot go on currently and constantly. They dispose kings to tyranny, husbands to jealousy, wise men to irresolution and melancholy. They are defects, not in the heart, but in the brain; for they take place in the stoutest natures: as in the example of Henry the Seventh of England. There was not a more suspicious man nor a more stout. And in such a composition they do small hurt; for commonly they are not admitted but with examination whether they be likely or But in fearful natures they gain ground too fast. 15 There is nothing makes a man suspect much, more than to know little; and, therefore, men should remedy suspicion by procuring to know more, and not to keep their suspicions in smother. What would men have? Do they think those they employ and deal with are o Saints? Do they not think they will have their own ends,

no.