nose be; a large mouth; an ear gristly, not fleshy; teeth strong and contiguous, not small or thin set, fore-token long life; and much more, if some new teeth put forth in our elder years.

43. A broad breast, yet not bearing out, but rather bending inwards; shoulders somewhat crooked, and (as they call such persons) round-backed; a flat belly; a hand large, and with few lines in the palm; a short and round foot; thighs not fleshy; and calves of the leg not hanging over, but neat; are signs of long life.

44. Eyes somewhat large, and the circle of them inclined to greenness; senses not too quick; the pulse in youth slower, towards old age quicker; facility of holding the breath, and longer than usual; the body in youth inclined to be bound, in the decline of years more laxative; are also signs of long life.

45. Concerning the times of nativity, as they refer to long life, nothing hath been observed worthy the setting down, save only astrological observations, which we rejected in our topics. A birth at the eighth month is not only not long lived, but not likely to live. Also, winter births are accounted the longer lived.

46. A Pythagorical or monastical diet, according to strict rules, and always exactly equal, as that of Cornarus was, seemeth to be very effectual for long life. Yet, on the contrary, amongst those that live freely, and after the common sort, such as have good stomachs, and feed more plentifully, are often the longest lived. The middle diet, which we account the temperate, is commended, and conduceth to good health, but not to long life; for the spare diet begets few spirits, and dull, and so wasteth the body less; and the liberal diet yieldeth more ample nourishment, and so repaireth more; but the middle diet doth neither of both; for where the extremes are hurtful, there the mean is best; but where the extremes are helpful, there the

mean

mean is nothing worth. Now, to that spare diet there are requisite, watching, lest the spirits, being few, should be oppressed with much sleep; little exercise, lest they should exhale; abstinence from venery, lest they should be exhausted. But to the liberal diet, on the other side, are reqa site, much sleep, frequent exercises, and a seasonable use of venery. Baths and anoiatings, such as were anciestly in use, did rather tend to deliciousness, than to prokaging of life. But of all these things we shall speak more exactly, when we come to the inquisition according to intentions. Meanwhile, that of Celsus, who was not only a learned physician, but a wise man, is not to be omired; who adviseth interchanging and alternation of the d, but still with an inclination to the more benign; as, that a man should sometimes accustom himself to watching, sometimes to sleep, but to sleep oftenest: again, that he should sometimes give himself to fasting, sometimes to feasting; but to feasting oftenest: that he should sometimes inure himself to great labours of the mind, sometimes to relaxations of the same; but to relaxations oftenest. Certainly, this is without all question, that diet well criered bears the greatest part in the prolongation of life; neither did I ever meet an extreme long lived man, but, being asked of his course, he observed something pecu liar; some one thing, some another. I remember an old ma, above an hundred years of age, who was produced as a witness touching an ancient prescription, when he had finished his testimony, the judge familiarly asked him how he came to live so long; he answered, beside expectation, and not without the laughter of the hearers, " By eating before I was hungry, and drinking before I was dry." But of these things we shall speak hereafter.

47. A life led in religion, and in holy exercises, seemeth to conduce to long life. There are in this kind of life these things, leisure, admiration and contemplation of hea

1

venly

new things joys not sensual, noble hopes, wholesome sts sweet sorrows; lastly, continual renovations, by oblif ces penances, expiations, all which are very powerele ful the prolongation of life. Unto which, if you add atastere diet, which hardeneth the mass of the body, ing bleth the spirits, no marvel, if an extraordinary of life do follow; such as was that of Paul the herSeon Stilita, the Columnar anchorite; and of many Smits and anchorites.

Next unto this, is the life led in good letters; such
that of philosophers, rhetoricians, grammarians,
is led also in leisure, and in those thoughts which,
hey are severed from the affairs of the world, bite
rather delight through their variety and imperti-
They live also at their pleasure, spending their
h things as like them best, and for the most part
any of young men, which is ever the most
ut in philosophies there is great difference be-
s, as touching long life. For those philoso-
ive in them a touch of superstition, and are
gh contemplations, are the best; as the Py-
latonic; also those which did institute a
the world, and considered the variety of
had reachless, and high, and magnani-
f infinitum, of the stars, of the heroical
were good for the lengthening of
of Democritus, Philolaus, Xenopha-
stoics: also those which had no
them: but discoursed calmly on
sense and the received opinions,
on, were likewise good; such
the academics; also of the
But contrarily, philosophies
ties, and which pronounced
hed and wrested all things

te

to the scale of principles; lastly, which were thorny and narrow, were evil; such were those commonly of the peripatetics, and of the schoolmen.

49. The country life, also, is well fitted for long life; it is much abroad and in the open air; it is not slothful, but' ever in employment; it feesleth upon fresh cates, and unbought; it is without cares and envy.

50. For the military life, we have a good opinion of that whilst a man is young; certainly, many excellent warriors have been long lived; Corvinus, Camillus, Xenophon, Agesilaus, with others, both ancient and modern ; no doubt, it furthereth long life, to have all things, from our youth to our elder age, mend and grow to the better, that a youth full of crosses may minister sweetness to our old age. We conceive, also, that military affections, inflamed with a desire of fighting and hope of victory, do infuse such a heat into the spirits, as may be profitable for long life.

Medicines for Long Life.

THE art of physic which we now have, looks no further, commonly, than to conservation of health, and cure of diseases; as for those things which tend properly to long life, there is but slight mention, and by the way only. Notwithstanding, we will propound those medicines which are notable in this kind; I mean those which are called cordials. For it is consonant to reason, that those things which, being taken in cures, do defend and fortify the heart, or, more truly, the spirits, against poisons and diseases, being transferred with judgment and choice into diet, should have a good effect in some sort towards the prolonging of life. This

venly things, joys not sensual, noble
fears, sweet sorrows; lastly, continual re
servances, penances, expiations, all whi
ful to the prolongation of life. Unto
that austere diet, which hardeneth the
and humbleth the spirits, no marvel,
length of life do follow; such as was
mit, Simeon Stilita, the Columnar an
other hermits and anchorites.

48. Next unto this, is the life led
as was that of philosophers, rhet
This life is led also in leisure, and
seeing they are severed from the a
not, but rather delight through th
nency. They live also at their
time in such things as like them
in the company of young men
chearful. But in philosophies
twixt the sects, as touching lo
phies which have in them a to
conversant in high contemplat
thagorical and Platonic; also
perambulation of the world,
natural things, and had reac
mous thoughts, as of infinit
virtues, and such like, wer
life; such were those of I
nes, the astrologians, and
profound speculation in
both sides, out of comm
without any sharp inqui
were those of Carneade
rhetoricians and gramm
conversant in perplexi:
peremptorily, and wh

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