The Hiflory of Life and Death. 



33 



Motioti,6oi\\ manifeflly Attenuate, and Inflame them. This Bridling is done by three 

 means : '-y Sleep,by avoiding oi vehement Labours, Immoderate Exercije , and, in a 

 word, all Lajfttude, and by refraining Irk^efome Affettio-is . And firfr, touching Sleep. 



The Fable tels us, that Epimenides flept many yeai s together , in a Cave ; and all that 

 time needed no Meat ; becaule the Sprit waiie not much in fleep. 



Experience teacheth us, that certain Creatures, as Dormice, and Bats, fleep, in fome 

 clofe places, an whole winter together ; Such is the force of Sleep , to reliram all vital 

 Coniumption. That which Bees\ and Drone$, are alfo thought to do j though fbructimcs 

 deftitute of Honey : and likcwife Butt er-flies-, and other Flies. 



Sleep zker Dinner ( the ftomack lending up no unplcahng Vapoms to the Head, as 

 being the firft DeWes of our Meat, ) is good for the Spirits, butderogatoiy and hurtful, 

 to all other points of Health. Notwithstanding in extream Old age, there is the fame 

 Reafon,of Meat.and Sleep • For both, our Meals, and our Sleeps fhould be then fre- 

 quent, but fhort^and little : Nay, and towards the laff Period of old age, a meer Reft, 

 and, as it were, a perpetual Repofing doth belt ; Efpecially in winter time. 



But as Moderate Sleep, conterreth to long life ; fa much more, if it be Quiet, and not 

 Dilturbed. 



Thefe procure Quiet Sleep, oVilets, Lettuce, efpecially boiled ; Snrupot dried Ro- 

 fes, Saffron, Halme, A pples, at our going to bed ; A Sop of Bread in CMalmfey, efpe- 

 cially where Musk^Rofes have been firft infufed ; therefore, it would not be amiflc, to 

 make fome Pill, or a fmall Draught of thefe things , and to ufe it familiarly. Alio thole 

 Things, which fhut the Mouth of the Stomack clofe ; As Cortander-feed prepared ; 

 Quinces, and Wardens, roafted, do induce found flecp : but above all things, in youth, 

 and for thofe that have fufficient ftrong Stomacks,it will be bel^to take a good Draught 

 of Clear, Cold Water ,when they go to bed. 



Touching voluntary and procured Traunces ; As alfo Fixed, and Profound thoughts, 

 fo as they be without Irhe\omneffe\l have nothing certain : No doubt, they make to this 1 

 Intention ; And condenfe the Spirits, and that morepotently, than Sleep ; Seeing, they 

 lay afleep, andfufpend the fenfes, as much, or more. Touching them, let further Inqui- 

 ry be made. So far touching Sleep* 



As for Motion, and Exercife ; Latitude hurteth ; And fo doch all Motion, andBxei- 

 cife, which is too Nimble, and Swift ; as Running, Tennis, Fencing, and the lik&i/And 

 again, when our flrength is extended , and drained, to the uttermoft ; as Dancing, 

 Wreftling, and fuch like : For it is certain, that the Spirits, being driven into (freights, 

 either by the fwiftneffe of the Motion, or by the ft reining ®f the forces, do afterWaid be- 

 come more Eager, and Predatory. On the other fide, Exercife* , which (lir up a good 

 ffrong Motion ; bat not over-fwift, or to our utmoft ftrength, (fuch as aie Leaping, 

 Shooting, Riding, Bowling, and the like) do not hurt, but rather benefit. 



We mult come now to the AjfeElions, and Paffions of the Mmdc-, and iee, which 1 Of 

 them are hurtful to long life, which profitable. 



Great joyes attenuate arid difTule the Spirits, and fhorten lite : Familiar (fheerful- 

 neffe llrengthens the Spirits, by calling them forth, and yet not relclvmg them. 



Impreffions of joy in the fenie, are naught ; ruminations of Joy in the Memory ; Or 

 Apprehennons of them, in Hope, or Fancie, are good. 



foy fupprejfed, or communicated fpanngly, doth more comfort the Spirits than joy 

 poured forth and publifhed. 



Grief and fadnefs, if it be void of Tear, and afflict not too much, doth lather prolong 

 life ; For it contractcth the Spirits, and is a kind oiCondenfation. 



Great ffWifhorten the Life j For though Grief and Fear do both ftrcighten the Spi- 

 Ir/'f, yet in Grief there is a fimple Contraction ; but 'm Feare , by Reafon of the Cares 

 1 taken for the Remedy , and Hopes intermixed , there is a turmoil and Vexing of the 

 Spirits. 



Anger fuppreffed, is alio a kiude of Vexation, and caufeth the Spirit to feed upon the 

 Juices of the body- But l.tloofe, and breaking forth, it helpeth ; As thofe Medicines 

 do, which induce a Rsbuft Heat. 



Envy is the word: of all P 'affions , and feedeth upon the Spirits; and they again 

 upon the Body , and fo much the more, becaufe it is perpetual) and it is laid i Keepeth no 

 Holy- day Si 



Tny of another Mrns Misfortune , which is not likely to befall our lelves, is good: 



G ' But 



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