The Project Gutenberg EBook of Discourses on a Sober and Temperate Life, by
Lewis Cornaro

This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.net

Title: Discourses on a Sober and Temperate Life
Wherein is demonstrated, by his own Example, the Method
of Preserving Health to Extreme Old Age

Author: Lewis Cornaro

Release Date: December 12, 2009 [EBook #30660]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK SOBER AND TEMPERATE LIFE ***

Produced by Andrew Gudgel

DISCOURSES
ON A
SOBER AND TEMPERATE LIFE.

By

LEWIS CORNARO,
A NOBLE VENETIAN.

Wherein is demonstrated, by his own Example,

THE METHOD OF PRESERVING
HEALTH TO EXTREME OLD AGE.

Translated from the Italian Original.

A NEW EDITION, CORRECTED.

LONDON:
Printed for Benjamin White, at Horace's
Head, in Fleet-Street.
M.DCC.LXXIX.

PREFACE

The author of the following discourses, Lewis Cornaro, was descended
from one of the most illustrious families in Venice, but by the ill
conduct of some of his relations, had the misfortune to be deprived
of the dignity of a nobleman, and excluded from all honours and
public employments in the state. Chagrined at this unmerited
disgrace, he retired to Padua, and married a lady of the family
of Spiltemberg, whose name was Veronica. Being in possession of
a good estate, he was very desirous of having children; and after
a long expectation of this happiness, his wife was delivered of a
daughter, to whom he gave the name of Clara. This was his only
child, who afterwards was married to John, the son of Fantini
Cornaro, of a rich family in Cyprus, while that island belonged to
the republic of Venice. Though he was far advanced in life when
his daughter Clara came into the world, yet he lived to see her
very old, and the mother of eight sons and three daughters. He was
a man of sound understanding, determined courage and resolution.
In his younger days, he had contracted infirmities by intemperance,
and by indulging his too great propensity to anger; but when he
perceived the ill consequence of his irregularities, he had
command enough of himself to subdue his passion and inordinate
appetites. By means of great sobriety, and a