e in health, to help my bad
constitution, and comfort my very weak stomach. I therefore
applied myself diligently to discover what kinds of food suited
me best. But, first, I resolved to try, whether those, which
pleased my palate, agreed or disagreed with my stomach, in order
to judge for myself of the truth of that proverb, which I once held
true, and is universally held as such in the highest degree,
insomuch that epicures, who give a loose to their appetites, lay
it down as a fundamental maxim. This proverb is, that whatever
pleases the palate, must agree with the stomach, and nourish the
body; or whatever is palatable must be equally wholesome and
nourishing. The issue was, that I found it to be false: for,
though rough and very cold wines, as likewise melons and other
fruits, sallad, fish and pork, tarts, garden-stuff, pastry, and
the like, were very pleasing to my palate, the disagreed with me
notwithstanding. Having convinced myself, that the proverb in
question was false, I look'd upon it as such; and, taught by
experience, I gave over the use of such meats and wines, and
likewise of ice; chose wine suited to my stomach, drinking of it
but the quantity I knew I could digest. I did the same by my
meat, as well in regard to quantity as to quality, accustoming
myself never to cloy my stomach with eating or drinking; but
constantly rise from table with a disposition to eat and drink
still more. In this I conformed to the proverb, which says, that
a man, to consult his health, must check his appetite. Having in
this manner, and for these reasons, conquered intemperance and
irregularity, I betook myself intirely to a temperate and regular
life: which effected in me the alteration already mentioned, that
is, in less than a year it rid me of all those disorders, which
had taken so deep a root in me; nay, as I have already observed,
had made such a progress, as to be in a manner incurable. It had
likewise this other good effect, that I no longer experienced
those annual fits of sickness, with which I used to be afflicted,
while I followed a different, that is a sensual, course of life;
for then I used to be attacked every year with a strange kind of
fever, which sometimes brought me to death's door. From this
disease, then, I also freed myself, and became exceeding healthy,
as I have continued from that time forward to this very day; and
for no other reason than that I never trespassed against
regularity, wh