rfected
his stomach, that he has now a better relish for his dry bread, than
he had formerly and in his youth, for the most exquisite dainties:
and all this he has compassed by acting rationally, knowing, that
bread is, above all things, man's proper food, when seasoned by a
good appetite; and, whilst a man leads a sober life, he may be sure
of never wanting that natural sauce; because, by always eating
little, the stomach, not being much burthened, need not wait long
to have an appetite. It is for this reason, that dry bread relishes
so well with me; and I know it from experience, and can with truth
affirm, I find such sweetness in it, that I should be afraid of
sinning against temperance, were it not for my being convinced of
the absolute necessity of eating it, and that we cannot make use of
a more natural food. And thou, kind parent Nature, who actest so
lovingly by thy aged offspring, in order to prolong his days, hast
contrived matters so in his favour, that he can live upon very
little; and, in order to add to the favour, and do him still greater
service, hast made him sensible, that, as in his youth he used to
eat twice a day, when he arrived at old age, he ought to divide
that food, of which he was accustomed before to make but two meals,
into four; because, thus divided, it will be more easily digested;
and, as in his youth he made but two meals in the day, he should,
in his old age, make four, provided however he lessens the quantity,
as his years increase. And this is what I do, agreeably to my own
experience; and, therefore, my spirits, not oppressed by much food,
but barely kept up, are always brisk; especially after eating, so
that I am accustomed then to sing a song, and afterwards to write.

Nor do I ever find myself the worse for writing immediately after
meals; nor is my understanding ever clearer; nor am I apt to be
drowsy; the food I take being too small a quantity to send up any
fumes to the brain. O, how advantageous it is to an old man to
eat but little! Accordingly, I, who know it, eat but just enough
to keep body and soul together; and the things I eat are as follow.
First, bread, panado, some broth with an egg in it, or such other
good kinds of soup or spoon-meat. Of flesh meat, I eat veal, kid,
and mutton. I eat poultry of every kind. I eat partridges, and
other birds, such as thrushes. I likewise eat fish; for instance,
the goldney and the like, amongst sea fish; and the pike, and