such
like, amongst the fresh-water fish. All these things are fit for
an old man; and, therefore, he ought to be content with them, and,
considering their number and variety, not hanker after others.
Such old men, as are too poor to allow themselves provisions of
this kind, may do very well with bread, panado, and eggs; things,
which no poor man can want, unless it be common beggars, and, as
we call them, vagabonds, about whom we are not bound to make
ourselves uneasy, since they have brought themselves to that pass
by their indolence; and had better be dead than alive; for they
are a disgrace to human nature. But, though a poor man should eat
nothing but bread, panado, and eggs, there is no necessity for his
eating more than his stomach can digest. And, whoever does not
trespass in point of either quantity or quality, cannot die but by
mere dissolution. O, what a difference there is between a regular
and an irregular life! One gives longevity and health, the other
produces diseases and untimely deaths.

O unhappy, wretched life, my sworn enemy, who art good for nothing
but to murder those, who follow thee! How many of my dearest
relations and friends hast thou robbed me of, in consequence of
their not giving credit to me; relations and friends, whom I should
now enjoy. But thou hast not been able to destroy me, according to
thy wicked intent and purpose. I am still alive in spite of thee,
and have attained to such an age, as to see around me eleven
grandchildren, all of fine understanding, and amiable disposition;
all given to learning and virtue; all beautiful in their persons
and lovely in their manners; whom, had I obeyed thy dictates, I
should never have beheld. Nor should I enjoy those beautiful and
convenient apartments which I have built from the ground, with such
a variety of gardens, as required no small time to attain their
present degree of perfection. No! thy nature is to destroy those
who follow thee, before they can see their houses or gardens so
much as finished; whereas, I, to thy no small confusion, have
already enjoyed mine for a great number of years. But, since thou
art so pestilential a vice, as to poison and destroy the whole
world; and I am determined to use my utmost endeavours to extirpate
thee, at least in part; I have resolved to counteract thee so, that
my eleven grandchildren shall take pattern after me; and thereby
expose thee, for what thou really art, a most wicked, desperat