and 'tis good to lie on the right side first, because at that site
the liver doth rest under the stomach, not molesting any way, but heating
him as a fire doth a kettle, that is put to it. After the first sleep 'tis
not amiss to lie on the left side, that the meat may the better descend;"
and sometimes again on the belly, but never on the back. Seven or eight
hours is a competent time for a melancholy man to rest, as Crato thinks;
but as some do, to lie in bed and not sleep, a day, or half a day together,
to give assent to pleasing conceits and vain imaginations, is many ways
pernicious. To procure this sweet moistening sleep, it's best to take away
the occasions (if it be possible) that hinder it, and then to use such
inward or outward remedies, which may cause it. _Constat hodie_ (saith
Boissardus in his tract _de magia, cap. 4._) _multos ita fascinari ut
noctes integras exigant insomnes, summa, inquietudine animorum et
corporum_; many cannot sleep for witches and fascinations, which are too
familiar in some places; they call it, _dare alicui malam noctem_. But the
ordinary causes are heat and dryness, which must first be removed: [3380]a
hot and dry brain never sleeps well: grief, fears, cares, expectations,
anxieties, great businesses, [3381]_In aurum utramque otiose ut dormias_,
and all violent perturbations of the mind, must in some sort be qualified,
before we can hope for any good repose. He that sleeps in the daytime, or
is in suspense, fear, any way troubled in mind, or goes to bed upon a full
[3382]stomach, may never hope for quiet rest in the night; _nec enim
meritoria somnos admittunt_, as the [3383]poet saith; inns and such like
troublesome places are not for sleep; one calls ostler, another tapster,
one cries and shouts, another sings, whoops, halloos,

[3384] ------"absentem cantat amicam,
Multa prolutus vappa nauta atque viator."

Who not accustomed to such noises can sleep amongst them? He that will
intend to take his rest must go to bed _animo securo, quieto et libero_,
with a [3385]secure and composed mind, in a quiet place: _omnia noctes
erunt placida composta quiete_: and if that will not serve, or may not be
obtained, to seek then such means as are requisite. To lie in clean linen
and sweet; before he goes to bed, or in bed, to hear [3386]"sweet music,"
which Ficinus commends, _lib. 1. cap. 24_, or as Jobertus, _med. pract.
lib. 3. cap. 10._ [3387]"to read some pleasant author till he be