The art of living long : a new and improved English version of the treatise / by the celebrated Venetian centenarian Louis Cornaro, with essays by Joseph Addison, Lord Bacon, and Sir William Temple.

  • Luigi Cornaro
Date:
1905
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: The art of living long : a new and improved English version of the treatise / by the celebrated Venetian centenarian Louis Cornaro, with essays by Joseph Addison, Lord Bacon, and Sir William Temple. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University Libraries/Information Services, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the the Augustus C. Long Health Sciences Library at Columbia University and Columbia University.

    70/224 page 66
    Indeed, between the very mention of these two opposites lies the same difference as between those other two, angel and devil. I have so far given the reasons for which I aban- doned disorder and devoted myself wholly to the tem- perate life; also the manner in which I went about it that I might accomplish my end; together with the sub- sequent effects of this change; and, finally, I have attempted to describe the advantages and blessings which the temperate life bestows on those who follow it. And now, since some sensual and unreasonable men pretend that long life is not a blessing or a thing to be desired, but that the existence of a man after he has passed the age of sixty-five cannot any longer be called a living life, but rather should be termed a dead one, I shall plainly show they are much mistaken; for I have an ardent desire that every man should strive to attain my age, in order that he may enjoy what I have found—and what others, too, will find—to be the most beautiful period of life. For this purpose I wish to speak here of the pas- times and pleasures which I enjoy at this advanced sea- son of life. I desire, in this manner, openly to bear witness to all mankind—and every person who knows me will testify to the truth of what I say—that the life which I am now living is a most vital one, and by no means a dead one ; and that it is deemed, by many, a life as full of happiness as this world can give. Those who know me well will give this testimony, in the first place, because they see, and not without the greatest admiration and amazement, how strong I am; that I am able to mount my horse without assistance; and with what ease and agility I can not only ascend a flight of stairs, but also climb a whole hill on foot. [66]
    digitised image 1
    digitised image 2
    digitised image 3