's recommendation of it, SPECTATOR, Vol. iii, No 195.

"The most remarkable instance of the efficacy of temperance,
towards the procuring long life, is what we meet with in a little
book published by _Lewis Cornaro,_ the _Venetian;_ which I rather
mention, because it is of undoubted credit, as the late _Venetian_
ambassador, who was of the same family, attested more than once in
conversation, when he resided in _England_. _Cornaro,_ who was
the author of the little treatise I am mentioning, was of an
infirm constitution, till about forty, when, by obstinately
persisting in an exact course of temperance, he recovered a perfect
state of health; insomuch that at fourscore he published his book,
which has been translated into _English_ under the title of, _Sure
and certain methods of attaining a long and healthy life_. He
lived to give a third or fourth edition of it, and after having
passed his hundredth year, died without pain or agony, and like
one who falls asleep. The treatise I mention has been taken
notice of by several eminent authors, and is written with such
spirit of chearfulness, religion, and good sense, as are the
natural concomitants of temperance and sobriety. The mixture of
the old man in it, is rather a recommendation than a discredit
to it."

[1] The first edition was published by the author at Padua, in
4to, A.D. 1558.

A TREATISE ON A SOBER LIFE

It is a thing past all doubt, that custom, by time, becomes a
second nature, forcing men to use that, whether good or bad, to
which they have been habituated: nay, we see habit, in many things,
get the better of reason. This is so undeniably true, that
virtuous men, by conversing with the wicked, very often fall into
the same vicious course of life. The contrary, likewise, we see
sometimes happen; viz. that, as good morals easily change to bad,
so bad morals change again to good. For instance: let a wicked
man, who was once virtuous, keep company with a virtuous man, and
he will again become virtuous; and this alteration can be
attributed to nothing but the force of habit, which is, indeed,
very great. Seeing many examples of this; and besides,
considering that, in consequence of this great force of habit,
three bad customs have got footing in Italy within a few years,
even within my own memory; the first flattery and ceremoniousness:
the second Lutheranism [2], which some have most preposterously
embraced; the third intemperance; and that th